A/N: I'm so sorry for the long delay between chapters... my life is wicked busy. See the first chapter for the disclaimer. As always, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please review. :)

Chapter 1

Greg sank into the couch in the break room, listening quietly to the sounds around him. Over the years, he had gotten used to the sounds of the lab- the hum of the machines, the perking of the coffee pot, the thunking sound that the refrigerator always made when it was running. Even the muffled discussions were the same as they always were.

But, then again, a lot had changed over the years.

Sara had left last year, after getting frustrated with Las Vegas and the demons surrounding her life. And Greg couldn't blame her. No one could. She'd had a rough life, and after the kidnapping, things were even worse. She couldn't handle it anymore, and so she left to find herself again.

And then there was Warrick. About a month ago, he was murdered in cold blood outside the restaurant the team had just been eating at. Greg had canceled his plans to stay behind and be with the team. It was something that, to this day, they were all still struggling with.

But Greg was nothing if not a pillar of strength. Even at his worst, he prided himself on shining through and being strong. And now was another one of those times where he'd prove it to everyone around him.

The thing that did throw him off, though, was Adam's news. Greg couldn't imagine what it was like to lose a father, seeing as how Eric was still alive and well in New York, taking care of his seventh child now, another little baby girl. Greg had yet to meet his newest little sister, but he knew with time, he would.

But Adam losing his father was far worse. Not because Adam was close to his father. In fact, as far as Greg knew, Adam hadn't talked to his father since he left for school at age 18, and Adam never went home. That was their sole reason for getting an apartment together their sophomore year- Adam would have a place to stay over breaks instead of always going home with Greg. But Adam usually did go home with Greg, because Nancy insisted on it.

If Greg knew anything about Adam (which, he figured, he had to know a lot by now), he knew Adam was suffering a lot right now. He was in a huge world of guilt and grief, as well as self-doubt and self-loathing. As much as Adam was allowed, in Greg's eyes, to hate his father, Adam would always hate himself for hating the man.

Greg was proud of Adam for agreeing to come out here and come to the funeral services. Adam hadn't been back to Phoenix since he left, and he never had a desire to. He couldn't do it, ever. But now, he had finally beaten his demons enough to come out here and visit Phoenix.

Greg wasn't sure if that was Adam beating the demons, or Adam's father's demise, though.

Whatever was going on, though, Greg was lost inside his mind as Nick walked in. "Hey," he said quietly. Greg jumped.

"Hey," he replied quietly. Nick sat down next to his friend.

"You okay?" Nick asked.

Greg shrugged. "Just worried."

"About?"

"A bunch of things, people."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Nick said with a sigh, stretching back a bit on the couch.

"How're you holding up?" Greg asked, looking over at the older man, who shrugged.

"I'm hanging in there. How about you?"

"About the same."

Nick nodded. "I'm just glad this shift's over."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I just wanna go home and sleep."

Greg nodded his understanding. "If you need anything, Nick, please don't hesitate to ask," he said. Nick nodded again, smiling slightly.

"Yeah, thanks," he said, standing. "Take care of yourself too, okay?"

"Will do." Nick walked out, leaving for the day. Greg brought his feet up onto the chair, tucking them under him comfortably. It didn't make sense for him to go home, as his house was further away from the airport than the lab.

So he waited.

Catherine came in, finding Greg in that position as he stared at a spot on the wall. She frowned silently. "Greg?" she asked softly. He turned a soft smile toward her.

"Hey, Catherine," he replied. "How's it going?"

"I was about to ask you the same question. Everything alright?"

"Yeah, fine. Just hangin' out, waiting for my friend to come in." He looked down to the floor, quiet.

"The one from New York?"

"Yeah, Adam."

"You didn't tell me he was coming to visit." She sat down across from him, and he shrugged.

"I didn't know myself until he called me yesterday morning. He's coming out here for a funeral."

Catherine frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Greg nodded. "Yeah, me too."

"Is he okay?"

"He's got a lot to get through, so he'll probably stay out here a while, but he'll be fine in the long run."

"With you as his friend, I'm sure he'll be fine."

Greg smiled softly. "Thanks, Catherine."

"No problem," she said softly. She stood up, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm heading home. I'll see you later."

"See ya, Catherine."

She walked out the door, and Greg closed his eyes, waiting. Just waiting.

iPod stuffed in his ears, Adam kept his eyes closed as his flight crossed into the Midwest region of the country. He tried to avoid all thoughts of Phoenix, his family, and his life as he lounged as best he could in the cramped airline seat.

He was more torn than he could ever remember feeling.

He was excited to go see Greg and the twins. He hadn't seen them since they left a couple months ago, but Adam knew that the transition out there hadn't been that great. Greg was a lot different as a parent than Audrey had been, and that took a lot of getting used to.

Adam knew that the second he arrived, the twins would be all over him, as would Nancy. She had probably heard from Greg what was going on, and no doubt would insist that Adam get fed properly and be well taken care of. That was the kind of person Nancy was, and as much as it bothered Greg, Adam had to admit that he liked it a little. It was something that he didn't get often.

Adam almost wished that he had Greg's life. Granted, Greg wasn't the most popular person in New York City, or in Las Vegas for that matter, but he had a stable home life. He had a mother who loved him like crazy, a father who, while he may not be with Greg's mother anymore, was happy and doing his part to help overpopulate the world, and Greg had more siblings than Kotter had liver pills. And, on top of all of that, he had two adorable eleven year olds who, though they made his life crazy, loved him with all of their hearts and had grown to accept him as a more than suitable father.

All Adam had left was his mother, and his siblings.

His father had just passed away, and Adam wasn't sure yet if he felt sad, relieved, or some combination of the two. After all…

Adam shook his head, opening his eyes. He didn't want to think about that now. Maybe not ever. He sighed quietly, turning to look out the window next to him. The plane was silent, as were most early morning flights, and Adam was starting to go crazy. Part of him wished he never had said that he'd leave. He wanted to go back home, back to New York, back where things somewhat made sense and everything seemed like a good possibility.

Yet, here he was, on the flight to hell, trying to maintain what little sanity he had left. Silently, he wished himself luck with that as he rolled over to face the window and tried to sleep away the rest of this miserable flight.