Title: Ethan
Author: podga
Pairing: Gil Grissom/Nick Stokes
Rating: PG-13
Warning: None
Disclaimer: Characters don't belong to me and I don't make money off of them
Summary: Nick talks to his brother.

Nick's brother was so much older, they'd never been very close. When Nick was in elementary school, Ethan was already in college, making only rare visits home and even then spending more time with his buddies than with the family. Through the years, their relationship hadn't changed much. When Nick had attended Ethan's bachelor party, he'd been uncomfortably aware that even Ethan's colleagues seemed to know Ethan better, and feel more comfortable with him, than Nick himself did.

Despite the distance, both physical and emotional, Nick had always looked to Ethan for advice when he was in some sort of trouble or at a crossroads. His brother was a good listener, never reticent about sharing his point of view and offering advice and, most importantly in Nick's opinion, didn't care if Nick didn't end up following it.

So Nick didn't stop to think about it very long before calling Ethan now.

"Hey, old son, what's up?" Ethan asked when he heard Nick's voice at the end of the line. "Hold on a sec. Scott! What did I just say?"

Nick relaxed on the couch, grinning as he heard his nephew's voice pitched high in protest.

"No. That's final. Now get out and let me talk to your uncle."

More protests, then Nick heard a door slam.

"If you ever want a 14-year old who does no chores and needs a new pair of 150-dollar sneakers every week, just let me know. You can have him for a buck."

"I think you need to work on your sales pitch a bit."

"For the same price, I'll throw in a wife who never listens."

Nick chuckled. "I'll pass. But thanks."

"So, what's up, Mr. CSI-3?"

"Mom told you?"

"Of course not, you know Mom gave up speaking to me in the early 80s. She told Lou and Lou told me. She also ordered me to call you and congratulate you. Which I'm doing."

"Wait a minute, I called you."

"Very thoughtful, saved me the long-distance call." Ethan paused. "So, again, what's up?"

Nick wasn't sure where to start or even if he wanted to. "Not much."

"Nick, I don't mean to be rude by pointing out your deficiencies as a brother, but you never call me unless something's up."

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm turning a new leaf."

"Well, it can't be work trouble, you just got promoted. Girl trouble? And I mean that in the most generic, non-sex-specific way possible."

"Um..."

"Ha! I thought so. Do you want me to come and beat him up for you?"

Nick grinned at the thought of his five-foot-seven welterweight brother beating up anyone for Nick, let alone Grissom.

"Thanks, Ethan, but I think I can handle that part myself, if I need to."

"OK. So tell me, I'm all ears. What's the problem?"

"Ethan, what's your position on relationships with work colleagues?"

"Ah. Well, Nick, my position is that you don't shit where you eat. That being said, they're sort of inevitable, aren't they?"

"Maybe."

"So are we talking about a relationship in full bloom? Or are we talking about starting a relationship?"

"Well, I'm not really sure."

"Not really sure about what?"

"It's not a relationship. It's more of an interest. Sort of mutual. Or maybe not."

"Nick, this is getting sort of weird and a little too girly for me. Maybe it's better if you talk to Lou, explore your feelings together."

"Oh, fuck off," Nick muttered in embarrassment.

Ethan laughed. "Sorry. You know I met Lou at work, don't you?"

"It's not the same thing."

"Why not?"

"Well, in the first place you were both working a summer job at McDonald's. In the second, she wasn't your boss."

"Yeah, but I had to win her over while wearing a paper hat."

They were both silent for a bit.

"Nick. Do not get involved with your boss. I can't believe you're even thinking about it."

"He wasn't my boss when I thought about it."

"Still, he must have been quite a bit higher up on the ole totem-pole if he's your boss now. How serious are you?"

"I don't know Ethan. I don't think he is."

"And you?"

"I don't know," Nick repeated slowly. "The thing is, it just sort of happened. Kind of snuck up on me."

Ethan sighed. "Well, can you get out of there? Mom told Lou that you're thinking of applying for a different shift."

"No!" Nick stopped, surprised at his own vehemence, at the almost panicky feeling when he thought of not seeing Grissom every day. "He's the best there is," he said, aware that he was just making lame rationalizations. "And he needs me on the shift. We lost someone, and another guy on the team is probably going to be fired. I'd thought about moving, but I'm not going to."

"Is he kind?"

"What?"

"Is he kind?" Ethan repeated patiently.

"Yes." Well, mostly. At least he tried to be.

"He won't get you into trouble? Take advantage of you? Or of his position?"

Part of Nick wanted to laugh at the questions, because Ethan sounded like an old-fashioned mother, trying to protect her naïve young daughter. Part of him wanted to cry, because he was pretty sure of how far Grissom would go not to take advantage of his position where Nick was concerned.

"No, he won't."

"Is he good in bed? No, don't answer that," Ethan said hurriedly at Nick's startled laugh. "Well, old son, if he's really this paragon you're making him out to be, maybe it'll all work out."

"Yeah?" Nick cringed at how pathetically hopeful he sounded.

"But maybe not in the way you'd like it to."

"Yeah," Nick agreed. He cleared his throat, but it didn't dislodge the lump in it. "Ethan? Thanks. For listening."

"That's OK. I just wish you'd listen, as well. For once. You know, as a part of turning that new leaf."

Nick smiled. "Maybe I will this time."

"You won't, but I'm used to it by now. Lou and Scott have me well trained. Well, speak of the devil. Here, Lou, talk to your favorite brother-in-law. I called him, just like you ordered me to."

"Nice try, slick," Nick heard his sister-in-law say. "Hey, Nicky. Congratulations!"

When Nick hung up, he sat staring into space. Ethan was right. Nothing was going to work out the way Nick wanted it to. Because all Nick had wanted was more time and a chance for them to figure things out, and with Grissom now his boss, he wasn't going to get either.

Fine. He'd deal with it. It's not like anything serious had been going on. A mild flirtation. Some sex. What the hell was he getting so worked up about?

When he'd been about seven, Nick had had a big fight with his best friend and he'd returned home in tears. Ethan had been lounging on the front porch, drinking a Coke.

"Hey, old son, what's up?"

"Josh is an asshole and we're not friends any more. And I don't care," Nick had said hotly.

Ethan had reached over and tousled Nick's hair. "Ah, squirt, when you have to tell yourself you don't care, that's when you really do," he'd said. "Now get lost. Angie's coming over and three's a crowd."

Over 20 years later, that brief moment with Ethan sprang to Nick's mind. "Oh, fuck," he muttered, his heart sinking. He had a feeling the next few months were going to be really long ones.