Disclaimer: I do not nor shall I ever get the opportunity to own any of the characters, CBS and Anthony Zuiker and a lot of other very lucky people get that honour - all I get to do is borrow them occassionally and play with them a little and have fun...
From day one they had been flirting. Ever since Nick walked into the lab and saw him standing over the mass spec he had felt something, he wasn't entirely sure what that something was but he knew it was a good something.
Greg was going about his work as usual processing this graphing that he tried to make sure that his first day in Vegas ran smoothly and that his work was unquestionably accurate. He was hovering around the microscope looking at something the guys from trace had bumped over to him. He stood back and removed the slide placing it into a holder before turning his attention to the rest of the sample. He transferred that into a small vial and placed it into the vacant slot in the GCMS.
Nick followed Grissom up through the hall inside the crime lab towards DNA.
"So do you think that there's some correlation between this case and the robbery?" he asked following his supervisor
"I'm not sure Nick, that's why I'm hoping that our DNA results are completed" Grissom replied turning into the DNA lab.
Greg was still bent over the mass spec; Nick took a look over to where he stood.
"Be with you in a second" Greg sighed with the hint of a groan "Come on you stupid machine, a-ha" he exclaimed suddenly "Okay now" he turned around to face the two of them "What can I do for you?"
Nick gasped silently as Greg turned around grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Yes Greg" began Grissom "We're here to see if our…"
"Results are in?" finished Greg "See I thought you'd be here to ask that so" he reached over to the desk and pulled a file from the top "I had them ready and waiting for deployment"
Greg handed the file to Grissom who nodded silently as he took the folder from the lab tech. Nick was still silent still watching the way that Greg moved and the way he smiled, just watching.
Greg looked at him curiously, tilting his head to the side only slightly like a cat wondering about something.
"Thank you Greg" said Grissom closing the file and nodding to the lab tech
"No problem that's what I'm here for" he grinned again before turning to the desk
Grissom nodded and began to exit the lab, Nick still transfixed on the lab tech didn't notice as Grissom disappeared around the corner
Greg busied himself a little around the desk, tidying up some papers when he picked up a small sealed evidence bag he paused. He turned around and saw that Nick was still standing there.
"Something I can help you with?" Greg asked
Nick didn't respond, Greg stood and leaned back on to the table and crossed his arms looking at him, after a good few minutes silence Greg moved and walked over to Nick waving his hands in front of his face
"Hello…" Greg said loudly "Anybody home?"
Still no answer. Greg jabbed Nick in the ribs bringing him crashing back to reality.
"Huh? Wha?" Nick said anxiously as he jumped
"Huh?" smirked Greg "Did you need something?"
"Uhh Grissom…" Nick looked around and saw the Grissom shaped hole of where his boss once stood
"He left" nodded Greg
"Yeah I uhh thanks" Nick began to turn towards the door as he stepped forwards Greg moved and blocked his path
"So you aren't going to tell me your name?" Greg asked raising an eyebrow
"Uhh…" Nick searched for the words
Greg slouched in the doorway "I'm Greg. Greg Sanders" he held out his hand to Nick
Nick looked at it "Greg" he said as he shook the other mans hand, he smiled "I'm Nick. Nick Stokes"
"Okay Nick Stokes" smiled Greg removing himself from the door to allow Nick past "The boss man went that-a-way" he pointed to the left
"Yeah thanks, uhh Greg" Nick smiled slightly embarrassed at not knowing Grissom had gone
"Welcome" Greg grinned as he maneuvered his way past him back towards the desk "See you around Stokes"
Nick nodded 'you can count on it' he thought to himself as he walked out, a coy grin beginning to spread across his face.
For the rest of his shift Nick couldn't exactly concentrate he was far too busy wondering why he had been standing staring at Greg for so long and what it was that made him do it. He obviously didn't know the answer so he put it down to an overly developed sense of curiosity, and went back to work. However his mind wouldn't allow him the luxury of locking his thoughts away and once again his mind wandered back to the lab and to Greg.
'Greg Sanders' he thought to himself as he thought about the man bent over the mass-spec and the impish grim, and the eyebrow… but the grin.
He had a glazed look in his eye and a small discrete smile on his lips; he didn't realize that his colleagues were beginning to wonder just what he was doing.
"Nick" called Catherine looking at him strangely "Hey" she yelled awakening him from his trance
"Huh? Oh sorry Catherine" he said sheepishly
"You want to tell me where your mind was going?" she asked
"No nowhere"
"You're sure because it seemed like you have other things going on"
"No nothing, sorry"
"Okay well lets keep up here focused" she tapped his head with her fingers "The evidence doesn't find itself"
"Yeah uhh sorry"
"Uh-huh" she nodded as Nick began to search around the car they were processing
Catherine resumed her search, every so often looking over to see if Nick was still with her and not off frolicking somewhere amongst the rainbows with whatever creature Nick would frolic with. She leant down so that she could see under the front seat and her eyes were drawn to the mechanism under the chair, shining her flashlight on to the area she noticed a small purple fiber.
"Hey Nick" she called
"Yeah?"
"Take a look at this" she took the tweezers from her kit and plucked the fiber from where it was caught
"What you got?" asked Nick walking around the car to where she was now standing
"Purple fiber of some description" She held it out for Nick
He looked at it "What's that on the end?"
Catherine drew the fiber closer and noticed a dark stain on the very end; she shrugged "I don't know. Blood perhaps" She placed the fiber into a baggie and handed it to Nick "Take it to DNA"
"Me?" asked Nick
Catherine looked at him and then preceded to look around the garage "Well I don't see anyone else here holding the evidence" she replied
Nick sighed "Yeah okay"
"Nick" she said as he began to walk to the door. Nick turned and looked at her "Have a good night"
He smiled "You too" he replied before turning back and walking down the halls.
Nick was half way down the halls when he heard someone calling him
"Yo Nick"
Nick turned around and saw Warrick walking up to him
"Hey Warrick"
"Hey" Warrick nodded "You still on for tonight?"
"Hey man Cowboys V 49ers, I'm going to be there to see you cry man"
Warrick laughed sarcastically "Oh is that a fact?"
"We are going to beat you down" Nick smiled sniggering
"Well when you lose we'll see who's going to be wailing"
They both walked down the halls in the direction of the DNA lab
"Hey you off now?" Warrick asked as they stopped at the door of DNA
"Yeah just got to hand this in to be processed" Nick replied waving the baggie
Warrick nodded, Greg entered the lab through the other doorway.
"Yo Greg" Warrick called "You still in?"
"Absolutely, bring it on" Greg nodded joining in the conversation
"Okay well be there at six" Warrick replied turning
"Will be" Greg saluted as Warrick exited the lab doorway
"Nick six o'clock," he said walking away "Six"
"Okay man six it is" Nick called out
"Six, don't be late"
Nick waved his hand as Warrick disappeared and then he entered the lab. Greg had his back turned to him.
Nick stood in the doorway for a second, he took a deep breath and regained his somewhat mislead composure before stepping forwards.
"Hey Greg"
Greg turned to face him "Stokes, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Could you run this for me?" Nick held out the baggie containing the fiber
Greg removed it from his hand and placed it on the desk "I could, but my shift finished a half hour ago"
"So who's going to…"
"Run the sample?" Greg finished his sentence "Preston from swing"
Nick slightly nodded and looked as Greg walked to the door
"Now if you don't mind" Greg looked at Nick "I have to go get some supplies for the game later"
"You're watching the game?" Nick asked
"Of course the49ers are going to wipe the floor with the Cowboys" Greg grinned that impish grin and Nick thought he was going to pass out
"Uhh so who are you watching that with?" asked Nick feeling slightly flushed as his heart pounded against his chest
"Uhh Warrick invited me"
"You're going to 'Ricks?" asked Nick slightly taken aback
"I am indeed" Greg smiled "I overheard him talking to one of the other tech's about it, so I politely expressed my opinion upon the chance of the Cowboys actually winning and he told me to come round and watch it as long as I bring beer"
"I see" Nick looked perplexed
"So I take it that you will be there also?"
Nick nodded
"Okay, so more beer" Greg mentally reminded himself "And now we're gone" he shooed Nick out of the lab "I'll see you later"
Nick stood in the halls watching as Greg took off towards the locker room, he still stood there as he watched Greg disappear inside and then re-emerge having exchanged his lab coat for a black leather jacket that Nick thought… No Nick shook his head he couldn't think like that, it was Greg and he was, well a he, a him.
Nick sighed and walked to the locker room pushing open the door and going to his locker. He pulled on his track jacket and sighed as he shut the locker door.
This was going to be one hell of an interesting night.
Nick found himself staring at Warrick's front door, not because there was no one home but because he wasn't sure that he could go through the feelings again. He considered going home but he knew that Warrick would have fun cracking jokes along the lines of him not being man enough to sit and watch himself get whipped during the game, although having said that Warrick always enjoyed gloating whenever someone other than himself lost.
Nick was still deep in thought staring at the door when Greg arrived.
"So is this like some sort of weird ESP thing?" Greg questioned looking at the door
Nick flinched slightly when he spoke 'Shit' he thought before turning and looking at Greg "What?"
Greg looked at him with that impish grin "You know we stand out here staring at the door and Warrick uses his psychic power and can sense that we're here"
"I uhh…" Nick couldn't even find the words and found himself looking at the ground
Greg still looked at him the impish grin gone and replaced with a Cheshire cat smile "Why don't we just ring the doorbell" Greg said as he slowly leant over across Nick and pushed the button
Nick inhaled sharply as Greg moved across him; he closed his eyes and inhaled again this time taking in Greg's scent. Suddenly the door opened and Nick fell back to Earth with a giant crash when he heard Warrick's voice
"Finally" he sighed "Come on in make yourself at home" he stepped back into the front room away from the door.
Greg followed him leaving Nick still standing on the doorstep. Nick sighed 'Please not again' he thought to himself as he walked inside and closed the door.
Once inside Nick made his way over to the sofa where he sat himself down and placed the three six-packs on to the coffee table alongside two bowls of corn chips and a large dish of popcorn. He laughed to himself.
"Whats so funny?" Warrick asked as he sat down in the armchair
"Popcorn?" Questioned Nick "This aint no movie night"
"True but I figured that since you're going to cry like a little girl when your team lose you might need some"
"You'll be eating it through a straw"
"Oh really?"
"A-ha"
The doorbell rang whilst Nick and Warrick were sitting arguing over the teams
"I'll go" Greg called moving form the kitchen to the door.
When he opened it a pizza delivery guy was standing holding three extra-large pizza boxes.
"$18.95" the guy said handing the boxes to Greg
Greg looked at him "Uhh" he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a twenty "Keep it"
The pizza guy took the cash and nodded, Greg closed the door and walked over to the sofa, sitting down next to Nick. He placed the boxes on the table.
"You guys owe me," he said
"Greg you're in the gang, we don't owe you anything" smiled Warrick reaching for a box
Greg was about to protest when Nick held up his hand and shook his head.
"Don't bother" Nick said looking at Warrick "I'm still waiting for him to pay me"
Greg nodded and took the remaining boxes from the table and handed one to Nick
"Thanks G" Nick smiled as he opened the lid and inhaled the wonderful cheesy aroma
"Welcome" Greg said with a mouthful of half chewed pizza
"Shhhh" Came the sound from Warrick "Games on"
They sat cheering all the way through the game, Nick being outnumbered 2-1 didn't stop him from shouting the most, Warrick was yelling at the TV willing The49ers to win whilst occasionally making fun of The Cowboys, which irked Nick like crazy, and he was already like a man possessed. Greg although a49ers fan wasn't so much into football, he found the way that his two new friends were acting absolutely hilarious and sat all the way through trying to control his laughter but all the while failing. He sat beside Nick every so often watching the hope and anticipation wash across his face as his team were on their way to a touch down and every so often watching it disappear only to replaced by disappointment when the other team pushed them back. This laughing, looking, watching and yelling went on and on until finally…
"Yeah" yelled Warrick leaping out of his chair with his hands in the air "In your face Stokes woohoo"
Nick sighed and shook his head "Damn it"
"Come on pay up" Warrick held his hand out to Nick
Nick sighed and reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out some cash, he looked at Warrick
"Fifty" smiled Warrick as he watched him count out the right amount "And I thank you"
Greg found himself smiling at the way the two of them were acting, it was almost as if he had gone back in time to high school.
"What about Greg?" asked Nick
"He wasn't in"
"You weren't in?" Nick turned to look at Greg
Greg grinned widely "Nope, I'd heard that there was no safe way to keep your money, so I opted out"
"Smart" sighed Nick
"I know, I'm not all ravishing good looks you know" Greg sat grinning
Warrick laughed Nick just shook his head.
The game had ended two hours ago and during that time the three men had been talking about the game and Warrick once again made fun of Nick, who once again wasn't laughing. In those two hours they had finished up the rest of the beer and had eaten all of the food – including the popcorn, which Greg ate because according to Greg 'popcorn is where it's at'.
After they had realized that they had run out of game-night supplies they decided to call it a night.
"So I'll see you guys later" said Warrick as he stood at the door
"Sure, tomorrow" nodded Nick
"Later" Warrick closed the door
"Yeah"
Nick walked and Greg well Greg wobbled down the path on to the street.
"So" began Greg as they walked "Where'd you park?"
"I didn't" replied Nick "You?"
"Nah"
Then there came awkward silence. They continued down the street for about five minutes before the silence was interrupted
"So Nick" Greg began sounding slightly unsure of whether he should be talking "Tell me about you"
"Like what?"
"Like where you're from, your family, your interests, just stuff" Greg smiled
Nick could tell he was smiling and looked at him briefly, yes there it was, and he inhaled deeply.
"Well I'm from Dallas and I've been in Vegas for a few years now, my father is a supreme court judge, my mom a lawyer, I have too many brothers and sisters to keep track of but most of them are in law enforcement" He glanced at Greg noting that he seemed interested to hear about his family "I like football, and things"
"Things like what?" Greg asked
"I dunno, just things I suppose"
"Okay well movies what kind do you like?"
"Umm anything I guess, although action ones are my favorite"
"Okay so music"
"Country" Nick smiled he loved his country music
"You are joking" Greg stopped dead in amazement
Nick paused and turned looking at him as he stood rooted to the pavement with his mouth hanging open
"No" Nick began "Why?"
Greg wobbled forwards to join him "Country is just well country, it's all the same thing, if you tell me that rock is a favorite of yours I'm sure we could get on just fine"
"Sorry G, that's all noise to me" Nick laughed and looked at Greg's face he looked dumbfounded as if he didn't know what to say "Don't take it personal it's just not my style"
"I can see that" Greg raised an eyebrow "So I'm drunk, how about you?"
Nick laughed "A little but not as much as you"
"Evidently"
"So how about you?"
"What about me?" asked Greg
"Well where are you from, what's your family like and what do you like?"
"I'm from San Francisco, my family are strange and I like rock music" he grinned "That okay for you?"
Nick shook his head a smile spreading across his face "That'll do fine"
They continued down the streets talking about work and how Greg's day had been when Nick stopped in front of a driveway
"This is me G," he said, as Greg took slightly longer to realize that he wasn't walking
"Oh" exclaimed Greg walking back to where Nick was standing
"You going to be okay getting back?" Nick looked at him curiously
"Ummm" Greg looked at the houses on the street and stopped turning to look at Nick slightly worried "I uhh"
Nick laughed and walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder "Come on I'll call you a cab"
Greg looked at Nick and smiled nodding his head as he allowed him to walk him in to the house.
Twenty minutes later the taxicab was sitting outside Nick's house and he was walking Greg down to where it waited. He opened the door and put Greg inside.
"Where you going?" asked the driver
"G address" Nick prompted
"Laidler Court" Greg mumbled
"Where?" asked the driver
"Laidler Court" repeated Nick "How much?"
The driver shrugged and then thought "twelve bucks"
Nick put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a twenty "Here this should cover it"
The driver took the note from him and nodded in appreciation.
Nick closed the door and walked back up to his house turning to shut the door in time to watch the cab disappear from view.
Thanks to AARfan001 for pointing out my absolutely hanes appauling hideously dumb sporting mistake - if you didn't read this chapter when I first posted it you will never know...