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

Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.

Thanks and such at the bottom!

Chapter 8: One Step Forward

Greg hadn't been home three hours when his phone went off, startling him from his sleep.

Groggy still, rubbing his eyes and feeling a strong sense of déjà vu, he reached out and opened it up, speaking his name into it with a yawn.

"Get to the lab, we've got a call. Possibly our arsonist."

"Sara?" he asked not really awake yet. "What? What was that?"

He heard her sigh as he sat up on the couch and shook his head to clear the cobwebs.

"Just get to the lab okay?"

"Yeah," he returned through another yawn, "Yeah, alright. Give me half an hour."

"Twenty minutes," she corrected before hanging up.

Greg stared at his phone in disbelief. That was strange. Last night they'd almost been friendly and now she was snapping at him. He knew from experience she wasn't exactly a morning person but still.

Okay so maybe they'd been too friendly and she was just trying to re-distance herself again. That he could believe. It probably was a good thing; he had to see it that way.

Standing and stopping immediately, his vision swam.

That wasn't good.

Slowly making his way to the bedroom Greg went straight for the bathroom and turned the shower on nearly full cold. Stripping down and jumping in before he lost his nerve, it did the trick. He was definitely awake now.

Greg washed quickly and was out again, only bothering to dry his body, not his hair. Instead he just ran his hands through it a few times and sighed. He was already going to be later then twenty minutes, if he showed up with hair spiked Sara might kill him.

He dressed quickly, glad he'd set something out beforehand as he'd grown accustomed to thanks to Warrick's advice, and headed out the door. Traffic was a nightmare and he ended up being forty-five minutes instead of the thirty he'd guessed and the twenty Sara had demanded.

Greg found her in the break room and before he could apologize she stood up and walked out. Shaking his head he followed her to the garage and got in on the passengers side without saying a word.

"Ecklie called," she said as they drove off, "Twice."

"Traffic was bad," he offered up knowing she didn't care for excuses of any kind.

Sara said nothing and they were at the scene in twenty minutes.

"It's about time," Ecklie said as he approached them both, smug smile firmly planted on his face.

"What have we got?" Sara asked in her best 'I don't hate you' voice.

"Electrical fire," Ecklie said evenly.

"Our arson's have all been started with kerosene," Sara returned not getting it.

"Yeah well," Ecklie said still smiling, "It presented as arson at first but the fire chief just ruled in accidental."

"Okay," Sara said with just barely contained anger.

"Guess we didn't need you after all," he continued.

Sara smiled tightly and turned round, Greg right behind her. He'd expected something like this. Well, not exactly like this, getting called in when you weren't needed was just bad, but he'd expected Ecklie to start nosing around their scenes. Watching how they interacted. This almost seemed like a provocation. Ecklie was trying to get under one or both of their skins. So far he was succeeding.

"Well," Greg said trying to lighten the mood, "We're still on company time, want to grab lunch?"

"No," Sara said without looking his way and with no more explanation.

Greg nodded his head, looked out the window, and realized that too was probably best. He'd really struggled with it lately. He wanted to be on better terms with Sara, especially now that they were working together, but every time that had started to happen they either started to fight again or let things get out of hand in other ways. It was hard to find the middle ground.

"We've got to do something about this," he said before he could stop himself.

Sara turned to him slightly but kept her attention mainly on the road.

"About what?"

"Sara," he sighed, "this. Whatever this is. Now. Last night. I can't keep bouncing between two extremes. We need to talk."

"Now you want to talk?" she questioned sharply. "It's been four months and now you want to talk?"

"Well we spent a year and a half not talking," he returned just as bitter, "four months seems like a drop in the bucket."

Sara pulled into the nearest parking lot and stopped the vehicle before turning to him in disbelief.

"What do you want from me?" she asked. "You don't want to be together but you have no problem sleeping with me. You don't want to talk to me but you want us to be friends. What is it? What is this?"

Greg fumbled for words, for coherent thought. Sara had never been so direct with him before. Actually, no one had ever been so direct with him before.

"I don't know," he admitted freely. "It's hard, okay? It's not like we can just make this all go away. I was really angry then Sara, I still am a little. But it's not like I could just stop…I couldn't just…"

Greg pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. Sara looked out her window and tried to push down her own feelings. It sounded like he was going to say he still loved her and she couldn't hear that. Not now. Not after what she'd read last night.

"I never meant to keep things from you," she said quietly.

"It's not important now," he said equaling her tone.

"Yeah," she said a bit louder now, staring ahead straight ahead as she gripped the steering wheel, "You've moved on."

Greg looked at her uncertainly. He didn't mean it the way she'd took it.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he questioned, louder now.

"It means that I along with half the lab know about your little dinner date with Erika."

"What..." he started to ask and then immediately changed tactics, "How's that?"

"I saw the note."

Greg, wearing the same jacket he'd had on last night, reached into his pockets and found them empty, before shaking his head and rubbing his palms across his eyes.

"I do not believe this."

"I know I shouldn't have…"

"No," he cut in harshly, "You shouldn't have. Period. There's no excuse for that."

"Well you're the one telling everyone about it."

"Me?"

"Yeah well," she came back, "even if I hadn't I was told half a dozen times by every lab tech and analyst in the place."

Greg just gaped at her.

"And you believe the crap that flies around that lab?"

"Normally no, but you're really going to deny that she didn't ask?"

"I don't have to deny anything."

"Fine," she said nodding her head.

"Don't play righteous with me," he said getting really mad now, "You read my private notes and then accuse me of what? Having a life? Trying to mess with your head? What? I'm not the only one to blame here. You avoided me too. And it wasn't like I got you drunk and took advantage of you those nights either."

"You told me you weren't interested in her," she said louder now. They were both seconds away from flat out yelling which was frightening.

"You know what," Greg said undoing his seatbelt and opening the door, "I'm not doing this. I'm not having this conversation with you."

Greg had already retrieved his case and was walking away before Sara could react.

Driving up next to him with the window down she paced him as he made his way across the parking lot.

"Do you really plan on walking back to the lab?" she asked.

He said nothing, just kept going.

"Its fourteen miles Greg. Just get back in."

"No."

"Be reasonable," she said shaking her head before finally pulling slightly ahead and cutting him off. "Get in."

"Sara I'm not…" Greg stopped talking at the sound of a siren going off once and then stopping.

"Is there a problem here?" asked a voice from behind.

Greg looked at Sara who had turned away briefly before wheeling around himself to the police car he knew he'd find. And of course he knew the cops inside, life was like that sometimes.

"Eric," he said nodding and smiling as best he could, "Stan. We're fine. Just having a slight disagreement."

"Yeah," Sara said echoing his sentiment and smile.

"Okay then," Officer Jensen said clearly not believing it but not pressing the matter either. "You should probably get moving though."

"Okay," Greg said smiling and giving them a wave as he walked back to the passenger's side and got back in.

"Bye," Sara said, fake smile still in place as they drove off.

For three blocks they were silent until Greg finally let out a sharp laugh, unable to contain it any longer.

"That was embarrassing," he said looking down and shaking his head.

"Yeah," Sara agreed and to his great surprise she was actually smiling now. A real smile.

"I hate fighting with you Sara."

"I hate fighting with you."

Greg nodded and took it in.

"You shouldn't have read that note."

It was Sara's turn to nod now.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just…Greg it's hard for me too. You're right; you can't just turn it off."

Greg smiled now, still looking down.

"So what do we do?" he asked finally looking at her.

"I guess that depends."

"On?"

"On," she answered still watching the road, "what you want to do."

Greg looked down the street now himself, considering it. Really considering it for a minute or two before giving her an answer.

"Let's have lunch," he finally said.

Sara looked at him briefly and gave a short nod.

"Okay."

A/N: Wow, long time coming I know. I've been busy. First off, sorry if I shocked anyone with the ending of 'Precious Things' but it had to be done. It's where the story was taking me and I couldn't fight it. I'm still a hardcore Greg/Sara shipper, don't worry, this series once complete will end happily. I seriously doubt I will ever end a story the way I ended the last.

First and foremost, Tripp3235 and RivenSky, thank you both so much for all your help! I appreciate all your support and the gentle pointing out of my massive grammar errors! Thank you again and again!

Tripp3235 – GRRARA! That's all I'll say.

RivenSky – Seriously, I'm working on the other one. I am. And you'll get a new chapter when I see a sequel to TTYL. pure evil

CMELO – I can't say much without giving away the plot but things will get better for Sara and Greg. Sara will have a blow out but not with Catherine, I think you got it right with your boxing reference. These next few chapters will hopefully make you see that they are both seeing it, that they really are both taking some of the blame.

Katana – I had to break them up, I swear. I'd never do it of my own free will. It was really where the story was headed and we can hope that Greg and Sara will come out of this stronger.

CatherineLouise – Hopefully these updates will make you as happy as the first did. I'm trying to keep the story rolling as fast as I can. More of Nick and Amy to come, I promise.

ichigatsu – I knew how 'Precious' was going to end about ten chapters into it. Knowing that and knowing how upset it was making me and likely to make others, I wanted this one started before the last ended so no one had to wait too long for a continuation.

angw – I'm wondering how they'll get back together too! Glad you're enjoying them all, at this time I'm planning two more. I'm working towards an overall happy ending.

Nicole – This is still a Greg/Sara piece, sorry. I like Karen but not with Greg. And Ortega, I'm saving her for later. And no, no one dies in this one.

Emmithar – I live for the angst! And yeah, Greg doesn't really get around, well not really, but Erika's not exactly here on accident.

Pukah – I appreciate that you didn't use the voodoo doll! Hmm, you and a few others picked up on the sleeping pills. And I ask, would I put something in a story and having it mean nothing? Well, yes and no. We'll see. And I love Dido! And yes, Erika, pure evil.

white rose01 – I was so excited about the bomb scare story line, I hope everyone likes it. It's still playing out!

CarlyBabes1234 – I promise more Nick and Amy!

Brandywine421 – Thanks! I've got a fairly active AU going that I never intended but now I can't seem to live without. So glad you like!

Kelly – Please consider yourself reassured, I'm a Greg/Sara shipper. I can't say when or where but eventually. Better?

elly – I'll see what I can do.

awheat2 – I wish I was in control! Sadly, the characters seem to be running this story now. When this series eventually ends, I'm aiming for a happy ending all around.

jewelbaby – I'm working towards a resolution!

Fwe – I'm an angst monkey! No more breakdowns, I think. And yes, Erika, pure evil.

chrissy8 – I keep saying this, but I don't want to ruin the story, but I am working on getting them back together.

ThreeDollarBill – I can't believe I'm still writing this! I really only meant to do one and I'm probably going to end up writing them till they're old and gray. Glad you like it though!

Duckie24 – Erika, yes, we hate her. Hodges, we love to hate him! Greg and Sara are love!

Grrlnorth – I love my Greggo torture. I can't help it. You love it, I love it.

Josie22 – I'm building to a reconciliation, maybe. I'm letting the characters decide.

veryevil – Yeah I hate to say I brought in Erika to make Sara look better, because I didn't, but man I hate Erika and she sprang from my own twisted head. Amy is fine, you'll see. And Hodges, I love Hodges because he's just such a snarky bastard. Glad you're enjoying it so far!