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Dating Advice	By : RikuRocks Category: CSI > Slash - Male/Male Views: 5864 -:- 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: This story takes place sometime between seasons three and four. I have no idea what inspired it.

My mother has a theory about Greg (or Eric Szmanda, I suppose) having asthma (don�t ask for details, please�trust me). I don�t really have an opinion on it, but the idea worked its way into my vision of the character nonetheless.

Blast lung is severe pulmonary contusion, bleeding, or edema with damage to alveoli and blood vessels, or a combination of these. Signs may be delayed up to 48 hours and usually tend to worsen over a few days. It is the most common COD among people who initially survive an explosion.

Nick hesitated before entering the AV lab once he noticed the door was closed. He could see Archie and Greg sitting with their backs toward the door, watching several monitors at once. That was nothing unusual of itself, but the fact that Hodges was with them, along with a day shift toxicology technician whose name Nick believed was Andrews, gave the CSI pause. As far as he knew, Greg was helping Warrick by viewing the many hours of surveillance footage with Archie during his free time, but the case was not high profile enough to merit dragging additional lab techs away from their work to assist.
The Texan noticed the way Archie and Hodges kept glancing or gesturing to Andrews as they spoke and the way the toxicology technician kept looking between the other three men. He decided that Andrews and Hodges were likely on their breaks, and had taken some discussion to the AV lab in order to include Archie and Greg. Comfortable that he was not interrupting anything important, Nick quietly entered the lab.
�Man, I am so glad I don�t have to worry about this stuff anymore,� Archie was saying.
�You�ve been seeing this girl for what, two week�maybe two and a half?� Hodges asked. �I think it�s a little early to be searching for a Vulcan minister.�
The AV tech threw a pencil at the trace technician before retuning his attention to the monitors before him. He spared a glance to Andrews when he started speaking again. �Seriously though, man, you don�t take a first date to a club. You have to shout at each other just to be heard, and you always have to worry about some drunken asshole hitting on your date. They�re even worse than conventions for firsts�assuming you want there to be a second.�
Nick grinned and forced himself not to chuckle as Andrews assured his fellow lab techs that he was hoping for a second date. Apparently, the four friends had decided the soundproof room would make a good spot to share dating advice.
�Don�t go anywhere where any member of your family is likely to be either,� Hodges stated in a tone that suggested he was speaking from practice.
Andrews nodded slowly before asking, �What about friends?�
�Are they mutual friends?� questioned Greg as he made a note of something he noticed on one of the monitors.
�No, they�re-� But it seemed not to matter whose friends they were, for all three of the other men cut Andrews off with a firm �no�.
Nick could briefly see Andrews�s wide eyes and confused expression reflected in one of the monitors before Greg added in a considerate tone; �It�s just that it�s hard enough trying to make a good impression on your first date without having to impress your date�s friends too.�
��And you don�t want to put that pressure on her either, right?� Hodges added as he crossed his arms.
The toxicology tech nodded at the DNA expert�s comment before quickly shaking his head at the trace tech. �No, I definitely don�t�thanks. So�what about dinner and a movie, then?�
Archie shrugged, �That�s classic. What movie?�
That seemed to catch the toxicology tech off guard. �Uh�I don�t know. I guess we�ll pick when we get there�?� The final statement sounded oddly like a question.
�Dude, you have to research the movie first,� the AV tech took a quick, incredulous glance at his friend before returning his attention to the monitors once again. �What if there�s something that�ll embarrass you? Like a nude or sex scene or a hot chick that turns you on?�
�Yeah, then she�ll either think you�re a pervert or that you just want in her pants,� Hodges added.
�Or that you�re more interested in the girl on screen than her,� supplemented Greg.
�Well I could always hide it,� Andrews suggested a little awkwardly.
�No, trust me, you can�t,� Greg chimed. �I�ve had a few dates try to hide their hard-ons�or even worse, take care of it discreetly.� The DNA tech did not even pause as Archie cried �TMI�. �It never works and it can range from embarrassing to off-putting to just plain creepy.�
�Not the impression you want to make on a first date,� Hodges commented with a sagacious nod that earned a snort from Archie.
Nick missed whatever Archie said next as he realized that Greg had just admitted to dating men�and that none of the others were surprised in the least. He always understood that the lab rats had their own clique, just as the CSIs and the detectives had theirs, but it never occurred to him that Greg would hide something from the CSIs that he would so easily admit to the other lab techs. He was not sure whether he felt insulted or ashamed that the young man would feel the need to keep something like that quiet around him.
�Hey, real men cry,� Hodges said in an odd, superior yet defensive manner that managed to bring Nick�s attention back to the discussion he was eavesdropping on. He was never one to pass a change to knock the haughty trace tech down a notch. �It�s just that a girl can take that the wrong way on the first date.�
�Uh, yeah, you think?� Amusement was clear in Archie�s tone. �There�s a big difference between crying about something we see here or a death in the family and crying because of a movie.�
�Hodges does have a point though,� Greg stated, somewhat begrudgingly. His tone lightened slightly as he elucidated. �If there�s anything that tends to affect you in a movie, you�ll want to know if you need to avoid the film or just be prepared for it.�
�Hmm, sounds like someone�s speaking from experience,� Archie drawled teasingly.
Greg�s shoulders tensed slightly, although Nick was pretty sure the others -who were all too busy teasing and prying- failed to notice. The muddle-haired youth sighed before demanding, �You guys better not laugh, or I�m withholding my coffee for a month. Okay?�
The other three techs exchanged glances, their smiles fading somewhat as they each realized that this was something their friend was truly troubled over. Andrews and Archie immediately assured the DNA tech that they would never laugh at him, while Hodges smugly commented, �Well, if we haven�t laughed at your terrible shirt or ridiculous hairstyle, then what are the odds we�ll laugh at this?�
There was a small pause, in which Archie shook his head and Andrews glared at Hodges� profile. Nick could easily picture the non-amused expression on Greg�s face before he apparently decided it was not worth the effort to respond to the trace tech. Instead, he answered his friends� initial inquiry.
�Ever since�� He gestured directly behind himself, and the other three each nodded or gave a sound of acknowledgment without altering their gazes. Nick frowned slightly as he wondered what he missed. �I flinch during explosions in movies�� The Texan�s frown intensified as he realized Greg had been indicating his back, which likely bore scars from the recent explosion.
No one made a sound, and that seemed to be the appropriate response because the brown-eyed youth continued, looking less anxious. �They aren�t really that subtle either, so if someone is sitting right next to me -especially if they�re actually making contacts-�
�-As dates tend to do,� Archie added, earning him a nod from Hodges and Andrews.
The DNA tech nodded once towards the AV tech before finishing his comment. �So I can�t hide it well, either. If they catch me by surprise, I even jump. Last week, I actually dumped a whole bag of popcorn on the ground and knocked my friend�s drink onto his lap.� Greg laughed self depreciatively, �Can you imagine if that had been a date?�
Archie hissed sympathetically, �Ow, yeah�definitely not the impression you want to give.� Andrews nodded his agreement.
�Well, you know,� Hodges began slowly and Nick prayed silently that the other man was going to say something helpful instead of hurtful. �That can open certain opportunities� Some guys even like it when a girl-�
�Hodges!� Each of the four lab techs jumped at the sound of Nick�s voice. Whether that was because they had not known he was there or because of his hard tone, he could not say. At the moment, he did not care. While Archie, Andrews, and Hodges spun around in fright, Greg hung his head with a groan and continued facing the other way, clearly embarrassed that the CSI had heard their conversation.
Nick knew it probably was not his place to scold his co-worker, but he had seen the muscles in Greg�s neck twitch at the trace tech�s comment and the Texan did not want to wait to see where the situation led. �Being afraid of something because of a trauma does not make you a girl. If you ask me, Greggo here�s proven himself as much of a man than any of us. Warrick said he had barely regained consciousness when they started asking him questions, nut he manned-up and answered them anyway. He forgave Catherine the same day she told him what happened, and he returned to work before his bandages were even removed.�
The Sable-eyed man stared down Hodges as he added, �I�d like to see you handle being blown through a wall that well.�
The trace technician looked puzzled and slightly ashamed as he met the CSI�s hard gaze. �Nick, I was just lightening the mood. I always mock Sanders�he knows it�s all in good humor.�
�Well I don�t think it�s in good humor,� Nick replied harshly, �And I can�t help but wonder if you�d be comparing him to a girl if he were straight.�
Andrews�s eyes widened almost comically, Archie took an apprehensive glance at Greg -who dropped his head forward until it hit the desktop- and Hodges� mouth fell open. The trace tech worked his mouth soundlessly for a moment before he managed to choke out an inelegant, �What?!� The blue-eyed man�s expression changed from stunned to indignant as his voice strengthened. �There�s a lot I tease Greg over, but even I wouldn�t touch that one.�
�There�s nothing to touch,� Nick snapped. Then he shot a glare at Archie and Andrews when the two men sniggered quietly; they both ceased immediately under the heated stare. He turned his angry gaze onto Hodges again, �You know Grissom wouldn�t stand for any of that kind of persecution around here.�
Before a paling Hodges could respond, Greg finally turned around. �There�s no need to bother Grissom, Nick. Hodges was just making a bad joke.� He shot the named man an incised look before he spoke again in a tone that almost met his usual lightheartedness, but Nick noticed his eyes still resembled a deer caught in the headlights. �Not surprising, considering he has no sense of humor�or style.�
The other three technicians relaxed at the DNA expert�s repartee, clearly pleased at the attempt to return to normality. Nick wondered at the fear he could see lingering in the warm eyes of his friend. He was sure that Greg did not want him to tell Grissom about the conversation he had overheard, and he guessed that the younger man was also embarrassed that he had heard as much as he did. Suddenly, it occurred to Nick that he was probably embarrassing his friend further by continuing the discussion as he was.
Feeling a little ashamed, Nick nodded. �Yeah, you have a point there, G.� He cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from Greg, finding the act harder than he should. �So Andrews-� The named man started slightly and Nick forced a grin onto his face; �Sounds like you got a hot date?�
The toxicology technician grinned once he realized he was not about to be reprimanded. �Yeah, this woman from the gym; we�ve been talking for a while now and I finally got around to asking her out. Now I just need to figure out what to do with her� Hey, you�re a ladies man, right?� Andrews did not wait for a response before asking, �Any suggestions?�
Nick had to fight not to take a glance at Greg as he replied. �Well, whenever I want to impress a girl, I usually take her for dinner and dancing�or something that lets me show off my muscles a little. Are there any carnivals around town now?� Again, he felt the urge to look at Greg as the muddle-haired youth turned to continue assisting Archie with the surveillance tapes. Nick wondered briefly, why he would be concerned about the younger man�s response to his words, but then he suddenly realized the answer and wondered how he had not seen it all along�
His deep-seated feelings for Greg -which had settled in comfortably the very first day the younger man transferred from San Francisco- were not the platonic, brotherly sort he had always tried to convince himself they were.
The CSI missed Andrews�s reply to his question; he thought he heard Archie speaking as the AV tech continued his work, but he failed to focus on their words. He was too surprised at his own internal revelation�although he dimply noted that he was not shocked, which he would have expected. He realized he was staring at Greg again, his eyes tracing the slender shoulders and back as well as he could through the baggy lab coat the younger man wore.
Finally, Hodges� voiced a strange query that brought him back to the conversation. �Does she like goldfish? You might want to go with winning her a plush or something instead.�
�But tossing the beanbags in the goldfish bowls in the only game I know for sure I�ll win,� Andrews replied. �Why do you think I have so many goldfish?�
�Because of your freakish tendency to try to imitate Sanders?� suggested the trace tech dryly.
�Greg has tropical fish,� Nick commented offhandedly, his mind only half on the conversation, �Not goldfish.�
Andrews nodded, Hodges arched an eyebrow, and Archie paused in his task to glance between Nick and Greg, who glanced at Nick over his shoulder. The Texan was sure he detected a smirk forming on Archie�s face as he returned his attention to his work.
Hodges� tone fell a little short of sardonic as he looked at Nick with quiet confusion. �Well I never claimed it was an accurate imitation.� He shared a quick glance with Andrews, who shook his head almost imperceptibly, and then his eyes flickered between Nick and Greg. Suddenly, Hodges stopped all movements -Nick was pretty sure he even held his breath- for a second as a thought seemed to strike him. �Hey Henry,� his voice failed to reach the casual tone he was clearly aiming for, �I think our break is over��
The toxicology tech checked his watch in confusion, �No, we still have-�
�No, we have to do that thing before we clock in, remember? So we need to go�now.� Hodges started ushering the perplexed man out the door as he spoke.
�Okay�� Andrews capitulated as he was practically steered into the hallway. He called out behind him as the door closed; �See you guys later.�
�So, Nick,� Archie began once the others had left. �Did you need me for something?� He turned and offered the brawny man a sly grin, ��Or where you looking for Greg?�
The Texan shot a small warning glare at the AV tech before Greg turned to look at him curiously. Nick honestly could not recall why he had been looking for Greg before, but now he needed to talk to the younger man in relative privacy at least. �No�yeah; Greg I know you�re on break now, but I have some evidence that needs to be processed. What do you say, breakfast on me after shift if you cut your break short?� He smiled at his friend, despite the fact that he could have kicked himself for the offer that passed his lips without his conscious consent.
Warm brown eyes quickly looked him over, before the DNA expert released a small sigh, as though he had been let off the hook for something. He grinned at the older man as he stood, �Deal. See you Archie-� Greg suddenly pointed to the notes he had been taking earlier; �Hey, make sure to show these to Warrick, alright?�
The AV tech nodded; �Will do. Thanks for the help.�
Nick followed Greg to the newly refinished DNA/Chemistry lab. He could not help but look the younger man over as they crossed the short distance. He viewed the same slender form; pale, smooth skin with random mole clusters; spiky brown hair; and warm, curious, intelligent eyes. Honestly, the CSI was not sure what he expected, but he had just realized that he was interested in more than friendship from the willowy man. He was actually surprised that he had never considered it before, but he chalked it up to an unconscious desire not to have to act upon the attraction.
Thinking it over, Nick vaguely wondered why no one had ever called him out on his behavior toward Greg. He always seemed to migrate to the DNA lab when he was bored, and once he was in the chemist�s presence, he was enthralled. He could hardly keep his hands to himself, and even infringed on Greg�s personal space when he did manage to refrain from touching him. He was also always encoring the enthusiastic young man, while the other CSIs generally tried to get him to cut to the point. He supposed everyone else just saw what they wanted, the same as he had before now.
�Uh, Nick?� The named man blinked himself out of his contemplative stupor at the sound of Greg�s voice. The slender man held up the samples that Nick had left on his table earlier. �Is this what you need me to process?�
There actually was no reason to rush the samples Greg held. They could easily wait until the young man�s break was over, and Nick had only sought the DNA expert out for his company from the beginning. However, the CSI would not admit to that at the time being, so he simply nodded. �Yeah, thanks. I�ll just wait here for the results, if you don�t mind.�
Greg had already returned the nod and spun around to start working his magic when Nick added the bit about staying. The muddle-haired youth just smiled as he continued working. �Of course, man. Make yourself at home. What are we working on anyway?�
Nick sat down in the empty chair and found himself smiling at the younger man�s enthusiasm. It seemed that Greg was just happy to help, even when he did not yet know what he was helping with. The Texan started filling the chemist in on his assault/vandalism case; not bothering to worry that Greg would think it was not worth the rush, for he never did.
The eccentric chemist had once claimed that when something was important to Nick, he pushed harder and the Texan was just starting to realize how true that was. Even the fact that they had a confession did not seem to faze the muddle-haired genius. Apparently, if Nick thought something was missing, that was enough for Greg to forgo his break to push the results through.
As they talked, Nick found himself watching Greg�s movements with a newfound appreciation. The slender man moved swiftly and easily, working the complicated machines and solvents with the grace of a ballerina going through a well-practiced routine. The Texan was also impressed by the younger man�s ability to focus so completely on multiple tasks at once, as he watched Greg work all three samples and hold their conversation without hesitation.
As was not uncommon, Nick�s own zeal for the case had heightened considerably during the brief time it took Greg to produce results. �Looks like your �simple case� just got more complex,� the younger man commented as he compared the printouts. �The most samples from your scene belong to the manager-�
Nick nodded, �Which fits in with their story.�
�- But the other DNA source isn�t guy who confessed�it does have half the markers in common though.�
The CSI furrowed his brows; �Now that doesn�t fit. What about the other sample�? It was sort of removed from the rest, and had dried more� Probably from a separate event, but you never know. It could be important.�
�I�m thinking it is.� Greg stated before looking slightly disturbed and adding, �The third is a mixture of both the other samples�but the half-match is the only one who left blood.�
The Texan stared, and for the first time that day, it had nothing to do with the DNA expert�s looks. �There was semen at the crime scene? How the hell did I miss that?�
Greg shrugged and hazarded a guess. �It was mixed with a lot of blood�?�
The CSI took the result printouts from the chemist and stared at them. ��Damn it. This doesn�t make any sense.�
�Uh�you did mention that the guy who confessed had a kid who worked at your scene, right?� The brown-eyed youth started slowly and waited until Nick nodded but made no move to speak, before he continued. �And his blood is at the scene, where the dad admits to trashing the place and beating the manager�?�
Again, Nick nodded, knowing where this was going but not wanting to be the one to say it aloud. Greg took pity on him and finished. �Well, the manager�s semen was found in the kid�s blood, and there�s only a couple practical explanations for that�either of which could be the reason your suspect decided to beat the guy down.�
�You said there were a couple explanations; I�m only thinking one,� Nick commented with anger flashing in his eyes. �The kid had injuries too, but all parties involved swore they were unrelated�said they were from a skateboarding accident.� The CSI stood too quickly, knocking over his chair as he unintentionally crumpled the results in his fisting hands. �The manager raped his kid so the guy kicked his ass for it. What else could it be?�
Greg noticed a few people standing in the hall and watching the Texan as though he were an angry bull about to rampage. He dutifully and nonchalantly waved them along before Nick could see. �Dude could have been having an affair with the kid�still sick, still motive; but it explains why your suspect didn�t turn him in when he confessed to the smack down.�
Nick forced himself to remain calm as he tried to factor in Greg�s suggestion. �The kid is underage�most dad�s would have wanted to kick the guys ass for that. But that doesn�t explain the kid�s condition.� Greg shot the CSI a poignant look and suddenly Nick knew which train of thought the younger man had taken. �You think he hit his own kid� Why would he do that?�
�They�re both males;� The muddle-haired chemist responded despondently, before lowering his voice and adding, �Would have been enough for my dad.�
Sable eyes widened and the older man opened his mouth to ask the younger to repeat that when he took in the expression on the DNA tech�s face. He realized that the personal comment had not been a slip of the tongue, an angry mutter expected to go unheard, or one of the chemist�s usual random tidbits of information. Greg had deliberately told Nick this to answer the question the older man had not been willing to ask earlier.
Greg�s reluctance to share his preference with Nick was not due to an absence of fondness, trust, or devotion. The younger man had just learned the hard way that there were certain things you could not take for granted�like unconditional acceptance. The Texan decided that he needed to start talking to his friend when it was not about a case or video game�or some casual mention of dates and the like in between cases.
There was a lot he still needed to learn about Greg Sanders.
With a nod, the sable-eyed man turned to leave the DNA lab. He paused when he heard Greg�s voice speaking casually behind him as he returned to his work.
�Don�t worry about breakfast. It looks like you�re going to be busy and I don�t mind taking the time to help.�
�I know you don�t; and thanks for that.� Nick replied, wondering if it was just that Greg knew how focused he could get on cases such as his current one, or if the chemist also wanted to forgo any private conversations in lieu of Nick�s recent enlightenments into his private life. �But I don�t back out of a promise. We�re still on for breakfast. Like I said, we already have a confession�the guy isn�t going anywhere while I figure out the rest of this case, and you already brought me halfway there.�
Nick looked over his shoulder as he walked out of the room and down the hall. Through the glass walls, he could see a hint of surprise cross Greg�s features before he turned his CD player on and returned to work. The CSI wondered if it was because he still wanted to have breakfast with the younger man, or if he just did not praise the DNA tech as often as he should. Either way, Nick hoped the next surprise he planned to drop on his friend would be a welcomed one.
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