5) Comfort In Numbers

Greg wedged himself between the file cabinet and wall, slipping into the wall. He shut the door before turning on the lights – he'd heard Catherine and Grissom come in just as he reached the cabinets and had hoped he could get in before they saw or heard him. The door made an almost inaudible click. He flicked on the light and let out his breath. Greg walked over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs, putting his head in his hands.

It had been a hellacious last three days. Nick had been kidnapped and they had worked round the clock to find him. The funny thing about saving someone's life (or maybe not, depending on how you looked at it) was that mountains of paperwork followed. Greg rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands as he sat back. He looked up at the list, not expecting to see anything. It hadn't grown much since he'd added number eighteen months ago. So he was surprised to see writing on it. Greg got up and walked over to the chair. He picked up the chalk as he stepped up, reading the five new items on the list.

20. Never joke about coffins when a co-worker is in one. (Hodge's handwriting.)

21. Never leave a CSI alone with the monitor when a co-worker is buried alive on screen. (Archie's handwriting.)

22. Never tell anyone you want him alive for the sole reason you never asked him out. (Gina's handwriting.)

23. Never let the other lab rats think they're the only ones having completely inappropriate thoughts during a crisis. (Sara's handwriting.)

24. Never, ever, tell the lab rats everything is going to be okay when you're not sure it is. (Greg had never seen this handwriting before. Who was this seventh person?)

Greg realized they were getting their fears out on the wall, but he couldn't leave the list like this. The list was meant to be a fun way to vent frustrations of stupid things they'd done or management decisions, and it wasn't meant to be serious. So he leaned in and wrote:

25. Not allowed to purchase anyone's soul on government time.

26. May not call any police officers immoral, untrustworthy, lying, or slime, even if you're right.

27. Never replace a co-workers rubber gloves with balloons.

28. Never lace a co-worker's pink fingerprint powder with cayenne pepper.

29. Never replace luminol with color changing strawberry Kool-aid.

30. Never ask a superior if he/she is smoking crack, especially in a crack house.

Greg smiled, tapping the chalk hard against the brick to add the period. It wasn't much, but hopefully it would get some smiles.