Title: Why Not Me?
Author: Sonia
Email: caseyanddan@yahoo.com
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Pairing: None really...you'll see.
Rating: G
Spoilers: "All For Our Country"
Archive: WWOMB,any CSI slash archive. Just drop me a note.
Disclaimer: Beard or no beard, I don't own Gil Grissom or any part of CSI.
Summary: Someone has a difficult question to ask Gil.
Note: This one hit me hard this morning. I must let it out to play.

Brass was in the doorway of Gil's office. "Knock, knock."

Gil looks up with a grin. "Hey Jim."

Brass comes all the way into the office. He pokes around the shelves. He stops and starts a sentence two or three times. Finally Gil had enough.

"Jim if you're here to tell me bad news I suggest the band aid method."

The corners of Brass' thin mouth turned upward. "Do it in one quick motion?"

Grissom takes his glasses off and lays them on the desk. "Is this about our...discussion?"

Brass backs up and closes the door. "Not really. We're cool, right?"

"I thought we were. What's on your mind?" Gil could feel his gut tightening. Brass is rarely this hesitant.

He came closer to the desk. His eyes had an intensity that you never see outside the interrogation room.

"I don't have any right to ask this but..." he looked down at the papers on Gil's desk. When he looked up Gil could have sworn he saw a world of suffering on his face for just a moment.

"Is there something going on between you and Nick?"

The air in the room was almost non-existent. Gil's joints locked in their present position. The mask that usually covered his face slipped and crashed to the floor.

Brass waved his hand. "Ok, never mind. I've got my answer."

Gil licked his lips and sputtered out "How did you.?"

Brass' smile was a twisted shallow one. "I'm a detective and contrary to what you think I'm a good one. I've thought you two were an item for awhile. When I said that thing about Nick, you nearly came over the table at me. It takes a lot to get you that out of sorts."

Gil bowed his head and tried to process what had just been said. The only thing he cared about was whether Brass would take this upstairs to the sheriff's office.

"Gil?" He picked up his head. Brass' face was haunted.

"Yeah?"

He shifted from one foot to the other. He pulled at his jacket buttons.

"Why him?"

This was not the question he had been expecting. "What did you say?"

His hands flop to his sides with frustration. "Please don't make me say it again. I've only got one or two of those in me."

Gil snuffled at his friend's acerbic humor. "I'm sorry Jim. I don't know how to answer that. It...We...just happened." He knew that wasn't a satisfactory answer but he was at a loss on how to explain their relationship. It was a miracle to find a lover like Nick so late in life. He knew it was something very special.

Jim turned away from him and started fiddle with the items on the shelf. Gil thought he must be really freaked out to be playing with a jar full of petrified meal worms.

"Why not me?" he practically whispered.

Gil made no effort to hide his shock. Jim was envious?

"Jesus, Jim. I had no idea you felt that way about."

"About you? Yeah you're pretty clueless sometimes." He turned around and saw the expression on Gil's thunder-struck face.

He shook his head. "I'm not young, strong or handsome like him but I didn't think I was that repugnant. Ok, I'm out of here. My ego can only take so much." He moved quickly towards the door.

Gil's brain finally unlocked enough to allow him to move. He got up to block his way out.

"Jim, please don't be upset. I don't know what to do here. You're a."

Jim stopped him. "If that sentence ends with the word "friend" I'll punch your lights out."

The next few moments of uncomfortable silence were ended when Grissom finally stepped aside. Jim opened the door to finish his much needed escape.

"As much as I feel for you, Nick must really be into you." he said with a sad smile.

Gil frowned. "Why do you say that?"

As he crossed the threshold, he said "If we were together, I wouldn't put up with the beard."