Xombe – I'm glad you like it, I hope I can keep your interest.

Espina Oscura – Thanks for your reviews HUGS Espina I think it's hard to write an OC, it's too easy to make them a Mary/Marty Sue.

Mellaithwen: Angst is my favorite. I have a tendency to write from the end to the beginning and sometimes the end becomes the beginning (does that make any sense at all?) My computer freezes up every time I hit the review button that makes me scream 'cause then I can't go on to the next chapter without rebooting.

nkfm: Thanks, I'm glad you like it. Greg was a little absent in that last chappie but I'll try to focus more on him.

Warricksgirl: Thank You! I hope I won't disappoint you with the next chapters.

Annibal: Glomps Anni If I wanted to be evil I'd end it here but thankfully the muse is still whispering to me, albeit not a lot lately. What I thought would be a few thousand word story is turning into a roller coaster ride of epic proportions and it aint over yet!

Loozy: I'm happy that I still have your interest, I'm glad you like it.

Scribble: Glomps Scribble LOL! You need a parade girl 'cause you're an awesome and inspiring writer! OCs are so hard to write, they're either boring or Mary/Marty Sue's that make you sick in their perfection.

xCrimsonxBlackxBloodx: as Dylan said: "I love hugs, it's the kissing that freaks me out" LOL! Thanks for all your encouragement, without the reviewers, the muse would stop talking to me.

Csi-fan88: Thank you! I'm making this up as I go along so it's kinda scary how well it's fitting together.

lins: Thanks for updating! I'm not sure if my reviews are getting through, stupid computer keeps freezing up. Yes, Grissom does have a softer side, he just hides it so very well.

Sillie:another one of my favorite authors had stopped by! Thanks for the encouragement. I saw a clip of Grissom smiling after Greg passed his test and that has inspired me to make Grissom a more caring character, no one can smile like he did and not care.

FWE! The worlds most patient and understanding beta. Thanks so much for all your help – it's a better story with your help.

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Hodges stood in the front lobby, arms crossed and frowning at the smoked glass panels that had been installed in the front of the DNA lab. "I've been trying to get a new task chair for a month and Sanders gets to completely remodel his lab." he complained. "Maybe I should fall down and get a boo boo and Grissom will sign my reqresistion request."

"Maybe you should fall down and get dead." Sara sniped, overhearing him.

Archie smiled evilly at the other tech, "And not necessarily in that order."

Hodges eyes narrowed as he watched the other two walk down the hall and into the DNA lab. "Someday that little twerp will get his comeuppance. Then everyone will know who the real genius around here really is."

---

Greg seemed to be in a much better mood after the new glass was installed. With Grissom's help, he'd moved his lab table so that his back was to the wall and he could see all three of the lab entrances. He was smiling and humming along with the music that was playing at nearly its normal volume while he worked. While not yet back to his big productions when he gave his results to the CSIs, Greg was still making them play guessing games before handing over the printouts with his usual flair.

Nick looked up as Greg came in the break room to refill his coffee cup. "Hey Greg, are you hungry? I have a couple of those roast beef sandwiches you like."

"No." he replied tiredly.

"Oh come on, Warrick's not here and I'll have to throw it out if you don't eat it." Nick wheedled.

"What about Grissom?" Greg pulled out a chair across from the CSI and practically fell into it.

"He's already eaten."

"I smell a conspiracy here."

"That's horseradish man." said Nick, pushing one of the sandwiches across the table.

"It's horse something." Greg peeled the sandwich apart. "Got any mustard?"

"I can't believe you ruin a good sandwich with yellow mustard." Nick teased. It was an old argument.

"Horseradish makes your breath stink."

"Horseradish is good for you," Nick tossed a packet of French's to the tech who caught it with practiced ease. "it's like a vegetable or something."

"It's an herb Nick." Greg tore open the packet with his teeth and squirted it over the bread.

"Herb. Vegetable. Same thing." Nick shook some potatoes out onto a paper plate. "Here eat some of these too."

"Curly fries?" Greg smiled.

Nick pulled a small container out of the bag and set it on the table next to Greg's plate. "And buttermilk ranch dressing."

"You know if I didn't like this so much I'd be insulted."

"I know, now stop talking and eat."

"You sound like my mother."

"Want me to call her?" Nick threatened.

"Ha Ha. You don't even know the number."

"Michigan information please," Nick pantomimed talking on the phone, "Norway, Ella Sanders."

"Hey! How'd you know my mother's name?"

"It's in your address book. You left it open on the kitchen table."

"No I didn't."

"Okay, so it wasn't open. I was just checking it out."

"What's the matter? Your little black book getting thin?" Greg leered.

"You can never have too many friends."

Greg laughed and took a bite of the sandwich, chewing thoughtfully. "True." he said.

After eating lunch with Nick, Greg went back to his lab to finish up the results for Sara's case. She showed up just as the printer dropped the final page into the tray.

Greg tried to hide a jaw cracking yawn behind the page he was holding.

"You need to get some sleep." said Sara.

"I'm not tired."

"Then what was that?" she laughed.

"Okay so maybe I could use a nap," he yawned again "but I'm not sleepy."

"Grissom's couch is pretty comfortable and it's quiet in there."

"Except for the hissing cockroaches."

"If you're quiet, they're quiet. Did you eat lunch yet?"

"Why is everyone trying to feed me?"

"Because you didn't eat for three days. Now answer the question."

"It was four days but who cares." He said crossly. "Nick made sure I ate lunch. I had a roast beef sandwich and fries."

"Coffee?" she frowned.

"Duh." He grinned.

"You need water."

"Coffee is water."

Sara rolled her eyes, "God you're difficult!"

"Yeah but I'm worth it." He yawned again, handing her the paper.

Sara took the paper and grabbed his wrist pulling him away from the desk, "Come on."

"Can't resist my charm, can you?"

"I'm putting you down for a nap."

Greg dragged his feet, his good humor disappearing, "I don't want to take a nap."

Sara stopped, "You're not any good to us if you're too tired to do your job without making mistakes."

"Who said I'm making mistakes?" He demanded.

Sara's eyes narrowed as she glared at him.

Greg bit his lip, "I don't want to sleep."

"You need to." She tugged him out into the hall, "Now stop acting like a child and do what I told you."

Greg allowed her to lead him to Grissom's office, he watched with half closed eyes as she unfolded an afghan.

"Lay down." she said.

"You know," he laughed nervously, "This is not quite the way I pictured it when you said those words to me."

Losing her patience, Sara pushed him onto the couch, "Lay down." She said angrily.

"Don't…" Greg's voice was shaky as he did as she told him. "Don't turn off the lights."

Sara immediately regretted her loss of temper, "It's okay, you just rest. I'll leave the lights on." She covered him up, "Just try to sleep for a couple of hours at least okay?"

Greg lay stiffly on the couch after Sara left. He didn't want to close his eyes. If he closed his eyes he'd fall asleep. In his dreams he was back in McKenna's house. In his dreams he could feel hands on him, hear words of affection whispered and for moments he felt safe. Then the pain came and tore all the comfort away and he would wake himself with screams that left his throat raw.

He didn't want that to happen here where they could hear him. Didn't want to see the pity on their faces. He was ashamed to be such a burden on them now, they felt the need to watch over him and it took them from their jobs because he was such a coward and a weakling. He scrubbed away the tears, Nick hadn't been such a crybaby after Crane had attacked him. Why couldn't he be more like Nick? If he were more like the Texan maybe they'd like him too.

---

Grissom was heading down to the morgue when his cell phone rang, it was Agent Duncan calling.

"Dr. Grissom I wanted to let you know I'm headed to Del Norte to interview the foster mother."

"Will you be coming back to Vegas?"

"Before I head back to Virginia I'm going to talk to McKenna again and probably Greg. How is he doing?"

Though she couldn't see him, Grissom still shrugged. "He's doing okay, almost back to his usual self."

"That's not good."

Grissom made a face, "How is that not good?"

"He's hiding his feelings instead of facing it. He doesn't want anyone to see him as weak so he's pretending that it didn't affect him."

"And he needs to face his fear."

Duncan gave a harsh short laugh, "His fear will surface and when it does he's going to need all his friends there to help him, especially you."

"Why especially me?"

"For an analytical scientist you sure have a hard time seeing the forest for the trees, Dr. Grissom. Greg idolizes you." When Grissom didn't reply, she continued. "You are the one rock solid constant in his life, the surety that you would find him and rescue him was the only thing that kept him sane while McKenna had him."

Grissom was stunned. Yes, Catherine had once brought it to his attention that he had a tendency to overlook the thoughts and behaviors of his co-workers, but this… "I don't know what to say." Grissom mumbled.

"Say you'll keep an eye on him."

"Both, when I have the opportunity." Grissom said goodbye to her and turned to go back to his office to check on Greg. He tried to move quietly but he still startled the lab tech who practically bolted off the couch.

"I'm sorry." Grissom apologized, "I was trying to be quiet."

Greg clutched the afghan against his chest, eyes wide with fear. "Don't." he panted, "Don't sneak up on me like that just... just you know, make noise like you always do."

"Are you alright?"

Greg's hands shook as he folded the afghan and put it back on the couch, "Yeah, I'm good. I had a nice nap." He didn't look at Grissom as he slipped past him, "I should get back to work now."

---

Greg had gathered up the excess sample containers to take to the storage room. He put the last of them in the box and carried it out into the hall. Hodges glared at him as he passed the other lab, Greg stuck his tongue out at the older man. Hodges reminded him of a terrier; small and loud but basically harmless. Greg balanced the box on his hip while he unlocked the storage room door. The room really wasn't room sized, more like a small closet. It didn't even have a light fixture. He was wedging the box into a space on the top shelf when the door suddenly slammed closed, the clicking of the lock loud in the confined space.

"Okay, not funny!" Greg shouted, twisting the door knob, "Let me out!" The door would not open and he clawed at the knob trying desperately to unlock it. There was not a button on the interior knob, the door could only be locked and unlocked using a key on the outside. He'd left his keys in the knob when he'd opened it.

Greg pounded on the door, cursing.

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" a voice hissed. "Does she know what a bad boy you are?"

Greg froze, his breath trapped behind the lump in his throat. He fell back against the shelves and slid down to crouch on the floor. His voice was soft, frightened, "Go away, go away…" The darkness enveloped him and he could feel sticky warmth trickling down his back.

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