Disclaimer: It's all mine! I make millions off of CSI! Which is precisely why I'm a struggling college freshman who's got a grand total of $1.78 in her pocket.

A/N: Hee hee, hiya! (ducks flying waffles thrown by annoyed reviewers) Okay, so it was a cliffie, although not much of one. Thought I'd just throw it in there to keep you guessing (not). It's about time everyone else finds out. I toyed with a bunch of different ways to have them 'come out' to the group, but I'm sticking to fairly traditional. Anyways, enjoy!

A Marriage of Convenience

Chapter Ten

"Well then tell us!" Nick said, slightly exasperated. "If you're not dating, and you're not engaged, what exactly are you two?"

"Now Nicky, I know you're a better CSI than that," Grissom spoke up, lips turned up at the corners in amusement. "Catherine and Warrick too. After all, it's fairly obvious."

"Well," Catherine huffed slightly. "If you're so smart Dr. Bugman, than what are they?"

"Husband and wife, married, life partners," he stated simply. "Take your pick."

"Married?" Nick stared at Grissom as if he had two heads. "Like they'd ever get married, except to their work maybe."

"I resent that!" Greg cried indignantly.

"And he's right," Sara added, barely containing a laugh. "Geez, I really wonder how you got to be a CSI level III Nicky, with brilliant deduction skills like that."

"You mean he's right?" Warrick stared at her. "Gris ain't just pulling one over on us?"

"Nope," Sara did laugh this time. "How'd you know anyways Grissom? We only told Doc Robbins."

"Human resources. I have to sign off on any change of address, change of marital status, change of name forms, etcetera, that come through involving my shift members," Grissom smiled at the looks of shock on everyone's faces.

"Well color me surprised," Jacqui shook her head before standing up and coming over to give them each a hug. "Congratulations you two. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some prints to sort."

Archie, Bobby, Mia, David, and Doc Robbins also all extended their congratulations, giving them hugs and handshakes before they too got back to work. Greg and Sara turned back to their team-mates and friends, looking at them to see their reactions. Grissom was watching them with a small smile on his face, amused at the events. Catherine was sitting there looking slightly annoyed that she hadn't seen the obvious signs in front of her face before then. It was probably just because it wasn't something she ever considered a possibility for them; hell, Sara wouldn't have considered it to be a possibility for her and Greg either a month ago. Nick and Warrick were probably the worst, in Sara's opinion, to see. Warrick looked upset that they she hadn't told him; after all, they were pretty good friends. Nick's face showed his disappointment, and that hurt Sara the most out of all of them. Nicky was like a brother to her, and she respected his opinion of her a lot.

"Surprise?" Greg said awkwardly, trying to break the silence.

"Uh, yeah," Catherine said, raising her eyebrows in a sort of 'duh!' gesture.

"I was wondering when you were planning on telling everyone," Grissom said thoughtfully.

"We wanted to adjust to the idea before having everyone do the same," Greg shrugged.

"Not to mention we wanted to prove that we could continue to work Greg professionally with each other, and not let our relationship affect our job," Sara added.

"But we're your friends," Warrick stated, spinning idly in the chair. "You could've…should've told us."

"We're sorry, we really are," Greg turned to face him, his hands in his pockets as he slightly rocked back and forth on his feet. "But Sara and I are private people; Sara especially. We didn't want to come out and tell you when we started dating in case it didn't last. We didn't want things to be awkward at work if we were dodging around each other. I mean, you all remember what Grissom and Sara were like around each other. No offense."

"None taken," Grissom nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the truth of the statement.

"You're right, but damn," Warrick shook his head in disbelief. "I never pictured you two together."

"Well to be fair, neither did I," Sara's eyes crinkled at the corners as a slight smirk graced her features. She turned serious as she looked over at Nick who had yet to say anything. "Nick, say something?"

"What do you want me to say Sara?" his voice was cold, and angry. "You're one of my best friends, and you didn't tell me. I'm hurt, and I'm angry that you don't care enough about our friendship to tell me that you got MARRIED!"

"Nicky," Sara started, feeling like crying, her emotions catching up with her after the stressful day so far.

"No Sara! I'm sorry, but I'm hurt! Recently you've been keeping secrets; the dancing, the Norwegian, and now all this! Why? In the past we've always been open, I mean, you're like a sister to me!"

"And you're my brother!" Sara interjected. Greg slid his arm around her shoulders, rubbing his hand up and down her arm comfortingly.

"I don't know if that's how you really feel, if you can't even tell me about your marriage," he stopped her protest. "I know you gave your reasons, but I wouldn't have told, and you damn well know that sis," he spat what would usually be considered a term of endearment, but now sounded like a curse. "You should have told me Sara, no excuses."

And without a second glance, Nick got up and left the room, presumably to cool off somewhere. Sara felt Greg's hands on her shoulders, turning her around so he was hugging her to him. Catherine, Warrick, and Grissom all exchanged sad looks. They knew out of all of them that Nicky would be the angriest, but they didn't think it would be that bad. Grissom nodded pointedly towards the newly discovered couple, then towards the door. Catherine and Warrick nodded back, and all three of them quietly got up and left the room, Grissom closing the door behind him.

"Hey, it's okay," Greg said soothingly, lightly rubbing his hand up and down her back.

"No it's not!" she snapped as she jerked away, wiping at her face angrily with her hand. "Nicky's mad at me, who knows what the others really think, and I feel horrible about everything!"

Greg dropped his hands to his sides before he sat down, not looking at her. He was wondering if she now regretted everything that had happened. Sara finally took a breath, and looked to where he was. She tilted her head back as if looking for guidance from the powers that be, before heaving a deep sigh, reigning in her emotions

"I'm sorry kjære," her voice was quiet as she sat down next to him. "I just feel embarrassed about getting all weepy and splotchy."

"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth," he quoted. "Benjamin Disraeli."

"You're taking after Grissom too much," she gave a weak laugh, and Greg felt himself smile, knowing he caused it.

"That's not such a bad thing," he shrugged, and they settled into a comfortable silence for a few minutes, before Greg spoke up again. "It's been an emotionally draining day, huh?"

"Yeah, what with Catherine questioning me, and then this whole mess with Nicky," Sara sighed. "And I hate feeling so emotionally exposed, especially in front of the others. I know, I know, it's nothing to be ashamed of, and I've talked about it with my PEAP counselor, but changing is hard. I just feel so vulnerable, and I don't like that feeling. And now I took it out on you, and I shouldn't have."

"It's all right, that's what I'm here for," he shrugged again, moving an arm to pull her onto his lap so he could wrap his arms around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. "And besides, talking with you keeps me from going and finding Stokes and kicking his ass for hurting you."

"Well you'll have to wait a while to do that, I'm afraid," Grissom's soft voice broke in as he, Catherine, and Warrick entered the room. "I sent him on a de-comp out at Lake Mead."

"Shucks," Greg pretended to be disappointed. "Next shift then."

"Sure, let me know when and where, and I'll help," Catherine smiled at the picture the two of them made.

"As long as it's not on company time or property, feel free," Grissom smiled. "Now, we've got two other cases. Warrick, Sara, you're with me on a 419 in Henderson, Catherine, Greg, you've got a 419 in Summerland. Retired Mandalay Bay Casino owner, the press is all over it, so Cath, work your magic. Greg, listen to her, this is your first high-profile case."

"Will do!" Catherine grinned, snatching the assignment slip.

"Wait, Sara, Greg, are you guys all right to work these?" Grissom asked before he dismissed them.

"Yeah," Greg said, while Sara nodded. "We're good."

"All right, then let's head out," Grissom dismissed them.

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"All right, spill," Catherine demanded once she and Greg were in the car for the ride to Summerland.

"Spill what?" Greg feigned innocence.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about boy, so don't test my patience," she retorted, hiding a grin as he paled in fear.

"That, yeah, hee hee, uh, well," he stuttered slight, nervous. Catherine could be very…intimidating at times. And the fact he was 'trapped' in the car with her didn't help.

"Here, I'll make it easy on you and play 20 questions. When did you two start dating?" she posed a question.

"The fourth of July," he replied, the answer coming out easily. He and Sara had talked about all this, discussing and memorizing what their stories would be. "I invited her to go to a picnic in my neighborhood, and then go see the fireworks."

"Really? Cool," Catherine said more to herself than him. "How often did you guys date?"

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"Well, we didn't really call it dating for a while, but it varied. We'd go get breakfast together after shift sometimes, or we'd just hang out at one of our places and watch movies. Once or twice we went to Lake Mead and did some hiking. Another time we went to a concert at the amphitheatre and had a picnic. Different dates, different things," Sara shrugged slightly as she answered Warrick's question.

"Sounds like fun," Grissom commented.

"It was, he's a great guy," Sara answered, a smile lighting up her features.

"Damn girl," Warrick laughed. "You must be in love, cause your face just lights up when you talk about him."

"Yeah, I'm pretty lucky."

"How did he propose to you?" Grissom asked, curious. He had never been able to quite figure Greg's personality out. He was quirky, and totally unexpected in his actions most of the time, so he was wondering if Greg had proposed in a more traditional manner, or something crazy.

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"She had mentioned one time that as a kid, she loved to look at the stars," Greg began. "I called up a couple of people from the University, pulled a few strings, and set up a romantic dinner for two there on the first of November. I talked with an old friend of mine who teaches music at the high school, and she arranged for some of her orchestra students to form a quintet to play for us for extra credit in the class. When I picked Sara up, I blindfolded her and drove her to the observatory. I led her in and cued the kids to start playing while I opened the dinner trays from an Italian café we both like a lot. Then I finally took it off."

"What next?" Catherine said impatiently.

"Hold on, I gotta actually take time to breathe," he teased her. "Anyways, we ate, then I asked her for a dance before the kids had to go home. They had a curfew," he said, in reply to her questioning glance. "Then I turned on the telescope and asked her to help me find a set of specific coordinates."

"For what?"

"A star. I told her I had 'bought' one, and named in, through one of those sites," Greg smiled. "She asked me what it was named, and I told her Eternity."

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"Why Eternity?" Warrick asked.

"That's exactly what I said," Sara laughed. "And he said, because that's how long I hope you'll agree to be my wife for. Then he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring box, and flipped it open."

"And you said yes," Grissom stated the obvious.

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"And she said no, practically giving me a heart attack!" Greg laughed. "She said she'd be my wife for longer than eternity."

"That's really sweet Greg," Catherine was awed.

"You sound surprised," his tone of voice was slightly hurt sounding.

"Honestly, yes," she replied bluntly. "I know you're a nice guy Greg, but sometimes it's easy to forget with your quirkiness in the lab, and your taste in angry sounding music."

"Oh, okie dokie," he said, understanding now. "Is that the scene?"

"Yep, that's it. Now, all we have to say is no comment, and don't even think of saying anything else or you will wish you had gotten a de-comp by the time I'm done chewing you out," Catherine smiled sweetly before climbing out of the car.

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"And then we got married two weeks later, because we didn't want a big fuss, or to wait," Sara grinned. "I mean, can you imagine what Catherine would have done if we told you all?"

"What?" Warrick couldn't help but laugh, Sara's humorous tone was catching.

"She would've dragged me around town for months!" Sara exclaimed. "I would've been stuck picking out china patterns, wedding stationary, flowers, invitation calligraphers, a wedding location, a reception location, complete with a DJ and reception menu. Not to mention I would've ended up with a huge, white, poofy, monstrosity trying to pass itself off as a wedding dress."

"That I can see," Grissom joined in the laughter.

"And that's only the beginning," Sara shook her head. "She would've thought of a million other ways to torture me."

"Probably, but hey, it's only because you're her friend," Warrick shrugged. "Not to mention she wants practice for when it's Lindsey's turn."

"All right, here we are," Grissom announced as they pulled up along the curb in front of the house where their body was.

"Let's go catch ourselves a bad guy," Sara nodded as they pulled their 'game faces' on, grabbed their kits, and went to investigate.

A/N: Okie dokie everyone, that's it for this chapter. Don't hate me for making Nicky to be the 'bad guy' in this chapter, but that just how I see him reacting. He doesn't like secrets being kept from him, and I see him and Sara as brother and sister. Things will work out next chapter probably, don't worry. Also, we get some background on Sara and Greg's relationship- all made up by them. I like the not-real proposal scene best myself lol. Sorry if the last half was confusing, but I thought it'd be kinda neat- Greg and Sara being questioned by Catherine, Warrick, and Grissom, respectively. One last thing, very important, so please read, is that I am going to be having final's this week, and then I have to pack up all my dorm stuff and get it home and unpacked. Then I have a camp counselor job for a couple of weeks, so I'm sorry to say that I will not be updating till early June. Please don't hate me! Have no fear though, because there is no way I will leave this story incomplete- it will be finished! Now, having said all that, review!