Happy Enough by SLynn

Disclaimer: Any character you recognize, not mine.

Chapter 28: Conversations and Blackmail

Three weeks had passed. Everyone noticed the change in Greg's demeanor. He was calmer. Much calmer. For awhile Grissom had been worried he was going to have to counsel him on office etiquette, something everyone would have found amusing had it not been so serious. Grissom didn't know what had brought about the change, but he was relieved. Greg was acting so much like his old self that if he hadn't still been nearly bald it was likely they'd all have forgotten he was even on chemotherapy.

Greg knew he'd changed too. No one was giving him those looks anymore, or if they were he didn't care. Okay, so he didn't care as much. Part of him cared, but he wasn't as consumed by it as he once had been. That he knew was the medication talking. Dr. Sanchez, after two additional sessions had wanted him on a mild anti-depressant. She also wanted to see him twice a week. He had no problems with it; it was easier talking to her then to anyone else.

Chemotherapy was also going well. The drugs still made him sick and sometimes lethargic, but his bone marrow tests kept showing a decrease which was all he cared for.

The only things really going wrong with his life were all personal. Sara and Greg were spending more time together off duty and had built a stronger friendship. Nothing else had happened between them, they were just friends. Sara hadn't pushed again, knew it was dangerous, and Greg was thankful for it. He knew if she had he'd of caved in an instant. Nick and Greg were a different story altogether. They were still not speaking to each other in normal tones. They were polite and professional, but it was all very superficial.

They'd basically worked themselves into an impasse and neither of the two was willing to make the first move. Despite the time that had passed, both of them were still angry. Greg because he'd really had expected better of Nick, all things considering. Nick because he felt Greg had been overreacting and taken out his frustration on the nearest target, him. Amy thought they were both being jackasses, told them so daily and was growing tired of waiting for the whole thing to blow over.

So she decided to take action. Actually, she decided to take inaction.

That night, after shift started Greg stopped by to see her. He usually did, even if it was just a quick hello. Sometimes he stayed longer, caught up if he hadn't seen her in a few days. Maybe it was because of all the rumors that had floated around about the two of them, but Greg and Amy didn't spend nearly as much time together as they had.

"Hey Amy, new glasses?"

"No. I lost my left contact and had to improvise."

"They're cute."

"Greg," she said looking up at him seriously. "Guys don't say 'cute' unless they're talking about girls."

"Okay, you're cute."

She laughed at him.

"You know, I never get tired of hearing that, but you must want something."

"I do," Greg said pulling up a stool "my results please."

"I'd like to help you…"

"What? They have to be done. I dropped them off yesterday Amy."

"I'm swamped."

"With what?" he asked with growing suspicion. They'd been slow lately and there wasn't even anything out on the table.

"Stuff."

He just continued to look at her, knowing she was screwing with him but not sure why.

"Okay, so I might have it done," she relented.

"And it would be where?"

"I can't recall."

"Amy, this isn't funny. Come on, give me the results."

"I will," she assured him. "As soon as you go talk to Nick."

"That's blackmail."

"Yes it is."

"Amy, seriously, it's a criminal case. You're holding up a criminal case."

"Greg, seriously, it was a smash and grab. It can wait the ten minutes it will take you to go find Nick and apologize."

"I'm not apologizing for something that wasn't my fault."

"For the four thousandth time Greg, you were yelling at him for something that wasn't his fault. I'm the one you should be mad at. I should have never told you what happened. Be angry at me, please, but don't lose your best friend for something so stupid."

"If it's so stupid why won't you tell me exactly what Hodges said?"

"Because, I like you Greg and I don't want to see you like that again."

Greg stood quietly for a minute. Amy had been so somber in her last remark it had kind of gotten to him.

"I'll talk to Nick," he said, looking down and running his hand over the back of his neck.

"Thank you."

Greg just briefly met her eye and walked out down the hall.

"You owe me," he yelled back at her before he'd gotten too far.

Greg knew exactly where to find Nick. He was in the trace lab, thankfully alone, comparing fibers. As soon as Nick saw him come in and sit down, he knew where it was headed. Until that moment he'd been determined to not break first, but now he just felt guilty.

"Got a minute," Greg asked as Nick looked up.

"Yeah."

"Okay, admittedly I'm here under duress. Amy's holding my lab results hostage until we talk, but it's a stupid fight and I was sorry for it long before now. Good?"

"You had every right to be mad. It's not my business what's going on outside…"

"Let's just not bring it up," Greg cut him off. "Really, I know I'm not as volatile as I was, but lets not stress test it yet."

"Fair enough," Nick said with some concern. "But I shouldn't have been talking about you like that. It really won't happen again. I promise to not even breathe your name unless you're in the room to hear it."

"Okay, now you're just being a smartass," Greg responded, but with all the regular humor back in his voice.

"Hey," Nick said as he laughed, "I'm just trying to avoid future fights."

"I give you permission to talk about me all you want, just don't put Sara and me in the same sentence."

Nick was a bit taken back by the request, but nodded in agreement.

"Alright," Greg said getting up to go. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go pry my findings out of our lab techs hands."

"Hey wait," Nick called stopping him in the doorway. "You off tomorrow night?"

"I'm pretty much off whenever I want to be."

"Good, come by and watch the game. A few people are coming over, nothing big."

"Sure, I'll be there."

"Do you even know what game I'm talking about?" Nick asked amused.

"No, but I'll still come. I don't get out enough."

"Too true."

Greg waved once and left, feeling relief that he hadn't thought possible. He hated arguing. Hated confrontation. It would probably take another day or two for Nick and him to really feel comfortable again, but at least it was going to happen now.

"Well?" Amy asked almost before he'd gotten through the door.

"I said I was sorry, he said he was sorry. We popped some popcorn, did each others hair and then had a nice cry while watching a Julia Roberts film. Can I have my results now?"

"Here," she said holding out the paper for him.

"Thank you."

"But you did talk, right? Seriously Greg." She asked before he could escape.

"Yes Amy, we did. It's fine."

"Good. That's all I wanted."

"I know," Greg answered. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it, please. I'd probably be fired on the spot."

Greg laughed, but made a point of not disagreeing. She needed to squirm about it for awhile. It would be good for her.

Finally, results in hand, he went to find Warrick who was in the AV room and wasn't very happy.

"Man, I thought you got lost."

"Long story."

"I bet, got anything good?"

"Oh," Greg said looking down at the results for the first time. He'd almost forgotten what he was doing. "Yeah, looks like it's our guy. Lester McCray."

"Alight then. Let's go get him."

Two hours passed and they hadn't returned back to the lab. Grissom hadn't been concerned, just assumed they'd stopped for food after dropping the perp off. They'd gone escorted, as was protocol, so if there was trouble they'd be fine. They hadn't really needed to go, but were hoping to find additional evidence at the suspects house to really nail the case shut.

He really wasn't concerned until Brass called.

"Gil," he said not even waiting for him to say hello. "I just heard on the wire. Two CSI's in transport to UMC. Shots were fired at the scene. Who do you have out now?"

Grissom knew who. Everyone else was here doing paperwork or running evidence.

"Brown and Sanders."

"By now they should be at the hospital. I'll call ahead; try to figure out what happened. You should probably get down there. I'll join you soon."

"Did…" Grissom started and then discovered his voice wasn't working properly.

"They didn't call 'officer down'."

Grissom thanked him and hung up. He was silently debating whether or not he should go now by himself or tell everyone and go as a group. If it was bad, it might be easier if he knew the details first.

"Gil?" Catherine asked from the doorway. "You okay?"

"No," he said having made up his mind. "Get Sara and Nick, we've got to go."

"Brass call with a case?"

"Let's hope not."