Ties by SLynn
Summary: Kidnapping, competition and change. Lots of change. Takes place approximately three months after the end of 'Appreciation'. Sixth in the ill-named 'Happy Enough' series. Greg/Sara and Nick/OFC
Spoilers: Up to 'Nesting Dolls'
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.
Chapter 2: The More Things Change…
Sara checked the clock in the break room before standing and stretching. She'd been at the lab for almost two hours reviewing for a court appearance in the morning. Okay, so not just reviewing; she was also waiting for Greg.
That morning she had fully expected him to be at home sleeping when she returned from shift, but instead she got three voice mails and an empty bed. Then, to top things off, when he did call to let her know he was back in Vegas it was also to let her know that he had to go straight in to work.
Sara was trying to be understanding, knew that Greg was working a lot of extra and uncalled for hours in order to earn this promotion, but it was getting absurd.
Of course, it could be worse.
Nick and Amy had also gone to separate shifts. With Thompsen's retirement Amy moved into his old position on swings, but that wasn't good enough for the front office. Since Amy would be going on maternity leave in a few months, Ecklie had wanted to ensure that the rotating tech for swings and the new tech for graves were completely up to date on protocol and procedure. As a result, Amy got the worst hours of all, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. And if that wasn't bad enough, as Greg had predicted, finding a replacement had not been easy.
On cue, Amy popped in with a new tech in tow; the third new DNA tech to be hired in so many months.
"Hi Sara," Amy said, with as much cheerfulness as she could manage. "This is Mia Dickerson, she starts tonight."
"Nice to meet you," Sara said coming over to shake the woman's hand.
"Sara Sanders is one of the investigators you'll be working with on grave shift," Amy filled in, fighting back a terrific yawn. "Excuse me."
"How was your appointment today?" Sara asked, unable to keep from smiling at Amy's ever expanding stomach.
"Invasive," Amy returned flatly. "I know that pregnancy is supposed to be one of the most miraculous, wonderful, awe-inspiring times in your life, but I can't wait for it to be over with."
Sara laughed but Mia looked mildly uncomfortable.
"I saw Greg earlier," Amy said, "I didn't think he was working today. Didn't he just get back?"
"When was he here?" Sara asked, knowing she arrived at about the start of Amy's shift.
"It was around six I think."
"Six?" Sara asked back in surprise. "How long have you been on?"
"Since five," Amy said, yawning once more. "Wendy had some problem with… honestly, I don't remember."
Amy looked at Mia with a mixture of hope and dread.
"Enough chit-chat," she sighed. "We've still got the rest of the lab to explore. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Amy. Mia."
Amy waved and Mia managed a small, tight smile in return.
Sara didn't think she'd last a week.
Gathering up her things, Sara returned them to the file cabinet before running into Warrick.
"You look beat," she commented.
"Guess you haven't heard the news," he returned.
"Why? What's going on?"
"You'll see," he answered cryptically, heading off towards Catherine's office.
"Hey," Sara called out, "is Greg back?"
"Check the locker room."
"Thanks," Sara called out over her shoulder as she hurried in that direction.
Sara entered the room only to discover it empty. She walked over to his locker, saw it undone, and then headed to the door for the men's shower.
Before she had the chance to knock, Greg came banging out the door looking extremely disgruntled. But that all changed when he saw her there.
"Hey," he said, taking her into his arms. "I'm so glad to see you."
Sara smiled and not knowing what to say, kissed him instead. They'd only been apart for a week, but it had felt much, much longer.
"You look exhausted," was the first thing she'd managed after they'd broke apart.
"I am," he returned, but still smiling. "All I want to do is to go home and crawl into bed with you."
"I'd like that too, but…"
"I know," he sighed, "work. It's alright; I'll save a spot for you in the morning."
"Did you forget?"
"Forget what?" he asked.
"I have court tomorrow morning. It might take all day."
"Seriously?" he asked completely crestfallen.
"I'm sorry," she returned, moving her hands to his face. "But you've got tomorrow off, right? Catherine can't ask…"
But Greg was already shaking his head.
"I'm on," he cut in. "We're all on until this case is solved. I'm supposed to be in her office now for a meeting."
"What case?"
"Allison Whittington," Greg answered. "She was kidnapped. It's been nine hours and still no ransom. Doesn't look good."
Sara let her hands fall to his shoulders.
"I shouldn't keep you then," she returned with dejection in her voice.
Greg nodded but hadn't moved. It was too nice being near her.
The main door opened loudly causing both Greg and Sara look over. Nick briefly acknowledged their presence without speaking before turning to his locker.
Sara looked back to Greg, who was still staring off at Nick.
"Aren't you ever going to let it go?" she whispered, drawing his attention back to her.
"I will when he admits he was wrong," he whispered back.
"It was his decision," she quietly reprimanded, "not yours. It's done. You can't…"
"I've got to go," Greg cut in quickly, kissing her on the cheek and heading for the door.
Nick looked up and watched him go before turning to Sara. She in turn, rolled her eyes and fixed him with a hard look.
"What?"
"What?" she echoed, coming over and sitting beside him. "You know what."
"It's his problem," Nick returned, "not mine."
"If you'd just talk to him…"
"I tried," he interrupted. "He won't listen. He doesn't want to listen."
Sara sighed and shook her head. She knew they were both stubborn, but this had gone on too long.
"It was my call and I did the right thing."
"No," Sara corrected, "you did the easy thing."
Nick slammed his locker but Sara didn't even flinch.
"Oretga's in jail," he shot back. "What else does he want?"
"She's not in jail," Sara said, growing more frustrated with each word. "She's in a minimum security mental health care facility because you let her plea out. Not for five years, not for ten, until she's well."
"Which isn't going to be for some time."
"Nick," Sara said, "she isn't mentally ill. She could walk out of there any time. You know it and so do I."
Nick exhaled and rubbed his face vigorously with both hands.
"What was I supposed to do?" he asked. "What, Sara? Was I supposed to let it go to trial? You know what would have happened, right? It wouldn't have been about her. The defense would have put Greg on trial instead. Dragged up God knows what and the media would have crucified him."
Sara nodded as her anger deflated. She knew it was true.
"I understand why you did it," Sara began but stopped as the door opened once again.
"Hey," Warrick called over to them, "Grissom and Catherine want everyone in the conference room, right now."
Sara gave him a look that said clearly 'this isn't over' before following Warrick out the door.
The room was fairly full with all of the swing and graves inside, and to her great surprise days as well. Additionally, all the techs were on hand from each shift. Greg was stuffed off in the far corner, making it next to impossible for Sara to join him. Instead she shuffled in as best she could.
"That everyone?" Ecklie asked, scanning the crowd once. "Good. Some of you know that Allison Whittington, daughter of Councilwoman Whittington, was taken from her school by unknown assailants at approximately 1400 hours. The local stations have received this video within the last hour. Whoever sent it is demanding it be run tomorrow during all the news broadcasts or else they'd start sending us pieces of the girl."
Ecklie paused to review his notes.
"Now,' he continued. "Detectives Brass and Sullivan will be heading this operation. Questions?"
"What are they asking for?" Tess Bates, grave's newest level two asked.
"So far, nothing."
This response was greeted with an outbreak of murmurs.
"They don't want anything?" Nick asked next.
"They want our attention," Grissom answered.
That seemed to silence the majority of the crowd.
"Do we have anything to go on? Any evidence?" Tess asked once more.
"Days and swings did a sweep of the lot she was taken from," Ecklie returned vaguely, clearly not wanting to admit they had nothing.
Tess turned and looked at Sara, bewildered. Sara fought hard to fight down the urge to laugh.
"Now," Ecklie continued as if he'd actually answered her, "we're all going to have a part of this case. I want each of the shifts to work together. We'll be having a daily all-hands meeting here at 1:45 p.m. to make sure that everyone is kept current."
Sara and Nick exchanged dark looks.
"Additionally," he went on, "I'm appointing one technician from each lab as a liaison. The liaison's will be in charge of briefing the lab and the station on any updates. Jacqui will be our lead for fingerprints. Archie is heading up A/V. Myers for ballistics. Hodges for trace and Sanders has agreed to step in for DNA."
Sara turned with a shocked expression towards Greg, as did the better half of the room. He said nothing, just smiled a very tight, forced smile and kept his arms tucked firmly across his chest.
"That's it then," Ecklie finished. "Your supervisors have your assignments."
Sara, instead of leaving with the rest, fought the tide to try and get to Greg. Amy beat her there by a long shot.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sara could just make-out Amy saying.
"There wasn't time," Greg said earnestly.
"Why are you heading DNA?" Sara asked, finally reaching them both.
Greg looked from one to the other and shook his head.
"I didn't ask to," he said, in a quieter voice obviously not wanting to be heard. "I didn't even want to. Catherine pulls me into her office, says some mumbo-jumbo about being a team player and next thing I know, I'm back in the freakin' lab."
Greg let out a grunt of frustration, before throwing his head back against the wall. His anger seemed to release most of Amy's, who was obviously upset at being so overlooked.
"For the whole case?" Sara questioned, knowing how important it was for him to be in the field now.
Greg shrugged. He had no idea how this was supposed to work.
"We'll figure something out," Amy said reassuringly. "I know what I'm doing, I can keep you up to date without you spending all your time here."
"Thanks," Greg replied sincerely, "but I know Ecklie. If he walks by that lab and I'm not in it… Oh man, I knew I should have told Warrick I wasn't coming in today. I knew it."
Neither Sara nor Amy knew what else to say.
"Well," Greg said to Amy, shaking his head, "we'd better get started. We picked up every spare Styrofoam cup, plastic bottle and cigarette butt within a mile radius of that school today. And it's all going to need to be processed before tomorrow's meeting."
"Is that a joke?"
"I wish," he shot back.
"Greg," Sara said, sounding concerned, "when's the last time you've slept?"
"I know," he sighed, "I know. But the quicker we do this the better. Amy and I can knock this out in no time, I'll see if Wendy will stay a little longer. Maybe the new tech too, what's her name?"
"Mia," Amy provided.
"Yeah, her. Between the four of us it'll take no time. I'll just stay for collection, I promise."
Sara gave him a once over, not convinced.
"I'll kick him out in two hours," Amy stepped in. "Tops."
"Just take it easy," Sara said with no small amount of concern.
"I always do."