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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Author�s notes: I�ve never understood why so many fans of the show seem to think Warrick and Greg weren�t close, or did not get along in the early seasons. They seem to get on well to me, even (if not especially) around this point in the show.

See the first chapter for further notes and the disclaimer.

Nick and Warrick headed to the locker room three hours after the end of their shift. Both men were mentally exhausted from their unusual case, but the Texan was still pleased that he had patched things up with Greg. The eccentric technician had been his usual enthusiastic self when Nick retrieved the rest of their toxicology results, and had even been bobbing his head along to his music as he worked on one of his other cases.
�Carbon Monoxide poisoning� Man, this case just keeps getting more bizarre,� Warrick commented as he opened his locker and pulled out a pair of boots. �I never should have made that bet with Sanders; freaky as it is, I think his theory might actually pan out.�
�I told you,� the Texan grinned as he rummaged through his locker, looking for his sunglasses. �It�s science mixed with pop culture, and it�s weird; this is Greggo�s territory all the way. What�s the pot anyway?�
�Loser washes the winner�s car every weekend for a month,� the green-eyed man answered while changing shoes. He smirked when he glanced up and saw the amused expression on his friend�s face. �Yeah, don�t look at me. Sanders named the stakes.�
Nick chuckled quietly as he closed his locker. �Well�I wouldn�t expect Greg to stick to convention.�
�I guess not.� The taller man smiled. �Hey, you hungry? I�m gonna grab a bite before I head home.�
The sable-eyed man nodded; �Yeah, I just got to- Oh, wait. I told Greg breakfast was on me today.� He frowned as he tried to recall if he had seen the younger man leave. �You were supposed to keep him up to speed on your bet, right? Has he headed home yet?�
Warrick nodded, looking slightly displeased about the reminder on his ill-conceived wager. �Nah, he should still be here. He was running some DNA for the feds when I was coming back from the morgue. Ecklie was riding him something fierce, so I didn�t stick around. He should be done by now though; let�s just grab him on our way out.�
Nick nodded once, knowing Greg would not mind if Warrick joined them. He still hoped to speak with Greg alone, but figured he would have time later, possibly after breakfast, if he was not to tired. He looked at his friend confoundedly as they left the locker room. �Wait a minute, you said Ecklie was riding him? Why?�
�I guess he wasn�t pleased about Greggo puttin� our case before his,� the tall man answered languidly, but looked disproving of the dayshift supervisor�s actions. �Looked like Sanders was just letting it roll off him; that�s why I didn�t step in.�
The Texan scoffed incredulously, �Between our multiple and the feds, Ecklie actually expected his backlogged evidence to get priority? It isn�t even Greg�s shift. He could just say �screw it� and no one would question it once they saw his workload.�
�Ecklie would,� Warrick commented. He released a silent laugh when they rounded the corner and the DNA lab came into view. Greg was making use of the lull between shifts by organizing the day shift tech�s backlogged files, and was practically dancing around the lab as he did so. �At least Sanders is feeling better. I was getting a little worried there.�
�Yeah,� Nick practically sighed out the word as he felt a twinge of guilt again. He grinned lightly when he too caught sight of the energetic quipster. �So was I.�
�Yeah, well,� the green-eyed man smirked as he cast a sideways glace at his friend, �Whatever you said to him must have done the trick.�
The sable-eyed man felt his heart rate start to increase, but glanced at his friend as calmly as he could. �What makes you think I had anything to do with it? Greg never seems to hold on to negative feelings. I�ve only seen him annoyed or upset for more than two seconds once or twice since he started working here.�
�True,� Warrick agreed with a nod, �But today was different. I think Greggo needed something, and you handle him better than the rest of us. Why do you think I asked you to check in with him five minutes after I left him instead of just asking him to page me?�
The Texan snorted, �You make him sound like a little mustang we�re trying to break in. I didn�t handle him; I talked to him. That was it.�
�Yeah, but notice he didn�t talk to me about whatever-� The tall CSI stopped speaking and both men halted when the music that had been steadily filling the hallway ceased abruptly. Looking over, they saw Greg toss his lab coat in the laundry bin before picking up his CD player and heading out of the lab.
The younger man�s happy smile turned surprised upon seeing them in the hallway. �Hey, you guys are still here? I thought we were between shifts.�
�We are,� Nick answered as Warrick scoffed. �We were just about to drag you away from the lab.�
�What�s with the CD player?� The green-eyed man nodded toward the device as he questioned it.
Greg rolled his eyes; �Someone from days stuck gum in it while I was gone, so I�m keeping it in my trunk between shifts from now on.�
�Why the hell would they do that?� Nick asked indignantly.
Meanwhile, Warrick�s face scrunched in disgusted confusion; �Man, that�s just disrespectful.�
The younger man shrugged, �I don�t know who did it, so I can�t say. Were you guys looking for me for a reason?�
�Breakfast,� the Texan answered immediately; �You in?�
�Yeah,� the muddle-haired youth rewarded the older men with a pleased smile. �I�ll just run to my locker to grab my hoodie. Where are we going?�
�Frank�s,� the sable-eyed man glanced at Warrick to make sure there was no argument. When the taller man nodded, he turned to Greg and added, �But we�ll wait for you in the parking lot.�
The DNA technician cheerfully agreed and headed to the locker room. Nick was torn between amusement and concern when he noticed that Greg was still limping slightly. �Hey,� he called after the younger man, who stopped in his tracks and looked back at Nick. �How�s that knee doin�?�
The willowy blonde chuckled quietly; �It�s fine�just bruised.�
The Texan chuckled as well. �Alright; maybe you should just walk though�we can wait the extra seconds.�

He threw the younger man a wink as they both turned to head in opposite directions.
Warrick looked between the two in confusion for a second before following Nick at his usual laid-back pace. Once they were outside and heading to their trucks, the taller man glanced back before looking at Nick. �He�s good now, right?� At the Texan�s questioning look, he supplemented, �Greggo.�
�Yeah, he�s fine.� Nick frowned, �Why?�
The taller man looked back to the entrance to make sure the subject of their conversation was not approaching. �You seemed a little reluctant to leave him alone when you said we�d wait for him.� he frowned lightly before glancing at the Texan, �And what�s wrong with his knee anyway?�
�I just hate to see him down,� the sable-eyed man answered with a small shrug and an easy grin. �And I was just teasing him about the knee. We helped his neighbor move some furniture on my day off and his knee got bashed pretty good. I knew he�d be feelin� it today.�
The green-eyed man released a quiet laugh and shook his head. It appeared that he was about to say something, but instead he nodded to someone behind Nick, and the Texan turned to see Greg leaving the building and returning the taller man�s nod as he approached them. The three friends got into their vehicles without any further ado and headed to the diner.
Aside from Warrick teasing Nick a little about driving to slow, the walk into the diner was quiet. A familiar waitress greeted the three men with a smile and indicated for them to take a booth. Despite his limp, Greg made it there first and immediately slid further down the seat to make room for Nick as Warrick took a seat across from them. It occurred to the Texan that this was their normal seating arrangement whenever they ate out together, and he suddenly realized that Greg�s idea of living �out� during your personal time while being discreet on the clock might actually work much easier than he first assumed.
Once he got the young chemist to agree to be with him, anyway.
The waitress came and took their orders, and the three friends fell into easy conversation. Greg was a little less enthusiastic than usual, but Nick did not draw attention to it and he could not tell if Warrick noticed. By the time their food arrived, their conversation had covered their odd case at work, Warrick�s recent first date from hell, Greg�s eccentric neighbor, and what Nick�s siblings were currently up to.
Speaking of his siblings reminded the Texan that he still had not heard from two since his recent revelation. The fact that the two were Julie -second oldest and self-appointed mediator of the clan- and Beth -whom was the most intolerant and conservative of the bunch- made Nick uneasy. If Beth had expressed any problem with his sexuality to his other siblings, he knew the others would insist that she leave Nick alone for the time being. Julie would also try her best to dissolve the worse of Beth�s reservations, as the rest would simply tell her to get over them in varying levels of candor.
The sable-eyed man glanced at Greg as he took a sip of coffee and he wondered at the different responses the younger man might have gotten to his own admission, whenever that had been. He wondered how Greg�s mother, who had always wanted more children, had responded to the news that she would not be receiving any grandchildren either�how his Papa Olaf had reacted to the news that his family name would end with his grandson. He wondered if there was a period of time when the young man felt completely ostracized and alone, without the support that Nick had already received from his brothers and sisters.
Nick was suddenly very glad that he came from a large family.
Then, Nick�s thoughts turned to something that each of the siblings he had heard from had mentioned. Each were ready to count Greg as part of the family already, without any concern for how anyone else might react, just as they had with each of their own significant others. The brawny man hoped that one day -preferably soon- he would be able to include Greg in family matters and events.
Of course, he still had a way to go to get there. His parents needed to be told, and eventually, his grandparents. Then there were his friends�most Nick knew he could live without if they had a problem with it, and he was certain none were so intolerant that they would do something to damage his career or public image over the news of him being bi. There were a few he was not so sure he would be able to just cut out, but he wasn�t sure what sort of choice that left him with.
Then there was Warrick. Aside from the fact that they would still have to work together regardless of any falling-out, Nick counted the other CSI as one of his best friends. He enjoyed the banters and competitions between them�it reminded him of time spent with his frat bothers in college, when they all knew how to laugh at life.
Glancing at the taller man, it occurred to Nick that -had Greg been a woman- he would probably have mentioned his dating dilemma to Warrick by now. Unfortunately, he still had not gotten quite comfortable enough to tell his friend that he was bi. Moreover, he could not ask Warrick for advice about his situation with Greg without ousting the younger man as well.
Warrick continued eating, talking, and discreetly checking out a girl a few tables over, so Nick decided to take a long glance at the doe-eyed man beside him. Greg had been looking at Warrick, but must have felt the Texan�s gaze, because his eyes turned to meet the older man�s thoughtful stare. Nick was surprised by the knowing yet contemplative look on the younger man�s face.
�So, then I-� Nick turned his attention back to Warrick when the taller man abruptly stopped speaking. The green-eyed man was looking between the other two questioningly. Clearly, he had caught the look they shared. �Alright, what I am missing here?�
Nick felt a swell of panic rising in his chest and shot Greg what he intended to be a quick look. The younger man met his stare for half a second before looking back at Warrick with a slightly nervous expression. �I, uh�I have something to tell you.�
The Texan�s mouth fell open slightly as he realized what his friend was about to do. Warrick spared the sable-eyed man a glance before giving Greg his undivided attention. �Okay, shoot.�
�Look, I�m not really worried about you not taking it well or anything like that;� Greg hastened to explain, and Nick wondered if it was his usual nervous babbling or if the muddle-haired youth was buying some time to build up his nerve. �It�s just that�while I don�t consider it a big deal, that doesn�t mean I want you to treat it like such a small matter that you slip and tell someone else. I don�t want everyone to know. Nick already does, obviously; I think that�s why he�s kinda freaking out.�
The green-eyed man shot Nick another glance before turning his gaze back to Greg. His expression was similar to the one he often wore in the DNA lab, when he just wanted the enthusiastic youth to cut to the chase, but was not willing to burst his bubble to get him there. �I can keep a secret when I know it�s actually needed, so don�t worry about that. We�ll deal with Nicky�s problem when we see if there�s a problem to deal with. Alright?�
Nick and Greg both nodded; the younger did so with some relief, while the elder�s was tight and slightly mechanical. Then Greg smile nervously and let it fly; �I�m gay.�
Green eyes stared into warm brown for a long second, as though waiting for something to show itself. After a pause that Nick did not realize he was holding his breath throughout, the older man released the youth�s gaze and started eating his breakfast again. Warrick glanced up to look at Greg as he replied calmly, �You�re not telling the whole lab, are you?�
�No,� the willowy chemist shook his head adamantly. �I know better than that.�
�Good;� Warrick nodded once and then glanced at the shorter man again. �What about just our crew?�
�No,� Greg answered again, less adamant this time, but just as resolute. �Not everyone anyway. You and Nick are the only CSIs that know. Most of the lab rats know�not Vincent though. If he finds out he�ll hold it over my head for the rest of my career. And not Judy or any of the other receptionists either; they won�t mean to out me, but they gossip too much without paying attention to who�s around.�
�I hear you there,� Warrick nodded again before taking a sip of his coffee. �Let me know if you decide to tell Catherine; I�ll owe her fifty bucks when she finds out.�
Nick�s jaw fell open again while Greg quickly replied; �You guys made a bet about this?�
The two older men both looked at Greg in surprise at the hint of genuine insult that made its way past his otherwise amused tone.
�Yeah,� Warrick began mildly; �We didn�t mean anything by it. It was only like a year or so after you started working here. We noticed that you don�t actually flirt with Catherine, even when she flirts with you�it�s more like you�re just playing along. She thought it was because you�re gay and I didn�t, so we made a bet.�
Nick�s concern that Greg might have been hurt by Warrick�s response dissolved as soon as the muddle-haired youth nodded before replying perceptively; �In that case, you might not have lost�there�s more to that than just me not liking women. Why did you say I wasn�t flirting with her?�
The taller man smiled lightly, clearly pleased he had not actually hurt the younger man�s feelings, which made Nick grin as well. �You told me your mom started young -hoping to have more kids before she lost her window of opportunity- so I figure, she�s probably just a few years older than Catherine. You also said she�s the dominant type�it doesn�t seem like a stretch to assume Catherine reminds you of your mom too much for you to find her attractive.�
The doe-eyed man smiled brightly, �In that case, you�re both right. Even if I was interested in women, I wouldn�t be interested in Cath for that reason. No Oedipus complex here.�
All three men chuckled lightly at that, and then Warrick turned his attention to Nick. �Did you actually think I was going to care that Sanders is gay? I mean, if that had been followed by a declaration of love or something, it could have gotten a little awkward, but come on, man. I�m not a bigot.�
�Of course not,� Nick returned to his breakfast now that the tension had drained from him. �It�s just�that�s one of those things you can never tell how a person�s gonna react to until they�re actually reacting. I just didn�t want Greggo gettin� hurt if you were uncomfortable at first.� The Texan had not realized what he was saying until both Warrick and Greg paused to look at him for a second.
Warrick chuckled silently and shook his head as he resumed eating, while Greg smiled brightly at Nick. �Thanks, Nick;� he stated softly.
Nick suddenly felt a little guilty as he nodded slowly in response. He knew that Greg had only told Warrick just then to help him become comfortable in telling his friend about himself. If it had gone badly, Greg would have taken the blow that Nick was too insecure to open himself up to. He opened his mouth to apologize, but closed it without saying a word. Instead, he released a sigh, wondering if he would ever be as comfortable with himself as Greg needed him to be.
�Is there something else?� Warrick asked, looking a little perplexed. Nick wondered if it was possible for him to kick himself under the table without notice�
Once again, Greg started speaking before the sable-eyed man could even begin to think up an excuse for his actions. The muddle-haired youth wore an expression of calm disregard as he waved off the older man�s question. �Nothing�just a guy problem. I�m sure you don�t want to hear about it. and it�ll work out on its own.� His expression gained a hint of wistfulness as he added, �I hope so anyway.�
Warrick arched an eyebrow and took a sip of his coffee as he leaned back and shrugged easily. �Guy problems aren�t that different from girl problems. What�s up?�
The younger man looked like he was studying the tall man�s eyes to see if he was just being polite. When Warrick shot him a firm look, he sighed, and his expression fell slightly. �There�s this guy��
�I figured that much form the �guy problems� comment,� Warrick stated dryly. Then, he regarded Greg with genuine curiosity and something that Nick had seen his older brothers direct at him many times while growing up. �He your boyfriend?�
�No.� Regret was clear in Greg�s eyes, as well as a touch of hope. �I think we could be really good together though�if it ever gets off the ground.�
�Yeah, I feel that;� The green-eyed man nodded vaguely, and no one mentioned a certain redhead that suddenly flashed across each of their thoughts. �What�s the problem?�
�We met right after I moved here, and we�ve been friends all this time.� The doe-eyed youth thought for a second before adding, �Actually, I didn�t think he thought of me as that much of a friend until a little over a year ago; but since then, we�ve gotten really close. I also didn�t know he was bi until he recently decided to ask me out��
�Oh,� Warrick�s expression turned knowing, like he suddenly understood the whole problem. �He isn�t out?�
Greg shook his head sadly; �Nope.�
The green-eyed man arched an eyebrow thoughtfully; �He�s your age? Has he told all his friends or just you?�
�No, he�s older, by less than ten years though;� the younger man replied, looking slightly confused by the significance of the question. �And he told his brother after he talked to me�we�re the only ones he�s told.�
Nick was about to protest that he had technically told his other siblings by giving Will the okay to do so, but kept his mouth shut when he grasped that the younger man was trying to avoid lying directly while still preserving Nick�s anonymity. His mouth fell open anyway -though with shock instead of any intent to speak- when the taller man responded.
�In that case; run fast and far, man.� Warrick wiped his mouth with a napkin, his tone and posture as relaxed as ever. �Life�s just too short for that shit.�
The muddle-haired youth nodded slowly, looking morose but resigned. �I know�besides, I think I�ve had as much of that as I can take in one lifetime.�
The green-eyed man watched the youth for a moment before his expression turned sympathetic. �Bad?� Greg nodded slowly again and Warrick returned the gesture at the same pace. �Sorry, man.�
This time, it was Nick who jumped in before Greg could speak; �Just hold on a minute.� The Texan looked between the other two men. He was not sure how the situation had changed as it had, but he was not about to sit there and watch his chances with Greg fall apart. �Just because the guy�s in the closet right now doesn�t mean he�s plannin� on living there forever. He asked you out�and he came out to his brother. Doesn�t that mean anything?�
�Not enough, man,� Warrick shook his head and Nick wanted to ask his friend if he was trying to ruin his chances when he remembered that the taller man had no idea they were talking about him. �He had to ask Sanders out if he wanted to get any action and telling his brother right now sounds a little convenient to me. Unless he can think of something to show he means business, I�d still run.�
�That�s just it, though,� Greg interrupt dejectedly. �I don�t want him to think I�m giving him some ultimatum; it�s not like that. If he wants to stay in the closet, fine; that�s his decision. I just can�t follow him in there; that�s my decision.� The muddle-haired youth sounded upset and a little frustrated as he added; �It�s not that I�m saying I�ll go out with him if he comes out; it�s that I can�t be with him while he�s in�why is that so hard to understand?�
�It isn�t,� Warrick answered before Nick could virtually explode in confused indignation. The Texan looked at his friend incredulously, but the green-eyed man just replied in his usual cool manner. �Nick, when�s the last time a woman tried to change you -even for the better- that you didn�t resent it? When have you ever had a woman change something about herself for you that you were able to live with afterwards? If the guy can�t change on his own and for his own benefit, then he�s just not right for Sanders and he needs to let it go before he tears our boy here apart.�
�Well what if this is just the first step?� The sable-eyed man all but demanded. �What if he�s trying to change on his own and asking Greg out was just another step toward that end?�
Warrick looked slightly confused at his friend�s outburst, but replied anyway, sounding as though he thought the answer was obvious. �Then he needs to keep walking on his own instead of using Sanders as a stepping stone.� His expression turned disbelieving; �You actually want Sanders to go out with some guy who might just be using him as a crutch or a guinea pig?�
�Uh, guys�? I�m still here;� Greg quipped from the corner of the booth he had sunk further into. When the older men looked slightly ashamed, he started speaking earnestly.
�I don�t think he means to use me as a guinea pig, but I also don�t want to be a stepping stone. Like you said, Nick; this could just be the first step towards him getting somewhere that we can make this work form. But Warrick�s right too; I need to see that this is for real, but I don�t want him doing anything just to prove that he�s moving in the right direction. I want him to do it for himself and then when he reaches a place where he�s ready; we can give it a shot.�
Nick was about to argue further when the full implications of the younger man�s words struck him. �Wait�you�re sayin� you�re planning to just wait for him to get his act together?�
�Yeah;� the doe-eyed chemist answered simply, as though it were the only fathomable response. �What else can I do? I haven�t given up on him yet, and it wouldn�t be fair for me to date someone else now anyway; not when I- Uh, not when I�ve got all this going on.�
�I don�t know man,� Warrick stated thoughtfully. �Do you actually think he�s gonna change now?�
�Well, what does he have to do to prove that he has?� Nick asked curiously and somewhat irritably. �Tell his parents?�
To the Texan�s surprise, both of the other men shook their heads. Greg looked defeated while Warrick looked thoughtful as he asked, �Are his parents a problem? Do they live here?�
�No,� the young chemist replied before Nick could blow his cover. �They live out of state.�
The older man released a snort of air; �Then his parents are his problem. I�d wonder more about why none of his friends here know.�
Greg nodded, looking like he had, in fact, been wondering that. Nick drew his brows in confusion and looked between the other two men. �How is that more significant? You choose your friends, you can�t choose your family, and no one wants their parents to be ashamed of them.�
�That�s the point, man.� Warrick sighed when Nick looked even more confused. �Look, I�ve never been in the same position as Sanders, but there was this girl I saw in college. Her family�they weren�t bigots, exactly, but they had some really outdated ideas about intermingling. Now I�m from a mixed background, so of course I didn�t think anything about us hooking up, but she knew her family wouldn�t like it. She told her sisters; one was behind her all the way, the other would back her so long as she handled it discreetly with their parents; you know, that she didn�t introduce them to the idea by bringing me to Thanksgiving or something.
�Anyway, I could care less about her parents. They lived out in Chicago, so it wasn�t like we were going to come across them on the street and get some drama. The thing was, she didn�t tell most of her friends about me either, and she made sure never to mention me around her associates. She was even weary about being too obvious as a couple in public; afraid of who would see. That started me thinking that maybe her parents weren�t the only ones who had a problem. She eventually told them, but her style didn�t change like I�d hoped it would. I could have dealt with frosty parents and some separate vacations, but I wasn�t about to walk on eggshells in my own backyard.�
Nick immediately turned to Greg, seeking confirmation. He had never thought of the situation that way before, and was once again cursing his ability to be so insensitive and obtuse at times. The expression on the muddle-haired youth�s face said more than words ever could. Among the sorrow and frustration was a strange sort of relief. Nick wondered if Greg was just pleased that he had finally gotten the point, until Warrick took a look a younger man and immediately appeared sympathetic and infuriated all at once.
�Don�t tell me the knucklehead was making you think you were the one with the problem.�
�I know he wasn�t doing it intentionally.� Greg released a short, selfdepreciating laugh. �It�s just�he doesn�t get it and he seems so frustrated; I was starting to think that maybe I was just being too obstinate. That I was expecting too much��
�You�re not,� Nick stated evenly, and he met Greg�s somewhat startled gaze when it immediately turned to him. �Even if he doesn�t understand -or agree with- your reasoning, he should be enough of a gentleman to let you move at your own pace. He should at least learn to accept that it isn�t all about him�it�s the least he can do to prove he deserves you until the rest gets sorted out.�
�He deserves me,� the doe-eyed man answered steadily, he glanced down at his coffee and smiled the slightest bit. ��More than me, honestly. I�m lucky he�s interested at all�but that doesn�t mean I�m going to let it all fall apart by not doing the smart thing now, just to make sure I don�t lose my chance. I�d be doing him as much of a disservice as myself if I did, and he doesn�t deserve that.�
The Texan had to fight back the emotion threatening to overcome his voice as he replied; �Neither do you.�
Warrick nodded his agreement; �And you shouldn�t sell yourself short either, man. Like Nick said, if he doesn�t get you, he doesn�t deserve you.�
�Thanks;� Greg nodded and them laughed as he looked out the window and blinked back his emotions discreetly. He turned back to his friends with a bright grin a second later. �Okay, let�s turn the subject to something less 90210 drama-ish�after I get back from the restroom.�
The blonde looked at the sable-eyed man beside him for a couple seconds, neither moving or speaking until he added; �Uh, Nick�you wanna let me out? I really have to go.�
�Huh�oh!� Realizing that he had the younger man trapped in the booth, Nick slid out and allowed some space for Greg to pass, although not as much as he would have allowed any of his other friends. �Sorry, Greggo.�
The muddle-haired youth made some sort of assurance as he passed and headed to the restroom without looking back. Nick had the distinct feeling that the chemist did not actually have to use the facilities. He felt a little guilty once again as he sat down and pondered everything that had been said over the past several minutes.
He had no idea that he had essentially been staring at the spot Greg had disappeared to until Warrick�s voice called his attention back to their table �You okay, there, Nick?�
�Yeah;� Nick cleared his head as he met Warrick�s eyes. He was slightly taken aback by the depth of the question in them. �Yeah. I was just thinking about our- uh, Greg�s situation. Sounds like the guy�s being kinda insensitive.�
�Uh-huh.� The green-eyed man started at his friend as he would a witness whose story did not quite fit. �Well, it sounds like Sanders has it bad, so hopefully it�ll all work out, right?�
�Yeah,� Nick answered again, somewhat distantly as he prayed inwardly that it would all work out as his friend suggested. �I hope so.�
Warrick suddenly smirked like the cat that got into the creamery. �You�re diggin� on Sanders, aren�t you?� He laughed at Nick�s stunned expression before signaling for the bill. �Well you�d better hurry up and do something about it. Sounds like you have some competition. Lucky for you, he isn�t out yet either.�
Nick felt a brief flicker of amusement at that, until the other CSI fixed him with a more serious expression. �Keep in mind what I said, Nick. Life�s too short to spend it being cautious for the sake of people who aren�t going to be there for you when it counts. It�s bad enough you�ve doin� it to yourself; don�t put Sanders through that, man.�
�I won�t,� Nick answered a little thickly before he smiled at his friend. He was touched, both at the ease in which Warrick accepted his feelings for Greg and the taller man�s concern for the younger man. �Thanks, Rick.�
Warrick�s expression changed to clearly state �you have to be kidding me�. �C�mon man, you think it matters to me if you�re dating a guy? So long as he�s good for you, I�m happy for you�and Sanders is definitely good for you.�
Both men were smiling and relaxed as they talked about an upcoming football game when Greg returned from the restroom a few minutes later.
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