Story: The Towering Inferno.
Ch. 1.
Parties were not his cup of tea, so when he and the entire graveyard shift were invited to the new Mayors induction ceremony at the newly renovated Royal Hotel, Gil cringed and balled his invitation up and throw it into his wastebasket.
He didn't want to go. Crimes didn't stop because Vegas elected a new Mayor, Rory Atwater. Well, he sighed, at least he was better than Mobley. A knock came from his door; he looked up to see Catherine leaning against the doorframe smiling at him.
"Are you going?"
She didn't have to say to where, he knew she'd ask him soon enough about going. He read the bottom line on the formal invitation before it became trash in his can. He had to go. The former sheriff made it so. He was to give a speech. "I don't have any other choice." He turned in his chair so he was facing Catherine as she sat down in the chair in front of his desk.
Catherine let out a huff and smiled at him. "Yeah, well, he wants you there. I don't know why, but he does. Just look on the bright side."
He raised a brow and cocked his head a little. What could possibly be the bright side?
Catherine stood and leaned forward on the desk. "You get to see Nick in a tux." She winked then turned and left his office.
He watched her leave. She had cornered him one day and nearly pried it out of him that he had a "thing" for Nick…and she was right. She was also right about seeing Nick in a tux would be the highlight of his evening, even if he couldn't ask the man to a dance.
Before he knew it shift was over and the team was gone before he even thought about getting out of his chair. It was going on in the morning, and he had at least eight hours before he had to get ready for the ceremony.
The morning sun hit his eyes as he quickly left the building. Sliding his sunglasses into place he headed for his truck. As he approached he noticed Nick's truck was parked by his car. He stepped around the side and saw Nick sitting in his truck, apparently singing along to the radio.
One tap to the window caused Nick to jump. Gil leaned against the passenger side of his car staring at Nick behind his dark glasses.
Nick smiled as the window came down. "Hey, Griss."
"Nick. Why are you still here?" The cautious tone in his voice was barely noticeable. Nick had been acting weird lately. It wasn't a surprise after the Gordon case, but they'd found the accomplice, and Kelly, well, he supposed she wasn't as strong a person as Nick was. Nick still seemed to surprise him with his strength and will every day.
Nick shrugged as he flipped off the radio. "I actually just left. Only been here for a few minutes before you walked out. I was wondering, are you going to the induction ceremony?"
Gil resisted the urge to frown at the younger man. "I have to go. The Sheriff made sure of that. I have to give a speech."
Nick did frown but it was soon replaced with a slight smile. "I'm sorry. I know how you hate doing that."
"If it was a speech about the growth process of fly larva I'd be fine, but having to tell a group of politicians about Atwater is something completely different. Maybe I should tell them about the lunch we shared a year ago."
At that Nick started laughing. He heard about that. The Sheriff told Griss that he wanted them to have dinner, but because Grissom worked night it was made into a lunch. Then the rumor mill went crazy from there. The last thing he heard was that Griss "accidentally" spilled his drink on the Sheriff when he made a comment about how better the lab was when the team was split up.
Nick looked up and saw a slight smile form on the Gil's face. A faint blush crept up his neck and he turned to flip the radio back on. "Okay, I just wanted to know. Warrick and Greg were hashing out seating arrangements, car pooling, and an after party. They didn't think you'd be interested but I told them I'll see."
Gil continued to smile as he thought about it. He barely heard what Nick had even said because he was too focused on that laugh and the blush that had suddenly took over his face and neck. He realized Nick was wanting for an answer. If Nick was going, he'd be there.
"Sure. I had a pretty good time when we all went out for Warrick's after-marriage bachelor party."
A smirk formed on Gil's face as he thought about how drunk everyone got that morning. The party even carried over to the afternoon at Nick's place. He had woken up that evening in Nick's recliner. Greg was on the floor and Warrick was on one end of the couch, Nick on the other. All of them fast asleep.
"Mmm, bet you did. You got us up that evening for work by using a blow horn you found on top of my television set. The smell of coffee has the same effect, you know?" Nick tried to sound pissed off but he said it with a laugh.
"I did make coffee, but all you guys just turned the other way and went back to sleep."
Nick's laugh was replaced with a shit eating grin and he turned the car on. "Yeah, well, it wasn't what I was hoping for."
Gil's smile faded as the remark hit him. What was he hoping for? Nick waved at him and pulled out of the parking space.
"I'll call you later about the arrangements after I talk with Warrick. Deal?"
Gil nodded and watched as Nick drove out of the lot and into traffic. After a few minutes he climbed into the car and started it. The twenty minute drive home went by without him noticing. He was too busy thinking about Nick to see the lights of Vegas faded into the background as he drove along the interstate to his townhouse.
As he pulled into the driveway he made the decision to talk to Nick while they were at the ceremony. It was time to do something about the two of them. He didn't know what to do about Sara when she asked him a few years back, but he knew what he had to do about Nick. Maybe, he thought, he would get that dance after all.