Home of Greg Sanders Slash Fiction
by Buffyangel68
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THAT NIGHT: END OF SHIFT
Striding down the corridor toward his boss' office, Warrick did his best to be polite and professional to those who waylaid him with questions and case details, but he was becoming more and more frustrated and his manners were deteriorating. Finally, he gave one last answer, sent the person on their way and slipped into Grissom's inner sanctum, closing the door behind him with a sigh. For several minutes he watched, suppressing an urge to laugh, as Gil earnestly contemplated the book he was reading with expressions of consternation and confusion, turning his head this way, that way and, at one point, nearly upside down. Though Warrick tried, he couldn't come up with what in the world would make the older man do that.
"Gris?"
Surprised, Grissom looked up, dropping the book onto the desk, closing it and covering it with his hand, all within a few seconds. He relaxed only when he realized who had spoken.
"Warrick."
"Yeah. Sorry to scare you like that. I just had to come find out how the conversation went." Warrick explained eagerly, sliding into the visitor's chair in front of Gil's desk.
"Conversation?"
"With Doc Robbins. You know, you asked me for advice an' I sent you in his direction?"
"Oh. Right... it went well. I learned a few things I never even guessed at."
"Then what's got you lookin' like the world don't make sense?"
"He gave me homework... and I can't make heads or tails of some of it, never mind imagine how anyone could manage it and still enjoy the experience." Gris admitted, handing Warrick the book.
"The Gay Kama-Sutra. Yeah, I can see how you could get a little intimidated." He responded with a grin, leafing casually through a few random pages. "Hell... I work out specifically to stay limber an' flexible... an' even I wouldn't try this one."
Warrick looked up and had to chuckle at the face his boss was making. "Hey, you know you aren't expected to do any of this your first time, right?"
"Of course."
"Oh. You're freaked about what *will* be expected. Lemme ease your mind on that score. Nothin'."
"Nothing? How can you say that? If nothing happens... it won't be much of a first time."
"Did I say you two wouldn't be gettin' it on? I said nothin' was gonna be expected. He's as new to the idea of this as you are, at least I'm pretty sure he is. I'm tellin' you, do all the readin' you think you need to, man, it won't help a damn bit. You're not gonna have the slightest idea what you want when the moment arrives. Except that you want him. All the plans you make are gonna go right out the window an' all you'll have left is the thought that he has to get his hands on you... somehow get skin to skin. Best thing you can do is not plan it at all. Let whatever happens happen, the way it wants to. Long as you keep that in your mind goin' in... your first time'll be amazing, no matter what."
Gil stared curiously at the other man, wondering if he should voice the single-word question burning in his head. Eventually, he gave in to his hyper-inquisitive nature, as he always did.
"Who?" he asked quietly.
Warrick rose gracefully to his feet, grinned wickedly and returned the book.
"Let's just say a certain ballistics tech is carryin' a concealed weapon. Take it easy, boss."
"Yeah... yeah, you too, Warrick." Grissom replied feebly, struggling against the barrage of erotic fantasy images now racing through his head. As Warrick walked out, Grissom turned his gaze to the book in his hand. Slowly he slid it back into the drawer where he'd had it hidden with the other that Robbins had loaned him. Rising, he grabbed his jacket, locked his door and closed it behind him as he left for home.
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LOCKER ROOM:
Grinning down at the envelope she held in her hand, Catherine barely noticed when another person entered the room. She was only pulled out of her reverie when he sat down on the bench beside her.
"Hey, Cath."
"Bobby. Hi. What's up?"
"Nothin' much. It's just really good to see somebody happy. Been a little gloom-and-doom around here since..."
"Yeah, I guess it has."
"So what is it that's got you puttin' out that full wattage smile again?"
"This... is what we got with the first half of the money we collected for Greg." She replied, showing him the envelope. He read the name of the store and his eyes widened slightly.
"The way he loves his music, he'll flip, guaranteed. Can I ask how much?"
"Eighty-five."
"Oh, yeah, he'll definitely love that. That means you raised about one-sixty? I'm proud a'everybody. We did good for him. What about the other half?"
"Gil and I are still racking our brains over that."
"Can I make a suggestion?"
"Sure."
"Make it a certificate to a book store."
"Books. Really?"
"Oh, yeah. Greg, he puts out this kinda... vibe. You know, rocker, slacker... but he reads, like, ten books a month, mostly non-fiction. He's really into history and biographies, actually."
"Wow. Okay, how the hell do you know this?" Cath asked gently, laughing.
"He found out how deep I was into art and architecture... suddenly I started findin' a couple books every few months just sittin' on my table in the ballistics lab. He never would admit it was him... but I never told anybody else. We talk... talked about what he gave me... those conversations were amazing."
"Bobby, he's not gone for all eternity. He'll be back. You can go see him too, you know."
"Yeah? He's okay with visitors?"
"More than okay. He needs the connection. I'd call Nick and make sure it's a good time first, but..."
"Right. I'll do that. Thanks, Cath."
"No problem. Thank *you* for letting me know about the books."
"Yeah... don't *ever* tell him I let the cat outta the bag, okay? He likes his rep an' he'd kill me if he knew I shredded it." Bobby pleaded as he rose again and walked backwards toward his locker.
"Okay. Night."
Smiling, Catherine stood and left the locker room, headed for her car and home. Humming a vaguely familiar tune, she casually tapped the envelope against her hip as she walked, her thoughts deeply engaged with all the new things she'd learned about Greg and the personal, individual revelations his ordeal had brought about for all of them. She was unsure just yet what changes those discoveries would bring for Greg or the friends who cared for him, but she now had renewed faith that, whatever happened, she and the others would all walk out the other side of a very dark tunnel stronger and wiser for having made the journey.
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TBC....
