Very long time since I've last updated, I do know that, and I apologize. Life is sometimes hard to keep up with, and even more so with the Holidays. Hopefully I can get back to writing back on track.

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Chapter Seventeen: Truth and Lies

Her footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as she paced back and forth, letting out a weary sigh as she finally sat down. It had only been an hour since they arrived, and Catherine had yet to learn anything new. Waiting was never an easy thing to do, and became even harder when it involved the ones you cared about. Part of Catherine knew she should call Grissom, and update him with what she knew, but in the end she knew little to nothing. Therefore she had little incentive to call, only to explain what she didn't know.

Wearily she rubbed her eyes, running her fingers through her hair as she let out a sigh. It wasn't exactly cold in the building, but even so Catherine was shivering slightly. When they arrived at the hospital, there had been little delay in getting Greg in, her own coat draped around his shoulders as they wheeled him in.

Twice Catherine had tried calling Nick, hoping to get a hold of the Texan with little success. She wasn't sure of Greg's state, but she knew in the back of her mind Sara had been worse. Yet she knew that the both were lucky to even be alive.

In the pit of her heart she never did expect to find them. Not alive at least, and even finding their bodies would have been a long shot in her perspective. With the amount of area they could possibly be lost in, and the given time span, it wouldn't take long for nature to finish what one man had started.

At the thought Catherine grew sick. She felt like crying, but she was one who never really gave into her emotions. In all her years she would never be able to understand how one person was able to come to the ultimate decision of who lived and died. Even more so when it concerned her friends.

Anyone who took the time to know the two wouldn't have come around to actually wanting them dead. Catherine knew that no one was perfect; everyone had their little problems, including Sara and Greg, but nor was it enough to condemn them to death. She swallowed painfully as she glanced up, grateful to see Nick coming down the hall.

She met him halfway there, neither of the two saying a word as they shared a quiet embrace. Nick held her there for a moment longer before pulling away, his own sorrow and regret in his eyes. Catherine shook her head quietly, unable to even think of what may have happened.

"No…" she shook her head fiercely, pleading with him to deny the single thought entering her mind. "Sara?"

"I don't know," he breathed quietly, moving to sit down. He still had a hold of her hand, and pulled her down next to him, his voice quiet and it was clear that he was just as tired as she was. "They flew her out to Portland; they have the closest Poison Control Center around here. They started her on antibiotics, and an IV, but unless they know what exactly bit her…there's not much else they can do. It all takes time."

Catherine nodded dully, sinking back into the chairs. It still didn't dismiss the possibility of what could happen. She could still feel Nick's questioning gaze on her, and slowly she shook her head. "They haven't told me anything."

"No news is potential good news," Nick suggested quietly, offering what little support he could.

She was going to agree, but found herself unable to as the doors to their left swung open, the doctor walking by them. Clearing her throat she addressed him, moving to her feet as Nick followed shortly after.

"Excuse me, we brought a young man in, a Mr. Sanders, is there anything you can tells us?"

Pausing he shifted through his files, and then proceeded to nod. "Yes, I am aware of that one. Dr. Pierson is finishing up with him, he'll be out in a few minutes and he can answer any further questions."

Dully she nodded, turning back to Nick with a weak smile as the man walked off. "That has to be some encouraging news, right?"

"Unless he doesn't like to be the bearer of bad news," Nick pointed out grimly, earning an irate look from Catherine as she sat back down.

"He didn't seem regretful," she pointed out, doing her best to stay positive about the entire situation.

"It's a hospital Cath," Nick reminded her, "they're used to this sort of stuff, just like we are."

She raised an eyebrow at him, but said nothing further as the doors opened again. This time she was on her feet before the doctor had time to walk by them. "Dr. Pierson?"

The man nodded, shaking both their hands shortly before moving off to the side with them. "He's exhausted, for the most part. Dehydrated, mal-nourished, some heat exhaustion."

"But he's going to be okay?" Catherine pressed, wanting to know the outcome. She was more than grateful to hear an affirmative to the question.

"We're going to keep him overnight, and most likely for a few days after, get his vitals back to normal, make sure there's nothing else that's going on. We'll check him out again, and if he's good we'll let him go."

Catherine nodded, at the same time letting out a silent breath with a prayer. They knew the fate of one, and even though Sara's outcome was still uncertain, she was feeling increasingly better.

"Can we see him?" Nick wondered, his voice still grim, but the earlier edginess that was there before had worn off. Disappointment soured through her as the man shook his head.

"Mr. Sanders can really do with his rest at this moment. You can come back tomorrow; he should be more up to visits then."

Bitter at the response Catherine chewed her lip, unsure of what exactly she would be doing until the next day came around. The case at the moment was at a standstill, the only thing left to do was take statements from both Greg and Sara, providing Sara lived long enough to even do so. There was that, of course, and finding the identity of the unknown hirer pertaining to their attempted murder.

"Mr. Sanders is part of a criminal investigation," Nick pointed out, "We really need to take his statement, and the sooner the better. Just think about it, every minute that goes by a killer could be getting away."

The man frowned, crossing his arms as he glanced from one to the other. It was clear he wasn't one to negotiate, but neither could he interfere with such a request. Grumbling slightly he nodded, pointing towards the double doors that led towards the ER.

"We have in ICU at the moment. By the end of the night he should be back in a regular room. Two doors down and on the right. Fifteen minutes, and I'll be back to check in. I want the both of you gone."

"Cheerful, isn't he?" Catherine wondered, watching as he walked away. She turned to glance up at Nick, giving him a sad smile. "Shall we?"

"It amazes me," Nick commented, pushing through the doors with Catherine by his side. "He's well enough to cause no concerns but they won't move him from ICU."

"Let the doctors do their job, focus on our own," Catherine reminded him, her hand resting on the door as she made her way in.

He was resting easily on his back, head propped by several pillows as slept. His face was still pale, and his eyes barely opened as they approached the bed. Nick took a seat near the foot of the bed, but Catherine chose to remain standing, reaching out to grasp his hand lightly.

"You hanging in there okay?"

Greg gave her a short smile, his eyes closing as he shifted slightly. "Sara?"

Catherine glanced at Nick was sullen expression, struggling with herself to find an appropriate answer. It was no surprise that he was asking after her, concerning his last real perception of what had happened. And even though he was written off as being okay, the last thing Catherine wanted to do was add additional stress, and it wasn't like she could lie to him either.

"She's going to be just fine," Nick spoke up from behind her, causing Catherine to turn sharply. "You can see her once you get some rest."

He seemed satisfied with the answer, but Catherine could tell, Greg's response was only his silent breaths, a sure indication that he was once more asleep. Frowning she motioned for Nick to follow as she stepped out in the hallway.

"What gives you the right to lie?"

She had barely waited until the door had closed behind them, the anger in her voice evident. Catherine knew that in this case, the exact truth wouldn't have been the best, but what Nick had supported was an outright lie.

"He's not going to know the difference," Nick stated, leaning against the nearby wall.

"So what are you going to tell him if she doesn't make it?"

"I like to think that she will. And if, by some chance she doesn't, then we'll deal with it then. But take a look, you can see as well as I can. He's not even coherent. By the time morning comes around, he's not going to remember even talking to us."

"I hope you're right then," Catherine told him coldly. "For your sake as much as Greg's."

TBC