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: Happy Easter to all of those who celebrate!
Chapter 28: Calm
"Hi," Sara returned his greeting with a hint of a smile, her eyes down.
They both just stood there, not really looking at one another, not really moving.
"Your mom called today," Sara offered. It wasn't really important, Sara had missed the call herself, but she needed something to say.
"I'll call her later," Greg returned, "Thanks."
Sara nodded and shifted uncomfortably from side to side.
"Have you had dinner yet?" she finally asked, risking a glance at his face only to meet his eyes briefly and look away.
"No, I was just going to grab something later."
"Oh."
"But if you want we can go now," Greg added. It was better to just get this over with if possible; push through it and hopefully this uneasiness would pass.
"Yeah," Sara said with a nod, "That would be good. I'll drive if you want."
"Let's just walk," Greg suggested instead. They needed the extra time to talk and it might do them some good.
Sara agreed and they headed out towards the lobby together.
It was getting pretty late in the night, so by the time they got to the diner it was nearly empty. The entire ten minute walk had been silent. Taking a seat in the back of the restaurant they each looked over their menus and again not a word was spoken. It wasn't until after the waitress took their orders that something was finally said.
"Greg," Sara said quietly, looking right at him to prove how serious she was, "I don't want to be fighting like this."
"Neither do I," he agreed, beginning to shred his napkin because of nerves.
"But," she said, "I don't understand why you're this upset. I really just forgot about the suspension Greg, about all of it. I had other things on my mind, it wasn't important. You were in the hospital getting a bone marrow transplant at the time. I'd have told you then but I didn't want to add to whatever…"
"But that's just it," he cut in, still tearing up the napkin, "I'd want you to. Sara, I'd want you to tell me because you're important to me. What happens to you is important to me."
Sara nodded and looked down into her cup.
"It's not like I'm purposely trying to keep things from you."
"I know," Greg conceded. "I do, it just seems like I know nothing about you sometimes Sara."
"It takes time," she said softly, eyes fixed on the table before her.
She saw his fingertips as they brushed hers and she glanced up.
"Sara," he said and his voice was thicker then normal as she laced her fingers into his, "I know I'm not going to know everything about you. Not yet. Not… but it's like you're stopping me from knowing anything."
"I told you I had a lot of baggage."
Greg gave her a weak smile before squeezing her hand once and looking away, feeling a little more then overcome.
"It isn't easy," she continued and he nodded.
"But I could help. If you let me, I could help."
"I want that," she nearly whispered.
Greg looked back at her and smiled.
The waitress was back with their food and forcing them to momentarily break contact. The meal was fairly quiet; Greg and Sara trying to talk again like normal. He filled her in on the case, how the interview went and their complete lack of progress on finding anything new. Sara sounded optimistic, tried to be, but there really wasn't much to be optimistic about. This case was now almost completely cold despite the leads.
As the plates were taken away they once more were at a loss of things to say. The night was wearing on and they did have to get back to the lab. The silence that accompanied them on the trip back wasn't entirely unwelcome. It was easier to take then before but they both knew that this matter was far from over.
That night Nick and Sara picked up an arson case while Grissom paired off Catherine and Greg to work a robbery on the strip. The shift passed quickly and Greg was at bit shocked to find it was already time to leave.
Running into Sara in the locker room she almost hesitated to ask if he was coming home. Relieved that he nodded and said 'of course' they left together for the garage and met again just outside their cars at the house.
Greg waved to Betty across the street as she watered her flower garden and she smiled and waved back to them both.
Once inside the house, Greg dropped his bag at the door and sunk into the couch. Sara sat just next to him, far enough so as not to be touching but close enough to not be too obvious.
"Do you want to talk?" she asked softly.
"No," he said staring straight ahead, "No. Not right now."
She nodded and said no more. The quiet wasn't uncomfortable but it wasn't peaceful either.
"Are you going out tonight?" he asked as he remembered Jennifer's bachelorette party.
"I don't have too," she answered, "I can call and cancel. I was really only going for Amy."
"No you should go. You don't go out enough."
"We don't go out enough."
Greg shrugged and smiled, still looking straight ahead.
"You want to get some sleep?" she asked after a long pause and he didn't answer just stood up and offered her a hand.
She took it and let him lead her down the hall. Once there they both stripped down and changed into their pajamas. Sara slipped into the bathroom to clean her face and brush her teeth while Greg remembered that he hadn't yet taken his medication, returning to the front room to retrieve them.
By the time he got back she was already under the covers on her side, facing the center of the bed. He crawled under the covers, facing her as well, running his hand over her arm gently as he looked into her eyes.
"Are we okay?" she asked softly, moving closer to him, into his arms.
"We will be," he answered with a yawn, rubbing her back in large circles.
Sara rested her head against his chest as he rolled onto his back, arms still tight around her. Her own eyes shut despite wanting to stay awake, wanting to remember the feel of him just being next to her. She stayed awake only long enough to make sure he was asleep. Soon she was too.
Greg woke up, a strangled scream still in his throat with the telephone ringing in his ear. Sara who was still resting just on top of him, jumped at his sudden movement and struggled to move away.
She reached over him and grabbed the phone, Greg still lying down and rubbing his face try to rid himself of the images still lingering.
"Hello," she said as she simultaneously checked the clock, shocked to find it was nearly five.
"Did I wake you?" came Amy's voice apologetically.
"No, don't worry," Sara answered as she and Greg gracelessly switched spots on the bed. "What's going on?"
"We're at the Venetian now but were going to come by and pick you up next. Do you want us to get Catherine first?"
"Please," Sara said reluctantly sitting up. "That would be great."
"Okay, give us an hour then."
"See you," Sara said hanging up and turning back to Greg.
"Are you okay?" she asked after a pause, he was just staring blankly at nothing.
"Same stupid dream," he answered finally, shaking his head as he did it.
"With Ortega?"
"Yeah, except instead of Ortega it was Blanchard."
Sara looked at him, really concerned.
"I can call back, stay if you want."
"No," he said getting to his feet, "It's nothing. I'm fine. I just, it seemed so real."
Sara got on her feet as well, coming over to him to see if he really was okay, tentatively wrapping her arms around his waist. Greg gave her half a smile and put his around her too.
"Really," he said give her a light squeeze.
"Okay," she said kissing him lightly.
They both seemed to freeze, realizing it was their first kiss after such a huge fight. The thought just stopped them cold.
Greg made the first move, leaning in, pulling her close, kissing her deep. Sara moved closer to him, moved her hands up into his shirt and onto his back. He responded by gently steering her back towards the bed, unwilling to break contact and eager for her touch.
Sara tugged his shirt off before lying down; dragging him with her and making him smile against her lips.
"I'm not sure we have time for this," he whispered, kissing her neck and obviously not wanting to stop.
"We can make time," Sara said before dragging him back to her for another searing kiss.
"Are you sure?" he questioned, moving away from her again. "We can stop?"
Sara did stop and looked up at him, not sure what he was getting at until she caught the glint in his eyes. Greg laughed as she caught on and ran his fingers along her waist, tickling her as he did.
"Stop," she pleaded as she laughed, "Greg, stop."
Sara, after a moments struggle, managed to pin his arm behind his back and reversed their positions fairly effortlessly so she now was on top of him.
"Ouch, ouch. Sara you're going to break it."
She laughed again but only because she knew it wasn't true. And it wasn't. Greg freed his arm rather quickly and put his hands on her waist once more rubbing her sides.
"Serious though Sara," he said still not making any attempt to untangle himself, "aren't they going to pick you up soon?"
"You know, I'm starting to think you don't want me."
"That," he said leaning up and kissing her between each word, "is not true."
"Good," she returned kissing him deeper.
"I just don't want you to be late."
"Trust me," she said, "we have time."
