A/N: Usual disclaimer still applies. Sorry this chapter is so short too! Greg/Sara stuff should be starting in the next few chapters.

Chapter 6- So Cold

"Crowded streets are cleared away

One by one

Hollow heroes separate

As they run

You're so cold

But you feel alive

Wise men wonder while

Strong men die

Show me how it ends, it's alright

Show me how defenseless you really are

Satisfied and empty inside

That's alright, let's give this another try"

So Cold by Breaking Benjamin

Nick awoke slowly, squinting due to the bright lights. "Where…" he groaned. A pretty young woman was instantly at his side.

"Nick Stokes? I'm Nurse Marshall. Here, have some water."

He gratefully accepted the cup and drank deeply. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Where am I?"

The nurse answered, "Union County Hospital."

Suddenly it all came flooding back to Nick. "Greg! Is Greg ok?"

The nurse looked confused. "I beg your pardon? Who's Greg?"

Nick shook his head impatiently. "Greg Sanders…he was brought in with me!"

She still looked confused but told him comfortingly, "I'll go see if I can find out." She left, her hurried steps pattering over the tile.

A few minutes later, his door opened, but Grissom stepped in, not Nurse Marshall. Nick sat straight up, ignoring the pangs in his injured arm. "How's Greg?"

Grissom sighed. "Not good."

Nick's heart dropped like a stone. "He's not…? Is he going to…?" He couldn't bear to finish it.

Grissom shook his head emphatically. "No, he's going to live, provided he doesn't have any major complications. He did, however, suffer from a broken humerus and ulna, a couple of broken ribs, and massive internal and external bruising, not to mention some internal bleeding. The CAT scan, however, showed no lasting internal damage." Nick sighed in relief, but Grissom frowned. "That's where the good news ends. His psychological damage…well, you wouldn't believe it. He woke up thirty minutes ago and almost killed a nurse when she touched him. She had to be treated for lacerations to her arms and face."

Nick sighed again, this time sadly. "Oh, God, poor Greg. But will he be ok?"

Shaking his head, Grissom looked away. "I don't know. With an event this catastrophic, catatonia is possible, perhaps even permanent. The stress may have caused him to crack, and he could spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital. And, of course, suicide is always a possibility. Due to his violent reaction, the hospital is keeping him on suicide watch for fourteen days before they'll even allow him to transferred to a hospital in Vegas."

Nick's head bobbed in understanding. "Are Warrick and Sara coming?" he asked.

Grissom nodded. Stifling a yawn, Nick struggled to keep his eyes open. "I'll let you sleep now," said Grissom, quietly leaving an already sleeping Nick.

The first words out of Sara's mouth were "I want to see him." Grissom, who had expected as much, led her and Warrick to Greg's room.

At the door he turned back to them. "Alright, one at a time. Don't talk to him about what happened at all. If something happens, push the call button."

Sara looked at Warrick and he nodded in unspoken agreement. She slowly pushed the door open and entered the room. Her first thought was that this had to be the wrong room. There was no way that this small, broken man was the Greg that she knew. She took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and continued walking toward Greg's bed.

As she approached, he turned toward her, but, upon seeing whom it was, turned away again.

"Hey Greg," she said hesitantly, sitting down in the chair beside his bed. He continued to ignore her. Shifting slightly, she searched for something to say. "It's nice outside today," she said lamely, unsure of what else to talk about. The old Greg would have snorted and made some kind of sarcastic remark, but the new one didn't make any sign that he had heard or cared. Sara sat with him for a few more minutes in silence before she decided it was time to go. She stood and said quietly, "Bye, Greg. I hope you heal quickly."

As she turned to leave, Greg spoke quietly. "Why should I?" Sara turned back to him, excited that he had spoken, but stopped when she saw his eyes. No light danced in them, no hidden laughter lit them up, no nothing. Just dark gaping chasms of helplessness and despair. And pain, so much pain. "Why even bother getting better?" asked Greg again.

Sara swallowed, then replied, "So you can come back."

He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "I'm not coming back," he said finally, shutting his eyes in pain.

Sara opened her mouth, about to make a retort, when a nurse bustled in, shooing her out so that Greg get some rest. Sara made a hasty retreat, barely making it out of the room before dissolving into tears.

Warrick came over and gave her a hug. "That bad, huh?" he said, only half-joking.

Sara shook her head in despair. "It's like he has no will to live. His life's pointless for him now."

Warrick frowned, looking surprised. "Surely it can't be that bad," he protested.

Sara just sighed dejectedly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "All I know is that's not the Greg I used to know."