Greg strolled into David's section of the lab, evidence in hand and a huge, cheeky grin spread across his face. David rolled his eyes but a small smile graced his own lips, not that he'd ever admit it.
As Greg handed over the evidence and file, their fingers brushed briefly, sparking a subtle thrill. Snide jokes and easy banter flowed effortlessly between them, filling the air with a comfortable familiarity.
Today had been a tough case for Greg—cases involving kids always hit him hard. Who could hurt a child? But David made it easier, keeping his spirits up and grounding him, refusing to let him sink into despair.
David's desk was already buried under a mountain of evidence waiting to be processed when Greg walked in, adding even more to the pile. He looked like he'd just returned from a battle, defeated. David had seen this expression on Greg's face many times before, especially when kids were involved. Cases like this hit everyone harder; they all wanted justice, handling each piece of evidence with painstaking care. But no one took it as hard as Greg.
Greg had such a bleeding heart, and David felt an overwhelming urge to pull him into his arms and never let go. But he couldn't. For one, they were working, and for another, Greg probably wouldn't appreciate that kind of gesture—especially from him.
David Hodges was absolutely smitten with Greg Sanders, hopelessly head over heels for the CSI. But he knew those feelings were unlikely to be reciprocated. Why would they be? Greg Sanders was kind, funny, and effortlessly attractive—everything David admired. Why would Greg ever be interested in someone like him—the arrogant, sarcastic, and morbidly off-putting David Hodges?
David knew his feelings wouldn't be accepted by Greg or the team, so he kept them to himself. But that didn't stop him from savouring what little he could get—finding ways to be close to Greg in whatever small ways he could. They'd play board games, chat for hours, and share quiet moments. It wasn't physical closeness, but it was enough for David.
Knowing they had a case to solve—and that Greg was taking it especially hard—David placed a reassuring hand on the CSI's shoulder. "You need to focus," he said firmly, though there was a gentleness in his tone. "Go get a drink, splash some water on your face, and come back with your head in the game. Let's put this bastard away."
Greg managed a strained but genuine smile, looking up at David. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks," he replied, rubbing his face before almost sprinting out of the room. Just before leaving, he glanced back, catching sight of David as he always did—placing Greg's trace evidence on the very top of his pile. Something flipped in Greg's chest; not many people could say that David Hodges prioritised their evidence.
Neither of them noticed that Warrick Brown had just dropped off some evidence for Hodges and had quietly witnessed the entire scene. He paused for a moment, watching the brief, unspoken connection between them, then turned and walked away, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
He walked over to his CSI partner, longtime boyfriend, and Greg's best friend, Nick Stokes. "Hey, Nicky, you'll never believe what I just saw," Warrick said, recounting the scene between Greg and Hodges. Nick's eyes widened as he listened, a look of pure disbelief crossing his face.
"Hodges? With Greg?" Nick asked, shaking his head, struggling to process it. "Not possible. Hodges couldn't possibly love Greg—he's a jerk. And Greg? There's no way he could ever love David." Nick continued, voicing every doubt with growing certainty. Neither he nor Warrick noticed that David had entered the room, standing just inside the doorway with trace results in hand. His face fell as he listened, each word cutting deeper than the last, every negative thought he'd had about himself suddenly spoken aloud.
David returned to his lab with the results in hand, setting them down as he sank into his chair. For a good ten minutes, he just sat there, lost in thought. Nick was right; he wasn't good enough for Greg. There was no way Greg could love him... not now, anyway. A part of him held onto a small, fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different someday. But for now, he'd have to keep his feelings buried, no matter how much they hurt.
After a long moment of reflection, David sat up straighter, a new determination settling over him. If he wanted even the slightest chance with Greg, he needed to make changes, a lot of changes.
AFTER THE CASE *
Greg was running on caffeine, adrenaline, and David's words of encouragement. Finally, they had the bastard in handcuffs. Exhausted both physically and mentally, he'd collapsed in the locker room, and by the time he managed to pull himself up, nearly everyone had gone home, and the next shift was starting. As he walked out, he passed by David's lab and decided to stop in to thank him.
Greg stepped inside and walked up to David's desk. When David turned to him, there was an unusual stiffness in his posture, and when he spoke, it was with an awkward, icy politeness that caught Greg off guard. It was as if he'd walked into the wrong lab, because this didn't sound like the David Hodges he knew.
Greg couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Unsure if he'd done something wrong or if the case had hit David harder than he let on, he decided not to press it. Instead, he approached with a gentle smile. "Thank you, for getting me back in the game earlier," he said, placing a hand on David's shoulder. "Hey, if you ever need to just talk about stuff, I'm willing to listen."
David gave a brief nod in thanks but didn't take him up on the offer. Sensing it was best to leave it at that, Greg bid him goodbye, hoping his words had at least made a small difference.
Over the next few days, everyone noticed the changes in the trace tech. David was… nicer, or at least more polite. The biting sarcasm and snide comments were gone, and he no longer seemed desperate to impress everyone with wild stories.
Wendy was the first to notice, watching him from across the hallway with a puzzled look. She quickly shared her observations with the other lab techs, and soon enough, rumours and confused whispers circulated. No one could quite figure out what had shifted in his demeanour or why David Hodges seemed like an entirely different person.
Greg was growing increasingly worried. He'd hoped David's strange behavior was just a one-time thing, but it was becoming clear that something deeper was going on. Sara noticed it, too, when she dropped off some evidence. Normally, David would have told her he'd contact her later with the results, barely glancing at the file. But this time, he flipped through it and told her to wait—it would only take about five minutes.
True to his word, David handed over her results moments later, leaving Sara with the answers she needed—and a lot of confusion. She couldn't shake the feeling that the David Hodges she'd known had somehow changed overnight.
One by one, the rest of the CSI team noticed the changes in David. Warrick and Nick were the next to experience the new, uncharacteristically polite trace tech, followed closely by Catherine, who was left just as perplexed. No one was quite sure when Grissom found out—he was observant enough that he likely picked up on it right away, though he kept his thoughts to himself. The team exchanged glances and murmurs, each person trying to piece together what had sparked this sudden transformation in David Hodges.
Finally, it all came to a head. The CSIs were gathered in the breakroom after a long shift when Greg suddenly slammed his hand down on the table with a loud "Wham," jolting everyone's attention his way. "Okay, what the hell is up with Hodges?" he demanded, his frustration evident.
At that moment, Grissom and Catherine walked in, pausing as they took in the scene. Grissom raised an eyebrow, and Catherine exchanged a curious look with the others. Clearly, Greg wasn't the only one looking for answers.
"Why do we care?" Nick cut in, shrugging. "I reckon he's better like this, don't you?" He looked around the room, his question hanging in the air.
Some of the team exchanged glances, uncertain. Warrick looked thoughtful, and Catherine crossed her arms, considering. Greg, however, shook his head. "It's not him," he said quietly. "Something's going on, and we're all just ignoring it."
Grissom watched the exchange, saying nothing but clearly taking in every word.
Grissom was the one who finally broke the silence. "I think only Hodges knows the answer to that," he said, then turned and walked out of the breakroom toward David's lab. The rest of the team watched, curiosity sparking as they realised Grissom was about to get to the bottom of things.
Grissom stopped at David's lab door. "Follow me," he told him, gesturing toward his office. David looked momentarily surprised but complied, trailing after Grissom. Once in the office, Grissom walked behind his desk and gestured to the chair across from him. "Take a seat," he instructed, his tone calm but expectant.
Grissom pulled a small enclosure containing four bugs from his desk drawer and set it on the desk between them. David looked at the insects, then back at Grissom, his confusion evident. The bugs crawled around in their enclosure, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room.
"These are two mated pairs—or at least, that's the hope," Grissom said, pointing to two blue bugs that were mirroring each other's movements, attempting to attract their partner.
"But do you see these other two?" Grissom continued, pointing to the other pair. One of the bugs was displaying everything it had to offer, trying to show why it would be a good mate. The other bug approached slowly but didn't respond in kind. Eventually, the first bug glanced at the mated pair and began mimicking their movements, trying to imitate their success. But instead of attracting its mate, the sudden change scared the other bug off.
"What did the bug do wrong?" David asked quietly, as he felt an uncomfortable kinship with the creature. "He changed himself for his mate… and it still wasn't enough."
Grissom nodded thoughtfully. "Exactly. Sometimes, in trying to become what we think others want, we lose the qualities that make us who we are." He looked at David with a steady gaze. "Perhaps the real challenge is to let people see the true you, with all your flaws and strengths."
"And leave myself vulnerable and alone?" David replied, crossing his arms defensively. "Everyone likes me better like this anyway."
Grissom raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. "Even Greg?" he asked, the question hanging in the air, challenging David to consider what he might be giving up by hiding his true self.
David scoffed and rose to his feet. "Of course," he replied dismissively. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have traces to run." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the office, leaving Grissom watching him thoughtfully as he departed.
Greg had left the break room shortly after Grissom, heading straight to the locker room. He sat down on the stool in the centre of the room, his head in his hands, lost in thought. A few minutes later, Nick walked in, pausing as he took in the sight of his friend looking unusually defeated.
"Man, what's up with you? Why are you so worried about Hodges?" Nick questioned, looking at Greg with a mixture of concern and confusion.
Greg sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "What does it matter? Nothing could happen anyway," he muttered, sounding defeated.
Nick shook his head, more confused than ever. "What are you going on about, Greg?" he asked, trying to make sense of his friend's words.
"Don't you get it? I love him! I love him, dammit!" Greg snapped, his voice cracking as his eyes grew red and glassy. The words hung heavily in the air, raw and vulnerable, leaving Nick momentarily speechless as he took in the depth of Greg's feelings.
""But… but he's… he's Hodges?" Nick spluttered, struggling to wrap his head around it. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he tried to process Greg's confession, caught completely off guard.
"I knew you wouldn't understand," Greg sighed, disappointment heavy in his voice. He turned and walked out, leaving Nick standing alone, a pang of guilt settling in as he realised the mistake he'd made. It hit him then—Hodges must have overheard his conversation with Warrick. The offhand remarks, the disbelief… they must have cut deeper than he'd thought. Nick swallowed, regret churning in his stomach as he understood the part he'd unwittingly played in the whole mess.
Nick stood there, replaying the conversation in his mind, realising just how much damage his words might have caused. After a few minutes, a plan started to form. If he was going to make things right, the first step was clear—he needed to talk to Hodges. With a deep breath, Nick headed toward the lab, hoping he could fix things before it was too late.
Nick stepped into Hodges' lab, only to be greeted with a familiar, distant tone. "What can I do for you, Stokes?" Hodges asked, not even glancing up as he focused on the microscope in front of him.
Instead of responding right away, Nick sighed and quietly sat down on a nearby stool. He took a moment, searching for the right words, before finally speaking. "Look Hodges…"
David stood up and turned to face Nick, his expression guarded. "Yeah?" he replied, crossing his arms, clearly bracing himself for whatever Nick had to say.
Nick took a deep breath, sensing the tension. "Look, I think… I owe you an apology," he began, his voice softer than usual. "The things I said with Warrick—I didn't realise you might hear, and… they weren't fair." He looked up, meeting David's gaze earnestly. "I messed up."
"Maybe, but that doesn't mean you weren't honest, everything you said was true.. I'm not good enough for Greg, so I guess it doesn't matter, but I thank you for your apology." David said, gulping down the air that got caught in his throat.
Nick looked down, his voice softer than before. "Man, I wasn't trying to say you're not good enough. I was just… talking without thinking. But seeing you like this, I can tell that you really care about him. And honestly, that's what matters. Don't let my stupid comments make you think you don't deserve a chance with him."
David's face twisted as if Nick's words had physically struck him. "Yeah, but I don't really have a chance, do I?" he murmured, a defeated sigh escaping him before he turned and walked out of the lab. Nick let out yet another sigh—what felt like the millionth in the past hour—watching David's retreating figure, frustration and regret swirling within him.
Unsure of what else to do, Nick went to the one person he trusted most for advice. "Warrick, what do I do?" he murmured, collapsing into his boyfriend's chest, seeking comfort and guidance. Warrick wrapped his arms around him, giving Nick a reassuring squeeze as he waited for him to explain.
"Greg loves him. Warrick, Greg loves him, and I ruined it," Nick confessed, his voice thick with guilt. "I don't know how to fix it." He buried his face against Warrick's shoulder, feeling the weight of his mistake pressing down on him.
"Have you tried getting Greg to confess his feelings to Hodges?" Warrick asked gently, running a comforting hand along Nick's back. "Maybe if Hodges knew how Greg really felt, it would change things."
"So, how do we get Greg to confess to Hodges?" Nick asked, looking up at Warrick with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Warrick thought for a moment, a small smile forming. "Maybe we just need to give them a little nudge. Get them in a situation where Greg has to be honest about how he feels. Something low-pressure, but where he can't just brush it off."
Nick nodded slowly, an idea sparking. "Maybe we could arrange for them to work late on something together. Just the two of them, no distractions. It'd give Greg a chance to open up."
"Well, let's go talk to Grissom," Warrick suggested. "He could assign Greg a job with Hodges, give them some time alone to work things out."
Nick nodded, a small smile breaking through his worry. "Yeah, that could work. If anyone can set it up without raising suspicion, it's Grissom."
With a renewed sense of purpose, they headed toward Grissom's office, hoping he'd be on board with their plan.
Grissom nodded thoughtfully as they explained. "Well, it's the end of shift now," he said, considering the plan. "But next shift, I'll have Sanders working with Hodges for most of the night. If all goes well, this should get the team back in sync."
Nick and Warrick exchanged a satisfied look, grateful for Grissom's support. With any luck, this would finally give Greg and Hodges the push they needed.
NEXT SHIFT*
As Grissom wrapped up assigning cases to the graveyard shift, he finally looked over at Greg. "Sanders, not many cases tonight, so I'll need you to work on the incoming evidence," he said, his tone casual but purposeful.
Greg nodded, not thinking much of it, while Grissom glanced subtly toward Hodges, who was organising his station nearby.
Greg had just set up his workspace near David's lab when David walked past, pausing at the doorway with a slight smirk. "Not out in the field tonight?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Greg looked up, giving a small shrug. "Nope, looks like I'm on evidence duty tonight. Guess I'll be around here with you."
"Just like old times, before you ditched the lab for the excitement of the field," David joked, leaning casually against the door frame. He wore a faint, playful smile as he looked at Greg, clearly enjoying the rare opportunity to work nearby again. With no evidence yet to process, he seemed in no rush to move, letting the easy banter settle between them.
"Hey, the field's got its perks," Greg shot back with a grin. "But I guess I missed this place... a little."
"What perks could fieldwork possibly have?" David replied with a mock scoff. "It's dirty and dangerous. Honestly, it's safer and cleaner here in the lab." He crossed his arms, leaning a bit more comfortably against the door frame, clearly enjoying the banter.
Greg chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe, but it's got its moments. Plus, there's something about getting out there and piecing things together first hand. Keeps things interesting."
David rolled his eyes. "If you ask me, that's what the lab's for—piecing things together without the mud and the risk." But despite his words, there was a warmth in his tone that showed he appreciated having Greg around, even if only for the night.
"I missed this," Greg said softly.
"Missed what?" David asked, a hint of curiosity breaking through his usual tone.
Greg hesitated, then continued, "The banter, the familiarity... you. You've been distant the last few days."
David's posture shifted, his shoulders tensing as he seemed to pull back, shutting himself off as if he'd suddenly remembered to guard himself. Greg noticed instantly, stepping forward with concern.
"Hey, no—don't shut me out," Greg said gently, his eyes searching David's face. "I'm here, all right? You don't have to put up a wall with me."
David turned away, his back now to Greg, his expression unreadable. The sudden distance hit Greg hard, and he couldn't hold back any longer.
"What did I do?" Greg cried, his voice breaking, eyes welling up with tears. "Please, I'm sorry… just tell me what I did wrong."
David spun back around, his worry evident as he took in the sight of Greg standing there, tears streaming down his face. "What are you talking about? You've done nothing wrong," he said urgently. "I'm the one who's not…"
He trailed off, struggling to find the right words as Greg rubbed his red eyes, clearly confused and hurt. David took a hesitant step forward, his voice softening. "Greg, it's not you. It's me… I thought if I tried to change, maybe… maybe I'd be someone worth… worth your time."
David sighed, his shoulders slumping as he finally let his guard down. "I'm not… I'm not attractive or kind or a good person, Greg," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, and I want you, but… I'm not worthy of you."
Greg's eyes softened, the pain in them shifting to something warmer. He took a step closer to David, reaching out slowly. "David… you don't have to be perfect for me. I don't want some ideal version of you. I want you, just as you are."
"You're kind to me," Greg whispered, taking a step closer with each word. "We banter, we joke, we play games… you keep me grounded. And when I'm hurt, you're always there."
He was now standing just inches away, his gaze locked on David's, every word laced with sincerity. "I don't need you to change, David. You're already everything I need."
David swallowed, his usual defences crumbling under the weight of Greg's words.
David's gaze darted uncertainly, unable to settle on Greg's red-rimmed, earnest eyes, his soft pink lips, or the way he was standing so close that David could feel the warmth radiating from him. He was speechless, his mind reeling—Greg wanted him.
David's hand hovered uncertainty, hesitating as he grappled with the reality of the moment. But before he could pull back, Greg reached out, taking David's hands in his own and guiding them around his waist. He held David's hands there, firm and reassuring, as if to say he wasn't letting go. David's heart pounded as he looked up into Greg's face, finally allowing himself to believe that this was real.
"Can… can I… can I kiss you?" David whispered, his gaze locked on Greg's invitingly soft lips, voice trembling with hope.
"Please," Greg breathed, his voice barely audible. He slid his hands up from David's, wrapping them around his neck and tangling his fingers gently in David's hair. The invitation was clear, and as their faces drew closer, the space between them melted away.
Greg pressed up on his toes, and David tilted his head just enough to close the distance. When their lips finally met, it was soft, tentative, but electric—like fireworks igniting in a quiet night sky. The kiss was gentle, chaste, yet it held a world of unspoken feelings, years of tension melting in that single, perfect moment.
Out in the corridor, unbeknownst to the two, the rest of the team stood watching, smiles spreading across their faces as they witnessed the long-awaited moment. But no one looked happier than Nick, a warm, satisfied grin lighting up his face.
As Greg and David pulled apart, their eyes met, each filled with a quiet understanding and the promise of something new. In that small, dimly lit lab, they felt as if the world had finally aligned, bringing them together in a way they hadn't dared to hope for. Out in the corridor, their team quietly slipped away, leaving them to savour this moment alone. It was just the beginning, but for the first time, neither Greg nor David felt the need to hide. They'd found something real, something worth holding on to—and they both knew they'd never let go.
AN: Cheesy, yet stasifying,
btw not character or science accurate