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: As promised, my notes and thanks! Thanks so much for everyone's patience. I'm not officially online yet, this is our temporary hook up. We've arrived safely in Vegas and like it so far. We'll be moving into our house soon, but probably not until next week. I'm more nervous about these last five chapters then any previous because I've gotten use to such great instant feedback that it really drives me to write more and in some cases helps shape the story, so hopefully these all go over well. Right now, this story is going to at least be as long as my last two were. Side note – I've started writing a side story, unrelated, that will only contain Greg and Grissom. I'm excited about it, just haven't gotten the chance to hash it out completely yet. Look for that soon too. Anyway…
Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. Miss-Andromache, Sandersgirl, Grrlnorth (thanks for the advice – I am reviewing Happy for errors and should be reposting large portions soon), white rose01, Kelly, fwe (you know, everyone either loves Betty or suspects her of something!), carolann, BeyondMyStar (the chapter title was actually a little about both), GottaGetGreg, ThreeDollarBill, Arkee, Sheela (sorry, didn't mean to be so mean!), Tripp3235, and Jen.
Please be kind and overlook any glaring mistakes – I have just driven across the country!
Chapter 19: Deep Freeze
While Sara was out with Amy and Jennifer, Greg was making his way to the lab. It was just him, Nick, Catherine and Warrick on duty that night, Grissom was taking a rare night off. They gathered in the break room as usual and Catherine handed out the assignments.
"Okay," she said to the guys, "we've got four tonight. Ready?"
She'd stopped at Greg as she'd said it and he knew why. He was going out alone tonight, something he'd never done.
"Do I get to drive?" he asked back to her.
She just smiled and nodded.
"Then sure, why not," he answered.
There wasn't much else to say or do, they each had their orders and were on their way. Greg caught up with Nick on the way to the locker room.
"Missed you today," Nick said.
"Yeah," Greg said, "sorry I didn't at least call you to let you know. Sara and I patched things up."
"That's good."
"How are things with you?"
Nick stopped and looked at him.
"Amy told you."
Greg just shrugged.
"It's a mess," Nick said continuing on.
"What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now," Nick said feeling guilty.
"Okay, but I'm coming back with more questions," Greg promised as he picked up his stuff and headed out.
Nick just nodded, knowing it was true.
Greg had no trouble finding his scene. He was pretty excited about it actually. Glad to finally have the chance to prove himself without a safety net. That mood diminished a bit when he saw Detective Ortega waiting at the door of the meat packing warehouse he'd been assigned.
"Stokes off tonight?" she asked coldly. There was no love lost between those two.
"He's at another scene," Greg answered.
"What," she continued, "he couldn't face me or something?"
"I wouldn't know," Greg said not wanting to play this game with her. "We don't exactly pick our assignments based on whose working them. What have you got for me?"
"Victim is a manager here, Jared Mitchell, forty-three. Found dead in the main freezer by the security guard. Place has been closed for hours, no one was supposed to be here."
Greg nodded and waited for it. Ortega wasn't going to give in though. She was going to make him do it.
"Has he been pronounced?" Greg finally asked.
She said nothing, just handed him the report. Greg took it, looked it over for David's signature.
"I'll hold on to this," he said, putting it into his case.
She said nothing, just gave him a cold look and began walking into the building to where the victim was.
"Hope you brought a jacket," she said as she opened the door to the deep freezer. Greg noted that it took some effort on her part but shrugged it off.
It was cold. Really, really cold. Greg had worn a jacket but didn't think it would be enough if he had to stay in too long. Ortega showed him the way, the body was in the back of the freezer behind a few boxes. She left right after that, shutting the door behind her. Greg wasn't sorry to see her go.
He finished all of his preliminary work, took all his photos and collected everything obvious before she came back again.
"How's it going?"
"Getting there," Greg answered, "You can take the body now if you want, but I've still got some things left to do here. I'll be at least another hour."
"Okay," she said leaving again.
Fifteen minutes later, the body gone, Greg was still looking for something. He didn't know what, but he knew there was more. He'd almost given up when he noticed, in the hamper of dirty towels the butchers used to mop up the saws with, was one that was neatly folded. It almost looked wrapped. Greg snapped a few photos first, his hands felt a bit numb now. He'd been there for nearly two hours without a break, but couldn't go now.
After he finished with the photos he fished it out of the hamper and carefully unfolded the towel. There it was, an eight inch long butcher knife covered in blood. Rewrapping the blade, he bagged it and marked it and placed it next to the rest of the evidence he'd collected near the door.
More then ready now to leave, feeling frozen himself, he went to the door. Freezer doors are unique. They have a latch on the outside and a release on the inside. Greg pushed the release now, but it didn't move. Didn't even budge. He tried once more, still nothing. If he didn't know better, he'd of thought it was locked. Freezer doors can only be locked from the outside, but he knew that hadn't happened.
Turning now to his phone, ready to suck up his pride and ring Ortega for help, he was a bit panicked to see that he had no reception. He should have expected it, a freezer was like a vault after all, but he hadn't really thought about it before.
Trying the door once more without luck, there was nothing else he could do. Greg would just have to wait for someone to come find him.
At four thirty that morning everyone was back at the lab in the break room. Everyone except Greg.
"Have either of you seen him since the staff meeting?" Catherine asked.
"No," Warrick answered.
"Me either," Nick said. Neither of them sounded concerned, but Catherine was.
"He's probably over processing," Warrick offered, "First time alone, he's going to come back with half his scene bagged. Everyone always does."
Nick laughed but Catherine didn't. She was on her phone now calling the morgue. After a few words with Al, she turned back to them.
"His body made it back," she said, "but he hasn't heard from Greg either."
Now everyone looked worried.
"I'm going down there," Catherine said, deciding on action.
"I'll come with you," Nick offered.
"Good," she said, "Warrick, find out who the detective was working his case. See if they've heard anything or if they're still out."
"Will do."
Catherine and Nick made it down to the garage and to the scene before five that morning. The warehouse looked deserted and the only official vehicle they spotted was the SUV Greg had checked out from the motor pool.
Feeling something was wrong, they both un-holstered their weapons, before entering the building. The security guard, surprised to see anyone back and especially armed, showed them to where they body had been found. He told them that the police had left hours ago and he'd been told to stay out of that area until it was officially released. He pointed the freezer out to them before returning to his post.
Catherine put her gun away and looked at the door. It had crime scene tape across it, tightly in an 'x' and she noticed the pin that locked the latch was in place.
"Do you hear that?" she asked.
"No," Nick answered before leaning in closer.
As he did, he knew what she meant. There was a faint thumping noise coming from inside. They exchanged looks and Catherine took down the tape, undid the pin and put her hand on the latch waiting for Nick to give her the signal. He leveled his gun at the door, readied himself and then nodded once. On queue Catherine opened the door.
Greg, who had been standing against it, banging his head trying to just stay conscious at that point, fell out at them almost onto the floor. He caught himself midway and instead stumbled backwards into the wall opposite the freezer before sliding to the floor.
"Oh my God Greg," Catherine said rushing over, "Have you been in there all night?"
Greg, at first, couldn't answer. He was so cold his teeth wouldn't stop chattering long enough to allow it.
"Here," Nick said having already put away his gun and taken off his jacket, "put this on."
Greg nodded at him in thanks. Catherine was already checking hands and face, seriously concerned about frost bite.
"I'm okay," Greg managed, "just cold. Really cold."
He sounded it, but otherwise looked okay.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I was hoping you could tell me. What was this, some kind of hazing initiation?"
"Greg, we wouldn't lock you in a freezer," Nick said seriously.
"You locked me in the morgue."
"That's different," Nick argued.
"Fella's please," Catherine interjected, "this is serious. What did happen?"
"I got here, processed the scene, cleared the body and then when I was ready to go the door wouldn't open. It must have froze or something. My cell was useless, no reception. I didn't know what else to do."
Catherine nodded. She considered telling him he'd been locked in, but wasn't sure if that would help or hurt his ego at that point.
"Wasn't your fault," Nick said for her, "Pin was in the latch. You'd of never gotten out on your own."
Greg nodded, almost relieved. At least it hadn't been his fault.
"Let's get you out of here," she said.
"Wait," Greg said getting to his feet with Nick's help, "the evidence and my case are still inside."
"I'll get them," Nick offered.
Soon they were headed back with Nick driving the SUV Greg had checked out. Once at the lab Warrick looked relieved to see them.
"What happened?"
"Please don't ask," Greg said making a bee line for the coffee, teeth still chattering.
"What did she say?" Nick asked Warrick. He'd found out from Greg on the ride back that Ortega had been on the detective on duty.
"That Greg cleared the body and said he was leaving."
"I told her that I was leaving in another hour, not that second," Greg put in defensively.
"Did she come back inside, check on you after that?" Catherine asked.
Greg shook his head.
"She said she did," Warrick continued, "Told me that the freezer was empty when she left. That you weren't there."
Greg let out a small laugh before standing up again. This was unreal.
"I'm going to hit the shower, try to warm up, and then go home."
"Good idea," Catherine agreed.
After he left, she looked at the two men left.
"She did this," Nick said flatly, "Ortega could have gotten him killed like that. This isn't some school yard prank."
Warrick nodded in agreement.
"I know it," Catherine said, "but we can't prove anything. We didn't collect evidence and we don't have proof."
"So what, nothing happens?" Warrick asked.
"No," Catherine answered. "I'll lodge a complaint, talk with Brass. She'll get something for this."
Neither of them said anything after that. They weren't sure if they believed it.
Greg, freshly showered and changed, headed back into the break room before leaving for the day. Finding Catherine there alone, he said a quick goodbye but not before she asked him to write up everything in a report. He promised it to her by that night and went on his way. He felt better now, wasn't as frozen any more, but still a little embarrassed. His fault or not, he'd still been locked in a freezer overnight.
He didn't stop as he usually did for breakfast that morning, just headed straight home. Greg noticed that Amy's car was still in the driveway when he pulled up and briefly wondered if he'd made it home before they had. That was quickly dispelled when he opened the door and found Amy sleeping on the couch. He didn't check but was positive Jennifer was in the spare room. Making his way to his own room instead, he changed and climbed into bed next to Sara.
"Your hands are cold," she mumbled as he put them around her middle.
She turned over in his arms and ran her hands under his shirt.
"All of you is cold," she said now a little more coherent. "We're you outside all night?"
He quietly hushed her, pulled her even closer, and told her not to worry. She complied, but only because she was too tired to fight back. The girls had had a long night of their own and she'd only just beat him home by an hour. They'd both have plenty to say soon enough.