A/N:
Wow, so many fantastic reviews- on the first day of publishing! You guys are fantastic, I write for my own sadistic purposes but I post for you. Thank you so much, and I hope to have several more chapters done before next week.
R&R!

They drove down the empty, dim lit street with only idle conversation. Hodges had turned the radio on to the rock station he had going in his lab, so Styx droned on at a low volume while they made small talk.
"So, Morgan," Hodges started, keeping his eyes glued on the road.
"Yeah?" She glanced up from her phone.
"You have any plans this weekend, after work?"
"Uh-"
Hodges held up a hand quickly, eyes still focused out the windshield, and smiled.
"Don't worry, this isn't a date thing. Henry, Mandy and I were going to the range to brush up and I thought you might like to join."
Morgan shurgged and leaned back in her seat.
"Sounds fun. Do you guys normally go shooting in your free time...?"
Hodges made a face.
"Nah, Henry just thinks we should be completely up-to-date on our firearm handling skills in case they're ever called upon. I think he's going through a phase."
Morgan grinned and looked out her window.
After a few more minutes of driving in comfortable silence, Hodges slowed down and put his left turn signal on. They turned into the parking lot of a shabby, but cozy-looking 24-hour diner.
After parking, the two climbed out of the tiny Ford and walked up to the diner entrance.
Hodges pulled the glass door open and stepped aside, gesturing.
"Ladies first," He smiled complacently. Morgan took it in stride, and walked into the homey diner, taking her time to look around at the interior.
Hodges walked in behind her and crossed his arms in satisfaction.
"Not bad, right"
"It's..." Morgan thought for a moment, then looked at him. "Cute."
"Hm?" Hodges had been temporarily distracted, examining the jukebox. "Oh yeah, it's a kicker. I love this place. Come here almost every night."
"So you said." She nodded slowly, then clapped her hands together. "So! Where are we sitting?"
"Ah, right. This way," Hodges awkwardly gestured toward a booth near the neon OPEN sign flashing in the window. They sat down across from each other, and a pretty waitress with her hair in a bun came over and offered them coffee. They eagerly accepted, ordered some food, and then when the waitress left resumed their conversation from earlier on.
"So. Henry's getting more into the action-y part of CSI now, huh?"
"Yeah, it's weird," Hodges put his elbows on the table. "He's always been kinda... quiet, you know? Ever since W-" He stopped talking and leaned back. "Ever since one of our co-workers left the lab rat scene to go be a real CSI, he's been coming out of his shell a lot more."
"Which co-worker is that?" Morgan knew that Greg Sanders used to be a tech geek, but had graduated to full CSI. But she got the feeling he was talking about someone else.
"A very old, very close... friend." Hodges looked down at the table and scratched some crud off of it. "Old news. Old business."
Morgan tilted her head in curiosity, but decided to hold off on asking more. Somehow, she figured she wouldn't like digging up old CSI dirt.
They sat under the neon lights sipping their coffee until a different waitress came back with their food.
"Okay, I have a caesar salad..."
Hodges raised his hand, earning an incredulous smile from Morgan.
"Dude, it's five in the morning and you're having a salad?"
He shifted uncomfortably as the waitress put his food down.
"I don't want an upset stomach before I go to sleep!"
She had always wondered how he looked like a beanpole at his age; now she knew. Morgan rolled her eyes.
"That makes the BLT and waffle fries yours- right hon?"
"Yes ma'am." She smiled politely.
"You two enjoy." The waitress winked at Hodges and walked off, empty tray at her side.
Hodges cocked his head in confusion, and opened his mouth as if to speak. Then he looked at Morgan.
"What just...?"
She shrugged and took a huge bite out of her BLT.
Hodges looked appalled, but just shook his head and started in on his salad, pushing all of the cherry tomatoes off to the side.
After chewing and swallowing, Morgan quirked an eyebrow.
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?" Hodges looked up with half a mouthful of food.
"Not eat the tomatoes."
"I'm saving them for last. Tomatoes are my favorite."
"Really?" Half a smile slipped onto Morgan's mouth. "Mine too."
Hodges gave her a shy smile, then turned his attention back to his food.
Suddenly, Morgan's brain kicked into high gear.
What is going on? She studied a waffle fry and slowly ate it, thinking at herself in confusion. Why are you talking about tomatoes with David Hodges at five o' clock in the morning? Worst of all She pondered, studying his face while his attention was on his salad. Why is this exactly what you want to be doing right now?
Hodges caught her eye and smiled absentmindedly.
"Why the serious face?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry." Morgan took a bite of food. "I was just thinking."
"About?" Hodges folded his hands under his chin, still chewing a bit.
"Nothing," She took a drink of coffee and smiled. "Just thinking."