Ch. 2.

Gil sat in the back of Warrick's truck trying to figure out his bowtie while Warrick drove them to the hotel. Greg was up front turning the radio channel every five seconds, but his focus kept going back to his tie and the man next to him.

Nick was the last person Warrick had picked up. He was fiddling with the cup holders in the back of Warrick's truck when they pulled up. Warrick had to only honk once before Nick came out of his apartment building. He looked up and his breath caught as he saw the younger man.

Nick in a tuxedo should be outlawed. And Nick even took his time walking to the truck too. His usual work boots where replaced with well kept black loafers…Nick wore loafers instead of dress shoes? Gil was a man but he had an eye for clothes, he thought about buying that particular tuxedo Nick was wearing before, but he settled on the black. Nick's tux was a white, one button shawl. He wore it with black pleated trousers, a black bowtie, and a white button up shirt under it. Gil had to turn and look at the seat in front of him before Warrick or Greg noticed him gawking.

Now, he couldn't even concentrate on remembering how to tie his own tie. Catherine had shown him before and he actually remembered it, but Gil couldn't think clearly with Nick next to him in that white tux and black loafers.

Gil let out a frustrated groan and pulled the tie off his shoulders threw it in the middle between him and Nick.

Greg looked around the seat at him and laughed. "Who knew that Gil Grissom, the great Entomologist and CSI, can't tie a bowtie."

"Shut up Greg." Nick reached down and took the tie in his hands. "I'll help you boss. Turn around," he said looking up at him between way too long eyelashes.

Gil stared at Nick's eyes. Was he wearing eye liner? It really didn't matter, whatever made Nick's lashes that more full and noticeable was fine by him. "Thanks, Nicky."

Nick reached around him from behind and draped the two ends of the tie over his shoulders then brought them up to his neck. "No problem. It took me five years to finally figure it out. Before then I relied on a clip on."

Gil huffed out a laugh and had to slightly lean his head forward before he did something dumb like lean it back against Nick.

"What is this anyway," Nick asked from behind him. "The tux?"

Gil felt Nick finger the back his collar and neck.

"Neil Allyn, 100 wool. Nice brand, that's what mine is too, expect its white off course."

"So I've noticed." Gil bit his tongue before he said anything else like 'you look damn sexy in it too'.

"There all done," Nick said against his neck.

Gil didn't know if it was his over active imagination or not but the way Nick brushed his hands over his neck and shoulders was too slow and deliberate for a man with Nick's ladies man attitude.

And that was want kept his mind occupied the rest of the way to the hotel.

yyyyy

Gil was about to chew through his lip from trying to not laugh. Warrick and Greg were in to the left of him, Nick to his right and the way they all were walking down the sidewalk up to the hotel reminded him of some old rat pack movie. He kept noticing people turning and looking at who was walking by next. He caught some women, and even a few men, giving them more than quick glances. All they needed was a 50's style theme song.

Just inside the entrance Gil noticed Catherine and Sara standing near the lobby desk, they were talking to each other. When Catherine turned around to survey the room, her eyes went wide and mouth slightly dropped as she saw them. He knew it was because of Warrick, that man could wear a paper bag and Catherine would think he was sexy as hell. Sara followed her glaze and her expression was the same, and he hoped to God it was not directed at him but Greg who was directly beside him.

"Well, well, look at you guys. Stop any traffic on the way in," Catherine mocked.

Greg, of course, was the first to answer. "I'm sure you two did. We would have too if the old man wasn't with us."

"Hey," Nick spoke up, "I'm not that old."

Everyone laughed and Gil felt Nick squeeze his shoulder before he walked off to greet some people he knew. Greg was right behind him giving a high-five to some guy next to Nick.

"We're going to get some drinks. Want anything," Warrick asked him.

Gil shook his head and looked around for anyone but Sara who was left with him. He noticed her when they walked in. She looked great actually, but not as great as Nick did. "That's…a nice dress." It really was. It was a nice black, off-the-shoulder dress. If he was half interested in her he would have enjoyed seeing her in it. Was this the first time he even saw her in a dress?

"Thanks, it's a Donna Morgan matte chemise. Whatever that means. I just really liked it." She toyed with the sides and smiled one of her famous grins.

"It goes well with your purse." God, let him find someone…Was that Jim? "Jim's waving me over. Tell Catherine when she comes back that I like her dress too. She asked me to be nice tonight, so," he shrugged and went over to Brass. That was a good save, right? He didn't want to give Sara any ideas because he liked her dress.

Jim was standing with, of all people, Ecklie and Atwater. "Gil, want a drink?"

"Yeah." Gil leaned in a whispered into Jim's ear, "make it a double scotch."

Jim laughed and patted him on the back. "Must have run into Sara," he said before he walked away to get his friend a drink.

"Why do you keep ignoring her, Gil? Any man would love to have Sara interested in them," Ecklie said as he took a drink.

"I'll tell her you said that." Gil smiled when Ecklie nearly choked on his drink. He would never tell Sara that, but Conrad didn't know that. Then he looked at Atwater. "Mayor."

Atwater huffed out a laugh. "I wondered how long it'd take you before you could call me that. I haven't even had my induction ceremony yet."

"Well, I have to get used to it now. I am speaking tonight." Gil tried to keep the mocking bitterness out of his voice, but that was a losing battle. He was bitter.

Jim was back at his side with his drink. "Here. So," he said after Gil had taken a big sip, "when are we heading upstairs?"

The ceremony was taking place on the top floor of the hotel in the new rooftop ball room. It had taken over two years to remodel the place and the Mayor's ceremony was the grand opening.

"You guys can go ahead. Everyone will make their way up there soon enough. I have to stay and greet everyone that comes in. It starts in," Atwater looked at his watch, "an hour and a half."

Gil and Jim nodded and left the other two men in search of the others. They spotted the group hanging around the fountain in the middle of the lobby. Greg and Sara were in an argument of some sort while Warrick and Catherine were in their own little world. Gil knew it was a harsh thought but Warrick should hurry up and get divorced already and get together with Catherine. Cath claimed she was over him, and Warrick was loyal and dedicated to his wife, but they all knew his marriage wouldn't last. And Catherine was never a good liar.

Nick was the only one not engaged in conversation. He was standing a little off to the side watching the argument between Greg and Sara, sipping on a drink and looking around for someone. When his eyes landed on Gil, he smiled and waved him and Brass over.

Gil stopped by Nick. "What's that about?" He gestured toward Greg and Sara.

"Something about if someone commented you on your outfit, if it meant anything."

Gil stiffened at that and stared at Nick. Nick shrugged as a form of answer. Apparently both Sara and Greg heard what was said and they both looked over at the three men staring at them.

"Alright that's it. You two are both on time out." Jim pointed a finger at both of them and waved it a little.

Gil couldn't help but laugh a little at that and looked at Sara and Greg, and then said in mock anger, "You heard the detective."

Greg pouted and hid his head. "As long as we get to share a corner."

Sara turned and playfully smacked him on the shoulder. "I'm not sharing a corner with you," she teased him then turned back to the men who were all biting their lips to keep from laughing. "Can we go up now?"

Gil wondered why Sara kept avoiding Greg and kept having this weird fascination with him. Greg was a great guy…crazy and a total geek, but a great geek. He nodded and took a glance at Nick who was trying not to the show that he was giving him his undivided attention, especially in front of Sara. "Yeah." He started to walk toward the elevator and stopped next to Warrick and Catherine. "We're heading up. You two coming?"

Warrick and Catherine both turned to him. Catherine shrugged and picked up her purse off the fountain.

"Sure. Coming Rick," she asked as she turned to follow Gil who was already heading to the elevators.

"I'm right behind you."

As he approached the elevators, Gil smiled as he pressed the button. This might not be such a bad night after all.

The elevator opened in front of him and a security officer exited the elevator, checking his watch. Gil looked back with a curious look on his face. He'd seen the officer before, he just couldn't place him.

"Are we going," Catherine asked beside him.

"Yeah, just," Gil took a glance back at the officer who disappeared into the crowd, "nothing."

They all gathered on the elevator. Once the doors were closed, Gil pressed the button marked 'R'.

TBC…