Appreciation by SLynn
Summary: An art heist, an arsonist and a lot of angst. Takes place approximately four months after the end of 'Precious Things' This is the fifth in a series. Greg/Sara and Nick/OC
Spoilers: Up to 'Nesting Dolls'
Rating: PG-13
Thanks to my beta's RivenSky and Tripp3235!
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.
Chapter 2: Tell Me Lies
The lab that night was fairly slow.
Nick and Sara had picked up another arson case in Green Valley. It was the fifth fire in five months. The first two were fairly well contained with minimal damage and about two months apart. The last three however were much bigger and more catastrophic. And they were happening closer and closer together. Their firebug, whoever it was, was getting better and more eager in his work.
After a long night of shifting through the burnt out remains of the building, once more relieved that it was an empty building and no bodies had been found, Nick and Sara returned to the lab with their evidence.
"I'll get these to Trace," Nick said indicating the bag he had, "Do you want to run the other by DNA?"
Sara wanted to tell him no, that she didn't, but couldn't. It was really dumb luck that she'd picked up the two pieces of evidence that needed DNA ran on them: bottle they thought might have contained the accelerant and an empty soda bottle. Dumb luck that seemed to happen more when she worked cases with Nick then anyone else.
Sara knew Nick was just trying to get her and Amy talking again but there were better ways. Actually, no there weren't. Amy was civil to her but nothing more. And it wasn't entirely Amy's doing.
At first Sara had tried to stay friends with her. She knew that Amy and Greg were close and that now there was no way she and Amy would be as well, but she did try. At least she did until she started hearing the rumors. Sara had heard what everyone else in the lab had, that Greg and Karen were dating. And since Amy had introduced them, Sara couldn't help but be mad.
She tried not to be, tried to continue to be unconcerned, but she was. It wasn't like she didn't want Greg to be happy, she really did. She just didn't think he'd be happy so soon.
Rounding the corner into the lab and just ready to get it over with Sara came into the lab only find Amy with her back turned to her, talking into the phone.
Amy heard someone come in and quickly glanced over her shoulder.
"I've got to go Karen," she said before laughing once at something obviously said on the other end. "Okay. Okay. Bye."
Amy hung up and turned around.
"From the arson case?" she asked, still smiling at whatever she was told as she looked at the evidence in Sara's hand.
Sara nodded and proceeded to tell her what it was and what they needed.
"This will be the next thing I do," Amy said as she took them and began filling out the necessary labels.
Amy had expected Sara to leave; she usually just dropped the evidence and practically ran out the door nowadays. But Sara didn't this time. Once Amy realized she obviously had something else to say she stopped and looked up.
"Is there more?" she questioned.
"So your sister seems to like Vegas."
Amy looked down and continued working as a small smile came to her lips. One Sara instinctively misread. Sara thought it was a gloat. Actually, Amy was just nervous.
"Yeah," Amy finally said still looking down, "she does."
Sara nodded and shifted uncomfortably obviously wanting to ask more but knowing it wasn't her business.
"Okay," she finally said resolved on not asking and leaving before she changed her mind, "you'll page me or Nick with the results?"
"As soon as I have them," Amy answered still looking down.
Sara nodded once more and started towards the door.
"Sara," Amy called out stopping her in the doorway. "They're not dating."
"I didn't…"
"I know you didn't ask but so you know, they're not."
Sara walked back inside some and looked at her as if she was trying to gauge the truth of that statement.
"Look," Amy said with a sigh, knowing she shouldn't be saying all this but doing it anyway, "Karen and Greg hang out. That's it. They were supposed to go out tonight but he bailed on her at the last minute. He hasn't so much as made an inappropriate look in her direction but…"
"But Karen would go out with him if he asked," Sara finished with a tight nod.
"Yeah, she would. And knowing Karen she might not wait for him to ask."
Sara said nothing for a minute just stood there.
"I'm only telling you this because you have a right. I know you and Greg aren't together…"
"No we're not," Sara cut in suddenly not wanting to hear it. "And I don't have a right, not anymore."
"Sara…"
"Just page me with the results," she said before making a quick retreat.
Amy watched her go, slowly shaking her head, hating this whole situation. She'd wanted to tell her that if Sara just put a little effort into it Greg would go back to her. If she would just make some concessions Amy was sure he would. And as much as she liked the idea of Greg and Karen together at this point she didn't think anyone was going to make him happy like Sara did.
Greg sat up part of the way rubbing his head and trying to figure out where all that noise was coming from. Nearly falling off the couch, shaking his head to clear it, he finally realized what it was. His cell phone.
Stretching first, he picked it up and switched it on before yawning his name into it as a form of hello.
"How soon can you make it to the Bellagio?"
"Grissom?" he asked back, his head still foggy. He knew that was the downside of sleeping pills but he didn't care if they brought him some peace.
"Yes," Grissom said sounding slightly annoyed. "I need you to get your things and meet me at the Bellagio. Now Greg."
"I thought I wasn't working until Sunday."
"Change of plans," Grissom said with a near sigh, "Get here Greg and hurry."
The phone went dead on the other side as Greg slowly got to his feet. Checking the clock, surprised it was almost five, Greg moved as quickly as he could to the bedroom to change.
He skipped the shower, knowing when Grissom said hurry he meant it, and did the best he could with his hair. It was easier to do now that he kept it shorter, but still, he had an image to maintain.
No sooner then he was ready then his phone rang again.
"Sanders," he said into it, still tired and wondering if he had time to stop for coffee on the way.
"Greg," came Nick's voice back at him, "Did Griss get a hold of you?"
"Yeah, I'm on my way."
"Good. I tried to call you twice but you didn't answer."
"You did?" Greg questioned positive the phone had only rang once.
"I did," Nick repeated almost laughing, "Listen, you're probably going to get there before me. Traffic on my side of town is backed up to Henderson. Will you let Griss know?"
"Sure thing," Greg said thinking nothing more of it.
"Hey and you might want to call Charlie, see if he can give you a lift. There's no way you're going to make it in your own car."
"Okay," Greg said sounding dubious, "but what exactly is going on?"
"Bomb threat," Nick answered, "the interstates are all a mess, so is the strip."
"Thanks for the heads up."
"No problem," Nick said before hanging up.
Before dialing Charlie up he checked over his missed calls menu and sure enough there was Nick's number twice and Warrick's once, both not long before Grissom's call.
Greg just shrugged it off and started to pull up Charlie on his phone when there was a knock at his front door.
Pulling it open Greg smiled.
"I was just calling you," he said moving out of the way and letting the detective in.
"I figured," Charlie said looking as beat as Greg felt.
It turned out that Charlie lived ridiculously close by, like three blocks away, and they'd taken to riding to scenes like this together to save time.
"You ready?" he asked looking Greg over once.
"I guess," Greg answered moving towards the door. "I just need to get my stuff out of my trunk."
Charlie nodded, knowing that's where Greg always kept his things for these reasons.
They made it out to his car and Greg had just popped the trunk when they both turned at the voice calling out to them.
"I love your neighbors," Charlie said with a grin as Betty was already coming across the street to them both.
Charlie met Betty on his second trip to Greg's house. It seemed meeting him, a real police officer, finally convinced her that Greg wasn't one. Now whenever she saw Charlie she barraged him with questions about cases and crimes. He, like Greg, was good natured about it, more amused then offended, but there were times Greg could tell he'd rather not see Betty.
"Greg, Charlie, thank goodness I caught you."
"What's wrong Betty?" Greg asked as he shut the trunk, having gotten his things.
"You haven't heard? Isn't that where you're going?"
Greg had no idea what she was talking about but Charlie seemed too.
"Its fine," he said now in what Greg termed his 'reassuring cop voice', "It's just a bomb scare. There really isn't a bomb. We're just going in to investigate."
"Thank goodness," she said breathing a sigh of relief, "I was so worried about you two, and well, you know."
Greg gave her a small smile at that, knowing she meant Sara too. Betty didn't mention her name anymore but Greg knew when she was referring to her.
"We need to go," Greg said more to Betty then Charlie.
"I won't keep you," Betty said already heading back across the street.
Charlie and Greg both got into his car, Greg putting his things in the back seat first, ready to go.
"Was that true?" Greg asked once they were heading down the street, "Is it really a false alarm?"
"How would I know?" Charlie said with a grin, "I haven't been there yet."
"Wow," Greg said laughing, "You lied? And here I thought you were such a boy scout."
Charlie was laughing now too, blushing even as he tried to shrug it off.
"Well if I told her the truth she'd of freaked out and we'd never make it there."
"That's true, but still."
"What?" Charlie questioned, "Did I shatter my perfect rep?"
"You did. I'm kind of proud."
"Yes Greg," he said sarcastically, "That's my whole aim in life, to make you proud."
"It's about time you set some goals."
Charlie laughed again at this and said no more. They'd already hit traffic so he was forced to flip on his strobe and pay more attention.
It was going to be a long ride.