12- "I Have News"
ONE MONTH LATER:
"Greg, come in here for a second. And shut the door."
"Sure, Griss, no offense though, you're scaring me."
"I have something I need to talk to you about..."
Greg finally arrived back to his house, dazed after the workday he had just experienced. Ari was on her cell phone, scrubbing the counter subconsciously, too drawn into the conversation to notice she was practically goring a hole through the counter top.
"Sure... I'll get right into that. Today? I could do that." She hung up, an odd look on her face. Greg was too excited to notice.
They both looked at each other and, in unison, said, "I have news!"
They laughed and Ari said, "Okay then, you first."
He smiled, filled with the normal Greg energy. "I got offered a CSI position!"
Ari's eyes flew open and she smiled, "If I could jump up and down without the risk of breaking through your floor I would!"
He smiled, "I'm going to refuse it."
"Greg, this is so gr- excuse me?"
Greg suddenly became very serious, causing Ari to become very concerned. He motioned for her to sit on the couch so he could tell her something, and she did, falling totally silent.
"I am going to refuse it because... well, being a lab technician pays more than a CSI... I'm gonna say no because I want something more..."
"What?" She asked, hushed.
Greg had rehearsed how he would say this, and said, "I want to be the father of your baby."
The statement echoed in the room, falling on Ari like a blanket as she said, "Uh... well... Greg, I have to tell you my news."
Greg started to worry, "Yes?"
"The person who I was on the phone with was a man. I bought an apartment from him, and the only way I can get it is to move in today. This morning, actually."
Greg exhaled sharply; he had not expected this, "Today?"
"Greg... I also... oh, it kills me to have to do this... but I have had these for awhile... and never had the heart to give them... but I have to... oh God, Greg, I am so sorry."
She handed him the manila folder she had been carrying around when he arrived. Greg held on to them loosely. He stood there, frozen in shock as she gestured to her suitcase, already packed, near the door.
"Tonight, Greg, you are going to go to work and accept that CSI position." She rose from the couch, and Greg did too. He followed her to the door, and she turned around, her eyes filling with tears, but she refused to cry in front of him.
"Greg... this... this whole marriage thing... it was a marriage out of convenience. Just out of necessity."
She turned to leave, refusing his help offer, and left Greg standing there, awestruck, distinctly clutching the divorce papers in his right hand.
"...but... what if it was destiny?"
"Grissom, I am going to say 'yes'."
"I figured you would, Greg. Congratulations, Greg, the newest CSI Level One!"
"Thanks Griss. Now I get to annoy the lab tech!"
Ari stood outside her new apartment complex, right in front of her car, and drew a deep breath.
"Just dial it, you wimp!" She berated herself, and dialed Greg's phone number. It was early morning. She wanted to catch him before he went to sleep.
It rang. Then it rang again. On the third ring, she hung up suddenly.
"I'm so sorry, Greg," She said, crying into the now dead phone line.
Greg struggled through his door, and heard his phone ringing. He was holding bags of groceries, and dropped them on the floor as he ran to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?" He asked. There was no one there.
No one was ever there...
She stood there, holding the phone. He had caller ID. He would know it was her. She had no pockets in the maternity clothes, so she put her cell phone in her sock as a temporary holding place while she prepared to struggle up the two flights of stairs to get to the apartment.
Before she could take two steps, someone was behind her, and shoving a cloth over her mouth. She knew what it was. Chloroform.
"Remember me?" A sinister voice in her ear, then she was out.
"Just put her in the truck, we can clean up the scene once she is there."
"Fine, but she weighs a thousand pounds! We should have done this earlier in the pregnancy."
"Like I knew that she would get pregnant. This isn't my fault."
"Sure it isn't, considering it's your baby."
"Shut up and put her in the damn trunk."
DEVIL: Listen to me, Big Guy, I can give you three reasons why you should just walk away. Reason #1: Look at that guy. He's got that sissy little stringy thing.
ANGEL: We've been through this, it's a harp.
DEVIL: Right. That's a harp. And that's a dress.
ANGEL: Robe!
DEVIL: Reason #2: Look what I can do. Jumps into a one-handed handstand
KRONK: But... What's that got to do with anything-?
ANGEL: No no, he's got a point.
-"Emperor's New Groove"