Good News

Time passed slowly in the hospital, and for Greg even the morphine couldn't keep all the pain at bay. He still felt twinges when he tried to breath or talk and every night was emotional torture as the memories would flood his subconscious. Every night he would wake up, rasping, trying to cry out; dripping with sweat, checking his limbs for blood. He looked like a madman. But each day there was hope; a different friend came to see him. Often it was Nick or Sara, sometimes Warrick and more often than you'd think, Grissom came by. It was only these visits that kept Greg sane.

Not only would his friends come by to check up on him, but they'd bring him gifts too; food, drink, clothes, even music and movies. Sometimes they'd bring welcoming news. Like today.

Greg had been in the hospital for just a couple of days, his body still littered with marks from his suffering. Around midday, Greg turned his head to see Nick coming into his room and sitting on the chair by his bed.

"Hey Greggo." The Texan's voice was comforting to Greg, it made him believe that there was somebody that cared. "I've got a few things for ya." Nick reached into the plastic bag he'd been carrying and pulled out a blue, leaf printed bag and Greg's eyes began to sparkle.

"I thought you'd appreciate this." Nick said with his warm smile. "Blue Hawaiian coffee, now I'm not sure if you're allowed this stuff, but when you are, it's here waiting for ya." Next Nick pulled out a couple of CDs, Marilyn Manson and a couple of his other favorites, he placed them on the bedside table.

"Something for you to listen to. Now remember not too loud…" Nick said jokingly. Greg smiled, the first in days. Nick's smile started to shrink, and he leant slightly closer to Greg's side.

"I've also got some news for you. It's not definite yet, but I think it'll put you in a better mood." Greg's smile went too and his eyes locked with Nick's. "We have found a body that may be James Ritchard, if it is then it means he is dead and won't be able to come after you or anyone else again." Nick sat straight again and put a hand on Greg's shoulder, but his young friend turned away.

"Hey G, it's gonna be ok. Don't worry, we'll always be here for ya." Nick said trying to reassure Greg, who turned back to Nick and looked at him with glassy eyes.

It was difficult working in the spaces that they had been confined to. It couldn't be helped; a fair bit of the lab lay in pieces outside. Even with most of the team around the lab still seemed empty. It still seemed quiet. It didn't feel right without Greg. And even though she knew he was safe and recovering Sara couldn't stop worrying about her friend. She couldn't stop thinking about how she almost lost him. It wasn't just her and she knew it. The feeling hung over the night shift team like a dark cloud, even over Hodges. It was even spreading to the day shift; a team that hardly knew Greg but knew of his antics. Many of the people in the remains of the LVPD building missed Greg even if they didn't know.

Nick had gone down to the hospital cafeteria to pick up a bite to eat when he bumped into Dr Davis; Greg's doctor.

"Hey doctor, any news on Greg?" Nick asked.

"Well now that you ask Mr. Stokes there is, and it's good news actually." The doctor replied with a smile beginning to spread across his face.

"Really? What? What is it?" Nick was sounding eager.

"I think we'd better include Greg in the telling of good news." He said as he began to walk in the direction of the east wing, with Nick close behind.

Greg rolled over once more to see Dr. Davis entering with Nick.

"Good afternoon Greg. How are you feeling?" Greg nodded to say he was ok.

"That's good because I was just talking to Nick and I remembered I have a bit of good news for the two of you." Greg looked up suddenly alert and Nick went and resumed his position in the chair beside Greg.

"Well, we've been monitoring the progress of your bones and ribs and I can safely say that they are healing very nicely." Greg smiled. "And we have also been keeping an eye on your trachea and larynx and although they aren't healing as well as we had hoped, they are healing and you should regain painless breathing ability in a few days at most, but I'm afraid that your voice won't be back for around a week. I'm sorry." Dr. Davis finished almost ashamed to say the last bit. Greg's smile vanished again, he couldn't bear the thought of suffering for any longer in silence and so he rolled over once more, blocking out the world and shutting himself into an uneasy slumber.