Issues by SLynn

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

Chapter 28: Luck

Nick was furious.

Not long after Sara left, Grissom had asked Brass to join the two of them in his office. They wanted Nick to help in the stake out, to be a part of it, almost entirely owing to the fact that knowing him as they did, he wouldn't have rested until they'd let him help, but that wasn't the problem. The problem wasn't convincing him he'd be involved, it was convincing him to be involved.

After seeing that picture they only thing he wanted to do was get Amy and go. Just get the hell out of there. He didn't know where, didn't care. They wouldn't even stop to pick up their things. Just drive. Drive until they were out this state and maybe the next.

It was frustrating, that feeling. Nick had never run from his problems, but this was different. This man was going to kill her. After getting away with it for so long, after all the people he'd killed with flawless precision, this could only be seen as desperation. Their guy wanted the attention now. Was tired of being overlooked. That's why he'd started targeting them, giving clues and warnings. He'd gotten bored with his own game and was looking to end it. And these things never ended well.

"Nick," Brass reasoned, "she's going to be safe. We're going to have unmarked cars around the building and two guys in the lobby."

Nick still shook his head.

"She's already agreed. She knows what's involved."

"She hasn't seen that," Nick countered indicating the picture. He didn't want her to either.

"We've already got cameras in the corridor. We can see anyone within twenty feet of her front door. It's the only way in."

Nick nodded, he knew that was true, but he still didn't like it.

"Nick," Grissom asked, "what is it that you really have a problem with here?"

He hadn't asked in a condescending tone. He really wanted to know. Nick had good instincts about these things, wouldn't be reacting this strongly without reason. Grissom just thought his reasons might lean a little more towards Amy then towards actual reservations with the operation.

"It feels like a setup," Nick answered. It was the best he had, but true. "This guy's never done anything like this before that we can find. One of the victims would have gone to the police or someone they knew if he had."

Grissom nodded, seeing his point.

"It just feels like we're being setup for something," he continued. "I don't know what, but I'm not willing to risk Amy's life on it."

"It's not your call," Brass said firmly, standing up as he did. "I'm going to go talk with Amy again. See if she's still up to it."

Brass left and Nick started to follow when Grissom stopped him.

"Nick, let him go alone."

Reluctantly, Nick sat back down.

"It's not right Griss. You know it too."

"I agree; this is definitely not our guy's MO. We're not seeing something here."

Nick nodded absentmindedly. He wanted to know what Brass was telling Amy. What he was saying and how she'd react. They were planning to start immediately.

After a few minutes of silence on both their parts, Nick trying to reign in his emotions and Grissom going through everything they had mentally, Brass was back, this time with Amy.

"Give us half an hour," he said to her before leaving.

"You're doing it." It hadn't been a question, more of an accusation.

Amy was surprised by it. By Nick. She knew he hadn't been very happy with the idea in the first place, but thought he'd see reason. What else could she do?

"Yes," she answered regardless, looking straight into his eyes, unfaltering.

Nick looked away first. Couldn't take it any more.

"Let's grab lunch," he offered. "While we wait."

He knew what Brass had meant, that they needed at least half an hour to get the officers in place at her condo.

"Actually," she cut in, this time not sounding as certain, "he wants me to go alone."

She didn't have to look at him to tell he was mad. It rolled off of him like waves.

"My car is still here," she continued. "I'm just going to wait for Brass to call back before I leave."

Grissom felt like he was intruding, something he rarely felt. He wasn't use to listening to what was increasingly sounding more and more like a private exchange. Of course, seeing as they were blocking the door, he had no means of removing himself.

Nick didn't know what to say. Amy didn't look steady at the moment. He realized she hadn't been alone but for maybe ten minutes at a time since the attack. That she'd had someone always ready in the next room since the attack even during those times. But she seemed determined.

"Okay," he said, his voice sounded strained, "I'll wait with you."

Amy smiled, thankful. She wasn't sure how she was going to do it yet herself, but she said she would. Had promised. Now she had too.

Sara had regained her composure on the drive home. It had been very unnerving to think about, to see, but she was better now. Still, she needed some rest. Sara was working that night and decided instead of talking it all through with Greg, as he no doubt wanted, she'd nap. He didn't object, even tucked her in playfully, before going back out to kitchen himself.

It was time to test his stomach again.

Still feeling starved, this time he tried toast. Dry toast. It hadn't been as easy as the soup, but he'd still gotten it all down. Relieved, he poured himself another glass of water and headed back into the living room. Not much later, only three chapters more into his book, there was someone at the door.

"Where's Amy?" was the question, not the greeting, Nick received from him.

"Sara tell you?" he asked in return, stepping inside as Greg moved out of the way.

"Yeah, which is why I ask again, where's Amy?"

"Back at her place," Nick answered, sitting down.

"Alone?"

Greg sat too, fighting down that familiar rumbling in his stomach.

"Brass' orders. They're starting surveillance today. He wants the guy to see her alone."

"For how long?" Greg winced.

"Until they catch him I guess," Nick answered still uneasy. "Sorry to barge in here by the way. I tried going home first but couldn't. I figured if I didn't come here I'd probably just end up at Amy's anyway. I may just go back to work. I don't know."

"No," Greg waved him off, standing again. His stomach felt like it was beginning to reject the toast. "It's not a problem. Stay as long as you need."

Nick nodded looking up at him.

"You okay?"

Greg shook his head, admitted it.

"I'll be right back," he managed before rushing off to the bathroom.

Nick watched him go, not certain what to do next. Before he could decide, Greg was back looking only slightly worse. He sat down again and Nick saw his hands trembling.

"I can't eat," Greg blurted out. "I'll be the only known person to starve to death with a full fridge in the same room."

"So you haven't had anything since when?" Nick asked, momentarily forgetting his other concerns. Greg rarely opened up and admitted he was having problems. When he did, if you didn't take immediate action, he was likely to clam up for good.

"I had soup today. Scalded my mouth, I was just so hungry. I'm still hungry, I just can't…"

Greg trailed off in frustration.

"Before then?"

"I don't know. Monday?"

"It's Thursday Greg, you haven't eaten since Monday?"

"It's not like I haven't tried." Greg answered with a shrug.

"What about liquids, water? That okay?" Nick asked, remembering his reaction to the coffee on Wednesday morning.

"It's better, not much though. I'm not dehydrated yet, so it can't be bad."

"You should go to the hospital, you know that right?"

"I do," Greg said reluctantly. "I just want too. They'll want to put me on an IV, give me a bunch more meds for the nausea. I just want to give it another day. I'm not dying, it's just the flu."

"People die from the flu Greg."

"Stop with the logic," Greg said in tone that indicated the conversation had officially ended. He wasn't going to talk about it again. "Do you think she's okay?"

"Must be," Nick answered, knowing who she was without asking. "She's supposed to call before she leaves for work tonight."

Greg nodded, glad for it. He couldn't believe that her first drive in alone, at night no less, was going to be easy on her.

"I'm going back in," Nick said standing up. "Maybe find something so we can get this guy. So we can all sleep again."

Greg stood with him, walked with him over to the door.

"Take it easy," Nick said, clapping him once on the shoulder.

"You too man," Greg returned as he watched him leave.

Late that night at the labSara had finally gotten the interview lists put together. Archie was feeding the names into a database. He'd convinced her it would be quicker, but she still didn't see how given the time it took to set up. But he'd had a point. It would be able to match any names off of the interview lists and the employee records from the clinics quicker and with more accuracy then she could manually. She felt strongly that all of the victims must have something or someone in common. Now they just had to find it.

Leaving him to it, she went and checked on Amy.

"How's it going?" she asked.

Amy had made it in alright that night. She had called Nick, asked him to wait for her outside before she'd pulled up, which he had. Her first day alone had been okay, but she hadn't slept. Sara thought she looked weary.

"Not bad," Amy said still looking into her microscope. "I'm almost done with this one here."

"I didn't mean the case," Sara said with a small smile. "I meant you, how's it going with you?"

"Oh," Amy said looking up now. "I'm okay too. It's weird. I know that there aren't any cameras in my house, but I feel watched. All the time."

"Can't be an easy feeling."

"No," Amy agreed, "I thought it would be helpful, like having some one there, but it's not. It's more like a reminder."

Amy looked down again.

"We're going to solve this," Sara said reassuringly. "We're closer now. A lot closer."

Amy wanted to believe it, but just couldn't yet. Sara sensed it and said no more.

"I'd better get back to work," she said instead.

Amy nodded, smiled even. She wanted to work as well. It kept her mind off of things.

Sara's next stop was the break room where she'd ran into Catherine.

"Any luck today?" she asked.

"Some," Catherine said. "Angie Jacobsen's neighbor, Marsha Simmons remembered making the statement. Said our vic was having personal problems, started therapy."

"At the clinic?"

"No," Catherine said with a small shake of her head. "She couldn't remember with whom but knew it was a private practice. She thought that the investigating officer had tracked it down, but wasn't sure. I got his name, we'll call him tomorrow. He may still have it in his notes. She was glad to see us but sorry she couldn't help more. Wished us luck finding the guy."

Sara nodded appreciatively. They needed all the luck they could get.