There will be no pairings……sorry – but there will be plenty of Sara and Greg character interaction. Hope it's enough for you.
Thanks for ALL the reviews. It's hard to believe people like this so much….
Sorry I didn't update yesterday, I felt low…and I didn't want to inflict 'low-ness' on this story.
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Nick, Greg and Sara were in the break room. They were talking – a good sign.
Greg felt good to be talking again – and he felt good the topic wasn't him.
Thought it wasn't easy.
Every time something awkward was said; that related to Greg's condition, there was silence, and Greg had to re-initialise the conversation.
Sara kept shooting him long glances. He knew she had questions – but was thankful she wasn't asking them. He just preyed the glances weren't accompanied by pitying thoughts.
Nick's façade had softened, the coffee – both from the café – and the break room - had perked him up.
"So, you're saying that you turned here down?" Sara said beaming. She was enjoying this torture.
"Sara, Sara, Sara……she was drunk! So was I! I wasn't going to accept!" Nick exclaimed, straining his Texan accent. He truly hadn't taken anyone home the night before, but it always was a struggle convincing Sara of that.
"What's her name?" Greg inquired grinning. It was fun to watch Sara completely ridicule Nick.
"What, you think he got her name? That's a 'second date thing,'" Sara laughed. Although she felt happier on the outside, inside she felt a nagging ache, telling her that she shouldn't be happy. But she suppressed it.
Before Nick had time to contest Sara's accusations on his sleeping habits, Warrick broke into the conversation.
"You do know they have a cure," Warrick said seriously, looking Greg in the eyes.
"What?" Greg responded, utterly confused by Warrick's statement.
"Yeah, I went by the hospital, talked to a friend of mine. You can have what's called a 'Pall-I-dotomy'" – Warrick struggled to pronounce the word, "I got some leaflets on it," he said positively.
He placed the leaflets in front of Greg, who was now turning pale. "This is brain surgery…" Greg whispered.
He felt so shocked. He felt betrayed.
Greg angrily swept the leaflets of the table, and stormed out, without even looking at Warrick; who was now clearly confused by Greg's reaction.
"Man, what did you go and do that for!" Nick said in an exasperated tone. He walked out, obviously going to seek out Greg.
Warrick was now completely confused: he was trying to be positive, trying to increase the odds. 'Greg should be grateful he has a chance like this,' he thought.
Sara stood up, and gave Warrick a cold hard stare. "What do you think you're doing?" her calm tone contradicted her furious exterior.
Grissom walked in the room, clearly confused, "I just saw Greg and Nick…would anyone care to explain…"
"Warrick just decided to give Greg some leaflets on brain surgery." Sara said vindictively.
"So?" Grissom questioned.
Sara narrowed her eyes and regarded him, clearly shocked by his apparent uncaring response. "I don't know about you Grissom, but I would not want someone messing around with my head." She said coldly.
Her words hit Grissom on so many levels.
"It's just an operation!" Warrick yelled, his façade suddenly turning to one of anger. He thought his idea would have gone down better than it had.
Sara frowned at Warrick. She was beginning to learn all over again how insensitive people could be.
She wanted to frown at Grissom too, but she was learning to prioritise her anger.
Grissom now realised that something had happened before he entered the room; he was not equipped to sort this.
She bent down, and picked up the leaflets that Greg had earlier knocked down in rage.
"Yeah, but did you even look at the risks? She questioned, slapping the leaflets against Warrick's chest. "Did you even think what kind of pressure you just put him under? Surgery's a big thing!" she yelled.
Before she left, she gave Grissom a cold glance; a warning. A warning that he should support her; no, that he should support Greg.
Warrick stared at grissom, who returned his stare. When neither spoke, Warrick decided to leave.
All he was trying to do was help; he didn't understand why it upset everyone.
Grissom stood, slightly bewildered by what had just happened. He was actually quite shocked how violently Sara had reacted to the thought of surgery.
He was beginning to become thankful of his decision not to tell anyone about his surgery.
But he was also worried…his team were acting so aggressive toward each other.
This could lead to a hostile work environment…….if it hadn't already.
=======================================
"Greg, wait up!" Nick cried.
Nick felt so…fragmented. He didn't know how to react. His friend was ill – and just because they'd been friends for a long time didn't mean that he knew how to react.
And Greg was acting differently. But – what did he expect? Its not everyday you find out you have a degenerative disease. Nick kept questioning himself – how would he cope – and how could he help Greg cope?
Greg stopped, and leaned into the glass wall.
It took several minutes for Greg to finally look at Nick, fearing what he's see, and what he'd say.
Nick didn't need to say anything; his eyes questioned Greg's actions.
"It's hard that – that you guys see me as broken." Greg stuttered, trying not to sound to metaphorical or sentimental.
"We don't." Nick said softly.
"Then why do you want me to have surgery," Greg said, biting back the tears.
"That was Warrick's idea. Greg – why are you taking this so hard?" Nick said, although his infuriation with the situation was increasing – he tried to maintain a calm voice.
He knew from interrogations: shouting never got anyone anywhere.
Greg began to think again. It was hard trying to explain –and there were some things he wasn't prepared to admit to.
Secretly; he felt alone.
He didn't feel he had a connection to anyone anymore.
He used to feel so comfortable talking to his friends, now he felt he didn't know them.
But he knew it wasn't their fault.
"Because I have a progressive disease that will probably kill me – and the day after I tell you guys – Warrick's trying to schedule brain surgery," Greg said calmly.
"It just shows how much he wants to help you," Nick reasoned.
"Maybe I don't want help – maybe I just want support for what I'm going through." Greg said, searching desperately for ways to end the conversation.
"We do support you!" Nick finally raised his voice, trying to convey the point to Greg – who seemed like he want willing to listen.
"It just doesn't feel like it," Greg said dejectedly, before walking off.
"Greg," Nick yelled after him. He continued to yell his name for some time, but to no avail.
It was clear that Greg now wanted to be alone.
And Nick knew he had cases to deal with.
He felt like he'd poured salt in the wounds – before Greg was angry with someone else – now he was angry with him too. He just couldn't say the right things.
Greg heard Nick's insistent yells, but kept walking. He didn't want to explain the real reason why he was so angry, so frustrated.
The real reason was that he was afraid.
Afraid of people's reactions.
Afraid of the drugs.
Afraid of the disease.
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I found this chapter hard to write – I think it's because there's so much going on.
FYI: A Pallidotomy is a type of brain surgery for Parkinson's.
[yes, we will get to the shopping trip – since you seem to like the idea – it'll be here in a couple of chapters]
Thanks for ALL the reviews. It's hard to believe people like this so much….
Sorry I didn't update yesterday, I felt low…and I didn't want to inflict 'low-ness' on this story.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick, Greg and Sara were in the break room. They were talking – a good sign.
Greg felt good to be talking again – and he felt good the topic wasn't him.
Thought it wasn't easy.
Every time something awkward was said; that related to Greg's condition, there was silence, and Greg had to re-initialise the conversation.
Sara kept shooting him long glances. He knew she had questions – but was thankful she wasn't asking them. He just preyed the glances weren't accompanied by pitying thoughts.
Nick's façade had softened, the coffee – both from the café – and the break room - had perked him up.
"So, you're saying that you turned here down?" Sara said beaming. She was enjoying this torture.
"Sara, Sara, Sara……she was drunk! So was I! I wasn't going to accept!" Nick exclaimed, straining his Texan accent. He truly hadn't taken anyone home the night before, but it always was a struggle convincing Sara of that.
"What's her name?" Greg inquired grinning. It was fun to watch Sara completely ridicule Nick.
"What, you think he got her name? That's a 'second date thing,'" Sara laughed. Although she felt happier on the outside, inside she felt a nagging ache, telling her that she shouldn't be happy. But she suppressed it.
Before Nick had time to contest Sara's accusations on his sleeping habits, Warrick broke into the conversation.
"You do know they have a cure," Warrick said seriously, looking Greg in the eyes.
"What?" Greg responded, utterly confused by Warrick's statement.
"Yeah, I went by the hospital, talked to a friend of mine. You can have what's called a 'Pall-I-dotomy'" – Warrick struggled to pronounce the word, "I got some leaflets on it," he said positively.
He placed the leaflets in front of Greg, who was now turning pale. "This is brain surgery…" Greg whispered.
He felt so shocked. He felt betrayed.
Greg angrily swept the leaflets of the table, and stormed out, without even looking at Warrick; who was now clearly confused by Greg's reaction.
"Man, what did you go and do that for!" Nick said in an exasperated tone. He walked out, obviously going to seek out Greg.
Warrick was now completely confused: he was trying to be positive, trying to increase the odds. 'Greg should be grateful he has a chance like this,' he thought.
Sara stood up, and gave Warrick a cold hard stare. "What do you think you're doing?" her calm tone contradicted her furious exterior.
Grissom walked in the room, clearly confused, "I just saw Greg and Nick…would anyone care to explain…"
"Warrick just decided to give Greg some leaflets on brain surgery." Sara said vindictively.
"So?" Grissom questioned.
Sara narrowed her eyes and regarded him, clearly shocked by his apparent uncaring response. "I don't know about you Grissom, but I would not want someone messing around with my head." She said coldly.
Her words hit Grissom on so many levels.
"It's just an operation!" Warrick yelled, his façade suddenly turning to one of anger. He thought his idea would have gone down better than it had.
Sara frowned at Warrick. She was beginning to learn all over again how insensitive people could be.
She wanted to frown at Grissom too, but she was learning to prioritise her anger.
Grissom now realised that something had happened before he entered the room; he was not equipped to sort this.
She bent down, and picked up the leaflets that Greg had earlier knocked down in rage.
"Yeah, but did you even look at the risks? She questioned, slapping the leaflets against Warrick's chest. "Did you even think what kind of pressure you just put him under? Surgery's a big thing!" she yelled.
Before she left, she gave Grissom a cold glance; a warning. A warning that he should support her; no, that he should support Greg.
Warrick stared at grissom, who returned his stare. When neither spoke, Warrick decided to leave.
All he was trying to do was help; he didn't understand why it upset everyone.
Grissom stood, slightly bewildered by what had just happened. He was actually quite shocked how violently Sara had reacted to the thought of surgery.
He was beginning to become thankful of his decision not to tell anyone about his surgery.
But he was also worried…his team were acting so aggressive toward each other.
This could lead to a hostile work environment…….if it hadn't already.
=======================================
"Greg, wait up!" Nick cried.
Nick felt so…fragmented. He didn't know how to react. His friend was ill – and just because they'd been friends for a long time didn't mean that he knew how to react.
And Greg was acting differently. But – what did he expect? Its not everyday you find out you have a degenerative disease. Nick kept questioning himself – how would he cope – and how could he help Greg cope?
Greg stopped, and leaned into the glass wall.
It took several minutes for Greg to finally look at Nick, fearing what he's see, and what he'd say.
Nick didn't need to say anything; his eyes questioned Greg's actions.
"It's hard that – that you guys see me as broken." Greg stuttered, trying not to sound to metaphorical or sentimental.
"We don't." Nick said softly.
"Then why do you want me to have surgery," Greg said, biting back the tears.
"That was Warrick's idea. Greg – why are you taking this so hard?" Nick said, although his infuriation with the situation was increasing – he tried to maintain a calm voice.
He knew from interrogations: shouting never got anyone anywhere.
Greg began to think again. It was hard trying to explain –and there were some things he wasn't prepared to admit to.
Secretly; he felt alone.
He didn't feel he had a connection to anyone anymore.
He used to feel so comfortable talking to his friends, now he felt he didn't know them.
But he knew it wasn't their fault.
"Because I have a progressive disease that will probably kill me – and the day after I tell you guys – Warrick's trying to schedule brain surgery," Greg said calmly.
"It just shows how much he wants to help you," Nick reasoned.
"Maybe I don't want help – maybe I just want support for what I'm going through." Greg said, searching desperately for ways to end the conversation.
"We do support you!" Nick finally raised his voice, trying to convey the point to Greg – who seemed like he want willing to listen.
"It just doesn't feel like it," Greg said dejectedly, before walking off.
"Greg," Nick yelled after him. He continued to yell his name for some time, but to no avail.
It was clear that Greg now wanted to be alone.
And Nick knew he had cases to deal with.
He felt like he'd poured salt in the wounds – before Greg was angry with someone else – now he was angry with him too. He just couldn't say the right things.
Greg heard Nick's insistent yells, but kept walking. He didn't want to explain the real reason why he was so angry, so frustrated.
The real reason was that he was afraid.
Afraid of people's reactions.
Afraid of the drugs.
Afraid of the disease.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found this chapter hard to write – I think it's because there's so much going on.
FYI: A Pallidotomy is a type of brain surgery for Parkinson's.
[yes, we will get to the shopping trip – since you seem to like the idea – it'll be here in a couple of chapters]