A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so much for the reviews :) We are back to some Morganders now, Yey! This story is for Csi121099 who suggested it was Greg who got shot protecting Morgan instead of Ecklie in 'Homecoming'. So, I hope you enjoy!

Summary – Greg gets shot from protecting Morgan, and Morgan realises just how she feels about him. Spoilers for Season 12 finale!

Shot Down

"Hey, Morgan" Greg greeted the female CSI with a wide grin.

Morgan looked over from her locker where she was packing some stuff away "Hey, been a tough night hasn't it?" she stated, trying to create some small talk.

"Yeah, it really has" Greg said as he casually placed his hands in his pockets and sat down on the bench "That's why, I thought it might be good to unwind a little"

Morgan smiled to herself before shutting her locker door and turning to face Greg "Really? What did you have in mind?" she asked a little seductively, and Greg gave a light laugh.

"I was really just thinking of dinner" he replied.

"Sure, sounds good" Morgan agreed happily "Who else is coming?"

"Actually I was thinking just the two of us. I mean, if that's okay with you." Greg said a little more quietly this time. He was nervous, because he hoped Morgan would take the hint, but he was worried she'd just turn him down.

Morgan shrugged "Sure, I mean, you stillowe me one, right?" she winked.

Greg just laughed "Yeah, I guess I do"

"Cool, I just have to go talk to my dad, but I'll meet you at reception in like ten minutes?" Morgan suggested.

"Alright, awesome" Greg smiled; Morgan returned the gesture and left the room.

Greg finally let out the breath he realised he'd been holding the whole time. Phase one was complete; he'd asked Morgan out, phase 2, she'd said yes, and now for phase 3, the date. Greg at least hoped Morgan would realise it was in fact a date, but other than that he just hoped everything went well.

Greg and Morgan were walking down the brightly lit streets of Las Vegas chatting about anything and everything. Greg was surprised with how confident he was feeling around the pretty woman, and Morgan was silently glad it was going to be just the two of them.

"It's cold out" Morgan commented as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms to try and generate some warmth.

"You should have said earlier" Greg lightly scolded her before removing his blazer and traipsing it around Morgan's shoulders.

"Thanks" Morgan smiled as she pulled the garment tightly around her "Smells like you" she commented; although she didn't seem to realise she'd said it out loud. Greg just smiled softly to himself and slung his arm around Morgan's shoulders.

The pair continued to walk in silence for a while, when suddenly a car pulled up beside them. The CSIs heard the window go down, but thought nothing of it.

"Hey" a low voice called.

Greg and Morgan looked around, only to be met by the barrel of a gun protruding from the window, and it was pointing at Morgan.

Morgan didn't know what happened in the next few moments. She was wide eyed, scared, frozen to the spot, and then the gun shot sounded. But Morgan felt no pain, because Greg had pulled her around so he was in-between Morgan and the car when the gun fired. Morgan felt Greg's weight heavily leaning against her, along with the sound of screaming bystanders and tyres screeching off down the street.

"No!" Morgan screamed as she wrapped her arms around Greg's back and gently lowered him to the ground. She could feel the hauntingly familiar and sticky substance as blood began to coat her hands after leaking from the bullet wound in Greg's back.

Greg was breathing heavily as he struggled to speak. It hurt, it hurt like hell, but the male CSI had known exactly what he was doing, because there was no way he was going to let Morgan get hurt; over Greg's dead body, if that's what it took.

"Greg? Greg, just say something please?" Morgan pleaded with tears streaming down her face as she knelt down on the floor and held Greg to her chest.

Greg looked up into the woman's beautiful blue eyes and he wanted to tell her not to cry. He wanted to tell her not to be sad or scared, that he didn't deserve her tears – she was too pure to be tarnished with such anguish, especially over him. But he couldn't, he couldn't get the words out. He was in too much pain, and he could see the darkness slowly creeping up in the corners of his vision.

"Greg! Greg, you have to hang on for me" Morgan begged as she ran a hand through his hair. She could see the man struggling to keep his eyes open and there was a scary amount of blood beginning to pool beneath him. "We have to go on our date" Morgan reminded him with a sad smile, and she could have sworn she saw Greg's lip twitch upwards the slightest bit.

The blazing sound of sirens soon echoed down the street as another witness had called for an ambulance. Greg was beginning to feel cold as a slight shiver started running up and down his body and his skin went awfully pale. Morgan's eyes widened as she realised what was happening- Greg was going into shock, and as if on cue, the male CSIs body suddenly started convulsing.

"Greg!" Morgan cried as one of the medics pulled her out of the way, and the blonde was left leaning heavily on a wall for support as she placed a shaky hand over her mouth to try and hide her sobs.

Greg was blocked from her view for a moment, but when the medics dispersed Morgan saw Greg had been loaded onto a stretcher, oxygen mask over his face, and now definitely unconscious.

"Are you coming, miss?" one of the medics asked.

Morgan didn't need to be asked twice; she jumped into the back of the ambulance and sat by Greg's side. She took Greg's pale hand in her own shaking one and gave it a light squeeze.

"You're gunna be okay" Morgan whispered as she ran her thumb across the back of Greg's hand "You have to be…"

Morgan had been sat waiting for any news of Greg for at least two hours. He would be out of surgery soon and taken to the recovery unit; so Morgan supposed no news was good news. The young woman still had dried blood on her hands and shirt, and she still had Greg's blazer. She'd refused to forget it even given the situation; she knew it was one of his favourites.

Morgan sat running the smooth material through her fingers and taking brief inhales of Greg's aftershave which still lingered in the fibres. She grasped it tightly, pulling the garment close, because it made her feel that Greg was close, and it made Morgan believe he wouldn't give in, because Greg knew she was waiting for him.

Morgan was so lost in thought, at first she didn't notice when Hodges sat down beside her.

"Hey" the lab tech said with a concerned smile "You doing okay?"

Morgan nodded "Better than Greg is" she said quietly.

Hodges sighed sadly and placed a hand gently on Morgan's knee "He's going to be okay. I've known Sanders many years, and trust me, he's stubborn" the older man joked, and he swore he saw a flicker of a smile on Morgan's face before it left again.

"Did you guys found out who did it?" Morgan asked. She wanted to know who was responsible, maybe so she knew Greg was safe now if they'd been captured, maybe because she wanted to blow their brains out…

"Yeah. The team have this old nemesis, Jeffery Mckeen. Apparently he's back in business" Hodges said sadly.

"He's the one who killed Warrick, right?" Morgan asked. Greg had told her many stories about his old mentor.

"Yeah" Hodges replied "He's out for vengeance on Russell and Ecklie…"

"That'll be why the gun was pointed at me" Morgan whispered; one of the many setbacks to being the sheriff's daughter. "The gun was pointed at me, but Greg shielded me and he got shot. Why did he do that, Hodges?" Morgan asked like she wanted a genuine answer, but for once, Hodges wasn't sure what to say.

"Me, personally…" Hodges said eventually, not one to keep his opinion to himself "I think it's because he likes you…scratch that, Sanders loves you, and more than a friend"

Morgan considered this. She'd known she'd had feelings for Greg ever since they met, but she'd just put it down to flirting, a crush…was it possible her feelings were actually so much more? Was it possible Greg felt the same?

"Do you love him?" Hodges asked, taking the younger woman from her thoughts.

Morgan shook her head to regain focus "Sorry, what?"

"Greg, do you love him?" Hodges asked again.

"I…I…" Morgan stuttered, and then she stopped running her fingers along Greg's blazer and just held it against her "Yeah…yeah, I do" she replied.

Hodges smiled; he wasn't going to act like maybe he hadn't had feelings for Morgan in the past, but really, they were best friends, and the lab tech could be content with that.

"Then when you go in that room, you have to tell Greg that, because if he's willing to risk his life for you, I bet he'll say it back" Hodges said.

Morgan smile softly "Thanks, David. I didn't know you could be so profound"

Hodges shrugged "I have my moments" he said and Morgan laughed; she felt much better all of a sudden.

After Hodges left, Morgan went to clean herself up a little and then the doctor said she could sit with Greg. Morgan was very relieved to hear the surgery was successful, and there should be no further complications, for now, she just had to wait for Greg to wake up.

Morgan frowned sadly when she first entered Greg's room, to see the mask still on his face and the wires still attached to his chest. However, his heart rate was steady, and that was the most important thing. Morgan sat by Greg's bedside holding his hand and waiting patiently for him to come around.

Morgan was just beginning nod to sleep when she felt Greg squeezing back on her hand. The blonde looked up with great anticipation, and Greg's head was rolling around on the pillow.

"That's it, sweetie" Morgan said, fully aware of the term of endearment "It's okay, you're safe now. I'm here"

"M-Morgan" Greg said drowsily as he opened his eyes slightly to look at her "O-okay?"

Morgan just smiled – you selfless man "Yes, yes I'm fine, all thanks to you" she said running a hand through Greg's hair, and the man sighed contently.

"I'm sorry tonight didn't go as planned" Greg said sheepishly.

"Hey, it's not your fault" Morgan said firmly "You…you saved me, Greg, and I…I don't know how to say just how grateful I am…"

"I owed you one, right?" Greg asked with a small smile and Morgan laughed lightly.

"Yeah, but I didn't think the payback would be this extreme" she teased.

"Well, how about we still go on that date when I get out of here?" Greg suggested.

"Yeah" Morgan smiled softly "I would like that… "And then she remembered what Hodges had said to her "In fact, I would love that and…" she paused, looking down at her hand holding Greg's. The male CSI squeezed it in reassurance, and Morgan looked up into his warm brown eyes "and I love you" she finally said.

Greg smiled widely "I love you too" he replied "and that's not just the drugs talking" he added teasingly. Morgan laughed and hit his arm playfully. "You look tired" Greg commented "Wanna lay with me?"

"Sure" Morgan smiled, and slipped onto the bed, making sure to avoid the wires and then resting her head on Greg's shoulder as he placed an arm around her.

"Thank you" Morgan whispered as she placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

"You're totally worth it" Greg replied.

So, what'd ya think? I had to still include the scene with Hodges even though I totally re-wrote it because I liked how he offered Morgan comfort in that episode. Anyway, Morganders was good too? :P

Prompts would be splendid!

Please Review :) xx