Title: A Light out of darkness

Author: Sparkycola

Rating: PG-13 to be on the safe side.

Genre: Angsty goodness :)

Spoilers: 'Stalker' and 'Play with fire'

Beta'd by: Vicki- thanks!!

Archiving: ScarletRose4- go ahead, anyone else please contact and ask first.

Disclaimer: Sadly, the luverly Greggo is not mine :( but c'est la vie...and neither are the rest. Except Rachel.

Please R & R... I live for reviews :)

Chapter One

Grissom looked up from his case file upon entering the lab. Although Greg's flinch didn't go unnoticed by Grissom, it politely went unmentioned. He looked at Greg expectantly. Uncharacteristically nervous, Greg stood up and searched through a pile of evidence bags near the end of the desk, mumbling as he went.

"I uh...I got a partial fingerprint on the pen, Anthony Barker, and the...the metal you gave me is uh...is zinc."

Greg dropped some of the bags on the floor. Grabbing one he passed it to Grissom who was looking at him strangely.

"Greg- Are you alright?"

"Yes."

Greg replied, a little too quickly.

"You've been a ball of nervous energy all night."

Grissom stated as fact. Greg didn't move. There was a short silence between them until Greg said quietly:

"It's not affecting my work."

Grissom became increasingly worried about the lab tech.

"Well good but that's not really the point. Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"I'm fine. Honestly."

Greg's voice had an irritated edge to it. Grissom stared at him. He had bags under his eyes and he was so on edge he looked as though today were his first day. Greg fidgeted under the stare.

"I'll take that as a no. Greg, if you need some time off, you've still got all of your holiday time left."

Greg seemed to consider it for a moment.

"I...I'm good."

Grissom looked at him in concern. Greg tried to look relaxed as though everything were normal and added:

"Seriously."

Grissom knew he was lying, but if Greg didn't want to tell him he certainly wasn't going to force him.

"You know where my office is if you want to talk about it."

And on that note, he left.

 Greg closed his eyes, but abruptly opened them again when he nearly fell asleep. Taking a deep breath he decided to venture to the break room and grab another cup of coffee.

*********************************************************************

He met Nick in the break room and forced a tired smile.

"Hey Greggo, what's up?"

"Oh, the usual. Testing for DNA."

"You look tired man, what were you up to when you should have been sleeping...if you don't mind my asking..."

Nick smirked, but it turned into a frown when he noticed the look on Greg's face.

"You ok?"

"Fine."

Nick watched as Greg downed most of his coffee in one go. He remembered the favour he wanted to ask.

"Oh yeah, would you do me a favour after shift, my car's in the garage- Cathy gave me a lift in but she's on for another hour after me...?"

Nick wondered if Greg would tell him what was wrong on the short journey home.

"...I mean I know it's a little out of your way but..."

"Sure."

Greg finished his coffee and left without another word, leaving another concerned colleague and friend in his wake.

*********************************************************************

After shift Greg and Nick met out in the car park. The air was fresh- a new day in Las Vegas. As the sun rose and the city came to life the tired couple got into Greg's small sky blue car and Greg drove by Nick's directions. About five minutes in and Greg suddenly said:

"My brakes don't work."

"What?!"

Greg repeated himself.

"My brakes don't work. I guess the garages will be full this weekend."

"Second left. Well, my house is just round that corner. At least we're not going too fast."

"Hey, don't worry. I'll just use the gears to slow down then cut the engines and put on the handbrake."

Nick nodded.

"Wow, it's like in the movies...except they always crash...hey you can use my driveway to stop completely- it's that one there."

Greg coasted slowly to Nick's slightly uphill driveway and the car came to a stop.

"Good timing huh?"

Greg said. Nick gave him a sideways look.

"I wonder what's up with your brakes. I could take a look..."

"No offence Nick but I'd rather leave it to the professionals."

"It's funny the brakes going like that though."

Greg looked away. Nick continued.

"Hey...you don't think somebody tampered wi-"

"No."

Nick was surprised at his friend's abrupt tone of voice, but figured Greg had thought the same thing and was nervous. He supposed they were both more paranoid and over-sensitive since the Crane incident...

"Mind if I leave my car in your driveway? I can walk home and then call someone to take it to the garage."

Greg sounded exhausted.

"You can use my phone"

Nick looked at him questioningly. Greg looked down and said quietly,

"I just wanna go home."

His friend nodded understandingly.

"Ok, see you tonight- and get some rest."

Greg nodded and walked away.

*********************************************************************

Greg practically ran home. Nowhere felt safe- he hated the gnawing feeling of fear inside him more and more with each passing second. He was used to it though. What had he done wrong? How could it have turned out like this? He asked himself as he climbed the steep steps to his apartment. He paused at the top of the stairs to catch his breath. His door was directly in front of him about three paces. Greg tiredly started moving again. He turned his house key in the lock and opened the door.

Before he could register the wires in front of him a powerful explosion knocked him flying against the wall. When gravity kicked in he fell like a crash dummy all the way down to the lower part of the steps. A sense of déja-vu entered his mind before he began to lose consciousness. With rubble collapsing on top of him, and certain the darkness enveloping him was death, Greg's last thoughts were of his friends at work, wondering if they knew how much they meant to him, and how they would take his death.

TBC