Ryan
(Chapter One of Lockers)
By BookwormDragon
Disclaimer: Neither the CSI: Miami Universe nor any of the Characters in the CSI: Miami Universe belong to me. No profit is made from this story on my part. No copyright infringement is intended.
Ryan read the name tags on the rows of lockers, looking for an empty one that he could claim as his own. He was still stunned and elated that he had gotten the job. He had thought for sure that his stupid OCD had crushed another one of his dreams, and then he was hired and given his first case, all in a matter of minutes.
As he moved down the line, his eye was caught by a nametag: Speedle. Well, he supposed that locker was technically empty, but he wasn't an idiot: he wouldn't be taking it.
He knew what it was like when an officer, a friend, was killed in the line of duty, and he had no desire to disrespect the memory of the Honored Dead. Speedle's locker had doubtlessly been left as an unofficial tribute to a beloved co-worker, and it would probably be months before the nametag was removed and the locker was truly considered empty. In the meantime, it served as a touchstone for the man's grieving friends and co-workers. Messing with that would only make him go from the Fucking New Guy to the Arrogant, Presumptuous, Disrespectful, Most Hated Fucking New Guy.
He fully expected a little friendly hazing from his new co-workers, but that locker represented a Pandora's box that he was absolutely not going to open. If the situation were reversed, he knew how he would react to such a thing, and he wasn't taking any chances.
Sweeping his eyes down the line again, he noticed that the locker next to Speedle's was empty and unclaimed. It was the only one, as far as he could tell. Well, it would do, even if the door was a little dented. He could always ask maintenance to fix it, or bring in the tools and fix it himself. But first, he had a case to solve.