Author's Note: This is the first in a series of unrelated fics, each focusing on a different member of the team. There is no connection between each fic, other than the general theme of the piece, which is first times. Betaed by both the lovely elmyraemilieand ilovemycsi. Any mistakes you find are my own
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI, CBS does. I'm only playing in their sandbox .
Warning: Only for stupidity.
You never forget-Greg
"My name is Greg Sanders, and I am an addict."
He's known it for a long time, years in fact. Still, it sounds strange to hear those words, even if it is only inside his own head; but hey, one step at a time, Greggo, one step at a time.
Now that he has time to think, now that he has the courage to look back on his past with a clinical eye, he can see where it all went wrong. Oh, yes indeed, he remembers that first night, that first hit and the power of adrenaline and self-delusion. He thought that he could handle it; he was wrong
The trouble started when he was studying for his finals at Berkeley. Even though he was an excellent student, even though he worked his ass off, he still couldn't seem to find enough hours in the day to get everything done. His parents started ragging on him to suck it up and get with the program, as if his difficulties were a deliberate attempt to displease and embarrass them.
Yeah, like he'd do that on purpose. They wanted a perfect son and he'd better damn well be one, or there would be hell to pay.
So when one of his buddies, Mark Cleland, offered him a little something to help him out he found himself reluctantly accepting. Before that night, he had been indifferent to the whole thing, but Mark had caught him on a low ebb. Tired, discouraged, and overreached, he had been desperate for something that would give him an edge.
It seemed so innocuous. After all, what harm could a little sip do? It was just a one off thing, a way to get through a rough patch. He only did it when he needed the extra boost to get him through his exams. That, however was soon to change. Before he knew it he found himself grabbing a drink after dinner, just to finish his meal, then there were the sly cups in the middle of the day and before he knew it, it was the first thing on his mind when he woke up in the morning. He couldn't function without it, and that scared the shit out of him, He was beginning to think that he had a bit of a problem, now he knew that he did.
Sitting here in the ER nursing one hell of a headache, and sporting a few stitches, he tries to remember just why he thought that what he had done was funny. His body is trembling with delayed reaction and withdrawal, and he knows that he needs help. His friends try to explain to the nurse and the campus security guard what happened. They had been out enjoying themselves and he had partaken of a few drinks, OK, more than a few. He had been feeling charged and hyper and suddenly it had seemed like a fun idea to head butt the coconut that, for some strange reason, his friends were passing back and forth. Big mistake.
They thought that he was on drugs, but a blood test at the hospital had shown he was clean, well except for one thing. As he had turned to leave, shaking his head in exasperation at the foolishness of the young, the doctor had given him a piece of advice that he would never forget.
"Stick to decaf, kid."
"My name is Greg Sanders, and I am an addict."
Since that night, he has tried to stay away from the good stuff. Damn, Mark Cleland for introducing him to the heady pleasures of Blue Hawaiian. His hand shakes a little as he reaches for the bottle of water that sits on the table before him. It may quench his thirst, but never his need. Mr Sanders, meet Mr Jones.
AN: The stunt with the coconut is real, I swear it. I found it on a student prank site and let me tell you the guy who nutted the coconut was bleeding like a stuck pig. Now that's one morning after I hope I never experience.