2- "Unknown Angel"

"Greg?" The voice came from far away. Greg was falling, falling. Yet, the voice grew louder.

"Greg? I see you're coming to. Wake up, Greg."

Greg's eyes opened. It was Catherine.

"Oh, thank God. Everyone, he's awake."

Greg groggily looked around. Everyone from the lab was there. Nick was asleep in the chair in the corner, his legs sticking out in weird angles. Grissom stood, looking out the window. Sara and Warrick were on the floor reading books. Catherine was in the chair next to his bed.

"I hate this, Greg. This is the second time I've had to be by your hospital bed."

Greg winced with memories from the explosion. It was an odd sense of déjà vu.

The silence was unbearable, so Greg, in a weak attempt at humor, said, "Well, at least nothing blew up this year, huh?" His lame joke fell dead in the room. Everyone exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"What?" He asked, and Grissom cleared his throat in a scratchy way, "Actually, Greg, your car did."

Greg flew upright in the bed, finally noticing the dull numbness in his left arm and pain from contracting his stomach muscles.

"My car?" Greg said incredulously. "Wait... what happened? I remember the birthday party on that restaurant off of Bonanza Rd. I remember getting into my car..."

Everyone leaned in closer. "Do you remember anything else?" Catherine asked.

"No." He said, slumping back into his hospital bed. "What happened?"

"Well, uh-"

Just then, a man with salt-and-pepper hair walked in. "Well, welcome back Mr. Sanders. You have some very loyal friends. They have been here since 12 o'clock this morning, just sitting in the waiting room."

"Oh gee, man," Greg said in a sarcastic and carefree way, "I love you guys!"

They all smiled. The doctor nodded, "My name is Dr. Harding, Mr. Sanders. Well, everybody, we can see your little lab rat is going to be fine."

"Hey hey," Greg said, "What have you guys been telling this guy?"

Dr. Harding smiled and shooed everyone away, telling them to get some sleep. The room feel into a dead silence as Dr. Harding flipped through Greg's file, placed it under his arm, and checked Greg's IV. Greg sat the awkwardly. He almost dreaded the next question, but it have to be asked.

"So... uh, Doc?" Greg asked as he checked his IV. "What happened to me?"

With a serious look, Dr. Harding pulled up a chair and sat down. "Well, you were pulling out on a green light from East Bonanza, drunken man ran his red light and slammed into your car. Fortunately, he's okay and in police custody. He was way over the legal limit of speed and alcohol."

Greg listened in amazement, shocked that he was hearing his own story.

"Your car spun off Las Vegas Blvd and into a ditch. Two cars stopped, one with a man and his wife and another with a woman. The couple quickly called 911 and the other woman investigated your car. It was leaking fuel, and she feared something could cause a spark, so in a chance decision she determined to take you out of the car. It's a risky move, most of the time a victim should stay in the car, but a wise one.

"After some investigation from the clean up crew, they determined what happened next. A passerby driver tossed a cigarette out the window and your car exploded.

"A cigarette?" Greg asked, the concept of which seemed almost humorous. No one was lying when they said that smoking will kill you. "That's... crazy."

Dr. Harding nodded, "Luckily, the three had moved you far away. When the ambulance arrived, they told the woman to follow them. She stayed until you were out of surgery, then she left."

"She left?" Greg asked. "Who was she?"

"She wasn't a relative or significant other, so she didn't have to sign anything. She just told me her name was Arianna. It's such a pretty name; I wouldn't have remembered it otherwise."

"So that's it? Some mystery woman who saved my life?"

He shrugged uncomfortably, "I guess your own personal unknown angel." He stood up and began to walk out, when suddenly, Greg asked:

"Hey Doc? Did she have green eyes?"

"Yes. The darkest green you have ever seen. You remember her?"

"Not really." Greg said in disappointment.

"You really should get some sleep. I'll come back to check on you later."

Greg nodded and fell back into a dreamless sleep.

"Wow. I wish I could speak whale!"
-Dory, "Finding Nemo"