Hours of work, and all Greg had was the murder weapon. One of the many sharp objects was a match to the deadly wound his victim had. But the knife was wiped clean, no finger prints, only blood detected with Luminol. Greg was still waiting for the DNA results, but since Julian was the one processing them, he didn't expect them back in the next few hours... or today. To top it all, his victim was disfigured beyond recognition with lye. It was impossible to identify him since his face and fingerprints were destroyed by the lye and his teeth have been pulled out. All Greg could hope for was a match in CODIS.
After processing every evidence he found at the scene on his own, since Nick refused to help him, he decided to see how far Julian was with processing his evidence.
"And when the machine is done, we have our results ready!" Julian said enthusiastic. He showed a bored Nick how the DNA lab works, something he already knew, but Julian ignored that fact.
"Is this my results?" Greg came in surprised and excited with a smile on his face. Did Julian really process a DNA as quick as Wendy used to? This would be a first.
"No, I'm not done with yours yet," Julian said without looking at him.
"Then whose is it?" Greg took a look at the printing.
"Nobodies, duh! I'm just showing Nick how these things work. I'll let you know when I'm done processing yours, so..." Julian replied, suggesting Greg to leave.
"That's YOUR DNA profile! Julian, what the hell? You spend time and money showing a level three CSI something he already knows when others wait for their test results?"
"Relax, we were just fooling around a bit. We'll start processing your sample now," Nick said, not looking up to Greg.
Fooling around? With Julian? What was going on here?
"Where's my sample now?" Greg asked, trying not to show how angry he was right now, without too much success.
"Here." Julian held it up, still in the evidence bag, not even prepared to be processed yet.
"Thank you." Greg grabbed the evidence bag and walked out.
"Hey! HEY!" Julian ran after him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing? I'm going to process this now, SOMEBODY has to! You two obviously have a lot to do, so just be glad I help you get through your stressful workday!" Trying to walk away, Julian grabbed his arm and took the evidence bag away from him.
"What is your problem, do you have any issues with letting go? You chose to work out in the field and leave the lab behind, live with that decision!"
Breaking free from Julian's strong grip, Greg grabbed the evidence bag again. "Your work morals are dangerous, Julian, you get that? There's someone out there who killed a man and you do nothing to help catch the guy! While you're wasting time playing around he gets the chance to get away! And the victim, I'm sure he had family that wants to know where he is and what happened to him! If you don't care about these people at all, then what are you doing here?" Greg stormed off. He couldn't remember the last time he was that angry. Everyone in the lab could hear their altercation and he didn't care, that's how outraged he was about Julian's work morals, if that's what you could call it. And he was angry with Nick, too. Not because he wouldn't talk about his feelings. Well, Greg was sure this played into account, too. But mostly because he supported Julian's lazy way of working by 'fooling around with him', as they called it. Since when were they friends, anyway?
Walking into another room that was equipped to process DNA samples, he sat down. Calming down a bit, he started to process the sample. If he wasn't at work right now, he probably would cry. With all that's happened and knowing that something was going on with Nick, but he wouldn't confide in Greg, he just felt bad. He sometimes had the feeling his whole life was falling apart, but wanted to try to stay on the positive side of life. But it wasn't easy, when life kept throwing stones his way.
He managed not to cry but wasn't able to keep his face from showing some of the feelings he felt right now.
While waiting for the results, Ray entered. "You two just won't get along, huh?" he said with a faint smile on his face.
Greg didn't return the smile. He wasn't in the mood to pretend that everything was fine. He just shrugged, clearly still angry.
"I know Julian can be... difficult... sometimes, but you can't let him get to you like that. It's unprofessional."
"Funny you should say that. That's exactly what this fight was about. He was messing around with Nick instead of processing my samples."
"So, is this about Julian or Nick, really?" Ray asked without sounding too curious.
Greg looked at him. "Julian, of course! ...Well, maybe not entirely. I mean, we've all been through a lot and we try to deal with it the best we can, but Nick... I'm worried about him. I don't think he talks about what's going on inside him at all."
"Everyone deals different, Greg. Some like to talk, others don't. I understand Nick never was the kind of guy to talk too much about his feelings. Give him some time, I'm sure he'll get through this somehow."
They were interrupted by the computer finally spitting out a DNA match to Greg's victim.
"You found out who he is?" Ray asked.
"Mhm. Huh, that can't be good." Greg looked at the screen.
"What?"
"He's in the police database." Greg clicked the profile open. "Oh..."
"What is it?" Ray looked at the screen. "...I'll call Catherine."
The CSIs waited for Brass to join them in the break room. Catherine and Greg were standing while Sara, Nick and Ray were sitting at the table. Nobody said anything. These news came unexpected and they were not sure what to make of it right now.
Brass hurried in. "Let me see that." He grabbed the DNA profile Greg had printed and took a look at it. "And you're sure?"
"Yeah," Greg answered, "I checked it three times, there's no doubt. That body is officer Wood, one of the four officers that... tried to kill us."
"And what happened to him? Whose case is this?"
"Mine. I was there with Detective Vega. Wood was stabbed and his face and fingers were disfigured with lye, and his teeth have been pulled out... That's why I didn't recognize him and the only way to identify him was his DNA," Greg explained.
"How did you take a sample?" Brass took notes.
"Saliva, blood from the wound, as well as from the ground. I'm certain, that's him."
"Sounds like he did everything right," Nick said, looking at Greg, only to see him avoiding eye contact.
"Alright. You're on this case only. I need you to find out what happened and who did this, ASAP." Brass walked out.
"Are you gonna be alright with this case alone? Maybe someone can help you with it?" Catherine asked Greg. She knew Ray and Sara were on cases of their own, just like herself.
"No, I'll be fine," he answered.
"I could help," Nick chimed in. "I don't have anything to do right now, anyways." He looked at Greg, waiting for a reaction, but Greg didn't show any.
"Alright, then, you two try to work it out. You know where to find me if you need anything." Catherine went out.