Happy Enough by SLynn

Disclaimer: Any character you recognize, not mine.

Chapter 25: The Unexpected

The next day Grissom called Greg in early. He had things to talk to him about before shift began. Lots of things.

He got there half an hour before shift, as requested, looking rested but not at ease. Greg hadn't talked to Sara since the other night and he wasn't sure what he was going to do once he had to face her again. Assuming of course he still had a job. Grissom didn't look happy.

"You rang?" he asked, trying for a little jocularity. It hadn't worked.

"Shut the door behind you."

"Famous last words," Greg muttered under his breath before sitting down.

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened on scene the other day."

"I messed up."

"Yes, I know that."

"I shouldn't have gone into any room without supervision. I'm not fully trained. It was my mistake and I won't do it again."

"I know you won't Greg. Everyone makes a mistake in the field, you just need to really stop and think before you act. You're not to blame however."

"Sara isn't either," Greg added quickly. "It's not like she'd never told me that before. She had. Once I saw that it was bigger then a closet I should have stepped back and waited. This isn't her fault; you can't blame her for it."

"I know that too," Grissom said mildly, an interesting light behind his eyes. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have insisted you go into the field so soon. You were out of practice and ultimately I'm the boss and I'm to blame."

Greg shook his head. Why wouldn't anyone just let him take the rap for this?

"Grissom, listen. I screwed up, please…"

"That's the end of it Greg," Grissom continued as if he hadn't even spoken. "But there is something else we need to talk about."

Greg was confused. What else could there be?

"Sara came to see me this morning. She feels that she can no longer train you objectively."

Greg didn't know what to say to that. Didn't know what Grissom had interpreted that to mean. He must have heard the rumors before; this was just going to confirm them in most people's eyes despite it being the exact opposite of true.

"It's normal for two people working closely…"

"There's nothing happening between us," Greg cut in blushing deeply. Rumors about Sara and him weren't the only ones ever floated in the lab. This had to be the worst situation he could imagine himself into, the absolute worse.

"No one said there was," was the response, it sounded curt.

"Good," Greg said seriously.

"This isn't an inquisition Greg," Grissom replied, "all I meant was that it's understandable that the two of you have become friends. With everything that has gone on lately, she's feels that she can't effectively oversee your work."

"Okay, so what happens to me?"

"Warrick is going to step in and take over. You'll be shadowing him starting tonight."

"That everything?" he asked.

"No," Grissom said and Greg felt his stomach knot. "I don't want you working as late as you did on Monday. But if you do, don't bother with the break room. Just let me know and I'll clear out some space for you in here."

"Thanks," Greg answered before he got up and left.

He found Nick in the break room reading over tox screens from the latest victims.

"Hey Greg, we missed you last night. Screaming with Sara really takes it out of you, huh?"

"Oh man, did the whole building hear us yelling?"

"You're kidding, right?" Nick said looking shocked. "It wasn't like either of you were keeping your voices down. Don't worry though, I saw her in with Griss earlier. He probably set her straight; she shouldn't have taken it out on you like that man, it was an honest mistake."

Greg fought down his mild annoyance with Nick. He knew Nick was just being a loyal friend, but he didn't have the whole story.

"Well, they did talk," Greg said plopping onto the couch. "And she definitely will not be taking it out on me again."

"Told you."

"No," Greg said, shaking his head. "She's not training me anymore."

"What?" Nick asked, putting aside his report. "Grissom fired her?"

"No. She fired herself."

"That doesn't sound like Sara."

"Yeah well, I wouldn't be the best judge," Greg said standing up to get some coffee. "I'll never understand her."

Nick let the comment go without remark.

"So, who's going to make you run errands and fetch donuts?" Nick said taking a stab at lifting Greg's spirits. He seemed really down about this.

"Warrick. Grissom just told me."

"Well, I won't pretend I'm surprised. He probably thought that if he paired you with me we'd spend all of our time cracking jokes at other peoples expenses."

"Which would be true."

"Oh, no doubt."

"That's probably why he paired you off with Sara in the first place, figured there wasn't any chance…"

Nick stopped mid-sentence at the look Greg gave him. For a moment Greg had looked really and truly pissed off.

"Yeah, that would never happen," Greg said trying to brush it off. Nick wasn't buying it.

"I was joking."

"I know it."

"Okay, because if there was something you wanted to talk about…"

"I'm fine," Greg said putting down his cup. "I'm going to go call Brass about that girl. See how she is."

Nick said nothing more, just watched him go. It hadn't been intentional, but he'd just kicked his friend while he was down.

Greg couldn't reach Brass or anyone in his department who could give him any information about what had become of that little girl. He was sorry to hear it. He really had wanted to know and he really had wanted to stay out of the way until shift started. He didn't feel like talking right now, not to anyone.

Reluctantly he made his way back, sneaking into the room just as Grissom began his talk. Sara and Catherine both had the night off. Relief flooded over him. Greg didn't know how he was going to react to seeing her again. Not just yet.

Warrick turned out to be as good of a teacher as Sara. Not that it mattered to him at the moment, he was just glad he hadn't asked him questions. Warrick didn't seem interested as to why Greg was suddenly his protégée; he just wanted him to learn.

The night was slow and Greg quit early, just after midnight.

Back at his house, he ran through his phone messages and checked his email. He had a doctor's appointment in the morning and set his alarm to wake him early. Dr. Tracey wanted to go over his new regiment with him. He'd be getting his prescriptions tomorrow but wouldn't be started them until next week. Greg ran a hand over his head in mild annoyance. He'd just started growing some hair back, but the new meds were sure to take care of that for him. On the bright side, he now had quite a unique hat collection.

Not ten minutes after he'd finally put his head on his pillow the door bell rang.

Greg considered not getting it. Just staying in bed, pretending to sleep, but after three rings he couldn't do it.

"Hold on," he hollered as he fumbled his way to the door in the dark. He checked the peephole and was surprised to see who was there.

"Amy, what's wrong?"

She looked upset. Really upset, like she'd been crying.

"I'm sorry to come over so late, I just didn't know where else…I don't have anyone else to…"

"No," Greg cut in, voicing honest concern. "It's not late. Come in."

"Thanks," Amy mumbled, but stopped when she noticed all the lights were off. In his haste to get to the door he hadn't bothered turning any on. "Oh Greg, you were sleeping. I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have come."

Greg stopped her from trying to leave, flipped on the living room lights and sat her on the couch next to him.

"What happened?" he asked.

"It's so stupid."

"It can't be if you're this upset."

"Yes, it can," she said seriously.

Greg just continued to gently prod her until she finally talked.

"Okay, so I was at work and I overheard Hodges and some of the other techs talking about me."

"What did he say?" Greg asked.

"It doesn't matter really; it was more that they were talking about me when I wasn't there. I mean, I know I wasn't supposed to be there tonight, but I came in to re-check some figures. It's like punishment for being nosy."

Greg looked at her and knew there had to be more to it then that.

"He's just so awful," Amy said, avoiding looking at Greg and instead focusing on her hands. "I wanted to go in there and slap him."

"It wasn't just about you was it?"

Amy shook her head 'no'.

"Is he…" Greg didn't know how to even phrase this.

"He's saying things about the two of us," Amy supplied. "And here I am, no wonder people talk."

Greg swore loudly and stood up. Amy was startled.

"He's not getting away with this anymore," Greg said as he headed back to his room for his things.

"Greg, no." Amy said, following him as far as the doorway. "I wasn't trying to get you to do anything about it. I just needed to vent. I'm okay. It wasn't a big deal."

"Amy, I'm sick to death of that asshole making up crap about me and about people I care for. He just takes his own insecurities out on everyone around him and it isn't fair. I'm going down there and I'm going to talk to him and then I'm talking to Grissom."

"I don't think…"

"I'm not going to do anything stupid. Believe me, I've already filled that quota for the week."