A/n- LONG LIVE GREG ANGST!!! Thanks again for the reviews- You can all be proud of yourselves for making one wannabe writer very happy :-) And a special note of encouragement to go and write Greg angst :-D go on....you *know* you want to....please..?

PART 3

*~*~* A FEW DAYS LATER *~*~*

Physiotherapy was frustrating for Greg. Because his left leg was seriously broken, his left arm was fractured and burns on his arms and legs had damaged nerves, his physiotherapist, Caroline had to start off slow, and walking was out of the question until his leg had healed. Caroline had longish auburn hair and light brown eyes that matched the bronzy colour almost exactly. She also had rectangular glasses she used for reading which suited her. She had a quick wit, and infinite patience, encouraging him all the way. They were concentrating for now mainly on picking things up. He was especially glad he had his own room- on a ward he would have been really embarrassed. However slow, physio was pretty much as he had expected. Next up- Counselling. He shuddered.

*~*~*

His psychiatrist was called Laura. Right now she was sitting next to him on his bed, having asked him to 'budge over'. He was practically shaking with nervousness. It had been bad enough going through it once, but twice? He didn't want to tell her anything. She was- after all, a total stranger. Laura was pretty, and looked kind, though something in her eyes told him she was tougher than she looked. She had brown hair and blue eyes, eyes that were neither judging, pitying, nor detached, but truly caring. As though he were her only patient, and she had all the time in the world just for him.

She could see how scared he was. Her sixth sense was telling her that this one had been through all the motions of pain in far too much detail, and would rather risk a complete and utter breakdown than talk about it. But though Greg didn't know it, he was looking at the ultimate expert, the professional's professional. And whatever the challenge, she would help this 28 year old sleep at night peacefully. Yes, she had watched him while he was sleeping- and she knew he was wrapped inside a personal horror movie. It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't been tossing and turning- to her, he was radiating pain, even if no one else could feel it. Right now it didn't take a pro to see he was uncomfortable, apprehensive. She smiled slightly, what she hoped was reassuring, but not patronising.

"I'm Laura."

Greg didn't respond. Yep- this one was gonna be tough.

"It's my grandma's 88th birthday in a week...what do you think I should get her?"

Laura asked, genuinely curious, as though she were just casually striking up conversation with a friend. Greg looked at her as though she was absolutely barking mad.

"I've never even met her!"

He said incredulously, after a while.

"No, you're right, of course not, it's just- well I'm really close to my grandma so I want to get her something she'll love. What about you- you close to your grandparents?"

"I was. They looked after me when I was twelve and paid for me to go to college, but they're both dead now. As for my father's side, I don't even know whether they're alive or dead, I just never heard anything about them."

"So on your mother's side- what were they like?"

"They were nice...caring, funny, good company. My grandma was like the opposite of the stereotype, she hated knitting- she was far too active for that. And she was really into science- she's the one who got me into it, bought me a chemistry set on my 7th birthday and I was hooked."

"Don't you work in science?"

"Yeah, I'm a lab technician for crime scene investigators, analysing DNA and stuff."

So far so good they both thought. Laura was immensely relieved that he was talking at all, and Greg was relieved she hadn't yet asked him about anything all that personal, or anything to do with his feelings.

"My grandma used to love whodunits, on the TV or novels, but her eyesight's too poor now. She's my grandma on my mom's side and it's funny-my mom is so much like her, she adores whodunits, all that sort of thing- and they like the same music too. Was your mom like your grandparents?"

"...Yeah. Yeah she was. I guess she was more like my granddad, quiet, artistic- The complete opposite of my dad."

Greg tensed and wished he hadn't mentioned his father, but Laura didn't push it.

"Why did she marry him then?"

"My mom said he was different before she married him, then after...she was too scared to leave him."

Laura was happy with the progress Greg didn't even realise he'd made, and so let him change the subject.

"How about audio books?"

"That's perfect! Her hearing is still fine- thanks!"

She got out a pen.

"You look tired; maybe you should get some sleep."

She started to write 'audio books' on her hand.

"No I'm fine!"

He said, a little too quickly. She looked up at him.

"Are you having nightmares?"

Greg didn't respond.

"Hey it's perfectly normal. Listen, if you ever need to talk, about anything- no matter what the time is, call me and I'll come over. Any time-believe me- I have no life!"

She smiled and handed him her mobile number on a scrap of paper. Then, she hopped off the bed and made her way to the door.

"Oh and Greg?"

She said, turning back

"...Yeah?"

"We'll get past the nightmares."

And she walked out.

*~*~*             A FEW HOURS AND SEVERAL VISITS LATER               *~*~*

Grissom entered just as Archie left. So far Greg hadn't had time to play on his gameboy. Grissom was relieved that Greg didn't seem to have any serious psychological problems, but was still concerned about the underlying feelings that he knew Greg was trying to hide.

"How did physio go?"

"It went ok, Caroline, my physiotherapist, said I should be able to make a full recovery, eventually anyway. I met my counsellor too, Laura. She's nice."

Grissom nodded. He looked at Greg, almost scanning him. Greg looked anywhere but his eyes. It always made him uncomfortable when Grissom did that. He sat down next to Greg. He looked worried. To convince him he was fine, Greg smiled at him, but Grissom didn't smile back.

"We know what happened."

Greg looked away and shuddered at the memory.

"I know."

He laughed humourlessly.

"I could tell the moment you all stepped through the door."

Grissom considered this.

"No one likes pity, but don't mistake sympathy for pity Greg."

"I'm not- they- It's both."

"We're your friends."

Grissom stated simply. Greg wasn't smiling anymore. He was looking down, holding back tears. Grissom frowned.

"Greg- You're not alone, We'll get through this."

"No- I *got* through it. It's over. Look at me, I'm fine! Ok a few injuries, but it's a hospital- look around; there are people doing worse off than me. I just want to forget it! Just...be normal ya know?"

Greg ended quietly.

"But what defines normal?"

"Not this- I just want...the package deal. Wife, 2 kids, company car, one cat, one dog, visit the parents at thanksgiving, visit my sister and her family at Christmas, hey maybe have a barbeque on Saturday, invite the neighbours just...normal. But I'll never get that..."

A single tear escaped but he angrily wiped it away.

"Greg- It's ok to cry."

He pulled his knees up to his chest as more tears silently formed. Finally, he quietly let out the pain he had kept inside, locked up. Grissom responded to Greg's perception of a normal life, so he wouldn't feel embarrassed.

"Nobody is a robot. Everybody has something, some problem, or had some problem that is still with them, whether people know about it or not. That fantasy perfect life doesn't exist, and never did. Besides, maybe you won't see your parents or your sister but you can still get married, have two kids, and if it makes you feel any better, buy a dog and a cat too."

Greg, still crying, wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"Every time I close my eyes I see...and I can't go to sleep..."

Greg continued to let out his pent up emotions, whilst Grissom closed his eyes momentarily. He couldn't stand to see somebody so innocent, so kind and good-natured in so much pain. Nick was right. It was unfair.

"Greg, it's natural to have nightmares."

"But they're so real- and I don't want to go to sleep and see it all over again- it happens every night, it won't go away! My dad was right...I am pathetic."

This made Grissom immediately furious. He stood up and looked Greg in the eyes.

"Now you listen to me Greg- You are anything but pathetic. You are incredibly brave, and have been all your life. That son of a bitch had no right to be anywhere near you."

Something seemed to suddenly dawn on Greg.

"I'm not...*like* him am I? What if I turn into-"

"Greg- You are *nothing* like your father. You were tortured, nearly killed by 16 ex-cons, and when you wake up the first thing you say is "Are you ok?" In fact... you're one of the best people I know."

Greg smiled slightly. Somehow, coming from Grissom it was true, rather than just trying to make him feel better.

"Thanks."

Grissom asked a question he had been curious about.

"Who took care of you after your father went to prison?"

After all, who ever it was hadn't come to see him, and Greg hadn't put them down as next of kin.

"My grandparents. On my mother's side. They were really nice to me- if it wasn't for them I probably wouldn't have been able to go to college, they paid for it all. My granddad died after I graduated- And I'm glad it was after, and not before- he was really proud of me. A couple of years later my grandma died too. That's when I moved to Las Vegas."

Grissom nodded. Greg went on.

"I guess now my dad's dead I don't have any more family."

"Your father was biologically related to you- but he wasn't family. You don't need him anyway."

He nodded to the photo of the CSI department.

"You've already got a family."

And he left. Greg had the first good night's sleep that night than he'd had for a long time. Too long. But from now on, things would be different. Laura would help him put a stop to the nightmares altogether, Caroline would help his mobility, and then he'd be back to the lab. And back to his family.

The end.

A/n- Hope you liked the ending :S And as for any mistakes, well- It wasn't beta'd, so I'll use that as an excuse :-) {{{{Reviewers}}}} many of whom have indeed written some excellent Greg fic. Well done! :-D You probably think I'm a bit crazy now, but he's so lovely!! Btw, I'll write another chapter about when he finally goes back to the lab if'n ya want, but it's quite long neway- if u think its fine ended there, then that's peachy- all the less work for me!