Hi everyone! This isn't my usual thing, but I really wanted to try it out, so please leave a review at the end to say if you liked it or not :) x

The Victim

"Let's go." Russell said as they all stood up and left the break room.

It had been a relatively quiet couple of nights so the whole team was going out to a murder in the desert. The whole team sighed with relief when they were told they had a case; it was nice to have a break from all the horrors that they faced everyday but it was easy to get bored around the lab.

Once they arrived, everyone jumped out their trucks and went to take a look at the body.

"Poor guy." Nick said to which the team agreed.

A young man, possibly early thirties was strewn out along the hot sand, naked, with injuries covering his body.

"He was dumped here." Catherine stated as she looked around for any signs of a struggle and for evidence.

Morgan bent down next to the man and took a photo of something just below his hip. "I think this is the gay pride symbol he's got tattooed on him. I dare say he's gay, could be a hate crime?" She suggested.

Sara nodded along with the others. "So we have a possible motive. When David get's here we'll get a fingerprint and see if we can find out whom our John Doe is. Maybe then we can confirm it."

Russell was looking at Greg, studying him. He had hardly even blinked since they arrived, only staring at the body. "You alright there?" He asked snapping him out of the trance like state.

"Err, yeah. Just, not feeling well. I think I might go back to the lab if that's okay?" He asked quietly.

Russell nodded. "Of course, that's fine. You need anything give me a call."

Greg nodded back to him and slowly started to head back to his truck. "What's wrong with him?" Nick asked as he saw Greg walk away.

"Doesn't feel too well." Russell told him, looking at Greg again. Something wasn't right.

"I'll go with him if he's not well." Catherine said, catching the end of their conversation.

"Alright. We'll see you later then." Russell said with a smile.

Catherine followed after Greg and they made their way back to the lab.

X

"You've been awfully quiet. It's not like you." Catherine said, trying to entice Greg to talk.

'Mmh' was all that she got in response and it worried her more that the silence.

They were still on the way back to the lab and Greg was staring out the passenger window with his sunglasses on, leaning his head against the cold glass. His left arm was crossed over and Catherine noticed he kept fiddling with his shirt.

She pulled over the car and waited for Greg to look at her. "Talk to me Greg."

Greg sighed. "I knew him." He told her, but then turned to look out the window again.

Catherine nodded. "How? Was he a friend?"

Greg pushed his sunglasses further up his nose. "Yeah, he was my best friend." He told her quietly.

"I'm so sorry Greg." She reached over and rubbed his arm comfortingly.

Greg swallowed to rid the lump that had formed in his throat. His bottom lip quivered slightly as he fought to stay composed.

"Hey it's alright; we'll get who did this to him." Catherine told him confidently.

Greg nodded as a tear rolled down his cheek. "His name's Danny."

"And..." He stopped for a minute and took in a shaky breath. "He is gay. Me and him were... you know, together."

Catherine's mouth involuntary opened. Never in a million years would she have guessed.

"Oh my God. Greg I had no idea..." She stuttered out. "Are you going to be okay?"

Greg looked at her and gave a half smile. "Yeah. We've been together just under a year, it seems like forever though." He smiled some more, but tears were coming down his face. "He was such a good person you know. He didn't deserve this." He wiped his eyes under his glasses and Catherine enveloped him in a hug.

"I wish I'd got to meet him. I can't believe I never knew of him after a year. I didn't even know you were gay Greg."

Greg sniffed. "Yeah, I try to keep it quiet."

"Why?" Catherine asked, all this time she had known Greg but now it seemed she didn't know him at all.

"I don't want people to know. I don't wanna lose you guys." He told her and looked down.

"You won't lose us, why would you? None of us care that you're gay." Catherine told him bluntly.

Greg sighed. "I don't know."

"When did you know?" Catherine asked him, wanting to know more.

"Well, when I was about 16 I sort of knew I liked boys but I told myself that it was just stupid. A phase I was going through. College was tough. All these guys were around me, playing football and my mom didn't want me doing that, so they were all getting girls and stuff and I just didn't really know what to do with myself." Greg explained. "Then I got my first boyfriend when I was 22."

Catherine whistled. "Wow, big difference. I had my first boyfriend when I was 16." Greg smiled. "You didn't, you know, do anything then did you?" He asked shyly.

Catherine laughed. "Nooo. My mom would have killed me. I waited a few years; it was my 18th birthday when I first had sex. Hard to believe I know." She said with a smile.

Greg raised his eyebrows. "How about you?" Catherine asked him. She'd grabbed his hand because she could see he was nervous.

"Err." He took his sunglasses off and rubbed his eyes again. Catherine could see tears begin to shine again.

"Hey, come on. It's only me you're talking to." Catherine smiled.

"27." A tear rolled down his face. "Frigid I know." He nervously laughed and cried.

Catherine shook her head. "No, of course not. Was Danny your first?"

"Yeah. He's the only one I've ever done it with. Before him, I didn't dare try anything with anyone."

"So you've never been with a girl?"

Greg shook his head. "Nope. Just three guys, but Danny's the only one I did anything with. "

"I never knew this much about you. So who knows you're gay?" Catherine asked. Greg was becoming a little bit more comfortable talking to her about all of this but he was still nervous and quiet.

"My mom, and dad." He told her a nibbled his bottom lip.

"That's it? What about Nick?" Catherine asked him, she couldn't believe only his mom knew.

Laughing Greg said, "No, I wouldn't dare tell him."

Catherine frowned. "Why not?"

"Because he'd probably react like my dad did."

"What did your dad do?" Catherine asked with concern.

"Punched me in my jaw. And hit me to the ground. He said some stuff too; called me names. My mom tried to stop him but he was just crazy. 'No queer was a son of his' he shouted at me. After he'd done, he told me to pack my bags and leave the house."

"Your own dad did that to you!" She exclaimed. "Oh Greg, I can't imagine how horrible that must have been."

He nodded. "I don't want the same thing to happen with Nick. I bet his punches hurt." He tried to joke but Catherine wasn't laughing.

"You know Nick. He wouldn't do that."

Greg sighed. "I'm not too sure. You've seen him when he's angry."

Catherine knew exactly what he meant. Nick was as soft as a brush, but if he was upset or angry about something, he'd get violent. Not with people, but he wouldn't think twice about punching a wall or something.

"I think you should tell him." Catherine started. "You shouldn't have to hide this from anyone. It's who you are Greg, and nothing will change that."

Greg sighed again. "But what if everyone goes against me? What am I gonna' do?"

"They won't. Now come on, let's go to the lab and wait for them there."

She started up the car again and off they went to the lab.

X

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