Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or its characters. If I do, I'd be writing this sitting on George's lap.
We're the number two best lab in the country. Of course that's just a statistic. Once you get in the Las Vegas Crime Lab, you'd feel we're number one. Sure, I could be cliché and say, "We have a great chemistry." No, no… You're talking to Sara Sidle here, buddy. I only share a great chemistry with one person, but I'll get to him later.
It's about the people. We're so different. Yeah, I know. Different—that's hard. See, different people balance out each other, which leads to a great working environment. We've got the brain balancing the socialite, the loud billboard and the somewhat quiet one, and the optimist and the pessimist workaholic. Cough, me, cough.
Let's start with the brain. Gil Grissom—Mr. Protocol Man. He's the focal point of this team. He's married to his job—I can prove it. See, I'm a career minded woman who live for my résumé. I threw myself at Grissom, thinking I'm this Victoria's Secret vixen. I tried to use him as a career advancement. Shallow—I know. I threw the ball in his court, but the bastard sent it right back. It wasn't until a few years later that I realized that that was a blessing.
On to the socialite—Catherine Willows. The divorcee mom, slash control freak boss, slash great friend. Yeah, this is still Sara Sidle. No, she or Sam Braun didn't pay me. It's an obscure mask that people rarely see on Catherine. She has different hormone injections everyday—or so I think. Mood swings day in day out. It's like she's pregnant 365 days a year. My advice to you: when you get on Catherine's good side, stay there.
Greg Sanders. The picture of perkiness, liveliness, happiness, flirtiness (so it's not a word, don't look at me like that!)…well, he's a picture of a lot of things. He's matured so much right now, although I have to admit that I miss the loud lab tech. I miss the banter that we used to share. The loud music booming in the DNA lab. Right now, I've become his mentor. It's not half bad to have someone listening to every word you say. Although, I kinda think that he's enjoying this teacher-student relationship far too much.
On to the eloquent Warrick Brown. We've butted heads and cut each other's throat during my first year here, but ever since that, we've been buddies. I love the way Warrick handles his job. He cares about protocol as much as he cares about the human element of it. Warrick's a great caring friend who you'd never forget. He'd always have your back. The great thing about Warrick is that he'd never step down from any argument when it involves himself—even if that argument is against his friends. I've overheard him and Nick go at it during the Rachel Lyford case.
We all know the witty Captain Jim Brass. Heh, he could always make you laugh. Even in the interrogation room. The way he talks to suspects shakes you up a little, so it kinda makes you wonder how the suspects themselves feel. He's like a father to me. He was the one who found out about my "cold". I thought I got myself out of that alcohol fiasco, but I didn't. Stinkin' cough drop…
And finally, let's talk about the walking "GQ" cover. Nick Stokes. The lean, rugged, sports-minded, Class-A flirt Texan. I think I speak for every woman when I say, "Hot damn!" See, I secretly love him. We're like the two most opposite people in this planet, yet I love him to death. It all started with the Meyer's roof dust. I mean, every woman finds him attractive. But my love for him isn't just because I want to have a cute brunette baby with perfect teeth—I love him because he's Nicholas Stokes. He's a goober, goofball, and so on. He's probably the most fun guy I have ever met.
After his kidnapping, though, he's been smiling less. He's in therapy, and once or twice, I'd drive him there. We even share breakfast together. Just the two of us. I do whatever I can do to get Nick back to himself, just like everyone in the graveyard and swing shift does. Heck, I think the whole lab does. He's a lovable guy, and we don't want him to turn into a depressed, cold one.
Let's talk about the other part of this lab.
Doc Robbins, although handicapped, is about as regular as a guy could get. He doesn't let his disability bother him. He's a great guy, you'll see. He's the resource that this lab cannot afford to lose. You hear that, Ecklie?
David Phillips was recently engaged this year. I'm glad he has moved on from his crush on me. We've had fun with that, especially Warrick and I. He'd blush from time to time when he'd see me down the hall, or when he's talking to me, even on serious matters. That was how I always get autopsy reports the fastest. Now I feel guilty.
The second David, namely Hodges, is somewhat of an ass. He was actually the one that saved us all from being blown up when we found Nicky. Now we're even. Hodges is pretty cool, actually. If only he'd stop kissing Grissom's ass, he'd be on my good side. I know that he and Nick are on each other's throats, so I plan on building an alliance with Nick. That is one hell of a reason to have him talk to me more often—alone, in my house…plotting pranks. Yeah, plotting pranks. Don't look at me like that.
Bobby Dawson, the other Texan, is an adorable guy. But then again, I have a soft spot for Texans—brought on none other than Nick Stokes himself. It's just the way that he says "ya'll"—it gets me every time.
Jacqui Franco, the fingerprints specialist, is like a kinder version of Catherine. Like Cath, she's also a mother. She's very experienced in this job. We strike up great conversations once in a while.
Archie Johnson, the computer tech, is also a part of the flirt squad. But, he's a good guy. I once teased him about shopping with his girlfriend. He sorta shrugged it off, but I know he was blushing. I, for one, think it's cheesily sweet that a guy would shop with his girlfriend. Well, contrary to the popular belief, I do believe in romance. That's your "go" signal, Nick.
I hated the fact that I didn't get to start working in LVCL a lot sooner, because I wanted to be there when all this started.
A/N: Like it? Hate it? Want me to continue?