Title: Prelude to Disaster
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything except for what could be a plot.
Challenge: ‘Sick’ at ngchallenge
Rating: Still at PG, next chapter will be PG-13 for sure.
Spoilers: If you blink you’ll miss it, but a slight reference to “Boom”.
Warnings: None, except for if there are future chapters, then it might get violent.
Summary: Being sick is the least of his worries.
Author’s Note: Thanks to hawkeyecat for being my beta!
Title: Prelude to Disaster
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything except for what could be a plot.
Challenge: ‘Sick’ at ngchallenge
Rating: Still at PG, next chapter will be PG-13 for sure.
Spoilers: If you blink you’ll miss it, but a slight reference to “Boom”.
Warnings: None, except for if there are future chapters, then it might get violent.
Summary: Being sick is the least of his worries.
Author’s Note: Thanks to hawkeyecat for being my beta!
Toweling off his hair, Nick Stokes stepped out of the steamy bathroom. He paused for a moment to gaze at his sleeping boyfriend. Greg was sick and, after much finagling the night before, Nick had convinced him to take the night off.
Stealing a glance at the bedside clock, Nick realized he’d better get his rear in gear or he just might not make it work on time. After slipping some clothes on, Nick leaned over and left a small kiss on Greg’s hairline.
“Hey man,” Warrick acknowledged Nick’s entrance. “How’s Greggo doin’?”
“He has a nasty fever, but knowing him he’ll back by tomorrow night, no matter what anyone says. I swear, I don’t see how his mother hadn’t completely grayed by the time he turned ten.”
Warrick chuckled as he shut his locker. “Well, tell him to work on getting better. I can’t stand the mud they call coffee in the break room.”
“Will do, Rick,” Nick replied as he followed him out the door.
After a slow night, the shift was coming to a close. Catherine, Warrick, Sara and Nick were all lounging in the break room waiting for Grissom’s OK to go home. Speaking of the devil, Grissom entered the room in a flurry, startling the four CSIs seated at the glass table.
“Hey Griss, want to go catch some breakfast with us?” Sara inquired.
Almost as fast as he’d entered the room, Grissom responded, “We can’t. Catherine, Sara, and Warrick, we’ve got another case. Buckle up; we’ll be working overtime.”
“Whoa, wait. What about me?” Nick’s curiosity got the best of him, even though he knew it was usually wise not to question his boss.
“Right, well, uh. Nick, Brass will be right with you. As for the rest of you I need you to get your kits together and meet me by the Tahoe in ten.” Grissom’s tone and matching stare told the three coworkers to do, it no questions asked. Catherine passed back a worried look to Nick as she exited the room.
Not a minute after everyone else left, Brass entered the room. Grissom and Brass spoke in soft tones until Grissom, ten minutes later, left to meet the rest of his team outside. A suddenly anxious Nick waited for Brass to say something. “What’s going on? Please don’t tell me I’m a suspect for something, because I don’t feel like having a repeat of a few years ago.”
“No, Nicky, you’re not. It’s just, ah damn it. Nick, there was a, well, there was an incident tonight.” Brass looked nervously for a reaction from Nick. When all he got was a confused stare, he continued. “Nick, there was a shooting at the Favorite Market down the road from your apartment.”
“What? What happened?” Nick’s mind began rolling through his neighbor’s names when Brass’ soft voice cut through his train of thought.
“Nick, Greg was there when it happened,” said Brass quietly.
“Oh, shit,” was all that Nick said before he was up and racing out of the room.