Chapter 7

Alex sat in a chair next to Greg's bed. Her hair was now deep red and cut just barely above her shoulders. Greg was resting in a room after having multiple tests and a fair amount of stitches. He had been lucky; no vital organs had been punctured. He had lost a lot of blood, though, and was going to be in the hospital for a few days.

Alex was actually surprised when she got to the hospital. The only other person there was Gil. She'd expected the whole graveyard shift.

"Where is everyone?" she asked him.

"On assignment," he answered. "It's been a busy night. You just missed Nick."

"Is Nick ok? Was he hurt?" Alex was concerned.

"He was cut, but it wasn't deep. He'll be fine," Gil reassured her.

Then, trying to lighten the mood and change the subject, she poked him in the shoulder and joked, "If it's such a busy night how come you're still here?"

"Waiting on you," he responded and smiled.

She hugged him. "Well, I'm here. I'll go sit with Greg; you get to work. Give me a call when you're free."

He left and she'd been sitting with Greg ever since. She wasn't sure how long it'd been, a few hours at least, but he was still asleep. They must've given him some really good drugs, she thought, watching his chest rise and fall.

She had just stood up to stretch and get some coffee when he awoke.

"Hey," Greg groggily greeted her. He was surprised to see Alex and her change in hair color.

"Greg," she smiled, glad he was awake. "How are you?"

He fumbled for the bed remote and pushed a button causing the head of the bed to rise. He winced in pain. "I've…been better."

"Yeah, I see that," she replied. "But you're ok?"

"Well," he started, looking down. "I'm still in one piece." Then he made a show of stretching his hands and looking under the blanket where he wiggled his feet. "And I still seem to have all my pieces."

She let out a small laugh. She knew he was trying to make a joke. "That's good."

"What're you doing here?" he asked.

She smiled again, walking over and sitting on the edge of his bed. "Gil told me."

"You came just for me?" he was curious and hopeful.

"Well, I was actually on my way to Vegas when I found out," she didn't want to lie.

"Oh," he seemed a little hurt. "Well, I'm glad you're here."

"Greg," she said softly. "It's just—"

Greg interrupted, "It's ok, Alex. I understand." He paused for a moment. "Nick and I talked."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You talked? Was it Nick who stabbed you?" She let out a laugh.

"Ha, ha," Greg was not amused.

"Sorry," she replied. "What did you talk about?"

"I've been selfish," he said and then paused, trying to figure out how to explain. "I've wanted you to be happy, but only happy with me. And it was pointed out to me that if I love you as much as I say I do then I have to want your happiness, with or without me."

Alex took Greg's hand. "Greg," she replied softly, as tears started to form.

"Let me finish," he stopped her. "I did a lot of thinking and I realized the truth in that. I also got a good glimpse at his feelings for you. I never realized how much…" his voice trailed off. He didn't know if Nick had ever said the words to her and he didn't want to do it for him. "Regardless, I did a lot of soul searching and, Alex, I want you to be happy, even if that means you're with…someone else."

The tears had started to run down her cheeks and she smiled weakly. "Greg," she said again softly, gently patting his hand. She didn't know what to say.

She bent over to give Greg a kiss on the cheek. As she did, Nick appeared in the doorway to Greg's room. But from his perspective, it looked like more than a kiss on the cheek. He froze.

She sat up from the kiss. "I love you, too, Greg." She paused wiping away the tears from her eyes.

In the moment it took her to wipe away her tears, Nick disappeared from the doorway. His heart shattered after witnessing the scene. He'd hoped after all that had happened, maybe, just maybe she'd admit her feelings for him. Apparently, he was wrong and he went to mourn his loss in solitude.

After wiping away her tears, Alex continued, "But, I just don't…can't…"

"I'm not the one who makes you happy anymore," Greg finished for her.

She nodded, tears still flowing down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Greg. I'm so sorry."

He gently rubbed her arm. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Alex. I'm the one who let you down."

She shook her head, still not having the proper words. She looked down at the floor and then quietly said, "I'm the one who let everyone down."

"You didn't let anyone down," Greg tried to reassure her. "But I know one person who was deeply hurt, probably more than you realize."

She looked him straight in the eye. "Nick?"

He nodded. "He can't even bring himself to say the words. And he hasn't been the same since you left."

She bit her lower lip. She too had to admit she'd been selfish. She had never thought about the consequences of her actions on anyone else. "I, I didn't realize," she stammered.

"You might want to consider seeing him while you're here too," Greg replied.

She nodded. "Do you think he'd be home now?" she asked, looking at her watch.

Greg looked at the clock on the table. "I don't know, but it never hurts to try."

Alex stood up. "You'll be ok?"

He gave a weak smile that betrayed the amount of pain he was in. "Fine," he said, waiving his hand in dismissal.

She turned and started to walk out. As she got to the door, she turned back to look at Greg. "Thank you," she said in a barely audible whisper and then left.

Greg watched her disappear down the hall and then closed his eyes. He was disheartened that she didn't want him anymore, yet he was proud of himself for doing the right thing. Maybe now he'd be able to forgive himself, if only a little.

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Sara angrily dusted for fingerprints. She appeared to be trying to rub the prints out, not make them discernable. She was upset at being at the crime scene by herself. Grissom should be here helping her, but he was at the hospital, waiting for her.

She swore under her breath. She couldn't believe her own feelings. The girl had attempted suicide and she was still jealous. Maybe it was because she was still waiting for Grissom to finish the conversation he had started the day Alex got out of the hospital. Or maybe it was because she knew she'd never be as important to him as Alex was.

After what seemed like forever, Sara heard a car pull up. She looked out the window and saw Grissom. Finally, she thought. At least I can get some help with this scene if nothing else.

He walked in the door of the house and saw Sara working diligently. She had purposely changed her expression, trying not to make her anger known.

Before he could ask what needed to be done, Sara turned to look at him and the light from a window caught her hair just right. For a moment, highlights, the same color as Alex's hair now was, became visible. Grissom stared for a moment, something stirring in his heart, a memory tickling the back of his mind. He remembered the conversation he'd started but never finished.

Sara smiled awkwardly at Grissom. She wondered why he was so silent. "Glad you're here, Gris," she told him. "There's a lot to be done." And she started dusting again, looking back towards the shelf in front of her.

"Sara," he said.

She turned and once again looked directly at him.

"I know I haven't told you enough, but I hope you know," he paused, not sure how to actually say it.

Sara stared at him. She didn't believe what she was hearing.

"I hope you know how much you mean to me," he finished his thought and without giving her time to respond he added, "I'll get to work in the kitchen." He left and walked out of sight.

Sara stood dumfounded. It wasn't quite 'I love you,' but from Grissom it was close enough. And that was good enough for her.