Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI's. I wish I did, especially Warrick Brown, then he'd have a storyline! Okay, maybe he wouldn't cuz I'd have him handcuffed to my bed! LOL
Spoilers: Mentions some reactions from Grave Danger, but nothing too descriptive. As long as you've watched up to the 5th Season, you should be okay!
This is my first attempt at fan fiction that I'm actually going to submit. I've written stuff before, but have been too chicken to let anyone see it. So here I am, plugging my nose and diving into the deep end. (Or perhaps I'm diving off the deep end?) So, please review, good or bad, I'm open for suggestions, critics are welcome.
"Was she hot?" Nick asked as he shut his locker. He grinned as Warrick gave him a glare. "Of course she was, if you were after her!" He answered himself.
"Damn, that girl was on fire!" Warrick added as he adjusted his collar of his fresh shirt. "Wanna go for some chow?"
"Yeah, why not? In fact, my treat! As a send off for your vacation." Nick agreed.
"Ah, It's not like I'm going anywhere. I'll be around if you miss me too much. You can come over, plays videos, drink some beer. At least, on your measly one day off." Warrick teased, shutting his locker as he slid into his jacket.
"That's cruel man." Nick whined good-naturedly as the two friends left the locker room together.
"Hey Warrick, have a good time on your vacation. Any plans?" Catherine called from the doorway to the lab.
"Thanks, I'll try. My only plans are to sleep, laze around, and sleep some more." Warrick smiled at the beautiful woman. Not only was the redhead beautiful, but she was smart and sexy too. His feelings for Catherine varied from friendship, to attraction, to sisterly love, all the way to motherly love. There were times that he imagined what it would be like to peel away her low cut tops, then there were times that she felt like his mother. Feelings like that gave him the willies.
Aside from the fact that she was his boss, he never tried to put the moves on her for the simple fact that the conflicting emotions confused him. He stared after her as she disappeared, feeling confused again.
"So, you wanting breakfast or dinner stuff?" Nicks voice snapped him back to reality. They automatically headed for the stairwell across from the elevator. Warrick was exhausted and would have rather ride down the elevator, but he went with Nick to the stairs. He knew his pal was still uncomfortable in confined spaces such as the elevator. Even the stairwell was too much for Nick; it would be a quick jog down four flights of stairs.
"Warrick." Gil Grissom called, standing at the doorway of his office. "Can I talk with you for a sec?" Warrick studied the older man, sensing that something was bothering him. To an outsider, Gil Grissom was looking his normal, nerdish self. He turned to Nick who could also see the agitation in the other man. Nick let out a sigh and shrugged.
"Sure, boss. I'll be right there." Warrick nodded. Gil immediately disappeared into his office and Warrick focused his attention on his friend. "Sorry, bro. Rain check?"
"Yeah, sure. No prob." Nick opened the door to the stairwell. "Better see what's eating him. He's been buggin' for two days now."
"Buggin'? Gris is always buggin'." Warrick resist the pun.
"Yeah, but this is different." Nick patted the taller man on the back and headed for the stairs. Warrick knew Nick would be breathing hard by the time he made it to the ground level, and it wouldn't be from the excursion of running down the stairs.
Warrick walked casually into Gil's office, closed the door and dropped into the closest chair, exhausted. All he wanted to do is put some grub into his gut and sleep for at least a day.
"What-cha wanna talk about Gris? Did I do something wrong again?" He questioned, prompting the reticent man to look up from his paperwork.
"No! No, of course not, Rick." Gil looked the younger man over, his blue eyes piercing him from behind his glasses. "This is personal."
"Oh?" Warrick sat up straighter, a frown on his face. "I haven't been gambling. Sure, I want to, but when the urge comes over me I go hang out with Nic-"
"Not you... me. I need a favor from you, Warrick."
"Sure. Of course, Gris." Warrick agreed eagerly.
"Don't answer just yet. You haven't heard what I'm asking of you. I have no right." Gil removed his glasses and Warrick saw that his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep or stress. Most likely both, if he knew Grissom.
"Of course you have the right. I don't care what it is. I'm down. If you're asking, I'm volunteering. You've pulled my butt out of the fire way too many times for me to even question what it is you want me to do."
"Warrick, hear me out before you agree...please?" Grissom sighed tiredly.
"Okay, shoot man."
"I'm about to ask you to give up your vacation." Grissom admitted.
"Ouch, Man." Warrick whistled with a wince. "Is there a big case?"
"No...not for you to work." Grissom rubbed his temple. Warrick knew the man suffered from migraines and he felt pity. "I want you to take your vacation, but use it to help me."
"Help you how?" Warrick eyed the man.
"A friend of mine...has a daughter. The daughter is in trouble. I want you to take care of her. Keep her safe."
"You want me to be a bodyguard?" Warrick questioned, feeling shock. "I ain't Kevin Costner."
Grissom rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure what that means, but that's not the point. This girl is special to me. I need her to be safe."
"What about the police? Protective custody?"
"They're not taking it seriously. They've put her life jeopardy too many times already. I need to know she's safe. Safe with someone that I trust. Safe with you."
"Gris?" Warrick felt emotions whirling inside, coming up to clog his throat. This man rarely gave compliment and this was the biggest one he'd ever heard. It was definitely the first time he'd mentioned anything remotely personal. Warrick thought quickly, unable to come up with an appropriate response that didn't seem mushy. "What will I be up against?"
"Gemma is scared. She's been attacked, she's lost her home, family, friends,... her job. She's frightened of everything and everyone. You won't be trusted easily by her."
"Thanks for the warning, but I was more concerned about who or what is after her." Warrick explained. "I think you'd rather I kept her alive instead of being her friend."
"I'd rather you did both, Rick." Gil sent him a pointed look. "She's frightened. She needs a friend. Someone to depend on emotionally as well as for protection. I know you're a caring man. No one else runs up and down those stairs with Nick."
Warrick felt himself blushing, but didn't say anything. He hadn't realized anyone had noticed that. Logically, the place was swarming with people whose jobs were to notice things, so of course they would all notice, but no one had mentioned it. Nick was his best friend. He'd give his life for Nick. When he'd thought Nick had committed suicide in that box, months ago, he'd felt the urge to do the same. He had a feeling that Nick felt much the same, but it just wasn't something they talked about.
"What about Brass?"
"He's done all that he can; it's out of his jurisdiction. At least until they try to make a hit on her here. I don't want to risk that. I need her out of here. Jim got me copies of the files." Gil passed two thick folders across the desk. "Just don't let them out of your sight. If any one of us get caught with these, we're all going to hang. Jim Brass especially."
"Got it." Warrick took the load, opening the top file to the first page. "California? Is that where she's at?"
"No, she's closer." Gil hedged, not giving away her location. "But she won't be safe for long, where she's at. It's the mob. These guys have long arms. Go home, Warrick. Sleep. When you wake up, read the files. Think about it hard. Give me a call when you make a decision. Only if you feel up for it."
"Okay Gris." Warrick nodded, but he knew what his answer would be. "And if it takes longer than my weeks vacation?"
"I'll arrange for you to have more time if I have to." Gil shrugged. Warrick knew what that meant, it meant that Gil would be deeper in trouble with the head office. They would believe the worst about him, thinking Gil was covering for him again.
"One thing Boss..."Warrick got up and stopped before he got to the door. "Are you asking me to do this because I have the time? I mean, if it was Nick or Sara with time off..."
"You're the only one I would ask of this. You're the one that can handle this."
"Let's hope so."