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 16: Confrontation

Sara got to the lab well before Greg did and again she was in a really good mood.

She stopped by most of the labs to get updates on her cases. Bobby had matched the bullets in the Roberts' to a nine millimeter that had been used before in a robbery-turned-homicide at a gas station just down the road from the scene. Hodges had once more determined the cause of the latest arson was again kerosene. So far so good, that is until she rounded the corner into the small conference room and found Warrick talking with Erika.

They weren't alone. Two armed guards were with them, carefully taking down the painting and getting ready to transport it back to the Bellagio.

Warrick turned and nodded at her, indicating to give him a minute and she stopped in the doorway, although she'd rather just have left.

"Again, thank you for your cooperation," Warrick said as he returned his attention to the young curator. "The crime lab appreciates it."

"No problem at all; you've taken excellent care of our painting and we appreciate that."

Just then the two guards had finished securing the painting into its packaging and were ready to go. They moved past Sara and down the hall to the waiting car outside with ease but before they got far Warrick's pager went off.

Taking the phone off his belt he frowned at the number and then excused himself from Dr. Stewart.

"Sara," he said pulling her aside, "I've got to take this. Brass just brought in our suspect and he and Nick are waiting for me. I wouldn't ask this of you unless I had too but could you show her out."

Warrick had nodded slightly in Erika's direction, but even if he hadn't she'd of known who he meant. Sara also knew now that Warrick had a good idea about Greg and Erika's involvement, but then again so did everyone.

"It's no problem," Sara said in as convincing of a voice as she could manage.

"I owe you," Warrick said sincerely, knowing this wasn't easy on her.

And with a quick goodbye to each of them he was gone.

"So," Sara said, a tight lipped smile planted firmly on her face, "Is there anything else you need?"

"No," Erika answered. It was the first time her smile hadn't looked completely convincing. "I'm all set. I guess I just need an escort out."

"Right this way," Sara said, turning and moving swiftly down the hall.

"I was wondering," Erika asked, after she'd quickly caught up to her, "How long have you known Greg?"

"About six years."

"And you dated…" Erika asked again, letting the question go unfinished.

Sara stopped and turned to her, the forced smile completely gone.

"I'm sorry, what does this have to do with your case?"

"Nothing, I'm just curious," Erika answered, "He seems to like you. Of course, he seems to like a lot of women. Greg's problem is he doesn't really know how to commit."

"I don't think that's his problem," Sara said with as much calm as she could manage, once more moving towards the exit.

"No, trust me. It is. I should know."

"About commitment problems," Sara countered, "I have no doubt. But about Greg, you're wrong."

"But he did break it off with you," Erika continued, undeterred. "Didn't he? I bet he's even trying to fix things now. He doesn't know what he really wants so he goes back and forth, sometimes for years. At least that's how it is with us."

Sara ignored her and kept walking. They were almost to the lobby. She was almost rid of her.

"He did tell you about us," Erika stated, knowing it was true.

"Yeah, he did," Sara said unable to stop herself now. "And if you think that a mistake he made over eight years ago is going to scare me off, you're wrong."

"Eight years ago?" Erika returned with a laugh, "Is that what he told you? No. It hasn't been that long."

They'd reached the front desk and Sara just stopped and stared at her in disbelief.

"He broke it off with you," she countered firmly. "Greg told me…"

"Did he tell you about his last trip home?" Erika cut in, "When he was back in San Francisco looking for a job and we ran into each other? He certainly wasn't calling anything off then."

Sara stared at her. Dared her to blink, to move. Anything to give her an indication that it was a lie. Because it had to be. It had to be a lie.

"I'm only telling you because I don't want you to get hurt."

And there it was; that was the lie. It just wasn't the lie Sara had wanted it to be.

Sara said nothing, turned away and signed off on the clipboard indicating a visitor was leaving the building.

"Thank Dr. Grissom again for me," Erika finished, handing her the visitors badge before she turned and left.

Sara held onto it for a minute, watching her go. Turning back to the desk Gretchen was looking up at her, having witnessed it all. A smug smile on her face.

"What?" Sara snapped, tossing the badge onto the desk.

"I told you he was no better then the rest."

"Gretchen," Sara said leaning down to her, "Grow up okay? What are you, twenty-six, twenty-seven? We all know that Greg never slept with you and all this animosity you have towards him is about that. It's time to move on."

"Like you're one to talk," Gretchen spat back, Sara had clearly struck a nerve.

Sara just shot her one last glance before moving back into the main part of the lab. She shouldn't have said that to Gretchen but right now found it hard to regret. It was true. Greg had told her that story and she knew nothing serious had happened between them. Greg had told her some line about not getting involved at work and she hadn't taken it well. It'd been years and she still wasn't taking it well. But honestly, Gretchen didn't worry her, Erika did.

She knew Erika was like Gretchen in a lot of ways, just trying to get under her skin. And she was because it sounded true. Greg had always made it sound like the last time he'd been with her had been when he'd finished college and now Sara wasn't so sure.

And when did this supposedly happen? Erika hadn't been specific; she'd only said the last time he'd been home.

Greg had gone home over the Fourth of July weekend. And it wasn't but a few days ago she'd ran across him doing resume research. She knew he'd tried to move to another shift but was he also trying to move back to San Francisco?

She just didn't know.

Greg got to the lab long after Erika had left.

He smiled all the way to the locker room oblivious to everyone around him. He felt great again. This might actually work.

Nick was in there when he arrived, still looking tired but not nearly as bad as he had yesterday.

"How's Amy?" Greg asked as he opened his locker.

"Better," Nick said with a smile, "She's getting use to it. We should know tomorrow."

"Good," he said with a nod, "You?"

"Yeah, I'm better too. It's…"

Nick just trailed off, still smiling and holding up his hands. He really didn't know how to describe it. Part of it still terrified him as much as it did Amy, but another part of him really wanted it.

"But what's with you lately?" Nick asked.

"What?" Greg returned, holding up his hands at a loss.

"I don't know," Nick answered as he shut his locker, "You and Sara aren't ripping each others throats out, which I have to say I thought would happen the minute Griss said you'd be working together."

"Thanks," Greg interrupted.

"Sorry man," Nick offered, "but really, we all did. But you guys seem to be really getting along. That's great."

"Yeah," Greg said smiling big, "It is. I…"

Greg stopped mid-sentence and looked around momentarily. Certain no one was there he straddled the bench and leaned in closer.

"I think we might work this out," he whispered.

"That's great," Nick said, honestly relieved but a bit louder then Greg liked.

"It's not," Greg tried to explain, "It's not like we've really worked things out. Not yet. But we're trying. We've gone out the last couple of nights and it's been nice. Normal. Okay, not really normal. How normal is it to be dating your ex-fiancée, but you know what I mean."

"Dating huh?" Nick asked with a laugh.

"Almost. I mean we're trying to take this slow, do things right but it's not easy. I feel like I'm back in high school. And you know, I've finally figured out why I was such an ass then, it was sheer frustration because…"

"No," Nick said cutting him off, shaking his head vigorously as he stood, "TMI man. I don't need to know."

"Too far?"

"Yeah."

Greg shrugged and shut his locker.

"But I'm happy for you," Nick said as they moved towards the exit.

"Thanks," Greg said, still beaming.

They continued on to the break room, ready for the staff meeting. They were the last ones there, Grissom was waiting even, so they didn't get a chance to say hello to anyone.

The meeting was again to the point. They gave updates on their current cases before the new ones were handed out. Greg and Sara had a suspicious fire to review, left over from swing shift. Nick and Warrick were going to continue with the Bellagio case with Grissom. Catherine had the night off.

With everyone knowing what needed to be done, they each set off.

Greg quickly caught up with Sara who hadn't waited around after they'd broken as she raced down the hall.

"Where's the fire?" he asked as he caught her and she gave him an odd look at his word choice, "I meant 'what's the hurry?' although considering the arsons…"

"Let's just get the files okay," she said with a tight nod, moving away in one swift motion.

"Sara," he said catching her once more, gently tugging on her elbow, "What is it? What's…"

Sara stopped him by putting a hand on his chest as her other rubbed her forehead acutely aware that they were starting to attract attention. It wasn't a hard thing to do; all the walls were glass after all. She didn't want to do this here but knew she couldn't spend the night ignoring it. Greg wouldn't let her. She wouldn't let herself.

"Come on," she said, taking his hand and pulling him into the layout room.

Greg went willingly, not knowing what had changed in so short of a time but the look on her face clearly said something had. He really wasn't sure he wanted to know what.