A/N: I know, it's been awhile, and I apologize. Work got in the way, massively. Anyway, I still don't own anyone or anything but Mia and the doctor. In this chapter, Nick visits Greg at the hospital, so enjoy, and please review!

Chapter 2: First Visits

"How are you feeling today?" she asked. He shrugged, much like he always does.

"Nervous," he replied. "A little anxious."

"Tell me about it."

"Nick's coming today. He told me last night that he'd be here, alone. It's the first time anyone's seen me since I came in here. First time I've really talked to him. He's gonna wanna know how I'm doing, and I'm not too sure."

"How do you think you're doing?"

"I think I'm okay… maybe. Not ready to leave. I think I still have more issues to work out. I mean, I tried to kill myself. I had an issue with alcohol, trying to use it as a crutch. I have depression. I have anxiety disorder. And we haven't really done much work on those."

"What would you like us to go over before you feel like you're ready to leave?"

"All that stuff? I want my life back. It's too much. I should've stayed in the lab, should've stayed naïve, should've saved Sara's life, should've never fallen in love with Mia… I should've done a whole bunch of things different."

"What makes you feel that way?" He sighs.

"I don't know. I just think that if I hadn't done any of that, I wouldn't have gotten like this. I would've been better. I don't even know how I got here. I don't like drinking. I don't use alcohol as a crutch. When I went through everything that happened with Demitrius James, I didn't touch alcohol."

"What did you do instead?"

"I… talked to my friends. They didn't understand, and it was frustrating, but they'd at least listen. They were there for me."

"What makes this time different?"

"Catherine and Warrick hate me. Grissom's indifferent, as he always is, and Nick was there. But I needed more that just one person behind me. More than one person keeping me up. I lost Catherine and Warrick's backing. I disappointed them. And Grissom… I needed to know that he cared. I mean, I guess he did and always does, but he's like the Tin Man. You never see it. You know it's there, but you need to feel it. Like air. It's always there, but you never feel it until the wind blows, and sometimes, you need to feel it to know it's there, you know?"

"Yes."

"And, well, I don't really know anymore."

"What do you feel like you need today?"

"Nothing. I think I'll be okay." She nodded.

"You've come a long way, Greg. Last week, when you first came in, you were trying to kill yourself. You wouldn't talk to anyone beyond saying that you needed help. You spent hours to yourself. And now, you're interacting with others, you're going to group activities, you're a lot more open. You've detoxed. We still have a few things to work on, as you've noticed, but you've become more aware of yourself and what's going on with you. You're doing great, Greg." He nodded, giving a small smile. "Let me know if you need anything else today. We'll talk again later, after Nick leaves." He nodded again. "Have a good day, Greg."

"You too," he replied quietly, watching her leave.

"Welcome to the unit," the nurse said. Nick smiled slightly.

"Thanks," he replied. "I'm here to see Greg Sanders." She looked at a list in front of her.

"Nick Stokes?"

"Yes, ma'am." She nodded.

"Keep all things on your person on your person. Don't give anything to the patients. If you encounter a situation where another patient becomes violent toward you, call for help, don't try to get them down yourself. Some patients don't react well to other people right away, so try to stay away from them. We have them in separate rooms, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'll walk you down to Greg." Nick nodded, quiet. They found Greg in the day room, and she cleared her throat. "Here you are. If you need anything, give us a call."

"Thanks." She walked away wordlessly, and Nick walked over to Greg. "Hey, kid," he said softly. Greg looked up, smiling.

"Hey," he replied, hugging Nick tightly.

"You look good."

"Thanks. I feel pretty good." They sat down, neither sure what to say just yet. "So, how's things?"

"Same old stuff. Grissom's Grissom, Catherine and Warrick are worried about you."

"Really? I thought they were mad at me."

"They're capable of forgiving and forgetting." Greg nodded, quiet. "I don't know how you're going to take this, but I feel like I gotta tell you anyway." Greg sat up straighter, looking at Nick. "Mia's back here in Vegas."

"Really?" Greg asked, astonished. Nick nodded. "How long's she been here?"

"Few days."

"How long she staying?"

"She moved back, Greg. Got a new apartment, moving stuff in, everything. It's the real deal." Greg leaned back, thinking. "She's back at work in the lab. She's here for the long term."

"Why?"

"I don't know. She said she missed it here, missed us, and wanted to come back."

"What about me?"

"She still cares about you, Greg. She loved you. That doesn't just go away."

"I was an asshole to her. If she still loves me, I don't see how."

"Even she's capable of forgiving and forgetting." Greg nodded quietly.

"Do you think she'd come see me?"

"I don't know, but I can ask her." Greg nodded. "Do you want me to?"

"I don't know, maybe. So, what else is going on? Anything? How's Mikayla?"

"She's fine, and so is her daughter, Hailey. She called me last night, checking in." Greg nodded.

"She working at the lab still?" he asked. Nick smiled.

"Yeah, for now," Nick replied. "Until she can get something better and can get some college in, you know?"

"Yeah. She taking night classes or day classes?"

"Day classes, working nights around the lab as a go-fer. I watch Hailey while Mikayla's in class, and Hailey chills in the lab at night, since Mik's just runnin' around."

"That's good that Ecklie lets her do that."

"Yeah, they came to an understanding about that." Nick relaxed, and Greg looked over at him.

"I'm sorry, Nick," Greg said softly. Nick looked back at him.

"For what?" Nick replied.

"Everything, this." Nick shook his head.

"Nothing to be sorry about, man." Greg sighed.

"I feel like there is." Nick shrugged.

"You didn't do anything wrong. Actually, I commend you. Not many people would take that first initial step to get help by themselves. You did. I'm proud of you."

"How proud of you are me for finding me with a gun in my mouth?" Nick sighed, closing his eyes.

"Let's not talk about that."

"Why not?"

"I really don't want to go back to that day, Greg. You know?" Greg nodded, sighing.

"And for that, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize."

"Yes, I do. Look at what I've done to you, Nick. To all you guys."

"It's okay. You're getting help, getting better. That's what matters." Greg rolled his eyes.

"You don't get it," he said. Nick furrowed his brow.

"Don't get what?" he asked.

"You tell me that me getting help is what matters. What about what I did? Doesn't that matter?"

"Of course it matters, Greg."

"So why aren't we talking about that? Why are we avoiding the issue? I hurt you, her, and everyone else who loves me. Why are we just sitting here, pretending that we're out getting coffee or breakfast after work?"

"Is that what you think's going on?"

"Seems like it."

"That's not the case here, Greg."

"Why don't you tell me what you see here, Nick. Explain it to me."

"We're talking."

"About? Anything important, or stuff we'd talk about any day? Any where?" Nick hesitated, and Greg nodded. "Exactly. We're talking about the same stuff that we talk about every day."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Something that matters." Nick didn't say anything, and for a while, neither did Greg. Finally, Greg sighed and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," he said.

"About what?" Nick asked.

"Yelling at you, fighting with you. I don't mean to. I know you mean well and that you're trying to protect me from myself. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Both men fell silent, unsure of what to say, and leaving at that.