Title: What Do You Think?

Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Timeline: Following the episode Redrum

Wordcount: 499

Rating: PG

Summary: Greg and Warrick reflect on Keppler's questionable methods for catching a murderer, and its effects on their co-workers.

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI…if I did I'd be a rich S.O.B! But no. This fic is profit-free. I makes no moneys.

"'Rick!"

Warrick Brown cast his gaze over his shoulder. Greg Sanders—tall, skinny and blonde, every means a California boy in appearance--was jogging after him wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans. The two CSIs had just gone off a rough shift: in order to solve a murder case where the trail had gone cold, the new CSI, Mike Keppler, had concocted a plan called "reverse forensics," forging a crime scene and finding a street dealer to take the fall for the real murderer, luring him out into the open. Unfortunately, it was a plan that required few people to be in the know; Keppler was in on it with the Undersheriff, as well as longtime friends and co-workers to the two CSIs, Catherine Willows (their acting supervisor) and Jim Brass (lead detective of the LVPD homicide devision).

The plan had almost worked, but the Undersheriff forgot to bring the District Attorney in on it, and she refused to charge the murderer. Warrick and Greg had found out about the fake crime scene alongside Sarah Sidle and Nick Stokes, two other CSIs working the graveyard shift. Nick had taken it personally...almost too personally, Warrick thought. Their real murderer was busted on another charge, and it'd be a whole different mess to connect him to the original crime. Warrick knew what his next shift would be dedicated to.

The blonde CSI caught up with Warrick, sidling alongside him and stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Hey, what do you think about all this? The whole reverse forensics thing. You were pretty quiet back there, when Keppler and Cath told us about it."

"I just didn't think it was worth making a fuss over," Warrick said, casting his gaze ahead. He ran a hand through his thick brown hair. "It's not like Catherine could tell us what was going on. We got the guy, even though Keppler's method didn't work."

"Mmm," Greg said, casting his blue-eyed gaze up to the ceiling of the crime lab. "I guess so."

"Why, what's your take on it?" Warrick asked. "You seemed kinda quiet yourself."

"Well...am I a little mad? Yeah. But when I come in tomorrow, the job and the people are still going to be here. I don't expect to stay mad." Greg shrugged. "I think Nick makes a valid point, though, we trust Catherine with our lives on a daily basis, and she didn't think we could handle this. I think reverse forensics is a crock, personally...we would have gotten him eventually."

"Yeah, never look gift evidence in the mouth," Warrick said, allowing a grin. "Still, we got him."

"Can't deny you that, 'Rick. I don't think Grissom would have approved though."

"Yeah, it's too political for Grissom. You know him: 'follow what cannot lie: the evidence.'" Warrick shrugged. "But Grissom ain't here for another two weeks. We just gotta follow Cath's lead."

"Yeah. Hey, that drink you wanted to take Nick for...still up for it? My treat."

"Heh." Warrick smiled. "Sure."