Title: Around The Table
Author: Jedi Princess Clarrisani
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG
Pairing(s): Nick/Greg, Referenced Grissom/Sara
Word Count: 1,216
Summery: A case involving two murdered lawyers leaves the team discussing hidden relationships between co-workings.
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, but wouldn't mind Greg (or rather, Eric Szmanda) wrapped up as a gift for Christmas.

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They sat around the break room table in silence, sipping their coffees as they pondered over the case. It had been a hard one, a confusing one, and now that they had the truth, it had left them a lot to think about. Two men dead – co-workers who had secretly been dating, only word had gotten out about them. What had apparently been duel suicide had turned out to be murder, and everyone had a motive. In the end it had turned out to be the brother of one of the men who had killed over money matters, not their sexuality. But it wasn't the nature of their death that intrigued the CSIs – it was their lifestyle.

"I really don't see how anyone can do it," Sara said softly, breaking the silence as she set her cup down on the table. "I mean, why hide the relationship?"

"Because they knew how everyone would react," Catherine said, shrugging. "Relationships between co-workers rarely work."

"But it wasn't the fact they were co-workers," Warrick pointed out. "There were several relationships goin' on there. It was the fact they were guys."

"Homosexuality is still the demon of many people," Gil continued, nodding. "No matter how many times we are told different, people are afraid of what they consider abnormality."

"But what is normal?" Sara asked. "I mean, if two people love each other…"

"That's not the issue here," Catherine said. "They were lawyers. The worst thing you can be in law is gay."

"Depends on where you are." Warrick gestured with his head. "Bobby."

They all nodded their agreement, sipping from their mugs. Catherine looked around the table, eyes resting on Nick and Greg for a moment, noting their silence. She shrugged it off, sighing heavily and rubbing her eyes. It had been a long shift, and she was enjoying the time-out. She looked up as Sara spoke again.

"But I still don't understand why they kept it secret. Were they ashamed or something?"

"Probably not." Warrick shrugged slightly. "They knew the risks, so they kept quiet."

"But why take that risk? Wouldn't it have been easier to simply not agree to a relationship?"

"It's not that easy, Sara." Grissom removed his glasses, polishing them absently. "Sometimes, when you love someone, you take that risk."

Catherine snorted. "And you're an expert."

He shot her a firm look.

The younger four laughed softly, Sara turning toward non-contributing men. "Nick, Greg, what about you? What do you two think? Worth the risk?"

Nick nodded. "Sure, why not."

"Agreed." Greg sipped from his cup, looking at Nick for a moment before looking back towards his main mentor. "Some people are worth it."

"Yeah, but at the expense of your co-workers?" Sara frowned. "If you knew they wouldn't approve, would you still do it?"

"Of course."

"See, I just don't get that."

"And yet you lust after Grissom…"

Sara's eyes widened as Catherine, Warrick and Nick laughed. "I do not!"

Grissom cleared his throat, resting his glasses on the table and picking up his mug again. "I agree with Warrick that it was more related to the fact that their relationship was of homosexual nature, not the fact that they were co-workers."

"Yeah." Warrick leaned back in his seat, sighing. "I guess you wouldn't know how your other co-workers would react. You've got to work with them and you don't need them freaking out."

"Exactly." Catherine nodded. "Which is one reason why I've never liked relationships between co-workers. It makes things too messy."

"Messy how?" Warrick frowned. "When you break up, or when everyone finds out?"

"Both, really." Catherine ticked them off her fingers. "You can't focus on your work, people gossip behind your back, people think you're only in it for the promotion…"

"All good points," Sara agreed. "But if you care about someone..."

Greg coughed into his hand. "Grissom."

Sara kicked him under the table, bringing a smile to everyone's faces.

"You're one to talk," Sara hissed. "Flirting with Wendy. I saw you."

"I was just trying to get my results. And technically, she's not a co-worker."

"True," Catherine said, smiling. "That title only really applies to everyone in this room."

"Which means Greggo has a point about the Grissom thing," Nick said, smiling sweetly as Sara.

She leaned forward. "Don't make me hurt you."

"Sara, we all know," Catherine said, looking toward their boss. "Not that we really care. And some of us personally think a certain someone should ask someone else out to dinner."

Grissom met her gaze coolly, setting his jaw. "And what was it you were just saying about dating co-workers?"

"I can make exceptions."

"I noticed."

"Back to the topic," Warrick said, noting Sara's smug look and ignoring it. "If any of us were dating, we wouldn't keep it from each other."

"No." Sara shook her head. "I wouldn't."

"Some of us would," Catherine said. "Some of us do."

Sara looked up sharply. "Who…"

"What?" Warrick looked at her curiously. "You know something?"

"I know something." Catherine looked at Grissom, who was watching her impassively, although she could see the amused twinkle in his eyes. "And they've done a good job in hiding it."

Sara blinked. "Again: who?"

Grissom smirked, sipping from his mug. "The experts in this topic are remaining very quiet during this conversation."

Warrick and Sara stared at him a moment before turning slowly to look pointedly at Nick and Greg, and two men shifting beneath their gaze while trying to maintain an air of innocence. There was a heavy silence in the room, Catherine and Grissom exchanging an amused look, Catherine turning back to her friends.

"How long, boys? Two years? Three?"

Nick cleared his throat in an effort to move the lump that was forming there. "Four years."

"You have got to be kidding me." Sara looked from Nick, to Greg, and back again. "You two?

"Four years?" Warrick laughed softly. "Damn. And you kept this from us?"

"Didn't know how we'd react, right?" Sara said, mind falling back onto the case. "You should have told us, guys."

"So you'd go all weird on us?" Greg said.

"No, so we'd cover your arses from Ecklie," Warrick said, clapping Nick on the shoulder. "If you ever want to switch days off to match up with G's…"

Grissom pursed his lips thoughtfully for a moment, then stood. "Shift ended five minutes ago, so I suggest we move this to somewhere where we can have breakfast."

Nick frowned. "Why? So you can have time to enjoy your outing us?"

"No," Grissom smiled, exchanging a knowing look with the grinning Catherine. "So we can interrogate you without risk of interruption."

As they left the room, Warrick and Sara laughing, Nick hung back and leaned toward Greg. "And they wonder why we didn't want them to know."

"Yeah." Greg met his lover's gaze. "Want to do a Romeo and Juliet?"

"Only if you're Juliet."

Greg chuckled. "C'mon. Maybe we can convince them that if they feed us we might tell them something."

"It's always about the food with you."

"Hey, the fast way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

"Tis why I bought those cook books." Nick reached out, squeezing Greg's hand, dropping them as they reached the break room door. "Let's go do this."

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END