Second Sight

The cell phone in Gil Grissom’s pocket rang as he was packing up his briefcase to end the long graveyard shift at the Las Vegas Crime Lab. He answered it in his usual fashion.

“Grissom.”

A female who was slightly nervous was on the other end, she didn’t say anything. Gil repeated his name and waited for a second, figuring a wrong number. Most people are too embarrassed to say anything when they misdial a number.

Finally the voice spoke.

“Mr Grissom, this is Rachael, from Lady Heather’s. Do you remember me?”

“Rachael, cute, blond, answers the door. Wanted to go to the costume party. Of course I remember you! How are you? How did you get this number? Heather? Is she alright? What’s wrong? Has something happened to her?” Gil’s normal calmness was leaving him faster then the sand in an hourglass.

“Ummm, Mr Grissom, she gonna kill me. I’m over at Desert Palms. Lady Heather is in here, as a patient, and I thought.....Hello? “ She heard a dial tone. She let out a little giggle as she flipped her cell phone closed.

**********

Gil broke the land speed record getting to the hospital. He immediately went to the admitting desk to inquiry the room number of Lady Heather. Due to his job and numerous visits to the hospital, they knew him there, so they gave him her room number and he ran to catch the elevator up to the floor where Lady Heather’s room was.

He stepped off the elevator and found Rachael standing there waiting.

“Wow, I wish a had a man who would jump that fast when I called. Hello Mr Grissom. Thanks for coming, I wasn’t too sure if I should call or not.” Rachael was trying to sound strong, but her lower lip was shivering slightly.

“Rachael, where is she? What’s wrong?” He put his hands on her shoulders and led her to a sofa in the general waiting room for that floor. He sat her down, and held her hands. “Is she okay? Are YOU okay?”

“I’m...I’m fine really, this just kinda shook me a bit more than I thought. She ah, well..... Man I AM gonna get killed but what the hell. I know it’s been over a year since you two spoke.” Gil just nodded his head in agreement. “But, she hasn’t seen any other man since you. Not even a customer errr gentleman for business reasons. She turns them over to one of the girls, she supervises and that’s it. Well, she’s been under a lot of stress and I don’t think she’s taking care of herself right. She’s kinda made me her girl Friday and I’m always in her private area, where the other girls are not allowed. I check in her kitchen and do her shopping and other things for her. She hasn’t touched much in the way of food except for those damn ‘Poptarts’, and she KNOWS they are loaded with sugar and stuff she’s not supposed to have.” At that point Gil chuckled at the memory of Heather’s total enjoyment of eating a ‘Poptart’. “Well, I went up to her private area when she didn’t come down for a session, last night. I was worried and I found her in her bedroom, on the floor. I got scared and called the ambulance. Seems her blood sugar was thru the roof and she’s been mentioning headaches and having a hard time seeing lately. I got scared. She’s gonna kill me.” Gil patted her hand. “Well, they brought her here and she’s been out of it since, but the doctors said her eyes. They got them patched up now. They had to do some laser surgery on them, she was bleeding inside and they aren’t too sure right now of the outcome.” Tears started rolling down Rachael’s face. “ And I didn’t know what to do, her daughter is back East and she doesn’t have family, and oh I KNOW she still loves you Mr Grissom, so I called you. Are you upset?” She looked at him with a big sniff and tear rolling.

Gil rubbed Rachael’s hand as he spoke, “Rachael, how can I be mad? You’re an angel to think of calling me. If Heather’s mad, she’ll be mad at me not you. She’s got a loyal employee, as I see you, a damn good friend to her and me. Bless you for calling me. Have you talked to her doctor? To her? Does she need anything?”

Sniff. Gil got out his handkerchief, he never used them, but found women always needed them when they cried, so he carried one for that reason. “Here, it’s not used.” He chuckled.

Honk. “Thanks, I’ll wash it and get it back to you. No, other then after the surgery. I don’t think the doctor’s been in since oh 5 a.m., when he talked to me. I can’t tell if she’s awake or not with her eyes bandaged. I don’t want to disturb her.....or get killed.” She looked at Gil and laughed slightly. “But it’s ok if you go in and test the waters. I’ll wait out here. I can go get anything she needs. You’re bigger then me. Bandaged or not she can still be something to handle when she’s mad.”

“Oh, trust me on that one, I know it well. Okay, you stay here, or better yet, why don’t you go get some coffee or breakfast? Come back in a while after I’ve had a chance to talk to Heather and we’ll sort this out.” Gil pulled Rachael up out of the sofa and lead her to the elevator. He pushed the ‘down’ button and it dinged within seconds. “Perfect timing. Go get something and take your time okay? Got enough money?” Rachael shook her head ‘yes’ and smiled as the doors closed.

Gil turned with a mixture of fear and something he couldn’t put his finger on. Sort of a feeling of hope that maybe Heather might NEED him. Angry or not, she had to be somewhat frightened, maybe he could be of some comfort to her. He walked to her room and quietly opened the door. The blinds were closed and the room was in darkness except for the night shift nurses lights, which they could do what they needed to do without awaking a patent. Gil saw the I.V. that lead into Heather’s left arm. They were running two bags at the same time. Gil was thinking she must really need fluids if they were feeding her two bags at once. He walked to her right hand side and just looked down at her. Even with her eyes covered, she was still breathtaking. Her dark hair was fanned out over the pillow. She could make a hospital gown look like it was an evening gown, she’d look gorgeous in a paper bag. Her head moved slightly as she felt the bed move.

“Is someone there?” She spoke softly. “Please answer. Rachael?”

Gil was swallowing hard, he could hear the slight fear in her voice, most people wouldn’t have noticed the slight tone difference, and not to mention, knowing Heather, fear was something she rarely experienced. He ran a finger along her cheek and then put his whole hand on her face. Heather’s head turned toward the gentle touch, the memories flooded back into her mind. She quietly said, “Gil.” Then her head pulled away from his touch.

He sat on the side of the bed. Bent down and kissed her forehead. “Heather. Are you in any pain? You’ve got two I.V.’s in and both eyes are bandaged. Seems you haven’t been taking very good care of yourself.”

“How did you know I was....ahh Rachael. She’s got a soft spot for you, Mr Grissom.” Her business attitude was kicking in. Even in this weaken condition, she wasn’t giving him one inch.

“Heather. I love her for calling me. I’m damned glad she did. So, has the doctor been in? Do you know what’s happened to you? Why didn’t you check out those headaches and eye problems, you KNOW what diabetes can do. And eating nothing but ‘Poptarts’? Once a week tops. You NOT being in control, it’s not like you at all. Talk to me, please. Don’t tell me ‘nothing’, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Mr Grissom.....”

“Heather stop it right now, it’s Gil and you know it. Damn it Heather, we need to get past this. Please.” Gil’s voice had slight edge but his tone was a pleading one.

Heather started again, this time quieter. “Gil, I’ve been working my way out of the business for the past year. I just don’t have the edge anymore. My buyer, just backed out on me last week. I wanted protection for all the girls and didn’t want them lowered to street girls. They changed the contract at the last minute and then refused keep the girls protected. So I folded the deal. But I still want out. I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention to me. I was more worried about the girls. Why are my eyes bandaged? Have you seen the doctor? What time is it?”

“It’s almost nine in the morning. When they brought you in your sugar was thru the roof. Your eyes were full of blood, they had to do laser surgery on them. They probably will be covered for a few days. Rachel didn’t get anything else out of the doctor. That’s all I know. Want some water, there’s a pitcher here, cup, straw.” Gil pulled the cup half full and opened a straw and placed it in the cup. He brought it to Heather’s lips, she started drinking. “Still have the most beautiful lips on any woman I’ve ever seen.” Her hands felt down the straw to find Gil’s holding it for her, she kept going down until she got to his wrist and held on. Gil took the cup and placed it back on the tray. He brushed her hair away from her face. “Need anything? Rachael’s getting something to eat. She looked like a scared rabbit and needed to get away for a bit. She said she would go home and get anything you need. Want a robe, nightgown. You do wonders for the shapeless hospital gown. Looks good on you.” Heather smacked Gil’s hand slightly and chuckled.

“I bet I look like a sight.” She started to run her fingers thru her hair.

“You’re breathtaking as usual. You would look gorgeous in a paper bag.” He chuckled, “Women, always worried about their looks.” Just then the doctor knocked and entered the room.

“Good morning. How are we today? I’m Doctor Blum, I operated on your eyes last night. Are you in any pain? Dizzy?” He was reading her chart as he was talking to her. Gil started to get up but the grip of Heather’s hand kept him in place. “Let’s see under those bandages.” Just as he said that a nurse came in with fresh bandages, scissors and tape. Again Gil tried to get up and Heather pulled his hand and him back down, she had a ferociously tight grip on his hand. The doctor noticed Gil wrenching. “Ah is this your husband? Would you mind going around to the other side of the bed please?”

Gil started to chuckle and Heather said quietly “No he’s just a dear friend. Dr Blum am I going to be blind?” Again Gil heard the edge to Heather’s voice as he walked around to the other side and took her left hand. “I’m right here.”

“One thing at a time. It’s not uncommon with diabetes to need laser surgery. But your case, you broke some major blood vessels to both eyes and we had some work to do in there. You may or may not. I can’t tell until I look and all the blood leaves your eyes again. That could take some time. So, now keep your eyes closed after I take off the bandages.”

He removed the layers of gauge and tape quickly. “Now slowly open them, let me know if you see anything. The room’s dark.”

Heather slowly opened her eyes. She had turned her head slightly toward Gil’s direction. “I don’t see anything. It’s all black.”

“Umm, I’m going to flash a light in your eye let me know.” He turned her face towards him and moved the penlight up and down in front of her, both eyes. “Anything?”

“Nothing.”

“Well, it might just take some time. We’ll keep you bandaged for a few days and check you out in the mornings. Okay, see you tomorrow.” He finished rebandaging Heather’s eyes and tilted his head to show Gil ‘outside please’.

“Heather, I’ll be right back.” He followed the doctor out the door. “Dr Blum, what’s going on? Is Heather blind? How much damage did she do?”

“Well you could see the amount of blood that was still in her eyes. That is going to take some time before that all goes away. Right now there’s swelling in the retinas, damage, I just don’t know. She was laying face down according to the paramedics. So the blood pooled in her eyes. I just don’t know. We’ll keep her here for two, three days then....it’s just a matter of time. We just have to wait. She seemed not to be taking care of herself lately, her internist called me this morning, we are meeting later to figure out what course of action to take. Her sugar is still quite high but, it’s coming down. I’m sure she is quite aware of the long term problems, not taking care of yourself.....these people just don’t get it.”

“Heather’s usually very up on this. She’s just been stressed out lately, according to her secretary. But, I think this has scared her enough. She’ll fly right from here on in, I’ll see to that myself.” Gil was telling the doctor he was staying in Heather’s life whether she wanted him to or not. But after her gripping his hand, he had a feeling, she wanted him there. “Thank you Doctor Blum, we will see you tomorrow then.” They shook hands and Gil returned into Heather’s room.

“Well, looks like you have a two or three day vacation here and then home. At least you will get proper food here. NO ‘Poptarts’. “ Heather stuck her tongue out at Gil, which made him laugh. “That’s my girl.” He sat down back on her bed and took her hand and kissed it. “We’ll get thru this no matter what the outcome is, and it WILL be good.” Gil knew he had the element of surprise on his side, since she couldn’t see. He quickly leaned forward and kissed Heather. She didn’t fight him off. Instead her hand went straight for his face and got him in the throat. The action made him choke. He pulled away quickly. “Heather? You don’t want me to kiss you do you?” His voice was full of disappointment and slight anger.

“I just can’t find you! I was aiming for your hair.” The sobs started. Gil just grabbed her and held on as she sobbed her heart and fears out. Neither one of them saw or heard Rachael open and quietly close the door. As she walked to the elevator she was smiling.


***************

Several days had gone by and there was no change. The doctors said her sugar was under control and that time was the only thing that would be needed to know if she was blind permantely or what. Gil drove Heather back to the Dominion.

“Really, you should stay with me, I got plenty of vacation time and......”

“Gil, NO! I know my house, I know my space. Besides the girls are there 24/7. Rachael lives there. So, it will be easier. Really. You can come after work and go home to sleep. Stop by on the way to the office. Remember Dr Blum said NO physical excerse but walking. So....”

He parked the car and they walked arm in arm into the Domination. Rachael had kept things on an even keel while Heather was gone. Rachael was in the private quarters when they came in.

“Oh no! I wanted to be finished before you got home. Darn, “

Gil looked around the room, it was cleared on breakable items, there were flowers sitting around but against the wall so they could not be knocked over. He smiled at Rachael. “Well, you sure have been busy! Room’s been picked clean Heather, not one piece of crystal anywhere. Ummm flowesr are nice. Here.” He took Heather’s hand and guided her to the bowl of gardenias sitting on the living room table. He looked into the sunroom and saw a bowl full of peonies. He walked Heather toward them. Her nose was twitching like a rabbit’s.

“Peonies? What did you do, different flowers in different rooms? So I can sniff my way around?” It came out the wrong way. Rachael’s look was disappointment. Heather sensed it. “No Rachael, this is great! Really, thank you. I was trying to figure out how I was going to maneuver this works great. I’m going to sound like I have a cold, but this will work.” Her hands were reaching in the air trying to find Rachael, who quickly planted herself in front of Heather. Then Heather got Rachael in the jaw. “Oh, I am SO sorry. This is going to take some getting used to. Thank you.” She hugged the young girl. “Really thank you, for everything. I know you have been working hard while I was gone. I’m sure everything is perfect. Do I smell lunch? Smells like tuna salad and (sniff sniff) parsley, (sniff sniff) mmmm, peaches.” She was proud of naming the smells. “Guess I should get used to doing things this way.”

“Heather, it’s temporary.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But for now, this is the way it is, so I’m dealing with it. Only thing I think I will pass on are the candles. Right now, I don’t think me around open flame is a good idea. Not unless someone is in the room with me.”

The three of them sat down and ate the lunch Rachael fixed. After Rachael cleared the dishes and served them coffee, she started to head downstairs, but not before giving Heather a small cube. “What is this?” She turned it over in her hands.

“It’s a baby monitor. All you need do is call for me and I’ll pop right up. You keep this with you ALL THE TIME. Do you hear me? Sorry Lady Heather. Please keep this with you. Otherwise I will move the entire office up here.” She looked over at Gil, he was smiling from ear to ear and mouthed ‘thank you’.

“Okay, I know when I’m licked.. Don’t you dare say one word Gil, I can hear you smirking. Thank you Rachael. Promise it will stay with me. Go I’ll be fine. I’ll just walk around for a bit then take a nap. Funny how tired you are when you been resting in the hospital. It’s good to be home.” She was holding Gil’s hand.

“Okay, I think I can trust Mr Grissom, with you. Ten minutes and it’s nap time for her...alone.” She winked as she left them.

“Got yourself an army Sargent. I feel better now.”

Heather laughed, “Take me with you! Help! Don’t leave me here with her!! Help!” They both started to laugh. It felt good to be able to laugh together again. “Really Gil, I’m fine, you can go. I know you are tired, with work and staying with me... go please.”

“Can I stay and tuck you in? Promise no more than just tucking, hugging and spooning until you fall asleep. Scout’s honour.” He held up his fingers and realized she couldn’t see it and he put his hand down quickly.

“Gil, be normal please. You didn’t cross your heart.” They both laughed as Gil lead them to her bedroom. “Been a long time since you were last here. Ummm roses. She put the roses in here. What colour are they?”

“Your favorite, pink and dethorned. I told the florist to keep them coming. Different flowers for each room. Until further notice.”

“You did that? Gil, I can afford to....” She sighed. “I know, I know. Thank you. But you don’t need to, just you being here is what I need. Tuck me in and spoon me.”

Gil pulled back the duvet cover and took off Heather’s shoes. “Want to change into something else? Don’t mind helping you take off your clothes.” He coughed. “I’ll keep my eyes closed.”
He could have kicked himself for saying that.

“Funny Mr Grissom. I know you well enough to know you would peek. No just tuck and spoon.” They laid down and Gil wrapped his arms around Heather and she nuzzled into his folds. Since both of them were sound asleep.

**********

Several weeks went by, with Gil coming over before going to work and after he got off of work. He took Heather to all the doctor appoints. Rachael made sure the hypospray needle was filled and checked on Heather, when she didn’t hear anything for a while. Heather spent most of her time in the sunroom, feeling the warmth on her face. It made her know when it was daylight and nighttime. Gil brought her ‘Talking Books’, Rachael got her hooked on knitting, however there were more holes than knit in her work. But it kept her busy and past the hours for her No matter how she tried, she couldn’t get into the soap operas the girls chatted about. Each morning Rachel would go thru the books and read aloud who was there the previous night and the receipts of the night, then she waited for Gil to come and she would scoot off to bank and run errands.

Gil and Heather were talking about any and everything. Heather brought up selling the business again and she had gotten another offer, sounded good. They wanted to keep things has they were. But they would bring in their own manager and secretary. This would mean Rachael would have to either be another one of the ‘girls’ or look for a new job. Heather was feeling guilty about it.

“Heather, you have to look out for you. The girls will be fine, they will be taken care of. Rachael, she’s been your Godsend. You can either keep her on as your companion, or marry me and give her a nice severance package.”

“What did you say?”

“You can give Rachael a nice severance package.”

“No before that.”

“Ummm what did I say......oh right. Marry me.”

“Gil! I will not be....”

“Heather don’t start with me. You are NOT a burden, I want to take care of you. I want us to be together permanently. I’ve waited fifty two years to get married and I don’t want to wait much longer, I found my woman.”

“Gil, I ... I can’t even see the look in your eyes right now. No, not until I can see again. NO. But the severance package, that you can help me with. Enough to set Rachael up if she wants, so she can decide what to do with her life. I’ll keep her with me until she decides. I should clear about twenty million with this sale. I think one million sounds about right for her. Can you read over the contract from the lawyer for me. I didn’t want Rachael to see it before. My lawyer came by yesterday with it. But I want to make sure it’s what he said it does.”

“Sure, I’ll read it. Heather......”

“Gil, not now. When I can see you. Please, then.”

*************

Rachael was very pleased with the severance package, but until things were right with Heather wanted to stay with her. They found a nice four bedroom house where they could both have some private space, yet be close if needed. It was a two story house, Heather really didn’t want separate floors, but... steps were not something she enjoyed while blind. Rachael went about furnishing it with all the items Heather wanted from the Domination, the paintings and items from her private area, other than that she wanted nothing. Rachael, now had the money to buy the things she dreamed up. They spend hours together with Rachael describing what she brought.

One afternoon Rachael was in the garden planting flowers when she heard Heather let out a slight scream before she heard the thud. She went racing into the house, just as Gil was opening the front door, he also heard the scream.

Gil got to Heather first, she was laying at the bottom of the steps. She was shaken and somewhat stunned, but otherwise okay. Gil was on his knees in front of her, pushing her hair back off her face. Rachael came flying thru the kitchen door, almost tripping over both of them in the rush to get to Heather.

“Heather! Are you alright? Honey?” He helped her to a sitting position, he was still on his knees, paler then she was. Heather just nodded, she had her hands on Gil’s arms. She needed a steady balance right then. “Honey, what happened? You missed the first step didn’t you? You hard headed....you couldn’t wait for Rachael? You .....Heather?”

She was looking at Gil, with her head cocked to the side. “You need a haircut.”

“What?”

“You need a haircut.” She started laughing. “I can see. Gil, I can see! Three.” She answered as Gil held up three fingers.

“Rachel, call Dr Blum, tell him we are on the way.” Gil got Heather to her feet. “Everything else okay, don’t feel like you broke anything? “

Rachael came running back in, “He said to bring her right in to the office. I’m coming too. Are you okay? I should have been inside. Damn it.”

“Rachael ! I’m fine, really I am. Just wanted to come down for a cup of tea. You need some time for yourself. It was totally my fault. Rachael....it was my fault. But I can see. I must have jarred something loose. Gil, can we go now? Please.”

***************

Both Gil and Rachael paced the floor at Dr Blum’s office. They kept plowing into one another in the process. The receptionist behind the sliding glass door, couldn’t stop laughing at the sight of them. She figured in 15 minutes they were either going to wear the carpet out or knock each other out, she was betting on the latter.

Finally the door to the office opened and Dr Blum wiggled his fingers for them to come in. They both plowed into one another again, which only drove the receptionist under the counter with laughter.

Sitting in the darkened room, Heather was waiting. She had no expression. Gil went right over to her and held her hand. Rachel stayed further away, all three were looking at Dr Blum with baited breath. He sat down on his stool and turned to them.

“Well, just about all the bloods gone from the eyes. That’s good, retinas look good. The fall must have dislodged a clot that was pressing on the nerve. If this is permanent or temporary, I can’t say. But you seem to have your sight back, not totally what it was but darn close. You are one damn lucky lady. I want to keep monitoring you. But for now, go home enjoy. Wear sunglasses, you are going to be sensitive for a while.”

***************

Gil took them out to celebrate this joyful occasion. While they were waiting for their meal to arrive, Gil excused himself saying he needed to make a call and it was work related. Heather and Rachael chatted while he was gone. The food came and still, no Gil. Heather was wondering what had happened. She was getting ready to ask Rachael to borrow her cell phone, when Gil popped back into the booth.

“Sorry, I had to go pick up something. He pushed a small box toward Rachael, Rachael picked the box up and opened it.

She gasped, it was three gold hearts linked together with a diamond in the center one. “Mr Gil, this is lovely, but who is this for? ME? Why? What did I do?” She was running her finger over it.

“Rachel, you have done more than you will ever know. You got Heather and I together again. The diamond in the middle is you.” Gil leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Thank you, because I was wondering if I was EVER going to be able to give Heather this.” He opened up a second box. A ring box, containing a pear shaped diamond engagement ring. “You said for me to ask you when you could see. You can see. I’ve had this on hold for WEEKS I think the jeweler was ready to put it back out in the case. I’m glad he didn’t. So will you Heather? Marry me now? Today? After we finish here? Or do you want a fancy wedding with all the trimmings?”

“Today, is fine. One condition, well two really. Rachael’s my maid of honour, you call Catherine for your ‘best man’.” Gil nodded agreement. “The second one, Rachael, you take the house lock, stock and barrel. It’s totally yours.”

Rachael’s mouth dropped open, then closed. Tears started to roll down her face, she just nodded yes.

“Well, then should we finish here and then go get married Mr Grissom? I think both of us have waited long enough. And Rachael here, she’s going to start her new life too. To a new beginning.” She raised her glass, the other two followed suit, they clinked glasses. Then Gil made his phone call to Catherine.