Title: Holding Out for a Hero
Summary: Nina enlists Greg's help in finding Marie.
Notes: This is the first Episode in The Ghost of a Good Thing Series. Everything's Not Lost is a kind of prologue to this, but you don't have to read it to understand this. All you need to know is that Nick is now living with Greg and this occurred after the Stalker episode.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Anything italicized means he/she is speaking in Italian. Oh and Padre means father and Madre means mother.
Extra Notes: Sorry for the delay everyone, but everything seemed to happen all at once. I had all my deadlines for grants due by Monday and then I got sick because I was watching my godson and he had an ear infection. It is not fun to be around a baby when they are sick. Anyway I tried to make this chapter as long as possible to make the wait worthwhile. So here it is in all its completed glory. Please review everyone. Thanks!
Chapter Seven: The Reason
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is You
--Hoobastank "The Reason"
Pacific Harbors at SunriseApartment 218—Monday March 22—1:25 pm
Marie was pacing in her room. She had talked to Shawn last night and today was the day to break the news to Nina. It wasn't like it was horrible news. They were engaged. It was okay to want to move in together and Nina was welcome to move in with them. Marie knew though that Nina would look at her and scoff.
"Marie are you okay?" Nina asked coming into the room and startling Marie, "You seem worried about something."
"Come sit with me Nina." Marie said as she took a seat on the edge of her bed. Nina gave her a strange look but took a seat next to her. Marie looked at her anxiously before she began.
"Last night, Shawn. Well he. Shawn proposed last night Nina." Nina's eyes went wide and her face lit up, "and we've decided to move in together." Nina didn't let her finish the conversation Marie had worked out so perfectly in her head.
"Oh that's wonderful." Nina exclaimed hugging Marie tightly. "When are you moving out?"
"By the end of this week." She said quickly. Nina's face fell.
"Oh." She stated a little dejectedly. "Well I can find another apartment by then." Marie looked at her strangely and Nina read her look immediately. "I can't afford this apartment all by myself. Besides I wanted to find a new apartment after what happened anyway. I mean I know nothing really happened here but still I."
"I know what you mean." Marie said halting Nina from continuing her ramblings. Nina smiled and hugged Marie again.
"So have you set a date?"
Crime Lab—Monday March 22—5: 42 pm
"Nina," Greg called out when he saw her walking down the hallway towards the lab, "I was just about to call you." He said ushering her into the DNA lab.
"Really?" she questioned.
"Yeah, I have a proposition for you." She looked at him expectantly. "How would you like to be a DNA specialist?" she said nothing, Greg's spirits fell, "I know you could do it. I mean you helped me out with school and taught me pretty much everything I know." He seemed to realize what he had just admitted out loud. He quickly looked around and then lowered his voice, "but don't let anyone know that. I might lose any respect I've gained here." He told her keeping a serious expression on his face. She laughed at him. He smiled.
"The night shift, right?" Nina asked. Greg nodded. "Yeah I could live with that."
"Yes," Greg said jumping up and down before hugging her. She accepted the hug awkwardly, but he either didn't notice or didn't care. "I've got to go tell Grissom." He ran out of the lab in search of Grissom and found him handing out assignments to the others. "I found a replacement." He told Grissom happily.
"Good, you can start training her next week." Greg looked a Grissom.
"How did you?" Grissom said nothing, but returned to the task at hand. Greg turned around to walk out of the break room and found Nina standing at the doorway. He smiled, but said nothing to Grissom. "You start next week."
Pacific Harbors at SunriseApartment 218—Thursday March 25—3:55 pm
"Well I found a job all I need now is an apartment." Nina said more to herself than to Marie. They were sitting at the kitchen table looking through the newspaper circling potential apartments for Nina and Cassie. Life was now moving in a blur. One thing seemed to be leading to another and pretty soon now it would be just her and Cassie. She didn't know how she should take this. Part of her was thrilled and excited, but then another part of her was scared to death. She'd never really been on her own. In fact she couldn't ever remember not being with Marie by her side. What was she going to do? Who was going to calm her down when she freaked out over petty things? Who was going to find Cassie when she ran away for an hour because they had gotten into a small argument? Surely, Nina couldn't do all of this by herself. Everyone had always thought of her as a single parent, but in a way she really wasn't because Marie had always been there. But now, now the cold reality of being alone was going to hit her. She was going to watch her two best friends get married and make a family. She had never felt like a third wheel as much as she did now.
"Nina," Marie said waving a hand in front of her face. "Nina you still with me?" Nina looked at Marie her eyes glazed over.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm still here." Nina shook her head and began to concentrate on the paper again.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Just stuff."
"Stuff, huh. What kind of stuff?" Nina didn't answer, just kept reading the ads. "I'll still be here if you need me Nina. You know that, right? Me getting married doesn't change anything." Marie told her sincerely.
"Yes it does." Nina whispered her throat dry from the effort of not crying. Her eyes were misty, but she refused to cry, "You marrying Shawn means I won't be the first one you tell anything to. I won't be able to hear you complain at the end of a really long shift about how poor tippers some of the men are. I won't be able to make dinner for three anymore and there won't be any need to buy cranberry juice seeing as you're the only one that drinks it. You moving out means Cassie won't have anyone here to put honey on her cheerios. Yes I know about that." Nina added before Marie could protest," and it means she won't be able to giggle madly with you when you poke fun at me for trying to keep everyone healthy and make her go to school when we both have the day off. Or giving her a million warnings on days she has to ride the bus from school to Shawn's house." Nina began to cry silently. The tears spilled down like tea sloshing over the brim of a cup. Her bottom lip quivered from the restraint to not sob. Marie pulled her into a hug and held her. Smoothing her hair and whispering soothing words into her ear.
"We'll figure it out somehow. Even if I have to sneak in every morning to pour honey on that damn cereal." Nina laughed in spite of the pain she felt. She took a deep, shaky breath to calm herself and wiped her tears on Marie's shoulder. "Better now?" She nodded. "Good we have an apartment to find." Nina nodded and they both went back to the paper. After a good half hour of finding absolutely nothing Marie sighed and threw down the paper. "Maybe Greg can help you with this too." Marie retorted good-naturedly to break the long silence.
"Friends, Marie. We are friends." Marie scoffed.
"Yeah and you just happen to be Cassie's mother and she just happens to call him dad. I'm sure it had nothing to do with fate that she didn't call Shawn dad."
"Hey we set up the rules so she wouldn't get confused. It's not my fault he was the only one around when she first said 'dada'. It could have easily had been Shawn."
"Whatever." Marie sighed and slammed her palm against the table. "We are never going to find a suitable apartment, in your price range, near Cassie's school. It's impossible I'm telling you. Let's just go visit Greg." Marie said happily jumping up from her seat and stretching. Nina looked horrified.
"Can't we just call him and see if he knows of any available apartments."
"Of course not. That wouldn't be any fun and I wouldn't be able to watch you squirm. Now give me just a minute to change and we'll go."
"Change? What for? You look fine." Marie looked down at her t-shirt she had borrowed from Shawn and her faded hip-huggers a look of disgust on her face. She sighed and shook her head at Nina showing her disappointment without saying a word.
Crime Lab—Thursday March 25—5:08 pm
Marie walked through the halls at a normal pace with a slight bounce to her step and a toothy grin on her face. The high from being engaged had yet to wear off and Nina doubted it would until they were married and then she'd have to deal with the Newlywed high and after that the new mom high. The highs would one day have to stop. Nina was sure of it.
Marie had gotten a good distance in front of Nina seeing as how Nina was dragging her feet dreading asking Greg about an apartment. Hadn't she asked enough already? Couldn't they just leave this newly repaired friendship alone and see what it led to? Oh no, Marie would never allow that. She always had to push things until she was absolutely sure it wouldn't go any further.
Greg was in the break room filling his coffee mug and listening to Catherine and Nick talk about a current case when Marie barged in, Nina stayed close to the door for a quick escape. Greg took when look at Marie's elated expression and smiled.
"That high better be all natural." He joked. Nick choked on air and Catherine smiled at the exchange while patting Nick reassuringly on the back.
"I'm getting married." She told him happily. He grinned.
"Finally, it only took him a million years. So when's the wedding?" he asked leaning back against the counter and blowing lightly on the steaming cup in his hands.
"Don't know yet, but that's not why we came here," Marie looked around and found Nina and dragged her into the room to stand next to her, "Nina here is looking for an apartment and we've had no luck all week."
"That might be because we've only been looking for three hours." Nina whispered loudly in Marie's ear. Marie elbowed her.
"We thought you might be able to help. You see Nina has to move out by Saturday." Greg looked unfazed.
"Well that's short notice." He commented.
"I don't want to stay and have to pay another month's rent by myself. That's 850 dollars I don't have," Marie looked at her skeptically, "all right I do have it I just would rather not spend it. Do you realize how much college is going to cost if she does decide to become a neurosurgeon? I mean come on we have to think ahead here." Nina protested ready to go off into her usual rant unless someone stopped her. Nick decided to, although he never knew how grateful both Marie and Greg had been at the time, but he did notice their relieved faces.
"Greg and I have an extra room you could rent out for now until you find a suitable apartment. That will give you the time you need. Shouldn't it? And I promise the rent won't be anywhere near 850 dollars." Nick assured her with a smile.
"She'll take it." Marie answered shaking Nick's hand before Nina could utter any protest.
"What? No. Marie what did you just do? Unshake his hand now." Nina demanded.
"It's only for a week or two until you can find another place." Marie placated ignoring her outburst. This seemed to calm Nina slightly. She regained her composure and smiled up at Nick.
"Thank you very much Mr."
"Nick Stokes, but you can call me Nick. From what I here anyway we'll be co-workers next week." They shook hands and smiled. Catherine decided to but in.
"I'm Catherine Willows." Marie looked at her as she shook hands with Nina.
"You look eerily familiar. Have I met you before?" Marie asked.
"I used to dance when I was younger." Marie nodded in understanding.
"So did Nina until Cassie was around three. How old is your kid? I've learned kids are usually the only reason a dancer quits. That or drugs, but you don't look like the type." Catherine was pleased. She did hide most of her past well.
"She's nine. Goes to the elementary school right up the street, Cyril Wengert."
"So does Cassie what a coincidence. Maybe they're in the same class. Your daughter's name wouldn't be Lindsey by any chance?" Nina cut in. Catherine nodded. "Cassie talks about her all the time. She was in the school play recently. Cassie wanted to go, but I didn't have anyone to take her."
"Well next time maybe she could go with me." Catherine suggested. They both began to talk of PTA meetings, book reports, and procrastination. Soccer came up once or twice along with the fleeting mention of boys. Marie, Greg, and Nick formed their own little group and talked of current events. Mostly politics and new developments in science. Religion was left out seeing has own it was always rude to talk about religion. When both groups merged the women set in about weddings and dresses and flowers and cakes. The men, though there were only two, discussed living arrangements and changes that would have to be made to accommodate a child living with them and rules that might need to be set up. That's what Warrick and Sara walked in on and they were unknowingly drug into the two groups to discuss issues further and get second opinions. Cases were conveniently forgotten and all track of time was lost. Grissom stood by the door not wanting to be noticed. Content with just looking in. He spent his life observing and looking in. Maybe one day he might be able to join in, but not today. Today he was happy with the fact that everyone he cared for was happy and before long a new edition to the work place just might change them all.
--finis--
Notes: Rest assured everyone this is not going to become a Greg/Nina romance anytime soon. Nina was in love with Greg when they were teens and she thinks she still feels that way. Greg has regrets and does the whole 'I wonder what might have been' thing. But right now no one is getting together except for Marie and Shawn and they were all ready together. After posting this I'm finishing up the second chapter to add to Everything's Not Lost so if you'd like to know more about Greg's past and how Nick feels about the new living arrangements you should read that. You're the One should be up shortly, but I'm not making any promises. Thank you to everyone who reviewed I enjoyed opening my mailbox and finding them there. For everyone who has yet to review please do.