Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, do you think I would be writing this? Nope.

Little Things

Nathan skidded to a stop in front of Greg, holding his beloved trucks in his small hands.

"Greg!" He said happily, grinning from ear to ear. This was why Greg didn't regret adopting him. He was so cute.

"Hey buddy, how's it going?" He asked, grabbing a truck as it cascaded out of the boy's full hands. Nathan spilled the rest of them onto the padded chair beside the CSI and smiled.

"Good. I got some doughnuts!" He said excited, and Greg chuckled.

"Oh you did? That's good, who gave you them?" He asked out of curiosity, usually the station was so busy that it was like a break to be assigned baby-sitting duty.

"Captain Brass did! And I got to wear his badge! I like police badges. My mom always told me that police are very nice..." Nathan had begun enthusiastically but had now slowed down and started to sniffle. Greg's heart broke for him.

"Hey, it's okay, come here." Greg said, and pulled the child into his arms, and hugged him tight.

"I didn't want her to die. I didn't want any of them to die!" Nathan said through his erupting tears and sniffles. "It's not fair!"

Greg held him as tightly as he could, sensing Brass's stare through the glass of his office. But he ignored it. He was going to be responsible for Nathan soon, and he needed to be better to him.

"I know, I didn't either. Nobody did. I'm sorry Nathan. I'm sorry." He said softly.

Nathan sniffled on his shoulder, still shuddering. It shocked Greg to see how fast the little boy's mood had changed. It actually scared him a little. How would he be when he was living in a new home, and even though he knew Greg, with a new person? Would he break down often? Would he even cope?

"There," Greg said softly, as Nathan calmed down. "It's okay."

"I miss them." Nathan muttered, absentmindedly pushing a care a minuscule amount back and forth on the blue chair.

"You know what Nathan?" Greg said, and used his finger to push the boy's chin up, meeting his eyes. "They would be proud of you. You're the bravest person I've ever met, and I know that's what they would have wanted."

Nathan sniffed quickly, letting another tear escape his eye. "Do you think they can see me Greg?" In heaven?"

Greg's heart felt like it was electrified. He had forgotten that this boy was a Christian. And not that he had anything against it, but science had made him throw his beliefs out the window.

"Yeah. Yeah I do. And they're all proud." He said with a sad smile, and patted Nathan's shoulder.

This boy had been through hell.

XXX

" I don't know Sara, I'm just worried for him." Greg said, repeating himself once again. But he really was worried.

Sara's eyes were sad, but she showed her understanding.

"I know, but he'll be fine Greg. He's strong." She said softly, but Greg was still scared.

"But what if he breaks down? Or he doesn't like living with me? Or he can't get over their deaths? What If he's emotionally unstable for the rest of his life?" Greg asked, the words spilling out of his mouth like a waterfall. He blushed then, embarrassed.

"Greg." Sara said and leant across the table to place her hand on top of his, much like he had done with Nathan before he made his fateful decision. "He's going to be fine. You'll be a good parent,"

"Yeah, but what if I'm not?" Greg interrupted, exasperatedly. "What if I screw up? What if I do it wrong... fail him?"

" Listen to me. You won't fail him. You're perfect Greg, and Nathan will love you. You'll make him laugh when he's sad, you'll make him understand what he doesn't... You'll be his friend. And why are you so worried? You know if you need help I've got your back. The whole team does."

Greg sighed, no rebuttal coming to him. "Thanks. But that doesn't mean I'm not worried."

"And that doesn't mean that isn't normal." Came a voice from the doorway, and Greg felt his heart beat speed up.

Catherine walked towards him and Sara, an unreadable expression on her face. Did she come to fire Greg? To get him in trouble or judge him further?

"Look Greg..." She started, and he stayed silent, wanting to hear her out. She was basically his mom anyway. "I'm sorry. I guess I judged you too quickly. Not to say I'm not angry, but you should know I feel bad."

"You shouldn't. I went against policy, I broke a dozen rules, and really, I broke your trust." Greg admitted, glancing at Sara briefly, somehow proving his point.

Catherine sighed her signature Willows sigh. "Maybe. But you followed your heart. As your supervisor, I'm angry, but as your friend, I'm proud of you."

Greg smiled, unable to keep it in. "Thanks Catherine."

"Guys we have a problem." Nick said as he burst in the room, closely followed by Ray. His face was crinkled with distress.

"What's wrong?" Sara asked quickly, on her feet already. Greg joined her not a second later.

"We have another sighting of our suspect." Ray said calmly, despite a clear worry in his eyes.

"30 minutes from here." Nick said slowly.

"He's back? Why the hell is he back here?" Sara asked loudly, clearly unable to comprehend the news. Greg couldn't either.

Why on earth was he back? "He does know he's wanted right?"

"Yeah Greg, it's all over the news." Nick told him, seeming reserved.

"Okay, then what reasons would there be to return? It's a huge risk on his part." Catherine looked confused.

"He could be checking to see if we know about him..." Ray offered. It seemed possible.

"He might want to test the limits... or he came back for something he left?" Sara said and leant against the glass table.

"Or he came back for the most frequent reason." Nick said and sighed in Greg's direction. "Finishing the job."

"So either he's stupid, ballsy, or..." Catherine said, but couldn't finish as she looked at Greg.

But he knew what she had begun to say, and he wasn't afraid to say it for her.

"Or, he's come back for Nathan." He stated, and the room fell silent once again.

Greg hadn't shown it yet, but he had become terrified. Nathan was now in his protection and there was a crazed killer out to finish his job by killing the boy. But Greg wasn't to let that happen- he cared about Nathan. A lot.

"I'm going to the station to see him." Greg said, and stepped towards the door, ignoring the harsh look from Nick.

"Greg, you're getting too involved. You need to stay focused." Catherine said; back to being a supervisor.

Greg spun around, his annoyance fuelling him. "Do I look like I care?" He said, not caring if he was rude, before turning back around and walking out the door.

As he walked away from the room he heard Catherine's regretful statement.

"How did I know he was going to say that?"

So? You liked it? Sorry it took so long, I had to deal with stuff Let me know if you liked it by reviewing! Please!