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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 Note: Here�s where those facts on Blast Lung mentioned in the first author�s note come in. Originally, it was going to mentioned there, but obviously the plan changed and I forgot to move the note.

See previous chapters for further author�s notes and the disclaimer.

Nick�s mind was still going over that morning�s conversation with Greg as he arrived in the lab for his shift that evening. They had parted on friendly terms, and the CSI was sure neither held anything the other had said against him. The CSI knew that his friend was hoping that would be the end of the subject, but Nick was not willing to let it go so easily.
Unfortunately, nothing had changed since the night before, aside from the fact that Nick was acknowledging his feelings for Greg for the first time.
Nick was assigned a supposedly accidental shooting case with Warrick, and their easy banter and friendly wagers helped to distract the Texan from his current dilemma. A coin toss a few hours into the shift decided who had to go to trace, since neither of the CSIs wanted to deal with Hodges if they did not have to.
Warrick groaned as he lost. �Great. Will you handle DNA then? I can�t take Hodges� attitude and Sanders� energy in the same hour tonight.�
Nick�s victory grin broadened. �Sure thing, man; I�ll get Bobby and Jacqui started on the gun and shell casings when I�m done there.�
�Cool;� the taller man nodded. �I�ll head down to the hospital when I�m done here.�
The Texan waved over his shoulder, already on the way to the DNA lab. He paused in the hallway before he entered the lab; through the glass walls, he could see Greg swaying his hips to his music as his hands mixed solvents with the precision of a bomb expert�until said hands suddenly started shaking. The young man immediately halted what he was doing, ducked his hands to his sides, and looked worried as he glanced about to ensure no one had noticed.
Warm eyes fell onto Nick and instead of appearing embarrassed or worried, Greg smiled, looking relieved.
Nick returned the smile and entered the DNA lab. He had to fight his instinct to reach out and place a hand on the younger man. �Hey, G; you okay there?�
�Yeah,� Greg looked at his hands, which were only trembling lightly now. �That just happens sometimes since�you know. I�m told the notable shaking will stop in time�just nerves. Plus, they had to change out my asthma medication due to lung damage; blast lung, you know-� Nick�s eyes widened and Greg hastened to add, �It�s already healed; I just need time to rebuild my lung capacity.�
The younger man shrugged and waved off his friend�s concern. �Anyway, I guess slight tremors are a side effect of the new medication, but that type doesn�t effect my work. My old medication made them tremble a little bit sometimes and it was never a problem�of course, it was nothing like this� But it also caused breakouts and hyperactivity, so I guess it�s an even trade.�
The CSI nodded and offered his friend a supportive smile, wondering if the young man had any idea how adorable he was when he babbled like that. �You�re doing a great job, Greggo. Even if we have to wait an extra minute sometimes while you heal and adjust to the new meds, we�re still getting our results hours ahead of day shift.�
The muddle-haired youth chuckled; �Tell me about it. I just spent three hours handling day�s backlog. I swear that guy just pushes back anything that isn�t pressing enough to get him reprimanded.� His eyes darted to the evidence bags in his friend�s hands, then he met the Texan�s gaze and wagged his eyebrows. �So what do you got for me?�
Nick mentally berated himself as he suppressed several inappropriate responses to that question. Instead, he handed over the swabs he and Warrick had collected at their scene, and filled Greg in as the DNA tech processed them. Several times, he had to stop himself from hovering over the chemist�s shoulder, invading his personal space, or outright touching him. He never realized exactly how touchy feely he was with the younger man before.
A large part of him rationalized that Greg had never seemed to mind, and no else ever commented, so he had no reason to assume it would be improper or unwelcome now. However, in light of recent discoveries, Nick just was not sure if it was a good idea. He honestly was not sure how long his restraint would last though, as he had to apply far too much effort into it. The moment he was distracted, Nick was sure he would be all over the slighter man again.
Greg�s brows drew in confusion as he looked over the results. �Epithelials on the gun are from three separate donors. You have the victim, your suspect, and the witness on it. Is that normal in an accidental shooting?�
�It�s not abnormal,� Nick explained with a frown, �But it doesn�t fit their story either.�
�That seems to be happening a lot lately,� mused the DNA expert. �Your witness also has a record for shoplifting and pirating.� The younger man pointed to his computer monitor, where he had pulled up the information for Nick to view. �So what do you think? Were they passing the gun around before it went off or was there a struggle?�
�I don�t know; guess that�s what I need to find out. Thanks, Greg.� The Texan offered his friend another smile as he left for the fingerprint lab.
Jacqui looked up from her computer as Nick entered and the expression on her face made the man stop on the spot. He had seen that look before; on the stern faces of several old girlfriends� protective mothers�it usually led to an interrogation of sorts. Straightening his shoulders, Nick approached the fingerprint technician and handed her the lifts from the crime scene.
�Hi Jacqui; is everything alright?�
�Nick,� the petite brunette greeted as she took the lifts. �Do you want to wait for these? I can run them now.�
The CSI really wanted to say no and leave the potentially uncomfortable situation immediately, but he knew that would only delay the inevitable. He also knew that Jacqui had a soft spot for Greg, and anything she said would only be in his best interest. If it assured her of his intentions, it would be worth a little discomfort.
�Sure,� Nick glanced to the hallway. Techs were working in their respective labs and a few people passed by, but no one appeared to be paying them any mind. �Should I close the door?�
Jacqui rolled her eyes, �No, you shouldn�t. Now, what�s going on with you and Greg? He�s never that nervous around you and you never keep that much distance between you two.�
Nick sighed in resignation and glanced at the DNA lab through the walls. Greg was once again swaying his hips to his music as he worked with grace and precision�despite the occasional, telltale trembling of the papers he held. Nick was sure he would not have noticed if he were not already aware of it.
The fingerprint tech cleared her throat. �Archie told me about what you overheard yesterday. We�re all pleased by the way you handled it, keeping Hodges in line and all�but after what I just witnessed, I have to wonder if you aren�t having second thoughts about accepting our boy.�
The CSI turned back to her with narrowed eyes. He kept his voice firm, but low as he responded. �Of course I�m not having second thoughts. I have no issues with Greg and if anyone else does, you can send them to me and I�ll make the warning I gave Hodges sound like a bedtime story.�
Jacqui looked the brawny man over slowly, and then a small smile crept over her face. �You like him.�
Nick�s mouth fell open and he quickly scanned the hall again to ensure no one had heard the declaration. He turned back when he heard Jacqui groan behind him.
�Oh, not this again� That boy has the worse luck in love, I tell you. First the cheating bastard, then the closeted asshole, then Mr. bipolar, and now another closet case�how does such a sweet, intelligent, successful kid attract such losers? This really isn�t making me feel confident in the fact that my oldest will be soon be dating��
The Texan struggled to grasp the implications of Greg�s past boyfriends when the insult suddenly caught up to him. �Hey! I really don�t think there�s any need to compare me to those dumbasses. First of all, I would never cheat-�
Jacqui cut in, fixing Nick with a level stare that warned him never to repeat the information she was about to share. �Neither did the bastard, as far as he was concerned. He said so long as it was with women, it wasn�t really cheating.� She nodded approvingly at Nick�s look of disgust. �Fortunately, Greg saw that for the lame excuse it was and dumped him on the spot. At least, that�s what he told me -it happened before he moved out here- but I believe him. He�s a bright kid�a little too forgiving, but he�s young; maybe he�ll outgrow that.�
Nick finally found his voice, and found that he had to struggle to keep it low and steady this time. �There is no excuse for that as far as I�m concerned, and anyone would have to be an idiot to cheat on Greg anyway. You�re right, he�s smart and sweet�and helpful, and enthusiastic about new ideas; he has incredible focus and determination, but he still manages to be cheerful and friendly�� Realizing to his horror that he was being almost as garrulous as a nervous Greg, Nick cut to the first point to cross his mind. �Anyone stupid enough to pull that crap on him deserves to be called a bastard, but I definitely don�t fall under that category.�
Jacqui arched an eyebrow, and then the corner of her mouth twitched upward. �No, I don�t think you do.� She nodded to herself and turned to the prints she had scanned into her computer, all the while wearing a warm smile. �Good.�
�Damn right,� Nick replied; his eyes still narrowed in indignation. Then he noticed the change in the woman�s demeanor and his expression turned blank. �What?�
�I�ve got a work card hit a record for two of your guys.� The fingerprint tech handed Nick printout of her results as she ignored his question. �This last partial will take a minute. You want to wait or should I just page you?�
Nick stood baffled for a moment, unsure of what had just transpired. By the change in atmosphere, he knew that he had passed some sort of test, but he had no idea how he had done that. �Uh�Thanks? I mean, yeah, thanks; page me. I�m just going to head to ballistics��
�Okay,� Jacqui waited until the Texan was in the doorway before she added, �Oh, and Nick? Be good to our boy; we�ll be watching.�
The CSI blinked at the strange warning, and then took a quick look about the lab. He was just able to catch Archie, Hodges, and Bobby -all in their respective labs- as they quickly turned back to their work. Suddenly, he realized that they all essentially worked in a glass maze�and the lab rats had it wired. He nodded at the fingerprint tech before heading off to ballistics in a slight daze.
�Hey Nicky,� Bobby greeted as the CSI entered his lab. �You need some ice?� Nick frowned at the odd question, and the curly-haired tech grinned. �It looked like Jacqui was breaking your balls there.�
The sable-eyed man snorted. �Yeah; I feel for the poor souls her kids bring home someday.�
�Oh;� The blue-eyed man�s tone and expression indicated that he suddenly understood something. �That was about Greg. She can kinda turn into a lioness protecting her cub when it comes to him.�
�Kinda�?� Nick repeated incredulously.
Bobby shrugged and swiftly seized the gun from the CSI�s loosening grip and took it out of the evidence bag. He continued speaking as he set up. �Well, prospective boyfriends don�t usually wander into her den, so she normally doesn�t have as strong a reason to bring out the claws.�
Nick�s eyebrows shot up, �Prospective�� He glanced to the door to see if any passerby seemed to have heard, but no one was paying them any mind. �Jesus; Does everyone know?�
�No, actually, just a select few;� The curly-haired man tossed Nick a pair of goggles and indicated a pair of sound protectors. �You�re lucky Henry is cool. It wasn�t smart to react like you did yesterday in front of a relative stranger if you don�t want word to get around. Fire in the hole!�
The CSI hastened to put on the protective gear, but Bobby made sure he had it on before firing. Once the gear was off and the ballistics expert was checking out the bullet, Nick decided to start asking questions. �Alright, since you obviously know what�s going on, can you give me a tip at least? It sounds like Greg has good reason to be cautious, but he should know I�d never hurt him. What can I do to prove that to him?�
Bobby -who was comparing bullets under a microscope- released a weary sigh. �I think you�re looking at this all wrong.�
Nick frowned, �The case, or�?�
Blue eyes rose to meet sable ones. �Greg doesn�t have issues, Nick. He�s learned from past mistakes. We should all be so wise. It isn�t him you need to do something about; he�s already interested and ready to make that leap whenever you are. That�s where you need to start putting in the effort.�
�Hey, I made my interest clear,� Nick said defensively and a little irritably. �I even tried to make my intentions clear. What else am I supposed to do?�
�Did Greg tell you why he was reluctant to give it a try?� Bobby waited for Nick to nod before speaking again. �And what did you do then? You�ve never been hesitant to show affection to Greg before, when it was safe. Then today, after you learn about him and more importantly, that others here know about him, you suddenly start keeping your distance. What message do you think that sent him?
�Greg loves you, Nick; he�ll always be your friend. If you want him to be anything more, you have to work on you. If you aren�t comfortable with being in an open relationship with him, then you had better not pressure him. You�ll only end up hurting him�and then the rest of us lab rats will have to hurt you.�
�I want to be more to him than just a friend�� The sable-eyed man swallowed; his mouth had suddenly gone dry. �But I don�t know how open he expects me to be. I�m not good with open�even with the women I date. I like my private life to stay as private as possible.�
�He�s not going to expect you to do anything you wouldn�t do with a woman you were with,� the ballistics expert assured. �And Greg�s more professional than you�re giving him credit for. He won�t want any kissing or touching at work -aside from the friendly touches you�re already doing- No making out in the parking lot; no favoritism; no bringing your home issues here. Of course, that�s no guarantee that your working life won�t stumble upon your private life�it�s happened to you before. So, where does your private life differentiate from your working life? What chances are you willing to take to have a personal relationship with him?�
Nick was not sure what to say to that. He knew the other man was right. Greg kept himself from something he wanted because he knew himself well enough to know what he can and cannot handle. Now Nick had to figure out the same thing for himself. Otherwise, as Bobby said, he would only end up hurting the younger man, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
The CSI turned to look through the glass walls once again, his eyes easily seeking out the slender figure working in the DNA lab at the heart of the crime lab. Greg looked more solemn than he had when Nick was in there moments before, as he read over a printout from another case. As Nick watched, Grissom approached the young man and the youth began explaining something wearily.
�Nick?� The named man turned his attention back to Bobby, who grinned. The ballistics expert then handed the CSI a small file. �Here you go. The bullet from your gun matches the bullet from the victim. The gun is also stolen, and has been used in a robbery six months ago, as well as two other unsolved shootings since then.�
Nick took the file but did not look at the results yet; he knew his mind was too distracted for the time being. Instead, he looked into knowing blue eyes and nodded slowly. �Thanks Bobby�for everything.�
�Anytime, Nicky,� the curly-haired man smiled back and then returned to his work.
The sable-eyed man decided to head to the break room. He sent Warrick a text on the way, telling him where he would be in case the other CSI returned to the lab. Once he reached his destination, Nick opened the community fridge and saw a small Rubbermaid container holding a generous portion of some sort of casserole. Greg�s handwriting labeled it as the property of Nick Stokes. Underneath the label, the young man had scrawled brief heating instructions.
Nick smiled broadly as he pulled out the homemade dish. He cracked open the lid and found that it smelled quite good. He quickly followed the heating instructions and settled at the table to eat his lunch.
They say the quickest way to a man�s heart is through his stomach, and at the first bite, Nick had to acknowledge that he would not mind eating Greg�s cooking for the rest of his life. Actually, since leaving the ballistics lab, he had been thinking that he really would not mind doing a lot with Greg for the rest of his life.
�And if anyone else could not handle that, then he supposed that was whom he needed to give up on, not Greg.
�Uh, Nick?� Sable eyes were forced to focus until Nick saw that Sara had seated herself across from him and was eating her own lunch, which appeared to come from the corner deli. Nick vaguely wondered if the rumors he had heard about Sara�s cooking were true, or if she just did not feel it worth the effort of cooking just for herself.
Sara eyed his FårikåL as though it were a strange piece of evidence. �Not that I�m not pleased to see you eating something that isn�t full of preservatives and radiation for once, but what exactly are you eating?�
�Some kind of Norwegian stew,� the sable-eyed man answered. He looked at the next forkful before he put it in his mouth. �I think its lamb. You want a bite?�
�Uh, no; I�m good.� The vegetarian took a bite of her egg salad as though to prove her point. Her cell phone chose that moment to go off, and she cursed as she checked the screen. �Of course, right when I start eating.�
Nick smirked and turned to his newly expanded case file as he continued eating his lunch happily. Sara frowned at his behavior while she packed up her lunch and stuffed it into the refrigerator. As she left, he heard her greet Warrick, who entered the room after returning the greeting. The taller man had a to-go box from a local taco stand.
�Hey, I was going to ask you if you wanted a taco, but it looks like you�re all set. Is that homemade?�
Nick nodded; �It�s really good too.�
His friend smiled as he took the seat Sara had just vacated. �So what�s the story there? Is your mom in town or do you have a new girlfriend?�
�Neither;� the Texan returned his attention to the case file and his lunch. �Greg made it.�
�You stole Sanders� lunch?�
Nick looked up with gave his friend a �what the hell� look. �Of course not! He brought it for me.�
�Sanders made you lunch?� Warrick looked confused. After a few seconds, he smirked and shook his head. �So what did you two bet on?�
�I don�t bet with Greggo,� Nick answered simply. He sighed at the baffled expression on the other man�s face. �We were having breakfast and somehow started talking about family Thanksgivings and he mentioned all this Norwegian food I�d never heard of and�well, long story short, he offered to bring this today so I could try it.�
�Okay�� The green-eyed man still looked as though he felt he was missing something, but decided that it was either not worth asking, or simply not any of his business. That did not mean he was going to pass the chance to harass his friend though. �So, did your little Norwegian slave boy get any results for us?�
�Doesn�t he always?� Nick grinned at the surprised expression on his friend�s face and slid the file across the table. �I also got results from Jacqui and Bobby. I�m thinking this is at best an accident during the commission of a felony. If not, then it�s just a felony.�
Warrick nodded as he looked over the information. Finally, he snorted and began to un-wrap his food. �Geniuses�they admitted to having the gun during the time each of these crimes took place.�
The sable-eyed man looked over the file once more. �Think this is enough to get a warrant for credit and phone records?�
�I hope so,� the taller man replied. �With criminals this dumb, you know they left a digital blueprint behind.�
Nick nodded and was about to respond when Greg entered the break room and beat him to it. �Well they left enough of everything else behind. Here,� the chemist handed Nick two more printouts. �Jacqui asked me to give you these. She�s being weird today� Anyway, each guy that left epithelials on the gun also left prints -the partials she was checking lead to your witness, but I already gave you his records. Only his prints were on the shell casing though.�
The muddle-haired youth continued speaking as he dug another Rubbermaid container out of the fridge. Nick could not help but notice that it was slightly smaller than the one Greg had left for him. �I was talking to Archie, and I mentioned your guy that was already in the system, and he remembers checking the surveillance on a couple of his previous arrests. He didn�t work solo.�
Nick -who had been listening with a small grin as he ate- and Warrick -who had been only paying half attention- both looked up at the �I know something useful� tone the younger man had adopted. Greg grinned and sat next to Nick with his heated FårikåL. �The guys he worked with were picked up six months ago for a robbery. Day shift got the case; the file says they suspected another party involved, but they could never prove who.�
Nick nodded to Greg and then turned to Warrick. �His boys got busted so he started working with his B team. Then one of the morons had a couple misfires -gun probably jammed or something- and shot the other one before they could get to wherever they were goin�.�
Warrick leaned back in his chair as he crumpled his last taco wrappers. �Or the guy in the hospital tried to squeeze our felon, so he gets his wannabe gang banger friend to scare him and that�s when the gun went off. He�s managed not to get caught a few times now. You don�t get by that many times on luck.�
�That doesn�t mean he�s bright enough to come up with a plan like that all on his own,� Nick countered. �Look how many crimes his gun has been associated with while he admitted to having it. That�s not brains, man. And what�s with the accidental shooting story, then?�
The green-eyed man shrugged lazily. �They figured they�d all get in trouble once the original plan went south and came up with a weak excuse to avoid trouble all around.�
Nick arched an eyebrow. �Yeah, they were going to try another robbery or something.�
Warrick smirked. �You willing to place a little wager on that...?�
Nick�s other eyebrow rose to match it�s mate in a challenging expression; �Usual stakes?�
The taller man�s smirk turned wicked as he nodded.
The Texan grinned, �Alright; you�re on.�
�Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both�� Greg murmured before he took another bite of his lunch. He noticed the confused looks the two older men were gracing him with and stated, in the form of an explanation, �Robert Frost.� When that did not seem to clear anything up, he waved their bafflement away. �Never mind; I was just thinking of something Grissom once told me about the advantage of working with a partner. Obviously, he hasn�t shared that concept with you two yet.�
�He�s tried,� Nick replied with a small laugh. �Although he hasn�t resorted to poetry��
�Yeah, I guess Sanders is just special.� Warrick laughed quietly as he stood and tossed his wrapper-filled take-out box into the trash. He nodded to Nick on his way out of the break room. �I�ll call Lockwood about that warrant.�
�Yeah, you do that.� The sable-eyed man replied as he scrapped the last of his casserole out of its container. He glanced at the muddle-haired youth as he got up and washed the container he�d eaten from. �You weren�t kidding about this stuff, Greggo. I�ve never liked lamb that much, but I could eat that every week. Did your grandmothers teach you to cook?�
�Mm-hmm,� Greg nodded as he swallowed a bite of his own FårikåL. �My mom too�only she was more strident about kitchen safety, so it wasn�t as much fun.�
Nick smiled at the younger man as he returned to the table, sitting beside him once more. �Well if you�re as efficient in the kitchen as you are in a lab, then I don�t think she needed to worry.� He unsuccessfully fought a smirk as he added, ��Course, if you were the same way with music back then�I guess I could see why she�d worry. It took me a while to realize you could still focus while bobbing your head along to that crap.�
�It�s good music�and I focus better with it as a matter of fact,� the doe-eyed man corrected. �It makes it easier to drown out the ambient noises here, so I don�t get distracted by whatever�s happening right outside my lab.� Greg fixed his friend with a withering look. �It also makes it easier for you guys to sneak in and scare the hell out of me, but I think I�ve gotten better at hiding it.�
Nick recalled a few times he had made the chemist practically jump out of his skin during his first year in the lab and his shoulders shook with repressed mirth. When he had controlled his amusement enough to speak without laughing, he responded. �Yeah, I�d never guess we manage to scare you -what was it?- �like ten times a day� anymore.�
�I wondered if I was going to regret telling you that,� the DNA technician murmured. �Actually, I didn�t expect you to remember.�
�Hey, I�m smarter than I look.� Nick arched an eyebrow when the slighter man paused before taking a bite, then grinned and proceeded as though he thought better of saying whatever had come to mind. Nick grinned and nodded when he saw the comment would be left alone. �About your dinner and video game offer; How does tomorrow after work sound? I�m off the next day, so I can sleep in if you keep me up all night.�
The Texan immediately regretted his choice of phrase as his body started reacting to the mental images that came along with the words. He pretended to look over his case file again as he tried to think of every anti-erotic thought he could muster. Unfortunately, none of his usual images seemed to override the vision of Greg writhing under him.
�Yeah, that sounds good.� Greg replied with a bright grin, clearly unaware of the thoughts running through his companion�s mind. �I don�t have any experience with it yet either, so you can�t claim any unfair advantages if you don�t beat me.�
Nick was glad Greg seemed to split his attention between Nick, a magazine that had materialized from somewhere as he talked, and his lunch. It meant that the younger man might not notice as he shifted in his seat in a vain attempt to relieve pressure. Greg continued unabashed, much to Nick�s relief�until the willowy youth chose to use another turn of phrase that sent the Texan�s thoughts in the wrong direction.
�At least it�s kickboxing instead of wrestling or football. You can�t just keep driving me into the ground like you do in those games�and you wonder why I prefer racing or- Hey, you okay?�
Nick had abruptly stood before he was aware of it, so he had no other choice but to turn away from the muddle-haired chemist and start heading for the door before Greg could see the notable bulge in is jeans. While he did not think Greg would hold an erection against him or tease him about it too much, that really was not the impression he wanted to give at this point. Moreover, he really did not think it was appropriate to be sporting a full hard-on at work, let alone discussing it with the person responsible.
�Yeah, man�� The Texan waved the case file he had been pretending to read as a flash of inspiration struck. �I just saw something I need to check out.�
�Cool. Good luck,� Greg called after him.
�Thanks; see you later,� Nick called back as he headed for the nearest restroom.
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