Innocuous 1/?

Summary: Starts in 'Who Shot Sherlock.' Greg is dealt a different kind of blow just as he passes his proficiency.

Disclaimer: I only own the plot. Some of the dialogue is verbatim from the episode.

Rating: R

A/N: Had this written for a while, thought I'd post it.

-break-

Shining the light across the floor Greg cringed, feeling his last three fingers start to numb. He tried to shake it before alerting Sara to the evidence before him. "Got it."

Sara dropped next to him on the floor smiling. "Ooh BFB, big frickin bullet."

Snickering, he twisted the bullet in his hand. "Nose is mushroomed. Looks like pure lead. Two cannelures consistent with a revolver. One two three four five six lands and grooves. Left hand twist."

"Which usually means?"

"Colt .45?" He said with little hesitation, turning to give her a questioning eye. Once she nodded smiling again, he returned it. "Are you checking up on me?"

"No, no,no,no. Grissom said he was just evaluating you on processing this one room, so…I figured maybe you could use some help with the rest of the house."

"Thanks."

Tucking the bullet in an evidence bag, he moved to get up, stopping only as hot tingling pain shot up his spine. It felt like his spinal column was breaking apart piece by piece, he could hardly keep breath. He barely heard Sara muttering, holding another piece of evidence in hand.

"Guess everyone needs a hobby."

"Yeah." He mumbled breathing through the pain. He was nearly dizzy when the pain subsided, but he continued working. After what happened in the lab he wanted out, needed it. What he hadn't expected were the aftereffects of the explosion itself. He had the scars which he hated but got over the ugliness of them, though he still couldn't be alone in a room with others when his shirt was off.

Now, however, he was dealing with something much worse. Tingles, numbness, spasms and pain at random intervals for random periods across his body. Much of it was in his arms and legs, sometimes he'd get a horrendous migraine. The worst was when it hit his spine, the pain was usually unbearable making him breathless, sometimes numb after.

His body throbbed through evidence collection. After cataloguing evidence Grissom gave him a reprieve, which he happily took. It was only a few hours, but it was usually enough to give his body a reset, especially after the pain in his spine.

He knew there was something wrong but couldn't find it in his heart to go to the doctor. He was afraid of what it could be. The lab explosion had had him sidelined for nearly a month but somehow, he knew this would be the end of his career.

He'd done his own research into what it could be and none of it was good. None of the research led to a fatal result, but if the pain continued to be this bad then…who knows.

After a few hours' rest and a warm shower Greg was relieved too somewhat normal again. Heading back into the lab he happily pulled out the evidence for his proficiency to process.

-break-

This had to be it he had to be on the right track, he thought to himself as he examined his main suspect, Nelson Oakes aka Watson's, shoe.

"DNA confirms that the blood on Watson's shoe is a match to our vic. We got him." Sara's smile was wide as she stared across his neck, still focused on the shoe before him. "Feel like celebrating after shift?...I'm buying."

"These drops aren't uniform. Some of them are clotted red cells but others are pure serum." He leaned back letting her look for herself, he sighed feeling the heat press into his back. "It takes at least twenty minutes for blood to clot and separate. If Watson killed Sherlock, the blood drops on his shoe would all be the same."

"The killer takes some of the victim's blood at the scene…" She mused talking out loud. "…the red blood cells in the serum separate and get sprayed on the shoes later…" Turning to him she was amazed by his find, smiling. "Somebody's trying to frame Watson."

Sharing her smile Greg nodded. "Yeah…wait, did you just ask me out?"

Blushing, she nodded begrudgingly. "It was to celebrate, but now…"

"So do you want to anymore?" He sighed, turning back to the equipment.

"I didn't say that…"

He turned back to her surprised to find her biting her lip to keep from smiling, the gap in her teeth peeking out. "After shift?"

Nodding she slowly backed out of the room. "Meet you by your car?"

"Ok."

-break-

They had wandered the strip for a few hours before Sara offered him coffee at her place. When they got to her place, he helped her make the coffee before they sat on her couch, again talking for hours.

"I hate to say it, but I should get home." Greg said regretfully as he looked at the clock.

"It's ok…I probably kept you longer than I should have." Sara agreed walking with him to the door. "…but I had a great time."

Leaning against the door, he grinned his eyes dancing across her glowing features. "Me too."

"God I shouldn't be thinking like this…at least not yet." She almost sounded high with how she buzzed in…happiness?7

"Shouldn't be thinking what?" Now he was confused. Before he could say more Sara grabbed a handful of his shirt, crashing her lips into his, her other hand holding the back of his head to keep his lips in place.

Momentarily thrown Greg eagerly responded, his fingers teasing the open skin between her shirt and jeans. Feeling the contact of his hands on her back, she groaned, pressing him into the door, their kiss deepening further.

Though it felt amazing having her in his arms, kissing him the way he always dreamed. But once she pressed him into the door, more precisely the handle, the pain in his spine came back, taking what little breath he had out of him.

Thankfully though Sara pulled back, blushing bashfully as her hands moved up and down his chest. "Sorry…I know its too soon."

Again, he was confused, trying to hide the pain he felt in his back but enjoying her hands still on his chest, he questioned. "Too soon?"

Breathing heavily, she nodded pressing another kiss to his lips. "I'm still technically your supervisor."

"Oh." Greg never thought about that. Blinking away some of the dizziness he started to feel, he started to pull his hands back but was shocked as she pulled them back around her, pressing her body into his.

"When you pass your proficiency, we are so celebrating." Her husky words were aided by her lips as she pressed them into his again before fully extracting herself, putting much needed distance between them. "I'll see you at work tomorrow."

Lightheaded from the pain and their encounter Greg nodded, stepping next to the door he pulled it open his eyes not leaving Sara's. "Yes, goodnight, Sara."

Sara grinned back licking the taste of him from her lips, her eyes sparkling. "Goodnight Greg."

Sliding out of the door, Greg made his way to his car in a daze. If he wasn't in so much pain, he would do cartwheels. Sara kissed him. Really kissed him. Making his way home he barely made it to the bathroom. Downing some pain reliever, he lay down on his bed. The last thing on his mind as he lay back against his pillow, the feel of her lips on his once more, relaxing him enough to sleep.

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