Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, do you think I would be writing this? Nope.

Little Things

Greg was tapping his fingers on the glass table, listening to the pings and pangs that echoed in his office.

Nick was going over evidence, looking over all the pictures and most likely talking to Greg. But the younger CSI wasn't listening. The only thing he could think about was little Nathan.

The poor kid. Look what he had just been through! His entire family had just died...All he had was a bunch of strange people asking him random and harsh questions. Greg could hardly imagine what it would be like for him. How the boy managed to be so brave was completely unknown to him. And when you thought about it-

"Greg... G!" Nick said loudly, snapping his fingers. Greg jumped slightly, snapping his head up to meet Nick's slightly amused stare.

"Watchin a movie in your head there buddy?" He chuckled and Greg smiled a little.

"Just thinking."

"Okay well we've got some news." Sara said from behind him and Greg looked at her in shock. Since when had she gotten here? "Yea, I'm here Greggo."

His cheeks flushed a light red. "Man, I'm out of it today. Sorry guys."

Sara smirked. "We all are. Anyway, we found about Nathan's family."

Greg felt himself perk up at this, and it didn't go unnoticed.

"And...?"

Nick decided to answer. "You're not going to like it. Nathan's only got one family member left- his uncle Michael Sarthe."

"Okay... what's the problem?" Greg asked, still unsure about their point. The office's dim light was shining on their faces, forming dark shadows.

"The unis found a meth lab in his basement." Sara said quietly. Greg's heart plummeted.

"Minimum four years." Greg sighed and once again felt hopeless.

"Yup." Came Ray's deep voice from the doorway. His eyes were sad.

"So...he's up for adoption or something?" Greg asked the older man, still somewhat shocked.

"He'll be put in foster care once we finish up." Ray said slowly, almost reluctant.

Greg didn't know why, but something inside him just stopped. How much had Nathan been through now? His entire family's been killed, he just lost the last of his family and now he had to go live with a bunch of strangers?

And the pieces just clicked together.

"Ray, where is he now?" He asked without thinking. He got speculative looks from everyone.

"It doesn't matter now- like you said to Catherine- he's been harassed enough as it is." Crap, the whole lab probably knew about that.

"I don't care. I need to talk to him." Greg pushed on, needing to know. He just had to talk to the kid.

"Uh... he's with Brass at the station. Do you have a hunch?" Ray asked strangely.

"Uh... sure." He said quickly.

Greg knew what the other three were thinking. That he was breaking the rules... getting too involved...doing everything wrong.

But this was all wrong as it was. No child should go through this. No child should watch someone die and then be forced to live with strangers.

And with that, Greg walked down the hall, ignoring the concerned looks from his CSI family.

XXX

Greg spotted Nathan in Brass's office before he got remotely close.

The little boy was pushing around his toy trucks on the wooden desk, content for the moment.

When Greg clicked open the metal door, both Brass and Nathan snapped their heads up to look at him. To say he felt awkward was an understatement.

"Uh Brass? Could I speak to Nathan alone for a minute?" Greg asked and was met by a slightly sceptical look. But the police chief smiled at the little boy before walking into the hallway.

Greg shut the door quietly and smiled at Nathan. The little boy smiled back and sat up straighter in Brass's big leather chair. He looked adorable.

"Hey buddy. You okay?" Greg asked, settling into the other chair. Nathan nodded his head.

"Yeah." He said, and began rolling his trucks over some pens on the table that was almost as high as the boy's shoulders.

"Okay, that's good. Now, I know you're probably very tired of all these questions, but I just have to ask you a few more. Is that okay?" He asked the boy and hoped the child would accept it.

Nathan nodded. "Okay."

Nathan's little blue eyes glistened as he made eye contact with Greg.

"Alright. Do you have any other... family? Besides... you know...?" Greg just couldn't finish. Nathan's eyes had begun to tear.

"No... I don't think so." He whispered, as if he was afraid that if he spoke too loudly, it might hurt even more.

Greg scooted closer and put a hand on Nathan's small one. The little boy just stared at their hands.

"Did you ever meet someone named Michael Sarthe? He's your uncle." Greg said slowly, wishing he didn't have to do this. Because what he wanted to do seemed completely insane.

Nathan looked at him confusedly. And then his face lit up a little.

"I thinks so... maybe one time? Is he really my uncle?" The little boy asked quietly, seeming very stunned.

God, Greg hated having to say it. He didn't want to tell the boy. He didn't want to ruin his life even more. But he kind of had no choice.

"Yes, he's your uncle." He said and watched as little Nathan smiled a little. Fuck, why do I have to do this? "I have some bad news. You were supposed to go live with him but...unfortunately he won't be able to take care of you for a few years."

And just like that Nathan's face fell. He looked like he was going to cry again.

"Why?" He asked in an innocent voice, his eyes squinting slightly.

"Well... he had to go away for a while. Because of some things he was doing." Greg muttered, looking at their hands. And then Nathan surprised him.

"He was making drugs." Greg looked up in shock.

"You knew about that?" He asked the boy, completely stunned. How often was Michael really around?

Nathan nodded in a childish way. "Mommy was telling him not to." He said, before welling up once more.

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay." Greg said, and walked around the table to take Nathan in his arms. The boy hugged him eagerly, wanting any support and comfort he could get.

"Greg?" Nathan stuttered, and Greg squeezed him tighter.

"Yeah buddy?" He whispered back, running his hand up and down the little boy's back.

"Where am I gunna go?" Shit. How was he supposed to drop another bomb now? What was he supposed to say?

He had been silent for a few seconds and he knew he had to speak, as Nathan was now leaning back, staring at him with teary eyes.

"Well there are some nice people who are going to let you stay with them." He said, phrasing it the nicest he could. But Greg had to admit, it still sounded bad.

"No." Nathan said, his eyes going red. "I don't want to!" He buried his head in Greg's shoulder once more.

Inside, Greg was a mess. His heart was shattering for the boy. What kind of kid went through this? His mind was running a million miles an hour, going over every thought he had discovered that day. But he wanted to say it.

He'd been thinking it since Ray had spoken to him earlier. He had been thinking and re-thinking, wondering and second-guessing. But now he felt as if he had to ask Nathan.

But could he do it? He felt the words on his tongue. They were about to come out, this was his last chance to stop it... but he didn't.

"Well... there is another option..."

I'm sure you can guess what's happening REVIEWW