Title: Up in Smoke
By: vampwb36
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: R
Spoliers: None, takes place season 6.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not Mine >8(
Summary: Based on an episode of Law and Order. The CSI team investigates the death of a comedian's child and accidentally uncover his dirty little secret. Will their inability to leave a mystery be destroy Greg?
***
Day Shift: 8AM-6PM
Swing Shift: 4PM-2AM
Night Shift: 12AM-10AM
Greg ambled slowly towards the lab from the parking lot, taking his time to enjoy the sights and sounds of Vegas. Being almost a half hour early for work, there was no need to rush. He had plenty of time to get inside, make coffee, drink a couple of cups and even catch up on the latest gossip with the lab techs.
He smiled serenely to himself; he was pleased with his life for the first time in a long time. Life was good; he had a job he loved, great friends, his love life was starting to take a turn for the better and, best of all, he had a permanent excuse not to go home for the holidays….The one perk of being a Level 1 CSI.Taking one last deep breath of the cool night air, before stepping into the building, Greg smiled, unaware everything in his life was about to come crumbling down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What have we got tonight Gil?" Catherine asked from her seat on the couch. Her legs were propped up on Warrick's lap. "Nothing to serious I hope."
Grissom looked down his nose at her disapprovingly, "Every case is serious Catherine, although tonight we don't have any homicides."
Catherine rolled her eyes, "What do we have then."
"Well," Gil began, "Since it sounds like you want something easy tonight, why don't you and Warrick take the B&E" He passed her the file.
"This is out in the middle of the desert! It will take us at least an hour and a half to get there!" Catherine exclaimed.
"You better get going then," Gil said, the barest hint of a smile on his face.
Catherine opened her mouth to say something, probably not very nice, but Warrick put his hand over her mouth.
"Lets just go Cath, we can plan our revenge in the car." He suggested hopefully.
Catherine glared at him for a moment before removing his hand, standing up and walking out of the room in the direction of the locker room. Warrick sighed before standing and following her.
Nick, Sara and Greg erupted into laughter at the break room table after watching the weekly showdown between Grissom and Catherine. The two were close friends and worked well together, but they were very different and at least once a week they had a disagreement of some sort.
"She's going to get you back for that one," Sara said still chuckling.
"I know," Grissom answered.
"But it was worth it" Greg said.
"Perhaps," Grissom replied.
"What do we have this evening?" Nick asked.
"Sara, a hit and run in
"Nick and Greg, catch up on your paperwork. You're both behind." Grissom turned around and headed to his office.
"Looks like we're in for a fun night…" Greg sighed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ugh I hate reports…" Greg moaned after an hour of paper work.
"How far behind are you?" Nick asked looking up.
"Two cases," Greg responded frowning.
"Tell you what, I'm just about done," Nick said, putting the finishing touches on his report, "I'll help you out."
"Thanks!" Greg said happily.
Nick dragged his chair over and sat next to Greg.
"What can I do?" He asked.
"Uh if you could read over these; that would be great. Thanks." Greg passed him over the first draft of his reports.
"No problem." Nick said starting to read.
They worked in companionable silence for awhile stealing glances at each other every few minutes and catching each others eye occasionally.
"So, uhh I had a really good time the other night," Nick said nervously, breaking the silence.
"Me to," Greg said smiling softly. A few nights ago he and Nick might have had a date. Might being the operative word; Greg still really wasn't sure if it was or wasn't. Until that night Greg had thought Nick to be 100% straight, but now… He wasn't so sure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The maybe date had happened after a long shift that had first turned into a double and then the beginnings of a triple. In the end, they'd got their perp; a serial rapist who had raped 5 women before they had caught him…13 hours after their shift was supposed to have ended, but they caught him. Grissom had given everyone the night off, which was good considering their normal shift started in one hour.
Greg had been sitting in front of his locker trying to decide what he wanted more; food or sleep. He really needed food, but he doubted he'd be able to stay awake long enough to eat. So he just sat there staring at his locker hoping it would tell him what he should do.
Nick had walked into the locker room and began undressing, distracting Greg from the, ‘wisdom locker.' Nick pulled off his shirt revealing his exquisitely toned body.
Greg ogled Nick openly, too tired to even attempt to be subtle. He watched as the muscles on Nick's back bunched and stretched as he put on deodorant. When Nick turned around, Greg's breath had caught in his throat as he soaked up the sight of Nick's sculpted abs and pecs.
Greg had been so engrossed in staring at Nick's body, he didn't notice when Nick's eyes had latched on to him.
"See something you like?" Nick had asked his voice thick with amusement.
Greg jumped and his eyes snapped up to Nick's smiling face.
His face had turned bright red with embarrassment at being caught.
"I'm sorry, I was just… I mean I wasn't… well I was… but I didn't mean…" Greg stammered out, unable to come up with a feasible excuse.
"It's alright G." Nick laughed, "If you're done staring at me…how about dinner, or is it breakfast? I mean I normally eat breakfast this time of night… but I never did eat dinner… or lunch..." Nick had trailed off then realizing he was rambling. For a second Greg thought Nick was nervous, but decided that was impossible. What did Nick have to be nervous about?
"Sure food of any kind sounds good right about now," Greg had answered quickly. Excited at the chance of a meal with Nick, he didn't care if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner. Nick had flashed him a huge grin and after briefly discussing where they should eat, they headed out to their cars planning on meeting at a diner that was half-way between both of their houses.
Dinner had been great; they'd laughed and talked for several hours eating greasy food and drinking cup after cup of cheap coffee. It wasn't until the waitress came and told them they were closing for the night that they'd reluctantly paid their bill and headed out.
As tired as Greg was, he hadn't wanted the meal to end. It had been the most he and Nick had talked in months and being the sole focus of Nick's attention was an amazing feeling.
Nick and Greg often hung out, but rarely was it just the two of them. Often Warrick or Sara and lately, even Catherine hung out with them as well.
It seemed that Nick didn't want the night to end either because as Greg turned to walk to his car, Nick had grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.
"I don't know about you, but if I go to sleep now my sleep schedule will be all out of whack." Nick had stated his hand still on Greg's shoulder.
"Yeah, me to," Greg had said. Though he knew he could probably sleep for the whole 22 hours they had before having to return to work and still wake up tired.
"So…want to help each other stay awake for a few more hours?" Nick had asked, still not removing his hand from Greg's shoulder.
"Yeah sure, I just got a few new games for x-box. You want to come over and try them out?"
"Sure," Nick drawled before suddenly becoming aware that he was still touching Greg. He had jerked his hand off Greg's shoulder as if it was on fire. "Sounds great," he mumbled looking away, but Greg still noticed the slight blush on his face.
Greg had experienced a momentary feeling of loss when Nick had removed his hand, but he quickly squashed it down and smiled brightly. "Great," he said, "Meet you there?"
"Yeah" Nick replied softly before turning and walking to his car.
They had spent the rest of the night playing video games and slowly moving closer and closer to each other on the couch. After several hours, their shoulders were brushing together occasionally and thighs and hips were touching. Greg loved it and Nick seemed to as well, sending Greg a goofy smile every time their shoulder's brushed.
By sunrise they were both yawning and having a hard time focusing on the game. Greg was trying to pretend he wasn't tired, though he could barely keep his eyes open. He didn't want the night to end, to be more specific he didn't want Nick to move. It was the closest he'd ever been to the man he'd had a slight crush on for years.
Nick didn't seem to want to end it either, though Greg wasn't quite sure of his motivations.
After another 20 minutes of gaming the two were no longer able to deny it. They were exhausted and it was time for sleep.
When Nick had stood up to leave he had wobbled for a second before grabbing onto the back of the couch and steadying himself.
"Nick, you're half-asleep. You can't drive. Sleep in my guest room," Greg had urged.
Nick had resisted at first but agreed in the end. When Greg had gotten up that evening Nick was already gone, but he had left a note.
Greg,
Thanks for letting me stay, you were right the second my head hit the pillow I was out like a light. I had a great time last night and I'd love to do it again soon.
Nick
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That had all happened four days ago. Even though a lot of the evening was date-like and Nick's behavior at times was date-like, Greg still wasn't sure if it had been a date. Greg decided not to do or say anything about it either way until Nick did.
And now, Nick was bringing it up. Hopefully he would shed some light on what was going on.
"We should do it again, like maybe tonight?" Nick suggested a hopeful look on his face.
"I'd really like that" Greg said while doing a dance inside.
"Good then it's a date!" Nick quipped. Greg could tell that as soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them, but before he could take them back Grissom came in.
"We've got a Priority case, grab your kits and let's go" he ordered turning around and quickly walking back down the hall. Nick and Greg grabbed their kits and hurried after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grissom filled them in on their way to the scene. "There was a Fire in a VIP suite at the Palm. I'm not sure who the guest is but I know he is a celebrity and that his baby was killed" He was flicking through what information they had.
"So what are we doing, investigating the cause of the fire?" Greg asked from the back seat.
"Among other thing," Grissom replied. "Apparently the baby wasn't killed in the fire"
"Then how'd it die?" Nick questioned turning his eye's momentarily from the road.
"That's what we're there for," Grissom replied." The Sheriff wants this handled quickly, discreetly and with the utmost sensitivity"
Nick snorted, "Then he should have called day shift, they know how to play politics."
Grissom had smiled slightly at that and a few minutes later they pulled into the Palms.
They climbed out of the
The second Greg stepped out of the elevator he spotted him sitting on a stretcher. Even after all the years, covered in ash and with an oxygen mask on Greg recognized him immediately. Their eyes locked and Greg couldn't move or speak. His heart started beating franticly; he broke out in a cold sweat, his hands started shaking and his stomach started churning.
The man only held his gaze for a second before looking away, but to Greg it felt like an eternity. Without pausing to explain what was going on to Nick or Grissom, who were looking at him wondering why he'd stopped walking, Greg turned around and walked down the hall.
The farther he got away from the man on the stretcher the faster he moved. When he got to the stairs, he broke into a run. He ran down 22 flights of stairs, vaguely aware of some one calling his name and then later calling his phone. He didn't care, he had to keep moving. He didn't stop until he was a block away from the Palm. He didn't remember passing through the lobby but he must have.
He turned and stared at the Casino he had just fled from. He couldn't begin to grasp what had just happened.
‘After all these years…' he thought.
And the night had started so great too.
Little did he know that it was only going to get worse very soon.
***
Nick and Grissom watched in astonishment as Greg walked, then ran down the hallway away from them."Where is he going?" Grissom asked Nick.
"I don't know," Nick replied, "Maybe he forgot something in the car?" He suggested.
"Go find him. Now." Grissom ordered, before moving quickly toward the scene.
‘This is not how I saw the night going' Nick thought before jogging off after Greg.
He'd not been able to catch up to Greg who was running down the stairs at break neck speed and ignoring Nick yelling after him. After Nick heard Greg enter the lobby he exited the stairs and found the nearest elevator. By the time he got to the lobby Greg was nowhere to be seen.
He attempted to call Greg's cell as he walked to the
"Where the hell are you Greggo?" Nick murmured worriedly to himself before heading back to the crime scene.
He tried calling Greg twice more as he rode the elevator up and once more before he ducked under the tape around the scene and found Grissom.
"Well?" Grissom snapped.
"He's gone, I don't know where he is and he's not answering his cell," Nick said, a small part of him wondered if Greg was just avoiding his calls.
He felt a strange sense of relief when Greg didn't answer when Grissom called either.
"We don't have time for this!" Grissom said, snapping his phone shut. "Start processing the kitchen that's where the fire department thinks the fire started." Grissom turned and yelled for Brass and Nick hurried to the kitchen.
As he processed Nick thought about Greg.
They'd gone out to dinner a few nights ago, and what had started as a quick meal with a buddy had quickly morphed into something more.
Nick had always found Greg physically attractive, who wouldn't? Greg was tall and lean with a smile that could light up a room and big brown eyes. Just the type of guy that Nick liked to bed. However, Greg was a coworker. An indiscreet, young, possibly straight, coworker and Nick had no desire to be outed to the entire LVPD.
That Greg was a coworker wasn't the only problem though.
While Greg was working DNA, he had constantly showed his immaturity. Sure he got the job done and at times his antics were hysterical. But there was a time and a place for jokes and while analyzing a semen sample found on the corpse of a dead 9 year old was not one of them.
Part of that was Greg was only 22 when he started at the lab and 23 when he'd become the head of DNA. He was smart and great at his job but he was still a kid in so many ways. To Greg it was just a job, he didn't ever see the victims or survivors. He was analyzing samples from strangers with no clue where they'd come from and not really caring.
Nick had been attracted to Greg's body but not his personality. So he pushed his attraction for the lab tech to the side, it wouldn't work they were way too different.
However after the lab explosion Greg changed, it seemed to age him 10 years over night. He was suddenly more serious, more focused, and completely determined to become a CSI. Sure he still told jokes involving anal swabs and put on a show giving them their results, but he also seemed to be more aware of the cases and the victims.
When Greg first started his training, Nick thought Grissom was crazy for letting Greg out in the field. However, the more he worked with and helped Greg train, the more he understood why Grissom had taken the chance.
The way Greeg's eyes lit up when he found an important piece of evidence. Or when he asked a question or did anything to help solve a case. And he did that a lot. He had a fresh way of looking at things, he often saw things in the evidence that Nick didn't.
Greg was a good DNA tech, but he was a great CSI. Nick was damn proud of him.
Over the course of Greg's training Nick's feelings for him had changed from tolerating him to becoming good friends. He began to understand Greg's quirky sense of humor though it probably helped that he had toned it down some. He also began to see Greg's serious side. His passion for justice and compassion for the victims. The more they worked together and hung out the stronger their friendship had become.
When their shift had been split the thing Nick had missed most was working with Greg. After his burial and rescue Greg had been the only one who treated him normal, who didn't walk around on eggshells around him. Probably because Greg knew what it was like, and had hated it when people treated him like glass after the lab explosion.
He had come to the realization recently that he was no longer attracted to just his body. He was attracted to Greg's personality as well. Bad music and weird shirts included.
And unless he was completely off base, he was pretty sure Greg liked him too.
Nick hadn't come to this realization until a few nights ago, when he'd caught Greg checking him out in the locker room. The next thing Nick knew he was asking Greg out to eat and to Nick's joy he was accepting.
Over dinner they'd talked about things they'd never discussed before and Nick had learned a lot about Greg. Like he'd started college at 17 and had taken summer classes so he could earn his masters in 4 years, instead of the normal 6.
Nick had really enjoyed spending time with Greg, and he'd loved the feeling of their thighs touching on the couch while they played video games. He'd woken up early, wrote Greg a quick note and escaped home to attempt to figure out what he was going to do.
It had only been tonight that he'd come to his decision. He was going to test the waters with Greg and attempt to figure out how Greg felt about him. He wasn't quite sure if Greg was even gay but he was 50% sure he was and he was betting man; he'd take those odds.
So earlier he'd asked him to dinner and Greg had agreed. Although Greg probably had no clue, tonight was going to be their first date.
That was if Grissom didn't kill him for running off to parts unknown.
The thought of Grissom forced Nick to stop day dreaming about Greg and focus on an unusual burn pattern that led to the cupboards.
There were two types of cases that Grissom hated; cases involving the rich and famous, and cases involving very young children. So the death of the infant son of a celebrity was putting him in a doubly bad mood. Add that to the disappearance of Greg and Grissom was barely holding his temper. Brass was eyeing him warily as he approached.
"Brass!" Grissom yelled, "Talk to me what's going on."
"Vic's name is Robby Bender 4 Months old" Brass frowned "Son of Monty Bender, comedian," He pointed to the man sitting on the stretcher.
"How was the baby killed?" Grissom asked.
"Dropped out the window." Brass deadpanned.
"What!" Grissom growled.
"According to all three witness statements, They spent the evening in the room none of them left all night. The Fire broke out in the kitchen trapping them in the main room. The room quickly filled with smoke making it impossible to breath. Monty was trying to save Robby by holding him out the window in the smoke free air. When Bender lost consciousness from smoke inhalation he dropped the baby. They are all very upset at the loss."
"All three of them say that?"
"All three say the exact same thing. Which, incidentally, is the exact same thing Bender says. I could be wrong but something about this story seems fishy."
"Hmm." Grissom answered thinking, "Take them back to the station and question them again separately. I'll call you if we find anything." Brass nodded and headed out.
Grissom's phone rang a few moments later he glanced down at it. Greg. Taking a deep breath he answered, "Grissom."
After 10 minutes of just staring at the Casino Greg had hailed a cab. Greg was so intent on getting back to the lab that the cab was halfway there before he truly realized what he'd done. He'd run away from a crime scene… Grissom was going to kill him.
He pulled out his cell phone intent on calling and doing damage control. He winced when he saw how many calls he'd missed. Four from Nick and, ‘oh shit,' two from Grissom.
‘I am in so much trouble, Grissom never calls… And he called twice…I'm dead.'
Greg immediately called Grissom back.
It rang several times before an irritated voice answered, "Grissom."
"Uh hi boss…" Greg stammered, "I saw you called," he winced at his words, ‘I saw you called,' he smacked himself in the forehead.
"Yes Greg I did, so how are you," Grissom asked, in a pleasant voice that scared Greg.
"Uh good… Sir…. How uh… how are you?" He asked, not quite sure how to respond.
"Me? Me, I'm fine. Quick question though Greg." Grissom said, in that calm pleasant terrifying voice.
"Mhm" Greg answered timidly.
"Where. Are. You?" Grissom's growled out.
Wincing at Grissom's tone Greg hurriedly began to explain "I'm uhh in a cab heading back to the lab… Uhh you see I umm knew the vic… not the umm kid… the man… the father… my, my family has financial dealings with him…. err well my dad does, not my whole family… so I thought I should remove myself, immediately… uhh so I did."
Greg could hear Grissom take a deep breath, "Go finish your paper work then go wait for me in my office." Grissom hung up.
‘Yup I'm going to die.'
‘I'm going to kill him,' Grissom thought as he hung up.
But a small part of him was worried; something was not right with Greg. They had all had recused themselves from cases before. He didn't know why this particular one, why Monty Bender had caused Greg to go running from the building.
He sighed, he didn't have time to think about this. He needed to figure out what happened in this hotel room. Greg could wait until later.
"Hey Grissom can you come here," Nick yelled from the kitchen of the suite.
Nick was pretty sure he'd found the cause of the fire. It looked to be a shorted out wire and if so this case wasn't theirs anymore.
"This better be good Nick," Grissom snapped from the door way, startling Nick who had been deep in thought.
"Oh it's not much, just the cause of the fire," Nick said, with just a hint of sarcasm.
"Talk," Grissom ordered not even slightly apologetic.
"Wire shorted out in the wall behind the fridge, it then spread to the cupboards where the cleaning stuff under the sink caught on fire. That's why it spread so quickly," Nick said, showing Grissom the burn pattern that proved his theory.
"I believe you're right Nicky," Grissom said, examining the burn pattern.
"So that's it then right? This isn't arson it was an accident."
"The baby wasn't killed in the fire." Grissom responded.
"Alright, well I've got everything in here photographed, bagged and tagged." Nick informed Grissom, turning and packing up the rest of his kit.
"Go get the security tapes and take them back to the lab. Try to confirm or contradict the witnesses' timeline," Grissom directed.
"On it." Nick took off in search of the tapes.
Nick arrived back at the lab and headed back to AV to give Archie the security tapes. Nick hated watching security tapes and normally made Greg sit with Archie and watch them. However Greg was MIA. Nick frowned worried about his secret crush.
Greg still hadn't called him back. This was completely unlike Greg; but then again so was walking off a crime scene.
What really had Nick worried though was the brief look of terror on Greg's face as he'd flashed by on his mad dash from the hotel. Something was wrong, very wrong.
Nick rounded the corner and walked straight into the man who was occupying his thoughts.
"Greg!" Nick exclaimed, leaning forward to hug the man before suddenly realizing where he was and pulling back awkwardly.
"Hi, Nicky." Greg said softly, his head tilted down, lips drooping.
"What happened to you man? You were there one second and gone then next." Nick asked worriedly, he didn't like this look on Greg's face now either.
"I know the guy, Monty Bender, my family has done business with him for years." Greg told him, but Nick didn't buy it.
Nick raised an eyebrow, "So you recognized him and ran away at top speed? I'm not buying that Greggo." Nick put a hand on Greg's arm, "What's going on?" He asked quietly.
Greg pulled his arm away, "I'm telling the truth Nick. I recognized him and wanted to get away as soon as possible so I wouldn't compromise the case." Greg argued, a mulish look on his face.
Nick responded in kind "Fine you don't want to tell me what's going on that's your prerogative, but I suggest that you come up with a better excuse before you talk to Grissom." Nick snapped before walking off continuing on to the AV lab.
"Archie here are the tapes let's get started." Nick growled. He sat down next to Archie and began to brood.
"Fuck," Greg said, kicking a base board softly, "I really screwed that up," Greg sighed, he knew he would never be able to explain the reason he fled to Nick.
He couldn't explain it to anyone.
Hopefully, he wouldn't ever have to.
Hopefully, they would quickly solve this case and move on to another one.
Hopefully, Nick would forgive him for being such an jerk.
Hopefully.
"Nick didn't the personal trainer say that he was in the room all night?" Archie asked the preoccupied CSI.
"Yeah," Nick said, dragging his focus back to the case and away from Greg.
"Well I have him leaving several times including right before the fire started," Archie said, playing back two such instances.
"He never mentioned that," Nick said. "I'm going to call Brass," he add excitedly.
Finally something to keep his mind off Greg.
An hour after Archie's discovery Grissom tiredly made his way back into the lab. He needed to go see Doc Robbins for the details on the autopsy, find Nick and see if he had come up with anything new…Then there was the whole situation with Greg… He didn't quite now how to deal with the youngest CSI.
"Grissom" Nick yelled from down the hall.
"Nick what's going on?" Grissom asked, mentaly checking, ‘find Nick,' off his to do list.
"Gris this is big, Archie we need to borrow your lab for a moment." Nick said, dragging Grissom in and pushing Archie out. He shut the door, walked across the room and stuck a tape in the VCR.
"What's going on Nick?" Grissom questioned. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like what was on the tape.
"The personal trainer, Mike Stephens, we have him on the security tape leaving the room several times. Which contradicts his statement." Nick paused for a moment before continuing, "This is a tape of his interview with Brass and I… Gris… you just need to watch this." Nick trailed off before pressing play.
Grissom zeroed in on the TV screen, he was now positive he wasn't going to like what was on the tape.
Mike Stephens was a balding middle aged man. For a personal trainer he looked very unhealthy; drink reddened cheeks and a spare tire around the waste. He also looked terrified; he was sweating and looking back and forth nervously from Nick to Brass.
"Mr. Stephens, this is your last chance to come clean." Brass said, "Nick here has found something very interesting."
Stephens paled and started breathing faster. Grissom leaned forward to get a better view.
"Mr. Stephens, we all ready know everything," Nick said kindly. "Why don't you give us your side while you still can."
"Oh shit… I haven't done it in years, I swear." Stephens croaked out, he had a smokers voice; rough and deep.
On the tape Nick and Brass looked at each other in confusion for a second before smoothing their features back over so they looked blank.
"That's not what we heard." Brass said, obviously choosing his words carefully trying to keep Stephens talking. Grissom nodded his head in approval, if anyone could trick this man into confessing to a crime they had no clue about it would be Brass.
"I'm not lying! I haven't done it in years!" Stephens yelled. Grissom hadn't thought the man could get any more agitated but he was wrong. Stephens began to rock back and forth and let out little sobs.
"It doesn't matter you're going to jail for a long time" Brass said, on the attack trying to through him more off guard.
Stephens started to cry in earnest, "No! Please I'll do anything," He sobbed out.
"We want all the details," Nick said, trying to play at being the good cop. "If we like what we hear we'll talk to the DA about leniency."
Stephens sobbed and nodded.
"Start at the beginning," Nick said. Grissom turned up the volume.
"I was just the driver," Stephens said.
"What did you drive?" Brass questioned.
"An ice cream truck, we'd go to the poor neighborhoods in
"Looking for what?" Brass pressed.
"Kids," Stephens choked out. Grissom frowned at the TV, he didn't like where this was going.
"Kids?" Nick asked in a deceptively calm voice.
"Lit...Little boys…" Stephens sobbed out.
For several moments no one spoke Stephens just sobbed, Brass glared and in the background Grissom could see Nick clenching his fists and seemingly trying to regain control. If Grissom's weakness was infant deaths Nicks was kids.
Grissom thought that something bad must have happened to Nick as a child, but that wasn't exactly something you asked someone. He watched with pride as Nick pulled it back together and managed to put a blank almost friendly look back on his face.
"Monty would sit in the back and look out a little peephole." Stephens said after he had finally regained control. "When he'd find a boy he liked he'd point him out to me. I would pull the kid aside and invite him to Monty's estate for the weekend. If he said yes, I'd give him a number to call to set it all up."
"And then what" Nick asked, trying to coax more out of the man
"I don't know." He choked out.
"You don't know?" Brass said frowning.
"I don't know! I never wanted to know!" Stephens shouted.
"You're not giving us much here Mike…" Nick said, pausing to build tension. "I don't know how much I'm going to be able to help you…" He picked up the file and turned as if to head out of the room.
"WAIT! Wait, I know more" Nick paused and turned around but didn't put down the file.
"The-there was a law suit back in 87 or 88, he was accused of molesting a 10 year old boy… it was settled out of court…" Stephens began sobbing once more.
Nick pressed the stop button and turned to Grissom, "Well?"
Grissom was still staring at the blank screen deep in thought. He turned to Nick, "It looks like we have a new case"
***
"I want this case Grissom," Nick barked."Ni-" Grissom began, but Nick interrupted him.
"I wasn't asking, I was telling you. This is my case." Nick's face was blank, but Grissom could almost see the rage flowing off of Nick in waves.
"I was just going to tell you it was yours; however, if you can't control your temper I'll assign it to Catherine."
"No," Nick was quick to say, "I'm sorry. It's just that cases like this get to me…" he trailed off.
Grissom sighed not quite sure what he should say or do in this situation. This was one of those moments he hated being a supervisor. On one hand, he knew that this case was already personal for Nick and could end up hurting him in the long run. However, on the other hand, it would hurt their working relationship if Grissom took him off it. "Maybe you should let Catherine handle this." Grissom suggested hoping Nick wouldn't take offense.
"NO! I can do this Gris," Nick insisted. "From here on out I'm the ice man" He said, once again wiping his face clear of all emotion.
"You don't need to be the ice man Nick," Grissom said pausing a moment to gather his thoughts. "In a lot of ways your emotions are what make you such a great investigator. They give you the strength to keep working and searching long after the rest of us have given up."
Nick gave Grissom a wide smile.
"I'm not telling you to let your feeling reign over you," Grissom continued. "Just not to force yourself to feel nothing. I saw you in the video; Stephens was making you mad but he never saw that he was."
"I wanted to hit him. There he was crying ‘cause he thought he was going to go to jail." Nick frowned letting the anger out once more. "What he did was unforgivable; nearly as bad as what Bender did."
"What Stephens alleges he did," Grissom corrected. Nick needed to enter this investigation with an open mind. "He may have made something up to get us off his case."
"True, I have to start this investigation assuming Stephens lying." Nick agreed.
"I'll pull Catherine off the B & E to help you." Grissom said.
"Yeah, I'll have her search records for the court case." Nick said formulating his plan of attack
Grissom nodded in agreement before heading off to autopsy.
========================================
Doc Robbins post mortem exam had officially cleared Bender. The baby had died of smoke inhalation. He had been dead before the fall. Back down to one case.
Now Grissom had to deal with Greg. Something he was not looking forward to. While he cared deeply about Greg's well-being as he cared about all his CSI's, in the end he was their boss not their friend.
Gil knew something was going on with Greg, but until Greg confided in him he couldn't help him.
Grissom headed to his office and was about to open the door when he caught sight of Greg for the first time since he had run off.
He was sitting on the couch, slumped forward, shoulders drooping, elbows on his knees with his face in his hands. He was the picture of defeat and sadness.
Grissom had never seen Greg look like that. No matter what, Greg always had a positive outlook on life. He always kept moving and let nothing hold him down.
The Greg in his office looked broken. Like a scared little boy…
Little boy…
Grissom suddenly spun around and walked quickly away from his office in search of Nick. If anyone would be able to answer his question it would be Nick.
========================================
Nick and Catherine were both searching through records, but it was slow going.
Catherine in search of the records of the supposed law suit; Nick in search of the ice cream truck. When Grissom burst into the room he frightened both of them.
"Nick, where did Greg grow up?" Gil asked before either had even had a chance turn around.
"
"How do you not know this Grissom?" Catherine asked incredulous. "Have you never talked to Greg?" She added before rolling her eyes and getting back to work.
"Are you sure?" Grissom asked feeling relieved.
"Yeah I've heard enough stories about his exploits growing up," Nick said chuckling slightly, "Why?"
"For a moment I thought that…" Grissom paused unsure how to continue.
"You thought that?" Nick asked.
"Well with his reaction to Bender I thought that maybe…"
"Oh God," Catherine said, "No way. Not Greg. The guy would be in jail if he did that to Greg. No way Greg would let him get away with that" She insisted.
"He wouldn't now, but at 9 or 10?" Nick asked, a soft frown on his face.
"Even so," Catherine argued back. "I think if Bender did molest him; when Greg saw him, he would have blown the whistle, not run away."
Nick opened his mouth to argue, but Grissom ended the argument before it could continue.
"This is all moot because Greg was in
"True," Nick conceded turning back to work.
"Why do you think he ran from the crime scene?" Catherine asked not quite ready to drop the topic.
"The most logical explanation I can come up with? Perhaps he knew something about Mr. Bender's predilection for young boys,"
"What!" Nick said turning back from the computer. A look of shock on his face.
"It makes sense" Catherine said cautiously.
"I can't believe you two!" Nick snapped, "This is Greg we're taking about! He would never knowingly let anyone be abused, let alone kids."
"It was just a theory Nick." Catherine soothed.
"It doesn't matter. I care about Greg and I'm not going to let you accuse him of something like that."
"You're right Nick we shouldn't be talking about this," Grissom agreed.
"Thank you," Nick said as Grissom left.
========================================
He couldn't believe they thought that Greg would turn a blind eye to Benders activities, if there were any activities. So far Nick hadn't found anything and Catherine hadn't had any luck either.
Nick knew he shouldn't enter the investigation with preconceived notions but he couldn't help it. He had this gut feeling that Bender was guilty. Now he just had to prove it.
========================================
Greg decided that Grissom was the master of psychological torture.
The longer he sat waiting the more anxious he became. He paced for awhile, until he almost knocked over a specimen jar with a giant spider in it. Knowing that Grissom would definitely fire him if he destroyed a part of his collection, Greg settled on the couch.
‘I'm going to lose my job' Greg thought morosely.
‘Grissom is going to fire me; fire me or demand I tell the truth about what happened… I don't know which worse.'
The longer he sat on the couch the more depressed Greg became. Today had gone to hell in typical Greg Sanders fashion. Every time he's truly happy everything falls apart. He hated to claim victim. But he was. Victim of his bad luck!
He slumped over in defeat. Waiting for Grissom to come and fire him.
About a half hour later Grissom finally showed up. Greg jumped to his feet when Grissom walked in.
Grissom didn't waste a moment before he began speaking, "If you ever run off from a scene like that again, I don't care if your mother is the victim, you won't have a job to come back to. Understand?"
"Yes sir," Greg answered quickly, afraid Grissom was going to change his mind and fire him.
"And until further notice you're assisting in DNA."
"Yes sir."
"Greg, is there anything you'd like to tell me?" Grissom questioned
Greg looked at his feet, "No sir." He responded hoping Grissom would leave it.
"Fine, get to DNA and get to work." Grissom ordered.
Greg scrambled out of the room as fast as he could. He wasn't fired! He smiled. Maybe his luck wasn't all bad.
========================================
Nick sighed in frustration. He wasn't coming up with anything. Monty Bender was clean as a whistle; no ice cream truck, nothing suspicious in his financial records, no lawsuit.
"Cath you finding anything?" Nick asked hoping she'd found something; anything.
"Nothing Nicky, sorry." She leaned back in her chair stretching, "I'm going to take a break, grab a cup of coffee. You want one?"
"Yeah. Thanks," Nick replied. "You know how I like it."
Nick went back to looking through Benders records. He was so engrossed he didn't realize someone had entered the room until they touched his shoulder. Surprised, Nick jumped and spun his chair around.
"Sorry," Greg said a hint of a smile on his face. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"No worries Greggo." Nick said taking a deep calming breath "What's up?"
"I uhh was umm wondering if we were still uhh on for dinner?" He paused for a moment but before Nick could reply he rushed on "If not, it's cool. I totally understand"
"We're still on," Nick smiled. His earlier anger was completely forgotten. He had really had no reason to be angry; he couldn't expect Greg to tell him everything. Even though Nick would love to know everything about him.
There was an awkward silence for a minute; neither was sure what to say.
"I'm sorry," they both said at the same time. They smiled at each other and laughed; all awkwardness gone.
"I shouldn't have gotten mad at you for not wanting to tell me what's going on. You have every right not to tell me things. I guess I just took it a little personal, like you didn't trust me." Nick said.
"I do trust you Nicky," Greg stepped closer. "I trust you with my life. There really is nothing going on. I just over reacted. I was afraid I was going to say something I wasn't supposed to."
"What's going on?" Nick asked concerned.
"Nothing bad," Greg soothed. "My dad wrote a screen play in the 80's and Mr. Bender bought it." Greg didn't meet Nick's eyes as he spoke, looking up and slightly to the left.
"I thought he wrote all his own stuff," Nick questioned cautiously.
"Nope and that's why I was nervous" Greg confessed. "My whole family is under contract not to say anything. If I had accidentally broke that contract and Bender found out, it could have gotten the lab and my family in a lot of trouble."
Nick nodded though he wasn't quite sure he believed Greg's excuse.
"I'm sorry I acted like a spoiled little kid. I know you were just trying to look out for me and I yelled at you." Greg added frowning and looking very sad.
Nick stood up and ruffled Greg's hair gently, loving the feel of his soft hair slipping through his hand. Greg arched slightly towards Nicks hand as he started to pull away. Nick froze and so did Greg.
They locked eyes as Nick dragged his hand slowly down Greg's scalp until it reached his neck. Greg licked his lips. Nick, memorized by the display, suddenly couldn't wait any longer. It didn't matter that they were in the middle of the lab where everyone could see; he suddenly had an overwhelming urge to kiss Greg. Out the window went his plan of testing the waters. Nick leaned forward and watched Greg's eyes slide shut in anticipation.
That was the moment that Catherine chose to come back to the room. The moment they heard the door knob start to turn they jumped apart; just moments away from their first kiss.
Nick cursed Catherine's horrendous timing. So close to getting the kiss that had haunted him for years.
"Here's your Coffee Nick." She said not noticing the glare Nick sent at her.
"Greg are you alright?" She asked and Nick looked up at Greg. His face was bright red and he was chewing on his bottom lip and fidgeting like a five year old. Nick almost laughed at the picture he made.
"I'm fine Cat, why do you ask?"
"Don't call me Cat. You just look funny; like you have to pee and you're embarrassed at the same time," Catherine informed him, a wicked smile on her face.
"Ha Ha," Greg said frowning at Catherine and not meeting Nicks gaze.
Nick reached over and patted Greg's back. "Ignore her; you look fine." He smiled when Greg met his eyes, a tentative smile on his face. "I'm going to break for dinner in an hour that good for you?"
"Yeah that's good," Greg said sending him a bright smile.
"I'll meet you in the locker room." Nick said as he sat back down in the computer chair.
"Ok," Greg said and walked out heading back to the DNA lab.
"What was that all about?" Catherine asked an evil smile on her face.
"Nothing; Greg was just explaining why he ran off like he did," Nick told her, hoping to divert her. "I'm not sure I believe him. I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach."
Catherine looked interested," Well what was his excuse?"
"He said Bender bought a screen play…" Nick trailed off a sudden realization hitting him.
"Nick?" Catherine said.
"I think Greg may have unintentionally just given us a lead," Nick exclaimed. He spun around on his chair and began searching.
"Care to tell me what it is?" Catherine asked as Nick tapped away on the computer.
"Greg said Bender bought a screen play from Greg's dad in the 80's," Nick was positive he was right and if he was they may have just broke the case.
"So?" Catherine asked her voice tinged with frustration.
"So, there are no payouts to Greg's dad in the 80's, there are no large payments to any single person in the 80's. I think that he may have paid Mr. Sanders from another account or…"
"Under another name. His real name." Catherine interrupted him suddenly understanding.
"So what is Monty Bender's real name?" Nick asked hoping Catherine knew.
"One moment." Catherine got on the net and searched.
"Clyde Hogarsville, I would have changed my name to." Catherine said.
Nick ignored her and got to work trying to find the financial records of Clyde Hogarsville AKA Monty Bender.
========================================
45 minutes later, Catherine and Nick were sitting in the room silently fuming at what they'd found.
"This can't be right Nick. We must be missing something," Catherine insisted.
"We're not Catherine. The evidence doesn't lie and we've got plenty." Nick said dejectedly.
"Most of it is based on the assumption that Bender has been molesting little boys," Catherine reminded him, "we don't know that for sure."
"I found the Ice Cream truck Cath. It's only a matter of time before you find the court records." He argued back. He really wanted to hit something or someone hard right now.
"Nicky…" Catherine said reaching out to sooth him
"Don't. I just can't believe this. Grissom was right… Greg knew…" Nick shook his head once more in disbelief, "I need to go take a walk."
Catherine nodded, "I'm going to keep looking through the records."
Nick didn't respond, just walked out, headed in the direction of the locker room intent on grabbing his pack of emergency cigarettes and heading outside.
The instant he opened the locker room door Nick wished he'd forgone the cigarettes and just headed outside. The last person he wanted to see was sitting on the bench tying his shoes. Greg looked up before Nick could attempt to sneak back out.
"Hey Nicky, your early I figured I'd have to drag you out of the lab," Greg joked, a bright smile on his face.
Nick ignored him and headed straight to his locker intent on getting his cigarettes and leaving. He hoped Greg would catch the drift and leave him alone.
"Everything ok Nick?" Greg asked from behind him. Nick could practically picture the look he had on his face; a little frown, his eyebrows furrowed.
Nick continued to ignore him. Clenching his teeth and opening his locker. Trying to hold himself together. He was desperate to hold himself together and not confront Greg in the locker room.
"Nick?" Greg said softly before touching his back so very gently. Nick lost it. He couldn't bear that soft touch, knowing that the Greg was not the man he'd thought him to be.
"Don't touch me!" Nick shouted pushing Greg away. The hurt look on Greg's face only served to make Nick angrier because half of him wanted to apologize and make the look go away and the other half wanted to hurt him more.
"What's going on Nick?" Greg asked. Nick couldn't hold it any more. If Greg wanted to know, he would tell him.
"I know why you really ran away today Greg." Nick's voice sounded calmer then he was much calmer.
All the color drained from Greg's face, "Wha-what are you talking about?" he said so quietly Nick almost didn't hear him.
"I know all about your little deal with Bender: or should I say Clyde Hogarsville?" Nick spat out.
Greg looked confused now, "I have no idea what you're talking about." His face began to regain some color.
"Bull shit Greg. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Nick growled. Greg pretending he had no clue what was going on was making him angrier.
"No I really don't," Greg said angrily.
"Fine, you want me to spell it out for you," Nick yelled? "I will. For the last 20 years Bender has been paying your family $100,000 dollars a year. Hush money."
"Hush money? Where are you getting this shit from?" Greg yelled
"Money talks Greg and so does the non-disclosure agreement you signed." Nick bellowed
"My family signed and I told you why!" Greg shouted back.
"Because of a screen play?" Nick scoffed, "Then why the pay offs?" he snarled
"It's royalties! Why would Bender be paying my family off Nick?" Greg yelled.Greg's face was red from shouting; his fists were clenched but his eyes held fear and that fueled Nick's rage.
"Because you all know what he likes to do to little boys!" Nick yelled.
All the color drained from Greg's face once more and for a moment Nick though Greg was going to pass out. He swayed for a moment; shoulders slumped, eyes squeezed shut, face deathly pale. He grabbed onto the locker to steady himself. He opened his eyes and took several deep breathes before looking at Nick. "You don't know what you're talking about." He murmured.
"I think I do Greg. How long have you known?" Nick asked in a hateful tone
"It's not like that." Greg whispered turning his face away from Nick.
"Oh it's not? What's it like then Greg?" Nick stepped closer getting in Greg's face.
Greg shook his head and turned around. Nick stepped up behind him and leaned in close.
"Explain it to me Greg, what is it like then?" he hissed in his ear. Greg didn't say anything just shook his head once more.
"Talk to me god damn it, you always have so much to say," Nick ground out. Greg was trembling and gripping the locker to stay up. Nick however, could care less.
"What's the matter...feeling guilty? Thinking of all the kids you let him hurt over the years?" he rumbled
"STOP IT!" Greg cried spinning and shoving Nick back so quickly it took Nick a moment to figure out what had happened.
"Stop it…" he whimpered and Nick was surprised to see the swirl of emotion in his eyes. Hurt, confusion, fear, but mostly sadness. A deep aching sadness; and for the first time since his discovery Nick felt something other than anger. He felt guilt. A tear slowly leaked out of Greg's eyes. Followed by another and another.
"Talk to me," Nick pled.
Greg opened and closed his mouth several times as if trying to speak but the words wouldn't come out. His head dropped. He turned away for a moment breathing deeply and slowly.
He wiped the tears off his face before looking Nick straight in the eyes. His face was blank. There was no trace of all the emotion Nick had seen raging in him only moments ago.
"You already know everything. What's left to say?" He turned and walked out.
Nick watched him leave in shock.
"Fuck," he said softly to himself, before spinning and punching the locker, "God damn it."
He shook it off and headed back to the computer lab. Cigarettes and a walk were completely forgotten.
Catherine jumped up the moment he walked in, "Thank god you're back. I was about to come find you."
"Why, did you find something?" Nick asked. He pushed all thoughts of Greg out of his head.
"Yes… you just, you need to read this." Catherine said thrusting over some computer paper.
Nick grabbed the papers and began reading them. By the time he finished the first page his hands were shaking. He licked his suddenly dry lips. "Have you confirmed this?"
"Yes. Parents' names are right, age is right, time and location are right."
"Oh god…" Nick groaned.
"I know." Catherine agreed a sad look on her face.
"I am such an ass hole."
***
Greg walked calmly out of the locker room. He signed out at the desk, then walked out the front door.He walked slowly out to his car nodding a greeting when he ran into a woman from the day shift that he knew.
He got in the car, threw his jacket in the back seat, started the engine and drove out of the parking lot.
Greg arrived at his house, got out of the car, unlocked the front door, walked inside and headed upstairs. He entered his bedroom and laid face down on the bed. That was when his brain kicked back on.
A single small sob escaped, followed by another and then another. Soon, his whole body was shaking with the force of them. He curled up on his bed and cried until there were no tears left although a small sob still escaped from time to time.
He felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't believe this was happening. He knew they'd figure everything out soon, and then what? He had no answer.
It was his own fault he was hurting right now. He'd put his trust in the wrong people. Hell, he'd staked his happiness on them. What a stupid thing to do. Trusting people just caused you pain and Greg was not going to accept the pain anymore; he would not be the victim again. Not again.
Tomorrow he would go back to work and pretend that nothing had happened. He would forget about Nick and the brief possibility of more that had made his heart flutter.
He would strike the name ‘Monty Bender' from his memory.
From now on he and his co-workers were strictly that; co-workers. No more jokes. No more flirting. No more meals after shift or video game marathons. Especially with a dark haired Texan who had the ability to hurt him so much just with his words alone. He refused to be hurt any more. No more pain.
He had to protect himself since no one else would. No one ever had.
========================================
"Catherine are you absolutely sure about this?" Gil asked.
Nick responded before Catherine could. "Absolutely Grissom; she checked it twice and so did I. The parents names are right, Age is right… and he lived in
"We need to talk to Greg," Catherine said. She felt sick at the thought of the conversation they would be having.
"Catherine and I will go and talk to him," Grissom told Nick standing up and making ready to leave.
"No! Nick blurted out. "I should go."
"Nick, I don't think that's a good idea. Haven't you upset him enough for one day?" Catherine asked.
Even though she knew Nick didn't know the truth when he yelled at Greg, it still pissed her off that he had hurt him.
"I know. That's why I want to go; I need to apologize to him." Nick explained.
"Well this isn't about your needs, it's about Greg" Catherine argued. She knew that she was being a little stubborn but she was worried about Greg.
"I know that I just… I made a stupid selfish mistake and I need to fix it. Please," he begged, sadly sending her a plaintive look.
"I know that Nick," Catherine said gently "but you just may make it worse. He may be ashamed to talk about it with you."
"And he won't feel ashamed talking to you or Grissom?" Nick asked; a slight edge to his voice.
"Nic-" Catherine tried to interrupt him but Nick continued talking.
"He's going to feel worse talking to either of you. Grissom is his boss and intimidates the hell out of him and you and he barely know each other."
Catherine opened her mouth to protest. She and Greg were not best friends but she cared about him. However before she got a chance to correct Nick he beat her to it.
"I'm not saying you don't care about him, I know you do. But Greg sees you two as authority figures and I think it will really freak him out having both of you there trying to get answers.
"Nick's right" Grissom sighed. "He's going to feel cornered if I go; like he has to tell me.
Catherine, you and Nick go talk to him tonight. I think this is a matter better discussed outside the lab." Grissom sat back at his desk and began working on some paper work, effectively dismissing them.
Catherine and Nick shared a look, rolled their eyes and headed out.
========================================
The trip to Greg's apartment was completely silent. Both Nick and Catherine were deep in thought.
Catherine was thinking about Nick and Greg.
Something was up with them. She just couldn't quite figure out what. Nick had defended Greg so fiercely; completely unwilling to even theorize that Greg was involved in Benders scheme. Then later, when all the evidence seemed to prove that Greg was guilty, Nick had been so angry.
Catherine didn't think she had ever seen him so angry; he seemed to take it personally..
Then there was the whole scene she had walked into after her coffee break. If she didn't know better she would say that Nick and Greg were about to kiss. The way they had jerked apart and Greg's subsequent blush and fidgeting only reinforced her theory.
But both men were straight. She knew that. Nick was a ladies-man; she'd seen the evidence first hand. Then there was Greg. She'd caught him looking down her shirt enough times to prove to her that he was straight.
On the other hand they had chemistry. Over time Catherine had watched them change. They started as coworkers who got on each others nerves and then became close friends who seemed to relate to each other in a special way.
Catherine remembered a time when Greg used to complain to she and Sara about Nick all the time; how he treated him like lab equipment, like a machine rather than a human being. He talked to him only when he needed something and as soon as he got it he was gone. The thing that irritated Greg the most was that after Greg gave him his results, he would talk out loud to himself as though the results weren't clear. That particular habit drove Greg nuts and no matter how many times Greg had asked him not to do it…he still did.
Lately, Catherine couldn't remember the last time Greg had complained about Nick, or vice versa. In fact, before the shift split, when Greg was still a trainee, Nick had been the one least bothered by working with Greg, and often defended him when the others got irritated at his constant questions.
Nick had really taken Greg under his wing, always willing to answer a question or lend an ear when Greg was upset by a case. He always had time to quiz Greg or listen to his theory on a case and, unlike Warrick or Sara, Nick was able to play devils advocate when Greg theorized without completely decimating Greg's self-esteem.
Greg helped Nick out just as much. He helped the CSI 3 mellow out a little. Sometimes it was a stupid joke and sometimes he simply told him to relax when he was angry about a case; something no one else in the lab, except Grissom, was able to do.
The more Catherine thought the more she began to wonder if something was going on between them.
Nick and Greg had really become friends during Greg's training. The question now was; were they more? Or had Nick ruined it with his misplaced anger?
========================================
Meanwhile, Nick was brooding. He had messed up; big time. He had let his anger take over blinding him to everything else.
It had just hurt to think that the man he considered his best friend, was a fake. That everything they had done or talked about hadn't been real.
That the almost kiss hadn't been real.
By the time Nick had figured out what he wanted with Greg and finally decided to go for it. Nick was in deeper than he wanted to be;deeper than he should be. He wasn't in love with Greg now, but he could see it developing, in the not-so-distant future. It had hurt to lose that.
He was somewhat prepared for Greg to reject him, especially if he was straight but to lose that future because Greg wasn't the type of man he claimed to be; the type he seemed to be…that had hurt worse than he was prepared for.
Nick had reacted foolishly. Yelling at Greg in the locker room until he cried and begged him to stop…
The fear and sadness he'd seen in Greg's eye's made sense now in the light of Catherine's discovery.
Nick swallowed the lump in his throat as they pulled up to Greg's house. He sent a silent prayer up to God asking him to help Greg forgive him. He put the car in park and hopped out sharing a quick look with Catherine before knocking on the door.
"That was quick," Greg said as he flung the door open, obviously expecting some one else. Instead he found Nick and Catherine standing on his door step looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"Hi. Oh, you're not delivering my Chinese take-out orde," he said frowning, obviously not happy to see them.
"May we come in?" Catherine asked.
Greg eyed them both warily for a moment. He looked tired and his eyes were red and looked as though he'd spent sometime crying. Nick sadly acknowledged, to himself, that he probably had.
"Please," Nick added after a moment seeing that Greg had been about to say no. He smiled sadly at Greg hoping to convince him he wasn't out for blood this time.
Greg sighed and he stepped back letting them in.
"What do you want?" Greg asked coldly. It was obvious he was not in the mood for small talk.
Nick just looked at the floor, a guilty expression on his face. Catherine looked back and forth between the two men before rolling her eyes and taking over.
"We have some questions for you." She said, in her most professional voice, her face blank.
At the sound of her voice, Nick had looked up and taking a cue from her, pulled himself together and plastered a neutral expression on his face.
"Should I call my lawyer?" Greg asked sarcastically.
"If you feel like you need to," Nick answered, wincing on the inside a bit. He knew that if he was to make it through this meeting unscathed, he needed to put up a professional front.
Greg scowled, and led them into his living room but remained standing.
Catherine shifted on her feet uneasily before beginning, "I don't know if you are aware Greg but Nick and I are working on a case related to the Casino fire."
"I was vaguely aware," Greg answered looking at Nick. Nick blushed and looked at the ground before struggling to return to CSI mode.
"I was questioning Mike Stephens and he brought some interesting information to light." Nick said, while watching Greg for any sort of reaction. "He told me a story about an ice cream truck and little boys." There was a definite flinch when he'd mentioned the ice cream truck.
"Your point?" Greg asked shortly.
"We know Greg," Catherine said gently.
"What exactly do you think you know?" Greg asked a look of both confusion and anger on his face.
"We know what Monty Bender did to you. I found your statement on a celebrity scandal web site under Bender's real name," Catherine answered in a detached voice.
Greg's jaw tightened his hands balled into fists. "What are you talking about?" He growled out glaring at her.
Nick and Catherine shared a look before Nick passed him a print out from the website. Greg grabbed the papers and began reading.
Nick watched all the color drain from Greg's face for the fourth time that day. He stumbled back until the backs of his legs hit his couch and then he collapsed onto it.
"Where did you get this?" Greg asked. He was slumped on the couch, his eyes glued to the document in his hands. His voice was weak, as though he was out of breath.
"A website, someone posted it there several years ago." Catherine said, a frown marring here other wise blank face.
"Is there anything more you can tell us that wasn't in the statement?" Nick asked.
He knew he and Catherine were being slightly cold, but it was for the best.
Greg snapped his head up. He looked back and forth between Nick and Catherine a sad look on his face.
"Anything you can tell us could stop him from doing this to another kid." Catherine added.
Greg snorted, "Who said he had ever hurt any kids before?"
========================================
Catherine and Nick gaped at Greg.
"You did," Catherine said gesturing to the papers Greg had in his hands.
"Sit down and I'll explain everything to you." Greg said gesturing to the love seat across from him.
Nick and Catherine sat down quickly, both eager to understand what the hell was going on.
Greg took a moment to gather it all together unsure where he should start and how much to tell them, "When I was seven, my brother David was born." He haltingly began, "Davy had a bad heart and had to have surgery immediately."
"We moved from
Greg paused and looked down. He could feel Nick's eye's on him watching him, waiting for him to give something away with his body language. Greg fought down the urge to yell at him to quit staring and continued on with his story.
"It was really expensive and Davy racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills. We lived in this awful apartment in an terrible neighborhood. Nothing worked and I hated it. When Monty Bender invited me up to his house for a weekend it was the first good thing that had happened to my family in a long time. My Mom and I drove up the next Saturday, my dad stayed at home with Davy."
Now came the hard part Greg stood and walked across the room until he was standing in front of his bookcase. He needed to put distance between himself and the two CSI's.
"On our second day there, my Mom found me crying in the bathroom and I told her that Monty had…" Greg's voice cracked and a slight sob forced its way out but he forced himself to continue on, "I told her that he had touched me…" Another small sob forced its way out. "And then made me touch him…" several more sobs and Greg stopped talking for a minute but still didn't turn around. He could still remember the guilt and the shame he felt when he'd told his mother. Greg gave himself a moment to be miserable but then he quickly squashed it all back down and continued on with his tale.
"She didn't believe me," Greg said after he was back under control though his voice was a little rough, "and she was right not to."
"You lied?" Catherine blurted out. Greg winced and squeezed his eyes shut forcing the tears back.
"I lied," Greg agreed after a moment.
"He never touched me. The reason I was crying was because the weekend was almost over."Greg finally turned around once he was sure he was in control of himself again.
"The next night I'd have to leave and go back to our awful apartment with my dying brother who we couldn't afford to keep alive much longer," Greg explained. He walked back over to the couch and sat down. He hadn't looked at Nick or Catherine yet. He wasn't ready to see the disappointment he knew would be on their faces.
"You made it all up?" Nick asked in a strained voice.
Greg ignored Nick's question and just continued on with his story "When we got home my parents questioned me about it and I stuck to my story afraid I was going to get in trouble. By the time I told my parents the truth, it was to late they had already filed the law suit." Greg sighed, finally looking up and meeting their eyes.
He was surprised to find not disappointment but sadness in their eyes.
He continued on, telling the final part of his story. "They decided to go ahead with it and hoped he would settle out of court. He did; he paid off Davy's medical bills and agreed to pay my parents $100,00 a year for the next 25 years."
"So what you're saying is that Bender never touched you?" Catherine asked uneasily
"Yes" Greg answered shortly wanting this just to be over and them to leave.
"Never?" Nick asked.
"No he never touched me" Greg answered, suddenly remembering that they weren't there as his ‘friends' but as CSI's interrogating a witness.
Greg realized the sadness in their eyes wasn't for him; for what he'd gone through.They were sad because he wouldn't give them what they needed to prosecute Bender. Greg scowled and glared at Nick, however mid-glare, their eyes met and Greg saw something in Nick's eyes he wished he hadn't.
========================================
Nick wasn't too sure he bought Greg's story. Not only did it sound like a cover up story, but the way Greg acted when telling it was suspicious. He had been unable to even face them when he'd talked about the ‘alleged' abuse.
Not only that but Greg's reaction to Bender at the crime scene hadn't been guilt, it had been fear. He hadn't looked guilty in the locker room either; he looked sad, and hurt.
When Greg's and his eye's had met while Greg glared at him Nick had seen a flash of himself, of his secret pain in Greg's eyes. He wished he hadn't.
"Greg, you can tell us the truth, we're your friends. We care about you" Nick said. He doubted that Greg would respond by telling them the truth, but he hoped he would.
"Oh so you're my friends now? 5 minutes ago you were CSI's and I was a case." Greg yelled standing up. The anger that had flashed in his eyes a few moments ago now back in full force. "Now that my statement won't help your case we're all friends." Greg continued on sarcastically.
"We're just trying to help you." Catherine said calmly.
"No you're trying to solve a case, if you were trying to help me you wouldn't have come here and treated me like a suspect."
"We didn't treat you like a suspect," Catherine argued. Though Nick had the grace to blush and look ashamed.
Greg was right they had treated him like a suspect, but for a worse reason than Greg thought. They had done it to protect themselves. If they were really his friends, they would have braved the pain with him; not thrown him into it alone. They hid behind their professionalism.
"Well then, since this is just a plesant meeting between friends, I can ask you to leave without legal repercussions" Greg said walking over to the door and pulling it open. "Get out."
Nick knew in that moment what he needed to do to fix this. He rose and walked out quickly out the front door dragging Catherine behind him. Both Greg and Catherine looked shocked at his behavior, though Greg recovered first slamming and locking the door.
Once outside Catherine rounded on Nick, "What the hell was that Nick?"
"Catherine, Greg just all but screamed at us that what he wants right now is a friend. He needs a friend right now. So you are going to get in the car and head home. I am going to go back in there, take my licks, beg for forgiveness and hopefully be able to prove to him that I'm there for the right reasons this time."
Catherine stared at Nick in shock for a moment before agreeing and wishing him luck. She gave him a quick hug and hoped in the
Nick watched her until she turned the corner heading back to the lab as he'd known she would.
He took a deep breath and attempted to gather his thoughts before walking back up to the door and knocking. ***
The house was dead silent.
Nick knew that was a very bad sign. The angrier Greg got the more quiet he was. As silent as the house was Nick was amazed he hadn't burst into flames when he entered.
Nick began searching the house room by room for Greg, though he'd already knew where he would find him. His study.
According to Greg everyone should have a little space that was just for them. For Greg, it was his study. It was a combination music room and library. One wall was devoted to books and the other was CD's and a state-of-the-art stereo. A big overstuffed couch and coffee table was in between the two walls Greg's study was where Greg went to unwind. Nick had only been in it a few times, but he was positive that's where he would be found.
Nick approached the door that lead to Greg's sanctuary. Though he heard no noise coming from the room Nick knew that's where he was. He tapped on the door softly, almost immediately he heard movement in the room. After he knocked a second time the door cracked open and Greg stuck his head out.
"I thought I kicked you out. Officer." Greg said, before stepping into the hallway and closing the study door behind him. "How'd you get in? I know I locked the door."
Nick held up the key.
"Oh. Why are you here? I thought you left," He said frowning softly.
"We need to talk," Nick said, a determined look on his face.
"We already talked, officer." Greg shot back once again putting an emphasis on officer.
"I'm not here as a CSI; I'm here as your friend."
Greg snorted. "What? Did you jump in the telephone booth outside and change from Super CSI back into Nick Stokes, mild-mannered Texan?"
"I want to apologize" Nick said refusing to be derailed by Greg's angry attempts at humor.
"I don't care." Greg turned around and headed back into his study.
Nick darted after him holding the door open and forcing his way in, "Please Greg," he begged.
"Get. Out." Greg said in a low deadly voice.
"Greg, I know I fucked up, Big time." Nick said, moving towards Greg. "But, I want to fix this. I care about you and I hate that I hurt you."
"You didn't care 10 minutes ago and I don't think you do now." Greg backed away from Nick putting the couch in between them.
"I do, so much."
"I don't want to hear it. Please leave," Greg said, a slight quiver in his voice.
"Just give me 5 minutes and if you want me to leave then, I will." Nick moved closer as he spoke until he was standing in front of Greg. He put his hand on Greg's and gave it a slight squeeze, "Please."
For a moment Greg looked as though he was going to give in and listen, but just for a moment. "No." He said an air of finality in his tone. "I said I didn't care and I don't. If you're not out of my house in 5 seconds I'm calling the police." He pulled his hand away from Nick's slowly.
"Fine," Nick agreed turning and heading to the door only to stop and turn back around, "but while we wait for them will you listen to me?" he asked leaning against the door effectively blocking the only exit to the room.
"Ugh! You are so frustrating!" Greg said hitting Nick in the shoulder hard enough to knock the wind out of him.
He glared at Nick for a moment before sighing. "You'll leave as soon as you're done?"
"I promise" Nick agreed quickly.
"Fine. Talk." Greg said settling on the couch. Nick hated the cold look he had in his eyes and wanted to make it disappear.
Nick settled back against the door more comfortably. "I don't know where to start," he admitted.
"Start at the beginning." Greg said crossing his legs and bobbing one foot in a frustrated manner.
"OK…uhh that whole scene in the locker room today."
"Yes?" His voice lacked it's normal warmth as well.
"You're not making this any easier you know." Nick informed him a slight smile on his face. He should have known Greg wouldn't really just sit back and let him talk.
"Did you expect me to?"
"No I just… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. I'm sorry I lost my temper. I'm sorry I wouldn't listen to you. I'm sorry that I hurt you… I'm so sorry I made you cry, so incredibly sorry."
Greg frowned for a second before the cold blank look returned.
"I had no right to attack you the way I did. No matter what I thought you had done." Nick continued as he moved away from the door and sat on the coffee table in front of Greg.
"I'm ashamed of how I acted then. I'm more ashamed of how I treated you a few minutes ago though."
Greg raised an eyebrow at that silently asking Nick to continue.
"You were right. We treated you like a suspect. You're our friend." He put his hand on Greg's knee. "My best friend and we treated you like dirt."
Greg looked down for a second biting his bottom lip. He looked so young and confused, Nick hated that he was the cause of the lost look.
"You're wrong though about why we were treating you like that. You thought we don't care; that I don't care but I do, so very much."
"Then why? Why did you treat me like I didn't matter?" Greg asked his eye bright with unshed tears.
"Because I'm a selfish jerk."
Greg lips twitched fractionally and his eyes warmed a little.
"Cath found the statement and we knew we were going to have to talk to you. That it was going to be painful for you and for us."
"How was it painful for you? You sat there and listened, no one did anything to you." Greg snarled.
"Because I hated the idea that something that bad happened to you and I hated more that I had to confront you about it."
Greg nodded his head in understanding.
Nick seized Greg's hands, "Someday I hope you'll be able to tell me the truth, what really happened, but until that day I'm not going to ask."
"You're not?" Greg asked surprised.
"No, I'm not." Nick reaffirmed. Greg sent a shy smile at him and Nick took heart and continued on.
"I hid behind my professionalism to save myself some pain and it caused you more." Nick squeezed Greg's hands softly. "What you went through, whatever it was, was awful and we made it worse. I know saying I'm sorry doesn't cut it, but I am sorry."
"Yeah you did make it worse," Greg agreed, and Nick noticed he looked more like himself and less cold. "But what I really don't understand is why one moment we were good; better than good. Then the next..." Greg shrugged.
"I just… I thought I had it all figured… I…" Nick looked at his lap in frustration. He didn't quite know how to explain how he had felt, or why he had felt the way he did.
The truth was the best option. Time to lay down all his cards. "I'm a planner Greg. Everything I do is planned out ahead of time. And when I thought that you were standing by and letting Bender hurt those boys…" Greg looked away. "It destroyed my plans…"
Greg looked back up something akin to hope in his eyes. "What plans Nick?"
Nick swallowed before taking the big plunge "I like you Greg, as more then just a friend."
"You do?" Greg asked a cautious smile on his face.
"Yeah, for awhile now. I just… I just recently figured it out. I mean I've always thought you were gorgeous. It's just recently that I realized that-"
"That you liked me for more than my body?" Greg said smiling.
"Yeah. We almost kissed today" Nick said in hopes Greg would tell him how he felt.
"Almost" Greg agreed.
"I wanted to, so bad."
Greg nodded. "I did to. I like you Nick." Nick smiled "But, I don't trust you. Not right now." He reached out and rested his hand on Nicks arm.
"I want you to be able to trust me again." Nick said earnestly. He could think of nothing he wanted more.
"I want to as well, but it's going to take time and until I can, we can only be friends."
"I understand completely." Nick said elated and depressed at the same time. Greg had rejected him, but just for the moment. Nick was going to earn back Greg's trust and then he was going to get Greg.
"I'm glad. There's one thing I want you to do for me though." Greg said once again frowning.
"Anything" Nick instantly agrees.
"This is big Nick so I'll understand if you say no" Greg paused studying Nick. "I want you to talk to a therapist about why you freaked out like you did"
"What?" Nick was surprised. Of all the things he had expected Greg to ask, he had never even considered that.
"I've never seen that side of you before Nick and I never want to again." He paused and swallowed, "I was scared of you Nick." He continued so softly.
Nick winced, he hated that he'd scared Greg. He wanted Greg to feel safe with him not frightened.
"Ok" He agreed.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you". Greg placed a gentle kiss on Nick's cheek causing both men to blush.
Greg started walking Nick to the door. Neither spoke simply reveled in being in each others company animosity gone for the most part.
"Wait, um have you eaten" Nick said remembering they were supposed to be on a date.
"I ordered Chinese food…" he frowned, "which never came" he pulled out his cell phone and hit 9 on his speed dial.
Nick wandered into the living room and took a seat while Greg sorted out his delivery issues.
"They said they showed up and I never answered the door. I guess it is possible…"
"I owe you dinner" Nick said.
"I'm not in the mood to go out" Greg said pouting.
"I'll cook."
"I don't have any food for you to cook."
"I'll be the judge of that" Nick said standing up and heading into the kitchen.
========================================
Greg spent several minutes just listening to Nick rustling around in his kitchen.
‘Wow I lasted all of ten minutes.' When Greg had gotten home that evening he had swore he was going to shut everyone out. Then Nick had apologized and he'd almost instantly caved.
Truth be told he'd almost caved the moment he opened his study to find Nick standing there looking so forlorn.
Nick had hurt him, twice. However, everyone deserves a chance to make up for their mistakes.
Greg really cared about Nick not only as a potential partner, but as a friend. Nick was his Best Friend. He complained to him, confided in him, drank with him, smiled and laughed with him.
Perhaps some part of him wasn't quite yet ready to lose that.
He and Nick weren't back where they were before this awful day, but they would be.
A few moments later Nick walked back in with a box of Easy Mac.
"What's this?" Holding out the box he had a comical expression on his face.
"Easy Mac. Forget how to read?" Greg asked amused by the look of disgust and humor on Nick's face.
"Easy Mac... " Nick crinkled his nose
"Yeah, Easy Mac…"
Nick shook his head and sighed, "Where is your phone book. I'm ordering us some adult food"
"Cabinet under the phone." Greg responded and Nick turned and exited the room.
"What's wrong with Easy Mac? Nick?"
"There's nothing wrong with it if you're 18 and live in a dorm."
"Yeah, well it's good."
"So is regular mac and cheese." Nick pointed out, smiling slightly. "And at least it has real milk in it."
Nick had been trying to get Greg to eat healthier for years. While sometimes it was irritating for the most part it was endearing. Nick was definitely a mother hen at times.
"I'm sorry I hit you" Greg said remembering the frustrated shove he'd sent Nick's way I his study.
"No you're not" Nick said chuckling slightly.
"Maybe a little?" Greg replied in a questioning ton. Nick was right he really wasn't sorry. If he had really hurt him he might have been a little sorry, but he hadn't.
"Maybe," Nick replied a silly grin on his face. "Maybe…" ***
Nick ordered pasta from a 24 hour Italian restaurant that Greg was unaware existed.
The sauce on his spaghetti had been to die for and, according to Nick, all natural.
The food was great but the conversation a bit awkward. Each had been in their own world for part of the meal deep in thought about the day and what was going to happen next. When they weren't thinking they had each attempted to make small talk that usually ended in awkward silence.
Greg was about to feign being tired to get out of the awkward meal when Nick spoke up.
"Why is this so awkward?" He had asked, his straight forward question startling Greg somewhat.
"I have no idea." Greg responded before scooping up another mouth full of food.
"I don't like it." Nick stabbed viciously at his salad.
Greg suppressed a smirk "It'll get better"
"When?"
"I don't know? Tuesday good for you?" Greg had joked attempting to lighten the mood but regretting it when he had seen the hurt look on Nicks face.
"I'm serious about this Greg, if you aren't…" Nick had trailed off a sad look on his face that Greg had needed to fix.
"No. I am serious about this Nick; I was just trying to make things less awkward." He frowned when he realized his joke had the opposite effect. "I'm sorry" he frowned.
"I'm sorry too, I'm just being a little touchy. I really want this to work." He sent Greg that smile that made his heart beat faster.
"I know I do to but it's going to take time."
"You're worth it" Nick had said.
Greg blushed deeply and quickly shoveled more food in his mouth so he wouldn't have to respond. It had been Nicks turn then to suppress a smirk.
The rest of the meal had been spent in a relaxed silence.
Greg really wanted everything with Nick to work out. Nick made him feel things, want things, he never had before. Those feelings and desires both excited and scared him, but for Nick, Greg was willing to push the fear away.
For now at least.
========================================
Nick arrived for shift 30 minutes early that night. Catherine had left him a message on his machine letting him know they had a meeting with Grissom before shift.
Nick wasn't looking forward to it. He had to convince Grissom first that Greg was lying and then, that he should label the case as cold.
Catherine could help him with the lying part, but the cold case part; he was on his own.
He paused outside Grissom's office door to gather his strength for the discussion ahead; for Greg he could do this.
"Evening" Nick said as he walked into the office closing the door behind him.
Catherine was slouched down on the couch, she looked like she hadn't gotten any sleep the night before, her face was pinched and there were shadows under her eyes.
Grissom didn't look in top form either, though Nick didn't know if it was from last nights find or from the huge amount of paper work he had to catch up on.
"We were waiting for you." Catherine stood up and took a seat in front of Grissom's desk. Nick followed suit.
"Catherine filled me in on what Greg had to say last night. I want your take on it." Grissom said putting away the paper work and locking his gaze in on Nick.
"Well, I think Greg's lying" Nick said; with Grissom, blunt was best.
"Did he say anything to you?" Catherine asked. Nick assumed she meant after she had left.
"Not directly…"
"I'm hoping there is a ‘but' here" Grissom frowned.
"His body language screams victim." Nick knew he was going to have to come up with some more solid evidence than body language before Grissom would even consider believing him. "He couldn't even face us when he talked about telling his mom what Bender did to him."
"What motivation does he have to lie" Grissom sounded less skeptical than Nick expected.
"Fear, shame, maybe his parent's never knew the real truth."
"What else have you got?" Grissom leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together.
"Phrasing of things, words. When we were talking last night he said, ‘No one did anything to you' implying someone had done something to him." Nick could tell that Grissom was close to being convinced that Greg was lying. Catherine must have spent some time talking to him last night, Grissom was never this easy to convince about anything.
"Anything else?"
Nick smiled slightly; he'd saved the best evidence for last. "When I told him I wouldn't make him tell me the truth that I'd wait for him to do it, he didn't deny he was lying. He asked me if I would really wait."
Grissom raised an eyebrow. "I agree with both you and Catherine" Nick had been right Catherine had been talking to him. "Greg's lying;" Nick smiled in triumph. "But," Grissom continued, "There is nothing we can do about it. If he won't admit something happened then the lead is cold.
"Exactly!" Nick shouted excited.
"What do you mean?" Grissom asked with a deeply confused look on his face.
"You said it yourself; the lead has gone cold." Nick replied
"Your point?" Catherine asked in am irritated manner. Nick knew she hated being left out of the loop
"I think we need to label this case cold"
"You can't possibly be willing to give up on this" Catherine shouted sending him a deadly look. Grissom just raised an eyebrow which Nick knew was his cue to continue.
"I'm not."
"Then why?" Catherine asked settling back down.
"For several reasons; One, we have several other ongoing cases that have hot leads." Grissom would see the logic in that, and approve treating the case like it didn't involve one of their own.
"Two, I'm sure Bender's lawyer has (tense) gotten wind of our investigation and if we label it cold we could catch them off guard later." Catherine would undoubtedly approve of that; playing the politics game in a way.
"Three, and I think that this is most important. If Greg see's that we are still actively investigating Stephens claims, I'm afraid he'll leave the lab." ‘Not to mention I'll never be able to gain his trust back' Nick thought. That was the most important reason for Nick personally. He didn't want to chase Greg away from a job he loved. "So we label the case cold and still work on it in our spare time."
"Until we get a new lead." Catherine said jumping on board with his plan.
"Or Greg tells you what really happened" Grissom added.
"No." Nick argued, "Whatever Greg tells me is between us"
"Nick" Grissom's voice held a warning tone.
"I'm sorry, but I promised him I wouldn't ask and I think it went without saying but anything he told me he could trust me not to tell" Nick was adamant on this point. He refused to break Greg's trust again.
"Nick, is there something going on between you and Greg that I should be aware of?" Nick had missed the calculating look in Grissom's eyes a moment ago. If he had, he wouldn't have been caught off guard by the question.
Nick took a moment to think before answering, considering his words carefully. He knew Grissom had no problem with homosexuality. When Bobby from ballistics had come out Grissom had sent a memo saying that anyone who harassed Bobby would answer to him.
He also had no problem with people on his team dating. In fact Grissom and Sofia dated briefly and Nick was positive Grissom was now dating Sara.
It would be good to have Grissom on their side from the beginning. Grissom protected his people fiercely, but to do that he needed to be informed and the sooner, the better.
However, Nick couldn't out Greg to Grissom and Catherine, not without talking to him first.
He would hate it if Greg spoke to Grissom about them before talking to him. He would hate to be outed to anyone really, let alone his boss.
"No" Nick said, though he hoped Grissom with his usual astuteness would see through his guise. "There is nothing going on with Greg and I" ‘yet' Nick added silently; though Grissom seemed to hear it, if the deepening of his frown was anything to go by.
Nick added on silently, though Grissom seemed to hear it if the deepening of his frown was anything to go by.
"Alright," Grissom said frowning, "You will let me know when that changes"
"If it changes, I will."
"I'll change the case from open to cold. You can work on it when you have time." Grissom began searching through the documents on his desk.
"Thanks Grissom." Nick stood up and headed for the door.
Grissom just nodded and went back to work on his paperwork. Catherine and Nick left and headed to the break room for coffee. Chatting about Catherine's latest drama with Lindsey on the way
========================================
It had been an incredibly busy day. They had been so swamped that Grissom had let him back out in the field for the day. Though the way his day had gone, Greg wished he'd spent the day in DNA.
Greg had worked with Sara and they had solved three burglaries… All three had different perps. All three were on different sides of town. All three "victims" had been a pain in the ass. At all three houses Sara had made him do the grunt work and had snapped at him when he'd tried to do anything else or dared to complain. At all three houses Greg had barely contained himself from ripping the stick out of Sara's ass.
To say that Greg was in a bad mood was an understatement. Greg was in a god awful mood. He slammed his locker and hurriedly walked out of the building before anyone else could piss him off.
He just wanted to go home, make a stiff drink, listen to some music and pass out.
He was about to unlock his car when he heard someone calling his name. He slammed his forehead against his car and turned around slowly.
"Hey man, I thought I wasn't going to catch you." Nick panted out.
"Well you did" Greg answered shortly wishing Nick would just go away.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about the therapy thing"
He knew Nick agreeing so quickly was too good to be true. He was probably about to spout off some lame excuse about why he couldn't or wouldn't go. Greg grunted and glared at the ground.
"I uh want you to go with me" Nick sounded very uneasy.
"Pardon?" Greg looked up from the rock he was attempting to explode with the heat of his glare.
"Well I figured it would be better if you went with me." Nick looked nervous, like he was asking Greg out on a date.
"Like couples counseling?" Greg blurted out.
"Yeah!" Nick began before suddenly realizing what he had agreed to. "I mean no… Well it would kind of be… How about friendship counseling, because we aren't a couple. Yet."
Greg burst out laughing he couldn't contain it. He laughed so hard tears formed in his eyes and his ribs hurt. That had been a nervous ramble worthy of Greg himself. It was good to know he wasn't the only one who got nervous and said stupid things.
"I'm sorry… " He said as he attempted to suppress his laughter. "I just. Friendship Therapy?" He burst out laughing again. "Thanks man I needed that. I had a shitty day."
"I'm glad I could help" Nick was blushing slightly but there was also a slight grin.
"I'm sorry. You were being serious and I laughed at you" Greg regained control of himself for the most part a stray chuckle still escaping every now and then.
"No worries G. I'm glad I brightened your day"
Greg started laughing again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You say something sweet and I laugh… it's just my natural reaction…"
"I'll try not to take it personal" Nick said with a hint of a grin on his face. "So?"
"So what?"
"Do you want to go to friendship therapy with me?" Nick had a slightly exasperated tone of voice.
"I'd love to go to friendship therapy with you." Greg smiled brightly and Nick blushed again. Greg was surprised at how easy it was to make Nick blush.
"Great well uhh my regular session is Thursday, want to come then?"
"You have a therapist?" Greg asked surprised. He figured a man's man like Nick wouldn't be big on therapy, but then again he'd though Nick was straight.
"Yes, I have a therapist" Nick rolled his eyes.
"I never would have guessed" Greg said not thinking.
Nick looked at him strangely for a moment "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult"
"Me neither… " Greg replied "What time?" he asked attempting to change the subject.
"9 PM. That's not too early for you is it?"
"I'll be fine" Greg said hopping into his car. He'd spent five minutes talking to Nick and he was in a much better frame of mind.
***
