A/N: Muwaha! Sorry, I keep saying that lately. This is just a little story I came up while surfing the official CSI website, looking at all the neat objects they use. I came across the Stationary Laboratory Fume Hood and immediately this popped into my head. So, hopefully you enojy. Incase you don't know what this Fume Hood does, it just vents out the fumes and stuff to protect analysts, like Greg, from being harmed. Nifty.
Dedications: Okay, I've gotta mention Sarah, aka bear72724, because not only is she my beta-reader but she helped make this story better. I was stuck in a rut, With nothing but- Okay I'm stopping this rhyme now. She just helped me out with some parts of the story, so yeah. Kudos to her!
Rating: G because nothing really happens that would call for a higher rating. Just a little rant, but not swear words or anything.
Summary: When the Laboratory Fume Hood dies, Greg decides to hide out in the break room where Grissom finds him. The time between entering the room and leaving could change the perspective Grissom has on some people.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story, it all belongs to whoever owns the rights to the show CSI, Mr. Jerry B. and Mr. Anthony Z.
Upon entering the break room, Grissom came upon a solitary figure leaning against the counter, coffee mug pressed against their lips. He glanced at his watch, and then realized that no lights were on, making it hard for him to see the numbers. With a quick movement, he flicked the lights on and was met by a groan. Looking up at what was once only a figure, he saw Greg Sanders rubbing his eyes.
"You should warn somebody when you're about to turn the lights on. You might ruin their plan of attack." Grissom ignored the words as best he could, the voice still entering his brain and echoing in the back. His attention was grabbed by the lines on the young man's face, as well as the shadows under his eyes.
"Greg...Is something the matter?" By the look of confusion settling upon Greg's face, Grissom realized that the lab tech had no idea what his face looked like at the moment. Before he could respond, however, Grissom was asking another question. "Have you been getting any sleep lately? Something placing stress on you, perhaps?" A small laugh reached his ears as Greg shook his head.
"Nothing is stressing me out, don't worry. I have been getting sleep, as a matter of fact, but not in the past twenty-four hours as I pulled a double yesterday." There was a pause as he lifted the coffee cup back up to his lips, taking a sip, and a thoughtful look came over his face. "No, wait...I lied. I got an hour sleep awhile ago, nothing to process." Grissom nodded and headed towards the coffee pot. Then, as if remembering why he had turned the lights on, he looked down at his watch.
"Why are you in here, Greg? Your break is in another half hour. If you just wanted coffee, take it back to your lab." He gave one of those, 'Get-Back-To-Work-Now' looks before reaching for the pot and a mug at the same time.
"I know, I know. However...the Laboratory Fume Hood decided to go on a little vacation, so the DNA lab is currently shut down to people not wearing plastic suits." Grissom immediately stopped pouring his coffee to turn and look at Greg, making sure he had head him correctly. The casual manner in which Greg had divulged the information made it sound as if it was only an excuse to not work.
"The Fume Hood died?" began Grissom, a slight pout to his lips and eyes wider at the thought. "How?" Then he remembered the most important thing of all, "And the evidence-" The starting of his rant was cut short by the sight of Greg's hand in his face, however, silently showing him to stop.
"Don't worry, the evidence is fine." He hastily pointed towards the table, and when Grissom looked he saw bags spaced evenly out on top. "I made sure I got it all before calling the experts. Be happy, because if I die from toxic fumes, you'll know why." Upon hearing the teasing tone, Grissom gave Greg a small smile and resumed pouring his coffee.
"Thank you, Greg. That was very..." There was a pause as he thought of a word that would not only mock Greg, but also show that he admired Greg for who he was. "...heroic of you." He didn't even need to look; he knew that goofy grin Greg was famous for would be in place. It always was when either he was excited, making jokes, or accepting praise. It was almost as if he could feel the grin radiating from Greg, like you knew somebody was behind you even if you couldn't hear them. Scientifically, it was impossible to feel such a thing as a grin unless pressed against your body, but putting that aside for once in his life, Grissom settled with the fact that not everything could be explained by science.
"As I knew it would be." There was a small pause as Grissom waited for the words to come. "Do you think Sara will go out with me now?" It took a lot to be able to stifle the laugh that fought so hard to be released. Once he had it under control and only down to a smile, he shook his head and turned his eyes onto Greg.
"Not a chance, Greg." Grissom furrowed an eyebrow, and took a sip of the coffee he now recognized as Blue Hawaiian. "Why do you insist on pestering Sara for a date?" It was something he had been wondering a lot these days. Sometimes he had found himself envying Greg, as he would never be able to ask Sara out to dinner.
"I thought it'd be obvious, Mr. CSI." Grissom, in response, merely raised an eyebrow, and waited for Greg to continue. Not being able to keep the smile off his face, Greg shook his head and took another sip of coffee. "I figured if Sara actually accepted one of these days, you'd finally realize what you're missing and proposition her with something better." Grissom stared at Greg in surprise, watching the boy's eyes slowly look at him, as if waiting for a reprimand of some sort.
"And why would I proposition her?" Greg, realizing he had gotten away with his remark, rolled his eyes and snorted softly.
"Because you have the 'hots' for her. Everybody knows it, even Sara, and you're too afraid to do something about it." Grissom was completely stunned, although that was becoming the norm with Greg. Nobody had ever brought this topic up around him, and it surprised him even more that Greg, the one who was intimidated by Grissom, was the one to do so. And rather bluntly, at that.
"I do not have the-" His denial was interrupted, however, as Greg pushed away from the counter, shaking his head again. "If you continue shaking your head, you're going to get brain damage." Greg turned and looked at Grissom, complete seriousness intact.
"I suppose you've shaken your head a few too many times then, huh?" Grissom was taken back by the forcefulness of the words; this side of Greg had never been shown to him before. "Because from where I'm standing, you've got this awesome girl waiting for you day and night, hoping you'll do something before she's gone forever. She tried once before, and you shot her down. She isn't going to try again anytime soon for fear of her heart getting trampled all over a second time."
Greg took a few steps towards Grissom, eyes shining slightly in the light. "You need to get over whatever is holding you back, whether it be work or some phobia you have, because she's going to find somebody else who loves her for who she is and would do anything for her."
"It seems as if you have a lot of experience with this..." Grissom knew Greg was right, as did Greg, but he was still in shock from being told off. It wasn't everyday it happened, and when it did, it was usually Catherine doing the lecturing. He watched as Greg ran his free hand over his face and shrugged.
"Maybe I do, and maybe I don't want what happened to me to happen to a friend of mine. I'm just trying to look out for you, as well as Sara, and by doing that, you need to be aware of how stupid you're acting." A sigh escaped Greg's lips as he placed his empty mug on the counter.
"Remember when you told me that you'd be around if I ever needed to talk?" Grissom nodded, remembering the days Greg had returned after the lab explosion. "Well, the offer is being reciprocated." With that said, Greg turned and exited the room, leaving Grissom with his thoughts.
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