Thanks be to Kegel for the Beta; haven't seen this story for a while now, but it is back as of now. Hope you enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review!
Chapter Seven: Learning
He would have never fathomed that such a small human would require so much. A blanket, a pillow, a bag of snacks, Jay Jay the Jet Plane toothbrush and matching toothpaste, a tote of toys, a cuddly stuffed bear…did he seriously need all of this stuff?
Greg let out a hurried sigh as he slipped his hand through the last bag, sliding the handle to his elbow as he reached in to free Chase from his booster seat. The boy rubbed his eyes incessantly with the back of one hand, whimpering as he was pulled out the sleep he had been so soundly in. Impressively Greg was able to shuffle the bags in his grasp in order to get a better hold on Chase, the toddler showing no signs of wanting to walk on his own.
Chase instinctively wrapped his hands around Greg's neck as the man let go with one hand to close the door. Only when the hand was returned did he relax, laying his head down against Greg's shoulder. Greg whispered a quiet encouragement to him, moving quickly for the entrance of the lab. It wasn't the boy's fault, he knew, having to be shuffled about like this, but at the moment, there was no other choice. It was either this, or being late to work yet again, and that would not go over so well with Ecklie.
Susan had gotten the job, which was a relief for the both of them. Between the pair they should be able to afford a decent living for Chase. Her hours though were supposed to allow her to get home in time for Greg to make it to work, with a few minutes to spare. The first day it had been the interview party; her new colleagues had taken her out, shown her a bit of the work, and finished up with a dinner that lasted well into the early morning hours of the next day. By then Grissom had told him to not bother coming in.
The second day…she had been slammed with work, showing up nearly two hours late. Greg had gotten a reprimand then. Tonight…at least she had called this time. By then shift started in less than an hour, and the decision had not been a hard one to make. Greg had collected all of the necessities from the spare room, the same room that Susan was currently using, and scooped up a sleeping Chase before heading out the door.
Greg still wasn't sure what they would do about the two of them, meaning himself and Susan. They certainly were no couple, but Greg had offered her a place to stay until they managed to work things out. Living together would be cheaper in the long run for the both of them, but it was tight on space and surely Susan didn't expect Chase to grow up sleeping on the couch. And there was no way Greg was going to move out of his place.
He shook his head, moving through the halls to the break room. Everything was still so new to him, moving at warp speed. A week ago he had been virtually carefree, responsible only for himself; now he was trying to manage a job, a child, and a life. Greg wasn't sure how much longer he could continue on like this.
"Greg? What are you doing?"
He met his supervisor's questioning gaze with a simple shake of his head, walking through the door into the break room. "I didn't have time to find a babysitter; Susan said she'd be by to pick him up when she's off work."
"So, you're using the lab as a daycare now?" Grissom inquired, watching as Greg set Chase down on the couch.
"What would you have me do? Leave him home alone? Thanks, but no, I've seen enough cases that ended poorly because of that. Besides, it was never an issue with Catherine bringing Lindsey here."
"That was different."
Greg nodded, turning to him. "Give me one good reason and I'll take him back home."
He would have argued more, but he was simply too tired. The last few days had been exhausting, and Greg wasn't even sure he had actually slept. Truthfully he would have jumped at the chance of being sent back home, but Grissom only shook his head.
"I'll admit, you got me there. But what will Ecklie say if he hears?"
"What will Ecklie say if I miss work again? Besides…Chase should sleep."
"Why all of the extra stuff then?" Grissom wondered.
Greg turned with a frown, covering Chase up with the blanket he had brought in. "I said 'should', not 'would'."
The truth of it all was simple. If the boy didn't sleep, then he had enough to keep himself occupied for a time. Greg was hopeful that Susan would turn up soon. He couldn't leave the lab until she did, but at the very least he could get some basic work down.
Grissom had already left the room, and Greg paused for a moment, watching the boy sleep soundly, blonde hair in a messy tousled manner, his small fists curled up near his chin. Quietly he reached out, stroking Chase's head before leaning down to kiss him gently. He was precious, Greg would have to admit, when the boy wasn't a burning ball of energy that never died down.
"How's the world of parenthood coming?"
He glanced up as Catherine came into the room, hiding a small smile. "I think I'm losing my mind."
"Why?" She laughed, moving to the end of the couch. She watched Chase sleep for a moment, turning back to him afterwards. "Because he's growing on you?"
Greg let out a little laugh, mostly because he wanted to deny it but knew that he couldn't. "I haven't slept…I've hardly eaten. Susan's gone during the day and all he wants to do is play. At night I'm back here, or being yelled at by someone else…how did you manage with Lindsey?"
She gave him a pitying smile. "When Lindsey was little I had Eddie, and my mother. They helped to take care of her. Then she started going to school. Gave me enough time to get some sleep, especially when my mother picked her up from school."
"Well, Chase isn't old enough for school; still needs another year at least."
"What about preschool?" she suggested, "Lindsey went to this great program; I can get you a brochure. They have great rates, and the plus side, it will help prepare him for school."
"Thanks," Greg smiled at her. "I hadn't thought about that. I'm still trying to figure out how to be a parent."
"Well, it takes years of practicing; and even then you still make mistakes."
Greg nodded, letting out a sigh as he straightened up. "Yeah, but I think I'm taking the crash course. I'm running straight into the ground and I'm just waiting for an explosion."
"Hey," she caught his attention. "If you ever need a day off, I'll take him. Let you get your rest. Why don't I swing by after shift and pick him up? I can give you that brochure at the same time."
"I can't ask you to do that," Greg shook his head.
"Trust me," she laughed, "I don't mind. It's been so long since I've had a little one around that it will actually be nice."
The prospect of a good night's sleep was very appealing he had to admit. And he wouldn't have to worry about Chase either; Catherine had her flaws, but she was a good parent. He could see that reflected in Lindsey. Slowly he nodded, agreeing quietly.
"Just give me a call when you get home and I'll come over. I have to run though; have to catch up with Sara," she gave him a short wave, departing from the room. Greg nodded, though there was no one to see, silently wishing up a silent thanks. He would finally be able to get some sleep.
She hated this room. Hated it with a passion; but what made it even worse was the fact she was on the wrong side of the table. Catherine had suggested coming here; no, had insisted on it. Nick had vouched for her, offering the lobby instead, but the woman had shot the idea down. Too open, too personal, she claimed.
Sara folded her hands together as Nick sat down opposite of her, flicking the mute button underneath the table. Catherine gave him a cold glare but he matched it, shaking his head. "This is not an interrogation; there's no reason to record what we say."
"Still a case," Catherine reminded him, circling around the room and coming to a stop on the other side of the table. There was a terse silence, but the blonde let out a sigh, holding out the piece of paper in her hands.
"The Aureole, you went there last week. Roughly five hours before you ended up in the hospital. What do you remember?"
Sara reached out tentatively for the paper, her hand shaking as though she was afraid it would snap at her. Cautiously her fingers closed around the thin receipt, pulling it free from the other woman's grasp. She knew the place, could remember it even as her eyes glanced over the order taken. She just couldn't remember that night…
Memories swirled in her mind, fleeting and indistinct, escaping the forceful pull on her mind. So many memories, so many thoughts, all mixing together. Slowly she shook her head, "No…"
Then she paused, the flash of memory so brief that she first thought she had imagined it. But she took a breath, closing her eyes as she pressed harder, digging deeper. She could remember…remember the smell…pasta…she had pasta that night. Her eyes snapped open, checking the receipt again. Lasagna Florentine; yes, she could remember.
"Sara?"
Nick's voice was soft, full of worry and she quickly reassured him, nodding her head. "I can remember…not much, but I know I was there."
"Do you remember who you went with?" Nick continued, encouraging her.
Once again there was a blank, her mind numb, withholding the information. Her eyes slid close, trying to recall the events, trying to play them. The table had been small…she always got a small table, she was the only one that went there after all; no need for a big table…
"No one," she shook her head quickly, opening her eyes. "I didn't go with anyone."
"No one goes to a restaurant like that alone, Sara," Catherine reminded her.
"I do."
"What Catherine meant to say was that there are two orders on the tab," Nick offered. "Someone had to be with you that night, unless you started eating meat again."
Sara glanced down at the receipt again, frowning as she glanced over the order. Pasta O Furnu Catania…it wasn't her order…but she couldn't explain how it got there. The thought chilled her, Sara biting her bottom lip as she shook her head, trying to keep the threatening tears at bay. The last thing she wanted was to break down in front of the other woman, but the knowledge that someone had been with her, that some stranger had done something…
She didn't resist the arms that pulled her into a secure hold, wrapping her arms instead around the Texan that had moved to other side of the table. Quickly she shook her head, closing her eyes as she fell into his hold.
"I can't remember…"
He was far too tired to deal with this. Greg rubbed his forehead, pounding the heel of his palm against it, as though hopeful to chase away the groggy feeling that was creeping back in. Work had held over, and Greg had stayed; the first time he had worked late since the entire ordeal. Susan, of course, had been none too happy, giving him an earful as he came through the door.
She was already dressed, making herself some coffee as she continued to get ready to leave for the day. Greg could have gone to bed, but instead had chosen to propose the idea of preschool to Susan instead. He figured the woman would be happy; instead she had been furious.
"I can't believe you; it's been only a few days and you already want to ship our son off to some second-rate garbage dump they have a nerve to call a school."
"It's not a garbage dump," he shook his head, sitting down on the couch next to Chase, the boy playing happily with a paper plane Greg had just recently made him. "Catherine praises the school highly, and I hate to burst your bubble but it's not like we can afford a Harvard Tuition for him. Besides, it's just preschool."
"And let me guess," she interrupted, spinning around to face him. "Just preschool will turn into 'just kindergarten' and that will turn into 'just elementary' which will turn into 'just middle school'. Does any of this matter to you or do you not care?"
"I care," Greg cut her off. "But I also care about the fact that I haven't slept. I also care about the fact that I might lose my job soon because I can't work the hours. And I also care that I might lose this place because I can't afford the rent because I'm spending my entire paycheck on a place so that Chase can go build a tower out of plastic blocks."
"It's all about you, isn't it?"
He let out a groan, pressing his head into his hands once more. How was it that everything he said was twisted around to come back at him. "That's not what I'm saying."
"I don't want to send our son off to any school just because some broad you work with suggested it. Chase is doing just fine without it, and on the plus side, we'll save more money this way. Since you're so worried about that."
"Then we need to find a daycare, or a permanent babysitter," Greg pointed out. "I can't keep up with this schedule."
"Then find a different job. It's not healthy for Chase having such an unstable routine. He needs to know that his father is going to be there for him, and not off on some job. Besides, what you do is dangerous. Do you really want your son to be without a father?"
"That's enough," Greg told her firmly. "The job has risks just like any other job does. And no, I am not finding a different job. I worked my ass off to get where I am and I'm not giving it up just because you think it's unstable."
She watched him, barely blinking, "You did not just say that."
For a moment he felt like gloating, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. He was never much of a confrontational person, so in turn this felt good. But his arrogance died down a moment later as Chase laughed next to him. "Assh."
Greg could have smacked himself, and he was shaking his head slowly. "Oh...don't say that."
The boy giggled, shaking the plane in his hand. "Assh!"
"Congratulations Greg," Susan replied sweetly. "You just taught our son his first colorful word. Well, I'd love to stay and continue this conversation, but I'm late for work. Please try and refrain from widening his vocabulary while I'm gone."
"Right," Greg nodded, watching as she left. He met his son's gaze, shaking his head slowly. "Well, you learned it easily enough, maybe you'll forget just as easy."
"Assh, assh, asshs," he giggled, repeating the word a few more times before falling silent, a grin on his face as he chewed on the paper plane.
"Or maybe I'm being too hopeful," Greg shook his head, moving off the couch as the doorbell rang. At least he hadn't told Susan about Catherine's offer to watch Chase. He was certain she would disapprove of that as well. But honestly, what did she expect him to do?
Catherine had changed clothes, and it even looked as though she had showered, stirring up amusement in Greg. He wondered briefly how she managed to do it all. Then again Lindsey was much older, and didn't need to be kept after as closely as Chase did.
"You going to invite me in?"
"Sorry," Greg laughed sheepishly, moving back to let her in. "I was thinking."
"Saw your wonderful counterpart," Catherine told him as she closed the door behind her, handing him the promised brochure. "Is she a work of art or what?"
"There was a reason why I stopped dating her," Greg reminded her, pausing to glance through the pages.
"All of his things are over there; he likes Jay Jay the Jet Plane, I bought him a few dvd's. Hopefully he'll watch them most of the day and not be too much of a hassle."
"Greg," she caught his arm, laughing at him. "I know what I'm doing. I already have the day planned. He'll be back home before shift, don't worry."
Greg nodded feebly, slight embarrassment working its way through him. Of course she would know. "Sorry."
She said nothing to him in response, turning instead to face the boy still sitting on the couch, bending over to get a better glance. "Are you ready to go have some fun?"
"Assh!"
Greg nearly choked on his own breath, his face darkening as the word flew out of the boy's mouth. It had only been a brief moment, but Greg had completely forgotten about the new word Chase had come to fancy. He expected Catherine to react, expected her to be angry, upset, even raving mad.
Instead there was a look of mild amusement on her face as she straightened up. "I see he's learned his first adult word."
Greg nodded, swallowing slightly. "Yeah, sorry about that."
"Lindsey learned her first one at the age of two and a half."
"Really?"
Catherine nodded, a similar look crossing her face. "It had been a long day and she was fussy, wouldn't cooperate. It came out before I could stop it. They're good at picking up on what you don't want them to know."
"I noticed," Greg agreed, feeling slightly relieved. "Now how do you get them to stop?"
"You can't," she grinned at him, laughing at his alarmed look. "Don't worry. It's just a phase; once he gets it out of his system it'll be all forgotten about. Just don't take him into any churches anytime soon."
"Or out in public," Greg grimaced.
"It'll be okay," she reminded him, gathering the bags off the floor. "Get some rest, we'll be back later."
Greg nodded, thanking her one last time as they headed out the door, Chase chattering his newfound word like a mockingbird, giggling as he followed the woman without question. Part of him was thankful, but there was a nagging feeling deep in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't quite place. That was when he realized exactly what it was.
He was going to miss him.
TBC