AN Right, okay, so we had to get this over with didn't we? I don't want to make Payton out to be a complete jerk, but frankly for the sake of the ending she does need to make a bit of an exit. Although I'm not sure if she'll stay gone, depends on if I need her for the plot later on...guess we'll see.

Again those of you who review are just amazing! You really are the reason I keep writing this thing. I wouldn't do it if you didn't like to read it. So I hope you like this bit...don't worry Sara's coming back to the plot. All who made observations and encouraged my plot choices, thank you SO MUCH. Seriously, you rock:) Okay enough gushing...more reading...let me know what you think kay:)

Payton hated coffee, but what she hated more than coffee was her need for it. She used to have a routine; no matter how many hours she worked she only needed an Earl Grey tea when she woke up and then she was good.

Then Greg happened.

At first it was cute. He'd make her his expensive blend and insist it was worth tasting. She didn't want to, but those damn brown eyes were impossible to refuse. Then as their relationship progressed he'd bring her a cup in bed before he had to go to work. She'd sip the drink and read through whatever Forensic Journal he'd have by his bed and smile at her good fortune. It was a beautiful thing.

Then her two weeks of over time happened and Kyle told her to take ten days off.

She had been so excited. Now she'd get to be around Greg more and possibly get closer than they already were. It was Payton that had suggested she meet him for coffee while he worked. He tried to explain that breaks never came to him very frequently, but she had insisted that she wanted to see him where he seemed to derive so much pleasure. He tried to tell her he usually didn't take breaks, but she said she really wanted to meet this mentor of his. Finally he had agreed and gave her directions to find him at the lab. She had to find a woman named Judy who would page him.

She found Sara instead and it went downhill from there.

It was 5:30am and Payton was drinking coffee sitting on the sofa with her knees up to her chest. She had a book in front of her, but she wasn't reading. She was watching the door getting more paranoid by the minute. When his key turned in the lock she put the mug down and stood.

"You smell like a bar."

Greg was so startled he dropped the files he had brought home to work on before his next shift that night. "Shit Payton you scared me." He eyed her then squatted down to pick up the papers he'd dropped.

"You didn't answer me."

"You didn't ask a question."

"Don't get smart with me."

"Stop acting like my mother and I'll think about it."

She watched him put the folders on his desk. He looked exhausted and part of her just wanted to tuck him into bed so he could sleep. But she was long past nurturing and well into controlling and since he'd let her up until this point she saw no reason to stop. "Stop acting like a child who needs a mother then." She spat out.

He inhaled slowly determined not to get mad, "Name one time in the last three months, since we moved in together,that I've been a child." Her mouth hung open but she said nothing, "Exactly."

"That's not the point." She huffed.

His shoulders sagged; he was so done with this, "What is the point Payton?"

She was running out of things to complain about, "You just work so much and with Sara…"

"Wait, back up. When did me working a lot bother you? We got together because we both had crazy schedules. Just because you've cut back on your hours doesn't mean I have to and please do NOT start with the Sara thing again."

"I cut back on my hours to spend more time with you." She protested.

"Don't put this on me Payton I didn't ask you to do that."

"Yeah but I thought it would be better for our relationship."

"What is our relationship? Define it for me." He leaned up against his desk and just stared at her.

"It's…well I…and you…" She stumbled over her words, "Well if you didn't work with…"

He held up his hands, "Let's just pretend for two seconds that Sara doesn't exist. What about this relationship is worth saving?" He asked, "Cause if there's something I'll do it, but if we have to keep coming back to Sara I swear to God I'm gonna break something."

He'd never spoken to her like that. She didn't like it, she liked the guy who did whatever she wanted, she liked the guy who bent to her will because he wanted to please her, "If Sara didn't exist we wouldn't have problems."

"That isn't an answer Payton. Sara is your excuse, but it's not her that's ruined this relationship, it's you." He pushed himself away from the desk and went into their bedroom. He came out with a pillow and their extra blanket, "I'll get my things next week." He said sadly.

The tears finally came, "What are you doing?"

"I'm sleeping on the couch. Then tomorrow I'm going to pack a bag and hang at Nick's or Warrick's till I can find another place. I'm not a pet Payton I'm a man and in your bid to compete with this ghost of Sara you've forgotten that. I can't do this anymore." He hung his head, "I'm sorry."

She couldn't think of a thing to say. There were so many things that had gone through her mind before he got home that she could say to blame him and in one sentence he had proved them all wrong. She spluttered and watched him lie down on the couch and close his eyes.

"So this is it?" She asked incredulously.

He didn't open his eyes, "Tell me what's worth saving and I'll try to save it."

She stomped to their room and shut the door. He wasn't cooperating! He wasn't supposed to be so, so…confident. She much preferred the guy who willingly moved in with her because she gave him an ultimatum…this Greg…this guy who stood up to her. She didn't like it. If he wanted to move out it was fine with her. She sniffed and cried into her pillow, she just wouldn't be here when he did it.