Grissom walked into Greg's room. It seemed like Greg was asleep but the nurse had said he had just finished his breakfast, so Grissom assumed he was just resting.
"Greg?" Greg opened his eyes and looked at Grissom.
"Grissom, I wasn't expecting anyone now."
"I had to come by the hospital anyway to talk to a victim of a shooting, so since I was here I thought I would visit and see how you are doing."
"Oh I see." So just because he was here he figured he would stop in and see poor Greg.
Grissom noticed the sour expression on Greg's face and realized what he said did not come out the way he wanted. He decided to give him the stuff Nick asked to drop off.
"Nick can't make it by today but he asked me to give you these." Greg had not seen the two items Grissom carried in.
His eyes lit up a little bit seeing the iPod and the PSP. "Thanks, tell Nick thanks too. This will help bide my time here some." He took the two items and placed them on his side table.
Grissom noticed that Greg's appearance had not improved since he saw him a couple days ago. If anything he looked worse.
"I hear you got an infection now. Is that true?"
Greg nodded his head slightly. "Yeah the one on my lower back got infected, but I'm on antibiotics for it now. Means more time here though." Greg's expression was very solemn.
"It's got to be hard, but you want to make a full recovery, right?"
"Yeah I guess," Greg responded sheepishly.
Grissom could now understand why Nick said he was worried about Greg. He had never seen Greg so despondent before. Perhaps some news about his case would make him feel better.
"Did anyone tell you that Jessica Myers died of a stroke in her jail cell? She was a heavy Meth user."
Greg looked a bit surprised. "Really? Did she give any more information before she bit the dust?"
"No, she kept quiet until the very end, but Tyler has given us some more details. It seems she was the one who used the pool stick in the sexual assaults. He said he loved her twisted mind, that why they get along so well. They both seemed to take a lot of pleasure in their activities."
Grissom had not needed to remind Greg of that. He was living proof of Tyler's pleasure in torturing people. Greg shifted uncomfortably then responded.
"Yeah I know."
Grissom felt like he had foot-in-mouth disease today. "I'm sorry Greg. I don't mean to be insensitive to you."
Greg had to smirk at that. Grissom had never been known to be sensitive too much of anything.
"It's okay. It's just you being you, Grissom."
Grissom was not sure if that was a compliment or an insult. He decided to just let it be, since it was coming from Greg, after all.
"So did they give you a time frame of when you might be back on your feet again," Grissom decided to ask him.
Greg felt dread take over him again. "I'm not sure, but from what they say it will not be anytime soon." He stared at Grissom. "Is that going to be a problem?" He asked Grissom cautiously.
Grissom raised an eyebrow. "Are you expecting one?"
"Uh, well what if I am not like 100?"
Grissom could read the worry in Greg's eyes. "Even if you are not back 100, you will still have a job, Greg. I personally will see to it. You just might have to do desk duty like you did before."
Greg felt better hearing it come from Grissom. "Okay, thanks."
"Have you thought about seeking some counseling, Greg?"
Greg felt blindsided. "What? What for?"
"You know why, Greg." Grissom stated matter of factly to him.
Greg became defensive. "You think I need help? You think I am having nightmares or something? That I can't deal with what happened?" Greg was lying to Grissom and himself though. He had started having nightmares and he was having problems dealing, more like he was not dealing at all with what happened.
Grissom seemed amused by Greg's reaction. "Greg, you only have to realize that you just proved my point by your reaction. You know you would not normally blow up at me like that. I have never known you to be that way."
Greg's expression became a look of defeat. He gazed down at the floor, feeling like total crap again.
"Greg, I just suggest you talk to someone about what's going on with you, that's all I'm saying."
"Yeah okay," he sighed.
"I have faith that you're going to get through all this, Greg." Grissom watched his youngest CSI nod his head like a little boy being scolded by his dad.
"I need to go now. If you need me for anything, you know you can call me."
Greg just nodded his head again looking at Grissom this time. He broke down in front of Grissom last time he was in the hospital, he did not want to do it again. "Thanks."
"You're welcome, Greg. I'll be by again when I can. Just remember what I said."
"I will."
After Grissom left, Greg felt tears threatening to escape from his eyes again. He grabbed his iPod and put on some Radiohead. He closed his eyes and absorbed himself into his music, drowning out everything else for now.
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Catherine had taken Lindsay to her dance class and then her friend's mother was picking her up after class and she was going to stay at her place. So Catherine had a couple hours before shift began to try to finally brave seeing Greg again.
She walked up to his door and hesitated a moment before going in. She opened the door and he did not stir. Then she noticed he had his earphones in his ears, listening to his music she presumed. She walked over to him and noticed now his eyes were closed. Even with his eyes closed he looked unwell. The infection must have really taken its toll on him.
She felt an overwhelming pull at her heart again as she gazed at him still lying in the hospital bed on his side after 8 days now. She collected her thoughts and said his name. He did not respond.
This time she touched his arm lightly and said his name.
He opened his big brown eyes suddenly and then quickly pulled out his earphones once he saw it was Catherine. He turned off his iPod.
"Catherine, I was not expecting you." She could swear she saw a bit of fright in his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm a bit surprised I am here as well after the last time."
She immediately noticed Greg's expression fall as he lowered his eyes.
"I don't know how to apologize for what I said to you. I was out of line and I think partially out of my mind."
Catherine had to smile at the last remark. "I think most people think you are out of your mind all the time."
Greg did not even crack part of a smile at that.
"Grissom came by earlier. I sort of blew up at him too," Greg said to his chagrin.
Catherine did not say anything so he continued.
"He thinks I need help, that I need to talk to someone about what happened. The problem is I can't talk to a stranger about it. They simply won't understand unless they have been through it their self." He turned his sad eyes to Catherine.
She was listening and she knew what he was getting at. He wanted to talk to her about it. She finally took a seat. She could not stay mad at him when she could see he was suffering so much. The only thing was she was not sure she was comfortable being the one he wanted to open up to.
"I hear you had a set back in your recovery." She decided to skirt the issue temporarily.
Greg took it as reluctance when she avoided the issue. "Yeah, my lower back, where I was stabbed got infected. I'm on heavy duty antibiotics."
"How's it doing now?"
Greg sighed heavily. "It's not healing fast if that is what you are asking. Only good thing is I am on a pain med that does not make me sick anymore."
"It was making you sick?" She had not heard about that.
"I finally started eating, but then I would toss it up anyway. I was in bad shape for a day or two. I don't know. I am starting to loose track of time being stuck in here." He lowered his eyes again, not looking at Catherine. He was starting to feel the anxiety build up in him again.
Catherine hated how things were not going well for him. She pretty much forgot about the horrible things he had said to her the other day. She now really believed he had suffered enough already and did not need her to be holding that against him too. But before she could say anything Greg spoke again.
"Catherine, I am truly so sorry about the other day. I really do not blame you for what happened to me and I can't expect everyone to know how I feel about things when I keep them hidden. I've had so much time to think here and the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt your feelings." He was staring at her now.
She could see the melancholy look in his eyes. She hated that he seemed so down on everything that was so unlike Greg.
"Greg, I forgive you. I now know you did not mean all those things you said. I hate seeing you in so much pain emotionally. It's not like you. If you need to talk to me, talk."
Now it was Greg who was reluctant to open up. He was so confused with his feelings towards Catherine that he was not sure if opening up to her would have been the greatest idea or not.
Luckily Nurse Wade coming in with his dinner saved him.
"Oh sorry, I did not realize you had company." She recognized Catherine from the other day, but noticed things did not seem strained between them like it had last time.
"I can come back later with your meal, if you like."
Catherine looked at Greg a moment. She could see his hesitation. "No, that's okay. I do not mind if he eats while I am here. Greg?" She glanced back at him.
Greg looked at Catherine. "I am kind of hungry."
"Well, if that's the case here you go." Nurse Wade placed the tray on his table. She watched him as he sat up on the side of his bed to make sure he had no problems. Once she was satisfied that he seemed okay, she left Catherine and him alone again.
"I always seem to come at a bad time." Catherine frowned as Greg looked at his dinner for the night. It appeared to be turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn.
"I think I had this two days ago," Greg sighed.
Catherine grinned at his dismal expression.
"Getting sick of the food, huh," she said with a questioning tone. He nodded.
"Maybe next time I come around I'll bring some real food for you."
Greg's eyes lit up some at that. "That would be heavenly. You said before you would but you know…" He trailed off thinking of all the horrible things he said to her again.
"I know and it does not matter anymore." She said to him.
"Thanks, you know, for like everything," he said to her as he gazed at her intensely.
She felt her cheeks redden a bit under his gaze. "You're welcome. You know we all care about you, Greg."
Greg hesitated a moment, still staring at her, before responding. "Some maybe more than others."
At first she thought he was saying some did not care much, but then by the look in his eyes she realized his true meaning. He could read her that well and it took her by surprise. "Perhaps," she responded.
She saw a slight smile on his face as he lowered his head. She realized that the feelings might be mutual. She slightly shook her head thinking how crazy all this was. She just simply came here to talk to Greg and it was turning into something she was not ready to deal with yet.