Sorry it has taken so long but I'm finishing off my dissertation at the moment.

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine

Life rarely turns out the way people expect it will. The twists and turns people must go through are the things that make it interesting. Still Nick wished the twists and turns of his life had been a little less severe. He was glad Catherine was back as it took the attention away from him. When she had found out that Grissom had not visited Greg she had stormed off to his office. Still Grissom needed a wake up call. Nick sat at his desk pondering over the letter he had received. Three weeks ago he would never have even contemplated a transfer but now times were different. If he did take it how would he tell Greg, come to think about it how would he tell the rest of the team. Still he was always looking out for others perhaps it was time he finally did something just for himself. But even after thinking that he knew he would not. If he left Greg now he would never forgive himself. Greg had been a good friend and just because at that moment in time he was falling apart did not mean that Nick should leave him. Somehow he could not bring himself to leave the team. Despite Sara's death there was still a little bit of him that hoped somehow life would return to normal. He put the letter back in his draw, for now he would leave his options open.

Grissom looked up from the mountain of paperwork he had been ploughing through. He really did hate it but it had offered him the chance to be alone. When he had heard the door clang open he had pictured Sara walking in, but he had been confronted with Catherine who was not looking happy. She stood glaring at Grissom with her arms folded aggressively over her chest.

"What is wrong with you Gil. Poor Greg is sat at home probably thinking the worst of himself and you're sat here doing paperwork. You should get the hell out of this office and go and see him. You're his boss and more importantly you're his friend."

Grissom had known that Catherine would react in this way but part of him had hoped he would have a bit more time to prepare for her onslaught. What gave her the right to storm in and tell him what to do?

"Have you finished? As you can see I've got all this paperwork to get through. I'll visit him when I get the chance."

Catherine's eyes narrow and her glare increased. She knew he hated paperwork and that it was just an excuse. Grissom let out a sigh. This was a fight he was never going to win. It was better to give in early than listen to hours of Catherine's arguments.

"I'll go after work… and I'll take Nick with me."

He did not want to see Greg alone. It would be hard enough going in the first place but if he actually had to make conversation, that would be too much. At least with Nick there the situation would hopefully be less awkward. Catherine's glare softened and she sat down eagerly recounting tales of her holiday. Grissom rolled his eyes. That was his work out of the window for the day but at least he had someone else to do the paperwork again.

Grissom and Nick stood outside Greg's door waiting for a reply. Nick broke the uneasy silence by shouting to Greg once more.

"Come on Greg, it's Nick and Grissom. We just want to see how you are."

They could hear him scrabbling around in his flat but they had no idea what he was doing. The door finally opened and a much thinner dirtier looking Greg answered the door than Grissom had been expecting. He allowed the men to enter and after looking around the corridor, shut the door quickly.

After waiting for the men to sit down he pulled the gun from its holder.

"I'm glad you came round Grissom. I've been thinking there are a few things we should sort out."

At first Nick and Grissom did not notice the gun that was resting against Greg's leg. Grissom started to talk..

"Look I'm sorry I know I should have come before I've just been busy. The things I said that night…"

Greg stopped him halfway through and drew the gun up from beside his leg and pointed it directly at Grissom.

"You don't need to say anything Grissom I know you meant every word you said that night. You see I've had a lot of time to think about it alone here in my flat."

Tears were streaming down his face and he spat out the words. Nick tried to get up but Greg pointed the gun at him.

"This is between me and Grissom Nick. Don't go getting involved, please. Like I was saying Grissom I've been thinking about what you said. It is my fault she's dead. I really didn't do enough and I should pay for that . I should pat for letting her die. Don't you think?"

Greg spat the words out angrily and pulled the gun up to his head. His hands were shaking terribly but he knew this was what he had to do. He needed the pain to stop and he needed to show Grissom the consequences of his actions. He looked towards Nick. His friend was pleading with him. But he could not hear him.

Both Grissom and Nick ran towards Greg. The look in his eyes told both of them that he intended to pull the trigger. Nick ran to Greg out of loyalty, he could not let his friend end it all like this, there were other ways, he would do more to help him this time. Grissom ran towards Greg out of a sense of duty and guilt. He could not let any person no matter what he felt towards them do this. He had not realised, or perhaps he had but had tried to ignore it, how much his words impacted on Greg. Both he and Nick reached Greg at the same moment and the three men were locked together in a struggle. As they tussled the gun slipped from Greg's hands.

"Bang…"

Silence fell in the room and the next few seconds felt like an eternity. The look on Greg's face was one of horror it was as if he had suddenly realised what was happening. He looked at Grissom, how had this happened? He had just wanted to show them all how he felt. To let Grissom know that his words were eating him up inside. Grissom's face was also locked in a look of fear and horror. Blood splatter covered his shirt and the room seemed to be so much smaller than it had initially been. He had been to so many gunshot scenes but it was so different when you were involved in one.

Nick could feel the world spinning as he fell to the floor. His body was shaking violently and he could feel his warm blood trickling from the hole in his stomach. He tried to cover the wound but his arms would not move. He could see Grissom and Greg who were both speaking at him but he was so tired and cold. Everything seemed so far away and he tried to focus on something., anything but he was so very tired.

Grissom and Greg watched Nick slip away. The ambulance was on its way but they both knew that nothing could be done. Grissom pulled Greg into his arms and tried to comfort him. Somehow none of it seemed to matter any more. Everything that had happened faded into the background and there was only the two of them and their grief. The same grief that had brought them to that room, that had caused Nick's death. Greg had nothing now, the woman he had loved was gone, the job he had worked so hard to get and his best friend, all gone. Both men could hear the sirens in the background and both knew they would be coming for Greg. Grissom wanted to let Greg go but he knew he would not get far. Instead he tried to do the next best thing. He lent over and gently whispered in Greg's ear.

"I forgive you and I'm sorry"

The officers rushed in pulling the pair apart. Grissom looked into Greg's eyes looking for some kind of absolution but he was gone. All that greeted Grissom was the cold stare of the man that had once been Greg Sanders.