Fic: On Time, Chapter 6 (CSI, Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders)
Title: On Time, Chapter 6
Fandom: CSI
Pair: Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
CSI Las Vegas Main List
On Time, Chapter 1
On Time, Chapter 2
On Time, Chapter 3
On Time, Chapter 4
On Time, Chapter 5
Nick knocked on the door carefully. When he didn’t hear any kind of response, he pushed it open. He hadn’t seen Greg’s bedroom before, and it turned out to be the exact opposite of the guestrooms Spartan style. Greg’s bed was in the middle of the room. The shiny white walls were covered with monitors, keypads and other things Nick couldn’t recognise.
“Greg?”
The figure under the covers groaned and kicked them off. Greg rubbed his eyes, trying to get himself awake.
“Morning…..”
“Morning. I have a problem.”
“What?”
“I was going to make some breakfast.”
“Okay….”
“But I can’t find anything.”
“Well, what were you looking for?”
“Eggs or something like that. Or even cereals.”
“Chamber next to the fridge. 8-4-6-3-7-4.”
“What?”
“That’s the combination for the keypad. 8-4-6-3-7-4.”
“You keep all the food locked up?”
“No, but the ministry of food processing has really strict regulations.” Greg got up and snatched a robe from the foot of the bed. “The chamber calculates foods expiration date and reminds you about it.”
“I guess I should be surprised people still eat normal food.”
“There’s only a limited amount of things the human body can digest. But the production has changed since your days.”
“You don’t have farms anymore?”
“In the early 2000s there was this boom about freely raised animal products. It was called organic or something like that. Pretty soon diseases started spreading and they crossed the lines between species.”
“What do you mean?”
“Poultry diseases moved on to cattle, cattle diseases moved on to pigs, pig diseases moved on to the lettuce, and so on.”
“Wait a minute, lettuce is a plant.”
“Not anymore. Anyway, it was a never-ending cycle. So they went to the other extreme.”
“Meaning what?” Nick followed Greg to the kitchen.
“All animals that are meant for human consumption are raised in a purely metaphysical form. They are not actualised until they reach the desired size and shape.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Well, you don’t need to know.” Greg pulled a packet of vacuum-packed eggs from the chamber and gave it to Nick. “You know how to use the frying pan?”
“How different can it be from the old ones?”
“Very different.” Greg pulled a pan from the cupboard and placed it to the kitchen table. “How do you want them?”
“Scrambled.”
“Okay.” Greg broke few eggs to the pan and tapped few keys on the handle. Two wings that looked suspiciously like windshield wipers, appeared from the side of the pan and started to mix the runny eggs. “It will start howling when they’re done.”
“Howling?” Nick’s eyes were going back and forth between Greg and the eggs.
“Yep. Coffee?”
“Does that include some weird gadgets too?”
“No, just the coffeemaker.”
“Okay.” Nick looked around and scratched his neck. “Greg….?”
“Yeah?”
“You got a morning paper? I haven’t seen any newspapers here at all.”
“Of course you haven’t, they banned all paper publications in 2023.” Greg went to one of the monitors that were on the wall and snapped it open. “What do you wanna read?”
“You got Dallas Daily?”
“Let’s see….” Greg typed the name to the keyboard and a red text appeared on the monitor. “Discontinued in 1989.”
“Texas Observer?”
“Bankrupt in 1993.”
“What do you have?”
“I usually read News Today.” Greg snapped the front page to the screen.
“I think I’ll try that later…..” Nick eyes the headlines sceptically.
“Do what you want.” Greg shrugged and shut down the monitor.
“Speaking of later, don’t you need to go to work?”
“I am working. As long as you’re staying here, I’m working. I get my normal salary for babysitting you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Right…. You couldn’t even make yourself scrambled eggs, so you obviously can’t stay here alone.” Greg took a mug and poured himself some coffee. “Now that we’re on the topic…. Do you think you could handle yourself for few hours?”
“Sure. Do you need to go somewhere?”
“No, one of my work buddies is coming over. We have an unofficial AIHB arrangement.”
“AI-what?”
“Amicable Interaction for Health Benefits. Or was it Amicable Intercourse…. I’m not sure. Anyway, in 2020s studies showed that regular sexlife improved general health and virile citizens didn’t overload the healthcare system. So the government started to support alliances between single friends. They get together for sex, and if either one of them founds a regular partner, the arrangement is considered to be terminated. It’s as simple as that.”
“I had fun with my buddies too. We had few beers and then we played some poker. We didn’t-”
“Be careful, you look like you’re about to have a stroke or something.”
“I cant believe this! People go around and…. and…..”
“Exercise to stay in shape?” Greg smirked.
---------------------------------------
Nick tried to focus on the soap he was watching, but his mind couldn’t keep itself focused. He kept tapping the armrest of the couch in furious pace.
“What are you watching?” Greg bounced to the living room carrying a bowl of popcorn.
“I don’t know. Why do all the actors look so weird?”
“Because they’re not actors. When film and TV moved completely to digital technique, they decided it was more cost-efficient to use artificial images instead. Are you sure you’ll be alright here?”
“Yeah.” Nick said grinding his teeth and took the bowl.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be in my bedroom and I’ll keep the door closed.”
“Okay….”
The electric buzz of the doorbell rang from the foyer and Greg went to open the door. He came back with a large man in tow. Nick averted his eyes from the TV to see the newcomer. Tall black man with bright green eyes.
“Nick, this is Warrick. He works in the same department.”
“Hey.” Nick nodded.
Greg turned to Warrick. “Did you bring the mood-disks?”
“Yeah.” He pulled few tiny discs from his pocket. “Wildman in the Jungle, Desperate Househusbands, and Oriental Harem of the Dark Ages.”
“Sounds promising.” Greg gave Nick a wink. “I’ll see you later.” He lead Warrick to the bedroom and closed the door.
Nick raised the volume on TV, but it couldn’t drown the noises coming through the door. Some loud moaning, a Tarzan yell, and something that sounded suspiciously like a lawn motor.
TBC