Title: A Love Lost
Author: Carina Scott
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Pairing: Warrick Brown/ Gil Grossom
Table one, #6
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from CSI, they belong to various executives and producers. Please don't sue.
Summary: Gil realizes too late just how much Warrick loves him.
For the 20loves http://community.livejournal.com/20loves/ LJ challenge

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"What the hell do you want?"

Gil flinched at Warrick's harsh tone, "I wanted to talk with you."

"Too bad, I really don't feel like seeing you, much less talking to you."

"Please," Gil pleaded as Warrick moved to slam the door in his face. "Let me apologize."

"Gil, there are no words that can make up for this okay. You hurt me in the worse way possible and I just can't do this right now. Please, just go."

"Ricky-"

"Don't you dare! My name is Warrick! The moment you let Sara touch you, you lost the privilege to call me anything else." Turning on his heels, Warrick walked into his living room, refusing to let Gil see the hurt in his eyes.

Gil followed Warrick into his home, closing the door behind him. The moment he rounded the corner to enter the living room, he realized just how much he had hurt Warrick. It was both humbling and heartbreaking to realize that his actions had such great impact on such a strong man.

Kneeling before Warrick, Gil placed a tentative hand on Rick's knee. "Warrick, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Looking down at Gil incredulously, Warrick stood quickly, nearly knocking Gil over in the process. "You never meant to hurt me?! What did you think would happen when I found out? Oh right, I wasn't' supposed to find out. I was supposed to go on with this façade of a relationship, blissfully ignorant of the little fling you were having on the side. Tell me something Gil, exactly how long have you been sleeping with Sara? Was tonight the first time, or were there other times I don't know about?"

"Warrick , Sara doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that I love you and no one else."

"So, I guess that means tonight wasn't the first time." Suddenly, Warrick let out a hysterical peel of laughter. "Man, wouldn't Catherine and Nick be surprised. The socially inept, elusive Gil Grissom carrying on an elicit affair with not one but two co-workers right under their noses! I can just see there faces now."

Gil didn't know how to react to Warrick's behavior. Anger he could deal with, but this non-anger, this resignation was too much, he'd never dealt with anything like it. Standing to his feet, Gil walked over to Warrick, who was now staring at a picture on the mantle.

In a voice barely above a whisper, Warrick began to speak. "You know, the first time I knew I loved you was the day we took this picture. I know I didn't say anything, but I knew I loved you that day. We had just gotten off the rollercoaster, and you with your huge sweet tooth, decided we needed cotton candy. I didn't tell you then how much I loathe that stuff, because your eyes just lit up at the mere mention of it. When we finally got it, you looked like a big kid. Laughing and eating the cotton candy, you were just so damn happy. Then you pulled me in that damn photo booth and I felt like we were a couple of teens on their first date. You were so happy and carefree; I had never seen you like that. I guess it really shouldn't be much of a surprise that I fell in love with you right then."

Placing a hand on his shoulder, Gil squeezed gently, cringing when Warrick tensed and pulled away. "Don't Gil, please. I can't do this, not now. I don't know if I ever will be able to do this okay." Warrick turned around, and Gil's breath caught in his throat at the tears making fresh tracks down his face. "If you ever cared about me, even for a moment, leave now. Don't look back, just leave. Please, just go."

With a slight nod of his head, Gil turned and made his way out of Warrick's home. He tried to ignore Warrick's quiet sobs, tearing at his heart, as he closed the door behind him. Driving home, he held on to the fragile strands of emotional control he still had; all his efforts falling short as soon as he closed his front door behind him. Sliding slowly to the floor, Gil leaned back against the front door, as grief overtook him. He had never believed that anyone could love him, and in his doubt he had ultimately pushed away the only man that had.

THE END