The journey to love has begun. Travelling partners have come and gone. Some have taken more than they should and now the journey has stalled. The map is lost, the hope is gone and the travelling vessel is broken. The side of the road is a lonely place. Ah, a light comes from behind! Help is coming. But it seems so far away. Is there enough patience to wait for the much needed, much wanted, much appreciated rescue?
A/N: Welcome to the second branch in The Journey To Love series. This will be a multi-chapter story based on CSI characters Nick Stokes and Warrick Brown. Wait, Warrick is dead isn't he? Maybe, maybe not.
Warning: This is a slash romance between the two men. Rated T and M for the majority of the story for sexual situations, language, and job related gore. If you are uncomfortable with it, please don't read.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from CSI. They all belong to CBS. I do however own the idea of their romance.
Chapter 3: Trust
Nick sat back on the couch, in tears and disbelief. Warrick was alive!! What was he supposed to do with this information? There's no way he could keep this all to himself. No way. He would let it slip; he knew it. But he had to tell someone.
Who on the team deserves to know the most? Besides me. I trust Catherine. Hmm, we did have some stuff being leaked a few times that was traced back to her. Maybe Doc Robbins? Oh Grissom. He doesn't work in the lab anymore. I trust him. But Griss would tell Sara. Maybe it wouldn't go any further than the two of them. How could I tell them without the operatives finding out? Nah, they won't do. I need to find someone who didn't really know Warrick, someone not connected. Someone who wouldn't look into the situation. Yeah, Catherine and Griss would definitely look into it. And Cath has friends who could actually get close if not find out the whole story.
He thought and he thought. But instead, he pressed play on the remote control to watch Warrick's message again.
On his next day back at work, Nick took an analytical look at everyone who crossed his path, even those he knew the best. He wished he knew who the operatives were then maybe he could get a little more info. Maybe do some sneaking around of his own. As he was thinking, Dr. Langston came in with an address Catherine asked him to bring so Nick could go with her to collect evidence. This time she grabbed the keys before he could and he sat quietly as they drove. He was a little too quiet for Catherine's taste.
"So, you're still not going to tell me what's going on with you?"
"I can't really explain it," he replied. "Hell, I'm not even sure of what it is." Of course, he knew, but he couldn't let her know that.
"Talking might help you figure it out," she insisted. He sighed. How much can I tell her to satisfy her and not spill the truth?
"I've just been thinking about Warrick a lot lately and I don't know why."
"It's not his birthday, not the death anniversary…"
"I know and it kinda scares me. That's what I'm going through. I'm thinking about Warrick and I don't know why."
"Well have you ever thought about the fact that you just miss him?"
"It can't be that simple Catherine," he said as they were pulling up to the address.
"Maybe it is. We all have our own reasons for missing him and our own times. Maybe it's just your turn." She said shrugging, placing the SUV in park and turning it off. Nick never thought about it that way. Missing him just to be missing him.
They went about their way collecting evidence on a store robbery and shoot out. A bullet grazed the storeowner's arm. He was a 2nd generation immigrant of Pakistan heritage. Mr. Patel said that the store had been having problems with some kids for the past month and a half. There were so many crowding his store after school that he had to start letting them in two or three at a time to make sure they weren't stealing. The middle school was right across the street and most of the kids coming in his store would be waiting on the city bus to make their way home.
The day before a few kids were upset that he was out of a certain energy drink and starting calling him racial slurs, degrading him in front of his children. A few of them had come back that night, probably intending to scare him. But one of the boys had a loaded gun that his friends didn't know about. Mr. Patel could tell the boy had never used a gun before, he couldn't even hold it steady and he knew nothing about trigger pressure and recoil. That's why there were so many bullet holes. Mr. Patel is licensed to carry and arm, but decided not to pull his gun on a group of kids, although he could have if he felt his life and property were in danger.
Nick managed to find all the bullets and get some fingerprints from the glass doors at the entrance. The biggest find was the school id card of one of the boys. Probably didn't even realize he dropped it. It had his name, school, age and address. He took a picture of it and handed it to Brass to contact the parents. Shouldn't take long to find out who his friends were after that.
Dr. Langston, who was trying to learn how to step up and run the lab that night, then called to let Nick know that Greg was on his way to pick him up and they were heading to the strip. Several of the street carts had been vandalized and robbed. He wouldn't have the choice about the music on the radio tonight. Oh well. If they were going to be on the strip, he could pick up something a little greasy and delicious for his lunch later. Not that he ate greasy food often, but this one place had these sausage sandwiches with onions and peppers. And the fries! They stayed crispy and hot for at least an hour after cooking. Most fries from fast food places don't last that long.
Greg drove up and he could hear the "noise" before he actually got in the SUV. He opened the door and was greeted by the sounds of mindless club music, his own words. Greg turned it down.
"Thank you." He said getting in after placing his kit in the back. They waved good-bye to Catherine and were off to the Vegas Strip. Lots of lights, lots of people and lots of smells. They found the vendors, who were ready to get back in business; the strip seemed extra packed tonight. They fingerprinted the cash registers and the carts. There were a lot of prints, quite a few smudged. Archie would have fun with these. After a few hours, they were done. Nick decided to forgo his greasy delight for tonight. As they headed back to the SUV, a lady came running up to him.
"Sir! Sir!" She cried. "Don't leave yet! I need to speak to you." Nick stopped, thinking she might have seen what went on. She looked familiar. Fatima. She was the psychic from The Moroccan, a restaurant and club. Her place was down far enough and inside where it was impossible for her to have seen the crimes. He remembered Warrick dragging him there on a dare once. He didn't really like psychics, didn't really believe them, but had used them occasionally on cases.
"Can I help you?" She stood in front of him, looking at him familiarly.
"Yes, it is you," she said, her African accent was thicker than he remembered. Greg looked at her strangely. Nick indicated to him that it was ok. She took a breath. "I was reading the cards and your face appeared to me." She even came with the cards. Nick had a feeling that she was going to find him even if he hadn't been on the strip that night. She showed him a card representing a King and then one with The Lovers. "The Moor King loves you and only you. You are his world. But careful," she then held up the Death card "there will be a loss when you pretend to give your heart to a lesser man who claims he is a king. But patience," she said holding up a card with overflowing cups "will make right the wrong that chaos and confusion will bring to the world known as Love. And all will be as it was ordained." Nick took her words in, and she repeated the message just so he would understand. He nodded that he understood the words, the meaning he guess he would learn as life went on.
"Thank you, Fatima." She bowed to him as a sign of respect, showing that her services had been rendered and returned to her business.
"Dude, what was that? The Moor King? Just who are you seeing?" Greg asked. Nick shook his head and gestured for him to head towards the SUV.
"Never had a psychic reading before Sanders?" He asked as they got in.
"No. I don't understand half of what they say and don't believe the other. Do you even understand what she said?"Greg started the car and began to drive off.
"Yes and no." Nick thought how best to explain it. "Every card represents something. Like the death card doesn't always mean physical death. It usually symbolizes the ending of something, like a bad habit, job, relationship. You know?" Greg nodded. Nick had an idea of who the Moor King was. It had to be Warrick. But who would he pretend to give his heart to? He didn't want anyone but Warrick.
"So do you know who the Moor King is and who this lesser king is?"
"Not really. I just have to pay attention to things. The words will come back when it's time." He sounded like he was tying to convince himself. "Let's get something to eat before we head back."
The next day
Nick sat in front of his computer, making another copy of the DVD Warrick has sent him. He wanted to keep the original and one copy in safe and secure place. The other he was taking to show that someone he had not trusted a lot before, but was going to today. He didn't make this decision lightly; this person was respected, and honest. He just didn't know a lot about them. He opened his unique safe; it had two combinations and three sets of keys. This is where he kept his most important papers and where the DVDs were going to rest. After closing and locking it, he made sure to delete the fact that a DVD had been copied on his computer. He couldn't take that chance.
Upon arriving for work, he checked the boards started working. So far, no calls had come in. Maybe it was going to be an easy night. He was walking down the hall to give a file to Catherine and walked past Dr. Ray's office. He stopped and knocked on the door.
"Ah, Mr. Stokes, what can I do for you?" Nick stepped in his office, walked closely to his desk, and talked at a volume that no one passing by could easily hear.
"The other day when you said I could come and talk to you about anything did you really mean it?" Dr. Ray removed his glasses and looked a Nick quizzically.
"Of course I did. Anything said between us is as confidential as doctor and patient, even though I'm not a supervisor. I realize that the team here is family and right now, I'm the long lost cousin trying to fit in, but I do actually care about what goes on in everyone's life. It's a circle. As much as we'd like to separate them, work affects home and vice versa. Trouble in one can cause trouble in the other." He waited for some sign that Nick understood that he could trust him. "Shall I close the door?"
"Uh, no. Actually I need to talk to you away from the lab." Dr. Ray looked confused. "These walls have ears and I need this to be as private as I can get it." He paused and Dr. Ray nodded. "Have you been to lunch yet?"
"No, I was going to wait about another 15 minutes."
"I tell you what, lunch is on me. I'll see you at my truck in 15?"
"Sure." Nick smiled and walked out to close out what he was working on before going to lunch.
Fifteen minutes later Dr. Ray was coming off the elevator and found Nick's truck in the parking lot. They got in and when Nick started the car they were met with the blasting sound of Trace Atkins. Nick quickly turned down the CD player.
"Sorry about that. I'm getting as bad as Greg now with the loud music."
"At least the music isn't mindless."
"So you've ridden with Greg? Glad someone finally agrees with me about his music," They laughed and Nick drove off. "So what do you like to eat?"
"Pretty much anything. It's your dime; I'm not going to be picky."
"Ok, Burger Barn it is. You'll love the onion rings." This was a place with carhops and the some of the best and greasiest burgers in Las Vegas. Once the carhop brought their order and he gave Dr. Ray his, he opened the little door that housed the DVD player in his truck. This was a featured he debated about getting with he purchased the truck. After all, he wasn't going to look at it while driving.
"Ok, what I'm about to show you, I've been sworn to secrecy not to show. But it's too much information for me to handle all by myself. I had to find someone to trust to share this with, and well you're it." He sighed. "There is some personal stuff on here, but I need you to see it." And he started the player and adjusted the car speakers. Dr. Ray watched as it started.
"Is this Mr. Warrick Brown?" he asked shocked. Nick nodded. "I thought he was dead. I recognize him from a funeral program that was left in the office." Nick started eating his bacon cheeseburger to help him from getting emotional. He observed Dr. Ray eating and watching the DVD. Nick wondered what was going through his head as his watched. As it finished, there was silence in the truck.
"Well, I must say the picture on the program doesn't do him justice. He's incredibly handsome." He felt that he could say that to Nick since it was obviously revealed on the DVD that he was gay. He never knew how to reveal his sexual preference to his colleagues. This was the easiest one yet. "You're very blessed to have someone care so much for you. But why did you choose me to know this secret?"
"I had to find someone who didn't know Warrick or know him enough to want to look into what he was saying. Believe me Catherine was my first choice. And I thought seriously about Grissom since he didn't work in the lab anymore. As much I love and trust all of them, they were too close to Warrick. And since you're new, I thought of you. Plus, I figured I should learn to trust you more than just as my supervisor. That's how it started with the rest of us. We had to rely and trust in and on each other." He took the disc out, placed it back in the jewel case and handed it to him. "Do you have a safe or secret place where you can keep this? Don't worry it's not original; I have it and a copy in a secret place."
"Yes, I do. Thank you for trusting me with this information. I have a few friends who could possible look into this, but I'm afraid they're so low on the totem pole that red flags would be raised if they started searching." He took a sip of his drink. "Do you think he will get away soon?"
"I don't know. Look how long it took him to just send this. And they only let him just send it. Like he gets a privilege for good behavior or something."
"Perhaps it was a reward." Dr. Ray placed the disc in his suit jacket pocket. "I'll be very careful to not let this out of my sight." He looked at his watch and Nick knew it was time to head back to the lab.
"You know, my gaydar is usually pretty good." He said starting his truck. "I didn't get an indications when you joined the team. Then again, I totally missed it with Warrick too." The older CSI chuckled.
"I've been told that before. I don't know what it is. I've been gay most of my adult life. Never saw a reason to flaunt it or tell everyone. If the subject comes up in a conversation, it comes up. I've have my relationships good or bad and things are ok." Nick nodded.
As the two walked back into the lab, they were met with stares of confusion and puzzlement.
"Did you just come from lunch with Dr. Ray?" Catherine asked. Greg and Archie looked up from their work.
"Yes, I did. I needed to talk to him about something private and I didn't want to do it here in the lab or his office." He stated.
"But we were in the SUV earlier and you could have talked to me then. Don't you trust me?" She said, with anger and hurt in her voice. Nick was a bit shocked but he should have expected it. His friends would have expected him to come to them first before a stranger. Well, Dr. Ray wasn't a complete stranger, but he hadn't been in the fold that long.
"Catherine, yes I trust you. And it's ok. It's something I needed to talk to just him about… something, you know, man to man. Nothing for you to get upset about."
"If man to man was the case, then you could have talked to me." Greg said. Nick sighed. Not you too, he thought.
"Look, you guys. Its not that I don't want to talk to you about it, it's just that I can't. No hard feelings really. If I could I would, you gotta believe me." They didn't. At that moment Nick felt like a traitor. But he couldn't explain why he went to Dr. Ray and not them. He just said a silent pray that one day he could explain it and they would understand. Catherine left the lab to return to her office, giving Dr. Ray a dirty look as she passed him. Nick started to follow her down the hall when Dr. Ray stopped him.
"Everything ok?" he whispered.
"Not really. She asked if we had gone to lunch together and I told her yes and that I needed to talk you about something. She's upset that I didn't come to her with it."
"She doesn't know what we talked about does she?"
"Oh no! I didn't tell her. And now Greg is pissed at me 'cause I didn't talk to him either."
"If you could explain it, you would. Give it a few days and all will be good. I know it will." He said and walked to ballistics to verify something in the report he had in his hand. Nick sighed. Ok God, show me I did the right thing. I can't have everybody mad a me for trying to do what Warrick asked, he prayed. He returned to the lab with guilt replacing the joy he felt earlier of sharing his secret with someone he was learning to trust.
As Dr. Ray entered his home after his shift, he felt the night melt away. He had picked a great house. The solace and comfort it gave was incredible. Walking into his home office, he pulled the trigger book to open the secret panel behind the bookcase. He was glad he had this built in. Stepping in he unlocked the combination and key safe and placed Nick's DVD inside. He really was glad to win Nick's trust. A little at a time. He knew the others would come around soon. He was beginning to feel a part of the family. He closed the safe, the secret panel and headed to bed.
Nick lay in his bed, trying to bring back joy he felt that he someone to trust in this matter. And it helped that Dr. Ray was gay. Not that anyone else wouldn't understand the lifestyle or situation, it was a different perspective. He hoped Catherine and Greg would understand. He loved them and didn't want to hurt them. His mind drifted to what Warrick was doing. Was he sleeping? Was he being moved? Was he being given information to take down someone else? Whatever he was doing, he hoped he was safe. And thinking about him.
Warrick woke himself up and turned over to look at the clock. Almost time to get up. I hate when I wake up before the alarm. Disturbs my sleep. Or lack thereof. He laid there for a few minutes thinking about his beautiful cowboy. He should be getting home now, ready to go to bed. Wish I there waiting for him so he could fall fast asleep in my arms as the sun rises. Someday soon cowboy, someday soon. He said a short pray to keep him and Nick safe through the endeavors they were going to face for the day and they would be able to see each other soon.
Extra A/N: The Moor King? The lesser man who claims to be a king? What's this chaos and confusion all about? Fatima is one cryptic sista isn't she? 8)