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.
Notes: Thanks again RivenSky and Tripp3235!
Chapter 14: Lucky
Greg was running a little later then usual for work, but tonight he didn't care.
He felt great. Really great. Greg knew that nothing was fixed between them, not yet at least. That in fact things were in no way resolved, but just spending the evening with Sara had felt right. Being near her, talking with her, it had all felt right.
They still had a lot of things to work on. Like communication. Greg knew they needed to work on that. One night spent out together, no matter how great it was, wouldn't fix everything. A couple of shared kisses wouldn't change it either, because really that had never been their problem.
He'd taken her home not long after the incident at the coffee shop. Sara had invited him up but he'd declined. Politely, and it hadn't been easy. Instead they talked for nearly an hour in his car, until he'd had no choice but to leave for work. They'd gone back over some of their problems and he really thought things were going to be okay.
When they'd said goodnight he kissed her again. It was still fairly tame but building between them. Greg didn't want to jump the gun and Sara didn't seem to want to either. They could take this slow. They needed to if they were going to do this right.
Greg got to the lab that night and couldn't stop smiling.
He went straight to the break room, skipping the locker room because of the time, and took out a soda from the fridge before sitting on the couch next to Catherine.
"You look chipper," she commented.
"I do?" he asked, still grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah you do," Catherine said, putting aside the magazine she'd been skimming and really scrutinizing him.
"I had a good day," he returned, still smiling.
"I can see that."
Greg laughed a little, but it was pretty clear he wasn't going to give any details so Catherine didn't press for them. Nick soon joined them and took up occupancy in the nearest chair looking exhausted.
"You didn't catch what Amy has did you?" Greg asked, causing Catherine to chuckle and return to her magazine.
"No," Nick said, with a hard look at Catherine before turning to Greg, "I'm fine. I just didn't get much sleep."
"Okay," Greg said skeptically, also looking between the two of them, "Is Amy coming in tonight?"
"She's taking a few days off," Nick returned in the most non-committal tone he could.
"That doesn't sound good."
Nick sighed. Greg was not getting the hint. Nick wanted to tell him, talk to him about it, but not with Catherine sitting there. Not right now.
"Just," Nick said shaking his head, "Later, alright? Later."
Greg shrugged and again Catherine chuckled.
Grissom soon joined them and looked relieved that the group was so small. Sara and Warrick each had the night off and he thought that at least they'd listened. That they'd known how serious he was about the overtime issue.
Well, maybe just Sara did.
Warrick came in two seconds after Grissom and even apologized for running late.
"You're not on tonight," Grissom said flatly, shaking his head even.
"Nick and I have work to do," was all he said as he leaned up against the table.
"Fine," Grissom said, ready to begin.
It was going to be a slow night. A paperwork night, a night they all needed. There was only one active case that night and Grissom was going to it himself. Greg would have his hands full with all the new evidence from the double homicide and the arson last night and everyone else was wrapped up in the Bellagio case.
As they broke up, Nick hit Greg lightly across the arm indicating for him to stay. Once everyone was gone Nick looked at him seriously and Greg couldn't help ask him what was wrong.
"Nothing," Nick said shaking his head, "Nothing really. It's…"
"What?" Greg asked again.
"Okay, I am completely serious when I say you cannot tell anyone this."
"Nick," Greg started, "when aren't you completely serious?"
"Greg," he returned warningly.
"I'm sorry, it's just…"
"I know. This is…"
"What already?"
"Amy's pregnant."
Greg just stared at him, mouth open and unblinking.
"We think she's pregnant," Nick continued, shuffling his feet. If telling Greg was this hard, how was he supposed to tell everyone else. Or his family even. Worse, her family. "She went to the doctor's office today, we'll know for sure in a few days."
"That's great," Greg said so loudly Nick actually hushed him.
"Sorry," Greg went on, remembering this was obviously still a secret, "It's just it's exciting right? You're going to be a dad."
Greg saw a flicker of panic pass before his friend's eyes and knew he needed to scale back.
"You are excited, right? It is good news?"
"Honestly, I'm a little freaked out right now," Nick admitted, sitting back down. "It's all kind of sudden and I'm just trying to take it all one step at a time. Find out if it is real and then…"
"What?" Greg asked, sitting down across from him. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Get married?"
"As long as you're sure," Greg said sarcastically.
"It's not that I don't want to," Nick countered, "It's just Amy. I can't even get her to move in with me."
Greg tried to hold back his laughter, making him snort instead and earning a not-so-nice look in return from Nick.
"Sorry," Greg said again, "Yeah, she's kind of independent like that."
"Kind of," Nick repeated. "She's staying out of the lab until she knows. Until the doctor says it's safe for her to come in. We're not taking chances either way."
"Good," Greg nodded and then paused momentarily before adding, "And I can't tell anyone?"
"No one," Nick said firmly.
Greg nodded his head, still smiling.
"Can I tell Sara?" he asked causing Nick to look at him oddly.
"You two talking that much?"
"Yeah," Greg answered with a grin, "We are."
"She probably already knows."
"Really?" Greg asked, more then surprised. "So it's okay?"
"But no one else. Really. We want to keep this quiet for as long as we can."
"I get that," Greg said standing, "I mean, I give it a week before everyone knows but yeah, I get it."
Nick shook his head, standing as well. Greg was probably right. He wouldn't be too shocked to find out if everyone didn't already suspect as much.
They both left the break room together and ran straight into Sara.
"Hey," she said smiling at the two of them, "I was just looking for you."
Greg smiled back, he couldn't help it. Nick felt his own worries start to lessen. This wasn't typical for them, not even lately. This was great to see.
"Do you want to tackle the arson or the double first?"
"Let's do the double," Greg answered, "We can talk on the way to the morgue."
Sara nodded and they both turned to go.
"Remember what I said," Nick called out to Greg, who turned once and waved in reply.
Nick watched them go and they really seemed happy again.
"Sickening, isn't it?"
Nick nearly jumped at the new voice beside him.
Hodges.
"What?" Nick asked, instantly regretting it.
"The two of them. Back together. It's not natural."
"They're just being friendly is all," Nick tried, knowing the last thing Sara and Greg would need was the added pressure of the office gossip mongers observing their every step.
"Is that what you and Amy are, friendly?"
Nick glared at him.
"Where is Amy?" Hodges asked.
Nick gave him one last look, shook his head and walked away.
The morgue, though never pleasant, was at least made easier by Doc Robbins. He went through James and Tanya Roberts injuries with them both although cause of death was fairly obvious. Still, it took a good part of the night.
On the way back they stopped for a bite to eat even though neither of them was exactly hungry.
"So," Greg said as they sat down in the tiny donut shop that was extremely packed considering the time of night, "Nick says you probably know."
"Know what?" Sara asked stirring her coffee.
"Something good," Greg answered evasively, smiling, before taking a bite of his éclair.
"I have never understood how you can eat so much junk and not gain weight."
"High metabolism," he said, mouth still full. "And you're not playing along."
"Obviously you know. And you know I know."
"Yeah, but that's not fun."
"Fine," she said smiling now, never able to resist his brand of logic. "What does Nick say I probably know? Something about Amy I'm guessing."
"Yes," he said beaming, now making her smile.
"So it's certain?" she asked, taking a sip.
"Not yet, but man. Isn't that great?"
"You are so excited about this," she laughed.
"I really am," Greg said nodding before taking his own sip of coffee, "I kind of think I'm more excited then Nick is."
"You didn't see Amy," Sara said shaking her head.
"She's not happy either?"
"She's scared," Sara defended, "Who wouldn't be?"
"I guess," he said, shrugging.
"It's not exactly planned. Give them both some time."
Greg nodded and looked down at the table. He finished his pastry and pulled together the trash on the table before looking back up at her again.
Sara had an idea what was on his mind.
After a lot of fighting and initial unease, Greg and Sara had begun to discuss the possibility of children not long before they'd split up. Greg couldn't have children and they'd decided to adopt. It wasn't something they'd discussed with any of their friends, Greg wasn't comfortable with the topic, but they'd both wanted a family.
"I just hope they know that they're lucky," Greg finally said.
"I'm sure they do."