A/N: See introduction for disclaimer. I own the names of Greg's parents (who appear in the end part of this section). So, this part looks into the idea that Greg's wandering spirit is now in the waiting room with everyone... and watching them... and commenting on their thoughts. Keep in mind, though, that no matter what Greg is saying, they can't hear him. Okay, that said, enjoy, and please review. :)
Part 2Now every heart has a blindside, where it learns how to improvise
The all-white room he had found himself in previously was changing, and Greg watched in horror as it morphed into a different room with cream colored walls, and clay red and flat black floor tiles. The aged crimson chairs that lined the walls were occupied with all of his friends, everyone from the lab. He sat down on the floor next to Archie, who was crying. "Arch?" Greg asked the A/V tech softly. "Archie?"
"So, now what?" Sara asked, looking at everyone in the room.
"We wait," Grissom replied softly.
"That's it?" Nick asked, anxiety in his voice.
"There's nothing else we can do, Nicky. We can't make him heal. He has to do that on his own."
"But I'm fine," Greg insisted. He didn't know how, but he knew that they were talking about him.
"What if he doesn't?" Nick asked, ignoring Greg. "I don't think I could take losin' him."
"He has a chance," Warrick said.
"We can't play 'what if,' Nicky," Catherine said.
"What can we do, then?" Nick asked.
"Wait. Pray if you're religious." Greg sighed, looking at the distraught faces of his friends.
"But I'm fine, guys," he said loudly. "I'm right here! Can't you see me?" He stood up, walking around and looking at everyone in the room. "Can anyone see me?" He reached out to Warrick, and watched in horror as his hand went right through his friend's shoulder. "I'm a ghost." He looked at the silent, horror-stricken faces of his friends. "I'm a ghost."
Greg moved and sat on the floor in the corner of the room, watching his friends, colleagues, surrogate family. Catherine was holding onto Warrick, both somewhat looking like if they let go of one another, everything would fall apart. Grissom looked stoic, Sara was on the edge of falling apart, but they were hanging onto each other as well. Archie sat in a ball on the floor, crying and ignoring everyone. Wendy and Hodges were whispering to each other in the chairs behind Archie. Nick and Mandy, both soaked, were standing over by the windows watching the rain pour down outside. Greg looked at everyone, sighing.
"I'm going to die," he said aloud. He watched as the door opened, and Brass, Cavaliere, Ecklie, Vega, Vartann, and Sofia all walked in together. "I bet you guys can't see me either."
"Any word?" Sofia asked, not hearing Greg.
"He has trauma induced brain swelling," Grissom said. Greg looked at his boss, eyes wide. "He's lost a lot of blood. He's had surgery to repair the internal bleeding, but he's still got a broken arm and wrist and a couple broken ribs."
"That's all, huh?" Greg asked sarcastically, shaking his head. "No wonder I'm dying." The detectives sat among themselves with the exception of Sofia, who sat next to Archie. Ecklie sat next to Grissom, frowning.
"Have they changed their position?" Ecklie asked.
"They think he might make it if he can get through tonight," Grissom told him.
"So I do have a chance," Greg muttered.
"God damn," Ecklie said softly. "I don't think we can lose another CSI."
"Not our fault Keppler died."
"I know it's not our fault. This isn't a reflection on anyone but the guy driving, but still… we got lucky that Sidle made it okay." Sara squeezed Grissom's hand at that point, and Greg sighed.
"How we ever found her in time, I'll never know."
"We can't lose Sanders, too."
"I think some people might enjoy that, though."
"I don't know," Sara said softly. "I have this weird feeling that he's here. I mean, like, right here, in this room with us."
"Maybe because I am," Greg said softly.
"Sara, come on," Nick groaned from the window. "He's not here with us, he's upstairs fightin' for his life."
"Oh, if only you knew, Nicky."
"Fuck off, Nick," Sara growled. "You take comfort how you will. Maybe it makes me feel better to believe he's here. Why do you have to attack that?"
"Because you're talkin' crazy," Nick shot back.
"Nick, shut up," Mandy said. "You're upset, and you're taking it out on Sara." He sighed, and she hugged him gently.
"I can't stay here."
"This isn't like you, Nicky," Greg said. "You usually don't run away from your problems."
"It's too much," Nick continued, not hearing Greg. "We're all just sittin' here, starin' at one another, holdin' onto each other, for nothin'!"
"You're all here because you're going through this together."
"We're not talkin', we're just silently anxious because we're all thinkin' that at any fuckin' point, the doctor's gonna walk in and tell us that he's dead. I can't take this. I can't take the fuckin' quiet."
"Then start the conversation, dammit. Jesus, Nick, for a CSI 3, you're pretty dumb sometimes."
"So, what? Do we all just fuckin' sit here and stare at one another and pretend like we're… I don't know! What the hell are we doin'?"
"You're waiting for me to make up my fucking mind as to whether or not I'm going to die."
"I can't do this silent shit anymore, so someone please fuckin' decide what the hell we're doin' otherwise."
"You need to calm down, Cowboy," Mandy said. "You freaking out right now isn't going to make Greg get better any quicker. I know you're hurting and the silence annoys you, but you need to calm down, take a step back and about twenty deep breaths." Nick sighed.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. She hugged him gently, and Greg smiled.
"You two should really just get together already," he said. "Of course, you guys really can't hear me, but… damn, this sucks. No one can hear me." He sighed, bringing his knees to his chest.
"I don't know what to say," Grissom told Nick honestly.
"We can't lose him," Sara said.
"The lab wouldn't be the same without him," Hodges muttered. Greg looked at the trace tech.
"You really do like me," he said.
"You actually like him, don't you?" Catherine said to Hodges.
"He's a good kid," Hodges replied defensively. "Fun to pick on. Who will be left if he dies?"
"Maybe we shouldn't think like that," Wendy said. "I mean, about him dying. There's a chance. We should hope, have faith."
"Everything in my gut is telling me worst-case scenario," Warrick said glumly.
"Surprise, I'm still here," Greg said. "Why am I even bothering? You guys don't hear me. Of course, that could be a good thing, considering I'm saying some pretty dumb shit over here."
"I don't know," Wendy said. "I just want to feel like everything's going to be okay."
"The other driver's dead," Nick said calmly. Everyone aside from Sofia and Warrick looked a little shocked. Archie didn't move or react, staying in the ball he had been in since they got there. "The accident was bad. The guy was speedin', and when he tried to stop, it was too late."
"He tried?" Greg muttered into his knees. "Could've fooled me."
"How the hell did Greg make it this far in life?" Sara asked.
"I'm a stubborn little fuck."
"He's tough, Sara," Sofia said softly, resting her hand on Archie's shoulder. Archie looked at her, the first time he'd moved in a while. She gave him a sympathetic smile, and he let go of his legs to put his arms around her as she hugged him gently.
"He didn't die after his lab exploded," Brass said, continuing Sofia's thought.
"Or when he got his ass kicked," Hodges said.
"Though my life would've been easier if I had," Greg mumbled. "Maybe I should just succumb this time."
"He's not going to die this time, either," Brass said.
"Yeah, whatever you say."
"He's a strong kid who's fought to get where he is. He's not going to pass on now."
"No, I just might now that my life's complete. You know, after joining the few in the ranks of CSIs that have killed someone, almost dying a couple times. Maybe this should be my time. I've cheated this shit too many times, you know? Actually, you don't, because you can't hear me, but anyway…"
"I'll kill him if he does," Nick said, causing Greg to laugh.
"Little counter-productive there, Nicky," Greg said.
"Umm, Nick…" Warrick said.
"I know, that didn't make sense," Nick replied sadly.
"No, but you did amuse the half-dead," Greg said.
"So, now what?"
"You have no patience sometimes," Warrick said.
"I know," Nick replied, sighing. "I hate waiting for news."
"We all do. Chill a bit though, bud." The door to the waiting room opened, and sixteen heads snapped to look at it. Gail and Brian Sanders walked in, looking at their son's friends and colleagues.
"Fuck," Greg said. "If my parents are here, it must be real bad."
"How is he?" Gail asked, looking at everyone in the room.
"Not too good, Mrs. Sanders," Grissom replied. "I'm Grissom, your son's supervisor." Introductions were made for everyone in the group, and Gail and Brian took seats near Grissom and Sara.
"I can't believe this is happening to my baby," Gail cried, causing Greg to frown. "How did this happen? What's going to happen to the asshole that did this to my son?"
"Mrs. Sanders," Nick said softly. "The other driver died at the scene." Gail kept crying as Brian held onto her, trying to instill some comfort in her. The sadness of the room had increased tenfold when Greg's parents had walked in, and even Greg himself was getting upset.
"I don't want to die," he said, tears starting to fall. "I can't do that to my mom. I love you, Mom." Greg curled tighter into a ball on the floor, crying harder. "I don't want to die. Please, don't let me die." Much to Greg's horror, everything- the room, the people, the sounds- all blended together, fading to a black abyss of unconsciousness.