Chapter Four: Moving On

"Does it hurt?"

Greg reached up tentatively, circling the bruise that lined his eye. Most of it had faded now, but a cut still remained, on it's way to healing. Flinching he drew his hand back, turning away from her as he answered.

"It's okay," he breathed. He knew that if Sara had been looking into his eyes she would have caught him in the white lie. She had been worried about him since that night, and though it bothered him he would say nothing. It was only because she cared, and he reminded this point to himself several times in order to keep from yelling out.

Nick had questioned him a few times, each response was the same. He couldn't say who, couldn't tell them what had happened. Greg knew they had DNA on one of the suspects, but no matches came up. They couldn't do anything more until they got a sample to compare it too.

Greg had also been sure to change his story constantly, refusing to answer how many, or where it had taken place. If he was to keep Sara safe as his plan was, then it would serve him well to make things as confusing as possible. Eventually everything was dropped, the case closed due to insufficient evidence. That still wasn't enough to satisfy him, and he went out of his way to spend time with Sara.

It was hard, trying to keep his calm whenever he was with her. More than anything he wanted to wrap his arms around her, hold her close, keep her safe. But Sara was only a concerned friend, how would she react to his sudden…intimacy? The last thing he wanted was to scare her off.

"Our victim was killed shortly after midnight," Sara mused, her attention back on the case. Taking the moment of distraction Greg popped another grape in his mouth, fishing in from the bowl that sat in the middle of the table. Sara eyed him for a moment, shaking her head as he tossed a second one, catching it with his mouth.

"Doesn't leave a whole lot of time for Benny boy to get to the hotel," Greg pointed out, grinning upon seeing her reaction.

Sara grabbed a grape of her own, amused that even though she had brought them in, Greg had proceeded to eat nearly the entire bunch. It didn't bother her, there was plenty more at home and she did invite him to have some.

"So obviously he can't be our guy."

"Unless he paid the killer, or was an accomplice."

A grape bounced off her forehead, landing on the papers below before rolling into her lap. She glanced up sternly, but failed to keep that composure once seeing his wide grin, his cheeks already flushed from silent laughing.

"You were um, supposed to catch that," Greg muttered in between laughs.

"You missed," she responded dryly, despite the smile that crossed her face as she grasped the small fruit between her thumb and forefinger. She could hear him laughing even as she popped it in her mouth. He was enjoying this far more than he should.

"Trying to share," Greg muttered lightly, supporting his head in his hand. Sara smiled, but said little more on the matter as she began to read off other possibilities. Greg scooped another handful out, disappointed when he realized they were getting down the last few.

He paid only vague attention to what she was saying, he already knew the suspects, the locations, the evidence that was found. They were at a dead end, and he could only stretch his mind so far. Grinning he grasped another grape, closing one eye as he pretended to aim.

"Don't you dare," she warned, even without looking up. She hardly missed a beat in retelling the already known evidence, but it was clear she had an eye on him. Pouting only slightly he tossed the fruit in his mouth instead, rolling it on his tongue.

"Maybe we're trying to be too logical," Sara said suddenly. "He admitted to being over there, but that was hours before she died. He has an alibi for TOD, and she was drinking…what if it was accidental?"

"A hole that big in her skull, accidental?" Greg shook his head, tossing another grape into his mouth. "Someone took something to her head."

"And whatever it was is now gone," she added quietly. "So we're back to a dead in. Someone was in that room, but we have no idea who."

Reaching into the bowl she scoffed, finding it empty. "You ate the last grape?"

Greg shrugged, his hands now clasped together as he rested his chin on them. "I offered to share," he said simply.

Her response was a frown, Greg raising his eyebrows in attempt to look innocent, all with little success. With a sigh she placed the folder on the table, sitting up in her chair. "Why don't we take a break, obviously we're both hungry, and not getting anywhere."

She stressed the point about not getting anywhere, standing swiftly. Greg called out to her as she passed, suggesting a dinner date. For half a moment he thought it had worked, Sara turning back to him, studying him. Finally she smiled, not a warm one, but more of a pitying type.

"I'm already meeting someone…"

"You made a date that fast?" Greg joked, testing her.

"We were going to meet in ten minutes anyways, I'll just be early, that's all."

"Oh…" his tone had dropped as he turned away.

"You can come if you want, I'm sure he won't mind," she started, but Greg was already shaking his head.

"I'll just catch up with guys," he nodded down the hall, knowing in the back of his mind that they were around.

Sara was still smiling, "You sure?"

Was he sure? Of course not, but he didn't want to be hanging over anyone, the last thing he needed to be was a burden. He forced a smile, urging her to go on. She did after a few prolonged seconds, leaving him there in the room.

Letting out a sigh he collected the paperwork she had left behind. Honestly he felt terrible, and it wasn't just the grief his wound was giving him. He should be grateful, Sara was happy, or seemed that way at least. So what if they weren't dating, so what if she didn't want to date him…

The realization hurt more than he thought at first, but he pushed it aside, working his way to the computer room. It was something that had been lingering in the back of his mind, but he hadn't the strength to find it before. There was something about this case that bothered him…and he was bound determined to find it.

TBC