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Chapter Twelve# Talking on the Swings

Sara snuck through the door and straight up to her bedroom, as per her mother's request. Her stomach growled, but when she thought of the last time she ate a small smile spread across her cheeks. Of course, someone like Tony DiNozzo was the last person she could see herself ever being asked out by, but Sara couldn't get him out of her head.

A soft knock sounded on her door and it opened. Sara stopped smiling and sat up straight. Her mom walked in, smiling softly.

"I brought you a home cooked meal, sweetie." She placed the spaghetti Bolognese on the bedside table but she knew better than to take any straight away. "Now, you haven't been a very good girl but its okay because your dad says that you're better now."

Sara hung her head and nodded, quietly gauging her mom's mood. She knew that Laura was mildly schizophrenic, and when she was on her meds she could be in a good mood or a bad mood. It was a good one... "Mom?"

"Yes bumblebee?" her mom asked cheerfully fluffing up her daughters limp pillow.

"My friend Greg is having a party and a sleepover with all of our friends on Halloween and I was hoping maybe I could go?" Sara asked meekly.

"Will it be all boys?" Laura Sidle froze.

"No, mom, no...Tali, Morgan, Lindsay, Abby and a few others are all going."

"Then sure, sweetie." She lowered her voice. "Daddy's out of town all that week, so we won't tell him, okay?"

Sara smiled. "Okay, mom. You promise?"

Laura patted her daughter's cheek. "I promise, baby."

Sara smiled and dug into her first meal in days as her mom left the room. Sure, her dad took grounding to a whole new level, but what's a family without a few hiccups?

She dropped her fork. Who was she kidding? Her family was screwed up. Her dad hit her mom. Her dad hit her. Her brother hit her. He also almost killed her best friend and was now in prison. Not knowing when she would eat next she forced the rest of the food down her throat before kicking off her shoes and dropping onto her bed. She pulled out her math book and started to lose herself in her school work. Hours passed and the sun set as Sara finished the entire textbook. She had already done with the chemistry, biology, psychology and physics over the weekend.

She heard her dad come home, go to the fridge. She picked up her cell phone and texted Tali.

What r u up 2?

Nothing much. How about you?

Nothing. Bored :p

Lol. R u ok?

Yep. Y?

That Alyssa Lies thing even shook Ziva up. Ur not even a little bit shaken?

Ok, I guess I am. Brought back memories of my friend. But I'm fine. Shook up but gd.

Sure, sure. :P

Hey!

Lol.

Hav u spoken 2 morgan? She was sad bout Ellen.

I was sad bout Ellen. She's bad news.

Y do u think that?

I can tell. Spoke to her 2day. Believe me, bad news.

U told Greg?

No...not sure how. I have no proof.

True...

Sara heard her dad coming up the stairs.

Got to go. Bye :P

Bye! J

Sara held her breath as her dad walked past the bedroom. It looked like she wouldn't be beaten tonight...

CSIVCSIVCSIV

Morgan sat on a swing in the park near Greg's house, twisting her cell phone around in her hands. She wondered what she was doing there and remembered the conversation.

"Greg?" Morgan bit her lip. "I'm busy."

"No, Morgan, please just wait a second! I really, really need to talk to you."

Morgan sank into the beanbag in her 'den'. Her voice was hard and cold. "What about, Greg?"

She could hear Greg swallow slightly. "Can you meet me?"

"What? Greg I said I'm busy." Morgan frowned, biting her lip.

"Morgan, please!" Greg sounded desperate. "I really need to talk to you."

"What's wrong with the phone?" Morgan snapped before feeling slightly guilty.

"Please, please Morgan it's really important." Greg whispered.

"Can't you talk to Ellen?" Morgan asked, feeling her resolve waver.

When Greg spoke again she was disturbed by the pained tone. "That's part of what I need to say, besides, I don't want to talk to Ellen. I wanna talk to you."

"Why?"

"Because you're my best friend and I need you. Please, Mo."

Morgan sighed. "Where and when?"

"As soon as you can, at the park by my house?" Greg asked hopefully.

"Fine."

"Morgan! Thanks. Thank you."

She looked up and saw a figure limping towards her. When she realised it was Greg she stood up quickly. His limp was far worse and he held his left arm even more tenderly, not to mention the bruising covering the left side of his face.

"Oh my God, Greg, what the hell happened?" she cried, raising her hand towards his face before quickly retracting it.

"Ellen...she...I'm really sorry Morgan."

"What for?" She looked at the floor.

"For being an idiot. For going after Ellen because she was kinda hot and she gave me attention. I was stupid because I didn't even like Ellen... I don't like Ellen."

"What happened, Greg?" Morgan repeated, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Who did this to you?"

Greg stared at the floor and sat down on an abandoned roundabout. "Ellen."

"What?" Morgan frowned, sitting about a foot away.

Greg took a deep breath. "Ellen set me up... We walked to the park, the one near school...she offered to take my bag – it was banging against the crutch. Next thing I know I'm on the floor, surrounded by Ellen and four other kids."

Morgan moved a little closer. "What? Who?"

Greg stared at his hands. "Shane Casey, Jeffery White, Maxine Valera...and Michelle Lee. But she didn't do anything, she...she ran away. The others...Shane, mainly, I guess. He taunted me. Asked why someone like Ellen would ever even think about dating someone like me...why anyone would ever think about dating someone like me..."

Morgan's mouth popped open and her brow furrowed but Greg continued. "I gave some smart answer. They threw away my crutch and my bag. He started kicking my leg...I made another smart answer...Jeffery started kicking my ribs...They kept speaking, teasing... Then...then Valera started talking about...about you." Greg stared at the floor.

"What...what did they say?" Morgan asked quietly.

Greg gritted his teeth angrily. "Casey called you a whore...I said you weren't...Valera said that no one would dare touch you, that Ellen was so much prettier..." he hung his head. "So...I said that she wasn't...and said that at least you weren't a bitch. That's when they got really made." Greg's voice broke slightly. "Now, I'm completely humiliated, I've bruised everywhere that was broken, I've got a black eye..."

"Because you stood up for me..." Morgan whispered, staring at the floor.

"What?"

"Greg, you...is that really what happened?" she looked at him.

He frowned. "What, you think I'm lying? Morgan, that's exactly what happened, I swear!"

She examined his eyes and nodded. "Okay...then why...you were lying on the floor, surrounded by jeering kids...most people would keep their mouths shut."

"I couldn't take what they were saying about you..." Greg murmured.

"Why?" she murmured. "Why didn't you just leave it?"

"Couldn't..." Greg muttered.

"Why?" Morgan asked softly. She hesitantly reached up and touched the bruise on the side of Greg's face. "You got this defending me when I wasn't even there?"

"You did it for me..." Greg smiled slightly as her skin made contact with his and butterflies took off in his stomach.

Morgan glanced at the floor and dropped her hand. "How did you get away? When they beat you?"

"A kid walked by, Danny Messer, brought a baseball bat out of his bag and told Casey to back off. He walked me to hospital, I got checked out, and then the doctor called my mom. While I was waiting I talked to Catherine Flynn."

"Catherine Flynn?" Morgan frowned. "Really?"

"Yeah...she saw me looking upset, came over. I told her what happened, she told me what happened to her...like in the fight and stuff...she said that I should call you... That you wouldn't hate me for what happened."

Morgan nodded, still looking at the floor. "She was right. And, you know, he was wrong."

"What? Who?" Greg furrowed his brow and Morgan couldn't help but think about how cute it is.

"Casey...any girl would be lucky to have you."

"Oh yeah? What makes you think that?" he scoffed.

"Well, you're not exactly ugly...you're funny, caring... You're lots of things, Greg. Good things. I mean it. Any girl would be lucky to have you."

"I don't want any girl." Greg took a deep breath. "I...I want you."

Morgan's mouth flew open again. "What?" she breathed.

"Would you ever consider, maybe, going out with me?" Greg went slightly pink.

"I...uh..."

Greg's heart fell. "I mean...you don't have to...no, it was stupid, I..."

Morgan leant in and kissed Greg firmly on the lips, stopping his stammers. Greg's head span and he suddenly felt very dizzy. Morgan broke away, blushing scarlet, and Greg grinned sheepishly.

"Can I take that as a yes?" Greg asked hopefully.

"I guess so." Morgan smiled.

Greg grinned goofily. "Great!"

Morgan laughed.

"I have one question, though." Greg said seriously.

"Shoot."

"What were you doing with Nick in the smoothie parlour?"

She grinned slightly. "He realised I was upset. Took me to the smoothie place, bought a milkshake. We talked..."

"Is that all?" Greg raised his eyebrows.

"Nick knew how I was feeling...he's not my type." Morgan grinned. "They're all are gonna get a shock tomorrow, aren't they?"

"Hell yeah...I go home with one girlfriend, come back to school with another...next thing they'll be calling me Tony DiNozzo!"

Morgan laughed. She felt dizzy and lightheaded. And happy. So, so happy.

"You're a lot cuter than Tony DiNozzo." She reasoned.

"Thanks." He smiled. "Hey does this mean I get to share your chocolates now?"

"Hmm." Morgan pursed her lips. "Depends. Do I get to share your den?"

"You can live in my den if you want." Greg smiled sweetly.

"Good. Then I'll consider about the chocolates." Morgan grinned.

"Great!" Greg grinned back. "That's hope!"

"You like them that much?" Morgan asked, when Greg nodded innocently she reached into her jacket pocket. She pulled out a wrapped sweet and stared at it for a second, before passing it to Greg.

"What is this?" he frowned.

"Chocolate truffle. My favourite. And, I think...yours too." She said quietly.

"Really? Really truly?" he asked, raised eyebrows.

"Sure. As long as you promise that you won't cheat on me. Ever."

"Done deal. I wouldn't do that to you." Greg smiled.

Morgan smiled and leaned onto Greg's good side. "I know."

CSIVCSIVCSIV

"I'm home!" Nick hollered.

"Okay, Nicky. You want something to eat or drink?" Rosa responded from the kitchen.

"Uh, could I have some lemonade please Rosa?"

The Spanish nanny walked into the hall with raised eyebrows. "Lemonade before dinner on a school day? What would your mother say?"

"I'm not a kid anymore so...Yes?" Nick asked hopefully.

Rosa laughed and clipped him round the ears. "She would not...Don't lie, Nicholas. Besides, you are a child." Nick made puppy dog eyes Rosa, and she put an arm around his shoulders. "How was school?"

"Meh. Grissom made me sing a song about child abuse in front of the whole home room. I drove Sara out of the room. She said her childhood friend was killed by an abusive dad... Ever heard the song Alyssa Lies?"

"Oh, Nicky..." Rosa frowned. "Is she okay? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, she says she's fine. I know I'm fine. Then Greg met this girl, asked her out. I think he broke Morgan's heart."

Rosa held Nick at arm's length. "So what did you do?"

"Took her out and bought her a Triple Chocolate Mega Ice Cream Milkshake."

"Ah, your sisters and I have taught you well." Rosa smiled, pulling the teenager back towards her.

"Are you sure I can't have a lemonade?" Nick asked with innocent eyes, and Rosa smiled, pushing him away.

"Get into the kitchen, Nick. Have you spoken to MJ?"

"Not since she went to hospital."

Rosa shook her head. "It is crazy. In four more days, Ethan's best friend will be carted off to hospital at this rate."

"Least Greg's back in school."

Rosa smiled. "You mark my words; this thing with the other chica won't last long. You tell Morgan that she will end up with Greg some day."

"And how do you know that?" Nick asked, amused.

"I knew that Joanne would end up with Cody the moment I met them." Rosa boasted.

"And now they're married and Joanne's trying to race mom to have the most kids."

Rosa slapped Nick's arm. "Don't speak about your sister like that."

"What? Halley's my age!"

"Six months younger." Rosa frowned.

"So? My cousin is six months younger than me... what does that tell you about Jo?"

"At least she married first!" Rosa defended.

"Married at seventeen, baby at eighteen. Mama's dream." Nick teased.

"Nicky..." Rosa warned. "Your mother is very proud of Joanne. And it's not a race."

"Sure, sure...so you knew when you met them when they were already married?" Nick grinned. "They were when you met them, right?"

Rosa stuck her tongue out at him. "I have a gift."

"You have many gifts." Nick grinned. "Like making amazing chocolate chip cookies..."

Rosa snorted and laughed as Nick fluttered his eyelids purposefully. "Go long!"

Nick stepped back into the hall and held out his hands as Rosa threw him a cookie. "Thank you Rosa...Love you!"

Rosa shook her head. "Homework. Now."

Nick nodded and raced to his room. He brought out his math book and stared blankly at the equations.

"Argh." Nick sighed and pulled out his cell phone. He dialled the first number he thought of.

"Hello?" a voice whispered.

"Sara? Is this a bad time?"

"Uh, kinda Nick, my dad's ill and he's asleep, so I really shouldn't wake him. What can I do for you?"

"Oh, nothing, it's okay, I was just struggling with the math, it's fine, I'll call Warrick. Sorry, Sar."

"No, it's okay. What don't you get?"

"Well, it's just the whole...argh. None of it. It's fine; I don't want you to get in trouble. I can call Warrick if you like."

Sara chuckled softly. "It's fine." She went on to explain everything to Nick.

"Thanks Sara. You're the best. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah..." Sara said, sounding like she was smiling. "Thanks."

"Bye! Oh, and Sara? I'm glad you're better." Nick grinned.

"Thanks. Me too. See you tomorrow."

Nick hung up and returned to the math. Suddenly he yelped as something flew through the open window and hit him on the head. The baseball ball fell onto his lap.

"Nicky? You okay?" Rosa called from downstairs.

"Yeah!" Nick called back, peering out the window. When he saw the thrower, he rolled his eyes. "Messer? What the hell you doing?"he called light-heartedly.

Danny Messer chuckled from Nick's front yard. "Can you come down for a minute; I need to talk to you."

"'Bout what?" Nick called.

"Will you just get your Texan ass down here before I throw the damn bat?"

Nick rolled his eyes. "I'm comin', Staten Island."

Danny laughed again as Nick pounded down the stairs.

"Nicky, what are you doing?" Rosa asked.

"I'm just going outside for a bit. See ya." Without waiting for an answer he flew out the door.

"Now, Messer, what you doing threatening to break down my windows?" Nick asked humorously.

"Wondering if you wanna come shoot hoops with Flack an' a couple of other guys?"

Nick looked thoughtful for a second. "Who?"

Danny shrugged. "Not many. Just Flack, Tony DiNozzo, Aiden Burn, Jess Angell and you?"

Nick frowned. "Why me?"

"Why not? Flack got outta hospital, fancied a game, he invited Tony and Jess, asked me if I wanted to invite a boy an' a girl to play three aside, so I called Aiden, then wondered if you wanted in?"

Nick shrugged. "Sure." He opened the door. "ROSA!"

"Yeah?"

"Can I go out for a bit?"

"Okay. Be back by seven, I'm making pizza."

"From scratch?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I most definitely will be back by seven." Nick grinned, grabbing a pair of shoes and a jacket.

As the two boys started waited at the bus stop to get back into Vegas, Danny kicked at a stone. "Anyone tell you what happened to Sanders at the park?"

"No, what happened?" Nick frowned.

"He got beat up. Shane Casey and a bunch of other kids."

Nick frowned. "What? Where, when? Is he okay?"

Danny shrugged. "I think so. In that park just by school. Casey was the only one whose name I knew, but I recognised some of the others. I came by, told them to back off. Showed Casey my bat. They scattered. I got the kid's bag and crutch, walked him to the hospital."

"Hospital?" Nick's eyes bulged. "What the hell did they do to him?"

"Kicked his arm, his bad leg, his face. I'm not sure if he actually needed to see a doctor, an' he was walking, I think he's okay."

Nick rubbed his forehead and pulled out his cell phone. "You mind?"

"Nah."

Nick dialled Greg's number and waited impatiently for an answer.

"Hey Nick!" Greg laughed.

"Uh, hey Greg. You okay?"

"Better than okay." A girl giggled at Greg's response.

"I was just speaking to Danny Messer."

"Oh...will you tell him thanks?"

"Sure, Greg but that's not why I called. He said they beat you up pretty bad..."

"Oh, no, I'm fine. Just a little bruised but I'm a lot better now. Better than I've been in ages!" The girl laughed again, and it sounded a lot like...

"Is that Morgan?"

"Hey Nicky!" the familiar girl's voice called.

Nick blinked. "Uh...hi, Morgan what's going on?"

"Bye, Nick!" Greg laughed, and the phone went dead.

Nick stared at his cell. "I, uh...I think he's okay..."

Danny laughed again, shaking his head. "Lemme guess, with a girl?"

"Yeah...but not the girl I expected..." Nick shook his own head.

Danny snorted. "Sounds like my kinda guy."

PS: The Greg/Morgan scene in this chappy is my first shot at romance, so how did I do?

PPS: Catherine will get more and more involved, I swear!