Chapter 7

Marie stood in the lobby of CSI, she took a deep breath before brushing her hands down her shirt, and she looked neat and tidy. Her eyes quickly caught her reflection on the window, her hair was pulled back in a French knot, her shirt a pastel white with a purple pinstripe skirt, her shoes were heels that made her feet feel sore, but she had to look smart. In all of the places she could choose to work, she wanted to work here. The Vegas lab was the second best crime lab in all fifty states, plus it had her uncle here so it was some what of an added bonus.

"Hey Marie!" Greg was quick to see her standing looking lost; Marie was quick to turn on her heels to be face to face with Greg. He never thought he would be this happy to see her; she smiled trying to keep herself together.

"Greg, I'm waiting for an interview…" She said while looking around the lobby some more, it was harder for her not to feel small in such a big work place. Greg didn't seem to be surprised by this as he placed his hands in his lab coat pocket watching where she was looking.

"I know, you have the job." Greg smiled while she raised an eyebrow it was a little confused, was he playing a prank on her? Did she really have the job without an interview? She just rubbed her elbow waiting for the punch line. "No, seriously, the lab is down on Techs, plus all your recommendations said we be idiots not to hire you." Greg's face seemed even more excited by this point Marie had to smile as well.

"So you're my tour guide." Marie pointed out, Greg rocked on his feet with a bigger smile.

"Also I am going to be getting you your work ID…" he added while looking over her face, she looked tired, but it was no surprise after what happened after her birthday.

"My, my work ID…" Marie quickly placed her hand to her face trying to hide the fact she hated not being ready for a photo, in all honesty Marie hated her photo being taken. Greg quickly stepped closer watching her in her silent freak out.

"Don't worry, you look great." Greg placed a hand carefully on Marie's shoulder as she peeked through her hands; she gave a small smile looking to his hand touching her. It didn't feel weird after remember spending a good part of her birthday making out with him.

"If it makes you fee any better you can see mine." Greg pulled up his work ID card; Marie took it in her fingers playing a hand over his face with a small giggle. "Ok I look, don't laugh!" he took the ID away from Marie who was trying to stifle her giggle fit.

"Your hair was so fluffy…" she finally said Greg rolled his eyes, "Oh please don't be like that, it's cute…" she added while her eyes focused on his, she knew he wasn't mad at her.

"Ok, I had a bad hair day!" Greg sighed while she stopped at the computer room, his eyes finally scanning her face as she smiled more relaxed. "You think it's cute?" he added shocked by her reaction.

"Well, yeah." she now looked to a guy holding a camera, her face tense for a second as it flashed in her face, "ow…" she said quickly holding her hand up to he face while the guy holding the camera laughed.

"Best when you get the first reaction," he now started to make her ID card, Marie felt violated as she glanced to Greg.

"Yeah, his mean like that." he said while Marie rubbed the corner of her eye avoiding smudging her make up.

Marie didn't want to look at her ID card as it printed out, but it was placed on a chain around her neck. She avoided looking, but it didn't stop Greg from being nosy, "you know it doesn't look that bad…" he was now showing her around the many rooms of the CSI crime lab. Marie kept following him trying to remember all the rooms he told her, but she would mainly be in the DNA lab, it was the reason they hired her so Greg didn't shoulder all the work.
"So that's it…" Greg smiled while Marie nodded, she glanced around the break room taking in all the details of what he told her, but her mind was still swirling.
"You don't mind if I take a walk around by myself?" Marie asked, it felt weird, but then she was going to work here, so she wanted to get a better feel of the layout on her own.
"Yeah, oh I wanted to know, are you doing anything tonight?" Greg gave her a big smile as she returned it. She lightly brushed one of her hand's over her arm watching him closely.
"Depends, you want to do something?" Marie stepped closer to him; it was subtle, but clear that she was flirting with him. So Greg broke into another grin.
"How about Mexican." he finally replied as Marie giggled. He didn't know what this meant but he kept his smile on.
"Sounds great, pick me up at seven, don't be late…" She now tapped his arms heading out into the hallway.
"Smooth move…" Warrick said from behind the news paper, Greg spun around facing him looking confused. "Dude, what was it that I told you to do?" Warrick placed the paper down waiting.
Greg closed his eyes, "it felt right, I am not going to wait if she's into me…" Greg finally looked at Warrick his eyes wide, but Warrick just laughed.
"Just be careful." He finally said as Greg turned and headed back to his lab.

Marie walked slowly down the hall, she glanced to all the people working, wondering if she would look that intense when she was working. She wondered when her first shift would be like, working close with Greg seemed interesting enough, but she stopped looking to a room that had Nick standing alone. Marie lightly brushed her hand on the handle opening the door quietly.
"So this is what you look like working!" Marie said quickly making Nick jumped from staring at a photo on the table.
"Marie you shouldn't creep up on a guy like that." his hands lifted up before staying to Marie, "Just try not to touch anything, this is all evidence from a hotel room…" he added quickly pointing to his latex gloves, so Marie nodded before finding some latex gloves in Nick's CSI kit, she placed them on with a quick snap before standing behind him.
"So what case is thing then?" She whispered over his shoulder, Nick took in a deep breathe, he could smell her shampoo making his head spin, but he needed to keep focused.

"The girl you found in the ally, she's still a Jane Doe." Nick replied turning his head to face her, Marie's eyes wide looking over the photos.
Marie backed away from the photo, it was weird to see the girl again, but that night it seemed so much scarier. "Whoa, a scary way to go." She finally said while Nick studied her face.
"I know guy or girl tied her down to kill her…" nick said trying to put the evidence to catch who ever did it.
Marie now looked to the photos of her hands and feet, but titled her head, "Nick, these are weeks old…" she pointed to the marks, I'd say about at least one week…" her words small, but Nick turned around to face her again.
"What do you mean?" He added trying to look from the photo again to Marie's face; her eyes were still staring at the photos.
Marie now placed a hand on the photo, "you don't want to know, but this girl was tied by her own free will…" her voice soft as Nick stared at her more puzzled, Marie rolled her eyes before taking his hand, he let her spin him around to face him, but she walked backward to the wall. Nick's eyes didn't leave her as she resting her back against the wall.
Marie lifted her hands placing them against the cold wall, her eyes dead focused on Nick deep brown while he looked over her. "Nick, hold my wrist against the wall!" She demanded, but blinked feeling lost, "Please, can you?" She added in a more pleasant tone.

Nick did as she said holding her wrists against the wall, his body close to her, but his eyes kept looking deep into her eyes, but Marie's face kept focus on his arms.
"Ok push me, tight…" she softly whispered, Nick could feel her chest heaving as she breathed. So Nick pushed his hands feeling her pulse pounding against his skin, but her eyes stayed intense.
"I'm not fighting, so…" Marie smiled, "You can let go for a second." she added while Nick slowly let go of her wrist, but his eyes felt snap to her wrists were red marks started to show up.
"Marie, I'm sorry…" he started to speak, but Marie placed a finger to his lips, her eyes warm moving her finger.
"Nick, I need to you remember the marks…" She stepped back again placing her hands once more against the wall. Nick once again stepped closer to her, his hands ran up her forearm to her wrists, Marie took a deep breath, "I'm going to fight this time, but keep your hands tight on mine, don't let go!" her words sharp, but Nick felt nervous as Marie started to push against Nick's hands, but as told he pushed her tighter into the wall. Every jerk of her body sent Nick's pulse racing, her eyes intense on his, her breathing hard and fast, Nick could feel hear breath warm on his face as he let her go. Marie tripping falling into his eyes and their eyes meet breathless.
"Now look…" Marie held her wrist up, the red mark was bigger than the first ones, more violent and red.

"So you know…" Marie smiled while turning to walk out the door, Nick coughed.

"So you're into that kinda thing?" He asked while she opened the door. Marie turned to face him with a shrug.
"Everyone has a darker side Nick, just a matter of time before it shows itself…" now turning Marie closed the door leaving Nick breathing thinking how secretly, he knew what she meant.