Greg Sanders often wondered if he made the right choice, moving from head DNA tech to bitch CSI. Hell he wasn't even a CSI yet after he screwed up his proficiency test by taking a piss on the scene, really how could he have been so stupid? Brass didn't let it go either; ribbing him every chance he got and the other CSIs weren't exactly defending him. Nick did though, Nick always did and that really did not make matters any better. The only good thing in his life was that Nick had not set the wedding date yet and so maybe Lori would get lost and Greg could breathe again. Of course that wasn't the case because Nick talked about her all the time and Greg wasn't exactly sure how he managed not to puke. So he tried to focus on becoming a CSI and doing better on his second chance Grissom was giving him, although he felt he did not deserve it. He never deserved anything especially the things he really wanted.

"What are you doing here?" he asked when he saw the feet as he was bent over examining his extremely bizarre crime scene, something right out of Sherlock Holmes.

"Come to help."

"You think I am incompetent Sara?"

"No Greg." She said shaking her head. "I want to see you succeed contrary to popular belief I believe in you."

"Really?"

"Really." She smiled at him and Greg did have to admit Sara was one of his better friends. "Nick does to."

"What does Nick have to do with it? We weren't even talking about him."

"I'm not blind Greg or stupid."

"I do not know what you are talking about Sara." He said as he focused on fingerprinting Sherlock's chair.

"Greg it may not be obvious to Nick, but I am a woman I can see."

"It's nothing I am over it, I am the best man in the wedding it's all good. We shouldn't be discussing this right now; all I need to know is who shot Sherlock."

"This isn't over Greg." Sara warned. Greg did not respond because he knew he's be spilling his whole story to her soon.

Sara was persistent Greg gave her credit for that and finally gave in when she shoved up on his doorstep with a case of Miller Lite and Chinese food he knew the time had come.

"You think you can seduce me with beer and greasy food?"

"Yes I do, smell the pork Greg." She wafted the food in his face and he breathed it in.

"Damn you Sara Sidle get in here." She beamed at him and waltzed in depositing the pork in his hands. "Enjoy."

"Yeah." He grumbled not believing she won.

"So Greg do tell me."

"Wow you do not waste anytime do you?"

"Nope I sure don't." she grinned as she sat down on his couch and opened a beer.

"Shouldn't you not be drinking?"

"I'll be fine, stop avoiding the subject Greg."

"I've been avoiding it for the past five years Sara." He sighed.

"Greg it really can't be that bad."

"No Sara it really is that bad. Nick and were so close when I moved here…"

"I noticed that when I came here and then Lori…"

"Lori destroyed it, but oh I get to be the best man." He said dryly as he opened up his second beer.

"Greg are you in love with Nick?" He was silent and Sara had her answer before he even said it.

"I tried so hard not be Sara, I knew he was straight but then we became good friends and I fell in deeper and I just…I haven't been able to get over him even though he's unattainable."

"Oh Greg." She said as she wound her arms around him in a comforting hug. "It's going to be ok."

"I've been trying to be ok don't you see? I've been trying not to think about him that way, but then he smiles at me and everything is shot to hell. It is impossible to get over him and I've never had him."

"Greg…"

"Why couldn't I have just gone out with Mandy? Or Travis even? No I pine away for Mr. Straightedge."

"You can't help who you fall for Greg, but you can help yourself get over it, over him."

"I tried so hard I don't think I can anymore."

"You can and you will Greg, he has Lori you have to come to terms with that."

"I know." He sighed sadly. "I know."

"I'll always be here for you."

"I know Sara, thank you."

"You're my friend Greg." Was her reply before she stole a piece of his pork earning a big grin from him.


He couldn't believe it he had fucked up again. He had been so sure, so positive and then Grissom had called him on his mistake. He cursed himself to hell and knew had blown his last chance it would be back in the lab again and more suffocation. Maybe it was better to be in the lab, and then he could really avoid Nick.

"Hey G Grissom wants to see you."

"Right." He nodded at Warrick and continued the path to his doom.

"Grissom, they said you wanted to see me." No answer, what the hell was going on? He walked forward into the office and turned Grissom's chair around only to find the dummy known as "Mr. Wiggles" holding up a sign that said YOU PASSED!

"What?" he was dumbfounded but he turned around to see the whole group filing into the room, Sara being the first to wrap him up in a hug. "I don't get it." He said to Grissom once he had been passed around the room. "I got the wrong method, the wrong guy."

"True, but you had a hunch and you went back to follow it that makes a true investigator." Greg could only smile as Catherine broke out the champagne. He could not believe his luck; at least something in his life was going right.

There were no arguments for an after work celebration at a club on the strip. Greg almost thought Nick would not go because Lori had him on such a leash on him that she hardly let him go out with his friends since they became engaged.

"You're actually coming?"

"I wouldn't miss it G, it's your day after all." And he gave Greg the smile he loved so much, the one that made his knees go weak. He could see Sara giving him the "look" but he shrugged it off, it was just a friendly smile nothing else.

"It does not look like you are getting over him." Sara hissed in his ear once they had a moment alone.

"It's nothing, I got this."

"Sure you do."

"Sara, I just got promoted to CSI something I've wanted very badly, I want to get trashed and not talk about Nick ok?"

"Ok fine." She huffed. "But you can't say I didn't try."

"Whatever Sara, just give me a congratulations and a beer." Sara just rolled her eyes at him and stalked off to the bar.

"Come on Greg, come dance." Catherine called and he smiled making his way over to her.

"Well I can't resist a pretty lady can I?"

"Not me at least." She grinned as he led her to the dance floor. Greg had to admit Catherine was a good dancer a sexy one at that, she knew how to move her hips in just the right rhythm and if he wasn't so hung up Nick he could see himself and Catherine having a very good time.

"So how does it feel Greg?"

"Brilliant." He grinned as he moved his hips with hers.

"Wow Greg, I did not know you could dance so well."

"Just one of my many talents my lady."

"Indeed." She laughed. Greg enjoyed dancing with her, she was a good partner but twice he looked back at the table where the others were he caught Nick staring at him before he quickly looked away. Now the first time he noticed this he thought maybe Nick was looking at Catherine because she was a beautiful woman, but his eyes were not on Catherine. Greg thought maybe he was hallucinating, but Nick's eyes were defiantly on him. It made him hot all over and hoped Catherine would not notice because sometimes he couldn't control himself. He really did not need another person knowing about his lost for Nick, Sara was enough.

"Cath, I need to sit down and refuel."

"You just want that beer Warrick's waving at you."

"Hell yeah I do, it's free."

"Fine, I will make Warrick dance with me."

"He won't be able to move it like me."

"Don't worry Greg, you're the best."

"Damn right." He made his way over to the table and took the beer from Warrick's hand as Catherine pulled him out of the seat. Sara was still at the bar flirting with the bar tender so that left him alone at the table with Nick, great.

"So how does it feel buddy?"

"Awesome, just awesome I can't believe it. I really wanted this."

"I know G." he said with a smile. "And you'll be a damn good CSI too."

"Thanks Nick."

"You're my best friend Greg, I believe in you." Greg frowned into his beer glass, best friend that's all he would ever be to Nick, he so needed more beer now.

He and Nick were pretty sloshed by the time Sara stopped flirting with the bartender and Catherine had finished dancing with Warrick.

"Come on Nicky don't think you can get out of it."

"I wouldn't dream of it Cath." he slurred.

"Come on Sar." Greg urged grabbing her hand.

"Greg you are drunk."

"Well duh, so dance with me, it is my night."

"Oh don't you dare try and guilt me into this Sanders."

"Pretty please."

"You better do it Sara."

"Shut up Warrick, ok fine." She relented and pulled him to the floor. Catherine and Nick were dancing nearby and Greg could see the sweat on Nick's brow and damn he looked so good.

"You're staring." Sara hissed in ears.

"I'm drunk, I can stare all you want."

"Greg…"

"Just let me stare."

"Fine." She grumbled. Nick was a good dancer, moving his hips made Greg think of all the dirty things they could do with Nick's hips moving like that. Greg was sure he had a hard on, but at that point he really did not care. "Greg Jesus, I think it's time to go." Well that answered the hard on question.

"Not yet Sara, please."

"No, you're going to embarrass yourself."

"You are no fun."

"Come on let's go."

"You taking him home Sar?"

"Yes Cath, he is done."

"Could you take Nick too?" Sara really didn't think that would be a good idea with Greg in the state he was in, but she couldn't say no Catherine would get suspicious.

"Sure."

"Cath, I can't go home Lori will freak out."

"Then crash at Greg's apartment." Sara blanched at the idea, which would not be a very good at all.

"Oooh that's a great idea Cath, you are so the greatest." Sara looked at Greg and knew this could only end very badly.


Greg couldn't believe his drunken luck as Sara dropped himself and Nick off his apartment. He knew it was very bad, especially since he was so drunk he's do just about anything, but Nick did not want to go home and Greg didn't argue.

"Are you sure I can't drop you off Nick?"

"No…no Sara I do not want to deal with Lori."

"Ok fine." She gave Greg a stern look, but he did not care it would be like old times again before Lori ruined it all.

"Hey Nick, beer?"

"Naw man, I've had so many already. You got the new Madden game?"

"Hell yeah, I've been waiting on you to play it."

"Sorry about that dude, I haven't been much of friend lately."

"Nah it's fine you have a woman now."

"But I can't forget about you G, my best friend." His voice was thick and Greg had to be imagining things, Nick was so not leaning in to kiss him.

"Nick…"

"I don't know what I am doing." He confessed. "But it feels so right." Greg never did get to respond because holy God Nick was kissing him and it was every wet dream he ever had come true. Nick's lips were as soft as he imagined and he lost himself in the sheer intensity of the kiss that was until the logical part of him took a step forward.

"Nick…oh God…Lori…you'll regret this in the morning. I know it is the alcohol talking."

"I don't care, do you want to stop Greg?" he asked thrusting against Greg.

"Oh God no, bedroom now." They tumbled into Greg's bedroom, clothing flying everywhere, their kiss never breaking. In the back of his mind Greg knew it was wrong, knew Nick would hate him in the morning, but Nick felt too good pressed against him and tasted so good as their lips remained locked. He didn't care about anything else as Nick pushed his way into him, he just wanted to feel and loved the way his name sounded on Nick's lips as they moved as one. In the morning Greg would wake up with a hangover and possibly no best friend, but tonight it was all about this very moment consequences be dammed.