His sleep that night had not been very successful, he just could not get what Jack had said out of his mind, and if it wasn't Jack, it was Talia and her concern that clouded his mind. Dawn came around quickly and all Greg could think was that this would be the last dawn that Jack would see. It was a strange thought but Greg found he had no remorse for Jack. He sat on his bed in quiet contemplation, when the silence was broken was punctuated by the sound of the mailbox dropping open. Perhaps they haven't bothered to cover the story Greg thought hopefully as he padded over to collect it but he instantly knew he was kidding himself. Although it wasn't quite front page worthy, that 'honour' belonged to the 'tell all piece' from the scorned wife of the rockstar cheat, it didn't take long to find it adorning Page 4, the headline screamed:
FORGIVENESS? CSI VICTIM IN SECRET VISIT TO KILLER AND EX FRIEND!
The article had little in the way of cold hard facts but that seemed to matter little. Half of the page was taken up by a huge photo of Greg obviously taken during the paparazzi scrum, head bowed, eyes not looking toward the camera. A smaller photo of Greg and Jack taken some years ago at an event at the lab, showed them smiling together with the caption "Before the darkness".
The article itself was nothing more than fevered speculation with the unnamed prison source scum that had tipped off the press.
"It's the story that has gripped Vegas and indeed most of America for months and yesterday it seemed to take one final shocking twist.
Kidnap victim CSI Greg Sanders made a secret visit yesterday to see his ex pal and killer Jack Robins for one final time.
Robins was the accomplice and secret lover of notorious serial killer Paul Simmonds who eventually shot himself after kidnapping and torturing the CSI, in a twisted plot of revenge and obsession.
The terrifying episode of violence in February last year saw many people die, two solely at the hands of Robins. At his trial, Robins had pleaded how he was forced into the act by his sadistic lover but the jury, having heard how Robins killed innocent couple Lucy and Mark Clement in cold blood for nothing more than a diversionary tactic, then returned to the massacre at the Las Vegas Crime Lab where Sanders was abducted at gunpoint, took just two hours to find Robins guilty of two counts of murder in the first degree and sentenced him to the death penalty.
That execution by lethal injection is taking place later today. Speculation is rife over the nature of Sanders 40 minute visit to see Robins yesterday. One prison guard who doesn't want to be named said of the secret visit. "As I understand it, Jack Robins made a personal request to see Mr Sanders before he died. Nobody could believe that he actually turned up". Our source continued " Mr Sanders requested the visit be as low key as possible. He turned up in jeans, trainers and a baseball cap, and clearly did not want to be seen"
Details of that final conversation between the men remain a mystery, but a fellow visitor described hearing shouting, before an upset looking Mr Sanders left the room. One theory is that religious Robins requested Sanders to seek forgiveness before he passed. Our source inside prison cofirmed that Robins prayed every night.
However, it is not thought that Mr Sanders will be present at today's execution."
Even though the article was the usual tabloid nonsense, Greg knew immediately he had made a mistake in going. He had only just about stopped becoming a figure of interest. The paparazzi had stopped camping outside his house when they realised that 'Greg collects his milk' was not a headline grabbing story. Now he had undone all that work.
He decided he needed to get out the house and go for a drive before work, he snatched up his cell and his pager, along with his car keys and headed out the door, dumping the newspaper in the trash can on the way out. He slipped on his shades and eased the car out of the parking spot. It was a typical warm and sunny Las Vegas day, he rolled down the window and loved the feeling of the wind ruffling his hair, his mood immediately began to improve. He fumbled for a CD for the player and was soon singing along to his favourite song, he felt very relaxed, the drive was very therapeutic, as he avoided all the popular hotspots, using all the backroads to get around. He soon found himself out in the Nevada desert, it was very peaceful away from the bright lights and hustle and bustle of the strip.
Greg found a quiet spot, turned off his cell, and enjoyed the feeling of being at absolute peace for a change, he let the sun warm his face, and the breeze whip his hair, hours seemed to pass in an instant, he felt completely calm. He watched as the sun gradually disappeared over the Las Vegas skyline and the cooler night air began to set in. He knew it was time to go. He switched on his cell and about twenty messages popped up, it was obvious where they were from, he tossed the cell onto the passenger seat, and experienced a leisurely ride back, he made a quick stop at home to get changed for work and then was on his way again.
It wasn't long before he hit traffic, long, tailbacks stretched back as far as the eye could see, a sea of red lights and angry drivers, Greg wasn't an angry driver but he was impatient and got fed up with delays, he had to be at the lab in an hour and as it stood he was not going to make it. Absent-mindely he drummed his hands on the steering wheel to his music. Ten minutes later, he had barely moved half a mile and he was starting to get irritated, clearly there must be a serious RTC. He stopped his CD and re tuned to the local station, hoping to get news of the accident, so he could plan an alternative route. The radio crackled to life and he found himself going numb from what he heard.
" The execution of double homicide convict Jack Robins was completed today by lethal injection. The 37 year old's execution was attended by a small number of officials and one family member."
Greg quickly turned the radio off, and sat in silence, oblivious to the tooting of horns from irate drivers all around him, he gripped the steering wheel hard. Jack was really gone, he was dead. All ties to his ordeal had now been severed and he just felt, nothing, no relief, no elation just nothing at all.
He was shook back to some kind of life when he realised that the irate beeping was at him, not moving as the traffic in front eased. He completed the rest of the journey to work in nothing but silence. Eventually clocking in thirty minutes late, he hurtled to the break room. The assorted people looked at him in silence.
Warrick was the first the speak " How very nice of you to join us" He muttered sarcasticly
"I know, I'm sorry there was a pile up on the I15 and I tried to call in but the signal was jammed and..." He apologised, before Nick cut him off abruptly, he noticed for the first time how furious he looked.
"Oh we were starting to think you were avoiding us" He commented brusquely.
Greg was momentarily confused "Why would I be.." then realisation hit him "Oh you saw it.."
"Yeh of course we saw it!" Nick spat out angrily, hurling the offending newspaper onto the table in front of Greg. "WHAT were you thinking?"
"Nicky" Catherine warned, noticing the Texan anger that was building up.
"I know Cath, it's just I TOLD you not to go Greg, I told you no good could ever come of it"
Greg found himself getting angry now, how dare Nick tell him what to do like that? "It was my decision Nick, mine" He retorted, looking Nick squarely in the eyes.
"And was it the right decision huh Greg?" Not from Nick, this time Warrick, who looked equally upset.
" Aw not you too man" Greg moaned " None of you understand, I had my reasons.."
"Really, what were they Greg, what could you possibly have gained from going to see him, I fail to see" Nick said.
"It's none of your damn business" He murmured, trying to get past Nick to grab some coffee.
"Dammit Greg you can be so stubborn sometimes!" Nick yelled slamming his arm against the wall to deny Greg access.
"Nick!" Catherine barked, more aggressively this time.
Greg drew himself to his full height and went toe to toe with Nick. " Let me past please" He asked calmly. Nick moved as if to let him past but stopped and pushed Greg against the wall.
"NICK!" Catherine yelled.
"Woah buddy, calm down!" said a shocked Warrick
Nick ignored them, using his arm to pin Greg against the wall. "You will listen to me!" He said "The LAST thing I wanted to do is see my stalker ever again!"
Greg was now absolutely furious, and tried to push Nick off, but he was considerably stronger. "It's not the same Nick!" He yelled back
Warrick managed to pull the furious Nick off Greg and held him, whilst Catherine did the same with Greg, who looked like he wanted to charge at Nick, she had never seen him so angry.
"Warrick! Take Nick to cool off!" she ordered, whilst still trying to hold the squirming Greg.
Nick stormed out and Warrick shot a disappointed shake of the head at Greg before following him.
Catherine rounded on Greg who was sat in a chair still steaming.
"God Greg, why did you do it"
"Oh not you Cath" Greg groaned and put his head in his hands at the table.
Catherine sat down by his side, and gently gripped his arm to get him to look at her. "It's just I understand you must have your reasons, but I'm just failing to see them, this man stood by and let you be abducted, he killed an innocent young couple..."
"I know all that Catherine" he said quietly, finally looking at her.
Catherine's expression softened, seeing the hurt on his face. "So why? Did you learn anything from it? You know why Nick's angry right? He just wants to protect you. Between you and me I still think he holds himself personally responsible for your abduction."
"Why?" Greg shook his head, confused, "It was nobody's fault"
"He considers himself to be a great judge of character" Catherine confided "He got it wrong once and was horrified he got it wrong again with Jack"
"But that's crazy, nobody could have predicted his motives...that's why I went. He added somewhat solemn. "How could someone who was not just a friend of mine, but a good friend of mine Cath, do that to me? How could he just betray me like that?"
Catherine had no answers and suspected Greg didn't get his answers either. "Some people are just very hard to read" She commented "Absolutely no one could see that coming, so Nick needs to stop beating himself up about and so do you" Her words were firm not harsh.
"Nick will get over it" she added, "he's just extremely miffed that you went ahead and did it, we all care so much for you and just want what is best. We could see you were recovering, and to us this seemed like a step backward and nobody wants that for you, he was just concerned. It didn't help it came out in that rag!" She wrinkled her nose in disgust towards the discarded paper.
"Yeah" He agreed, "I tried to be discreet, really I did, I never wanted to upset anyone, that was never my intention"
"Greg you know NOTHING stays hidden in this town" Catherine chuckled lightly, "Someone always finds out"
"Yeah I realise that now"
Just at that second Grissom put his head around the door, "Catherine, Greg, my office now please." He said, before disappearing, just as rapidly.
Catherine and Greg got up together, and Greg held the door open for her. She smiled gratefully.
"Thanks" Greg said as she passed. She looked at him in surprise " for understanding" He added for clarification.
"I won't pretend I understand why you did it Greg, but I accept you have your reasons and I respect that, unfortunately Nicky will need more understanding. You want me to talk to him?"
"No, no I have to do, we'll make our peace I hope"
"Sure you will, Nicky doesn't hold grudges" Catherine grinned "for very long"
Greg smiled too but it was clear that as soon as they entered Grissom's office and encountered Nick's scowling face at Greg's entrance, that he was still holding this particular grudge.
The frostiness did not go unnoticed by the other team members.
"Nicky, Greg, you have a B and E, is that going to be a a problem?" Grissom said, arching an eyebrow at the pair.
"Nope no problem" Greg confirmed.
"No problem at all" Nick declared, snatching up the information and stalking out, barely looking back to bellow "Come on Greg!"
Greg gathered his things together and sighed, quickly rushing to catch up with the Texan, who barely offered him a glance, Boy, was this going to be a long night.