Title: Distracted
By: Chapin CSI
Pairing: Gil/Greg & Warrick/Cath & Nick/Sara
Rating: PG
Note: I don't know the name of the DNA technician who replaced Mia, so I'm calling her Andrea.
Warning: I don't speak English and it shows in my stories; luckily, my readers are very forgiving. Thanks!
Summary: Gil's negative comments about a TV show elicit some reactions from his coworkers.

***

Gil Grissom turned a page of his book. He casually glanced around the conference table and mused on how rare it was to see his coworkers sitting so quietly and attentively.

They were all there -Catherine, Nick, Warrick, Bobby, Sara, Archie, Hodges, Andrea, and Greg- because there had been a rare lull in the hectic pace of the night shift. But while Gil's idea of taking a break consisted in picking up a book to read, his coworkers had opted for watching some TV.

And by the way their eyes were riveted on the screen, it had to be a good show.

Filled with curiosity, Gil decided to watch for a while.

He was quiet until the commercial break.

"What is the name of this show?" he asked.

"Grey's Anatomy." A chorus of voices replied simultaneously.

"It's not very realistic," Grissom said.

"It's not a documentary, if that's what you mean." Sara retorted.

"Obviously," Grissom muttered. He wished it were a documentary on medicine; a soap opera about doctors didn't appeal much to him.

"Don't you like the show, Gil?" Catherine asked.

"Do you like it?" Grissom replied, glancing over his shoulder.

"It's not bad," she shrugged, "It's entertainment, pure and simple."

"It gives the wrong message," Grissom noted, turning his gaze back to the TV. "It makes it seem OK for people to have sex at the work place." he pointed out, "Responsible people do not do that." he stated.

Catherine and Warrick glanced at each other and shared a little smile of complicity.

Luckily for them, neither Grissom nor the rest of their coworkers noticed the exchange.

Grissom continued.

"When two coworkers start a relationship," He said, "They find it very difficult to work together in harmony again."

Sara and Nick rolled their eyes at the same time. They were proof positive that people could in fact, have a relationship and work together.

'Poor Grissom,' Nick thought, 'The guy's never been in a relationship. If he knew what he's missing, he'd think differently.'

Grissom continued his little speech.

"Relationships change the way people behave at the workplace," He mused aloud, "Couples fight-"

Bobby smiled and glanced at Archie, on the other side of the table. Archie smiled too, although he didn't return the glance. He didn't need to look or even ask, to know what was in Bobby's mind: Yes, people fought, but reconciliations could be sooo good...

'Poor Grissom,' Bobby thought to himself, 'What does he know?'

"And when people start fighting over personal issues-" Grissom said, "Their jobs suffer."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Said Hodges, who had never been in a relationship with a coworker but never lost a chance to kiss ass.

"Besides," Grissom said, "I don't think people can go from one partner to the next as easily as that," Grissom said, waving at the TV screen. "There's always jealousy involved."

Andrea looked up and wondered if that was true. She hoped not. She'd had fun with Scotty from ballistics, but it was time to move on. Donny from Trace was cuter, and he had that Harley-

"So, Grissom," Catherine said, "What you're saying is that coworkers shouldn't sleep together. Did I get that right?"

Grissom ignored her sarcastic tone.

"Exactly." He said quietly.

"Well," she shrugged, "You're preaching to the converted here."

Grissom nodded good-naturedly.

"That's good to know." He said. He snapped his book shut, and then glanced around the table, "I believe we all have work to do-" he paused.

They took the hint. Some of them picked up empty containers of fast food and soda cans, while others cleaned up the table. Sara picked up the remote and, giving one last look at the TV screen, turned it off.

Grissom returned to his office. He was checking on his calls when Greg came in. The young man leant on the desk and waited until Grissom gazed up.

"Yes, Greg?"

"So," he said, "Coworkers shouldn't have sex at their workplace, uh?"

"That's what I said." He nodded.

"And they shouldn't have relationships."

"No."

"Because they fight-"

"Exactly."

"And their work suffer."

"Uh, huh."

Greg crossed his arms and stared at Grissom. Grissom merely stared back.

Greg scoffed.

"Gil Grissom, you're one big hypocrite."

"Me?" Grissom frowned, "Why?"

"Why?" he repeated, mimicking Grissom's tone, "Gil," he said, and then he lowered his voice, "We've been together for two years."

"Yes." He nodded.

"We've had fights-" he said.

"A couple," Gil admitted reluctantly.

"You've been jealous-"

"Because you flirt with everybody-"Grissom retorted.

"I don't flirt with everybody," Greg replied, "I'm just... friendly."

Grissom gave him a skeptical look.

"I am," Greg insisted, surprised that Grissom wouldn't believe him, "Besides, I've been jealous, too." he pointed out. "I mean, you work way too often with Sofia-"

Grissom gaped.

"Sofía?" he asked incredulously.

He stared at Greg until the young man shrugged evasively.

"Just forget it," he muttered. "My point is, no matter what we do, our jobs have never suffered-"

"That's true." Grissom admitted quietly.

"So?"

Grissom paused.

"I guess we're the exception to the rule." He said quietly.

"We are?" Greg asked and then he smiled, "So... that means we can continue having fun-"

"Absolutely." Grissom said.

That was all he was going to say.

Gil didn't mention the fact that he knew that everybody else in the lab was having fun, and he would never admit how much it worried him. That's why he'd given that little speech -he was asking them not to put their own interests before their duty; a friendly warning, so to speak.

He hoped they'd got the message.

But he wouldn't tell Greg, if only to protect their coworkers intimacy.

He only hoped they would extend the same courtesy to him if they ever found out about Greg.

Now Gil looked at the young man. He liked to do that, now and then –just look. He rarely did it at the workplace, where his focus was entirely on the job; but whenever he had a chance... he stared.

Greg stared back… but not for long. Frankly, Gil's stares got a bit too hot to handle sometimes.

In a public place, that is.

"So..." Greg said to distract himself, "How's the book coming up?"

"What book?"

"The one you were reading while we watched Grey's Anatomy." Greg replied, glancing pointedly at the book on the desk.

"Oh," Grissom said, "This book," he patted it, "It's ok, I guess. I wasn't really focusing on it-"

"Ha!" Greg exclaimed in triumph, "I knew it! You were more interested in Grey's Anatomy, weren't you!"

"No, I wasn't." Grissom replied indignantly, "I was trying to read the book but you kept distracting me." he glared, "Your brushed my hand every time you reached for a glass of water, your knee kept bumping into mine... your foot kept invading my personal space -"

Greg smiled, "Guilty as charged." He said cheekily.

Grissom's pager rang then. He glanced at it.

"Doc Robbins is ready for the autopsy." He looked up, "I've got to go. Are we having breakfast together?" he asked as he picked up his jacket.

"Sure." Greg said good-naturedly, "Oh, and by the way… I tivoed tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy," he smirked, "In case you wanna watch the ending…"

Grissom hesitated; he was not really interested in the TV show but he suspected it was one of the young man's favorites.

"All right," he said at last, "I'll watch it... on one condition."

"What condition?"

"That you'll continue distracting me."

Greg grinned.

"You liked that, uh?" he said, "My knee against yours, my hand brushing your hand, my foot -"

"Oh, yeah." Grissom admitted, and a half-smile graced his lips as he added, "You should know by now how much I enjoy studying Greg's Anatomy."

The End

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