Another update, it's not as long as I wanted it too be. There'll probably be one or two more chapters (I've know I've said this somewhere before, but I'm pretty sure this time)

Thanks for sticking in here with me, and being incredibly patient. You guys really are the best

Chapter Sixteen: Letting Go

Greg had closed the door behind him, one hand still grasping the handle as he came to a stop. Out of all the things he expected, seeing her wasn't one of them. Catherine was leaning against the wall, Sara pacing back and forth in front of her. The moment the door had shut again, the pair looked up to meet his gaze.

Greg shook his head, already heading down the hall, ignoring Sara's calls. He couldn't talk to her now…wouldn't talk to her now. His emotions were running high, and he was afraid that he would say something that he would end up regretting.

She would have caught up with him easily enough. That was if Catherine hadn't grabbed her arm as she walked past. She called his name one last time before he disappeared around the corner, her worry turning back into frustration as she turned to face the other woman.

"Back off," Sara warned, already moving to pull herself free.

"Let him go Sara," Catherine replied, ignoring her previous comment. Sara hadn't said much when they talked on the phone, and had talked even less when she had arrived. Catherine wasn't certain, but she could sense something had happened between the pair.

Greg would barely look at her, none the less talk with her. On the other hand Sara looked as though she was trying to decide between killing the younger man and smothering him in a heartfelt hug. Catherine had never been one to read emotions or people very well. That was Grissom's specialty.

Her worry only increased at the time Greg had spent in his office, and now Grissom was waiting for Sara behind closed doors. He wouldn't tell her what was going on, wouldn't say a word. It left her mind to wander greatly, landing in several places she wished it had not.

"I have to talk to him," Sara shook her off, "I have to make sure he's okay."

"He'll be fine," Catherine reassured her, pointing towards the office. "Grissom needs you right now though."

"Greg needs me," Sara protested, standing her ground.

"I'll check in on Greg, go talk with Grissom, get it over with."

She watched as the younger woman looked down the hall, her eyes trailing the path Greg had taken earlier. Slowly she turned and looked at the door that stood only a few feet in front of her, letting out a sigh. "I really hate you, you know that?"

"I'll keep it in mind," Catherine replied dryly, nodding towards the door. She waited until she was certain the other was inside before taking off down the hall. She found him in the first room she looked in, not surprised to find him in the locker room, but somewhat concerned to see the state he was in.

He was sitting quietly, staring down at his hands that were in his lap, unmoving, his uneven breaths filling the room. He didn't bother to look up as she sat down next to him, moving her legs over so that she straddled the bench. "You want to talk about it?"

Greg's only response was a sigh as he stretched his legs out. Catherine nodded in silent understanding, knowing at the same time she'd be able to get it out of Sara easier than she would be able to get it out of Greg. With Sara, all you had to do was make her mad and she tell everything under her own will. She had yet to learn Greg's weakness, but she let it slide for now. Reaching up, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, relieved when he didn't pull away.

"I'll give you a ride home."

"You can't be serious," Sara detested angrily, pushing herself up from the chair. Grissom only shook his head as she began pacing the room. At this rate she wouldn't need to watch what she ate, she was burning everything off faster than she could consume it. "You can't launch an investigation into this. Greg was over at my place, his prints are going to be everywhere, and he didn't do anything."

"Why won't he tell me what happened then?" Grissom prodded, rubbing his forehead. His headache was starting to come back.

"Because there's nothing to tell. I fell in kitchen, I knocked a few things over, Greg helped me clean up. That's all that happened."

"Greg told me that he promised you that he wouldn't say anything to anyone. If nothing happened, why would he be trying to hide everything so well?"

Sara came to a stop, crossing her arms as she drew in a deep breath. "Look, I had a few drinks, I was a bit tipsy. That's how I fell in the first place. I made Greg promise because I didn't want anyone to think of me as a drunk."

"You're lying," Grissom pointed out quietly, "I can see it in your eyes, besides, you remember everything too well to have been that drunk."

"So what if I am?" Sara shot back, turning to look at him.

"It's just that Greg's going to be the most likely to take the fall for this."

"You can't," she interrupted quickly, "I'm not pressing charges."

"It doesn't matter," Grissom pointed out to her. "Two of my employees are involved in a domestic violence charge. It has to be resolved."

"It was an accident," Sara repeated slowly. "Hopefully you will remember that when discussing it with Ecklie."

It was a crass comment, she knew it the moment the words left her mouth, but she did not regret them. Nor did she wait for an invitation to leave, simply grabbing her stuff as she headed out the door.

"You should talk to her."

Greg nodded solemnly as Catherine walked up to the door with him. "I know," he stated, pulling his keys free of his pocket. Getting his car back in the morning would be a pain; it was still sitting in the parking lot of the bar he had visited earlier. "I just don't know what to say."

"It'll come to you. The two of you are too close to be fighting like this."

"It's not like we're dating," Greg reminded her, surprised as she laughed.

"Sometimes I wonder," Catherine gave him a brief smile. "Give Sara a chance to explain herself. I'm sure whatever she said to you couldn't have been that bad. She seems awfully sorry."

It was Greg's turn to laugh softly, prompting a curious look from Catherine. "Sorry," he waved her off, still smiling. "I just can't imagine you saying 'awfully'. You're not that type of person."

Catherine nodded slowly, a look of amusement crossing her face. "What kind of person am I then?"

Greg's smile flattened, as he shook his head. "We're getting off this topic."

She nodded, unwilling to push him any further. "I need to get back to the lab now, you take it easy tonight. If you need anything…"

"You're just a call away," Greg cut her off, his head bobbing as he mimicked her. He grinned once he finished, meeting her amused gaze. "Thanks…for everything."

"It's not a problem," she reassured him, already heading back down the walkway, giving him one last wave before he disappeared inside. He hadn't told her everything, but at the same time he had said enough. She had a better idea of what was going on between the two, and little doubts in her mind that issue would linger too much longer.

Fights like these were common, more so between the men back at the lab. She had her own verbal scruffs as well, and times had been rocky more than once. But with her experience it was better to offer support than try and fix things yourself. Interference was a risky business, she had learned well enough to steer clear of such ideas. Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

TBC