DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything associated with the show… I just like playing with the characters in it from time to time. Dance Monkeys! Dance!
RATING: M - Mature (language, sexual situations, adult subject matter)
PAIRINGS: GSR & Yo!Bling pre-established in previous fics of this timeline.
SPOILERS: Sequel to "Displacement", "Transitions" and "Vicissitudes" - Number 5 in the Discovery Series
SUMMARY: Sometimes, the best way the deal with the changes all around you is to stop fighting and evolve in response to them. GSR/Yo!Bling/Nick-OC

A/N: And here's the second chapter of the night. Hope all of this is fun for you, too.

REVIEWS: Reviews are the way I know if people are enjoying the work or not. So, if you leave one, THANKS! And if not, I hope you found at least a little something to brighten your day, and thanks for taking the time to read.

Chapter 25
22:30 – 2007.01.22
CSI Lab – "Grissom's" Office

The first hard lesson Warrick had learned since taking over for Grissom on the night shift was that the paperwork never ended. It was a slow night and so he and Blake had gone to work clearing the decks of paperwork, while Greg ran the new girl through the paces in the lab.

Nick had already given him a glowing report about her abilities in other areas of the lab, but Warrick also wanted to get Greg's perspective on her aptitude for the work. Greg, of course, was just happy for the chance to get to know the new CSI. It was obvious from the moment of her introduction that Greg was interested in the young woman, but Warrick had a feeling it was far from mutual.

He was distracted from his thoughts when Blake closed up another folder and sighed. "This is the part of the job that nobody likes."

"Yeah, but I'm the lucky stiff that gets to listen to his boss complain about his paperwork not being done over the dinner table." Blake chuckled at Warrick's obvious joke. "Luckily it hasn't gotten that bad, yet, but I'm not lookin' for trouble either."

"Good man… I could have used some of that advice before she decided to divorce me." Blake added his own humor to the mix.

"Been there… You got a good lawyer?" Warrick knew a thing or two about divorce.

"Actually, we're doing mediation… Decided it was better for the kid than going at each other's throats over nothing. Fact is, we just got married a little young and when we were both finished growing up, we'd grown apart. Nobody's fault, it just happened." Warrick could tell the man was sincere and he admired him for being honest about it. "But, we got a great kid out of the whole thing. And Trent is why we're doing our best to keep things civil."

"Hey man… You definitely get some points for that."

"Thanks…" Blake picked up another folder and got back to work. After a few moments he had another question. "So, do we have any idea when Nick's gonna be done with that grand jury business?"

Warrick was in the process of taking another folder from the pile when he answered, "Ah yeah… Talked to him tonight and he's pretty sure they'll have it wrapped up tomorrow afternoon. I told him to go ahead and wait until Wednesday night to come back."

Blake nodded as he sat back in the chair to read through the report. "That's good, really. That'll be Jeong's first night in the field, right?"

"Yeah, it will… Greg should be done puttin' her through the paces in the lab by then, too. And I'll bet she could use a break from him at that point." Warrick signed off on the report in front of him and grabbed for another. "But it's okay. I've got one of the guys from swings on stand-by in case things get crazy around here."

"Good call." Warrick nodded and thought that the conversation portion of the night was over, and then he discovered just how slick Blake really was. "So, you hear anything from Grissom?" He asked the question without even looking up from the document he was supposedly transfixed on, but Warrick knew the guy was fishing for information.

He thought about his answer for a moment, and made a mental note to remind the others to steer clear of the topic with the man. When he had decided on a course of action Warrick chuffed, "The guy just got back from his honeymoon. I figure the only way I hear from him is if it's the emergency room calling because he's keeled over from exhaustion."