VI - STRAYS
Greg was sleeping on the sofa in the living room, the kitten curled in the crook of his legs, when Sara got finally got home from work. Nick was sitting in the overstuffed armchair, also asleep. Sara smiled in amusement at the two men, before softly touching Nick's shoulder.
"Nick? Nicky - wake up."
Nick shifted in his seat, opening his eyes slowly and looking at her. "Hey. You're home." He looked at his watch, frowning in sympathy. "Long shift, eh?"
Sara nodded tiredly. "Yeah. Sorry I couldn't be here when you guys got home. What time was Greg released?" She had slid into the armchair, arm draped over Nick's shoulder. The steady beat of his heart beneath her hand made her smile.
"Dr. Jansen showed up early - around 8:00, to sign him out. We've been home since 9:30. How come you're so late?"
Sara sighed. "Bad night. Two cases - Grissom and I processed a massacre at a New Age store - 6 victims, all shot. Warrick and Catherine caught the investigation at Lifestyles - the gay club. Someone tied the employees there up before they opened for the evening and set them on fire. Eight bodies."
Nick winced in sympathy. "So, busy night. Any clues?"
"We're working on it." She looked at Greg again. "How's he doing?"
"He was glad to get out. Jansen says he has to go for an appointment once a week for the next month or so, and then they can get him on a regular schedule. All in all, though, he said Greg's doing well. Is everyone still coming for dinner?"
Sara nodded. "Yeah. They'll be here around 4:00. That gives me exactly 3 hours to sleep before I have to get up and start getting ready. So, if you don't mind?" Pushing away from Nick, she stood and headed towards the bedroom. "See you later."
* * * * *
Greg was watching TV when Sara stumbled into the living room later that afternoon. Sara stood in doorway for a few minutes, studying him while she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He was still so pale, and Sara couldn't help but notice he had lost a lot of weight. Not that he had been a big guy to begin with, but he had always been toned. Now he was just - skinny. Her kitten was sitting on his knees, little paws kneading his leg, as Greg absently stroked under her neck. Sara smiled.
"I think she likes you."
"Hey Sara. Did you have a good sleep?"
"What little I got of it, yeah." Walking over to the sofa, she sat down beside Greg, reaching out to pet the kitten as well. "How's your first day of freedom?"
Greg shrugged. "Not bad, I guess. At least I'm not stuck in a hospital bed all day." He looked at her shyly. "Thanks for letting me move in here with you guys. I promise it won't be for long and -"
Sara interrupted him. "Greg, we've had this conversation before. You can stay as long as you like." She sighed when Greg turned his head away. "Greg, you have to stop thinking this is an imposition. We're friends, right?"
At Greg's nod, Sara continued. "Well, then? What's the problem here? Friends help each other out." Greg shrugged, and turned to face her again. His voice was soft. "I just - I'm not used to having people look after me like this. I've been on my own twelve years now, and it's just - hard to get used to."
Sara smiled softly. "We have a lot in common you know. I've been on my own for a long time as well - since my parents died when I was 18. And you get so used to being independent and doing it all for yourself, it's hard to lower your shields and accept help when you need it." She touched his hand gently, squeezing it quickly. "But you know what? When you finally realize you don't have to be alone anymore, it's a good feeling."
Greg sighed. "It's just hard to believe that you guys want me here." He looked at Sara seriously. "You have to understand Sara. I grew up in foster homes. Some families I stayed with were wonderful, and others - not so much. But I was always on the outside, looking in. When my mom died, I thought that maybe someone would finally be able to adopt me, you know? Maybe I would finally find a place and stick, but it never happened. The last family I was with -" he paused. "I stayed with them for 5 years. I would have stayed forever, if they had wanted me. I used to imagine they were my family - I even called them mom and dad. But when I asked them to adopt me, they said they couldn't. If they adopted me, they would lose the monthly allowance from Children's Services."
"That's rough, Greg." Sara's voice was aching with sympathy. "Everyone deserves a family. And I can't begin to imagine what you went through growing up without one, but don't let it affect you your entire life. All your friends are coming here today, just to be with you, to support you. Do you think any of us would ever turn you away?" She smiled gently. "Grissom wasn't lying when he said we were family. We're just not a traditional one."
Greg was looking at his hands, which were still stroking the kitten's soft fur. "Do you really believe that? That we're family?"
"I really believe it, Greg."
Greg was silent for a moment. "You know, Sara, I was with Nick when he chose this kitten for you. We walked through the ASPCA, and there were cats of all shapes and sizes, just looking at us. And there were other kittens there as well. But Nick saw this one, and he asked the volunteer about her. When she told us that her mother had been abused before being rescued, and had to be put to sleep after she had her litter, Nick knew this was the cat he wanted."
He looked at Sara, and grinned softly. "After he signed the papers, and we brought her out to the truck, I asked him 'Why this kitten? She's cute, but there were other nicer looking kittens to choose from.' No offense, puss-puss. You know what he said to me?"
Sara shook her head no, listening intently.
He said, " 'She's the one that needs us the most.' " Greg looked at Sara suddenly, and his eyes were almost black with emotion. "It seems Nick has a habit of rescuing strays."
Sara smiled, and squeezed Greg's hand again, her fingers and his tangling in the warm fur of the kitten. "You're not a stray, Greg."
"No. I'm not. Not anymore."
* * * * *
Nick had gone out to get some last minute groceries, and pulled into the driveway just ahead of Grissom. Getting out of his truck, he walked over to the older man. "Hey Grissom!"
"Nick." He reached into the back of his car, and pulled out Greg's field kit. "How's Greg?"
Nick shrugged. "Doing okay, I guess. What did you bring his field kit for?"
Grissom smiled, and spun it around. Painted on the back of it were a couple of eyeballs and Greg's name. "You told me Greg wanted to have his friend paint it, so I took it to him a couple of days ago, and asked if he could have it ready for today."
Nick grinned. "You took it to Dave? Alternative Dave? Mohawk Dave?"
"That's the one. He's a nice kid. His hair needs a little work though." Grissom cocked an eyebrow when Nick started laughing. Together, the two men walked into the house.
Greg was sitting in the kitchen, talking to Sara, when they walked in. When Grissom handed Greg the field kit, his face lit up, then immediately fell. He ran his hand lightly over his name, feeling the slightly grainy texture of the paint under his fingertips.
"Thanks, Grissom. I don't know when I'll be able to use this though."
Grissom smiled. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I know you can't do field work for a while, but I talked to Dr. Mellows today, and he cleared you to come back to the lab as long as you promise to rest as much as possible."
Greg just looked at him, in shock. "You called Dr. Mellows?"
Grissom nodded. "I wanted to clear it through him, before I brought it up with you in case he was against the idea. We really need you back, Greg. The lab is falling apart with out you, and Vincent is so backlogged -" he shook his head. "We've got two huge cases we're working on, and I need my best people. Vincent is adequate, but he needs constant supervision, and he doesn't think on his feet the way you do. So, if you're up to it - we could really use you tonight."
Greg grinned, and it was the first time in a week Sara saw pure joy shining from his eyes. "You think I'm the best, huh? Wow. I'd love to come back tonight!"
* * * * *
As far as Welcome Home Dinners went, this one was pretty successful despite the fact that they ended up ordering Chinese food instead of the BBQ Nick had planned. It seemed no one really wanted to eat steak considering the case they had caught on the last shift, and Nick really couldn't blame them. Sara had merely grinned.
"Now you see why I'm a vegetarian."
Greg had been almost his old self, cracking jokes and flirting outrageously with both Catherine and Sara, Warrick had told some amusing stories, and Grissom had watched them all, contributing where necessary, but basically just enjoying being surrounded by his friends.
Everyone had been teasing Sara unmercifully about her no-name kitten, and Sara had finally thrown her arms up in despair. "I honestly can't think of anything! Everything I come up with is scientific, and it doesn't fit her. I want her to have a nice name, and CODIS just doesn't work for me."
As the laughter died down, Greg had piped up. "Name her Deena, but spell it D-NA. That way, you appease both your scientific side, and your emotional girly side." He grinned as Sara threw a mock punch into his arm. But she smiled as she bent down and picked up the little kitten, looking into her green eyes.
"D-NA. Do you like it, kitty?" The kitten blinked, then meowed, trying to bat Sara's nose with her tiny paw. "Okay then. D-NA it is."
_____
Author's Notes: Okay, finally have a name for the kitten. Hurray! Thanks you so much for reading this and for the reviews. And whoever nominated Broken Boy for the 2002 CSI Fanfic Awards - wow! I'm really honored - thank you so much for that. And thank you, Saryn, for telling me. I had no idea there even was such a thing! Next chapter - on with the case.
Greg was sleeping on the sofa in the living room, the kitten curled in the crook of his legs, when Sara got finally got home from work. Nick was sitting in the overstuffed armchair, also asleep. Sara smiled in amusement at the two men, before softly touching Nick's shoulder.
"Nick? Nicky - wake up."
Nick shifted in his seat, opening his eyes slowly and looking at her. "Hey. You're home." He looked at his watch, frowning in sympathy. "Long shift, eh?"
Sara nodded tiredly. "Yeah. Sorry I couldn't be here when you guys got home. What time was Greg released?" She had slid into the armchair, arm draped over Nick's shoulder. The steady beat of his heart beneath her hand made her smile.
"Dr. Jansen showed up early - around 8:00, to sign him out. We've been home since 9:30. How come you're so late?"
Sara sighed. "Bad night. Two cases - Grissom and I processed a massacre at a New Age store - 6 victims, all shot. Warrick and Catherine caught the investigation at Lifestyles - the gay club. Someone tied the employees there up before they opened for the evening and set them on fire. Eight bodies."
Nick winced in sympathy. "So, busy night. Any clues?"
"We're working on it." She looked at Greg again. "How's he doing?"
"He was glad to get out. Jansen says he has to go for an appointment once a week for the next month or so, and then they can get him on a regular schedule. All in all, though, he said Greg's doing well. Is everyone still coming for dinner?"
Sara nodded. "Yeah. They'll be here around 4:00. That gives me exactly 3 hours to sleep before I have to get up and start getting ready. So, if you don't mind?" Pushing away from Nick, she stood and headed towards the bedroom. "See you later."
* * * * *
Greg was watching TV when Sara stumbled into the living room later that afternoon. Sara stood in doorway for a few minutes, studying him while she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He was still so pale, and Sara couldn't help but notice he had lost a lot of weight. Not that he had been a big guy to begin with, but he had always been toned. Now he was just - skinny. Her kitten was sitting on his knees, little paws kneading his leg, as Greg absently stroked under her neck. Sara smiled.
"I think she likes you."
"Hey Sara. Did you have a good sleep?"
"What little I got of it, yeah." Walking over to the sofa, she sat down beside Greg, reaching out to pet the kitten as well. "How's your first day of freedom?"
Greg shrugged. "Not bad, I guess. At least I'm not stuck in a hospital bed all day." He looked at her shyly. "Thanks for letting me move in here with you guys. I promise it won't be for long and -"
Sara interrupted him. "Greg, we've had this conversation before. You can stay as long as you like." She sighed when Greg turned his head away. "Greg, you have to stop thinking this is an imposition. We're friends, right?"
At Greg's nod, Sara continued. "Well, then? What's the problem here? Friends help each other out." Greg shrugged, and turned to face her again. His voice was soft. "I just - I'm not used to having people look after me like this. I've been on my own twelve years now, and it's just - hard to get used to."
Sara smiled softly. "We have a lot in common you know. I've been on my own for a long time as well - since my parents died when I was 18. And you get so used to being independent and doing it all for yourself, it's hard to lower your shields and accept help when you need it." She touched his hand gently, squeezing it quickly. "But you know what? When you finally realize you don't have to be alone anymore, it's a good feeling."
Greg sighed. "It's just hard to believe that you guys want me here." He looked at Sara seriously. "You have to understand Sara. I grew up in foster homes. Some families I stayed with were wonderful, and others - not so much. But I was always on the outside, looking in. When my mom died, I thought that maybe someone would finally be able to adopt me, you know? Maybe I would finally find a place and stick, but it never happened. The last family I was with -" he paused. "I stayed with them for 5 years. I would have stayed forever, if they had wanted me. I used to imagine they were my family - I even called them mom and dad. But when I asked them to adopt me, they said they couldn't. If they adopted me, they would lose the monthly allowance from Children's Services."
"That's rough, Greg." Sara's voice was aching with sympathy. "Everyone deserves a family. And I can't begin to imagine what you went through growing up without one, but don't let it affect you your entire life. All your friends are coming here today, just to be with you, to support you. Do you think any of us would ever turn you away?" She smiled gently. "Grissom wasn't lying when he said we were family. We're just not a traditional one."
Greg was looking at his hands, which were still stroking the kitten's soft fur. "Do you really believe that? That we're family?"
"I really believe it, Greg."
Greg was silent for a moment. "You know, Sara, I was with Nick when he chose this kitten for you. We walked through the ASPCA, and there were cats of all shapes and sizes, just looking at us. And there were other kittens there as well. But Nick saw this one, and he asked the volunteer about her. When she told us that her mother had been abused before being rescued, and had to be put to sleep after she had her litter, Nick knew this was the cat he wanted."
He looked at Sara, and grinned softly. "After he signed the papers, and we brought her out to the truck, I asked him 'Why this kitten? She's cute, but there were other nicer looking kittens to choose from.' No offense, puss-puss. You know what he said to me?"
Sara shook her head no, listening intently.
He said, " 'She's the one that needs us the most.' " Greg looked at Sara suddenly, and his eyes were almost black with emotion. "It seems Nick has a habit of rescuing strays."
Sara smiled, and squeezed Greg's hand again, her fingers and his tangling in the warm fur of the kitten. "You're not a stray, Greg."
"No. I'm not. Not anymore."
* * * * *
Nick had gone out to get some last minute groceries, and pulled into the driveway just ahead of Grissom. Getting out of his truck, he walked over to the older man. "Hey Grissom!"
"Nick." He reached into the back of his car, and pulled out Greg's field kit. "How's Greg?"
Nick shrugged. "Doing okay, I guess. What did you bring his field kit for?"
Grissom smiled, and spun it around. Painted on the back of it were a couple of eyeballs and Greg's name. "You told me Greg wanted to have his friend paint it, so I took it to him a couple of days ago, and asked if he could have it ready for today."
Nick grinned. "You took it to Dave? Alternative Dave? Mohawk Dave?"
"That's the one. He's a nice kid. His hair needs a little work though." Grissom cocked an eyebrow when Nick started laughing. Together, the two men walked into the house.
Greg was sitting in the kitchen, talking to Sara, when they walked in. When Grissom handed Greg the field kit, his face lit up, then immediately fell. He ran his hand lightly over his name, feeling the slightly grainy texture of the paint under his fingertips.
"Thanks, Grissom. I don't know when I'll be able to use this though."
Grissom smiled. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I know you can't do field work for a while, but I talked to Dr. Mellows today, and he cleared you to come back to the lab as long as you promise to rest as much as possible."
Greg just looked at him, in shock. "You called Dr. Mellows?"
Grissom nodded. "I wanted to clear it through him, before I brought it up with you in case he was against the idea. We really need you back, Greg. The lab is falling apart with out you, and Vincent is so backlogged -" he shook his head. "We've got two huge cases we're working on, and I need my best people. Vincent is adequate, but he needs constant supervision, and he doesn't think on his feet the way you do. So, if you're up to it - we could really use you tonight."
Greg grinned, and it was the first time in a week Sara saw pure joy shining from his eyes. "You think I'm the best, huh? Wow. I'd love to come back tonight!"
* * * * *
As far as Welcome Home Dinners went, this one was pretty successful despite the fact that they ended up ordering Chinese food instead of the BBQ Nick had planned. It seemed no one really wanted to eat steak considering the case they had caught on the last shift, and Nick really couldn't blame them. Sara had merely grinned.
"Now you see why I'm a vegetarian."
Greg had been almost his old self, cracking jokes and flirting outrageously with both Catherine and Sara, Warrick had told some amusing stories, and Grissom had watched them all, contributing where necessary, but basically just enjoying being surrounded by his friends.
Everyone had been teasing Sara unmercifully about her no-name kitten, and Sara had finally thrown her arms up in despair. "I honestly can't think of anything! Everything I come up with is scientific, and it doesn't fit her. I want her to have a nice name, and CODIS just doesn't work for me."
As the laughter died down, Greg had piped up. "Name her Deena, but spell it D-NA. That way, you appease both your scientific side, and your emotional girly side." He grinned as Sara threw a mock punch into his arm. But she smiled as she bent down and picked up the little kitten, looking into her green eyes.
"D-NA. Do you like it, kitty?" The kitten blinked, then meowed, trying to bat Sara's nose with her tiny paw. "Okay then. D-NA it is."
_____
Author's Notes: Okay, finally have a name for the kitten. Hurray! Thanks you so much for reading this and for the reviews. And whoever nominated Broken Boy for the 2002 CSI Fanfic Awards - wow! I'm really honored - thank you so much for that. And thank you, Saryn, for telling me. I had no idea there even was such a thing! Next chapter - on with the case.