A/N: I know I said I'd try to get this up by the fourth, but I was really busy yesterday. Oh, well. Anyway, see two chapters ago for the disclaimer, because that was a good one. Song at the end of this is "Invisible City" by The Wallflowers, which I don't own. Thanks to my beta, lostladyknight... you're awesome! Okay, hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review!

Mid-dinner Chats

Nick sits beside me as we eat dinner, and he nudges me. He indicates that he wants to talk, and I nod. "Greg, where's the bathroom?" he asks.

"Down the hall, to the left," Greg replies.

"Thanks." Nick gets up, walking down the hall. After a moment, I excuse myself from the table and walk after Nick, finding him actually in the bathroom.

"What's up?" I ask him softly.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asks me, somewhat angrily.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit, Sar. You haven't said more than two words to him since he's gotten here."

"That's not true."

"Oh, I'm sorry, you've yelled at him." I roll my eyes.

"Do you have a point to this?"

"Why are you bein' such a bitch? He's back!"

"For how long this time? Huh? Do you really think that he's not just going to up and run again?"

"Yes. I think he's here to stay."

"You're an idiot."

"And you're bein' stubborn! C'mon, Sar. Can't you see he's been through hell?"

"And I haven't? I haven't had a good night's sleep in three fucking years, Nick. I've been so fucking worried about him since he left that it tore up my relationship with Grissom. And then when I think my life is getting on track enough to sleep again, it gets derailed with everything with my mom. And then he comes back, and now I have to figure out whether or not I can trust him again. Don't you understand, Nick?" He sighs, slumping his shoulders.

"I know you've been hurtin'. If you'd let me help when I kept tryin'…"

"It wouldn't work," I say, softer. "I wouldn't even let Grissom help. That's what tore us apart."

"It would work. I don't think you know how to let people help you though."

"What the hell do you mean by that?" I ask angrily. This entire conversation is between hate and concern.

"You wall yourself off from the world when you have problems. You keep them silent, inside, personal, and after a while, they eat at you and make you angry and bitter. You wall yourself off because you feel like you can't trust anyone else. But you can't trust anyone if you don't try. Bein' burned in the past doesn't mean that you can't trust, Sara."

"I've trusted you," I point out.

"Yeah, but your trust in me didn't start until three months ago," he reminds me. I sigh, sitting up on the sink. "And even still, it was only about your experience with your parents. Nothin' more, nothin' less. You didn't tell me what happened with Grissom until two seconds ago. You don't know how to let people help you because you don't trust people. And, in all honesty, I can't say I blame you. People suck." I chuckle softly. "I know Greg screwed up, but hear him out. I'm sure he left for a reason."

"I don't get how you can so readily accept him back."

"Because I know he never wanted to leave."

"It's not like anyone made him, dammit! He made that choice on his own!"

"Maybe it was a little beyond his control," Heather says from the doorway, causing the two of us to jump. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but I need to wash my hands." I jump off the sink as she walks in and shuts the door behind her.

"What do you mean, beyond his control?" I ask her as she turns on the water.

"He seems to have changed a lot over the years. At least that's what I've been hearing from all of you. And according to all of you, he was happy here before he left. Why would he leave without a good reason? Was he running from something?"

"He told me once he wasn't runnin' away," Nick says. I shoot him a look. When the hell did he talk to Greg and why didn't he tell anyone?

"So, running to," Heather says, drying her hands. She shrugs. "He left because wherever he went had something he needed. Something that he couldn't get here. Or, at least it wouldn't be as good here." She puts the towel down and looks at me. "Nick's right, Sara. You should cut him a little slack."

"How long were you standing in the doorway?" I ask her.

"In time to hear you say he made the choice to leave."

"Then how did you know what Nick said?" She smiles and walks away, not answering the question. Nick shakes his head.

"She's good," he says.

"Yeah," I reply quietly. "Look, Nick, I know you're right, but I just… I can't help it. He betrayed me, and I can't let go of it that easily."

"I know, but do you have to shut him out? He needs our help, Sar, not us hatin' him." I nod slowly.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"You gonna step back a bit?" I nod. "Okay. Let's eat." I chuckle.

"What is it with men and food?"

"We have to have it. We can't help it." I chuckle again.

"Let's go, Porky."

"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be, huh?" he says as we walk out of the bathroom and down the hall.

"Yeah, that's it," I reply, winking.

The imitation of good faith
Is how you stumble upon hate
It may have been the first of mistakes
When we held on too loosely
Then opened the gates