Guys! Still alive? Does this fic still have readers? Oh I do hope so. I'm very sorry for being so delayed. My muse left me -- but I have not abandoned this story at all. A new muse moved in and any help from you guys are welcome.
Please read and review. This is one of the first and the few Archie-centric fic. Let's give him some love! Thank you!
THE DAY BEFORE THE CONVENTION
Wednesday… Sara and I got pulled out of shift to pick up the LV CSI from the airport. I offered to bring my SUV. It's bigger and doesn't have pink and blue Enfant baby seats in the back and only ONE forensic kits instead of three with Sara. She drove and we talked about them. Well, I did most of the talking.
"I can't wait to meet THE Gil Grissom! I based my final thesis and defense on his research on the use of entomological timelines in a murder investigation. I know… I'm a Microbiology major but I had to practically scream myself hoarse to my prof to let me take that topic." Okay, by now, I'm babbling away. "And of course, butterflies and moths. I knew more about them by just reading his works than studying a whole encyclopedias' worth."
She's smiling now. "Hannah, I'm sure you'll enjoy being with them. If we have a good team, the Vegas CSI team is a damn good one. A good-looking one…"
"You got to have me spend time with them, too," I almost pleaded. "I know you filed your week-off the other day but…"
"Okay, okay," she said taking a left to park. "I'll give you 2 extra days-off plus your regular and the convention tomorrow. Four days be enough for you?"
"Yay! Thank you, xiexie, gracias, salamat!" I thanked her in 4 languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish and Filipino. "And hey… don't forget that Archie guy."
Sara laughed and we got out. I haven't seen so many CSI in my whole career. Conventions are normally done in Las Vegas, New York and Virginia… seldom in San Francisco. How can we find them here? I look at my boss and I think she has the same idea when…
"Sara! Oh my goodness, girl how are you?" a woman's voice say. We turn around and a petite blond woman was smiling. Five tall men are behind her and I spot the one I've been dying to see. They hugged.
"Catherine!" the taller woman said. They said their hi's and hello's and I'm fine and you's. Sara caught eyes with the others and smiled at them. I was getting a bit left out so I made the classic 'clearing of throat'. She got the message. "Oh I'm sorry. Guys this is Hannah Valdez. Hannah, this is Catherine Willows. And this is Greg Sanders." He's looks like a pretty cool guy. "Warrick Brown. And... uh Nick Stokes."
I shook hands with Warrick. He's kinda cute, too. Sara's right, Vegas has a good-looking team under their jurisdiction. And then Nick Stokes. Oh. My. God. Nicky's dad is just so this guy. Uncanny resemblance!
And finally… I was a bit carried away by Nick but Sara made sure I got out of it. She was giving this guy a hug and said, "And this is Archie Johnson." Definitely got my attention. She was right; tall, dark and handsome!
And then he asked with a Close-Up smile, "Hmm... Valdez? Spanish?" I was about to answer when my boss… answered for me. Bummer! Spoil sport! But in a way, it's a good thing because she next then introduced Gil Grissom. I was sweating bullets and shaking like an autumn leaf.
"Hello Ms. Valdez," he said taking my hand. "I understand that you have followed my works. I am very pleased to hear such." I managed to choke out an instruction to call me 'Hannah'. I thought I was going to explode from the pressure that was building inside be but surprisingly, I kept my cool. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of 'Archie'.
In no time, we went to the parking lot, into my SUV. Sara offered to drive and Catherine took the passenger seat. The middle bench was occupied by Warrick and Nick while Grissom was on the pullout. We, Greg, Archie and I, otherwise called the lab rats, sat on the backbench. I was in the middle of the two and it was a bit awkward at first. Everybody has things to do. On the radio was 'Pieces of Me' by Ashlee Simpson humming with the gentle drone of the vehicle. The women up front were in a deep conversation, laughing at intervals. From the corner of my eye, I can see Grissom with a copy of the day's crossword puzzle and the younger men were absorbing the sights. As for the three of us, we were pretty quiet. Until…
"So… Hannah, right?" Greg on my right opened up. I nodded. "I've never met someone as silent as you. Archie, why don't we crack her open?" I raised my eyebrow at him.
"Sure! You have the scalpel?" Archie chuckled. I looked then at him and he was smiling. "Oh I remembered… I deal with the tech stuff, man. You're the one with the dirty work."
I squared my shoulders and said, "Okay, if you're cracking me open, you'd better put up a fight first. You're dealing with a black belter in jujitsu and silver medallist Ontario Junior Gymnastics Championship here. So who's up first?" I chuckled.
The guy on my left said, "Really? I have a black belt in Taekwondo and a junior cup in Tennis." He smiled again and then, I felt that connection.
"Ahem!" oh someone is left out, I see. "Well, I am a surfer dude, I like Marilyn Manson, and I collect coins. The last one's dorky, I know, but pair that with a degree in Chemistry from UC-B and you've got yourself a whole package." He puffed himself out. Clearly, he's trying to impress me. But I ain't that easy.
Archie decided to go on with the word war. "You're not the only one from UC, buddy. You're looking at a 4-year Dean's List member in Computer Science major in Audio/Visual Analysis. And don't forget…" he turned to Nick and tapped him on his shoulder. "Excuse me, Nick. Can you tell me about that episode where there's the forehead thingy and the time portals?'
He smirked and I must say, I could've just died. "Oh I know this, man. Stargate SG-1. I've done some digging and it's complicated stuff, Arch. Kudos to you."
Greg just rolled his eyes and uttered, "Point taken." I swear, I heard Grissom chuckle. Excitement and eagerness overwhelm me.
Then I chose to tell them my credentials as well. "Guys, my turn. You two are not the only ones from the University of California. Berkeley for me, as well… Faculty of Science in Microbiology. I also had some units in Linguistics from the University of the Philippines." This is starting to get comfy so I continued, "I started in DNA and then got transferred to Trace. I tried applying in Narcotics but police work wasn't for me so my present supervisor got me on CSI."
"Oh interesting," Warrick from the middle bench said. I didn't know they were listening. "Well, you've come a long way, Hannah. Keep it up."
The two guys pitched into our conversation. We talked about our professional and extra-curricular selves as well as our hobbies and outside work stuff. These guys are so interesting! Nick's Texan accent would've shot me to the moon and back. Oh if he wasn't Sara's ex, I could've jumped onto the opportunity. And Warrick, it's hard to believe he was an outcast in high school… I mean, who in the right mind would not notice those eyes he has. Greg was so off-the-wall. He surfs, scuba dives, he likes supermodels and latex. And Archie is a licensed techie and on his own right, a very interesting guy. If only we could get Grissom into our conversation. On the front seats, the women are still in their little bubble. Then Sara's phone rang.
I didn't catch them all because of Greg's story about his bet with their fingerprint analyst. We pulled up and Sara said, "Uh guys, there's a 419 not far from here. Hannah, you have to go to the scene. But we have to drop by the lab first. Care to join us?" Talk about a wet blanket. But the good thing was, they get to see our lab. I know it's the not the best but we are proud of our roomy break room. Warrick spoke for all of them and agreed to join us.
When we arrived, it seemed like all activity stopped. The hustle and bustle in the labs halted and they crammed themselves along the hallway leading to the break room for a glimpse of the LV CSI. I decided to stay with Greg and Archie while Sara took care of the rest. Oh my, I could see those Trace and DNA girls eyeing Nick and Warrick off and whispering amongst themselves. My gaze turned to the A/V lab and beside that, the open garage and saw Carrie Simpson and the other Level One Investigators exchanging looks with me indicating to the two guys with me. I just gave them my most-prized smile of victory. I'm not in the mood to share. My co-workers CSI Damien and Captain Hess walked up to Catherine and Grissom and shook their hands. My boss got on the introductions with the sheriff.
When it came to Nick, she got a little carried away and placed her hand on his arm and met his gaze. "They're here for the convention tomorrow," she said unsure of where to look. Uh-oh… Sara is in her emotional rumble. She excused herself abruptly while Grissom was talking to the sheriff. I gave her a few moments in her office before I went after her.
It's not me to knock on her door but this time's different. "Hey, you okay?" I asked sitting down. She was visibly shaking a bit signaling that she wants to talk about something big. "So that's Nick Stokes," she nodded then. I decided to cheer her up a bit, playing the teenager card. I babbled on about how 'hot' he looks both in photo and person but the only thing I got was her glares. "What happened between you two?"
"Well, things didn't work out the way we both planned it. A CSI from California, I think doesn't go well with a CSI from Texas," she replied. I was flattered she even said something. I thought she was going to clam up on me but she spilled.
"But he's Sammy and Nicky's dad, right?" Yes. "Does he know? When are you going to tell them, if ever he doesn't know?" No and eventually. She told me how she was uncertain if she's ready for the facts, if her twins are okay with it and she said she would evaluate the complications they had… or have. Then I sensed that she had enough and it's unprofessional to make a crime scene wait. "I have to go, I'll take this case so you'll be free to take them around. You go and use my car. You don't want them to sit on baby seats." Before I left, I lightened the mood, "Make me sound good for Archie, okay?" Then I went to attend to the 419 call while Sara attended to our guests.
The case was fairly easy. I went with Carrie on this one and we took her car. She began to bombard me with these ridiculous questions. "So that Chinese guy… his name? And that blond guy with the crazy shirt… who is he?" she asked.
"Archie Johnson and Greg Sanders," I answered immediately. "So… what is this about? The case," I attempted to change the subject.
"Oh no, Valdez… you're not getting away from me that easy. How cool are they anyway? You lucky girl," she smiled. "Why do you always get the guys? Maybe it's that Filipino charm, ei?"
I scoffed. "You should ask Sara. Have you seen that Nicky guy? The accent and stuff…" I said daydreaming a bit. Carrie and I chuckled. "You know, Sara is the lucky one. Working with them all those years is pretty much like a perpetual eye candy inspiration if it was me."
"And me," she agreed.
In my mind, "Sara must make me sound good to Archie or I'll get Nick!" Of course, I was joking.
The case finished early and the participants for the convention tomorrow were discharged early for preparations. Sara did not come back at all. I found my SUV in the parking lot of my apartment complex and the keys are under my front door rug. And I am to do the most cathartic thing in a girl's psychology… SHOPPING! I get to pick out a dress for the convention tomorrow. A cocktail dress is not fit for tomorrow night if I get to be amongst those guys.