A/N: See the first chapter for the disclaimer. Please drop me a review so I know whether or not I'm just writing this for my own amusement. ;) I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 16: "Is He(She)…" Part 2

"Please, pick up," Greg whispered as he paced outside the hospital, clutching his cellphone to his ear. This was one of the few times that he knew Adam would be awake to answer the call, but whether or not Adam actually would answer the call was a completely different story.

"Hi, you have reached Adam Ross, I'm unable to take your call right now, but please leave me a message and I'll call back."

Beep. "Adam, it's Greg. Please, call me back as soon as you can."

Greg continued to pace outside the hospital as he waited. After what felt like forever, but was actually two minutes, he felt his phone vibrate, and he answered with a sad, "hey."

"Hey," Adam replied. "I got your message. What's wrong?"

"It's… it's Brass," Greg said softly. "He's been shot."

"Oh, God." Adam exhaled deeply. "I-Is… is he…?"

"He's in critical condition," Greg answered the mostly unasked question.

Adam sighed heavily. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too." Greg stopped pacing, moving to sit down on the curb.

After a few moments of silence, Adam prompted Greg, "talk to me, Greg. Say something."

"I just… I don't know what to say."

"How'd it happen?"

"There was a hostage situation. Brass, he went in to try to talk the guy down… the guy ended up shooting him."

"Where?"

"In the chest."

Greg heard Adam suck in a deep breath.

"Brass's daughter's hovering," Greg added.

"The daughter who's a drug-addicted prostitute?" Adam asked, before whispering something to someone in the background.

"Who was that?" Greg asked.

"Danny, asking who I was talking about. It's fine. You were saying?"

"Yeah, Ellie's here. And yes, she's a prostitute who did drugs. Not sure if she's still doing them. It's not for me to judge, I guess." Greg sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

"Me neither."

Greg kicked at the dirt as he sat outside the hospital.

"Say something," Adam said.

"I'm sick of this, man," Greg replied. "The waiting. The searching for a shooter or a killer. I'm tired of burying people, man."

"You and me both."

Greg nodded.

"But, as you said, Brass isn't dead," Adam continued. "He may pull through. And if that's the case, then your rant about burying people is a little off, isn't it?"

Greg rolled his eyes. "Doesn't matter," he told his friend. "I stand behind that point."

"You and me both, brother."

Greg bit his lip, thinking about all the lives lost since he'd come on the job.

And almost as soon as he did, Adam said, "don't go there."

"Go where?" Greg asked.

"Stop thinking about everyone you've lost."

Greg shook his head, thinking that Adam knew him way too well.

"Focus your thoughts and energy on Brass, and on him getting better," Adam continued.

"I can't do anything about that," Greg said.

"Pray to whatever God or spiritual being you believe in."

"After all these years, you still don't know what religion I am?"

"You believe in a lot of things. I just don't know which one you turn to when things are going bad, or when someone you love is in trouble."

Greg chuckled softly. "Fair enough."

Adam said nothing.

"I should probably let you go," Greg said. "I know you're working."

"Yeah, I am," Adam said.

"Thanks, man."

"Anytime. Hell, I know you'll always do the same for me."

"Yeah."

"Let me know what happens, okay? Either way."

"I will. Have a good day, Adam."

"Take care, Greg. I'll talk to you later."

"Later." Greg hung up, sitting on the curb a little longer before getting up and heading inside to face Brass's fate.

A/N: Episodes are "Way to Go/Bang Bang" (CSI).