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: So very soon I will be thanking everyone in more detail, but for now know that I read every review and that I am always glad to hear what everyone thinks! Special thanks to Tripp3235 for helping to keep me going, RivenSky for helping to keep me honest, and grrlnorth for helping me learn!
Chapter 20: Details
Nothing had happened.
There had been some touching and kissing, all of it sleep-induced. Sometime in the middle of the day, both blankets had been tossed aside in favor of the warmth of real person. And yes, Greg's pajama top didn't last long, although he could never be sure if he'd removed it or if that had been Sara. The recollection was fuzzy and dreamlike and nice. Very nice.
But nothing had really happened.
Still, when Greg woke up sometime after the sun had set, he hadn't expected to do so alone.
Greg sat up and looked around, confused. The bedroom door was open and he could see that the kitchen light was on. He stood up, stretched, and pulled a t-shirt on before heading down the hall.
He found Sara in the kitchen in her jeans and his shirt standing over the stove cooking. She threw him a smile as she looked over her shoulder before returning to her work.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked.
"No," Greg answered, coming up behind her and wrapping her in his arms. "But you should have. Where'd this come from?"
"The store," she answered, still smiling as he rested his head on her shoulder. "From the looks of the fridge you've forgotten where that is."
"I'm not real good at shopping," he said, finally moving away and looking around.
She'd bought enough food for a nice pasta dinner, and some basic staples Greg always seemed to miss. He usually only bought milk and cereal when he remembered to get anything at all.
"Dinner should be ready in ten minutes," Sara said, turning around and leaning against the counter.
"You didn't have to cook."
"I know, but I like too."
Greg smiled back at her, but before he could say anything more the phone rang.
"Excuse me," he said before answering it with a 'hello'.
"Greg," came Karen on the other end, obviously on her cell. He didn't think she had a house line. "Have you heard the good news?"
"You didn't join a cult or something, did you?" he joked, moving into the living room.
"You're so funny," she said dryly, making him laugh and Sara look up momentarily.
"No," Karen continued, "about my sister and Nick."
"So it's official then?" Greg asked.
"Did they already tell you?" Karen questioned back, sounding disappointed. "They said they hadn't told anyone yet."
"Well," Greg tried to cover, "they hadn't really. I mean they didn't know for sure when Nick told me."
"That's fine," she said, obviously still happy and excited. "It's not important, but celebrating is and that is why I'm on my way to get you."
"Um," Greg hesitated, not sure what to say.
"No excuses," Karen continued with a laugh, "You've been brushing me off for weeks. We are going out tonight."
"Karen," he said, standing and starting to pace, "now is not a good time."
"What?" she asked, half-serious. "Are you not even dressed yet? Greg, it's nearly seven."
"It's not that…"
"Tell me when I'm inside," she said and the line went dead.
Greg knew what that meant; she was already here. He looked at Sara, who, judging by the look on her face, knew what most of the conversation had held.
"I can go," she said, and before he could respond there was a knock on the door.
Greg took in a breath and went to it.
"Karen," he said opening the door only part of the way, "now really isn't the best time for this."
"You're being weird," Karen said. "This is the kind of thing you have to celebrate. We'll go to dinner…"
"I can't," he said, still not moving from the doorway.
"Of course you can," she countered. "You don't work for hours."
"Can't we do this another night, all of us?" he asked, trying to find a way out.
"Yeah, but it's not the same if we don't go tonight. And trust me, now is not the time for Nick and Amy to be going out. They were getting ready to call my parents and that is not going to go well."
Greg said nothing and Karen looked up at him expectantly.
"Are you going to let me in?" she asked.
Reluctantly, he stepped back to allow her access.
"I guess Nick's parents took it well," Karen was saying as she stepped inside, abruptly stopping when she caught sight of Sara, who had tried to fade as much as she could into the kitchen.
"You have company," Karen said, still staring at Sara, clearly shocked. "I should go."
Karen moved back towards the door before it could even register in Greg's mind. He gave Sara a quick glance before turning to go after Karen.
"Karen," he said catching her just in front of her car, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" she asked, but it sounded odd. "You could have just said you had company. It's not like…"
Karen trailed off, took a deep breath and shook her head once before forcing a smile.
"I'm happy for you," she said, "This is great that you two are back together. Really."
"I'd have told you sooner but…"
"Greg," Karen said, cutting him off, "you don't owe me an explanation. This is great. I know how much you care for her. It's great."
Greg rubbed his hand across his forehead, clearly at a loss for what to do or say.
"We'll do dinner another night," she stammered, moving towards the driver's side, "All of us. Sara too. Okay?"
Greg nodded and Karen smiled.
"I'll see you later," she said before getting in her car.
Greg waved once and watched her drive off before going back inside.
"Amy's going to kill me," was the first thing he said to Sara, who was still sitting at the table.
"It's not your fault."
"There's nothing going on between us," Greg tried explaining as he sat down opposite her, "between Karen and I, but I kind of knew and I should have said something to her sooner. She's a good person and I just didn't think…"
Greg pressed his forehead to the table, not sure what to do now. This was a mess.
"That she liked you that much," Sara offered, taking his hand.
"Yeah."
"It'll work out," Sara said.
"She's a good friend. I don't want to lose that."
"You won't."
Greg finally lifted his head up and smiled at her.
"I hope you're right."
When Greg got to work that night he was relieved to find Nick alone in the locker room. Sara had gone home not long after they'd had dinner together, and despite the awkwardness that Karen had unintentionally caused, things had gone very well. Still, Greg knew he had to address the issue with Amy, and to a degree Nick, before long.
"So I hear congratulations are in order," Greg said, tapping him on the shoulder and sliding onto the bench opposite him.
"Karen tell you already?" Nick asked, smiling.
"Yeah," Greg returned, looking down, "It's great news."
"Not everyone thinks so," Nick said, shutting his locker.
"Yours or hers?"
"Hers. Well, her mom. She cried."
"That doesn't mean…"
"No man, I know the difference," Nick cut him off. "My mom cried too, but hers was that 'thank goodness you're finally settling down' type of cry. Her mom was mad."
"She'll get over it."
"I hope so," Nick sighed.
"How'd Amy take it?"
"The news, or her mother freaking out on her?"
"Both," Greg answered.
"She's excited about the baby. She's telling Grissom now; her OB wants her wearing a mask and is limiting some of her lab work. Amy hasn't really talked about her mom yet. Her dad seemed pretty happy, which is good."
"Yeah, it is."
Just then Amy walked in and sat down near Greg, directly opposite Nick giving them both a wan smile.
"How'd that go?"
"That?" Amy questioned. "That was nothing. Although I think I actually freaked him out. Grissom had this look on his face like he didn't understand why I was telling him. I'm not sure if he thought I was there to ask him to tell you or what."
Nick and Greg both laughed, knowing how awkward Griss could be with situations like that.
"But he said congratulations and told me to take it easy."
"So are you two telling people now or what?" Greg asked, momentarily forgetting his dilemma.
"Sure, why not," Amy said with a sigh, "It's not like anyone is going to react as badly as my mother did. I was going to tell Sara when she came in tonight."
"Sara already knows," Greg said, causing them to both look at him at once.
"She was there when Karen stopped by," Greg continued. "I wanted to talk to you about that. I don't think Karen is going to be very happy with me for a while."
"Oh," Amy said, dragging the word out.
"So are you and Sara back together?" Nick asked, momentarily skipping over the issue.
"I'm not sure," Greg answered truthfully, "but probably. Yeah, probably."
"I'll talk to Karen," Amy said with a nod, "She'll be all right."
"I didn't mean to hurt her."
"I know that," Amy said, slapping his arm. "I know you didn't. We'll talk. She'll be fine. Really. She's tough. And no offense, but she hasn't really met a lot of men here yet. She was kind of thrown in with you a lot, she'll move on."
"I'm not offended," Greg said, really meaning it. "I hope she does."
"Maybe we could set her up with Charlie," Nick suggested. "He's single."
Greg and Amy exchanged glances.
"You want to tell him, or should I?" Greg asked with a smirk.
"Rock, paper, scissors?" Amy asked, still turned to Greg.
Nick looked at the two of them like they might be insane, but they paid him no mind. Just counted down from three before Greg beat her, rock over scissors.
"Two out of three," Amy said, causing Greg to roll his eyes.
Once more they played the game. Once more Greg won, paper over rock.
"You're so predictable," he said, grinning.
"Fine," Amy sighed, turning to Nick who now looked really confused. "How do I say this? Karen isn't Charlie's type."
"What do you mean? Karen's nice, she's smart and funny…"
"I can't believe they pay you to be an investigator," Greg laughed.
"What?" Nick asked, getting more than a little agitated.
Amy couldn't help but laugh too.
"She's not his type," Amy repeated, emphasis on the 'she'.
Nick looked from Amy to Greg and back again, getting it. Not sure if they were pulling his leg as they had on numerous occasions before.
"Really?"
Greg just shook his head, still laughing. Clapping Nick once on the shoulder, he made his way out the door without another word.
"Really?" Nick asked Amy again.
"Does it change who he is?"
"No," Nick said firmly, "I just thought I'd know if, well…"
"Now you do," Amy said.
Nick nodded and tried to take it in.
"You're not going to get all weird around him are you?"
"No," Nick said, meaning it. "I'm not. I just, why did he tell you?"
"Because he thought I'd understand."
Nick nodded. Charlie had become a part of their circle of friends. He'd gone out with them several times and he did seem to take a liking to Amy. And Greg. They were closer to him then Nick was and it only made sense that he'd tell them.
"I won't say anything," Nick said, standing up.
"Good," Amy said, "Because we really shouldn't have told you."
"Well I'm glad you did before I tried getting him to ask your sister out."
Amy laughed and winked at him.
"Come on," she said pulling him towards the door. "We've got work to do."
"So why did he tell Greg?" Nick asked.
"That," she said as they stopped in front of the break room, "I don't know."
Amy gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading off to DNA, leaving Nick wondering what else he didn't know about his co-workers.