Chapter 9--The First Answer
Greg looked up to Nick. His left eye was nearly swollen shut and two butterfly bandages held together a cut along his cheekbone. Greg shrugged and sighed. "At least I didn't get blown up this time." He had lowered the towel, which held an ice pack, thus giving Nick a good look at him.
Nick sank down beside the car and without thought or caution, reached up to brush a long strand of hair from Greg's brow. "Oh God...Baby...are you okay?" At Nick's words, Greg smiled, but then winced as his bandages tightned. "Hey," he said, " no fair making the injured guy so happy."
"What happened?" Nick asked, unaware of anything or anyone, but Greg who sat before him.
"Big guy. Big first. Big black eye." Greg pointed to his face.
"G...tell me what happened." Nick set his hand upon Greg's knee and his thumb drew soft circles onto Greg's blue jeans.
Greg closed his eyes and sighed. "I dunno Nicky, it was weird." He opened his eyes and looked to Nick. "The moment the guy saw me, he blew a fuse. Apparently, I'm a 'lying, cheating bitch.'"
"What!" Nick was now thoroughly confused.
Greg shrugged again and put the ice pack back against his face. "We do know that he is the one who hit Scott." Greg let out a shuddered sigh.
"Did he say anything about the other car? The other driver? Greg..." Nick held up the nearly forgotten folder in his hand. "We've got enough here for another warrant."
Greg looked up then, his eyes glistened with tears. "Good, because apparently 'Big Guy' knows him and he's responsible for Scott's death, too!"
"He does?" Nick kept his eyes on Greg's and he watched an anger grow there. "What happened?"
"Nick..." It was not Greg who said his name. It was Grissom. Nick looked over his shoulder. It was not clear how long Grissom had been standing there, behind him. Sophia stood there, too.
"Nick, go with Sophia and get started on that second warrant. Greg..." Gris sighed deeply. "I think we'll need you to go home and take a break from this.
"Grissom!" both Nick and Greg protested.
"Nick...with Sophia." Gil Grissom spoke far too calmly for Nick's liking, but he obeyed his boss. His heart longed to stay with Greg, though. Nick also knew that to solve this case quickly might just be the best thing for Greg. Slowly he stood, giving one last soft squeeze to Greg's knee. Greg met his eyes and he smiled softly. "It's okay, Nicky...I'll be fine."
Nick had no other course, but to walk away with Sophia. As soon as they reached the door, Nick looked back to Grissom talking with Greg. Sophia touched Nick's elbow. "He'll be fine. Cmon, let's go finish this up."
Nick just nodded, his teeth tightly clenched again. He also wanted to know why Greg was attacked. He told himself to keep control of his anger. (Stay focused.) His mind's eye saw Greg's face again, swollen and bleeding. Focus was going to be hard to find.