Catherine walked into the breakroom a week later to find Greg standing in the far corner looking at the ceiling confused.
"Lookin' for something?" she asked, walking over and following his gaze.
"Nita's ladder is gone." he said, staring at the door on the ceiling.
"It's been gone for week, Greg. Do you really not notice things? Like at all?" She asked, looking at him like he's stupid.
"Why's it gone?"
"Because she wanted peace and quiet. Now, get back to work." she ordered afraid at what she might hear.
"But I wanted to tell her that Carly and I are engaged, and that Carly wanted her to be her maid of honor." he said all excited about the whole thing.
"I'll tell her, you get back to work." she said, sitting down and putting her head in her hands as he gave his thanks and left. "Oh, damn, damn, damn." she whispered, not noticing Nick stroll in.
"What happened?" he asked, pouring the sludge coffee into his cup. She just groaned in reply. "Oh, shit," he knew that what he feared had come true. "They got engaged, didn't they?"
"Uh, huh."
"She's gonna quit, you know." he sighed.
"Yep."
"What the hell are we gonna do?" he sat down next to her.
She picked up her head, "The only thing we can do."
He looked up hopeful, "Lie?" She shook her head.
Deciding that I should probably come down, I quietly opened my door let down my ladder, and started to climb down. But, when I heard Nick say, " 'They got engaged, didn't they?' " and then Catherine answer, I fell off...again.
"You guys don't have to lie to me," I said, startling them after Nick had washed the hopeful look off of his face.
I picked myself off of the floor as Nick stuttered, "A-Anita, what did you hear?"
"Enough." I said, starting to head out the door.
"Anita," Catherine's motherly tone called to me, so I stopped. "Please don't do anything stupid."
I slightly smiled, "But that's something I do every day." With that, I walked out into the parking lot, only to break down. "FUCK!" I screamed, releasing only a portion of my anger. I fell to my knees, and just released every bad thing that had ever happened. "Oh, god," I said, tears flowing like rivers down my cheeks. "I think I'm gonna be sick," I covered my mouth and quickly ran to the nearest garbage can, which turned out to be the dumpster. After I had vomited, I slid down the side of the dumpster and just sat there and cried.
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With an angry look on his face, Nick went to go pay a little visit to Greggo. He found him with Archie, and innocently said, "Greg, can I talk to you, just for a minute?" he nodded, and as soon as Greg left the room, Nick grabbed him by the back of the neck.
"Shit, what'd I do?" Greg quickly brought his shoulders up in reflex, cringing in pain.
"Come here," Nick led him out the door, letting go of his neck, but grabbing both of his shoulders instead and applying a hell of a lot of pressure. He took him by the dumpster, so he could see what he did to me, but I was too busy wallowing in misery to notice.
"What happened?" he whispered as the pressure was lifted off of his shoulders.
"What do you think?" Nick asked in the same volume but a much angrier tone.
"Did she get fired?" Greg had a pityful look on his face.
"Something worse. She got beat down by her best friend." Greg looked up at him in horror. "And all it took was one little sentence."
"Nicky!" Catherine whispered sternly, coming up behind him. "This isn't the time or place." she grabbed his arm. "Now common, we have to finish this case." she started to pull him away, when Greg's voice called to her.
"Catherine," She turned. "I didn't mean to hurt her."
She just smiled weakly, "I know you didn't, Greg."she went and patted his shoulder. Then steered him toward the lab.
