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 13: Push

Amy kept missing Nick throughout the night. It seemed like whenever she tried to catch him in the break room, he'd just left it. If she looked in the AV lab, he'd gone to trace. Finally, she gave up and stayed put in DNA. Eventually he'd come to her and he did.

The shift was nearly over before he'd gotten the chance. Nick had gotten caught up in work and time had slipped by. Walking in now he was glad to see she didn't look sick anymore, but she did look worried.

"Hi," he said, coming in the lab.

Amy looked up and gave him a weak smile and it struck him that she looked more then worried, she looked terrified.

"What's wrong?"

"We, um, we need to talk," she said looking down at the table.

Before he could respond, she was already waving him off.

"But not right now," she said clearing her throat, "Not here."

"Do you want to take a break?" he asked, really anxious. Amy looked like she might cry and he couldn't think of a reason she'd be so worked up.

"I've already taken too many tonight," Amy answered, exhaling forcefully.

"It's slow," Nick argued, "No one will mind."

Amy hesitated before agreeing, putting away her things and heading out the door with him. She steered him towards the roof instead of the break room, wanting more privacy then that would offer. Nick went without question, still worried about her, wondering if she possibly got bad news from home or if something worse had happened.

Once there, Amy stood with her arms crossed in front of her rocking on her feet. Nick stood in front of her and rubbed her arms with his hands trying to get her to look at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"I don't know where to even start," Amy said shaking her head, "I mean I thought… I'm not…I don't…"

"Slow down," he said with a small laugh, pulling her to him.

Amy rested her head on his chest and shut her eyes tightly. Nick rubbed her back and waited for her to begin.

Amy whispered something against him he couldn't quite make out. Leaning down and looking in her eyes he asked her what she'd said.

She screwed up her face and shut her eyes tightly.

"I think I'm pregnant."

Nick stopped rubbing circles on her back, stopped moving; it felt like he'd stopped breathing. It was hard not to look shocked, because he was, but only momentarily.

"You think?"

"With me being tired and sick and the ladies all talking…"

"Ladies? Who?" Nick asked, even more surprised that he wasn't the first one to hear this.

"It's not like I told them anything it's just that Jacqui knows I've been sick and Sara was with me… it's a mess, I know…but I didn't know until I took my break tonight and bought a test."

Amy stopped and looked at him, trying to figure out if he was mad or upset or what. She didn't really know how to feel herself right now.

"They aren't a hundred percent," she said weakly and he knew she must have had it turn up positive.

Nick nodded and took a deep breath.

"I'm going to call my doctor in the morning," Amy continued, "Just to be sure, because it isn't certain."

"But you took one and…"

"I took three."

"Three?" Nick questioned, smiling at her.

"Well, they had a three pack and I just figured… they probably aren't all defective though, are they?"

"It's pretty unlikely."

Amy said nothing and Nick squeezed her gently, kissing the top of her head.

"What do you think?" she asked, moving away slightly to look up at his face.

"It's…it's a lot to take in," he answered honestly, "but whatever happens Amy, we're going to be fine. I love you. Really, it's going to be okay."

Amy breathed a sigh of relief and sunk back into his arms.

"I love you too."

Greg and Sara were a sight to see as they rolled back into the lab. Smelling like death and covered in soot, a path was cleared for them wherever they went. They dropped off their evidence without saying much to anyone. Both exhausted, they went straight to the locker room.

After showering they met up again as they gathered their things. Greg was done first and Sara found him hunched over before his locker, taking deep breaths with his inhaler in hand.

"Alright?" she asked, sitting beside him.

"All that smoke," he said tapping his chest, "Finally hit me. But I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

Greg gave her a smile and nodded. It wasn't an attack, just some minor constriction in his chest.

"You're off tonight," he said after a pause, "Got any plans?"

"No," she answered, "Not really. I might go to the gym. Or read. Probably read. Why?"

"I don't know," Greg said still in the process of putting on his shoes, "I was thinking about going to a movie and I thought maybe you might want to come too."

"Yeah," Sara returned, "That sounds like a good idea. I'd like that."

The door opened and the both looked over at Warrick. For a time, Sara thought that was it. That Greg might have decided against it as quickly as he had decided for it. And then he spoke up again.

"Should I stop by about five?" he asked, "We can get dinner too."

Sara smiled and nodded as she put the rest of her things away.

"That would be good. Five is perfect."

"I'll see you then," Greg said with one more smile, finishing up.

With a quick goodbye to Sara and Warrick he was gone.

"It sounds like the two of you are getting along," Warrick said turning to her slightly.

"Yeah, well we're trying."

"Good."

"Don't," Sara said as she shut her locker, "Just don't say anything or tease him, please. Things are…"

"I'm cool," Warrick said smiling, "I won't mess this up. If Greg wanted to talk about it with me, I know he's not shy."

Sara laughed and nodded in agreement.

"I'm happy for you," Warrick replied. "Both of you."

"You're getting ahead of yourself," Sara said quietly.

Warrick took it in and nodded.

"Step forward right?"

"Yeah," she said with a nod, "It is."

"That's something," he said shutting his door and giving her one last smile before leaving for the day.

Sara had to agree with that.

At first it was awkward.

Greg came by to pick Sara up right on time and they both couldn't help but recall his last and only visit to her apartment just over two weeks ago. They both tried to remember this wasn't really a date.

This was just two people trying to learn to be friends again.

They'd both dressed casually and since they'd both slept most of the day, decided to have dinner first.

Greg picked a nice Mexican restaurant they'd been to before. It was one of the few restaurants they'd ever agreed on since it had a wide variety of vegetarian dishes.

It wasn't until halfway through the meal that they'd both grown comfortable and began to talk again like normal.

Since he'd picked the restaurant Sara picked the movie. She made sure to pick something light, not overtly romantic and definitely not gory. That was a feat but she managed.

Once it was over it was still fairly early in the night. Greg had three hours before he had to be at work and Sara really didn't want to leave yet so they decided to walk around the open air mall that faced the theater.

They continued to talk casually as they wandered in and out of shops with no place in particular in mind. When they grew tired of window shopping they stopped for coffee and took up people watching instead.

"Was this the worst idea ever or am I just imagining it?" Greg asked after a longer then normal lull in conversation.

"I didn't think it was going that badly," Sara said wrinkling her brow and looking into her cup.

"No, well," Greg stammered, "I just meant I feel like I'm about fifteen going on my first date ever and I don't remember half of what I said tonight and I know I've talked your ear off."

Greg sighed and looked down at his own cup.

"Double espresso wasn't a good idea either," Greg said with a smile.

"I had fun," Sara said meeting his eye, "I'm having fun. This was nice."

Greg said nothing again for another full minute, just continued to swirl the remains of his drink and watch as a few more couples wandered past them.

"The problem is I really want to kiss you."

Sara felt the blush in her cheeks but otherwise didn't know how to respond.

"And I know that I shouldn't," he said and then quickly corrected, "That I shouldn't yet. It's too soon."

Sara frowned again but nodded in agreement. They shouldn't rush this.

"This is what I meant," Greg said, starting to ramble, "When I said I didn't think I could just be friends Sara. I meant this. I want more and I'm not sure…"

"Greg," Sara interrupted.

He stopped momentarily and looked at her. It was long enough.

Sara leaned in and kissed him lightly.

When he didn't respond she pulled back, embarrassed and worried she'd blown it. That she finally pushed too far. That it really was too soon.

But she didn't have a chance to think these things for long because soon he was kissing her.