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.

Chapter 13: Go Home

All said and done Greg and Sara were out two computers, a PS2 with games, some jewelry and not much else. There had been a rash of robberies in the area and all things considered they'd been lucky. Greg had been lucky.

Returning to their house late that afternoon Sara was still a bit shaken. Greg felt okay about it, just wanted to settle back into his life if possible.

They were both a bit surprised to find the house in perfect condition. Evidently either Grissom or Catherine, and they both were betting on Catherine, had cleaned the place after they'd finished processing the scene. Greg had been a bloody mess but there was no trace of it now.

They'd been home maybe ten minutes when there was a knock at the door. Sara and Greg knew who it would be and sure enough it was Betty holding some new pastry dish and a newspaper.

"Oh my goodness, how horrible," she said not even waiting to be asked in.

"It's not so bad. They didn't get much," Greg offered, feeling more cordial then Sara was at the moment.

"But are you okay? I heard the sirens last night, saw the ambulance. I was scared half to death. Where did you disappear too? They didn't take you to the hospital did they?"

"No, we stayed a friend's house."

Betty nodded and smiled.

"Well next time don't go so far. You could have stayed with us. Howard would love the company."

"I hope there isn't a next time," Greg said trying to smile.

"Oh no, of course not," Betty returned quite seriously.

After a moment she started again.

"I made you this," she said handing over the pie to Greg. He didn't have the heart to tell her that they hadn't even touched the cake yet. Greg had developed some apprehension about taking unwrapped food or drinks from strangers. "It's apple. Everyone loves apple."

"You didn't have to go through this much trouble," Greg said.

"It's no trouble. I told you, it's my hobby. Oh," she said turning to Sara, "I thought you might want this."

She handed Sara the paper with a significant look, one she thought was well disguised. Sara took it and said nothing in return.

"Well, I leave you two alone," she called heading towards the door. "If you need anything please let me know."

"Thanks again Betty," Greg said following after her and shutting the door.

Sara was already in the kitchen opening the paper up. Greg followed her and knew it was the Sun.

"So I take it Betty knows," he said sitting down at the table with Sara putting the pie down as well.

"She put it together after that article ran," Sara answered without looking up from what she was doing, scanning the paper for the latest one. The Sunday edition was huge so it took her awhile.

"And you didn't tell me, why?"

Sara said nothing, she'd found what she'd been looking for and began reading. Greg got up and looked over her shoulder at it as well. She finished before he did put didn't put it down until he sat again in his chair.

"How do you think…" Sara started and then shaking her head looked back to the article again.

"I don't know how. I don't care," Greg answered, rubbing his head; it was starting to throb now.

"There's just no way Grissom let any of this out to public relations," Sara continued. "And it happened Friday night. PR isn't even open on the weekends."

"Maybe it wasn't Grissom or the lab even. Maybe it was the police department or the family even."

"But you're the only one mentioned," Sara countered feeling angry. "There's nothing here about Nick or Ortega getting suspended or even being involved. They make it sound like you were there alone at this thing. Hell, he makes it sound like you shot that woman yourself."

"I need some more sleep," Greg said getting up.

Sara didn't say anything more. He wasn't ready to talk yet and that was fine. She was so angry right now she'd likely end up yelling anyway.

Greg made his way back through their bedroom and into the bathroom without as much as a pause in his step. Maybe it was because he didn't actually remember the attack that returning here hadn't caused him any anxiety. Stripping down he turned the shower on and got the water as hot as he could before climbing in. He stayed there until the water got cold again, hardly moving and just letting it all wash over him. Putting on a clean change of clothes he finally made it to bed. Sara was still in the front room.

He lay there staring at the ceiling with it all in his head. Now Anderson wasn't beating around the bush, he'd called Greg incompetent and incapable of doing his job. He'd printed the revised version of Friday night. Mostly it came down to lax protocol and failure to even attempt to save a life. It wasn't true, Greg knew that. This one stung less because he knew it wasn't true. Yes there had been a lapse in procedure but there was nothing that he or Nick or even Detective Ortega could have done to save Marsha Jones life. Still, Sara had a point. How did he even know any of this?

"Greg," Sara said gently shaking him, "Come on, wake up Greg."

"Huh?" he asked, blinking a few times rapidly before checking the clock. It was nearly nine at night.

"Grissom called, he needs us to come in."

Greg looked at her skeptically.

"I'm suspended."

"I know, but he wants you in too. Now. He wants everyone in."

"Is this some kind of trick?" he asked, sitting up on his elbows, "Like you don't want to leave me home alone and are just telling me Griss wants me to come in so I don't ask a bunch of questions and we don't fight."

"Greg," Sara said standing up and rolling her eyes. "I wouldn't go through all that trouble."

"So he really called?"

"Yes," she said now fully agitated. "Get up. Get dressed. He wants us to meet him at the scene as soon as we can."

Greg got out of bed slowly. His head hurt less but he now figured with two back to back head injuries in a year, both requiring stitches, his hair was never going to grow back right. He'd kept it relatively short since coming off the chemo so they hadn't needed to shave it or anything last night, now he considered growing it out again. If anything to hide the scars he was sure to have.

"Nick and Amy called," Sara said after a moment, changing into her work clothes as well.

"Yeah, is he coming in too?" Greg asked still feeling a bit set up.

"Yes he is. So is Amy, and she's on vacation time right now."

Greg said nothing more, just continued getting dressed.

They were ready to go in under ten minutes. Greg stopped in the kitchen for an apple realizing he hadn't eaten all day and Sara, despite it being Greg's car, drove them in. They were the last ones to the lab and subsequently had to check out an SUV and ride together to the scene. It wasn't something they'd done in a long time; at least since everyone had known they were together.

"So where are we going?" Greg asked settling in to the passenger's seat.

"Warner house."

"Again? Any idea why?"

"None. Maybe Warrick got a good lead."

"Maybe," Greg echoed watching the houses zip past his window.

Greg yawned, still felt tired. Sara cast a few concerned looks his way which he did his best to ignore. They pulled up and only saw crime scene vehicles in the drive and one unmarked police car, Brass's. The lights were off but they could clearly see the flashlights in the upper rooms.

As soon as they had their things unloaded Sara got out her phone and rung Grissom.

"Where do you want us?" she asked.

Greg stopped listening; he usually did when she was on the phone. Instead he took a look around the place. The grounds to the house were huge and it was completely still. Something off to his left, just beyond the tree line caught his eye momentarily. Greg stared a few minutes but couldn't see it again.

"What?" Sara asked, looking for herself after hanging up.

"Nothing," Greg answered, "Where to?"

Sara led the way into the house. Grissom wanted them both upstairs with the rest of the team.

"Hey guys," Nick said meeting them at the top of the second flight of steps. "We're all back here."

"All?" Sara asked.

Nick just nodded and showed them the way.

"What's going on?" It was Greg's turn to ask the questions.

"Well," Nick said stopping in front of a set of double doors, "it's supposed to be a suicide but Grissom doesn't buy it."

"Who?" Sara asked.

"Not the nanny," Greg answered more then asked.

"Danielle Carson," Nick nodded. "She called up Brass this evening said she had something to tell him. That he should meet her here at the house, he found her dead."

"Did David pronounce her yet?" Greg asked with a hint of a smile.

"Wouldn't step a foot into the house unless he had," Nick returned.

"Grow up, both of you," Sara said.

"Seriously," Nick continued, "the house looks a bit ransacked. Like someone was looking for something. Danielle's room is the worst. Cath and Warrick are in there now. Grissom and I are in the bathroom with the db. He wants the two of you to check the girl's room. It's adjacent to Danielle's and she might have hid something in there, left something. I don't know."

"He wants us working together?" Greg asked, the look on his face said it all. Sara was wearing one identical.

"I'm just the messenger."

Greg shrugged it off and turned towards the room but Sara lingered a second longer. She caught Nick's glance and knew that these were not the original assignments. There was something in that bathroom, the one she noticed now Nick almost seemed to be guarding, that either Grissom or Nick didn't want them to see. And maybe it wasn't so much her as it was Greg.