Author's Notes: Well, here's a new installment in this long series. I need a name for it. Emmithar, care to do the honors:P
The Previous stories are as follows (you can find them listed on my profile page):
1) Remorse
2) Jealousy
3) Denial
4) Shadows
5) Betrayal
Let me know if you're still reading.
Jenny
Healing:
Chapter One:
"So you're telling me that you and Nick are both down with the flu and can't come in tonight?" Grissom asked skeptically, "Do you really expect me to believe that?"
Sara coughed unconvincingly, suppressing a giggle as Nick buried his face into the couch cushions as he began to laugh, "If you really want us, we can come in, but we've both been puking all day, we may compromise a crime scene."
"But it's Greg's first night back." Grissom replied, "I would have thought you, of all people, would want to be a part of his welcome back."
With a sigh, Sara replied in what she hoped was a concerned voice, "Oh, I didn't even realize that was tonight. Give him our regrets. We should be feeling better tomorrow, I'll let you know."
She hung up before he could make another argument, and burst into laughter, "He knows we're both damn liars."
"You're the worst liar I've ever seen. Next time, I get to call...he might have believed me." Nick teased, growing more serious as he pulled her into his arms, "What are you going to do tomorrow, the next day? You can't avoid Greg forever."
Sara was silent for a few moments, before flashing Nick an embarrassed smile, "Find a new job?"
"It won't be that bad." Nick consoled, "Maybe a bit awkward, but if you talk to Grissom, he would probably keep the two of you separate."
Sara shook her head, "I don't want that. I don't know...I'm not sure exactly what I want. I'm not ready to see him, though, that's for sure."
"Sara, it's been 3 months, surely you aren't still hung up on the baby thing?" Nick chided, "You can't change the past, you just need to work on the future. I hate to see you so upset over something you can't change."
"I just can't believe he'd sleep with her." Sara pouted, leaning against the couch cushions as she brought her feet to rest on Nick's lap.
Nick sighed, patting her feet gently, "We all hate her, Sara, but Greg's a grown man. Catherine warned him about her, it's up to him to take the next step. We can't hold his hand through this, no matter how much we want to."
"I just hate to see him get hurt." Sara replied quietly, "Or worse...he's already been through so much."
Nick nodded with a sigh, "I know, Sara, believe me, I worry too...but you're almost obsessed with both Greg and Angelle, and you have no idea how unhealthy that is." He stood, letting her feet fall as he held out his hand, "What you need, is a distraction. Let's go get some dinner, then we'll head to a movie or something. We finally both have a night off together, let's make it memorable."
--
Greg nervously walked into the break room, spinning his pen on the table as he waited for the others, namely Sara, to arrive. He knew he was early, nearly half an hour, but he was hoping that his workaholic ex-girlfriend was still as dedicated as she was the last time they worked together. He had been disappointed to not see her car when he arrived, but he was still holding on to hope that she'd show up before the rest of his coworkers.
He was surprised to see Grissom's face first...normally their supervisor waited until the last possible moment before joining the group...and with a weak smile, he greeted the older man.
"Good to have you back, Greg. It's going to be a busy night, Nick and Sara are out with the flu, and Catherine's staying home with Lyle, he's got some sort of respiratory infection. Warrick's on his way, though." Grissom offered, pouring himself a cup of coffee as he sat opposite of the younger man, "Sara and Nick wanted me to let you know they're sorry to miss your first night back."
Disappointment filled Greg's heart as he heard Sara wouldn't be making it in to work, but he managed another small smile for his supervisor, "What do we have in so far?"
"We've had a few B&Es, but none that need our help yet. Days were swamped, half their team are pulling doubles." Grissom replied, "Are you sure you're ready to jump back into the swing of things?"
"I'm positive." Greg replied, "I was nervous at first, but I'm ready now."
"Greg! Welcome back!" Warrick greeted as he walked into the door, his hair disheveled, "Where's everyone else?"
"We're it." Greg offered, looking up towards the doorway, "Nick and Sara are out sick."
"So that's why you sounded so upset when Catherine called in." Warrick commented towards Grissom with a knowing nod, "Sorry man."
Grissom shrugged, "You can't control your health. I hope Lyle starts feeling better soon."
Rubbing his tired eyes, Warrick nodded in agreement, "So do I, he's been one miserable little boy."
Grissom's pager went off, and he motioned towards both Greg and Warrick, "419, the Venetian. Brass will meet you there."
"And so it begins." Warrick commented to Greg as they moved towards the doorway, "Welcome back, nothing like a 419 to christen your first night back."
--
"Are you serious? You've got to be freaking kidding." Alcide Arceneaux questioned, "I know you ain't stupid enough to let the man work to the place where his ex works."
Angelle sighed, balancing the phone on her ear, "Alcide, it's not like that. I have to convince him that I'm on his side, that I want what's best for him."
"Girl, I didn't raise no fool." Alcide spoke harshly, "He's a target, nothing more." He paused with a rattling sigh, "You fallin' fo' him, ain't you?"
Angelle moaned, falling onto the couch, "I don't know Alcide...I like him, I do, I feel bad about hurting him. He's a good kid."
"He's a good kid with a good savings account." he replied harshly, his thick Southern accent causing his words to run together, "You got him convinced you in the family way?"
"Of course, Alcide! I've done this before, and he's so innocent...it didn't take much convincing." Angelle sighed, "I hate to take advantage of such a good kid."
Alcide cleared his throat, speaking in his heavy, raspy voice, "Mon Cher, remember where you come from, who you loyal to. Those ain't your people, your people are back here. Don't go gettin' attached to those West Coast folk. You come back to your home once the job is done."
"Alright, alright. I know there's a job to be done, and I'm working on it. He must have built up some sort of resistance to the tea, because the Jimson Weed isn't working anymore. I'm going to start on something new when he gets home tonight." Angelle relented, "Don't worry about it. I'll get it taken care of."
"C'est Bon. Au Revoir, mon cher."
"Au Revoir, Nonc Alcide."
Angelle hung up the phone, sighing heavily as she pressed it to her heart. She was faced with a tough decision...should she remain loyal to her family or to the man she was possibly falling in love with? With tear-filled eyes, she flipped the stereo on. Hopefully the answer would reside somewhere in the multitude of country lyrics blasting through the speakers.
--
"This is going to be a madhouse." Warrick muttered, making his way to the restaurant in the Venetian, "Who shoots someone in the middle of a crowded restaurant? In a casino?"
"Someone with nothing to lose?" Greg asked dryly, "We'll be interviewing people for hours."
Warrick sighed heavily, "Let's get cracking, then. I'll take the casino side, you take the window side."
Greg nodded, shifting his kit to his opposite hand as he made his way towards a few officers, who were talking to a couple near the doorway.
As he got close enough to recognize their familiar faces, his heart fell into his stomach. Giving her statement was none other than the same woman who had been occupying his every thought since their last meeting three months ago.
Her name flowed off his lips in a short breath, causing not only her, but Nick and the two officers as well, to glance in his direction.
"Greg."
"Sara."
TBC