A/N: This fic is set sometime before Ecklie became Assistant Lab Director - so he is Gil Grissom's equal – he is the Day shift Supervisor. I will put this only once – this story is going to be A/U basically because I have Conrad Ecklie and Gil Grissom becoming friends. This is NOT a slash fic, but a friendship fic. The two hard-headed supervisors finally see eye to eye.,,, In this story I have Conrad Ecklie having a son and a daughter. (I have no clue if he really has kids, but I do know that he's divorced)

Chapter One

"End of another shift." Gil Grissom said as he slapped a file on the pile. He had finally finished his evaluations. The lab director was getting on his case about them being so late and he promised to have them done by end of shift. Since his task for that shift was already finished, (he and Catherine were in Autopsy with Doc Robbins for most of shift) he had time to do the evaluations. He sighed and rubbed his temple thinking about his empty townhouse and no one to go home to.

Down the hall, just beginning his shift Conrad Ecklie got off the phone his face pale as a ghost. Divorced about a year and still and surly and upset about the whole thing he just received a call from his son. He sat staring at the receiver not moving.

Gil Grissom, on his way home walked by Conrad's office and glanced into his nemesis's office. Ecklie had his phone in his hand, his face was pale and Gil saw something he had never seen the other man do before – he saw tears. Grissom sighed, took a deep breath, and knocked softly to alert the other man of his presence.

"Conrad?"

Ecklie looked up and saw Grissom there. He quickly hung up the phone and cleared his throat. "Gil, what can I do for you?

"A- are you ok? You look rather pale?"

"I-I'm …" Ecklie's voice began to quiver. "close the door Gil" he managed.

Grissom stepped in his rival's office and closed the door behind him.

"What is the matter Conrad? I know we don't usually .. um .. agree on anything, but talk to me what is the matter?"

He looked at Grissom. "I have been divorced from Angie for a year, we've stayed cordial for the sake of the kids. I still care about her regardless. I just received a call from my son Jason. He told me that Angie had been at the doctor, the doctor indicated she needed some more testing done because he saw something in her previous results that just didn't seem right. Jason told me the doctor just confirmed that Angie has Leukemia and the prognosis is not very good.

"Oh Conrad I am so sorry! Do you want me to take over for you during this shift?" Grissom asked.

Conrad looked at Gil. "I'd rather go out for a drink Gil. I need to unwind."

"You want to go out for a drink with me? Your most hated rival?" Grissom said with a smirk.

Conrad sighed. "I know it probably is not the best medicine for dealing with things, but do me a favour – for one night please pretend to be my friend, to enjoy my company, I'm hurting here."

Grissom sighed and nodded. "Ok Conrad – but we take a cab to the bar and then to our homes – NO driving - got it!"

Conrad nodded, grabbed his coat and the two unusual friends hailed a cab and went to a pub on the strip.

TBC