DISCLAIMER:Don't own anything associated with the show… I just like playing with the characters in it.

RATING: T – Teen (language and adult issues)

PAIRINGS: GSR & Yo!Bling pre-established in previous fics of this timeline.

SPOILERS: Sequel to "Displacement" and "Transitions"

SUMMARY: Everything is changing around Nick Stokes. Can he deal with it, and how it will affect him in the end?

A/N: Just remembered what it was I had to fix in this little quickie chapter, so I figured I might as well put it up. This chapter should help to establish my feelings about a certain character in the CSI world... If you hadn't already figured it with the two previous fics. ;)

REVIEWS: Reviews are the way I know if people are enjoying the work or not. So, if you leave one, THANKS! And if not, I hope you found at least a little something to brighten your day, and thanks for taking the time to read.

Chapter 3

22:00 – 2006.12.03

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino – Room 1538

For the entire ride up in the elevator, Catherine was sure she was going to slap the junior CSI beside her if he did not stop bouncing around. She understood his excitement at his first real case since his unfortunate demotion, but she was in no mood for his antics after her talk with Gil. She was still trying to digest the bomb he had dropped on her, and dealing with Greg Sanders was not an ideal situation for concentration.

When the young man spun around again, in a display of joy, she could no longer restrain herself. "Greg, are you trying to piss me off now?"

He looked back at her with a sheepish grin and shrugged as he said, "Sorry Catherine… I'm just really excited, I guess."

They finally arrived at their floor and she decided it would be good to admonish him one more time before they met up with the detective on the case. "That's fine, Greg… But we're professionals here, and you're typically dealing with a living vic on a trick roll, so make sure they know you're a professional, too… Okay?"

"Got it." He took one deep breath and managed to at least project a calmer façade. Catherine rolled her eyes and started down the hallway.

It only took a moment to find the right spot, because out in the hall Det. Sofia Curtis was giving instructions to a uniform. When she saw them, she smiled and waved. "Hey guys… I think you may have just pulled the best case tonight."

Catherine had been on a lot of trick rolls in her time, and they were never the best cases. "Very funny."

Sofia bowed her head, a decadent smile playing across her face as she said, "Oh yes, it is that as well. Just, ah, try to keep from laughing out loud though."

Catherine scrunched up her face at that comment and looked at Greg, who was equally confused. But as Catherine thought about it, she realized she had never gotten that woman's sense of humor.

The two CSI's made their way into the room. Upon breaching the door they instantly noticed the overwhelmingly sweet and fruity smell coming from the room. They were met by another officer who tried to explain the call. "Housekeeping found the guy when they got around to this room tonight… I guess this is one of their lowest priority areas. Anyway, they found the jam jars all over the floor and started picking them up before they noticed the guy on the bed."

"Great." Catherine's mood had just gone from bad to worse once she knew their scene had been contaminated. She looked to Greg and asked him, "So, what does that mean?"

"It means we gotta get prints from housekeeping to rule them out, and our scene just got harder to process." Catherine had to admit Greg did seem to be fitting into his role as a CSI much better now. She decided that maybe his demotion had finally caused the young man to step up on the maturity scale.

"I got statements from both of 'em and the hotel's bringing up copies of their work cards. I also took and bagged both of their shoes and made them leave their cart behind." Catherine nodded to the uniformed officer.

"Nice work… So, where's our vic?" Catherine was anxious to get this thing rolling in the hopes she would have time to talk to Gil some more before the end of the shift.

The officer cracked a smile and pointed over his shoulder with his chin. "Ah, still in there… We're waiting for a locksmith to get here."

Catherine shook her head and asked, "You've got to be kidding me, right?"

He was unable to contain his laughter anymore and answered as he chuckled, "Not even a little… This guy is gonna have a hell of a time explaining this one." He moved to the side to let them pass and added, "Holler if you need anything."

Greg gestured for Catherine to go in ahead of him and he quickly followed her into the room. As soon as they made their way through the entryway and rounded the corner they were instantly rewarded with the sight before them. Catherine saw the look of sheer panic on the face of their victim. His arms were hanging from chains that appeared to be attached to the odd, anemone looking, metal wall fixtures. He had on a type of leather shorts and some kind of studded leather harness across his torso. All over the sheets and his body there was some kind of brightly colored gel spread around. That was when Catherine remembered the jam jars the officer had mentioned and understood the sweet smell was coming from the jam that had been spread on the man and everywhere else.

Greg, however, was not as methodical as Catherine in his assessment of the scene they had happened upon. He took one look at the horrified man before him and exclaimed, "Holy Shit, Hodges!"