There and back
Summary: After the disaster at the crime scene, Sara and Greg take a break to visit Greg's family, but after their return they have to prove themselves if they are able to settle in again. SaraGreg Sequel to 'Through the night'
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of its characters.
Rating: K+
A/N: This story will be much slower paced than my last one, both in updating frequency and in the story itself. So keep your caffeine ready to stay awake! ; )
Chapter 1: Keep in mind
The sun had not even risen on the sky above Las Vegas when Sara was steering her car out of the parking lot near her apartment.
Greg made himself comfortable on the passenger's seat for a long travel, as Sara would drive the whole way to California, where the both of them wanted to visit Greg's family.
Greg was not able to drive, as his leg was not healed yet after he had broken it during an incident at a crime scene that had left both of them injured.
Sara had been wounded and had actually been in a much worse condition than Greg, but her injuries had proved to be not such a long lasting annoyance – as it deeply felt to Greg – like his, though he had to admit that they could be happy – and Greg profoundly was – that they had gotten out of the whole mess alive.
After they both had been out of hospital, Grissom had declared that he would not let them enter the lab for another two weeks and so Greg and Sara had decided to visit Greg's family like they had already planned to do before the disaster happened.
Greg leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
He wondered what Sara thought about the trip. He had been a little unsure if she would agree with it when he had suggested it for the first time, but she had done so almost without objection. Her only objection had actually been the question if they both would get the vacation time, but this was no problem now, as they both were on paid leave for another two weeks.
After they had talked about it for the first time, they had not gotten any opportunity to talk about the idea any further, as it had been the night when the incident had happened.
Then the whole idea had been on hold, but now they were both on their feet again – Greg only partly though - and Sara had brought up the idea again.
Greg was happy about that and to him it was simple: he visited his family and had invited his girlfriend - Greg swallowed happily at this thought - to come with him, as she was now family for him as well.
He looked at Sara. As in the meantime the sun had gone up and blending light was filling the car, she had put on her sunglasses.
Greg smiled at her and Sara asked, pursing her lips, "What's up?"
"I'm just admiring you."
"Flatterer."
"I have my reasons."
"I know that too well." Sara grinned and if they had not been on the freeway, Greg would probably have put his desire to kiss her down into practice immediately.
A couple of hours later they pulled into the parking lot of a small diner. Greg had insisted on frequent breaks, as Sara had to drive the whole way. After all she still needed rest as well.
Greg ordered two cups of coffee and muffins.
"I know you like them," he grinned. "I'd love to bring you the breakfast, but I guess I'd spill the coffee out of the cups trying to skip from the bar to the table."
"Oh, you mean what you said when we both had breakfast together for the first time?"
"Yeah," Greg looked a little disappointed.
"Come on, Greg, the plaster will be off soon and then you can jump around as much as you want."
Greg smiled weakly and at this moment the waitress brought their breakfast.
Sara chewed on a muffin and watched how Greg shoveled the food into himself.
The prospect of meeting his family felt a little odd to Sara. She guessed that for him it was the most normal thing in the world, like inviting a friend, only that they were a little farther than that, while Sara all in all did not really know what to expect.
She took a large gulp of coffee and asked, "Why didn't your parents come to Vegas after what happened…?"
Greg shrugged. "I called them from the hospital. My mother wanted to come of course, but I told her that they really don't need to. I promised I'd visit them once I'm on my feet again."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Sara frowned.
"Come on, Sara. I was worried for you and I was sure that I wouldn't go anywhere before you were better."
Greg stuffed a muffin in his mouth, while Sara remained silent.
Greg stopped chewing and swallowed his food hastily. "Hey, and of course I prefer going together with you." Sara grinned and did what Greg had been waiting for the whole morning.
It was late in the afternoon when Sara stopped the car on Greg's instruction in front of a middle sized house. It lay in a comparatively quiet street and there was no noise except that from the single car that was going by when they got off their car.
Greg hobbled towards the front door. He turned his head to Sara who was walking around the car to the trunk. "Do you come? I still have a key, so we can go in."
"I'll follow you in a minute with the luggage," Sara replied and opened the trunk.
Actually she wanted to give Greg a moment with his parents alone before she went in, too, and she wanted to give herself a moment alone as well, being not the most sociable of persons and fearing to disappoint Greg if she acted unintentionally too coldly towards his family.
Greg still looked at her, waiting. "Get going, Greg," she said in a slightly threatening voice and Greg did so, though grinning.
Greg halfway hobbled, halfway skipped to the entrance door and unlocked it. He let it open for Sara to follow and made his way slowly into the house. He heard activity in the kitchen and opened the kitchen door.
His mother was busy preparing large amounts of food, apparently doing several things at the same time, but when she saw Greg standing in the door she dropped everything and hurried over to him, half smiling, half looking sadly.
"Oh, Greg, there are you." She hugged him. "What on earth are you doing?" she asked worriedly, looking at his plastered leg.
"It's okay, really." Greg looked at the food that was pilled up in the kitchen. "And what's that all for?"
Greg's mother shook her head. "For you of course. You have to eat at least once properly," she said. "Look at you. I know that you don't cook for yourself, you don't eat enough and not the right things and that's because you still live alone and -," she stopped suddenly, looking at something behind Greg, who knew that his time of perdition had finally come.
Sara came up to them, smiling, and stopped next to Greg.
Greg's mother looked surprised. "And who are you?" she asked Sara, nevertheless in a friendly manner.
Sara turned her head to Greg, frowning, unbelieving. "You didn't tell them?"
TBC