Chapter Two: Infractions

"I know, I know…you don't have to say a word. I know exactly what you're thinking. I'm being crazy and ridiculous; I've heard it enough times today."

"That's not what I'm thinking," he said easily, sliding further in to the room. Of course, he was thinking along the same lines, but he wouldn't tell her that. He didn't want to see her go, but he wouldn't force her to say either.

Sara gave him half a smile, shaking her head. "It's okay Greg, I don't blame you."

"Really…if you want to go, you should. I'm happy for you."

It was hard to say, but she needed to hear it. He had heard wind of Sara's decision just the other night, through talk from the lab. Some of the comments the others had made had been harsh, crude even. If they affected him that much, he could only wonder how they had affected Sara.

"I got these for you…" he handed her the small package he had brought in with him, meeting her look of confusion with a smile. "It gets cold over there during the winters…I would know…"

She smiled as she unwrapped the gloves and hat, putting them down as she gave him a hug. "Thank you Greg…"

He blinked, opening his eyes as the phone rang again. His phone…he answered it with a yawn, smiling as he heard her voice.

"Morning sleepyhead," she teased, her voice soft, full of mirth. "Or should I say afternoon?"

"It's four, Sara" he reminded her, his eyes still closed as he let out a sigh.

"Come on tough guy, suck it up. You have to be at work in three hours anyways."

Greg nodded, yawning another time. "Yes, but I'd love to sleep for those last three hours."

"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" she laughed.

"Depends on who's doing the paying," he pointed out, easing himself up into a sitting position. He frowned, hearing all the noise in the background. "Sara, what are you doing?"

"Cooking," she replied quickly, keeping her answer short.

"Sara…you don't know how to cook," Greg reminded her, wrapping his one free hand around his knees, the covers pulled up around him.

"I thought I'd give it a try. I mean, now that I only work eight hours a day, and have my weekends off, I have to find something to do in my free time."

"Okay…" Greg agreed quietly, clearing his throat. "Should you…ah, should you really be talking to me at the same time? What if you need to call the fire department or something?"

"Greg," she chided, her voice hiding the amazement that was certainly playing on her face, "have some faith in me, will you?"

He smiled, doing his best not laugh. "Okay, okay…so, why cooking?"

"I don't know," she admitted, the tone of her voice already changing, "It's cheaper than takeout, healthier that's for sure. More work, but then again, I have more time. May as well try new experiences, huh?"

"Fine, but the next time you decide to do something suicidal, like skydiving, call me first, okay?"

"Greg," she huffed, unable to keep from laughing as she heard him chuckle. "Don't worry, besides, it costs a fortune to go skydiving around here."

"You can't be serious," he exclaimed, more alert now. He calmed down when she laughed.

"You know me better than that, but it is fun to get your blood pumping."

"We talked about this already, giving me heart attacks is not a sport."

"Depends on who's playing," she shot back at him, repeating his earlier phrase.

"Looks who giddy today," Greg smirked, leaning back against his pillow.

"Well, I should be, considering I got a promotion today."

"A promotion? Already, I mean, you've only been there for about three weeks…"

"Eighteen days, but who's counting?" Sara laughed, becoming quiet once again.

"A CSI level two already? That's really great."

"They want me up to level three by next month, they're really confident in my abilities. It might be too soon though; they had to pull a few strings to get me promoted already."

"Do you get to work solo's yet?"

"Nah, Max is still my partner. Jerry promises me that I can pick my own partner when I reach level three though. I'm looking forward to it."

"Honestly Sara, he can't be that annoying…"

"I thought you were annoying Greg," she cut him off, "but he really pulls it off."

"You think I'm annoying?" he questioned, somewhat hurt.

"In a good way," she reassured him, "the kind I look forward to."

"That's good," Greg smiled, "I'm happy for you Sara, I really am…but I have to get going now."

"Alright," her voice had changed too, becoming drearier. The goodbyes were always the hardest to say. "I'll call you later."

Greg sighed as he hung up, holding the phone in the palm of his open hand. He was happy for her, but at the same time it made things even worse. Three weeks had passed, and she already had a promotion, with another one on its way. It really had happened, Sara had really left…

He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing as he did so. He had hoped, and prayed that she would come back, that one day he would walk into the lab, and see her standing there. He longed to wrap his arms around her slender frame, longed to hold her one last time…was it so selfish of him?

Now with her promotion, there would be no way that she would be headed back…it was a surprise that she hadn't forgotten about him…muttering a curse Greg staggered to his feet, ready to face another day.

"You need to work late," Catherine said, walking past him.

"I've worked late the last two nights," Greg reminded her, prepping the last of the samples. "Plus overtime for the lab, without pay. I want my sleep tonight."

"Too bad, I need someone to cover the case tonight."

"Get Warrick then, I hear he's available."

Catherine let out a sigh, turning to him, "Warrick has the night off, and Nick's already left. I have a daughter at home, and since you no longer have a life, you get to stay here."

Greg was tempted to send his own comment back, but refrained. Arguing was the last thing he wanted to do now. He had a headache as it was, and Catherine's comments were the result of her irritability…or so he hoped.

"Catherine, I have already worked my shift, plus four hours of lab work without pay. I haven't had a break since lunch, I'm tired, I'm sore, and I'm going home."

"Are you arguing with me Greg?" Catherine wondered lightly, watching him now.

"No offense Catherine, but you do not have authority over me, I'm Grissom's responsibility. You don't like my attitude, talk to Grissom about it."

"Actually, when Grissom isn't around, I am your authority," she reminded him.

Greg let out a stern smile, looking up at her. "I'm a big boy Catherine, and as a big boy, I'm choosing to go home after I finish these samples."

"You know Greg, considering all that you've done to this team, you could take a few hours every once in a while."

Greg raised an eyebrow, surprised at her last comment. "Everything that I've done?"

"The only reason we're shorthanded is because Sara left, and you had to convince her to go. You even drove her to the airport."

"Because I don't trust those taxi drivers, especially at that hour. Why are you coming down so hard on me about this?"

"Everyone needs someone to blame," Catherine shrugged her shoulders. "I need you to go through the files on my desk; we're looking for an ex-con, mid-thirties, white male. You think you can handle that?"

"I told you once already, I'm going home," Greg declared a final time.

He looked up as the door opened, frowning as Ecklie turned from him to Catherine. "Is there a problem here?"

TBC