Title: Checkmate
Author: Daniela
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Pairing: Greg/Grissom
Rating: PG
Category: Humor/Romance
Series/Sequel: Breaking the Ice
Disclaimers: CSI and its characters belong to Anthony Zuiker and CBS broadcasting company.
The author makes no profit and no infringement is intended.
Summary: Greg and Grissom play a game of chess.
Warnings: Minor Spoilers from Season 2
Feedback: Yes, please. I will appreciate all constructive criticism.
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Released: May 2003

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It was a peaceful day at the lab. When Grissom dropped in at the break room, Greg was sitting alone at the table, poring over a chessboard. To his own surprise, Grissom felt drawn to Greg, strolled over and teased: "Apparently, you again got too much time on your hands."

Greg startled: "It´s my break."

Grissom pacified: "Well, there isn't much going on at the moment anyway." For a minute, he watched Greg´s play. "Do you often play with yourself?"

Greg´s head jerked up and he stared at Grissom. His brown eyes seemed almost black. Had Grissom any idea, what he just said? Certainly not. Greg sighed excessive. "Yes, that´s the problem."

Grissom was surprised by himself a second time, when he added: "Do you want to play with me?"

For a moment, Greg was speechless. "Sure," he granted, as he finally found back his voice. "It´s much more fun to play with someone else." He restrained a grin. While they positioned the chessmen, he fought his nervousness. Grissom had never wanted to play chess with him before. Of course, everyone of the CSI´s knew that Grissom was a very good player. Only Warrick had beaten him. Why did Grissom want to play with him now? Greg had absolutely no idea. It makes me happy. Who cares for a reason.

For a while, both silently concentrated on the game.

Greg couldn´t stand this for long. "I was captain of the chess club at High School," he suddenly burst out.

Grissom looked at him. "Indeed?"

Cheered up by the short remark, Greg talked frankly now. "I was rather good. Unfortunately, I had little exercise in the recent years. I simply lacked equal opponents."

Grissom was smiling. "I always thought you had been a football player."

Greg laughed. "You certainly didn´t think this."

Grissom´s smile deepened. "Or a baseball player. With your athletic body."

Silence. Greg was perplexed. Grissom regarded his body as athletic? How could he? He knew himself, his body was no more than slender. Grissom might be kidding, but, he didn't know for sure. Grissom was acting really strange. Like never before. Greg felt puzzled.

While they talked, David had been in the room and had put a kettle on. He had thrown them a curious glance, but finally had left without saying a word. The kettle started to whistle.

Greg got up to turn the boiling water off.

Grissom looked confused. "Where are you going?"

Greg replied: "The water was boiling. Don´t you hear and see anything while you play?"

Grissom winced visibly at this remark. "Perhaps your constant babbling is the reason, why I can´t hear anything else." He was immediately sorry for his stupid back talk, when he saw Greg´s hurt look.

Trying to reestablish the good mood, Grissom started to talk. "My mother taught me to play chess, when I was very young. She likes this game very much."

"Why?" Greg asked eagerly, having forgiven him already.

"Because you need your brain and little to no conversation."

Greg mocked: "Well, that´s why you like it too, don´t you?"

This really cheered up Grissom. "Perhaps sometimes."

In the meantime, the game went on and Grissom suddenly took Greg´s queen.

Greg´s lips twitched slightly, but he didn´t comment on it.

"Then your mother doesn´t like to talk to others?" Greg asked curiously. He was secretly pleased, because his boss finally exposed something about himself.

Grissom was silent for a long time, looking undecided.

Greg thought, he would simply ignore his question.

But Grissom suddenly answered: "My mother likes to speak to other people. Only some don´t like to speak to her. She is deaf."

Greg was dumbfounded and concentrated on the game to stall the time. With his next move, he took Grissom´s castle and announced: "Checkmate!"

Baffled, Grissom realized, he had been tricked. He shouldn´t have taken Greg´s queen.

Greg grinned triumphantly, but then mumbled: "Your mother certainly has had a hard time and you probably too."

Grissom joked merrily: "With you I have it much harder."

Greg was blushing a little bit. He simply was not used to such delightful jokes from Grissom. "I have to go back to work now, otherwise I´ll get into trouble with my boss."

Grissom cast him an amused look. "It was a good game."

"Perhaps, I´ll give you a revanche sometimes."

"Yes, in the meantime I´ll have to practice."

Satisfied with himself, Greg hurried back to his desk and thought about what he had learned today.

So, Grissom's mother is deaf. Who knows about this? Why does he keep it a secret? A secret, he now told me. Me, Greg Sanders.

Unbelievable.