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 18: Girls Night Out

Thursday night had been productive. Sara and Greg had tracked down the list of the Warner's employees and sure enough there was a Robert Eriksson listed as a part time gardener. They hadn't been able to get a hold of him that night but did learn that he'd had a prior arrest for burglary but without a conviction. They'd also found out more about Danielle Carson's little break from college. She'd suffered a nervous break down during her freshman year and had decided to take some time off from the academia. Shortly after that she'd begun working for the Warner's, which was almost two years ago.

The next morning Greg and Sara had left early for breakfast before heading to Dr. Jennings office together. The three of them had sat down and talked about everything that had been happening lately, what they were doing about the situation and generally the moods and behaviors to watch for leading into either a manic or depressive episode. They'd left feeling good.

When they got home they both wasted no time getting ready for bed, neither feeling the inclination to actually sleep. It had been a long couple of days and they just needed to reaffirm certain things to each other.

Having been awake for all of the morning and most of the last few days both slept in way past their normal time. It was nearly eight at night before they were both roused by the doorbell.

"It's got to be Betty," Greg said rolling over towards her and laughing a little.

"She's probably here to ask why she hasn't seen your car in the driveway," Sara said, amused herself.

"Well, it's your turn. I played nice last time."

Sara sat up and gave him a look, making him laugh harder.

"Fine," she said throwing off the covers and putting on his t-shirt and her sweat pants.

She gave Greg one last look of contempt, nothing serious of course, before heading out of the door and down the hall. Greg got out of bed now himself, he didn't intend to leave Sara alone with Betty for long. Betty might not survive the encounter. Putting on his own pajama bottoms and a new t-shirt from the dresser, he pushed his hands through his hair before going out to the living room to join them. Instead of Betty he found Amy and her sister Jennifer sitting down with Sara in the living room.

"Hey," he said, "What's going on?"

"We're going out tonight," Amy said smiling some, "and wanted to see if Sara, since she's off, wanted to join us."

Greg nodded and looked at Sara. She didn't look like she didn't like the idea entirely, but could sense like he did that Amy might have something more to talk about. Amy looked a bit frazzled. Jennifer just continued to look indifferent. Although it did amuse him to see the look on her face when he'd come out of the back room. She'd obviously thought Sara lived here alone.

"Where are you going?" Sara asked.

"I don't know," Amy answered, "a club, a bar, wherever. Jennifer's leaving tomorrow afternoon and I thought it would be good to get out."

"Okay," Sara said nodding her head, looking up briefly at Greg. "I'll just go get ready."

Sara got up and left and Jennifer, after asking for the restroom, followed soon after.

"She's leaving early?" Greg asked sitting down next to Amy.

Amy let out a sigh and buried her head in her hands. Greg instinctively rubbed her back, not sure what was going on.

"Yes. My parents are too," she said in a low whisper, looking towards the bathroom as she spoke. "We had a huge fight. I think Jennifer's just hanging around with me now to gloat. I know Sara isn't in to this kind of thing, but I'm so glad she's coming."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she answered, still sounding shaky. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I feel like everything is just falling apart around me."

"It'll be fine," he said putting his arm around her shoulder, "I fight with my parents all the time."

"No, not like this. I just lost it. Really lost it. I told them I don't want their help any more, that I don't need it. They're selling the condo. Greg, in a week I'm not going to have a place to live."

"That's not a problem. We'll find you something. If nothing else you can stay with us for awhile or with Nick. He'll be glad to have you stay with him."

Amy head went back into her hands and Greg knew he'd said something wrong. He wasn't sure but he thought she might be crying. Amy spoke some words he didn't catch and had to force her to repeat.

"We broke up."

"What?" he asked, louder then necessary but he couldn't help it. He was shocked.

"I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?" she said standing up and going to the kitchen sink.

Greg followed right behind.

"But, what happened? Amy I thought you guys were happy."

"Please," she said splashing some water on her face before grabbing a glass of water to drink. "I'll tell you all about it later. Not right now. Better yet, ask him."

Greg heard bitterness in her voice, it sounded off. Amy never sounded this way. Before he could say anymore Jennifer was back. She gave them both a look, skeptical, as if the two of them talking amounted to some type of crime, before joining them in the kitchen. Sara was out moments later, dressed nicely but still casual. Greg smiled as he looked her over, causing a blush to rise in her cheeks.

"Any idea where to first?" she asked the sisters.

"I want to hit the strip," Jennifer said authoritatively.

Amy shrugged her shoulders. She really didn't care, just wanted to be doing anything other then sitting still right now.

"Okay, but we're not driving it. Not at this time of night. I'll call a taxi." Sara said.

Amy looked a little better just before they left. Jennifer, much the same as she always had. Sara who had hung back a second to talk with Greg, was still reluctant.

"Have fun," Greg said standing with her in the doorway, smiling.

"I will," she said arms crossed in a way that was contradictory to the sentiment just expressed.

Greg just laughed at her.

"I will," she said again more light hearted. "Is she okay?"

Greg hazarded a glance her way before shaking his head slightly.

"Which is it? Nick, her sister or her parents?"

"All of the above."

Sara winced.

"Just don't let her dwell on it," Greg supplied.

"I'll try."

Sara started to leave but he stopped her short by putting his hands around her waist, pulling her close.

"What?" he asked, "No kiss goodbye?"

"Their staring," she answered with a smile.

"So," he replied, leaning in and kissing her slowly anyway.

Sara pushed away from him reluctantly, smiling as she walked down the path to the waiting taxi. Greg waved once at them all before they pulled away before going back into the house himself to get ready for his shift.

The strip, as it always was, was packed. People were everywhere. They'd gone in and out of several casinos and clubs before settling on the Hard Rock just off the strip. The place was crazy and obviously more to Jennifer's liking then to her companions. She was up and mostly dancing the entire time leaving Sara and Amy alone to talk.

"How much did he tell you?" Amy asked as she finished her first drink in record time.

"Just enough for me not to wonder about that," Sara said indicating Amy's empty glass.

"Yeah," Amy said putting it aside, "I'm going to need a few."

Sara laughed. She'd been there before. Heck, if they'd of gone out last night she'd of been matching her drink for drink.

"That bad?" Sara asked, still nursing her own. She had a feeling that despite arriving in a taxi, she'd still be watching over both of the Chen girls tonight.

"Well, I might be moving in with you soon," Amy supplied as she flagged down the waitress for a fresh drink.

"Your parents…"

"Are so pissed off at me," Amy finished, "I told them to stop trying to run my life and they told me to start taking care of it on my own then. I said fine, I'd move out. They could keep their place I could get one of my own. They called me ungrateful, which is probably true. God, what's wrong with me?"

"Nothing," Sara said "you just want to be on your own. It's normal."

"Sara," Amy said, "I've never so much as said no to them before. It's horrible. They're probably on their way home to wipe me off the family tree."

Sara had to laugh.

"No, it's true. I'm a bad, bad daughter."

"No your not," Sara said, patting her arm. "It'll be fine, really. Give it a few days, give them a call. You wanting your own place…"

"It wasn't over that," Amy interrupted. "It was about me staying here, living here. They want me back in California with them. Found me a job even."

Amy was almost through her second drink now and showing no signs of slowing down.

"So you said no."

"I said no," Amy repeated looking around her for Jennifer. She spotted her out on the floor and turned back to Sara. "Is that bad?"

"No," Sara said honestly.

Amy smiled at her, but still looked sad.

"And of course you can stay with us," Sara continued. "However long you need."

"Thank you," Amy said, "I know I can find a place soon. I've got the money, I don't need much. Hell, I don't have any furniture of my own, the condo came furnished so I won't need anything big."

"I think we can spare some of ours."

Amy laughed, really laughed.

"I don't know if I'm desperate enough to take any of Greg's hand me downs, but I'll keep it in mind."

Sara laughed too before continuing on with the questions. Amy was starting her third drink now, but no longer downing them the same way.

"What does Nick think about all this?"

"He agrees with them," Amy said flatly.

"What? He wants you to move?"

"Basically," Amy answered, "Apparently my mother cornered him and made him see reason, like she's done to me so many times before. Thinks I'm passing up a big opportunity. Men suck."

Sara started to take another drink, but put down her glass abruptly.

"I can't believe he'd say that."

"Your lucky," Amy said, "Greg loves you. Nick was probably just looking for the opportunity to get rid of me."

"No," Sara countered.

"It's got to be true," Amy said, slurring now as she finished her drink. "He never said he loved me. He probably just felt bad for me and then couldn't get out of it until now. I'm so pathetic."

"Amy, stop. You are not."

"I am. Do you…" she started, then stopped short leaning in and whispering as if it was a big secret, "Do you know he's only the third guy I've ever…"

"Ever?" Sara asked catching her drift.

"Ever." Amy repeated, leaning back again.

"And he broke it off with you, over this?"

"No, I broke it off with him. I went over after my parents first brought up the job yesterday and that's when he told me he already knew. We met again for dinner that night, had a huge fight during that and then again this morning. I just told him I couldn't do it anymore. That I was tired of people telling me what I should do with my life without even asking me what I wanted; that the last person I expected that from was him, and that I couldn't do it anymore."

Sara nodded and listened, understanding her frustration. Her anger. But she also had a good feeling where Nick stood on this one as well.