Title Pending
By Jess
Author's Notes: This is the last chapter. There may be an epilogue.
Rating: PG-13 for strong language and sexual content
Disclaimer: Chapter... 23 has it, I think. The song "Goodbye To You" is by Michelle Branch and it's from her CD "The Spirit Room.". The other song "At This Moment" belongs to Billy Vera. The latter song is an absolute must every person should have. It is the saddest breaking-up/I-want-you- back song in the world. The lyrics are rearranged to fit the story.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: At This Moment
Cardboard boxes had cluttered the hallway in the apartment for days now. Greg was used to navigating around the boxes. He was also used to ramming into them. He walked toward the kitchen, now, away from her bedroom. He found Tuesday whimpering in the kitchen. "Shit." Greg stepped over her and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard. He filled it with water and placed it on the floor. Tuesday's bowls were now in a box marked MISCELLANEOUS.
In two hours, all the boxes would be gone. Emily and her brothers had decided it would be best to leave somewhere between six and seven. Emily was used to being awake then and could drive twelve hours without a problem. Her brothers and friends had spent the past few days partying all night and sleeping all day; they were prepared for a twilight drive.
Greg hoisted himself onto the counter and leaned his head against the cabinets. Work last night had been draining. Emily's case had been solved with the DNA from the boy, Johnny Mills. He admitted to tracking Julie to the Harshells' home. Julie had met him at the door but refused to let him in, obeying the rules laid out by her clients. Unhappy with the meeting, Johnny went around back, broke into the patio, went through the doggy door, and met the girls upstairs. Julie went first, and then the little girl was killed.
After the grueling confession, Emily and Grissom had retreated to his office. Greg knew there had been tears; Emily didn't handle cases involving children well. Around midnight, instead of a break, everyone went to the break room and had a surprise graduation party for Emily. No goodbyes were exchanged, only presents and well-wishes. Tonight was the night they would say goodbye. She would show up, say her farewells, and leave.
He knew what she was doing. She was sitting Indian-style in front of her dresser, the drawers all laid out around her. She was packing her clothes. Her books and CDs were already packed, save for one. She had been playing this one burned CD since they had gotten home from work. She only played two songs, a Billy Vera song and one he didn't recognize. He smiled; he had learned to tolerate music that wasn't punk rock in the months that she'd been around.
He grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and sighed. The cabinets looked bare. All her dishes and glasses were gone. He looked over his shoulder and sighed. The leather couch, his favorite couch in the entire world, would be gone in just one hundred and twenty minutes. He would have to bring the old one out of his room.
He filled the cups with water and ice cubes and started for her room. His knee sharply made contact with one of the boxes. Water flew over the rim of the cup and splattered on one of the boxes. He sighed and continued to walk. He stopped just outside the room and peered inside. Her back was facing him. She wore her favorite pair of jeans and a red spaghetti strap shirt. Her hair was in a messy ponytail. He saw her toes wiggling with the music; her toenails were painted red. He knew she wasn't wearing makeup.
She was gorgeous.
He entered her room and handed her the glass of water. She looked up and smiled. "Thanks, babe."
"Anytime," he replied automatically. She smiled and reached behind herself to rub his denim-clad leg. He looked down and whistled. "Ooh, unmentionables."
She rolled her eyes as he relaxed on her bare mattress. She returned to putting her underwear in a box. "You've seen them enough times to mention them."
He reached out and tugged on her hair with his right hand. He frowned suddenly. "That's mine!" He pointed to a pair of blue boxers with lemons on them.
"I like them."
"But they're mine."
She pulled a dark purple bikini out and tossed it at him. "Now we're even."
"I can't wear this," he stated matter-of-factly, holding it up by one of the sides. She smiled and shook her head, deciding to ignore him. He stuffed it in his pocket and asked, "Anything you want me to do?"
"You've done enough," she replied, turning to smile at him. He leaned down and kissed her gently. He had packed her books and bedding and toiletries. He had been designated to furniture duty along with Danny, Sam, and their friends. She finished with that drawer and moved to the last drawer, the drawer filled with her shorts and pants and skirts.
He placed his drink on the floor and allowed his right hand to massage her neck and shoulders. He looked around the bare room. Her CD player sat on the floor, blinking at him. He looked down at her neck and memorized the freckles and beauty marks there.
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
Greg sighed and asked, "When are your brothers coming?"
"Five fifteen."
He reached down and grabbed her left arm. It was just after four. "When are you going to be done?"
Emily smiled down into the clothes. She didn't bother to fold the remaining clothes. Instead, she tossed the rest of them into the box and stood up. She grabbed the tape and sealed the box. She dropped onto the mattress next to Greg and reached for his hand. She kissed his palm and said, "I think after this, we should go to the kitchen."
Greg smiled and scooted closer to her. "Balcony?"
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Don't forget the wall."
"Or the shower."
I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away
And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time
I want what's yours and I want what's mine
Goodbye to you
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The seven adults stood in the hallway just outside the break room. Emily and Greg had just gone through her locker. Greg held her things in a bag as she said goodbye. Her jacket was hanging over his arm. A picture of the two of them, one he knew she had another copy of, was tucked into his back pocket. It was the two of them in the Layout Room, looking at DNA charts on the lighted table. Nick had taken it as he had practiced his photography techniques one night. Greg liked it because the light was shining on her face and hair, making her look slightly angelic.
Catherine embraced Emily. Greg couldn't hear their muffled voices. The investigators had formed a semi-formed line down the wall; he was at the end. He studied the reflection of the lights on the floor as Emily tearfully said their goodbyes. The afternoon had been terrific for the most part. He loved being physically close to her. He would miss her warmth. Her brothers showed up on time and the moving began. Just like every other moving expedition anyone had ever been on, small fights erupted over even smaller things. Greg and Danny had bickered for the better part of the hour they had been together. The remaining three boys kept running into things they couldn't see with the boxes in their arms. Tuesday had been excited with all the people and kept running around, barking and getting underfoot. Emily, Greg noticed, held back tears.
That was about when Greg decided he hated himself for making Emily sad more than he hated Emily for leaving.
Emily laughed with Warrick about something. Greg scuffed the floor with his shoe. Warrick spoke with a serious tone, but his words ran together as far as Greg could tell. Emily squeezed his one last time and moved to Nick.
Nick held her close and whispered, "I'm glad you were here."
"Me, too."
"Don't do anything stupid, all right?"
Emily rolled her eyes over his shoulder and pulled back. "Don't worry."
Grissom stood next to Nick. He expected a small embrace but Emily surprised him, and everyone else, by throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tight. Catherine, Warrick, and Nick eased into the break room. They watched through the glass. She whispered, "Thank you so much for everything, Grissom."
"It was my pleasure," he replied. "You changed a lot of things around here, you know."
"I have that effect," she grinned. She pulled back and said, "Thank you for transferring me."
Grissom chuckled. He had forgotten her bumpy start. "Again, my pleasure."
Emily smiled and moved to the left. She and Sara embraced for a long time. Sara said, "You've been interesting, you know that? It was nice having you around." Emily smiled. They didn't remind each other of their not-so- friendly start. Sara grinned and said, "Besides, if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have him." Sara nodded toward Grissom, who was edging toward the break room.
"I'm glad you two are together." Emily sighed and cast her eyes to the left. Greg stood about five yards down the hall. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need it," Sara whispered. She squeezed Emily's hand. "Have a safe ride." Sara disappeared into the break room. She sat at the table with the other investigators. They looked through the glass, forgetting the need to look inconspicuous.
Greg stayed slouching against the wall and kept his eyes on the floor. Emily came to stand in front of him and his eyes focused on her black flip- flops. He took a deep breath. She studied his downcast face and whispered with fake cheer, "It's not forever."
"It's a fucking long time, Emily." Emily had told him that the earliest possible time she could come back to Las Vegas was in late July, probably early August. Emily pulled her lips between her teeth. "You can come see me, you know."
"I get two weeks vacation a year, Emily," he stated dryly. "I took one of them the first week in January. I do need to see my family."
"You get days off and-"
"Emily."
Emily sighed. "I didn't want to fight with you either." She looked to her right for a moment and said, "I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you, too."
She took a step forward, flanking his feet with hers. His eyes swept up her body and landed on her lips. His right hand involuntarily rose and cupped her neck. "Be safe driving, okay?"
"Okay."
"I mean it."
"I'm being serious," she whispered. A tear escaped her right eye and it slid down her smooth cheek.
Greg felt moisture in his own eyes. Soon, tears escaped his eyes as well. "Fuck," he whispered. He noticed Emily starting to shake and he pulled her tightly against him. Her hands gripped his back. "I'm sorry."
"It's all right," she mumbled against his neck. They stood there, leaning into each other, for a few minutes. Finally, she pulled back and wiped at her cheeks with her hands. He cleared his face as well. She looked at her watch and nodded slowly. "I love you."
Greg clenched his hands into fists. "I love you, too."
Emily nodded. This was the end she had been dreading for three months. She took another deep breath and leaned forward, rising to her toes. She lightly pressed her lips against his mouth. She felt slight pressure from him, but he didn't pursue her any further. She pulled away and rested her hand on his chest. It slid down as she took the jacket from his arm and the bag from his hand. She looked up at him one more time. "Bye, Greg."
He forced himself to watch her walk away. She moved slowly; he knew she was crying by the way her shoulders shook ever so slightly. She disappeared around the corner and immediately it felt as though he had been sucker-punched in the stomach. His insides ached and his lips parted. He needed oxygen but all the air in the hallway wasn't sufficient for him. He shakily pushed himself off the wall and walked in the opposite direction to the locker room.
What do you think I would give at this moment
If you'd stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees, kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again
By Jess
Author's Notes: This is the last chapter. There may be an epilogue.
Rating: PG-13 for strong language and sexual content
Disclaimer: Chapter... 23 has it, I think. The song "Goodbye To You" is by Michelle Branch and it's from her CD "The Spirit Room.". The other song "At This Moment" belongs to Billy Vera. The latter song is an absolute must every person should have. It is the saddest breaking-up/I-want-you- back song in the world. The lyrics are rearranged to fit the story.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: At This Moment
Cardboard boxes had cluttered the hallway in the apartment for days now. Greg was used to navigating around the boxes. He was also used to ramming into them. He walked toward the kitchen, now, away from her bedroom. He found Tuesday whimpering in the kitchen. "Shit." Greg stepped over her and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard. He filled it with water and placed it on the floor. Tuesday's bowls were now in a box marked MISCELLANEOUS.
In two hours, all the boxes would be gone. Emily and her brothers had decided it would be best to leave somewhere between six and seven. Emily was used to being awake then and could drive twelve hours without a problem. Her brothers and friends had spent the past few days partying all night and sleeping all day; they were prepared for a twilight drive.
Greg hoisted himself onto the counter and leaned his head against the cabinets. Work last night had been draining. Emily's case had been solved with the DNA from the boy, Johnny Mills. He admitted to tracking Julie to the Harshells' home. Julie had met him at the door but refused to let him in, obeying the rules laid out by her clients. Unhappy with the meeting, Johnny went around back, broke into the patio, went through the doggy door, and met the girls upstairs. Julie went first, and then the little girl was killed.
After the grueling confession, Emily and Grissom had retreated to his office. Greg knew there had been tears; Emily didn't handle cases involving children well. Around midnight, instead of a break, everyone went to the break room and had a surprise graduation party for Emily. No goodbyes were exchanged, only presents and well-wishes. Tonight was the night they would say goodbye. She would show up, say her farewells, and leave.
He knew what she was doing. She was sitting Indian-style in front of her dresser, the drawers all laid out around her. She was packing her clothes. Her books and CDs were already packed, save for one. She had been playing this one burned CD since they had gotten home from work. She only played two songs, a Billy Vera song and one he didn't recognize. He smiled; he had learned to tolerate music that wasn't punk rock in the months that she'd been around.
He grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and sighed. The cabinets looked bare. All her dishes and glasses were gone. He looked over his shoulder and sighed. The leather couch, his favorite couch in the entire world, would be gone in just one hundred and twenty minutes. He would have to bring the old one out of his room.
He filled the cups with water and ice cubes and started for her room. His knee sharply made contact with one of the boxes. Water flew over the rim of the cup and splattered on one of the boxes. He sighed and continued to walk. He stopped just outside the room and peered inside. Her back was facing him. She wore her favorite pair of jeans and a red spaghetti strap shirt. Her hair was in a messy ponytail. He saw her toes wiggling with the music; her toenails were painted red. He knew she wasn't wearing makeup.
She was gorgeous.
He entered her room and handed her the glass of water. She looked up and smiled. "Thanks, babe."
"Anytime," he replied automatically. She smiled and reached behind herself to rub his denim-clad leg. He looked down and whistled. "Ooh, unmentionables."
She rolled her eyes as he relaxed on her bare mattress. She returned to putting her underwear in a box. "You've seen them enough times to mention them."
He reached out and tugged on her hair with his right hand. He frowned suddenly. "That's mine!" He pointed to a pair of blue boxers with lemons on them.
"I like them."
"But they're mine."
She pulled a dark purple bikini out and tossed it at him. "Now we're even."
"I can't wear this," he stated matter-of-factly, holding it up by one of the sides. She smiled and shook her head, deciding to ignore him. He stuffed it in his pocket and asked, "Anything you want me to do?"
"You've done enough," she replied, turning to smile at him. He leaned down and kissed her gently. He had packed her books and bedding and toiletries. He had been designated to furniture duty along with Danny, Sam, and their friends. She finished with that drawer and moved to the last drawer, the drawer filled with her shorts and pants and skirts.
He placed his drink on the floor and allowed his right hand to massage her neck and shoulders. He looked around the bare room. Her CD player sat on the floor, blinking at him. He looked down at her neck and memorized the freckles and beauty marks there.
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
Greg sighed and asked, "When are your brothers coming?"
"Five fifteen."
He reached down and grabbed her left arm. It was just after four. "When are you going to be done?"
Emily smiled down into the clothes. She didn't bother to fold the remaining clothes. Instead, she tossed the rest of them into the box and stood up. She grabbed the tape and sealed the box. She dropped onto the mattress next to Greg and reached for his hand. She kissed his palm and said, "I think after this, we should go to the kitchen."
Greg smiled and scooted closer to her. "Balcony?"
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Don't forget the wall."
"Or the shower."
I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away
And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time
I want what's yours and I want what's mine
Goodbye to you
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The seven adults stood in the hallway just outside the break room. Emily and Greg had just gone through her locker. Greg held her things in a bag as she said goodbye. Her jacket was hanging over his arm. A picture of the two of them, one he knew she had another copy of, was tucked into his back pocket. It was the two of them in the Layout Room, looking at DNA charts on the lighted table. Nick had taken it as he had practiced his photography techniques one night. Greg liked it because the light was shining on her face and hair, making her look slightly angelic.
Catherine embraced Emily. Greg couldn't hear their muffled voices. The investigators had formed a semi-formed line down the wall; he was at the end. He studied the reflection of the lights on the floor as Emily tearfully said their goodbyes. The afternoon had been terrific for the most part. He loved being physically close to her. He would miss her warmth. Her brothers showed up on time and the moving began. Just like every other moving expedition anyone had ever been on, small fights erupted over even smaller things. Greg and Danny had bickered for the better part of the hour they had been together. The remaining three boys kept running into things they couldn't see with the boxes in their arms. Tuesday had been excited with all the people and kept running around, barking and getting underfoot. Emily, Greg noticed, held back tears.
That was about when Greg decided he hated himself for making Emily sad more than he hated Emily for leaving.
Emily laughed with Warrick about something. Greg scuffed the floor with his shoe. Warrick spoke with a serious tone, but his words ran together as far as Greg could tell. Emily squeezed his one last time and moved to Nick.
Nick held her close and whispered, "I'm glad you were here."
"Me, too."
"Don't do anything stupid, all right?"
Emily rolled her eyes over his shoulder and pulled back. "Don't worry."
Grissom stood next to Nick. He expected a small embrace but Emily surprised him, and everyone else, by throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tight. Catherine, Warrick, and Nick eased into the break room. They watched through the glass. She whispered, "Thank you so much for everything, Grissom."
"It was my pleasure," he replied. "You changed a lot of things around here, you know."
"I have that effect," she grinned. She pulled back and said, "Thank you for transferring me."
Grissom chuckled. He had forgotten her bumpy start. "Again, my pleasure."
Emily smiled and moved to the left. She and Sara embraced for a long time. Sara said, "You've been interesting, you know that? It was nice having you around." Emily smiled. They didn't remind each other of their not-so- friendly start. Sara grinned and said, "Besides, if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have him." Sara nodded toward Grissom, who was edging toward the break room.
"I'm glad you two are together." Emily sighed and cast her eyes to the left. Greg stood about five yards down the hall. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need it," Sara whispered. She squeezed Emily's hand. "Have a safe ride." Sara disappeared into the break room. She sat at the table with the other investigators. They looked through the glass, forgetting the need to look inconspicuous.
Greg stayed slouching against the wall and kept his eyes on the floor. Emily came to stand in front of him and his eyes focused on her black flip- flops. He took a deep breath. She studied his downcast face and whispered with fake cheer, "It's not forever."
"It's a fucking long time, Emily." Emily had told him that the earliest possible time she could come back to Las Vegas was in late July, probably early August. Emily pulled her lips between her teeth. "You can come see me, you know."
"I get two weeks vacation a year, Emily," he stated dryly. "I took one of them the first week in January. I do need to see my family."
"You get days off and-"
"Emily."
Emily sighed. "I didn't want to fight with you either." She looked to her right for a moment and said, "I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you, too."
She took a step forward, flanking his feet with hers. His eyes swept up her body and landed on her lips. His right hand involuntarily rose and cupped her neck. "Be safe driving, okay?"
"Okay."
"I mean it."
"I'm being serious," she whispered. A tear escaped her right eye and it slid down her smooth cheek.
Greg felt moisture in his own eyes. Soon, tears escaped his eyes as well. "Fuck," he whispered. He noticed Emily starting to shake and he pulled her tightly against him. Her hands gripped his back. "I'm sorry."
"It's all right," she mumbled against his neck. They stood there, leaning into each other, for a few minutes. Finally, she pulled back and wiped at her cheeks with her hands. He cleared his face as well. She looked at her watch and nodded slowly. "I love you."
Greg clenched his hands into fists. "I love you, too."
Emily nodded. This was the end she had been dreading for three months. She took another deep breath and leaned forward, rising to her toes. She lightly pressed her lips against his mouth. She felt slight pressure from him, but he didn't pursue her any further. She pulled away and rested her hand on his chest. It slid down as she took the jacket from his arm and the bag from his hand. She looked up at him one more time. "Bye, Greg."
He forced himself to watch her walk away. She moved slowly; he knew she was crying by the way her shoulders shook ever so slightly. She disappeared around the corner and immediately it felt as though he had been sucker-punched in the stomach. His insides ached and his lips parted. He needed oxygen but all the air in the hallway wasn't sufficient for him. He shakily pushed himself off the wall and walked in the opposite direction to the locker room.
What do you think I would give at this moment
If you'd stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees, kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again
