Chapter 6

Fran was sitting on the couch with Aleena, Sarah and Desiree when the knock came. Fran looked at her two daughters then got up and she handed Aleena over to Sarah as she made her way to the front door she was wondering who could be here at this time she opened the door...she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Momma" it was all Greg said as he smiled weakly at her.

For a moment her heart stopped in her chest. Then reality hit her like a ton of weight. She grabbed him and drew him into a fierce hug that almost knocked the breath from him as he winced in pain. She began to sob into his shoulder. Greg wrapped his good arm around his mother and held her as he too sobbed. Fran pulled back wiping the tears from her eyes as well his then kissed him on the cheek.

"Greg thank heavens you're ok" Fran stated. She turned her head quickly calling out her daughters in the process. "Sarah, Desiree come here quickly" Fran shouted.

Desiree and Sarah looked at each other for a moment. After hearing their mothers frantic cry they leapt up out of their seats with Aleena in Desiree's arms. They ran for the front door and when they got there their mother's back was to them.

"Momma? What is it what's wrong?" Sarah asked frantically. Turning her head, she looked round at her two daughters, smiling through her tears. "Momma?"

"Girls look" Fran said as she stepped aside and it was like their hearts had stopped when they saw Greg standing there. Aleena jumped in her aunts arms.

"Poppa! Poppa Poppa" Aleena shrieked wanting down. Desiree numbly put her down then she ran to her father. Greg gently picked her up and held her tightly in his arms and sobbed.

"Aleena my beautiful angel. I love you so much" Greg cried as he continued to hold her then suddenly both Sarah and Desiree pulled them both into a hug sobbing as they held them tight.

"Greg! We thought we would never see you again. You had us so worried especially Nick and Derek" Desiree said. They walked back into the house and closed the door. By this time Fran was on the phone.

"Derek honey, you guys need to come back to the house ASAP!" Fran said.

"Why? momma is something wrong? What's going on?" Derek asked panicky.

"Just get back here" Fran said then she hung up after saying goodbye. She looked at Greg. "Wait until the others see you they will be so happy"

!

Derek hung the phone back up. He didn't understand why his mother was acting all happy like he could hear it in her sobs. They weren't sad, but happy so this was confusing him he shook his head and walked back into the station he found the others standing there talking.

"Guys, my momma just said we needed to get back to the house ASAP" Derek announced. They looked at him for a moment.

"Why? What's going on?" Prentess asked worriedly.

"I don't know, but for some reason she sounded happy! Very happy actually" Derek said. They looked confused, but packed up what they had and headed out.

They drove in silence for a moment not understanding why Fran was acting happy all of a sudden. With her son missing they would think that she would be upset, but for some reason she was happy. Reid stared out of the window then something clicked, but he didn't say anything just in case he was wrong. They pulled up to the house shortly after they had left the Chicago PD and they all got out walking up to the door Fran was standing there waiting she had the biggest smile on her face and it was confusing them even more then they are now.

"Momma..."

"Derek just come in" Fran said. He nodded as they all entered the house. Once she closed the door she stepped right in front of them then turned to them. "Living room" was all she said then led the way.

Upon entering the living room they all stopped dead in their tracks as Fran moved from their line of vision everyone's eyes widened as they gasped at the sight before them. They couldn't believe what they were seeing it was like someone had heard their prayers. Nick was the first to recover as he slowly walked up to Greg he stretched out his hand taking his cheek into his palm stroking it softly he knew this was real...he was real. Nick drew him into a hug and let go sobbing hard as he hit the floor with his knees dragging Greg down with him.

"Greg! Oh darlin' I-I thought I would never see you again... I love you I love you I love you!" Nick declared still holding him close.

Greg pulled away from Nick and looked him in the eyes as he smiled his beautiful smile only to faint shortly after. Nick picked him up he turned to the group with a tearful smile everyone was just happy to have him back. Nick carried him upstairs with every intention of lying in the bed next to him. He placed his slumbering husband on the bed. He then he laid on the bed still fully clothed and pulled him into a protective embrace holding him close as he closed his eyes following Greg into sleep.

Derek couldn't believe that his brother was here. He must have been dreaming or something, but judging by the look on everyone's face and the happiness his mother was showing meant that he didn't dream it. He smiled with big as tears of his own grief and worry finally showed as Reid pulled him into a hug Derek finally let go and sobbed with happiness for the first time in 3 days.

Greg shot straight up in bed his breathing was hard and labor. He shook from head to toe as sweat fell from his forehead and down his body. Suddenly he moaned out in pain he had forgot that he was shot he only wished that him being back in Nick's arms wasn't a dream until somebody pulled him close. He tried to pull away thinking that it was still all a dream and that Paul was trying to get him until that person spoke did he stop struggling.

"Greg it's me Nick. Calm down baby. Calm down" Nick cooed. Greg blinked as the light came on he looked at Nick he could see that this wasn't a dream, but real.

Nick drew him closer and held him tight as Greg shook from his nightmare. As Greg's breathing slowed he drew back from Nick and smiled happily as he drew him in for a deep kiss knowing that this all was real, but he knew that this was far from over as long as Paul was still out there he would still be in danger. Nick must have read his mind because his arms tightened around Greg's slender body protectively as he continued to hold him. Finally Greg pulled back.

"Nick, I think Derek and the others are wondering what happened and want details" Greg stated. Nick looked at him and nodded.

"We do G, but if you're not ready then I won't force ya to talk" Nick said.

Greg just smiled. "It's ok Nick" Greg said. Nick looked hesitant. "Really! Nick its ok" Greg assured him with a kiss. He then got up and headed out the door with Nick behind him.

They both slowly descended down the stairs. As they approached the living room they could hear laughing and talking and all of it from joy, pure joy. Once in view everyone stopped talking. Aleena jumped up and ran over to her two fathers. Greg picked her up holding her close.

"Poppa! I love you" Aleena said as she clung to him. He hugged her tight.

"I love you too sweetheart! I love you so much...I love all of you so much" Greg said looking at his daughter then to everyone in the room.

Greg scanned the group, his eyes going wide when they landed on Grissom and the others. He couldn't believe that they were here his eyes glazed over with tears at the love he felt from them. Shaking his head, he put Aleena down and walked to his friends with a smile on his face.

"Catherine, guys you came?" Greg asked, but it was more like a statement.

"Of course Greg your family and we'll be damned if we sit by and do nothing, especially if one of our own is in trouble and in need of help" Sara said as she got up. She pulled Greg into a tight hug and he hugged her back.

"Greg, if you're up for it... do you think you could tell us what happened?" Hotch asked, hoping maybe that they could get a lead on this guy before he came after Greg again. He nodded.

"Yeah, I figured you would want to know" Greg stated as he sat down he looked over at his friends and family then took a deep breath "I was taken from the hospital and...wait Aleena shouldn't hear this" Greg pointed out. They nodded.

"I'll take her upstairs to play" Fran volunteered. Greg smiled gratefully as she picked her up and carried her upstairs. Then he turned back to continue.

"As I was saying, when I was taken from the hospital Barnett took me to what looked like an abandoned house. I couldn't see the street name because it was too dark, but I do remember him dragging me into the very back bedroom. Once we were in there he pulled me in then locked the door behind us. Then he pointed to the back corner and...and..." Greg stopped taking a deep breath as he began to shake as the memories of 5 years ago began to invade his mind.

"It's ok Greg, take your time" Warrick cooed softly as he was smiling at him. He nodded taking a deep breath again as the tears came down.

"And then I saw it...it was...it was like...I c-can't say it. I don't want to remember. I don't want to remember what happened to me!" Greg said he buried his face into his hands and began to sob. Nick pulled him into a hug.

"It's ok baby! I don't want to remember either, but sometimes to move on from this experience you must remember the past...it doesn't make it any easier, but it does help" Nick coached him as he knew what he was talking about. Greg looked up at him then nodded.

"Now what did you see? What happened to make you not want to remember?" Grissom softly asked. Greg gathered himself, but he was still shaking.

"It was a box. He placed me back into a wooden box and buried me into the wall, and this time he nailed it shut with no pipe for air" Greg said, everyone gasped. Nick released Greg as he got up quickly, he was fuming with anger and heartache.

"He buried you again? No he couldn't...I'm-I'm sorry Greg! I failed to protect you yet again...maybe...maybe you need to be with someone who could do a better job than me" Nick stated through his tears. Greg looked at him in shock. He then turned and took off. He ran out the back door.

"Nicky, don't do this! Please" Greg cried out, but it was no good, he was gone.

Greg stared at the back door in disbelief. 5 years, 5 years of marriage maybe over and all because of some asshole that wouldn't leave him alone, it was all too much for Greg as he broke down crying.

As Warrick got up he looked around at everyone with a nod. "I'll go and talk to him" Warrick stated then left out the back door. Sara turned back to Greg.

"It's going to be ok Greg, Nick doesn't really mean that! He loves you with all of his heart. He's just feeling so helpless right now because of what happened" Sara said reassuringly. Greg just shook with tears.

"I can't lose him Sara...I love him so much...I can't lose him" Greg said. She pulled him to her and allowed him to sob on her shoulder.

Warrick walked out into the backyard seeing Nick on the porch swing, his head was bowed down in his hands. He looked down and saw tear stains he then looked up and saw his shoulders shaking he sighed and walked up to Nick then sat down beside him. They sat in silence for a while when Nick finally spoke up.

"Warrick, I couldn't protect him. I couldn't even stop this from happenin'...again. What kind of husband am I if I can't even protect the ones I love?" Nick asked through his tears.

"The kind of husband who sticks by his lover's side even after everything's he's been through. Nick you couldn't have prevented this from happening and even if you could you would have been killed trying. Then where would Greg and Aleena be? Still in the hands of that monster! Nick don't go beating yourself up over this, you did what you could to protect him and it's no one's fault, but Barnett's. We will get him" Warrick said rubbing Nick's back. Nick looked up at him he smiled and nodded.

"I hear what you're sayin' man, but what if he gets tired of me not bein' able to protect him? Then what? I can't lose Greg over this 'Rick. I love him with everythin' I have. He's my whole world." Nick said.

"And you won't lose him Nick! Greg loves you too much to leave you and right now he's hurting because he thinks it's over because of this...wait Nick you're not gonna leave him are you?" Warrick asked he was so worried about his half-brothers splitting up. Nick remained silent and that worried Warrick. "Nick?" Nick sighed then shook his head.

"No!" Warrick sighed with relief.

"Shit man don't scare me like that again" Warrick stated with a chuckle Nick smiled a little

"I'm sorry! Like I said I couldn't leave him I love him way too much to do that and no matter what I will always be a good husband and father to both Greg and Aleena. Thanks 'Rick" Nick stated with a smile. He nodded and smiled back. "Hey, send Greg out here please?"

"Why don't you go in there?" Warrick suggested.

"I don't think I could face everyone in there" Nick said.

"Nick they all know it's just the feeling of helplessness, believe me it'll be ok" Warrick said. Nick sighed taking a deep breath and got up.

They both walked back into the house and to his surprise Warrick was right no one was looking at him angrily, but with sadness and sympathy. He walked over to Greg and pulled him into a tight hug, not letting go as they both sobbed.

"Greggo, I'm so sorry...I guess I was just afraid that you would get tired of me not bein' able to protect you, and leave me for someone who could" Nick stated. Greg pulled away for a moment then shook his head.

"No Nicky! I don't want anyone else, but you. Nick we can't prevent things from happening to us no matter how hard we try. The fact that you're here to help me through it matters more to me than anything else" Greg pointed out. Nick chuckled and smiled.

"What the hell man...it's like you and Warrick read each others mind or somethin' because he said the exact same thing, well almost the exact same thing...creepy, but you're right. I will always be there and I will be the husband and father I need to be" Nick said. Greg smiled then frowned.

"Maybe I should be the one afraid" Greg stated. Nick looked at him for a moment.

"Why?" Nick asked.

"Because maybe you'll be the one tired of me getting beat up, shot at and kidnapped and leave me for someone else that this doesn't happen to" Greg said. Nick was shocked he didn't expect this to come from Greg.

"No Greg not gonna happen! I wont and will not love anyone else, but you! I can't because there is no one else who comes close to you and no one else good enough, so don't think like that because there is no way I'm leavin' ya no way in hell" Nick pointed out firmly. Greg sighed with relief.

"Well I'm glad you got that straightened out" Hotch interrupted. Nick and Greg turned looking at him they smiled and nodded.

They talked throughout the night until everyone fell asleep. Things were difficult right now because of that maniac and as long as he was still out there they would have to keep an eye on Greg more carefully.

Tbc...