Issues by SLynn

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

Notes: Hey, can you hear that? It's the sound of this story wrapping up. Hold on tight! : )

Chapter 29: Decoy

Greg saw Sara that morning in the office. He was officially allowed back to work but still didn't feel entirely up to it. Sara had worked late, hoping Archie had finished, but without success. He promised her it by the afternoon and having to settle, she'd thanked him and gone home to get some rest.

Amy hadn't looked good herself, but had worked so hard last night there was nothing left for Greg to do but wait for crimes to happen. They'd talked for a good half an hour in the lab until she seemed to realize that she wasn't waiting for anyone. Amy had gotten use to going home at the end of shift with Nick, but that wasn't happening anymore. As it dawned on her she made an awkward goodbye and left Greg alone in the lab.

Nick had shown up not five minutes later, evidently having been waiting outdoors for Amy. Upset at missing her, he didn't say anything more to Greg, just left.

His day had been long and slow. Greg, if he hadn't been able to eat at all, was planning on going back to Dr. Tracey that day. Fortunately for him, that wasn't the case. He'd managed soup again for breakfast, chicken and stars this time and even held down some crackers at lunch. Plus, plenty of water. Water was becoming his new favorite drink.

Sophia had stopped and chatted with him on and off throughout the day. She'd complained about his temporary replacement and hinted at the fact that she'd probably just have to get use to it. She seemed to think Greg was going back to his own shift soon. That had made him feel good. Real good.

Unfortunately, it was a slow day all around. Night shift really did get the best crimes. Sophia didn't even have so much as a fender bender to investigate, so she was soon off doing paperwork leaving Greg alone.

Just after four, as Thompsen from swing shift arrived, Greg noted that Archie and Sara had too. After signing out, he stopped by briefly to see what was happening. Maybe if they'd gotten something, but so far it was a blank. Archie wasn't quite ready yet and Sara was chomping at the bit.

With no time for anything more then a quick hello and goodbye, Greg was off. He had what he thought might be his last appointment with Dr. Fenton to get too. Greg was getting that list on Monday from Dr. Tracey and if he didn't convince him tonight to at least try and go off the meds, he was jumping ship and getting that second opinion he'd heard so much about.

It was just after six in the evening and Amy was trying to not be a nervous wreck.

Brass had called her. Let her know. Someone was on his way up to her condo. She had hourly contact with whoever was on duty at the time, obviously Brass now. Still, she wasn't sure what to do. They'd told her to do nothing, that they'd take care of it, but all the 'what ifs' started to surface in her mind as soon as she'd gotten off of the phone.

Two minutes had passed and now someone was knocking at her door.

She hesitated; they'd said they'd get to him first. Before she could decide what to do now her cell phone rang again.

As she answered it, she heard Brass' familiar voice on the other end. Angry.

"Put Stokes on," was all he'd said momentarily confusing her.

Nick wasn't there, unless. Looking out her peephole, sure enough, there was Nick.

Amy pulled open the door, looking slightly miffed, and handed him the phone.

"It's for you," she said walking away as he took it.

He shut it and the door without a word.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm not going to stay long," he reasoned, "and he can yell at me later. I wanted to see how you were doing?"

"You could have called to do that," she answered, any real agitation she'd had virtually gone. He looked so sincere.

"No I couldn't, I can't see you over the phone."

She smiled thinking he was way to charming to be real.

"How are you?" he asked, coming closer.

He knew he shouldn't have come, but couldn't help it. This time Greg and Sara had both been out and there had been no one else to stop him. After missing her that morning, he'd just needed to see her now. Nick hadn't been able to sleep at all that day thinking about it.

"I'm fine," she answered stepping further into his arms, "really. They call if so much as a cockroach looks at my door."

"Good," he said, rubbing her back, pulling her close. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," she echoed, blushing.

Before anything else could happen her phone rang again. Nick, still holding it, answered.

"I'm going," he said into it before his face changed.

"Okay," he said calmly hanging up.

"What?" Amy asked.

"The guy, the one who dropped of your purse, he's here. He's in the building."

"Where?"

"Just got into the elevator."

Amy nodded. Ready or not, it was time.

"Sara," Archie called from the doorway. "I think I got something."

She got up in a hurry, leaving her dinner on the table in the break room. It was just after six now. She hoped against hope that Archie was right. That he did have something.

"Okay," he said as he sat back down at his computer. "I took all of the lists of people interviewed, friends and family and such, from all of the victims and found no clear matches. Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Spencer's names turned up a lot, but considering they worked at the clinic it wasn't too much of a surprise."

"So?" she asked.

"So, I added in the list of employees from the clinic. Still nothing."

"Archie, please tell me this is going somewhere."

"It is," he promised. "I then just checked the employee lists against the interview sheets from the victims we knew were in counseling outside of the clinic."

"That's only Angie Jacobsen."

"No, Jason Smith your overdose and Dr. Spencer were also in therapy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, that's how I got a hit. When I ran their interview sheets with the clinic employee roster one name came back."

"And it was?" she prompted.

"James Fenton," he said, evidently pleased.

Sara thought it sounded familiar. Knew she'd heard it before.

"He worked at the clinic on occasion, about once ever two to three months. Plus, he was both Smith and Jacobsen's therapist."

"So he's a doctor too," Sara said, hearing it now in her head.

Really hearing it.

"Dr. Fenton," she said in disbelief.

"Yeah," Archie said. "I looked it over; it doesn't look like he was even questioned before."

Sara didn't hear him. She knew where she'd heard the name now. Dr. Fenton. It had to be a coincidence. Had too, but she couldn't be sure.

"Tell Grissom," she said to Archie, turning on her heels and dialing Greg on her phone as she left.

Despite the first time it going straight into voice mail, a sure sign it was off, she hung up and tried again. No luck.

"Damn it," she said, not sure what to do next.

Stopped in the middle of the hallway, she literally turned circles. She debated just going straight to Grissom herself, but didn't. She didn't think she had time. Instead, she dropped back into the lab.

"Did you get a hold of Grissom?" she asked.

"Already?" Archie asked sounding surprised.

"Yes, now. I mean it. Tell him I'll be back later too. I've got to go check on something."

"Are you okay?"

"No," was all she answered as she turned again and left.

It felt like an eternity.

Amy sat on the couch as Nick stood near the door waiting. Brass called back not two minutes later, they had him.

Nick hadn't wanted her too, but Amy wanted to go. To see him. Wanted to see the guy face to face. Get it over with.

After clearing it with Brass, they came down to the lobby. He was there, handcuffed and apparently pleading with the arresting officer.

"But I'm just making a delivery," he was saying. He looked like he was her age, just in to his twenties.

"This late?" Brass asked, "Who do you work for?"

"I'm a mechanic, at Bob's Auto Body."

"Making deliveries for Bob huh?"

"No," the guy said, not noticing the extra scrutiny being placed on him by either Nick or Amy. Focusing only on Brass. "For some guy. He gets his car fixed at the shop. Gave me fifty bucks to swing by here tonight and drop off that box. Honest."

"And the purse?" he asked.

"That too," he said. He looked petrified.

"Take him in," Brass said to the officers.

He came over to where Nick and Amy were.

"This isn't right," he said to Nick, shaking his head. "That kid didn't do this. Nearly wet himself when our guys surrounded him."

"Yeah," Nick agreed. He had an arm around Amy's shoulder, protectively. She was shaking slightly.

"But why?" she asked. It was confusing and she just wanted it over.

"It was a setup just not for you," Nick said to her. "You were the decoy."

Grissom held up his hand for silence as Archie tapped once on the door. He'd just picked up the phone.

"Grissom," he said into it, simultaneously waving Archie in.

"Gil, it's Althea Tracey," he heard on the other end.

"Dr. Tracey," he responded, "what can I do for you?"

"Actually, I hoped you'd know where I could reach Greg at."

"Nothing serious I hope."

"I'm sorry to say, but it is. I've just gotten his blood work back."

"Bad news?" he asked, hoping he was wrong.

"I'm not sure I should be telling this to you," she said solemnly.

"I understand I'm his boss but I'm also his friend. I'd like to help if I can. Is he in trouble?"

Archie now looked extremely uncomfortable in his chair. Grissom let him know, non-verbally, that he'd find him once he was off the phone. Grateful, he left.

"I don't know if he's in trouble," was the honest reply. "But he has got nearly four times the normal FDA allowable limit of Elavil in his system. He's close to an overdose. It's probably accidental on his part, but he needs to get to the hospital now."

"Is there more?" he asked really concerned but sensing her sudden pause.

"Valium, smaller amounts, but present. The two are not a good combination."

Grissom frowned. Greg wouldn't have taken them on purpose. There had to be another reason.

"Could they be prescribed?"

"No, not together. Dr. Fenton wouldn't do that. No doctor would. It would cause all sorts of problems."

"I don't know where he is now, I imagine at his home, but I'll get someone by there to check on him."

"Get him to the hospital Gil," she said again instead of goodbye.

Grissom stood to go, heading there himself to check on Greg. Dr. Tracey, all the time he knew her, had never sounded that concerned. Even when Greg's cancer had been at its worse, she hadn't sounded that way. If she was worried, he was too.

Passing the computer lab on his way out, Archie caught sight of him and jumped up.

"Grissom," he called.

"I know I said I'd get to you next, but can this wait?"

"No," Archie said seriously, walking and talking with Grissom as he left. "Sara and I got a hit off the lists. One name. She told me to tell you ASAP."

"Tell Catherine and Warrick to check it out," he said still heading towards the exit.

"I have already," he said still following, "but she was adamant that I tell you too. Before she left."

"Where did she go?" he asked, finally stopping.

"She didn't say, just that it seemed important."

Grissom nodded. He thought he knew what it was about. If Greg was in trouble she'd know it. That was reassuring. Sara would get him help, but to be sure he'd call her next.

"So who was it?" he asked Archie. "What did you find?"

"James Fenton," he answered. "Only name that is connected to all the victims."

"Dr. Fenton?" he asked, much as Sara had.

"Yes," Archie continued, "he's a psychiatrist. Worked at the clinic and saw two of the victims regularly as patients."

Grissom's entire face seemed to fall. It all clicked now. Turning quickly, he practically ran back to his office. To his phone.

"What is it?" Archie asked, fast on his heels.

Grissom didn't answer. He needed to get a hold of Brass. He had a bad feeling that it wasn't Amy they should be watching.