Title: I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song
Author: Buffy
Rating: G
Archive: Taking Chances, WWOMB, all others ask first
Sequel to: This Is Dedicated to the One I Love
Summary: I don't care what they say, what do they know about this love anyway?
Notes: blame this one on my trip to the State Fair. My friend got me tickets to see Rascal Flatts when they came, and these songs reached out and grabbed me. Still taking place before Grave Danger, just because I don't want any angst in this series, that's what my other series is for ;P

Nick hadn't pushed, but he knew that everyone had noticed Warrick's bad mood that last few days. Especially since for the last few weeks he'd been in such a good mood. Nick hadn't asked partly because he figured if Warrick wanted to talk about it, he would have. But Nick also wasn't sure he wanted to know what the problem was, since it might lead to more information about Grissom than he really wanted or needed.

So it caused a bit of déjà vu when he and Warrick ended up in one of the layout rooms, processing evidence with the radio playing. After the commercials and public service announcements the DJ came on, "The sun's gone down on the city of Sin, but the city keeps rockin', and so do we. This is Casino 91.7, and you're listening to our all-request night. To start off this set we've got one going out to Warrick, and after that, we've got one for the ER over at the Desert Palm."

Of all the songs that could have followed that dedication, "Love You Out Loud" was probably the last one he would have expected. Nick didn't even know that Grissom listened to country, and he'd have bet money that Warrick would have burned his stereo before listening to it. Nick didn't look up, he concentrated determinedly on the evidence they were processing.

He heard Warrick sigh, "Go ahead, ask."

Nick grinned as he shook his head, "No way, man. You're my best friend and all, but there are some things I just don't need to know about Grissom. Besides, I figure you'll tell me what I need to know."

There was a long pause, "I respect that. It's not a big thing. Just, well, Gris ain't the most open about himself, you know? And I was feelin' a bit underappreciated, ya dig?"

"I can believe that. But it sounds like he just made up for it pretty well." Nick didn't want to butt in where he didn't belong, but he couldn't help himself. Maybe it was growing up with all sisters; he'd been exposed to too much talk about relationships as a kid. But he wanted to help get Gris out of the mess he'd made.

He glanced up just in time to catch a glimpse of a soft smile on his friend's face. He pretended not to hear Warrick's murmured, "He may not say it, but he can show it."

* * *

Greg knew the minute he walked into the lab that /something/ had happened while he'd been on vacation. The fact that everyone was either very obvious about the fact that they were busy with work, or huddled in quiet conversations that broke up quickly when anyone passed told him that whatever it was, it'd been big. The break room seemed to be ground zero, or at least a central point for the reaction. Catherine and Sara were arguing fiercely, Sofia was staring off into space with a look of concentration, and Nick sitting off to the side. It looked like he was trying to both stay out of the line of fire, and keep from offering his opinion in the argument.

"I'm away for three days for a cousin's wedding, and I miss all the excitement." Greg knew he was poking an ant hill, but he was counting on Catherine's maternal tendencies and Nick's unwillingness to be the only male in the area to keep him safe.

"Hi, Greg," Catherine's frustration with Sara was obvious in her tone. "Sara, deal with it, or put in a transfer. It doesn't affect the lab."

Sara had that expression on her face, the one that meant her opinion was set in stone. "I'm sorry, but I just can't understand it. It's wrong, and you know it."

Catherine sighed, rubbing her forehead, "I'm as shocked as you are, but that's no excuse for letting your personal bias to interfere with your work."

Greg turned to Nick hoping to get an explanation, "Wanna clue me in, here?"

"First day you were gone there was a drive by at a hotel. Big scene, so swing was asked to stay a little late to help locate and log all the evidence. Once it got back to the lab, it was graveyard's baby. Officer Fromansky saw Warrick telling Gris goodbye and reported it to Ecklie. Now Gil's on suspension while IA makes sure they waited `til they weren't on the same shift, and Warrick's on suspension for punching Fromansky out after the asshole made some nasty comments about Gris."

"Well, Gris'll be back soon, then. I'll go give IA a statement before shift's over."

Greg realized the error of his words when they were suddenly skewered by intense looks from both Catherine and Sara. Catherine gave him a sweetly predatory smile, "I take it you knew about this?"

Greg shifted closer to Nick before he answered, feeling himself start to sweat. "Well, um, yeah. I knew for sure a little over a month ago, but you-ah-you remember me asking you about Gris's love life a couple months ago? There was a song dedication and I was in the Tahoe with Gris when it came on, so I kinda knew before I knew." Greg knew he was babbling, but having two females with knowledge of how to hide bodies giving him death glares was one of the scariest things he could remember. He pointed to Nick, "Ask Nick, he knew the same time I did."

Nick held his hands up in a "don't shoot" gesture, "Hey, I found out by accident, same as Greg. We didn't figure it was any of our business."

Sara shook her head violently, "I just don't get it. I mean, what could they have in common? They're practically polar opposites, and despite what the movies say, there has to be at least a little common ground."

Nick stood to get himself another cup of coffee, giving all the females in the room a wide berth. "Why does it matter? They're together, and to all appearances, they're happy. Do them a favor, let it drop." He reached over and turned on the little radio, cranking the volume to try to discourage further conversation.

It was divine coincidence what station the radio was tuned to, and the timing of his move. From the little speakers, the DJ's voice rang out cheerfully, "We're back to our all-request night here on Casino 91.7. And I've got several requests lined up, "They're Coming to Take Me Away" for a bunch of poor college students studying for midterms; "Unchained Melody" for Eric and Rachel on their anniversary; but first I've got a song going out from Warrick and Gil to their friends. Apparently the friends just found out these guys are dating and are having to adjust their world view. Warrick says this song pretty much sums it up for him and Gil."

It was the second time that a country song surprised Nick, but he couldn't help but smile at the choice. Rascal Flatts' "Everyday Love". No matter what Cath or Sara thought, Warrick and Gil's relationship wasn't anything different. Nick had been with Fromansky that night, and there hadn't been anything inappropriate about what they'd seen.

Warrick had dropped a quick kiss and told Gris that he was stopping at the store on the way home, did they need anything he didn't know about? Gris had laughed and told Warrick that he'd know better than Gris would and asked him to run a load of laundry when he got home, because there were no more clean towels. Warrick had left, and Grissom had continued on to the trace lab. It was so mundane a conversation; it could have been totally platonic except for the implication that Warrick and Gil were living together.

Nick finished his coffee, rinsed his cup, and turned to face Catherine and Sara. He squared his shoulders before he spoke, "Look, I know you both have your issues with them, that's fine. But don't dump shit on them for not telling you themselves. For them, their feelings are just part of life; don't blame them for not wanting to have to deal with the bigots and assholes in the LVPD. And if I think for a minute you're making their work environment hostile, I'll swear out a complaint myself." He left before either woman could reply, Greg dogging his heels.

When they got to the parking lot, Greg split off for administration, "I'm gonna go talk to IA. Who's in charge of graveshift while Grissom's out?"

"Sofia, but it's been a quiet night so far."

Greg was unusually serious, "And what you said about hostile work environment? You won't be the only one filing a complaint if it happens."

Nick grinned, "Yeah, I know. Doc Robbins has been defending them from the beginning, and Brass is squashing the assholes among the officers. The biggest problem so far has come from the ones like Cath and Sara, the ones who see Grissom as `the one who got away'." Greg laughed as he jogged off, and Nick was still smiling as he pulled into the Vegas traffic. When he got to a light, he grabbed his cell phone and hit one of the numbers on speed dial.

"Hey, man, figured you'd still be up. Just wanted to let you know, Greg went off to make a statement with IA that you waited to jump Gris `til /after/ he wasn't your supervisor anymore." Nick laughed at Warrick's reaction to his description of the start of his coworker's relationship, "Also wanted to let you know, the radio was on and up loud when your request went through. Expect it to be all over the lab by the end of the night; Cath, Sara, and Sofia were all in the break room when it played. Yeah, well, don't know how much of an impression it made on them, but at least you tried." Nick's thumb moved to hover over the `end' button, "So, since you like country so much, I guess you won't mind if I listen to my Tex Ritter CDs in the lab, right?" Nick laughed as he hung up on Warrick's response, glad to have been the bearer of fairly good news.