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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
- 13
- 14
- 15
Author�s notes: Burn treatment/healing and MSM information are accurate, however ,I completely forgot that CSIs have to check in evidence before it goes to whichever lab division needs to work on it. So�let�s just suspend disbelief for that bit, okay? Thanks.

See first chapter for further story notes and disclaimer.

Nick was down the street from the lab when Greg�s cell rang again. He remembered to check the caller ID, and read the name Warrick Brown. �Hey, Warrick. I�m almost there. Got caught behind an accident over by-�
�That�s fine, man.� Warrick interrupted, sounding like he did when he had something important to say. �Brass and I interrogated Greer. He and Sara are questioning Daniels now. That�s not why I called though; we can fill you in while whatever you found at the apartment gets processed. I�m calling because of Sanders.
�Don�t worry, he�s fine,� the green-eyed man assured his friend before Nick could voice the concern that settled on the tip of his tongue. The Texan could not help but smile at the fact that his friend knew him so well. �Grissom spotted him in the parking lot and wanted him to help us out for a couple hours. Greggo claimed he was there to talk to me about the case, check up on our wager, you know? I�m not sure if Gris fell for it, but he didn�t question it.
�Greg told me that he accidentally handed you his phone instead of yours when you left after dinner last night, the little knucklehead.� Both men chuckled; Warrick, because he thought Greg was adorably smitten, which caused him to make the simple error. Nick, because he knew Greg had taken the blame for the mishap to save Nick the embarrassment and harassment that his coworkers and friends would no doubt provide. �Do you have anything for him when you get here?�
�Yeah, plus some stuff for trace�� Nick pulled into the lab�s parking lot. �Greg isn�t taking care of that too, is he?�
�I think he�s just making sure our case moves along, so give all of it to him,� Warrick replied. �Just make sure to say �hey� to me on the way. I�ll text you while you�re with him, it won�t be important, just an excuse to pull out your phone and set it on the counter.�
Nick grinned as he caught on. �And then leave it there, right?�
�You got it. Greggo will make the switch and come find you as soon as he gets our results going. No one will be the wiser.� Nick could hear the smirk in Warrick�s voice as he added, �You got yourself a catch, man. Congratulations.�
The Texan smiled, even as he rolled his eyes. He doubted that was all the other CSI had to say on the subject, but appreciated that his friend would be discreet. �Don�t I know it. I�m here now, Rick; I�ll be in in just a minute.�
�Cool; see ya.� Warrick hung up just as Nick hopped out of the company Tahoe and moved to the back to pull out the envelopes and bindles of evidence he had collected from Greer and Daniels� apartment.
Nick came in and logged in the evidence before heading toward DNA to drop it off. He paused on the way and glanced about until he spotted Warrick returning from the PD and turned in his direction. They met up halfway down the hall and the Texan asked, �So if Greggo�s just here for a few hours to run our evidence, is he holed up somewhere or did he take over the chem. lab?�
�He�s in his lab,� the taller man replied with a smile. �No one else was workin� in there anyway. Damn cutbacks�it�s no wonder none of us get steady days off.�
Nick scoffed, �Hell, I�d be satisfied if I could just get off shift within two hours of schedule more than twice a week. I�m gonna drop this stuff off with Greg, then I�ll catch up to you and Sara and we can see what we have.�
Warrick nodded, �We�ll be in the layout room with Brass.� He grinned and added, �Take your time.�
The Texan grinned as well and headed straight to the DNA lab. He paused upon entering, seeing a slender, blue-smocked figure bent over a microscope while simultaneously taking notes. Greg�s music was not terribly loud or offensive that evening�it had a strangely romantic sound, in an odd, punk-ish sort of way that just screamed �Greg�.
Nick�s smile broadened, �Hey you. Just couldn�t stay away, huh?� He knew any random passing employee would assume he was referring to the lab, as it was supposed to be the chemist�s day off.
The lithe man straightened and turned, offering the older man a beatific smile. �Hey yourself. Yeah, I think I�m developing a dependence; I may need to seek help.� Greg glanced down at the evidence bindles in the brawny man�s arms. �Are all of those for me?�
Nick blinked and offered a lopsided grin, �Hey, I was told you were handling DNA and trace, just for us.�
�Mm-hmm, and tox,� the younger man added as he took some of the evidence envelopes from the CSI. �Just consider me your personal slave for the evening.�
Nick had to bite back a moan, thinking he would like it if that stood for the whole evening. Before he could say anything inappropriate, he straightened and cleared his throat. �I hope gettin� dragged in here doesn�t ruin your whole day. How did Grissom get you in here anyway�aren�t you tapped out on overtime yet?�
�Oh, that,� Greg rolled his eyes, but then grinned faintly, showing that he was not truly annoyed with their supervisor or the situation. He began working as he answered. �You see, it started with him asking me to help with an experiment. I swear the guy just loves to use me as his personal guinea pig� Anyway, he needed access to someone with significant scarring to dispr-�
The chiming of his own cell phone, which resided in Nick�s pocket, interrupted the muddle-haired chemist. Nick checked the phone, and had to bite back a laugh at the text Warrick sent him; Remind your boy toy to run full tox on Greer and Daniels� blood when he�s done with their DNA profiles. Nick surreptitiously placed the cell on the nearest counter, among several vials and beakers, and turned his attention back to Greg.
�You�re gonna run a full tox screen on Greer and Daniels� blood after you get their profiles, right?� He asked, then flushed and shrugged when the chemist looked as though he were insulted that was not a given. �Sorry, Rick wanted me to check.�
�Uh-huh.� Greg continued working on the new evidence Nick had brought in as they talked. �I�m also going to compare the victims� blood to any unknowns that come up here.�
Nick smiled apologetically and placed a hand on the younger man�s back. His smile faltered and his brows furrowed when he noted how tense the muscles there were. �Greggo�� His mind -and question- switched gears as he recalled what Greg had been saying before Warrick�s text interrupted him. �What was Grissom�s experiment about?�
The willowy youth sighed as he stated mixing solvents. �You know Grissom; he didn�t really fill me in on all the details. He said he needed to disprove a witness-slash-suspect�s statement�it sounds like the dude�s claiming he didn�t feel an injection because of some heavy scarring on his shoulder. I guess he was burned at some point�� Greg gestured helplessly with one hand and then waved the thought away, �Whatever.�
The muddle-haired chemist sounded less enthusiastic then usual, border-lining drab. �Grissom decided to use me as a pincushion to test the theory.�
The Texan felt a surge of enragement that normally reserved itself for thoughtlessly cruel crimes. �It�s only been a couple months since you were released to return to work! What the hell is Grissom thinking? Are you even healed up yet? Why didn�t you-�
�Nick, relax,� Greg interrupted, keeping his voice down and looking both touched and amused by his boyfriend�s reaction. �They said it can take a year more for the scars to �mature� but the bulk of the healing is done already; it�s fine. I wouldn�t let him stick needles in raw wounds�and he asked about tender areas and all that before he started sticking. Most of the thick scars have decreased sensation anyway, so I didn�t even think it would hurt, and I definitely didn�t expect it to knot up like this. Grissom didn�t either. He even apologized, and you know how rare that is.�
The brawny CSI scoffed, feeling hardly appeased. �Yeah, but then he asked you to stick around and work some more.�
Greg sighed and continued working. He seemed to be trying to keep his back as still as possible while doing so, and Nick wondered if that was due to discomfort or the fact that his hand was still on the younger man�s back. Seeming to ignore both the knots under his skin and the hand on his back, the slender blonde commented; �I kind of got the feeling he wanted to keep an eye on me for a while.�
�If he�s really concerned, he should have told you to go to a doctor.� Nick sighed as well, and rubbed the willowy chemist�s back while pretending to smooth out his lab coat. �Does this hurt?�
�I can�t really feel it on my bad side; most of the scarred areas are impervious to low pressure touches now. It gets cold really easily though, which is weird, �cause they warned me about overheating now that I have less sweat glands�� Greg frowned lightly, then shook the somewhat random train of thought off and turned to offer the older man a warm smile before returning to work. �Thanks, Nick, but I think you need to catch up to Warrick and Sara . I�ll let you know when I have some results for you.�
The Texan nodded and reluctantly dropped his hand. �Yeah, you�re right. Take it easy though, okay?�
�Okay,� Greg replied with a half grin. �It�s not like I�m doing anything strenuous, you know�� The chemist shook his head slightly and mouthed the words �I�m okay� when he saw that his boyfriend was still hesitant to move. Despite the discomfort in his back, Greg wore a faint smile as the older man left the DNA lab in search of the other CSIs on his case.
Nick was still frowning when he entered the layout room. Brass was speaking to the others, but paused when he saw the look on the Texan�s face. �What�s the matter with you? The uniform I sent with you said the collection went smoothly��
�Huh?� Nick looked at the detective questioningly, until he realized that his irritation and concern was clearly written across his face. He shook his head and forced his features to relax a little. �Oh, it did. I was just thinkin� about somthin� else. I found a couple bloody towels, some syringes, a box of needles with some blood smears, a jar of what looked kinda like brown sugar crystals that was labeled belladonna, and bag of some white powder. I just left all of it with Greg. How�d the interrogations go?�
�Daniels admits to drawing blood from each of our victims over the course of a week, months ago, but says that one of the victims -the art major�Bowens?� Brass glanced at Sara, who nodded, and the detective continued, �Said it was for an art project and the others each volunteered to donate to his �art supplies�. I checked with the school, and it seems that Bowens has used real blood in previous works�dead bugs and things too. Sounds gross if you ask me, but I�m no art critic.�
�Greer also admits to supplying his friends with belladonna,� Warrick added. �He says that one of our victims� parents -Lee�s- were botanists or something, and she always used natural remedies. I guess she would add a pinch of belladonna to her tea at night to help her relax and go to sleep, and the others told him they were going to start doing the same. He said he just thought it was the stress of college life keeping them awake and he was happy to help.�
Nick arched an eyebrow, �And they didn�t just go buy it themselves because�?�
�Greer got an employee discount,� Brass supplied. �Apparently, he never thought to question why they were buying it in bulk.�
�Both swear they had no idea what their friends were doing,� Sara stated. Her arms were crossed and her face tight, Nick could tell she was not happy with the way the investigation was going. �They had an answer for everything.�
�I have to say, I�ve never seen two guys pull off the innocent routine this well,� Brass commented. He held up a placating hand when Sara opened her mouth to speak, and waited until it was clear she was going to remain quiet to continue. �I�m not saying there�s no way they�re involved, but I don�t think we�re looking at an all out murder here. And I hate to point it out, but unless that white powder Nicky found turns out to be something we can hold �em on, we�ve got nothing.�
�Yeah; Even if the blood turns out to be any of the victims�, Daniels admits to drawing it,� Warrick stated, looking thoughtful. �So unless we find something to disprove their story, that�s what happened.�
�Hey, Nick,� Greg entered the layout room and stopped beside the Texan, but he offered a polite nod to everyone else; ��And everybody.� The slender chemist quickly turned his attention back to the sable-eyed man. �I decided to check your unidentified white powder and the belladonna first, since it doesn�t look like the blood is going to be all that helpful anyway.�
Seeing Nick� confusion, the blonde explained, �Warrick filled me in already. Anyway, the stuff labeled belladonna is belladonna, and since it was already processed for retail, there�s no way I can tell if it came from the same batch as the belladonna your victims consumed�sorry. As for the white stuff, it�s MSM.�
There was a brief silence in which everyone appeared to be waiting for something, before Brass rolled his eyes and asked, �That some new kind of drug? We aren�t chemists, Sanders. If we were, you wouldn�t be here.�
Before Nick could reprimand Brass for that last comment, Greg spoke, shooting Nick a warning glance that the detective and Sara would likely misinterpret. �Methylsulfonylmethane�also known as DMSO2, methyl sulfone, or dimethyl sulfone. The biochemical effects of it as a supplement aren�t widely understood, but some research has suggested that it has anti-inflammatory effects. People use it to treat arthritis; osteoarthritis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, and I�ve heard it was used in a test group to treat snoring. Don�t know how that turned out though. I�ve only used it as a high-temperature solvent myself. It-�
�So it�s not a drug or a poison, and it�s not used to make any known drugs or poisons?� questioned Warrick, clearly deciding that they did not need to hear the specific chemical properties of MSM. While Nick had to admit that Greg was cute when in excited chemist mode, he also had to agree with the taller CSI. He really just wanted their results now; the rest could wait until the muddle-haired youth turned in what was likely to be a long and detailed report.
Greg shook his head. �Nope. And considering your guys seem to prefer holistic medicine, it makes sense for them to have it on hand�assuming they had a medical need for it, of course. I�m guessing one of them did., �cause according to their blood, Greer�s been taking the belladonna and Daniels is using the MSM; both in normal doses.
�I�m working on identifying whoever�s blood is on the towels and box now,� Greg added, looking at Nick. �I�ll let you know as soon as I have something�shouldn�t take too long.� Nick nodded, and Warrick thanked the younger man as he turned for the door.
The willowy technician stopped abruptly and turned back to Nick, looking genuinely embarrassed, as though he had forgotten something. �Oh, I almost forgot; I think this is yours.� Greg produced Nick�s cell phone as he added, �I found it in my lab.�
Warrick grinned and shook his head slightly, Brass merely rolled his eyes, and Sara looked mildly amused as Nick wore a somewhat embarrassed smile of his own. �Thanks, G. I guess I just have too much goin� on in my head right now�with the case, I mean. Let me know once you�ve got somthin�.�
The doe-eyed man smiled again, looking more relaxed and pleased. �Do I ever keep it myself when I do?�
Nick shook his head and smiled lightly as the younger man left the room. He heard the others chuckle and wondered if he was the only one who tended to feel as though a small tornado had just blown through after one of Greg�s little hit-and-run visits, or if the youth�s odd combination of genius and unbound enthusiasm affected everyone that way.
Forcing his thoughts to return to the case, Nick turned to the others as a question from Greer�s apartment came to mind. �Greer and Daniels each have a parking space reserved at their apartment complex, but neither had cars in them. As far as we know, they don�t have a shed, garage, or storage space rented, so where�s Daniels� ride?�
Sara frowned and Brass� eyebrows drew in as they mulled that over. Meanwhile, Warrick nodded; �Even if our victims did commit suicide, and the blood and all was just some elaborate display, we didn�t find any containers��
Nick crossed his arms over his chest and nodded as well, pleased that his friend had caught his line of thinking. �Someone had to have taken them before we got there.�
�We didn�t find a second set of tire tracks,� Sara pointed out, still obviously thinking hard before she added, �But they could have parked further away and walked between the cars. The area was remote, no buildings or trees to block the wind-�
�Which, according to Greg, were upside of forty miles per hour in that area that night,� added Warrick. At Brass and Nick�s questioning looks, the green-eyed man just shrugged languidly. �I don�t even ask how he knows that sort of thing anymore.�
Sara nodded and continued on the previous train of thought. �Any footprints could have been covered naturally�especially if they were careful about them to begin with.�
�Now you said they have explanations for the blood and the belladonna, but they claimed to have no idea about the suicide, right?� Nick glanced at the others, each of whom gave some sign of affirmation. �Did either of them say anything about being there that night, before the deaths maybe? Or did they say anything to indicate that they were somewhere else during the time of their friends� deaths?�
�Daniels says he went out after work with a couple friends from his job that night,� Brass commented. �I�ll go make some calls, see if anyone can confirm. And I�ll see about finding his car.�
�Thanks,� the Texan called as the detective left the room with a small wave of acknowledgement�either that or he was waving off the gratitude, Nick could never be sure with Brass. Turning back to the other CSIs in the room, he asked, �What about Greer?�
Sara, who also had missed Greer�s interrogation, turned to Warrick, and the taller man looked at Nick pensively. �You know, he denied knowing about the �suicide� and denied having had anything to do with his friends� deaths, but I he never actually said anything about being at the crime scene one way or the other. He never gave an actual alibi either, just said that he gave them the belladonna, loaned them his car, and knew nothing else about it until he heard the news after we found the bodies.�
�Alright, Rick, catch up with Brass and see if we can bring Greer back for further questioning.� The green-eyed man nodded and left without a word, while Nick turned to Sara. �Greer�s apartment complex has video surveillance on the exits and entrances; I got all the video from the night of our victims� deaths and the day before. Wh-�
�Awesome, I�m on it.� Sara was out the door before Nick could reply. He grinned and shook his head before turning back to the crime scene photos that were still pinned up on the walls of the room. His eyes were drawn to the same photos that had struck him on the first night they worked the case, and he wondered what it was about the young man in them that compelled him. He could not help but think it was important.
Before he could think much on it, the brawny man�s phone rang. Nick released a small sigh of relief as he glanced at the phone before answering, confirming that it was his own. �Stokes.�
�Hi honey,� his mother started before quickly stating, �I know you�re at work. I just thought it was fair that you heard this from me first.�
A knot formed in Nick�s stomach instantly. �You didn�t-�
�Of course I didn�t tell your father anything,� his mother interrupted. �That�s not what this is about; he�s still clueless. I did talk to the girls though-� Nick scoffed and rolled his eyes, wondering what his sisters had done now �-And then I tried to call you,� Jillian added slowly. Nick frowned in confusion until his mother stated, �Which means I got Greg instead.�
The knot in Nick�s stomach turned into lead and caused the entire thing to plummet to the ground, or at least, that was how it felt to Nick. The sounds of the lab and the images on the photos pinned to the walls suddenly faded away, and all he could hear was his own heartbeat, thumping as though he were running a marathon. He loved his mother dearly, but he knew she could turn into a cool, threatening lawyer when she decided to interrogate one of her children�s betrothed. �What did you say to him?�
�I just thought that if you�re willin� to throw your job and your relationships with your father and grandparents on the line for this kid, then he�d better be serious.� Jillian�s voice had hardened, but then she took a deep breath, and her voice softened marginally and gained an apologetic tone that did nothing to reassure her son. �I don�t know what I was plannin� to do, honey, but I swear, I hadn�t meant for it to come off like an assault. You know how I get when it comes to you though, I-�
�What the hell did you say to him?� Nick interrupted. For the first time in his life, he did not even register that he had sworn to his mother, let alone feel any regret over his harsh tone. �I told you this was new�and it�s not like he demanded I start attendin� some parades. He�s-�
�He�s a very kind and considerate young man,� Jillian interrupted, �Even when he�s nervous enough for me to actually hear his phone shakin� in his hand. Still, I don�t think anyone has ever been so polite and considerate while puttin� me in my place before. The boy may look and sound like a pup, but he�s got the heart of a wolf, I tell you.�
Nick blinked, not quite able to grasp what his mother had told him. The sable-eyed man had a hard enough time imagining anyone putting his mother in her place, let alone sweet, happy Greg who became nervous around authority figures. �What�I think I missed something. Greg�?�
�He reamed me out,� his mother supplied, sounding anything but chagrined. �Without raisin� his voice, swearing, or sayin� anything disrespectful or untrue. It was oddly refreshing, to tell you the truth. And, boy, does that kid have it bad for you.�
Jillian laughed softly, but it faded as she turned serious again. �He had a point though; said that he wasn�t the one who mattered here, you are. And that you need us to show you that we still love and support you despite the fact that you consider yourself different from what we expected. Nick, honey, you have to know that�s true. We�re your family; we�ll love and support you no matter who you date or what you do.�
Nick felt slightly guilty because he had been thinking exactly that. He was also still too impressed and surprised by the fact that Greg had actually said those things to his mother to speak though.
Fortunately, his mother did not pause long before stating, in a tone that was unusually thick with emotion, �And I have never been prouder of you. I know it couldn�t have been easy to come out and tell us, but you did. If your Greg had anything to do with you finally coming around�� Jillian cleared her throat and continued in a more controlled tone. �Then you boys certainly have my blessing -not that you should feel you need it.
�I have a feelin� you do, though.� She sighed, �For whatever reason. You were always that way.�
Nick blinked back the tears that suddenly formed in his eyes and swallowed back the emotion threatening to make him blubber like a child again. He knew his mother was right; that he should not feel the need to have his parents blessing. Nevertheless, the fact remained that he did want to make them proud, and knowing that he was doing so just by being himself meant the world to him. He took a few deep breaths to try to calm himself.
Meanwhile, Jillian reigned in whatever emotions had weighed so heavily on her before, and she sounded more contented than Nick had heard in years when she spoke again. �Do me a favor, honey? Soon as you get a chance, check up on Greg. I was a little hard on him before I said whatever it was that pushed him to speak up. He was tryin� to defend you�to protect you from bein� hurt. He seemed afraid you�d take my reaction as disappointment or resentment towards you or your relationship, which just shows me that he really does know you.
�It wasn�t about any of that though, honey; I was just bein� a mom�well, I might have been a little more fierce than I was with the others� significant others, but that�s just because you�re my baby and you�re puttin� more out on the line.�
Nick actually laughed at that. He knew his mother had put a few of his in-laws through the ringer before accepting them as though they were her own. �I know how you are, mom. Thanks�for everything. I guess�I can�t�� He swallowed again before continuing, his voice sounding light even to himself. �It really means a lot to me. Thank you.�
�You�re welcome, honey.� He could easily picture his mother smiling and shaking her head at him as she replied. �And I�m sorry for goin� and gettin� you so emotional at work�I know you like to come across as the big, strong, manly type.�
�Hey, I am the big, strong, manly type, thank you very much.� Nick responded with a small laugh, then he smiled deeply enough for a dimple to appear on his cheek. �You�re right though, I should get back to work. First, I�m gonna check on Greggo, though. I know how intimidating you can be when you want to.�
�I know,� Jillian replied with a small sigh. �I don�t know where it comes from, honestly. I do hope I didn�t scare the poor dear�he sounds like such a sweetie.�
The brawny man rolled his eyes. �Yeah, I�m gonna leave that bit out when I tell him you liked him. I have a feelin� he�s been emasculated enough for one day.� Nick smiled again when he heard his mother scoff while clearly trying not to giggle.
�Bye, mom. I�ll talk to you later. Give dad my love.�
Jillian assured her son that she would pass along his love to everybody and that she loved him before finally hanging up. Nick shook his head, still smiling, and closed his phone before turning to head to the DNA lab.
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