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.

Notes: I've been meaning to thank everyone for still reading this! Something more indepth then this will be coming up in the next chapter! But until then, thanks!

Chapter 10: Dates

That morning, while Greg was in his meeting with Ecklie, Sara joined Nick and Amy for breakfast. They'd invited him along of course but he'd discreetly declined. He hadn't wanted to tell them exactly what was going on so Sara didn't mention it either. Neither of them questioned his absence but had thought it was odd.

"Didn't you have something to tell me?" Nick asked Amy rather abruptly as he'd remembered halfway through the meal.

"Oh yeah," she said putting down her fork, "both of you really."

Sara looked up from her coffee cup, curious as to how she could be involved in a conversation she knew nothing about.

"Jennifer's getting married," Amy started, "you both know that. Well, she wants to have her bachelorette party here next weekend."

"Next weekend?" Nick asked eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, apparently her maid of honor Tasha, who was supposed to plan this thing, is just way too busy shopping or getting her roots done. I don't know which. And it's not like I work sixty hours a week to their combined none. But since I already live here…"

"Amy," Nick cut her off, "next Saturday?"

"I know," she said with a sigh.

"What's next Saturday?" Sara asked, still not sure how any of this involved her.

"My birthday," Amy answered.

"I probably should have known that," Sara said with some what of a blush rising to her cheeks.

"It's no big deal; I'm just turning twenty-four. Nothing special except I think my car insurance drops."

"Actually I think that's at twenty-five," Sara said.

"Oh, see then it really isn't important."

"No," Nick was saying now, "it is. I can't believe she planned her party on your birthday. Did she even mention it?"

"It's Jennifer," Amy said as if that explained it all. "Of course she didn't. She doesn't care. She'd of probably planned her wedding for my birthday if the Plaza had been available."

"Your sister's getting married at the Plaza?" Sara asked now her own eyebrows raised. She'd pretty much guessed Amy's family had money but that was really expensive.

"Yeah, it's going to be huge and obnoxious," Amy said as she pushed her food around with the fork, "I still don't think we should go."

As Nick tried to convince Amy her birthday was important, Sara's mind began to wander.

"Oh crap," she said suddenly halting both Nick and Amy mid-discussion.

"What?" Nick asked a little concerned.

Sara looked over her shoulder quickly, just to be certain. Greg had told her he'd join them when he was done and she wanted to make sure he didn't sneak up on her.

"Greg's birthday," Sara said shaking her head, "I completely forgot."

"You didn't miss it did you?" Amy asked. As bad as Sara had felt for not knowing hers, Amy felt worse for not knowing Greg's. But it wasn't like they'd ever discussed it.

"No," Sara said, "it's the seventh, the Saturday after yours. What am I supposed to get him?"

"Well," Nick started, "It can't be that hard. He's got four hundred hobbies. What did you get him last year?"

"He was in the hospital last year getting a marrow transplant," Sara said flatly, "Besides that, he's really weird about birthdays."

Amy cleared her throat before picking up her juice glass. Sara got the hint. He'd shown up.

"Hey there," Greg said coming up and sliding into the booth beside Sara.

Putting aside her thoughts about his birthday she looked at his face for signs of how it had gone. He was smiling so it couldn't have been too bad. Actually, he was positively grinning.

"You're happy," Amy remarked before the other two had a chance.

Greg gave a little laugh and looked down. He was having a hard time keeping a straight face. Sara didn't know what to think now except maybe that Greg might have lost it.

"How'd it go?" she asked tentatively.

Before he could answer the waitress was back asking him what he wanted. Greg ordered coffee, toast and bacon before turning back to them.

"You know," Greg started, "if we weren't engaged, I might have to marry Dr. Jennings."

Sara smiled at him, knowing he didn't really mean it.

"That good?"

"Even better," he answered, "I mean I still don't like the idea of going back on anti-depressants…"

"Whoa," Nick interrupted, "what are you two talking about? When did you go back on those?"

"I haven't yet," Greg answered. He hadn't really meant to talk about this with them, not yet at least, but he wasn't embarrassed about it. Nick and Amy were his best friends and he knew they weren't being judgmental, just concerned. "But I am today."

Amy nodded but Nick still looked unconvinced.

"I thought your doctor said you didn't need them?"

"She did," Greg replied, "and then she changed her mind. She wants me to try them again."

"Okay," Nick said nodding now himself. He didn't want Greg to feel bad about it, he was just surprised. "But what about work? Ecklie's not going to let you into the field on meds."

Greg's face broke back into the same smile he'd been wearing when he'd shown up. The waitress was back now with his breakfast.

"Yeah he is," he returned as he began to put jam on his toast. "Dr. Jennings set up a meeting this morning. It was beautiful. I've never seen someone put in their place so effectively before in my life. Really. I thought my mother was good at it, but she's got nothing on this woman."

They all smiled now.

"Are you going to tell us the details or what?" Nick asked as Greg pretty much devoured half of plate.

"Sorry man, I skipped my dinner break. I'm starved."

"Well eat up," Nick said, "as soon as your done we're heading over to North Desert High School."

"Nick," Greg said seriously, "you've already got a girlfriend."

Nick rolled his eyes at him and Amy threw a sugar packet.

"Thanks," he said picking it up and using it for his coffee.

"Both our victims went there. Thought we'd ask around, see who their friends were. If they had more then that in common."

Greg nodded now as he stirred his drink.

"Story?" Amy asked now, "You were in the middle of it."

"Oh," Greg said putting down his cup again, "so we all got to his office, Grissom too, and Dr. Jennings starts in about wanting me back on meds. Of course the first thing out of Ecklie's mouth was that he'd take me out of the field so she drops this, no kidding, three inch stack of papers on his desk. Told him it was illegal and that basically I'd have grounds to sue him and the city into the poor house. He was speechless."

"Ecklie?" Nick asked, not sure he believed that last part. "Speechless?"

"Completely," Greg said with a nod.

They all had a pretty good laugh at this and after a little more discussion as Greg finished the rest of his meal they started to get the 'time to go' look from the waitress.

"Okay," Amy said now, "I'm exhausted and have to be in tonight at six thanks to Thompsen. He's having some kind of exam that involved his prostrate so rather then listen to him go on and on about it I just agreed to come in early. I can't wait for that man to retire"

"He's older then the lab itself," Greg commented, "he's never going to retire. Believe me, I spent years wishing the same thing."

Amy laughed.

"I'll drive you home," Sara said, "if Nick's willing to drop off Greg once they're done."

"Sounds good," Nick answered and they all got up together.

The two couples said their goodbyes, Nick and Greg in the jeep and the other two in Sara's car.

"You never told me how Jennifer's bachelorette party involves me?" Sara asked once it was the two of them.

"She's invited you," Amy answered, "if you want to come. We'll be out all night probably doing I don't know what. Shouldn't be too bad and you'd get to meet my other sister Karen."

"Is she anything like Jennifer?" Sara asked with a smile.

"No," Amy answered laughing herself, "nothing at all. She's graduating this year and is going to show up early for an interview she has lined up. Damn, I keep forgetting to tell Nick that."

"What's her major?"

"Environmental engineering. One of her friends moved out here last year and got on with the park services. Told her about an opening. If she got the job she'd probably move here in June or July. Would get to work at the dam and the lake."

"That sounds cool."

"It does. It would be nice having her here. Karen's a little different, but she's fun. We get along well. My parents are completely freaking out though, trying to find her anything else in San Francisco."

Sara laughed a little at that.

"When's she showing up?"

"Monday," Amy answered nodding her head. "Jennifer and Tasha are coming up on Thursday and staying at the Venetian but Karen asked to stay with me. Actually, if she gets the job she'll likely be living with me until she gets her own place."

"What," Sara asked, "no condo?"

"Definitely not," Amy returned, "my parents are past bribing us. Finally. Besides, Karen wouldn't take it and they know that. She's not as pliable as I am."


Traffic heading across town was horrible and it was nearly eleven before Nick and Greg made it to North Desert High School. Heading straight for the main office, ignoring the odd stares they were receiving from more then half the students, they found that the principal was out for the day but that the vice-principal would see them shortly.

"Bringing back any fond memories?" Nick asked with a smile as they both sat uncomfortably just outside Mr. Amos's door.

"Actually yes," Greg admitted rubbing his palms across his legs, "hard to believe but I wasn't exactly a model student. You however were probably a boy scout and only saw the inside of this office when you were there to collect awards I'm sure."

"I wasn't a boy scout," Nick said sounding almost offended, "I got into my fair share of trouble."

"Whatever," Greg said rolling his eyes for effect.

"I did," Nick countered starting to get offended.

"Did you almost get expelled for fighting?"

"They were going to expel you for fighting? Where did you go to school?"

"Marin Academy and yes. They were. My parents talked them out of it."

"Private school?"

Greg nodded as he shifted in his chair.

"My parents were so pissed off. That place cost money but it was more then that. They wanted me to have a good education and since my mom wasn't overseeing it any more…"

"You were home schooled too?"

"Nick, cancer, remember?" Greg questioned back. Normally all this would make him really uneasy but Greg was feeling oddly confessional today. "I wasn't always so sick that I was in the hospital, but when I wasn't I was still bald and kids are mean. My parents thought it would be easier on me to just keep me home. Doctor's told them it was a mistake, that I should be out interacting especially because of the cancer, said something about it retarding my social skills."

Nick let out a laugh as Greg said it, completely unintentional of course. Greg gave him a look and then laughed himself.

"Guess we know who was right about that one," Greg said good naturedly.

"So when did you start attending regular school?"

"Seventh grade at St. Mark's where my mom taught."

"And you really almost got expelled for fighting? Man, tough place. My school just suspended students for fighting."

"Well, I didn't get into it with another student."

Nick looked at him. It was the skeptical look he reserved almost entirely for Greg when he wasn't sure if he really believed the story he was hearing. Greg noted it and shrugged.

"It didn't actually get physical," Greg went on, "although he probably wanted to hit me. I forget how it started even but before I know it Mr. Dorian and I were yelling at each other in the middle of the chem lab. Probably wouldn't have been so bad if the rest of the class hadn't been there."

"You actually got into it with a teacher in the middle of class? Come on."

"Seriously. I called him out on something he'd done wrong and he didn't really like the idea of a fifteen year old knowing more then he did. Plus I was going through this arrogant phase."

"I've been meaning to ask when you were planning on out growing that."

Greg smirked at him and checked his watch.

"How long should we wait?" Greg asked yawning as he did so.

Just as Greg was about to get up and start pacing in order to stay awake, the door opened. As it did a boy, probably fifteen himself, stomped past them.

"Sorry gentlemen," Mr. Amos said still in the doorway, "I can see you now."