A/N: I apologize for the long delay between updates. I do have more written (and the end planned out), I just haven't had the chance to type it all up yet. See the first chapter for disclaimer. The case referenced is portrayed in CSI's "Rashomama." Also, as a statement of the obvious, this story was started before CSI:NY's "The Real McCoy" aired. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review.

Chapter 4

After the games, homework checks, and evening fights, Caden and Alexa were finally in bed, which meant that Nancy was going home to give the two boys some time alone. Greg and Adam chose to each grab a soda and move out onto the front porch, where their conversations wouldn't wake the kids.

"I'm sorry I vented earlier," Greg said. "I know it's not what you need right now."

Adam shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he insisted. "It's not like you need the headaches right now either."

Greg scoffed slightly. "Kids."

Adam smirked lightly. "Yeah, but what would you ever do without them?"

Greg shrugged. "Not be going gray?"

Adam smiled.

"Did Alexa tell you that she wants to try out for the local theater?" Greg asked.

"No," Adam replied. "That a bad thing?"

"I don't know. I mean, she'd be meeting new people and getting out more, so that'd be good for her, but I'm not sure I like the area it's in."

"You think anyone there would let something happen to her?"

"I don't know. I'm not finished running the names yet."

Adam snorted softly.

"You laugh, but you'd be doing the same thing."

"Agreed," Adam said, taking a drink from his soda. "What's Caden doing?"

"Besides hating me?" Greg started. "Nothing. I have a meeting with his principal tomorrow morning, which is probably where he's going to tell me that Caden is disruptive in school, a loner, and how that needs to change."

"You really have a lot of faith in Caden, huh?"

"It's not that I don't have faith in him. It's that I have faith in the notes that get sent home with him."

Adam nodded.

"I don't know what to do with him, Adam," Greg confessed. "I mean, whatever I do isn't good enough for him. He doesn't want to be here, but I'm not going to send him back to New York and separate him and Alexa. Because as much as he's a pain to her right now, she still loves him and still wants him here. I just…" Greg's voice trailed off as he rubbed his forehead. "I don't know what to do."

"Didn't Catherine have a problem with Lindsey?" Adam asked.

"Yeah, and she sent Lindsey to private school. But, I don't have that kind of money, and my parents really don't either. And I wouldn't want to ask Audrey's parents."

"You know they'd say yes in a heartbeat."

"I know, but it doesn't seem right."

"Maybe he'll grow out of it."

Greg shook his head. "I've been hoping that for seven months."

Adam shrugged, taking a drink from his soda. "You also need to look at things his way. Seven months ago, his mother was still here, he was with all his friends in New York. And, I know everything happened in the worst way, but it's not easy to uproot your entire life unwillingly and settle in somewhere else. And Caden doesn't settle well. He never has. And hey, if the school's willing to work with you on it, it's not a bad idea to hear what they say. Maybe having him go to the school psychologist or something, just to talk to someone other than you, Nancy, and Alexa. It might help. Hell, it really can't hurt."

"Yeah, I guess not," Greg breathed. He took a drink before turning to Adam. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing, Greg," Adam replied.

"Okay. Changing subjects then. How're you doing?"

Adam put his soda down on the table in front of him, leaning back in the chair. "I've been trying to figure that out ever since my mother told me," he admitted.

Greg tilted his head to the side and back. "Understandable."

"It's… a cycle, you know? I mean, I think about him being dead and… and I'm relieved. And then I'm mad at myself for being relieved, but then… then I think about how he treated me… and… and I get so mad at him for what he did… and then I remember that he's dead now, so he can't hurt me anymore, and I'm relieved again."

Greg nodded.

"But, my mother's been a mess ever since it happened," Adam continued. "And I feel bad that she's upset, because I love my mother, and I always have. And I listen to her on the phone, and… and I feel guilty because I don't feel the same. I feel like I should be sad, like I should care, like I should be remembering something… something that… I don't know, isn't bad or whatever. But I can't think of anything, and that makes me feel even worse."

Greg bit his lip.

"I don't know," Adam breathed.

"I wish I had an answer for you," Greg said softly.

"Yeah, no one does. And Stella calls every five hours."

Greg chuckled softly with a smile. "She cares about you."

"Mother hen."

"My mom before she had me."

Adam laughed slightly. "You know, I never thought about it, but if Stella ever has kids, the whole world better watch out. She'd be another Nancy."

Greg smiled. "Yeah, one's enough."

Adam nodded, picking up his soda can.

"What about the rest of your team?" Greg asked, shifting in his chair.

Adam shrugged. "I didn't really see them before I left," he replied.

"Have you talked to them?"

"Only Stella and Mac, but I haven't heard from him since before I left."

Greg arched his eyebrows. "Really? I would've expected Mac to have checked in with you by now."

Adam shrugged. "I'm sure Stella's keeping him up-to-date."

"As much as Mac respects Stella, would he really just take her word for it?"

"No, I know he wouldn't. But I think he'll wait until I come back before he talks to me more."

"What about Flack?"

"What about him?"

"Well, has he talked to you or anything?"

Adam shook his head. "I don't really expect him to," he said.

"Why not?" Greg asked.

"We're not really that close."

"Hey, you stuck your neck out for him. Least he could do is make sure you're alright."

"I doubt he even knows. I mean, would your colleagues tell Captain Brass about your family?"

Greg snorted. "Oh, Brass is intrigued by my father."

Adam smiled. "Okay, bad example."

Greg chuckled. "I get your point, though," he said.

Adam nodded, taking a drink from his soda. "I don't know what to do, man," he admitted.

"You took the first step. You're here."

"Yeah, I know."

"And hey, if you want, we can get a hotel room or something someplace closer to Phoenix so we don't have to drive the eight hours between. And so you won't have to stay at the house."

"Already done."

Greg smirked. "Of course. You always were the more prepared one. But did you plan on me, Alexa, Caden, and Nancy?"

"Yep."

"Why do I doubt you?"

Adam shrugged, but said nothing as he leaned back further in the chair. Greg did the same, staring out at his quiet street as the wind kicked up slightly.

"You gonna be okay?" Greg asked after a moment.

"Can I get back to you on that?" Adam replied honestly.

"Sure."

Adam sniffled, more due to the chill of the evening than the emotions of the moment. "How about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well, with Warrick…"

Greg shook his head. "The counselor helped, but… I don't know. It's hard, and there are so many other things going on too… I shouldn't be complaining."

"Please do," Adam said.

"To make you forget your own?" Greg replied. At Adam's nod, Greg sighed. "Maybe you shouldn't be."

"I'll sleep on it. What else is going on?"

"I told you Warrick had a son, right?"

"No, you didn't."

"With his ex-wife. Eli."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Me too," Greg said. "I can't imagine. I mean… I think about that a lot. About leaving the kids… what would happen. Especially since they already lost their mother… I don't want to think about what would happen with them. I just… I hope it never happens. But… I just keep thinking about that now."

"Yeah, I bet."

"And it's even worse that… McKeen…"

"Yeah," Adam whispered, knowing what Greg was trying to say.

"Uh, forgive me for my bad segue, but… how did your father die?" Greg asked. "I'm not sure you said."

"I… uh, I don't think I did. Heart attack. It was quick."

"Damn."

Adam quirked an eyebrow as Greg seemed to catch his slip up.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"It's okay," Adam replied. "Just… don't say that to my mom."

"I won't, I promise. Actually, I don't think I've ever met your mom, after all these years."

"Well, meeting her would've meant meeting my father."

Greg tilted his head side to side. "Right."

"She's heard a lot about you, though. And I think she'd like to meet you, but I don't know. We never really talked about that. Actually, we don't really talk all that much. I wonder if that'll change."

"Probably," Greg subjected. "I mean, my dad always talks to me more after he gets a divorce. It's the whole, 'looking for validation or meaning or a new relationship' type thing. Which tends to taper off when he has a new lady in his life."

"Does he marry all of them?" Adam asked.

Greg paused, thinking for the moment. "Most of them. And each one is the love of his life. Until the end when he says they're just another mistake. Some bigger than others, though."

"And where does your mom rank on that list?"

Greg shrugged. "Not entirely sure that letting her go wasn't the mistake."

Adam smiled. "How many wives has he had?"

"Ask me an easier question, like what's the square root of 2401?"

Adam chuckled softly.

Despite his retort, Greg thought for a moment. "Five that he's had kids with. At least three or four others. I keep telling him, 'it's okay to take a lover, you just doesn't have to marry them'."

Adam laughed a little harder.

"Sorry, that was a quote from what many consider to be the worst wedding speech ever," Greg said.

"Oh, I remember that case," Adam replied. "Made headlines even in New York."

Greg smirked as silence faded into the porch.