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Dating Advice	By : RikuRocks Category: CSI > Slash - Male/Male Views: 5865 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to CSI, nor am I making any money from this work of fiction.

Chapter List
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Nick awoke to the sound of one of Greg�s bands playing from the other room, along with the scents of the younger man�s apartment combined with fresh coffee. The clock on the bedside table told him that he still had twenty minutes before his alarm went off, but he decided to get up anyway. He stumbled into the living room in his boxers, yawning widely and scratching his head.
�Good morning, handsome,� Greg quipped from the kitchen. Nick flushed as he turned and saw the freshly showered chemist smiling while he opened a cupboard to look over his quick breakfast options. �You want granola, Golden Grahams, apple cinnamon Pop Tarts, or toast�or some combination of any of those?�
�Uh, granola and toast,� the Texan answered as he headed into the kitchen and opened another cupboard, where he knew Greg kept his glasses. �You havin� juice?� He pulled out two after the willowy man made a sound of affirmation, and then he headed to the refrigerator. �Orange, Grape, or whatever this stuff in the jug is?�
�That�s apricot ale Papa Olaf made�it�s been in there since he visited after the explosion. He didn�t realize I couldn�t drink while I was taking the pain medication. I�ll take grape.� Nick poured the drinks while Greg shimmied past him to get the milk from the fridge. Then, both men walked around the counter bar and started their breakfast. �I�m making tuna salad for lunch after this; want me to make you some too?�
�Yeah, if you don�t mind,� Nick replied with a nod. �Alright if I grab a shower after breakfast...?�
�Of course; you know where everything is, right?� Greg�s expression made it clear that Nick had not needed to ask for permission. He actually looked like he did not know why the older man bothered asking. After a pause, he turned his eyes to Nick while he ate. �I was thinking...do you have any vacation time coming up?�
The Texan paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. �Yeah, why?�
The muddle-haired youth gestured with his free hand while he explained what was obviously a well thought recommendation. �See, my grandma really seemed to take�well, me�better after my mom and I flew out to New York for our annual visit during my summer break. I think seeing that I was still the same kid she�d always known and loved helped a lot. Maybe -after you�ve told everyone and given them some time- you could try to go out to Texas to see everyone; show them you�re still you.�
�You know,� Nick paused to take a drink of his orange juice, �That actually sounds like a good idea. Nearly everyone who�s called me back already has mentioned wanted to see me again�and it�s been a long time since I went home for a visit. Maybe I could try to head back in a month or so, before everyone goes nuts over the holidays.�
�That�s a good idea,� Greg replied before he finished off his juice. �I always knew my family got kind of crazy over the holidays, but I never realized how much that extended to everyone until I started working in the crime lab.�
�Yeah, I think it�s a little worse here than most places though. It never seemed quite as bad when I worked in Dallas.� Nick frowned as he thought back and realized he had seen Greg over every holiday since the younger man transferred to Vegas. �Have you made it home for any holidays since you started working here?�
Greg shook his head, and replied as started clearing up the empty bowls and glasses. �Nah, only once during my first year; But I don�t really mind. My parents, and Papa and Nana Olaf have visited for most of the major ones, and Grandpa Haakon�s started coming out since Grandma passed away; I think that has more to do with him moving to California though. It wasn�t really practical for them to keep flying out form New York�I don�t know how they made it nearly every year when I was a kid.�
�You know, I never thought about how families who live in separate states manage the holidays until I moved out here. All of my immediate family were within reasonable holiday-driving distance growing up.� Nick got up and paused to watch Greg bend down and load the detergent in his dishwater before he forced himself to turn for the restroom. While he showered, he found himself wondering what it would be like to take the slender chemist to Texas with him�and what the chances of that happening were.
The rest of the �morning� went well; Greg prepared lunches for both of them, they had a friendly debate over which video game system was the best over coffee, and they talked about music while they left the apartment and headed to Greg�s car, where they parted. The younger man finished explaining the meaning of a particular song as he got inside his car.
�It still sounds like an angry song to me, Greggo, but you say it�s a love song, I believe you.� Nick shook his head slightly and smiled at the younger man before closing his door for him. Then he called, �Drive careful, doll.� The Texan was already turning away to walk to his truck when he realized what he had just said and cringed inwardly.
Greg, however, just rolled down his window and asked; �Was that another crack at my music?� The brown-eyed youth offered the older man a grin to show he was only half-serious. �Because it doesn�t affect my driving any more than it does my processing at work.�
�I believe it,� Nick called back as he continued toward his truck.
Warrick and Sara were both drinking coffee and eating doughnuts in the break room when Nick arrived. The brown-eyed woman looked up and greeted him with; �Isn�t that the same ugly shirt you were wearing just before your day off?�
�I told you to stop paying such close attention to my appearance, Sara; it�s gettin� a little freaky,� the Texan replied as he stuffed his lunch in the community fridge. Without thinking, he added, �And I like this shirt; Greg got it for me when he spoke at that conference in El Paso.� Fortunately, he stopped before he could add the fact that the muddle-haired man had been having an impromptu lunch with Jennie when he mentioned wanting to bring Nick a souvenir from back home.
Sara scowled lightly, �Greg didn�t bring me back a souvenir�what about you?� She glanced at Warrick.
�A shot glass,� the tall man replied in his usual blasé tone. The Texan was about to flash his friend an appreciative smile when he added, �Greggo knows better than to buy ugly shirts for me.�
Nick cleared his throat and decided to ignore them both as he prepared himself a cup of coffee. He could see Warrick smirking softly and Sara looking bemused through his peripheral vision. �Now, where are we on the case?�
�Not much further than we were when we left here, what was it�seven hours ago?� answered Warrick. He was watching Nick a little too thoughtfully for the other man�s liking, but neither would comment on the previous day with Sara present. He smirked as he stated, �Although Sanders� belladonna finding has earned us a warrant to check sales records and the victims� financial records; see if we can�t track down who bought it.�
�The print match got us a warrant to check out the RO of the car too, but Brass still hasn�t been able to track him down,� Sara added, frowning. �He has to have something to do with it; we found his prints all over that car.�
�So what�? We�ve proven the owner of the car touched it and likely drove it sometime before the victims died. That�s not all that helpful.� Nick quipped before taking a sip of his coffee. The lab�s standard blend tasted even more bitter than usual after drinking Greg�s Blue Hawaiian that morning. He wondered if the others would question it if he dumped the brown sludge without drinking any more.
�We also don�t know who drew their blood,� Warrick stated pensively before he popped the last bite of his doughnut into his mouth and followed it with the last of his coffee. Nick fought the desire to cringe as the taller man swallowed the mess before speaking again. �It�s not like they could have just done it themselves�none of them were premed. We should check to see if any of their other friends worked a blood drive or something in the past year.�
Sara stood, rinsed out her mug out, and started for the door; �I�m going to get started on those records.�
�Cool, I�m heading down to the morgue; Doc said he should be finishing up on the last victim first thing today.� Warrick stood and rinsed his own mug out. Then he glanced at Nick and casually added, �You want to come with before you start chasing down the car?�
�Sure; considering how this case has gone so far, he�s probably going to have somethin� weird for us.� The Texan replied even though he had a feeling that Warrick wanted him to go with him for reasons other than having another brain present to absorb whatever the coroner threw at them. He happily dumped his untouched cup of bad coffee into the sink and rinsed out his mug.
Sara left after telling them to find her once they finished in the morgue, but Warrick did not make any move to leave yet. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter as he casually addressed his friend. �So, you thought about this thing with Sanders?�
�Yeah,� Nick nodded and grinned lightly; the relief he felt from their conversation that night was still fresh and talking about Greg only enhanced the peaceful feeling. �I�m meetin� him at his place for dinner tonight, so I�ll talk to him then.�
Warrick�s expression and tone managed to be both impressed and guarded. �You arranged this already?�
The Texan nodded slowly this time, confused by his friend�s reaction. �Last night, before we went to bed��
�Wait; we�� The green-eyed man frowned lightly before a look of astonishment crossed his features. �You mean you stayed there last night? Damn, you move fast. Are you sure-�
�Whoa, back it up there, boss. I stayed in his guestroom because it was late and he didn�t want me driving home tired.� Nick had never minded if a friend just assumed he scored before, but he did not want to give the wrong impression of Greg. As much as the youth tried to sound wild and worldly to impress the CSIs, the Texan always sensed an innocent quality to him, and he was reluctant to help him hide that.
If Nick had his way, Greg would keep that quality as long as possible.
�You know that phone call I got when we left the diner?� The sable-eyed CSI began to explain when he saw that Warrick was open to elucidation. Clearly, the taller man was not jumping to conclusions. �That was my sister, Julie, calling to tell me that my sister Beth isn�t taking the news of me being bi well. I wasn�t paying attention to where I was driving while we talked, and I ended up at Greg�s place��
Warrick smiled knowingly, but the understanding in his features made the expression comforting instead of irritating, as it normally was to Nick. �So you went up?�
Nick shrugged; �It seemed like the right place to be.� He smiled lightly as he added; ��And it was. He made me feel a lot better about Beth and my parents-�
Warrick�s smile vanished instantly and he frowned angrily, but it was clear the emotion was not directed at his friend. �Your parents have a problem with this?�
The Texan shook his head and sighed as he admitted; �I haven�t told them. I just told Will a few days ago and asked him to pass the word around to our other siblings. Everyone else took it amazingly well, but after hearin� about Beth�s reaction, I was more worried about telling the rest of my family.�
Warrick nodded his understanding. His expression struck Nick as slightly odd, however, It was the same look he got when something seemingly insignificant struck him while working a case. The question he asked next did not fit the expression either. �But Sanders helped you?�
�Yeah�so did Julie.� Nick took a deep breath and straightened confidently. �I�m calling my mom in a day or two, and after it�s sunk in for her, I�ll call my dad -after shift, though. That�s gonna be a long conversation no matter how he takes it.�
�Well good luck with that, man. I�m glad you�ve got plenty of people in your corner�you know I don�t share your penchant for rollin� solo.� Warrick started out of the break room, clearly intending Nick to join him as he made the ostensibly casual comment.
Fortunately, the Texan was not a CSI for nothing, and he caught the significance of his friend�s words. He grinned as he followed the taller man into the hallway. �Thanks, Rick.� Not wanting the moment to get too mawkish, he asked, �So how weird do you think the doc�s findings are gonna be?�
The conversation turned back to the case as the two CSIs headed to the morgue, and afterwards, Nick headed straight to DNA as if by habit�even though there was no actual need to see the chemist working there.
�You know what,� Warrick stopped and stared moving backwards; Nick turned to pay attention as the other CSI slowly moved in the other direction. �I�m gonna find Sara and catch her up to speed�you can fill Sanders in. I�m sure he�ll be thrilled his theory is still the strongest of all of ours.�
�Yeah, but at least he�s surprising humble about it when he�s proven right,� Nick called after him. �I�ll be there in a few.� The brawny man headed to the DNA lab, but did not enter when he saw that Greg was not there. He checked around the lab and soon saw the younger man in the ballistics division, speaking with Bobby.
�So you don�t think I�m crazy?� the chemist was asking as the CSI quietly entered the ballistics lab.
Recalling that the younger man had admitted to going to Bobby for romantic advice, Nick decided to make his presence known immediately, since neither of the technicians appeared to notice him opening the door. �Oh, we all know you�re crazy, Greggo.� He grinned when the other two men turned to look at him, Bobby with surprised concern and Greg with nervous shock. �That�s okay though; it�s part of your charm.�
Bobby grinned and nodded an acknowledgment to Nick, �That it is. What can I do for you, Nick?�
�Oh, I was just looking for Greg.� Sable-eyes turned to the muddle-haired youth, who still looked a little flushed. �I can come back if it�s a bad time��
�No, that�s fine,� answered Greg immediately. He seemed to regain most of his composure and grinned nervously, �I should be getting back to work anyway.� The blonde turned to the other technician and smiled appreciatively, �Thanks, Bobby.�
�No problem, Greg,� the taller man answered. Then, he grinned, �And to answer your last question; you may be crazy, but what you�re thinking isn�t. Good luck, kiddo.�
The DNA technician smiled appreciatively and offered the taller man a nod before exiting the ballistics division with Nick. He immediately turned his bright smile on the Texan. �So, what do you have for me?�
Nick smiled in return. �Nothin�.� He laughed silently at the confused expression on his friend�s face as they entered the DNA division. �We don�t have any new evidence yet, but we do have a couple warrants and a completed autopsy. I just wanted to keep you updated since you seem to be leading the think-tank on this one.�
Greg�s eyebrows rose slightly as his smile took on an excited edge. �Really? Thanks, man.� The muddle-haired blonde turned to the other shifts� backlogged evidence and started browsing the case files. �So I take it my suicide theory still stands?�
The Texan moved closer to the younger man and dropped a hand between his shoulder blades as he tried to read the case files over his shoulder. However, the willowy chemist flipped through them too quickly for anything to stand out. �Well, there�s nothing to indicate a homicide, but it�s not a clear-cut suicide either.
�The autopsy backs the carbon monoxide poisoning you found in tox earlier as COD, but five healthy young men and women wouldn�t just die of carbon monoxide poisoning at the exact same time�at last one of them could have reacted before they died. Aside from the puncture wounds, they had no injuries, and Doc Robbins said they weren�t missing any blood either, which means the blood at the scene was definitely staged.�
Greg frowned as he set aside a few of the backlogged case files, having apparently decided which ones he was going to run. He turned his head to look at Nick as he stuffed the others back into their cabinet. �Okay�why would they do that? I mean, I get why someone would try to make their suicide look like an accident or even a homicide -insurance payout and saves the family from the stigma- but that doesn�t seem to apply here. Do you think they were trying to emulate something or make some sort of statement?�
�I dunno, Greggo,� Nick caught himself stroking the back of Greg�s neck with his thumb and stopped himself, remembering the night before. However, he still kept his hand firmly on the younger man�s back. �First thing first; we need to figure out the �how�, then we can worry about the �why��sometimes the �how� and the �why� are connected and one leads us to the other, sometimes we never find out why. This time, I�d really like that not to be the case.�
�Me too;� The muddle-haired chemist shared a nod with the older man before he pulled an evidence bag containing an ensanguined nail file from one of day shift�s case files. Warm eyes rose to meet sable again as he sincerely added, �Good luck.�
�Luck has nothing to do with it,� Nick commented. Then, he patted the younger man on the chest; �That�s why we have you guys.� He grinned as the blond glanced at his hand perplexedly before returning the grin. The CSI backed away just slowly enough for his hands to linger on the slender body without drawing attention to them. �I better catch up to Warrick and Sara. See you later.�
The Texan dropped his voice and smiled good-naturedly. �We�re still on for dinner, right?�
Greg smiled contentedly and answered quietly enough that only Nick could hear him. �Definitely; just let yourself in whenever you can finally get off.� He paused for a second and then chuckled lightly, �Okay...that could have been phrased better.�
�Sounded fine to me,� the Texan replied with a smile and a wink before he turned and left the DNA division. He had to fight every instinct he had not to turn back to get another look at the younger man as he strode down the hall.
Nick could have sworn he heard Jacqui applaud as he left the DNA lab, and he definitely caught the thumbs-up Bobby shot him as he passed ballistics. Nevertheless, none of the five who actually knew what was going on between Nick and Greg -including the two men themselves- spoke of the matter again while they were on shift�and no one made any comment about Nick resuming his touchy-feely manner with Greg. All of which the Texan appreciated, although he had not been certain that it was deliberate until he was getting ready to leave nearly two hours after his shift should have ended.
�So,� Warrick took a nonchalant glance about the parking lot as they headed to their cars, and only continued when he saw that they were alone; �You still on with Sanders tonight?�
�Yeah,� Nick stretched his shoulders as he walked. �I think so anyway; he told me to let myself in whenever I got off shift.�
The green-eyed man smirked, �Sounds serious. Good luck, man.�
The Texan rolled his eyes, �It�s not a date, Rick. Just �cause we�re interested in each other doesn�t mean anything�s gonna happen. Look at Grissom and Sara; how long have they ignored their painfully obvious mutual attraction now?�
�Yeah, but that�s Grissom and Sara,� the taller CSI pointed out with an exasperated look. �They don�t have the social skills or self-awareness that you and Greggo do�not to mention your pigheadedness. I give you one, two more days, tops before you can�t take this patience crap anymore and just pin him to the nearest solid surface and lay one on him.�
The sable-eyed man laughed and shook his head as he unlocked his truck. He paused before climbing in and turned to look at Warrick as the taller man opened his SUV. �You might just be right about that.�
Both men smiled as they pulled out onto the street and went their separate ways.
Nick drove straight to Greg�s apartment without any concern for the time; he knew that the younger man would have informed him if he wanted to cancel and get some sleep. Once again, no one in Greg�s building seemed to think twice about Nick�s presence, and the young woman who held the elevator for him even knew which floor he was going to, which caused the Texan to smile broadly. He let himself into the younger man�s apartment with no hesitation and paused to enjoy the moment as he was greeted by the tantalizing smells of their dinner, along with the sounds of some band he could not identify blasting through the stereo and a called greeting from the kitchen.
�Hey, Nick�long shift, huh?� Greg entered the living room to meet the older man with a smile, and the smile that had been plastered on Nick�s face since he left the lab intensified.
The Texan knew he could definitely get used to coming home to this.
Before Nick knew it, he had crossed the room and nearly pulled the willowy chemist into an embrace. He caught himself at the last moment and turned the motion into a friendlier, manly hug.
The younger man returned the hug with one arm and held up his other hand in way of explanation as they parted; it was covered in chocolate fudge. Greg smiled and shrugged lightly. �I got bored and felt like chocolate, so I made us a lava cake for dessert. Just give me a second�� He headed back into the kitchen and started cleaning up.
Nick chuckled to himself, then called, �I�d have started showing up late months ago if I knew desert would be involved.� He grinned when he heard the blonde chuckle as well. �Seriously though, sorry I�m so late. We finally tracked down the RO of that car and there were way too many financial records to go through for five college students. At least we�re finally makin� some progress though.�
�Sounds like it,� Greg replied as he headed back into the living room. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and motioned his head toward the curtains that hid the sliding glass doors that lead to his balcony. �I was thinking we could eat out there, but if you�re too bushed, we can switch to the couch.�
�Nah, man, that sounds great.� The Texan smiled, but looked his friend over more closely. He was sure the younger man�s hands had been shaking again, and he seemed strangely wrought-up for being off shift and at home. The brawny man bit his lip as the slighter man released a breath that was just slightly too heavy.
Greg turned back toward the kitchen as he replied, �Great. I�ll grab the food. Can you get the wine and take it out?�
�Sure,� Nick arched an eyebrow and watched the willowy youth through the corner of his eye. While Greg was checking the food with the same grace and precision as expected, he seemed somewhat distant, like his mind was somewhere else. Nick was not sure whether he wanted whatever was bothering the younger man to be about him or not. On one hand, he did not want their relationship to end before it began, on the other hand, he did not want anything more to be bothering Greg.
With a sigh, the Texan grabbed the wine bottle Greg had left out and headed toward the balcony.
It was a warm enough night, so Nick had not thought anything of Greg wanting to eat on his terrace; however, he did find it odd that the curtains to said balcony were drawn closed. Usually, if the muddle-haired chemist was planning to use the balcony, the curtains were open. Instead of remarking on the oddity, the brawny man merely pushed the curtain aside enough to open the sliding glass door and step out.
Then, he froze.
A floor-length velveteen tablecloth draped over Greg�s Formica patio table, and two full place settings were set up across from each other, complete with fabric napkins folded neatly atop charger dishes. A few sandalwood candles decorated the table also, and several more decorated the chemist�s planters and the top of the cement balustrade. Nick heard a soft click behind him before Frank Sinatra�s All My Tomorrows filled the air and completed the romantic setting.
The CSI turned his head and saw Greg standing behind him, looking uncharacteristically shy as he fidgeted his hands and wore a nervous smile that turned a little excited as it reached his eyes. Nick wore a similar smile as he turned to face the younger man fully, a deep sense of anticipation building in his chest. �What�s all this?�
�I�ve been thinking�maybe if I just trust you, it�ll all work out. You�ve been really trying and�� The muddle-haired youth offered a small, half shrug. �I don�t know, I guess I thought we could try meeting halfway?�
The Texan�s smile grew as he recalled what Greg had said the night before, about why he and his grandmother tried to meet halfway, and he understood the full meaning of the younger man�s words. Then, Nick turned and looked over the scene once more.
Greg�s apartment was located in a manner that the terrace only faced the street on the side, and was not clearly visible from the street in any case. The other side faced Mr. Steinhoff�s balcony -which the elderly man rarely ventured onto and had not done so that night- and the building next door blocked the view of the front. A few of the balconies in the neighboring building were in use; a young woman was talking on her phone while giving herself a pedicure, a young man was practicing yoga, a middle-aged man with a telescope was trying to find any stars that dared to face off the Vegas skyline. There was also an elderly woman, crocheting on her balcony and swaying along to the music from Greg�s stereo with a reminiscent smile on her face. None of them seemed to be paying any mind to Nick and Greg, but it was not entirely private�nor was it terribly public.
Greg had thought hard to find a way to truly meet Nick halfway.
The Texan turned and grinned at the willowy blonde, with much more confidence this time. �So this is a date?�
The doe-eyed youth appeared relieved as he smiled in return. �If you want it to be�if you�re really ready.�
Remembering RJ�s advice and Warrick�s statement as they left the lab, Nick�s grin turned predatory as he crossed the short distance between them and pulled the younger man into a deep kiss. He did not even realizing they were moving as he backed Greg into the glass door behind him and kissed him as best as he knew how.
The corners of his mouth twitched upwards when Greg returned the kiss with equal ardor and made his lips tingle.
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