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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
- 21
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- 23
Author�s notes: See the first chapter for story notes and the disclaimer.

Norwegian Translations: Kjære = my beloved/my dear/darling.

Greg was zipping around his lab, running several tests at once when Nick quietly entered DNA. The Texan noticed that one of the dry erase boards was out from its usual place and what appeared to be a white sheet was draped over it.
�I need about twenty more minutes before I�m ready to unveil that.� Greg flashed Nick a quick grin that lit up his entire face before the expression suddenly fell from his face. He continued to look at Nick, eyes concerned, as he asked, �What happened?� Nick�s expression turned confused and Greg added, ��Is it the case?�
The older man blinked, and then smiled lightly as he felt the remaining tension melt from his shoulders. �Naw, the case hasn�t thrown anythin� too bad at us�nothin� like the last few. It�s uh,� Nick rubbed the back of his neck and checked the hallway by habit. �It�s personal.� Sable eyes turned to meet Greg�s again and he demanded more than asked, �Your place after work?�
Greg nodded, looking curious but notably less worried. The blonde�s voice managed to sound energetic and casual while his eyes spoke the words Nick had read on a computer monitor just moment before. �Yeah, you�re welcome whenever you want�.you know that, kjære.�
Nick smiled, �Yeah; I do.�
Greg returned the smile just before a device beeped, calling his attention. The willowy youth spoke to Nick as he returned to his work. �You can hang around to wait for your results if you want. Just don�t peek�you know how I like to make a presentation.�
The Texan just managed to keep his tone from sounding lecherous as he subtly checked out the younger man. �You can present to me whenever you want, doll.� Greg gave him a quick look that was clearly intended to be lightly reproachful but did nothing to prevent Nick�s mind from going places it couldn�t while they were in the lab. The brawny CSI cleared his throat and took a seat on the slender chemist�s vacant stool, hoping his sudden erection would not be noticeable when he was sitting.
Deciding he needed to get his mind back on track, Nick brought up his current case. �So Archie just validated our prime suspect�s alibi, but he was missing from the surveillance footage right before the murders took place and came back before he could have even made it to the victim�s street. He was gone just long enough to take a quick call tellin� him the job was done.�
�Or that the burglary didn�t go as planned, right?� Greg did not stop working as he asked, but his face looked slightly confused, as though he were wondering if he had missed something. �I thought it looked like a burglary turned homicide�?�
�Good point,� Nick conceded with a small smirk. �That could be it too.�
Greg suddenly glanced at the older man with a look that Nick knew meant he had thought of something. �How long was he on surveillance before the murders?�
�Hours,� the Texan replied without preamble. He merely watched the young blonde think as he wondered what Greg had concluded.
�Was he alone the whole time?�
�I don�t know; it was hard to tell from what I saw�� Nick smiled at the younger man, �Why?�
�The purple �fibers� you guys collected were passed to me because they were actually human hairs that had been dyed purple.�
�I heard Vincent had to kick a few samples your way.� Nick tried to sound casual as he watched the blonde for any signs that there had been a confrontation after he had lashed out at the trace tech.
Greg only nodded as he continued working diligently. To most, the muddle-haired youth would have seemed simply distracted to silence by his work, but Nick could tell something else was causing the silence. A hint of uncertainty and something reminiscent to doubt crossed the blonde chemist�s features briefly and then lingered in his eyes. Then, Greg seemed to be a little too focused on drawing a solution from a small vile; something Nick had seen the younger man do many times with easy, often while chattering away.
The Texan spared Vincent a glance through the class walls before returning his attention to Greg. �You alright, G?�
�Yeah;� Greg�s voice was a touch too high and the small smile that accompanied the word looked a little forced. Nick was somewhat relieved to realize that he had never seen Greg produce a fake smile when they were alone together before. Clearly, he was doing something right.
Nick let his expression make it clear that he did not believe the younger man was fine. He dropped his voice as he firmly stated, �We�ll talk after work.�
Greg paused and turned his head to look at the brawny man with a studious expression. After a study that lasted only a couple of seconds, the blonde�s eyes calmed and he offered Nick a genuine smile. He nodded and then turned back to his work. �The unknown yellow substance was brain matter�� Greg�s expression turned mildly disturbed.
The Texan�s expression matched the young chemist. Then, he looked baffled, �But neither of our victims had serious head wounds��
�Neither�?� Greg turned around to look at Nick fully. �There weren�t just two.�
Nick�s eyes widened. �What -how many were there?�
�Three;� Greg gathered some papers and appeared to be organizing the last of the results for their case. �Two male, one female, one of the males was a first degree relative of the female�Natalie Carlisle.� The muddle-haired youth headed to the cloth-covered board before turning to glance at Nick. �Should I page Warrick or just pre- uh, show this to you?�
The corner of Nick�s mouth twitched up slightly at the correction. �I think we�re both gonna want to hear this. Why don�t I just go get him while you finish settin� up?�
Greg smiled, �Sounds good. I�ll be ready when you come back.�
Nick could not help but smile in return before he headed out the lab with a quick glance back at the enthusiastic chemist. Greg turned the dry erase board toward himself and seemed to adding the new information to whatever he had set up there. The Texan smiled again, shook his head, and turned to find Warrick.
A quick glance into the fingerprint lab proved that Warrick was no longer there. Jacqui caught Nick�s eyes, smiled, and mouthed �layout room� as she pointed in the general direction he needed to go.
Warrick was going through several large binders filled with images of recognizable shoeprints. The green-eyed man glanced up when the brawny Texan entered. �Hey, feel like grabbing a binder? I am having no luck here�I hate shoeprints.�
Nick snorted and then looked over the binders and folders lying all over the table in front of him. �Yeah I can�t wait for the software guys to get around to makin� them as easy to identify as tire tracks and fingerprints.� His gaze returned to Warrick; �How about we both try to find a match a little later. Right now, I think we both are gonna need to see what Greg�s found�looks like it�s a lot.�
Warrick looked up blandly, �Useful?�
�Previews so far include the suspect�s hair, brain matter, and a previously unknown third victim.� Nick nodded and turned serious as his friend�s eyes widened. �Yeah, I was surprised too. He�s got it all set up; let�s go.�
Warrick was already standing without bothering to close any of the binders or folders on the table. �Right behind you.�
Warrick almost walked into Nick when the Texan entered the DNA lab and stopped moving instantly. �You al- Damn.� The green-eyed man joined Nick in staring at Greg�s now uncovered dry erase board with a very impression expression.
Greg had duplicated their crime scene ketch perfectly, only larger and marked every bloodstain, spatter mark, errant hair, and the smeared brain matter. Each was color coded by donor, marking the three victims and two suspects. Notes margined the sketch, and the whole thing was so clear and concise that Nick was already putting the event together in his mind.
Greg smiled at the older men�s reactions, looking pleased, proud, and embarrassed. �Do you want to move out the doorway so I can fill you in?�
Both men entered the room fully, though Warrick scoffed as he closed the door behind him. �We may not be scary smart like you or Grissom, but even we can figure this out with what you�d laid out here.� Green eyes roamed over the board even as Warrick spoke. �So our missing victim is Natalie Carlisle�s brother, father, or son?�
�My money�s on brother,� Greg replied as he handed Nick -who just happened to be standing right next to him- a file. �She never gave birth as far as Dr Robbins can tell and the next of kin listed in her company�s files is her brother, Daniel Carlisle. He lives in Henderson.�
Nick nodded, not bothering with the file yet as he joined Warrick in studying the board. He pointed out one of the labels; �I didn�t expect that spray to be a suspect�s blood.�
�It was mixed with saliva,� Greg quipped, then hesitantly added, �I figure someone got in a really solid punch�or just hit him with something.�
�Makes sense,� Warrick replied as Nick merely nodded again, trying to hide a smirk. The taller man�s brows furrowed in thought. �Suspect B left some blood drops right where we found the black fibers and the purple�hairs? Those were hairs?�
Both Nick and Greg nodded, but only the younger man offered a verbal response. �Mm-hmm and the DNA is a match to suspect B.�
�Looks like that�s their entrance,� Nick commented, �And the window must have been the exit�which means Natalie was probably killed first, then her boyfriend, and then her brother.�
Warrick nodded, �I can buy that. Why would they only take one body though? They had to have known they tripped the alarm, which means they also knew they were not coming back for the others. Why not just leave them all and have an extra few minutes to put some distance between them and the crime scene?�
Nick shrugged and hazarded a guess. �Maybe Daniel was the real target and they wanted him alive for somethin�?�
�The �main target� theory part of that makes sense,� Greg quipped hesitantly, �But there�s no way he was alive when they took him, Nick. Not with the amount of blood and brains he left behind. Maybe they needed him for proof of something�? You said your other suspect left with just enough time to take a call��
�Could be�or they needed to hide somethin�,� Nick amended his theory without any embarrassment or irritation. Greg and Warrick were his friends, there was no reason to back step or try to play it cool anymore; they knew he had his dim moments. �Hairs, fibers, and a few blood drops are easy to miss or disregard; maybe that body had somethin� on it they knew was incriminatin�.�
�Makes sense,� Warrick agreed before pointing to a different part of the layout. �If this blood is one of the suspects�, then that means Natalie hurt one of them.�
Greg suddenly looked confused and sad. �If she managed to hurt one of them, wouldn�t she have made noise? How did your killers manage to take out both guys individually?�
Nick frowned, �Greg�s right�the blood proves the killers didn�t slit up to do it simultaneously.� He glanced at Warrick and pointed to the board, �Let�s take this to the layout room; this is gonna take a while to sort out.� The brawny man turned to Greg to thank him for all the help, but a computer beeping behind him cut off his gratitude.
Greg was around the counter and checking the computer before Nick and Warrick had even turned completely. �I just got a hit on one of your suspects. Suspect B is Evan Gracie. He was convicted for burglary twice and assault once.
�We have his last known address and current place of business. Hey, I know that place-� the blonde glanced at the bemused CSIs. �It�s a music and apparel store called Kintaro�s.�
�Please tell me you don�t recognize this guy,� Nick groaned out before he could help it. If killers kept going places where Greg hung out, then he was going to consider having the younger man implanted with a microchip or something�
Warrick chuckled as Greg studies the photo on his computer earnestly before replying. �No; he must work nights or something because I�ve definitely been there since he started working there.�
Now Warrick shared Nick�s look of concern and disbelief. �Okay, you�re not allowed to go anywhere alone during high crime hours.�
�At least not alone,� Nick amended to make sure Greg knew they were not joking entirely. At the blonde�s confused, slightly insulted expression, the Texan added, �First the concert and now this? Obviously you aren�t going to safest places, G.�
�Come to think of it,� Warrick added thoughtfully, �You don�t live in the nicest neighborhood either. Is your block even patrolled?�
The young chemist did not look amused. Actually, he looked like he was not sure how he should be feeling. �No, it�s not but it�s not a dangerous place either�just not the nicest. I happen to like my neighbors and we all keep an eye out for each other.�
Greg turned his attention to Nick, who had been going over the route to Greg�s apartment in his mind. While the youth had a point, he had to admit that Warrick did too. Greg�s neighbors seemed nice enough, but a bum or a wino would not stand out all that much in the neighborhood either. �Uh, Nick?�
The named man forced his attention to return to his friends. �What? Sorry, I was just thinkin�.�
�Well I think we need to return to work now,� Warrick replied, looking slightly amused�as though he knew what the brawny Texan had been thinking. The green-eyed man indicated at the dry erase board with a nod of his head. �Grab that end; Greg�let�s hope you don�t need this for a couple days. Thanks, man.�
Greg looked pleased, �You�re welcome.� He bit his lip and caught Nick�s eye, �See you later�kjære.�
Nick and Warrick received only a few strange looks as they pushed the large dry erase board across the lab with strange, large grins plastered on their faces, one looking satisfied the other amused.
Nick was grinning again hours later as he finally entered Greg�s building. Now that he was not envisioning serial killers and muggers doing any number of horrible things to the innocent young man, Nick had to admit that the neighborhood seemed more dilapidated than dangerous. Thinking back to Greg�s reaction to Mr. Stienhoff�s apartment, the Texan wondered if the youth simply liked things with an old-world feel.
The few people he passed as he entered Greg�s building and headed for the elevator were pleasant enough as usual, and when a young man in the elevator noticed Nick break into a job to catch it, he even held the door for the older man and offered him a polite smile.
�Which floor,� the youthful Samaritan enquired as he hit the button that would take them to Greg�s floor.
Nick grinned and nodded toward the glowing button; �Same as you.�
The younger man looked Nick over quickly, and then his eyes lit up as his polite smile took on a previously unmissed warmth. �Are you Nick Stokes?�
The Texan kept his expression carefully neutral as he took in the younger man�s appearance. Nick did not recognize the youth and he knew he would remember if they had met before. The youth had gorgeous brown eyes, somewhere between the shade of Greg�s and Nick�s own, and rich sable hair that fell around his face and ears in gracefully untamed waves.
�Yeah, how�d you know?� Nick asked, trying to sound casually interested. The young man was a solid two inches shorter than Nick and was slight and sinewy. He had lightly tanned and perfectly smooth skin stretched over fine, classically beautiful features.
�I�m a friend of Greg�s; I�ve hard a lot about you,� the youth replied with another warm, friendly smile. The smile could not hold a candle to one of Greg�s beamers but had a strange calming quality to it that Nick suspected did well to put most people at ease. Nick, however, suddenly felt his theoretical hackles rise.
The Texan had to force himself not to squeeze the youth�s hand painfully hard when the younger man offered it to him �I�m Drew Blanchard. Greg and I go all the way back to grade school.� Nick recalled that Greg went to schools for the gifted from kindergarten all the way through high school, which meant the pretty boy must be on par with Greg intellectually.
So the man was beautiful, intelligent, and had known Greg virtually forever�Nick knew he was going to hate the younger man. He also knew it was irrational, but he just could not help it.
Before the brawny CSI could worry too long about growling out an inappropriate response to the seemingly kind young man, Drew started speaking again. His tone was light, voice soft, and just a touch of a British accent honeyed his intonation. Nick added the lovely voice to the list of things he irrationally hated. �I�ve been away for a week, giving a lecture in Paris. I only got back this morning and thought I�d see how Greg was doing.
�He seemed a little stressed before I left�last week he even had a bit of a freak out while we at the movies.� Nick recalled Greg telling Hodges, Andrews, and Archie about dumping a friend�s drink into his lap when an explosion surprised him in a movie. He had to stop part of his mind from imaging the kind beauty before him comforting Greg in a darkened theatre.
Nick was sure the kid was still talking, asking him about work or the like, but he did not care if he seemed a little rude as he suddenly interrupted with a question of his own. �So you got back into town this mornin� but you decided to stop by to see him while most decent folks are sleepin�?� The Texan wondered if it was his imagination or if his drawl had suddenly thickened. By the curious yet charmed look on Drew�s face, he guessed it was not his imagination.
Still, the younger man�s smile never wavered. �Well, unlike most decent folks, Greg and I both work nights so this is just stopping by after work for us. Is that not what you�re doing here?� The smile suddenly fell from Drew�s face; �There isn�t anything wrong, is there?�
To Nick�s surprise, Drew�s obvious concern for Greg ebbed his growing irrational dislike enough for him to regain his composure. He offered the youth a small, but reassuring smile. �No, everything�s great. Greg and I made plans to get together after work and talk about a few things.�
The Texan would have loved to throw the fact that he was now Greg�s boyfriend into the conversation, but he knew he�d be annoyed if Greg told one of his friends something like that without asking him first. It suddenly occurred to Nick that he was assuming the young man he had only just met was even interested in men, which was unusual for him.
Normally, Nick was slow to figure out someone�s orientation and when he did figure out someone was gay or bi, it hit him as a surprise. He wondered if he was being a possessive, jealous ass or if his time spent with Greg and coming out to his friends and family had caused him to acknowledge his gaydar.
In any case, nothing further seemed to be necessary. After a quick look of relief flitted across his face, Drew merely smiled at Nick once again, looking strangely pleased. �That�s good. I�ll only stay a short while then. Greg and I can catch up later.�
Nick was torn between thanking the younger man and making it clear that �later� did not mean �later tonight�. Before he could do either, the elevator doors opened and Drew stepped out into the hall, followed immediately by Nick. Without thinking, Nick pulled out his keys as soon as they approached Greg�s door and let them in.
Greg came out of his study at the sound of the door closing, a copy of the latest Forensic Journal in his hand and a grin on his face. �Hey kjære, I was-� The blonde finally looked up and noticed his friend standing beside his boyfriend with a grin. He grinned in return; �When did you get back?�
�This morning,� Drew answered, stepping aside as Greg walked over to greet Nick first, with a hug and a quick kiss. Then Greg turned to his friend, who pulled him into a friendly hug, complete with a clap on the back. It was the same sort of hug Nick shared with his brothers whenever they got together. The Texan still felt the need to pull Greg to him when the friends parted.
Greg placed one of his arms over the brawny one rapped around his waist and leaned back into Nick as he grinned at his fiend. Drew smiled in return, �Alright, I understand being busy but you�re supposed to send me an email if anything important happens. When did this happen?�
�Uh, it sort of started a couple days after you left,� Greg replied, sounding almost giddy. Nick grinned. �Is it that obvious?�
Drew laughed lightly, the sound did not bother Nick as much as he would have expected just a few minutes before. �Oh, yes; you should have seen your boyfriend in the elevator. He went a little alpha on me.�
Greg twisted his head to look at his boyfriend. Nick rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly with his free hand. �Sorry about that. Like Greggo said, this is still sorta new and I get a little�possessive sometimes.�
�No worries,� Drew waved off the older man�s embarrassment. He glanced at Greg, �Actually, if I wasn�t hopelessly in love with Hector I might have embarrassed myself.�
Nick figured he should not be surprised that the young brunette was so comfortable saying something that incriminating in front of a near stranger, considering he knew about Nick and Greg.
�You know the thing with Hector might actually g somewhere if you let him know you�re interested,� Greg suggested. His tone turned slightly teasing as he added, �Then maybe I wouldn�t constantly have to listen to you gush about him.�
�As though I haven�t had to listen to you do the same?� Drew replied with a hint of laughter to his voice. �Besides, I think we�re getting somewhere anyway. I saw him earlier and he said he missed me�and that we should synchronize our lectures next time.�
�See�?�Nick could hear the gin in Greg�s voice. �Maybe he just needs some incentive.�
Drew shrugged with a slightly sheepish smile. Then he tilted his head and smiled at the couple before him. �Is that how you two finally came to this though? You actually said something?�
�Uh, no;� Greg laughed self depreciatively.
Drew�s smile became even warmer. �Well I expect details later. For now, I�ll just let myself out. Have a nice evening.� He nodded to Nick before turning to the door, �It was nice to meet you, Nick.�
�Yeah, you too;� Nick was surprised to realize that he meant it. He suddenly felt foolish. He leaned his head down to murmur to Greg, �Do you want-�
�No, he gets it,� Greg answered quietly before calling out to his friend, who was halfway out the door. �Drew, wait.� The brunette turned, looking curious. Greg only said, �Don�t go to Kintaro�s, okay?�
Drew nodded, not looking confused in the least. �I�ll talk to you later, yeah?�
�Yeah, I�ll call you.� Greg relaxed against Nick again. Drew locked the door before he closed it behind himself. Then, Greg turned in Nick�s hold to look at him.
�So that was Drew,� the muddle-haired youth said simply. �He�s been my best friend since Kindergarten and just in case your alpha side hasn�t calmed down yet, we have no interest in being more than friends�never have. And before you ask, I�m sure; we talked about it once when one of his evil exes kept giving him a hard time about me.�
�Okay, I get it,� Nick smiled down at the younger man. �I�m not gonna give you a hard time about him. Actually, I think I might grow to like him�once I get over the fact that some gorgeous guy�s gonna be hangin� around you.�
Greg chuckled lightly. �It�s a good thing I�m not the jealous type.� The blonde grinned and rubbed a hand over Nick�s chest. �I�m glad you�re giving him a chance. He�ll like you, too.�
�I hope so,� Nick answered lightly, but he meant it. He had never cared about the friends of the girls he dated before, but he wanted the muddle-haired youth to be able to talk to his best friend the way he could talk to Warrick.
And Nick thought that Greg might need a friend to talk to after he told the younger man everything he had to say.
In the meantime, the Texan just enjoyed holding and teasing the blonde for a moment longer.
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