Note:

Sorry to take up space, but I was contacted by someone who has organized a CSIfanfic awards website. I am in no way associated with this, it was suggested that I try to help spread the word. Below is the link to the site. It covers every CSI fandom, every category of story and character. So if you want, go check it out and nominate your favorite stories and authors. The creator told me that trying to reach readers was going to be tough. So let you voice be heard if you wish. Choose for every cat, or just a few. If you don't want to sign up for a LJ account, just read the rules there and send an e-mail to There did my duty, now on to the story.

It looks like fanfic peepswill now allow e-mail or website to show up inside the story. I added the info to my bio page.

By Shacky

Nick went back and finished up his work in the alley. It didn't take that much longer, but he couldn't help but feel the 'ghost stare' of Warrick on him for the rest of the time at the scene. Nick found himself searching for that permanent worried look on his coworker's face, but Warrick never came back out to the alley.

More paranoia.

Nick shook his head. The ride back was quiet, and no words were even spoken about who was driving, Nick still had the keys. He didn't utter a syllable, as he opened up and sat in the driver's seat. He ignored the glaring stare from Warrick from the passenger seat. Nick turned on the radio so he didn't have to sit through the uncomfortable silence the whole way back to the Lab. It wouldn't be soon enough for either one of them.

They both hopped out of the SUV. Nick opened up the back of the vehicle and grabbed his kit and the evidence they had gathered. A lot of blood and prints, but nothing pointed toward any particular suspect or even a motive besides a simple robbery. As Nick closed up his truck, he noticed that Warrick was already halfway to the building.

Nick decided enough was enough. "This ends, now." He muttered under his breath.

Nick took his evidence and stormed his way into the building. "Here," he said leaving the night's finding in the Lab with Hodges. "I need this processed. Not much there, but just blood samples."

Hodges answered back with his usual "Yeah, when I get to it."

Nick marched off to the locker room where he was sure his partner was. Sure enough, Warrick was in the middle of packing up and putting his stuff up for the night.

Nick wasn't waiting for an invitation to start. "Warrick, I can't have you looking over my shoulder all the time. When are you gonna let things go?" Nick half-pleaded, half-ordered. He hoped for a quick talk and conclusion. He didn't like confrontation, especially with his best friend, but he be damned if he would take this anymore.

"When am I gonna let this go?"

Warrick whipped his head around, and by the look in his eyes, Nick was wrong about this being over quick and painless.

"When are you gonna smarten up and pay attention, man? That guy was practically on top of you and you never noticed. Where was your head at, Nicky?"

Warrick's words only served to escalate Nick's already angered mood. "My head was where it always is, Warrick. On the case. Doing my job." Nick's twang was heavier than normal. "Which you seem to have a problem with me doing lately. When are you gonna let me off my leash?"

Voices were being raised, and this was heading towards a bad outcome fast.

"You apparently need a leash, Nick. You weren't even paying attention around you... again. Wasn't one time enough, Nick? Or do you like looking for trouble?" Warrick knew he had crossed a line but it was too late to take it back now.

Nick's eyes widen at the accusation. "Screw you." He growled. "I go... looking for trouble? You pull a gun on a poor homeless man tonight just looking for his few meager belongings and I go looking for trouble." Nick was shocked to say the least that Warrick had made such a charge.

"How was I supposed to know that? At least I was looking out for you. Which is something you apparently never learned how to do." Warrick itched closer. "Or I guess it's always just 'bad luck' for you... Right, bro?" Warrick spat back with an intensity in his eyes Nick rarely saw. It was a stare reserved for suspects.

Nick didn't back down though, and stood toe to toe with the taller CSI. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I get buried in a box and I go looking for trouble?" Nick was stunned. He couldn't believe he was standing here defending himself, his jaw was so tight; he could feel his muscles twitch. "So, what are you saying, Rick? That I can't look out for myself anymore? I can't be trusted to be in the field alone?"

"It's always something isn't it, Nicky? First it was that Hendler woman, you turned your back on a suspect in the house. Got a gun shoved in your face, or did you forget about that? The only thing that saved your ass that night was Grissom's quick thinking to go back and save your butt." Warrick loomed over Nick, he was on a roll, and his lips were off and running before his brain could process what he was saying.

Not even the open mouthed expression on Nick's face could stop him. "Then there was Nigel Crane, you didn't even secure the scene before you walked in that apartment, did you? He pushed you out of a two story Nick, you're damn lucky you just happened to land in the bushes."

Warrick didn't let his posture up; he was going to use size if he had to make his point.

Nick was backed up against his locker.

"Maybe if my partner had been in there with me instead of on the damn phone, then he wouldn't have gotten to me! Huh Warrick? Maybe you're the one with the guilt here." Nick began pointing his finger at his partner's chest. "Maybe you know you should have been in there with me, and maybe that would have never happened if you had been doing your job."

Nick knew he went too far with that when he saw Warrick visibly flinch at his words, but they were true. Warrick should have been in there with him. He damn well didn't go looking for Nigel Crane.

Warrick was now beyond furious. How dare Nick accuse him of being negligent? The Crane thing wasn't his fault, it couldn't have been. Damnit!

Things had gotten loud enough that they had started attracting the attention of a few people out in the hallway. Sara was just about to go walk into the locker room and break this up, but Greg stopped her. "Let me go put an end to this, Greg. They're gonna say something they are going to regret." Sara pleaded with Greg as she tried to get past him.

"Maybe they need to. This has been building between them way too long, just leave them and let them talk it out." Greg was tried to rationalize the argument to Sara.

"If they were talking fine, but they are going to attract the attention of the entire Lab pretty soon." Both Greg and Sara stood back, making sure no one walked into the locker room. They both hoped their two friends could possible work this out tonight. Or get it out of their system.

"Oh, Nigel was my fault now huh? Well, Nick, I would like to think that at least I would have noticed if a complete stranger was living in my home. How long had he been in your attic, Nick?" Warrick allowed an evil chuckle. "You never even noticed." Warrick shook his head. "Not everyone has good intentions in the real world, which so seem to forget. You are a CSI Level 3 Nicky, not some damn rookie, why don't you act like it?"

Nick stared into the whites of Warrick's eyes, because he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Now the psycho living in the attic was my fault also? Was it my fault he killed Jane Galloway? Like I don't feel bad enough about that. So, I went looking for that too. I asked for it, I suppose." Nick's face was turning a very bright shade of red at the yelling match and the intensity of the situation.

He couldn't believe Warrick, of all people, was saying these things to him. "I'm a bad CSI now. All of those things that happened to me were my fault. I went looking for all that trouble you think, huh? Well, then why the hell do you work with me then, Warrick? If I can't be trusted to take care of myself, how can I take care of my 'partner'?"

Nick was beyond furious, being blamed for all of those horrible things. Questioning his ability. His eyes glistened with anger at the man in front of him, but it was past the point of no return. The words had been said, they couldn't be taken back now.

"Someone needs to look after you obviously. You can't even get a girl without screwing that up either. When's the last time you had a woman Nicky, what was her name, Kristi right?"

Nick's eyes lit up with fire at the mention of her name and he balled his hand into a fist at his side.

"Oh shit." Greg muttered, he knew that was the last straw.

"One time in five years you manage to get a woman and look what happens. It almost ends your career, or better yet, gets you locked up in prison for the rest of your life on murder charges. Can you imagine what prison would have been like for you, Nicky? They would have loved you there, for what, a God Damned hooker!"

Warrick didn't even see the fist coming towards him. Nick saw was red, he tried to take care of Kristi, that wasn't his fault. He was trying to save her damnit!

How dare he even... "You son of a bitch!"

He brought his fist up and hit the locker next to Warrick's head so hard he left a dent in the offending piece of metal. Blood on his knuckles, and a look he never thought he would see in his friend's eyes because of him.

Fear.

Nick looked at his partner, then down at his hand, and finally the dent in his locker. He looked in his friends eyes. He was shocked by his own outburst and anger. Nick grabbed his keys and left the locker room, walking by a stunned Greg and several other onlookers.

He got out of the Lab as fast as he could.

tbc...

Author's notes:

So we pulled a switch on our readers. Shacky took on Warrick here and I get a chance to tackle someone else on the next. We had fun switching things up.

Shacky20 Notes: I once again want to thank you all very much for your wonderful reviews and fabulous reviews of our story, they really have touched me. I know most of you saw something in this chapter coming to a head, and I hope it lived up to it. When Kristen first had me write this chapter, I didn't think I could, but I hope I captured it well, and lived up to everyone's expectations as most people could see the blow out between Nick and Warrick was coming, I tried very much to show Warrick guilt and Nick's frustration, and I hope I got it right for everyone. I didn't know how well I could do Nick and Warrick scenes, but hopefully it came across well.

Kristen's:

Poncholives:

They have been through so much and it will all come out in the end, you are telepathic.

higherbeingfriendsfan:

Thanks again. You are right both Greg and Warrick are dealing with Nick in their own way, each has a totally different experience and life point of view from what happened.

new creation:

You have been great. No, we don't know anyone, just try to place ourselves each character's heads. I think we watch the show too much, but I'm glad it comes out as real and true.

anmani:

I'm glad you picked up on that line from Warrick, it really does encapsulate how he is feeling.

kasey:

Peace is forthcoming for each of them, but they have to work through their issues. You've picked up on a lot of the undertones.

lemon-grass:

Yes, it is easy to see each point of view. I still think both Warrick and Nick are not being honest with each other, and its coming out at work. Of course one of them is not handling the effects as the other.

bebob-

Happy pills, lol. I'm not sure that would help. Yep, both of them are easy on the eyes.

groban:

I don't know if I could do anymore to Nick, mental break down and torment is a fun think to play with. We are evil.

jewelbaby:

Don't know of anysites. Sorry. But thank you again for everything.

LucreziaNoin86:

You are very sweet, you and your Mom have been great. Its pretty neat to have both of you to read this.

Mma:

Seems from the spoilers I've read the TPTB do plan on dealing with GD for several epps, which is great! Thank you, we worked very hard to try to be realistic, the response has been overwhelming.

Amy:

You are very perspective, in fact Nick is older than Warrick. Yet it seems their roles are reversed. I like to add little nuances to each charter whether its a hobby, mannerism, use of odd phrases and I'm glad that we've been able to present these guys properly. In the past I've always look forward to your thoughts, you're always honest. Thank you.

rozzy:

Hope this last one was a great lead up to the last three chapters. All of you have been great at picking up on the fact that Nick heals, the team still wonders around the walking wounded, a certain CSI in particular.

Katknits:

this is between the guys. It was bound to happen. Thank you so much.

tvspaz:

The whole undertone of the last 5 chapters has been Warrick's inability to let go, to let Nick heal; He's convinced he can protect Nick, his inability to cope with what happened. So, Nick is stuck working with him.