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.
Chapter 11: Covet
It had been the worst kind of luck.
Erika just happened to be walking up to the crime lab at the same time as Greg. And it had been an accident, that he knew. If he didn't know Erika as well as he did he would probably think she was stalking him, but that wasn't her style. Erika didn't stalk men. She made men stalk her.
As he walked up to her Greg gave her a tight-lipped smile, trying to be polite.
"Here for the painting?" he asked as he held open the door.
"I'm just checking on it actually," she answered with a smile of her own, "I've also come to get an update on your progress."
Greg nodded and stopped with her at the desk. He might as well sign her in since he was here. People would talk more if he didn't then if he did.
"Gretchen," he said, wishing this would somehow get easier. "Dr. Stewart needs a visitors pass."
Gretchen didn't even bother to hide her contempt. She, like Sara, had heard all the rumors. Actually Gretchen had started most of them when Dr. Stewart had left that note the other night, which she had of course read.
Greg just signed her in and walked with her back to the main part of the building.
"Old girlfriend?" Erika asked.
"No, actually. She just hates me."
"I didn't think so," she said with a smile, "She's not your type. You always liked your women a little more academic."
"Well, I'm not saying Gretchen is a rocket scientist," Greg said with a real smile this time, one he couldn't help, "but even if she was I wouldn't date her."
"But she is strong willed," Erika added as they continued down the hall, "You always liked that."
"Did you get your psychiatrist license too?" he said stopping and turning towards her, serious now. She was messing with him and he didn't like it. Erika was angling for something, he just didn't know what.
"No," she said with a nod, "but I heard you were seeing one. Are you still?"
"That's not your business," Greg said moving on now.
"I'm not trying to offend you," Erika said catching up in three quick strides, "I was concerned. Worried. That reporter from the Sun told me about it. Asked if you'd seen one before when I knew you."
"What did you say?" he asked, stopping once more.
"Nothing," Erika said easily, "I don't kiss and tell, Greg. You know that."
"So he didn't know we were…"
"No," she finished, "I think he suspected but he had nothing to prove it."
"What did you tell him then?"
"That I was your tutor."
Greg bit his lip to keep from responding before moving on again.
When they arrived at Grissom's door Greg knocked once before hearing a reply. As he opened the door and ushered Erika inside, he saw Gretchen coming down the hallway just after them. She gave him one shrewd look before heading past him and that was it. That, Greg knew, wasn't a coincidence and had to mean trouble.
"Dr. Stewart," Grissom greeted, standing and shaking her hand.
Grissom, as always, let no hint of the surprise it was to see them together reach his face. He just accepted it.
"Greg," he said, seeing him getting ready to leave, "Could you ask the team to meet in here tonight for the meeting?"
"Sure thing," Greg said, giving Erika one last look before shutting the door on the two of them.
Greg made it part way down the hall before running into Nick and Warrick.
"Hey guys," he said, walking up to them both, "Grissom wants us in his office for assignments."
They both nodded and the three of them moved into the break room.
"Have you seen Amy?" Nick asked Greg as he sat down on the couch.
"I just got here," Greg answered sitting on the table and stifling a yawn.
"And you're already tired?" Warrick questioned with a laugh.
"I didn't really sleep today," was Greg's reply and neither of them dared ask why. It could go either way, good or bad, knowing he'd spent at least part of it with Sara.
"I thought Amy wasn't coming in?" Warrick asked Nick now instead.
"She changed her mind," he returned with a shrug, "Felt better."
"Guys," came Grissom from the doorway, making them all turn nearly as one. He wasn't alone. "Dr. Stewart has some information for you concerning the case."
Nick and Warrick exchanged a look before standing and walking over to her. Greg had slid off the table during this time and tried to busy himself across the room.
"You've met Warrick Brown," Grissom said.
"Mr. Brown," she said shaking his hand, "Yes, in the gallery."
"This is Nick Stokes," Grissom continued, "He's also been working on the robbery."
"Mr. Stokes," she said equally polite, shaking his hand as well.
Nick took a moment to observe her. He hadn't met Erika before and Greg had really offered up no description. He didn't know quite what to expect but this certainly wasn't it. He'd told Nick that while he was at Berkeley he'd gotten involved with one of the undergrad students who taught some of his classes and that they'd been pretty serious for three years.
Nick thought she'd be a little more like Greg. Even Sara had her lighthearted moments. This woman seemed like she was all business. Serious business.
"As I was telling Dr. Grissom," Erika began, "We've received numerous calls at the gallery about Ms. Winger's work. I understand you visited her today at her workshop, I imagine she was busy."
"Very," Warrick said with a nod. He didn't like to give away much but she seemed to know.
"That's usually how it happens," she said smiling now. "Most artists nowadays become famous for stunts they pull or the outrageousness of their subjects. But a few become famous the right way, for being talented."
"Was Ms. Winger talented?" Nick asked.
"Her work shows great potential," Erika answered with a nod, "It's very subtle. But she's years away from real brilliance. From real celebrity."
"Until her painting got lifted," Warrick supplied. It's what Nick and he had been discussing since seeing her that afternoon.
"And sometimes that's how it happens," she agreed. "If an artist's work is valuable enough to steal, people begin to want it more. Covet it."
Greg couldn't help but listen in, even though he'd tried hard not too. He also couldn't help but notice Erika cast a slight look in his direction at her last words.
"Our gallery re-opens on Friday," she continued, "and I got these delivered to my office this afternoon."
Warrick took the papers and Nick leaned in to read over his shoulder.
"These are seizer papers," Warrick said surprised.
"From Stephanie Winger's husband," Erika said nodding once more, "They're divorcing and his lawyer suddenly wants an equal division of all assets including the paintings."
The words sunk in for a minute and they both began to have a very different idea of who was behind this set-up.
"Those are yours," Erika said smiling once more, "I have the originals if you need them."
"Thank you," Warrick said and Nick echoed the sentiment.
"If you're free," she said addressing them all now, "You're all more then welcome to the gallery's re-opening. I can arrange for as many tickets as you'd need, consider it the Bellagio's way of saying thank you."
"That won't be necessary," Grissom said now, "But thank you for the offer."
"Well gentlemen," she said, "could I ask one of you to escort me out?"
"I can," Warrick offered and Erika smiled and thanked him.
"On your way back please let Catherine and Sara know we'll be meeting in my office," Grissom asked and Warrick nodded once before the two left. "Nick, Greg, let's go."
Greg sighed and put down the magazine he hadn't been reading, following them out the door.
Catherine joined them in Grissom's office not long afterwards looking surprised to see just the three of them.
The four of them small talked about cases until Warrick and Sara came into the room.
"Okay," Grissom said ready to get down to business, "Nick, Warrick, how does what the doctor say fit with your information?"
"We were heading down that road already," Warrick said. "Her workshop was swamped but she didn't mention any estranged husbands. It's definitely worth checking out."
"She could be working with him," Catherine offered, having already been caught up, "A woman did drop that fake bomb off."
"We're still going to compel prints," Nick said with a nod. "They could both be looking to get rich."
"Arson case?" Grissom asked, turning to Sara.
"Nothing new," she said, shaking her head.
"I thought you'd both been called for a fire today?"
"An electrical fire," Sara answered, "It wasn't our guy. An accident."
Grissom paused and looked over his files for a minute before looking up curiously.
"Nick," he said, "Why are you here?"
Nick looked at him skeptically.
"Is that like a metaphysical question?"
"No," Grissom returned, "Why are you here tonight? You're not scheduled."
"Because we've got work to do."
"I was serious when I said we need to cut back on overtime."
"I didn't clock in."
Grissom gave him one last look before sighing. Trying to keep his team out of the lab was like trying to hold back the ocean with your hands.
"Try not to stay all night," he finally said before handing out assignments.
Again he assigned Greg and Sara to work together. So far they hadn't seemed to mind and he knew if either seriously had a problem they'd tell him. At least, he hoped they'd tell him.
It was a double homicide out on Blue Diamond.
It was going to be a long night.