Issues by SLynn

Disclaimer: I own only the thoughts in my head and the characters you don't recognize.

Notes: Glad everyone is enjoying it so far! I can't promise to keep updating like I have been, but I'm trying for one chapter a day. The last three were really hard and I'm trying to get back to the case at hand, but I get side tracked emotionally. : ) This one is my fluff chapter of the piece. It was getting to dark and I thought they might need a break, and I definitely needed one. Thanks to: A Bloom, cupotrevor, white rose01, Sillie, fading-lights, katie, BlondeNeko, Miss-Andromache, Sandersgirl, carolann, ThreeDollarBill and fwe for the reviews!

Chapter 8: Friday Night

The break room was full. Grissom was glad he'd made it back before either Greg or Sara but he wasn't glad at what he had to tell all of Greg's co-workers and friends. They'd been disappointed to hear it, but not surprised. After making his announcement only Amy and Nick stuck around to see if Greg and Sara would show at all. Warrick and Catherine had business that couldn't wait. Files to go through and interview lists to compile. Soon it was only Amy and Nick left.

"I don't think they're coming in," Nick said after twenty minutes had passed.

"Well, Sara did have the night off. Greg I guess has every night off now."

Nick smiled sadly at Amy.

"Can't say I blame them. I don't think I could have come back here after that."

"Remind me to have no aspirations beyond 'senior' lab tech," Amy said, getting to her feet.

"What? You want to stay in the lab? I thought Greg was pioneering new career paths for lab rats everywhere. I thought you all wanted out in the field."

"Thanks, but no. Greg isn't my Moses. Maybe Archie does, he seems interested but I couldn't do it."

"He seems interested in you."

"Okay," Amy said planting a fake smile on her face as she sat down again, this time next to Nick. "You are really behind on your gossip. First, and this is strictly according to water cooler discussion, I was sleeping with Greg. We weren't dating, just sleeping together. Apparently all of this was to make Sara sick with jealousy, which worked. Then it was Archie. He and I had a torrid affair which ended with me leaving him heartbroken. Next it was David the coroner guy. I've only met him twice, but that didn't matter. Talking a few times in the hall is all it takes. Now all indications are that I'm either targeting in on you or Warrick. The gossip hyenas haven't decided which one of you yet but I'm certain us sitting her talking like this has pushed you into the lead."

"Busy year," Nick replied.

"Yeah, I get around." Amy said dryly. She clearly wasn't amused and Nick felt bad for even joking about it now.

"I'm sorry; I'm still learning when to keep my mouth shut."

"You're not the problem," Amy said seriously. "I'm not good at the social thing and sometimes that comes off as bitchy. People like to talk about their bitchy co-workers. It bothers me, sometimes a lot, but I can't stop them."

"I've never thought that about you," Nick said sincerely.

"Thanks. It would have probably been easier coming into this job if Greg hadn't been so damn good at it. Everyone loved him and I'm just not quirky. He could talk to anyone and I can't."

"Well, not everyone loved him."

"I know," Amy said, sounding sadder then before. She leaned her head down, causing a thick strand of hair to fall out of her otherwise neat pony tail and across her face. "It's horrible. I mean, I'm glad he'll still be around. The day shift tech was a nightmare, but it isn't really fair."

"Life sometimes isn't."

As he'd said it, Nick casually reached over and tucked the errant strand back behind Amy's ear. It would be hard to say who was more surprised by this. Nick had just done it on reflex, without thinking that he was crossing a line until it was too late. Amy just looked up at him, eyes big and uncertain. She didn't know how to respond to such an intimate gesture.

"But Greg will be fine," Nick finally said, mostly to be saying something. To break the mood. It had gotten uncomfortably silent between them.

"Damn it Stokes, I thought I told you not to talk about me when I'm not around."

Nick and Amy turned at once. Greg and Sara had shown up after all.

"Hey," Nick called out, getting to his feet. Amy followed suit. "We didn't think you'd come."

"Not really my idea too," Greg said, indicating Sara with his head.

"We wanted to see if anyone else wanted to go out tonight," Sara supplied. "We'd planned to all week, before this because of the test results."

"Now it's more of demotion party," Greg finished, trying to laugh it off. Laugher was his only option. Sara wasn't going to let him get moody or depressed. She had high hopes for his reevaluation.

"It's only temporary," Nick supplied. "In six months you'll be back on mids poking at dead bodies in the field."

Greg just shrugged. He wasn't too sure about that, but he had to hope it was true.

"Are you in?" Sara asked Nick.

"Sure, but I'm not really into that whole third wheel thing."

"You won't be. Amy's coming too." Greg said more then asked.

"I guess if it's not a problem." She really wasn't that comfortable with Sara. Greg had never noticed it, but Amy was certain that all that talk about her and him last year hadn't exactly put her high on Sara's list of best buddies. They were a lot friendlier then they had been to each other, but they didn't hang out together unless Greg was somehow involved.

"Anyone else off tonight?" Greg asked as the four of them headed out of the room.

"We could ask Archie," Nick leaned down and whispered to Amy who responded by elbowing him in the ribs.

"What?" Sara asked, briefly turning her head round at the 'oof' sound Nick emitted.

"Nothing," Amy said. "Let's just get out of here."

They'd all agreed to meet up in an hour at a club Greg had picked. Nick and Sara, knowing Greg's taste in music and social scenes, had tried to object to this but were overruled. Greg won out in the end arguing that when they got demoted he'd be glad to occupancy them to the honky-tonk or vegan bar of their choice.

Sara and Greg arrived first. After getting inside they somehow managed to get a table near the back. The band was good, just a little loud and the people there were of a variety hardly seen mingling together. It was Friday night and the place was packed.

"It's different then what I expected," Sara said to him after they'd ordered their drinks. Greg, still on meds, had a coke. Sara the same. They'd already told Nick and Amy they'd DD for them if needed.

"Why's that?" Greg asked, taking it all in. He hadn't been out in a long time and it felt good. Sara had been right; sitting home would have been too depressing after everything that had happened this week.

"I can actually understand the lyrics," she said smiling at him.

Greg smiled at her but said nothing, just leaned in and kissed her near her ear making her melt a little and giggle. He loved her laugh; she didn't do it nearly enough.

"I told you two that I don't want to see that," Nick said as he pulled up a chair next to Sara. He'd already gotten a drink at the bar and was now checking the place out.

"This place isn't bad," he finally said.

"I'm so glad you approve," Greg said with a laugh.

They made small talk for a few minutes. Greg could still point out the regulars of the place. Obviously he'd been there a lot. He knew which band was playing and guessed which one would come up next. Half an hour late, Amy finally arrived.

"We were going to send out a search party," Nick said to her as she got to them.

"I could have used one," she said sitting down at the only spot left, between the two guys. "You give horrible directions."

"Sorry, I told you I didn't know the exact street address," Greg answered.

Amy rolled her eyes and looked around now for herself.

"So this is what I've been missing."

Greg was only half listening, lost for a moment in the things he had missed for himself. He loved music and it suddenly felt like ages since he'd heard any.

"Dance with me," Greg said, turning suddenly to Sara.

"What? No, I don't dance."

"Come on, it's easy. You just move when everyone else does, or try too."

"When they play something slower," she promised.

"I don't like the slow songs."

"Well, ask Amy then."

Greg gave her a look not sure if this was some sort of girlfriend test. Sara he knew wouldn't say something she didn't mean, but it felt like a trick.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"No," Sara said enthusiastically. "As long as I don't have to go out there you can dance with Nick if you want too."

Greg smiled at her before getting to his feet and asking Amy. Asking a bit of an overstatement, he really just told her they were going before dragging her off with him. Sara laughed at the sight, somewhat glad at having escaped it herself.

"That's brave of you," Nick said smirking as he'd watched them go.

"What?"

"I just didn't think you were the type to send your boyfriend off with some girl you openly disdain Sidle."

"I don't dislike her; I just don't know her that well. Greg likes her, trusts her. That's enough for me."

"Amy's a good person," Nick said as he turned to watch Greg and Amy dancing on the floor. Sara eyed him shrewdly before her mouth split into an evil grin.

"Nicky you cradle robber."

"Okay," he said sounding defensive, "first off nothing is happening. She's ten years younger then me Sara. Ten. I was in college when she was in grade school."

Sara waved him off dismissively, laughing now at how riled up she'd gotten him. Nick could dish it out but sometimes he couldn't take it.

"And second," he continued, trying to ignore the flush creeping up his neck, "the kettle said what? Last time I checked, the only cradle robber on shift was you."

Sara was still laughing. Greg being younger didn't bother her in the least.

"I am so telling Greg that when he gets back."

Nick shook his head, almost daring her too in a way. He knew she wasn't going to, was just trying to get under his skin. But when the song ended he started to doubt it as the smile stayed firmly planted on her face.

Greg and Amy detoured first to the bar arriving with fresh drinks minutes later. As soon as Greg sat down, Sara turned his head to her and whispered something in his ear. Whatever was said, Greg chuckled and then turned to Nick and laughed. Nick wasn't amused. Fortunately for him the band had started playing a slow number.

"Let's go," Greg said, shifting his focus back to Sara. She tried to resist, but couldn't. Greg won again, dragging her to the floor much as he had done with Amy earlier.

"They are cute together," Amy said to Nick as she watched them dance for a few seconds. They looked like they were talking to each other out there and Amy felt a surge of envy flare inside her. Not over Greg, she only liked him as a friend, had never wanted anything more then friendship from him. She was envious of 'them'. It must be nice to have someone like that.

"It's just weird still."

"I don't know," Amy laughed "I always thought it would be them."

"Well, that's because you're new. You've only seen them together recently."

"Fine," she said in mild annoyance, "But just how long am I going to have to wear this 'new' label? I've been here a year already; you'd think I'd be just Amy not 'new' Amy still."

"Well, I don't think of you as 'new' Amy," Nick said trying to make her laugh.

"What do you think of me?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders and turned back round to see if he could spot Greg and Sara again. Amy brushed it off, taking another sip of her drink.

Nick felt bad but knew why he hadn't answered. He couldn't of. He didn't know the answer to that question yet himself.