AN: This is a Greg-centric ficlet that's based on the episode in season 5 called 'No Humans Involved' although it's a little AU because I chose a different character, you'll see what I mean. If you haven't seen the episode the point is that Greg has witnessed his first shoot-out. Hope you enjoy it and feel free to respond.

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of it's affiliates… but I wish I did!

Grissom sent me home. I don't blame him, I was a wreck, I was useless. So now I'm sitting at home in the dark. I'm just sitting here, shaking. I'm waiting for… something, nothing, anything. I would be worried of what I'm capable of except I can't move even if I wanted to. I'm frozen by fear.

The front door opens, I probably should've locked that.

"Hey Greg. Why are you sitting in the dark?" Nick's face appeared in the gloom.

"'Cos I haven't switched the light on." I surprised myself with how hollow my voice sounded.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh. Yeah. Well you know… Well no."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Talk about what? I mean, because I'm fine or I will be."

"It's a normal reaction; in fact, if you didn't react even a little like this I'd be worried. It just helps to talk." Nick sat down next to me on the floor.

"I wouldn't want to waste your time on a lowly lab rat."

"Not a waste of my time."

"But I am a lab rat?" I looked up at him for the first time and saw his face change from concern to frustration.

"Jeez! Greg I meant that it's not a waste of my time because you're not a lowly lab rat, anyway you're out in the field now."

I shuddered remembering the crime scene I'd been at earlier, the screams and bangs came back to my ears.

"Talk!"

I sat quietly for a moment trying to express why I haven't been able to stop shaking since it happened. I answer in a whisper, "It was just so loud! It was like a… like the…" I stopped as another painful violent memory appeared front and centre in my mind.

"Like an explosion? Oh, like the lab explosion." I felt Nick reach out to put his arm round me. Having him sitting so near to me confused me, maybe I was over-reacting. Half of me wanted to push him away so I could stay in the dark where I felt, at least, partly safe. The other half won, "Want to go grab a beer?" I smiled sheepishly at my friend.

"Depends, is this drowning of sorrows drinking or my usual drinking you under the table?" He grinned at me.

"How about just a few friendly drinks?"

"Okay, but it's on you, until you're too drunk to find your wallet!" He stood up and walked towards the door and I followed. I stopped at the door and looked back into the dark apartment and closed the door.