A/N: I still only own Mia. The rest belong to CBS and CSI. I have a couple OCs that make cameos in this one, and what you need to know is that years prior to the story, one was a CSI in Las Vegas years ago, and the other is one of Mia's foster siblings. Other than that, thanks for the reviews, and please, the more you review, the more I desire to finish the story. :)

Chapter 9: The Morning After

The pounding of her head woke Mia up around 7:30, and she groaned in pain. She opened her eyes slowly before realizing she was in bed, with Greg. A split second moment of panic ensued before she realized that she was still dressed, and so was he. So what was he doing in bed with her? As she pondered that thought, she remembered the previous night of drinking and talking. Did she really tell him all that? She felt herself pale as she worked out of his arms and into the bathroom, vomiting her regret of last night's activities.

Greg woke up after Mia forced herself out of his arms, rushing into the bathroom. He paused, realizing that he had spent the night in her bed, with her, in a moment of vulnerability for her. He knew she'd be intolerable today after she remembered what she said the night before. He was still mildly reeling from the information she had given him, thinking and wondering how she'd made it through all that. And yet, part of him felt that she still had more to say. She never even touched upon why hearing her own first name threw her into a crazy fit.

He stood up, hearing her vomit in the bathroom. He wanted to go and hold her hair back and take care of her, but he also knew that if he tried, she'd probably try to kick him in the nuts. He walked over anyway, deciding he'd rather risk it than spend the day awkwardly ignoring one another. Which was probably going to happen anyway, according to his mind's eye. He knocked softly on the doorjamb, causing her to look his way. "You okay?" he asked softly. She sighed.

"I'm fine," she snapped, taking a few deep breaths. He nodded, standing awkwardly.

"Well, uh, I'm gonna go take a shower and get dressed," he said. She nodded, watching him as he walked out to fulfill his tasks.

He walked into his room of the suite, stripping and stepping into the shower. He felt the water rush down over him, warming him from the awkward tension between him and Mia. Today was going to be interesting, at this rate. He took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. Things were going to be tense and awkward, and inwardly, he hoped they'd be able to talk or move away from that. Instinct told him, though, that this would be as far as he'd get with it. He shook his head, choosing to think of something else. Something to relax him while he was in the shower.

She grabbed her things and a towel, walking back into the bathroom. She stripped down and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run over her. She shuddered, hoping that her regrets about last night would wash down the drain with the water. She felt physically sick for having let Greg in like that, which was something she couldn't understand. Greg was a great guy who was the only person she worked with that seemed to actually give a shit about her. So why did it make her sick to have actually told him about her life?

It wasn't like he knew everything, she reasoned with herself. There was still a good portion that she hadn't told him. She could feel easier knowing that. But it was weird, now that he knew something. Now that he had something to stand on with her. She sighed, rubbing her hands over her shoulders under the water. She felt awkward, exposed in front of him. Like he knew way too much, without knowing much at all. She sighed, hugging herself under the water. Today was going to be awkward as hell.

They met up in the common room, both dressed professionally for the day's lectures with their ID badges clipped to them. They looked at one another, neither sure what to say at this point. Greg finally tucked his phone into his pocket before turning to her. "Ready?" he asked softly, afraid to speak louder.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice carrying more chill than normal. Greg sighed, not saying anything about her tone as he walked out of the room with her. They reached the lobby with their colleagues, and the two of them split up from each other. Ryan noticed this and pulled Greg aside.

"Dude, what did you do last night?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" Greg replied, confused.

"Did you sleep with her or something? Because she's hating you right now."

"Okay, Ryan, let's be honest here. You don't even know her, or me. I didn't sleep with her, and she doesn't hate me."

"That's why she made her way away from you as fast as she could, because she doesn't hate you. That makes a lot of sense."

"She doesn't hate me." She hates herself, and she's taking it out on me, he added to himself silently. Ryan shrugged.

"Whatever, dude. I'm gonna go find Danny." Ryan walked away, and Greg looked over at Mia as she talked with Karalynne James, a CSI from Madison. She was talking animatedly, and he could only guess that she was arguing about something with Karalynne, probably about some case or politics. Those were her two favorite topics. Jason Simpleton, a CSI from Raleigh, patted Greg on the shoulder.

"You got it bad for her, huh?" he asked, looking at the younger man. Greg shook his head.

"Jay, if you knew her, you wouldn't even ask," he replied.

"So, you do, but she's a pain in the ass, huh?" Greg laughed.

"I don't have it bad for her, but she is a pain in the ass."

"Good to know. I heard about your CSIs, Sidle and Keppler. You work with them?" Greg sighed, knowing that this was coming.

"I worked with Sara for years. Keppler was here only a couple weeks, though. He was supposed to be on Days, but our supervisor took a sabbatical, so he was with us."

"I'm really sorry for your loss."

"Thank you."

"Who you guys got now?"

"Ecklie's our AD."

"Oh, great." Greg laughed at Jason's sarcasm.

"Exactly. Grissom's head of nights, Catherine's a co-supervisor, and Nick, Warrick, Mia, and I hold down the shift."

"Mia? As in Salvatori? I thought she was in LA."

"She came to Vegas to replace Keppler on days, and then became nights after Sara died." Jason nodded.

"How's that working out for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've heard a lot about her." Greg chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well, you can't believe all that you hear."

"Right. Well, how's it going out there?"

"You really miss us that much, don't you?"

"Yeah, kind of. Except I don't miss Ecklie. I can't believe that hack is AD of the lab now."

"Join the club. You've been gone what, eight years now?" Jason nodded. "Damn. Now I almost feel old."

"Kid, you're what, 30 now?" Jason asked.

"32," Greg replied.

"Oh, excuse me. 32. You still have a long way to go before you can start to feel old, my friend." Greg laughed.

"Yeah, I know. So how's supervising Raleigh going for you?"

Mia sat down in the auditorium, closing her eyes tiredly. Her headache was growing worse, and she was growing more aggravated with everyone else at the conference. She felt two hands rest on her shoulders and start massaging them. "Hey, Amelia," a soothing, deep voice said. She smiled.

"Brian," she said, turning her head. He kissed her temple.

"How are you, dear?"

"I'm okay. How about you?"

"I'm great. How's Vegas treating you?" She laughed.

"Annoying as anywhere else. You still in L.A.?"

"Yep, and I'm lovin' it. Selina sends her best."

"I send them back. How's Antony?"

"He's wonderful." Greg walked over, sitting down next to her quietly.

"That's great. Greg, this is Brian Andrews. He's one of by brothers. Brian, this is Greg Sanders, one of my colleagues."

"Nice to meet you," Brian said, shaking Greg's hand.

"Likewise," Greg replied.

"Oh, hey, Amelia, I didn't tell you yet. Selina's pregnant again."

"Really?" Mia asked. "That's great. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Brian replied.

"Did you tell Antony yet?"

"He's only a year old, but I think he understands." She smiled.

"That's great." She turned to Greg. "Antony's their first son," she explained. He nodded, smiling.

"Congratulations," he said.

"Thanks," Brian replied, still massaging Mia's shoulders. She rolled her neck gently, and he kept massaging her neck and shoulders. "You're really tense. Are you hung over?" She laughed.

"Definitely," she told him.

"Who'd you get drunk with last night?"

"Him." She gestured at Greg, who felt a pang of nerves hit him. Brian nodded.

"What'd you guys do?"

"Talk."

"Ah. Now I get it."

"Get what?"

"Why you've been avoiding him all day. Yesterday, the two of you were inseparable, mingling as a united force for Las Vegas. Today, you came down together, but darted away from each other the second you had a chance. So, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you're making his life awkward."

"You might be right," she said, glancing at Greg. Greg didn't react, looking ahead at the stage.

"Give the boy a chance."

"You don't even know him."

"But neither do you, my dear. He's not gonna hurt you, use the knowledge against you, or anything else your twisted mind comes up with."

"How do you know?"

"He's a CSI, and a cop. Our lives are built around secrecy." She looked at him, chuckling.

"You don't know that." Greg looked over for a second, and Mia caught his eye, giving him a small smile. He returned it as the lecturer began the program for them.