Issues by SLynn

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

Chapter 17: R&R

There was hardly room in the apartment to hold everyone.

Good news travels fast. Greg had gotten home in a hurry and wasted no time telling Sara. She'd cried, much as she had when she'd first heard he'd had cancer, but in a different way. It was now pure relief.

Half an hour later neither of their phones would stop ringing. When someone couldn't reach Greg, they'd call Sara and vise versa. Sara was happily telling everyone who called the news as Greg talked to his parents in the other room. That's about the time people started arriving.

Now, three hours later, there was hardly room to sit or stand. It was still early in the night, so nearly the entire night shift had shown up. A few from day shift too. Sara had invited them all, even Sophia whom she'd never formally met. They ordered pizza, people brought drinks, it was quite an impromptu party.

"Glad to hear it man," Warrick said, making his way into the apartment to Greg before clasping him on the shoulder and once on the back. "You plan on getting evicted in celebration."

Greg laughed. He hadn't been thrown out of an apartment complex in over a year.

"It would be worth it," he said, fighting his way towards the kitchen where there was more room. "You know, I don't think I know half these people."

Warrick laughed and followed him.

"Seriously, you'd better tell them to keep it down in there. I only helped you move last time because you were sick. This time you're on your own."

Greg smiled, grabbed a soda and said nothing. He'd wanted to say that if he was evicted he'd probably just move in with Sara, but hadn't. They'd been talking a lot about it lately, about making their situation a little more permanent. Technically, this was still his apartment and she still had her own, but maybe not for long.

Warrick smiled back at Greg's quietness and knew something more was on his mind.

"You keeping secrets Sanders?"

"No," he answered dryly, but was still smiling.

"Okay, that's fine. I'm on to you."

"No idea what you're talking about," Greg said in the same non-comitial fashion.

"Congratulations," Nick cut in, just now arriving and looking first for Greg.

"Thank you," Greg responded, taking the offered hand and shaking it once.

"I think Sara's starting to kick people out," Nick commented, "You two have plans?"

"Well, aside from Sara going to work in about four hours, no."

"Tough break," Nick said, "Can't you just ask Griss to give her the night off."

"I'm not calling Grissom about that," Greg said really shocked Nick had even suggested it.

"Call? He's in the other room. Just go ask."

"He's here too?"

"What, did you think he wouldn't come?"

"I don't know, he didn't have too."

"None of us had too," Warrick put in.

"I guess you're right, I should probably go say hello" Greg said, heading back out into the living room to find a much smaller crowd. Catherine had Lindsey with her and was talking animatedly with Sara. Grissom was off by the television talking with Sophia so Greg decided to defer his welcome. The only other people in the room were Amy and Archie, having just arrived.

"I'm so happy," Amy said, rushing over and giving him a hug. "Sorry it took so long to get here."

"Tell me you didn't get all dressed up for this," Greg said somewhat seriously. Amy looked good; actually she looked great; she was out of her typical jeans and instead wearing a simple red dress. Even stranger, she was wearing make-up. Amy, the one he knew, didn't dress up for anything. Even when they'd gone to the club she'd only changed tops. And tonight she'd even done her hair. A year an a half he'd known her and he'd never seen it out of a pony tail. She'd always been pretty but tonight she looked like she could attract some serious attention.

After he said it and Amy blushed, he realized Archie was dressed nicer then usual. Greg just gave her a stupid grin and turned instead to him.

"Hey man, thanks for stopping by. You didn't have to if you had plans."

Amy was still smiling, but fixed Greg with a look and shook her head slightly letting him know that he needed to stop.

"Are you kidding?" Archie asked, always good natured. "We had to come. I wanted to ask when you'd be back on shift with us."

"Not any time soon, I'm sure. But keep your fingers crossed."

The chatted for a few minutes before Archie excused himself to talk briefly with Grissom. As soon as he stepped away, Greg looked down at Amy with a wicked grin.

"Yes, we're on a date," she said answering his accusatory looks, "It's our first, so don't let your imagination get carried away."

"That's great. He's a good guy." Greg said, even though he really thought she was more suited for someone else. Someone else who was sitting in the kitchen, oblivious.

"He's nice," was as far as she'd go. She liked Archie, they got along great, but she didn't know how this was going to work. To be honest, he'd been the only person to ask her out in all the time she'd lived her and she was starting to get desperate. It sounded horrible and cruel, but she really needed a night out. And it wasn't as if she'd completely ruled him out already. So far, the date had gone really well.

Greg seemed to have caught the drift.

"You know if you dressed like this around the lab…"

"Just stop it," she said, smiling and waving him off. "Besides, you think I could stand all night in these heels?"

Greg laughed and upon looking up saw that it was about to get interesting. Nick and Warrick were coming out of the kitchen now and headed straight towards them.

"Hi Amy," Nick said saying nothing about her appearance, but discreetly taking it in.

"Nick," she acknowledged with an awkward smile.

"Wow," Warrick said, who had less interaction with her then the two of them, but knew her well enough to skip formalities, "Amy you look great. Got a hot date or something?"

"Yeah," she said, looking fixedly at Warrick and only Warrick, "something like that. Archie and I are going to a show."

"Well, have fun. But take it easy on him. He's our only computer guy," Warrick said with a smile, walking away to talk instead with Catherine and Sara.

The awful pause that followed was blessedly short lived. Greg hadn't known whether to yell in frustration at the two of them or just burst out laughing. He didn't have to do either, Archie was back. He and Amy had to run if they were going to make the curtain so they were off. Amy gave Greg another quick hug and said a general goodbye to everyone.

Catherine left with Lindsey soon after, she had to get ready for her shift, but the rest stuck around. Gil was glad to have the opportunity. He'd been talking with Sophia about what had happened today, she'd been sort of watching over Greg for him while he was assigned to her shift. She'd told him about the clinic and in particular the pamphlets and the fact that Dr. Sanchez had worked there. Now they were all discussing it.

"Amy could run the comparisons," Sara put in. "See if the paper in the pamphlets matches the fibers on scene. Maybe get prints?"

"No prints," Sophia added, "Sorry, I already checked. Twenty-two individually folded hand-outs, and nothing. Either the materials not particularly conducive to it or it was handled with gloves."

"Well, at least it gives Cath and me something new to explore. We can look into the other victims; see if they're somehow connected to the clinic." Warrick said. "One was a nurse, right?"

"Juanita Juarez," Grissom supplied, "hers had the strongest similarities."

"Two were dumped in that general area," Nick began, "might be worth plotting the distance from the clinic to the sites."

"Did you get anything off of the bomb?" Greg asked Sophia.

"No, nothing yet. No prints at least. It was pretty generic stuff, I'm not sure they're related."

"Amy's off tonight, I could match the fibers in the morning," Greg tried.

"No," was Grissom's expected answer. "We can't have you risking it. Stay away from the evidence. It can wait until tomorrow night."

Sara gingerly rubbed his back, as he was content to only look his frustration. He wanted to be doing more then this. That was pretty much all there was too it, soon everyone said their goodbyes. Nick hung out the longest since he was off that night as well.

"How long do you think they've been together?" Nick asked when it was just him and Greg in the room. Sara had started to get ready for work.

"What?" Greg asked, confused at the question.

"Amy and Archie. How long do you think?"

"Thought it didn't matter," Greg laughed, "that you weren't interested in her."

"I'm not. I'm looking out for her is all."

"Yeah because Archie is such a cad."

"Where did you learn to talk?" Nick asked.

"During the depression."

"Funny. But seriously, did you know about them?"

"Of course I didn't. Do you think I'd be telling you to ask her out of I knew she was dating Archie?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders, admitting the point.

"But it couldn't be long now, because you'd have known."

Greg let out an exaggerated sigh as he got up to get another soda.

"So you don't know?" Nick asked from the other room.

"She told me it's their first date," Greg said as he returned.

Nick was quiet for a moment.

"I don't know if she likes him or not," Greg said, putting up a hand before Nick could ask.

"I wasn't asking," Nick said.

Greg dropped the matter and not long after Nick called it a night.

"Nicky leave?" Sara asked, having finally emerged from the bath.

"Yeah, he got tired of my pestering."

"Amy?" she asked.

"Yep," Greg answered, looking up at her from his spot on the couch.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know. You look kind of down. All things considering, I kind of thought you'd still be bouncing off the walls."

Greg let out a little laugh.

"I'm good. Mellow. Just taking it in."

"Pensive Greg. I'm not sure I like that," she said as she scooted down next to him.

"It's a lot to take in," he replied and she knew what he meant.

"I can call in," she supplied.

"No. I'm fine. I'm just going to bed. I should have gone hours ago. I've got work and then another session tomorrow. I'll be dragging all day."

"Want me to tuck you in?" she asked, smiling at him with a twinkle in her eye.

"No, you'll just end up late for work. People will talk."

"They already know."

"Go, I'm fine. I'll come in early, maybe we'll catch breakfast."

"Sounds good," she said leaning in to kiss him. "Get some rest."

"I will," he said to her before saying goodbye.

And for the first time in a long time, he knew he would.