This chapter is dedicated to Rojaji, our only reviewer and, as far as we know, reader. Thanks for the support! And believe us, we were only expecting it to be a one shot too.
And if you're reading this, and are just too lazy to review, come on guys, make us feel good! We're review junkies. And if you review, you might get your very own specially dedicated chapter!
We own Lara, Tempeste, Gabriel, Gavin, and nothing else. Although, you know, if somebody wants to give me Greg, I'm definitely not gonna complain.
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Archie and Gabriel had finished up the backlog of work that had been growing continually, and were now running the computers through a defrag, cleaning up all the access that had accumulated. The two were rolling their chairs back and forth across the room as they waited for the program to finish running and reboot, discussing the newest members of the team and whatever Archie could tell Gabriel about his co-workers. He had just finished filling Gabriel in on the problems Nick had had in the past few years, when he abruptly changed the subject.
"So…are either Tempeste or Lara single?" At Archie's question Gabriel quirked an eyebrow.
"Well Lara and Gavin are together… at least, they were the last time I checked. I don't know, Lara's been kind of weird lately." He rolled his eyes. "Who knows. Girls, right?"
Archie grinned in response. "I know what you mean." They grew silent. "So… Lara's hands off, and Tempeste is… yours?"
Gabriel snorted. "Hardly."
"Oh, sorry… I just sort of assumed. You know, you were avoiding mentioning her and everything."
"I wasn't avoiding anything. I just… um… I don't know. I mean, I think she's single, but I don't really bother, so… I wouldn't know."
"Right." Archie's eyebrows rose as he glanced back over at the computer.
"Hey man, look. Tempeste is hot and everything, but believe me. There is nothing between us. Zip, nada, nyet."
Archie just shook his head. "I didn't say anything." He tried not to laugh, and then spun his chair around. "So… first one to the door and back wins?"
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Greg stood next to Lara in the DNA lab, watching her become accustomed to the machines and set-up. "So…you and Gavin then?"
Lara cleared her throat, almost afraid to look up from the microscope in front of her. "Yeah."
An uncomfortable silence stretched between the two for a moment, until they both started talking at once.
"I'm really sorry and I really like you and I never expected anything like this to happen and I never wanted to hurt you and I'm so sorry!"
"I totally get it, so don't even worry, I mean it's not like I haven't been dating when you weren't in Las Vegas, I mean I do have a life outside of work, and don't worry I'm fine."
The silence returned, with Greg staring at his feet and Lara fidgeting nervously. Hodges walked in, informing Greg that Grissom wanted to see him. Greg was almost out the door when he turned back to Lara. "I was just wondering, you know, if you'd been here, and not there and he-"
Lara didn't even let him finish. "You. Every time."
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Gavin make a quick call to Smithy from the ballistics room, once he was sure he was alone. Nothing about it would have sounded suspicious, but at the same time one couldn't be too careful.
"Hey Mum, yeah it's Gavin…Things look really good here, Las Vegas has a sweet set-up…Tell Dad he doesn't need to worry, I know how to take care of myself in a new city." He chuckled. "Yeah, I'll take care of Lara too. Yup, sounds good. Ok mum, take care. Temp and Gabby send their love as well. Night Mum." Snapping the phone closed he smiled, leaning back in his chair. As far as things went, this was pretty sweet.
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Grissom walked into Ecklie's office, shutting the door behind him. Without waiting for an invitation, he took a seat in front of the desk.
Ecklie looked up at him. "Okay Grissom, I want to know what's going on."
"I'm sorry Conrad, I don't know what you mean."
"Please. Four geniuses -literally- end up on your unit, and you don't know anything about it? It's odd enough that they all came at the same time, all knowing each other previously. But to come with instructions that they all be placed on the graveyard shift? It's unheard of."
Grissom shrugged his shoulders, leaning back comfortably. "Well Conrad, if it's that important to you, I'm sure we could make some staff changes and move someone to days."
Ecklie looked increasingly more agitated. "The instructions were very clear and very strict -they are to remain on graveyard. There will be no transfers. You've gone over my head Grissom, and I want to know how and with whom."
"I can assure you, I didn't. The first I heard of all this was when you introduced them earlier this evening."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I have no reason to lie to you, Conrad. I'll gladly admit that there have been, and most likely will be in the future, times when I'll go over you if I believe you're wrong. But this wasn't one of them."
"We'll see, Grissom. We'll see."
Which left Gil Grissom to wonder: just who had gone over Conrad Ecklie's head, and why.
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An hour had passed since Lara and Greg's confession in the lab room, and she finally got up the courage to leave, hoping to find Tempeste and fresh coffee in the break room. She only got one wish.
"Umm…hi Greg. Is that fresh?"
Greg smiled awkwardly. "It will be in a minute or two. I…uh, I wanted to make some of my special blend, since it's your…all of your, first night."
At that moment Nick walked in, sniffing appreciatively. "Hey Greg is that the Blue Hawaiian?" He stopped as he saw the pair standing next to each other, looking as if they'd rather be anywhere else. "Ummm…why don't you just page me when it's done?" With that, he ducked out again, looking for Sara to discuss their case.
In the break room, Lara and Greg were looking anywhere but at each other. "Look," Lara started, "I know this is…weird…but-"
Greg cut her off. "Friends?" he asked, holding out his hand.
She smiled softly. "Yeah, friends." The silence returned, and Lara found herself wishing terribly that Tempeste were here. She always seemed to know just what to say. "Uhh… well, I should finish up some work," Lara finally said. "I'll come back when the coffee's done." She left quickly.
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Nick sat on the sofa in the break room. Tempeste, who had returned ten minutes earlier, was beside him. Gavin and Greg were both getting coffee, but Gavin left a moment later, sliding past Lara who was coming in.
Nick watched him go. "Gavin," he muttered. "I feel like I should know him, or something." He looked at Tempeste, and then it suddenly seemed to click. He stared from her, to Lara, to Greg, and back to Lara again. "Oooh. Gavin."
Lara closed her eyes, carefully avoiding looking at Greg, who stared intently out the break room window. "Um, I should go… analysis… finish," he muttered, leaving quickly.
Tempeste glared at Nick, who smiled sheepishly. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, it's okay, really," Lara assured him. "We worked it out, it's fine. We're just friends."
"Oh!" Nick nodded his head. "Right… That's too bad."
Lara stared at him. "What? Why?"
"Oh, um..." He looked around, wishing he hadn't said anything. But both girls were staring at him, and he clearly had to say something. "It's just… well, Greg's had a lot of girlfriends, but I've never seen his eyes light up quite like they did when he saw you on the bench that day."
"Oh… right…" Lara grew quiet. "Well, I should go do something." She left, leaving her coffee behind.
Tempeste smacked Nick's arm. "Wow Nick. Way to not make her feel worse..."
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By the end of the night, they had almost all managed to collect in the break room, which was a fairly tight squeeze. Grissom complimented them on an excellent night's work, giving the new members a quick, odd glance before leaving. Catherine followed shortly after, then Warrick, then Archie, then Sara, then Gabriel. Finally Tempeste, Nick, Greg and Lara were left.
"So, listen…" Nick pulled Tempeste away from the other two, who immediately looked over at them expectantly. "I was wondering, uhm… do you want a… ride home?" It was quite obvious from the inflections in his voice that that wasn't at all what he had in mind.
Tempeste grinned. "I'd love one, thanks."
As Nick beamed like a five-year old at Christmas, Greg caught Lara's eyes. As soon as Tempeste and Nick were out of earshot, they burst into laughter, their first relaxed moment all night.
Greg had pulled Lara to her feet, and they were just beginning to calm down when Gavin came in. He smiled at Lara. "Ready to go, sunshine?"
"Huh?" Lara glanced at him, still giggling. "Oh, yeah, sure. I just have to get some stuff from my locker." She turned back to Greg. "See you tonight, yeah?"
"Right, yeah… see ya." Greg nodded, but the grin on his face suddenly felt fake and forced. He watched them go, Gavin swinging an arm around Lara and pressing her tight against him as they walked away.
His smile disappeared completely.