Title: Caught by the Law
Author: Daniela
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Pairing: Greg/Grissom
Rating: PG13
Category: Romance, Angst
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 are going out.
Warnings: Slash, M/M, Spoilers from "After The Show"
Feedback: Yes, please. I will appreciate all constructive criticism.
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Released: March 2004

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"How did you find this place?"

"Mmh?"

"The restaurant. It´s pretty far from our neighborhood, don´t you think."

"Oh, I found it by accident, when I was driving to a Crime Scene. Looked nice on the outside."

"Ah," Greg exclaimed, not quite satisfied with Gil´s answer. Not that he was complaining about Gil´s choice. It was also nice inside. They were sitting in a cozy corner; the surrounding people were almost shut out. Nobody was taking interest in them.

Even so, Gil was throwing constant glances around, observing everyone suspiciously. He seemed very concerned.

It was more than concern, Greg mused. It was almost fear, fear of getting caught.

Naturally, Greg was a little nervous himself. Finally, it was their first date. In addition, something had happened yesterday. He felt urged to tell Gil, but he didn´t know how. Something very confusing and very important. It concerned both of them. For this reason, he was quite nervous himself. But his own nervousness was nothing compared to Gil´s overdrawn behavior. He was acting like.....the fugitive, Dr. Richard Kimble. Oh yeah. Exactly like him. As if we were on the run, in danger to be caught any second. It bothered Greg. Honestly, it bothered him a lot.

Finally noticing his questioning frown, Gil presented him with a half-smile, taking up his menu and started studying it.

Annoyed, Greg read his own menu, feeling suddenly indifferent to choose anything. When the waiter appeared, Greg still hadn´t made up his mind.

Not minding his wishes, Gil answered the waiters request with a clear "Yes" and ordered.

Hiding being offended, Greg picked quickly the first thing on the menu to get rid of the busy-looking employee. Alone again, he caught Gil observing the other people again. That did it. "What´s wrong Gil?" He asked directly.

"Nothing. Why?"

"Come on, I can see how uncomfortable you feel being here with me."

Immediately, Gil closed up. "You are wrong. I´m just tired and I´m...."

"All right, forget about it," Greg quickly pacified him. He didn´t want to start up on a fight and ruin the evening. Finally, it was their first date. They never before went out together. "Let us enjoy the evening and just talk about us." Not good.

Gil´s face became even colder, his lips a thin line. "What is there to talk about?" he squeezed out, having trouble to open the lips wide enough, so the words could slip through.

"For example, how did you fix your hearing problem?" Greg started boldly.

"What?" Gil asked perplexed. "How do you know, I fixed it anyway?"

"Basically, because your hearing did improve a lot. I remember one particular event, when you overheard me telling Nick, I don´t see anyone." He smiled meaningful, recalling the awkward moment at a Crime Scene, the day; they had slept together for the first time.

Gil relaxed a bit, smiling back. "Well, if you have to know, I had a surgery half a year ago. It was successfully. At the moment, my hearing is just fine."

"Why didn´t you tell me?"

"We weren´t together back then."

A happy grin took possession of Greg´s entire face. "So, we are TOGETHER now?"

Taken by surprise, Gil´s eyes became big blue marbles. "You know, that´s not what I meant, we....," he suddenly broke off.

Drumming his fingertips on the table, Greg looked unfamiliar earnest. "Yes, we are..."

Gil´s face froze visible under his demanding tone.

"Hello you two. What a nice surprise." A friendly voice interrupted the tense situation.

Startled, both turned their attention to the owner of this voice, standing in front of their table.

Sheriff Rory Atwater, smiling all cheerful and delighted.

Regarding the delicate situation, Greg repressed a hysteric giggle with trouble. "Good evening, sir," he replied, sensing instinctively, politeness was the best way to save the day.

"Sheriff," Gil voiced curtly, obviously in shock by his presence.

"Isn´t it a coincidence meeting you here, Gil. Do I know your friend?"

Noticing Gil´s struggle in finding the best answer to this, Greg intervened: "I´m Greg Sanders. I´m working at the Crime Lab."

The sheriff´s eyes were flashing. "Oh yes. Now, I remember you. You´re the CSI trainee, who was working that murder case with Catherine Willows."

"Right." Greg smiled pleased. I like that man, he thought surprised. He is obviously not the same jerk, Sheriff Mobley was.

In the meantime, Gil had found his familiar calmness. "Well, sometimes colleges from the lab come together to talk shop. Actually, Brown and Stokes wanted to join us, but they had to call off today. I didn´t know, this restaurant is one of your favorite spots too."

The corners of the sheriff´s mouth were twitching. "Oh, it is. The food and the service are very good. I´m sorry to say, unlike you, I´m here by myself. I don´t know such interesting company to spend my evenings with."

Oh, that hit the target, Greg realized gleefully. Clever man, this sheriff. You absolutely deserved that, Gil.

A bit pale, Gil cleared his throat and dared to offer politely: "If you want to join us...?"

Sheriff Atwater shook his head. "No, thank you. I have already eaten. I´m on my way home. But, I appreciate the offer." The twinkle in his eyes showed, he saw right through Gil, knowing the offer wasn´t meant seriously. "Enjoy your evening. See you." With a last nod to Greg, he left.

Pretty pissed, Greg asked in the most innocent manner: "Do you wanna call Catherine?"

"Huh?" Gil uttered, still stunned by the recent meeting.

"As I understand, this is a business meeting, no date, and maybe Catherine wants to join us," Greg continued sugar-coated.

Gil tried to soothe him. "I have to give him some explanation. You have to understand, I couldn´t tell him the truth...."

"Why not? Are you ashamed of me? For what reason exactly? Because you are my boss, or because I´m a man. Or is it, because I´m much younger than you? Maybe it is much worse. Maybe, you are ashamed, because I´m not suitable enough for the famous supervisor Gil Grissom."

"No, of course not. It´s only better in our situation....," Gil started to defend himself.

"You know what? Forget about it." Greg stood up. "I have learned my lesson for tonight. It won´t work between us. It´s better, I leave."

Gil grabbed his hand. "I don´t want you to leave. Doesn´t it matter, I came here with you...."

"You think, I´m stupid. I know exactly, why you choose this particular restaurant. It´s so far from our neighborhood, you hoped nobody would see us here together." He laughed wryly. "It didn´t work out, did it? Isn´t life a bitch sometimes?"

Blushing, Gil didn´t object. "You have to understand, how difficult this is for me...."

"I understand perfectly, believe me." He shook off Gil´s hand. "At the moment, I´m very much upset. I just wanna go home."

Gil changed his strategy. "All right, I come with you and we will...."

"....have sex?" Greg interrupted angrily. "No way, I´m sleeping with you tonight. What do you think of me?"

"Greg, please..." Gil took his hand again, but Greg tore it free. "No. Okay? No." With these words, he grabbed his coat and rushed out, leaving a lost-looking Gil.

Ashamed of himself and by the curious looks of the other customers, Gil stayed put, keeping his eyes at the table. After a few deep breathes to calm himself, Gil was startled by the sight of the waiter, who approached him.

"Excuse me sir, but your dinner is ready."

"I´m sorry, but I have to leave. Please, bring me the bill." The waiter didn´t complain, but Gil caught a glimpse of amusement in his eyes. Maybe, he heard the whole conversation, Gil mused. And? Does it matter? No, it doesn´t. He paid and left for home.

After getting into his car and driving out of the parking lot, he became fully aware of his own behavior and felt absolutely miserably. Especially, because Greg had been right with his accusations. He had chosen the restaurant for its offside location. Well, I paid the price for my deceit, didn´t I? First, the very entertaining conversation with sheriff Atwater. I had the feeling; he got the picture pretty well. I´m not only stupid, I´m a bad liar too. And second, I blew it with Greg. Again. I really deserve to lose him.

Stopped by many red traffic lights on his way home, he had the time to realize one thing. He didn´t want to lose Greg. He had to fix the mess, make it up to him, prove him, that he wasn´t ashamed, neither of him, nor the relationship. Even, if it would ruin his career. The red light turned green and he drove on, his thoughts still spinning around the mess, he created.

Finally home, he rushed to the phone, dialing Greg´s number quickly, afraid, to have second thoughts and change his mind. It rang. Once. Twice. Thrice. Four...

Someone answered. "Sanders." An unknown voice.

Confused, Gil stammered: "G-Greg?"

"Sorry, Greg is in the shower right now," the stranger answered. "Can I give him..."

Quickly, Gil broke off the connection. For a whole minute, he stood silently in the middle of his living room, not moving an inch. Finally, he muttered to himself: "Well, that problem is solved. Obviously, he didn´t waste any time to find himself a new lover." After making this conclusion, he went to the bathroom. While he was brushing his teeth, he regarded his face in the mirror.

Look at me. I´m old. What was I thinking, anyway? It´s better this way. Better for Greg, and for me. Nobody gets hurt. No? Why does my heart feel like it would burst any second then?

Suddenly very, very tired, he scuffled to his bedroom, lying down. Shifting restlessly around, he stared into the darkness.

Who was on the phone, who could Greg pick up so quickly? Not Michael Andrews? No. I would have recognized his voice. Who then? Does it matter? Yes, it does matter. It matters to me. We had a fight and he immediately had sex with another man. How could he do this to me? Doesn´t he know, how much this hurts me? I´m hurt? Yes, I´m hurt a lot.

Swallowing hard, Gil put his face into the pillow, trying to ignore the images, running through his mind. Greg, naked, with another man, young and pretty. Kissing each other, making out. Gil groaned. NO. Stop thinking about that. But the images didn´t vanish, they were burning in his head like a brand on his flesh. STOP! But finding no sleep at all, a new thought jumped into his mind, making him more desperate than before. Leaving him suffering for the whole night. Do I love Greg? Can it be? He is eccentric, loud, annoying, a chatterbox, too young...

Gil sighed. Otherwise, he is smart, cute, funny, sexy, loving, soft-hearted....

Gil sighed again. Maybe I do love him. But does it matter anymore? Obviously, Greg doesn´t love me and - what made the thought even worse - doesn´t want me anymore.

Finally, in the morning, the sun was already rising; sleep took care of him for a few merciful hours.