After the Kiss
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI
A/N: Inspired by the "Field Mice" Episode. **spoilers**
David Hodges just stood there mesmerized. Wendy had just kissed him. He was still standing and staring into oblivion when Nick Walked by.
Nick wasn't in need of the Trace Tech, but he just happened to glance in Hodges' direction and saw him standing stock-still staring into nothing.
"Hodges?
No reply.
"Hodges!" Nick repeated and waved his hand in the tech's face.
Hodges shook himself back to reality.
"Uh yes?"
"Are you okay? You look a little spacey."
Hodges sighed. "Wendy kissed me." He said.
"Wendy – DNA Wendy?"
"Yes, the same woman. Do you find it funny she'd kiss me?"
Nick chose his words carefully.
"I'm sorry Hodges if I was rude, I would have thought you'd be the one to make the first move."
Hodges sighed. "Well I seem to screw up when it comes to her."
"I heard about the practical jokes… not cool" Nick said.
"You won't believe me but it was Wendy. She sabotaged things, not me. But I covered for her" he said.
"I believe you Hodges; I think that you would never do the kind of things that Henry went through. You may be a kiss ass but you are not the type to sabotage someone's date.
Hodges stared at him. "Y-you believe me?"
Nick looked at him and sighed. "Hodges, for what it's worth, I do believe you. Wendy told Mandy what she did and I overheard them talking."
"Did Henry overhear?"
"Did Henry overhear what?" a new voice asked.
Hodges and Nick turned to see the tox tech staring at them, his arms crossed, his face angry.
"Nothing, private conversation" Hodges said.
"Are you out to get me or something Hodges? Why are you trying to sabotage my chances with Wendy?"
Hodges didn't answer.
"If you ever try anything like this again, I swear, I will have you fired."
By this time, Wendy had joined them. She had heard Henry's voice raising and decided to come clean.
"Henry, I have a confession to make.." she began.
"Wendy don't.." Hodges began."
"Let me, please." She said.
Wendy turned to Henry.
"When you asked me on the date, I was flattered. You are attractive, funny and a great guy. I accepted the date but I shouldn't have as I am in love with someone else. Someone, for whatever reason is to scared, nervous or for whatever other reason to make the first move…. So in an attempt to get you to cancel the date, I did all those things. I felt horrible that Hodges was being blamed for the practical jokes when it was me."
She stopped and showed Henry her hands and explained what Hodges did to catch her.
Henry stared at her in shock. "I-I don't know what to say."
"Neither do I, Wendy, David, my office now" a new voice said.
It was Catherine.
Hodges and Wendy followed Catherine to her office.
"Wendy is it true? Was it you who sabotaged all those things and Hodges took the blame?"
Wendy looked at Hodges and then at Catherine. I'm not proud of it but…" she began and tears started to well up in her eyes.
Catherine handed her a tissue.
"Wendy, this is going on your record. We can't have this kind of behaviour at the lab." Catherine told her.
"I know, but it will be removed from Hodges' record right?"
"Yes."
"Ok, both of you are relieved of your duties for the rest of the shift. See you tomorrow."
They left the office and went to their respective labs, tidied up and grabbed their personal stuff. They bumped into each other in the locker area.
"Want to get some dinner" he asked.
She smiled. "Let's grab a pizza and go back to my place for a little Astroquest." She said, her eyes sparkling.