For this chapter, I didn't go straight to Morgan going to Greg...that's the next chapter. For this, I wanted to include a long-overdue conversation. Hope you all enjoy. Please leave me a review.

And I still don't own CSI.

Greg stood in front of Demetrius James' grave and just stared at the headstone. He couldn't believe he had taken the young man's life five years ago-sometimes it felt like it had just happened, sometimes it felt like it never did. Greg knew he was responsible for Demetrius' death. Even if it was in self-defense, it didn't change the fact that someone died and Greg was responsible.

He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard the gravel of the cemetary grounds moving behind him. He turned around and saw Marla James.

The two just stood there for several moments, staring at each other. There was no anger, no rage on the woman's face. Greg saw the sadness on her face and almost ran from the spot.

"Please," Marla said.

"I-I'll go..." Greg began to walk away.

Marla held up her hand. "No. Stay." Sighing deeply, she gestured to a small bench that was near the grave. "Please."

Greg sat down beside Marla, but couldn't bring himself to look in her eyes. He swallowed hard, expecting to have her berate him for being near her son's grave.

But that never came.

Sighing heavily, Marla said, "I can't believe he's been gone five years now."

Greg remained silent, not knowing what to say.

Marla looked at Greg, who was staring at the grave. "I said in that letter I wrote to the papers that I was wrong to blame you, and I was right."

Greg slowly turned his head to look at the mother whose child he had killed.

"I loved my son very much," she continued. "And as much as I didn't want to admit that he could do no wrong..." she looked down as tears started to form in her eyes. Looking back up, she said, "I talked to a professor DJ had. He said that he remembered him as a good student. But when he got mixed up in that gang...his grades went south. By the time the first attack happened, he'd stopped showing up to class."

Greg just stared at the woman in silence. He couldn't decide whether he was angry, hurt, sad, or anything.

"When h-he was hit..." Marla looked away, but slowly looked back at Greg. "I was angry and hurt. He was my son. I wanted him back! I wanted more than anything to believe that he was totally innocent. But...I know that wasn't the case."

"Ms. James..." Greg began quietly.

"Greg...please, listen to me. I know you were scared. I know you were fearing for your own life."

Greg bowed his head. "I wish it had never happened."

To Greg's surprise, Marla took his hand. "So do I."

Marla waited for Greg to look her in the eyes. "I am so sorry for what happened. I know...I know it doesn't bring DJ back, but I want you to know that I forgive you."

Greg's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. "I am so...so sorry."

Marla pulled Greg into a hug as the young man let the tears that he'd been trying to hold back fall. The two remained like that for several minutes, both regretting loss but trying to move on.

When Greg finally pulled away, he looked into Marla's eyes. "I wish...I wish that I could go back and change things..."

"But you can't. Neither can I. If we did, that other man would have died and DJ would be in jail for murder. More people would have been hurt or killed." Marla held Greg's gaze. "It isn't easy for me to admit that my son was involved in a murder, but it's true. My son, no matter what I wanted to believe then or now, was not perfect."

Holding her gaze, Greg said, "But you loved him."

Marla nodded. "Yes, and I always will." With a sigh, she added, "I was wrong to take out all my hurt and anger out on you. I want you to know that I am truly very sorry. Please forgive me."

Greg blinked back tears. "I do. I know nothing can erase what happened or take away any of your pain..."

"I was so...so mad that...even when I saw you in the hospital..." Greg blinked in surprise. "I looked into your room when you were in bed, and I saw what they had done to you." Marla shook her head. "You looked horrible."

Greg looked away, remembering the physical and emotional pain he endured.

"When I confronted you that day, after Aaron was arrested," Marla looked at Greg, who was still looking down. "I was angry, yes. But when you told me that DJ and Aaron made the choices to do what they did...I knew you were right. So much anger, wanting to blame anyone but my children...it hit me like a brick. Truth often does that." She offered Greg a sad smile.

Looking up into her eyes, Greg said, "I-I just wanted...like I said, I have nothing against you or your family."

Marla sighed. "I know that. I've done a lot of thinking and praying about everything that happened. The only thing anyone's ever gotten from holding a grudge is anger and a lot of heartache."

Greg offered her a sad smile of his own. "I am sorry, Ms. James."

"I know. And I want you to know that I was wrong to be so angry with you. Forgive me."

Taking her hand in his own, Greg said, "Yes. I forgive you."

Both of them shared a sad smile. Marla stood up and pulled Greg to his feet. "Thank you."

Letting a stray tear fall, Greg said, "Thank you." He watched as the woman walked over to her son's grave and placed a small bouquet of flowers on the headstone. Greg took a few steps backward as he watched the woman crying and talking to her son's headstone as if he were there with her.

Greg quietly turned and walked towards his car. He didn't feel that a boulder had been lifted from him-it felt like an entire mountain range was gone. Hearing Marla James apologize and the two asking each other for forgiveness was beyond good...it felt more right than he ever thought it would. He got into his car and looked at Marla at her son's grave. Everything everyone had told him about him not doing anything wrong and having nothing to feel guilty for fell into place.

He finally felt free.

And he wanted to find Morgan.

TBC...