Deep Inside

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the CSI characters

Spoilers: Scuba Doobie-Doo and Play With Fire

Chapter 1: Not appreciated


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"You're welcome" He shouted to the empty doorway

What would it take to make them respect him? He thought

They thought they had him all figured out. The goofy lab tech that wears bright shirts and listens to loud rock music. He wasn't like that all the time. Nobody could be that happy all the time.

He doesn't show many people his other side. They always end up hurting him when he does. He gets so use to putting on that fake smile that it's become part of him now.

He wondered what they would say if he did show the real Greg? They'd probably think he was joking around.

It took the explosion to make the nightshift realize how important he was to the team.

Then 3 weeks after, they ignored him again. It was better off that way, with no questions asked. In the hospital, he had to dodge questions about his family.

Where were they? How come they didn't come visit you? Do they live around here?

So many questions to which he didn't have an answer for. Answers he wondered about also, and some he didn't want to know.

Truth was, they abandoned him a long time ago. He lived in foster homes as long as he could remember. He didn't stay there long, each having an excuse to get rid of him. By 16, he was tired and he wanted out. He went to court and got emancipated. He worked 2 jobs and lived in a run-down apartment but managed. He got a scholarship to Berkley in science.

He was proud of the fact that he did it all on his own. He often wondered what it would have been like for his parents to actually be there and help him.

Out of nightshift, he had always considered Nick a close friend. At least he thought they were friends, until he heard Nick make the "CSI wannabe" comment.

Maybe he did want to become a CSI, what was wrong with that? He needed to get out of the lab, to see what else was out there.

He always considered his lab a safe place. After the explosion happened, he was scared to go in there.

Nobody else woke up to nightmares of the explosion very night. He was lucky if he managed to go back to sleep at all.

After all, he was just a lab tech. Why should they care about him?

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A/N: It was a response to a challenge story, but then I decided to turn it into a real story. If you like it, review and I'll continue to write. If you don't, then tell me.