A/N: Bonjour mes amis! Yes, college is finally over for the summer! XD Which means, I can get plenty of writing done! :) So, this is a story for Marymel She told me about her story Just Stand by Him, were Sara and Grissom talk about Greg in 'FannySmackin'. So I took inspiration from that about what happened after the episode, where Nick and Sara go to see Greg in hospital, because I know how much Marymel loves the relationship between the 3 ;) so I hope you enjoy!

Summary – Nick and Sara go to visit Greg in hospital after the events of 'FannySmackin' *spoilers alert*

Disbelieving

Nick wasn't sure he wanted to do this anymore. Perhaps the old saying was true, in that ignorance certainly was blissful. But there was nothing blissful about this. There was nothing even remotely right about this. Nothing could prepare the CSI for the sight that would soon haunt his eyes. Nothing Sara or anyone else said. Because Greg Sanders, Nick's best friend, his little brother lay beaten like a common punch bag, in a hospital room, alone and quite possibly scared.

Sara had returned back the lab crying. Sofia Curtis had been in tears…it took a lot to hurt Sofia and Sara, probably the strongest women Nick had ever known, and Catherine of course. Nick thought he'd be able to hold it together, but his eyes felt heavy with unshed grief for his hurt friend. Greg Sanders was the least deserving person to have something like this happen too, probably the most innocent of them all, yet it was him who'd had to take the heroic yet tragic fall for the life of a complete stranger. Nick was proud of him for it and almost cursed him for it.

"Sara" Nick spoke as they made their way through the hospital halls. The brunette turned and looked at him with sad eyes. "Is there…is there anything you can say that's going to make this easier?" he was almost pleading for an antidote to the sorrow and rage this was going to bring. "Or will the sight of him like that just break me like I know it will?"

Sara gave a shaky sigh. She had seen Greg, lying there on the floor. She'd had to try and convince herself he wasn't dead, that's how abused Greg had looked. She'd never been so scared yet so infuriated in her life, well, except when Nick had been kidnapped. The CSI family was probably about the only stable family Sara had ever had, and the thought of it being ripped apart…it crushed her. Greg, was the baby of that family, the one they all needed to protect whether he liked it or not, and Sara couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't been there to protect him.

Sara was scared that Greg was never going to be okay again. Sure, the physical scars would eventually heal, but the mental… she couldn't even begin to imagine what the poor young man must be going through right now. She was scared Greg was going to feel alone in all this, and that the rest of the teams comfort wouldn't be enough. Sara would make it her mission to be there day and night, whenever Greg needed her, and she knew Nick would do the same.

Sara was mad that she hadn't been there when Nick and Sofia had arrested the SOB who had led the whole sadistic thing. She kind of envied Nick for being able to punch Cole Tritt in his despicable guts, and wished she'd got some of the action for herself. She'd had to really restrain herself from storming down to the holding cells and blowing the guys brain out. But Sara wouldn't give him the satisfaction; he was going to suffer a hell of a lot worse in prison.

"You're just going to wish you'd punched that bastard a thousand times harder" Sara finally replied quietly and Nick bowed his head with a heavy sigh. Sara placed a comforting hand on his shoulder "Come on, Greg needs us now. He'll be happy to see you" she said with a small smile which Nick tried to return before they continued to their friend's underserved sick bed.

Nick froze at the sight of his broken friend through the window. There didn't seem to be a part of Greg that wasn't swollen, that wasn't shaded blue or purple. Every movement the poor young man made looked like it hurt like hell and the thought made Nick grimace. Had Greg always looked that young? That thin...that lost? The young man's eyes were staring rather fearfully at the door, like he thought the gang might come back to finish the job. It broke Nick's heart, and tears finally slipped from his eyes for the first time throughout this painful ordeal.

Sara opened the door with a shaky hand, plastering on a smile as she did so. "Hey Greg" she said in a fragile tone; as if she feared Greg would just shy away. "I brought someone to see you, thought you'd be sick of just looking at me by now" she joked.

"I could never get sick of you Sara" Greg said with a wary smile. Nick followed the female CSI into the room "Hey Nick" Greg said quietly "I'm so glad to see you"

"I'm glad to see you too buddy" Nick said with quiet a shaky tone. He turned away and wiped the tear dropping down his face.

"Hey man, you're not allowed to cry" Greg teased with a small smile "If you cry, then there is really no hope for the rest of us"

"I'm sorry" Nick mumbled as he sniffed "It's just… I care about you so much, Greg"

"I know you do" Greg said quietly and held out his arm, coaxing Nick into it for a light hug. Nick was very cautious about not hurting his young friend further.

"We brought you some food" Sara said raising the bag once they had settled. "I hear hospital food's not all it's cracked up to be"

"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry" Greg replied with an awkward look.

"Aw come on man, you're already wasting away" Nick said light-heartedly, although he was worried.

"Maybe later" Greg said with a small smile as he looked down at his shaking hands. Sara took them in hers and rubbed her thumbs across them soothingly. "I'm sorry" Greg said with a nervous laugh "I'm being so pathetic"

"No, not at all" Sara told him reassuringly "Everything you're feeling now…it's understandable"

"Mmm, I'm not sure about that" Greg said nervously as he suddenly pulled his hands back and turned away, like he was ashamed to look at his friends anymore.

"What do you mean Greggo?" Nick pressed gently. He knew it would do his friend no good to keep his feelings bottled up.

"He…he's dead" Greg said in an upset whisper. The dam was about to break. "The guy I hit with my car…oh God he's dead" the young CSI cried out and raised his shaky hands to his head as he started to sob uncontrollably.

Sara just sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around the trembling young man, holding him tightly. She wouldn't say she was sorry, because she wasn't sorry that the stupid man was dead.

"He was asking for it Greg" Nick spoke firmly. "It was self-defence. You saved a life and that's all that matters."

"That's what I keep telling myself" Greg replied shakily "But it doesn't make it any easier. It doesn't make me feel any less guilty."

"We felt exactly the same after our first kills" Sara said in hope of some reassurance, Nick nodded in agreement. "But remember, there is always a very good reason why we have to take these people down. We do it because we have to, not for the sake of it."

"I know but…it's just going to take a while for me to come to terms with" Greg replied as he wiped his eyes. "This was supposed to be my first solo case. I was supposed to use it as a chance to show you all I'm truly a CSI now, and that you can depend on me to do a good job." He looked down with a heavy sigh "I guess I screwed that up" he mumbled.

"No Greggo, of course you didn't" Sara said pulling him close again in a one armed hug. "We would never think less of you. You're an awesome CSI, don't ever forget that"

"Yeah, man. We're so proud of you" Nick added. He went to sit on the other side of Greg's bed and wrapped his arm around the man's slender waist. "Now, are you going to eat that food we so thoughtfully paid for, or are we going to have to play 'here comes the airplane' to make you open wide" the Texan quipped. Sara laughed and for the first time so did Greg.

"I think I can manage by myself thanks" the youngest CSI replied with a smile.

So, the 3 friends sat eating together, laughing and talking like any normal family eating a meal. For the first time Greg realised everything would be okay in the end, because his brother and sister would always be there for him. No matter what.

So, I hope you liked it, I really wanted to capture Nick and Sara's thoughts and feelings right at the beginning, and their protective nature over Greg. I know this is a cliché story because it's been done many times before, but not by moi! ;)

More prompts please, I love seeing what you guys can come up with!

Please Review :) xx