A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! These next few chapters are my favorite and I hope you like them too!

Chapter 7-

Greg was awakened from his sleep by the ringing of his cell phone. He reached for it on his nightstand, but it wasn't there. He remembered he'd left it on the dresser. He trudged over to where his phone lay and answered with a half awake "Hello?"

"Greg," He recognized Nick's voice. "Grissom just called me. Shawn's dead''

It felt as though Greg's heart had stopped. ''What! Nick this isn't funny.'' He accused.

"I'm not joking, get your ass over here," Nick then told Greg to meet him at Margaret's house. Greg proceeded to dress and drive over there in a hurry.

Riley had been at a home visit when she saw Margaret's number on her cell phone. She didn't think anything of it. She figured Margaret just had more questions so she didn't feel the need to speed up her interview.

After the visit, she climbed into her car and listened to her voice mail.

"Riley, this is Margaret," the familiar voice sobbed. "It's…It's Shawn. Please get here as soon as you can."

The tone of Margaret's voice worried Riley. She checked her watch, it had been 45 minutes since she'd called. Then she checked her schedule. She didn't have any more appointments for the day, so she headed over to Margaret's house.

As she drove, she tried to contact Margaret, but all she got was a busy signal. This caused her concern to grow and speed to increase.

As she reached Margaret's house, she saw the flashing lights. Her heart sank. Between the lights and Margaret's tone, she had a good idea what happened. She prayed she was wrong.

She jumped out of her car and showed her ID to the police officer as she rushed towards the house. She wasn't going to let anyone stop her from getting in there. She opened the door, ran to the kitchen and fell to her knees sobbing at the familiar body.

Greg stood turned with his back towards the body. He had just sealed some evidence in a zip lock baggy when he heard a cry. It wasn't Margaret's cry, as hers was loud, but it was a low whimper. Greg turned around then and was surprised that the cry had come from Ms. Parrish herself.

She didn't even see Greg as she kneeled in front of Shawn's body. Her face was pale and her hands were shaking.

Greg didn't know what to do as her watched her. She'd always seemed hard to him, and now, here she was, crying.

"Ms. Parrish," he said softly, squatting down beside her.

Startled, she looked at Greg and then quickly wiped her eyes. She hadn't even thought about anyone else being in the room and she hated for people to see her cry.

"Mr. Sanders," she replied, her bottom lip quivering. The tears were hard to hold back.

"Are you ok?" he asked her.

She let out a shaky sigh. "I…just…it's…" she stammered.

He put an arm around her and helped her to her feet. "I understand," he told her. Even though she couldn't say it, he understood.

"I just thought he'd be safe," Riley finally got out.

"We all thought he was safe," Greg replied, leading her to the living room. "We didn't think they knew where he was."

"I failed him," she sobbed as the tears started to break through once again.

''You did everything but that Riley,'' Greg softly said walking her to the couch. He sat down with her.

Riley shook her head. ''N-No, y-you don't understand,'' she said, her voice still shaky. ''This is, is my job.''

''Shawn was happy here though, and that's also your job,'' Greg comforted her. ''Listen, I know your life is kids,'' He tilted his head looking at her. ''I know occurrences like this don't happen to you, and that's how I know you didn't fail him.'' Greg reached and handed her a tissue from a nearby table.

Riley shook her head again dotting the tears with the tissue and said, "It's my job to protect him, though."

"You can't do it all, Riley," he put his arm around her trying to soothe her.

There was something in the way he said her name, a kindness. No one had said her name like that in a long time. "Why are you being so nice to me? I bet you think I'm the wicked bitch of the west."

He cracked a small smile. There was so much he could say to that but knew that this was not the time. Instead, he said, "I know how you feel right now, that's why. Shawn was a good kid."

She could tell by his tone he was being sincere. "I'm sorry I've been so rude. I just…"

"You're just really good at your job," Greg finished her sentence.

Riley could feel herself blush a little as she looked down. ''We both chose winners of professions didn't we?''

''You just need a break,'' Greg suggested. ''It's nice you're so committed but, take a few days off.''

Riley's eyes went wide. ''Oh no, I don't take days off ''

''Well you need to'' Greg assured her.

Riley looked at Greg thinking of another excuse. She knew he was right, and she hated to admit it.

I've never noticed how blue her eyes are. Greg thought looking into them.

They broke their gaze as the ringing of a cell phone was heard. They both reached for their cell phones as if it was natural.

''It's me,'' Riley sighed as she flipped open her phone ''Hello?''

Greg heard a man's voice on the other line.

''Parrish, the police called and told me what happened. Are you okay?'' It was her boss.

''I'm fine Mr. Moseby,'' Riley lied.

Greg quickly looked at her. She's a mess.

''Yea, I'll have the pap-,'' she was cut off as Greg took the phone from her hands.

''What are you doing?'' Riley snapped, leaning across him trying to reach for her phone.

''Mr. Moseby, I'm...John Smith from the Las Vegas Police Department,'' Greg said in a horribly fake British accent. ''Ms. Parrish here, has done an outstanding job and is showing some fatigue. I suggest you give her a few days off.''

Riley who had put her head in her hands during the middle of Greg's performance looked at him bewildered and speechless.

Greg winked at her. I'm for sure fired. She thought hearing Mr. Moseby's muffled voice on the other end.

Greg cleared his throat and said ''Thank you, I'll tell her. CHERRIO MATE!''

He gave a wide slide grin as he closed her phone.

Riley just stared at him and finally said ''ARE YOU INSANE!''

Greg chuckled. "Probably but he agreed with me. He said come back in a couple days. You work too hard."

She snatched her phone back from his hand. "I may work hard," she replied, starting to get angry. "But it's because I work for a noble cause."

"I'm not saying it's not noble," Greg tried to defend himself. "You just take it so personally. You're only human."

"It is personal," she responded. "I failed—" she shook her head, trying to shake away the tears.

"You didn't fail Shawn," Greg repeated his reassurances.

She shook her head more furiously. "Not Shawn," she sobbed. "Alison."

Greg was confused. "Who's Alison?"

"Curly black hair," were the only words she got out.

Greg was even more confused for a moment, but then he remembered the picture. "From the picture?" he asked, just to be sure.

She nodded. "We were best friends," she started, trying to steady her voice. "She'd have bruises and I'd ask questions. Finally, she told me what was happening, but only after I promised on my life and hers I wouldn't tell anyone."

Greg nodded, beginning to understand. He had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"So, I kept it in, not telling anyone, but her bruises kept getting worse and worse. Until, one day, she never showed for school. That's when I told, but it was too late." She started to cry again.

Greg put his arms around her, and she put her head on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Riley."

''Is that why you went into Child Protective Services?'' he asked softly as she cried. Riley nodded into his shoulder.

''I hate telling people. I don't need any pity parties,'' She said after awhile taking her head off his shoulder.

Greg nodded. "You're a really strong person."

"Not as strong as you think," she shook her head, sniffling. "I mean, I play this uptight bitch," she paused. "Who's really just afraid of ending up alone."

"No one wants to end up alone," Greg replied, placing his hand on hers.

For some reason, the touch of his hand snapped her back to reality. "And a bitch who apparently likes to blubber all over strangers," she said, seemingly continuing her previous thought.

She stood up quickly and wiped her eyes. She reached over Greg and grabbed another tissue and then blew her nose. "I've got to get out of here," she thought aloud.

It seemed that before Greg could even get to his feet, she was out the front door. He quickly went after her. He was still a little leery of her, but knew that she shouldn't be alone in her state.

He caught up to her right as she opened her car door. "Hold on," he told her, grabbing her arm.

She seemed surprised to see him. "What?"

Greg paused for a minute. Do I really want to do this? He knew the answer was yes. "Let me go with you."

She was startled. The depth of his kindness surprised her. "O-okay," she stammered.

"Ok," he replied. "Let me just go in and let my supervisor know."

'Nick'' Greg called walking back into the house.

''Hello loverboy'' Nick grinned up at him as he was taking some pictures of the crime scene. Shawn's body had been taken out and was already headed to Dr.Robinson.

''Shut it'' Greg frowned making a face. ''Look, I came to tell you I'm going with Riley. She's not in a good state right now.''

''And you're going to be the one to rescue her,'' Nick finished. He shook his head. ''I saw you Greg. I thought you and Ms. Parrish butted heads?'' He snapped a photo of a small blood puddle.

''Yea, well she needed a wakeup call and she got one'' Greg shrugged. ''I'm just going to calm her down. She needs a friend right now.''

Nick nodded and waved him off.

Greg walked back outside and saw Riley talking to a police officer. He waited patiently leaning on his car. There was no way he'd let her drive. She was too upset.

Moments later he saw her trudging back with an even more miserable look than before.

''What happened?'' Greg asked as he opened the door for her. I can still be a gentleman. He ran to the other side and got in.

''The officer just told me that he's going to have to ask me some questions since I was one of the last people to see Shawn.'' Riley looked at him. ''I can't believe they think I might have had something to do with. It."

"I'm sure it's just procedure. Do they need you right now?" Greg questioned.

Riley shook her head. "No, he said I can come by tomorrow. I guess they figure they know where I work."

Greg nodded an agreement. "So homeward bound?" he asked.

"I don't want to go home right now," Riley informed him. "I just want to go someone noisy."

"How about this pub I know?" Greg asked.

"Sounds good. I could use a beer…or two," she replied.

Probably a good thing I'm driving, Greg thought as he pulled out of the drive.

A couple hours and a few too many beers later, Riley was an open book; an open, talkative book. Greg was amazed at how much of a personality change she had gone through.

''I haven't drank like this since college'' Riley grinned taking another sip.

''I can tell'' Greg said over the loud music.

''Huh?'' she leaned over smiling like a fool. It was the first time he'd ever see her smile, and he liked it.

''I can't tell'' Greg grinned.

''I know it's hard to believe...I, Riley Parrish was a partier...'' she slurred laughing. ''But, I'll have you know Greg…I was cuh-ra-zee," She pointed out. ''I know how to have fun''

Greg just nodded. He was just a little worried about what her definition of 'fun' was. He also decided this was the best time to ply her for information, that he may or may not be able to use for blackmail, but in a good way, in the near future.

He knew that in their current positions, on opposite sides of the booth, that they wouldn't be able to hear each other well. So, he got up and moved to the other side of the booth, sitting next to her.

"So, what did you study in college?" he asked, expecting it to be something like social work.

"Political science," she replied.

"Poly Sci," Greg was surprised. "Changing the world one slogan at a time."

Riley let out a giddy laugh. "More like corrupting the government one sleazy politician at a time," she responded.

"Personal experience?" he asked.

Riley rolled her eyes and took a gulp of beer.

"I'll take that as a yes," he concluded. "So tell me about it."

Riley let out a big sigh. "It was right out of college. I was working on this guy's campaign. He had me all starry-eyed with his 'Kids must be protected' and 'Abusers must have harsher punishments.'"

"What happened?" Greg was curious.

"Let's just say, the only kids he cared about were in his pants," she let out another laugh at her own stupid joke.

Greg nodded. He understood. It also explained a lot.

''He made a move on you?'' he asked after taking a sip of his own drink.

''You could say that,'' she responded laughing. Greg smiled; he liked her laugh.

"So, what made you go into Child Services?" Greg asked facing her.

''When I couldn't change things politically, I figured I could my way,'' She shrugged. "I've always found I can rely on myself more than anyone else."

She titled her head back, trying to get the last of her beer. When she tilted her head back down, a strand of hair fell in her eyes. Greg instinctively brushed it out of the way, his fingertips lightly grazing her cheek.

She looked at him, into his eyes. She had never realized how expressive they were. She wasn't sure if it was the beer, the music, or just how nice Greg was being, but she was actually started to like him. And she was ok with it. She smiled bright and wide.

He returned her gaze and her smile. Had it been anyone else, he would have kissed her, but, being who it was, he was sure it was just the alcohol and didn't want to do anything that might be misconstrued later.

''A-Are you ready to go? It's 4 in the morning'' Greg cleared his voice.

Riley nodded a little disappointed and followed him out of the booth. She was a little wobbly so she grabbed onto Greg's arm for stability.

He helped her into the car, and drove her back to her apartment. The car ride was quiet. Greg could tell she was getting tired.

''Greg, are you still going to be this friendly tomorrow?'' Riley asked after a few minutes riding. Her head turned away from him, looking out the window.

''Are you?'' he replied.

She turned to look at him. "You really do think I'm a bitch, don't you?"

He sighed. It'd been a while since he'd been around someone this drunk and forgot how emotional they were. "Well, you haven't exactly been Miss Congeniality," he replied.

Her lower lip started to tremble and she turned away from him again.

"Riley," he said softly, placing his right hand one her shoulder and glancing over at her. "I can only imagine how tough it's been relating to people once you started doing what you've been doing. You see so much."

She nodded her head, not looking at him.

"I've seen glimmers of a wonderful person these last few days. I talked with her again tonight for a while," he glanced over at her again and flashed a smile.

She turned and looked at him. "You really think I'm wonderful?"

''Yea, I do'' Greg nodded.

''I am really sorry that I was like that, you know that right?'' she asked.

Greg nodded again. "I know," He really hoped she wasn't like that anymore. They'd be back to square one.

He parked in the parking lot of her apartment complex and helped her up the stairs. Riley fumbled with her key trying to unlock the door and he found himself helping her again by placing his hand over hers and turning the handle.

Greg opened the door and they entered her apartment. Riley made way to the kitchen and he followed. "Want some coffee or something?'' she asked starting to brew a pot.

Greg shook his head ''Nah, I'm good.''

''Good God,'' she groaned looking at her answering machine ''Twenty-four messages.''

Greg chuckled.

''You think it's funny, eh Sanders?'' she turned to him. ''I will guarantee you, 15 of those are from my mother.'' Riley shook her head.

"It's nice to have some one that cares," he responded.

"Yeah, I suppose," she replied, coming back into the living room where Greg was. "Have a seat," she offered.

Greg looked at his watch again. "It's really late," he responded. "I should probably be going."

"Please don't," she said, walking over to him.

He was surprised by the tone of her voice. She seemed sad, lonely.

"I just…I just don't want to be alone right now," she told him. "It's not like this is the first child that I've seen die, it's just," she let out another sigh and then shook her head.

"What?" he asked, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"It's just I don't want you to go," she responded and then kissed him.

He was surprised at first, but quickly gave in to her soft, sweet lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. He could feel her heart pounding.

Then he remembered, she was drunk. He broke away from her. ''I'm sorry. I can't do this,'' he shook his head ''At least not now, when your drunk''

''Huh?''she asked. ''Greg, you just said that really fast'' she burst out laughing.

"You're drunk, so you probably won't even remember this.'' Greg looked at her ''I don't want to do this right now."

Before she could respond Greg's phone began to ring. He looked at it. It was Nick.

''Hello?'' Greg answered.

Riley crossed her arms, her cheeks turning red. She couldn't figure out if she was angry with him or embarrassed at her own actions.

"Hey lover boy," Nick greeted him. "How's the date?"

Greg turned his back to Riley. "This is not a good time," he replied.

"That good, huh?" Nick chided.

"Was there a reason to your call?" Greg was getting impatient. He could only imagine the expression on Riley's face.

"Chill, bro," Nick responded. "Just checking in, was trying to give you a way out if you needed."

"Ok. I'll get that to you tomorrow," Greg said, letting Nick know everything was all right.

"Gotcha. Later," Nick replied, hanging up the phone.

Greg closed his phone and turned back to face Riley. Her arms were still crossed and her cheeks were almost as red as her hair. He knew he needed to handle this very carefully.

Before he even said anything though, Riley spoke up.

''Listen Greg, I'm sorry I was so,'' she paused looking for the right word. "Forward," she mumbled. She laughed to herself and said, "God, this is so embarrassing." She looked down.

"Why?" he asked. "Because you did something that was human?"

"Basically," she mumbled again, still looking down.

"Riley," he said, touching her arm.

She shook his hand off. "It's late. You'd probably better go," she tried to keep her voice from cracking. "I believe you know where the door is."

"Come on," he said. "I don't want the night to end this way."

"Well, then, good morning and good bye," she replied, walking towards the door and opening it.

Greg had had enough. He didn't want to fight with her anymore. "Fine," he said, walking out of the apartment.

As soon as he was through the door, she shut it before he could say anything else. How stupid am I? She chastised herself.

A/N: What'd you think!