Title: Timing is Everything
Author: Evan Nicholas
Summary: Eventually, man, you've just got to do it already.
Rating: Conversation. Safe for all unless you have a really, really depraved mind.
Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, I wouldn't be wearing hand-me-down shirts. ...well, maybe the orange one. It's really nice.
A/n: Not beta'd, of course. Sorry...
"Hey, Greg?"
"Hm."
"Greg, man, snap out of it."
"Whaaat?"
"Man, you've been spending way too much time near that fume hood. Let's get some fresh air."
"Is that Texan for 'I hope you don't blow up the lab again'?"
"Just come with me for a second."
"Fine, fine. Just let me finish-"
"Greg. Now. Please."
***
"I know it's kind of cheesy and horrible, but..."
"It's the back parking lot, Nick. Of course it's cheesy and horrible."
"I meant, you know. It being Valentine's Day and all."
"Well, you know, it happens just about every year, at around the same time. An astute person might notice a pattern."
"Greg, please shut up."
"Shutting up. Sorry. You were saying?"
"Right. Okay. Here's the thing, okay?"
"Shoot."
"It's, uh, we've known each other for a long time, right?"
"Since I started here."
"Right. Okay. So we've known each other for a long time, and we're sorta, you know, friends. Right?"
"Ye-e-s-s-s-sss...?"
"Crap. I'm screwing this up."
"Screwing what up? And please stop sighing, Nick, it's depressing."
"Sorry."
"Just spit it out, okay? Whatever it is. Do I owe you money or something?"
"No."
"Well then...?"
"It's Valentine's Day. Um. Do you want to, um..."
"What? Look after your dog while you go out on a date? Spit it out, man."
"Do you want to be my date?"
"...what?"
"My date? My Valentine. You know. Do you wanna, you know. Go out? With me. Sometime. Maybe."
"I, uh-"
"Okay, no sweat. I get it."
"Nick-"
"No, seriously. It's okay."
"I'd love to, Nick."
"I mean, it's not like we - What?"
"I'd love to."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Why is that so hard to believe?"
"I don't know. It just... we've known each other for so long, and you never, I mean-"
"What? I never?! Nick, I've been flirting with you for, like, three years."
"Oh?"
"Jesus, how did you not notice- Never mind. C'mere."
"What?"
"I said, come here."
***
"So... after work okay?"
"Nothing better, honey."
"Greg... don't call me that."
"Okay, snookums."
"Greg!"
"But pookie-"
"I mean it... look, here comes Catherine. Don't - don't do anything stupid, okay?"
"Stupid, snugglebuns?"
"Greg...."
"Just kidding. See you at sunrise."