Behind The Scenes

By: supercsi4

Chapter 21 – Fannysmackin'

SARA:

I had known since the first day I met Greg that we'd hit it off and as we worked more and more together I realized he has developed a bit of a crush on me. Unfortunately there was only one man for me and for a long time he was emotional unavailable so I spent a lot of time with Greg and Nick going out to dinner or dancing at clubs. Long story short, Greg and I are very close. He's like my little brother and I feel like I need to protect him more then anyone else.

When I heard Greg was attacked today I didn't know what to do. I wanted to drop everything I was doing and run to see with my own eyes that he was alive. I had a horrible flashback of him and me after the lab explosion. God I remember it like it was just yesterday. I had made up my mind that morning that I'd ask Grissom out to dinner. I was nervous all day and when I finally made my move, I was walking down the hall and a wall of glass exploded next to me. Laying on the ground, unable to move, I looked over to see Greg also laying on the ground in much worse condition then me. Later Grissom had come to me outside on the curb to check up on me, to call me 'Honey,' and to later on reject my offer to dinner. No regrets though, right? Everything that has happened between us brought us to where we are today and I'm thankful for that.

So anyways, I arrived at Greg's crime scene, jumped out of the car, and ran up to Sofia. "Hey," she delicately greeted me. I see three bodies on the ground in the alley. Medics are attending to the beaten visitor and the attacker, but Greg is alone and unattended in the center.

"Why isn't there a medic on Greg?" I ask Sofia. Why the hell isn't he being taken care of? What the hell are you doing? That's what I wanted to say.

"He's been stabilized. Sara, he's going to be okay." She's trying to calm me down in her cold Sofia way. She walks away and I walk over toward Greg. I kneel down next to him. I can't bear to see him like this. Greg's eyes are closed and I place my hand on his head, lightly stroking his hair, trying to offer what little comfort I can.

"Sara…" Greg faintly struggles to say.

"I didn't think you could see me."

"I can't…but I know that Sidle scent."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment." I look up and turn away as the tears start to come. I love Greg and though I'm overcome with pride for how he risked his life to save a stranger, I can't help but be mad at him also for putting himself in such a dangerous situation. But Greg brings me back out of my thoughts and back to CSI mode.

"I scratched one of them." His voice is raspy. I take his hand, careful to avoid touching his fingernails and destroying the evidence to catch the bastard who did this. "And you should check my vest. I think the same guy spit on me." Look at him, almost beaten to death and still trying to catch the bad guy. This guy was born to be a CSI. "And one of their cars crashed into the Denali. I guarantee there's transfer on it." Still he continues and I'm still speechless. I don't want to let go of him. Greg almost died. "You should process the scene now. Me later."

"I came here for you, Greg." And I did.

Later, Grissom, Nick, Warrick, and I were all in the locker room packing up to go home after having finished the case. Warrick and Nick were debating about where kids go wrong in this world nowadays and I just had to throw in my opinion. "You know…it kinda sounds like you guys are blaming everybody but these kids. I mean you don't get a buy just cause you grew up here or your parents are on drugs. Those kids are perfectly capable of telling the difference between a wild night out and beating somebody to death."

"Truth is…" and here goes Grissom, "…a moral compass can only point you in the right direction, it can't make you go there. Our culture preaches that you shouldn't be ashamed of anything you do anymore." Please don't tell everyone about us. I'm not ashamed, I just don't think it's anyone's business yet. "And unfortunately the city is built on the principal that there's no such thing as guilt. Do whatever you want, we won't tell. So without a conscience there's nothing to stop you from killing someone. And evidently you don't even have to feel bad about it." He finished by looking straight at me.

GRISSOM:

Greg was attacked today while risking his life to save a total stranger. I admire him for that. If I were placed in his position, I can't say that I'm sure how I would have reacted. I decided to go down to the hospital to visit Greg. It all brings back memories of Nicky buried alive and Jim laying in a hospital bed. I walk into his room and stop at the foot of his bed. Greg's eyes are closed and he looks horrible.

"Greg?"

Greg's one good left eye strains to open. "Grissom."

"Just another day at the office, huh?"

"Well, at least I can see now. The guy they beat up…how is he?" Almost beaten to death and still worried about the wellbeing of others.

"He's gonna be fine."

"What about the other guy? The guy I hit."

"His name is Demitrius James. He's in surgery."

"Is he, like, a gang banger or something?"

"Actually…he's a student at the university."

"He gonna be okay?"

"I don't know." Greg turns away and sighs. I wish I could offer more encouragement then that. "Has someone called your parents? We should let them know."

"Mmph." Uh oh.

"What's the matter?"

"They still think I'm in the lab."

"Why do they think that?" I'm confused.

"When I was in high school…I never played any sports. No football, no basketball. Definitely no hockey."

"I never would've guessed."

"Well, it wasn't by choice. My mom wanted four kids. Ended up with only one. She always made sure I stayed close. If I got a nosebleed, she'd take me to the ER."

"Well…now would be the time to come clean."

"My mom's gonna freak." He's getting more upset.

"You tell her that you risked your life to save someone else's…and I think she'll be very proud of you." I'm proud of you Greg. He's like the son I never had, and I know he looks to me as a father figure. I feel so sad for Greg, in pain to see him like that, and seriously pissed off at the asshole who did this to Greg.

On a more positive note, I caught Sara doing this experiment in the lab today, kicking a dummy around, and holy mother of god, if I knew that there was no one else watching, I would have taken her right at that moment. She had her hair pulled up in a ponytail, tank top on and sweat dripping down her body. Whoa, I'm getting turned on again. I stood in the doorway to watch a little longer then a boss would appropriately watch a coworker perform an experiment, but damn she was hot.

"Whoa…pick on somebody your own size." I couldn't help myself.

"Are you volunteering?" God help me. She wipes the sweat off herself with a towel and for a moment, I wish I was that towel. I have to put all my energy into trying to focus back on the case and the footprints she's beginning to explain to me.