Chapter 2: stranger
Pity the child who has ambition
Knows what he wants to do
Knows that he'll never fit the system
Others expect him to
Pity the child who knew his parents
Saw their faults
Saw their love die before his eyes
Pity the child that wise
He never asked did I cause your distress?
Just in case they said yes
The Sanders home 1983
It is safe in here. Music is his escape. Music is his walls of protection. No evil thoughts can penetrate the sound and make him feel vulnerable again. Music is his shelter.
Greg's lab, Mother's day 2005
He turns down the music when Grissom comes in, Grissom is no threat. He doesn't necessarily turn it down for Nick though. He knows Nick doesn't agree on the choice of music, but he never argues about it. This is Greg's lab, and Greg gets to decide. Warrick doesn't understand, but Warrick is OK. If he comes along with Nick, Greg usually lets the music blast, if he comes alone, he turns it down. With Sara it depends. It depends on her mood. If she is crabby, he leaves it on high just to piss her off a little bit more, if she is in a good mood, he turns it down so he can flirt. With Catherine it doesn't matter what he does, she turns it down herself.
Right now he is alone in the lab. He is nearly finished his workload for today and will probably wrap up within the hour, which by the way is two hours overtime, unless someone dumps a lot of evidence on him. He hates leaving things for the dayshift, because they usually end up dumping even more onto him.
The Sanders home 1983
"Get down here, now!"
His father's voice was harsh. He had been drinking since before noon and was probably going to hit someone. Judging by the tone, Greg guessed he would hit hard. He found it better to be hit than watch his mother taking the beating. He walked down the stairs sick to his stomach. His legs felt weak, and he clung to the rail while moving down one step at the time.
"Hurry!"
He had long time ago learned never to eat too much on a Friday. Fridays were when his father was most likely to be drunk. With less food inside, there was less to throw up. He preferred it when his father used his bare hands, they didn't leave scares. The belt however did make visible wounds that made marks he would live with forever. He didn't want the reminders, besides, they were harder to hide.
Hiding them was hard. It was getting hard finding excuses for wearing long sleeves in the middle of the summer to cover up those bruises on his arms. He couldn't let it show though. He couldn't let anyone know. Not ever.
"Are you deaf?"
Maybe he would pass out before it was over. Maybe he didn't have to feel today.
Greg's lab, Mother's day 2005
"Have anything for me?"
He swirls in the chair facing the friendly face appearing in the door.
"Hi Nicky. Other than a pretty face to look at you mean? Yes, I have the answer to your dream; a match on the DNA"
He hands over the paper to Nick, who looks at it and gives him a winning smile in return.
"Thank you"
"And to you," he shifts his attention to Sara who walks in the door. He never touches the volume on the music while he hands her a paper, "No match". He doesn't even catch what she is mumbling walking out of the lab.
The Sanders home 1985
"You had this coming," he is telling himself, "you should have worn that button down shirt. You know he doesn't want you to wear the t-shirts. You are stronger than that. Never mind the heat. A man doesn't dress like a homeless. Never mind you can't play ball in those cloths. You don't have to anyway. You can't let the kids see the marks anyway, better stay inside"
Greg holds his breath each time he take the beating. It doesn't hurt so much anymore, the back has gone numb and he knows how to shut down now. Further in, don't come out until it is over. Mom's screaming are fading out as well. Just glide away.
"Yes, sir", he manages to say at the right time. "Yes, sir, I will straighten up. No, sir, I don't deserve being your son."
Greg's lab, Mother's day 2005
"Something wrong?"
He didn't notice that Nick didn't follow Sara out the door, and now the observant Texan looks at him with a penetrating look.
"No, all is fine in 'Greggo land'."
"Are you sure?"
"I am fine Nicky. Just need some coffee. I haven't had coffee in 2 hours. That can't be good for my system. I am starting to feel almost normal, that can't be right."
"Can I join you?"
"Can you afford it?"
"Your treat?"
"In that case, do you have the time?"
"Yeah. 5 minutes. I need that."