A/N: I don't know if anyone's reading these, but I do enjoy writing them, so I'm gonna keep posting them anyway. ;) See the first chapter for the disclaimer. Each chapter is going to alternate between Adam and Greg as storytellers, and that won't always coincide with the series (meaning it may be Greg's POV on a NY episode conversation, and Adam's POV on a Vegas episode conversation). I hope you enjoy this one, and please review. Please.

Chapter 3: "Grimm Reaper Calling Collect"

Adam frowned at the 9 a.m. wake up call he didn't remember asking for. After a long night, which led to Adam falling asleep somewhere after 4, the 9 o'clock phone call wasn't really what he wanted. But, recognizing the ringing as, likely, Greg, he answered with a sleepy, "hello?"

"Hey." Greg's voice was sad and soft, and Adam immediately frowned.

"What happened?"

"Rough night. Just needed to talk."

Adam sat up in bed, scrubbing his hand over his face. "Go ahead. I'm up."

"There's this girl, she just started last night. New CSI, out of the academy. Nice girl. Brass hated her."

Adam snorted softly. "Brass hates everyone, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, I guess. He tolerates me."

"Better than hating you."

"Yeah," Greg breathed.

Silence fell between them, and Adam decided to restart the conversation with, "so, the new girl?"

"Right," Greg replied. "She was left alone by Warrick at a crime scene, and the suspect came back. He shot her."

Adam closed his eyes, biting his lip.

"She didn't make it," Greg added, his voice cracking slightly.

"I'm sorry," Adam whispered.

"Me too."

Neither of them said a word, mostly because Adam was waiting for Greg to say something. After what felt like an hour, but was probably only minutes, Greg spoke again.

"Brass isn't running CSI anymore," he said, his voice even. Which Adam knew was Greg's way of trying to hide what he was feeling at that point. "Grissom's running it for right now. Warrick's suspended."

Adam shook his head.

Greg heaved a sigh. "I can't believe she's gone. She… she was brand-new. First night. Her mom was a lieutenant in traffic."

Adam frowned, just listening.

"Why her?"

And there was the rub.

"She… she didn't deserve it."

"No one ever does," Adam said quietly.

"No, I know that," Greg said. "It's just…"

"It sucks."

"Yeah," Greg whispered.

Adam fell silent, scrubbing his hand over his face again.

"She seemed so nice, you know?"

Adam nodded to himself.

Greg sighed. "I don't know," he said. "It sucks."

"Yeah," Adam said softly.

"I'm sorry."

Adam shook his head. "I should be saying that to you, man."

"I'm just…"

"I know."

Greg fell silent.

"I'm sorry about the girl," Adam said.

"Yeah, me too," Greg replied.

"What was her name?"

"Holly. Holly Gribbs."

Adam nodded again.

"Anyway, I'll, uh, I'll let you go. We're pulling a double. All hands on deck."

"Alright, man," Adam said. "Call me later."

"I will," Greg replied. "Sorry I woke you up."

"It's okay."

"Have a good day."

"You try too."

Greg hung up first, and Adam stared at his phone with a frown, feeling for his friend and what he was going through. What hurt Greg worse was not so much his team member dying as it was that he'd never get to know her. Not any more than the bare bones he'd heard. And Adam knew that bothered Greg. But there wasn't much more that Adam could do right now, so he laid back down, and hoped for the best.

A/N: Episode is Pilot/Cool Change (CSI).