Privacy by SLynn
Disclaimer: It's all mine, because yeah, this is what I'd do with my free time if I actually owned these characters.
Notes of Thanks: Wow – loving the outpouring of affection for my newest fic. I struggled with this one for a few days before beginning to get the basics out of my own head of what I wanted to happen. I may up the rating to an R, but until it becomes necessary it'll stay PG-13. General note, this story is going to be a lot more relationship centered, Greg and Sara and Nick and Amy specifically. I plan to keep the chapter ratio about 2:1 respectively. This story will still center mainly on Greg.
BTW – has anyone noticed anything odd about the chapter titles? : )
Duckie – Thanks for all of your reviews at the end of 'Issues'. Your review for this one actually triggered a large part of this chapter.
Miss-Andromache – I'm going to include a lot more Nick and Amy in this one. They've got their own sub-plot this time round. I'm still thinking up one just for them. obviously, this is my sub-plot… I was going to write it with her parents there but I couldn't be that cruel. always glad to break up the boredom of work!
white rose01 – I can't disguise the bad guys very well, can I? Amy's family is going to be fun and difficult to write all at once. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
carolann – I loved that line too! I don't know why I picture Greg with a yellow couch, but for some reason it doesn't sound to far fetched. I could just see it as boxy and leather. Jennifer isn't very likable is she? I thought it would be fun to have Amy and Greg have a mini-show down in the lab… it really isn't his anymore.
BeyondMyStar – yeah, everyone already hates the guy… me too actually. This chapter isn't going to help that. Neither should the next.
tabs – glad you enjoyed it!
ThreeDollarBill -- the case itself isn't going to be too much in focus, although it's given me something for them to do at the lab. I've hopefully done enough research to make it interesting.
fwe – I love Betty. I've actually got neighbors like Betty. As for the nanny, she'll be back… we can be obsessed together. I'm losing sleep over this one, trying to work it out in my head and get it on to paper as fast as possible.
Sandersgirl – it's official, he is suspicious!
GottaGetGreg – yeah, if I owned the show I'd be happily writing more scenes for Greg on television. :)
Em – yeah! I hope it isn't over the top. I realize at the start of the story it's a lot of set up, but I was beginning to think I was only writing fluff.
Chapter 6: I Know
"How is the writing going?" Dr. Jennings asked.
"It helps. It lets me get things out quicker," Greg answered.
"Have you been writing much lately?"
"No, not really. Yesterday but that was about it for a week."
Dr. Jennings nodded and took down a few notes as the timer rang the end of the hour.
"I'd like Sara to come in next week with you, Tuesday if she can," she said as she walked to her desk to put away her things.
Greg was a little confused. The session itself had gone well he thought. Now he didn't feel so certain.
"Okay, can I ask why?"
"I think it's important that we all discuss the warning signs of your condition."
Greg shrugged his shoulders, not worried. He felt good; right now his condition didn't seem like such a problem.
"Going over your file," she said sitting back down again, "it's easy to see you spent most of last year in a depression."
Greg nodded this time, leaning forwards some. It was true but not easy to hear.
"You've been coming out of it for quite some time, making real progress, especially over the last few weeks."
"Then why suddenly are we talking warning signs?" he asked.
"There's a reason it's called manic-depressive Greg," she offered. "Judging from your last few appointments I think you are heading into a hyper-manic or manic episode."
"I still don't see what's so bad. Manic is like happy, right?"
"Like, but isn't. You can be anything from overly alert to irritable. It's a broad spectrum. It's hard to say, nothing's documented on you yet. You started therapy during a depressive episode, most people do. We're all heading into uncharted territory here. Myself and Sara, especially. You've been through them before, probably without realizing it, but now we know."
"But the only problems I've had have been during the depressions. If I get a little, I don't know, wired it shouldn't be too big of a deal. Like you've said, I've probably had them before."
"You may be right. Most people who have they type of bipolar that you do, bipolar II, don't have problems during the manic phase. It's like a part of their personality. My concern is given how long it's been since you've had one, this one may be severe. Also manic episodes can and usually are followed by depressive ones"
"How can you tell this? I mean, I feel good. I'm just not getting it."
"You're already exhibiting the warning signs, some of them at least. You've hardly sat still the entire session."
"Well, I did have like two pots of coffee practically by myself," Greg said with a smile.
"Here's a complete list," she said handing it over, "you and Sara should look it over before coming in."
Greg nodded and took it, but still didn't quite understand.
Out in the parking lot, just before he got his car door unlocked, he was surprised to hear someone saying his name. Looking around in confusion, it was easy to spot who it was.
"You know that this state has stalker laws, right?" Greg asked turning to meet the man.
"I'm just trying to get your side of the story for the record."
Greg looked him over momentarily. Mitch Anderson. He was probably Greg's age, was exactly his height. He had blondish long hair and a stupid grin that made Greg want to hit him. Okay, it probably wasn't the grin but the fact that every time he'd seen him Anderson was wearing it. That and just seeing him.
"No thank you," Greg said tightly.
"If this is about money…."
"It's about me not wanting to talk about it."
"But," he said looking back at the building Greg just came out of. Looking back at Dr. Jennings' office. "You're talking about it to someone."
"What paper do you work for again?" Greg asked.
"Here," he said extending his card, still smiling.
Greg took it silently before getting into his car.
"So," he said leaning down, still talking to him, "I'll hear from you soon?"
Greg just smiled, tight lipped, at him before starting his car and pulling away. He was home in fifteen minutes, not making any stops this time. As he got out of his car, he put the card into his wallet. He'd tell Sara about it later but they'd have enough to go over with the list he'd gotten from Dr. Jennings to also worry about some over ambitious wanna be like Anderson.
Still outside he heard his name once again being called. Turning round he saw who it had come from, Betty was across the street waving him over.
Reluctantly he went.
"Hi Betty," he said as he got to her side of the street.
"I haven't seen either of you for days, I just wanted to say hello. Do you normally get off of work at this time?"
"Usually a little earlier," he admitted, "Sara beat me today. I had some errands to run."
"Well," she continued, "I just wanted to warn you that the Taylor's, two streets down, their house was robbed last night."
"Really?" Greg asked interested. They'd picked this neighborhood because of its low crime rate.
"Did you hear anything about it?" she asked.
Greg smiled a bit, understanding.
"No, Sara and I mostly work homicide investigations. Sometimes home invasion, but not often."
"Oh," she said as her face wrinkled up in either disgust or delight, he wasn't sure which, "how terrible."
"Mom," a voice called from the doorway.
"Jaime," Betty called out to the figure in the doorway, "come here. Meet our new neighbor."
With as much reluctance as Greg had had crossing the street, the teenage girl came out of the house towards them. She was taller then her mom, with strawberry blond hair worn long and straight. She was probably just turning fifteen.
"Nice to meet you," Greg said offering his hand.
She took his hand but didn't meet his eye or say anything.
"Jaime is our oldest. She got straight A's on her last report card."
"Mom," the girl said in a voice that clearly marked her embarrassment.
"No, that's cool. Me too. I mean, me too when I was in school. It's the only way to get into college and college is much better then high school."
Jaime looked up at him briefly and smiled.
"Well," Greg continued, "I've got to go. It's past my bed time, but it was nice meeting you and talking with you again."
Betty said an enthusiastic goodbye, Jaime less so, but he knew that they'd both watched until he'd gone inside. Before he got there he'd seen Sara at the kitchen window, evidently watching him herself.
"You couldn't come out there and save me?" he asked upon entering the house as she came around the corner to meet him.
"Too much fun watching you squirm," she answered leaning up and kissing him. "She tried cornering me this morning too, I was smart enough to keep walking."
"Well we always knew which one of us were the brains here."
Sara laughed and he pulled her into his arms.
"I love your laugh," he whispered into her ear before kissing her neck.
"Oh no," she said pulling away, "don't think you can be outside flirting with all women in the neighborhood and then come in here to me."
"I wasn't flirting. I couldn't escape," he said taking her hands and tugging her back into his arms before kissing her again.
"Alright, fine," she said moving away once more. "How was the session?"
"Oh, almost forgot. Here," he said as he pulled the list out of his pocket. "Dr. Jennings wants you to come in next Tuesday with me. Thinks we should all talk about this."
"What is it?" she asked, looking it over.
"Apparently all the danger signs of me becoming uncontrollably happy."
"Does she think your having an episode?" she asked taking it very seriously.
"Maybe," he said getting a glass before going the fridge to get some juice, "She says it's about time for it. I don't know."
"Well this is serious Greg. Just because it isn't depression doesn't mean it isn't serious."
Sara continued to look the list over.
"She doesn't even know, it's a guess."
"Guess?" she asked before reading off the list, "Decreased sleep, restlessness, increased activities."
"Are we talking about me or you?" he asked.
She ignored him and continued reading.
"Excitability, inappropriate humor."
"All my humor is inappropriate."
"Increased sex drive," she finished looking up at him. Questioning him with her eyes.
"So me wanting to have sex with you is a danger sign?"
"No, but you have to admit that lately…" she just trailed off letting him mentally fill in the blanks.
"This is ridiculous," he said putting his glass in the sink.
"Just keep an open mind here, consider the possibility."
"That what? What am I supposed to do about it if it is true?"
"I don't know. You just need to be more careful."
"Okay, okay," he gave in. "I'll keep an open mind. I think your both wrong, but what do I know."
Greg left early for work again that night, stopping by to see Detective Brass on the way.
"Got an update on the Warner case?" he asked seeing Greg at his door.
"No," Greg answered, "Unless you didn't hear about the poison."
"Grissom told me this morning."
"Okay then no."
Brass looked up at him; he was still hovering in the doorway.
"Have a seat," he offered.
Greg thanked him and sat down. It was like being in Grissom's office but without the jars of dead critters and ten times as scary.
"What can I do for you then?" he asked, putting aside the papers he'd been going through.
"I've been having some problems with a reporter lately."
"Guy from the Sun right?"
"That's him," Greg answered before continuing, "he approached me today outside of my shrink's office and, um, it's just getting to be too much. He's showing up everywhere now and calling constantly. Not just me, Sara too. I don't know what I can do about it."
"And you came by to ask me," Brass finished.
Greg nodded.
"Well, there are laws against this sort of thing, but I'm not sure they'd apply. He's never been violent has he?"
"No," Greg said, "he just wants an interview."
Brass nodded.
"That's not enough for a restraining order."
"I kind of figured."
Brass smiled at him.
"You know where this guy works?" he asked.
Greg took the card out of his wallet and handed it over. Brass took it and nodded his head.
"I'll have a couple uniforms drop by and give him a visit. It doesn't sound like he's done anything illegal yet but it'll probably freak him out enough to get him off your back."
"Thanks," Greg said in one big breath, "I really appreciate it."
"No problem Greg. You can't do your job with guys like this hounding your every step."