Thank you to Glostarz and Lily G for being my beta!
This story will be a series of one-shots, starting at the beginning of season 4.
Chapter 1 Meeting the family
"Why do we have to go to the lab?" the little boy asked his father.
"You know why. Grissom needs me to go to an important meeting." the father answered his question, "Just hurry up." he added, while holding the little boy's hand.
When he opened the door, the little boy ran inside, followed by his two siblings.
"Guys, no running!" the father shouted.
However, the children weren't listening, they were too exciting about being in a new environment. Their father entered the break room where his colleagues were already waiting for him to arrive.
"I'm sorry that you had to come on your day off, Greg. But it will only take an hour or so." Grissom said, while placing a cup of coffee in the young CSI-trainee's hand.
"You had nothing planned, did you? Or were you planning to go out or something?" Warrick asked, while playfully slapping the smaller man on his back.
"No, nothing like that, but…" Greg tried to explain, but his words were cut off by the noise in the hall. "Just, hold on a minute. I'll be right back." Greg said, while returning to the hall after placing his coffee cup on the table.
The others could hear children laughing and shouting and Greg's voice was heard over it all. After a minute or so, the door to the break room opened again. A small boy ran inside with a huge smile on his face. He was wearing a black Guns'n Roses t-shirt, with black tight jeans and black Converse All Stars, his hair was styled in a fauxhawk. When he noticed that the adults were looking at him, he cheerfully greeted them, his hazel brown eyes were shining with the attention he got.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Catherine asked the energetic boy. "Are you here all by yourself?" she added.
He just shook his head and before he could say anything, the door opened again. The first person to enter the break room was a little girl who was about the same height and age as the giggling boy. She was wearing a red Marilyn Manson t-shirt with a heart print, a denim skirt and red but almost black boots. Her dark blond hair was kept up in a high ponytail. Behind the girl, Greg came inside, while pushing an older boy in front of him. The boy was wearing a black and grey striped shirt, with grey tight jeans and black Converse All Stars. His brown hair was up in spikes, with the tips dyed bright red. There could be spotted a shiny earring in his left earlobe, his dark eyes were not leaving the screen of the game boy, he was playing with. He wasn't bothered at all that Greg was just pushing him inside the break room.
"You brought your nephews and niece to the lab with you?" Warrick curious asked.
"You know, the lab is no place for children, Greg." Grissom said, while rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I know Griss, but I couldn't find a babysitter on such short notice so I had to bring them with me." Greg explained, while nervously biting his bottom lip.
"I thought you had no nieces or nephews, Greg." Nick said while eying the little boy who was exploring the break room, "Let alone, siblings at all."
"Euhm, yeah well, I…" Greg started to explain. But he was interrupted by the little boy, who was now underneath the table.
"Look what I found, daddy!" he cheerfully shouted, while showing Greg something he had found under the table.
"Daddy?" Warrick and Catherine said at the same time. The others were not saying anything at all, but they just looked at Greg with a shocked expression on their faces.
It was quiet for a little while. The children seemed to feel the change in the atmosphere, they were suddenly very quiet as well. The little boy had even come out from under the table. Everyone in the break room just stood there, no one knew what to say or do. Until the little energetic boy had enough.
While pulling his dad's shirt, he loudly said: " What's going on, daddy? Are those grown-ups angry with you?"
"No, Q, they're not angry with me, they're just a bit surprised." Greg said while nervously eyeing his older co-workers.
"That's an understatement, Greggo!" Warrick said, "I just didn't see you as a parent, you're still a kid yourself!" he added.
"I'm not a child anymore, Warrick." Greg said, "I'm only a couple of years younger than you are."
"So, why don't you introduce them to us, Greggo?" Catherine said, making an attempt to stop the awkward atmosphere.
"Sure, Cath." Greg began. "Euhm, I mean Catherine." he added when he noticed Catherine's expression when he called her by her hated nickname.
"Well, everyone, this is my eldest, Jayden Damian. He's nine years old and completely addicted to his game boy." Greg said.
When he introduced his oldest son, the boy quickly looked up from his game boy and gave his dad's colleagues a brief smile. But quickly he returned his attention back to his game. Greg just rolled his eyes and after that, he pulled the girl towards him. The girl placed her arms around her dad's waist and buried her face in his shirt.
"And this beautiful girl is Mackenzie Marilyn and she is ten years old." Greg continued with a smile on his face. When he finished the introduction of his only daughter, her head popped up and with a grin on her face, she corrected him.
"I am five, daddy, not ten!" she said smiling, "You can never remember how old I am, right, daddy?"
Greg just gave his young daughter a kiss on the top of her head. "It's a good thing that at least you know how old you are." he answered while winking at the others.
"And that little man over there is Quentin Madison and he is Mackenzie's twin." Greg continued the introduction, while pointing at the little boy.
After that it was quiet again and Greg anxiously waited for his colleagues to respond.
"Well, it is nice to meet y'all." Nick said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, nice to meet you guys." Warrick added.
"But, why didn't you ever tell us that you had kids?" Catherine wondered, asking the question that was on everybody's mind.
Greg didn't really know how to answer that question. He started to stutter and was feeling quite embarrassed and uncomfortable. Luckily for him the twins demanded his attention and Grissom really wanted to get the meeting started. So when the kids were occupied with coloring books, pens and the game boy, the adults started the meeting. When they finished, Greg just wanted to leave as soon as possible to avoid more questions and curious looks from his colleagues. Nick gave him a reassuring smile, while Greg was gathering the kids together.
The next shift, his colleagues were not holding out on the questions and it made Greg feel rather uncomfortable. The only one who didn't join the interrogation was Nick and to be honest Greg was really glad about that. He had been friends with Nick since the day he started working at the lab. They would hang out together, along with Warrick and sometimes Sara as well. A couple of weeks ago, they ended up sitting in the bar by themselves when Warrick left early and Sara cancelled the get together. Nick and Greg just talked about lots of things and they had a great time. After some more alcohol, Nick got braver and that's when he kissed Greg. Greg was rather surprised by this move, but he enjoyed every second of it.
The first time they worked together again was a bit awkward. But when Greg invited Nick out for breakfast they talked it over and decided to go for a real date the following weekend. That Saturday, Nick had picked Greg up from his apartment, but Greg was already waiting outside and was eager to leave. Nick didn't really think anything about it, he just thought that Greg was impatient like always. He had been to Greg's apartment several times, but lately they were meeting each other at other places. On their first real date, they went to the movies and after that they went for a drink at a local bar. Outside Nick's car they kissed again. It was too soon to call it a real relationship, but both of them felt like it was heading that way.
Nick always had seen Greg as his younger brother, he was too energetic and childish for him. Their age gap was really showing. But after the lab had blown up and Greg was started to train to become a CSI, Greg had toned down. Not only his appearance but he was calmer and more serious than before. But still the funny and energetic Greg would come out once in a while and Nick really enjoyed that.
He was extremely surprised to found out that Greg was a father of three, but Greg must have had a good reason not to mention his kids before. But he was sure that Greg would tell them when he was ready for it. He just made sure that his colleagues dropped the subject and left Greg alone. Which was highly appreciated by his new lover.
Please R&R! :-)