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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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Author�s notes: We�re back to a milder rating for now. Sorry, but you know the boys have to work and talk to their friends/family sometime. ^_^ We�re approaching the end of the story too�only five or six more chapters to go, I believe. Happy holidays everyone!

See the first chapter for story notes and the disclaimer.
At work that day, Nick was assigned a case with Warrick. At first glace, it appeared to be a burglary turned homicide, but the two CSI-3s had learned to wait until the evidence tells the story long ago. Moreover, there was a lot of evidence they would have to collect, sort through, and make sense of before they could reach any conclusions. Despite that, Nick could not help the smile that remained on his face.
Naturally, Warrick had to tease his friend a little. He looked up from the footprint he was photographing with a smirk. �So are you just easy to please these days or did your boy toy finally put out?�
Nick knew his smile had gained a lewd edge, but honestly could not suppress it right away. He compensated by refusing to look up from the window he was checking out and mentally apologizing to Greg. �Let�s just say, I�m not that easy to please, but he manages it just fine.�
Warrick laughed and the Texan still could not wipe the smirk from his face as he added, �And don�t call him that where someone might overhear.�
�Would you rather someone overhear me call him out by name?� questioned Warrick with a pointed look.
That finally managed to dull Nick�s smile. �Oh�I hadn�t thought of that.�
Warrick smiled and shook his head. �You need to learn how to have an affair.�
The brawny man snorted. �It�s not an affair, Rick. Neither of us are married.�
�And here I thought you were smarter than that,� Warrick commented with a roll of his eyes. �An affair just means the two people having sex aren�t married to each other and it can create a scandal. It doesn�t matter if you aren�t married, you�re still having an affair and you want to keep it quiet, right?�
�Right�� Nick frowned, not liking the description of his relationship�especially since he knew it fit.
�Hey,� Warrick called without looking up as he followed some tracks across the garden he was working in, �Don�t do that to yourself, Nick. It�s not your fault you have to keep it quiet. My grandmother use to say that sometimes you just have to wait for the world to catch up to you. That�s what you�re doin�; except you aren�t just waiting passively anymore. You�re in the right city for it too.�
�Yeah�thanks, Rick.� Nick nodded, his friend�s words made sense and he was actually quite pleased that he wasn�t <i>just waiting</i> anymore. In all truth, he wished he�d had the sense to acknowledge his feelings for Greg before�they could have had years together already.
The two men continued working in silence, and Nick tried hard to focus on the job, but his thoughts kept returning to the idea Warrick had unintentionally planted in his mind. He had never thought of any of his past girlfriends in terms of years. In fact, the idea usually freaked him out a little bit. With Greg however, he was suddenly thinking among those lines fairly often.
Suddenly, he wondered if Greg was thinking the same thing. There had been a few signs; Nick just wished he could be sure�of his feelings as well as Greg�s. Somehow, the brawny man thought the blonde�s would be easier to sort out.
�Hey, man,� Nick turned away from the window to glance at Warrick across the small garden. �Do you know if there are any bookstores near here?�
Warrick glanced over his camera to look at his friend in puzzlement �Why, you want a dictionary now?� Nick shot the green-eyed man a glare, and Warrick shrugged halfheartedly before returning to his work. �I never knew you were a reader�thought you just watched a lot of educational television.�
The Texan rolled his eyes and started to print the windowsill. �I usually do, but it depends on what I�m tryin� to learn.�
�Oh, I get it,� the smirk was audible in Warrick�s voice as he began a print impression. �You need to impress the new boy toy. That�s cool. He is-�
Nick interrupted what he was sure would have been a rather entertaining description of his lover. �I just need a Norwegian to English dictionary, Rick.�
�Okay�� The green-eyed man sounded a little confused. �You know most guys go for French when they�re tryin� to impress a date.�
�I�m not tryin� to impress him.� Nick sighed, wondering if it had been worth it to bring the subject up. He dropped his voice to explain quietly. �He keeps murmuring these little Norwegian phrases to me, and I�d like to know what he�s sayin�.�
Warrick, much to Nick�s surprise, didn�t leer or tease; instead he just looked pensive. �Is it just a few words or�?�
�No, no�he�s vocal, you know.� The two friends shared a smile, before Nick turned serious again and frowned thoughtfully. �Just, for some reason, there seem to be some things he�ll only say so I can�t understand him.�
�And you want to know what that is.� Warrick nodded, �I�m pickin� up what you�re puttin� down. You know if its full phrases, you might be better off with a computer translator. They have some decent ones online�if you don�t have to be too specific grammar-wise.�
�I just want to gist of it,� Nick explained as he turned back to his work with a small smile. Greg had been so right; it was wonderful to be able to talk to Warrick about him like this. �After that, I can ask him if I need somethin� more specific. I just want to know what to expect, since it�s kinda weird that he won�t say whatever it is in English.�
Warrick paused in his work and turned to look at the Texan seriously. �Think he�s scared of how you�ll respond?�
Nick halted his actions as well. He had not truly pondered just why Greg rarely repeated himself in English. In bed, it makes sense, but not the rest of the time. Now, he really wanted to know what the muddle-haired youth was saying.
The two men continued working quietly for a while before turning the conversation to the case again. They returned to the lab nearly two hours later, with a lot of evidence that could mean nothing or everything; they wouldn�t know until the lab techs did their jobs and presented the pieces of the puzzle for the CSIs to solve.
Ignoring Warrick�s grin, Nick offered to drop off the DNA evidence. �Okay,� answered the green-eyed man, �But you also have to drop off trace. It�s that Vincent asshole today.�
The Texan frowned, �What is it with trace techs�do you need an attitude problem of some sort to qualify for the job?�
Warrick shrugged, �All I know is I am actually gonna miss having Greggo in here when he makes it into the field. Don�t tell him that-� the taller man added as an afterthought. �I�ll drop off the fingerprint and A/V evidence. See you in the break room whenever you can pry yourself out of DNA. If I don�t see you in an hour-�
�Then either Greg found somethin� probative or we�re on a break and you need to find somethin� else to occupy yourself with.� Nick smirked at his friend and then headed to the chem. lab.
The smirk fell from Nick�s face as he approached the DNA lab; it was unusually quiet. Through the glass walls, he could see Grissom and Sara inside, having a somewhat heated discussion while Greg quietly worked around them, clearly not wanting to be included in whatever they were debating. The muddle-haired chemist was so focused on his work and the other CSIs on their debate, that each of them failed to notice Nick�s entrance.
�Uh, sorry to interrupt,� the Texan began, hiding a grin. Greg started, Sara shot a glare at him before seeming to realize who was on the receiving end -Nick wasn�t sure how to take it when she appeared relieved to see him- and Grissom merely glanced at the younger CSI as though he had been expecting him. �Sorry Greggo, but I have some more work to add to your table.� With that, the brawny man dropped the many swabs he and Warrick had collected onto one of the slender blonde�s workbenches.
Greg�s eyebrows rose slightly, but he quickly recovered with a grin. �I�ll start on those right after I finish up here.� He indicated the sample he was checking out under a microscope. One of the machines was also running, and Nick suspected that the younger man had a full docket as it was.
Nick smiled in what he hoped was a friendly, encouraging way. �Thanks, G.�
�Nick,� Sara began in a tone that let the Texan know he was about to be dragged into whatever argument she had been launching prior to his arrival. Greg shot Nick a mock-scared look before quickly returning to his work. �Don�t you think it�s ridiculous that Ecklie and the lab director expect our techs to handle day shift�s overload when their techs don�t ever stick around for overtime?�
�They�re rarely approved for overtime,� Grissom countered calmly, although even he did not appear to thin the stated fact stood for much.
�So are our guys,� Nick pointed out, �They still get the important work done and never let anything fall too far behind. Greg just spent most of his night off here making sure a big case got settled.� The Texan�s eyebrows furrowed slightly and his tone hardened slightly ��And helping you with your case too, I believe.�
Grissom nodded thoughtfully, Sara arched an eyebrow and looked between the three men curiously, and Greg shot Nick a look that clearly said �what are you doing?�. �Besides, Greg�s tryin� to train for the field,� Nick added, ignoring Greg�s nervous expression. �I don�t know how he�s managed to learn as much as he has with his workload, but I doubt havin� to take care of day�s crap is helpin� him any.�
�Well right now Greg�s job is in the lab, so the lab work has to come first,� Grissom stated levelly, fixing Nick with a gaze he couldn�t read. Then, the entomologist turned to Sara. �And I don�t see any problem with graveyard covering days� overload; so long as they don�t have anything from our cases to run through and get their breaks in�I certainly draw the line with Ecklie expecting one of my techs to prioritize his case over ours though.�
�Oh,� Nick frowned, thinking he was finally catching on to what had started the debate in the first place. �Is this about Ecklie? Warrick mentioned he was ridin� Greg�s ass about somethin� the other day.� Sable eyes glanced to the named chemist. �What was that about anyway?�
Grissom answered, sounding slightly annoyed. �Apparently, Ecklie got some new information on his case after our shift started and wanted Greg to run it through before everything else because it was high priority.�
�It wasn�t high priority,� Greg chimed in, glancing up from the printout he was reading, �It was high profile. It was also a non-violent crime that wasn�t more time sensitive than anything else we have going here at any given time, and by Ecklie�s notes and theory, there was virtually no risk for a repeat offence.� The willowy youth returned his attention to his work as he added, �Just because the victim is a friend or an acquaintance of the sheriff�s doesn�t mean I�m going to drop everything to run it first�unless of course you or the lab director order me to.�
Nick rolled his eyes at the last comment, wondering if Greg honestly could not help but try to lighten any situation. The brawny man quickly sobered and turned his attention to Grissom, ready to back Greg, and noticed Sara looking as though she was ready to support the youth too. Both CSIs immediately turned from defensive to stunned at the hint of approval that tined their supervisor�s gaze. Greg, unfortunately, was focused on his work and completely unaware of each reaction�Nick tried to make a mental note to tell Greg about it later.
�I agree,� Grissom commented simply. �I told Ecklie as much, and I also told him to talk to me instead of you the next time, since priority cases should come from your shift supervisor anyway. Warrick happened to mention the scene he witnessed as well, and Greg, Ecklie was out of line. You should have told me.�
Greg looked up immediately to check the older man�s expression, once he saw that Grissom was not angry, he merely shrugged. �It wasn�t a big deal and I got to his results by the end of my shift anyway. It didn�t seem worth bothering anyone over. Besides, we all know Ecklie can be a jerk sometimes�I tend to treat him like my uncle Haakon, only less-�
�Greg,� Grissom interrupted, clearly not wanting to hear any more about his lab tech�s family. Nick thought he could have been a little more polite about it, but that was just Grissom�s way�the Texan doubted that the man even noticed how he effected their young colleague. �While I�m sure you can handle yourself, in the future, if anyone employed by the lab becomes hostile and invades your personal space, I want to hear about it. It�s part of my job.�
Greg looked slightly sheepish as he nodded, �Yes, sir.� Before anyone could speak again, he held out the file he had just put together. �Here are your results; the blood on your suspect�s pants isn�t his. It�s a mixture of Doug Evan�s blood -he was found mauled at a construction site and died on the way to the hospital yesterday, the day shift case notes and photos are in there- and it was mixed with dog saliva.�
Grissom turned to Sara, �Now we have our victim and murder weapon.� The older man glanced at Greg before heading out, �Thanks, Greg.�
Sara offered the younger man a smile and a wave as she followed Grissom, and Greg returned both gestures before turning to the pile of evidence Nick had dropped off. �Are all of these blood samples?�
�Yep�it was a messy scene.� �We don�t know how many people were involved or who started out where. You�ll have to tell us once you sort all this out�me and Warrick made you a copy of our crime scene sketch, so you can mark which stain belongs to which victim as you go, maybe you�ll even be able to piece together the scene.�
Greg smiled brightly, any previous problems forgotten as he got to work with the enthusiasm and precision that always motivated Nick further. �Thanks.�
Nick ignored the way his heart sped up at the other man�s smile and looked at him seriously. �So what was that about Ecklie invading your personal space and gettin� hostile with you?�
�It was more cranky than hostile,� Greg commented lightly, clearly still excited about his current task. He glanced at Nick with an assuring smile, but his expression quickly turned curious. �Are those for me too?�
The Texan glanced down, noting that he was still holding a few evidence bundles. �Oh, no�these are for trace.�
�You should drop it off with Vincent then,� Greg smiled apologetically. �I�ll catch up with you later.�
Knowing the younger man was right, Nick nodded and headed toward the trace lab while Greg turned his full attention to his work.
Vincent did not look up from a book he was reading when Nick approached his workstation. The Texan decided he might as well try to be civil. �Hey Vincent, I have samples for you.�
The trace tech still did not look up from the text he was perusing. �Leave it on the counter there and fill out the appropriate forms. I�ll get to it in about twenty minutes.�
Nick frowned at the other man�s complete lack of enthusiasm or even politeness. He shook his head and dropped the bundles he had been carrying on the indicated table and then filled out the evidence log. Once finished, he glanced at the book Vincent was reading; it appeared to be on identifying various pet dander.
Remembering an older case and hoping that he could move the irritating tech along faster, Nick decided to drop a helpful comment. �You know, Greg�s pretty good at identifyin� what specifies a hair came from just by lookin� at it under the �scope. I�m sure he wouldn�t mind pointin� you in the right direction.�
�I�m sure he wouldn�t,� Vincent agreed unkindly, �Even while he�s bucking for a demotion, the kid still insists on showing off. At least he�s good in the lab though, you�d think he�d have learned from his last disgrace��
Nick glared at the trace tech. �What the hell are you talking about? Greg isn�t bucking for a demotion and he doesn�t show off; he just gets a little over enthusiastic. And when was he ever disgraced�?�
Vincent rolled his eyes and finally settled them on the defensive CSI. �He wants to move out into the field, which for all intents and purposes, is a demotion. He loses his seniority, all the prestige he�s earned as a chemist here and in Frisco, and gets a huge pay cut. I�m not sure whether pissing Ecklie off is the right way to go about it though�he�s in with the sheriff better than Grissom and just as well with the lab director. If he�s determined to keep Sanders in here -where he belongs- he probably can.�
Nick�s glare intensified and his hands fisted at his sides as he reminded himself that he really had to curb his natural reaction. He really could not afford to have this particular man suspicious of his relationship with Greg.
The trace technician had returned his attention to the book and seemed unaware of the Texan�s rising temper as he continued. �Why the kid wants to waste his talents out in the field anyway is beyond me�maybe he thinks he�s get more action or attention or something. Anyway, where the hell have you been the past two years? Sanders has broken out of the lab twice now; the last time was obviously just Grissom using him as a tool and the first time was a complete embarrassment no matter what Sidle says.
�Speaking of Sidle,� Vincent continued as he closed the book and turned to a nearby microscope, �I saw her in DNA with Grissom just now. Was she trying to stick up for Sanders again? I don�t know whether its pity or if she�s actually flattered by his little crush, but you would think she of all people wouldn�t want Sanders making it out into the field. What about you�? You want the little-�
�I think Greg will do just fine I the field,� Nick growled out. The anger and protectiveness in his tone finally caught the other man�s attention. �So do Sara and Warrick. That�s why she defended him and its why Warrick�s gonna start showing Greg the ropes. We don�t happen to think he�d be wastin� his brains out in the field. In fact, we�re lookin� forward to havin� another talented CSI around here.�
The brawny CSI turned for the door, knowing he had to leave now or he would say or do something too incriminating. He could not help but pause at the door for one more growled out warning, �And I was there the first time he got into the field, he did great for someone without any trainin�. Maybe if you�d lay off him and just do your damned job, you�d be as useful around here as he is.�
With that, Nick stormed out of the trace department and headed for the break room. Warrick looked up from a file he had been reading as he drank some juice and frowned in confusion upon seeing his friend. �What�s the matter with you? You couldn�t have gotten some bad results already�even Sanders isn�t that fast.�
Warrick�s offhanded nod towards Greg�s skill soothes Nick�s temper slightly, just enough for him to realize he might have just done something reckless. The Texan released a huff of air like an angry bull and placed his hands on his hips. He stared at Warrick for a brief moment before replying. �I think I just did something stupid.�
Warrick�s eyebrows rose slightly and Nick filled him in on what had just happened with Vincent. The Texan could not recall exact words, but was able to get the point across well enough for the green-eyed man to understand. The green-eyed man looked calm once his friend finished explaining. �Let me get our trace results when they�re ready.�
Nick rolled his eyes, �I�m not gonna say anything worse, Rick.�
�I know,� Warrick looked at the other CSI pointedly, �But you said you mentioned me and Sara being onboard with Sanders moving to the field?�
�Yeah, I figured he couldn�t write off what I said as just me havin� a soft spot for Greg or somethin',� Nick replied. �I didn�t think you�d mind. But then I went and took it too far-�
�Nah you didn�t say anything too inappropriate,� Warrick interrupted after he waved off his friend�s concern as throwing him into the argument. �Let me pick up the results and I�ll tell Vincent you mentioned what he said about Greg, and then I�ll give him a reaming of my own. That way, he�ll figure we�re just defensive of our friends or want Greg to move into the field�or that we just don�t like him. Either way, it has the advantage of being true.
�And it�ll stop him from wondering why you stood up for Greg so vehemently.� The Green-eyed man smirked slightly. �You might want to work on that for the future though. I can�t bail you out every time and Greg can kiss his goal of becoming a CSI goodbye if rumors start spreading around that he�s involved with a CSI who�ll have seniority over him soon enough.�
Nick sighed, nodded, and took a seat across from the taller man. �I know, man. I want to keep this low profile anyway�especially as far as guys like Vincent go. Greg even mentioned him specifically when he said there are some people he didn�t want to know about him bein� gay.�
The Texan rubbed his neck and frowned, �I shouldn�t have come so close to losin� it over something� so simple anyway. I don�t know what made me react like that. Vincent was just talkin� trash; it�s not like he threatened Greg��
Warrick shrugged as though he didn�t think it was much of a surprise. Nick�s expression must have given away his bemusement at that, because the green-eyed man suddenly started explaining. �You said Greg called him out as a threat earlier, he�s talked shit about Greggo before anyway, and you just claimed your boy completely -and don�t even try to den it, it was written all over your face when we were at the scene- of course you were defensive. Just be more careful about showing your hand in the future, man.�
Nick grinned slightly, �I will Rick, thanks.�
Warrick�s smirk returned. �Oh, we are definitely having lunch out of the lab today. You know we have to talk now that you didn�t bother to deny any of that, and I think we�ve pushed the envelope on how much we should say at work too far already.�
�It might be a better idea to make it breakfast after shift then,� was Nick�s only response.
Warrick arched an eyebrow; he knew that meant Nick anticipated it being a long discussion. �Yeah...?�
The Texan nodded and wore a small smile, �Yeah. After the uh, claiming,� Nick rolled his eyes as Warrick fought a laugh, �I called my dad.�
Warrick�s eyes widened for a second before he composed himself. �But you were still smiling at the start of shift,� he concluded. �So either it went better than you expected or your boy toy�s a damn good-�
�Hey, none of that,� Nick interrupted seriously.
Warrick smiled broadly, �Oh yeah; you and me are definitely having breakfast after shift.� Before Nick could feel any need to respond, the green-eyed man turned the conversation away from the present subject�to a safe extent anyway. His smile was still in place as he asked, �So how did Sanders like the copy of the scene sketch we made for him?�
Nick�s smile grew to outshine Warrick�s open grin. �Oh man, he looked liked a kid on Christmas morning. I can�t wait to see what he does with that.�
�You and me both, man,� Warrick replied as he stood. �C�mon, let�s get started on organizing our photos of the scene. Maybe one of the lab rats will have some results for us by the time we�re done.�
Nick stood as well, his smile still in place. �Sounds like a plan.� With that, the two friends turned their attention back the case. There would be time for personal subjects later, and Nick found himself actually looking forward to talking about his personal life for once.
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