Happy Enough by SLynn

Disclaimer: Any character you recognize, not mine.

Notes: Thanks again for the reviews: cupotrevor, marymay2012, Em, prettyredneck85, Lamborga, BlondeNeko, white rose01, A Bloom , fading-lights. A Bloom – so far chapter 7 has been the easiest and oddest to write. I actually had something different planned, but it just came out like that.

Chapter 11: Period of Adjustment

Calling his parents had been the hardest part of it all. He hated hearing it in their voices, that initial doubt and the slow sinking in of it all. Of course they'd immediately wanted to come out, or for him to come home. He'd refused both offers at first, but relented to having them visit. His mother was flying in on Wednesday, his father on Friday. They'd stay till Sunday and were already planning their next trip.

He finally sat and then realized he hadn't even started the meds yet.

Taking them out, four types in all, he did what any good scientist would do and made a chart. He listed all the meds, when they should be taken and with what. He was going to list the potential side effects but found he didn't have the room or the inclination. That was depressing.

Two of them were to be taken every twelve hours, the other two every six. All in all, not too bad. He took all four now, noted it was eight, and set his watch alarm to go off at two am, six hours later.

'So far, so good,' he thought as he started packing some boxes he'd gotten the other day. He'd tried reasoning with his landlady but to no avail. She wanted him out. Tomorrow he'd start to look for a new place.

A knock at the door stopped his progress.

"Greg," Grissom said standing before him.

"Oh man," was all he said, swinging the door open. "I'm supposed to be at work, aren't I?"

"Yes you are."

"You're not taking back my promotion are you?"

"Depends on whether you're going to let me in or not."

Greg stepped back and ushered him inside, mentally cringing at the mess he'd made. True he'd never really unpacked much from the last move, but he still had a lot of stuff. Most of it on the floor for the moment.

"Nick and Sara told me."

Greg nodded, not sure if he was angry or relieved.

"Yeah, got my medication today. Some forms and stuff for work. They want me to cut my hours."

"Dr. Tracey called me too."

"Wow, it's like I don't even have a private life any more."

It came out more bitter then he'd meant it too, but the feeling was real.

"She thought you might not let me in on all the restrictions she'd imposed."

"She shouldn't have. I'll be good."

"I know," Grissom said, "That's why I've come to talk to you about work. I'm going to hold you to that thirty-two hour week."

"No buts," he continued before he could be interrupted. "This is serious; you can't be over extending yourself. I'll be watching your hours personally. I don't care how you work it out except that I don't want you there for more the six hours a night. Take as many days off as you need, but call first. We clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good."

The both stood in front of each other for a moment.

"If you need anything Greg, I want you to call. I know I probably won't be your first choice, but I'm here."

"Thanks," Greg said staring at his feet to avoid meeting his gaze.

"Looks like you've got a plan worked out," Grissom said after another pause, indicating Greg's newly drawn up chart.

"Yeah, good times."

"I'll let you get some rest," he said with a slight laugh, turning to go.

"I appreciate it, really." Greg said showing him to the door. "I should be in tomorrow."

"See you then," was all he said as he walked out.

Greg shut the door behind him and decided to leave the packing for later, opting instead for a shower. He must have stayed in for at least half an hour, just letting the water run over his head. Just standing there not thinking was about the best thing he could imagine for the time being.

He was in bed by nine-thirty and asleep almost as soon as he'd shut his eyes. Greg had never had vivid dreams before and tonight was no exception. Except tonight he woke unexpectedly a few hours later with a blinding headache. It was just after midnight and Greg barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up. Without thinking he'd gone for his medicine cabinet, looking for aspirin. It was just as he was taking them when it dawned on him that aspirin was on the 'no' list.

He had made a 'no' list to go with his chart.

Some things on it were more serious then others. Aspirin was one of them as it was likely to have a negative reaction with the drugs he was already taking. Settling for water he peeled off his t-shirt which was soaked with sweat. Moving to the living room, he plopped down on the coach and switched on the television.

He couldn't believe it. Only four hours into his first dose and he was already sick as a dog. It sucked. Just as he dozed off again, headache finally subsiding, his alarm went off.

Two o'clock. Time for the next dose.

Greg stumbled his way to the counter to retrieve the two new pills he had to take. These he took with milk. The label said to take it with food, but he doubted he could hold anything down. Milk would have to do.

Resetting the alarm for another six hours, he sprawled out on the couch again and drifted into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning Greg awoke once more to his alarm.

Eight o'clock. Time for the next dose.

He quickly updated his chart, deciding later he'd do up a spreadsheet instead on his computer. He didn't want anyone else coming over and peaking at it. They'd probably think he was being a bit anal for how detailed he was, and he didn't want to argue the difference between anal and meticulous. Greg was meticulous. He marked down exactly when he took the meds, what he'd had with them and any noted side effects. He wanted a record. The part of him that got a kick out of cellular fusion was interested and it might be easier if he just treated the whole thing like a science fair project. Detached himself as much as he could from the fact that his body had basically turned against him.

Greg managed to keep busy enough for most of the day, but couldn't forget. He searched out a few apartment complexes on the internet, got most of his things in order for the move, and generally tried to keep a positive attitude again without much success. He hadn't thrown up again but he also hadn't really felt like eating.

Deciding that he had to go back sooner or later, and remembering he told Grissom he'd be in that night, at six o'clock he left for the lab. He hadn't yet decided what hours he'd work, but knew that Grissom would likely have told everyone to run him out after too many.

From the moment he entered the building he had felt out of place. The receptionist gave him a double take confirming his suspicions. Archie, Bobby, Jacqui. Yep, they had all given him the same look. He felt scrutinized and he knew that they all must have heard.

The rest of the way he refused eye contact with anyone. Angry now Greg sat down in the locker room rubbing his hands through his hair. Hearing the door open behind him, he took a guess at who it was.

"So was there a meeting or just an email?" he asked without turning round.

"Nothing like that," Nick answered "but it was tactfully spread."

"Tactfully," Greg repeated turning and standing to face him. "PowerPoint then?"

"Greg."

"No, seriously. You must have all gotten together and discussed the problem. Me. Talked about who was going to take me to appointments, hold my hand, wipe my ass."

"Come on now."

"I don't need special treatment. I don't need sympathy."

"No one said you did."

"No one had to say it."

Nick shook his head in frustration. He knew Greg wasn't trying to pick a fight with him, that he was just angry with the situation, but it was getting hard to remember that. Greg normally wasn't confrontational. In fact, he'd never seen him confrontational. But Nick didn't handle confrontation well. It didn't suit either of them.

"What do you want me to say here? We're concerned. I'm concerned."

"Don't be."

Nick was losing patience and his temper.

"I can get that this is hard for you."

"No you can't," Greg yelled back at him.

'Maybe Greg was trying to pick a fight with me,' Nick thought as he simultaneously sought to remember that doing so would be a bad thing.

"I just want everyone to act normal. I want to come here for as long as I can and feel normal, but I can't because of the stares and whispers. This is all I have now and I don't even have it anymore."

Nick didn't know what to say.

"Forget it," Greg said jerking open his locker and taking out his bag. "I'm going home."

"No, come on. Stay. It won't be any easier tomorrow. You really should just stay now and get it over with."

Greg considered it for half a second, then turned and left.