Next chapter! :)
The two weeks had passed and both Nick and Greg were back to work. Sara had already gotten them up to speed. The murderer of Mrs. Douglas' husband had finally been found. The team was suspecting Mrs. Douglas' involvement in his murder, but this suspicion proved to be wrong. Instead, one of his business partners hired someone to kill him over a disagreement over some of the business choices Mr. Douglas had made in the past, causing the business to lose millions. Randall Worthington was sentenced to pay a fine for battery and was released from jail. And Mrs. Douglas, the reason the two were needing time off in the first place, was back home. With her good connections, the loss of her husband and a medical report she got by paying off the doctor, claiming she took some medicine that made her act out like that, it was easy for her to get off without having to spend one single day in prison. Even the tox results were forged.
"How does it feel to be back?" Greg asked Nick as both sat down in the break room.
"Well you know, it's moments like these when you know that this is where you belong. I actually missed going to work." Nick smiled. "How about you?"
"...Same," Greg said after hesitating for a second. He did miss the lab sometimes, but it also felt good to be carefree for a few days.
"It also felt good to be away from the criminals for a while, huh?" Nick didn't mind having to deal with criminals all the time, but he had noticed that Greg started to. He wanted him to know it was perfectly fine to feel that way, even though Nick himself didn't.
"I didn't miss them, if that's what you're asking." Greg chuckled.
"Hey guys." Russell walked in with a smile. "Sara told me you were back. How have you been?" The two CSIs started to tell a few fun stories that happened in the last two weeks until Nick had to go to a crime scene. Russell and Greg remained in the break room for a little while without him. "So..." the supervisor said, "Did it help?"
Greg nodded thoughtful with a rather sad look on his face. "A bit, I guess. Being told that Mrs. Douglas would not go to prison, either, was rough, though, I have to admit."
"I got angry over this, as well. That's why I had to buy Charlotte a new mug." He pulled a fancy coffee mug out of a bag.
"...You caused that stain?" Greg pointed at the wall behind him. A big coffee stain was on it.
Russell nodded with a smirk. "See? Happens to everybody. The criminal insanity defense is total BS and I'll fight it. Until then somebody'll have to repaint that wall." He got off his seat and patted Greg on the back. "Good to have you guys back."
Another two weeks later, the stain Russell caused in the break room had been painted over. The CSIs tried to go on with their lives, but the juridical aspect of the case made it hard for them. They had to keep talking to the DA and Mrs. Douglas' lawyer. Still, they tried to forget about this case as good as they could. When they walked out of the police station that day, Mrs. Douglas was the last thing on their minds.
"Wanna grab a bite to eat after shift?" Nick asked as they walked down the stairs in front of the department.
Greg patted himself down. "I forgot my wallet at home. How about I fix us something?"
"That depends. Will it be burnt like the last time?" Nick teased as he reached the last step. He glanced around the area and noticed Mrs. Douglas sitting inside a car, staring at him. He stopped, but Greg walked a few steps ahead.
"...Are you coming?" he asked Nick as he stopped, too.
"Don't panic, alright? I think Mrs. Douglas is watching us."
Greg's smile quickly turned into a frown. "...Where is she?"
Without answering that question, Nick walked towards the car.
"Nick, wait!" Greg stopped him. "She's supposed to stay away from you, and you shouldn't go near her, either. Let's get back inside, get a cop and let him tell her off."
"What, you think I'm scared of her? Without a big, strong guy stupid enough to help her, she has no chance against me."
"That's not what I meant. Don't be stupid. Stay out of her life so she can stay out of yours."
Nick rolled his eyes a bit. "You know, you're probably right. Letting someone else take care of this is probably a good idea."
Greg smiled. "Alright, let's go back inside and..."
Nick interrupted him. "Oh you go ahead. I'll stay here and make sure she won't bolt."
Greg gave Nick a look to make him know he wouldn't fall for that. He was sure Nick would use the opportunity to go over there and deal with this himself. "Yeah, right."
"...I'll stay here, I promise."
"I know when I can trust you and when I'd rather not, Nick."
He rolled his eyes. "We'll either both stay here or you're going in. I'm staying, either way."
"...You can be such a... I'll go! Don't you move!" Greg climbed the stairs back up and walked into the police station. When he came back just a few minutes later, both Mrs. Douglas and Nick were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are they?" the police officer asked.
Greg looked around. He started to panic. "...I-I don't know. Her car was over there!" He pointed to the spot where her car was parked. "They were here two minutes ago!" He started running around in panic, trying to find his friend. "Nick?!" he yelled for him.
The officer watched Greg, but didn't know how to calm him down. He felt useless at the moment.
"Greg!" Nick said, walking up on him and the officer from behind the building. "It's okay, I'm here."
"...Where the hell have you been?!"
"Relax. She drove off after you went inside."
Greg waited for Nick to go on, but he didn't. "...So? Where did you go?"
"Just at the back of the station, blowing off some steam..."
Greg looked Nick in the eyes. He knew his friend was lying. He decided to ask him about it later, though, when they were alone.
Nick and Greg were waiting for Russell inside his office. "So... you were blowing off steam after Mrs. Douglas left?"
Nick raised an eyebrow as he nodded.
"How?"
"What?"
"Well did you punch a wall or something?"
"...What's it to you?"
Greg rolled his eyes over Nick's suspicion. "I'm just trying to understand what happened."
"I already told you."
"Well then tell me again."
"Is there a particular reason you're nagging? It's been an exhausting day, I just wanna tell Russell what happened and head home." Nick was obviously getting annoyed by Greg asking questions.
"I'm not nagging, Nick. I'm just trying to figure out what you were doing after Mrs. Douglas left. What did you two talk about?"
"I didn't talk to her." Nick shook his head.
"Yeah right. How stupid do you think I am?"
Nick got off his seat as he looked at his watch. "You know what, you fill in Russell. If he has any more questions, tell him to call me." He walked out of the room.