:lol: Looks like Greg is getting some of that sense of humor back.
What does OIS stand for? I know I've heard it, but don't recall what it means.
What does OIS stand for? I know I've heard it, but don't recall what it means.
The Savior of the Broken
- Thread starter racefh853629
- Start date
racefh853629
Pathologist
OIS is an officer-involved shooting. 
And yes, Greg's getting his humor back...
Okay, so this chapter is a little darker/harsher, but as always, is censored from the ff.net version. Mia's kinda got a potty mouth... haha. And Martez is someone she arrested... just so you know. Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 7: There’s Trouble in Here
Mia shook her head roughly, readjusting her hair off her shoulders. She sat down in the break room, taking a drink from the iced latte she brought in with her as she settled for the calm before the storm. Hodges walked in and grabbed her shoulders gently, massaging them. “Hey, babe,” he said. She groaned.
“Leave me alone and stop touching me,” she told him sharply.
“Oh, come on. I’m not hurting you. Bet that feels good, right? Just like you remember it.”
“Leave me alone, David. I want you to stop.”
“Fine.” He let go of her, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “Just remember, I’m always here when you want me.”
“Been there, done that, and it wasn’t that great.”
“Yeah, right. That’s why we used to get the cops called on us for noise.”
“That was when we were fighting, dumb ass. Not when we were having sex.”
“Making love.”
“Yeah, right. You don’t know the meaning of love, David.” He walked up to her, bending over to kiss her cheek.
“That’s what you think,” he whispered in her ear before he stood up and walked out of the room. She grumbled to herself, shaking her head with an angry sigh as Nick walked in. He noticed the anger in her face and thought better of greeting her. He rather enjoyed having a head on his shoulders that hadn’t been half chewed by Mia. She fumed in her own silent world as Greg walked in.
“Hey guys,” he said, smiling.
“Hey Greggo,” Nick replied. Mia grunted in acknowledgement.
“You okay, Mia?”
“I’m going to kill him one of these days,” she spewed harshly, catching Greg and Nick off guard.
“Uh, okay,” Greg said quietly, looking at Nick. Nick shrugged and shook his head. Mia didn’t elaborate, choosing to sink back into her own world of anger. Catherine and Warrick walked in together, and both noticed the fuming Mia before deciding to proceed to where Greg and Nick were sitting with caution. The two men greeted them nicely.
“What’s her deal?” Catherine asked softly.
“Don’t know,” Nick said. “She said something about fucking killing him one of these days, but she didn’t say anything more.” Catherine nodded.
“Did you ask?”
“Would you?”
“Ten bucks says it’s Hodges,” Greg said. Catherine arched her eyebrows at him. “What? They barely act civilly to each other at work. Well, she barely treats him civilly at work. He’s enamored with her.” Nick cast a funny look in Greg’s direction. “What?”
“Enamored?” he asked the young CSI.
“It’s the word of the day.” Nick shook his head.
“I just have one question,” Mia said from the table, causing four heads and eight eyes to snap to her. “Do you always try to talk about your coworkers behind their backs when they’re in the same room?”
“Busted,” Greg whispered. Catherine smacked him with a gentle, motherly touch.
“We’re just concerned,” she told Mia.
“Don’t be,” Mia grumbled. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You’re aggravated.”
“When aren’t I, according to Nick?”
“Hey, I never said that,” Nick defended.
“Didn’t have to,” she said. “I feel it every time I’m aggravated around you.”
“Do we always have to fight?” Warrick asked calmly.
“Apparently so,” Nick snapped, glaring at Mia.
“What?” she said. “I’m just fucking doing nothing. I wasn’t doing anything in the first place. I was minding my own business when I get harassed, and then you guys all come here and start talking about me like I’m not here. I can’t stand that. Either talk to me, or have the decency to talk about me when I’m not around.”
“We’re not trying to be malicious, Mia,” Greg said gently, walking over and sitting next to her.
“And here comes Greg’s patented ‘puppy-dog, sad, can’t fight with me’ routine.”
“Well, when you put it like that… No, seriously, Mia. We’re concerned. You’re obviously upset at something, and we want to help, but any time one of us even tries, you bite our head off.”
“Can you blame me?” she asked, looking at Greg. “You guys hate me.”
“Kinda hard not to,” Nick retorted.
“F... off, Stokes.” She stood up, stalking over to him. Greg moved in between them.
“Mia, stand down,” he said quietly. She shook her head in defiance. “Mia, please, calm down.” She continued to try to ignore Greg as the others watched. “Look, you keep this up, and Ecklie’s gonna have no excuse not to fire you and ruin your life. You’d never be able to work as a criminalist ever again. Do you want that?” She looked up at Greg, seeing concern in his eyes.
“No,” she said softly. Nick, Warrick, and Catherine looked at one another, shocked and confused. She was actually relenting for Greg? Grissom walked in, interrupting the moment.
“Alright, sorry I’m late,” he said. “Greg and Nick, DB in the desert. Catherine, you’re with me at the Rampart. Warrick and Mia, you guys got a DB out on Highland Road. Be careful.” He walked out of the room the same way he walked in, and Mia walked out after him.
“Good luck tonight, bro,” Nick said, patting Warrick on the shoulder.
“Thanks,” he said, quickly arcing his eyebrows up before dropping them down. “I might need it.” He walked out, and Nick looked over at Greg and Catherine.
“They’re entering a bad scene, and she’s in a bad mood,” he said. “I doubt if she’ll make it out.”
“Oh, come on,” Greg said. “They’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, right. They’re as fine as an injured man in a shark tank.”
*~*~*~*
Mia picked up a shell casing as Warrick continued to photograph the scene. Vega stood back, watching them quietly. “Hey, yo, Salvatori,” a bystander called. Mia tossed her gaze over her shoulder to him. “Long time, no see, eh?”
“Martez,” she groaned. “I thought I locked your ass up for good.”
“Ha, right. I got out about a month ago.”
“Then already violating parole, huh?”
“Wasn’t parole, bitch. Good behavior.” She shook her head.
“Right. I think I’d would’ve been told about that.”
“Ha, looks like someone lied to you, homes.” She stood upright, walking over to him.
“Don’t ever call me ‘homes’, Martez.” He snorted at her, laughing.
“Girl, you ain’t all that. You just a punk-ass cop.”
“Scientist, actually,” she sneered with an air of importance. He laughed.
“Right. That’s why you don’t carry no gun.” She rolled her eyes.
“Go back to L.A., Martez. This obsessive thing has got to go.”
“I ain’t obsessive about nothin’.”
“Right. That’s why you stalked me to my crime scene. Now get the hell out of here.” She turned away as he ducked under the crime tape and grabbed her. She fought back as Warrick and Vega tried to come to her rescue. Martez pulled out a knife, holding it to her throat while Vega and Warrick drew their weapons.
“Anyone tries to make a move, and I’ll kill the bitch,” he warned, tightening his grip on her. She rolled her eyes.
“I dare you to do it, you bitch,” she said. Martez pressed the knife tighter to her throat.
“What’d you say?”
“I said, I dare you to do it. Just kill me, Martez. Because then you’ll get the chair, you obsessive, stalker jerk.”
“I ain’t no stalker, and I ain’t obsessive. I just wanna harass you.”
“Well, you did. Now either man up and finish the job, or get the hell out of here, you no-ball loser.” Vega, still brandishing his firearm, looked at Warrick questioningly. Warrick shrugged.
“Keep it up and I will.”
“I’d love to see you try. If I’m not afraid of a guy holding me at gunpoint, I sure as hell ain’t gonna be scared by a guy with a knife.”
“You’re scared, Salvatori. I can feel it.”
“I’m not afraid of you trying to kill me, Martez. You wanna screw me a helluva lot more than you wanna kill me.”
“I don’t want you. You’re damaged goods, Catalina.” She cringed.
“Don’t ever call me Catalina.” He chortled.
“I know how much it turns you on,” Martez whispered to her, huskily. Vega and Warrick watched as a moment of panic crossed her face before her normal steely resolve set back in.
“Doesn’t do a thing for me.”
“That’s why you cringed, baby.”
“I’m not your baby. Call me that again, and I’ll chop off what’s left of your nuts.”
“Did she date him or arrest him?” Vega asked Warrick softly.
“No clue,” Warrick replied.
“So, you gonna kill me or what?” Mia asked, angrily. Martez chuckled before kissing her neck softly.
“Maybe just sleep with you,” he replied. She stiffened, now growing nervous. He chuckled again. “Now you’re scared.”
“Am not.”
“Yes, you are.” She smirked, shaking her head.
“I’m not afraid of you.” He let go of her hands to grope her, and she elbowed him in the stomach. She ran over to Warrick as Vega and the police grabbed Martez. He struggled, stabbing a uniform and swiping Vega’s arm as he ran over to Warrick and Mia.
“Bitch.”
“What?” she asked. “Gonna kill me? You had me right where you wanted me before, and you still didn’t kill me. What’s gonna make this time any different?”
“I’ll kill you, you bitch.”
“Go for it.” Warrick tried to stand between them, only to get shoved roughly by Martez. He lunged at her, trying to cut her as she kicked the knife out of his hand. She threw him to the ground and sat on him as a few other uniforms arrested him. Warrick looked critically at Mia as he holstered his weapon. She rolled her eyes. “What now?” she asked Warrick, annoyed.
“You’re really suicidal, aren’t you?” he asked her.
“No.”
“Right. Because people who want to live long taunt homicidal maniacs.” She rolled her eyes again.
“You guys okay?” she asked the uniform and Vega.
“Fine,” Vega replied curtly.
“Sorry.”
“You should know better than anyone that actions have consequences,” Warrick said. “You could’ve gotten more than just yourself killed.”
“Let’s finish processing,” Mia told him, getting back to work.
“No. You don’t get it, do you? You have no regard for your own life, so you care even less about everyone else’s.” She snapped her head to him.
“If I had no respect for anyone else’s life, I wouldn’t be a criminalist.”
“Is that what you are? Because all I see is a suicidal child who likes puzzles. You need to grow up, Mia.”
“If I was a child, I’d hit you for that remark. But since I’m not, I’ll tell you to go to hell, Warrick Brown, because you know absolutely nothing about me or my life. You wanna call me a suicidal child, be my guest. I’m over the stage of needing anyone else’s validation. You wanna bitch to Grissom? Do that too. Because I’d be glad to get the hell out of here and away from all of you guys.” The last part came out with more spite than Warrick had ever heard in his life, and he almost felt sorry for a moment. He knew they hadn’t been fair to Mia since day one, which could explain a lot of her actions at the moment. He sighed softly.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Being an ass.” She shrugged.
“I don’t care. Let’s finish up and get back.” He nodded, getting back to work. He sighed, amazed. She had been in the wrong, yet she still had managed to make him apologize. He shook his head. Just like a woman.
And yes, Greg's getting his humor back... Okay, so this chapter is a little darker/harsher, but as always, is censored from the ff.net version. Mia's kinda got a potty mouth... haha. And Martez is someone she arrested... just so you know.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter. *~*~*~*
Chapter 7: There’s Trouble in Here
Mia shook her head roughly, readjusting her hair off her shoulders. She sat down in the break room, taking a drink from the iced latte she brought in with her as she settled for the calm before the storm. Hodges walked in and grabbed her shoulders gently, massaging them. “Hey, babe,” he said. She groaned.
“Leave me alone and stop touching me,” she told him sharply.
“Oh, come on. I’m not hurting you. Bet that feels good, right? Just like you remember it.”
“Leave me alone, David. I want you to stop.”
“Fine.” He let go of her, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “Just remember, I’m always here when you want me.”
“Been there, done that, and it wasn’t that great.”
“Yeah, right. That’s why we used to get the cops called on us for noise.”
“That was when we were fighting, dumb ass. Not when we were having sex.”
“Making love.”
“Yeah, right. You don’t know the meaning of love, David.” He walked up to her, bending over to kiss her cheek.
“That’s what you think,” he whispered in her ear before he stood up and walked out of the room. She grumbled to herself, shaking her head with an angry sigh as Nick walked in. He noticed the anger in her face and thought better of greeting her. He rather enjoyed having a head on his shoulders that hadn’t been half chewed by Mia. She fumed in her own silent world as Greg walked in.
“Hey guys,” he said, smiling.
“Hey Greggo,” Nick replied. Mia grunted in acknowledgement.
“You okay, Mia?”
“I’m going to kill him one of these days,” she spewed harshly, catching Greg and Nick off guard.
“Uh, okay,” Greg said quietly, looking at Nick. Nick shrugged and shook his head. Mia didn’t elaborate, choosing to sink back into her own world of anger. Catherine and Warrick walked in together, and both noticed the fuming Mia before deciding to proceed to where Greg and Nick were sitting with caution. The two men greeted them nicely.
“What’s her deal?” Catherine asked softly.
“Don’t know,” Nick said. “She said something about fucking killing him one of these days, but she didn’t say anything more.” Catherine nodded.
“Did you ask?”
“Would you?”
“Ten bucks says it’s Hodges,” Greg said. Catherine arched her eyebrows at him. “What? They barely act civilly to each other at work. Well, she barely treats him civilly at work. He’s enamored with her.” Nick cast a funny look in Greg’s direction. “What?”
“Enamored?” he asked the young CSI.
“It’s the word of the day.” Nick shook his head.
“I just have one question,” Mia said from the table, causing four heads and eight eyes to snap to her. “Do you always try to talk about your coworkers behind their backs when they’re in the same room?”
“Busted,” Greg whispered. Catherine smacked him with a gentle, motherly touch.
“We’re just concerned,” she told Mia.
“Don’t be,” Mia grumbled. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You’re aggravated.”
“When aren’t I, according to Nick?”
“Hey, I never said that,” Nick defended.
“Didn’t have to,” she said. “I feel it every time I’m aggravated around you.”
“Do we always have to fight?” Warrick asked calmly.
“Apparently so,” Nick snapped, glaring at Mia.
“What?” she said. “I’m just fucking doing nothing. I wasn’t doing anything in the first place. I was minding my own business when I get harassed, and then you guys all come here and start talking about me like I’m not here. I can’t stand that. Either talk to me, or have the decency to talk about me when I’m not around.”
“We’re not trying to be malicious, Mia,” Greg said gently, walking over and sitting next to her.
“And here comes Greg’s patented ‘puppy-dog, sad, can’t fight with me’ routine.”
“Well, when you put it like that… No, seriously, Mia. We’re concerned. You’re obviously upset at something, and we want to help, but any time one of us even tries, you bite our head off.”
“Can you blame me?” she asked, looking at Greg. “You guys hate me.”
“Kinda hard not to,” Nick retorted.
“F... off, Stokes.” She stood up, stalking over to him. Greg moved in between them.
“Mia, stand down,” he said quietly. She shook her head in defiance. “Mia, please, calm down.” She continued to try to ignore Greg as the others watched. “Look, you keep this up, and Ecklie’s gonna have no excuse not to fire you and ruin your life. You’d never be able to work as a criminalist ever again. Do you want that?” She looked up at Greg, seeing concern in his eyes.
“No,” she said softly. Nick, Warrick, and Catherine looked at one another, shocked and confused. She was actually relenting for Greg? Grissom walked in, interrupting the moment.
“Alright, sorry I’m late,” he said. “Greg and Nick, DB in the desert. Catherine, you’re with me at the Rampart. Warrick and Mia, you guys got a DB out on Highland Road. Be careful.” He walked out of the room the same way he walked in, and Mia walked out after him.
“Good luck tonight, bro,” Nick said, patting Warrick on the shoulder.
“Thanks,” he said, quickly arcing his eyebrows up before dropping them down. “I might need it.” He walked out, and Nick looked over at Greg and Catherine.
“They’re entering a bad scene, and she’s in a bad mood,” he said. “I doubt if she’ll make it out.”
“Oh, come on,” Greg said. “They’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, right. They’re as fine as an injured man in a shark tank.”
*~*~*~*
Mia picked up a shell casing as Warrick continued to photograph the scene. Vega stood back, watching them quietly. “Hey, yo, Salvatori,” a bystander called. Mia tossed her gaze over her shoulder to him. “Long time, no see, eh?”
“Martez,” she groaned. “I thought I locked your ass up for good.”
“Ha, right. I got out about a month ago.”
“Then already violating parole, huh?”
“Wasn’t parole, bitch. Good behavior.” She shook her head.
“Right. I think I’d would’ve been told about that.”
“Ha, looks like someone lied to you, homes.” She stood upright, walking over to him.
“Don’t ever call me ‘homes’, Martez.” He snorted at her, laughing.
“Girl, you ain’t all that. You just a punk-ass cop.”
“Scientist, actually,” she sneered with an air of importance. He laughed.
“Right. That’s why you don’t carry no gun.” She rolled her eyes.
“Go back to L.A., Martez. This obsessive thing has got to go.”
“I ain’t obsessive about nothin’.”
“Right. That’s why you stalked me to my crime scene. Now get the hell out of here.” She turned away as he ducked under the crime tape and grabbed her. She fought back as Warrick and Vega tried to come to her rescue. Martez pulled out a knife, holding it to her throat while Vega and Warrick drew their weapons.
“Anyone tries to make a move, and I’ll kill the bitch,” he warned, tightening his grip on her. She rolled her eyes.
“I dare you to do it, you bitch,” she said. Martez pressed the knife tighter to her throat.
“What’d you say?”
“I said, I dare you to do it. Just kill me, Martez. Because then you’ll get the chair, you obsessive, stalker jerk.”
“I ain’t no stalker, and I ain’t obsessive. I just wanna harass you.”
“Well, you did. Now either man up and finish the job, or get the hell out of here, you no-ball loser.” Vega, still brandishing his firearm, looked at Warrick questioningly. Warrick shrugged.
“Keep it up and I will.”
“I’d love to see you try. If I’m not afraid of a guy holding me at gunpoint, I sure as hell ain’t gonna be scared by a guy with a knife.”
“You’re scared, Salvatori. I can feel it.”
“I’m not afraid of you trying to kill me, Martez. You wanna screw me a helluva lot more than you wanna kill me.”
“I don’t want you. You’re damaged goods, Catalina.” She cringed.
“Don’t ever call me Catalina.” He chortled.
“I know how much it turns you on,” Martez whispered to her, huskily. Vega and Warrick watched as a moment of panic crossed her face before her normal steely resolve set back in.
“Doesn’t do a thing for me.”
“That’s why you cringed, baby.”
“I’m not your baby. Call me that again, and I’ll chop off what’s left of your nuts.”
“Did she date him or arrest him?” Vega asked Warrick softly.
“No clue,” Warrick replied.
“So, you gonna kill me or what?” Mia asked, angrily. Martez chuckled before kissing her neck softly.
“Maybe just sleep with you,” he replied. She stiffened, now growing nervous. He chuckled again. “Now you’re scared.”
“Am not.”
“Yes, you are.” She smirked, shaking her head.
“I’m not afraid of you.” He let go of her hands to grope her, and she elbowed him in the stomach. She ran over to Warrick as Vega and the police grabbed Martez. He struggled, stabbing a uniform and swiping Vega’s arm as he ran over to Warrick and Mia.
“Bitch.”
“What?” she asked. “Gonna kill me? You had me right where you wanted me before, and you still didn’t kill me. What’s gonna make this time any different?”
“I’ll kill you, you bitch.”
“Go for it.” Warrick tried to stand between them, only to get shoved roughly by Martez. He lunged at her, trying to cut her as she kicked the knife out of his hand. She threw him to the ground and sat on him as a few other uniforms arrested him. Warrick looked critically at Mia as he holstered his weapon. She rolled her eyes. “What now?” she asked Warrick, annoyed.
“You’re really suicidal, aren’t you?” he asked her.
“No.”
“Right. Because people who want to live long taunt homicidal maniacs.” She rolled her eyes again.
“You guys okay?” she asked the uniform and Vega.
“Fine,” Vega replied curtly.
“Sorry.”
“You should know better than anyone that actions have consequences,” Warrick said. “You could’ve gotten more than just yourself killed.”
“Let’s finish processing,” Mia told him, getting back to work.
“No. You don’t get it, do you? You have no regard for your own life, so you care even less about everyone else’s.” She snapped her head to him.
“If I had no respect for anyone else’s life, I wouldn’t be a criminalist.”
“Is that what you are? Because all I see is a suicidal child who likes puzzles. You need to grow up, Mia.”
“If I was a child, I’d hit you for that remark. But since I’m not, I’ll tell you to go to hell, Warrick Brown, because you know absolutely nothing about me or my life. You wanna call me a suicidal child, be my guest. I’m over the stage of needing anyone else’s validation. You wanna bitch to Grissom? Do that too. Because I’d be glad to get the hell out of here and away from all of you guys.” The last part came out with more spite than Warrick had ever heard in his life, and he almost felt sorry for a moment. He knew they hadn’t been fair to Mia since day one, which could explain a lot of her actions at the moment. He sighed softly.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Being an ass.” She shrugged.
“I don’t care. Let’s finish up and get back.” He nodded, getting back to work. He sighed, amazed. She had been in the wrong, yet she still had managed to make him apologize. He shook his head. Just like a woman.
Officer involved shooting.. right, I knew that. :lol: My memory is really horrible sometimes. :lol:
I loved that last line "just like a woman" haha... that's such a Warrick thing to say (or in this case, think). The comment about the injured person in a shark tank was funny too.
I like how tough Mia is and doesn't take crap from people pointing weapons at her. I think it kind of confuses the criminals (along with her co-workers). :lol:
I loved that last line "just like a woman" haha... that's such a Warrick thing to say (or in this case, think). The comment about the injured person in a shark tank was funny too.
I like how tough Mia is and doesn't take crap from people pointing weapons at her. I think it kind of confuses the criminals (along with her co-workers). :lol:
racefh853629
Pathologist
Don't worry, my memory sucks sometimes too... :lol:
Yeah, she definitely confuses a lot of people... as well as aggravates them. :lol:
This chapter's a little longer... a lot happens in it lol. Also, this is kind of a rough chapter... discusses Mia's past and includes mentions of violence, sexual assault, and other things. Ryan Wolfe also makes a cameo in this chapter. Danny Messer and Lieutenant Steve Sloan (from Diagnosis Murder) get a mention... lol So, enjoy.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 8: Drunken Heart-to-Hearts in Santa Monica
After dinner, Mia and Greg stood around at cocktail hour, mingling with other members of their profession. She was in her usual form, Greg realized, as she held her fourth glass of champagne in her right hand while her left hand held her pocket book. Greg’s hands were in his jacket pocket before he took them out to readjust his tie as he chatted amicably with his colleagues. Mia rolled her eyes before handing Greg her glass as she continued talking, fixing Greg’s tie for him. She took her glass back as he smiled. “Thanks,” he said softly.
“Don’t mention it,” she replied, finishing her glass and readjusting her deep purple, low cut, floor length, sleeveless dress with rhinestone trim. Easily, she was the hit of the party, getting a lot of requests to ‘swap DNA’ and other cheesy pick up lines. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, the curls she put in bouncing gently. Greg smiled inwardly, gazing at her beauty as he talked quietly with those around him. Her phone rang, snapping him out of his daze. She excused herself quietly before stepping away a bit. “Salvatori,” she answered. She listened for a moment, and Greg watched as she grew agitated and walked away.
“What’s her deal?” Ryan Wolfe, a CSI for Miami-Dade County, asked.
“Damned if I know,” Greg replied, watching her.
“She’s a piece of work, huh?” Greg shrugged, still watching her.
“She’s good with victims.”
“She’s a bitch. How can she be good with victims?”
“She has some humanity. You don’t know her, Ryan.”
“Yeah, I don’t, but I don’t exactly want to, either.” Greg shrugged again, still watching her.
“Your loss, man.”
*~*~*~*
“Salvatori,” Mia answered.
“Hey baby,” Hodges replied. Mia clenched her fists and started to walk away. “Missing me yet?”
“No, and I never will.”
“Oh, now that’s harsh.”
“You deserve it, you jackass.”
“Babe, the only thing I ever did was love you.”
“You never loved me, you jerk.”
“I did too. I never meant to hurt you, Mia.”
“Yeah, right. Like I believe that. Go to hell, David.”
“After all I did for you, all I gave you, you treat me like this?”
“David, the only thing you ever gave me was a hard time and a pain in the ass. I thought I already made this clear to you. I don’t want to see or talk to you outside of work, ever. And at work, the best you can hope for is civility. Nothing more, ever. Understand now?”
“No. I don’t get why you hate me.”
“You know what you did.”
“I’ve tried apologizing, and you either blow me off or don’t accept it. Why?”
“Because you don’t get it. You want a second chance with me, but you don’t understand that we can’t just go back. You can’t just apologize and go back.”
“But I love you.” She scoffed.
“You hurt me, David. And actually, to you, love is a lie that gets people to fall into bed with you so you can fulfill your sexual quota. And then when you’re done, you dump them either for someone else or just to be a miserable ass. You only care about yourself and your own interest. You only love yourself.”
“I do not.”
“You do too! And honestly, I can see why you would have to love yourself- because no one else will!”
“Hmm, sounds like you.”
“Not really. I don’t use people for my own personal gain like you do. And… you know what? I’m done with this conversation. It’s a waste of my time and breath.”
“What? We’re not-” She hung up, stalking back toward Greg in fury.
“Here,” she groaned loudly, handing him her phone. He fumbled with it in his hands for a minute, almost dropping it on the floor.
“What do I want this for?” he asked, annoyed. Ryan shot him a ‘better you than me’ look as he smiled.
“I want you to fucking hold it for me, dumbass. That way there, if I get another phone call, I won’t have to answer it. I don’t care who’s calling me, I’m not answering it.” Greg nodded, seeing past her anger to the underlying disturbance. He tucked her phone into his pocket before gently reaching out and grabbing her bare arm.
“You okay?” His voice was gentle and soft, causing her to sigh.
“Not really.” Her honesty surprised both of them, and she quickly chalked it up to the champagne earlier. He nodded.
“You wanna leave?” She looked around for a moment before nodding. He put his arm gently around her waist, silently apologizing to Ryan as he left. Ryan shrugged, walking away to find Danny Messer, a CSI from New York.
*~*~*~*
Greg opened the door to their suite for Mia as she remained silent, cursing herself for being weak in front of him. She found that tonight, she couldn’t help herself. She was buzzed, and would probably be doing and saying a lot of things she’d regret later. She sat on the couch, and Greg sat on the chair opposite her, grabbing the room service menu and looking at her. Shrugging, she figured that if she were going to be open, she’d need to be more drunk than she already was. “Let’s get drunk,” she told him. He nodded.
“What do you like?” he asked, his voice still gentle. She figured if she wasn’t so rattled by the constant annoyance that was David Hodges, she’d be angered by his tone.
“Scotch, gin, vodka. Anything hard.” He smirked, and she shook her head. “Die, pervert.”
“Sorry, became a teenager again for a moment. Mixers?”
“If you’re getting vodka, get orange juice. If gin or scotch, nothing.”
“Alright. Anything to eat?”
“Doesn’t matter.” He nodded, ordering scotch and mozzarella sticks as she moved to sit at her computer. She opened her email and groaned as Greg hung up. “I need my phone back,” she growled at him.
“Why?” he asked softly.
“Because I need to chew David a new one.”
“Who?” She sighed.
“Hodges. Sorry.”
“Why?”
“Because he won’t leave me alone! He keeps calling me, emailing me, just generally bugging the hell out of me! He even showed up at my door one night.”
“Why?” She looked over at him angrily. “He’s usually not so obsessive without a reason.”
“Him and I have a history.”
“Ah.” She furrowed her brows.
“And just what is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Just, everything between the two of you makes so much more sense.” She sighed, calming a bit.
“He won’t just let it go.”
“Have you?” She looked at him like he had five heads.
“What?” Room service arrived at the door, and Greg stood up.
“Have you let it go?” She was silent as he took care of the man at the door, taking the time to think about his question.
“They have bottles of scotch on room service?” she asked, deciding to ignore it as Greg closed the door.
“My friend’s family owns the place,” he explained, sitting back in the chair as she moved to the couch again. “I get what I want.”
“Connections are great, aren’t they?”
“Definitely.” He opened the bottle, passing it to her. She put ice in her glass before pouring herself a double.
“Do you have to pay for this?”
“Nope.” She tilted her head.
“Where did you meet this friend?”
“College.”
“What do you have on him?” Greg laughed heartily, pouring himself a single scotch on the rocks.
“Nothing.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep.”
“Wow.” She sipped her drink. “I wish I had friends like that.”
“Maybe you just need to make better ones.”
“Right. We both know how much people adore me.” She took a long drink from her glass before sighing. He watched her intently, sipping his own drink. “Am I your science project?” she asked after a moment.
“Huh?” he replied, confused.
“You keep staring at me.”
“Oh. Well, uh, I was, uh…”
“Wondering what makes me tick.”
“Something like that.” She finished her glass and poured herself another.
“I’ve never met my biological father,” she began. He arched his eyebrows at her confession. “I’m not using that as an excuse or anything. I’m just making a blanket, beginning statement. My mother used to tell me the reason I’d never met my father was because he was an ass and left. My stepfather used to tell me it was because no one really wanted me. I’ve come to realize, though, that he probably doesn’t even know I exist, if he’s still alive. Because what father would just up and abandon their daughter like that? Although my mom could be right, but that’s neither here nor there.
“I lived with my mom growing up, and she got married to Fred when I was five or so,” she continued. “After their marriage, I was sent off to boarding school in Italy, where I lived for about ten or so months each year. Made a lot of close friends that I still have to this day.” She chuckled, and he continued to watch her. “I missed my mom a lot, though. Hated Fred.” He nodded as she shook her head. “He was the one who initiated the boarding school thing. Mom didn’t even seem to care.”
“I’m sure she cared,” Greg said softly. Mia shrugged, taking a drink.
“She did, when he wasn’t around. He hated me, though, so when he was around, I didn’t exist. I was an only child, and as far as I know, I still am, biologically speaking. But otherwise… well, I’ll get to that later. Fred was impotent, so he and Mom weren’t having kids, and Fred was really okay with that. Guess he hated the idea of parenthood. But anyway, I can’t say Italy was all bad. Every weekend, we’d travel somewhere on the continent. We’d spend Saturday nights in that place, and we learned to pick up the languages after a couple visits. That’s how I became fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese. I was already fluent in English.”
“Wow.”
“I speak France’s French, Spain’s Spanish, Portugal’s Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese. And there’s a pretty big difference.”
“I know.”
“Right. Anyway, when I was eight, I got word of a phone call from a Lieutenant Steve Sloan, saying that my mom and stepfather were killed in a car accident. I was sent home from school pretty quickly, and two CSIs picked me up from the airport. He doesn’t remember it now, but I remember Grissom and his partner, Kelly, picked me up. They stayed with me until the social worker brought me into foster care. I stayed in the system for ten years. Had twenty foster siblings in that time in eighteen different homes. The last place I was in, I was there for two years. The woman was so amazing. And I still kept in touch with my friends from boarding school. But in the homes and in L.A., I was having trouble.
“I wasn’t always like this,” she continued after taking a drink. “I was a good kid, very friendly and cheerful, loved everyone. And then I got to public school, and was picked on, pushed around, stepped on, beat up. I toughened up. I entered high school and wasn’t bad like this. In fact, I was really naïve. The first guy I was with…” She paused, taking a long drink. He sipped his, thinking of all the potential ways this could go, and none of them were good. “The first guy I was with took advantage of that. He convinced me to do things that I normally wouldn’t have, but I didn’t know any better. I just wanted to make him happy, so I did whatever it took, even if it made me uncomfortable. After we broke up, I realized that he was actually abusing me like that. I vowed never to let my guard down like that again. I’d never let anyone take advantage of me again.
“That vow was broken one night in college,” Mia said. Greg stayed where he was as she half-drunkenly pulled her knees to her chest. “I was a freshman in a sorority, and we were having a social with one of the fraternities. I ended up getting drugged and raped.” She fell silent for a moment, resting her chin on her knees. He reached his hand out to her gently, and she took it.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s in the past. But after that, I knew I couldn’t continue in that sorority and at that college, so I transferred into another one. And I became… well, a lot like this. I still had some humanity, more than I do now, but I was pretty much like this. I’ve been told by my friends that maybe if I had gotten better help or whatever, I wouldn’t be this bad. She shrugged, taking a drink. “Doesn’t matter now, though.”
“What do you mean, you wouldn’t be this bad?” She sighed.
“I go out of my way sometimes to make people hate me. Like Nick.”
“Why do you want Nick to hate you?”
“Nick was in a fraternity. I don’t care that it was years ago, and I don’t care how much he’s changed. I don’t want him to like me, because if he likes me, he might hurt me. I’ve been kicked around so many times you’d think I was a fucking soccer ball at the World Cup. I couldn’t take it any more, so I turned myself into this hardened bitch before you.”
“You can change.” She shook her head.
“Greg, honey, there’s no hope anymore. It’s too late, and too much has happened.”
“Mia, it’s never too late.”
“Yeah, it kinda is.”
“You’re 26. You have a lot of your life left. You can change if you try and if you have the right support base around you. Maybe your friends are right. Maybe if you did have some help, you’d better move on. It’s something that can be changed, though, Mia. It’s not too late.” She sighed.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” He nodded.
“I respect that.” She squeezed his hand gently, still holding onto it from earlier. He moved next to her, pulling her gently against his chest. She hugged him tightly, the alcohol and conversation making her actually clingy. He held her gently, and she felt tears sting her eyes as Greg held onto her. Her breath grew shaky as she thought of all the things she had confessed to him. The tears began to fall, and he held her closer, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. He soothed her softly, rubbing her back as she calmed down.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. He shook his head.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about,” he told her. “It’s okay. You’re human.” She chuckled bitterly.
“Right.” She stayed in his arms, closing her eyes gently and breathing in his scent. He continued to rub small, soft circles into her back, soothing her. “Greg?” she asked softly.
“Yes?” he replied, just as soft.
“Two things. One, don’t ever mention this to anyone, and two, I don’t feel too good.” He chuckled.
“Glad you have your priorities straight. You have my word, and how do you feel? Nauseous? Dizzy?”
“Nauseous and tired. And dizzy.” He nodded.
“Okay. Let’s get you up and in bed, okay?” She nodded slowly, leaning against him somewhat as he lead her into her bedroom. She lay down on the bed, and he sat beside her. She pulled her shoes off as he handed her pajamas to her, causing her to shoot him a dirty look.
“Am I supposed to change with you in the room?” she asked. His eyes went wide with shock, because it was something he never thought of.
“Absolutely not,” he told her, standing. She chuckled, shaking her head.
“I’m kidding, Sanders.” She pulled her pants on under her skirt and put the shirt on over her dress before unzipping herself and pulling off her dress. He watched in amazement, causing her to chuckle. “I learned a lot in high school.”
“Uh, huh.” She curled up in the bed, and Greg sat down beside her again. Both of them mildly intoxicated, she grabbed his hand and pulled him down beside her. He took off his jacket and shoes, and she wrapped her arms around him, putting her head on his chest.
“I’m not sure why I’m doing this, but I feel like…”
“It’s okay,” Greg interrupted. “I understand without you trying to explain it.” She nodded, snuggling closer. “It’s the alcohol. Makes you open. Then you talk, and you feel vulnerable, which makes you feel like being held.” She nodded.
“Something like that.” She closed her eyes. “Hey, Greg?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She kept her eyes closed, yawning as she started to grow tired.
“Do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Make the world stop spinning.” He sighed, growing nervous that she’d over done it.
“I can’t do that. Are you really feeling that bad?”
“No, but it’s fun to freak you out.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. But, seriously, do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t move.” He smiled.
“I was hoping you’d say that, because I don’t know how well I’d do trying to make it back to the other room.” She chuckled softly, yawning again. He yawned, pulling her closer. Within minutes, the two of them were fast asleep.
Yeah, she definitely confuses a lot of people... as well as aggravates them. :lol:
This chapter's a little longer... a lot happens in it lol. Also, this is kind of a rough chapter... discusses Mia's past and includes mentions of violence, sexual assault, and other things. Ryan Wolfe also makes a cameo in this chapter. Danny Messer and Lieutenant Steve Sloan (from Diagnosis Murder) get a mention... lol So, enjoy.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 8: Drunken Heart-to-Hearts in Santa Monica
After dinner, Mia and Greg stood around at cocktail hour, mingling with other members of their profession. She was in her usual form, Greg realized, as she held her fourth glass of champagne in her right hand while her left hand held her pocket book. Greg’s hands were in his jacket pocket before he took them out to readjust his tie as he chatted amicably with his colleagues. Mia rolled her eyes before handing Greg her glass as she continued talking, fixing Greg’s tie for him. She took her glass back as he smiled. “Thanks,” he said softly.
“Don’t mention it,” she replied, finishing her glass and readjusting her deep purple, low cut, floor length, sleeveless dress with rhinestone trim. Easily, she was the hit of the party, getting a lot of requests to ‘swap DNA’ and other cheesy pick up lines. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, the curls she put in bouncing gently. Greg smiled inwardly, gazing at her beauty as he talked quietly with those around him. Her phone rang, snapping him out of his daze. She excused herself quietly before stepping away a bit. “Salvatori,” she answered. She listened for a moment, and Greg watched as she grew agitated and walked away.
“What’s her deal?” Ryan Wolfe, a CSI for Miami-Dade County, asked.
“Damned if I know,” Greg replied, watching her.
“She’s a piece of work, huh?” Greg shrugged, still watching her.
“She’s good with victims.”
“She’s a bitch. How can she be good with victims?”
“She has some humanity. You don’t know her, Ryan.”
“Yeah, I don’t, but I don’t exactly want to, either.” Greg shrugged again, still watching her.
“Your loss, man.”
*~*~*~*
“Salvatori,” Mia answered.
“Hey baby,” Hodges replied. Mia clenched her fists and started to walk away. “Missing me yet?”
“No, and I never will.”
“Oh, now that’s harsh.”
“You deserve it, you jackass.”
“Babe, the only thing I ever did was love you.”
“You never loved me, you jerk.”
“I did too. I never meant to hurt you, Mia.”
“Yeah, right. Like I believe that. Go to hell, David.”
“After all I did for you, all I gave you, you treat me like this?”
“David, the only thing you ever gave me was a hard time and a pain in the ass. I thought I already made this clear to you. I don’t want to see or talk to you outside of work, ever. And at work, the best you can hope for is civility. Nothing more, ever. Understand now?”
“No. I don’t get why you hate me.”
“You know what you did.”
“I’ve tried apologizing, and you either blow me off or don’t accept it. Why?”
“Because you don’t get it. You want a second chance with me, but you don’t understand that we can’t just go back. You can’t just apologize and go back.”
“But I love you.” She scoffed.
“You hurt me, David. And actually, to you, love is a lie that gets people to fall into bed with you so you can fulfill your sexual quota. And then when you’re done, you dump them either for someone else or just to be a miserable ass. You only care about yourself and your own interest. You only love yourself.”
“I do not.”
“You do too! And honestly, I can see why you would have to love yourself- because no one else will!”
“Hmm, sounds like you.”
“Not really. I don’t use people for my own personal gain like you do. And… you know what? I’m done with this conversation. It’s a waste of my time and breath.”
“What? We’re not-” She hung up, stalking back toward Greg in fury.
“Here,” she groaned loudly, handing him her phone. He fumbled with it in his hands for a minute, almost dropping it on the floor.
“What do I want this for?” he asked, annoyed. Ryan shot him a ‘better you than me’ look as he smiled.
“I want you to fucking hold it for me, dumbass. That way there, if I get another phone call, I won’t have to answer it. I don’t care who’s calling me, I’m not answering it.” Greg nodded, seeing past her anger to the underlying disturbance. He tucked her phone into his pocket before gently reaching out and grabbing her bare arm.
“You okay?” His voice was gentle and soft, causing her to sigh.
“Not really.” Her honesty surprised both of them, and she quickly chalked it up to the champagne earlier. He nodded.
“You wanna leave?” She looked around for a moment before nodding. He put his arm gently around her waist, silently apologizing to Ryan as he left. Ryan shrugged, walking away to find Danny Messer, a CSI from New York.
*~*~*~*
Greg opened the door to their suite for Mia as she remained silent, cursing herself for being weak in front of him. She found that tonight, she couldn’t help herself. She was buzzed, and would probably be doing and saying a lot of things she’d regret later. She sat on the couch, and Greg sat on the chair opposite her, grabbing the room service menu and looking at her. Shrugging, she figured that if she were going to be open, she’d need to be more drunk than she already was. “Let’s get drunk,” she told him. He nodded.
“What do you like?” he asked, his voice still gentle. She figured if she wasn’t so rattled by the constant annoyance that was David Hodges, she’d be angered by his tone.
“Scotch, gin, vodka. Anything hard.” He smirked, and she shook her head. “Die, pervert.”
“Sorry, became a teenager again for a moment. Mixers?”
“If you’re getting vodka, get orange juice. If gin or scotch, nothing.”
“Alright. Anything to eat?”
“Doesn’t matter.” He nodded, ordering scotch and mozzarella sticks as she moved to sit at her computer. She opened her email and groaned as Greg hung up. “I need my phone back,” she growled at him.
“Why?” he asked softly.
“Because I need to chew David a new one.”
“Who?” She sighed.
“Hodges. Sorry.”
“Why?”
“Because he won’t leave me alone! He keeps calling me, emailing me, just generally bugging the hell out of me! He even showed up at my door one night.”
“Why?” She looked over at him angrily. “He’s usually not so obsessive without a reason.”
“Him and I have a history.”
“Ah.” She furrowed her brows.
“And just what is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Just, everything between the two of you makes so much more sense.” She sighed, calming a bit.
“He won’t just let it go.”
“Have you?” She looked at him like he had five heads.
“What?” Room service arrived at the door, and Greg stood up.
“Have you let it go?” She was silent as he took care of the man at the door, taking the time to think about his question.
“They have bottles of scotch on room service?” she asked, deciding to ignore it as Greg closed the door.
“My friend’s family owns the place,” he explained, sitting back in the chair as she moved to the couch again. “I get what I want.”
“Connections are great, aren’t they?”
“Definitely.” He opened the bottle, passing it to her. She put ice in her glass before pouring herself a double.
“Do you have to pay for this?”
“Nope.” She tilted her head.
“Where did you meet this friend?”
“College.”
“What do you have on him?” Greg laughed heartily, pouring himself a single scotch on the rocks.
“Nothing.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep.”
“Wow.” She sipped her drink. “I wish I had friends like that.”
“Maybe you just need to make better ones.”
“Right. We both know how much people adore me.” She took a long drink from her glass before sighing. He watched her intently, sipping his own drink. “Am I your science project?” she asked after a moment.
“Huh?” he replied, confused.
“You keep staring at me.”
“Oh. Well, uh, I was, uh…”
“Wondering what makes me tick.”
“Something like that.” She finished her glass and poured herself another.
“I’ve never met my biological father,” she began. He arched his eyebrows at her confession. “I’m not using that as an excuse or anything. I’m just making a blanket, beginning statement. My mother used to tell me the reason I’d never met my father was because he was an ass and left. My stepfather used to tell me it was because no one really wanted me. I’ve come to realize, though, that he probably doesn’t even know I exist, if he’s still alive. Because what father would just up and abandon their daughter like that? Although my mom could be right, but that’s neither here nor there.
“I lived with my mom growing up, and she got married to Fred when I was five or so,” she continued. “After their marriage, I was sent off to boarding school in Italy, where I lived for about ten or so months each year. Made a lot of close friends that I still have to this day.” She chuckled, and he continued to watch her. “I missed my mom a lot, though. Hated Fred.” He nodded as she shook her head. “He was the one who initiated the boarding school thing. Mom didn’t even seem to care.”
“I’m sure she cared,” Greg said softly. Mia shrugged, taking a drink.
“She did, when he wasn’t around. He hated me, though, so when he was around, I didn’t exist. I was an only child, and as far as I know, I still am, biologically speaking. But otherwise… well, I’ll get to that later. Fred was impotent, so he and Mom weren’t having kids, and Fred was really okay with that. Guess he hated the idea of parenthood. But anyway, I can’t say Italy was all bad. Every weekend, we’d travel somewhere on the continent. We’d spend Saturday nights in that place, and we learned to pick up the languages after a couple visits. That’s how I became fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese. I was already fluent in English.”
“Wow.”
“I speak France’s French, Spain’s Spanish, Portugal’s Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese. And there’s a pretty big difference.”
“I know.”
“Right. Anyway, when I was eight, I got word of a phone call from a Lieutenant Steve Sloan, saying that my mom and stepfather were killed in a car accident. I was sent home from school pretty quickly, and two CSIs picked me up from the airport. He doesn’t remember it now, but I remember Grissom and his partner, Kelly, picked me up. They stayed with me until the social worker brought me into foster care. I stayed in the system for ten years. Had twenty foster siblings in that time in eighteen different homes. The last place I was in, I was there for two years. The woman was so amazing. And I still kept in touch with my friends from boarding school. But in the homes and in L.A., I was having trouble.
“I wasn’t always like this,” she continued after taking a drink. “I was a good kid, very friendly and cheerful, loved everyone. And then I got to public school, and was picked on, pushed around, stepped on, beat up. I toughened up. I entered high school and wasn’t bad like this. In fact, I was really naïve. The first guy I was with…” She paused, taking a long drink. He sipped his, thinking of all the potential ways this could go, and none of them were good. “The first guy I was with took advantage of that. He convinced me to do things that I normally wouldn’t have, but I didn’t know any better. I just wanted to make him happy, so I did whatever it took, even if it made me uncomfortable. After we broke up, I realized that he was actually abusing me like that. I vowed never to let my guard down like that again. I’d never let anyone take advantage of me again.
“That vow was broken one night in college,” Mia said. Greg stayed where he was as she half-drunkenly pulled her knees to her chest. “I was a freshman in a sorority, and we were having a social with one of the fraternities. I ended up getting drugged and raped.” She fell silent for a moment, resting her chin on her knees. He reached his hand out to her gently, and she took it.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s in the past. But after that, I knew I couldn’t continue in that sorority and at that college, so I transferred into another one. And I became… well, a lot like this. I still had some humanity, more than I do now, but I was pretty much like this. I’ve been told by my friends that maybe if I had gotten better help or whatever, I wouldn’t be this bad. She shrugged, taking a drink. “Doesn’t matter now, though.”
“What do you mean, you wouldn’t be this bad?” She sighed.
“I go out of my way sometimes to make people hate me. Like Nick.”
“Why do you want Nick to hate you?”
“Nick was in a fraternity. I don’t care that it was years ago, and I don’t care how much he’s changed. I don’t want him to like me, because if he likes me, he might hurt me. I’ve been kicked around so many times you’d think I was a fucking soccer ball at the World Cup. I couldn’t take it any more, so I turned myself into this hardened bitch before you.”
“You can change.” She shook her head.
“Greg, honey, there’s no hope anymore. It’s too late, and too much has happened.”
“Mia, it’s never too late.”
“Yeah, it kinda is.”
“You’re 26. You have a lot of your life left. You can change if you try and if you have the right support base around you. Maybe your friends are right. Maybe if you did have some help, you’d better move on. It’s something that can be changed, though, Mia. It’s not too late.” She sighed.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” He nodded.
“I respect that.” She squeezed his hand gently, still holding onto it from earlier. He moved next to her, pulling her gently against his chest. She hugged him tightly, the alcohol and conversation making her actually clingy. He held her gently, and she felt tears sting her eyes as Greg held onto her. Her breath grew shaky as she thought of all the things she had confessed to him. The tears began to fall, and he held her closer, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. He soothed her softly, rubbing her back as she calmed down.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. He shook his head.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about,” he told her. “It’s okay. You’re human.” She chuckled bitterly.
“Right.” She stayed in his arms, closing her eyes gently and breathing in his scent. He continued to rub small, soft circles into her back, soothing her. “Greg?” she asked softly.
“Yes?” he replied, just as soft.
“Two things. One, don’t ever mention this to anyone, and two, I don’t feel too good.” He chuckled.
“Glad you have your priorities straight. You have my word, and how do you feel? Nauseous? Dizzy?”
“Nauseous and tired. And dizzy.” He nodded.
“Okay. Let’s get you up and in bed, okay?” She nodded slowly, leaning against him somewhat as he lead her into her bedroom. She lay down on the bed, and he sat beside her. She pulled her shoes off as he handed her pajamas to her, causing her to shoot him a dirty look.
“Am I supposed to change with you in the room?” she asked. His eyes went wide with shock, because it was something he never thought of.
“Absolutely not,” he told her, standing. She chuckled, shaking her head.
“I’m kidding, Sanders.” She pulled her pants on under her skirt and put the shirt on over her dress before unzipping herself and pulling off her dress. He watched in amazement, causing her to chuckle. “I learned a lot in high school.”
“Uh, huh.” She curled up in the bed, and Greg sat down beside her again. Both of them mildly intoxicated, she grabbed his hand and pulled him down beside her. He took off his jacket and shoes, and she wrapped her arms around him, putting her head on his chest.
“I’m not sure why I’m doing this, but I feel like…”
“It’s okay,” Greg interrupted. “I understand without you trying to explain it.” She nodded, snuggling closer. “It’s the alcohol. Makes you open. Then you talk, and you feel vulnerable, which makes you feel like being held.” She nodded.
“Something like that.” She closed her eyes. “Hey, Greg?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She kept her eyes closed, yawning as she started to grow tired.
“Do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Make the world stop spinning.” He sighed, growing nervous that she’d over done it.
“I can’t do that. Are you really feeling that bad?”
“No, but it’s fun to freak you out.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. But, seriously, do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t move.” He smiled.
“I was hoping you’d say that, because I don’t know how well I’d do trying to make it back to the other room.” She chuckled softly, yawning again. He yawned, pulling her closer. Within minutes, the two of them were fast asleep.
Wow, that girl has been through the ringer. I like the end of the chapter though. Kinda sweet how she opens up to only Greg.
racefh853629
Pathologist
Yeah, she has, and that's part of what makes her who she is. And pretty much Greg is the only one that can get through to her at all... hahaha. Glad you like it.
So, the next chapter introduces a former LVPD CSI as well as one of Mia's foster siblings and his family. Enjoy.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 9: The Morning After
The pounding of her head woke Mia up around 7:30, and she groaned in pain. She opened her eyes slowly before realizing she was in bed, with Greg. A split second moment of panic ensued before she realized that she was still dressed, and so was he. So what was he doing in bed with her? As she pondered that thought, she remembered the previous night of drinking and talking. Did she really tell him all that? She felt herself pale as she worked out of his arms and into the bathroom, vomiting her regret of last night’s activities.
*~*~*~*
Greg woke up after Mia forced herself out of his arms, rushing into the bathroom. He paused, realizing that he had spent the night in her bed, with her, in a moment of vulnerability for her. He knew she’d be intolerable today after she remembered what she said the night before. He was still mildly reeling from the information she had given him, thinking and wondering how she’d made it through all that. And yet, part of him felt that she still had more to say. She never even touched upon why hearing her own first name threw her into a crazy fit.
He stood up, hearing her vomit in the bathroom. He wanted to go and hold her hair back and take care of her, but he also knew that if he tried, she’d probably try to kick him in the nuts. He walked over anyway, deciding he’d rather risk it than spend the day awkwardly ignoring one another. Which was probably going to happen anyway, according to his mind’s eye. He knocked softly on the doorjamb, causing her to look his way. “You okay?” he asked softly. She sighed.
“I’m fine,” she snapped, taking a few deep breaths. He nodded, standing awkwardly.
“Well, uh, I’m gonna go take a shower and get dressed,” he said. She nodded, watching him as he walked out to fulfill his tasks.
*~*~*~*
He walked into his room of the suite, stripping and stepping into the shower. He felt the water rush down over him, warming him from the awkward tension between him and Mia. Today was going to be interesting, at this rate. He took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. Things were going to be tense and awkward, and inwardly, he hoped they’d be able to talk or move away from that. Instinct told him, though, that this would be as far as he’d get with it. He shook his head, choosing to think of something else. Something to relax him while he was in the shower.
*~*~*~*
She grabbed her things and a towel, walking back into the bathroom. She stripped down and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run over her. She shuddered, hoping that her regrets about last night would wash down the drain with the water. She felt physically sick for having let Greg in like that, which was something she couldn’t understand. Greg was a great guy who was the only person she worked with that seemed to actually give a shit about her. So why did it make her sick to have actually told him about her life?
It wasn’t like he knew everything, she reasoned with herself. There was still a good portion that she hadn’t told him. She could feel easier knowing that. But it was weird, now that he knew something. Now that he had something to stand on with her. She sighed, rubbing her hands over her shoulders under the water. She felt awkward, exposed in front of him. Like he knew way too much, without knowing much at all. She sighed, hugging herself under the water. Today was going to be awkward as hell.
*~*~*~*
They met up in the common room, both dressed professionally for the day’s lectures with their ID badges clipped to them. They looked at one another, neither sure what to say at this point. Greg finally tucked his phone into his pocket before turning to her. “Ready?” he asked softly, afraid to speak louder.
“Yeah,” she replied, her voice carrying more chill than normal. Greg sighed, not saying anything about her tone as he walked out of the room with her. They reached the lobby with their colleagues, and the two of them split up from each other. Ryan noticed this and pulled Greg aside.
“Dude, what did you do last night?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?” Greg replied, confused.
“Did you sleep with her or something? Because she’s hating you right now.”
“Okay, Ryan, let’s be honest here. You don’t even know her, or me. I didn’t sleep with her, and she doesn’t hate me.”
“That’s why she made her way away from you as fast as she could, because she doesn’t hate you. That makes a lot of sense.”
“She doesn’t hate me.” She hates herself, and she’s taking it out on me, he added to himself silently. Ryan shrugged.
“Whatever, dude. I’m gonna go find Danny.” Ryan walked away, and Greg looked over at Mia as she talked with Karalynne James, a CSI from Madison. She was talking animatedly, and he could only guess that she was arguing about something with Karalynne, probably about some case or politics. Those were her two favorite topics. Jason Simpleton, a CSI from Raleigh, patted Greg on the shoulder.
“You got it bad for her, huh?” he asked, looking at the younger man. Greg shook his head.
“Jay, if you knew her, you wouldn’t even ask,” he replied.
“So, you do, but she’s a pain in the ass, huh?” Greg laughed.
“I don’t have it bad for her, but she is a pain in the ass.”
“Good to know. I heard about your CSIs, Sidle and Keppler. You work with them?” Greg sighed, knowing that this was coming.
“I worked with Sara for years. Keppler was here only a couple weeks, though. He was supposed to be on Days, but our supervisor took a sabbatical, so he was with us.”
“I’m really sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“Who you guys got now?”
“Ecklie’s our AD.”
“Oh, great.” Greg laughed at Jason’s sarcasm.
“Exactly. Grissom’s head of nights, Catherine's a co-supervisor, and Nick, Warrick, Mia, and I hold down the shift.”
“Mia? As in Salvatori? I thought she was in LA.”
“She came to Vegas to replace Keppler on days, and then became nights after Sara died.” Jason nodded.
“How’s that working out for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve heard a lot about her.” Greg chuckled, shaking his head.
“Well, you can’t believe all that you hear.”
“Right. Well, how’s it going out there?”
“You really miss us that much, don’t you?”
“Yeah, kind of. Except I don’t miss Ecklie. I can’t believe that hack is AD of the lab now.”
“Join the club. You’ve been gone what, eight years now?” Jason nodded. “Damn. Now I almost feel old.”
“Kid, you’re what, 30 now?” Jason asked.
“32,” Greg replied.
“Oh, excuse me. 32. You still have a long way to go before you can start to feel old, my friend.” Greg laughed.
“Yeah, I know. So how’s supervising Raleigh going for you?”
*~*~*~*
Mia sat down in the auditorium, closing her eyes tiredly. Her headache was growing worse, and she was growing more aggravated with everyone else at the conference. She felt two hands rest on her shoulders and start massaging them. “Hey, Amelia,” a soothing, deep voice said. She smiled.
“Brian,” she said, turning her head. He kissed her temple.
“How are you, dear?”
“I’m okay. How about you?”
“I’m great. How’s Vegas treating you?” She laughed.
“Annoying as anywhere else. You still in L.A.?”
“Yep, and I’m lovin’ it. Selina sends her best.”
“I send them back. How’s Antony?”
“He’s wonderful.” Greg walked over, sitting down next to her quietly.
“That’s great. Greg, this is Brian Andrews. He’s one of by brothers. Brian, this is Greg Sanders, one of my colleagues.”
“Nice to meet you,” Brian said, shaking Greg’s hand.
“Likewise,” Greg replied.
“Oh, hey, Amelia, I didn’t tell you yet. Selina’s pregnant again.”
“Really?” Mia asked. “That’s great. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Brian replied.
“Did you tell Antony yet?”
“He’s only a year old, but I think he understands.” She smiled.
“That’s great.” She turned to Greg. “Antony’s their first son,” she explained. He nodded, smiling.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“Thanks,” Brian replied, still massaging Mia’s shoulders. She rolled her neck gently, and he kept massaging her neck and shoulders. “You’re really tense. Are you hung over?” She laughed.
“Definitely,” she told him.
“Who’d you get drunk with last night?”
“Him.” She gestured at Greg, who felt a pang of nerves hit him. Brian nodded.
“What’d you guys do?”
“Talk.”
“Ah. Now I get it.”
“Get what?”
“Why you’ve been avoiding him all day. Yesterday, the two of you were inseparable, mingling as a united force for Las Vegas. Today, you came down together, but darted away from each other the second you had a chance. So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you’re making his life awkward.”
“You might be right,” she said, glancing at Greg. Greg didn’t react, looking ahead at the stage.
“Give the boy a chance.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“But neither do you, my dear. He’s not gonna hurt you, use the knowledge against you, or anything else your twisted mind comes up with.”
“How do you know?”
“He’s a CSI, and a cop. Our lives are built around secrecy.” She looked at him, chuckling.
“You don’t know that.” Greg looked over for a second, and Mia caught his eye, giving him a small smile. He returned it as the lecturer began the program for them.
So, the next chapter introduces a former LVPD CSI as well as one of Mia's foster siblings and his family. Enjoy.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 9: The Morning After
The pounding of her head woke Mia up around 7:30, and she groaned in pain. She opened her eyes slowly before realizing she was in bed, with Greg. A split second moment of panic ensued before she realized that she was still dressed, and so was he. So what was he doing in bed with her? As she pondered that thought, she remembered the previous night of drinking and talking. Did she really tell him all that? She felt herself pale as she worked out of his arms and into the bathroom, vomiting her regret of last night’s activities.
*~*~*~*
Greg woke up after Mia forced herself out of his arms, rushing into the bathroom. He paused, realizing that he had spent the night in her bed, with her, in a moment of vulnerability for her. He knew she’d be intolerable today after she remembered what she said the night before. He was still mildly reeling from the information she had given him, thinking and wondering how she’d made it through all that. And yet, part of him felt that she still had more to say. She never even touched upon why hearing her own first name threw her into a crazy fit.
He stood up, hearing her vomit in the bathroom. He wanted to go and hold her hair back and take care of her, but he also knew that if he tried, she’d probably try to kick him in the nuts. He walked over anyway, deciding he’d rather risk it than spend the day awkwardly ignoring one another. Which was probably going to happen anyway, according to his mind’s eye. He knocked softly on the doorjamb, causing her to look his way. “You okay?” he asked softly. She sighed.
“I’m fine,” she snapped, taking a few deep breaths. He nodded, standing awkwardly.
“Well, uh, I’m gonna go take a shower and get dressed,” he said. She nodded, watching him as he walked out to fulfill his tasks.
*~*~*~*
He walked into his room of the suite, stripping and stepping into the shower. He felt the water rush down over him, warming him from the awkward tension between him and Mia. Today was going to be interesting, at this rate. He took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. Things were going to be tense and awkward, and inwardly, he hoped they’d be able to talk or move away from that. Instinct told him, though, that this would be as far as he’d get with it. He shook his head, choosing to think of something else. Something to relax him while he was in the shower.
*~*~*~*
She grabbed her things and a towel, walking back into the bathroom. She stripped down and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run over her. She shuddered, hoping that her regrets about last night would wash down the drain with the water. She felt physically sick for having let Greg in like that, which was something she couldn’t understand. Greg was a great guy who was the only person she worked with that seemed to actually give a shit about her. So why did it make her sick to have actually told him about her life?
It wasn’t like he knew everything, she reasoned with herself. There was still a good portion that she hadn’t told him. She could feel easier knowing that. But it was weird, now that he knew something. Now that he had something to stand on with her. She sighed, rubbing her hands over her shoulders under the water. She felt awkward, exposed in front of him. Like he knew way too much, without knowing much at all. She sighed, hugging herself under the water. Today was going to be awkward as hell.
*~*~*~*
They met up in the common room, both dressed professionally for the day’s lectures with their ID badges clipped to them. They looked at one another, neither sure what to say at this point. Greg finally tucked his phone into his pocket before turning to her. “Ready?” he asked softly, afraid to speak louder.
“Yeah,” she replied, her voice carrying more chill than normal. Greg sighed, not saying anything about her tone as he walked out of the room with her. They reached the lobby with their colleagues, and the two of them split up from each other. Ryan noticed this and pulled Greg aside.
“Dude, what did you do last night?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?” Greg replied, confused.
“Did you sleep with her or something? Because she’s hating you right now.”
“Okay, Ryan, let’s be honest here. You don’t even know her, or me. I didn’t sleep with her, and she doesn’t hate me.”
“That’s why she made her way away from you as fast as she could, because she doesn’t hate you. That makes a lot of sense.”
“She doesn’t hate me.” She hates herself, and she’s taking it out on me, he added to himself silently. Ryan shrugged.
“Whatever, dude. I’m gonna go find Danny.” Ryan walked away, and Greg looked over at Mia as she talked with Karalynne James, a CSI from Madison. She was talking animatedly, and he could only guess that she was arguing about something with Karalynne, probably about some case or politics. Those were her two favorite topics. Jason Simpleton, a CSI from Raleigh, patted Greg on the shoulder.
“You got it bad for her, huh?” he asked, looking at the younger man. Greg shook his head.
“Jay, if you knew her, you wouldn’t even ask,” he replied.
“So, you do, but she’s a pain in the ass, huh?” Greg laughed.
“I don’t have it bad for her, but she is a pain in the ass.”
“Good to know. I heard about your CSIs, Sidle and Keppler. You work with them?” Greg sighed, knowing that this was coming.
“I worked with Sara for years. Keppler was here only a couple weeks, though. He was supposed to be on Days, but our supervisor took a sabbatical, so he was with us.”
“I’m really sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“Who you guys got now?”
“Ecklie’s our AD.”
“Oh, great.” Greg laughed at Jason’s sarcasm.
“Exactly. Grissom’s head of nights, Catherine's a co-supervisor, and Nick, Warrick, Mia, and I hold down the shift.”
“Mia? As in Salvatori? I thought she was in LA.”
“She came to Vegas to replace Keppler on days, and then became nights after Sara died.” Jason nodded.
“How’s that working out for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve heard a lot about her.” Greg chuckled, shaking his head.
“Well, you can’t believe all that you hear.”
“Right. Well, how’s it going out there?”
“You really miss us that much, don’t you?”
“Yeah, kind of. Except I don’t miss Ecklie. I can’t believe that hack is AD of the lab now.”
“Join the club. You’ve been gone what, eight years now?” Jason nodded. “Damn. Now I almost feel old.”
“Kid, you’re what, 30 now?” Jason asked.
“32,” Greg replied.
“Oh, excuse me. 32. You still have a long way to go before you can start to feel old, my friend.” Greg laughed.
“Yeah, I know. So how’s supervising Raleigh going for you?”
*~*~*~*
Mia sat down in the auditorium, closing her eyes tiredly. Her headache was growing worse, and she was growing more aggravated with everyone else at the conference. She felt two hands rest on her shoulders and start massaging them. “Hey, Amelia,” a soothing, deep voice said. She smiled.
“Brian,” she said, turning her head. He kissed her temple.
“How are you, dear?”
“I’m okay. How about you?”
“I’m great. How’s Vegas treating you?” She laughed.
“Annoying as anywhere else. You still in L.A.?”
“Yep, and I’m lovin’ it. Selina sends her best.”
“I send them back. How’s Antony?”
“He’s wonderful.” Greg walked over, sitting down next to her quietly.
“That’s great. Greg, this is Brian Andrews. He’s one of by brothers. Brian, this is Greg Sanders, one of my colleagues.”
“Nice to meet you,” Brian said, shaking Greg’s hand.
“Likewise,” Greg replied.
“Oh, hey, Amelia, I didn’t tell you yet. Selina’s pregnant again.”
“Really?” Mia asked. “That’s great. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Brian replied.
“Did you tell Antony yet?”
“He’s only a year old, but I think he understands.” She smiled.
“That’s great.” She turned to Greg. “Antony’s their first son,” she explained. He nodded, smiling.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“Thanks,” Brian replied, still massaging Mia’s shoulders. She rolled her neck gently, and he kept massaging her neck and shoulders. “You’re really tense. Are you hung over?” She laughed.
“Definitely,” she told him.
“Who’d you get drunk with last night?”
“Him.” She gestured at Greg, who felt a pang of nerves hit him. Brian nodded.
“What’d you guys do?”
“Talk.”
“Ah. Now I get it.”
“Get what?”
“Why you’ve been avoiding him all day. Yesterday, the two of you were inseparable, mingling as a united force for Las Vegas. Today, you came down together, but darted away from each other the second you had a chance. So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you’re making his life awkward.”
“You might be right,” she said, glancing at Greg. Greg didn’t react, looking ahead at the stage.
“Give the boy a chance.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“But neither do you, my dear. He’s not gonna hurt you, use the knowledge against you, or anything else your twisted mind comes up with.”
“How do you know?”
“He’s a CSI, and a cop. Our lives are built around secrecy.” She looked at him, chuckling.
“You don’t know that.” Greg looked over for a second, and Mia caught his eye, giving him a small smile. He returned it as the lecturer began the program for them.
Wow, Mia was super nice to her brother. :lol: If Nick had been there he'd probably be shocked that she actually knew how to be nice. hehe. I'm sure Greg already knew that though.
good chapter.
good chapter.
racefh853629
Pathologist
Yeah... Mia kinda only likes certain people... and Nick would definitely be shocked! hahaha
Thanks. Here's the next one!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 10: Back to Vegas
Greg walked into the break room, finding Nick waiting for him. “So, how was the conference?” he asked, intrigued. Greg shrugged.
“It was fine,” he said calmly. Nick arched his eyebrows.
“Fine?”
“Yeah. The presentations were either really good or really shitty, but that’s most conferences. Made some good networking. Hung out with Ryan from Miami, Brian from L.A., Danny from New York, Jay Simpleton, and some other CSIs. Food wasn’t bad, but it’s my friend’s hotel.”
“Right. How was Mia?” Greg shrugged.
“She was alright.”
“Well, you’re alive, so that’s a good thing. She gonna be in tonight, or did you kill her?”
“She’ll be in.” Nick nodded, still not understanding.
“So you had a decent time with her on a trip? Locked in a room with her for three nights and four days?”
“Yeah.” Nick shook his head.
“I don’t believe it.”
“Believe what you will.” Mia walked in, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“Hey there, Fat Ass,” she snapped at Nick. Greg chuckled.
“Hey Mia,” Nick droned, nodding at Greg and leaving the room. Greg watched him before looking at Mia, who was smirking.
“As long as that annoys him, I’ll keep doing that.”
“You’re mean,” Greg said, shaking his head with a smile.
“Oh, I know,” she replied, grinning. “But I hate him.”
“You do not. You hate what he used to be.” She shrugged.
“You’re probably right. You’re probably definitely right. But I just don’t give a shit.” He laughed, shaking his head again.
“You’re mean.”
“Again, I know.” He smiled softly. “You enjoy it. I’m saying things that you may think, but don’t have the balls to say. So you enjoy my mean streak.”
“Nick’s not fat.” She shrugged.
“Depends on your definition. He’s got some pudge and chubby cheeks. That’s not fat, that’s chunky, but I’m trying to inspire him to lose weight.”
“I’m not sure he really cares about what you think.”
“Really? Why do you think it annoys him what I say? Why do you think that he flips out on me? He values my opinion, my thoughts, my presence, even though he says otherwise. Because if he didn’t give a shit, he wouldn’t yell at me when I did something potentially dangerous or stupid.”
“Why do you do things like that?” Warrick walked in, and Mia shook her head.
“We’ll talk later. How’s it goin’, Warrick?” Warrick looked at her, almost taken aback by her question.
“It’s alright. You?”
“Fine.” Warrick glanced at Greg with his eyebrows arched. Greg shrugged. “He didn’t do anything in Santa Monica that made me change. And I haven’t changed. So don’t even think about that.”
“Sorry. You just seemed more happy and cheerful today.”
“Well, I’m in a decent mood for the start.” Hodges walked into the break room, and Mia groaned. “Well, I was in a decent mood.”
“I haven’t even said anything to you, Cat, so why don’t you shut up?” he snapped. She groaned.
“You just did,” she growled.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Kitty.”
“Keep going. See what happens.”
“Catalina, I don’t quite understand.”
“I’m going to fucking punch you in the face.”
“Why’s that, Katie?”
“Because I hate that name.”
“Oh really, Kate?”
“Say one more variation, and I’m going to kick your fucking ass.”
“Play nice, Lina.” She punched him in the face, catching Warrick and Greg slightly off-guard. Even though she had threatened it, they never thought she’d actually hit him. She punched him again before Greg pulled her off.
“I hate you, David Michael Hodges. Go die and rot in a hole far the hell away from me.”
“You testy little bitch! Keep your temper in check.” Nick and Catherine ran into the break room, having heard commotion coming from the room. Mia struggled against Greg, who held her tighter.
“Ignore him,” he whispered softly to her. She rolled her eyes.
“He’s baiting me!” she yelled at him, fighting him.
“Mia, don’t make me inadvertently hurt you right now. Take it easy.” She sighed softly.
“I’m okay.”
“Yeah, just a second with your little sex buddy and you’re all good,” Hodges snapped. “You slut.” She fought against Greg, trying to go after him.
“I’m not sleeping with Greg!” she shouted.
“Right. That’s why after you’re little California excursion with him, you came back all relaxed. We should get attendance records from the sessions. Make sure you guys actually went.”
“Hodges, if I were you, I’d shut up,” Greg warned.
“Oh, what are you gonna do?” he asked.
“I’ll let her go. I have no doubts about her ability to kill you.”
“Of course you don’t. Can’t doubt the one you’re having sex with every night.”
“You’re jealous,” Nick said. Hodges laughed.
“Jealous of what?” he asked.
“She actually has some level of caring for Greg. She completely hates you.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Stokes, she isn’t exactly fond of you either.”
“Yeah, but I don’t care. You do.”
“I don’t care who she wastes her time with.”
“Right,” Mia snapped. “That’s why you showed up at my door one night, you keep emailing me constantly, and you called me out in Santa Monica, because you don’t care.”
“I didn’t say that I didn’t care,” Hodges said as Grissom walked in to find Greg holding Mia back and Hodges’s face bruised and bleeding.
“You’re an obsessive stalker!”
“I’m not obsessive, or stalking you. I don’t watch you sleep or anything.”
“Oh, thank God for small miracles. Do me a favor and leave me the hell alone.”
“What’s going on here?” Grissom asked, causing the six in the room to snap their attention to him.
“Good question,” Warrick replied, looking at Mia and Hodges.
“She punched me,” Hodges said, angrily.
“You deserved it!” Mia replied. “I’d hit you again if I could, but Sanders won’t let go of me.”
“You don’t want him to. You slut!” She fought against Greg’s hold suddenly, causing Greg to almost let her go. Nick stood in front of her, blocking her path to Hodges.
“Mia, as much as I’d want you to beat the smug jackass to a pulp, think for a minute,” Nick said. “Is he really worth potentially getting fired?”
“Yes!” she screamed. Nick put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him squarely in the eye.
“Is he really worth it?” he asked again, softer than before. She sighed.
“Maybe not, but I’m not dealing with this crap any more! This is ridiculous!” Grissom groaned.
“Hodges, to your lab,” he ordered. “Mia, to my office.” Hodges smirked, as if to say ‘ha-ha, you’re in trouble.’ Mia lunged at him, falling more into Nick than anything. “Now, Hodges!” Hodges left the break room, smiling. After he was gone, Nick moved out of Mia’s way, and Greg walked with her down to Grissom’s office, determined to stop her if she even made a move for the Trace lab. She sighed softly, looking at him.
“I’m sorry,” she told Greg quietly.
“About what?” he asked.
“You having to hold me back. Me losing my temper. Take your pick.”
“Why do you let him get under your skin like that?”
“I don’t know, Greg. If I did… yeah, I still wouldn’t tell you. But seriously, that jackass just has a way of pissing me off.”
“His bloody nose can attest to that.”
“I did get him pretty good, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. And I’m not going to lie and say he didn’t have it coming, because he did, but I don’t understand the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’.”
“That makes two of us.” Greg shook his head, knowing she was lying to him. She knew why she couldn’t not fight with him, but she wasn’t about to tell him. She entered Grissom’s office, and Greg stood in the doorway, waiting and guarding while Grissom visited with Hodges. Mia rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to babysit,” she snapped.
“Sure I do,” Greg replied, looking at her. “The second I leave you alone here, you’re going to leave and go beat the crap out of Hodges.”
“What does it matter? I’m going to be suspended anyway. And then Ecklie’s gonna make sure I get fired. Maybe this time I’ll relocate to Miami and piss off Ryan Wolfe. He just got re-instated out there anyway. He’d be a good mentor or something.”
“You’re not going to get fired.”
“I noticed you didn’t say I wasn’t going to get suspended.”
“That’s going to depend on how much you tell Grissom. If I were you, I’d tell him everything about what happened between the two of you.”
“You don’t even know what happened.”
“And right now, I’m not the one that needs to. You wanna stay here? You better talk. Otherwise, he’s going to agree with Ecklie.” She sighed.
“Maybe that’s not a bad idea,” she said softly. “Get away from him.”
“You can work with him,” Greg reminded her.
“Not right now. And he has seniority over me.”
“Sweetie, you just did something that ninety percent of the lab has been dying to do for the past five years, okay? Think about that. Grissom included. Hell, even Ecklie included. But you gotta explain where it came from.”
“I can’t believe you’re counseling me on this.”
“Well, someone’s gotta help you save your own ass.” She chuckled.
“But you?”
“If you’re gonna be picky, I’m gonna kick your ass.”
“No you wouldn’t.” He shrugged as Grissom walked in.
“Good luck.” Greg left the office, closing the door behind him. Mia sighed, looking at Grissom in front of her.
“How much trouble am I in?” she asked softly. He sighed.
“You’re looking at a minimum of two weeks suspension, unpaid,” he told her. She nodded. “You could get fired for this, Mia. What were you thinking?”
“He and I have a history.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I was in L.A., so was he. We dated, had a relationship. We worked together in the lab, sort of. I was a kid and I was in love and completely stupid. I fell so hard for him.” She fell silent for a moment, shaking her head. Grissom watched with intense curiosity. “One night, I came home after a tough day, and he was bothering me about how I hadn’t answered when he called earlier, even though he knew I was working. We got into the huge fight because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him and he was just generally pissy. And things got worse and worse and…” She clenched her fists tightly. “He hit me.” She was pissed off at recalling it, and Grissom inwardly flinched at her story. “And I left him. Shortly after that, he was forced to leave the crime lab. And ever since I got here and started working nights with him, he won’t leave me alone. He stalks me, he’s obsessive, and he just generally won’t leave me alone. I think this time he may have gotten the message that I don’t want to deal with him.” She shrugged.
“I would say I’m sorry,” she continued, “but I’m not at all. If you ask me, I should’ve hit him the night he showed up at my house, unannounced. Instead, I let him in and gave him something to wear. God, that was stupid.”
“When was that?” Grissom asked.
“I don’t know, the night Greg and Brass had quality bonding over scotch in his office. He wants to just go back to where we were before, but I can’t. Ever. And he doesn’t understand that, so he keeps harassing me and I’m getting sick of it. And now he’s calling me a slut and saying I’m sleeping with Greg, which couldn’t be further from the truth, but he doesn’t hear it and doesn’t give a shit. We were doing fine working together until he showed up at my house. I don’t know anymore. Maybe you should let me go or transfer me. He was here first.”
“No.”
“Fire me?”
“I’m not going to do that. You’re the victim here, Mia. Unfortunately, I still have to suspend you for two weeks. But beyond that, we’re going to work with this situation to where both you and Hodges are satisfied.”
“I will work civilly with him. I’ve been doing that. I don’t want him to contact me outside of work, though. Can that happen?”
“We can try.” She nodded.
“Okay. I guess I should probably go then, huh?” Grissom didn’t react. “Right. Well, I’ll see you in two weeks.” He nodded, watching her walk out of his office. She remained calm and collected for a while until she ran into Greg in the locker room.
“How’d it go?” he asked softly, leaning against the locker. She sighed.
“I’m suspended for two weeks,” she told him. “Beyond that, I don’t know what Grissom’s gonna do.” Greg sighed, stepping closer to her as Hodges snuck into the doorway.
“It’ll be okay.” She shrugged.
“I don’t care anymore, Greg. Whether I’m here or not. It might be better if I leave.”
“Why?” He put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them gently. Hodges groaned.
“Because then I wouldn’t have to worry.”
“What are you worried about?”
“You guys know too much. Well, you know too much. Grissom doesn’t really know anything.” Greg nodded, rubbing her shoulders still. Hodges shook his head, leaving the doorway. Mia looked over her shoulder at Greg before shrugging. “Oh, well. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
“I thought we were doing dinner tomorrow night?” She nodded.
“Right. I forgot. Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Take care.” She nodded again, walking out of the locker room and leaving Greg to slouch onto the bench.
Thanks. Here's the next one!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 10: Back to Vegas
Greg walked into the break room, finding Nick waiting for him. “So, how was the conference?” he asked, intrigued. Greg shrugged.
“It was fine,” he said calmly. Nick arched his eyebrows.
“Fine?”
“Yeah. The presentations were either really good or really shitty, but that’s most conferences. Made some good networking. Hung out with Ryan from Miami, Brian from L.A., Danny from New York, Jay Simpleton, and some other CSIs. Food wasn’t bad, but it’s my friend’s hotel.”
“Right. How was Mia?” Greg shrugged.
“She was alright.”
“Well, you’re alive, so that’s a good thing. She gonna be in tonight, or did you kill her?”
“She’ll be in.” Nick nodded, still not understanding.
“So you had a decent time with her on a trip? Locked in a room with her for three nights and four days?”
“Yeah.” Nick shook his head.
“I don’t believe it.”
“Believe what you will.” Mia walked in, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“Hey there, Fat Ass,” she snapped at Nick. Greg chuckled.
“Hey Mia,” Nick droned, nodding at Greg and leaving the room. Greg watched him before looking at Mia, who was smirking.
“As long as that annoys him, I’ll keep doing that.”
“You’re mean,” Greg said, shaking his head with a smile.
“Oh, I know,” she replied, grinning. “But I hate him.”
“You do not. You hate what he used to be.” She shrugged.
“You’re probably right. You’re probably definitely right. But I just don’t give a shit.” He laughed, shaking his head again.
“You’re mean.”
“Again, I know.” He smiled softly. “You enjoy it. I’m saying things that you may think, but don’t have the balls to say. So you enjoy my mean streak.”
“Nick’s not fat.” She shrugged.
“Depends on your definition. He’s got some pudge and chubby cheeks. That’s not fat, that’s chunky, but I’m trying to inspire him to lose weight.”
“I’m not sure he really cares about what you think.”
“Really? Why do you think it annoys him what I say? Why do you think that he flips out on me? He values my opinion, my thoughts, my presence, even though he says otherwise. Because if he didn’t give a shit, he wouldn’t yell at me when I did something potentially dangerous or stupid.”
“Why do you do things like that?” Warrick walked in, and Mia shook her head.
“We’ll talk later. How’s it goin’, Warrick?” Warrick looked at her, almost taken aback by her question.
“It’s alright. You?”
“Fine.” Warrick glanced at Greg with his eyebrows arched. Greg shrugged. “He didn’t do anything in Santa Monica that made me change. And I haven’t changed. So don’t even think about that.”
“Sorry. You just seemed more happy and cheerful today.”
“Well, I’m in a decent mood for the start.” Hodges walked into the break room, and Mia groaned. “Well, I was in a decent mood.”
“I haven’t even said anything to you, Cat, so why don’t you shut up?” he snapped. She groaned.
“You just did,” she growled.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Kitty.”
“Keep going. See what happens.”
“Catalina, I don’t quite understand.”
“I’m going to fucking punch you in the face.”
“Why’s that, Katie?”
“Because I hate that name.”
“Oh really, Kate?”
“Say one more variation, and I’m going to kick your fucking ass.”
“Play nice, Lina.” She punched him in the face, catching Warrick and Greg slightly off-guard. Even though she had threatened it, they never thought she’d actually hit him. She punched him again before Greg pulled her off.
“I hate you, David Michael Hodges. Go die and rot in a hole far the hell away from me.”
“You testy little bitch! Keep your temper in check.” Nick and Catherine ran into the break room, having heard commotion coming from the room. Mia struggled against Greg, who held her tighter.
“Ignore him,” he whispered softly to her. She rolled her eyes.
“He’s baiting me!” she yelled at him, fighting him.
“Mia, don’t make me inadvertently hurt you right now. Take it easy.” She sighed softly.
“I’m okay.”
“Yeah, just a second with your little sex buddy and you’re all good,” Hodges snapped. “You slut.” She fought against Greg, trying to go after him.
“I’m not sleeping with Greg!” she shouted.
“Right. That’s why after you’re little California excursion with him, you came back all relaxed. We should get attendance records from the sessions. Make sure you guys actually went.”
“Hodges, if I were you, I’d shut up,” Greg warned.
“Oh, what are you gonna do?” he asked.
“I’ll let her go. I have no doubts about her ability to kill you.”
“Of course you don’t. Can’t doubt the one you’re having sex with every night.”
“You’re jealous,” Nick said. Hodges laughed.
“Jealous of what?” he asked.
“She actually has some level of caring for Greg. She completely hates you.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Stokes, she isn’t exactly fond of you either.”
“Yeah, but I don’t care. You do.”
“I don’t care who she wastes her time with.”
“Right,” Mia snapped. “That’s why you showed up at my door one night, you keep emailing me constantly, and you called me out in Santa Monica, because you don’t care.”
“I didn’t say that I didn’t care,” Hodges said as Grissom walked in to find Greg holding Mia back and Hodges’s face bruised and bleeding.
“You’re an obsessive stalker!”
“I’m not obsessive, or stalking you. I don’t watch you sleep or anything.”
“Oh, thank God for small miracles. Do me a favor and leave me the hell alone.”
“What’s going on here?” Grissom asked, causing the six in the room to snap their attention to him.
“Good question,” Warrick replied, looking at Mia and Hodges.
“She punched me,” Hodges said, angrily.
“You deserved it!” Mia replied. “I’d hit you again if I could, but Sanders won’t let go of me.”
“You don’t want him to. You slut!” She fought against Greg’s hold suddenly, causing Greg to almost let her go. Nick stood in front of her, blocking her path to Hodges.
“Mia, as much as I’d want you to beat the smug jackass to a pulp, think for a minute,” Nick said. “Is he really worth potentially getting fired?”
“Yes!” she screamed. Nick put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him squarely in the eye.
“Is he really worth it?” he asked again, softer than before. She sighed.
“Maybe not, but I’m not dealing with this crap any more! This is ridiculous!” Grissom groaned.
“Hodges, to your lab,” he ordered. “Mia, to my office.” Hodges smirked, as if to say ‘ha-ha, you’re in trouble.’ Mia lunged at him, falling more into Nick than anything. “Now, Hodges!” Hodges left the break room, smiling. After he was gone, Nick moved out of Mia’s way, and Greg walked with her down to Grissom’s office, determined to stop her if she even made a move for the Trace lab. She sighed softly, looking at him.
“I’m sorry,” she told Greg quietly.
“About what?” he asked.
“You having to hold me back. Me losing my temper. Take your pick.”
“Why do you let him get under your skin like that?”
“I don’t know, Greg. If I did… yeah, I still wouldn’t tell you. But seriously, that jackass just has a way of pissing me off.”
“His bloody nose can attest to that.”
“I did get him pretty good, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. And I’m not going to lie and say he didn’t have it coming, because he did, but I don’t understand the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’.”
“That makes two of us.” Greg shook his head, knowing she was lying to him. She knew why she couldn’t not fight with him, but she wasn’t about to tell him. She entered Grissom’s office, and Greg stood in the doorway, waiting and guarding while Grissom visited with Hodges. Mia rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to babysit,” she snapped.
“Sure I do,” Greg replied, looking at her. “The second I leave you alone here, you’re going to leave and go beat the crap out of Hodges.”
“What does it matter? I’m going to be suspended anyway. And then Ecklie’s gonna make sure I get fired. Maybe this time I’ll relocate to Miami and piss off Ryan Wolfe. He just got re-instated out there anyway. He’d be a good mentor or something.”
“You’re not going to get fired.”
“I noticed you didn’t say I wasn’t going to get suspended.”
“That’s going to depend on how much you tell Grissom. If I were you, I’d tell him everything about what happened between the two of you.”
“You don’t even know what happened.”
“And right now, I’m not the one that needs to. You wanna stay here? You better talk. Otherwise, he’s going to agree with Ecklie.” She sighed.
“Maybe that’s not a bad idea,” she said softly. “Get away from him.”
“You can work with him,” Greg reminded her.
“Not right now. And he has seniority over me.”
“Sweetie, you just did something that ninety percent of the lab has been dying to do for the past five years, okay? Think about that. Grissom included. Hell, even Ecklie included. But you gotta explain where it came from.”
“I can’t believe you’re counseling me on this.”
“Well, someone’s gotta help you save your own ass.” She chuckled.
“But you?”
“If you’re gonna be picky, I’m gonna kick your ass.”
“No you wouldn’t.” He shrugged as Grissom walked in.
“Good luck.” Greg left the office, closing the door behind him. Mia sighed, looking at Grissom in front of her.
“How much trouble am I in?” she asked softly. He sighed.
“You’re looking at a minimum of two weeks suspension, unpaid,” he told her. She nodded. “You could get fired for this, Mia. What were you thinking?”
“He and I have a history.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I was in L.A., so was he. We dated, had a relationship. We worked together in the lab, sort of. I was a kid and I was in love and completely stupid. I fell so hard for him.” She fell silent for a moment, shaking her head. Grissom watched with intense curiosity. “One night, I came home after a tough day, and he was bothering me about how I hadn’t answered when he called earlier, even though he knew I was working. We got into the huge fight because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him and he was just generally pissy. And things got worse and worse and…” She clenched her fists tightly. “He hit me.” She was pissed off at recalling it, and Grissom inwardly flinched at her story. “And I left him. Shortly after that, he was forced to leave the crime lab. And ever since I got here and started working nights with him, he won’t leave me alone. He stalks me, he’s obsessive, and he just generally won’t leave me alone. I think this time he may have gotten the message that I don’t want to deal with him.” She shrugged.
“I would say I’m sorry,” she continued, “but I’m not at all. If you ask me, I should’ve hit him the night he showed up at my house, unannounced. Instead, I let him in and gave him something to wear. God, that was stupid.”
“When was that?” Grissom asked.
“I don’t know, the night Greg and Brass had quality bonding over scotch in his office. He wants to just go back to where we were before, but I can’t. Ever. And he doesn’t understand that, so he keeps harassing me and I’m getting sick of it. And now he’s calling me a slut and saying I’m sleeping with Greg, which couldn’t be further from the truth, but he doesn’t hear it and doesn’t give a shit. We were doing fine working together until he showed up at my house. I don’t know anymore. Maybe you should let me go or transfer me. He was here first.”
“No.”
“Fire me?”
“I’m not going to do that. You’re the victim here, Mia. Unfortunately, I still have to suspend you for two weeks. But beyond that, we’re going to work with this situation to where both you and Hodges are satisfied.”
“I will work civilly with him. I’ve been doing that. I don’t want him to contact me outside of work, though. Can that happen?”
“We can try.” She nodded.
“Okay. I guess I should probably go then, huh?” Grissom didn’t react. “Right. Well, I’ll see you in two weeks.” He nodded, watching her walk out of his office. She remained calm and collected for a while until she ran into Greg in the locker room.
“How’d it go?” he asked softly, leaning against the locker. She sighed.
“I’m suspended for two weeks,” she told him. “Beyond that, I don’t know what Grissom’s gonna do.” Greg sighed, stepping closer to her as Hodges snuck into the doorway.
“It’ll be okay.” She shrugged.
“I don’t care anymore, Greg. Whether I’m here or not. It might be better if I leave.”
“Why?” He put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them gently. Hodges groaned.
“Because then I wouldn’t have to worry.”
“What are you worried about?”
“You guys know too much. Well, you know too much. Grissom doesn’t really know anything.” Greg nodded, rubbing her shoulders still. Hodges shook his head, leaving the doorway. Mia looked over her shoulder at Greg before shrugging. “Oh, well. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
“I thought we were doing dinner tomorrow night?” She nodded.
“Right. I forgot. Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Take care.” She nodded again, walking out of the locker room and leaving Greg to slouch onto the bench.
I agree that she should've punched him a long time ago. :lol: Hodges is actually coming close to "crazy psycho stalker" here. :lol: I like the way Greg can calm Mia down though.
racefh853629
Pathologist
:lol: Yes, yes he is. >:]
Glad you like it. Here's the next chapter (only four left!).
*~*~*~*
Chapter 11: A Lesson in Stalking and Assuming
Hodges crept up to Mia’s living room window, glancing through the curtains. He knew it was illegal what he was doing, but he had to know. Did she really hate him? Was she really with Greg? She would be returning to work the next night, which meant that he had to get to the bottom of this before she got there. He sighed, looking at Greg’s car in her driveway as he hid in her bushes. Greg was always there.
“You know something?” she asked softly.
“What’s that?” Greg replied, looking at her. He was sitting on the couch, holding a glass of wine in his hand. She was sitting next to him, holding a glass as well with her bare feet on the coffee table.
“You know a lot more about my past than I know about yours.”
“Well, what do you want to know?” She bit the inside of her lip.
“What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made so far?” He arched his eyebrows.
“So many choices.”
“We’ve got all night.”
“Well, I think hitting Demitrius was a big mistake.”
“Even if he was going to kill you?” He shrugged.
“I don’t know that he was actually going to kill me. And if he had tried, then I could’ve done something.”
“Until the gang comes back, and then you’re dead.” He shrugged.
“Back up was on the way, and they would’ve left, just like they did. Doesn’t matter, because what’s done is done.”
“You don’t believe that,” she said, watching his face. “The more you think about it, the more you hate yourself for what you did.” He shrugged.
“I have that right, don’t I?”
“Greg, the man was a killer. Even if he wasn’t, he was up on assault charges, conspiracy after the fact, and other stuff. He was a criminal, and he would’ve killed you. And then we wouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe Sara still would,” he whispered. Mia tilted her head.
“What do you mean?” She put her hand on his shoulder, and he sighed.
“I was the one in the helicopter. I was the one looking down. And I couldn’t find her. I failed, and now she’s dead.” Mia sighed.
“Greg, sweetie, it’s been three months.”
“Sweetie?” Hodges whispered to himself. “She’s calling him ‘sweetie’?”
“-you told anyone else about this?” she continued. Greg shook his head. “Why not?”
“Who am I going to tell?” he asked. “The therapist doesn’t care, and how would I explain to the team that I failed?”
“You didn’t fail, Greg. You did the best you could. There’s only so much you can do.” He shrugged.
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter now.” She frowned, rubbing his shoulder gently as Hodges gagged outside.
“They’ve gotta be together,” Hodges whispered. “She wouldn’t care if they weren’t.”
“Anything else you wanna get off your chest?” she asked, looking at Greg. He sighed.
“What else do you want to know?” he replied, looking at her.
“What was your childhood like?”
“Being tied to my mother’s apron.” She chuckled.
“Seriously?”
“Yep. See, my mom had always wanted four kids. Instead, she only got one. Just me. She vowed to never let anything happen to me so long as she could help it. If I got a nosebleed, she’d take me to the ER.”
“So that’s why you’re so quirky and gentle with the ladies.” He chuckled.
“I guess.”
“It’s not a bad thing, you know.”
“No?”
“Makes you more of a gentleman.” He smiled, and Hodges had to protect himself from throwing up in the bush.
“Thanks.” Greg’s face was pink, and Hodges groaned.
“You can’t have always been this happy, everything’s great, right? I mean, there had to be something that was a problem for you. No one’s life is that perfect.” Greg shrugged.
“No, but it hasn’t been that bad. My mom’s parents are still alive, but my dad’s parents died before I was born, so I never met them. I was a geek, so all the popular kids picked me on in school. Until they all realized that I’m funnier and cooler than they would ever be while also being really smart, and then they all wanted to hang out with me.”
“How many relationships have you had?”
“Define relationship. I kissed a girl on the cheek in kindergarten.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“We were married by first grade.” She laughed.
“Seriously, Greg.”
“Are you talking dating or just having sex?”
“Either or.”
“Dating… I’ve had four long-term girlfriends. Just having sex, I’ve had six.”
“When’d you lose your virginity?”
“22.” She nodded. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Relationships, that stuff. Answer the questions you asked me.” She sighed.
“I’ve had five boyfriends, no just-sex relationships.” He nodded, picking up on the fact that she wasn’t about to continue.
“Ever been close to getting married?”
“No. You?”
“Once.” She grinned.
“You’re not talking about the playground wedding, right?” He laughed.
“No, I’m not,” he told her. “I was in college, and I had been dating this girl for a while, so I asked her to marry me. She said no and broke up with me, so I killed her.”
“Wait, what?” Mia asked. Greg laughed again.
“Kidding. I didn’t kill her.”
“I was gonna say, I thought you only killed one person in your life.”
“Ouch.” She shrugged, smiling.
“Hey, you wouldn’t be with me if you didn’t like getting cut.” Hodges groaned dismally outside. She admitted it. They’re together. He stalked away, walking to his car. She was with Greg now. He had lost the war to Sanders, of all people. He sighed painfully, driving away from her house as he formulated his plan. Because there was nothing left to do now.
Glad you like it. Here's the next chapter (only four left!).
*~*~*~*
Chapter 11: A Lesson in Stalking and Assuming
Hodges crept up to Mia’s living room window, glancing through the curtains. He knew it was illegal what he was doing, but he had to know. Did she really hate him? Was she really with Greg? She would be returning to work the next night, which meant that he had to get to the bottom of this before she got there. He sighed, looking at Greg’s car in her driveway as he hid in her bushes. Greg was always there.
“You know something?” she asked softly.
“What’s that?” Greg replied, looking at her. He was sitting on the couch, holding a glass of wine in his hand. She was sitting next to him, holding a glass as well with her bare feet on the coffee table.
“You know a lot more about my past than I know about yours.”
“Well, what do you want to know?” She bit the inside of her lip.
“What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made so far?” He arched his eyebrows.
“So many choices.”
“We’ve got all night.”
“Well, I think hitting Demitrius was a big mistake.”
“Even if he was going to kill you?” He shrugged.
“I don’t know that he was actually going to kill me. And if he had tried, then I could’ve done something.”
“Until the gang comes back, and then you’re dead.” He shrugged.
“Back up was on the way, and they would’ve left, just like they did. Doesn’t matter, because what’s done is done.”
“You don’t believe that,” she said, watching his face. “The more you think about it, the more you hate yourself for what you did.” He shrugged.
“I have that right, don’t I?”
“Greg, the man was a killer. Even if he wasn’t, he was up on assault charges, conspiracy after the fact, and other stuff. He was a criminal, and he would’ve killed you. And then we wouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe Sara still would,” he whispered. Mia tilted her head.
“What do you mean?” She put her hand on his shoulder, and he sighed.
“I was the one in the helicopter. I was the one looking down. And I couldn’t find her. I failed, and now she’s dead.” Mia sighed.
“Greg, sweetie, it’s been three months.”
“Sweetie?” Hodges whispered to himself. “She’s calling him ‘sweetie’?”
“-you told anyone else about this?” she continued. Greg shook his head. “Why not?”
“Who am I going to tell?” he asked. “The therapist doesn’t care, and how would I explain to the team that I failed?”
“You didn’t fail, Greg. You did the best you could. There’s only so much you can do.” He shrugged.
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter now.” She frowned, rubbing his shoulder gently as Hodges gagged outside.
“They’ve gotta be together,” Hodges whispered. “She wouldn’t care if they weren’t.”
“Anything else you wanna get off your chest?” she asked, looking at Greg. He sighed.
“What else do you want to know?” he replied, looking at her.
“What was your childhood like?”
“Being tied to my mother’s apron.” She chuckled.
“Seriously?”
“Yep. See, my mom had always wanted four kids. Instead, she only got one. Just me. She vowed to never let anything happen to me so long as she could help it. If I got a nosebleed, she’d take me to the ER.”
“So that’s why you’re so quirky and gentle with the ladies.” He chuckled.
“I guess.”
“It’s not a bad thing, you know.”
“No?”
“Makes you more of a gentleman.” He smiled, and Hodges had to protect himself from throwing up in the bush.
“Thanks.” Greg’s face was pink, and Hodges groaned.
“You can’t have always been this happy, everything’s great, right? I mean, there had to be something that was a problem for you. No one’s life is that perfect.” Greg shrugged.
“No, but it hasn’t been that bad. My mom’s parents are still alive, but my dad’s parents died before I was born, so I never met them. I was a geek, so all the popular kids picked me on in school. Until they all realized that I’m funnier and cooler than they would ever be while also being really smart, and then they all wanted to hang out with me.”
“How many relationships have you had?”
“Define relationship. I kissed a girl on the cheek in kindergarten.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“We were married by first grade.” She laughed.
“Seriously, Greg.”
“Are you talking dating or just having sex?”
“Either or.”
“Dating… I’ve had four long-term girlfriends. Just having sex, I’ve had six.”
“When’d you lose your virginity?”
“22.” She nodded. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Relationships, that stuff. Answer the questions you asked me.” She sighed.
“I’ve had five boyfriends, no just-sex relationships.” He nodded, picking up on the fact that she wasn’t about to continue.
“Ever been close to getting married?”
“No. You?”
“Once.” She grinned.
“You’re not talking about the playground wedding, right?” He laughed.
“No, I’m not,” he told her. “I was in college, and I had been dating this girl for a while, so I asked her to marry me. She said no and broke up with me, so I killed her.”
“Wait, what?” Mia asked. Greg laughed again.
“Kidding. I didn’t kill her.”
“I was gonna say, I thought you only killed one person in your life.”
“Ouch.” She shrugged, smiling.
“Hey, you wouldn’t be with me if you didn’t like getting cut.” Hodges groaned dismally outside. She admitted it. They’re together. He stalked away, walking to his car. She was with Greg now. He had lost the war to Sanders, of all people. He sighed painfully, driving away from her house as he formulated his plan. Because there was nothing left to do now.
Well, Hodges... you know what they say about assuming. :lol:
good chapter. I hope Hodges will not annoy Mia into punching him again. :lol:
good chapter. I hope Hodges will not annoy Mia into punching him again. :lol:
racefh853629
Pathologist
Yeah, his assumptions... well, not going there.
Thanks! Here's the next chapter!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 12: Off Suspension and On Rough Times
Mia sighed, taking off her jacket and putting it into her locker. Greg walked up behind her, rubbing her shoulders gently. “It’ll be okay,” he whispered to her. She rolled her eyes.
“I’m fine,” she told him curtly. He grinned.
“I know. You’ll be great tonight.”
“I always am.” She grabbed something out of her locker as Greg patted her shoulders, walking away. She left the lockers, walking into the break room. Nick looked up from his cup of coffee.
“So, you’re back,” he said dryly.
“Yep,” she replied. “I didn’t get fired.”
“Congratulations.” He turned back to his cup of coffee, and she rolled her eyes. She slid a piece of paper in front of him, causing him to look up. “What’s this?”
“Read it, Dumbass.” She walked over to the fridge as he read the paper in front of him. As she took a sip from her soda, he sharply looked up at her.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“‘Thanks for your help, but I don’t need you to save me. I can handle myself.’ What kind of bullshit is this?”
“Look, I’m glad you were there to help out, okay? But I don’t need a knight in shining armor. You’re always doing that.”
“I’m sorry, I’m protective of my colleagues. You’re the first person to ever really complain about it.” She snorted.
“I’m not complaining.”
“Yes, you are.” She sighed.
“Then it came out wrong.”
“And why are you actually botherin’ to thank me? You never did any other time.”
“Because, I just… felt like I had to say something.”
“Why?” He was defensive, and she was confused, providing an ironic role-reversal in her mind. She sighed.
“I don’t know, dammit. Leave it alone.”
“Fine.” He took a drink from his coffee, and she gulped her soda. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. “You’re welcome.” She nodded. “But dammit, you gotta stop tryin’ to get yourself fired or killed.”
“You sound like an ex-boyfriend of mine,” she said softly.
“Well, if it weren’t true, I wouldn’t be sayin’ it,” he said.
“Well, Fatty McStufferson, if I wanted your advice or words of wisdom, I’d beat it out of you. Until then, don’t offer your shit, okay?” He laughed.
“Whatever, Bitch.” She shook her head, keeping her face angry as she realized that her and Nick had just come to an understanding. Greg walked in, winking at her, which was something that didn’t go unnoticed by Nick. “So, when did you two finally get together?” he asked.
“We’re not,” Mia snapped.
“Not at all?”
“Nope,” Greg said, smiling.
“Not yet, anyway,” Nick muttered, rolling his eyes. Greg and Mia looked at one another before laughing. “You laugh, kids, but you’ll be together soon.”
“Right, because I can actually stand her narcissistic ways.”
“And I can stand his annoying quirks and bad jokes,” Mia droned. Greg looked at her, and the two of them laughed. Nick shook his head as Warrick and Catherine walked in.
“You’re in a good mood,” Catherine commented, glancing at Mia. She rolled her eyes.
“Bite me,” she muttered to her superior.
“I am your superior, and you’re just coming back from suspension. You want to get fired?”
“Maybe. Then I wouldn’t be here with all of you guys.”
“You hate us that much?” Warrick asked. She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t hate anyone,” she said. “I just don’t like how much you guys hate me. The only way the four of you grouped together and got over Sara’s death was by hating me. Hodges is a pain in the ass to me, and you all stand back and let him be one. But when it comes to me punching him in the face, you’re all quick to calm me down. Why is that? Who are you protecting? Me from losing my job or him from being killed by me? Think about that.”
“We don’t hate you.”
“Really? Then explain to me why the only one of you that actually has tried to talk to me on a personal basis is Greg. And don’t even try saying that I was easier on him from the beginning, because I was just as much a bitch to him.”
“Why do we always have to have this fight?” Greg jumped in, causing everyone to look at him. “Every time we start getting into the slightest disagreement, it always turns into a discussion about how everyone here’s against Mia and how she wants to leave but can’t. I don’t understand. I know she doesn’t really want to leave, because she actually does enjoy working here. And you guys know that she’s not as bad as you’re trying to make her feel like she is. So why do we get into this stupid downward spiral of hell? It’s petty and pointless. We spend more time and energy tearing each other apart sometimes than we do actually solving crimes. I’m sick of this. I feel like I’m always the one in the middle between you guys. The three of you gang up against her, she’s against you, and I’m sitting here listening. I’m fucking tired of this. We get into the same stupid fucking fight every five days. Why?”
“Because you’re the only person in here that’s remotely okay with me,” Mia said to Greg softly. Everyone else in the room was speechless. “You’re not asking me to change, like everyone else in this room is or has at some point. You’ve let me be, quirks and moments and all. You talk to me rationally, the same way you just did for all of us, except usually with a little less anger and enthusiasm. No one else ever tries. They all approach me with anger, with annoyance, with their guard up. And they have since before they ever met me personally. So it’s hard for me to sit back and not feel upset and persecuted when almost every interaction I’ve had with any one of you guys from day one has been a defensive one. You guys never wanted me to be in your group, on your team, here. I make Sara’s death real. I make you guys have to move on. And that’s not something you guys want to do. I can’t blame you. Sara was an amazing person, irreplaceable, but you have to understand that I’m not trying to replace her. I’m just trying to exist.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I doubt if any of you guys even care. I’m gonna go find Grissom. Catch you later, Greg.” Greg nodded, and Mia left the room before anyone else spoke.
“Maybe we’d actually try if she wasn’t so bad,” Catherine snapped. “The first thing she ever said to us was a list of things for us to not call her. Come on now. What kind of tone is she expecting here?”
“She’s a decent person when you get to know her,” Greg said. “You just don’t know her.”
“Please, Greg. I doubt she has a decent bone in her body. She’s cruel, and for Christ’s sake, she punched Hodges.”
“Can you honestly tell me that you haven’t ever wanted to punch him?” Catherine didn’t respond, and Greg nodded. “That’s what I thought. She acted on it. You know how annoying he is here? He followed her home. He incessantly called her, emailed her, practically stalked her, and for no reason. And when she’s here, he touches her, he harasses her. Would you put up with that?”
“No,” she said softly.
“She put up with that for about a month and a half before she acted out against him. So don’t bring that against her. Yeah, she’s somewhat difficult, but you guys have approached her with annoyance, anger, and pain. I hurt just as much about Sara as you guys, yet I seem to be the only one willing to actually take a chance.” He sighed, sitting down at the table. The three older CSIs looked at one another before turning back to him.
“I’m sorry,” Warrick said.
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to,” Greg told him, shaking his head. The three looked at one another, silent.
*~*~*~*
Mia knocked on the doorjamb of Grissom’s office, making him look up from his work. “You, uh, wanted to see me when I came in?” she said, leaning against the frame.
“Yeah,” he said. “Come in.” She nodded, walking in and closing the door. “You seem upset.”
“I’m not. Well, not really.”
“Hodges?” She snorted bitterly.
“I wish. More like Catherine, Warrick, and Nick. That’s in descending order.” He sighed, nodding.
“What happened this time?”
“You know, I feel bad for Greg.” Grissom looked at her, confused. “Every time Catherine, Warrick, and Nick gang up against me, he’s thrown in the middle. I hate that for him.”
“You care a lot for Greg, huh?” She shrugged.
“He’s a good kid who’s always been there for me. He’s had my back when most of you guys have brushed me off and hated me. I haven’t been any tougher on you guys than him or vice versa, yet he’s the only one that actually gives a shit.” She shrugged. “I guess I just feel bad for him.”
“Why?”
“What are you, a psychiatrist?” Grissom didn’t answer, and Mia sighed. “Sorry. I don’t know. He’s had a rough year, what with getting his ass kicked, the inquiry, being sued, and then Sara’s death. He’s too good of a person who’s been through a lot. I don’t want him to…” She stopped, looking down. Grissom watched her closely.
“Don’t want him to what?” he asked softly. She looked up at him, shaking her head.
“Nothing,” she said. “Forget about it.” Grissom sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to get anything else out of her on top of that.
“How are you doing?” he changed topics.
“Aside from tonight, I’m okay. I don’t think I’ll be punching out Hodges again any time soon, but what would happen if I did it again?”
“You’d be fired. This was your warning.” She nodded.
“So, what should I do if he’s bothering me again?” Her wording seemed genuine, not angry like usual, but Grissom chalked it up to the fact that she was upset about the earlier incident. Or maybe she was changing. He wasn’t exactly sure.
“Just tell me, and I’ll handle it.” She nodded, sighing. “I know you’re not a fan of sitting back and letting someone else fight your battles, but it’s the way we have to handle this.” She nodded again.
“Anything else we need to go over before I can get back to life?” He chuckled.
“Not really.”
“Okay. Can we get started?” Grissom nodded, standing up with her. They left his office, and he turned to her.
“How were your two weeks?” he asked. She chuckled.
“Boring,” she replied, shaking her head. “But I’d rather be bored like that than harassed by David.” Grissom nodded.
“Understandable.” She turned to him.
“You ever wanted to punch him?” He arched his eyebrows and looked at her.
“No,” he said pointedly. She shook her head, laughing.
“Which means that you did, but you don’t want to tell me that because then it affirms what I did. Am I right?” The look on his face and lack of response agreed with her.
“You love to start stuff, don’t you?” She laughed softly.
“That’s what they all say.” The two walked into the break room to find Greg in the corner, still angry but calming down. Nick, Catherine, and Warrick were sitting at the table, silent, deep in thought.
“Everything okay in here?” Grissom addressed his employees. The three at the table didn’t respond as Greg watched them from the corner.
“We’ll be fine,” the younger man said finally, watching the other three as they nodded in agreement.
“Okay… Well, I have your assignments for the night…”
Thanks! Here's the next chapter!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 12: Off Suspension and On Rough Times
Mia sighed, taking off her jacket and putting it into her locker. Greg walked up behind her, rubbing her shoulders gently. “It’ll be okay,” he whispered to her. She rolled her eyes.
“I’m fine,” she told him curtly. He grinned.
“I know. You’ll be great tonight.”
“I always am.” She grabbed something out of her locker as Greg patted her shoulders, walking away. She left the lockers, walking into the break room. Nick looked up from his cup of coffee.
“So, you’re back,” he said dryly.
“Yep,” she replied. “I didn’t get fired.”
“Congratulations.” He turned back to his cup of coffee, and she rolled her eyes. She slid a piece of paper in front of him, causing him to look up. “What’s this?”
“Read it, Dumbass.” She walked over to the fridge as he read the paper in front of him. As she took a sip from her soda, he sharply looked up at her.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“‘Thanks for your help, but I don’t need you to save me. I can handle myself.’ What kind of bullshit is this?”
“Look, I’m glad you were there to help out, okay? But I don’t need a knight in shining armor. You’re always doing that.”
“I’m sorry, I’m protective of my colleagues. You’re the first person to ever really complain about it.” She snorted.
“I’m not complaining.”
“Yes, you are.” She sighed.
“Then it came out wrong.”
“And why are you actually botherin’ to thank me? You never did any other time.”
“Because, I just… felt like I had to say something.”
“Why?” He was defensive, and she was confused, providing an ironic role-reversal in her mind. She sighed.
“I don’t know, dammit. Leave it alone.”
“Fine.” He took a drink from his coffee, and she gulped her soda. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. “You’re welcome.” She nodded. “But dammit, you gotta stop tryin’ to get yourself fired or killed.”
“You sound like an ex-boyfriend of mine,” she said softly.
“Well, if it weren’t true, I wouldn’t be sayin’ it,” he said.
“Well, Fatty McStufferson, if I wanted your advice or words of wisdom, I’d beat it out of you. Until then, don’t offer your shit, okay?” He laughed.
“Whatever, Bitch.” She shook her head, keeping her face angry as she realized that her and Nick had just come to an understanding. Greg walked in, winking at her, which was something that didn’t go unnoticed by Nick. “So, when did you two finally get together?” he asked.
“We’re not,” Mia snapped.
“Not at all?”
“Nope,” Greg said, smiling.
“Not yet, anyway,” Nick muttered, rolling his eyes. Greg and Mia looked at one another before laughing. “You laugh, kids, but you’ll be together soon.”
“Right, because I can actually stand her narcissistic ways.”
“And I can stand his annoying quirks and bad jokes,” Mia droned. Greg looked at her, and the two of them laughed. Nick shook his head as Warrick and Catherine walked in.
“You’re in a good mood,” Catherine commented, glancing at Mia. She rolled her eyes.
“Bite me,” she muttered to her superior.
“I am your superior, and you’re just coming back from suspension. You want to get fired?”
“Maybe. Then I wouldn’t be here with all of you guys.”
“You hate us that much?” Warrick asked. She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t hate anyone,” she said. “I just don’t like how much you guys hate me. The only way the four of you grouped together and got over Sara’s death was by hating me. Hodges is a pain in the ass to me, and you all stand back and let him be one. But when it comes to me punching him in the face, you’re all quick to calm me down. Why is that? Who are you protecting? Me from losing my job or him from being killed by me? Think about that.”
“We don’t hate you.”
“Really? Then explain to me why the only one of you that actually has tried to talk to me on a personal basis is Greg. And don’t even try saying that I was easier on him from the beginning, because I was just as much a bitch to him.”
“Why do we always have to have this fight?” Greg jumped in, causing everyone to look at him. “Every time we start getting into the slightest disagreement, it always turns into a discussion about how everyone here’s against Mia and how she wants to leave but can’t. I don’t understand. I know she doesn’t really want to leave, because she actually does enjoy working here. And you guys know that she’s not as bad as you’re trying to make her feel like she is. So why do we get into this stupid downward spiral of hell? It’s petty and pointless. We spend more time and energy tearing each other apart sometimes than we do actually solving crimes. I’m sick of this. I feel like I’m always the one in the middle between you guys. The three of you gang up against her, she’s against you, and I’m sitting here listening. I’m fucking tired of this. We get into the same stupid fucking fight every five days. Why?”
“Because you’re the only person in here that’s remotely okay with me,” Mia said to Greg softly. Everyone else in the room was speechless. “You’re not asking me to change, like everyone else in this room is or has at some point. You’ve let me be, quirks and moments and all. You talk to me rationally, the same way you just did for all of us, except usually with a little less anger and enthusiasm. No one else ever tries. They all approach me with anger, with annoyance, with their guard up. And they have since before they ever met me personally. So it’s hard for me to sit back and not feel upset and persecuted when almost every interaction I’ve had with any one of you guys from day one has been a defensive one. You guys never wanted me to be in your group, on your team, here. I make Sara’s death real. I make you guys have to move on. And that’s not something you guys want to do. I can’t blame you. Sara was an amazing person, irreplaceable, but you have to understand that I’m not trying to replace her. I’m just trying to exist.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I doubt if any of you guys even care. I’m gonna go find Grissom. Catch you later, Greg.” Greg nodded, and Mia left the room before anyone else spoke.
“Maybe we’d actually try if she wasn’t so bad,” Catherine snapped. “The first thing she ever said to us was a list of things for us to not call her. Come on now. What kind of tone is she expecting here?”
“She’s a decent person when you get to know her,” Greg said. “You just don’t know her.”
“Please, Greg. I doubt she has a decent bone in her body. She’s cruel, and for Christ’s sake, she punched Hodges.”
“Can you honestly tell me that you haven’t ever wanted to punch him?” Catherine didn’t respond, and Greg nodded. “That’s what I thought. She acted on it. You know how annoying he is here? He followed her home. He incessantly called her, emailed her, practically stalked her, and for no reason. And when she’s here, he touches her, he harasses her. Would you put up with that?”
“No,” she said softly.
“She put up with that for about a month and a half before she acted out against him. So don’t bring that against her. Yeah, she’s somewhat difficult, but you guys have approached her with annoyance, anger, and pain. I hurt just as much about Sara as you guys, yet I seem to be the only one willing to actually take a chance.” He sighed, sitting down at the table. The three older CSIs looked at one another before turning back to him.
“I’m sorry,” Warrick said.
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to,” Greg told him, shaking his head. The three looked at one another, silent.
*~*~*~*
Mia knocked on the doorjamb of Grissom’s office, making him look up from his work. “You, uh, wanted to see me when I came in?” she said, leaning against the frame.
“Yeah,” he said. “Come in.” She nodded, walking in and closing the door. “You seem upset.”
“I’m not. Well, not really.”
“Hodges?” She snorted bitterly.
“I wish. More like Catherine, Warrick, and Nick. That’s in descending order.” He sighed, nodding.
“What happened this time?”
“You know, I feel bad for Greg.” Grissom looked at her, confused. “Every time Catherine, Warrick, and Nick gang up against me, he’s thrown in the middle. I hate that for him.”
“You care a lot for Greg, huh?” She shrugged.
“He’s a good kid who’s always been there for me. He’s had my back when most of you guys have brushed me off and hated me. I haven’t been any tougher on you guys than him or vice versa, yet he’s the only one that actually gives a shit.” She shrugged. “I guess I just feel bad for him.”
“Why?”
“What are you, a psychiatrist?” Grissom didn’t answer, and Mia sighed. “Sorry. I don’t know. He’s had a rough year, what with getting his ass kicked, the inquiry, being sued, and then Sara’s death. He’s too good of a person who’s been through a lot. I don’t want him to…” She stopped, looking down. Grissom watched her closely.
“Don’t want him to what?” he asked softly. She looked up at him, shaking her head.
“Nothing,” she said. “Forget about it.” Grissom sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to get anything else out of her on top of that.
“How are you doing?” he changed topics.
“Aside from tonight, I’m okay. I don’t think I’ll be punching out Hodges again any time soon, but what would happen if I did it again?”
“You’d be fired. This was your warning.” She nodded.
“So, what should I do if he’s bothering me again?” Her wording seemed genuine, not angry like usual, but Grissom chalked it up to the fact that she was upset about the earlier incident. Or maybe she was changing. He wasn’t exactly sure.
“Just tell me, and I’ll handle it.” She nodded, sighing. “I know you’re not a fan of sitting back and letting someone else fight your battles, but it’s the way we have to handle this.” She nodded again.
“Anything else we need to go over before I can get back to life?” He chuckled.
“Not really.”
“Okay. Can we get started?” Grissom nodded, standing up with her. They left his office, and he turned to her.
“How were your two weeks?” he asked. She chuckled.
“Boring,” she replied, shaking her head. “But I’d rather be bored like that than harassed by David.” Grissom nodded.
“Understandable.” She turned to him.
“You ever wanted to punch him?” He arched his eyebrows and looked at her.
“No,” he said pointedly. She shook her head, laughing.
“Which means that you did, but you don’t want to tell me that because then it affirms what I did. Am I right?” The look on his face and lack of response agreed with her.
“You love to start stuff, don’t you?” She laughed softly.
“That’s what they all say.” The two walked into the break room to find Greg in the corner, still angry but calming down. Nick, Catherine, and Warrick were sitting at the table, silent, deep in thought.
“Everything okay in here?” Grissom addressed his employees. The three at the table didn’t respond as Greg watched them from the corner.
“We’ll be fine,” the younger man said finally, watching the other three as they nodded in agreement.
“Okay… Well, I have your assignments for the night…”
Good chapter. With the way her and Nick keep snipping at each other, I have to wonder if one or both likes the other one a little more than they are willing to admit. :lol: I liked Mia's talk with Grissom. Grissom's always so calm... it takes a lot to ruffle his feathers. :lol: And I'm with Mia, I feel bad for poor Greg too. :lol:
racefh853629
Pathologist
:lol: Yeah, Grissom's kind of the calming factor, and it takes a lot to set him off. But, Mia likes Greg a lot more than she likes Nick...
Glad you like it! Here's the next one!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 13: Dinner Out, With a Twist
Greg pulled out her chair, causing Mia to roll her eyes. “Chivalry is dead, old-timer,” she quipped, causing him to laugh. Nevertheless, she sat in the chair, and he helped her push it in.
“I like to sometimes act older than my age,” he said, smiling. She shook her head.
“Rarely more than sometimes.”
“Is this how it’s gonna be? Just picking on each other all night?”
“Isn’t that how it always is?” He shrugged.
“I was thinking an environment change would alter the conversation.”
“Babe, environment doesn’t matter. I woulda thought by now you’d realize that I’ll be argumentative and inappropriate in any forum.”
“True. By the way, Ryan called the other day and asked if you were still a bitch.”
“He’s obsessed. What’d you tell him?”
“That you were worse than before.”
“You liar.” He smiled, and watched as Catherine and Grissom sat down near them. Greg arched his eyebrows, catching Mia’s attention. He nodded over at them, and she looked. “Great,” she sighed. “Exactly who I needed to look at to kill my appetite.”
“What are you talking about? You don’t eat.” She laughed.
“That’s why you brought me to the expensive restaurant, huh?”
“Not really. It’s more because you’ve already been to the diner.” She laughed again.
“That place gets you into a lot of panties, huh?” Greg blushed, inciting Mia’s giggles.
“Shut up.”
“Admit it. You get no ass there.”
“You are crude and blunt, huh?”
“You didn’t already know that?” He shrugged.
“I did, but I didn’t want to think it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I just didn’t.”
“Weirdo.” He shrugged.
“You’re the one going out with me,” he whispered. She smiled.
“Yeah, and you’re the one going out with a whack job head case,” she replied. Greg laughed.
“Guilty as charged.” He glanced over at their coworkers, who were talking quietly. “Do you think they’re talking about us?” She furrowed her eyebrows, looking at him critically.
“Paranoia much?” He chuckled, shrugging.
“Just curious.”
“I doubt they’ve even noticed us, and if they did, Catherine’s probably talking about how you can do so much better than me and about how I’m such a horrible person, and Grissom’s just sitting there because he doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t know what to say.” Greg was silent for a minute, thinking.
“That was a really long sentence.” She shook her head, chuckling. “And now who’s paranoid?”
“Come on. Catherine hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She just strongly dislikes the way you are.”
“Isn’t that kinda the same thing?”
“Not really.”
“How isn’t it?”
“Hating you means there’s no room for improvement. Strongly disliking means there’s a chance for you two to actually have some sort of friendship. She actually strongly disliked Sara at first.” Mia shrugged.
“I don’t doubt that. Do you realize that even though everyone’s quick to say I’m not Sara, they always compare me to her?” Greg furrowed his brow pensively.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s not intentional.”
“It’s okay. She always told me I was kinda like her, just a lot more intense. And I can’t say I don’t agree. But she was a lot nicer, a lot more friendly, smoother around the edges. I’m a bitch. Which is why I can’t understand why you actually care about me.”
“Someone has to,” he joked. She smiled slightly and then shook her head.
“No, Greg,” she said. “Be serious. Why do you like me?”
“Because there’s something about you. I really can’t explain it. You’re mysterious, and you try your damndest to keep everyone at arm’s length, but you still care a lot about people. Especially your friends. You’re willing to die for them if the situation warrants it. You’re not afraid to sacrifice yourself, and I admire that. I wish I had that quality.”
“Says the guy who risked his life and career to save a man. You’re a lot more heroic than you give yourself credit for, Sanders.” He shrugged.
“Doesn’t really matter. I do wish, though, that you sometimes valued your own life as much as everyone else’s. I love that you’re willing to risk it all, but you do it even when you don’t have to.”
“I know,” she said softly. “I’ve always kinda had a death wish. Hard not to when you feel like you don’t have anything left to live for.”
“Why do you feel that way?” An innocent question, she realized, but she shook her head anyway.
“I don’t want to get into that here.” Greg nodded as the waitress walked over.
“Fair enough.” They ordered their food, and Greg watched as Hodges walked in with Henry, Bobby, Mandy, and Wendy. Mia glanced over, paling at the sight of Hodges, but giving Wendy a warm smile. She looked over at Greg, shocked.
“Did everyone suddenly have a desire to eat here?” she asked. He shrugged.
“I don’t know,” he told her honestly. “Do you want to go somewhere else?” She shook her head.
“It’s just a coincidence. Besides, Grissom’s right over there, so Hodges won’t give me any shit.” Greg smiled.
“Yeah. He wouldn’t with me around, either.”
“He would. He’s afraid of Grissom’s disapproval, though.”
“True.” She looked at the lab techs sharing a booth before looking back at Greg. “Do you think they think that we’re on a date?” He shrugged.
“I don’t know. Would it kill you if they did?” She shook her head.
“I don’t care what they think. In fact, I hope Hodges does think we’re on a date. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone and stop trying to get back in my pants.” Greg arched his eyebrows.
“He still bothering you?”
“Not since I punched him, really. But I do think it’s odd that him and the other techs came here for dinner tonight. Usually they all go somewhere else.”
“And you think he had something to do with that?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“How would he know you’re here?”
“I’m pretty sure he’s still stalking me, but I can’t seem to catch him in the act.” Greg shook his head.
“If he’s still stalking you, and I catch him, I’ll kill him.” Mia smiled slightly, chuckling. “What?”
“You trying to be protective is like a mouse not being afraid of a cat running after it.”
“Hey, you’re the one that said I’m pretty heroic.”
“Greg, a squirrel has more muscles than you do.” He sighed, shaking his head and looking around the restaurant. He noted that Hodges was watching them, though he was trying to make it obvious that he wasn’t. Greg took Mia’s hand in his own, and she looked at him curiously before noticing what he was watching. Hodges reacted by draping his arm behind Wendy’s shoulders. Wendy didn’t notice, too engrossed in her conversation with the others at the table.
“He’s definitely still stalking you,” Greg told her softly. Mia shook her head.
“He’s so pathetic that I almost feel a mild bit sorry for him,” she said, matching Greg’s tone.
“You wanna let Grissom know?”
“Later. Now is not the time or place.” Greg nodded, squeezing her hand gently. Hodges leaned toward his dinner mates, trying to make it seem like he wasn’t watching them anymore. Mia shook her head. “I love the fact that he knows he’s busted, yet he’s trying to hide it.”
“Yeah.” Mia looked up at Greg, finding him looking concerned.
“What’s on your mind, Einstein?” He shook his head.
“I don’t know. Nothing in my history tells me I should be worried about Hodges stalking you. He’s not particularly violent, at least that I’ve seen. Yet I can’t shake this feeling that I don’t want him near you.” She smiled slightly.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” she assured him. “I can hold my own.”
“I know you can, but I’m still worried,” Greg said. “Something seems off about this, him. More off than usual. I can’t place my finger on it though.” She shrugged.
“I think that’s your overactive imagination kicking in, with a little help from your paranoia.” Greg chuckled softly.
“You might be right.”
“Dear, I’m always right.” He smiled.
“True.”
“Oh, now you’re trying to get suck up points. You do know those don’t happen with me, right?”
“I believe I already got that memo, but thanks for the reminder.” She smiled.
“You’re smart.”
“Thank you. You’re not bad.” She shook her head.
“You’re lucky I like you, because if I didn’t, I would’ve killed you for that comment.” Greg smiled.
“I know.” He kissed her on the cheek softly as their dinners arrived. The two of them continued to flirt as they ate, enjoying each other’s company.
*~*~*~*
Catherine and Grissom sat at their table, eating and watching their coworkers. “They’re definitely dating,” she told him. He shrugged.
“I think Greg could be good for her,” he told her. Catherine rolled her eyes.
“She’s just going to hurt Greg. That’s all she does.” Grissom didn’t respond. “You know it as well as I do. That’s why you won’t say anything.”
“That’s not why I’m not saying anything,” he said, taking a bite of his steak.
“Come on,” she said. “I asked you out tonight because you need to get out more, and to talk about our coworkers.”
“I can’t tell you anything Mia and I have talked about.”
“Why not? Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust you with my life.”
“Then why won’t you tell me?”
“It’s confidential.”
“Tell me this, then. Greg said the other night that Hodges has been stalking Mia. Is that true?” Grissom shrugged. “Oh, come on, Gil. You do know.”
“If you want the answer, you have to ask her yourself. You know I don’t share things about my employees like that.”
“I thought you hated her, though.” Catherine grabbed a bite of her chicken onto her fork.
“I actually admire her.” She stopped mid-bite, looking sharply at him.
“Are you serious?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know, Catherine.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because it took me a while to get her to even say anything to me. I want her to be able to talk to me.”
“She’d never know, Gil.” Grissom shook his head.
“It’s not my place to say anything.” Catherine sighed, shaking her head as she looked back over at Greg and Mia.
“I wonder what he could ever see in her.”
“She’s a decent person, Catherine,” Grissom said softly. She shook her head.
“I don’t see it,” she told him, finally biting her fork.
“They say opposites attract.”
“I will give him that she’s gorgeous, but she’s not worth the trouble. By any means.”
“To you. Greg probably sees things differently.” She shrugged.
“Unless she’s been sleeping with him all along, I don’t see how he sees it.”
*~*~*~*
Hodges watched Greg get closer and closer to Mia as their meal progressed. They were holding hands, joking, smiling. It was enough to make Hodges want to puke, but it did prove one thing- he had definitely lost. Wendy looked over at him to find him intently watching Greg and Mia. “That’s so cute,” she said softly.
“Cute?” Hodges asked. “Sanders and the psycho are cute?”
“Okay, she’s not a psycho, first of all. She’s one of my best friends. And Greg’s a good guy. She deserves that much.”
“You callin’ her a psycho?” Bobby drawled. “Man, you’re the one who’s stalkin’ her, callin’ her all the time, emailin’ her, always pagin’ her with the results of the case when she’s workin’ with someone else who outranks her. I think you’re the one that’s the psycho, man.”
“I’m not a psycho,” Hodges grumbled.
“I don’t know, Dave,” Henry said. “That sounds pretty obsessive and creepy.”
“I’m not obsessed.”
“You called her the first night she was in Santa Monica just to ask if she missed you,” Mandy said. “You’re acting pretty weird about this if you’re not obsessed.”
“I’m concerned,” Hodges snapped arrogantly. “Not obsessed.”
“Concerned?” Henry asked.
“Yes.”
“About what?” Wendy asked. “She decked your ass. What do you need to be concerned about?”
“Her getting hurt by some jerk like Sanders,” Hodges replied.
“If Greg had it in him to hurt her, she’d kill him for it. She can take care of herself.”
“Yeah, right.” Hodges shut up, and Wendy studied his face before it all clicked. Los Angeles, that boyfriend, everything that Mia had told her. Her mouth dropped open in realization, and she shook her head.
“You’re one of her exes. The one that… in L.A….”
“Shut up.”
“Oh, my God. You friggen jackass.”
“I didn’t mean it.” Hodges stood up, so as to not hear anymore and to also not have the rest of the lab knowing what she was talking about. “Thanks for dinner, guys.” He dropped enough money on the table to cover himself and tip before walking out of the restaurant, to the astonishment of his colleagues.
Glad you like it! Here's the next one!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 13: Dinner Out, With a Twist
Greg pulled out her chair, causing Mia to roll her eyes. “Chivalry is dead, old-timer,” she quipped, causing him to laugh. Nevertheless, she sat in the chair, and he helped her push it in.
“I like to sometimes act older than my age,” he said, smiling. She shook her head.
“Rarely more than sometimes.”
“Is this how it’s gonna be? Just picking on each other all night?”
“Isn’t that how it always is?” He shrugged.
“I was thinking an environment change would alter the conversation.”
“Babe, environment doesn’t matter. I woulda thought by now you’d realize that I’ll be argumentative and inappropriate in any forum.”
“True. By the way, Ryan called the other day and asked if you were still a bitch.”
“He’s obsessed. What’d you tell him?”
“That you were worse than before.”
“You liar.” He smiled, and watched as Catherine and Grissom sat down near them. Greg arched his eyebrows, catching Mia’s attention. He nodded over at them, and she looked. “Great,” she sighed. “Exactly who I needed to look at to kill my appetite.”
“What are you talking about? You don’t eat.” She laughed.
“That’s why you brought me to the expensive restaurant, huh?”
“Not really. It’s more because you’ve already been to the diner.” She laughed again.
“That place gets you into a lot of panties, huh?” Greg blushed, inciting Mia’s giggles.
“Shut up.”
“Admit it. You get no ass there.”
“You are crude and blunt, huh?”
“You didn’t already know that?” He shrugged.
“I did, but I didn’t want to think it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I just didn’t.”
“Weirdo.” He shrugged.
“You’re the one going out with me,” he whispered. She smiled.
“Yeah, and you’re the one going out with a whack job head case,” she replied. Greg laughed.
“Guilty as charged.” He glanced over at their coworkers, who were talking quietly. “Do you think they’re talking about us?” She furrowed her eyebrows, looking at him critically.
“Paranoia much?” He chuckled, shrugging.
“Just curious.”
“I doubt they’ve even noticed us, and if they did, Catherine’s probably talking about how you can do so much better than me and about how I’m such a horrible person, and Grissom’s just sitting there because he doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t know what to say.” Greg was silent for a minute, thinking.
“That was a really long sentence.” She shook her head, chuckling. “And now who’s paranoid?”
“Come on. Catherine hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She just strongly dislikes the way you are.”
“Isn’t that kinda the same thing?”
“Not really.”
“How isn’t it?”
“Hating you means there’s no room for improvement. Strongly disliking means there’s a chance for you two to actually have some sort of friendship. She actually strongly disliked Sara at first.” Mia shrugged.
“I don’t doubt that. Do you realize that even though everyone’s quick to say I’m not Sara, they always compare me to her?” Greg furrowed his brow pensively.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s not intentional.”
“It’s okay. She always told me I was kinda like her, just a lot more intense. And I can’t say I don’t agree. But she was a lot nicer, a lot more friendly, smoother around the edges. I’m a bitch. Which is why I can’t understand why you actually care about me.”
“Someone has to,” he joked. She smiled slightly and then shook her head.
“No, Greg,” she said. “Be serious. Why do you like me?”
“Because there’s something about you. I really can’t explain it. You’re mysterious, and you try your damndest to keep everyone at arm’s length, but you still care a lot about people. Especially your friends. You’re willing to die for them if the situation warrants it. You’re not afraid to sacrifice yourself, and I admire that. I wish I had that quality.”
“Says the guy who risked his life and career to save a man. You’re a lot more heroic than you give yourself credit for, Sanders.” He shrugged.
“Doesn’t really matter. I do wish, though, that you sometimes valued your own life as much as everyone else’s. I love that you’re willing to risk it all, but you do it even when you don’t have to.”
“I know,” she said softly. “I’ve always kinda had a death wish. Hard not to when you feel like you don’t have anything left to live for.”
“Why do you feel that way?” An innocent question, she realized, but she shook her head anyway.
“I don’t want to get into that here.” Greg nodded as the waitress walked over.
“Fair enough.” They ordered their food, and Greg watched as Hodges walked in with Henry, Bobby, Mandy, and Wendy. Mia glanced over, paling at the sight of Hodges, but giving Wendy a warm smile. She looked over at Greg, shocked.
“Did everyone suddenly have a desire to eat here?” she asked. He shrugged.
“I don’t know,” he told her honestly. “Do you want to go somewhere else?” She shook her head.
“It’s just a coincidence. Besides, Grissom’s right over there, so Hodges won’t give me any shit.” Greg smiled.
“Yeah. He wouldn’t with me around, either.”
“He would. He’s afraid of Grissom’s disapproval, though.”
“True.” She looked at the lab techs sharing a booth before looking back at Greg. “Do you think they think that we’re on a date?” He shrugged.
“I don’t know. Would it kill you if they did?” She shook her head.
“I don’t care what they think. In fact, I hope Hodges does think we’re on a date. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone and stop trying to get back in my pants.” Greg arched his eyebrows.
“He still bothering you?”
“Not since I punched him, really. But I do think it’s odd that him and the other techs came here for dinner tonight. Usually they all go somewhere else.”
“And you think he had something to do with that?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“How would he know you’re here?”
“I’m pretty sure he’s still stalking me, but I can’t seem to catch him in the act.” Greg shook his head.
“If he’s still stalking you, and I catch him, I’ll kill him.” Mia smiled slightly, chuckling. “What?”
“You trying to be protective is like a mouse not being afraid of a cat running after it.”
“Hey, you’re the one that said I’m pretty heroic.”
“Greg, a squirrel has more muscles than you do.” He sighed, shaking his head and looking around the restaurant. He noted that Hodges was watching them, though he was trying to make it obvious that he wasn’t. Greg took Mia’s hand in his own, and she looked at him curiously before noticing what he was watching. Hodges reacted by draping his arm behind Wendy’s shoulders. Wendy didn’t notice, too engrossed in her conversation with the others at the table.
“He’s definitely still stalking you,” Greg told her softly. Mia shook her head.
“He’s so pathetic that I almost feel a mild bit sorry for him,” she said, matching Greg’s tone.
“You wanna let Grissom know?”
“Later. Now is not the time or place.” Greg nodded, squeezing her hand gently. Hodges leaned toward his dinner mates, trying to make it seem like he wasn’t watching them anymore. Mia shook her head. “I love the fact that he knows he’s busted, yet he’s trying to hide it.”
“Yeah.” Mia looked up at Greg, finding him looking concerned.
“What’s on your mind, Einstein?” He shook his head.
“I don’t know. Nothing in my history tells me I should be worried about Hodges stalking you. He’s not particularly violent, at least that I’ve seen. Yet I can’t shake this feeling that I don’t want him near you.” She smiled slightly.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” she assured him. “I can hold my own.”
“I know you can, but I’m still worried,” Greg said. “Something seems off about this, him. More off than usual. I can’t place my finger on it though.” She shrugged.
“I think that’s your overactive imagination kicking in, with a little help from your paranoia.” Greg chuckled softly.
“You might be right.”
“Dear, I’m always right.” He smiled.
“True.”
“Oh, now you’re trying to get suck up points. You do know those don’t happen with me, right?”
“I believe I already got that memo, but thanks for the reminder.” She smiled.
“You’re smart.”
“Thank you. You’re not bad.” She shook her head.
“You’re lucky I like you, because if I didn’t, I would’ve killed you for that comment.” Greg smiled.
“I know.” He kissed her on the cheek softly as their dinners arrived. The two of them continued to flirt as they ate, enjoying each other’s company.
*~*~*~*
Catherine and Grissom sat at their table, eating and watching their coworkers. “They’re definitely dating,” she told him. He shrugged.
“I think Greg could be good for her,” he told her. Catherine rolled her eyes.
“She’s just going to hurt Greg. That’s all she does.” Grissom didn’t respond. “You know it as well as I do. That’s why you won’t say anything.”
“That’s not why I’m not saying anything,” he said, taking a bite of his steak.
“Come on,” she said. “I asked you out tonight because you need to get out more, and to talk about our coworkers.”
“I can’t tell you anything Mia and I have talked about.”
“Why not? Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust you with my life.”
“Then why won’t you tell me?”
“It’s confidential.”
“Tell me this, then. Greg said the other night that Hodges has been stalking Mia. Is that true?” Grissom shrugged. “Oh, come on, Gil. You do know.”
“If you want the answer, you have to ask her yourself. You know I don’t share things about my employees like that.”
“I thought you hated her, though.” Catherine grabbed a bite of her chicken onto her fork.
“I actually admire her.” She stopped mid-bite, looking sharply at him.
“Are you serious?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know, Catherine.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because it took me a while to get her to even say anything to me. I want her to be able to talk to me.”
“She’d never know, Gil.” Grissom shook his head.
“It’s not my place to say anything.” Catherine sighed, shaking her head as she looked back over at Greg and Mia.
“I wonder what he could ever see in her.”
“She’s a decent person, Catherine,” Grissom said softly. She shook her head.
“I don’t see it,” she told him, finally biting her fork.
“They say opposites attract.”
“I will give him that she’s gorgeous, but she’s not worth the trouble. By any means.”
“To you. Greg probably sees things differently.” She shrugged.
“Unless she’s been sleeping with him all along, I don’t see how he sees it.”
*~*~*~*
Hodges watched Greg get closer and closer to Mia as their meal progressed. They were holding hands, joking, smiling. It was enough to make Hodges want to puke, but it did prove one thing- he had definitely lost. Wendy looked over at him to find him intently watching Greg and Mia. “That’s so cute,” she said softly.
“Cute?” Hodges asked. “Sanders and the psycho are cute?”
“Okay, she’s not a psycho, first of all. She’s one of my best friends. And Greg’s a good guy. She deserves that much.”
“You callin’ her a psycho?” Bobby drawled. “Man, you’re the one who’s stalkin’ her, callin’ her all the time, emailin’ her, always pagin’ her with the results of the case when she’s workin’ with someone else who outranks her. I think you’re the one that’s the psycho, man.”
“I’m not a psycho,” Hodges grumbled.
“I don’t know, Dave,” Henry said. “That sounds pretty obsessive and creepy.”
“I’m not obsessed.”
“You called her the first night she was in Santa Monica just to ask if she missed you,” Mandy said. “You’re acting pretty weird about this if you’re not obsessed.”
“I’m concerned,” Hodges snapped arrogantly. “Not obsessed.”
“Concerned?” Henry asked.
“Yes.”
“About what?” Wendy asked. “She decked your ass. What do you need to be concerned about?”
“Her getting hurt by some jerk like Sanders,” Hodges replied.
“If Greg had it in him to hurt her, she’d kill him for it. She can take care of herself.”
“Yeah, right.” Hodges shut up, and Wendy studied his face before it all clicked. Los Angeles, that boyfriend, everything that Mia had told her. Her mouth dropped open in realization, and she shook her head.
“You’re one of her exes. The one that… in L.A….”
“Shut up.”
“Oh, my God. You friggen jackass.”
“I didn’t mean it.” Hodges stood up, so as to not hear anymore and to also not have the rest of the lab knowing what she was talking about. “Thanks for dinner, guys.” He dropped enough money on the table to cover himself and tip before walking out of the restaurant, to the astonishment of his colleagues.
:lol: Wendy knew the right thing to say to get Hodges to leave.
Greg is so cute. LOL at Mia teasing him about his muscles.
Good chapter.
Greg is so cute. LOL at Mia teasing him about his muscles.
Good chapter.