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.

Chapter 29: Endings

Amy knocked on the door for the third time, growing impatient.

"The lights are on," Catherine said peaking into the window and still seeing nothing. The curtains were drawn and the blinds all shut.

She and Karen had walked up with Amy, leaving Tasha and Jennifer in the limo. Amy hadn't done too bad of a job arranging the party given the short notice. They were first going to have dinner at Picasso's before moving on to a few of the nicer hot spots in town. And they had the car for the night so they'd probably spend some time cruising the strip and acting like fools. All in all: good times.

After knocking once more they heard footsteps approaching and Greg pulled the door open and apologized with a stupid grin on his face.

"Did we interrupt?" Catherine asked with a smile of her own and earned a rare blush from him.

Instead of answering he just stepped back and let the three of them in.

"Sara's almost ready," he supplied, "She just got out of the shower."

"Uh huh," Catherine said still smiling and looking up at his still wet hair.

She was relieved to see they'd obviously made up. It wasn't hard to tell last night that there had been some tension between them. Catherine might have had problems with Sara but she loved Greg like he was her own son and as strange as it still seemed, Sara made Greg happy. Greg made Sara happy in return and Sara needed that. They were a good combination.

"Hey," Greg said doing his best to ignore all their stares, "happy birthday Amy."

Greg had gone to the kitchen table where he'd left the gift, still unwrapped and handed it to her without ceremony. Amy smiled and took the book from him, thanking him profusely, really pretty excited.

"Can I get anyone a drink?" he asked moving back into the kitchen.

"Water please," Catherine answered joining him.

"That would be great," Karen said moving as well.

Amy however had seated herself on the couch, already skimming through the book.

Greg took out three bottles of water from the fridge and handed two of them off.

"So it's going to be just you guys tonight?" Catherine asked with a grin as she leaned back against the counter.

"Looks like it," Greg said with a laugh, "Where's Jacqui? You didn't leave her out in the car did you?"

"Are you kidding?" Amy asked from across the room, "With those hyenas. No. We're picking her up next."

"Sorry," Sara said as she hurried down the hall.

Amy stood and met her without commenting on her lateness. They still had plenty of time to make their reservation.

"You look great," Catherine stated a bit taken back to find Sara actually owned a dress.

Sara just gave her a fairly nervous half-smile before beginning to transfer her things from her everyday purse to her dress purse at the counter.

Amy had been pretty specific about attire. The restaurant and clubs they were going to were all upscale and so they had to dress accordingly. Karen was the only one so far not wearing a skirt or dress, but she was still in dress slacks and heels.

"Oh Sara," Amy said pulling Karen forward as she talked, "this is my sister, my other sister."

"Nice to meet you," Karen said shaking her hand briefly.

"You too," Sara returned, still smiling uneasily.

She felt awkward, like she might as well be wearing a sign around her neck that said, 'yes, we were having sex', but Greg didn't seem bothered at all. Somehow that made her more nervous.

"Can I leave this here?" Amy asked indicating the book.

"Yeah," Greg answered giving her a nod. "Worried you'll forget it in some club in a drunken stupor?"

"Something like that," she answered in return, setting it on the bookshelf before turning to the women. "Are we ready?"

"Let's go," Catherine giving her a smile.

"Well have fun," Greg said walking with them to the door, his hand on Sara's back.

Amy gave Greg a quick hug, thanking him again for the gift. Karen just smiled and made her way out the door. Catherine reminded him to behave at work to which he replied that 'he always did' with a smirk. And that left Sara.

Sara hung back a moment, still reluctant to leave him.

"Have a good time," he said as his hand slipped to her waist.

"I'll be home before you are," she said turning to him as they stood in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she returned matching his smile, "I'll wait up."

"Good," Greg said pressing his forehead to her, "Am I allowed to kiss you goodbye?"

"Why would you even ask?"

"I don't know," he said casting a quick glance at the limo, "I don't want to embarrass you."

"You don't embarrass me."

That was the only invitation he needed before pulling her in close and kissing her passionately. Sara forgot what she was doing until she heard the catcalls and whistles coming from the limo.

She pulled back reluctantly and put her head down. Greg laughed but she knew he was just self-conscious as she was at the moment.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Sara said somewhat haltingly as she moved away from him down the walk.

Greg just waved and watched her get into the limo before heading inside himself.

It was still too early to go to work so Greg caught up on the laundry and other household chores before sitting down and turning on the television.

At nine he got a call from Nick. It was right to the point, Grissom wanted them in now.

Having no problem with that and really having nothing left to do at the house Greg got dressed and drove to the lab.

Greg made his way to the break room, the only one there so far from graves, and sat down with a cup of coffee.

"You got here quick," Warrick said coming inside and making his way towards the coffee pot as well.

"Hey the boss said jump."

Warrick laughed as he joined him at the table.

"Any idea what this is about?" Greg asked.

"None," Warrick answered shaking his head.

"Guys," Nick said joining them in the room.

Warrick and Greg both nodded at him in recognition.

"How's the party going?" Warrick asked Nick giving him a grin.

"Amy called about half an hour ago as they were getting ready to leave the restaurant," Nick said grinning back at him, "I think she's having fun but only because it's not just her and Jennifer."

"What about her friend?" Greg asked, "They didn't even get out of the limo."

"They got a limo?" Warrick asked.

"Yeah man," Nick answered Warrick first, "Amy's dad paid for nearly all of it but I think Amy is picking up dinner. And Tasha, my oh my, where can I even begin."

"Worse then Jennifer?" Greg asked raising an eyebrow as if it wasn't possible.

"No, Jennifer's like a viper this girl is just vacant."

Warrick and Greg both laughed.

"Good," Grissom's voice interrupted their laughter, "You're all here."

"What's the emergency?" Warrick asked, straightening up a bit as he spoke.

"Dead body, male, mid-thirties found wrapped and dumped in a ravine up near the dam."

"Okay," Nick said, drawing the word out, expecting more then just what sounded fairly routine to bring them all in early.

Grissom let out a sigh and sat down on the back of the couch facing them.

"The victim may be related to the 'rag doll strangler'."

"Related how?" Greg asked leaning forward.

"All the other victims were women?" Nick questioned as well.

Grissom said nothing and just gave him a look.

"Is it him?" Greg asked truly surprised.

"We don't know yet but given the initial report…"

"Alright then," Warrick said getting to his feet, "Let's go."

They three men made there way to the locker room, each grabbing their kits and saying very little. Greg was going to ride out with Nick, Warrick with Grissom.

It was quite a hike to the crime scene, nearly an hour given that it was off on a back road. The body had been come across by hikers that evening and was at least three days old.

"Hi guys," David greeted them as he sat perched near the body, "Not much to tell you. Body's a few days old at least. Obvious cause of death is gunshot wound to the head."

"Did you move anything?" Grissom questioned as Warrick began to snap pictures.

"No sir,' David answered standing up, "The body looked like it was probably originally wrapped but if you see here, I think animals got to it. Maybe dug it up, wasn't buried deep."

Grissom nodded and seemed to agree with that assessment.

"You okay," Nick asked softly to Greg who was standing completely still at his side.

"Yeah," he returned just above a whisper.

"So why do we think this is our guy?" Warrick asked as he snapped a few more pictures.

"Um," David started, looking up at Grissom to ensure it was okay before continuing, "These were found with the body."

David stood up and moved around the body just down a slope.

"The responding officer noted them," David said pointing it out and going no further, it wasn't really his job, "I think they might have been with the body, wrapped up but like I said, the animals."

Greg and Nick took the lead on this and moved as easily as they could down the slope. There were three set of underwear strewn down the side. Greg took photos of each, marked them and took additional photos.

"Can you get them all in one shot?" Nick asked.

Greg just nodded and moved back as far as he dared but didn't take the shots. He just stood there for a moment, transfixed almost. It was unbelievable. Unreal.

"Greg?" Nick asked sounding worried.

"Is this it?" he asked in return, fixing him with a stare. "Is this really it?"

Nick didn't know how to answer him. Didn't know if it was true. Instead, he just patted him once on the shoulder and said nothing.

Greg nodded and looked down for a moment before bringing the camera back up to his eye.

Maybe this was the end.