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The life of His Dreams	By : NationElDiablo Category: CSI > General Views: 3291 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-The life of His Dreams
- 1
Disclaimer;
I do not own CSI or the characters in the show which are the property of CBS Broadcasting Inc and
Alliance-Atlantis Communications. No
copyright infringement is intended. Nor money made

The Life of his Dreams
By; Nation El-Diablo
Beta�d by The Missing Fairy

CSICSICSI

INTRODUCTION

Greg took one more look in the mirror and shook his head �
he looked like he was turning tricks and he knew it. Sure he was alternate but
this was way beyond slogan T�s and studded bracelets. He sighed only one person
in the world could convince him to do this and even then only by resorting to
emotional blackmail.

�Last time, Aris,� he vowed to the mirror. He grabbed his
wallet, stalked out of his bedroom and went into the living room to face his
audience. The look of joy and excitement in their eyes almost made him forget
why he was mad at them. Aris jumped up and clapped her hands

�You look amazing,� she
enthused, he glared.

�I look like a street walker,�
he griped at her. She shrugged.

�Gecko, come on you look like�� she shrugged. �Yeah you look
like a streetwalker but on the plus side you�re going to have your pick of
anyone in the place.� She finished with wide-eyed innocence. Greg rolled his
eyes not convinced. Aris looked over at Katy for support, Katy shook her head
affectionately.

�What�s the problem Gecko? It�s not like anyone from your
work is going to see you is it?� she asked sounding reasonable.

Greg caved with a groan, �You know I wouldn�t do this for anyone else don�t
you?� he stated in his defence, Aris hugged him.

�Yes but we�re your sisters and you love us, so you�ll wear
the outfit and do the show because we need you� she said proudly tugging him
towards the door.

CSICSICSI

Greg swallowed the last of his beer and glared hatefully at
the guitar in front of him, he heard a chuckle and looked up; Katy was standing
there leaning against the wall. She had grown her hair since he had last seen
her � it fell halfway down her back, she hadn�t dyed it recently so it was a
very light brown colour.

She smiled at him, �You�ll be fine Gecko, besides you look great,� she
reassured, Greg smiled back at her.

�Just tell me once more how I got roped into this again?� he
half teased, trying to hide his nervousness. Katy saw straight through it, she
had years of practise and stepped forward pulling him into a hug.

�You got roped into this because you can�t, never and will
never be able to say no to Aris,� she whispered into his ear, she gently ran a
hand through his overly spiked and sprayed, dyed multicoloured hair. She let go
of him slowly taking hold of his hands.

�Come on, the party can�t start without us,� she said
leaving the green room. Greg sighed and mustered his courage before grabbing
his guitar and waiting for his intro.

The band was greeted by huge cheers as they came on stage,
even Greg who was only filling in as the regular lead and singing had broken
his arm in a motorcycle accident. The band played metal and hard rock, they
wrote some of their own material but also did some covers of others, throwing
in the odd Nightwish song just so Aris could prove
she could do more then screech. The concert shook the roof, as a local band
they had quite a group of fans that hit all their concerts wherever they were.
Coupled to that they were developing quite a cult and underground reputation so
people were beginning to fly in to see them play. By the end of three encores
they were finally allowed off stages even with the fans cheering for more, Greg
was surprised he had expected them to take offence to having someone temping,
but it seemed like they were just glad the concert had gone ahead anyway.

�You were amazing!� Aris shrieked at him as he entered the
green room, she was still bouncing off the walls from the rush of the
performance. She barrelled into him and locked him in a bear
hug that knock the air from his lungs. Greg blushed under her praise;
Aris was never one to mince her words so if she thought he had sucked then she
would have let him know.

�Yeah kid, you can play with us again anytime, I gotta say I
prefer you to J�� Dan � one of the drummers said pushing a beer into his hand
when Aris finally saw fit to let him go. Greg�s blush became more apparent
going from pink to red.

�Aww, look we�re embarrassing him,� Katy cooed making the
others laugh, Greg bumped her elbow playfully.

�Knock it off,� he muttered.
Katy grinned at him and winked.

�Why? You go such an endearing colour when someone pays you
a complement. Hey perhaps I should phone the crime lab, let them know�� she
mused, but a look from Greg convinced her that it would be a bad idea. Greg
went to respond, but whatever he was going to say died on his lips as the green
room went dark.

�What the�?� the rest of the sentiment was cut off by the sound
of gunfire. Pandemonium broke out as the band tried to escape the phantom
shooter. In the chaos Greg lost track of both his sisters, he never even saw
the first punch before it connected with his jaw, he fell to the floor and felt
the first kick; the second had him curling into a protective ball, the third to
his head finally making him lose consciousness�

Aris made it to the back door and yanked the handle- it was
locked. In a surge of adrenaline she kicked the door as hard as she could, she
repeated the kick screaming first in frustration and secondly in surprise as
the door gave way, her momentum caused her to fall; she landed badly and heard
something snap in her ankle.

Katy never made either of the exits, the bullet impacted her
shoulder and she fell where she stood.

CHAPTER 1

Gil knew it was going to be a long night as soon as he saw
the DNA lab � missing �his� lab tech. He rolled his eyes, must be Greg�s night
off which at least meant no loud music, but it also meant no expensive coffee,
no comic deviation and a lab tech who was little more then a machine who pushed
buttons and even then got it wrong. He heard a groan behind him and turned.

�Greg�s night off? Great I�m still
working that rape and this guy just won�t look beyond the obvious,� Catherine
moaned. Grissom raised an eyebrow; well at least he wasn�t the only one who was
going to be in a snit. He went to his office and picked up the calls that had
already arrived and headed into the briefing room.

�Ok Nicky, Sara you got a 419 out on 43^rd,
Catherine you�re still working the 426, Warrick DB off the Strip��

�Hold on Gil,� Brass said standing in the doorframe, �we�ve
got a major situation out at one of the casinos � someone had it in for the
band we�ve got four dead, six injured and someone with a lot of power making
noises at the mayor already,� he continued looking both stressed and pissed.
Gil nodded and turned to the team.

�Let�s go then,� he led the way out the building ignoring
the grumbling coming from Catherine at being pulled from an active case.

The scene was chaos from the outside in, reporters and news
crews had already gathered like vultures and were broadcastings rumours as they
had few facts at the present time. Inside casino security was backing up the
police but they were still having trouble keeping the onlookers at bay. When
Grissom and the others arrived they had to show their badges six times just to
get in the front doors. The manager greeted them and took them down to the
green room. The paramedics were still trying to remove the injured without
completely destroying the scene. Gil saw a flash out the corner of his eyes,
Sara was already taking prelim shots; he nodded his approval.

�Oh my God�� at Nick�s startled statement he turned back and
froze. He watched the paramedics lift a badly beaten, but still just about
recognisable Greg Sanders onto a gurney.

�Greg�?� Warrick whispered in shock, Greg opened his eyes
and looked at them, he tried to remove the O₂ mask but the paramedic
stopped him. Instead he shakily reached out a hand towards them. Catherine
grasped it immediately and smiled down at him, she saw how this one gesture
made him relax and accept the help.

�I�m going with Greg,� she announced leaving no one in doubt
that this was not up for negotiation; she glared at Gil, daring him to
contradict her. He didn�t he just nodded.

�Talk to the other vics, see who
saw what and begin processing them,� he said quietly before turning back to the
lab tech.

�You�ll be okay, Greg, I promise we will find out who did
this,� he assured him. The stretcher was carted off before anyone could say
anything else. Gil looked fiercely at the rest of his team.

�This is the only crime in Vegas tonight. I want some good
news to give Greg by the time we clock off tomorrow understood?� he got nods
and looks of determination from every member and they went to work with more
motivation then he had seen in a long time, documenting and cataloguing every
single piece of evidence. Gil turned to Brass, who was still processing what he
had happened.

�I think I want to talk to the band manager first,� he said
shortly. Jim nodded and led him out. They came to an office behind the stage;
inside sat a middle aged man with a receding hairline and eyebrows that looked
like two hairy caterpillars had taken residence on his face. He was clinging to
a cup of tea as though it contained the answer to the meaning of life. Brass
opened the door and the guy looked up listlessly.

�Mr Reynolds? I�m Captain Brass LVPD and this is Gil Grissom
of the Las Vegas Crime Lab, we would like to ask you a few questions about what
happened here tonight if that�s okay?� the tone of his voice implying that they
were going to ask them whether it was ok or not.

�Huh? What? Oh, sure�� Reynolds
seemed to be a little slow and barely functioning.

�You�re the managed of NI₃ correct?� Brass asked, Gil raised an eyebrow in response to the bands name.

�Yeah, my God this is awful, I
can�t believe it�� he babbled, Gil cut him off.

�I understand that the band was having some sort of
unofficial party when this transpired, correct?� Reynolds shook his head as
though to clear his thoughts.

�Yeah, Aris is always hyped when she gets off stage, twice
as bad if they go down like a storm as they did tonight. I normally attend, try
and keep her inline but there was a scout in the crowd tonight � he was talking
about a record deal, going big time just based on this one show. We were
discussing the deal � you see the guy playing lead guitar and male vocals
tonight isn�t a regular, J was sick��

�Right so what you�re saying is that you were talking shop
in here and weren�t in the room when it hit the fan?� Brass clarified trying to
get back on topic. Reynolds swallowed hard

�First I knew of it was gunfire, we tried to get in but the
doors had been barricaded � we cleared it as fast as we could but� but it was
already too late� he sounded like he was going to break down by the end.

�Who�s Aris?� Gil asked trying
to keep the guy together

�Aris?
Arissa Sanders � she�s the lead singer�

�Did you say �Sanders�?�

�Yeah, it�s actually Sanders-Hampton but she hates the
double barrel,� he snorted, remembering one of her quirks. �She and Katy � our
bassist are sisters, it was their brother who filled in tonight. I don�t know
his real name; they just called him �Gecko�� This time Reynolds did break
down, crying into his hands.

�Michael�s going to kill me,� as he continued to weep it
became clear to them that they weren�t going to be able to get any more out of
him so they left. Outside Brass turned to one of the security officers wearing
an NI₃ band top.

�We�re going to need a list of
everyone who was in that room,� he told the guard

�Yes, Sir,� was the clipped response and then he
disappeared, presumably to get the list.

�Well at least that solves the mystery of what Greg was
doing here�� Brass muttered making a note; he paused halfway through and
frowned.

�Did you know he had sisters?� Brass asked Gil, Grissom
shrugged and shook his head. �Kind of strange don�t you think? The guy never shuts
up,� Brass stated, Gil thought back over all the conversations he�d had with
the lab tech and frowned.

�In all honesty the only member of his family I remember him
mentioning was his Grandfather, and I was the one to bring that up,� the more
Gil though about it the stranger it seemed. The security guard chose that
moment to return, forcing Gil to push those thoughts to the back burner for the
moment. The guard handed him a list and a handful of DVDs.

�Here�s the list of the band; I don�t know if these are of
any help but it�s the raw footage that was shot tonight at the concert � they
were going to make a DVD of it.� Gil nodded his thanks to the guard and turned
his attention to the list. It seemed to be some sort of promotional pamphlet,
which explained how he�d obtained it so fast. Each band member was pictured by
their name with a short biography next to it. Gil flicked through and found
that there was a cross through Johnny Lloyd�s entry and a picture of Greg was
in its place although the pamphlet announced him as �Gecko�.

�Well, this will make the ID�s easier,� Gil said turning
back to the first page. He looked at the picture of the female lead singer, and
immediately saw the family resemblance, even through the extensive piercings and bleach-blonde hair, the ends of which were
dyed every colour of the rainbow. She had big brown eyes which he was used to
seeing in the lab, but what really gave her away was, aside from the outlandish
sense of �style� was her cheeky smile. He skipped down a couple of entries
until he came to the bassist. Gil frowned, here the family resemblance was not
as obvious, the face looking back at him was older then Greg, she had long
brown hair and her eyes were green not brown, and compared to the rest of the
photos she looked relatively normal. Brass looked over his shoulder at the
pamphlet.

�Looks like the Adam�s family
portraits�� he muttered. Gil looked at him.

�Is that including or excluding
my lab tech?� he asked lightly, Brass shrugged.

�Whichever you prefer,�

CHAPTER 2

�Please, just tell me if they�re here!� Aris chocked
fighting the nurses who were trying to keep her on the bed. Aris was crying,
running her black make-up in rivers down her face.

�Miss Sanders-Hampton you must
calm down!�

�DON�T CALL ME THAT!�

�Okay, I�m sorry, but please calm down, take a few deep
breaths you are going to make yourself ill,� the doctor was speaking slowly and
clearly to the distraught young women, Aris took a couple of deep breaths and
visibly tried to get herself under control before speaking again.

�Look I�m sorry, please, my brother and sister were with me
tonight I need to know if they�re alright,� Aris winced as a nurse manipulated
her ankle. The doctor smiled sympathetically at her.

�I�ll see what I can find out if you let this nurse give you
meds and set your ankle,� he negotiated. Aris nodded.

�Thank you,� and then sat back against the pillows
impatiently letting the nurses do their job.

�How is he?� Catherine asked the moment the doctor appeared
from treating Greg, the doctor smiled reassuringly.

�He�s pretty beat up, broken arm, mild concussion and he
won�t be able to speak for a few days,� she told the CSI. Catherine was
confused and concerned.

�Can�t speak why?� she demanded mentally going over what she
had seen of Greg for a clue.

�There are bruises around his neck, my best guess is that
someone tried to strangle him,� Catherine fell back onto the chair, the air
rushing from her lungs.

�Why?� Strangulation was personal, a lot more personal then
a maniac with a gun.
�Why would anyone want to do that to Greg?� she asked out
loud, the Dr shrugged.

�I believe finding that out is your job� she said, �you can
see him if you want but don�t upset him. I hope you know ASL,
� the doc said mysteriously.

�ASL? As in, sign language?�

�Yeah he�s lucid and has been trying to tell us something,�
Catherine took that in and her features became more set.

�I don�t but I know a man who does,� she said coming to a
decision and pulling her phone out.

CSICSICSI

Grissom stood up and sighed the entire team was tense, Greg
wasn�t just another victim and what had happened here seemed to make no sense.
Apart from large amounts of .45 rounds they were turning up very little trace
evidence of who the attackers were so far. Given the amount of blood at the
scene though it could be that the clues they searched for were hidden,
multiples were always harder as you had to ascertain which pool of blood
belonged to which victim.

The shrill ring of his phone
bought his attention back to the present.

�Grissom,�

�Gris, it�s Catherine,� her
voice was wavering in a was that made Gil�s stomach knot

�What�s happened? Is Greg okay?�

�I just talked to the doctor. Those bastards tried to
strangle him,� her voice cracked with anger at the end, Gil frowned a personal
attack in this case indicated that Greg was probably the primary target. He
could hear her taking a deep breath to try and regain control and he knew he
wasn�t going to like what he was going to say next

�Cath, we�re not turning much up here.
You�re going to have to process all the survivors for trace, start with Greg it
looks like he was who they were focussed on.�

�I�m going to need help then Gris, hospitals like things
neat and sterile � the worse place for evidence and we have six victims in
here,�

�I�ll send Sara to help you�.�
He was cut off

�No, Gil. You, you need to come apparently you�re not the
only one in the lab who can talk with their hands,� she said, Grissom was
genuinely surprised.

�Really I wonder when and why he
learnt that, but what relevance does it have?�

�He can�t talk � his throat is too badly damaged� that anger
was back again, he could hear it clearly even through the bad connection. He
sighed, he wasn�t good with people he knew that and Greg was always nervous of
him. Throw in that he was his boss, the primary on the case and Greg�s
condition� he was going to need a chaperone to stop him from making a bad
situation worse.

�Okay. I�ll bring Brass, will try and do the statement at
the same time,� he informed her and hung up without waiting for the response.
He walked out of the room he had been processing and found Nick outside
swabbing a stain on the wall.

�Hey Gris, I found more blood on the wall here, it�s on the
outside so I�m hoping it was one of our suspects,� Nick said in way of
greeting, Gil nodded.

�Catherine called, Greg is conscious but in a bad way, I�m
going up there with Brass, see what he remembers,� Gris saw Nick open his mouth
and anticipated his protest.

�I know Nick, you want to go, you all do but I need you guys
here to process the scene, if we can�t do it then Eckley
will pull the case sighting emotional involvement on all our parts. If there is
any news I will call,� he finished firmly, Nick closed his mouth in a thin line
and gave Gris a tight nod. Just because his boss was right didn�t make it an any less bitter pill to swallow.

CSICSICSI

Brass led Grissom into Desert Palms pulling his badge as he
approached the reception desk. He attempted to smile at the girl sitting behind
the desk looking bored but it looked more like a grimace.

�Hi I�m Detective Brass, I�m
looking for...�

�Jim,� Catherine�s voice cut him off, he nodded at her and
turned to the bored receptionist.

�Never mind,� he said before
joining Catherine and Gil.

�Catherine how�s our lab rat?�

�He�s not god, but it could be worse, a lot worse. I stopped
in to see him but he got upset because I didn�t understand him,� she reported
running a hand through her hair upset.

�Where is he?� Gil asked not
bothering with meaningless sympathy

�This way,� she led them back to
Greg�s room and paused outside the door

�I�m going to see if I can track down the other victims,�
she said, Gil looked at her enquiringly; he would have thought she would want
to be here for this. She sighed.

�Look, I think three of us are going to terrify him. He�s
pretty shaken up,� she explained and then left. Gil watched her retreat and
took a deep breath.

�Ready?� he asked Brass
sarcastically and opened the door.

Greg was lying in the middle of the bed, his face was a mess
of bruises; his left eye almost swollen shut. His right arm was in a cast and
his left was hooked into an IV. There was a distinct band of bruising around
his neck from what looked like a ligature.

�Jesus Christ�� Brass muttered under his breath attracting
the attention of the lab tech. Greg�s eyes widened as he saw them, he started
gesturing with his hands. To Brass it looked lick his arms were just flying
about but Grissom understood the gestured, the CSI quickly crossed the room and
sat on the side of the bed. He gently captured Greg�s hands before the young
man could dislodge his IV.

�Greg, GREG! Calm down it�s okay, I
know you weren�t moonlighting. I talked to the band manager I promise, you�re
not going to be fired,� he reassured him speaking in a calm soft voice. Greg�s
breathing had become ragged and tears were beginning to fall from his eyes. Gil
held the young man�s hands in his and kept eye contact with him, rubbing small
circles with his thumbs until Greg gave him a weak nod. Grissom let go of one
hand and reached up to wipe a tear off his face. Greg closed his eyes and
shuddered with barely repressed embarrassment. He turned away from Gil�s hand
and started to sign again, this time in a more controlled manner.

::Sorry::

�What for?� Gil still spoke softly
trying not to cause Greg to freak out again. Greg shrugged self-consciously and
Gil sighed. He took hold of Greg�s chin and coaxed him to look at him.

�Greg open your eyes and look at me,� Gil waited for Greg to
comply; it took a while for Greg to realise that Gil wasn�t going to continue
until he did. Gil sat patiently on the bed still rubbing soothing patterns on
the young man�s skin. The bed dipped as Jim sat on the other side, the movement
finally prompted Greg to open his eyes. His gaze ticked slowly to Brass before
focusing on Gil. Grissom smiled softly.

�That�s better. Greg you have nothing to apologise for, this
is not your fault, okay?� Greg bit his lip and nodded a miniscule amount.

::Do you know what happened to my
sisters?:: Gil moved to the chair before answering

�Arissa broke her ankle � she�s having it set right now.
Katy was shot in the shoulder but apparently all that metal you guys were
wearing is as good as body armour,� Greg listened to Gil�s reply and felt the
knot that had been in his stomach loosen, he felt like he could breathe again
the relief making him light headed.

::Thank you::

�No problem, Greg,�

�Greg can you describe to us what
happened?� Brass asked still perched on the bed as there was only one
chair.

::Sure but I didn�t see much, I�m
sorry::

�Hey, you�ve already been told about apologising once,�
Brass chastised causing Greg to stutter and Gil to look mildly surprised. Brass
looked smug at the two.

�Hey, I�m a fast learner too, okay?� he defended, Gil
grinned at him and even Greg cracked a smile. Brass sat back a bit, mission
accomplished the guy in the bed now looked like the kid he knew.

�Look kid anything you can give us will help, you know how
this works,� Greg sighed and started to force himself back to the green room.

::I was at the entrance, I came in
late. Aris hugged me and Kat was on my right. Dan was off on my left, he handed
me a beer. Conner was at the back near the fire escape,
he was playing air guitar. Gary
was near him:: Greg closed his eyes trying to
visualise where everyone else was. ::Winston and Sheeraz we concocting something alcoholic at a table near
the window, Lisa and Deet were trying to tie their
shoelaces together:: Greg smiled at the memory of two grown women crawling
around on the floor trying to snag shoelaces. Brass took that down.

�For someone who doesn�t remember much you�re doing fine.
Point of clarification, Deet is a nickname right?�
Brass asked

::Yeah, Desdemona well call her Deet, Katy is sometimes called Kat too:: he added realising
that he�d switched names. Bras nodded.

�So then what happened?�

::It went dark, they had cut the
power or something as the first shot was fired from behind me. The door was
locked, I tried to find my sisters but I couldn�t see. Someone hit me and I
fell, then I was kicked. I don�t remember anything after that::
his hands were shaking so baldy that by the end Grissom was having trouble
distinguishing signs from shakes.

�It�s okay, Greg you did great
don�t worry about it,� Brass praised, Gil shifted uncomfortably.

�Greg I need to process you,� he said gently, Greg nodded he
had though as much but that didn�t mean he was looking forward to finding out
how the evidence that he got was obtained.

::I know but I can�t move much::

�It�s not a problem Greg� Gris assured opened the kit and
setting things on the side. Greg bit his lip

::Does the Captain have to be
here?::

�No, I guess not, what�s the
problem Greggo?�

::I�m�that is I � I�m embarrassed,
the less people that know the better::

Gil frowned.

�I understand that but you must realise that the whole team
is on this case,� Greg looked genuinely surprised

::Why?::

�Four homicides, six serious assaults and
three counts of attempted murder aside? No-one attacks a member of my
team and gets away with it,� Gil said frankly. Greg frowned and looked at Gil
sceptically;

::I�m not one of your guys:: Gil
suddenly wished that he was better at reading people or could at least hear
Greg�s tone so he could take an informed guess at Greg�s mood.

�You are joking, of course,� he
said deadpan.

�Uh Gil, you want to explain?� Brass had been getting
increasingly confused by what they were discussing but what Gil had said last
had been in an almost confrontational tone � something that Brass was sure the
doctors would throw them out for. Gil took a deep breath.

::This conversation is not over::
he signed to Greg when he saw that he had his attention. Greg nodded.

�Hey Brass, do you want to go see if Catherine has found
anything?� Gil asked trying to appear casual. Brass looked at the CSI and then
the tech unsure why he was being asked to leave. He let it go for the moment;
it wasn�t like Gil was going to attack the kid.

�Sure I�ll see you in a bit. Take it easy kiddo,� he said to
Greg as he left. Greg looked at Gil;

::What do you want me to do?::

�Just tell me if I hurt you or this is getting too much� Gil
said snapping on a pair of latex gloves.

CHAPTER 3

�Hi I�m Catherine Willows, with the Las
Vegas crime lab,� Catherine introduced herself. The
women on the trolley in front of her seemed tense. Catherine set her kit down.

�I would like to process you
for...�

�No,� the women in the bed cut
her off. Catherine was a little shocked.

�Ms Sanders��

�Hampton, it�s
Hampton and it�s Mrs.� she snapped, Catherine took a deep breath.

�Okay, Mrs Hampton the best chance we have of catching who
ever hurt you and your family comes from having all the evidence,� Catherine was trying to be patient, she had
dealt with difficult victims before. The woman scoffed at her;

�Yeah, because you really care a lot about my family � after
all you�ve only blown one of us up,� she sneered. Catherine froze, she hadn�t
expected that.

�Mrs Hampton, that was an accident and no-one feels worse
then I do about Greg getting caught in the blast,� her voice was shaking
slightly as she spoke.

�You�re sorry, so that makes everything alright. Tell you
what � if someone hurt your daughter and then wanted you help what would you
do?� fierce green eyes fixed on with Catherine�s blue ones. Catherine nodded
and removed the gloves she had put on.

�Sorry to have bothered you, Mrs
Hampton,� she said as she left the cubicle.

Outside, Catherine lent against
the wall and tried to calm down.

�Cath?� Brass� concerned voice made her open her eyes, she gave him a weak smile

�Hey,�

�How�s it going?�

�Not good. We�re going to need to get one of the others up
here to process Mrs
Hampton,
probably Nick, he�s good with people� she reported, Brass looked confused.
Catherine snorted.

�It appears that she blames me for Greg getting caught in
the lab explosion.� She explained quietly. Brass winced

�Ouch. I thought that you and
Greg were good,�

�We are, apparently it�s a different story with his family,�
she sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

�Okay, you phone Nicky, I�ll go see if any of the survivors
are prepared to talk,� with that she collected her kit and headed off. Brass
made the call and explained the situation, Nick was more then happy to have an
excuse to head over to the hospital. Brass then entered the cubicle that
Catherine had just been thrown out of.

�Miss Sanders, I�m sorry it�s Mrs
Hampton isn�t it? Even though you still use your maiden name in the band� he
said with a false smile.

�Well you know who I am, who the
hell are you?� she sneered not a bit intimidated.

�I�m Captain Jim Brass with the LVPD � work with both your
brother and Catherine Willows, and it�s the funniest thing I didn�t realise
that Greg had a problem with
Catherine, in fact I thought they were friends,� he said
sweetly, Katy rolled her eyes.

�Yeah well Greg is a soft
touch,� she snapped

�So he needs a big sister like you to look out for him,� he
said as if coming to some great revelation.

�He�s my son,� she said quietly.
Brass froze for a second

�What you confessing to another
crime?� he asked sarcastically, Katy rolled her eyes

�Aris and Gecko � Greg are my kids. I adopted them when got
I married,� she spoke as if he was an idiot.

�Why would you do that?� he pressed and for the first time
that evening Katy looked uncomfortable.

�That is so none of your
business,� she muttered. Brass grinned at her.

�Maybe, maybe not, but there would have to be a good reason
for the CPA allow you to adopt your siblings. So naturally now I�m going to
find out,� he gloated, Katy swallowed heavily.

�What do you want?�

�Excuse me?� Brass said

�What do you want to let
sleeping dogs lie?� she explained

�Lay off, Catherine,� he warned

�Done,� she said quickly, Brass looked at her. She wasn�t
uncomfortable, she was scared. Brass nodded but made a mental note to pull the
file anyway.

�Hi, I�m Catherine Willows I�m with the Las
Vegas crime lab. I would like to process you for trace
evidence,� she smiled at the man in the bed. He grinned back at her.

�I�m Dan Langston, and not meaning to sound like a bad
clich� but why to I recognise you name?� he asked, she cocked her head to one
side.

�Ah probably because I work with Greg Sanders� she hedged
hoping to get what she needed before he threw her out. He frowned

�Greg�Sanders, I know Aris and Katy Sanders. Gecko? Gecko�s first name is Greg? Huh, learn something new
everyday. Anyway Gecko don�t really talk about his work, just said he was a rat
what ever that means,� Dan frowned trying to piece everything together.
Catherine sighed when his eyes went wide, today was going to be bad for her
ego.

�You�re the one who got him
blown up aren�t you?� he asked.

Catherine nodded.

�Shit, I hope you haven�t seen
the harpies yet,� he exclaimed

�Harpies?�
Catherine raised an eyebrow.

�Katy and Aris � they aren�t
exactly fans,�

�Yeah, I just met the elder one,� Catherine said ruefully.
Dan started to laugh and then winced in pain.

�Oh man, I would have paid to seen that, although I�m
guessing Kat isn�t feeling to well right now, you still have all your limbs,�

�She threw me out. You going to
do the same?� she challenged. Dan shrugged.

�Look, if it will make you feel better I can, but the way
Gecko tells it you made a mistake � it was an accident. I�ve gotta say though,
it�s nice to finally meet the only person ever to cause those three to actually
fight!� he sounded kind of awed.

Catherine winced.

�Well that�s something to be
proud of,� she said sarcastically.

Dan shrugged.

�I call it how I see it. Look, Gecko forgives you and the
other just want someone to blame � they�ll get come round one they meet you.
They find it impossible to stay mad at people they know.�

�Well that�s reassuring,� she muttered digging through her
kit for everything she would need.

CSICSICSI

Grissom threw the last pair of gloved into the bin. He�d
found quite a large amount of trace on Greg, including a fibre in his neck
wound, the dye from his hair had combed out , Gil hoped it wouldn�t compromise
the sample too much. The lab tech was lying back on the pillows, he had been
crying silently since Grissom had found and documented the bruises on his hips
and upper thighs. He had debating asking if he needed to run a rape kit but the
doctors would have mentioned that sort of injury to Catherine earlier. When he
asked Greg if he should stop he had just shaken his head, but it was probably
the hardest process he�d ever done. He perched on the side of the bed and
stroked the tears off Greg�s face; they were quickly replaced by more.

�Greg, please tell me what�s wrong?� he asked softly, Greg
just shook his head silently. Gil got a sinking feeling in his stomach.

�I didn�t hurt you did I?� he
whispered.

::No:: Greg signed, Gil let out the
breath he had not been aware that he had been holding.

�Greg, what�s upset you, I can�t
help if I don�t know,�

::I�m being stupid and the drugs
are taking away some of my control::

�Doing something stupid has never stopped you sharing it in
the past,� Gil said trying to keep a straight face, Greg let out a chuff or air
that might have been a laugh,

::I�m ashamed::

�You have nothing to be ashamed of Greg, you have done
nothing wrong and we will get the bastards responsible,� Gil said with absolute
confidence. Greg shuddered; being the focus of Gil�s attention was a little
overwhelming. As was the suppressed rage he felt rolling off his boss. He was
glad he wasn�t on the receiving end of that temper this time. Gil slowly worked
a hand behind Greg�s shoulders and used it to lift him up. He pulled Greg
forward carefully until he had the lab tech cradled against his chest. Gil
carded a hand through Greg�s hair, since he�d combed it the gel had let go
leaving it softer then Gil would have imagined. Greg had tensed when Gil first
embraced him but now relaxed allowing the older man to take his weight. He
wasn�t sure what had caused this new touchy-feely Grissom but he wasn�t going
to object. Greg turned his head so his
cheek was resting on Gil�s shoulder and closed his eyes. Gil sat there for a
moment running his hand up and down Greg�s back. Greg fell asleep on Gil. The
CSI didn�t have the heart to put him back down just yet. So he kept hold. That
was how Brass found them 10 minutes later.

�Something you want to share, Gil?� he asked sounding
amused. His voice startled Greg awake, he looked at Brass and blushed when he
noticed he was still in Gil�s arms. Gil smiled at him before responding to
Brass.

�No Jim, nothing I want to share. Come and give me a hand to
get him back down,� Gil said as he slowly manoeuvred Greg so he could help him
back without hurting him. Brass came round the other side and braced Greg�s
back with one arm and assisted Gil. Once Greg was back on the bed Gil collected
his kit and was preparing to leave when Brass decided to broach Greg about his
discussion with Katy.

�Greg, were you ever adopted?� Brass asked directly knowing
there was no easy way to discuss this. Gil stopped what he was doing and
focused on Greg.

::I don�t know::

�You don�t know?� Brass sounded
incredulous

::Long story and not a pleasant
one::

�Well Mrs Hampton seemed pretty
clear,� Brass pushed

::Then she�s probably telling you
the truth, which means she has been lying to me for 10 years:: Greg turned his
head to the side and looked very forlorn.

�Care to enlighten me?� Brass looked at the lab tech; he
suddenly seemed very small, swamped in the hospital bed.

::No I�m tired::

�Okay, Greg. Feel better
alright?� Brass said before leaving. Gris hung back a moment;

�You know you did that to
Catherine and Warrick too,� he pointed out

::I won�t tell them if you don�t I
thought it was politer then piss off:: Gil smiled

�Sure thing,
Greg. Get some rest okay?� He pulled the door closed on his way out.

CSICSICSI

�Hello Ma�am, I�m Nick Stokes
I�m with the Las Vegas crime lab��

�Clothing is under the bed, I�m full of sedative and
watching the monkeys climbing the curtains and not going to move sorry,� Katy
was slurring slightly because of the pain meds. Nick smiled.

�That�s okay Ma�am just don�t go
to sleep on me,�

�No problem,�

Catherine met up with Gris, Brass and Nick in the main
foyer. Nick was chewing on a bagel he�d picked up in the canteen.

�How�d you get on with the
Harpies, Nick?�

�Harpies?�
Nick choked; Catherine grinned and patted him on the back

�It�s what the other band
members call them?�

�You do realise that they happen to be Greg�s sisters and
victims in a serious attack don�t you?�

�Yes but neither of those things
mean I have to like them,� she said

�Are you Captain Brass?� a strong male voice asked from behind
the group, they turned to see a formal man in his mid-thirties. He wore a
tailored suit and was carrying a brief case

�Yeah I�m Brass, who are you?�

�I�m here in as the aid to the
legal representation of NI₃.�

�Legal representation a 2-bit
band has a lawyer on retainer?�

�They are more then a 2-bit band, Sir and my company
Hampton, Clark and Clare are responsible for the band name and the members. I
am just here out of courtesy to inform the LVPD that all members of NI₃
are being transported to Formyer Clinic at this
address. Negotiations are being made to transfer Mr Sanders as well,� With that
the man handed Brass a card with an address and left.

�What just happened?� Nick asked
looking over Brass� shoulder at the address.

�Good question� Brass replied.

CHAPTER 4

�You done?�
Sara asked Warrick appearing out of the green room

�Yeah for now at lest. Any news on Greg?�

�Someone law firm is trying to move him along with the rest
of the band to a private clinic. He can�t talk at the moment but they think he
will make a full recovery with time,�

�Can�t talk? That must be killing him,� Warrick joked, �well
at least it�s not permanent. Come on let�s head back to the lab and start on
this lot.�

�Hey Nick � What happened at the hospital?� Sara asked as
she entered the break room.

�Man you wouldn�t believe it � this pencil neck showed up,
informed us that the entire band were being moved and that Greg was included
and then walked off, only to come back a few moments later and announced that
Greg was staying put,� Nick shock his head as he spoke still not quite
believing it himself. Warrick collapsed into a chair stunned.

�So what was the outcome?� he asked, he didn�t care about
the band per say but he did want to know where Greg had ended up, Nick shrugged.

�The lab rat�s at Palms and the
rest were transferred in a fleet of ambulances. Brass is looking into the guy
footing the bill to find out what his deal is but get this � the pencil claims
that his employer is Greg�s dad,� the others didn�t get a chance to respond
before Brass appeared with the rest of the team.

�I don�t care what this hot shot claims; he is not Greg�s
father,� He announced with a smirk which indicated he knew more then he was
saying.

�Okay, I�ll bite then, who is
he?� Sara asked for everyone.

�Michael Hampton, married Catherine Sanders ten years ago
right after they finished college, a month before they both adopted the 12 year
old Arissa but not Greg,�

�Why not was he too old?�

�No they tried, but were
denied,�

�Why?� Grissom asked wondering
how this could have any relevance to the case.

�Well that piece of information wasn�t available, so being
the thorough sort of a guy I am��

�Not to mention as curious as
hell,� Catherine piped up

�Not to mention being mildly intrigued,� Brass conceded �I
call some friends in the CPS who managed to track the case worker in California.
Strangely enough she remembered the case; apparently it was Greg�s reaction at
the prospect of being adopted that put a stop to it�

�His
reaction?� Nick said making little hurry up gestures

�Yeah he said that he would rather kill himself� Brass
finished seriously; he was met by five disbelieving faces.

�Our Greg, the lab rat with way too much energy, a passion
for loud bad music, good coffee and a flare for dramatics threatened to commit
suicide? Sorry Brass I�m don�t buy it,� Warrick said
voicing what the others were thinking.

�Yeah,� Brass said �I bet you also don�t �buy� that the kid
was abused and that he had to testify at his biological father�s trial,� he
continued. Again five jaws hit the floor and the room was deadly silent, after
Brass dropped the file on the table. Gil, predictably, recovered first.

�Okay, so Greg wasn�t adopted so
what happened to him?�

�Well seeing he was already in
college��

�No way!�

�Seems he�s actually understating the case
when he says he�s a genius. Anyway as here was already there and living
off his own income the Hampton�s had guardianship over him until he turned
14 when he got himself officially
emancipated,� the CSIs took that in silently a lot of this had turned their
perceptions of the young lab tech on there head.

�Wait ten years ago? How old is
Greg?� Catherine asked the room in general.

�You don�t know?� Warrick asked
disbelievingly, Catherine raised an eyebrow

�Do you?�

�Yeah, he�s�.� Warrick stopped and thought about it, �no actually he always said he was young enough to party all
night and old enough to know better�

�I�ll give you a hint, Arissa is not only his sister but his
twin,� Brass said and then waited for them to figure it out

�22? He�s only 22?! That means he must have been 17 when he
joined here. You hired a 17 year old?!� Grissom accused, Brass shrugged.

�He was 18 just, but he was by
far the best candidate for the job� Brass defended

�Christ he really is a kid. I didn�t even know what a crime
lab was at 22,� Rick stated looking around at the other stunned faces.

�Yeah, �Rick I hear ya, I guess
though that sort of background makes you grow up fast,� Brass said sadly. Gris
shook his head.

�We�re getting tied up on the emotional here; we should be
concentrating on the case.�

�That�s just it, Gil, we are on the case Drake Sanders �
Greg�s biological father escaped two days ago. It�s possible that this was
revenge attack,�

�He escaped from where?�

�The high security unit in California.
I�ve placed a guard on Greg and one at the clinic where his sister�s are,�

�Has anyone told Greg yet?�

�No, I�m guessing he�s going to have some questions,� Brass
stared pointedly at Gil who nodded.

�As soon as we finish up here; �Rick, Catherine chase the
evidence we have being processed, unfortunately we have to use Bryson from days
for DNA as the swing/ grave and day shift spill over tech is currently in
hospital. He�s not as fast as Sanders and won�t analyse the results as
thoroughly, you�re gong to have to check it thoroughly. Sara pull up the know
associates of Drake Sanders � get in contact with the prison and check the
visitor log. Nick- see what you can find on the rest
of the band � grudges people might have, whatever, let�s not just assume our
primary targets without evidence. I want everyone to keep an open mind on this
one, okay?� he got four nods and four determined looks. If someone was after
Greg they were going to have to beat the best damn CSIs there were to get to
him. He nodded at them and then he and Brass left for the hospital.

�Rick sighed and looked
Catherine.

�We better get started,� he sighed and with that left the
break room for the layout room. Catherine followed him whilst Nick and Sara
headed out off in the other direction. Warrick dug out an evidence bag from the
hospital and laid it out.

�Whoa, who was wearing that?� Catherine asked eye the outfit
in shock. The trousers were black leather and laced up the sides from the ankle
to hip. The top had long sleeves of PVC but the main body was black translucent
netting, the whole outfit looked hardly big enough for any of the band members.
Warrick looked at the bag and did a double take.

�Err� it�s Greg�s� he said reading
the label a third time to make sure. Catherine raised an eyebrow and studied
the clothing.

�What�s that there?� she asked
indicating a stain on the sleeve.

�I don�t know but can soon find out,� Warrick said swabbing
it. The phenol drew a blank so it wasn�t blood. They ALS over the shirt and got
a shock with a goats head in a upside down pentangle
appeared on the netting.

�Hmm� UV
fluorescent paint?� Catherine commented on it.

�Not the only glow though��
Warrick said feeling sick, the stain lit up.

�Semen? On his
shirt? What type of party was this?� Catherine asked somewhere between
shocked and angry. Warrick swabbed the sample for DNA and shrugged.

�Let�s find out whose it is first,� he said but even as he
did he had a bad feeling about the stain and what it implied. A glance at
Catherine confirmed she was thinking the same thing.

�We don�t know anything yet Cath �
don�t get ahead of the evidence,� he warned she sighed

�I know- I know it�s just- Christ didn�t he have a hard
enough time anyway, why do this to him?�

�I don�t know but when I find out who did what�� he left the
sentiment unfinished but his tone left no room for misinterpretation. Catherine
composed herself.

�Come on, the faster we�re done the more time Bryson has to
screw up,� she said a little unkindly, Warrick snorted at the sentiment.

Sara stared at the computer screen keeping an ear out for
the fax to finish. The prison had been more than happy to send over the visitor
log after she muttered words like warrant followed by �procedural enquiry�. The
more she read the more she wanted to kill the man, or throw up, or find Greg
and hug him forever, or all three. Drake Sanders had been a cop; he had been
married twice to the same woman, which explained the 14 year age gap between Katy
and the twins. He had finally been arrested after Greg and Arissa had run away
when they were 11. Arissa was pregnant as a result of her father�s abuse and
Greg had been so badly beaten that doctors couldn�t say for sure if he was
going to recover the use of his left arm. At the trial, the prosecution had
shown that this was a symptom of prolonged abuse that local authorities had
been ignoring given their father�s position in the community. Greg had
testified at the trial but Arissa was heavily pregnant by then and it had been
deemed too stressful for her. The list of injuries he was accused of inflicting
on the pair ever ignoring the incest was horrific. It made Sara wonder how Greg
had turned out like he had. Her own home life had not been easy but not as bad
as his and she knew she had issues
about it.
The fax machine beeped indicating it had finished, she got
up and retrieved the log, deciding to look at it after she had been through his
file; hopefully the any names on the list might he a context.

Nick sighed and rolled his head to loosen his stiff neck, he
had only been at it an hour or so but he was turning up dead end after dead
end. It seemed the band was universally liked, there was no hint of scandal and
they weren�t even big enough for money to be a motive. The only thing that he
had actually found in the media about the band in the past 6 months apart from
advertising was an article on how the lead guitarist, Johnny Lloyds had broken
his arm after racing Arissa around a rack on a motorbike � and even that hadn�t
hinted of foul play just oil on the track and bad luck. Nick�s thoughts kept
drifting back to Greg he kept wondering if this was a planned attack on him but
then reminded himself that Greg was a last minute replacement � no one knew he was
going to be there. Nick sighed and continued his way down the list.

Catherine sighed as she labelled
the last sample.

�Right let�s drop these in a DNA
in A/V,� she said sounding tired, Warrick nodded.

�You got it� he said heading out
with a tray full of samples.

CSICSICSI

�Hey Archie, you had a look at that DVD yet?� Warrick asked
strolling into the A/V lab. Archie paused the DVD in
question and turned to face the newcomer.

�Yeah but there isn�t a whole lot on there except blackmail
material against Greg,� he said jokingly, Catherine came in just in time to
catch the last part of what Archie said.

�What�s that about blackmailing
Greg?� she asked wearily, Archie smirked.

�This,� he said as he hit play. There band were halfway
through a track, the camera panned over a packed hall of fans then onto each
member of the band, who all acknowledged the camera in some way � albeit
pulling a face into the lens. Finally it got to Greg who was in the middle of a
solo. He was wearing the outfit that was now in the evidence room. It was so
tight that it left nothing to the imagination, through the netting in the top
you could clearly make out a nipple ring and part of a tattoo disappearing into
the waist of his pants. That is until the black light flashed causing the
demonic image to appear instead. The multi-coloured spikes of his hair had been
heavily sprayed with glitter. Greg smiled at the camera, the smallest
acknowledgment any of the band had made.

�Is it me or does he seem�
withdrawn?� Warrick asked finally studying the DVD after getting over the shock
of seeing a co-worker on stage looking like he should be arrested for what he
was wearing.

�Yeah, I mean, I guess if you didn�t know he had ADHD he
doesn�t look out of place but I�ve seen him dance round the lab in a show girls
headdress before now,� Catherine agreed. The band finished the song and the
crowd cheered. On stage Arris turned and ran a hand down Greg�s arm, smiling
slightly when he looked at her.

�Whoa, what was that?� Catherine said. �Pull it back and
pause it. Yeah there, what is going on between those two?� she asked staring at
the interaction. Neither Warrick nor Archie responded,
they just stared at the frozen frame on the screen.

�Who is that?� Archie asked,
puzzled why it was such a big deal.

�His twin sister,� Warrick said.

�That doesn�t look very
sisterly,� Archie stated with a raised eyebrow.

�Huh, did they bomb or something?� Nick asked coming in and
glancing at the screen.

�No, why do you think that?�

�Because she�s trying to making him feel better� Nick said
with a shrug like it was obvious.

�Oh well that�s a lot better than what we were thinking,�
Archie said with relief, Nick frowned and looked at each of them individually
then back at the screen, his eyes went wide as the penny dropped

�You thought that they were�
that�s sick,� he exclaimed.

�Yeah, well, you can see what it
looks like,� Warrick defended, Nick chuckled.

�Oh man, I�m going to have to tell Aris that, she�ll have a
scream,� he said whilst giggling. The others started to chuckle as well.

�You ever think maybe we�ve been
in the job too long?� Warrick asked sheepishly.

�Why? Just because we see an innocent gesture between a
friend and his sister and our first thought is incest?� she rolled her eyes.
Nick laughed again.

�Don�t worry, Cath, you wouldn�t have been the first to ask about them,�

�How do you know?� Warrick asked
suspiciously, Nick shrugged.

�Aris is even more talkative than Greg and she likes talking
about him,� he said before smiling sheepishly. �Besides she used to be a model,
she�s very bright and she�s a classically trained singer�� he left the rest of
the sentence unfinished mainly because of the chuckle Warrick gave him.

�Right so you happily would have listened to her all night
long,� he added knowingly causing Nick to blush.

�I wonder how Greg would react,�
Archie mused

�We�re not got to find out because we�re never going to tell
him what you thought right? At best he would just be shocked at worst he would
completely pull away from Aris and I think that would kill them both. So our secret, right?� Nick said seriously. He got a series
of nodding heads. �Good,� he said before turning back to Archie.

�Did you manage to find anything
from the recording of Johnny Lloyd�s accident?�

�Not yet, I�ll get back to you,� he said turning back to the
screen and getting back to work. Nick left the lab shortly after. Catherine
shrugged her shoulders.

�Want to go see if Bryson has
got anything yet except older?� she asked Warrick.

�Why not,� he replied unfolding
himself from the chair and sauntering out of the lab.

CHAPTER 5

�Ah, I was just about to page
you,� Bryson said by way of greeting.

�You got something from the
scene?� Catherine anticipated.

�No. I haven�t done them yet, I
started with Greg�s trace. Oh, don�t give me that look, are you seriously
trying to tell me you didn�t do the same?� he chastised at their frowns.

�Look I�ve just finished it �
the stain on his shirt...�

�Semen?�
Warrick cut in

�Not just semen � there were two
donors both XY� he handed the report.

�Saliva� Catherine read from the
report, Bryson nodded

�Right, saliva came back as
Greg�s the semen as unknown. The sample from his fingernails had three XY why
donors. One of which matched the semen� he finished

�Wait, Greg said he was out cold
� this proves he fought back. Why lie about it? He must have known we�d find
out,� Warrick said confused.

�I think I know why, I�m going
to check in with Gris,� Catherine said walked out of the lab. Warrick nodded.

�Anything else,
Bryson?�

�Not really � tox came back low levels of alcohol and high levels of
adrenaline nothing unusual,�

�Did you compare the unknowns to
the other band members or checked for familial DNA?�

�No do you want me to?� Bryson
asked. Warrick swallowed the angry retort on the tip of his tongue. Greg would
have run the tests as procedure but it was a �Greg� procedure not a
departmental one. It was times like this when he was reminded they all treated
Greg as a flake and a wannabe, but in fact he was the best tech in the lab.

�Yeah do that, let me know what
you find� he said trying to sound calm. Bryson nodded and went back to work.
Warrick headed for the break room and waited for Catherine to finish her
call.

CSICSICSI

�Grissom,�
�It�s Catherine,�
�What�s wrong?�
�Where are you?�
�Stuck in traffic, haven�t made
it to the hospital yet- why?�
�Do you have a kit with you?�
�Do I have to dignify that with
an answer?�
�You need to process Greg,�
�I already did, Cath,�
�I know but this time you need
too�. You need to do a SAE�
�Catherine, what have you
found?�
�Unknown semen mixed with Greg�s
saliva on the sleeve of his shirt, 3 unknown XY donors under his nails,�
�It might have been consensual�
�Gris I saw him; ligature marks,
crush larynx, facial bruising, fractures and multiple contusions and bruises
say assault to me,�
�I know, okay I�ll keep you
informed,� he hung up and looked over at Brass who had been quiet through the
conversation concentrating on the traffic.

�That did not sound good,� he
said prompting Gil.

�There is evidence that Greg was
sexually assaulted. I need to get a rape exam done,� he said feeling sick even
as the words left his mouth. Brass nodded but his grip on the steering wheel
turned white.

�That would explain the
shrinking violet act we got last time. I�m going to have to talk to him about
this Gil, but I�ll leave so you can do the exam,�

�Let�s not jump the gun, the
doctors would have said if they noticed anything,�

�Would they have checked? He was
conscious when he was brought in and we know him and we didn�t notice a thing,�
Brass reminded him none too gently.

�This isn�t your screw up, Jim,
this one is solely on my shoulders,� Grissom said as they finally made it into
the car park. He got out and grabbed he kit as Brass killed the engine.

CSICSICSI

�I�m begging you to reconsider
Gecko, please let us take care of you,� the voice emanating from Greg�s room
was male with a hint of desperation. Brass flashed his badge at the uniform o
the door.

�Who is that in there?� he asked
quietly

�Michael Hampton. He was here
when I arrived and the kid didn�t want me to make him leave. Although I think
he might have changed his mind Hampton�s
been in there at least an hour.� The officer reported.

�Gecko, I just want you safe;
protected is such a bad thing for a father to want for his son?� by this time
Gil and Brass were by the door and could see into the room. Hampton
was sitting in the chair looking haggard even in an Armani suit. Greg signed
something in clipped gestures that made Hampton
wince and pinch the bridge of his nose.

�How am I going to convince you
that it was a drunken and stupid mistake? Please Gecko�Greg I didn�t mean it
then and I always have and always will want you, as much as I want Aris. I�m
going to keep telling you until you believe me,� he spoke quietly but with
fierce sincerity. Greg refused to meet his eyes and made a short gesture.

�Gecko please��

�I think he made himself clear,�
Gil interpreted smoothly, causing both Greg and Michael to jump. Michael
recovered quickly and stood between Greg and the two men; the haggard, broken
man gone replaced by a strong and confident lawyer.

�Who are you?�

�I�m Detective Jim Brass LVPD
and this is Gil Grissom of the Las Vegas
crime lab,� as Brass introduced them Michael took his warrant card and
inspected it. He handed it back but still looked suspicious.

�He told me he had already been
processed, why are you here?�

�I just need to ask Greg some
more questions,� Brass smiled, but it didn�t look like Hampton
was buying it.

Michael turned to Gil.

�And why are you here Mr
Grissom?�

�As an interpreter � the
detective doesn�t sign,�

�Well I can do that, there is no
need to waste the time of a CSI,� Michael said smoothly.

�I think I�d prefer Gil, we�ve
got a good working relationship going on. So thank you for the offer Mr.
Hampton but why don�t you go grab a coffee and I�ll and have a chat with you in
a few minutes,� Brass said used to playing these games with lawyers.

Michael sat back in the chair.

�I�m not going anywhere,
Detective Brass, as Greg Sanders lawyer I have the right to be present when
ever you speak to my client,� he crossed his ankles and appeared at ease. Greg
jumped in before Brass could finish this verbal chess game. Greg signed
something quickly that made Gil smirk and Michael frown. Hampton
opened his mouth to argue but Gil again cut him off.

�I think you�ve just been sacked
Mr. Hampton so please leave or I will have the officer outside escort you off
the premises,� Gris didn�t raise his voice but left no one in doubt that he was
not joking. Michael sighed.

�Fine I�ll go to the canteen and
see if they have any of that tea Greg likes,� he said standing to leave. Gil
stopped him.

�Since when does Greg drink
tea?� he asked, Michael relaxed a little bit.

�He doesn�t,� he said shortly
and left.

Gil raised and eyebrow at Greg.

�A test?�

::Not
my idea sorry::

�Not a problem. I see how you
could be confused about being adopted,� Gil said lightly, Greg froze for about
30 seconds, not even breathing.

::You
pulled my file::

�Standard procedure, you know
that. Something it was confusing in some parts but first I have some bad news,�
Gil paused, not for effect but he just simply didn�t have the words. He
swallowed hard and looked at Brass for support suddenly unable to tell Greg.

�The thing is Greg; Drake
Sanders broke out of jail two days. I don�t want you to worry, I have a guard
on you and another on top of the clinic�s security where you sisters are,�
Brass spoke quickly to try and get it all out of the way at once. Greg went
completely white and starting shaking. Gil put a hand on his cheek.

�It�s
okay, Greg, he can�t get to you, and we will find him,� Gris assured him in a
low soft voice trying to calm the tremors. Greg slowly came through his minor
panic attack.

::Does
Michael know?::

�Not that I�m aware of,�

::You
have to tell him right now:: Greg�s eyes were wide and flicked between the two.

�Okay, Brass?�

�On it,� Brass said following
Michael. Gil turned back to Greg.

�I told Brass I wouldn�t bring
this up just yet but as he�s not here�� he sighed trying to think of the right
phrasing.

�Greg when were processed your
clothes we found a stain on your top,� Gil spoke slowly rubbing gentle circles
on Greg�s face, �we also found DNA under your nails from 3 XY donors. Because
of this evidence coupled with you injuries I want too�� Gil trailed off as Greg
began to sign.

::They
didn�t rape me if that�s what you think. They were going too but they didn�t
have time. I�m sorry I didn�t say what happened. I didn�t want to remember:: Gil looked from his hands back to his eyes which were now
hidden behind tears, he stroked his hair. Greg flinched from his hand but
quickly covered his reaction. Gil frowned he was a little worried about just
how good Greg was at putting up an act he doubted anyone less observant would
have caught the move.

�I understand that you don�t
want to remember what happened Greg but we need to
know,� Gil looked straight into Greg�s eyes, the boy looked both terrified and
nauseous. Greg nodded slowly.

::Okay,
but this may take some time:: Gil nodded but kept his hand running through
Greg�s hair.

�Take all the time you
need.�

CSICSICSI

�Mr Hampton,� Brass said as he
approached the man nursing a cup of what the hospital called coffee. Michael
looked up at him, Brass could visibly see the guys� defences go up- he went
from tired, concerned parent and husband to court room lawyer in less than five
seconds.

�Detective Brass,� he said
offering the seat opposite him.

�You can drop the �Lawyer Act�;
I�m only here because my friend who�s lying in the bed back there asked me to
talk to you,�

�What about?�
Michael lost some of the open hostility and settled on guard suspicion.

�Drake Sanders broke out two
days ago,� Brass said bluntly. Hampton
sank back into his chair.

�I know; why do you think I�m
trying to more Greg to a more secure unit?� he said sounding genuinely upset,
realisation dawned on Brass.

�That�s why you had the band
transferred��

�If I had moved just my family
they would have been suspicious of my motives, so I moved all of them. Of
course Gecko kicked off � he told me he has his own health insurance policy and
didn�t need me hand outs, blah, blah, the usual�� he said and scrubbed his face
with his hands. Against his better judgement Brass was beginning to feel sorry
for the guy.

�Kids, huh?� Bras said
sympathetically, Michael snorted.

�No, this mess is all on me. I
made an unforgivable mistake with Greg once and I�ve been paying for it ever
since,�

�What happened?� Brass asked,
Michael snorted.

�Still a cop huh?�

�Hey, buddy, I�m just curious, I
used to be Greg�s supervisor- he never mentioned his family,� he raised his
hands in a surrender, Michael sighed.

�Sorry. I�m not surprised he
didn�t mention us, he�s very good at making noise � he can talk you in circles
until you can�t even remember what you asked him,� He took a swig of the
lukewarm coffee and grimaced at the taste.

�The thing is, the trial �
Drake�s trial - traumatised Greg he came
out of that room shaking, Drake had lost it he screamed something at him, I
can�t remember the exact words but the gist was that Greg should have �kept his
big mouth shut and he was going to pay�,� he laughed humourlessly.

�Drake got his wish, it was a
year and a half before Greg could bring himself to speak again,� having
finished his coffee Michael was angrily tearing the polystyrene cup to pieces.
Brass� eyes went wide.

�Greg �I-can�t-shut-up� Sanders
was a mute?� He clarified trying to equate a silent child with the chatterbox
he knew.

�It�s why we all know ASL � that
was Arissa�s idea, one of her best,�

�That worked?�

�Yeah, Greg wasn�t trying to be
difficult he was simply too scared to open his mouth�� Michael pushed the
pieces of the cup to one side he waited for Brass to take that in.

�That still doesn�t explain the
animosity between you two,�

�There is no animosity from me
towards Greg; it�s all the other way but it was asked for. I screwed up- what
can I say? I was 24 when I married Katy and applied for adoption, I was in the
same Frat house as Greg for God�s sake, I got him in.
I was trying to be a dad in the evenings and one of the guys during the day.
Anyway a couple of nights after the trial I was in a bar with some of the guys
just shooting the breeze. I was waiting for Kat to buzz me to get picked up and
we got talking about my situation, they couldn�t see why the star quarter back
would adopt a kid who even then was a science nerd. Instead of defending him I
told them it was a package deal that if I wanted the other two I had to take
all three. Completely untrue of course but I didn�t want to explain to a bunch
of jokes about my son. I didn�t know he was there, they did � thought it was
the funniest thing ever. Turns out Kat couldn�t get a signal and had asked him
to find me,� Michael sighed and looked at Brass.

�They actually thought they had
done me a favour when Greg refused the adoptions. The ones I still see now
regret it of course � now they�ve bothered to get to know him and I have no
idea why I�m telling you my life�s story- are you sure you�re not a
lawyer?� He finished, Brass shrugged.

�I was here,� Brass replied. He
got up.

�I�ve got to go talk to Greg,�
he said trying to keep his voice even though he had come to the conclusion that
he really didn�t care about this guy who had screwed up his friend, Michael
nodded but didn�t move as Jim walked away.

CSICSICSI

Greg was near tears by the end
of his tale, he had stopped several times and Gil had to encourage him to
continue, when he had finished Greg had turned away from him, too ashamed to
look him in the eye.

Gil gently turned his face back.

�You did very well, Greg, don�t
look away from me. You have done nothing wrong,� Gil was trying to cover his
rage at the perpetrators so that Greg didn�t see it, but he couldn�t he was
literally vibrating with suppressed fury. Greg eyed him cautiously.

::You�re
angry::

�Yes I am, but not with you,� he
assured the lab tech. Greg let out a sigh of relief that made the rock in Gil�s
stomach double in size. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jim reappear at the
door.

�Greg, you up
to answering Jim�s questions?�

::Sure,
I wouldn�t want you to get into trouble for talking to me first:: Greg gave him
a smile that was barely a shadow of his former grin, but it was enough to give
Gil hope that he might get through this.

�Sure Jim, ask away,� he said
not translating exactly what Greg has said.

�Greg can you
think of anyone besides Drake who might have a grudge against a band member or
the band in general?�

::No
sorry but you�d be better off asking Aris or Cat, they both know them better
than me. Some of those guys I only met tonight::

�Okay, Michael kept referring to
a Cat, who it that?�

::Katy-
Cat�s shorter to sign::

�Well that�s one mystery solved.
Does Arissa have a boyfriend or someone who might be jealous?�

::Not
that I know of, she hangs out with Dan Langston a lot but I think they�re just
friends. You should ask her::

�What about you?�

::No, I
don�t have boyfriend either:: Greg smirked

�Cute, what
about a girlfriend?�

::No::

�Anyone in the
recent past?�

::No::

�Really?
I mean come on, you used to have a different girl every week, and you�re
telling me that none of those girls might be pissed at you?� Greg frowned and
switched his attention to Grissom

::You
said I had done nothing wrong::

�No, Greg, you haven�t, Jim is
just trying to find out if anyone might have wished you harm,� Gil assured him.

Greg looked less then convinced.

�Did anything seem unusual
during the performance or around that time � anyone out of place? Anything?� Brass was getting frustrated and so pushing Greg
for answers. His was getting very irritated and that was not helping Greg to
calm down, in fact he was become more worked up.

::No I don�t know; it was the
first gig I�ve done in 5 years, I don�t know what�s supposed to happen and
besides before the show I spent the entire time puking my guts out in the
toilets:: Greg covered his eyes with his hand and was shaking.

�Jim, that�s enough,� Grissom
said going from friend to pissed off supervisor in a blink of an eye. Brass
sighed, aware he�d probably pushed it too far and definitely further then he
would have done with any anomalous victim. Somehow he expected Greg to be a
better witness but he was already doing more then most.

�What the hell?� Michael
exclaimed stalking into the room, he glared at Brass and Gil as he sat on the
bed next to Greg. He wrapped his arms around the shaking form and pulled him
close.

�Hey Gecko, it�s
okay- they�re going, they�re going,� he soothed tightening his grip, it was a
testament to how worked up Greg was that he was able to hold him. He glared at
the two men still standing in the room.

�They are leaving right now and
they will not be returning,� the unspoken �or else� hung in the air. Gris
nodded and ushered Brass out. They reached the car park before either spoke.

�I�m sorry Gil, I was pissed at
that lawyer and I know Greg is hiding something from us,�

�You � he�s hiding something
from you and it�s not me you should be apologising too,� Gil said shortly

�I know that too, I doubt I�ll
be allowed back in tonight, I�ll come back in the morning before shift and do
it,� Brass conceded sheepishly. Gil sighed and turned Brass, glancing quickly
over the Detective�s shoulder.

�I would be very surprised if he
will still be here in the morning,� he said fixing his gaze on the hospital
entrance. Brass turned following his line of vision. A limo had pulled up in
the hospital doorway Michael was clutching Greg to his chest holding him fiercely
whilst arguing with the doctors. Apparently Michael won because the doctor did
nothing to stop him getting into the limo still carrying Greg.

�Great,� Brass muttered under
his breath.

CHAPTER 6

�Oh my God, but I hardly touched
him!� Aris said between laughs

�I know but that�s CSIs for
you,� Nick said, he was sitting on the edge of her bed as he told Aris about
Catherine�s and Warrick�s first reaction to the concert DVD. Arissa sighed and
looked across at Katy, who was still out from the pain killers.

�You know if I had any idea who
hurt us I�d tell you, right?�

�I know, don�t sweat it we�ll
catch them,� Nick said, running a hand through her hair. He lent into her
slowly watching for any signs of reluctance. Their lips were a millimetre away
when the door opened with a bang causing them to jump apart guiltily. Michael
stormed in still holding Greg. Arissa�s eyes went
wide.

�Oh my God, what happened?� she
exclaimed trying to get to the bed that Michael put him on. Nick caught her
around the waist and stopped her, she watched as the doctor bustled over to
check him.

�Papa, what�s going on?� she
pleaded with Michael.

�If they think I�m going to
leave him to that wolf of a detective and his arrogant jumped up criminalist partner they have another think coming. Who are
you?� he snapped at Nick suddenly noticing him.

�I�m Nick Stokes, sir, I work
with Greg,� Nick said calmly, although his accent had thickened somewhat.

�Really so
another CSI? You can get out too, I�m not going to have my kids upset
under the pretence of questioning� he fumed.

�Papa, no!
Nick came to visit me because I asked him too, he�s not her as a CSI he�s here
as my guest,� Aris insisted, a movement in Michael�s peripheral vision caught
his attention.

::Nick�s
a good guy, Michael, I promise:: Greg backed his sister up. Michael sighed

�I know when I�m beaten don�t
worry � one raised voice though and he�s gone- got it?� he said warningly,
three nods later he left. Greg grinned sheepishly.

::Hi,
Nick::

�Greg, I don�t sign, sorry,�

�He said hi- which is Gecko
speak for �what are you doing here and why are you sitting on my sisters bed?��
Aris loosely translated.

�He can say all that with two
signs? Wow, I never knew �hi� could mean so much�� Nick grinned at her and then
at Greg. His smile faltered when he saw the damage done to his friend. He got
off the bed and went over for a closer inspection.

�Jesus,� he muttered gently
brushed the hair away from Greg�s forehead. Greg pulled away.

::It�s
not that bad:: he signed; Nick frowned and turned to Arissa, but kept a hand on
Greg�s arm. Aris rolled her eyes.

�He say�s �it�s not that bad�.
Mind you, when he got blown up, he told us he- and I quote- �had a little
accident work�,� she informed Nick � he turned back to Greg in time to catch
the lab tech glare at his sister. Arissa was unfazed by the visual daggers.

�What you have to understand
Nick is my brother, while putting on an arrogant twat act where ever he can,
actually has a skewed sense of self-worth. In actual
fact he doesn�t have seem to have any self-worth and under plays anything that
happens to him as if he doesn�t matter. For proof of this, pay him an honest
compliment and observe the colour change,� as she spoke, she kept her focus on
Greg who was trying to disappear into the bed. Nick looked at him.

�Is she serious?�

::No::

�He says no but means yes,�
Arissa translated. Nick sighed and ran a hand through Greg�s hair.

�You do realise it�s common opinion that you are the best Tech in the
States, don�t you?� he said sincerely, genuinely curious if Arissa was correct.
A blush crept up over Greg�s face and neck.

�Told you,� came
a sing-song voice from the other side. Nick smiled and filed the reaction under
mostly useless except as blackmail material. Obviously he gave away what he was
thinking because Greg cringed and rolled away from him. Arissa slid off her bed
and hobbled over to Greg�s, she perched on the end and tried to roll Greg back.

�Aww, don�t be like that Gecko,
come one,� she cooed as she pulled him back. Greg gave and let her roll him, as
he came over he met her gaze head on. Nick could have sworn that in the few
seconds that the two stared at each other an entire conversation had taken
place. Tears formed in Arissa�s eyes.

�Oh my poor brother,� she whispered,
she lent down and embraced Greg. This seemed to break the dam; Greg started
shaking and tears trickled from his eyes. Aris started to try and lift Greg to
a sitting position, but it was clear that with her cast preventing her from
standing properly that she couldn�t.

�Let me, Aris,� Nick said softly
going around to the other side of the bed; Aris nodded and reluctantly moved
away allowing Nick to reach round Greg. He lifted the lab tech easily, Arissa
move the bed to a sitting position. She climbed up next to Greg and pulled him
carefully onto her lap. Greg rested his head on her shoulder and tried to slow
his breathing, all the movement had awakened every injury he had even through
the pain meds. Nick looked at the two tears leaked in his own eyes; he knew
what had happened he heard the report from Catherine. He didn�t know who the
bastards were that had hurt them but he was going to find out. His gaze ticked
to the door and he considered leaving.

�Stay,� Aris pleaded, he met
first her eyes then Greg�s. Greg pointed at Nick ad then at the vacant part of
the bed where he�d been a few moments ago. Nick hesitated.

�Oh surely I don�t need to
translate that,� Arissa scolded lightly, Nick sighed knowing he was beaten and
unlaced his boots. He hopped up on the bed, it was a tight squeeze and his arm
was sandwiched between his side and Arissa.

She rolled her eyes.

�You can out your arm around us,
we don�t have cooties,� she teased, Nick blushed

�I didn�t want to assume��

�Look I�m about as tactful as a
poke in the head with a sharp stick � If I don�t like what you�re doing I�ll
let you know. Until then�� she picked up his arm and dumped it around her
shoulders. Nick smiled and gave her a squeeze before making himself comfy. He
glanced at Greg who was grinning at him.

�What?� he asked, Greg signed
something at him but instead of interpreting Arissa answered for him.

�No, but I�m hopeful,� she said.
Greg smiled and signed something else that made Arissa grin. She kissed the top
of his head.

�Go to sleep,� she whispered,
Greg nodded but before he closed his eyes he swung his legs over Nick�s
effectively pinning both of them to the bed.

Arissa smiled.

�Take it as a compliment; even
drugged he won�t fall asleep unless he feels 100% safe,� she advised.

Nick smiled

�Why don�t you get some sleep
too, okay?� he suggested, Arissa smiled at him.

�Can I get a goodnight�s kiss?�
she asked quietly, already leaning in, Nick met her halfway and gently sealed
his lips over hers in a slow gentle kiss. Neither of them noticed that Greg�s
eyes had opened; he smiled contently before drifting off into a restful sleep.

Several hours later Nick was
woken when someone cleared their throat loudly. It took him a moment to work
out why he was sharing a bed with a co-worker and the gothic queen. When he did
he glanced round the room and noticed both Michael and Katy sitting by the bed.
Nick winced when he saw their expression.

�Sir. Ma�am.� he said trying to sound professional whilst in a
puppy pile with their kids. He felt a movement on his side and turned to see
that Greg had woken up and was signing, he felt relief that he wasn�t going to
have to face them alone.

::He�s
a friend, his name�s Nick:: and he closed his eyes again. Nick turned back to
the Hampton�s they both looked from Greg to him, Katy glared.

�Let me guess- CSI and don�t
know ASL?� she sneered, Nick decided he liked her better when she was seeing
monkey�s in the curtains. Michael squeezed her hand stopping her from
commenting further. Greg sighed loudly, opening his eyes and glaring at Katy.
She huffed at him.

�Yeah, well, I don�t trust the
Las Vegas crime lab and I trust the CSIs even less � with reason I might
add,� she was speaking to Greg but
glaring at Nick.

Nick tensed.

�Look, Ma�am, I don�t want to
cause a problem here so I�m going to�� he went to get up but was pulled back

�Stay put,� Aris finished his
sentence for him yanking on the back of his shirt, she too glared at Katy.

�You are being unreasonable,
Mama,� she said, her voice quivering with tension.

�They blew up your brother!�
Katy seethed.

�No, there was an accident and
Gecko got hurt. It�s a bit like my father organising us a gig where four of my
friends dies and the rest of us are injured. So should I be blaming Papa for that?�
she snapped.

Nick cringed he did not want to be involved in a domestic. Before Katy could
respond Greg joined in, he signed something that stalled her. She sighed and
ran a hand through her hair.

�Look, you might trust them, I
don�t, and I still want you to quit, Gecko we can support you,� she sounded
pleading but the way Greg reacted implied that this was a recurring
conversation. He rolled his eyes at her and turned away.

�Gecko, please, listen to your
mother�� Greg cut Michael off with short gestures. Katy instantly teared up, she took off. Michael glared at Greg.

�That was uncalled for,� He
chastised, Greg was shaking slightly; if Nick�s hand hadn�t been on his
shoulder he wouldn�t have noticed.

�Hey, lay off, okay?� he said to
Michael, formality giving way to loyalty to his friend. He gave Greg�s shoulder
a squeeze, Greg looked at him and signed something.

�Greg, don�t be stupid, you
still need medical care,� Michael snapped

�Greg asked you if he could
leave with you, Nick,� Arissa informed him, bristling at Michael. �And he�s not
stupid,� she glared at her adoptive father.

Nick looked at Greg and sighed.

�Greg, Mr Hampton is right�.�
Nick started but Greg cut him off. When he had finished Michael cast one look
at him then turned to Aris.

�Do you agree with him?� he
demanded

�Papa, please don�t be this way.
I love you, but don�t make me choose,� she begged Michael, he studied her face.

�Are you taking the girls?
They�re outside,� he whispered shakily

�We�re not going far and not forever,
this is not the end of the world,� she tried to explain.

�What�s going on?� Katy asked,
reappearing.

�The twins want to leave; they
are going back to the apartment. Yes, they are taking the girls,� Michael
summarised, which helped Nick because he now understood what was going on.

�Mama, please I�m not moving out
but you are tearing Gecko in two directions, and right now we need CSI on our
side,� she tried explaining to Katy when Michael didn�t seem to buy it.

�And what
about medical treatment?�

�Desert Palms is fine and we can
both be discharged. Please don�t make this a war; Gecko is leaving and I am
going with him. I don�t want us to be alone again,� Aris finished with a
whisper, she had the best puppy dog eyes Nick had ever seen, he then looked at
Greg and amended that to the second best. Katy looked like her heart was
breaking, Michael was the same. The Hampton�s shared a look then Michael
nodded.

�I�ll have a car made ready,
please don�t leave before we return, we want to say goodbye,� he said standing,
the twins nodded and they left. As soon as they were out of sight the puppy dog
looks disappeared. Nick waited until he was sure they were out of ear shot;

�How many times have you pulled
that?� he asked. Greg had the grace to look sheepish; Arissa grinned.

�Can�t remember, but it works
every time,� she said smirking. The door crept open again.

�Mama!� two girls shrieked and
ran in.

�Luna, Solaris, careful, Gecko
is hurt,� Aris warned before they could pounce on the bed. The girls immediately
started walking and settled down carefully on the foot of the bed.

�Gecko is hurt and yet you too
have a cast,� one of the girls observed. Nick was stunned.

�Identical twins,� he muttered,
remembering reading somewhere that some families had a genetic propensity
towards twins.

�Wow, this one�s observant� one
of the girls said rolled her eyes.

�Luna!� Aris admonished,
sounding shocked. Greg was trying to smother a laugh. Nick smiled at her.

�Sorry, I�m just surprised
that�s all,�

�It�s cool we�re used to it. Who
are you?� the other one asked bluntly.

�Solaris!� by this time Greg was
biting into a knuckle in an effort not to burst out laughing.

�Nick, I am so sorry, I�d like
to say that they are not always like this but I would be lying,� Aris said
embarrassed, Nick laughed.

�Don�t worry. I�m Nick Stokes, I
work with Greg�

�Cool. Who�s Greg?�

�He means Gecko sweetie,�

�Oh, why didn�t he say so?�

�Long story,�

�We like stories,�

�We don�t have time. Look you
need to go find Grandma and Papa, they�re going to take you home so you can
pack, we�re going to stay with Gecko for a bit so bring what you want, some
clothes and your school work!� the girls offered Arissa a grin before dashing
off the way they came. Nick watched them go thoughtfully.

�How old are they?�

�The girls?
They�re ten,� Aris replied warily.

�Huh�� Nick said taking that in.

�They�re yours aren�t they?� he
asked hoping his voice was light, bur Arissa still froze.

�Yeah, yeah they�re mine,� she
answered. Nick thought on that before speaking;

�He really is a bastard,� he
said with feeling, as soon as he spoke he felt the room ease like a rope had
been cut, Aris laughed with relief.

�Yeah he really is. The girls
though are mine � nothing to do with him, I�m fairly sure he doesn�t even know
about them and that�s the way it�s going to stay, they are a silver lining in a
very dark cloud,� she sighed fidgeting until she could turn.

�Here hold this,� she said
laughingly pushing Greg onto him. Greg didn�t seem too perturbed; he just
shifted across so he could lean his head on Nick�s shoulder. Nick looked
slightly surprised when Greg grabbed his arm and draped it round him like a
blanket; he promptly closed his eyes and fell asleep. Arissa had gotten herself
up and grabbed her crutches. She laughed at Nick�s face.

�Perhaps I should have told you-
Gecko loves cuddles � goes through phases were he can�t sleep alone. Despite
what my parents think, my brother does not trust easily, but he does trust
well. It says a lot about you that he is so comfortable with you,� she looked
at Greg; love and respect evident.

�He�s been through so much, in a
way more than me. It just doesn�t seem fair,� she said sounding pained.

She handed Nick a notepad and a pen.

�In case he wakes up� she explained
before leaving to go back and pack.

CHAPTER 7

Brass walked into the break room
and felt the temperature drop.

�Am I persona non
gratis?� he asked carefully, Catherine glared at him.

�I don�t know,
have you apologised to Greg yet?�

�I will as soon as I find him�
hold the visual homicide guys,� he said quickly when he looked like he was
going to receive more ice daggers.

�I�ve been burning some shoe
leather, I found one of the girls that Greg�s been seeing � she was in the
audience. She thinks that maybe she made a mistake in dumping him��

�So you�re snooping around our
friend- that�s a really not a good way to get back into out good books,�

�Yeah well, our friend is hiding something and you know what that does to me,�
Brass defended. Warrick sighed.

�Yeah man, we just don�t want to
be digging around in the past of someone we know � everyone has skeletons, know
what I�m sayin�?�

�I hear you, but the kid is
hiding something and given his past � I just want to make sure whatever it is
he�s hiding isn�t going to bite him in the ass,� he sighed, Catherine melted a
little.

�Okay, but we need to follow
other leads as well. Maybe he�s not scared; maybe he just doesn�t want us to
know,�

�You could be right, but if the
kid winds up killed because we, because I
didn�t dig deep enough�.� Brass shook
his head. He didn�t even want to go there, even hypothetically.

�Don�t worry man, it won�t so
you can stop digging,� Nick said strolling in and grabbing coffee. Sara stared
at him.

�Weren�t you wearing those clothes
yesterday?� she asked, Nick swallowed heavily.

�Yeah, I was at the clinic �
Greg was upset so I ended up staying the night� he said hoping he sounded
casual, after all it was true. She nodded but unfortunately Warrick wasn�t
satisfied.

�You went to see Greg or did you
go to see Arissa?� he asked.

�What�s it to you Rick? Anyway
what I was saying is that we need to look away from the twins,� he said
casually.

�The twins?
They�re a collective now?� Gris said, Nick cringed
internally at the slip.

�Yeah, Greg and Arissa � the
twins,� he said trying to sound casual, Grissom raised
an eyebrow not buying it for a minute but didn�t say anything else.

�Okay so if we take the twins,� he looked pointedly at Nick,
�out, who�s left?�

�Well, the rest of the band,
Katherine Hampton, Dan Langston, Gary Culitan,
Desdemona Singh, Conner Athens, Winston Delfine, Sheeraz Yusaf and Lisa Gilbert �
the last four being our corpses. The band manager who calls himself Bret
Reynolds and their lawyer the acidic, Mr Michael Hampton,� Catherine listed.

�Okay, let�s start with the Hamptons, does anyone have a motive?�

�Michael is one of the best
defence lawyers in town � the band is a side line, he only works for the very
rich and is the only one who has ever come up against your evidence and
testimony and won, Gil. As for the wife � she has a somewhat abrasive
personality according to Catherine,� Brass informed them.

�Nah, she�s just protective of
her kids,� Nick defended. Brass� phone started ringing so he left without reply
to take the call.

�Okay � let�s see if there are
any unsatisfied clients in Hampton�s past and if so where they are now��

�There is something else - the
band were going to be offered a record deal with a high end production company,
but it was conditional � they wanted Greg not Johnny Lloyds as lead guitar,�
Nick said remembering the conversation he had with the representative last
shift.

�Really?
That would give Johnny a motive to want Greg out of the way maybe revenge on
the rest of the band if they chose Greg over him,� Grissom conceded as Brass
walked back in.

�Nick, where exactly were you
last night?� he asked directly, Nick squirmed wondering if his sleeping
arrangements had been reported.

�I was with Greg,� he settled
on.

�Okay let me rephrase � where is
Greg? His guard seems to have lost him � and surprisingly so has Arissa�s,�

�What? How?�
Grissom growled looking at Brass.

�Why didn�t you guys keep track
of them?�

�Because they left the clinic
and didn�t bother to say they where going,� Brass aid getting defensive.

�That�s a lie, you guys were
nowhere in sight when we left � by the front door after signing out and it took
half an hour to get through the paperwork Brass and I didn�t see another cop
the entire time I was there. In fact it slipped my mind that they should have
been there,� Nick defended.

Brass glared at him

�You sure
about this?�

�Positive; the twins didn�t
leave my sight then entire time,� he insisted

�Right, I�ll have those jokers.
Do you know where the Sanders two are now?�

�Sure they�re at the� uh� Greg�s
apartment,� Nick said still swigging coffee. Brass nodded and went to make
another call.

Hodges past him on the way.

�Good, you�re all here, I got a
result on the trace you pulled from Greg�s neck,� he announced.

�Well?� Grissom prompted

�It�s calcium carbonate imbedded
on a linen thread,�

�Chalk?
How did chalk get in a neck wound?�

�It�s not just chalk, given how
important this case is to you�. I did a little more digging �it�s
plaster of Paris adhered to the fibre � like hospitals use to cast broken
limbs. I sent it to DNA,� he concluded, Grissom raised an eyebrow.

�Why?�

�I figured there might be
epithelia�s on it after all it did come from a broken limb,� he snapped before
leaving. Catherine sighed, how ever much she hated Hodges as a human being he
was a damn good tech � the best while Greg as out of action.

�I�ll go see what Bryson found,
if anything,� she muttered the last bit a she left the break room.

�I�m going to see if Reynolds
has anymore to say,� Grissom said leaving with Brass following him.

�I�ll go see if the doctor found
anything from the Y-cuts,� Sara added also leaving. Nick was the focus of
Warrick�s gaze. After a few minutes when it became clear that �Rick was not
going to start the conversation Nick spoke.

�What�s on you mind man?�

�Just wondering if Greg knows
you�re hitting on his sister,�

�Yeah, he does,�

�And?�

�And what?
Look what�s the problem? Greg�s cool with it, why aren�t you?� he asked
angrily. Warrick raised his hands in surrender.

�Look man, I�m just looking out
for Greg, he�s been through enough without having to deal with a friend and his
sister getting down without him knowing,� he defended. Nick sighed.

�Okay. Look man, what did happen
� Gris is playing the actual details of Greg�s attack quiet,� Nick asked, still
wondering about Arissa�s reaction to him. Warrick
looked at him for a long moment.

�The bastard didn�t just beat
him up��

�What does that mean?�

�We found a stain on his shirt �
semen mixed with Greg�s saliva � do the math and add in his injuries and
however you calculate it the answers not pretty,� �Rick dumped the rest of his
coffee down the sink and left Nick alone in the room.

�Bryson, you get anything from
the sample Hodges bounced over here?�

�We�re in luck � XY, not Greg
but matched one of the unknowns from under his nails. None of the samples match
the other victims or have any more then three loci in common with Greg.� He
said proudly.

Catherine sighed.

�We have a suspect,� she said feeling
like they were finally getting somewhere

�Just give me something to
compare it too,� he said confidently

�We will, don�t worry,� she
affirmed, walking out with a new sense of determination.

CHAPTER 8

�I�ll catch up with you later
Gil; I�ve got to do something,� Brass said heading for his own car. Grissom
nodded and headed off in search of the band manager.

Brass knocked on the apartment
door.

�Who is it?� a child voice
asked, Brass frowned.

�Detective Jim Brass, LVPD,� he
said rechecking his notes to make sure he had the right address. He heard a
security chain being slid across, Greg opened the door ushering the girl behind
him. He eyed Brass warily and didn�t move to let him in.

Brass sighed.

�Greg, I�m not here to have a
go. I wanted to apologise � I was out of line at the hospital, I�m sorry. Can I
come in?� Greg chewed on his lip for a second before nodding and stepping
aside. Brass let out the breath he hadn�t been aware of holding and glared at
the officers outside the door.

�This time you don�t go
anywhere, understood?� he snapped, they nodded looking properly chastised;
Brass nodded and stepped into the apartment. Greg looked nervous he had his
arms wrapped around his waist Brass cringed knowing he�d added to the kid�s
anxiety Greg seemed to snap out of his frozen stupor and indicated that they
should go into the kitchen. It wasn�t what Brass had expected. The room was
clean, tidy and organised. A small breakfast bar was set in one wall, Greg
indicated for him to sit and pulled out two coffee mugs, he looked at Brass
questioningly.

�Sure, but are you supposed to
be drinking coffee?� he asked

�No he�s not,� came a voice from
the door, Brass turned and smiled, a small girl stood in the doorway her arms
folded across her chest, looking disapprovingly at Greg. She was wearing blue
jeans and a black t-shirt, her long brown hair was plaited and hung down her
back. Brass frowned.

�Weren�t you wearing black jeans
a minute ago?� he asked the girl, she smiled condescendingly at him.

�No, but Luna is,� she said, as
she spoke Luna appeared and walked over to Greg.

�Gecko, I�m hungry�� she whined,
Greg smiled and reached into a cupboard he pulled out two bags of crisps, he
handed the ready salted to Luna and held out the salt and Vinegar for Solaris
to see. She nodded and he tossed that packet to her.

�Thank you,� Luna said and
wandered out. Solaris stared at Brass before asking Greg something in
Norwegian; he stopped making the coffee for a second and gave her a nod. The
girl smiled at Greg, glared at Jim and left the room. Greg placed a cup of
coffee in front of Jim and sat opposite him. Brass sighed.

�Now I feel like and even bigger
jerk � at the hospital I was frustrated with not getting anywhere and I knew
you hiding something. I�m sorry I never guess you were trying to protect your
family,� he said feeling like a ham. Greg smiled and raised his coffee to his
lips, but before he could take a drink a hand covered the cup and pushed it
down. Greg sighed heavily causing Brass to laugh. Arissa sat down next to Greg
and stole his cup.

�Detective Brass, I�m Arissa �
I�m Greg�s twin and if you think Papa is bad when he�s pissed I promise you ain�t seen nothing yet,� she
glared at him. Brass winced, he knew that Hampton had stirred up a hornets nest
with both the Mayor and the Sheriff; he had both of them on his back warning
him to lay off the kids and find out who was behind the attacks. He had been
chewed out daily by both for the lack of progress. He pushed that thought
aside, it was not Greg�s fault � in fact he had a feeling that Greg would be
appalled to find out the high-power wrangling being done on his behalf.

�I�ll keep that in mind,� he
said before turning his attention back to Greg.

�Did you � either of you - see
Johnny Lloyds at the show?� he asked

�No, but he�s broken his arm, I
doubt he would have been stupid enough to be in the pit and quite frankly from
the stage you can�t see the rest of the auditorium. How do you think I ever
convinced Gecko to get up there?� she nudged Greg�s arm as she finished � Greg
glared at her in response, Brass nodded and sighed again.

�Well it was a long shot,� he
said resignedly sipping his coffee. He took the time to study Greg; the
bruising on his face had become a mottled purple mess, the bruising around his
neck stood out starkly against the pale pallor of his skin.

�So how you holding up kid?� he
asked genuinely curious. Greg shrugged and smiled weakly at him.

�That�s Greg language for I�m in
pain, humiliated, in need of reassurance from my friends as well as my family
but I don�t have the confidence to ask for it,� Aris filled in. Greg glared at
her again and bolted out of the room. Arissa didn�t seem phased by his sudden
departure; she just shrugged and sipped her stolen coffee.

�He�s embarrassed, sorry but I
get so mad at him sometimes, he won�t ask for what he needs. At the moment he
doesn�t have much of a choice so I�m trying to get the point across to him that
his friends actually do give a damn. I think I might have to use a jackhammer to
get it into his thick skull��

�He thinks we don�t care?� Brass
sounded aghast.

�Well, Catherine blew him up,
Grissom made him subject to a humiliating procedure, Sara barely gives him the
time of day, you all treat him like a flake and you interrogated him as though
he was a suspect. So, I guess the question is, do you?�

�Of course we do!� he snapped
angrily, Arissa raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow.

�Then why are you still in
here?� she asked casually, Brass went to reply but changed his mind and followed
Greg out. He found the lab tech curled up on the sofa, his knees drawn up to
his chin. He looked up as Brass entered the room. His eyes went wide and he
jumped up, the wince giving away that he shouldn�t have done that, picked up a
notepad, scribbled on it and handed it to Brass.

:I�m
sorry she shouldn�t have said that: Brass read the note and looked back at Greg
who was once again looking nervous. Brass flicked though the pad, it seemed to
be the way Greg communicated with the girls.

�I take in the kids don�t sign,
huh?� he asked handing the pad back to Greg. Greg shrugged before writing
another note and handing back.

:Not
yet:

Brass laughed.

�Fast learners too?� Greg
nodded; Brass went back to the apology and reread it, in a swift movement he
tore the page out. He gently placed the pad on the table.

�You don�t ever need to
apologise for your family � especially when they are just looking out for you,�
he said screwing the note up. Greg nodded but avoided eye contact with the
detective. Brass moved closer and lifted Greg�s chin with his fingers as he had
seen Grissom do at the hospital. It was only then that the Captain could feel
the tremors running through the lithe frame.

�Jesus, Greg. You�re safe you
know I�m not going to hurt you right?� he whispered, Greg closed his against
the embarrassment, inwardly still cursing the drugs that took away his ability
to control his emotions, and nodded. Brass looked at the young man in front of
him. For the first time he realised that Greg was a similar age to Ellie.
Similar in age but he�d turned out so differently � the thought propelled Brass
to do something he would never have considered under different circumstances.
He wrapped his arms around the lab tech and pulled him against his own body.
Greg tensed when he felt arms tightening around him and tried to resist the
hand that was trying to coax him to lay his head on a broad shoulder. Greg
could feel the tears welling up in him and fought to maintain the shred of
control he had.

�Greg, let go, you don�t have to
face this alone,� Brass whispered, he felt Greg nod against his hand before
pulling away. Brass felt disappointed that the young man didn�t trust him
enough to drop he defences. Greg picked up the pad.

:I�m
okay. Thanks Brass: Jim sighed and took that as his cue to leave.

�If you need anything phone�
text me or any of us- we�ll be here,� he promised him solemnly. Greg nodded and
walked him to the door. Brass turned to him and pulled out a card, he wrote his
home and mobile numbers on it before handing it to Greg.

�24/7 Greg, even if you just
want to talk � when you�re voice is back anyway,� he locked eyes with the
younger men to make sure that Greg knew he was deadly serious. Greg took the
card and nodded; Brass reached up and ran a hand through Greg�s abnormally flat
hair.

�You get a paper cut I want to
know about it, okay?� he said. Greg nodded turning the card over in his hands.
Brass nodded as though reassuring himself of something before opening the door
and leaving.

Greg leant his head against the
door and sighed loudly. Arissa appeared and studied him.

�You need to let to trust them,
Gecko � without exception, every one of your friends I�ve met loves you,� she
said with certainty. Greg turned to face her.

::Maybe,
but it should have been my choice, not yours. Don�t make decisions for me; you
of all people should know how that makes me feel::
Arissa gathered him into her arms.

�I know and I�m sorry. I never
meant to hurt you Greg,� she whispered, he nodded but pulled away from her. He
need time to think, time to breathe and sort out what had happened to him. He
needed time to himself and that was the one thing he couldn�t seem to get.
Arissa sighed and watched as Greg quietly left and disappeared into his
bedroom. She felt the tears form in her eyes; she knew that Greg desperately
wanted to be alone to lick his wounds but she also knew that if he had it he
was fix his walls and put his mask back on and never deal with what happened.
That didn�t mean however that being around his messed up twin sister and her
daughters (themselves a reminder of unpleasant events, however much they loved
them) was a good thing either, she reached for her phone and with shaking hands
dialled Nick�s number.

�Stokes,�
�Nick?�
�Arissa?
Are you alright?�
�Nick, I need your help,� she
hated how weak her voice sounded.

�Aris, you�re not making any
sense- are you alright? Has something happened to Greg?�
�Yes, no, sort of. Nick, I have
to go home � the girls, they�re too much for him. Oh God, I don�t know what to
do I can�t leave him alone but we�re hurting him being here,� she was aware she
was becoming hysterical but couldn�t stop herself.

�Aris�Arissa! Calm down,
breathe, girl, you�re going to make yourself ill. I�m on my way over,�
�No, Nick, listen Greg can�t be
alone, but we can�t stay. He needs someone he trusts and someone who can
understand him,� Arissa explained trying to get herself under control. She
could feel the tears falling and collapsed onto the couch. She was immediately
engulfed by a set of small arms; she looked down only now realising that
Solaris was in the room. She smiled at her and hugged her back.

�Alright, listen Aris I�ll sort
something but I think that Greg isn�t the only one in need of support,�
�I know that�s why I�m going home�
�No offence, but the last thing
you need right now are your parents,�
�I have no where else to go,�
�Stay with me,�
�Nicky, I can�t do that to you,�
�Look, I have a spare room,
it�ll be tight with four of us but it�ll work,�
�No, Nicky, I can�t put you out
like that,�
�It�s no problem Aris; I�ll pick
you up at the end of shift ok?�
�Okay, I�ll see you later,�
��Bye Aris, get some rest��
��Bye Nick�� she hung up the
phone and looked down at her daughter. Solaris handed her a tissue.

�Thanks kiddo. I�m sorry this
has been rough on you guys too,� she said brushing her fringe, Solaris smile at
her.

�Yeah but we�ll manage � we�re
almost as tough as you,� she said still smiling. Arissa kissed her forehead.

�Tougher, but I wish you didn�t
have to be,�

�Yeah, well, that�s you motto
isn�t it? �Life sucks�,�

�It does indeed. Look, you�ve
got a choice you and your sister can come with me to Nicky�s place or you can
go home,� She told her daughter.

Solaris frowned.

�Okay� so why did you bring us?�

�Because I
want you with me, silly! But I understand that you miss your home and
your rooms. It�s not fair of me to keep you moving especially with virtual
strangers,�

�I want to go home, mom, I love
you so much so does Luna, but seeing you and Gecko in so much pain�it�s hard��

�Oh sweetheart, you don�t have
to explain I�ll call mama and have her come pick you guys up,�

�Will you call us?� Solaris
asked in a small voice.

�Oh honey, I�m not leaving you!
It�s just until we get well. Of course I�ll call you- you won�t be able to stop
me,�

�I know, I think I can explain
it to Luna, but you know what she�s like � if it can�t be dissected she doesn�t
get it,�

�Don�t be mean to your sister,�

�I�m not, sorry. Look, let me go
find her and we�ll pack- again. I think you should talk to Gecko � he needs to
get ready too,� Solaris hopped up and left Arissa alone to wonder exactly when
her daughter got so smart. Know that she was right Arissa grabbed her crutches
and went off to find Greg. She slowly opened his bedroom door. He was curled in
the middle of the bed in the foetal position. He was deeply asleep; she glanced
at the bedside table. After three days it looked like he had finally taken one
of the sleeping pills the doctor had prescribed. She crept back out, knowing that
if she woke him he would feel bad as the drug would still be in his system.
Instead, she phoned Katy and made arrangements for the Girls. In another half
hour it would be safe for her to pack Greg�s stuff for him. Then, all she had
to do was wait for Greg to wake or Nick to arrive �
which ever came first.

CHAPTER 9

Nick hung up and met Warrick�s
gaze they had been in the layout room going over the new evidence when Aris had
called, along with every other nightshift CSI. Gris looked at him expectantly.

�Everything�s fine, she�s just
worked herself into a state,� he said rejoining the group. Gil nodded then
continued.

�Okay, the evidence is looking
like the regular guitarist orchestrated this and we know it was he was also
responsible for the attempt on Greg�s life. He�s also missing and our only
suspect. Okay, Catherine, Sara we�re going to search his apartment. Warrick
you�re on the DVD and security if he�s in there find him and anyone he talked
to. Nick, I want you to help Rick. Let�s go,� with the meeting over Nick waited
for the others to leave.

�Rick can I have a word with
you?� he asked in what he hoped was a casual voice. Rick�s eye narrowed as the
securitised him, but he nodded.

�Sure, man,� Nick closed the
door in an effort to give them some semblance of privacy. Rick frowned
wondering what could be so important that Nick looked like he was going to his
own execution.

�What�s up?� he asked finally.
Nick sighed and fell into the chair next to him.

�Okay, first of all, if I wasn�t
in a complete hole I wouldn�t bring this up. Secondly I�ve known for a while
and it�s not a problem and I�m not trying to use this against either of you,�

�Whoa, whoa, slow down Nick, I
have no idea what you�re talking about,� he cut in, Nick eyed him cautiously.

�You and Gris.
Look, man, I saw you with him at the Blue Lounge � you were always on at me to
come and see you and the night I did Gris was there and after your set I went
to say hi but Gris got to you first and��

�Oh�� was all Warrick could
think of to say.

�Yeah, as I said, I wouldn�t
have bought it up but I need your advice � help if you�re willing,� he finished
quickly. Warrick nodded thinking.

�I haven�t played at the Blue
Lounge for over three months. You�ve known all this time and you haven�t let
on?� he verified, Nick nodded; Warrick looked at his best friend with new
respect.

�After that how can I refuse?
What do you need man?� he asked, Nick let out a sigh of relief.

�It�s Greg, Aris says that he
can�t relax with them there, but she doesn�t want him alone��

�You want me to talk Gris into
staying with him?� Warrick interpreted. Nick nodded and waited while Rick
though it out.

�I probably can�t convince him
to stay with Greg, but I think I can convince him to let Greg stay with us
though,�

�If you can, I owe you one big time,� Nick said, he let out a chuff
of air. �I so thought you were going to hit me,� he confessed.

Warrick smiled.

�I�ll see what I can do, and
Nick, you�re my best friend and you continue to amaze me- why would I want to
hit you for covering my back?!� he asked knocking Nick�s arm with his.

�Come on, we need to get to the
A/V lab,� Rick said getting up. Nick followed after saying a prayer to which
ever God got him through that conversation without losing a friend.

CSICSICSI

�God, did this guy ever clean?�
Catherine exclaimed glancing around the apartment. There were dirty clothes and
plates all over the place, enough beer cans to build an SUVB and the entire
place smelt like the gym bag Lindsey left in her locker over a summer break
where the school�s air conditioning had been off. Sara wrinkled her nose.

�Doesn�t look like it. Well if
nothing else we�ll get a DNA sample,�

�Let�s see what else we can
find,� Gil said snapping on a pair of gloves. Brass smirked.

�Rather you then me,� he joked
earning him scowls from the ladies.

�Hey, Brass, I heard you upset
Greg � you talked to him yet?� Sara said still throwing visual daggers.

�Yeah, I went round there. The
kids a mess and I don�t think he appreciated the mother-hen routine that the
Queen of the Damned is doing,� he informed them

�Yeah, well that�s what
relatives do, and don�t let Nick hear you call her that!� Catherine warned
whilst dusting the table.

�You�re kidding; Texan has
hooked up with Dracula�s Bride?�

�Yup, so play nice,� Catherine
grinned at him. Brass shook his head; he couldn�t quite see what Nick saw in
Aris, but each to their own.

�Hey, guys,
look at this,� Sara came out the bedroom clutching a small black book.

�What�s that?� Gil asked walking
over.

�It�s an address book; it was
down the back of the mattress. I�m guess it fell out of sight and he forgot it.
It�s got the band members listed and three other names; a Neil Balson, Tom Locum and Carlos Matinez��

�Who are they?� Catherine asked.

Sara shrugged.

�I guess that�s what we are
going to find out,� she said bagging the book. Gil nodded and went back to the
living room. Brass took note of the names.

�I�m going to get those three
run see if anything pops up,� he said digging out a radio.

It was almost the end of the
shift before they made it back to the lab. Warrick glanced up in time to see
his lover heading into DNA; he looked over at Nick who nodded at him. Warrick
sighed and walked out the A/V lab. Gil was coming out of DNA when Rick caught
up with him

�Hey Gris, can I have a word?�
he asked realising that he sounded like Nick had earlier.

�Sure, did you find something
relevant to the case?�

�Sort of.
Can we talk in your office?� he prompted causing Gil to raise an eyebrow but he
nodded and led Warrick to the office. Once they were both inside Gil closed the
door. Noticing how the CSI had collapsed into a chair Gil braced himself for bad news. He sat down behind the desk.

�What�s on your mind, Rick?�

�Nick knows,�
a simple statement that could mean the end of their careers.

�How did he react?�

�That�s the thing, he�s known
for months,�

�Why did it come up now?�

�He wanted some advice��

�Advice?
About what?�

�How to convince you to look
after Greg,� Warrick said and then held his breath.

�I�m not sure I follow�� Gil
stated carefully.

�Greg isn�t coping well with his
sister but he can�t be on his own and you�re the only person outside his family
that can understand him and that he trusts,� Warrick explained. Gil nodded.

�I see and I suppose you told
Nick that I would be difficult to convince?�

�Yeah and I also told him we�d
have to take Greg to our place,�

�Home turf advantage�� Gil
agreed amicably.

Warrick smiled.

�Of course, I may have failed to
mention that we were planning on bringing Greg home when he was better. So how about it? Want to start operation �woo Greg� early?�
Warrick smirked.

�No,� Gil said firmly confusing
his younger lover

�No?�

�No. Of course we�ll take Greg
in because leaving him without any easy way of communicating seems
incomprehensibly cruel but we don�t push him. He was sexually assaulted, Rick,
we don�t want to scare him,� Gil chastised; Warrick flushed, embarrassed that
in his excitement he had forgotten the trauma the young man had been through.

�Damn, Gil, I forgot. I haven�t
even seen him since this all started,� Warrick admitted.

�I wouldn�t dwell on that, Rick;
we�ll go after shift and see if we can convince him to come with us,�

�Sure, Gil, I�ll go tell Nick,�
Warrick said still upset with himself for forgetting what happened. He left
feeling ambiguous; he didn�t want to lie to his friends but he couldn�t tell
him the truth, which was their hope that after they move him in, Greg would
never want to leave. He took a deep
breath and entered the A/V lab. As luck would have it, Archie was out of the
room. Nick looked up hopefully.

�It�s okay, we�ll go get him at
that end of shift,� he said.

�Thanks, man, I owe you,�

�No, you don�t. No offence Nick,
but we�re doing this for him not you,� Warrick said gently. Nick nodded and
went back to the surveillance tape as Archie reappeared.

By the end of the shift they had
identified the DNA off Greg�s shirt as a match to one of the bottles taken from
Lloyds� apartment. So now they had their primary suspect and motive, all that
was left to do was find him. Brass had officers out hunting high and low. So
far they hadn�t found anything. The team left feeling drained and worried for
their young friend from this point there wasn�t much more they could do for
him�

CHAPTER 10

Nick closed the door to his
truck slowly eyeing the blue Sedan
across the street.

�Something
wrong, Nicky?� Gil asked coming over.

�Yeah that Sedan
was in the same place when I left I swear,� he said pulling his phone out and
dialling. Grissom looked across at the car.

�There�s a driver still in it,�
he commented. Nick nodded and hung up.

�Brass is on his way, probably
with half the LVPD,� Nick told them walking up to the apartment. Rick snorted.

�Yeah well Greggo�s
has a lot of friends, even if he doesn�t know it�� he said, digging out his
badge to show the officer on duty. The cop nodded and let them past, Nick
knocked on the door.

�Who is it?� a young voice
called.

�It�s Nick,�

�Yeah?
Prove it!� the voice sound light and caused Nick to laugh. Gil looked
questioningly at Rick who shrugged he had no idea either.

�How would I do that and who are
you?� Nick asked teasingly.

�I�m me,�

��Yeah?
Prove it!�� Nick repeated her earlier words causing a shriek of laughter.

��And
how would I do that?�� the girl tried to imitate Nick�s accent, reasonably
successfully causing Nick to laugh.

�What�s
five times twelve?�

�In what base?� came the reply,
now that got the attention of the other CSIs. Nick
smirked.

�Luna, open the door!� he
shouted triumphantly.

�Aww, nuts!� came the reply
followed by the sound of the security chain being moved. Gris looked at Nick.

�How old is she?�

�Ten- and Greg�s the smart one
of the family,� he told them, he smiled as the door opened. Luna smiled up at
him, before letting them in. Solaris appeared behind Luna and smiled at Nick
and then saw the others.

�Who are you?� she asked with
guarded curiosity, she wasn�t too worried as they obviously knew Nick.

�This is Warrick Brown and Gil
Grissom,� Nick told her, he bent down to her level �He�s Gecko� boss,� he stage
whispered. Solaris nodded with sympathy.

�You poor man,� she told Gil causing them to
laugh. She grinned at making the adults laugh.

�Gecko�s asleep � mom thinks he
took one of the pills the doctor gave him,� she said told them, Nick looked at
her sternly.

�Did he?�

�Oh yes,� she nodded with
wide-eyed innocence. �He swallowed it right down along with his juice,� she
assured them. Warrick covered his laugh with a cough; Nick was desperately
fighting a smile.

�Now Solaris, what would you�re
mother say if she knew you�d slipped Gecko a Mickey?� he asked in a serious
voice.

Solaris though about the question for a second before
replying.

�She�d say she wished she had
thought of it first!� she announced proudly. Nick opened his mouth to chastise
her further the thought about it.

�You�re right she probably
would, but don�t in future if he has takes another one, not realising that you
gave him one he would be very ill, okay?� he informed her

�Nah, he�d just sleep long;
between one and four would cause over sedation, five and over it�s time to get
dialling and he hadn�t taken any, so probability was that he was going to start
with the minimum dose,� Luna said from behind him. Nick sighed knowing he was
beat.

�Okay, where�s your mom?�

�In the living room, so are Mama
and Papa Michael so don�t expect a warm welcome,� Luna
warned before leading them in. Warrick felt the temperature drop several
degrees as they entered; Katy stared at each of them in turn, but seemed to be
biting her tongue.

�I think that�s our cue to
leave,� she said to Michael instead of addressing the CSIs.

�Not yet Ma�am,� Nick told her.

�Why not?� she
hissed angrily.

�Because I�m fairly sure that
Drake is in a blue sedan parked across the street,� Nick said causally as
though this was an everyday thing. Katy�s fa�ade disappeared in a second.

�What? NO!� she shrieked running
to the window and looking out. She turned back to the room shaking; the rest of
her family seemed frozen in shock.

�Aris, come here, get the girls.
Michael get Gecko��

�Mrs Hampton, please calm down,
the police are on their way, you and the girls are perfectly safe; there are
officers on the door, you and the girls are safe� Nick tried to sooth her, but
is had the opposite effect.

�You don�t get it, he�s not
after us, he�s after Gecko!� she shrieked at him running down a corridor,
Warrick took off after here as they heard the sirens approaching fast.

CSICSICSI

Katy burst into Greg�s room and
barely registered what was going on. Drake Sanders was standing over the bed
with a large knife in his hand. She screamed, Warrick
came in behind her already pulling his weapon.

�Drop the knife!� He ordered the convict, aware that now Nick
and Gil were coming in behind him. Drake sneered at them, he grabbed Greg�s
shirt yanking him in front as a human shield. Warrick sneered, it was
impossible to get a clear shot; it was a standoff. Warrick glanced down at
Greg, who should be still out from the sleeping tablet but he noticed that
Greg�s eyes were slightly open, before any of the CSIs could react, Greg moved,
using his cast to block the knife, he surged up, knocking Drake off balance and
slamming him into the wardrobe, while Greg scrambled the other way toward Warrick,
keeping low so that they still had a clear shot if needed. Gris grabbed Greg
and pulled him out of the way as Warrick and Nick restrained Drake until the
police came in. A few moments later the officers from the door burst in and led
a still resisting but now cuffed Drake away. Greg was leaning heavily on Gil
and breathing hard, he was still fighting the drugs even with the adrenaline
rush.

�Rick, give me a hand� Gil
commanded breaking the silence. Warrick secured his gun back in the holster but
instead of helping Gil he put an arm under Greg�s knees and the other across
his back. It took little effort for him scoop he lab tech into his arms. Greg�s
eyes opened immediately. He made eye contact with Warrick�s, the CSI smiled at
him.

�Hey man, what�s with the
shaking? You�re safe, okay?� he spoke gently to the young lab rat and was
pleased when Greg smiled and nodded before leaning against his shoulder.
Warrick tried not to let anyone see how happy he was that Greg trusted him as
he carried the smaller man into the living room. Arissa was sitting with her
head leaning against Nick�s shoulder in one of the chairs. Katy had Solaris on
her lap, next to her Michael had Luna.

�I guess this place is a crime
scene now, huh?� Aris pondered to the room in general.

�I�m afraid so, I guess it�s a
good think you were leaving anyway,� Gil replied eyeing the pile of bags in the
corner of the room.

�It won�t be for long, we just
need to work out how he got in. He�s going back to prison anyway,� Nick
reassured her. Katy looked at the three CSIs that were sitting around the room.
Her daughter leaning on one, and Gecko being held by another
and sighed.

�I owe you and most of your
department and apology. Not to mention a thank you! I guess I just assumed that
you were a threat to Gecko, we�re a little protective�� she laughed at herself
�I guess I should know by know to trust his judgement. I�m sorry,� she said
sincerely, Michael ducked his head.

�Yeah, what she said�� he
muttered causing them to laugh.

�That�s very kind of you Mrs
Hampton��

�Katy or Kat,�

�-Katy- but I understand that
you have been in a difficult situation, past experience has taught you not to
trust local law enforcement � especially when it comes to the safety of Arissa
and Greg. Let me assure you that my whole team is working on apprehending the
people responsible for hurting you,� Gil said formally, sounding a little
awkward. Katy smiled.

�Wow, you must be a ball at
parties,� she said teasingly, causing Gil to freeze whilst Warrick and Nick
tried not to laugh. It was the first time that any of them could see any
resemblance between Katy and her younger ADD brother. Katy sighed and squeezed
Solaris, who was falling asleep.

�I guess we better get going,�
she said more to Michael then anyone else. He nodded causing the girls to get
up and find their shoes. As the girls got themselves ready, Katy said something
in Norwegian to Arissa which made the girls pause what they were doing whilst
waiting for a response. Arissa just rolled her eyes. Michael said something
else, apparently backing his wife up. Arissa sighed heavily but nodded. Michael
noticed that Greg had woken up and repeated the phrase to him.

::Yeah,
yeah:: was the response. Whatever had been going on seemed to reassure the Hampton�s,
and they left, each taking one of the girls by the hand as they led them from
the apartment to the dismayed cries of:

�We�re ten we�re not going to
run into the road for pity�s sake!� Arissa laughed at her daughter�s indignant
wails.

�We can leave too, the cops are
going to stay and secure the scene. Greg you awake enough to walk?� Gil said
retrieving the bag Arissa indicated was his. Greg nodded and got off Warrick,
he managed to stand but still looked shaky; it was a bit like watching a foal
taking their first steps. It caused the others to grin, Warrick shook his head
affectionately, unaware that Arissa was making note of his every reaction to
her brother. He stood and scooped Greg back up before he could fall over and
hurt himself.

�You get the bag�s, Gris, I�ve
got the lab rat,� he said lightly, he sent a smirk at Nick which was more of a
gauntlet being thrown down. Nick grinned never one to back away from a
challenge.

�HEY!� Aris squawked as he
picked her up.

�What? I can�t be out done,� he
said reasonably, grinning back at Warrick. Gil rolled his eyes at them and
grabbed the other bag as well, following the CSIs out.

CHAPTER 11

Warrick carefully deposited Greg
into the back of the Tahoe before getting in the front passenger seat himself.
With his back to Greg he didn�t see the confusion on his face. Gil slipped into
the driving seat; he looked back at Greg and smiled at his obvious bewilderment
but didn�t say anything. Greg resigned himself to once again being in the dark
and stared out the window at the passing city. The Strip made Greg smile; where
else in the world would you find a fairy tale castle next to a big black
pyramid? Or be able to visit Paris,
Venice and New
York all in an hour? He let his eyes drift close as
they turned off. He didn�t really know where they were heading but �Rick and
Grissom were� well if not friends trusted co-workers. Around half an hour later
he felt the Tahoe come to a stop, he opened his eyes to see they had pulled
into a driveway of a town house. He got out quickly, scared that he had stayed
still too long and Warrick would decide to pick him up again. He grabbed his
bag in an effort to exert his independence and hurried to catch up with Gil. He
tapped his shoulder to get his attention and waited for Gil to turn.

::Is
this your home?::

�Yes, as I�m the only one of the
shift who can understand you, it was the logical choice,� he said, Greg winced.

::You
don�t have to do this I can�:: Gil caught Greg�s hands between his and held
them palms together.

�Greg, I know I don�t have too,
I want too,� he glanced at Warrick who nodded his agreement. �We want too,� he
corrected, Greg frowned, and then his eyes went wide.

::We?::

�Let�s go inside, Greggo, and we�ll explain,� he said. He let one hand drop
to his side and took one of Greg�s in the other before lading him to the door
Warrick had opened. Greg allowed himself to be led into a living room and
settled into an armchair. He waited patiently for Gil and Warrick to store his
bag and secure the house before sitting down opposite him. They both looked
abnormally anxious and at a loss as where to start.

Greg took pity on them.

::You
were going to explain the �we�:: he prompted, Gil smiled at him.

�I was wasn�t I? The thing is
Greg, Warrick and I � that is we�ve � umm �� Gil floundered from the correct
words. Greg decided to end his torment.

::You
guys are seeing each other:: he stated. Gil nodded.

�I know that this is a surprise
and I don�t want this to be awkward for you. That said you are staying here at
least until your voice recovers and we decided to tell you,� Gil explained.
Somewhere along the line Warrick had slipped his hand in to Gil�s in a show of
solidarity and support. Bother men held their breath waiting for a response
from the lab tech. Greg didn�t seem phased.

::Makes
sense, this is your home, it would be hard to hide all traces of a
relationship:: even though he didn�t understand what Greg said, Rick relaxed
when Gil did.

�This doesn�t bother you?� Gil
said clarifying, Greg shrugged.

::People
love who they love:: he stated as if it was obvious, causing Gil to smile.

�That is a very enlightened
attitude, Greg,� he said, causing a blush to creep up Greg�s face and him to
look away, Gil smiled wider and so did Warrick. Greg glanced at them and he
tried to curl up. Warrick saw this and his heart broke at how unsure Greg
seemed. Rick couldn�t help himself, he got up and went over to Greg, he
crouched down to try and avoid seeming threatening but the lab tech was still
tracking his movement warily. He gently ran a hand through Greg�s hair noticing
how the younger man tensed at the touch. Warrick kept one hand carding though
the short bangs as he spoke.

�Greg take it easy, I�m not
going to hurt you. You�re safe here,� he slowly bought his arm around Greg�s
shoulders. He gently eased Greg off the chair to lean his head against
Warrick�s shoulder. Greg complied wrapping his arm around the CSIs neck. Right
tightened his grip when he felt Greg responded. Neither of them had noticed
that Gil had moved until he laid a hand on Greg�s back. Greg jumped a mile and
bolted out of the chair to the other side of the room. He was almost
hyperventilating, pacing in small circles his arms wrapped around his chest.

�Greg, I�m sorry calm down,� Gil
said softly, inwardly reeling that his touch would have such an effect on the
boy. When it became clear that words weren�t going to get through to the lab
tech Gil strode forward and wrapped his arms around him. Greg was shaking he
looked between Gil and Warrick from the cage of Gil�s arms. Something clicked
for Gil and he worked out Greg�s problem.

�Rick get over here and do a
group thing,� he said still keeping his voice barely above a whisper. Warrick
complied, wrapping his arms around the younger man as well so that Greg was
sandwiched tightly between them. Slowly Greg�s breathing evened out and
returned to normal as he realised that neither man was angry at him. He tucked
himself deeper into their embrace causing Gil to smile.

�It looks like our lab rat is a
cuddle addict,� he teased lightly. Greg nodded looking sheepish. It then
occurred to Greg that maybe they didn�t want to hold him and he regretfully
tried to disentangle himself. Warrick just squeezed him tighter.

�That wasn�t a criticism, Greggo. Do you like this?� he asked and received a small
nod.

�Good because we do too. Why
don�t you and Gil sit down and I�ll order take out. You can even excise guest
privileges and select the DVD, okay?� Greg nodded again, Warrick grinned � so
maybe Gil didn�t need to be around all the time, he thought as he went to grab
the phone. Gil settled on one end of the couch and smiled as Greg dug out an
action movie of Warrick�s. He showed it to Gil, cocking his head to one side as
if asking if it was okay. Gil nodded and received a huge smile as his reward,
Gil realised that he would do anything to see that smile again and prayed that
the boy never learnt that secret. Greg loaded the DVD and went to sit back in
the chair.

�Hey, where do you think you�re
going? Come here,� Gil indicated to the spot next to him, Greg moved and smiled
shyly.

::I
didn�t want to impose more then I have already:: Gil sighed, he hadn�t realised
just how damn good that mask Greg had was. He made a note of the insecurity as
something to work on; he threw an arm over Greg�s shoulders pulling him tight.

�You are not imposing and I�ll
let you into a secret, I like hugs too, and however much we try I don�t think
Warrick will ever be comfortable enough to be able to sit on my lap,� he said
remorsefully. Greg grinned at him and moved as Gil pulled him to do just that.
Greg pillowed his head on Gil�s shoulder, and while he was not fighting the
supervisor it took him a while to relax into being on his lap. Long enough for Warrick to reappear and sit next them, pulling
Greg�s legs across his lap. Gil took the opportunity to inspect Greg�s
injuries, he frown noticing that the run in with Drake had left Greg with a few
more bruises. The cast on his arm also had a scar where Greg had blocked the
knife, but it hadn�t cut all the way through.

�I think we need to get this
checked at the hospital� he said garnering the attention of the others. Warrick
looked somewhere between thoughtful and homicidal at the reminder. Greg poked
the gash a couple of times and shrugged.

::It�s
fine:: Greg grinned at Gil�s look of dismay. Warrick laughed affectionately at
the younger man knowing that Greg was just trying to get a rise out of Gil. A
knock at the door stopped Gil from responding.

�That would be the food,�
Warrick announced getting up. Greg took the opportunity to slide off Gil�s lap
and sit on the couch next to him. Gil let him go mourning the loss of heat. He
liked holding Greg more then he thought he would which was bad, he could easily
become addicted to the feel of the lab tech. Warrick dumped the paper bag on
the coffee table and went to get some plates. He didn�t realise that Greg had
followed him until he was in the kitchen. He turned and saw him in the doorway
and jumped

�Man, you almost gave me a heart
attack!� he gasped.

::Sorry::
Greg signed before remembering that Warrick wouldn�t understand him. Greg
dropped his arms to his sides and sighed in frustration. Warrick guessed what
was upsetting him.

�Don�t sweat it, Greggo, you�ll get your voice back soon, but until they
we�re just going to have to play twenty questions,� he said reassuringly. Greg
smiled at him.

�So, let�s see you came in here
for something?� Warrick asked, Greg nodded and mimed drinking.

�Okay cool, you want drink.
Right there�s beer, juice, water and milk in the fridge, soda in the larder, as
is the coffee. Glasses and mugs are above the sink. Help yourself but if you
have beer put it in a mug and try and keep it away from Gris, he wouldn�t be
happy with you touch alcohol at the moment,� Warrick said with a wink. He
figured it would be easier for Greg to get what he wanted himself then try and
explain. He went to leave the room with the plates and cutlery, as he passed
Greg the lab tech caught his arm.

�Thank you,� Greg�s voice was
weak and raspy, his throat obviously still very sore. Warrick knew he wasn�t
being thanked for the two-cent kitchen tour. He cupped Greg�s face with his
free hand, looking deep into the soulful brown eyes.

�Greg, you don�t need to thank
me, you got yourself free,� he whispered, Greg looked away before meeting his
eyes a second time. He nodded slowly but Warrick could see that he didn�t
believe it.

�Greg, I have never met anyone
as strong as you. Somehow after all you�ve been through � a lot of which we
still don�t know � you still smile and have a joke ready. The more I find out
about how hard your life has been the more I admire you,� he said honestly. He
watched the blush creep up Greg�s face and go from pink to red to scarlet the
more he spoke. Greg was positively squirming by the time he had finished.
Greg�s discomfort caused Warrick to smile.

�Not good with
compliments, huh? I think you better get used to them, I have a feeling
you�ll be getting a lot more of them in the future,� he predicted, grinning as
Greg rolled his eyes. He left the tech alone and headed back to the living
room. He smiled at Gil as he sat back on the sofa. He set the plates down next
to the cartons and lent in to kiss Gil. Rick had only meant it as a chaste
touch but as soon as his lips met Gil�s a hand wrapped itself around his neck
increasing the pressure. Warrick felt a tongue ask for permission to go deeper
and he opened his mouth with a moan, letting the probing muscle in. They fought
for dominance for a long moment before his own tongue was sucked back into
Gil�s mouth. They finally broke apart when the need for air became an issue. It
was only then that they noticed they weren�t alone. They turned to see Greg
back in the arm chair, leaning against one side, his legs dangling over the
other. He had a carton of chow mien balanced on his stomach and his attention
was on the DVD, he turned when he felt eyes on his and offered them the carton.
When neither of them move for it he shrugged in a sort of �your loss� way and
went back to the film. He didn�t seem the slightest bit phased that he had
walked in on a co-worker making out with his boss like teenagers. It reassured
Gil more then anything that Greg was as cool with this as he said he was. Rick
was also surprised, complete acceptance was very rare. They didn�t realised
that they were still staring at Greg until he glared back

::What?::

�Sorry, Greggo,
we were just a bit surprised by you reaction or rather the lack of it. It�s
very unusual for people to be as accepting as you are; it�s a testament to your
character,� Gil explained, enjoying the blush that appeared. Greg was
definitely cute, no two ways about it, especially when he was embarrassed. Greg
was now pointedly ignoring them and focusing on the TV. Gil lent back against
Warrick and decided to let him be. For the time being at any
rate.

CHAPTER 12

By the time the film had
finished everyone was tired, Warrick and Gil had just got off shift when they
had gone to collect Greg. Greg himself had fallen asleep in the chair, Gil
looked at the slumbering figure and then at Warrick.

�I don�t think I�m going to be
able to wait,� he confessed to his lover, both of them still watching him
sleep.

�Having him this close but not
as close as I want, it�s painful in a real way,� he said sadly. Warrick hugged
him.

�I know, in the kitchen he was
so close to me, if I just lent down I could have kissed him. I wanted to so
much, and I think he would have let me. Gil, we aren�t going to be able to wait
much longer. We�re going to have to tell him soon and just hope for the best,�
Warrick sighed. They got up and cleared the remains of the meal without waking
Greg. Warrick gently lifted him into his arms, and carried him up the stairs to
the guest room leaving Gil to get the lights. Warrick gently put Greg on the
bed, he felt his breath constrict when he immediately curled up in a tight
ball. He had never really thought about what Greg would be like asleep he never
imagined that he would turn into the small insecure speck in front of him.

He pulled the covers over him
and risked gently kissing his forehead. Gil appeared at the door, he smiled at
the interaction before entering. He placed a bottle of water and the pain meds
on the bedside table. They turned the light
out and pulled the door too quietly.

Back in their
own bedroom Gil sighed quietly as he caressed Warrick�s cheek. Pain
evident in his eyes Warrick moved so that he was close enough to Gil to feel
his breath on his skin. Gil gently he lent in and closed the final distance
between them sealing his lips over Rick�s. The taller man moaned into the kiss,
before rolling them over so he could pin Gil to the mattress. Warrick worked
his way down Gil�s neck, kissing and nibbling across hi collar bone he dipped
his tongue into the hollow at the base of the older man�s throat. Gil gasped
and ran his hands through his lover�s hair; Warrick smiled and continued his
journey down Gil�s body, mapping his skin with both hands and his mouth. He
mover across his chest and engulfed the little nub he found there, sucking it
into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue and teeth, loving the sounds that
it made Gil produce. He tortured that nipple for a few seconds longer before
moving to the other, replacing his mouth with his hand and worried the other to
a hard peak. The soft moans that Gil was making were turning him on even more;
he travelled lower, dipping his tongue into Gil�s navel causing him to gasp
louder. Warrick chuckled and swiped his tongue across the head of Gil�s cock,
finally breaking the older man�s control. Strong hands pulled Warrick back up
the bed,

�No, Rick not that, not tonight.
I want to come in you,� he uttered softly, Gil hardly recognised his own voice,
it was thick with arousal, Gil flipped them so that he was on top, he reached
into the drawer and pulled out a tube of lube, placing next to them. He rubbed
Warrick�s cock in long strokes and kissed his neck just behind his ear

�Please Rick, I want to be in
you so bad let me,� he whispered. Warrick smiled up at him and ran a hand down
his cheek.

�You know you can, babe, any
time you want me I�m yours,� he whispered. It was one of the things Warrick
loved about Gil, no matter how often they made love Gil always asked, always
checked, nothing assumed and everything was a partnership. Gil lent down and
kissed him deeply letting all his love show in that action. Without breaking
the connection he reached across for the lube. He popped the cap and poured
some into his hand, coating his fingers. Only then did he break the kiss, he
sat between Warrick�s legs. Warrick fisted the sheets and consciously slowed
his breathing. Gil slowly ran a finger over his opening, gently massaged it
feeling the muscles twitching and spasm. Warrick dropped his head onto the
pillows as he felt the first finger entering him so slowly; this was the
sweetest form of agony. Gil was a very careful lover and never rushed
preparation, and by the end Warrick was always a gibbering mass of need. Gil
slowly started thrusting, curling the digit round to find that special bundle
of nerves that would excite his lover. Warrick let out a low moan letting Gil
know he�d found it. As he added a second finger stretching him slowly pulling
out and pushing back in over and over

�Oh God, Gil, hurry up,� Warrick
groaned. Gil smiled and took Warrick in his mouth adding to the sensations. He co-ordinated his mouth with the movements of his fingers.

�Gil, oh Jesus, oh man,� Warrick
babbled feeling already close to the end. Gil smiled around his mouthful and
added a third finger, he swiped the head of Rick�s cock teasing tasting the
salty pre-cum. Warrick moaned loudly and pinched the base of his dick to stop
himself cumming too soon.

�Gil, damn it, I�m ready come on
now,� he growled pulling Gil up the bed for a searing kiss. Gil took mercy on
his younger lover and removed his fingers and slicked his hard member. Warrick
whimpered from the loss but then groaned as something large and blunt pushed
against him. Gil pulled his legs up around his waist and pushed, sheathing
himself in one long stroke. Both men groaned at the union,

�My God, Rick you feel so good,
you�re so tight,� Gil started to thrust slowly at first but then building up
speed. Each thrust hit Warrick�s prostate causing him to see stars. Neither one
of them were going to last long at this rate. Warrick arched up, meeting up of
Gil�s thrusts with one of his own pulling him deeper. All too soon Gil began to
lose his rhythm. He stroked Warrick�s engorged organ causing him to cum with a
keening cry. As Warrick�s muscles clamped down on him Gil�s orgasm was wrenched
from him. Gil collapsed onto of his lover gasping, Warrick held Gil, stroking
his back until the tremors stooped. Gil groaned softly and rolled off Warrick
gently pulling gout of his body. Warrick sighed from the loss but moving still
required more energy then he had. After a few minutes Gil got up and padded out
the bathroom. He paused at the door to smile at the contended heap of mush that
was left on the bed.

He came back in with a damp
cloth having already cleaned himself up. He gently
washed his lover down laughing affectionately as Warrick purred happily at his
ministration. Gil returned the cloth to the bathroom and on his way back he
silently poked his head round the door to the guest room. He frowned discovering
the room was empty. The bed had been made so it didn�t look like he was
planning to come back soon either. Puzzled as to where the young house guest
could have got to he wondered back down the hall.

�Rick? Greg�s got up, I�m just
going to check he�s okay,� he whispered tugging on a pair of shorts and a
t-shirt.

�M�kay��
came the sleepy response. Gil rolled his eyes at him and left.

Downstairs Gil could smell good
coffee brewing and there was a light on in the study. He opened the door to
find another empty room, but this time there were signs of life, the computer
was on. He went across to find that there was a messenger box open. He scrolled
back up o the top of the conversation. It was obviously between Greg and
Arissa; he started reading from the beginning.

The
Mute: Hey
Hopalong:
Hi, shouldn�t you be sleeping?
The Mute: Probably, couldn�t though
Hopalong:
Why not?
The
Mute: I�m in the guest room.
Hopalong:
� You didn�t tell them did you?
The
Mute: Haven�t said anything in two days, mute remember, lol
Hopalong:
Gecko, you know what I mean.
The Mute: Don�t use that tone. I
can�t alright? I�m already being a pain in the ass.
Hopalong:
No you�re not. Where are the lovebirds anyway?
The
Mute: Lovebirds?
Hopalong:
Oh come on, you�re telling me you didn�t notice? Forget that of course you
didn�t you�re love blind.
The Mute:
(Shrugs) nothing to do with me. They�re �asleep� � they work nights
Hopalong:
Yeah so�s Nicky. Gecko you need to let them know � if
you start becoming exhausted they are going to notice, and they will want to
help.
The
Mute: Not that easy
Hopalong: Fine I�m writing that leaflet then!
The
Mute: Don�t you dare!
Hopalong:
�How to care for your Greg�
The
Mute: STOP!!
Hopalong:
You�re Greg is a very shy creature, always believing he is in the way and will
not bother you for anything.
The
Mute: Ok, point made stop!
Hopalong: Chapter
1: - Basic requirements of your Greg:
Greg�s
require few things. The most important is the presence of another person or
strong drugs to sleep during times of turmoil,
preferably both. Whilst awake a bag of Blue Hawaiian Coffee (there�s a bag
under you�re shirts) will keep your Greg a happy
and content.
The
Mute: Nothing I say is going to stop this is it? (I know it�s brewing now, it�s
brewing now and is the only reason I�m forgiving your little foibles).
Hopalong:
(I know you love me, where was I? oh yes) Chapter 2; Greg body language � arms
around chest or knees drawn to chin both mean
the same thing � your Greg needs a hug!
The
Mute: ARRRGH! STOP! Ok I�m going to get coffee and hope you�ll be done when I
get back!

Gil smiled it was the most
relaxed he had heard Greg since this all started, but it seemed that he didn�t
have the first clue about how to help Greg recover. As his
supervisor that was bad, but given his personal feelings towards the young man
it was inexcusable. The conversation was still active giving Gil an idea
he quickly typed a message.

The
Mute: Arissa, it�s Gil Grissom, it�s become clear that we don�t know Greg well
enough to help him. I must confess that I have read your conversation and as
shamed as I am to admit it I believe we would benefit from the leaflet that you
were threatening Greg with.

There was a long pause before
she replied.

Hopalong:
I will write you a �Greg for Dummies� guide, but I�m afraid that I have a
question for you, one that will make me sound like an overbearing parent. I need you to be honest
Gil � I know about you and Warrick, what do you guys want with Greg?
The
Mute: Why do you assume that we want anything with Greg?
Hopalong:
Nice try but 1. I SAW how you looked at him, 2. Warrick wouldn�t leave him
alone after Drake, 3. You both fawn over him (both of
you) and while Greg can�t see it everyone else knows he�s beautiful both inside
and out.

Gil
laughed, apparently aspiring CSIs were genetic.

The
Mute: I love him. We both do.

Gil�s breath caught waiting for the
reply.

Hopalong
with a shovel: Hurt him and they will NEVER find either body, I don�t care how
good your team is.
The
Mute: We won�t, send it to my work email?
Hopalong
with a shovel: Sure, close this box off and say bye for me!

With that she left the
conversation. Gil closed the box with a small smile on his face. Family
approval obtained, now all they needed to do was seduce Greg, well once he
found him. A gasp behind him solved one problem, he turned round to see Greg
making like a deer in headlights, clutching a cup of coffee. Greg hastily took
a sip of the drink.

�Sorry, I just needed to talk,�
Greg�s voice rough and started to fail but he kept going. Gil got up and took a
step toward him. Greg backed up quickly enough spill the coffee over his hand.
Gil stopped and held his hands up. He recognised the expression Greg was
wearing from the lab.

�You�re not in trouble Greg,
take it easy. Ah, you�re doing yourself more damage. Put the coffee down and
use you hands,� Gil pleaded cutting Greg off when he opened his mouth. Greg put
the cup down and looked back at Grissom. The coffee he spilt still dripping off
his hand. Gil looked down and winced.

�You just spilt half a mug of
coffee over your hand. You okay?� he asked concerned that Greg had scalded
himself on top of everything else.

::Yes,
it�s not hot I had to cool it down::

�Of course, you throat, can I
come near you?� he asked noticing that Greg was wrapping his arms around
himself. He wanted to hug the stuffing out of the younger man, but knew that
Greg was still skittish. Greg nodded in preference to signing. Gil walked up to
him slowly, still aware of the slightly panicked look in Greg�s eyes. He
stopped close enough that he could feel the heat coming off his body.

�Arissa said goodbye before she
left� he said softly Greg winced.

::I�m sorry I�ll pay for the
bill but my phone battery died so I couldn�t text her and I�:: Gil had heard,
or rather seen enough, he caught Greg�s good wrist causing the lab tech to
whimper, now he was touching him Gil could feel the tremors in the thin body.
He couldn�t help himself he pulled Greg against his chest and hugged him as
hard as he could.

�Greg, don�t be sorry and don�t
you dare think of paying for that bill, you�re my guest and you are welcome to
use anything you wish. Please calm down; Rick has already told you once, you
are safe here in our home I promise,� he whispered into Greg�s ear.

�I�m such a freak,� came the
hoarse reply, Gil pulled back holding him at arms length, his expression stern.

�Never ever degrade yourself in
front of me, Greg, I won�t have it,� he said firmly staring into the hazel
eyes, Greg looked stunned at the ferocity of his tone and didn�t responded.

�Okay, Greg?� Gil prompted; Greg
continued to stare back at him. Gil was about to prompt him again when another
voice interrupted.

�Gil, you�re scaring him,� a
deep voice said. Gil�s head snapped round, Warrick was leaning against the door
frame, he was wearing shorts and a white t-shirt and clutching a mug of what
Gil assumed was Greg�s coffee. Greg also noticed him and seemed to melt with
relief. Gil was taken back, he didn�t realise that he caused this level of fear
in Greg. He released his grasp on Greg�s arms, turning his hands so he was
rubbing slow circles on his shoulders. The lab tech took a stuttering breath
and relaxed further. Warrick sauntered into the room and placed his cup next to
Greg�s half full one, listening to Gil�s voice as he tried to repair the
damage.

�Greggo,
I�m sorry it was not my intention to scare you. I�m just� I see you as the fun,
happy, young genius who can always be depended upon to not only do his job
better then anyone else but to always lighten the atmosphere of the lab and
keep both myself and my people sane. When I hear you talking like that � it
hurts. It hurts to know that we can�t do the same for you, that we have failed
you so badly that you could even consider it. You�re not a freak, Greg, and
you�re not dirty or tainted or a nuisance or trouble or any other of the many things
I know you�ve been calling yourself. I just hope one day you will believe us,�
he said softly, actively trying not to fall in love with the blush that
continued to creep over the young man�s skin. Warrick stepped up behind Greg
and wrapped his arms around his waist.

�Greg, why do you think you�re a
freak?� he asked pulling the smaller man against his chest. Greg opened his
mouth but before he could utter a sound Gil place a palm over it.

�Hand�s Greg� he warned.

::No one else is incapable of
being left alone, I�m not one of the band, but I can�t do my job, oh, and my
boss and colleagues just had to rescue me from my father the psycho who wants
me dead. My eldest sister wants me to call her �mama� and her husband �papa�.
Oh, and just to round things off before you dig it out of another file my
biological mother committed suicide the day Drake was convicted:: Greg was both
angry and upset by recapping what had happened and distraught that he couldn�t
get out of Warrick�s embrace and hide no matter how hard he tried. The CSI had
several inches and a lot of muscle on the lab tech that was also injured. No
one said anything until Greg had worn himself out and hung limply, forcing
Warrick to take his weight or dump him on the ground. Greg sighed and dropped
his head, resolutely staring at the floor. Only then did Warrick speak.

�Okay, let�s start at the top.
No one thinks you�re incapable of looking after yourself, past the fact that
you can�t talk. Your apartment�s a crime scene man; you know you can�t stay
there. So you have to stay somewhere else, seeing as your twin sister seems to
be hooking up with Nicky and you seem to have a problem with your
brother-in-law; not that I blame you, staying with friends is you best option.
As Gil can translate for you this is the obvious choice. As for work � your lab
will still be there when you get back I already told you � you rescued
yourself, we just stood around and watched. I can�t comment on you mother or
the situation with your family except to say that it is not your fault, never
was and never will be. Finally if anyone should feel bad about what happened
with Drake it�s that dozy uniform that was supposed to be protecting you.
Judging by the way Brass tore him a new one, I�m guessing he probably does,�
Warrick paused waiting for Greg to respond. When it became apparent he wasn�t
going to Gil approached him and nudged his head up using his chin.

�Greg what�s upsetting you? Why
are you so angry?� he whispered, his soft voice more insistence then any amount
of shouting or aggressive demand. Greg blinked rapidly trying to dispel the
tears gathered in his eyes. He signed a two word answer and then collapsed
completely, wrapping his arms around him and trying to curl up until it was
only a very worried Warrick holding him up.

�What did he say? Gil! What did
he say?� he implored, Gil swallowed hard

�He said �no choice�,� he met
Warrick�s eye guiltily.

�He hasn�t really had a choice
since all this started Rick � Michael forced him out of Palms � he literally
picked him up and walked out the room. Then Nick refuses to take him back to
the lab, we bring him here but did you ask what he wanted? I know I didn�t,�
Grissom had been stroking Greg�s hair soothingly as he spoke; Warrick sighed
and hugged him tighter.

�No I didn�t. I�m so sorry Greg
I can�t imagine how out of control you feel,� he said truthfully to the back of
the lab techs head. Greg nodded, he had cried himself out.

::At
least you understand:: Gil could see the relief cascading down Greg�s face he
smiled.

�Yeah, I think we do, Greggo,� he paused trying to think of the best way to bring
this up. He sighed he wasn�t a tactful person so he decided to try head on.

�I talked to Arissa � she said
that you sleep better with someone else close by, is she right?� he asked the
question gently, but Greg knew better then to lie. He nodded slightly causing
Gil (and although he couldn�t see it Warrick) to smile.

�Well then we better all head
back upstairs, after all Rick and I have work this evening. You can come through
to our room this is no need for you to struggle, Greg, okay?� he asked
carefully, modulating his tone so that Greg knew it was a genuine offer. Greg
nodded against Gil�s hand and gave him a small but honest smile.

�Okay, why don�t you guys come
up when your ready, I�m sure that coffee is still in your systems,� he said,
running his hand through Greg�s hair one last time before nodding at Warrick
and leaving the room. Warrick ran his hand down Greg�s arms and turned him
around. He had felt the remaining tension leave Greg as the older man left.

�Greg, Gil likes you� a lot, I
don�t know how he manages to scare you this much but I promise � you have
nothing to fear from him,� he said honestly Greg nodded and pointed upward.

�Okay?� he asked, Warrick frowned
trying to decode what Greg meant. Greg sighed and took a mouthful of stone cold
coffee.

�Okay, if I stay in your room?�
he eventually managed to elaborate; he smiled sheepishly at the exasperated
look Warrick gave him.

�Of course it is, dummy. Before
you leave here I am going to convince you that you are not in the way,� Warrick
vowed. Greg smiled and stepped forward as though to embrace the taller man but
stopped halfway, not sure he would be welcome. Warrick rolled his eyes and
closed the distances. Without pausing he dipped down and picked Greg off the
ground. The younger man gasped at the suddenness of the move. Greg tried to
pretend to be mad but ended up making himself laugh.
Warrick grinned as the lab tech rubbed his face against a convenient shoulder.

�You�re like a big cat, you are.
Admit it, you like being carried,� he gloated, Greg shrugged

�Not at work,� he whispered
hoarsely causing Warrick to laugh.

�No not at work, I promise,� he
agrees easily before carrying Greg upstairs.

CHAPTER 13

Arissa sighed as she logged off
and rolled her shoulders.

�Why is it that my foot�s in
plaster but it�s my neck that�s stiff?� she muttered to herself.

�Way of the world I guess�� came
a sleepy reply. She turned and smiled at Nick, he had obviously just rolled out
of bed; his hair sticking out at all angles. He came up behind her and started
to rub her shoulders. She moaned appreciatively.

�Mmm�
you�re good at that�� she sighed, Nick bent and placed a kiss on her neck
lightly, Aris froze, causing Nick to frown.

�What�s wrong?� he asked softly,
sure he hadn�t misread the signals.

�I�m sorry Nicky I guess�. I
need to know is this just another notch on your bed post?� she asked haltingly.
Nick�s hands stilled but didn�t leave her shoulders.

�Greg, huh?� he said sadly
without malice. Arissa smiled.

�He�s my brother � I�m his first
priority. He wasn�t trying to interfere, Nicky, he just wants me to have all
the facts before I make a choice,� she tried to explain, Nick got what she was
saying.

�Look, Arissa, I like you a lot,
you�re bright, funny, beautiful and compassionate and I think that we could be
good together,� he said quietly.

She smiled.

�Wow, you are good,� she said turning around and, with Nick�s help, she stood
and fell into his embrace. She started kissing his neck.

�I�m sorry I had to ask,� she
whispered between the kisses.

Nick smiled.

�I know, it�s
okay,� he assured returning the kisses whilst moving them toward the bedroom.
Aris kept stumbling due to her cast causing them both to laugh. Nick grinned
mischievously and then picked her up.

She smirked.

�You really know how to sweep a
girl off her feet, don�t you, Mr Stokes?� she said laughing before attaching
her mouth to his neck. He groaned and almost dropped her. He felt a smile
against his skin and she trailed her lips across his collar bone and laved the
hollow under his Adams apple. Nick had never been so glad to see his bedroom
door in his life. He fell into the room and staggered across it, barely making
the bed before his knees collapsed. Arissa grinned as he dropped her onto the
bed. She pulled him down on top of her and grinned, running a hand down his
cheek.

�Hey, baby,� she cooed before
bringing his head down so she could kiss him. He went willingly, bringing his
body down on top of hers. Nick coaxed Arissa up the bed before running his hand
down her sides. He caught the edge of her shirt and dragged it up slowly;
Arissa shuddered as his hands touched her skin. They broke the kiss long enough
for Nick to pull her shirt free. Her hands worked the buttons on his shirt
free; she tugged it off his shoulders.

�I need you, Nicky�� she
whispered, caressing his chest down to his waist fumbling with his belt. Nicky
quickly got the idea and reached down to push her sweats away. Within a few
minutes they were naked and wrapped around each other. Arissa reached into the
drawer beside the bed and pulled out a condom. Nick raised an eyebrow.

�How did you know?� he asked
baffled.

She grinned.

�What tall, tanned Adonis wouldn�t
keep protection next to his bed?� her comment caused Nick to blush as he took
the packet from her. She grinned and pushed herself further up the bed and
spread her legs. She raised her eyebrow at Nick.
�Come on cowboy, take me for a
ride�� she said in a sultry tone, Nick stared incredulously, not sure if she
was serious, she managed to hold a straight face for all of three seconds
before giggling.

Nick chuckled at her.

�Very bad line�� he said, she
grinned up at him then pushed his shoulder, flipping them over so she was
straddling his hips. Inwardly she congratulated herself on managing it without
damaging anything.

She kissed him hard�

�I�m going to ride you so hard
you�re going to pass out; I�m gonna make sure that
you can�t look at me without getting hard. I�m going to wear you out, Nick
Stokes, and you�ll beg me to do it again,� Arissa smirked as Nick moaned and
plucked the condom packet from his hand. She ripped it open and rolled it on
him. She grinned down at him before sitting back, impaling herself on his
length. She gasped as he penetrated her and lent down to kiss him again. She
moved her hips rhythmically, making Nick whimper. He planted his feet on the
mattress so he could meet every one of her thrusts with one of his own. Arissa�s head was thrown back, her hair cascading over her
shoulders a look of bliss on her face. Nick reached up and ran his hands over
her breasts, catching her nipples between his thumbs and hands.

�Oh, God, you�re beautiful�� he
murmured pulling lightly; he lifted his head and took one of the hardening
peaks into his mouth. Arissa dropped down when Nick tugged her; he moved to her
other breast and groaned as she rolled her hips.

�Oh God, oh man, Christ!� Nick
whimpered, he thrusted up harder, on the third time
he came shouting her name. He opened his eyes just in time to see Aris throw
her head back, her entire body strained. She gasped once and collapsed half on
the bed half on Nick. Groggily he rolled her sideways slipping out of her
tight, wet heat. He tugged the condom off, tied the end and dumped it in the
trash. He rolled back next to her and smiled contentedly as she snuggled into
his side. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She kissed his
chest and laid her head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head.

�You�re very quiet�� he said
slightly concerned.

She sighed lightly.

�Sorry, I�m always quiet�� she
said. �Don�t tell me you�re worried; you�re amazing you must know that�� she
teased.

Nick grinned at her.

�Thank you. You�re not too bad
yourself,� he replied. She looked at him a little nervous.

�Can I stay here tonight?� she
asked quietly, Nick frowned; she sounded unsure, like she half expected him to
ask her to leave. He filed that away for future consideration.

�Only if you
want. If it were up to me, I�d see you here
every night� he replied feeling her relax against him.

�Thanks, Nicky,� she mumbled
sleepily, closing her eyes. Nick held her close and sighed, wrapping her in his
arms and dragging the cover over them. He didn�t want to think about the kind
of heartache she had been through. His final waking thought was that Greg had
been through it with her. The realisation sent a shiver down his spine.

CSICSICSI

The first thing Warrick noticed
was that Gil had changed the sheets, the second was that this was the first
time in two years he had seen Gil wearing clothes in bed. Greg fidgeted
reminding him that he was still carrying the lab tech. Greg was signing
something at Gil. Instead of answering Gil smiled impishly;

�Rick, Greg wants to know where
he is going to sleep. Want to show him?� he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Warrick smiled and walked over to the bed. He gently deposited Greg next to Gil
in the centre of the bed. He got in on the other side before the younger man
had time to recover from the shock. When Greg did his head flicked from side to
side wide-eyed, both Gil and Warrick tried to hide their amusement at Greg�s
boarder-line panic. Correctly interpreting Greg�s next action they grabbed each
other�s arms caging Greg in before he could bolt out of the bed. They slowly
coerced him to lie down between them. He lay on his side facing Warrick. The
older man ran his hand through Greg�s hair and felt him shake.

�Shh�
Greg, relax, it�s fine, I promise, just close you eyes and go to sleep,� he
murmured. Gil hit the switch by the bed, plunging the room into darkness. Greg
jumped, the lack of light startling him further.

�Greg you�re with friends, you
are safe just close your eyes,� Gil soothed; he felt Greg nod and settled down.
Slowly the tremors stopped as the lab tech fell into a peaceful sleep. Gil and Warrick following him quickly.

CSICSICSI

When Arissa awoke she found
herself alone in Nick�s bed, a glance at the clock showed her it was evening.
She sighed assuming Nick had left her for work and sat up slowly. She was about
to shuffle out of he bed when the door opened silently. She froze but then
relaxed when she saw Nick coming in balancing a tray. He dropped the sneaking
when he saw that she was awake.

�Hey��

�Hey��

�I made you breakfast,� he said
sheepishly.

�It smells great, but you didn�t
have too,� she said looking down at the tray; she lent over and kissed him
slowly. She smiled dreamily at him; she took a bite of the food and hummed in
appreciation, before feeding a bite to Nick.

�This is amazing, thank you,
even if I don�t normally have breakfast in the evening,� she teased making Nick
flush.

�Sorry I forgot � nightshift
worker�� he said by way of explanation.

�I know � the only thing I�ve
seen Greg eating some weeks is Coco Pops,� she grinned and then glances at the
clock sighing sadly. �I guess you have to go to work soon� she said.

Nick nodded.

�Afraid so, sorry,�

�It�s cool; just� uh� keep an
eye on Greg for me?�

�Aris, he has been signed off
for weeks,� he told her sounding confused. Arissa rolled her eyes.

�Man, he�s played you guys
better then I thought. Humour me on this, if he�s there try to make him take a
break at some point,� she said pleadingly. Nick was surprised, Greg always seemed
so open; but given what they were beginning to turn up. Maybe Greg was just a
brilliant actor.

�Sure, I�ll watch out for him,�
he�d been planning too as soon as Greg went back anyway.

She smiled gratefully at him.

�Thanks, I mean, don�t get me wrong
he�s no child and he�s amazingly resourceful. When we were kids he took care of
me, took the brunt of what Drake threw at us to protect me too. He�s just
hopeless at looking after himself,� she said sounding both exasperated and
affectionate.

�No problem, baby, he�s my
friend believe it or not,� he teased her.

�I know he is, after all you
like me and I�m just the XX clone of him,� she grinned as Nick froze and then
grimaced.
�Thank you, now I need an ice
pick to get that image out of my head�� he grumbled making her laugh. She
kissed him in apology and he sighed.

�Okay, baby I�ll be back later,�
he said leaving the room. Arissa smiled to herself as she ate.

�This one is definitely a keeper��
she thought.

CSICSICSI

When the evening came Gil awoke
first, which wasn�t unusual he smiled when he saw that Greg had wrapped an arm
around him, Warrick spooned up against the younger man�s back. Even if this was purely innocent snuggling� He gently
slipped out of the loose hold Greg had on him, but was still unsurprised when
Greg�s eyes flashed open. He saw fear flicker across his face before he worked
out where he was. The fear was replaced by anxiousness. Gil smiled gently at
him.

�Good evening,� he said smiling
when some of the worry cleared from Greg�s features.

::Evening::

�Did you sleep well?�

::Like
a log, thank you::

�You�re welcome. I�m going to
grab a shower, the alarm will go off in about half an hour,� he said, Greg
nodded and settled down, Gil didn�t think he was going to get anymore sleep but
he seemed happy to let Warrick hold him a bit longer. Gil left the room, his
head feeling warm. When he returned he was gratified to see that he was right,
Greg was still awake but hadn�t moved. He smiled at him and then lent down and
placed a kiss on Rick�s cheek.

�Warrick, time to get up,�

�Okay, Gil�� came the mumbled
reply.

Gil rolled his eyes.

�Now, Rick! I�m going to start
breakfast and if you�re not up in five
minutes Greg is going to pour that glass of water over you right?� he said
smiling at Greg. Warrick tightened his grip; apparently aware of whom he was
holding.

�Aww� you wouldn�t do that,
would you, Greggo?� he whined. Greg grinned, dipped
his fingers into the water and flicked it onto Warrick�s face. Gil laughed as
Warrick moaned.

�Alright, I�m up see � no need
to gang up on me�� he moaned. Gil left satisfied that his lover would fall out
of bed. Greg smiled at Warrick and headed off for a shower.

�Traitor,� Warrick growled
playfully at him as he left.

CSICSICSI

Warrick came down a few minutes
later and followed Gil�s voice to the kitchen.

�No, Greg,� his voice was firm,
there was a pause.

�No, I mean it, there is no
possible way you can expect me to believe that you are capable of work,� Gil
now sounded exasperated.

Warrick raised an eyebrow.

�You think you�re up to it, Greggo?� he asked neutrally walking in.

�Yeah, I can talk enough to be
useful,� he still sounded very raspy. Warrick looked at Gil. Clearly his lover
expected Warrick to back him up.

Warrick sighed.

�It�s not a matter of being
useful, Greg; it�s more a case of whether or not you are fit enough, we don�t
want to delay your recovery,� he explained gently. Greg looked pained.

::You
don�t understand. If you make me stay on my own � I� I�I don�t do well on my own.
Please, I can work faster the Bryson with on hand:: he
looked upset by having confessed this. Gil looked over at his lover after he
finished translating and could see he was melting. He sighed knowing that he
was going to give in.

�You�re hands off the NI₃
case and obviously the Drake case. Agreed?�

�Thank you,� he said weakly
turning to face Gil. Immediately Gil could see why Warrick caved so quickly,
the big brown eyes under those long lashes.

Gil rolled his eyes.

�You get tired you stop, okay? You
crash in the break room if necessary but you don�t work yourself to a
standstill,� Greg nodded his agreement earnestly.

�Okay, come on let�s eat I have a feeling it�s going to be along night��

CHAPTER 14

Nick glanced into the DNA lab
and noticed that it was only occupied by Bryson. Maybe Aris was wrong he
thought heading into the locker room.

�Hey, bro�,�
Warrick greeted, as he entered.

�Hey, man,� he said casually
changing his shirt. He tossed his street shirt into his locked and heard a
chuckle

�What�s the joke, Rick?�

�You got a high collar shirt for
tonight?�

�Since when do you care about
fashion?�

�I don�t, but Greg might want to
know how you got that hicky,� Warrick grinned as Nick
paled and darted to the mirror. True enough on one side of his neck he was
sporting an impressive bruise, he groaned and then paused.

�Wait, he�s in tonight?�

�Yup,�

�It�s only been 2 days!�

�Yeah, well he pleaded his way
through Gris � I gotta give him credit, I�ve never known anyone to manage that
before,� he admitted.

Nick chuckled.

�Got the amazing kick- puppy dog
eyes and the quivering bottom lip treatment did you?�

�Yeah�. Wait how did you know?�

�He and Arissa tagged-teamed the
Hampton�s with the same trick. She says it�s never failed,�

�Wait, he knows he�s doing it?�
Warrick said somewhere between amused and pissed. Nick just laughed at his
friends look.

�Knows, practised and
perfected,� Nick informed him with a slap on the back. Rick slammed his head
into the locker for falling for it. Nick smiled sadly at him.

�Apparently, Greg could earn an
OSCAR; Aris says that Greg has been playing all of us in a desperate attempt to
protect himself from getting hurt. It seems like it�s a habit he learnt when he
was a kid. God I never want to think about what would drive a kid to become
that good an actor,� he said with a shiver, thinking back to his childhood.
Warrick nodded taking that in; there was nothing that they could do about it
now.

�We better get to briefing
before Grissom shoots us,� he said mentally pushing the issues involving Greg
personally to the back burner.

Gil was already in the briefing
room but none of the rest of the team was there. They snagged some coffee and
waited. Nick now believed Greg was in � it was definitely not the normal tar in
the pot. Sara came in a few moments later, she looked like she had been there a
while Nick figured she probably had. Hot on her heels, Catherine stalked in
dragging an amused looking Greg.

�Gil, I found this in the DNA
lab,� she said yanking Greg in front of her. She obviously thought that Greg
had slipped in under Gil�s radar. Gil raised his eyes from the papers he was
holding and shrugged.

�Well, it was probably doing
more good in there so put it back,� he said deadpan, Warrick and Nick tried not
to laugh; Sara (for once) looked like she sided with Catherine.

�Gil, it shouldn�t be here at
all!� she said in the tone she normally reserved for explaining human behaviour
to the supervisor. Gil quirked an eyebrow at her.

�I agree, Catherine, but short
of having it physically removed what do you suggest I do?�

�It is still here,� Greg said roughly. Catherine looked at him
stunned.

�Getting your voice back, way to
go, Greggo,� Sara praised from the couch, Greg
grinned at her and signed something to Grissom, who caught his injured arm,
studying it. The cast on his arm seemed shorter and had ragged ends.

�You know, I�m sure this was
bigger the last time I saw it,� he said pointedly, Greg shrugged.

::Could
hardly sign and it was difficult to work. So I introduced it to a hacksaw:: Greg�s grin became sheepish and he left. Gil shook his
head at the young man�s antics but was secretly pleased that recent events
hadn�t seemed to kill off all his spirit. He turned back to the team.

�Brass is still looking for
Lloyd and his accomplices but until we get a new lead there is not a lot more
we can do. Sara I know you�ve been running the names through every database
ever conceived by man, keep on it, we need to find them. Nick, Warrick there�s
a DB in Henderson check it out. I know guys; stop with the looks, crime doesn�t
stop because we haven�t got a result on Greg�s case. Catherine
a 419 off the Strip. As you have been made aware, we�ve got Greg back
tonight to take the strain off Bryson � all cases that Greg�s even remotely
involved in go to Bryson, the rest to Greggo. Let�s
get to it,� he left before anyone could ask him anything. Warrick and looked at
each other and shrugged.

�I�m driving,� Rick said as they
were leaving. Sara and Catherine finished their coffee and wandered out. On her
way to her case Catherine stopped by the DNA lab. Greg was working silently and
even hindered by the cast he was still faster than Bryson. In some ways she was
relieved; with Greg back they would soon clear the backlog. Bryson kept giving
him sideways looks. Even though he was the older of the two he seemed to know
he was outclassed. Thank God he only had the two cases to run. Unfortunately,
it was also the two most important cases that they were running. She lent
against the door for a second. Bryson looked up and smiled at her.

�Hey, Catherine,� he said
causing Greg to look up as well. Greg smiled and made a little �what?� gesture
when Catherine continued to stare at him. She gave him a maternal smile.

�Don�t over do it or I will drag
you home and tie you to a bed,� she threatened.

�Promise?� he rasped out making
both of them laugh. She turned to Bryson.

�Keep an eye on him?� she asked
the other lab tech.

Bryson nodded.

�Anything to save him from being
tied down, if he even looks on the verge of passing out I�ll wave Blue Hawaiian
under his nose until it passes,� he assured her, Greg grinned at him and
Catherine rolled her eyes at them.

�Must be the chemicals�� she
muttered wandering off.

Gil sat at his desk staring at
the paperwork he should be doing.

�Hello, Gil�� came an oily voice
that made Gil want to decontaminate his ears.

�Conrad,� he said trying to be
polite. Eckley stepped into the office and sat down
opposite him.

�Did you want something?� Gil
prompted.

�Yeah, we finished with Sanders�
apartment. Looks like the perp. forced the window in
the master bedroom. Sanders put up a hell of a fight � you statement said that
everyone saw was Drake holding a knife to his throat right?�

�Correct,�

�There were indentations in the
wardrobe, looks like someone kicked it; the bed linen was ripped; there was
fresh blood on the pillow � it�s still in DNA but I�m betting it�s Sanders�,�

�Fresh blood?
He didn�t mention anything,� Gil pondered out loud. Eckley
chuckled snidely.

�Rumour has it, Gil, he hasn�t
mentioned much at all since the first attack,� he said slickly. Gris cocked his
head to one side.

�Really?
I found he hasn�t had that much of a problem,� he corrected exaggerating
slightly� perhaps. Eckley frowned realising that he�d
missed something but shook it off.

�Anyway, I�d thought I�d let you
know we�re releasing the apartment and that we have enough to press an
attempted murder charge,� he said.

Gil nodded.

�Thank you, Conrad,� he replied
genuinely, before shepherding him out of the office. Eckley
got the hint and left, Gil followed him and headed for DNA. He became well
aware that Conrad was following him. He froze when he saw Greg.

�Sanders, you�re not meant to be
here,� he said in surprise.

Greg shrugged.

Eckley recovered enough to be snide.

�Ah yes, talking still
difficult,� he said sounding falsely sympathetic. Gil decided to end this
before Greg got upset and hit Conrad.

�Your apartment has been
released Greg. We�re pressing attempted murder charges.�

::Will
it stick?:: the penny dropped for Eckley and he left.
Gil glared until he was out of sight before turning back to Greg.

�They should do. If I wasn�t
convinced of it I would have handled the case personally, regardless at what
time he chose to attack,� Gil stopped talking and switched to sign language.

::They
found fresh blood on your sheets Greg, did Drake hurt you::

::Not
really, he nicked me with the knife::

::You�re
showing me after shift. I knew I should have made you go to the hospital::

::I�m
fine!::

�We�ll see about that,� Gil
stated sceptically switching back to English before leaving.

Bryson gave Greg a reassuring squeeze.

�That didn�t sound good,� he
said sympathetically.

Greg found a weak smile for him.

�Used to it,� he said hoarsely,
causing Bryson to laugh.

CSICSICSI

Sara sighed; she was on her
fifth cup of coffee since the official start of the shift an hour ago. She had
been in for eight hours already. She couldn�t sleep every time she closed her
eyes she saw Greg on that stretcher at the casino, reaching out to them. She
wasn�t going to let him down now. With renewed zeal she continued to search the
records. She was beginning to lose hope when something caught her eye; she paused the search. She allowed herself one small victorious
grin before grabbing her phone.

�Brass?
Sidle. I found something, Neil Balson; seemed he has
an oral fixation and an obsession with his teeth � the idiot has a huge file
out at a local dentist. He goes at least once a week so I�m guessing he would
have gone just before the show. Gotta be worth a shot,� she paused waiting for
a response.

�It�s an address in the suburbs,
I�ll pick you up,� she said getting up and grabbing her jacket. She barrelled
down the corridor towards Gil�s office.

�Hey, I got a hit on one of the
guys; I�m going to check it out with Brass,�

�Okay, keep me informed,� he
said going back to his computers. Sara looked confused and a little put out.

�That�s it just �keep me
informed�. You�re not coming�?� it was half question, half statement.

Gil looked back at her.

�Why? You can handle it on your
own can�t you?� he said impatiently

�Of course I can, I just thought
that seeing as this is the only lead on the guys that hurt a friend you would
be interested,� she snapped before stalking off the way she came. Gil watched
her go pensively; one day he would understand women. Not today though,
obviously. He went back to the computer once more. Johnny Lloyds face stared
back at him. He was missing something � a connection and it was driving him
insane. He sighed he had gone through all the evidence from the case and he
still hadn�t found anything that connected Lloyds to the others. Gil sighed and
threw his pen down on the desk. There must be some way of finding out if these
guys �. The answer came to him and it was so simple he groaned and slammed his
head off the desk. He got up and headed to DNA. Bryson was working on his own, Gil frowned.

�Where�s Greg?�

�He finished all the cases he
can touch. I don�t know how he does it, mind you that is why he�s the number
one I the country I guess. So that coupled with the three text messages he�s
got from CSIs telling him to take a break I sent him to the break room,� Gris
raised an eyebrow, he was obviously in awe of the younger man.

�You believing his hype now?� he
asked incredulously.

�No, but I believe the four job
offers he threw in the bin today, even if he doesn�t,� Bryson nodded toward the
trash can. Sure enough there were four envelopes, one grabbed his attention � post
mark Quantico.

�FBI?
He turned down the FBI?!� Gil sounded shocked.

Bryson nodded smiling ruefully.

�He thought it was one of the
CSIs playing a joke,� he informed him rolling his eyes.

Gil nodded and walked off.

CHAPTER 15

Catherine slammed the door of
the Tahoe; she understood that there were other crimes in Vegas but she would
rather stay on Greg�s case.

Vega looked up at her.

�Nice to see you too,
Catherine,� he said vaguely amused. She took a deep breath it wasn�t the vic�s fault, or Vega�s, that she
didn�t want this case. It wasn�t really even Gil�s but she wanted to be angry
at someone and he was easiest.

�Sorry Vega, what we got?�

�John Doe, found by a girl on
her way home, no ID on the vic
and not obvious in the car,�

�Okay, thanks, I�ll take it from
here- coroner on way?�

�David should be here any
minute,� he informed her. She nodded her attention already on the crime scene.
She looked into the car parked on the side of the road. In the drivers seat was
the corpse of a young Caucasian male. The bruising around his neck indicated
strangulation. The guy had short cropped black hair. He was wearing jeans and a
black band t-shirt. Catherine felt he blood turn to ice when she read the T.
she didn�t even know that NI₃ were big enough to have their own
clothing. She snapped off a shot and started her prelim.

CSICSICSI

Nick looked up at Warrick �
their DB had short blonde hair and was a white male in their 20s. He had been
strangled: there was deep bruising around his neck. Nick took one more shot and
then nodded at David.

�All yours,� he said to the
coroner. He looked over at Warrick who was looking in the trunk.

�Hey Nicky, what do you make of
this?� he asked, Nick wondered around the car. In the trunk was a security
uniform in a bag, the uniform was covered in blood splatter. They pulled it out
carefully, underneath was a back stage pass to a spine chillingly familiar
concert. There were traces of a white powder at the bottom of the holdall. They
collected it for trace.

�I�m getting a bad feeling about
this man,� Nick said

�I hear ya,
bro�,� Rick said bagging the uniform.

CSICSICSI

Sara and Brass arrived at the
dental surgery; the place was nice with a small garden out the front. They
entered the blissfully air-conditioned building. The reception area was large
with a small section outside various doors. There were only a few people
waiting. They walked up to the reception desk and Brass flashed his badge.

�I�m Detective Brass, LVPD, this
is Sara Sidle with the Las Vega crime lab � we�re trying to track down a
patient of yours by the name of Neil Balson. Could
you tell us if he�s been here in the last three days?� he asked, the
receptionist bit her lip. She started scribbling on a note pad.

�I�m sorry, Detective, but I
can�t give out personal information on our clients,� she turned the pad round
as she spoke.
Exam 3: he�s got a psycho friend with him

Brass read it and nodded

�Okay, but all I�m asking for is
the last date he came into this facility,� he scrawled as he spoke, Sara
blocking the pad with her body.
Which way?
The receptionist indicated with
her eyes

�I�m sorry but without a
warrant, I�m not at liberty to tell you anything,�

�Okay, well, thank you anyway,�
he turned slowly.

�On the left,� Sara breathed,
Brass causally looked over; sitting in the left hand corner, hidden from the
front door was the guitarist Johnny Lloyds, his cast looked in very poor
condition. He was twitching and sniffing a lot. Brass sighed heavily.

�Tweaker,�
he muttered and surreptitiously drew his weapon, nodding for Sara to do the
same. They were practically upon him, he looked up at them and his eyes went
wide. He bolted up from the chair and barrelled into Sara. He pushed her over
on to the floor, he went to run past her but she kicked out catching his knee,
he went down with a scream. Brass was on him; he wrestled him into a pair of
cuffs and read him his rights.

�Fuckin�
bitch broke my leg!� he screamed.

Brass snorted.

�I didn�t see it,� the door to
the exam room opened, Neil took one look at them and took off for he door. He
didn�t get far; obviously the Receptionist had called 911 as a patrol car
pulled up outside. The officers got out and caught Balson
before he got far. They slammed him into the hood of the car with more force
then was probably required. Brass figured that it was
just that cops (and CSIs) dealt with being that close to that many dentists.

�Let�s get these jokers
downtown,� Brass sneered. He handed Lloyds of to one of the uniforms and turned
back to Sara.

�You okay?� he asked concerned
seeing her cradle her arm.

�Yeah, just sprained,� she
assured him. He grinned at her.

�Nice kick,� he praised

�Thanks,� she said as they
walked out.

CSICSICSI

Grissom walked into the break
room, Greg was sitting on the sofa with his knees drawn up to his chest.
Grissom looked at him � he was the picture of insecurity again.

Gris sighed.

�Greg? Can you come with me
please?� he asked softly, Greg jumped up to comply. Gil tried to keep his
exasperation to himself; he was going to rid Greg of this compulsion to please
others at his own expense. He walked back to his office knowing that Greg was
hot on his heels. They entered the office quickly, Gil
sat on the edge of his desk and indicated for Greg to have a seat. Greg sat
nervously, the chair was situated close enough to Grissom that he could feel
the heat coming of the man. Gil glanced down the corridor to make sure it was
clear. He then wrapped an arm round the young man and gave him a quick hug.
Greg smiled his thanks as Gil moved back.

�Greg, do any of these names
mean anything to you?� he asked showing him the list of Lloyd�s
co-conspirators.

Greg frowned.

::They
were auxiliary security::

�Auxiliary?�

::Sorry,
it�s what the band call the security that the clubs and casinos provide. That
band has their own because Michael it anally retentive when it comes to safety::

�Okay, thanks Greg. Are you
feeling alright?�

�I�m fine,�

�Don�t speak just to make a
point, Greg,� he chastised softly.

Greg smiled slightly and stared at the floor.

Gil ran carded a hand through the younger mans spiked hair. Greg leaned into
the hand for a second and then froze suddenly. For several seconds he didn�t
even breathe and then he looked up and met Gil�s eyes intently. Gil found the
gaze disconcerting, he felt like his entire soul was being read he found
himself drawn; the gaze was not hindered by the fa�ade Greg normally hid
behind. After a long moment Greg blinked and the spell was broken. Gil took in
the frown on the young face and couldn�t help but feel that his eyes had
betrayed him.

::I
think you, Warrick and I need to sit down for a long talk after shift:: and
with that he got up and left. Gil swallowed hard, that was going to be a
difficult conversation.

CSICSICSI

�Are you sure about this, Jacqui?�
Catherine demanded.

�Yeah I�m sure, Carlos Matinez; prints came up on a LVGC gaming card,� she said.

�Hey, Jacqui,� Nick said coming
in.

�Doc Robbins said he sent my DBs prints over,�

�Yeah, got a hit, another gaming
card; Tom Locum,�

�You�re kidding?!� he exclaimed.

�NO! What�s up with you guys?
Why all the questions?� she snapped finally, sick of having her work
questioned. The CSIs looked guiltily at her.

�Sorry Jacqui, but these are to
of the four people suspected of the attack on NI_3,��
Catherine explained.

Jacqui�s gaze hardened.

�The ones that hurt Greg?� she
demanded Nick and Cath nodded. �Then I�m glad they�re
dead,� she spat surprising the CSIs with her venom.

�Okay, who are you and what have
you done with Jacqui?� Nick asked in deadpan.

She looked sheepish.

�Sorry, but don�t tell me you
haven�t had the same thought,� she defended. Nick raised an eyebrow at
Catherine and shrugged.

�She�s got a point,� he conceded
before heading out. Catherine went to say something else to Jacqui but then
rushed out of the print lab and into DNA. Greg was just about to start
processing a swab.

�Greg, stop!� she commanded, he
dropped the sample and took a step back. CSIs generally didn�t stop you doing
your job without a reason.

�Is that from either mine or
Nicky�s and Rick�s DB?� Greg nodded

�Have you processed anything
from either crime?� he shook his head in a clear no and Catherine started to
breathe again.

�Good, don�t � they�re linked to
the NI₃ case, okay?� Greg nodded, pulled his gloves off and left.
Catherine watched him go with a puzzled look.

Bryson shrugged.

�They would be the only new
cases and he�s already worked through everything else,� he explained.

CSICSICSI

The CSIs gathered in the layout
room with Jim and over Chinese discussed the evidence, including the trace and
DNA. Hodges had pulled a double to clear some of the evidence from DNA to help
out � something that shocked everyone.

�Okay, what did we get off the
dead slime balls?� Sara said earning a look from Grissom.

�My slime ball died of
strangulation; DNA confirmed his contribution to the stains on Greg�s shirt.
Plaster cast present on his T-shirt. Incidentally the T-shit was a slogan for
NI₃. Semen places him at the crime scene there we care about.
Plaster and epithelia�s on the inside of his shirt puts Major slime ball in
intimate contact with him,�

�Our slime ball was one of the
contributions was one of the donors under Greg�s nails and off Dan Langston�s
pants. We got two donors from his nails � which we�ve match to the living slime
balls,�

�Okay, major slime ball, known
as Johnny Lloyds is a tweaker � was high on meth where we brought him in, damn near Frankenstein-ed his
cell. Epithelia�s and plaster put him on Greg and Arissa. Boots matched the
print found in the green room and outside the car at the Henderson
scene. Minor living slime ball � Neil Balson was
carrying a zero-point-four, striations match the bullets pulled out of Katy and
the dead victims. This means we have our Victims � Slime balls � Crime scene
trilogy complete. We�ve got them, I�d just like to know why,� Sara concluded.
Gris sighed; he wished he would able to convince his team not to call them
�slime balls� but he wasn�t a fan of pushing string uphill.

�Well, let�s go ask a living
slime ball,� Brass said, tossing a carton into the bin.

CHAPTER 16

�So what�s the deal here?� the
public defendant asked sitting down.

�No deal, we have all the
evidence we need. We were just giving you client the chance to get in our good
books by letting us know why,� Brass said smoothly. The lawyer conferred with
Lloyds for a minute; Lloyds sighed and nodded.

�They were going to drop me. I
heard Reynolds say he could convince that little bitch to stay on as lead. I
was pissed; he didn�t even want to be there. I went off for a drink and ran
into some of the Aux�s. They were bitching, they
reckoned they caught Gecko Frankenstein-ing � you
know building stuff from crap? They assumed he was a tweak � but when they hit
him up for a score he grassed them up. They lost their jobs because of him as
well. We got talking, we got high we crashed the party � I swear I didn�t know
Neil was packing heat, we were just going to drag the bastard out, he was the
one we wanted. But Neil went nuts started shootin�
the place up! So we had to do him there. Then Arissa got the back door open, I
still don�t know how she did that. I tell ya, if we
knew what his day job was we would have left him, he never mentioned he worked
for cops,� he spat out.

�So you, Locum and Martinez go
in hold Sanders down, beat him up, sexually assault him and attempt to kill him
� but that�s okay because you�re pal is the one who was out of control because
he had a gun?!� Brass couldn�t believe how stupid this guy was. Lloyds just
shrugged. Deciding that he would never understand the inner workings of this
deranged mind, Brass moved on.

�Why kill Locum and Martinez?�

�They were possessed, they were
going to kill us, it was self defence,� he yelled. Brass just looked at the
pathetic excuse of a man in front of him; his life was over. Brass left the
room. The CSIs and lab techs � including Greg much to his chagrin were on the
other side of the glass. Greg was close to tears staring in at Lloyds. He
jumped when Brass entered the room.

He spun and looked at them.

::I
wasn�t Frankenstein-ing, Luna and Solaris wanted to
make a robot, I was trying to get a working prototype!:: he explained.

�We know you�re not on drugs,
Greg � we ran a tox screen on your blood � it�s
standard procedure,� Grissom soothed.

Greg took a deep breath and nodded shakily.

::Can I
go home now?::

::You
can come back to our place, I don�t want you alone; not tonight Greg:: Gil
signed back, Greg nodded and went to punch out.

�Thank God, it�s over,� Sara
muttered, watching him go.

�No clean ups just begun,�
Warrick said taking off after the lab tech.

CHAPTER 17

The drive home was silent, Gil
had informed Rick of what had happened in his office and they were both very
tense. Greg was exhausted and also anxious about what was to come.

They got in, locked the door and
collapsed into the living room. They didn�t say anything until they had
finished the tea that Gil had made. Greg sighed and put his cup down.

�Why am I here?� he asked, his
voice was getting stronger all the time. Warrick and Gil looked at each other
unsure on how to answer they came to a unanimous decision to tell him the
truth.

�Greg, you�re here because we
almost died when we saw you on that stretcher. We� we� what we feel for you
goes beyond friendship, beyond what would be considered proper in normal
company given your age, gender and our working relationship,� Gil stuttered
out, halfway through slipping a hand into Warrick�s.

Greg took that in thoughtfully.

�I �Wondered if it might be
something like that. You, both of you touch me a lot,� Greg flushed and
muttered the last bit.

Warrick smiled.

�We like touching you, I, for
one, love the feel of you in my arms,� he murmured seductively. Greg flushed
turned into a stronger blush and that was even though he was on the other side
of the room to them.

�I don�t know what to say� what
you want me to say�� he confessed hating how young he sounded, he was curled in
a ball and still felt hideously exposed.

�Well, you�re not running away,
which is a good start,� Gil said optimistically before deciding that while they
were confessing he might as well get it all out in the open.

�Greg, yesterday when I came
downstairs I talked to Arissa. She sent me an email of things she thought we
needed to know about you��

::Oh God no, no no no no! Tell me she didn�t-::

�She did Greg, and at the top of
her list of �things to know before seducing you Greg� was your � experience or
rather the lack of it,� Greg had covered his ears somewhere along the line
trying to block out what Gil was saying. Warrick froze and stared at his lover.

�What are you saying Gil? That
Greg�s a��

�Virgin?
Yes, seems Arissa gives him the stories he tells. Greg please don�t turn away
there is no shame in it,� Gil soothed; Warrick looked a little confused as what
to do with this information.

Greg slowly looked over.

::Well
at least you�re not laughing:: Warrick couldn�t help himself, he walked over to
Greg and knelt down by his chair.

�Come here, baby,� he murmured
and opened his arms. Greg hesitated; this was the moment of truth, he had a
choice he could choose to fall into Rick�s waiting arms and give this thing
ago, or he could choose to give into the
terror gnawing at his insides, make one with the couch and stay alone but safe
in his shell. Warrick waited patiently for him to decide not pressuring him
either way. Greg made his choice and threw himself into the older man�s arms.
He hugged him fiercely vaguely aware of the kisses being bestowed on him and
that they were moving. When he did emerge he found himself tucked up on Rick�s
lap with Gil pressed close.

He flushed.

�I don�t know what to do now,�
he confessed.

�What do you want to do? This
doesn�t go any faster than you are comfortable with. So, the question is what
to you want?� Gil spoke softly soothing some of the
worries Greg had. Greg looked up into Warrick�s eyes and bit his lip

�Kiss,� he whispered.

�You want me to kiss you?�
Warrick clarified, Greg braced himself for this to be one big horrible joke and
nodded. He felt a hand on his cheek and opened his eyes to stare into Warrick�s
intense green ones.

�Relax, baby,� he breathed and
slowly sealed his lips over Greg�s. Greg gasped at the first touch; the lips on
his were warm and impossibly smooth. He felt like he was being electrified. He
felt Warrick�s tongue beg for entry and cautiously opened his mouth. Warrick�s
tongue caressed his own he thought he might die, it was the most intense
experience of his life. When Warrick pulled back he whimpered from the loss.
Rick looked over to see Gil looking ravenous, he chuckled lightly kissing
Greg�s ear.

�Ready for round two?� he
whispered coaxing Greg off his lap and onto Grissom�s. Gil stroked Greg�s hair.

�Beautiful,� he murmured before
reaching down to taste Greg�s mouth. Greg immediately catalogued the
differences; Gil�s lips were fuller, rougher but just as good, Greg was fairly
sure he was going to explode. By the time Gil pulled back he as out of breath,
he could feel Warrick caressing his thighs.

�I think it�s time to move this
to the bedroom�� Gil said. Warrick grinned and stood up leaving Greg ensconced
on Gil�s lap.

�I�ve got a better idea, Gil,
hold onto him for a minute,� he said then disappeared up the stairs. Greg tried
to get off but Gil stopped him.

�Hey, you heard the man stop
squirming,� he turned the younger man�s face and took his lips in another deep
kiss. Greg, proving he was a fast learner wrapped one arm around Gil�s neck and
his good hand in his short hair. Greg�s tongue battled Gil�s not willing to be
passive anymore. Encouraged Gil pulled him closed and ran hand down his thigh:
he felt the muscles in the leg tremble as he touched them. He rested his hand
on Greg�s hip, pleased that the lab tech didn�t seem too worried.

�Now that is hot,� a deep voice
from the doorway said in awe. They broke apart slowly, Greg blushed and Gil
smiled at his lover.

�Ready now?� he asked jokingly.
Rick grinned and nodded, Greg jumped up before anyone one could carry him. He
opened his mouth to say something but closed it when he caught two warning
looks.

::Where
am I going?::

�He wants to know where he�s
going, Rick,� Gil said evilly, knowing what Rick would do.

�Well, I could tell him, but I
find it more fun to do this�� he grabbed Greg around the waist and hoisted him
over his shoulder. He wondered up the stairs with his arms locked around Greg�s
legs. Gil sighed and followed his lovers out. He was surprised to find that
Rick had taken Greg into the bathroom. He opened the door to find Greg sitting
on the edge of the bath which was full of hot bubbly water and that the room
was lit by candle light. He turned to look at Warrick and instead of the pride he though he�d see; he saw guilt written all over his face.
The CSI was kneeling on the floor with a hand on Greg�s knee. On closer
inspection Gil could see Greg was on the edge of tears.

�I forgot how badly he�d been
hurt,� Warrick confessed and it all fell into place for Gil.

�Oh no, Greg, sweetheart, are
you alright?� Gil asked crouching by his other side.

�I�m fine, really, don�t worry,�
Greg chocked out.

Gil smiled at him.

��Your Greg and injury� � Greg�s
won�t admit to injury, if one is discovered your Greg will inevitably be �fine�
even if they have lost a limb, bleeding internally and stuck under a truck,�
Gil quoted.

�I am going to kill her, she
shouldn�t have given away my secrets,� Greg muttered. �Warrick I�m okay, please
don�t look like that. This is fantastic, thank you,� he added looking around
the room.

�I wanted everything to be
perfect,� Warrick said ruefully, stroking Greg�s cheek.

�It is. I�m touched,� Greg
insisted, well aware that he was damaging his voice further but reassuring
his�lover? Seemed more important at the moment.

�Well, I think a warm bath is
what you need right now,� Gil said trying to get them back on track and shift
the melancholy. Greg nodded and smiled at them. Gently Gil tugged the hem of
Greg�s T-shirt and pulled it up over his head. Greg flushed at they stared at
the newly revealed skin. It would be uncomfortable for him to be the focus of
one of the pair but both together was overwhelming. He couldn�t help but feel
they would find him lacking in someway. He tried to cover himself with is arms,
but Warrick caught his wrists and stopped him Greg eyes his shirt longingly as
it hung from Gil�s fingers.

�You�re beautiful,� Rick
whispered, deliberately not seeing the mottled bruises that littered his chest.
Greg blushed but met him halfway when he leaned in for a kiss. Greg felt hands
on his jeans but couldn�t tell if it was Gil�s or Warrick�s that popped his fly
open and dragged the zipper down. Hands removed his socks- definitely Gil�s as
Warrick�s were buried in his hair. Then he was being coaxed to lift his hips so
his jeans could be discarded. When he down to just his boxers he felt a
presence at his back. Gil ran his hand over the scars causing Greg to freeze.
Warrick stopped the kiss when Greg stilled and looked at him confused as to why
the younger man suddenly looked so ashamed. He caught a glimpse of Gil�s face;
he was wearing a look of complete concentration and regret
that Rick normally only saw at a particularly nasty crime scene. He wondered
what could have caused it here. Gil met his gaze sorrowfully.

�I never realised how much
damage we did Rick,� he choked out, the penny dropped for Warrick and even
though every instinct he had was told him to look at the evidence, he knew that
to do so would destroy any trust Greg had in them. Instead he pulled Greg into
a gentle embrace and kissed his neck.

�We�ll kiss it better, Gil� he
said over Greg�s shoulder, vaguely aware at how corny he sounded, his eyes
telling the older man to let it go for now. Gil nodded and mover forward into
the hug both of the younger men, sandwiching Greg in the middle.

�I know, Rick,� he murmured
before reaching to kiss the dark man. Greg breathing was in shallow gasps, he
could hear them kissing over his shoulder but couldn�t move to see, which made
it seem all the more erotic. Four hands ran down his body, a hand ghosted over
his groin causing Greg to stop breathing entirely.

�These
staying?� Warrick asked tugging the elasticized waist band. Greg
swallowed hard � another choice with no reprimands if he didn�t want it. He
looked into the green eyes in front of him and turned to meet the blue ones
behind him. He guiltily met Rick�s eyes again and nodded before dropping his
gaze to the floor. Warrick smiled gently.

�Baby, that�s fine, no one wants
you uncomfortable. Gil and I are going to leave you alone now, okay? Don�t get
your cast � well what�s left of your cast � wet,� With one more
gentle kiss from each of them they left. Greg breathed a sigh of relief
as the door quietly clicked shut. The bath water was still warm so Greg ditched
the last of his clothing and slipped into the blissful water.

CSICSICSI

�Well, that went better than I
anticipated,� Gil admitted, they were lying on the bed in shorts and t-shirts �
as to not to put any pressure on their youngest lover.

�Yeah I gotta say I thought he�d
freak; hell when you told me he was a virgin I freaked. I mean are what are we doing here Gil? He�s so young and
vulnerable, what if he feels obligated because he�s staying here? Or that he can�t say no because we�re friends?� Warrick
asked working himself up.

�Rick calm down, if he felt some
sort of twisted obligation he wouldn�t have stopped us from going all the way.
As for young; no one is more aware of that then I am, he could be my son Rick,
you have no idea how sobering that thought is. We�ll take care of him; we love
him and until he feels comfortable enough to voice his own wants then we are
going to have to be observant and try to be sensitive to it. Or I can email
Arissa,� he added at the end to lighten the mood.

Warrick snorted.

�Yeah I can see that; dial up
the young Miss Hampton � excuse me, my partner and I would like to know how to
seduce your brother,� he said factiously

�She�d tell you,� a voice said
huskily. �Although she�d threaten your balls just to make sure you were serious
first,� Greg admitted.

Warrick smiled.

�Hey, you just going to stand
there hiding behind your sister or are you coming in?�

�Am I invited?� he asked sound
very unsure. Gil was increasing finding himself wanting to track down everyone
whoever contributed to make Greg this self- doubting. Thankfully Warrick was
still able to function.

�Of course you�re invited! How
are we going to seduce you from over there?! Get your skinny pale ass in the
bed� he demanded with mock outrage.

Greg grinned.

�Well you know I had to make
sure you hadn�t changed your mind. I mean after all I am the most obnoxious of
the entire grave shift,� the little speech was pretty much the end of Greg�s
voice. He rolled his eyes in frustration; Gil pulled him down between them in a
sideways hug.

�It�s only temporary and there
are things you can do that you don�t need a voice for,� he said seductively.

Greg blushed but looked interested. He smiled at Gil and lent in for a kiss.
Warrick wrapped himself around Greg�s back kissing the shoulder he found.

Greg lowly ran his hand down Gil�s side; he toyed with the hem as if unsure
what to do next. Warrick had been following Greg�s progress, it was obvious the
boy was eager, he just didn�t know how to proceed. Warrick mimicked Greg�s action, running his
hands down the lab techs sides. When he reached the hem of the shirt he toyed
with it and slowly slipped his hand under, he saw Greg do the same and smiled �
very fast learned.

He run a hand over Greg�s chest and toyed with one of his nipples. Fro the
noises Gil was making he guessed Greg was doing the same. He bunched Greg�s
shirt up under his arms, and reluctantly separated them to lift Greg�s shirt
off. Gil took his own off and the pinned Greg to the
bed, he kissed him fiercely before latching onto his neck. Warrick added his
shirt to the pile on the floor. He started to kiss Greg�s chest as Gil worried
on one of his hardening nibbles. Warrick worked his way down Greg�s body, he
got to the boxers and he slowly slipped a hand in and down onto the top of
Greg�s thigh, Greg froze and his eyes opened. Gil stopped torturing Greg to
find out what was wrong. He rolled off Greg and grinned.

�Warrick, want to suck you,
baby. I can see it in his eyes, he wants to suck you until you cum and swallow
your essence. Can he, Greg? Can I hold you, baby, while Rick makes you feel
good?� Gil breathed into Greg�s ear. Greg closed his eyes, when he opened them
again they were shrouded in tears.

�No, no you can�t do that, at
least not for three months,� he chocked out

�Three months, what the hell are
you talking about, Greg?� Warrick demanded. Greg closed his eyes and a tear
cascaded down his cheek.

::HIV
test. Three months::

�Oh, Greg, sweetheart, no,�
Warrick gushed. The bed shifted getting their attention, Gil had grabbed a
phone.

�Gil, what are you doing?�
Warrick hissed.

Gil glared at him

�Al, Gil� yeah I know, I should
be asleep but I need to clarify something. Did you do CBCs
on the two DBs from last night? Yeah I know they�re
calling them the dead slime balls, but you could try not to indulge them�.. found it? Great what�s it say? Okay, thanks can you send me
a copy? Thank you, see you tonight,� he hung up and immediately embraced Greg.

�He was clean, Greg, it�s okay, I promise, he was clean,� he soothed over and
over. Greg gasped for air he suddenly felt so much lighter. Gil sat there
rocking Greg until he had calmed down.

::Thank
you � I know you�re not supposed to do that::

�No, I�m not, but it was
entirely selfish � I want to make love with you,� he said teasingly. That got
him a chuckle and a bigger bush. Greg stopped the laugh by kissing him. Warrick
raised an eyebrow.

�Boy�s a fast learner. So have
you changed your mind?� he asked huskily. Greg frowned trying to remember the
questions, Warrick smiled and crawled up the bed; he kissed once gently.

�Can I suck you?� he reminded
the tech. Greg went an amazing shade of red, a glance at the lust and hunger in
Gil�s eyes made him go scarlet.

::You
want too?::

�More than anything- please?�
Warrick was beyond caring that he was begging. Greg bit his lip thoughtfully
and then nodded. Gil beamed; he manoeuvred them so he was sitting against the
headboard with Greg between his legs. Warrick kissed his way down Greg�s front,
he tongue fucked his navel when he got there and slowly continued down the
treasure trial, he mouthed Greg�s recovering erection through the material of
his shorts, feeling the recovery time half. He eased Greg out of his shorts,
for such a skinny he was over proportioned. It thrilled Warrick more then he
liked, to know that no-one else had ever done this to the beautiful young man
before and even more so to know the � if everything went to plan he would be
one of only two people to ever know Greg�s taste. He swiped his tongue over the
head of Greg�s member making him buck up. He chuckled and gently placed his
hand son Greg�s hips to keep him down; he took Greg in his mouth forming a
tight circle with his lips before sliding down the shaft. He could feel the
tremors of pleasure in the young man and decided he couldn�t wait to hear him
either, a quick glance up showed him that Gil was enjoying the show, he was
stroking Greg�s chest and sucking ho his neck. Greg was going to have one hell
of a hicky in the morning � two if Warrick got his
way. He turned his attention to the matter at hand err... mouth and set about
bringing the boy off. He changed his rhythm, depth, speed, everything, he could
tell that Greg was close. Suddenly there was a hand in his hair trying to pull
him off his �hard� won prize. He just sucked harder desperately wanting to
taste his lovers seed.

�He wants to swallow you Greg�
Gil whispered his voice heavy with arousal. It set Greg off, and he came in
long ribbons. Warrick continued to suckle him through the aftershocks. He
released the spent member and crawled up the bed to share his flavour with Gil.

�He tastes so good� he crooned,
Greg was still panting, sweat giving his body a sheen.

::Wow::
was his limit and that was finger letters.

�Was it good baby?� Warrick
asked stroking his hair. Greg nodded and then took on a look of intense
concentration. He trailed a hand down Warrick�s chest and abdomen, tracing the
twitching muscles, he tugged the boxers and helped Warrick out of the, he
wrapped his hand around his dick with seemed impossibly big. He used Ricks own
pre-cum as lubricant and the big man groaned when Greg tentatively bough a
finger to his mouth and tasted it. It only took a few strokes from that gentle
exploring touch to have Warrick coming. Greg watched fascinated by it. He
smiled, pleased with himself. He turned in Gil�s arms and reached up for a
kiss. He was to repeat his actions on Gil but Gil stopped him

�No Greg, I want to cum in you��
he whispered. Greg paled he pointed to his mouth, and Gil shook his head. Greg
looked puzzled. Gil kept eye contact as he ran a lubricated finger down Greg�s
back into the valley of his ass. He pressed lightly on the opening.

�In there,� he whispered. Greg�s
eyes went wide; somewhere whilst Greg had been with Warrick, Gil had lost his
shorts too and Greg could see his impressive erection. Granted he wasn�t quite
as big as Warrick�s but still large. Greg turned his gaze on Warrick who was
amused by his reaction.

::Is he
serious?::

�Oh yeah��

::Hurts?::
he asked nervously; he couldn�t imagine it not.

�A little the first time, but
we�ll prepare you well, baby, and I promise you it�s worth it,� he assured him.
Greg chewed his lip and then offered Gil a small nod.

::Stop
if I ask?::

�Oh, of course baby, you should
know that,�

::Okay
then:: Gil beamed at him.

�Thank you for this gift, baby,�
he kissed Greg passionately letting all his lover and affection pour out in it.
He broke the kiss after a long moment and guided Greg into position on his
hands and knees straddling Warrick. Gil used his eyes to ask the other CSI to
make sure he didn�t hurt their precious lover. Warrick nodded and stated
stroking Greg, relaxing him. Gil gently massed the puckered opening bestowing
kisses on Greg�s back and neck all the time. He wanted Greg calm and relaxed
before deepening the circles and slowly slipping a finger into Greg. The lob
tech went completely still at the intrusion and for several seconds no one
breathed. Finally Greg opened his eyes; his body relaxing to the intrusion, Gil
slid more of his finger in and slowly started moving it in and out. When Greg
started to meet his thrusts with his own, Gil added another finger. He twisted
them and found the little nub of nerves that would allow Greg to enjoy this as
well. Rick laughed at the incredulous look on Greg�s face when Gil added a
third finger, scissoring them, brushing his prostate. Finally, Gil decided Greg
was ready, he slicked his own aching member and lined
himself up. Greg tensed as he realised that this blunt pressure was not going
away. Gil peppered him with kisses.

�Relax, baby, please, I don�t
want to hurt you,� he crooned. Warrick reached up and drew Greg�s head into a
long kiss; he squeezed his half hard cock, distracting him as Gil slowly
slipped in. Greg�s eyes slammed shut.

�Relax, Greg, the more you
tense, the worse it�ll be,� Gil said thinking that he would be lucky to survive
more then a couple of thrusts at this rate anyway. As Greg managed to relax Gil
slipped past the tight ring of muscle and slid in. Greg tried to control his
breathing � he must be doing something wrong, no way was it supposed to hurt
this much. Gil waited adding the occasional word of comfort to Rick�s between
kisses. After a while he could bare it no longer.

�I�m going to move now, Greg,�
he warned he slipped out by a couple of inches before sliding back in. he
changed the angle each time until Greg shuddered indicating he had got it
right. Eventually, Greg warmed to the experience and started to meet his
thrusts, harder and harder until Gil wasn�t sure which one of them came first.
He came with a keening cry, spilling deep inside Greg. Greg,
in turn cumming all over Warrick. Gil
collapsed onto Greg, knocking him flat. For a moment he caught his breath. He
gently pulled out of Greg and rolled to the side. He snagged a shirt from the
floor and cleaned all three of them up. Finally he pulled the covers up around
them, smiling as Rick spooned behind Greg. He pulled them close. Greg�s final
thought before sleep was how nice it felt in the middle of the mass of limbs.

Epilogue.

It had been three weeks since
the attack on NI₃ and the night shift were celebrating the final
closure of the case. The Hampton�s
had, in an act of reconciliation, invited the entire night shift and their
families over to their mansion. Gil sighed and found a quiet place to hide. He
did like his co-workers and was quite relieved that the girls got on so well
with Lindsey; it would make life easier seeing how Katy was trying to find
neutral ground with Catherine. Gil sat in the library watching the out the
window, he looked around at the books; the collection was extensive. And seemed
to be separated into three main sections; music, law (not surprising, seeing as
who lived here) and an entire section of science texts. Unlike the rest of the
library all the science books looked brand new and untouched. There was a
chronological progression to the chemistry texts, leading to forensics and,
most recently, criminal investigation. The door opened silently and Gil was so
engrossed in the books he didn�t hear the newcomer until he spoke.

�Michael � trying to buy me I
guess,� Greg said smiling when Gil jumped, he didn�t manage to sneak up on the
older man often. Gil turned to Greg.

�What happened between you two?
I�m sorry, Greg, but everything I�ve seen of him � up to and including warning
Warrick and I that he�d buried us if we so much as made you cry - is what I
would expect in an overprotective father,� Gil said slowly trying not to sound
confrontational.

Greg sighed.

�He didn�t � doesn�t
- want me,� Greg said seeming genuinely upset.

�Why do you think that?�

�I heard him � he told his
friends that he loves Katy, adores Aris, I�m just the geek drawback to his
perfect family��

�No, no, Greg, it wasn�t true. I
just didn�t have the energy to explain to a bunch of jocks and frat boys how
amazing you are,� Michael was standing by the door. �Please believe me. Christ,
Greg, I was twenty-four for Christ�s sake! I wasn�t old enough to understand
what I got into,� he tried to explain, not realising that he was convincing
Greg more and more that he had made the right decision.

Greg chocked back a laugh.

�You were twenty-four, Arissa
was eleven! She had to dead with being raped, beaten, and pregnant and � and
motherhood � and quite frankly she did a damn better job of it,� Greg shot
back, not realising that he had not mentioned a thing that had happened to him
over that time.

�Yes, she did, and you had to
deal with being tortured, torn apart, the trail and Arissa�s
problems all at the same time as well. I know I was a jerk, I have no excuse
for it, but where I could help Arissa I did, even if all I did was foot the
bill for counselling. As trivial as that was it was still more then I could do
for you,� he admitted. Gil very much didn�t want to be here for this
conversation but Greg had taken hold of his hand as though it were a life line.
Gil could feel him shaking and guessed Greg wouldn�t have the courage for this
confrontation if he wasn�t there. He wrapped an arm around Greg�s waist and was
rewarded with a smile.

�I didn�t need anyone then,
Michael, why do you think I would need you now?�

�You did need someone then,
Gecko, probably more than the others because you shouldered their
responsibilities as well. You know you have trust issues and I hate to say it
but some of those are my handiwork. While you let Arissa lean on you who do you
have?�

�He has me. He has them,� Gil
said angrily pointing out the window to the night shift.

�He has more people than he
knows, Mr. Hampton,� Gil finished seething that Michael was implying they would
abandon the lab tech.

�I apologise, Dr Grissom, it
wasn�t my intent to make little of � what ever it is you have with Greg but you
have to admit that the odds are not in your favour,� Michael said smoothly
demonstrating why he was a brilliant lawyer, an apology with a put down masked
as concern.

�Greg, I made you a promise the
night of the trial, one I still intend to keep. This is and always will be your
home,� he said he cleared his throat slightly and looked pointedly at Gil. Gris
raised an eyebrow in return, Michael rolled his eyes and approached them anyway
he hugged Greg gently still glaring at Gil.

�If they even give you a cold, I want you back here Gecko, day or
night � any time,� he whispered making sure Gil heard.

�I know, Michael,� Greg told
him. Michael looked at him sadly hoping that somehow he would be able to earn
Greg�s forgiveness.

�Hey, guys you�re missing the
party and hogging the main attraction�.�
Brass� voice travelled into the room before he did causing Gil to break
away from Greg. He saw the way Michael and Greg were staring awkwardly at each
other.

�Everything okay, Gil?� he asked
suspiciously glaring at the lawyer.

�I don�t know,� Gil admitted
bemused by the string contest, Greg laughed lightly and looked away.

�Yeah, Jim, everything�s fine,�
he assured. �Well, at least it will be,� he smiled enigmatically at his friends
and family for the first time in his life he had a home, people who loved him
and even though it was going to take work he was going to have the life of his
dreams.

Finis!
- 1
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The life of His Dreams