Previous part of The Odyssey.

***

The next thing Gil knew he was startled awake by a loud crashing above his head and the squawks of birds.   Sea gulls.
 
Henri woke too.  "Those bastards, they get everywhere, you would think they could be a little quieter, it is still so early."  It was well before six in the morning and still dark.
 
"The early bird catches the worm."
 
"There are no worms out here; they're chasing the fishing boats as they return to port. Bastards."
 
"You're not keen on them or early mornings, I take it?"
 
"I rarely go to bed before five o'clock."
 
"Of course, the club, I forgot."
 
"I need to take a piss."
 
"A piece? A piece of what...oh, a piss."
 
"Ha, you take the piss out of my accent, you should pay for that."
 
"In kind?"
 
"You still want to..."
 
"Do you?"
 
"I would never say no to you, Geeeel."  Henri exaggerated the pronunciation of his name.
 
"Okay, Henry."
 
"Ah, you are a horrible man and I must take a peeess!"
 
Henri clambered unsteadily from the bed and held onto the fittings as he made his way to the head.  Of course, as soon as Gil heard the copious urination of the other man he knew that he, too, must take a 'peeess', and made his own unsteady way to wait in line to use the head.
 
Henri finished with a satisfying sigh and then used a piece of toilet paper to wipe the end of his penis.  Gil raised his eyebrows, he'd heard of this, but never witnessed a guy 'wiping' before.  Henri flushed and used the little sink to wash his hands, the motor whirring as it heated the water for him.  It might be a small yacht but it was well equipped.  When the cubicle was vacated, Gil followed suit.  And just to test out the procedure he too, wiped!  He chuckled at his 'new man' behaviour.
 
Back in the cabin Henri lay on the bed again, rubbing his not inconsiderable erection.  Smiling at Gil, he patted the bed beside him.  Gil crawled up the bed to him, his own erection awakening at the prospect of some action.
 
He almost threw himself down beside Henri and the boat protested at the movement.
 
"If ever I want to seduce a man again, I can tell you, Gil, that I will never bring him aboard this confounded boat!"
 
"Henri, where's your sense of adventure, we've had a good time, okay, I chickened out last night, but we talked and that was good, for me anyway."
 
"And for me...I said things to you that I've never said out loud before and after you had fallen asleep I spent time thinking about my revelations...to share them was good and I hope now that I can, how do you say, lay the ghost to rest."
 
"I hope so, Henri, so it has been good.  Come on, let's get physical."
 
"A very good idea."  He pulled Gil onto him to resume the kissing that came to such an abrupt end the night before.
 
Gil was enjoying this, being on top gave him more control and he thought that, perhaps, he was going to be a top...well, given the chance.  Their kisses resumed with the intensity of the night before and both men fully explored each other's body, well at least as far as their belly buttons.
 
But their erections were forcing the issue about what they would do next and suddenly Henri prised Gil away from him and looked him straight in the eye.
 
"Mon cherie, could I ask you something and if you say non, it will not matter, I promise.  I can understand that you do not wish for me to...fuck you, but would you care to fuck me?" 
 
"Well I didn't see that coming...you know I've never done it?  I don't know how."
 
"But I will show you and then if you are lucky enough to win your 'prize', then you will know how to pleasure him."
 
"I suppose there's no harm in trying, it never crossed my mind that I could do it, I've no idea why not."
 
"Then kiss some more and think about it."
 
"Good plan."
 
But as Gil kissed he knew he didn't really want to fuck Henri any more than he'd wanted Henri to fuck him the night before.  He was chicken, he knew that, but he just felt it was far too soon for such a step.  He knew; at least he'd read of the pleasure...and the pain and he knew that it was not the right time for him to...what?  Be initiated?   He felt stupid for turning down Henri whom he thought would probably be an excellent teacher but that was how he felt and he couldn't change his feelings...even if he was gay. 
 
He thought about Nick and his promise to Nik.  Who knew what would happen?  He hoped he could develop a friendship, at the very least, with Nick, but then if Nick dismissed him out of hand, then perhaps he could come back to the islands...perhaps; but he knew he wouldn't.
 
He was a hypocrite, he knew that, but since he'd been the same for years he wasn't going to change overnight.  He'd been with Nik for a few weeks and now he was lying in bed with Henri; he wasn't a blushing virgin.  But he wasn't ready to have one of the most intimate of all homosexual sex.  Because he wasn't intimate with this man with whom he was lying...
 
"You are doing all that thinking again and it is a 'non' is it not?"
 
"It is.  I'm really sorry, bu...." Gil was silenced by Henri putting his fingers to Gil's mouth.
 
"No time for regrets, you must do what you think is right for you."  Henri leaned onto Gil and continued kissing him with all his might.
 
Their flagging erections almost immediately hardened.  Both men had spent some time sexually aroused without relief and both men decided simultaneously that this was going to lead to the pleasure they denied themselves the night before...if not exactly what Henri had hoped for, at least some relief.
 
Henri reached under his pillow and produced a tube of lube, held up with a triumphant grin.  Gil chuckled and shook his head as Henri squeezed a copious amount into his palm of his right hand.  Without preamble his put the palm on Gil's hard cock - making Gil squirm with the coldness of the lubrication.   He thoroughly oiled Gil's cock and with the residue on his hand, did the same to his own cock.  It was very apparent that both tumultuous cocks appreciated the attention.
 
Henri then grasped them both together in his right hand and, finding the right angle began to rub them together and then started pumping them, the lube was making them slick and the friction was making them hot.  Henri smiled and raised his eyebrows at Gil.  Gil smiled back, with some difficulty given the pleasure he was now experiencing.
 
Gil pulled Henri towards him and devoured his mouth once more, but couldn't keep up the kissing for the need to gasp and take in air as he was rapidly approaching his orgasm.  Henri was not stopping his relentless pumping action, he was getting faster and his fist was getting tighter and Gil's cock, his balls, the deep pit of his stomach and his ass and hell, even his lower back were all heating up like liquid fire as he knew, irrevocably, that his ejaculation had started.
 
He bucked up even further into Henri and the boiling fluid scorched his innards as it made its way to the outside world.  The first stream exploded out of his cock and onto his stomach and Henri's hand.  Almost immediately, Henri too, joined the fray.  He pumped furiously for a few more strokes as they both gasped breath in and out of their lungs and pumped ejaculate out of their penises.
 
Gil's balls had contracted almost into his chest cavity, or so it seemed, they were so tight, but as the spasms ended they started to relax and fall slack once more between his legs.  Henri released his death grip and fell to the side of Gil. 
 
"Not bad at all, young man."
 
"Young...I'm older than you."  Gil gasped.
 
"This is true, but I am the more experienced, n'est pas?"
 
"I think that's a given."
 
"Now, Gil, the sun is almost up and this infernal sex is fucking messy, but my idea is to dive into the sea and wash it off.  Do you swim?"
 
"Yes. And if you don't mind me saying, that's a bloody good idea."  Gil mimicked Nik's vernacular.
 
"I have the good ideas all the time, Gil."
 
"Come on, last one in's a sissy!"
 
"You spent too much time with your young Australian beauty."
 
"No worries mate."
 
"Huh?"
 
The men had disentangled themselves and with semen dripping and drying on their bodies they made unsteady progress up onto deck.  There was a ladder already in situ for getting back onto the boat, so Henri held his nose and jumped, feet first, into the sea.
 
Gil followed suit and joined the Frenchman in the freezing water.  What had looked inviting and refreshing was, in reality, fucking cold.  Both men screamed as they came up for air.
 
"Swim, mon ami, it will warm you." And with that, Henri set out with a fast crawl and Gil followed suit.
 
After a hundred or so yards both men were warmed by their exertion, and Gil, once more, revelled at the gloriously free feeling of skinny dipping.  He trod water and wiped his chest and stomach making sure the semen was washed away.  He watched as Henri came to a stop and then did a lazy back crawl towards him.
 
"It is good.  A good reason to live on a Greek island."
 
"You're right."
 
"I am always right, Gil.  You should come live here with me.  There are many bugs and the internet to keep you occupied during the day and I could keep you occupied at all other times.  You should stay."
 
"Henri, it is tempting, don't think it isn't, but I have to do this...thing, I have to do it, at least to put right the wrongs I have done for many years."
 
"This young man will steal you away from me."
 
The men were becoming breathless from treading water and talking and Gil took the initiative and made towards their boat with his powerful breast stroke.  Henri watched him go, knowing he was swimming away from him, and whatever life he could offer.  He always fell for the inappropriate men.  It was his destinee...

***

Gil was set to leave Mykonos on Monday, leaving them with just four days together. Henri tried to lift his depressive mood, and certainly didn't let Gil see it, but he felt as if the only chance he'd had, since the death of his partner, of a really good relationship was slipping through his fingers. 
 
He decided that he should give Gil the best four days of his life if he could and hope that if Gil was disappointed with his young man, then he would return to Mykonos and his side.  He was an old romantic; he was a romantic fool he knew that.
 
Henri invited Gil to stay in his villa for the last few days and Gil accepted.  Henri was endlessly entertaining with his stories of life growing up in France and his years living in New Orleans, relating the good times he had with Jean-Phillipe and forgetting the bad times.
 
They made love in Henri's opulent bedroom and ate feasts in his dining room; Gil caught fleeting glimpses of Marian, scurrying out of his way, though Henri told him that she loved having an 'extra mouth to feed'.
 
They spent Gil's last day aboard the little yacht, at Gil's request, sailing out into the sea so that Gil could enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the sea...notwithstanding the sea gulls.
 
They ate yet another feast prepared by Marian and then Henri gave Gil a blow job 'to remember'.  Gil assured him that he would remember not only the blow job but every single minute of their short time together.
 
Monday morning arrived and the taxi awaited Gil; he'd decided to fly to Athens instead of taking the ferry to Piraeus.  He had imposed the same rule on Henri that Nik had on him.  No airport.  Their goodbyes would be said in private.  Gil remembered back to (only) the previous Monday when he'd shed copious tears after Nik's departure.
 
He was the one leaving now and he was sure he wouldn't shed a tear for Henri, although he had enjoyed his company enormously, he knew that Henri was not the kind of man with whom he would form a long time liaison.  A friend; what did Nik call him...a 'fuck buddy', but not a lover in the true sense of the word; he did not love Henri and he knew that his fussy ways and gourmet eating would soon bore him.  He felt treacherous for thinking such things, but it was true.  It was best that they part now, short and sweet...happy memories for both men.
 
So as they hugged for the last time, Henri was morose but not tearful.  He handed Gil a package of Marian's food...for his journey and then a small box packaged tastefully.
 
"You must not open this until you are in your hotel in Athens.  Promise me!"
 
"I promise Henri, but I have nothing for you..."
 
"...no, you have given me a little happiness, for which I am eternally grateful.  Je t'aime, mon ami.  Au revoir."
 
"Henri."  They hugged and Gil felt Henri's lips on his neck and he instinctively moved into the kiss.  He smiled to himself; he was so obviously a gay man.
 
Gil pulled away and gave Henri a quick peck on the lips and turned and left.  He didn't look back, but felt incredibly churlish at his behaviour...but he wanted to be single minded now...Nick Stokes was where his sights were set.
 
The flight was uneventful and he booked into a small hotel close to the airport, extremely noisy but cheap and clean.  After booking in, he phoned his neighbour in Las Vegas, Carole, and told her he'd be home on Wednesday or Thursday.  She seemed pleased to speak to him and assured him there had been no catastrophes while he'd been away...his home was still standing.  He'd guessed as much since she had his cell number but had never used it.
 
He then went to the airport to sort out his ticket - he'd thought that would be easier than trying a ticket office or on-line and he'd been right.  He managed to secure a flight to Gatwick with an onward flight to Las Vegas on Wednesday morning. It would be a very long day, but he'd be home before Thursday.
 
He caught a bus into the city centre and finding a familiar little taverna ordered the first meal he'd eaten alone for many weeks.
 
As he savoured the simple meal of stuffed tomatoes and peppers with his obligatory Greek salad, he thought back to his adventures with Nik and Henri and chuckled to himself at the way his life had been turned upside down.  All he had to do now was the little task of seducing Nick Stokes.  That thought wiped the smile of his face.  But he remained philosophical, the chances that Nick was gay were minimal, he'd never seen any sort of gay behaviour...and then he had to laugh out loud.  It earned him a few looks but he shrugged and sipped his beer.
 
He was a seasoned 'gay' man of a matter of weeks.  He'd have defended his heterosexual status without a thought until that day on the beach with his other Nik.
 
He wandered the crowded streets looking at stalls and suddenly remembered that he had Henri's gift to open.  He had deliberately left it when he'd unpacked and then forgotten it, but now he was wondering if he should buy any presents for his colleagues and that thought had him staring unseeingly into a shop window.  He had not thought of any of them, except Nick, for weeks.  They had faded into the background and he supposed it was the same for them.  Would they manage a passing interest in his 'new' life?  Probably not.
 
He had sown his own seeds of distrust and it was only fair he should reap the consequences of his selfish acts.
 
He thought of Sara.  He was emotionally incapable of dealing with her emotional turmoil, but in truth he hadn't tried and more importantly he hadn't wanted to try.  What a bastard he was, to have strung her along and had even contemplated marrying her; what an unmitigated disaster that would have been.  And yet...if she hadn't left him, he would have done it, he knew it, suddenly aware of his reflection in the shop window.
 
And Warrick?  Could he have provided more support for the doomed man?  Should he have been more assertive and made him toe the line, rather than half-heartedly telling him to back off.  He actually doubted that; although Warrick had the video saying how supportive Gil had been to him...how fatherly...if he'd really believed that, he would have surely been capable of following Gil's instructions to calm down, to lie low, but he hadn't, and then it was too late.
 
He looked at the white haired man he'd become in the last weeks, he'd lost weight, despite Marion's food, and was tanned and healthy.  He was also a hypocrite.  If he did nothing else, he would apologise to Nick, write to Sara and apologise to her too, and he suspected he would be resigning.  He could find a job somewhere.  Maybe lecturing.  By the sea, he'd like to live by the sea again.
 
A crowd jostled him and brought him back to the present.  He'd go to his hotel and see what Henri had given him.  He hailed a taxi, an extravagance, but he was in no mood now for a slow bus.
 
In his room he showered and made himself a cup of tea, then sat with a damp towel around him and looked at the gift, beautifully wrapped and with a small card in Henri's writing...he supposed...he wasn't sure since he'd never seen Henri's writing.
 
'Gil. For just a few days you made me a very happy man.  Au revoir mon ami.  Henri.'
 
He held the card for a few moments and smiled at his memories of the Frenchman.  He then tore the paper off the package and revealed a red leather box.  A watch.  An Omega.
 
A beautiful gold watch, slim and tasteful...much like Henri.  Gil smiled as he felt the watch and slipped it on his wrist.  It was a perfect fit and lay on his wrist without being ostentatious.  He left it on, threw the towel over the arm of a chair and slipped into bed.
 
Gil lay awake hoping that his earlier thoughts about his colleagues weren't as bleak as he believed, but if they were, then he was the only one to blame.  If he accepted that and made them aware then maybe, just maybe, he could move on.
 
But first Nick Stokes.  He smiled to himself as he thought of the young man.  And fell asleep.
 
A few hours later he jolted awake as a jet roared overhead, but it wasn't the jet that had caused him to wake.  It was Nick Stokes talking into a tape recorder saying he was sorry to disappoint him.  Gil had read his lips and yet he had never, not once, since that fucking diabolical ordeal, told Nick that he was not a disappointment.  His excuse was that Nick wouldn't want to know he'd seen him say the words, but that was pathetic because Nick knew they'd recovered the tape anyway.
 
What kind of man was he to behave like that?
 
The next day Gil had a small breakfast and took a bus in the opposite direction to Athens and found a small village to wonder around.  The food in the tavernas was good and the views of the sea and the mountains spectacular.  He felt at peace more so than he had the day before because he realised he would get a chance to make some small amends to those people he had mistreated.
 
His last night in Greece was spent in the city having a last look at the wonderful sights and listening to the sounds.  He didn't buy one thing.  He returned to his hotel, packed, showered and slept, and at least he didn't dream of Nick.
 
The next morning everything went like clockwork and barely three hours after boarding the plane he was in Gatwick awaiting his onward flight.  He'd gained two hours on his day.  The flight to Las Vegas would take about ten hours and the time difference was seven hours behind...so Gil's Wednesday would be a very long day.  The transfer time was only an hour and a half so at least he wouldn't have to hang the airport for too long.

***

Las Vegas mid-afternoon.  Sweltering hot and dry.  Gil had almost forgotten, after the humidity of the Greek islands, that he lived in a desert.
 
He had as little luggage returning as he had leaving and was waiting in line for a taxi fifty-five minutes after landing.  A record for a transatlantic flight but as an American national he'd been fast tracked.
 
Barely an hour later he was home, a 'welcome home' card on his table from his neighbour's young daughter.  He smiled at the crayoning and words.  'Jenna'.  Had he forgotten her name or had he never known it anyway?
 
He bustled about and unpacked and put some laundry to wash.  He put on his coffee and groaned at the amount of mail that awaited him but after opening about a dozen he realised most of it would be junk.  He attacked it as quickly as he could, he didn't want to have it hanging around.  Apart from financial statements and the junk mail, there was nothing of any personal nature.  There was nobody to contact him or miss him.  Well within an hour he'd completed his task.  And his washing was done.  He folded the clothes and then stood in the middle of his laundry room.
 
In one hour he'd completely assumed and resumed his previous life.
 
Had he learned nothing at all?
 
He walked back into his living room and looked around.  This was the sum total of his life before he left.  But now he was determined that it would not be the same again.
 
He looked at his new watch; it was just after five o'clock.  He would check his e-mails, shower and eat something Carole had left in his fridge.
 
And then he would go visit Nick Stokes.
 
He did exactly as he planned and was happy when his truck started on the second turn of the key.  He reversed onto his road and then pushed the gear into drive and stopped...he had no idea where Nick Stokes lived.
 
He screwed his eyes shut and tried to visualise his address...he'd seen it written down.  It was Belvedere Drive, he was sure it was, although he had no idea what number.  He would drive over and look for Nick's truck, hoping that he had the same one and that he was actually in...it was seven in the evening.  He might have gone out, he might be on a rest day, he might...he had no idea...but he had to do this, he'd promised Nik.  He'd also promised himself that he would do this as soon as he arrived back in Vegas.  He'd been back for four hours.
 
The traffic was heavy and Gil had almost forgotten the tedium of driving in the packed thoroughfares, too much traffic for too few roads.  He arrived at the street and slowed down as he looked around and as luck would have it - he was getting lucky, was that a good omen - Nick's truck was parked by a neat little house.  Gil parked up on the road and took several deep breaths, he was suddenly thirsty, his throat as dry as sand and he was tired.  He's hardly slept on the flight home.
 
He had to do this.  He hauled his now very weary body from the truck and locked it; he walked up the driveway to the front door and rang the bell.
 
He hoped Nick wouldn't be in bed, he would hate to get him up.  People who worked nightshifts had odd sleep patterns and he had no idea when Nick slept.  It could be as soon as he got in from work, or it could be later, or...or...  Gil's mind was babbling.
 
He suddenly lost his courage and was about to turn around and leave without using the bell again when the door swung open.
 
"Gris?  Grissom?  What are you doing here?  God, man, your hair's turned white!"  Nick stared at him and then chuckled.
 
"I like to think of it as sun bleached."  Gil was amazed that he was able to speak, let alone give a reasonable reply.
 
"Sun bleached?  What happened to that ridiculous...sorry, but it was...sunhat you wore all the time to stop getting...sun bleached?"
 
"I forgot to take it with me.  Did you really think it was ridiculous?"
 
"Yes...well, no...yes, actually."
 
"Nick, do you think I could come in?"
 
"Oh God, sorry Gris...please come in; where are my manners, Mom would kill me."
 
"I suppose it's the shock of me just turning up on your doorstep?"
 
"Yeah; that!"
 
Nick held open the door and stood back to let Grissom enter his home.  Gil Grissom had never walked over his threshold before.   He walked in and the stopped to look around. He looked shocked.
 
"Nick, this is wonderful, what a...great room."
 
"Errr...thanks.  Just threw it together, you know?"
 
"No, this room hasn't been thrown together it's been carefully assembled; it's...beautiful."
 
"Thanks.  It's nothing really."  Nick was squirming under the unfamiliar praise.
 
Gil begged to differ but didn't say anything else as he looked around the room and feasted on the ambience - that's what it was - a wonderful calming ambience.
 
The floor was wooden, and the walls were painted, orange, no, not orange.  It wasn't garish enough to be orange and yet not dark enough to be terracotta.  There were two large leather couches facing each other, and they were a dark rich terracotta colour and scattered with cushions of various hues from cream to brown...a rich chocolate brown. On the floor between the couches was a rug, again with the cream and browns but also muted greens too and all around the room, were lamps on coffee tables and bookcases, a computer desk, all chosen to co-ordinate with everything else and at the window was a blind that was like shimmering copper, not quite see-through, but not quite opaque. 
 
This was one of the most beautiful rooms Gil had ever been in and in the few moments he'd looked around the room it seemed the only thing out of place was a high tech TV mounted on a wall, the couches, he presumed, could be moved slightly to give anyone sitting on them an excellent view.
 
"Nick this room is outstanding.  Did you do it yourself?"
 
Gil could have kicked himself because Nick was instantly defensive.
 
"Yes, I did.  Why, don't you think I'm capable?"
 
"Sorry, Nick, of course I think you're capable, I meant did you do the decorating and the floor and everything yourself?"
 
"Oh, yeah I did, sort of a hobby, you know, take my mind off work."
 
"If I remember correctly, aren't you a carpenter?  Didn't you carve toys for your young nieces and nephews?"
 
"Yes, I did; I do."  Nick was staggered that Grissom would remember such a fact about him.  "Do you want a drink, or anything, coffee, beer?"
 
"A beer would be good, thanks."
 
"Sit down, make yourself at home."  Nick's manners returned.
 
"Thank you, I will." 
 
Gil made himself comfortable in the corner of one of the couches, it was very comfortable, the type to lie down on, stretch out and watch TV, or read a book.  He settled back and Nick bought a beer and a glass, but the 'new' Grissom refused the glass and took a swig from the bottle.  Nick raised his eyebrows at the spectacle.  This man seemed an almost different man to the one who'd left the lab some months before. 
 
Regardless of what anyone had said, Nick hadn't expected to see Grissom come back and he knew the others didn't either.  Perhaps he wouldn't be coming back and that's why he was here; he was still amazed that Gil Grissom was in is living room, sitting on his couch drinking his beer.  Nick settled himself with his beer on the couch opposite.
 
"So, man, what are you doing here?  You're not a regular visitor of mine, are you?"
 
"That's an understatement; I've never visited you."
 
"No."
 
"And, I want to try and explain why..."
 
"...you don't have to explain anything..."
 
"...but I do.  I would like to ask you a favour, Nick."
 
"You can ask."

***

"I have something I want to tell you, and I think it will be quite difficult for me...no, that's a lie...it will be very difficult for me to tell you and for you to listen.  Could I ask you to hear me out?  Not to interrupt?"
 
"This is weird, man, you know, you turning up like this."
 
"I know it is but I must tell you something; I need to tell you something."  Gil was almost begging but at the same time, very determined.
 
"I suppose you're here now; if it's that important that you needed to visit me for the very first time, then go ahead."  Gil was well aware of the dig Nick was making.
 
"Thank you.  This is as bad for me to say as it will be for you to hear, so thank you.
 
"I've been to Greece, or more specifically, a couple or more Greek islands. I've had a truly wonderful time, but more than that I've had a huge change in my life."  He hesitated a little before continuing...it seemed like a life time ago rather than a matter of weeks.
"I was in this little taverna having a drink one night when a young man came in; I was instantly struck at how like you he was, he certainly could have been your brother.  I thought he was Greek but it turned out he was Australian with hoards of Greek rellies...relatives.
 
"We got chatting and we got on really well, he's a cop, lives in Melbourne, so we had points of reference. His name was Nikolaos, or Nik, and we got to know each other..."  He paused again thinking about that understatement.  "He invited me out on his uncle's boat and we sailed, or more accurately, chugged, along the coast until we found a secluded beach to sunbathe and eat and swim.  On that beach, he made a pass at me..."
 
"...oh, my God...what did...?"
 
"...please, you promised, let me finish."
 
"Okay, but..."
 
"...please?"  Nick nodded and was clearly much more interested in the story now.
 
"I was shocked.  But maybe not as shocked as I should have been given the circumstances.  After a few minutes talking about it, we kissed..."  Nick's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
 
"And then, Nick, we....errr...we, well, had sex on the beach." 
 
Nick couldn't have spoken at this point, even if he wanted to.
 
"The most interesting thing about all of this is what Nik said about thinking I was...gay.  He said he thought I was because most of my conversation centred on a man I knew and he thought the way I spoke about him and what I said was an indication that I was gay."
 
"Yyyes."  Nick knew what was coming next and was in shock.
 
"I had no idea I was doing it, but Nick, my entire conversation about my work here, in Vegas, centred on you.  I didn't realise, I didn't know.  So, with Nik helping me I began to question me and how I'd arrived at that point.
 
"It's a horrible feeling when you realise that for years you've been behaving badly; no, that's not adequate, appallingly, towards someone.  But to even realise you've...I'd been doing it to you Nick.  I am ashamed, Nick.  I want to apologise and I want to put it right."
 
Gil could see the utter shock on Nick's face, so decided he'd better press ahead before Nick either hit him or threw him out, or both.
 
"The reason I did it, I believe, Nick, is that for all these years I've been a sort of latent homosexual, or bisexual, man, I had no idea, really no idea, but I think I was subconsciously attracted to you.  I didn't know.  I promise, I didn't know.  But because some part of me thought it was somehow wrong, I pushed you away, I tried my very best to distance myself from you and berate you, it was, of course, all your fault...that's what my subconscious mind was telling me...I think.
 
"It took this Australian man on a Greek island to bring me to my senses.  Nik and I were together for some weeks before he had to leave and then I had another, liaison, fling.  With a Frenchman."
 
"Why are you telling me this Gris, what is it you want from me?" 
 
"I...I..."  For the first time Gil started to falter.  "I want to make amends, Nick. I would like to be your friend."
 
"You think I'm gay?"
 
"I never thought I'd be that lucky."  Gil shook his head and even smiled a little ironically.  "I feel I have wronged you for years...I would like to offer my friendship."
 
Nick looked across at him with incredulity, and suddenly jumped up of the couch, pacing and waving his beer around.
 
"You've treated me like something nasty you trod in...all the time...and now you come waltzing in here, bold as brass, saying, 'oh sorry, Nick, I didn't mean to, it's because I wanted to fuck you', and what, you expect me to say, 'oh Grissom, that's great, let's do it'?"
 
"NO!  It's not like that..."
 
"...too fucking true it ain't like that.  Grissom, what do you really want from me?  Forgiveness?  I forgive you, okay?"  Nick was furious and Gil had certainly never seen him so angry.
 
"No.  No.  I mean, yes, I do want your forgiveness, but I know I can't expect it just like that after all this time; you've got to give me a chance to make it up to you..."
 
"...oh, I have, have I?  You've got a nerve, 'got to give you a chance'?  When did you EVER give me a chance, eh, Grissom?  When?"
 
"I...I...I..."
 
"Cat got your tongue?  I'll give you a clue...NEVER, that's when."
 
"I'm sorry, truly sorry.  I realise now that it's too little, too late.  I'm sorry Nick, I...I don't know what else to say.  I'll leave, that's probably the best thing."
 
"Yes, is it."
 
"Yes, well, Nick, I am sorry.  I never realised and certainly never meant to hurt you so badly."
 
"No, I don't suppose you did.  At least you said it wasn't deliberate."
 
"No, I promise, never deliberate.  Ecklie's expecting me back at work, but I'll resign immediately so I don't have to go back to the lab.  Bye."  Gil turned towards Nick's front door, defeated, his shoulders drooping from the sheer weight of his guilt.
 
"Hold on; resigning?  I thought you were leaving here, my house, not the lab."
 
"I don't think my position is tenable.  I have no right to be your supervisor."
 
"I didn't say that.  Did I say that?"
 
"Not in so many words but it's obvious that my behaviour has affected you deeply and for me to return to the position I used to...abuse you...is not an option."
 
"Look, I was, I am, angry at some of your put downs, but I'm not saying they did me any harm...in the long run anyway.  It made me more determined and more independent and a...and a better CSI.  I wouldn't like you to leave the lab because of me, Gris, Grissom."
 
"Oh fuck, Nick, there you go again, being a nice guy, willing to forgive. I don't think I'm worth it."
 
"Don't make it a matter of self-worth, I've had enough of that shit to last me a life time.  If anything, Grissom, you've made me a stronger person, but I'm not excusing; I've spent a lot of hours discussing you with my therapist."  Nick saw Gil's eyebrows shoot up at that statement.
 
Gil knew Nick had had therapy after the abduction but had no idea he had formed part of that scenario, and yet even as he thought that, he knew that his behaviour towards Nick would have been cause enough for the young man to be in therapy, let alone the abduction.
 
"Yeah, I bet you didn't know that I still see the guy.  See...you never had any interest in me did you?"
 
"Nick, it would appear to be exactly the opposite.  I was so interested in you that without knowing I pushed you away and kept pushing because I couldn't face up to how I really felt about you.  Oh God, I promise you that I didn't know and now, looking back, I am appalled.  I think I'd better go because I think you really should not forgive me, Nick, I don't deserve it."
 
He turned once more and headed for the front door.
 
"I am gay, you know."
 
Gil stopped in his tracks, had he heard correctly?  He turned once more to face Nick, his mouth dropping open as he looked at Nick. Nick is gay.
 
"But don't get any ideas that you've been my fantasy, Grissom, because you haven't.   I've had my fill of overbearing father type figures who think they know it all and treat me like shit."
 
Gil stared at Nick.  He's gay.  After all this, his wildest dream that Nick would be gay was actually true, but he'd fucked it all up, day after day for year after year and now he'd lost Nick before he'd even come close to finding him.
 
"I'm sorry, Nick, so sorry."
 
"Now, would that be for me or you, Grissom?  My guess is you; empathy was never your strong point, was it."  Nick sounded bitter.
                                                                                  
"No."  Gil felt so very tired and drained.
 
"What about Sara?  Does she know you've changed sides?"
 
"No, I haven't been in touch for months...since Warrick..."
 
"Yeah, Warrick."
 
Gil looked up at Nick, and he knew what Nick was thinking.  All the times Gil had chosen Warrick over Nick, but, in the end, it was Warrick who'd screwed up.
 
"I'm going.  I'm sorry."
 
"Don't...leave the lab, Grissom, not yet anyway."
 
"Okay."  Gil left the house and closed the door behind him.  His last sight of Nick was of him leaning on the kitchen door jamb, beer bottle still in his hand.  His face completely neutral...not giving anything away.

***

By the time Gil was home he was bone weary and had gone over the conversation a hundred times.  He laughed, a bitter laugh, at the irony of it all.
 
He went to bed.  He was too tired and too angry with himself to do anything else.
 
The next morning he phoned Ecklie and agreed to go back to work a week from Monday - which was actually seven weeks earlier than he'd originally agreed -  Ecklie was pleased.
 
He was going to the mall to do some shopping, he needed to stock up food and actually buy some clothes since his weight loss made his old work clothes obsolete.  He decided to check his mails just before leaving...and smiled when he saw the name on a new mail he'd received:
 
'ozziegreek@gmail.au'
 
He opened the mail.
 
'g'day gilberto!  i guess u shud b home by now so thort id throw u a line.  how was henry, i hope u got 2 do the dirty with him but he wasnt as good as me, nah, no way mate.  so whats happening?  have u told ur american nickie?  im settling back in work and its not as bad as i thort it wud b.  met a couple of new guys at a party, but playing the field, not going to make the same mistake 2ice! LOVE from ur greek god N xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
 
Gil smiled.  Nik had lifted his spirits.  He replied straightaway.
 
'G'day right back at ya!
 
I got home yesterday.
 
Yes, I did have a short fling with Henri.  He was totally different from you so I cannot compare you, but I did prefer you.  After all I was completely 'vanilla' until you took me under your wing and you will always be my first lover!  I will remain eternally grateful to you for that.
 
I've just arranged to go back to work a week from Monday and am dreading it with a sinking feeling already settled in the pit of my belly.
 
I have spoken to Nick.  I did as you instructed and went to see him last night.  It was the most awful time I have ever spent.  I apologised and he barely accepted my apologies after all the 'shit' (his word) I've given him over the years.
 
But the irony is that he is gay and has no feelings for me whatsoever, given my treatment of him I can hardly blame him; it's just such a ridiculous position for me to be in after all these years, realising that I love him (I do, seeing him only confirmed that).   I was going to resign immediately and not go back to the lab but he said I must go back, and I will, but not for long. 
 
Perhaps I could go back to Henri, since he begged me to stay with him on Mykonos!
 
It was great to hear from you. Please stay in touch
 
Gil (Gilberto) x'
 
Gil pressed 'send', sighed, shut down and went to the mall.
 
He didn't check his mails until later that same night.
 
'gil. wot? hes gay and ur giving up? ur gay now and thats not our way! he obviously wants u 2 woo him and so thats what u MUST do. he didnt want u 2 leave work so he OBVIOUSLY WANTS U for god's sake gil pull ur finger out and get real. N. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (ur gay adviser)'
 
Gil sat and read this through a few times and then mailed back.
 
'Nik
 
What do you mean...I've never 'wooed' anyone in my entire life and I wouldn't know where to start.  Do you really think he wants me to, really?  I don't know. What shall I do?
 
Gil x'
 
He waited and waited but there was no reply.  He watched TV, but got bored, he listened to some music but it irritated him, he picked up a back issue of his forensic journal, but couldn't even interest himself in that. 
 
His phone rang and he nearly jumped out of his skin, he hadn't heard it ring for months, even before he left.
 
"Hello?"
 
"Gil."
 
"Catherine, it's good to hear your voice, how are you?"
 
"I'm well now thank you.  To be honest I never expected you to return, Ecklie's just told me."
 
Gil, with his old hat on, picked up immediately on 'I'm well now'.  "What do you mean, 'well now'?"
 
"Oh, of course, you won't have heard but just after you'd left I had appendicitis and then an infection, I was off work for weeks.  Nicky acted supervisor and made a big impression, I can tell you."
 
"Oh, so you're okay now then?"  He picked up on the veiled, 'I bet you're surprised, but Nicky did well', when really he wasn't in the least surprised.  If truth were told, Nick would probably make a better supervisor than all of them put together.
 
"Yeah, fine; so you're coming back."  It wasn't a question and it wasn't said with any enthusiasm either.  He would be going back and taking away her authority in one strike and not for the first time; she had to be pissed.
 
"A week on Monday, yes."
 
"Are you staying?"
 
Trust Catherine to get straight to the point.  "I don't know, Catherine, I really don't know one way or the other, just yet."  It would depend on Nick and what Nik had to say on the matter.
 
"As decisive as ever.  Have you heard from Sara?  Where've you been anyway?"
 
"You know me, procrastination is my middle name, and 'no', I haven't seen or heard from Sara, I didn't expect to, to be honest, she's settled in her new life."
 
"That's where I expected you'd go, to Sara...in Costa Rica?"
 
"No, I mean yes, it's Costa Rica but I've been to Greece, wondering around the Greek islands."
 
"Really?  Now that's not what I expected."
 
"Nor me, but it was one of those spur of the moment things and I've had a good...no, I've had a great time."
 
"A great time?  That doesn't sound like you."
 
He laughed. "No, I'd be the first to agree with you, but think I can say with some authority that it was a life altering experience for me."
 
"Okay, okay,  I have got the right number haven't I, you are Gil Grissom aren't you?"
 
"Yes, it's me; a new me though, Catherine."  He might as well start as he meant to go on, and he was momentarily distracted when his computer signalled a new incoming message.  He'd missed what Catherine had said to him.
 
"Sorry Catherine, I was momentarily distracted, what did you say?"
 
"I said, it'll be interesting to have you back then, are you a new and improved model?"
 
"I'm a new model, most certainly, but you'll have to judge whether or not I'm an improved model."
 
"Right.  Look, we usually all go out for breakfast together on Saturday mornings after Friday shifts - a new tradition - do you want to come along, let us all get together before you come back?"
 
'A new tradition', translated into a post Gil Grissom era.  He was not missed and he was not expected back, so maybe he would be better off not going back; he'd wondered back to his computer and saw that his new mail was from 'ozziegreek'.
 
"I'd like that Catherine.  This Saturday?"
 
"Yeah, come to the lab...
 
"...no, I'd rather not, not yet."
 
"Oh, okay, well we'll be at whichever hotel has the best buffet, I'll let you know  tomorrow, is that okay?"
 
"Actually, a change of plan, can we leave it until a week Saturday and then I will come into the lab?"
 
"Please yourself.  I'll see you a week on Saturday?"
 
"Yes, that'd be good, thank you for calling and I'm pleased you've recovered your health."
 
"Thanks, see you."  And she was gone.
 
This new improved Gil Grissom model knew very well that she was not looking forward to his return and he would be seen as an interloper.  Ecklie had told him that Ray Langston had decided to join the lab and had been with the 'graveyard' for a some weeks following on from his basic training.  A least he'd be pleased to see him...Gil hoped he would, anyway.  But if he returned and stayed, the graveyard would be one staff member over compliment.
 
He was distracted now because Nik had responded to his panicked mail.

***

'gilberto! do not panic i will advise u. 1^st things 1^st. signal ur intentions v.clearly and stake a claim. he will reject u not just once but loads of times. personally id wait til hed rejected me about 25 times b4 u can b sure hes really rejecting u.
 
1.send flowers big fancy expensive flowers if hes gay hell love them
2.send a plant something fancy and expensive orchids should do it
3.send presents need not be expensive but should be sexy or funny
5.expensive works as well
4.make sure he knows u think hes sex on legs
 
basic rules get on with it and give me updates. N xxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
 
Gil read it and reread it.  Twenty five times?  He couldn't be serious?
 
'Nik
 
Twenty five times - are you serious?
 
Gil x'
 
Not five minutes later he had a reply.
 
'trust me. N xxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
 
Nik had been right about most things so Gil typed his short response and sent it to Australia.
 
'Nik
 
I do.
 
Gil x'
 
The next morning, Gil was up and out early, he'd made a few plans before bed and had reviewed and refined them over breakfast.
 
He knew there was an excellent but very expensive florist in Wynn's luxurious hotel and resort.  He was prepared to spend a lot of money in trying out Nik's crazy plan...he had nothing to lose and he'd saved a lot of money on his holiday because of Nik's generous rellies and Henri's hospitality.
 
So he ordered a huge bouquet of flowers to be delivered to the lab just before Nick's shift started that night.  He'd written a note for Nick and asked the assistant to address the envelope so his writing wouldn't be seen.  He'd even bought some fancy high quality cream coloured paper and envelopes for his task.
 
He'd practised what he was going to put in the note while having a coffee and then wrote it out believing that short and sweet was the order of the day.  In truth, when he'd completed the note and sealed the envelope he felt ridiculously happy.  Happier than he'd been in a long, long time and all because of Nick Stokes; he hoped Nik's plan would work.
 
The bouquet he'd ordered was of all cream flowers, thinking that they would blend in with the colours of Nick's living room and then he chose an orchid of the most delicate apricot colour, sure that it, too, would match Nick's room.  He needed a note for that.  He had decided to send a gift to Nick, at work, every other night for a week or so, so he had time to compose another note.  He enlisted the help of the assistant who seemed more than happy to be his accomplice.
 
He left the florist boutique nearly four hundred bucks lighter but he was a man with a purpose.
 
At shift that night, Judy the receptionist delivered the bouquet to Nick as they sat waiting for assignments.
 
"Nick, these have just been delivered for you."  Judy was hardly to be seen, hidden almost entirely by the biggest bouquet that Nick had ever seen.
 
"Me?  You sure?"
 
"The note attached says quite clearly, 'CSI Nick Stokes, Private and Confidential'."
 
"Wow, it does Nick, so who do you know who'd send you flowers...I don't recognise the writing, but that means nothing, the perp could have got someone else to write it."  Greg was giving Nick the benefit of his wisdom.
 
"Open it then."  Riley was impatient.
 
"Later."
 
"Nicky, please, we want to know." Catherine was almost dying of curiosity; she reckoned a bouquet like that would have cost at least a couple of hundred dollars.
 
"Tough.  Haven't we got work to do?"  Nick really had no idea who'd sent him the flowers but he was not prepared to open his note in front of his fellow CSIs.  He was not an idiot.
 
He held onto the envelope and got his assignment...with Riley.  Before he met up with her at her truck, he made his way to the rest room and locked himself in a stall and opened the note.
 
'N
 
I intend to show you just how sorry I am, and I truly hope to eventually gain your forgiveness, and your friendship.
 
G'
 
Nick could hardly believe his eyes and re-read the short note about ten times in succession.  Gil Grissom was sending him flowers?  He was absolutely blindsided by the gesture.  He slipped the note back into the envelope and then put the envelope in the inside pocket of his vest.  This was one time he didn't trust anyone or anywhere to keep his secret.  He left the stall, took a piss and then washed his hands.  He would have flatly denied that he was smiling to himself as he went about his tasks.
 
Gil had spent a couple of hours looking for gifts for Nick and had found three, two small things that he liked and a bigger, more expensive gift, that he thought Nick would like.
 
The orchid would be delivered on Sunday night and the first gift on Tuesday.
 
On Sunday Judy delivered the orchid in its sturdy plastic case together with its attached note.  Same handwriting, same paper, but a blush from Nick.
 
He had been teased continually on Friday night but had remained cheerfully tight lipped.  It would all start again now.
 
He took off the note and pocketed it while they all admired the orchid.
 
"It's a beautiful specimen, Nick, that shade is just so delicate."  Ray was very taken with the loveliness of the flower.
 
"It's apricot."  Catherine guessed correctly.
 
"It's expensive."  Riley also guessed correctly.
 
"It's a mystery."  Greg surmised.
 
"It's time to go to work."  Nick was not giving up his secret anytime soon.
 
Once again Nick locked himself away to read his note.
 
'N
 
I thought this could only add to the beauty you've created in your home.
 
G'
 
Nick didn't want to be impressed but he was; he'd made no attempt to contact Grissom after he'd visited his home or after the flowers had been delivered and he wouldn't, even now; he'd wait and see what happened next.
 
Gil didn't think Nick would contact him but he mailed Nik to tell him what he'd done and received the thumbs up for his choices, although it was Nik himself who'd told him what to do.
 
On Tuesday, Judy delivered a small box wrapped in blue and gold paper and tied with matching ribbons, and with the customary note attached.  The rest of the shift was annoyed that Nick wouldn't open his gift in front of them and Nick, even though he was itching to find out what he'd been given, would be damned if he'd open it up for them to take the piss out of him.
 
So, he went to the locker room and sat alone, keeping an eye on the door, and opened the box.  It was a book of poetry...Cowboy Poetry.  Nick just held the book and felt the weight of it and then opened the cover.  There was an inscription.
 
'Nick, for you. Gil'
 
Nick opened his note.
 
'N
 
I hope you don't mind a little sentimental present. It was so good to work with you on that case.
 
G'
 
Nick felt his eyes tearing up but quickly pulled back from the threatened tears by taking a few deep breaths and straightening up.  He put his note in his vest and put the book in his locker 
 
Catherine called him to her office.
 
"Hey, Nicky.  You okay?"
 
"Yeah, great, why?"  As if he didn't know.
 
"I was just wondering if you were being distracted by the...gifts, you're getting."
 
"No, why, do you think my work is suffering?"
 
"Of course not, no, nothing like that, it's just a bit unusual...do you know who's sending you the gifts?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Oh.  And you're okay with it?"
 
"Yeah."  He was okay with it, but he wasn't about to tell Gil Grissom that, and certainly not Catherine Willows.  He was determined to see just how far Gil would go.
 
"So..."
 
"So?"
 
"Well, nothing then.  I'll see you later."
 
"Yeah, okay, see you."  It was a small psychological victory for Nick, they both knew that.
 
Since the shift had cottoned on to the fact that the three gifts had been delivered every other day, they were all waiting around the table on Thursday night.
 
By the time the assignments had been handed out, Nick was without a gift and was feeling very put out, since he, too, had been fully expecting something.
 
"It's all over then?"  Greg wanted to know.
 
"It was very short lived; she hasn't got much staying power."  Riley observed.
 
"I think you're being a little harsh there, Riley."  Ray was not prepared for Nick to be disappointed.
 
"Come on; let's get the show on the road."  Catherine was secretly pleased; she wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she was green-eyed with jealousy and dying of curiosity.
 
Nick remained silent and hoped he wasn't showing the disappointment he was feeling.
 
"Sorry I'm late, but I was stuck on the phone."  Judy placed a bigger box wrapped in the same paper, into Nick's hands.
 
Nick just couldn't help it - his face broke into a broad grin.  He turned back to his colleagues and lifted the box for them to see it clearly.  He didn't need to say anything.  After assignments he took off to the locker room, but this time, Greg and Riley were in hot pursuit.
 
In the locker room, realising his privacy could not be guaranteed, Nick stowed his unopened gift in his locker and made a speedy move for a stall in the restroom to avoid Greg.
 
'N
 
Maybe I hope I could get to share some of these with you.
 
G'
 
Share what?  Since Nick hadn't opened his gift he didn't know what it was Grissom wanted to share.  He thought about it for a few moments and decided it could be candy.
 
When he got home, a long time later, and finally opened the box away from prying eyes, he found he was right it was a box of assorted Ghirardelli chocolates.  He immediately opened them up to taste a chocolate mint.  It was heaven, a vice he rarely allowed himself to indulge, but would he be prepared to share them with Gil?
 
He then ate a second chocolate and wondered just when Grissom had become Gil.
 
As Friday night became Saturday morning Gil phoned Catherine and found out that they'd be eating at Caesars, since Greg had coupons.  Gil said he'd meet them at the buffet and once again avoided visiting the lab.
 
When they all tumbled into the buffet, Gil was waiting at a booth.  Riley noticed him first and waved at him before pointing him out to the others.  Catherine had not told them he'd be there.

***

Nick nearly tripped up as he saw Gil; Greg and Ray made their way over to him.
 
"You knew he'd be here?"  Nick asked Catherine.
 
"Yes, although I half expected him not to turn up, you know how he is?  Jesus, his hair's gone white."
 
"Yeah."
 
"Come on then." 
 
Greg and Ray were making Gil feel very welcome, Riley was friendly.  Nick held back and Catherine was clearly not her normal cheery self.  She only had two shifts left as the graveyard supervisor and she believed she did a better job than Gil Grissom.  Though she would have been surprised to know that neither Greg nor Riley thought she did, Ray didn't know and Nick thought he did better than both Catherine and Gil.
 
"Gil, welcome back."  Catherine didn't sound particularly welcoming to those who knew her well.
 
"Thank you, Catherine.  How are you guys?"
 
"They're all good; aren't you?"  Catherine answered for all of them.  "Hey, what's with the hair, when did that go white?"
 
"I never really noticed until it'd gone white...I think it could be sun bleached."  Gil said this and looked directly at Nick.  "I forgot to take my favourite sunhat with me to Greece."
 
"Good job, they'd have probably deported you."  Nick spoke up and Catherine looked at him, she'd never heard him back-chat Gil.
 
"Was it really that bad?"
 
"Yes."  Both Nick and Greg replied and Gil laughed.
 
"Good job I forgot it then.  I know you said Greg has coupons but I'd like to treat you all to breakfast, if you'll let me?"
 
"No complaints from me."  It seemed Riley was always short of cash.
 
Catherine smiled at Gil, but it was a fixed smile that didn't reach her eyes.
 
"Okay then, let's get going."  Gil slid out of the booth and went to stand in the line; Nick came up behind him.
 
"Nick.  You okay?"
 
"Yeah.  Good.  Yes."
 
"He's more than good, he has a secret admirer who's been sending him gifts every other night since last...Friday, and he's due another one tonight."  Greg brought Gil up to speed.
 
"Is that so?  Nick, do you know who it is?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Right."  And then Gil turned his attention to getting his breakfast.  They ordered juice and coffee for their table and all ate heartily, that is except Nick, who picked at his food.
 
"Not hungry, Nick?"  Greg noticed these things.
 
"Not as much as I thought I was...I think I had too much to eat earlier."
 
"He's probably pining for his secret admirer."  Riley thought she knew why his appetite had diminished.  "Though I think he knows who it is."
 
"Oh, he does, he just told Grissom."
 
"He told Grissom who it is?"  Catherine raised her voice at the prospect of being left out of the loop.
 
"No...he told Grissom he knew who it was, but not the name or anything."   Catherine relaxed...she knew that much, if nothing else.
 
"I would appreciate you not talking about me as if I'm not here, God, you're like old ladies talking over the fence at the latest gossip."
 
"You tell them, Nick; it's none of their business."  Gil thought he should provide some back-up for Nick.  But wished he hadn't when Nick's look at him very nearly bordered on evil.  Gil put his head down and concentrated on his food.  But his food, too, had suddenly lost its attraction.
 
The talk then turned to Ray and how he was settling in and the cases they'd all had and Nick's spectacular success with a triple murder when he'd been Acting Supervisor.  Nick was self-deprecating and ensured that the team were praised for their work.  Gil noticed that Catherine was a little less enthusiastic about this subject.
 
Gil picked up the tab for their breakfasts and with the ice broken he didn't feel too bad about going back into work the following Monday night.  His earlier worry about usurping Catherine was forgotten, he wasn't sure the team liked her supervisory skills any more than his, perhaps the right man for the job was Nick.  Not perhaps.  He knew he would be the right man for the job.
 
At the start of the next shift Greg went up to Judy before he went for his assignments to see if Nick's latest gift had been delivered so that he could examine it a little more closely.  It had been delivered and Nick himself had retrieved it a few minutes earlier.
 
"The old dog!"  Greg laughed at being beaten at his own game.
 
Nick had taken his boxed package to an evidence room and in peace and quiet opened the package to reveal a beautifully carved wooden box with a little clasp.  He opened it and gasped; lying on a bed of dark green velvet was the most intricately carved figure of a laughing Buddha, maybe only two inches high but so beautiful and almost luminescent.  He guessed it was jade.  He studied it for a few moments, enjoying its beauty.  He then carefully closed the box and opened his envelope.
 
'N
 
Buddha says: 'Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.'
 
G'
 
Nick smiled and sighed and realised how calm he felt.  But he'd better concentrate on work or Catherine would be chasing his ass.  He chuckled to himself and made his way, via his locker, to the briefing room.
 
"Here he is, minus his gift.  You beat me to it, oh, sly one!"
 
"I choose to think of myself as being one step ahead, you're the one being sly...they're my gifts after all."
 
"You got me there, fair and square.  You do know who's sending them don't you?  Any chance of a clue?"
 
Nick laughed.  "No chance!"
 
"Assignments anyone?  You know - work?"  This subject was fast testing Catherine's patience, not least because of the sheer romance of the gestures; romance that was sadly lacking in her own life.
 
Gil spent most of Saturday, after breakfast, searching for more presents.  He was feeling quite smug...Nick had not returned one or indicated that Gil was to stop sending them, so he would keep up the bombardment for at least another week to see how it went.  But.  There was a but.  Nick could be using this as payback and still tell him to fuck off.  He wouldn't blame him for doing that, but he would be bitterly disappointed.
 
Gil was also regularly updating Nik with both the gifts he was buying, and the lack of response, which Nik saw as a very positive outcome.  He also gave Gil some pointers as to what further gifts he could buy for Nick...gifts that Nik would love to have...and, 'yes, gilberto, that was a hint 4 all the help im giving u!'  Gil resolved to send some gift to Nik...he'd get his address.  Although he chose not to take Nik's advice about which gifts to buy...he was happy with his own choice and hoped Nick was too.
 
The next gift was due on Monday night and that was Gil's first night back in the fray.   
 
Gil arrived with several hours to spare before shift; he wanted to get the feel of the lab again, without Catherine breathing fire and brimstone down his neck.  He couldn't really blame her, but he had expected a bit more, given their long friendship, but then he remembered how he'd behaved towards her, with the secrecy over Sara, the inability to share his grief over Warrick and then up and leaving like he did.  Catherine had obviously not expected him to return.
 
His office had been used by others and Gil's own belongings had been put into boxes and stored in the corner.  He spent some time going through them and putting his belongings back where they'd come from, but he couldn't muster much enthusiasm and actually threw away a number of things he'd previously deemed irreplaceable - but that was before his 'sabbatical'.
 
Nick's next gift was delivered before shift began and he'd hoped to be there when Nick got it so he could see his reaction, but Ray came in early and paid a social call on Gil.  Talking to Ray about his work was the first time Gil had mustered up anything like enthusiasm for many months, but Ray's obvious enjoyment lit a little fire in Gil's belly that he'd not felt for a long time.
 
Doc Robbins also visited and was as happy for Gil's return as he was for his new friendship with Ray.  Gil felt heartened by Al's pleasure at his return and so when Catherine arrived to hand over the reins he was more relaxed and charitable than he had been an hour beforehand.
 
His demeanour paid dividends with Catherine who managed to thaw a little, especially when he shared a plan he intended to take to Ecklie.
 
It was soon time to take the accumulated assignments to the team and Gil asked Catherine to, do the honours.  She seemed pleased that Gil wasn't just moving her aside, and walked ahead of him to the briefing room.
 
They were all there.  The old timers and the newbies.
 
"Welcome back, Gris."  Greg was first with his enthusiastic greeting, duly noted by Catherine.
 
"Yeah, good to have you back Grissom."  Riley was next.
 
"I bet this is awkward for both of you."  The diplomatic Dr Langston.
 
"I think we can cope, eh, Catherine?"
 
"Of course we can, we're above all that, Ray."   No one was particularly convinced by her pronouncement.  "Have you had your gift, Nicky?"  She was trying to move out of the spotlight.
 
"Of course he has, a huge box this time, I think he's taken it out to his truck, it wouldn't fit in his locker."  Greg brought them all up to date.
 
"Have you opened it?  We didn't find out what you had on Saturday, she must be loaded to be able to afford all these gifts for you...what's she like, Nick?"  Riley was prying and Nick actually blushed at her words, he knew that Gil would now know that although he'd admitted to Gil that he was gay, that was more than he'd shared with any of his work colleagues.
 
"My guess is that Nick will tell when he's good and ready and not before; he may not be good and ready for some time.  That right, Nick?"  Gil asked,
 
"You got it."
 
"Grissom, we were relying on you."  Greg whined, but good naturedly.  "Nick, is there any chance this side of Thanksgiving that you'll be 'good and ready'?"
 
"Unlikely."
 
"Assignments."  Catherine had still had her fill and was as curious as the others, but wanted to show Gil that she had some authority.

***

Luckily, it was a quiet shift and Gil and Catherine were able to retreat back to his office to play catch up.  Gil intended to see Ecklie the following morning before he left for the day.  Although Ecklie had been promoted to Under Sherriff he'd still been left with his old job in charge of the CSI labs.  A little more money and twice as much work.
 
However, not an hour had passed when he arrived at the door of Gil's office to find the two of them battling with some thick files.
 
"Didn't take you long to get back into the swing then, Gil?"
 
"I hate to say it. Conrad, but it's like I've never been away."
 
"I bet; you look well though...dropped some weight and what's with the hair, did you dye it before?"
 
"No." Gil laughed; it had attracted a lot of attention, his white hair.  He would use his stock answer.  "It's sun bleached, I forgot to take my sun hat with me, you know, the ridiculous one!"
 
"That's an admission.  Catherine, do you think you could give us some privacy, please?"
 
"Sure."  She rolled her eyes at Gil and left, closing the glass door behind her.
 
Conrad Ecklie settled in the chair in front of Gil's desk.  He came straight to the point. 
 
"The graveyard shift will be one over compliment with your return. I want to make some changes..."
 
"...I had some changes in mind, too..."
 
"...you're not leaving are you?  You promised before you went away, that you'd stay at least until the year was out."
 
"It's not my intention to leave, unless I disagree with the changes you have in mind, that is."
 
"Hear me out..."  Conrad Ecklie then sketched out what he had in mind for the lab and for a couple of the staff on the graveyard shift.  None of his 'plans' had been ratified, so he swore Gil to secrecy and said it could be days or even weeks before he could be certain his plans would be accepted, and the money made available.
 
"I appreciate you keeping me in the loop and, to be honest, I think it's a very good idea; in the meantime I have a favour to ask - I promised Catherine I would ask you - but the idea was mine so please don't accuse her of being pushy.  But would it be possible to keep her on as a co-supervisor with me, until your plan is adopted anyway, then it wouldn't make any difference.  It would even be a sweetener for her.  In view of what might happen."
 
"You've got some balls asking for a favour, Gil Grissom, but like you say, it may be in my interest to do it...give me a few days, I'll see what I can do."
 
"Thank you, I would appreciate it and it would help me a great deal."
 
"We'll see."  And he was gone.
 
Catherine came back.
 
"What did he want?" 
 
"To welcome me back."
 
"Did you mention..."
 
"...yes, and he said he will give it some serious thought."  This was a white lie and had tripped very easily off his tongue; he was indeed a new model.
 
He had originally intended to say that he'd take a pay cut, but if Ecklie's ambitious plan worked it would be a better deal altogether.  He then changed the subject in his head completely and wondered if Nick liked his new gift.
 
Gil had spent ages looking for this gift and was particularly happy with it and he'd really loved the little jade Buddha.
 
In a couple of hours Gil was back up to speed and the shift had gradually wondered back to the lab.  Just before Nick was about to go out to another crime scene, Gil called him into the office and closed the door.
 
"That's ominous.  What have I done wrong this time?"
 
"Nothing, Nick, and you know it.  How're you doing?"
 
"You mean, 'how do I like the gifts'?"
 
"I might."  Gil smiled at Nick and was astounded to be rewarded with his own smile from Nick.  Maybe not a megawatt smile Nick was capable of, but nevertheless a warm smile that encompassed his eyes.
 
"As a matter of fact...I do like them.  The Buddha was really beautiful and the..."
 
Just then Catherine burst into the office.  "A major shooting incident up in Henderson...everyone's needed.  Nick, your four-one-seven will have to wait.  You coming, Gil?"
 
"Yeah, nothing like a major incident to get the juices flowing; Nick, I'll come with you...that okay?"
 
"Yeah, meet me at my truck."
 
They met earlier than that in the restroom, both emptying their tanks before the haul up to the scene; neither spoke, but Gil felt at ease with Nick.  As they walked towards the truck, Riley came dashing up behind them.
 
"You got room for me?  My truck started misfiring on the way back, gotta have it looked at."
 
"No problem."
 
"You sit up front, Riley; I'll take the back seat."  An annoyed Gil caught a glimpse of Nick's mischievous smile as he loaded his gear.  It made him smile in return.
 
As Riley loaded her gear she caught sight of the box.  "Hey that's the latest present...will I get to see it?"
 
"Nope."  Said Nick.
 
"No."  Said Gil at the same time and he earned himself a curious look from Riley.  "I'm basing my assumption on the evidence in the briefing room...Nick isn't about to show anyone his gifts."
 
"That's dead right.  Come on, let's get this show on the road; see if I can race down Catherine and Greg."  At Gil's surprised look he continued.  "We have a major competition going to see who can drive the fastest..."
 
"...no we don't, he's kidding."
 
"Thank goodness for that, I like a nice sedate pace at my age."  All three laughed as they hauled themselves into their respective seats. 
 
Gil sat in the back listening to Nick and Riley discuss an ongoing case.  Nick was patient and explained everything clearly to Riley who plainly held Nick in high esteem, the way she hung onto every word he said.  He then paid a little more attention, did she actually like Nick...did she have a crush?  He watched as she spoke and they interacted; he was pretty certain she was not competition, there wasn't any attraction that he could see (could he really see), just friendship.
 
He also thought that Nick liked his new gift, although he'd said he thought the little Buddha was really beautiful.  That was gratifying; that his choice was appreciated.
 
They were soon at the scene and unloading their kit. Riley made off towards the houses where two families had apparently been involved in a shootout.  Nick and Gil walked towards Catherine and Jim Brass.
 
"By the way, I saved you some chocolates.  Hey, Jim, see who the cat's dragged in!"
 
"Jim, good to see you."
 
"Gil; missed you. You changed your appearance...you avoiding someone?"
 
"The usual suspects, the Sheriff, Ecklie.  Where do you want me, Catherine?"
 
"Take the house over there with Nicky, Vartann's over there he'll bring you up to speed."
 
"Done.  Nick?"
 
"Got it."  As they walked away, Nick muttered.  "I wish she wouldn't call me 'Nicky', God, it makes me sound like an adolescent."
 
"Then tell her."
 
"I already did...you know I think she does it on purpose to make me appear juvenile; she's done it more since she came back from sick leave."
 
"Establishing her authority over you after your success as a supervisor."
 
"Yeah, exactly that.  Hey, Lou, what've we got?"
 
Gil felt a rush of excitement; Nick had shared some confidential information about how he felt about Catherine.  Now he knew the old Nick would never do anything as indiscreet as that...so maybe Nick did trust him and would be his friend after all.  He worked with a renewed vigour for the rest of the shift.
 
They all spent the shift, and then some, cataloguing the tragedy of two families who couldn't get on and ended killing most of each other.  Six dead, three critically wounded and four walking wounded.  Two babies and three young children, alone, were unscathed.   It turned out they were old gang rivals trying to move on but had accidentally found themselves living alongside each other.
 
Gil was absolutely pole axed by the time he got home; he hadn't done any arduous work in months.  He drank a juice and then two glasses of water and went to bed.
 
At his home Nick tried on his hat.  A fine suede leather Stetson with a plaited head band, in a shiny chocolate brown colour that matched Nick's eyes.  It fitted perfectly, despite Gil's worried note.
 
'N
 
I thought you'd look good in this.  I hope it fits - please let me know if it doesn't and maybe we could go together to get one that does.  I would like to see you wearing it, sometime, if you'd let me.
 
G'
 
It was the most personal of all the notes that Gil had written; a hope of something more.  There was no doubt at all in Nick's mind that Gil Grissom was a changed man...he was gay, for a start.  That had to be an improvement, in Nick's humble opinion.

***

The next night there were, unusually, only a few minor crimes to attend to and most of their time was spent sifting and sorting through the evidence from the night before - who did fire the first shot?
 
Gil and Nick were alone, briefly, in the evidence locker.  "It fits."  Nick spoke almost as an afterthought to the evidence he was examining.
 
Momentarily confused, Gil frowned but then latched onto the cryptic aside.  "A good guess on my part then?"
 
"Seems that way."  Nick smiled, at the evidence he was holding, but Gil was certain it was for him, or the gift, or both.  Once more he spent the rest of the shift in a light, happy mood.  It didn't go unnoticed.
 
"You certainly have come back a changed man, Gil."  Catherine had been hoping he wouldn't come back at all from his leave of absence, and when she'd learned he would be back...that he wouldn't stay; now she was just downright confused by a man she'd thought she'd known well.
 
"Catherine, I cannot begin to tell you how much I have changed...but maybe sometime soon, I will, we'll see."  He chuckled to himself, which even further confused Catherine.
 
The next shift was gift time again and a small box was delivered, wrapped in its customary blue paper and accompanied by a note.  The envelopes now had Nick's name typed on a label and attached.  Gil couldn't believe he hadn't thought to do that earlier, but he was still jet lagged for a few days following his return and he blamed that.
 
Greg and Riley still remained the most vocal about what the gifts were and who sent them, as regularly as clockwork, to Nick.  Nick remained silent but secretly very happy with the arrangement.  Although it did cross his mind that Gil couldn't keep it up indefinitely, he'd still let him stew a little longer.  He had dropped a couple of hints though...the saved chocolates and about the hat fitting.
 
In fact the latest note reflected the 'hints'.  Gil had sent a small alarm clock encased in brushed stainless steel.   It was discreet and functional, but also tasteful and clearly expensive.  The accompanying note said:
 
'N
 
I'm counting down the minutes and hours until I'm allowed to savour the chocolates and maybe see you wearing your new hat!
 
G x'
 
It was the first note finished with a kiss.  Gil was getting brave or over-confident.  Nick thought about it and decided that Gil was getting brave; if he'd been over-confident he'd have made a move.
 
If Nick only knew how long Gil had agonised about whether or not to put a kiss after the message he would probably have laughed out loud at his indecision.  At least four sheets of notepaper were despatched to the trash can before he castigated himself and sealed the envelope, but then spent the time until the note and gift were delivered in a state of nervous twitching.  Though he was still able to laugh at his own adolescent behaviour.
 
While Gil tried to attack his already growing pile of paperwork, Ecklie paid him another visit.
 
"Conrad."
 
"Gil, you settled back in?"
 
"Yes, better that I thought I would."
 
"I've given some thought to Catherine's position and I will leave her on her present money and maybe ask her to help you out and assign you to do a bit of training here and there."
 
"I can live with that."
 
"Well I should know for certain about that tomorrow, so I'll let you both know then.  Okay?"
 
"Yes, and thanks again, I appreciate it and believe me, so will Catherine."
 
"I hope it will help smooth the path."
 
"It should."  Before Gil could say anything else, Conrad had gone.
   
Not two minutes later Catherine was in front of his desk.  "Has he said anything?"
 
"He's coming back tomorrow night and we'll know then."
 
"He's taking his time, he's not in favour of it is he?"
 
"He didn't indicate either way, but he does seem a little more...mellow...than he has been of late."
 
"He hasn't had you riling him has he?"  She tried smiling but it came out more as a grimace.
 
He smiled back; although he was taken aback at her open hostility.  He'd never thought she was that mad at him; he'd obviously underestimated her wrath.  Was it the job?  Sara?  He'd taken away her supervisor's role twice now, and she'd never figured out about Sara.
 
Catherine had gone and he sat back and thought about Nick.  Nick in his bed.  He sat up straight, suddenly surprised by a hard-on throbbing in his pants...his work pants...at work.  Not good.  He picked up a file and read the autopsy results and looked at the photographs.  Not pleasant and his hard-on subsided, only to come back when he concentrated on checking its status.  Impudent prick.
 
Gil concentrated on his work and was soon engrossed in the files he needed to clear; he had to make a concerted effort to keep on top of this work otherwise Catherine would be complaining.  Especially if she did, indeed, inherit it yet again.  Gil spent a few minutes wondering if Ecklie's ambitious plan would actually happen.
 
And once more his mind wondered onto Nick and the gifts.  He had three more lined up to be delivered and then once more his pants were strained by the hard-on.  It was nearly time for a break, he considered whether he dare use the restroom stalls to jerk off; probably not the best idea he'd ever had, so he'd have to put up and shut up.
 
When Nick's next gift was due it was his rest day and so Gil decided to test the waters by not sending a gift to his home but to wait until the following night and then return to his usual pattern.
 
It was early evening when there was a knock at Gil's front door.  He'd been about to get ready for work.  He checked the spy hole and the sight, even skewered by the lens, caused him to catch his breath.
 
He opened the door and gasped.
 
"Hi y'all!"
 
Gil couldn't speak at all, at the wondrous spectacle before him.  Nick.  Nick, dressed as a cowboy.  Wearing the hat.  Dressed as a cowboy and wearing the hat bought for him by Gil.
 
He had on blue jeans, a blue checked shirt, a worn and wrinkled brown leather waistcoat and scuffed old boots. A blue patterned bandana around his neck completed the look.  The hat was pulled low over his eyes, but they still shone out with amusement at Gil's predicament.
 
He must have looked a sight; mouth hanging open, eyebrows almost at his hair line and his eyes round as they stared at Nick.
 
"You like the sight then?"
 
"Mmmm...."  That was the extent of Gil's conversation but he did manage to nod his head quite vigorously.
 
Nick laughed, and pushed his way into Gil's house, past the dumbstruck man himself.
 
Gil turned around as Nick brushed past him and Nick pushed the front door closed and then turned around and faced Gil, still laughing.  But he suddenly looked serious, and grabbed a handful of Gil's old tee shirt, pulled the man towards him and kissed him.
 
A hot hard kiss, he pushed his tongue into Gil's mouth swirling it around the open and compliant mouth, but a mouth not returning the kiss.  He pushed Gil's body against the wall and pressed his own body up against Gil's, toe to mouth they were aligned although with the heels on Nick's boots he was slightly taller.
 
He pulled back a little and the kiss became less of an assault and more passionate.  At that moment Gil regained his senses and put both hands around Nick's waist, pulling him closer and moved his head sideways a little to move into the kiss and then Nick...pulled away.
 
"Now I just wanted to show you what the hat looked like...and give you a little taster of what might well come your way...providing, of course, you keep up the...good work..."  And as quickly as he'd arrived Nick was gone, pulling the front door shut behind him.
 
Gil stood there for a few moments.  The taste...the feel of Nick still on his lips.  He put his right forefinger up to his lips and felt them.  Felt the lingering touch of Nick's lips on his lips.
 
He gasped as he suddenly became aware of a much more pressing problem.  In his own blue jeans, his erection was so hard it hurt and he felt the need to come immediately.  As in now; right now.
 
He reached down and unzipped his jeans to relieve some of the pressure and pulled his hard penis from the confines of his boxers.  He was rock hard and leaking and just the action of pulling it from his underwear meant that he was about to come...he grabbed at the erection and pumped twice as he started to ejaculate; long strings of fluid escaped him in an arc across his shiny wooden floor.  The force of his balls pushing upwards made his knees weaken and he leaned back against the wall to steady himself and he locked his knees in an effort to remain standing.  His breath was coming in short gasps and behind his eyes he could see stars flashing...and Nick, in the hat, standing on his doorstep.
 
It took him a few minutes to actually regain some coherent brain function.  He then realised that Nick had kissed him and intimated that there would be more if he continued to shower him with presents.  He could do that.  This was a prize worth paying for...worth waiting for.
 
Nick was his.   Nick would be his.   Nick could be his.  Providing he didn't cock it all up.  And he knew he could.  He needed to be very, very careful.
 
When he'd gained sufficient control to move he tucked his not entirely deflated penis back into his boxers, zippered up and retreated to his kitchen to find some cleaning materials to rid his floor of his ejaculate.
 
He chuckled and hoped there would never be any reason to put the ALS light on his living room floor...he'd use a solution of bleach, which would at least denigrate his sample.

***

After cleaning the floor as thoroughly as he could and then sitting down to drink a coffee, he was sufficiently recovered to take a shower and get ready for work.  His mood one moment ecstatic at Nick's actions and the next despondent at the chances that he would balls it all up.  He had no terms of reference for a successful relationship.  None.  And the very fact that he was thinking relationship scared the crap out of him.  He could do so much to make it all fall apart before it even began.
 
Even more so, now that Ecklie was hell bent on his new plan.  The plan had seemed like a good idea to Gil.  Now he wasn't at all sure.
 
He made his way to the bathroom and threw his clothes into the hamper as he waited for the water to heat up.  Once under the soothing spray he allowed himself to imagine the sight of Nick once more.  In his hat, and nothing else.
 
He grinned to himself; this gay sex was certainly more exciting to him than straight sex.  He was still shocked at his transition, especially when it all seemed so natural to him now.
 
His hardening cock was testament to his arousal at the thought of Nick.  He took hold of himself again and tugged and pumped to full hardness; there was no doubt in his mind that he would need to masturbate again before work.  Luckily Nick was on a rest day, because he was pretty sure the mere sight of the young Adonis would induce an erection in his overheated state.
 
Gil held on tight and pumped up and down with the benefit of some shower gel.  He thought of Nick as the hot water cascaded over his shoulders and back.  His hard-on liked the attention and he added a few twists, pulling his foreskin hard over the now wet, lubricated and rosy head, rubbing his thumb along and into his slit and shuddering at the sensation.
 
He remembered Nik's tongue in the slit and then felt his balls starting to contract up towards his body, wanting to release their load...and so soon after his other orgasm.  Gil's fist was furiously pumping his penis, the flesh hot from the blood engorging it and from the friction of his hand.
 
And then he was coming, spurting on the tiles of his shower as he encouraged the action with less frenetic pumping until every drop was spent.  He knew that as he'd started to come he'd murmured 'Nick'.  He leaned forward and rested his forehead and the palm of his left hand on the tiles until he'd recovered enough to be able to stand and shower, and for the second time in less than an hour, clean up, although there was a lot less ejaculate this time around.       
 
When he'd stepped from the shower and was towelling himself dry, he realised that his penis - around the head and foreskin - was a little sore; that caused him to laugh out loud.  He was a very horny teenager when that had last happened.
 
At work though he had what Nik had laughingly called, a 'lazy lob', a half-hard cock, nearly all night.  It seemed that Dr Gil Grissom was regressing into that horny teenager.  But Gil was right about one thing - it was a good thing Nick wasn't at work - otherwise he would have had a full erection all night.  Gil hoped he'd have cooled down by the next night.
 
About an hour into the shift Ecklie arrived.  Catherine had gone out to a scene with Riley and Ray, but had said that she would return, if she possibly could, to see if Ecklie had made a decision.
 
She hadn't returned by the time Ecklie had arrived but he'd made the decision; Catherine could be co-supervisor of graveyard at least until the re-organisation.  Gil was under strict instructions not to mention Ecklie's proposals until they'd been accepted.
 
When Catherine returned some time later she went straight in to see Gil.
 
"Have you seen Ecklie?"
 
"Yes."
 
"He's turned it down, hasn't he?"
 
"No."
 
"I knew he would."
 
"What?"
 
"Turn it down."
 
"He hasn't."
 
"Oh.  He hasn't?  You mean...?"
 
"Yes, you are officially the co-supervisor of graveyard, until further notice."
 
"Wow; well thanks, Gil, I didn't think you'd pull it off."
 
"I obviously have a little more influence than you thought."  Gil could make digs as easily as Catherine, and she had the grace to acknowledge that fact.
 
"Yes, you do; my bad."
 
"What we have to do is draw up a schedule of who does what; I'm pretty fluid about that, you do all the staff and HR reports and all the paperwork and lab work, assign staff and then supervise them at scenes and I can look after my racing cockroaches and read my journals."  Gil's delivery was deadpan and Catherine's face was a picture of shock for a few moments.
 
"God, Gil, you had me there for a while."
 
"You think I'm joking?"
 
She hesitated, just fractionally, before Gil smiled at her.  "I'm serious about the 'fluidity'."
 
"Okay, so am I...shall we just see how it develops or do you want some specifics?"
 
"I think we do need some specifics about which staff we'll supervise, and then following on from that the work should just divide naturally although there'll be some overlap...there's bound to be."
 
"Yeah...okay."  Catherine was, in fact, somewhat amazed that Gil had given it some thought.  She'd thought that she would be the driving force in respect of deciding who did what.  Perhaps Gil wasn't the pushover she was expecting.  He had definitely changed and she was under no illusion about that.
 
Later that shift they made their decisions without any problems.  Gil suggested, and Catherine accepted, all of the changes.
 
The next night another gift was delivered, and Greg noted for them all that the sender was now out of sequence and had known about Nick's day off.  Their plot thickened.
 
But then they had another subject to mull over; the change in the supervisory roles.
 
Greg and Ray would move to Catherine and Nick and Riley would stay under Grissom.  They were still one unit and would continue to work alongside each other, but personnel reports and work files would be sent to their respective supervisors.  It seemed that both Grissom and Catherine were keen on 'fluidity'.
    
Gil was calmer; actually, he thought it was just being with Nick that made him calmer and he was absolutely certain that Nick looked at him...differently.
 
When Nick was able to check out his gift he found a leather toiletry case full of Clinique 'products' for men. Gil's note to him made Nick laugh.
 
'N
 
Please do not think for one moment that I think you need these products.  But surely you can use them to maintain your appearance.  Your youthful, handsome, appearance - with or without your cowboy hat!
 
G xx.
 
Nick did use a few 'products', mostly to protect his skin from the harsh dry climate...that's what he told himself anyway.  However, the leather case was a good one and expensive looking, and very much better than the cheap plastic wash bag he currently used.
 
As he held his note in his hand he also reminisced about his kiss.  That was a spur of the moment thing, he'd really only meant to show up on Gil's doorstep dressed as a cowboy, for some fun.  But the sight of an awestruck Gil Grissom had caused his plan to go one step further and if he was honest, he'd really enjoyed the kiss and had to pull away for fear of going further.
 
He'd been truthful when he'd told Gil that he'd never fantasised about him.  He hadn't.  Not before; but to know that someone really lusted after you and was making a great effort at seducing you.  Well what could a guy do?  Suck it up, that's what.  
 
Not long after their shift had started a major fire was reported and all staff were re-directed to it.  Gil found himself working alongside Nick and Riley, as per his earlier instructions to the shift, but this was actually accidental.
 
Riley was a confident investigator and Gil liked her manner, business-like and not given to be emotionally drawn into cases, or so it seemed to him; he'd check that out with Nick, who worked well with her.  As he did with everyone else, of course.  Mentoring, without being overbearing.  Nick was so talented and natural at everything he did, Gil felt a pang of remorse at his abhorrent behaviour towards Nick; all the years Nick had been at the lab Gil had treated him badly.
 
There were no casualties of this particular fire and it seemed to be an accident, so Catherine and Ray remained at the scene and the others dispersed as they had originally intended.
 
Gil found himself alongside Nick as they drove back to the lab.

***

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