Happy Enough by SLynn

Disclaimer: Any character you recognize, not mine.

Chapter 2: Weary

Greg wasn't sure what he was being held up for. It was getting late, or early depending on how you looked at it. Just past two in the morning now. By the time they'd reached the University Medical Center his breathing had been normalized. They'd given him a refill for his inhaler and taken some blood and otherwise left him there.

"Sorry about that," Dr. Abbott, the one who'd treated him when they'd arrived, said as he opened the curtain to the examination area. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting."

"No, it's fine." Greg said despite the fact he'd just been getting ready to bolt.

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened."

"Okay," Greg said with skepticism.

"I've reviewed your file, your boss faxed it over from your office," the doctor continued in a tone that Greg had heard before but didn't respond too.

"How's work going for you?" he asked.

"Fine. Good, actually. Real good. I'm getting promoted." Greg mentally berated himself. He sounded like a kid coming home to dad with a perfect score on a spelling test.

"And the hours?" he continued to prod.

"Long," Greg said truthfully.

Dr. Abbott nodded.

"I want you to take a few days off. Your blood tests came back slightly anemic. Could be you're just tired, but considering your history we can't be too careful. I also want you back here on Wednesday for additional tests. Just to rule anything else out."

Greg winched inwardly at the mention of his 'history'. After all this time he still hated it when doctors said it like that, and they all did.

"It was just an asthma attack," Greg tried to argue. "Really, it's not necessary. I feel fine."

Dr. Abbott shook his head.

"Have you ever had an asthma attack this bad?"

"No but…"

"Stress can do that, but we have to be sure."

Greg conceded. A few tests wouldn't hurt and he really did like the idea of a couple of days of sleep and an actual night out with Mandy seemed nice for a change.

After getting the specifics on the tests, the when's and where's, he headed back to the lobby. Nick was waiting for him as promised.

"Hey, you look better," he said as way of a greeting.

"Thanks," Greg mumbled as they headed outside to the SUV.

"How you feeling?" Nick asked.

"Stupid. Really stupid. If I hadn't left that damn inhaler in my lab coat…"

"Don't beat yourself up over it. It's no big deal. I didn't even know you were asthmatic."

"I'm sure Grissom didn't either. He's probably already thinking of replacements for me. I'm going to die in that lab."

"No he isn't. He's not like that. He knows you'll get this under control. Everyone makes mistakes."

"Yeah, but that's all I make," Greg said with a sigh, letting himself in on the passengers side.

The ride to Greg's apartment was quiet. Nick was worried. He'd never seen Greg act like this before, so despondent. He knew that above everything Greg must be embarrassed. The man was trying so hard to do everything right but lately hadn't been catching many breaks. He'd been wanting to talk with Grissom about cutting back Greg's lab time but wasn't sure if that would be crossing the line. He knew if Greg found out he was going behind his back to their boss on his behalf he'd be upset. On the other hand, Greg was never going to say anything himself and was running himself ragged between field work, studying collection techniques, and still doing about seventy-five percent of the lab work. To top that off, Greg's new girlfriend was fairly demanding of his time, not that Nick would ever say anything about that either and he knew Greg was working on his master's degree. It was a lot to handle and it was obviously taking its toll on his friend.

"We're here," Nick said noticing Greg had fallen asleep.

Greg rubbed his eyes and looked around, uncertain what Nick was talking about for half a moment.

"Thanks man," he finally said as he stifled a yawn.

"No problem. I'll tell Grissom you're taking tomorrow off."

"Might as well tell him I'm taking off Wednesday too then. Doctor's orders."

"Got it," he answered as Greg shut the door to the SUV. "Hey, you okay? Do you need company or anything?"

"Nah, you probably should get back," he said as the yawn finally escaped him. "Besides, lights on. Mandy's here. I'm fine."

"Okay. See you Thursday."

Greg nodded and turned to walk up the flight of steps to his apartment. He wasn't surprised that Mandy was there. She stayed most nights even when he worked. He liked it, found it comforting knowing someone was going to be there when he got back, but wasn't sure where it was headed. He liked Mandy. Liked talking with her, just spending time with her, but honestly, giving her a key to his place was her idea, not his. Threat might be a better word as it hadn't really been an idea.

Out of all his friends, only Nick had met her. He'd been nice enough with the compliments, but subtle wasn't Nick Stokes middle name. He knew Nick didn't like her much, but Greg just felt very alone lately and Mandy had needed him. Everyone wants to feel needed.

Greg stepped inside his apartment and took off his jacket. He quickly checked his answering machine and then put down his keys and cell phone. Making his way to his bedroom he saw the light on under the door. Just before he opened it a strange noise made him stop. A strange yet familiar noise coming from just beyond the other side.

Greg shut his eyes in preparation, not even mad really. At least not yet. Just weary and silently asking the powers to be that this not be what he thinks it is.

But it was.

Greg opened the door and saw Mandy and some guy that wasn't him doing things that didn't look humanly possible. Things that would make a sailor on shore leave blush.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting," Greg said starting off calmly but his voice rising in anger as he spoke, "but could you tell me what in the hell is going on?"

"Oh my God," Mandy said quickly covering herself up and jumping out of bed. "Greg, what are you doing here so early?"

"I live here," he said as he watched the other guy in his bed actually smirk at him.

"But your not usually home…"

He must have given her quite a look because she stopped mid-sentence as he turned to her.

"Don't," he said firmly as she tried to touch him. "Get dressed and get out. Now."

"Greg please, let me explain."

"Explain what? That wasn't CPR you were performing. Get dressed and get out. Now!"

The guy was already pulling on his pants as Greg left the room, choosing to sit on the coach instead of stay where he'd been.

A few minutes later Greg watched him leave, fighting every impulse in his body that was screaming at him to get up and punch the asshole.

"Greg," Mandy said, sitting directly in front of him on the coffee table. "Please try and understand. You're never here."

"I have a job Mandy. We've been through this."

"I just get so lonely," she said, looking up at him with big brown eyes and taking his hands in hers, "You know that I…"

"No," Greg said standing up and shaking her off of him, "No. Don't say that. You don't love me. You couldn't do that and love me."

"What am I suppose to do Greg?" she asked, her voice growing as bitter as his, "Wait for you every night? Never go out? Never have any fun? You are never here. Even when you are, you're not. You're exhausted all the time. What was I suppose to do?"

"How about not fuck some random guy the first chance you get? How about talk to me about it?"

"I tried."

"When? No, you know what, it doesn't matter. It doesn't. Just leave."

"So is that it? Like that, you can just shut me out?"

"Yes," he said noting his hands had begun to shake. "I can. I don't want to even look at you anymore, okay?"

Mandy didn't say anything else, just grabbed her purse and jacket that she'd left on the chair earlier in the evening.

"What about the rest of my stuff?" she asked softly leaning into the doorframe hoping he'd give her another chance.

"Come by on Wednesday," he said gruffly. "I'll pack it up."

She nodded curtly.

"Wait," he said suddenly, causing her to stop.

Greg walked over to her and took her hands. Mandy smiled up at him, knowing he'd cave eventually, but was surprised when she realized that he'd dropped her hands again rather quickly. She watched confused, nearly frozen, as he'd taken her keys from her, removed one and then put them back into her hand.

"This one's mine," he said holding up the apartment key before her.

She stormed off without another word leaving Greg feeling, if possible, worse then he had all night.