Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, do you think I would be writing this? Nope.

Little Things

It had taken Greg a while to calm Nathan down. He had driven him back to CSI, with Brass's permission. He had toured the lab with little Nathan, just trying to keep him distracted for as long as he could.

Even Hodges had pitched in, giving the kid an arrogance filled, self conceded tour of his over-rated lab. Greg had just chuckled along, enjoying his time off the case, just a brave little boy to keep him company.

Now they were in the break room, and Nathan was playing with two toy cars on the table. The crumb covered plate beside him had once held a sandwich, but all this stress had taken it's toll on the boy's appetite. He had scarfed it down in seconds.

Greg just sat there, watching him play. Even though he was brave, Greg could tell he was close to self destructing. Even now, while playing with his toy trucks, sadness was his defining feature.

Greg stared off into space once again, watching the glints move on the long glass walls. They danced as he moved minuscule amounts, and he just watched them, not sure why.

But then he saw Nick's concerned face through the clear wall, and he snapped out of his little trance. In an instant he wanted it back, but instead glanced at Nathan.

"I'm going to go talk to my friend over there, see?" He asked Nathan softly, and the little boy followed his gaze, before nodding.

"Okay."

Greg reluctantly got up and walked across the blue linoleum floor. His heels squeaked quietly as he got to the door and swung it open swiftly.

He walked into the hall, and shut the door behind him, not wanting the 7 year old to listen in.

Nick gave him a small smile as he stood beside him, looking in on Nathan.

"He's cute." Nick said in his Texan accent, watching the child push around his toy trucks.

Without thinking, Greg shot back, "He's adorable." Actually, he surprised himself, it wasn't everyday that you called a kid adorable.

Nathan was still playing with his toy trucks, completely oblivious to them. And if he wasn't, he was very good at hiding it.

"Who's gonna take him?" Nick asked suddenly, and Greg racked his brain, trying to remember the details.

"I dunno, some family I think. Brass'll let us know." He replied back, glancing at Nick, who seemed to be looking at Nathan respectively.

"Poor guy. He's been through a lot." Nick said, and Greg couldn't help but judge his friend. That was a huge understatement.

"He's been through hell Nicky." He replied, and he felt his friend back off, thinking he had offended him.

He hadn't, but Greg didn't know why he was so defensive of this little boy. Was he growing on him? He wasn't supposed to get attached to cases.

They looked back to Nathan who now had a few trucks on the table.

"He seems really brave though, I'm sure he'll be okay." Nicky muttered, but Greg just nodded.

All of a sudden Nathan took the biggest truck and used it to shove two red ones and then a blue one off the table. They clattered to the floor loudly, making Greg flinch.

Nathan took the last truck, a little yellow one, and pushed it behind a coffee mug, like he was trying to hide it. He then drove the big black one away.

By now Greg had caught on, and was feeling his heart shatter for the little boy. Nathan gently pulled the yellow truck back into view, and held it gently in his hands.

And then the boy's tears spilt over, rolling down his shivering cheeks.

Greg exchanged a watery eyed look with Nicky, before walking back to the door.

Maybe a little boy can only be so brave.

XXX

"Really, Catherine?" Greg asked sarcastically yet annoyed. She gave him a sad smirk.

"Oh come on. It was just a question." She replied back seriously. "Do you think he saw it happen?"

Even though she meant nothing of it, Greg managed to be annoyed.

"I don't think it should matter Cath. His family's dead, he might have seen it happen, and now he's being harassed by a bunch of strangers who don't give a shit about his feelings! Regardless of if he was a witness or not, he shouldn't be dealing with this." He said quickly, his anger boiling up near the end.

He saw his CSI 'mom' recoil slightly, her eyes becoming apologetic.

"Sorry." He added, even though he knew it didn't matter much. But she shook her head, her lips pressed into a firm line.

"No, you're right. I should be sorry- I'm treating this like any other case... but it's not." She mumbled, and drifted into a comfortable silence.

Greg twisted his ceramic mug between his hands, feeling the familiar heat warm him. The smell of his blue Hawaiian coffee was too much to resist and he sipped it even though it burned his mouth.

"Greg..." Catherine started reluctantly, "We have a suspect."

The shock was overwhelming. "Really? Who?"

"Yea, Sara got a print off a light switch. Dayle Boyar." She said a-matter-of-factly.

"Oh. Has Brass got him yet?" Greg asked eagerly, just happy the man could get what he deserved.

"Unfortunately no. He's on the run and he could be anywhere right now." Well that was awesome. They knew who killed Nathan's family and they couldn't find him.

"Did you search his house?" He asked, just begging in his head for a lead.

"Empty." Catherine said quietly.

"But we could trace his-"

"Cards were in his wallet, in his car, in his driveway." She said, trying to prove her point. Greg was feeling rather depressed right now. This guy knew exactly what he was doing.

"Withdrew his entire account the day before?" He asked- it was the obvious thing to do.

Catherine nodded largely and he sighed. Of course.

"But did you ask the neighbours-"

"Yes Greg. Nobody knew him, he kept to himself." She said motherly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We're stuck."

Greg leaned back farther on the counter, defeated at last.

"Great."

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