Author's note: Ok so this is an idea that I've been kicking around for a while, and I wanted some outside opinions so here it is. I am thinking about a follow-up story to this, but won't go through with it unless the reviews to this are positive.
Riley Adams cursed as she pulled into the CSI lab parking lot. She was late to her first day of work. Great, she thought. This is just what I need today. All because of that damn traffic. Never mind that I left three hours early in hopes of avoiding it. It was a good thing she hadn't had a gun or she probably would have shot someone. She quickly got out of the car and hurried through the main entrance to the lab. So much for a good first impression, she thought. Could this day get any worse?
She took a quick look around and found the main desk. She approached it and found herself more or less face-to-face with a shorter woman with long, curly, red hair and semi-thick glasses. "Can I help you?" the woman asked.
"Yes. I'm Riley Adams, the new CSI. Could you tell me where to report in?"
"You'll need to speak with Mr. Grissom. But first sign in here," she said handing Riley a clipboard with a sheet of paper saying "Employee sign-in sheet." As Riley picked up the pen, the woman added "And I'll get your manuals and gear."
The woman stood up and disappeared behind the shelves of files. Riley finished signing her name and scanned the list to get the names of the people she was going to be working with. She had gotten about halfway down the list when she saw a name she recognized. A name she had hoped to never see again.
Just then the woman returned. Riley, still recovering from the shock, handed the clipboard back to her as she put two folders and a cell phone on the counter in front of her. "No gun?" Riley asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"I guess not," the woman said, almost apologetically.
"I guess it comes later," Riley said, picking up the items in front of her. She thanked the woman and started walking down the hall. It's probably for the best that I don't have a gun, she thought. I'd probably wind up shooting him.
As she walked down the hall, she saw people filing out of the conference room. She didn't see him, but that didn't mean he wasn't there. She wondered what she was going to do when she ran into him.
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Less than three hours later, Grissom and Riley pulled into the CSI parking lot with the evidence from her first crime scene. There wasn't much, just some trace from the victim's shorts. She wasn't looking forward to going back to the lab since it meant that she might run into him. Of course, she would have to face him eventually, but she wasn't ready to do it on her first day.
"Ok. First things first: check this into evidence. Then I want you to take that to David Hodges in trace," Grissom said from the driver's seat. "Have him run a full spectrum analysis on it and compare it with the trace from the victim this morning. You got that?"
"Yeah," Riley said. "David Hodges, have him analyze and compare it." She got out of the SUV and walked to the front door of the lab.
When she walked into the trace analysis lab, his back was to her and he was playing some god-awful country song.
"Hey David," she said, just loud enough to be heard over the music. He froze for a second and then quickly turned around. He reached over and picked up the remote control next to him and turned the music off.
"Riley Adams," he said when he finally found his voice. "So you're the new CSI. This is awkward."
"I thought you were in LA," she said. "How long have you been in Vegas?"
"About six years now. The head honchos in LA thought I had an attitude problem."
"I wonder what gave them that idea." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hodges suddenly got serious. "How have you been Riley?"
"Better since I left you. And believe me, if I had known you were here, I'd have asked to be assigned somewhere else."
"I guess I deserve that. I don't suppose saying I'm sorry would change anything?"
"No, it wouldn't. It's been ten years, David. Why should apologies make a difference now?"
Hodges nodded. "I see your point. So what are you going to do? Ask for a transfer?"
"Unfortunately I can't, at least not yet. I've signed a three year contract and I'm stuck."
"So what are we going to do?" Hodges asked. "I mean, we can't just pretend it didn't happen."
"I guess we'll just have to do the best we can around each other. There's no reason we can't be professional."
Hodges took a deep breath. "I guess not."
"In the mean time, Grissom wants you to run a full spectrum analysis on this," Riley said, pulling the bag containing the evidence from her pocket. "And compare it to the trace found on the first victim."
"Will do," Hodges said, taking the bag from her. "I'll have the results in a couple of hours."
"Good. Come find me when you've got them." With that, she turned and walked toward the door of the lab.
"Riley," Hodges called out after her. She stopped and turned to face him. "I know you said it wouldn't make a difference, but I am sorry. I made the biggest mistake of my life that night. I'm not going to insult you by trying to explain it away, but I want you to know that if I could, I would take it back in a second."
"But you can't, David," Riley said. "You cheated on me with my best friend, and I can't forgive that, no matter how much you apologize. We had something special and you screwed it up. And now you have to live with that."
Hodges slowly nodded. "I know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get this stuff analyzed and I do my best work alone. Please close the door behind you when you leave." He sat down and began to work on the evidence.
Riley stood there for another moment before turning around and walking out of the lab, closing the door behind her.
