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 25: Truths

Sunday night at the lab was quiet but not from lack of activity. Sara, Greg and Catherine all had the night off leaving the other three to run the current and new cases. Nick and Amy had had dinner before shift began that night and talked a few things out but nothing was settled between them. She still harbored some doubts, doubts he was eager to do away, but it was a big step forward. That night he meant to stop by and say hello sooner but half the night had passed before he'd even got the chance.

It was about four when after a hit and run and a robbery turned murder he made his way towards the DNA lab. Nick heard her laughing and briefly stopped, curious at the exchange. Nick couldn't hear exactly what was being said, but he could catch the tone. It was easy and carefree and almost flirtatious. And when he heard the other voice he couldn't help it. He got jealous.

"Hey Nick," Archie said still laughing as he saw him round the corner. "I should get back to work. See you later Amy."

"Bye," she said with a smile and a wave before turning to him. "What have you got for me tonight?"

Nick brought his hand up to his mouth, turned slightly towards the door before turning back to her. She had been smiling but it quickly faded into concern.

"Nothing," he said smiling an odd smile, "I came here… it doesn't matter."

Nick turned and walked back out. Amy, confused and a bit worried, went after him.

"What's wrong?" she asked, catching him in the break room.

Nick hadn't turned around toward her but she saw him place his hands on the back of the sofa and squeeze it. Amy was really at a loss. She could tell he was either angry or upset, possibly both, but she couldn't figure out why.

"Nick?"

"We haven't even been broken up a week," he blurted out, finally facing her.

At first she didn't know what to say, just met his gaze, but then she couldn't help herself. It was a nervous habit. Amy let out a small laugh but she wasn't really amused. Not in the least.

"I don't believe this," she returned.

Nick just shrugged at her. Amy continued to meet him eye to eye. Her face was set and Nick hadn't thought it was possible but knew that he'd really wrecked things now. He couldn't help it. It was like he was reacting without thinking. Nick wanted this to work with them, wanted it so bad that just the thought of her with someone else turned his stomach. He knew he was overreacting, could feel it, but it didn't change his anger.

"What am I supposed to think?" he asked.

"About what? I'm not allowed to have conversations with my co-workers?"

"You were flirting."

"Have you lost your mind?" she asked truly exasperated now. "I was not flirting. We were talking."

"I know what I saw."

Amy threw up her hands and stormed out of the room. Nick, recollecting himself, turned to follow. He was ruining all the work of the evening, not to mention the last several days, to get her back over something petty.

"Amy," he called after her, quickening his pace to catch her by the arm.

She pulled away and kept walking until she reached her lab. Nick followed her in and shut the door behind them.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too," she threw back.

"Amy," he tried again, calmer now but not much, "I just want things like they were."

"I do too, I really do, but we just talked about this. Do you think I'd just throw out the last few months so quickly? Have a little faith in me."

Before Nick could respond the door cracked open and Grissom stuck his head in.

"Is this a bad time?" he asked, sounding anything but sorry that he was interrupting them.

"No," Amy said, pulling herself together, "I've got those samples done. You've got a hit. The sample was female and matches your suspect."

Grissom nodded and took them from her, looking deliberately from her to Nick.

"You two might want to take a break, maybe go for a walk," he advised, "the walls aren't very thick around here."

Nick nodded and Amy just stared at the floor. Grissom was gone in another second and Amy looked up at Nick once before heading out the door, down the hall and towards the roof. Nick followed in silence until well after they arrived.

"I'm sorry Amy," Nick offered again.

"Do you even know why I'm upset?"

"Yes," Nick said, but didn't elaborate.

"Are you going to act like this every time I talk to a guy? Would you have freaked out if it had been Grissom or Warrick or Greg even?"

"No," he admitted, "it's just you and Archie…"

"We went out once," Amy said cutting him off, "One date Nick. It wasn't anything. Nothing happened. I'm not going to avoid him because you have problems with it."

"I'm being stupid, I know it."

"Yes you are."

Nick almost smiled, but caught himself in time. Amy, try as she may, even mad wasn't very frightening. It was almost cute, would have been if it wasn't so serious.

"I can't help it. I don't like fighting with you and its making act this way."

Amy did smile at that, but just a little. He was being sincere.

"I know I've been an ass lately. First the thing with your parents and now this, especially this. I never wanted you to leave and no matter what you thought I never wanted out of this relationship."

Amy said nothing so he continued.

"And I have it on good authority that I haven't taken your job, what you do, very seriously and I can't tell you enough how wrong that was. And I trust you, I do. Completely. I'm just not use to any of this. You make me feel things I'm not use to feeling."

Amy turned away, a bit overcome. She felt the tears in her eyes and didn't trust herself to speak. Nick stepped up behind her and hesitantly put his hands on her shoulders. She didn't shrug him off, relaxed even under the contact.

"Amy please," he whispered into her neck, "give me one more chance and I promise not to ask again. Not to need another. I love you and there's nothing more that I want."

Amy brought her hands to her eyes, crying now completely. How could she respond to that? How could she not.

Greg's phone went off at seven in the morning on Monday. Sara and he had stayed out late; a lot longer then they'd planned. They'd had dinner, went to a movie, even stopped by a few clubs before heading home. After that they hadn't gone to sleep. The memory alone brought a small smile to his face, but as a result he'd gotten very little sleep and he did not need a ringing phone.

"This better be good," he said into it, forgoing his normal greeting.

"Have you read the paper yet?"

"Grissom?" Greg asked, sitting up now rubbing his head.

"Greg," he continued to talk, "get a copy of the Sun and then you and Sara need to get down here now."

"What's this about?" he tried asking but all he heard was the dial tone.

Greg shut the phone as a knot began to form in his stomach. Gently as he could he woke Sara and told her everything he knew. They both got dressed in determined silence not bothering with breakfast, just heading out the door as soon as they could. The first chance they got they stopped a picked up a copy of the paper. They both read it before continuing on, Greg once more looking over her shoulder.

"That asshole," Sara muttered as she finished.

Greg whole heartedly agreed with the sentiment and they finished their drive to the lab but sat in the car for several minutes after that.

"It's not true," Greg said weakly.

"It's not going to matter," Sara confirmed. "Griss called us in for a reason. Ecklie's probably already read the article…"

"So what do we do? What do we say?"

"We go inside, tell the truth."

Greg nodded, still feeling that knot in his stomach and thinking he might throw up. But Sara was confident; at least she was on the outside. He'd have to try and be too.

They headed inside together and went straight to Grissom's office. As expected he wasn't alone. Ecklie was there and neither looked very happy.

"Shut the door please," Grissom asked and Greg obliged.

"Have a seat," Ecklie said indicating the chairs.

Greg was at the point of doing it when Sara interrupted, freezing him in place.

"We'll stand thanks."

"I trust you've read the article in the Sun today."

Greg nodded but Sara didn't budge just glared holes at him with her eyes.

"And?" Sara asked.

"And, it's pretty damning stuff. That article alleges that you and Sanders here started this relationship while you were his supervisor. That special favors were given in order to pass him in his proficiency tests. What do you have to say to that?"

"There's nothing to say, it isn't true," Sara answered.

Ecklie looked at Greg now, really stared.

"Well?"

"Sara didn't give me my final proficiency, Warrick Brown did. Grissom supervised them all," Greg answered and the corners of Grissom's mouth twitched a bit into a smile. He'd already told Ecklie that.

"Still, this doesn't look good. Especially considering the last two articles."

"Which were also lies," Sara put in.

"Not entirely," Ecklie countered.

Greg felt himself get angry at that last statement but said nothing. He just set his jaw and kept quiet.

"Listen," Ecklie said, trying now to sound like he was on their side, "it's nothing against either of you personally but my office is already receiving calls. It has been since the very first article and something has to be done."

Greg didn't like where this seemed to be heading.

"Are you demoting me?" he asked, unable to contain it any longer. "Again?"

Sara and Grissom both started at his outburst. Greg was normally very cordial to Ecklie, even if he didn't like him. He'd always been respectful and never loud. Certainly never loud and angry like he was now.

"Not demoting, just asking that you retake the proficiencies. All of them. It will prove that you can pass them with an unbiased supervisor and we can put this all behind us."

Greg shook his head.

"It shouldn't take long," Ecklie continued not paying any attention to Greg's demeanor which had rapidly changed. "In a few weeks…"

"No," Greg said cutting him off. "I won't do it. I've already passed and I'm not doing it again because some reporter who I wouldn't give an interview to is making things up and holding a grudge against me."

"Well if you won't do it I'd have no choice but to put you back in your old position," Ecklie said, sure that would do it.

"You may not have a choice, but I do."

They were all looking at him now expectantly. Uncertainly even, but Greg had made up his mind. He'd made up his mind the moment Ecklie had said there was truth to the articles, to the words Anderson had written. There was no going back now.

"I quit."

A/N: Sorry this one took so long. I had a hard time with the first half and I'm still not completely satisified. I didnt' want Nick coming off as a complete jerk, but given my own observations and feelings on his character felt that he'd probably never been really in love before and might have some problems adjusting to the ups and downs of it. Especially if said object was in danger of just walking right out the door. Just my opinion. I think if he had been really in love before he'd probably be married with about eighty kids by now. :) I like Nick and hope this doesn't sit too uneasy with anyone.