Precious Things by SLynn
Spoilers: Up to 'Nesting Dolls'
Rating: R for violence and disturbing content
Disclaimer: Not mine – well, some are mine, just not the ones you recognize.
Reviews and thanks at the bottom…
Chapter 5: Listening
They ended up being twenty minutes late.
The procedure went smoothly. Dr. Tracey took blood as well as marrow and asked for him to wait in her office once they were done. She wanted to talk to him in private, but he had a sneaking suspicion she also wanted to speak with Sara. As for the results, they wouldn't have those until Friday.
Greg sat beside her desk for ten minutes before she joined him.
"Just before you showed up I was getting ready to call Dr. Grissom," she said as she sat.
He was getting use to that look of disappointment that reflected in her eyes. He'd seen it a lot lately.
"Sorry we were late."
Greg wasn't about to give her details. If she pressed, he'd blame traffic.
"You don't look well," she said directly. Dr. Tracey was never one to mix words.
"I've been working a lot."
For a moment he thought that might be it. That she might accept that as a valid excuse.
"I got a call from Dr. Jennings."
Greg couldn't help but sigh.
"Is that why you called my boss?" he asked, knowing it was.
She nodded and seemed to be waiting for his explanation.
"I tried," he finally offered, "I did. It wasn't working."
"She felt it was."
"Well, she wasn't the one waking up screaming."
Greg knew that he sounded harsh, but right now didn't care much.
"Was it really about the nightmares?" she asked point blank.
He didn't answer.
"I'd like for you and I to meet with Dr. Jennings to discuss this further. The three of us together might be able to work something out."
"Is that what you were talking about with Sara?"
"Yes," she said with a nod, "I'd like her to be there as well. She said she would but only if you wanted her to be."
"I haven't said yes."
"Greg," Dr. Tracey said moving forward in her chair, "being bipolar is the same as having a disease. It's not a weakness, it's not a defect. It is a chronic disease. It is something you need to have treatment for. Period."
"I don't want to go back on medication."
"I know," she said solemnly, "but you need too."
Nick and Amy had just sat down to breakfast when the phone rang.
Since they spent most days at his place she'd insisted that he finally fill his refrigerator with actual food. He'd laughed and agreed but only if she didn't completely monopolize the kitchen. It wasn't that Nick didn't know how to cook it was just that nine times out of ten getting take-out was easier. Despite having temporarily lost the use of one arm, they usually ended up cooking their meals together.
"I'll get it," Amy said before he could get up.
Nick looked exhausted. He hadn't worked a full night in two months and it showed. He'd regained some of the weight he'd lost as a result of the two surgeries he'd had in under two months, but not nearly enough. Amy knew at times she was a bit overbearing but she couldn't help it. She worried.
"Hello," she said into the phone and then immediately cast a look at Nick.
He smiled, laughed even, knowing it was someone from his family. They'd pretty much all talked to Amy once or twice on the phone by now. He knew it made her nervous, his mother especially. The first time Amy had answered the phone at his place she'd been on the line. Amy had only done it then because he'd been in the shower and she thought it was someone from work asking how he was. They'd ended up talking for thirty minutes.
Of course his mother had known who she was. That had been what had surprised Amy the most. She didn't realize Nick had told his family about her. It was sweet but a bit embarrassing. They all seemed to know everything about her and she could barely keep their names straight. She'd never tell Nick this, but she'd actually taken Greg's advice and written out a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. She had no choice, his family was huge. Besides the five sisters and a brother, all married except Nick and one sister, there were a total of twelve nieces and nephews.
But as surprised as Amy had been to learn that Nick's entire family all knew who she was, that was nothing to their surprise of Nick telling them about her in the first place. His having never done so before they could only assume that he must be serious about Amy. That alone was enough to earn their initial admiration. Fortunately they found that the more they talked with Amy the more they liked her even without his recommendation.
Judging from the conversation Nick thought she must be talking with Caroline. His second oldest sister was the only one that didn't seem to make Amy as nervous as she normally was with anyone else. Caroline and Amy shared the same interest in books. They both practically lived by Oprah's book list and were often discussing their latest reads.
Half an hour passed before she hung the phone up and was back at the table.
"So Caroline didn't even want to talk to me?" Nick asked, feigning hurt.
"She said hello," Amy returned mildly.
"You know," he continued, "I don't think my family even calls here for me anymore."
"Like you didn't talk to my dad for an hour last Saturday," Amy said smiling.
Another good thing. Amy's mother still hadn't warmed up to him, but her father still had regard. Daniel Chen liked him, it was clear. He really approved his daughter's choice and more importantly, after an initial period of uneasiness, her decision to support herself entirely. Nick had no hope of Jennifer ever liking him, but that was okay. Karen, Amy's youngest sister, felt the same as her father. For her, her father's good opinion seemed enough. Nick had talked to Karen a few times on the phone and found her much like Amy.
"Well, I can't rush your father off the phone," Nick argued.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Besides," Nick continued, "he was filling me in on all the details of Jennifer's wedding."
Amy, who had begun cleaning up the dishes, stopped momentarily.
"What'd he say?"
"He needed to know if we wanted to stay at the house or at the hotel," Nick said coming up behind her, "Were you going to tell me?"
"I was," she said turning around, her back now to the sink. "I'm just not sure I want to go."
"He said you were in the wedding."
"I'm supposed to be."
"Amy," he said stepping closer.
"I've got the dress I just need to get it altered. It's ridiculous; I'm going to look ridiculous. It's completely something I would never wear."
"As I understand it, that's the point of a bridesmaid's dress."
Amy smiled at him, but it didn't last.
"Well," she said looking down, "it's not just the dress."
"I kind of assumed."
Amy stepped around him and started walking towards the living room.
"You know how Jennifer is," Amy said sitting down on the couch.
"I'm familiar," Nick replied sitting beside her not sure where this could possibly be going.
"If it was just Jennifer's wedding, I'd be fine. She's my sister, I love her. We don't always try and rip each other's throats out."
"But?"
"But," Amy continued absentmindedly playing with Nick's free hand, "there's also Mark."
Nick suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.
"Mark was kind of my boyfriend first. Actually, he was my first boyfriend. We didn't date long, my parents never even knew about it. But, after we'd gone out a few months he just started dating Jennifer instead of me."
"How old were you?"
"Um, I was a freshman at Stanford then. Jen was a sophomore."
"And Mark?"
"A senior."
Amy tried to read his face, wondering if he was possibly mad at her because he did look mad.
"He's not a bad guy," Amy said, "really. It's no big deal; I'm just kind of being stupid about it. We weren't even serious."
Nick took one look at her and knew that was a lie. He might not have been serious, but Amy probably had been.
"You don't still…" Nick didn't know how to phrase the question and luckily he didn't have too.
"No," Amy cut off and he believed her, "Definitely not. It was years ago."
Nick nodded and felt relieved.
"I just thought it would be awkward."
That he understood.
"So are we going?" he asked.
"You really want to? I mean, it will be my family."
"Yeah, if you want me there."
"I do. Of course I do."
Nick leaned in and kissed her quick causing her to smile once more for real.
"Alright," she said with a nod, "but we're not staying with my parents."
Nick laughed but felt relieved.
"So when is it?"
"First week of June," she answered, cuddling up next to him.
"I'll ask Grissom," Nick said pulling her closer, "see if maybe I can work something with Warrick and switch some days around."
Amy nodded and he felt her relax.
"You should get some sleep," he said seriously. "You work again tonight."
"What about you? Are you going back in?"
"Yeah," he said reluctantly getting up, pulling her along with him. "We both need sleep."
She smiled at him as he all but dragged her down the hall.
The ride back to the house had been quiet. Greg drove never once taking his eyes off the road. Sara knew what was bothering him. Dr. Tracey had told her about the conference Dr. Jennings had suggested. Sara thought it might do Greg good, but also knew how much he would object to such a meeting.
Once home things were even quieter. Sara knew she'd have to break the ice.
"You didn't mention that Dr. Jennings wanted you back on medication."
Greg didn't even turn around. Didn't even stick his head back out of the fridge. He just kept rummaging around looking for something, anything else to do at this moment.
"There wasn't a point. I'm not taking the drugs so there's nothing to talk about."
"Greg they could help."
"Do you think I need them?" he asked, shutting the door loudly and finally facing her.
It was such a loaded question, Sara couldn't even think of a response. If she said no then he was vindicated and would never seek help. If she said yes she might as well help him pack because she was pretty sure he'd leave.
"This isn't about what I think," she tried but he was already shaking his head and turning around.
"So you do."
"Will you listen, please?"
Greg turned back around but his jaw was set. He only looked like that when he was angry.
"I just want you to hear them out."
A/N: Yeah, bad ending spot but it had to be done. Thanks to everyone still with me now, still reading this. :) It's moving a lot slower then the others but the pace should pick up. It usually takes a few chapters (or five) to get the ball rolling. See where it's headed, you understand.
veryevil – nice to have you back! I hope to not keep anyone waiting too long with updates. I always try for a happy endings, it just takes awhile to get there.
Miss-Andromache – I missed writing these stories. Personally, I don't think I'm ever going to quit.
white rose01 – it feels like it takes forever to get these out! It's sometimes hard to keep them straight. I'll admit, I almost inadvertently added Amy into 'The Body'… oops. :P Yep, dog person! The case this time will be the overall focus of the piece, at least that's what I'm trying for. Hopefully it's compelling enough. Not a lot of Hodges fans here? Oh well, it might be just me. :)
Duckie – For as much as I love Greg, I certainly don't let him be happy much do I?
Tripp3235 – thanks for all the help with this and the others:) There's always more to it, but I guess I hit on that in this chapter… sort of. Nick seemed like a dog person to me, not sure why.
Emmithar – hope you feel better! I'm loving your stories btw! Yeah, a definite bad feeling. My idea, Grissom wants to let him at least try it. Nick did sound a bit hounded, but trust me Amy has her reasons. I think my Grissom from the last story carried over a bit here, he's just concerned. Sometimes the only thing that works is a threat. Last time I was in the ER I was delivering a baby… that's not fun either. :) No one likes Dave? I'm shocked. ;) In honor of his promotion to full time cast member, I'm planning on putting more Hodges into this one. He and Greg have a great chemistry that I feel the need to exploit.
Kelly – I always shoot for happy endings. I can't put them all through so much and not have it turn out good.
BeyondMyStar – It is going to come back on Greg and Nick is actually the one a little worse off in this one (oops.. did that slip out?) The Harris scene is a mess, but they've got a second chance at it… maybe even a third. Yeah, this story is going to center more around the case. I'm horribly mean aren't I? Hee.. hee… we haven't seen the last of Dave.
NothingToGein – thanks for sticking through it! Hope it doesn't disappoint.
GottaGetGreg I haven't decided whether or not to add Betty. Drs. Tracey and Jennings will have larger roles, plus I have a few new characters to add… I may have to give her a cameo. I kind of miss her.
Dio – Thanks for reading them all! I can barely manage it now myself… this thing has gotten huge. I only started out to write about ten chapters on Greg and now I'm half way to a novel. :P Hope you enjoy this one as much as the rest!
Fan4fanfic – Thank you! I'm so happy everyone is liking this! I always try to play catch-up, in case someone hasn't read them all, in the first few chapters, but it's getting so that they are all so connected I sometimes forget what has happened. I have elaborate cheat sheets for these things!
ichigatsu – Thanks! Huge compliment. I'm trying harder to get these better proof-read and Tripp3235 has helped a lot in that department. I know I've still got errors but I'm still trying. Glad you're enjoying it!
Fwe – glad you found it! I don't typically post my stories as 'R' rated, but considering the subject matter of the case I felt I needed too. Better safe then sorry. Sorry, Mitch Anderson will not be making an appearance. Neither will Ortega, although she will get mentioned a lot.
brokentoy19 – LOL – I'm not too good with the sex scenes. I take an almost 'Truman Show' approach meaning I fade to curtains. :) Test results won't be for at least another chapter.
