Chapter two: Pinning Away
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Chapter Spoiler: One word….Hank and everything that goes with him.
A/N: I know what you're thinking, but don't worry. Sara belongs with Greg and it will happen just be patient.
The shift had ended. Everyone was on their way home. Catherine, Nick, Warrick, and Grissom had already gone. Sara and Greg were in the parking lot. Greg looked around for Sara's vehicle.
"Where's your car?" Greg asked a little concerned.
"It's in the shop. Don't worry though. Hank is picking me up." She said to him.
He nodded. He still stood. He acted very casual. He placed his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth.
"What are you doing?" Sara asked.
"Waiting for Hank," Greg replied as if it should have been obvious.
Sara gave him a weird look. She knew his car was par-….then it clicked. She held her smile within.
"Greg, you can go. I'll be fine. He'll be here in a few minutes." Sara told him.
"It's fine. I'll wait. I am not going to leave you alone out here."
He was being sweet. He's just being nice. He's worried and is going to make sure his coworker gets off safely. That's what her head was telling her, but she couldn't shake the deep down feeling of how nice it was to have him there beside her. Hank pulled up. Sara and Greg parted ways.
Greg sat in his car. His engine was running, but he couldn't make him move. Sara had long gone off with Hank. He let out a sigh. She would never see him as anything else than a friend at the most. He drove off to his house. He entered and locked the door behind him. He collapsed onto his bed with a heavy sigh
Sara was sitting next to Hank on the sofa. They were cuddled up with one another watching a movie. Her head rested on his shoulder. Later that afternoon, he left leaving her to climb into bed for a couple of hours before shift.
When time for the shift rolled around, Sara realized that Hank was late. He had never been late to get her before. She called his phone, but had no answer. Finally, she called the first person that came to mind.
"Hello?" came the newly awakened voice.
"Greg! I'm glad you picked up. Do you think that it would put you out to much if you swung by here on your way? I can't seem to get in touch with Hank. I wouldn't-"
He cut her off by telling her that it would not be any inconvenience to stop by to get her. He'd be there in ten minutes. She smiled at the mere fact that he was going to come get her. She shook it from her. She made sure everything was turned off and was ready to go when he arrived.
"Do you want me to take you home tonight?"
"No, Hank will pick me up tonight; I just don't know where he is right now and can't wait any longer. Shift will be starting soon."
They walked in to the LVCL. He went to the locker room, took off his shirt and put on his LVCL uniform. Sara walked in right as the uniform came to rest just below his hips. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She had caught a small, quick glimpse of his stomach. Nice…She told herself to shut up and walked over to her own locker. She grabbed her shirt and buttoned it over her original one. She looked over.
"See you in assignments," she said, as she turned to leave.
He only nodded. He didn't stand a chance. She was with Hank. She was happy. He could never fulfill that. That would never be required of him. He left and headed to the break room.
"Hey, rookie," Nick said.
Greg smiled at Nick.
"You were once Level One yourself."
"Yea, and one day if you keep it up and don't cause trouble with me, you might stay at Level One."
"You threatening to do something you have no power for?"
They both laughed.
"How are you besides in a mood to make fun of me?"
"I've been alright." Nick said.
Greg had told Nick that he was glad Nick was doing well. They talked and goofed around for a few more minutes. They were handed a few minor cases. There had been two burglaries, other than that nothing. Greg and Sara were headed out. Greg stood beside her just like he had last night. They had been there fifteen minutes already. She sighed.
"Want a lift?" Greg asked.
"You sure you don't mind?"
"It would be my pleasure." Greg said.
They walked to his car in silence. Greg knew something wasn't right. He got in and started driving towards her apartment.
"Umm, Greg?"
"What did I miss my turn?" He asked kind of scared that his thoughts of her had caused him to miss a turn.
She smiled and shook her head.
"Actually, I was thinking if it's not too much trouble, could you take me to Hank's? I want to see if he is alright." She asked concern for Hank in her voice.
He only nodded. He couldn't speak. The mere thought of him having to take her, to her boyfriend's house, sent a lump to his throat he could not swallow. I want you to come home with me. Why go to Hank's? You can come over and talk. We can play games and his thoughts were cut into by another one. And act like hormone driven teenagers. He shook the thoughts clear.
"Thanks." She said plainly.
She told him how to get there. She took out her keys and went up to his door. He was going to wait there for a little while to make sure she got in fine. When she was shutting the door, she waved to him. He waved back and watched the door closed. He let out the heavy sigh he had been holding. He put his head on the wheel.
Sara walked in and called out for Hank. She had spotted his car, but hadn't heard him call back. She walked slowly towards the bedroom. She found him asleep half covered in sheets next to some woman who was clearly not her. There was no way to mistake this woman as Sara, even if you were drunk and going crazy at the same time. Sara grew furious.
"What the he-!" Sara couldn't even finish her sentence.
Hank jolted awake.
"Sar, it's not what you think?"
"Not what I think? Oh no Hank you were just playing house, and you grew tired and" She stopped herself and left the room.
He got up threw on his boxers and ran after her.
"Sara." Hank began.
"Save it, Hank." She said as she slammed the door in his face.
She walked out and started walking down the walkway. Tears began slowly falling off her face. She wiped them away and notice Greg was still here. She walked up to the car and tapped lightly on the window. He looked up and rolled down the window. He was about to say something when he caught the look in her eyes. He opened his door and quickly got out. Without thinking, he grabbed her into his arms.
"Can you take me anywhere but a place where I have to be alone?"
He didn't know what was up. All he knew was she needed a friend. He was going to be that friend.
"Yea, come on. I know a place."
He drove up to a nice cozy restaurant he knew of. They got out and went in. They were seated. He sat across from her. Not sure if she wanted him directly beside her. She looked up at him an embarrassed smiled clearly displayed.
"Sara, you're going to be ok. Whatever happened, I'm here."
"Thanks."
She didn't feel any better. The image she got earlier of Greg came back to her. It was her emotions using it to comfort her. She was running because she was vulnerable. Greg bought her and himself a drink.
"Want to talk about it?" He asked cautiously.