Author's Notes: Sorry about the delay, I haven't been able to decide what story to update. Lol. Thanks to Emmithar for convincing me that this was postable. Please let me know what you think, reviews make the world go'round.

Isn't CSI great?

This one is from Greg's point of view...next one will be back to Sara. Just to curb any confusion...

Jenny

Chapter Two:

I wasn't too blind to see that conversation immediately stopped when I walked into a room. I expected as much, after all, I was dating the person they were trying to convict of second degree murder, but it still unnerved me that my supposed best friends were treating me like I had some sort of contagious disease.

This time, though, it was different. Instead of nervous stares or blatant avoidance, I was met with a look of pity from my coworkers. I carefully avoided each and every one of them as I wove my way through the crowd of people in the small waiting room, finding an empty chair in the corner and taking a seat.

The city was in chaos, it wasn't every day that an earthquake disrupted the Entertainment Capital of the World. Although the magnitude wasn't devastatingly high, it was enough to fill the local hospitals with panicked, injured people. I had a feeling that despite laws that directed otherwise, my girlfriend would be pushed aside just because of her telltale orange jumpsuit.

I glanced quickly at Catherine, who was being showered with attention from Warrick, and scowled bitterly. I had gotten the call from her an hour earlier, her curt voice telling me that I was needed at the hospital in order to make next-of-kin decisions about Sara, who was in critical condition. From the way everyone was doting on Catherine, you'd think she was near death. In reality, the worst of her injuries was a cut to her arm, requiring a few stitches.

It had been only 12 hours since the earthquake, and judging by the sheer volume of people to be treated, it could be hours before I heard about Sara. For all I knew, she could be dead.

Tears filled my eyes, but I forced them back. Crying wouldn't help, it wouldn't fix Sara, it wouldn't get us out of this mess. Every time something new would happen, we'd believe we had reached the bottom, but fate couldn't resist taunting us with more problems than any human should possibly have to face.

I was barely able to stifle a groan as my supposed friends made their way towards me, fake smiles of concern on their otherwise smug faces. Here it was, time for Sara to be hit with blame again. To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if they tried to pin this earthquake on her...apparently labeling her a murderer wasn't too hard, why not try to blame some other act on her as well? Her causing an earthquake was just about as ridiculous as the notion of her taking a human life.

After all, since we had known her, she had been adamant that she couldn't kill, regardless of the circumstances.

And if she were to kill, why would she choose Grissom, of all people? He was her mentor, her friend, someone she looked up to and respected. And furthermore, would she leave evidence laying around for everyone to find? Sara was smarter than that, heck, anyone who worked in the lab was smarter than that. Most cops were smarter than that. Would someone with the intellectual capabilities that my girlfriend possessed really be stupid enough to leave her blood laying around? 'Frame' was all over this picture, but our new boss Catherine could only repeat Grissom's old mantra, "Follow the evidence.".

But what if the evidence was wrong? I may not have as much experience in the field as they do, and I may be a little biased because of my relationship with Sara, but it was obvious that this went a little deeper than what meets the eye.

Unfortunately, I'm not allowed anywhere near her case, so I have no say in the matter. It does surprise me, though, that Warrick and Nick aren't standing up for her. It reminds me of when our shift was split up, and Nick and Warrick went to work for Catherine. The three of them had formed a little clique, and for all practical purposes, avoided Grissom, Sara, Sophia, and I like the plague. Only now, my team was down for the count, and I was left alone in the dust. Maybe they hadn't forgotten the bond they formed while working closely with each other, but it sure as hell seemed like they forgot I existed.

I thought being "punished" by Grissom was bad. When on his bad side, it was a few weeks of trick rolls and decomps, but eventually he cooled off and things went back to normal. Since his death, I'm the perpetual rookie. Even with experience on harder cases, I'm looked at like the lackey, available to take any job no one else wants. Apparently her little minions are too good for simple burglary, minor assaults, and so on. So who was left doing all of the dirty work? Me.

And I can guarantee that when a spot on day shift becomes available and I transfer over, the three of them will be scratching their heads wondering why.

Nick takes a seat beside me, and I refuse to meet his eyes. I know it's a petty move, but I can't help myself, I feel like being petty today. Any words of sympathy will be forced, it's clear they don't give a damn about Sara, otherwise they wouldn't have turned on her.

Why couldn't it have been Catherine who was so badly injured? Sara's overpriced attorney? The prosecutor? The guard? Sophia? Why was it my girlfriend, the one person in my life I couldn't live without? Why did this happen to happen now? To us? Why wasn't Sara safe in her cell? My list of questions was too long to expect any answers from.

"I'm sure she'll be fine."

I sharply brought my eyes to Nick's, stunned by the sheer audacity of his words, "Right, Nick, they usually use the terminology 'critical condition' when it's something very minor."

"That's not what I meant, man, I'm just trying to help. We're all worried about her."

Nick raised up his hands in a stereotypical "back off, you're acting crazy" motion, and I had to bite down on my lip to keep from telling him what a hypocrite he was. He didn't care about Sara, he only cared about the case they were working hard to get an indictment on. Sara wasn't a friend to them, she was a criminal, someone they were worried could walk on a technicality arising from this disaster. The fact that they were even here had first surprised me, and was now getting on my last nerve. To spout meaningless words of pity weren't helping anything, and the idea that everything was peachy, despite the circumstances surrounding this hospital visit, was not only patronizing, but infuriating.

"I'm sure it sounds a lot worse than it is. Catherine, why don't you tell us what happened?"

I was almost relieved to hear the nervousness in Nick's statement. After all of the stress they had put me through since Grissom's death, I was glad to return the favor, even in a small dose.

Catherine glanced down at her bandaged arm, then took a seat across from me, putting her hand reassuringly on my knee, and looking hurt as I roughly jerked away. With a quiet voice, she explained, "When the earthquake began, we all took cover...Sara and her attorney got beneath the table, and when part of the roof collapsed, it crushed the table on top of Sara. Her attorney was able to maneuver out of the way, but with the restraints, it made it hard for Sara to move anywhere."

She stopped before putting her hand on my knee again. This time, blinded by unshed tears, I didn't even think to push her away.

"I don't think she was in a lot of pain, she lost consciousness almost immediately. She did lose a lot of blood, and I'm pretty sure her leg is broken, but they got her out quickly, so hopefully it wasn't too late."

Wasn't too late? Hopefully? Gee, that's great. Way to go with the optimism, Catherine. The woman that I love may be dying, but "hopefully" that wasn't the case. For someone who was right there, Catherine sure was lacking information.

"I don't know exactly what happened when they began to dig her out, the paramedic was attending to my injuries."

Catherine held up her arm, and I had to fight to resist the urge to roll my eyes. How did I know this would come back to her?

"They told me I was lucky to escape so lightly, considering the injuries everyone else sustained. Sophia's been admitted with a punctured lung, due to a broken rib. ADA Charles has a few broken bones and a concussion. Sara's attorney is pretty banged up, I don't know the details...the guard died."

My eyes shot to Catherine's, panic written on my face. If the guard had died, what's to say Sara wouldn't? Nausea consumed me as the possibility of living without Sara became clear. Jail time? That was different, I still felt like the jury couldn't hang her for something she didn't do. But death? That was final.

"Woah, man, you alright?" Warrick asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

It was then that I realized I was shaking, and probably looking just about as bad as I felt.

I was saved from further interrogation as a doctor walked into the cramped waiting room, causing all conversation to cease. I crossed my fingers, praying this was about Sara. At this point, I couldn't wait any longer to know what was going on with my girlfriend, not after knowing that someone just feet away from her had died.

"Sara Sidle?"

I jumped to my feet, making it to the doctor in record time, "I'm Greg Sanders, her next of kin."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Sanders. Would you like to follow me into the hallway for some privacy?"

I numbly nodded, following the doctor into the hallway with a deep sense of dread. If it were good news, it wouldn't have been a privacy issue. This couldn't be good. I should prepare myself for the worst.

Once in the hallway, I leaned against the wall, hoping that in the event that she was dead, the sterile white frame would keep me on my feet. My head began to throb as the doctor flashed me a sympathetic smile, his eyes tired and slightly disappointed.

"How is she?"

"She's still unconscious, and she has a lot of internal injuries that need repair. Mr. Sanders, were you aware that Miss Sidle was pregnant?"

I've never been so glad to be leaning against a wall. The room spun around me and I suddenly found myself having to remind my body to breathe. Pregnant? Sara? She's been carrying a baby while locked up in that cesspool of a prison? I blinked rapidly, hoping that the panic wasn't too clearly written on my face.

"Mr. Sanders? Do you need to sit down?"

No, I've got my wall right here, and if I cling to the molding right behind my back, I can probably keep myself on my feet.

"I'm alright...I just...I didn't know she was pregnant. How far along?"

The doctor glanced down at the chart in his hands, speaking softly, "Just over four months."

"Oh my God." I muttered, bringing a hand to my forehead, as if that would ward off the impending headache, "I'm going to be a father."

"Mr. Sanders, Sara received a lot of very serious injuries in the earthquake. The fetus is showing signs of distress, and we can't operate on her until we are sure the fetus can remain stable. With the injuries Sara is suffering...they can be fatal if not repaired quickly. We're going to need you to make a decision."

Make a decision? Was he insane? How do you decide whether or not to kill your own child?

TBC