What Did You Do?
a/n Sigh. Still not mine.
Chapter Twenty One
The weather was odd today, for Vegas, the air heavy with the impending rain storm. It fit the mood of the day precisely, as a new little family stood at a grave side, surrounded by friends, family, and friends that were as close as family. Most of them were not there to necessarily honor the dead, so much as to support that family. Many of them had not even known her, except by her unfortunate reputation. They knew her like they knew so many other victims that they stood for, from pictures and autopsies and the things and acts and decisions she left behind. Many of them would probably not have even liked her. But they were here, for them.
Greg and Nick stood close together, despite the heat of the day. Brandon rode Nick's hip while his little hand mercilessly crumpled Nick's tie. Greg held Trina comfortably against him, rubbing circles in her back to stop her fussing. Michael stood just in front of them, fidgetting in his little suit.
Greg stood and pretended to listen to the pastor, but his mind wandered over all the events of the last week. Under his vintage aviators he stared out over the cemetery, lost in thought.
Brian Jenkins had stood trial. He eventually cut a deal with the DA to implicate Van Horne, who then quickly withdrew funding of his topline defense team. With court appointed defense that was new to the case, Jenkins hadn't fared well, especially when the DA brought in eye witness testimony. Greg wasn't sure he could forgive the DA for interviewing Michael without Greg's consent, but legally, the children had been wards of DCF at that time, and they'd permitted the interview. It had been chilling to watch, and Greg wished he'd never seen it…
"Can you tell me Michael, if you've ever seen this man?" The attorney showed the camera the picture, then slid it across the table to Michael, who was busy running two toy cars up and down the table. Michael glanced at the picture and looked away, crashing his cars together loudly. "Michael?" Michael didn't look up, but nodded hesitantly. "Can you tell me who he is?" Michael ran one car back and forth as he decided whether or not to answer. "He's Brandon's bicycle father," he said softly. The attorney looked confused for a moment, then "Biological father, you mean?" Michael nodded. "Has he come to your house?" Michael nodded again, eyes still on his cars. "Did he ever hurt you?" Michael furrowed his brow as he shook his head again. "Mommy told me to play hide and seek when he came to our house. I had to make Brandon and Trina hide too, and be quiet. But I peeked." He looked a little guilty. "What did you see? It's all right, you can tell me." Michael looked up at the attorney, "He hurt Mommy." "Was that the day before you came here?" again, Michael nodded, but added "Other times, too. He was mean." The attorney nodded. "How about this man, do you know him?" Michael smiled, "That's Unca Greg." The attorney tucked her dark hair behind her ear, and made a note on her pad. "Has he ever hurt your Mommy, or you?" Michael gave the attorney the coldest look a five year old could. "Unca Greg never hurt us, but sometimes he was mean." Greg had sucked in a horrified breath when he heard that, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "How was he mean?" She asked Michael. Michael blew out an exasperated breath, "He makes me eat carrots. And he won't let me watch TV like Mommy does. Mommy lets me watch TV all the time and she never makes me eat carrots. She let's us have ice cream all the time when we cry." The attorney hid a smile behind her hand. Greg let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Why do you cry?" the attorney asked quietly. Michael worked both his cars back and forth again and bit his lower lip. "Sometimes we get hurt," he said quietly, "Sometimes I make Mommy mad, and she hurt me, but I'm not supposed to tell." His eyes filled with tears and his bottom lipped wobbled precariously before he broke into heartbreaking sobs. "Where's my Mommy? I want my Mommy!" he sobbed. That part right there broke Greg. No matter how poor a mother Cass had been, her kids still loved her. His heart broke for these kids, and tears streamed down his face. Nick, sitting next to him in the court room gallery, handed him his handkerchief and wrapped his arm around the top of Greg's shoulders, his own tears barely kept at bay. No matter how much he hated that they had interviewed Michael, the interview had influenced the jury strongly.
In the end, Jenkins got frustrated with his own attorney and ended up spouting off at the judge, relaying the whole story. Cass had not killed anyone. She had showed up at Stewart's house to ask him for money. Brian had been there to "clean up a little matter" for Miss Von Horne. Stewart had already been put in the suitcase, which Cass had tried to move away from the doorway as she entered his home. When she turned up later on the same floor as Von Horne, Jenkins thought that she had caught on and followed her. He slipped in and killed the three men in the suite after she left. He held off a few days before going after her. He had no idea that she had been in the hotel to try to get money out of Michael's father.
That had been the first time Greg had had to watch that video interview. The second time was at a custody case two days later. The State of Nevada wasn't sure that Greg Sanders, single man, working a dangerous job, was the best guardian for three small children. The video had helped, but the best testimony was from a surprise witness, Cassie's mom. When Greg had first seen her enter the court room, followed by his own mom, he fought a moment of panic. What if she wanted custody? But, instead, she told the court how Greg had always taken care of Cassie, in most cases better than she had, and certainly after she had given up on her wild child daughter. She told the judge she couldn't think of a better person to raise her grandchildren, and hoped sincerely that he would be able to do a better job than she had, with Cassie. Once again, Nick sat at Greg's side and silently handed him his handkerchief.
One point the representative for the state seemed to focus on was Greg's dangerous job and odd hours. She didn't seem to think it was the best situation for a child. He smiled when he was able to wave that concern away.
Catherine had called him and Nick into her office and shut the door, the day after Jenkin's trial. "It's time we discussed how we're going to handle the work situation, with you two being together now." Greg sat back in his chair, dead tired and not looking forward to the conversation. He hated the idea of working opposite shifts from Nick. He'd never see him, and he really enjoyed working with him. Nick rested his temple on his fist and sighed. Catherine edged her hip onto her desk and crossed her arms over her chest, looking serious. "Policy states that you can't supervise Greg, Nick. So," she kept her face stern, "You're being promoted to supervisor of swing." She smiled broadly at Nick as he looked at her in disbelief. Greg clapped him on the shoulder, really happy for him. "Nicky, that's awesome!" Catherine turned a wary eye on Greg. "You, Mister Sanders, are also being promoted." Greg's eyes went wide. "Am I getting Nick's old position, then?" Catherine smiled. "Not exactly. You are being offered the position of supervisor of lab techs and integrity." Greg looked at her, long and hard. "You're pulling me out of the field?" he asked incredulously. Catherine sighed. "Greg, I want you to think about this. You've got three kids on the way. This position is, most of the time, a Monday through Friday, eight to four shift. I would have killed to get that shift when Lindsey was growing up. You will be held accountable for techs on all shifts, so you will be here, occasionally, at other times, and you can be out in the field some, too. I want you to consider this. You don't have to take it. You would be in dangerous situations less often, which is more important with three kids at home depending on you. Plus," she smirked a bit, "stepping back into the lab and taking on the extra responsibility comes with a hefty pay raise." She slid some documents across the desk towards him. He looked at the figures, wide eyed. He looked to Nick, who shrugged at him. "It's your call, but it's a great opportunity." Greg looked back down at the figures. "You have any idea what it's gonna cost to put them through college?" Catherine asked, smirking at him. He shook his head, smiling. "I can only imagine, Catherine. It's a no-brainer. I'll take it. Thank you."
When they brought up his work schedule at the custody hearing, he was able to tell them about his new position and schedule, deflating their case. It also helped that the small court room was packed with law enforcement personnel, all there to back Greg. In the end, he had been awarded full custody. The attorney he had hired had suggested they leave Nick out of the equation, legally, at least, for the time being. They wanted to have the strongest possible case and not cloud the issue with any possible prejudices on the part of the judge. But Greg knew Nick would always be a part of this new family in some way. He smiled at Nick and thought about the conversation, and the moment of doubt he'd had with the man that morning. Nick had mentioned that the crib and beds in the bedroom off his living room were rentals. "Oh." Greg had said softly, furrowing his brow. Rentals. Temporary. He had sighed and frowned at himself as continued to fold the kids' clothes and put them in the little dresser. It's not like they were married or anything, he supposed. Nick had stepped up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. "Hey," he said softly. "I just didn't know if you wanted to bring their stuff from Henderson, or pick out new stuff. I just wanted to make sure they had something here in the meantime." Greg had smiled to himself. "I'm here with you, until you tell me not to be," Nick said, somehow knowing exactly what Greg needed to hear. After everything they'd been through they could make this work. Greg turned around and wrapped his arms around Nick and squeezed. And silently thanked any deity that was listening for Nick and Tequila.
a/n That is the official end, but expect epilogue/ficlets soon. Thanks for following along!