All For Nothing

Chapter 6 – I Hate Roses

Every available surface in Louise's apartment was occupied by vases and flowers and a friendly chatter filled the air. A gracious host, Louise fluttered between the gatherings of people in her pale yellow dress and became engaged in conversations with her guests.
"Louise," Sara smiled at the blonde, "This party is great! And the apartment is gorgeous!"
Catherine nodded in agreement and added, "Your dress is fabulous. What did we ever do without you?"
Louise blushed, "Oh I'm sure you managed just fine."
The older woman placed a hand on Louise's arm, "No, seriously. You really have been invaluable the last few months. Quite frankly I'm disappointed that you didn't come to us sooner."
Sara just smiled, "You'll have to take that up with Grissom."
Louise giggled, pushing a curl behind her ear and glancing around the room. "Excuse me, ladies." She said, politely as she noticed Greg admiring the pictures that she'd hung. Before she could reach him, however, she was high jacked by Warrick and Nick.
"How's my two favourite guys?" she asked, as Nick draped his arm over her shoulder.
Warrick smirked, "Your boyfriend is looking a little lonely." Louise raised her eyebrow as Nick and Warrick peered over their shoulders at Greg.
"For the last time, Greg and I aren't dating. You know it's against lab policy." Louise too, glanced over her shoulder.
"You're telling me," Nick teased, "That nothing is going on with you and Greg."
Louise smiled, "That's exactly what I'm telling you."
Both men rolled their eyes, "Whatever…" Nick muttered knowingly.
Someone tapped a teaspoon to a glass and silence fell over the group as Catherine stepped forward, "I just wanted to thank Louise for hosting this wonderful party and express what I think everyone here feels." She took Louise's hand and pulled her to the centre of the room, "You've been an amazing addition to the team and we're so fortunate to have such a talented girl with us." She turned to Grissom, "And Gil, you're in a lot of trouble for letting her stay in New York for so long."
Louise flushed scarlet, "Thanks Catherine." She looked around at her new friends, "Well, I suppose I'd better say a few words. Well, thank you all for coming. Thank you for all the flowers and for the new coffee machine. I'm afraid it's going to be much abused. But most importantly, thank you for how welcoming you have all been. Thank you for accepting me as part of the Vegas family and thank you for all of the support, particularly over the last couple of weeks."
"We're just glad to have you on board, Lou." Nick added and she smiled broadly at him. There was a short round of applause and people turned back to their conversations.
"I have something to add!" Louise heard from the door, an all too familiar voice. "Before you all go back to your conversations, I'd like to say something to Louise."
She groaned as Jem pushed through the crowd to where she stood. "Jem…"
"So for those of you who don't know me," he interrupted, "I am Louise's fiancé." There was a light murmuring in the crowd as he handed her another bouquet of red roses.
"Now, Louise and I are having a little bit of difficulty at the moment, but I am here to set things straight. Tonight, we're going to go back to New York, where she belongs and we're going to get married." Louise looked around exasperated.
"Jem, we're not…" he interrupted her again by kneeling down on one knee.
"Louise Stephanie Carter, will you marry me?"
She clenched her fist, "No."
He stood up angrily and grabbed her arms, shaking her, "Why are you throwing us away?" Nick and Warrick jumped up, pulling Jem off of her and Greg stood in front of her protectively.
"Oh, you're that idiot from the other night, aren't you?" Jem sneered at Greg.
Greg sighed, "Dude, just give it up already. Louise is not going to marry you and she sure as hell isn't going to take you back. Why don't you leave while you still have a little bit of dignity before she loses every ounce of respect for you?"
"Oh, I'll leave…" he said, threateningly, "I'll leave when I get my girl back!" He pulled himself from Warrick and Nick's grip swinging at Greg. His fist made contact with his face and Louise squealed as Greg pushed her away from him. Before Nick and Warrick could pull him up again, Jem had aimed a few more punches at Greg.
Louise rushed to Greg and crouched down, "Are you okay?" she whispered, her anger building again.
"You've ruined everything, you stupid geek!" Jem yelled, struggling with Nick and Warrick.
She stood up sharply and stormed over to him, "Shut up!" she screamed, "Don't blame Greg for anything. If anything, blame yourself."
"Why won't you take me back?" he pleaded.
Louise laughed, "Well for one, my middle name isn't Stephanie. That's your secretary. And secondly..." she shoved the roses at him, "… I. Hate. Roses. Get out of my apartment."
Nick and Warrick escorted him downstairs where a patrol car was waiting. Louise turned back to her guests with tears flowing down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry about this everyone."
As Catherine and Sara were tending to Greg, she ran to her bedroom and slid down against the door. By the time, Nick and Warrick returned the guests had all dispersed and Grissom had his head up against the bedroom door, trying to coax Louise out.
Through the door, he could hear her panicked hiccups interspersed with sobs and repeated whispers of "I'm so sorry."

Xxx

"Ms Carter," Marjorie Wescott taunted, but Louise wouldn't let the lawyer faze her, "Is this the corkscrew that you collected from the scene?" She held up a corkscrew, which Louise had swabbed and tested for DNA.
"Yes. The DNA which I swabbed from the handle came back to your client, Tom Haviland." Louise replied, waiting for the attack to come. Warrick, Nick and Sara had already been in and Marjorie had completely torn them apart.
"Thank you." There was a pause as Marjorie walked back to her podium. "Ms Carter, you recently filed a restraining order against your fiancé. Am I correct?"
Louise nodded, "That is correct." She frowned slightly, failing to see how this was relevant.
"The grounds of the restraining order where that he attacked you and your boyfriend at a house warming party, correct?"
"Greg is not my boyfriend." She said quickly, "But yes, he attacked my colleague and I at my house warming party."
"This must be a very emotional time for you, then? Having to call off your engagement and dealing with a stalker ex, it must make it very difficult for you to be objective when you collect your evidence."
"I don't…" Louise started.
Marjorie continued, "Given your very close relationship with your co-worker, it would be very easy for you to plant my clients DNA on the corkscrew, wouldn't it?"
Louise sighed, "With every respect, Ms Wescott, my personal life has nothing to do with this case and I do not appreciate your wild accusations about my evidence collection."
"But your personal life is to do with this case, is it not?" Marjorie continued to press. Louise glanced to the prosecution attorney for help and he stood up.
"Objection."
Marjorie looked to the judge with almost puppy dog eyes, "It's a relevant question, your honour. How will Ms Carter allow her emotions to cloud her judgment in a sensitive case like this?" She paused again and watched Louise for a moment, "No further questions."

"This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed, as she closed the courtroom door. Sara and Catherine were waiting outside for her. "Apparently, I am letting the emotion of my personal life cloud my judgment." She began to pace up and down.
Catherine was called in and Louise sat down on the bench to Sara, "She pulled the Greg card. Apparently, 'my close relationship with my co-worker would make it too easy for me to fabricate evidence'."
Sara frowned, "How does that work?"
"Beats me." She shrugged, "Accused is entitled my ass." She added under her breath.
There was silence for a moment, "She pulled the Grissom card." Sara whispered.
Louise's eyes widened, "How did she know?"
"I don't know." Sara replied shortly. "But I do know we're getting our asses kicked in there."

Xxx

Louise stuck her head into the DNA lab when she got back from the court room. Catherine had stormed off to find Grissom and Sara had gone to change.
"You look pretty." Greg commented, as Louise smoothed down her skirt self-consciously.
"How are the bruises healing?" Louise said softly, sitting in the stool next to Greg.
He smiled at her, "All gone. The idiot left you alone now?"
"Restraining order went through last night and they escorted him back to New York this morning." Greg gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Greg." She continued, "You know that the entire lab thinks something is going on between us. And so did Marjorie Wescott."
"She was just trying to rattle you." He said, still holding her hand.
Louise slipped her hand out from under Greg's, "Greg. Is this something?"
He caught her gaze, "Do you want it to be?"
She looked at him sadly, "You know the rules."
"Ecklie doesn't have to know." He whispered, taking her hand again.
She raised her eyebrow, "We're in a glass office."
"Lou," Warrick said, holding open the door, "We've got Haviland. Grissom's going to court!"
She stood up quickly and followed him out the door, turning to catch Greg's eye. He'd already turned back to his work and she sighed.
"You okay, Lou?" Warrick asked, as they walked to the car. Nick was waiting for them at the entrance. She nodded solemnly and slipped into the back seat, staring at the road.

Xxx

Louise frowned at Grissom's expression. It was almost like he couldn't hear Marjorie. She was speaking awfully softly. With a jerk of realisation, Louise sat up straighter.
"What is he doing?" Nick whispered.
Grissom was staring at Ms Wescott's lips, trying to understand what she was saying and Louise waved her hand slightly. She knew that Grissom's lip reading wasn't brilliant but there was a way for him to understand the question.
"Could she repeat the question?" he asked, watching Louise out the corner of his eye.
"By visual comparison," he continued, explaining his theory about the scar.
"What was that about?" Nick asked again, and Louise shrugged.
Grissom was ambushed by Phillip Gerard and Louise caught sight of her Uncle signing something to his old mentor.
"The Accused shall remain in the custody of the county jail." The judge said and the gavel confirmed his decision.
"Good job, Lou." Grissom whispered in her ear as they left the court room, "Good to see that you still remember."
The team walked out of the court house and Louise grinned, "Dinner's on me, guys!"
Catherine shook her head, "I have to get home to Lindsay."
Louise smiled, "Why don't you bring her? We haven't seen her for ages."
Catherine returned the smile, "I'll call my mum."
She walked away and Louise turned to the rest of the team, "Who's in?"

Xxx

"Do you really hate roses?" Warrick asked Louise, as they sat in the booth of Frank's Diner.
She nodded, "I don't know what it is about them that I don't like. I think it's just so clichéd."
"How so?"
Louise shrugged, "I think if someone is going to take the time to buy you flowers, they should find out what your favourite flower and not go for an over-priced bouquet that doesn't mean anything."
Lindsay grinned up at her favourite babysitter, "What's your favourite flower, Louise?"
"Well, I quite like lilies and tulips." Louise smiled at the young girl, "What about you, Linds?"
The girl frowned in concentration, "Umm… I think I like those pretty pink things that grow in the huge bunches in our front yard."
"Those are called Sweet William." Louise laughed at Lindsay's reaction. She wrinkled her nose. "Eww no, I don't like those anymore. William is the most annoying boy ever!"
The team laughed and Louise looked over at Greg, who smiled at her.
She had to go and make things complicated, didn't she?

A.N. Another chapter already?! What is this madness? For anyone who doesn't know the reference, the case mentioned was (3.02) 'The Accused is Entitled' starring the very talented Chad Michael Murrey. Of course Ecklie and his damn policy had to make an appearance; it is called All For Nothing after all. Sooo... What do you think? I'm starting to get really excited about this story again and am tempted to do some time jumps. Any objections?

Please review, I'll send you cake!

~Carley Idonea