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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
- 15
- 16
- 17
Author�s notes: Eventually, I�ll write a CSI story that focuses on the cases a little�but for now, you have to settle for this. Sorry.

See the first chapter for story notes and the disclaimer.

Norwegian translation: kjære = darling/my beloved/my dear.

Nick ignored the looks Brass kept shooting him throughout Greer and Daniels� questioning, until the looks turned from concerned to warning. He reeled in his anger and tried his best to focus on the case. That task became much easier once Daniels described Todd Womack�it fit the description Greg had given for the friend at the concert exactly.
�Well, I don�t think we have enough for a warrant yet,� Brass stated as he and Nick returned to the lab after the interrogation. �But we know his address, phone number, and new place of business now; why don�t we swing by?� the detective suggested before he turned a thoughtful gaze onto the younger man. �So what was that about anyway?�
�What do you mean? I was trying to see if we could prove Womack was the creepy artist or otherwise connect him to our victims, and we did. I thought we were on the same page with this.� Nick knew the detective was too observant to accept that as the truth, but he hoped the older man would take the hint and let it go.
�We were�until you showed up like an angry bear,� Brass answered dryly. Then he sounded genuinely curious as he added, �I don�t get it; we�ve already ruled these guys out as suspects. They explained about the dog blood and gave us everything they could on Womack. Usually, you�re great for questioning, but today�? Something�s up, Nicky. What is it?�
The Texan was about to say it was nothing, since he did not want to explain his argument with Catherine. In any case, Nick had calmed down considerably since the dispute and he doubted the issue would affect his ability to work the case with a clear head. He was spared the need to respond when Warrick approached the pair and the subject was postponed by silent agreement.
�How�d it go?�
�We might have a new suspect,� Nick replied. �Todd Womack attended school with Daniels, Greer, and each of our victims for his past couple of years at the university. Then, he became one of the art teachers� assistant upon gettin� his degree. Our vics were still attending his classes when he started, and they all became friends. Womack�s the one who encouraged Bowens to explore different, er�<i>mediums</i> in his art.�
�We don�t know where he was on the night of their deaths,� Brass interjected, �But he was in Daniels� car and our victims trusted him. We�re gonna go talk to him now; wanna come along?�
�Yeah,� Warrick turned and continued down the hall with the other two men. Brass� phone rang just as Sara approached the group. The brown-eyed woman turned to the other CSIs while the detective took the call.
�Hey, I haven�t found anything incriminating on the tapes-�
�We didn�t expect you to,� Nick interrupted. �Unless you have something to suggest otherwise, we aren�t lookin� at Greer or Daniels anymore. Now, we�re checkin� out a guy named Todd Womack.�
�When did that happen?� Sara frowned and looked between the other two CSIs. Before either could consider a response, she started speaking again. �Oh, I did find something that explains the bloody towels, according to Greg anyway. He stopped in the A/V lab while Archie and I were going over the footage�I think he was hiding for some reason.� The brunette shook her head and mumbled �I don�t know� before explaining her findings.
�One of their neighbors in the building hit a dog in the parking lot. It wasn�t a hard hit, but the exhaust pipe was cracked and it cut into the dog�s hip. It looked like Greer was helping them take the dog to their apartment when they moved out of camera range. Daniels is an EMT, so maybe they thought he could patch the dog up?�
�That�s what they just told me and Brass,� Nick commented with a small nod. �So far, all of their explanations add up and check out.�
�Hence why we�re moving on; got it.� Sara looked between the three men as Brass ended his call. �So who�s Todd Womack?�
�A liar,� Brass replied. �We found Daniels� car. The owner of some crummy out-of-the-way liquor store called to report an illegal dump�says some young guy dropped it off across the street from his store on the night of the murders and never came back for it. He figured it was hot. Oh, and this is the good part, he has video surveillance in his store and parking lot.�
�Do any of his cameras cover the dump site?� questioned Warrick.
�Yep, he showed my guys before he gave them a copy. The idiot who deserted the car stopped in his store before driving off in another car. He fits Womack�s description to a T. They�re bringing you the car and the tapes now.�
�I�ll take the tapes,� Warrick volunteered.
�I�ll take the car,� Sara stated.
�Cool. Brass and I will take Womack,� replied Nick. �Call us as soon as you find anything we can get a warrant on.�
�Yeah, like Womack �stealing� Daniels� car,� the detective added.
Warrick smirked and nodded; �If he hid the car and then said it was stolen��
Brass grinned and tapped his temple before pointing to the taller man. �You got it.�
With that, the team split up to head their separate ways.
�So what gives, Stokes?� Brass asked as soon as he and Nick walked out the door and onto the parking lot. Before the CSI could ask what he meant, the detective stopped and looked at Nick seriously. �Did this guy do something to Sanders that I don�t know about?�
The Texan stopped as well, and frowned at the detective. �Why would you ask that?�
Brass gave Nick a look that clearly said �come off it�. �Look, I get it Nick. With a job like this, the hours we pull and the shit we have to deal with�you can�t help but feel like family after so many years. Sanders�you know, he�s�� The detective motioned a hand as though rolling his thoughts along and his tone lightened, �He�s the surrogate baby brother or annoying nephew of most of graveyard. No one could fault a guy like you for having a soft spot for the kid and tryin� to look after him-�
Nick interrupted the detective before he could say any more. He did not want to think of the fact that even Brass, who rarely saw Greg since his transfer back into PD, recognized that Nick was closer to the blonde than was usual. He was just thankful that the older man had misinterpreted their bond entirely. �No, man, I mean why would you think something happened to Greg?�
�Because you weren�t coming at this case like an attack dog before, and aside from your little chat with him, I don�t know of anything that could have changed your tune so suddenly.� The detective gave the younger man a pointed look before he turned and continued walking through the parking lot. �Besides, it fits�you said two of our vics were harassing Sanders, then this Womack creep -who encourages students to use human blood and dead things in their �art�- spooked him. So now, I have to wonder if he only scoped the kid or...� He arched both eyebrows and jeered lightly.
Brass paused when they reached his assigned Taurus, and glanced about nonchalantly before dropping his voice and holding a hand up to point between him and Nick. �Look, between you and me, if the freak pulled a Jame Gumb or something on Sanders, he�s going down, one way or another. We aren�t gonna let him disappear.�
The CSI could not help but grin as he looked at Brass in surprise. �Nice to know you�d be onboard, but Greg said the guy just creeped him out; he never touched him. That�s not what this is about.�
�Hmm;� Brass nodded. �That�s good.�
Nick hid a small grin as they climbed into Brass� Taurus.
They had only spoken to Womack long enough for Nick to understand why Brass described the young man�s story as shaky�and why Greg described him as creepy. It was clear that Womack was hiding something, but also clear that he was smart enough not to talk more than necessary to answer their questions. The man had an intense, yet distanced manner that was off-putting, as if he was constantly waiting for something. Before either of the criminologists could become too frustrated with the young man, an officer arrived to deliver the warrant Warrick had obtained after confirming that Womack had hidden Daniels� car before claming it stolen.
Questioning turned into an interrogation after they moved to the police station, and before the public defender Womack requested could arrive, Sara returned with the print results from Daniels� stolen car. Daniels�, Womack�s, and McCormack�s fingerprints were he only ones found on or in the vehicle.
�I also found a few stray hairs caught in the driver�s headrest and traces of blood in the trunk,� Sara commented as she, Nick, and Warrick huddled in the viewing room to share notes while Brass and another officer waited for the public defendant with Womack. �Greg�s working on it now, should have something for us soon.�
�According to the surveillance tapes,� Warrick added as he draped himself against the doorframe, �Womack dumped a couple of grocery bags filled with red-stained trash in the cans outside of the liquor store, and then he used the pay phone. Unfortunately, the trash was picked up the next day. I�m gonna run down there and swab the cans though; blood has a tendency to stick around.�
Nick nodded and glanced at Womack through the two-way mirror. The man was looking slightly nervous, but that could have been because Brass was sitting across from him, sipping at a cup of coffee and staring at the young man in silence.
Meanwhile, Sara perked up. �I�m going to look into the phone call�maybe we found our anonymous caller?�
The other two CSIs left to follow their new leads, and the Texan watched Womack squirm and Brass stare for another minute before he pulled out his cell phone and called Greg.
�And you say I have a knack for timing,� commented the chemist in lieu of a greeting. �The blood in the car was from five separate donors, and so far, I�ve matched three of them to your victims; Bowens, McCormack, and Lee. The fourth should be ready right�about�now.� Greg made a few sounds of confirmation as he checked the results before sharing. �It�s also a match�to Rapollæ
�Rapolè
?�
�Yeah, I don�t know how to pronounce it either,� Nick commented without shame. He could picture the victim�s face easily though, and knew which one the muddle-haired youth was speaking of. �Anything else?�
�It matches the blood you found on the victims�exactly,� Greg stated pointedly and Nick nodded to himself. �And since Sara mentioned that most of the blood stains were in semicircular patterns�I figure it�s likely that the blood splashed or dripped onto the jugs or jars while being poured and then transferred onto the upholstery.�
�Sounds reasonable,� Nick replied, smiling lightly. The muddle-haired youth had always tried to help the CSIs solve their cases beyond the requirements of his job, but ever since he had made it clear that he intended to try for the field, Greg had showed them just how much he had been holding back before.
�Here�s the last sample,� Greg commented after Nick heard some rustling on the blonde�s end of the line. �And we�re five for five�all victims accounted for.� There was a brief pause before the younger man asked, �Can this be linked to your new suspect? Sara said it wasn�t his car and it had been sitting on the side of the road for a few days.�
�We�ve already proven that he�s the one who put the car there and as far as we can tell, he�s the last person to drive it,� the Texan explained. �The car�s been on camera since he ditched it, so he can�t say someone else took it for a spin or planted the blood there�not that he�s sayin� much just now. Any word on the hairs Sara found?�
�I�m working on it,� the young chemist did not sound put out or rushed in the least by the question. �Should be another thirty seconds or so.� There was a brief pause before Greg asked a question of his own. �Did your hunch from earlier lead to anything?�
Nick sighed as he glared at their suspect through the two-way mirror. �Well, it lead me to believe that your instincts are reliable.�
�It did?� Greg sounded cautiously excited.
The Texan grinned lightly, �Yeah.� He grew more somber as he elucidated; �That guy who creeped you out at the concert? Looks like he�s our guy.� Nick dropped his voice slightly, �Good thing you didn�t agree to pose for those photos.�
�Never would have happened,� Greg replied just as softly. Then, his voice dropped even lower, �Well, maybe if you wanted to take some��
Nick chuckled softly at that, and was glad that no one could see him as his pulse quickened, and he took a few slow breaths to keep his focus. �Our, uh�our original warrant was for auto theft. Now that we have evidence linking him to the deaths of our students, we�re gonna want to run a fun panel on him. Warrick and Sara are tryin� to find some more blood for you to link to our victims. You mind waitin� around for all that?�
�Didn�t I already tell you once that I�m open 24 hours?�
�That you did,� Nick replied with a grin to match the one he heard in Greg�s voice. He saw the public defender enter the interrogation room and immediately turned serious. �Time to go back to work. Do me a favor; give Rick a copy of the results you just gave me when he and Sara stop by there.�
�Sure,� Greg answered immediately. �Good luck with the creep.�
�Thanks, G.� The Texan ended the call and headed out to join Brass in the interrogation room.
A few hours later, Nick and Warrick headed for the break room, where Sara and Greg were already waiting. Before they even entered the room, the two men could tell that Sara was annoyed and Greg was trying to lighten her mood.
�Five kids are dead and the guy�s only getting charged with grand theft auto and obstruction of justice?� Sara fumed to the younger man as the other two CSIs came in. �He probably orchestrated the whole thing�he picked a group of misfits to manipulate-�
�Sara, you have to learn to let these things go,� Nick commented before he nodded to Greg and took the chair beside the younger man. �The DA�s spoken�case closed.�
�Besides,� Greg interjected after returning Nick�s subtle greeting, �The decision was based on the evidence, right?�
�Yeah, and I can�t say I disagree with it,� Warrick commented as he sat down in the chair next to the irritated woman. �We went over both vehicles with a fine comb and we couldn�t find anything that suggested homicide. Watching, and even encouraging, a suicide isn�t illegal�and an assist is a slap on the wrist anyway.�
�As much as I�d like to see the creep put away for longer, it isn�t like he�s gonna be out on the street again anytime soon,� Nick remarked.
�So you think he�s guilty too?� questioned Greg. The blonde looked a little confused as he continued. �Then why would he call 911 to make sure their bodies were found right away? Wouldn�t it be smarter to wait and report them missing after a couple of days?�
�I don�t know, Greggo; if he�d done that and then we found proof he�d been there�� The Texan shrugged and shot the willowy chemist a �think about it� look. �He might be lookin� at more time.�
�And if he didn�t think he had done anything wrong,� Sara jumped in, �Then why didn�t he identify himself when he called it in? Why not wait around to answer some questions?�
�Well that one�s easy,� replied Greg, his tone and expression suggested that he honestly believed it was. �Because he knows there�s a difference in what he considers wrong and what everyone else does.� At the baffled looks that greeted his words, the muddle-haired youth added, �What? I�m not saying I would do anything like that, just that I don�t think him not coming out and telling the whole story right away is all that suspicious.�

�I see what you�re sayin�,� Warrick replied with a single nod. �I don�t think I�d be too quick to admit to something like that either�even if I didn�t think I�d done anything wrong.� The green-eyed man smirked and altered his gaze between the other two CSIs. �Okay guys, you get to serve as mediator; who won?�
Sara looked at the taller man blankly for a moment before she rolled her eyes and then offered him a gap-toothed grin that belied her opening words. �I�m sorry, Warrick, but I have to say this one goes to Greg. He said group suicide, you said multiple murder, and even if it was an assisted one, it was still a group suicide.�
�I have to agree, man.� Nick stated with one of his dimple-inducing grins. �You didn�t get into any fine details, and we can only prove he covered it up, so Greggo called it.�
�Yeah, I should have known you�d say that,� Warrick replied with a small smile. Then he sighed and arched an eyebrow at Greg. �So I�m cleaning� your car every weekend for a month? Could be worse��
�Well, if you really don�t want to,� the muddle-haired youth began slowly and with an eager grin, �I�m sure I can think of something less strenuous or inconvenient.� Greg shrugged his eyebrows once when the taller man looked at him contemplatively.
Warrick�s brows furrowed slightly and his tone was cautious as he asked, �Like what?�
�Well�it takes, like, two hours to wash a car, maybe three?� Greg began in the same tone he often used when he felt like being playful as he presented a simple but significant piece of evidence he had processed. Nick grinned and leaned forward in his chair, watching the younger man fondly. Sara smiled and rested her chin in her hand as she watched on in amusement. Warrick leaned back in his chair with a slightly impatient air that combated with his poker face.
Greg tilted his head and smiled brightly as he went on. �Times four, that�s between eight and twelve hours of labor. So either you can put in the hours�� He rested his forearms on the table and met Warrick�s gaze with a smile and finished simply, �Or you can let me.�
The three CSIs each wore a similar look of confusion before it was reduced to two as Warrick suddenly grinned. �Oh, I get it.� Nick and Sara exchanged bemused glances and then looked between the other two as the taller man continued, �You want field training.� Warrick�s grin grew slightly as he nodded toward the slighter man; �Well played, man. You�re on.�
The green-eyed man�s grin faded slightly as he added, �You know it�s going to have to work around my cases and your schedule, right? Grissom will have my ass if I pull you out of the lab when you�re needed here, and the sheriff will have both our asses plus Grissom�s if I let you work anything remotely high profile.�
�Of course,� Greg stated earnestly. �I just want the basics; to see how everything I�m reading about in textbooks is actually done in practice�and maybe get enough experience for Grissom to feel comfortable allowing me some field training in the actual field.�
Nick looked at Greg thoughtfully. �You had this planned form the start, didn�t you?� Greg smiled and nodded cheerfully; clearly, he was happy that his plan to score some real training had panned out.
Now, Sara frowned. �So why didn�t you just make that the bet to begin with? That way, Warrick couldn�t refuse and stick to washing your car.�
�I can answer that;� Warrick replied easily. �Because then he would�ve had to promise me something of equal value�and we all know how much getting into the field means to him. That would�ve been like giving me carte blanche. This way, the worst he�d have to do is wash my car.�
�And if he really didn�t want to train me,� Greg interjected, trying to look like the possibility had not truly concerned him, but everyone at the table knew better. �We could have just stuck to the initial bet and I�d still get a clean car out of it.�
A sudden thought occurred to Nick and his hand twitched as he stayed the urge to touch at the same instant it turned up. �Did it ever occur to you to just ask us to teach you all this shit as we get the chance?�
Greg�s expression answered the question well enough; he had thought of it but dismissed the idea. �It�s not that I thought you wouldn�t want to,� the willowy blonde quickly stated once he saw that Nick had reached a conclusion he did not like. �It�s just�Grissom never seems to have the time. Catherine usually alternates between flirting with me, scolding me, and treating me like her kid -none of which are particularly calming. Sara tends to get too into her cases to notice that I�m trying to learn, and you and I tend to get distracted together. Warrick�well, that�s why I decided to ask him.�
The muddle-haired youth paused for a second and then tilted his head slightly as the others just stared at him. �Okay, I didn�t really ask him, but I figured this was a surer route.�
Warrick laughed and shook his head, Sara stared at the younger man as though he were insane, and Nick was torn between amusement and confusion�and thinking Greg was either crazy or pitiful or brilliant.
�Well now, those are the looks I like to see around here,� commented Catherine as she entered the room. �Let me guess; you solved your multiple�and do I want to know why Sara�s looking at Greg like he�s the last piece of a puzzle that just refuses to fit?�
�Like you haven�t looked at me that way before,� Greg quipped good-naturedly. The older woman smiled and nodded before offering a look that said �can you blame me�, which earned her a shrug and casual grin from the slender man. �Can I help if I�m eclectic?�
�Eh, it keeps things interesting,� Catherine remarked as she moved to pour herself a cup of coffee. Nick looked between the redhead and the blonde, wondering if they were both just remarkably good at hiding tension or if they had made up sometime since his argument with Catherine. When Catherine saw the Texan glancing her way, she offered a hesitant, smile, her eyes apologetic.
Unfortunately, Nick was not as forgiving as Greg was.
�I�m going to get started on the paperwork for this case,� Nick commented as he stood. He avoided looking at Catherine or Greg as he glanced at Warrick over his shoulder while heading to the door. �Rick, you wanna fill Grissom in while I do that?�
Warrick looked suspicious, but did not question his friend�at least, not right then. �Yeah, no problem. Don�t forget to familiarize yourself with whatever Greg was goin� on about in the layout room earlier. Not listening to those minute details when you�re running a case is one thing, but the last time I left it out of a report, Grissom made me write a follow-up on some chemical I�d never even heard of�by the way, Sanders, thanks for that.�
�Is it my fault you don�t listen to me?� questioned Greg with a guilty grin as he stood. �Besides, it was imperative to your case�the MSM wasn�t probative in this case so Nick should be fine. Now, I�m off to enjoy what�s left of my night off. Bye.� The muddle-haired youth offered the others a small wave as he followed Nick out of the break room.
�Nick, wait up,� Greg called as he caught up to the Texan in the hallway. �Is there something going on between-�
�Not here, Greg.� Nick knew he shouldn�t snap just as well as he knew that Greg was merely asking about Nick�s reaction to Catherine�it was not the blonde�s fault that his words just happen to mirror the phrase that had started the argument between the brawny CSI and the redhead. Nick glanced at the slighter man walking beside him and casually moved his hand to give Greg�s wrist a quick squeeze. �Please.�
�Okay�� The willowy chemist looked slightly confused and notably concerned. �Do you want me to hang around or-?�
�No, you�ve put in enough hours for your night off,� the sable-eyed man smiled genuinely at Greg, and it seemed to go a long way toward calming the younger man. �Thanks for coming in though; we never would have wrapped everything up tonight if we left it for the other techs.� Nick�s smile increased by the genuine pleasure that the compliment inspired in the muddle-haired youth.
�Hey,� Greg shrugged and smiled as if he had merely ran a quick errand instead of spending hours processing blood, matching DNA, and identifying unknown substances�on top of dealing with Catherine�s case and attitude, and helping Nick identify the suspect in his. �I�m happy to help.�
That earned the young man a smile so wide it caused the skin around Nick�s eyes to crinkle. The brawny CSI gripped Greg�s shoulder and his thumb subtly stroked the skin peeking out from the collar of the blonde�s Flogging Molly t-shirt. �Never change, Greg,� he spoke softly before forcing himself to step away. �Go on home, G. I�ll see you later�and don�t forget to call your grandparents. Tell Olaf I said �hey�.�
Greg smiled sweetly, �Thanks; I will.� His voice dropped as he added, �See you later, kjære.� Then, he turned and headed down the hall, toward the locker room.
Nick watched him go as he smiled and shook his head slowly. He made a mental note to pick up an English to Norwegian dictionary on his next day off.
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