A/N: We're actually beginning to get closer to the end... only 2 chapters left after this one. Standard disclaimer: Don't own anyone but Mia and the doc. All others belong to CSI and CBS. Mia's coming to visit Greg... :) Enjoy, and please please please review.

Chapter 5: It's Been So Long

"How's it going, Greg?" she asked, in the same tone she always used. He smiled.

"It's okay," he replied. "I'm nervous."

"About…?"

"Seeing her again. She's coming today. I haven't seen her in months. I just hope she doesn't hate me."

"Do you think she does?"

"I don't know, but I wouldn't blame her if she did. I was an asshole to her. I don't deserve her love. If she hates me, then that's okay. I'll deal with it. But, I don't know. I don't know if she could even love me after everything. What do you think?"

"This really isn't about me, Greg," she said gently.

"Yeah, I know," he said. "It's about me and what I feel and what I think, and you're not supposed to offer advice." She nodded, and he closed his eyes. "I think things'll be okay. I mean, she wouldn't come all the way down here just to be a bitch. That's not her style. So this is probably a good thing." She nodded again, and he smiled. "I'll be okay. I'm kind of excited and nervous at the same time. I'm anxious. She's really pretty and I really can't wait to see her." She smiled.

"Yeah, I can see that." He smiled. "She's coming in soon, so I'll leave you for now. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks."

"Have a good day, Greg."

"You too."

Mia inhaled deeply as she made her way to the nurse's station. A nurse smiled at her sweetly. "Welcome," she said.

"Thanks," Mia replied. This was not how Nick described things. "I'm here for Greg Sanders. I'm Mia Salvatori." The woman checked the list.

"Okay, Miss Salvatori. If you would follow me please." She gave Mia the same rundown that the other nurse gave Nick, and Mia nodded. "If you need anything, let one of us know."

"Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome. Here you go." Mia nodded, stopping at the doorway briefly before knocking softly.

"Come in," Greg said softly. Mia took a deep breath before walking in. Greg looked up as the door opened, and neither knew how to begin. "Uh… hi," he said finally.

"Hi," she replied with a slight chuckle.

"You, uh, you can sit down." She nodded, taking a seat.

"Thanks." Both fell silent again.

"Uh, thanks for coming."

"No problem. Umm, I read your card. It was really sweet."

"Thanks. I meant it, Mia. I really did. Every word." She nodded, watching his face.

"I know."

"I'm sorry, hon. I'm really, really sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I was just so… lost, brainwashed, whatever you call it. I hurt you probably worse than anyone else, and I'm really sorry for that, Mia. I really am. I love you so much. I'll understand if you never really want to deal with me again, if you hate me, all of that. Just, I need you to understand that I didn't mean it." She took a deep breath.

"I know you didn't," she said quietly. He looked at her closely. "Part of me always knew you didn't mean it. It just, hurt so much, you know? It was hard to think that you didn't mean it."

"I know," he said softly, looking down again. She slid her chair closer to him and lifted his chin with her hand.

"But I knew you better than that. I knew my father had brainwashed you, had made you believe that I was the spawn of Satan, and that was why you hated me, why you grew so cold. But it still hurt. I trusted you, but a lot of stock in you always being there and promising not to hurt me."

"I'm really sorry." He pulled her hand off his chin and held it tightly in his hand. "I'm not asking for a second chance with you. I'm not even asking you to like me. I'm just asking for you to not hate me."

"Greg…"

"I'm not even bold enough to ask for your forgiveness. I know that you are the forgiving kind, you can do it, but I'm not going to ask for that because I know that's asking too much from you."

"Greg…"

"But I'm really sorry," he continued. "I'm so sorry for everything I did. I hurt you so bad, and I'm really sorry. I don't think apologies are enough, though. Words usually never can mean enough. So, I'm willing to try and make it up to you."

"Greg…" she said.

"No, Mia, I mean it. I'll do anything."

"How about giving me a moment to speak?" His face flushed.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. What I wanted to say is that I don't hate you. Despite how much you hurt me, I could never hate you. I love you way too much for that. Yeah, you hurt me, but I'm getting over it. I can't hate you."

"You didn't say 'loved.'"

"What?"

"You said love. Present tense, not past tense. You still love me after all I've done to you?" She half-snorted, smiling.

"Yes. For some reason, I still do." Greg smiled wide. "I know you're sorry, and if you were to ask, I'd probably take you back in a heart beat, which scares me more than anything in the world. I know you never meant to hurt me, because I know that the only reason you said any of the things you said was because my father brainwashed you. I'm sorry he did that to you."

"It's not your fault."

"I believed every word you wrote. But part of me felt I had to hear it come straight from you. Had to see your eyes when you said it. Because you can't lie to me when you're staring me straight in the eye." He chuckled.

"I can't lie to you even when I'm not looking at you." She smiled.

"Good to know." They fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Greg smiled.

"You look good, Mia," he said.

"Yeah, so do you," she replied.

"Yeah, I'm doing a lot better, you know?"

"That's good, Greg."

"You heard what happened, huh?"

"From Nick, Wendy, Catherine, Warrick, Mandy, Archie, and Henry. Oh, and from James, the new trace tech. Oh, and Judy too."

"I'm lab gossip, aren't I?"

"No one really knows where you are, if that's what you're wondering. But the lab does gossip about your antics leading to your 'vacation.'"

"Vacation?"

"They think you're in Hawaii or San Gabriel or something." He nodded, falling silent. She took the moment to realize that he was still holding her hand from earlier, and she deduced that she didn't want him to let go. "When do you get out of here?" she asked softly.

"When I'm ready," he replied. "Well, I mean, when I feel I'm ready. I can leave at any time." She nodded, looking down. "I really am sorry."

"Greg, stop apologizing."

"I'm glad you came." She smiled.

"Yeah, me too."

"Remind me to thank Nick and Wendy later." She laughed.

"How'd you know?"

"Because I know you wouldn't come without some provocation." She smiled.

"I had my birthday the other day."

"I know. You turned 28."

"Yeah. And Nick and everyone at the lab threw me a birthday party, completely over the top." Greg smiled.

"Yeah, I know," he said. "Nick told me about it."

"He would," she said with a smile. "It put everything else I've done for any of my birthdays completely to shame."

"Yeah, I bet." She frowned.

"And yet, the entire time I was there, I couldn't help but think something was missing. And by something, I mean someone. You." He frowned.

"I wish I could've been there. I've missed you." She squeezed his hand.

"Missed you too." She moved from the chair she had occupied opposite him to sit on the bed next to him. He watched her quietly for a moment.

"I really thought you'd never want anything to do with me after that," he said.

"Let's just say you owe Nick and Wendy big time," she replied. He nodded.

"I'm really sorry."

"I know you are. If you keep saying it, though, I'm going to knock your teeth in." He laughed.

"Okay, fair enough." She smiled. "I love you."

"Love you too, Greg." He let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders. When she didn't fight back, he slid closer to her.

"I do have a question, if I may be so bold to ask."

"Go for it."

"Does this mean you're willing to take me back? Because when I get out of here, I'll take you out on a nice date, something amazing and worthy. But if you don't want to… I understand completely. I don't deserve a second chance, and I know that, but…"

"Greg, if I wasn't willing to try again, I never would've come here." He smiled, closing his eyes.

"Pinch me." She grinned evilly, pinching him hard on the leg. "Hey, that hurt."

"You asked."

"I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming," he said. "That this was really happening."

"It's real, Greg," she said, resting her head against his shoulder.

"I love you, and I'm happy for another chance, but you're crazier than me." She laughed.

"I was well aware of that before I walked through the door today. Love makes you do crazy things. I told you once before, when I fall, I fall hard. It's hard for me to let go."

"I know." He kissed her gently on the temple. "Thank you. For giving me another chance. I don't deserve it."

"I know. But, like I said, love makes you do crazy things. I love you, and I want to go back to where we were." She wrapped her arms around him, and he smiled.

"Everything will be alright."