Fic: Soaps R Us, Chapter 1 (CSI/CSI Miami/CSI NY, Nick / Greg, Ryan / Eric)
Title: Soaps R Us, Chapter 1
Pairing: Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders,
Ryan Wolfe / Eric Delko
Rating: PG
Genre: AU
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
Summery: Daytime soap Lights of Vegas has a new head writer. Life and fiction don’t always mix nicely, and the line between the two can be very narrow.
CSI Las Vegas Main List CSI Miami Main List CSI New York Main List
“And cut.” The director yelled. “Everyone get together, Gris has an announcement to make.”
Grissom stepped into the set and waited while everyone gathered within the hearing distance.
“Some of you may have heard the rumours about some changes. There will be changes, but I will not be the one to implement them.” He paused and scanned the tensed faces. “I have been let go from my position as the head writer and my replacement will start next week. All the old staff writers will continue, they’ll just work under a different man. This probably seems sudden but…”
He tipped his straw-hat to the side to cover his eyes from the bright studio lights. “It was one of the conditions of contract renewal with the network. My replacement has a good track record when it comes to keeping shows up to date, and apparently I’ve been…. slightly out of date.”
“Who is it?” Sara fiddled with the costume bag she was holding.
“G. H. Sanders.”
“That guy who created that gangster-slash-vampire-soap?” Nick asked with his mouth hanging open. “Are you kidding?”
“They think he’ll bring some new blood into the show. No pun intended. Anyway, he’s been going through the show’s background and storylines for the last few weeks and I’ve been packing up my things. I didn’t want to tell you before, this seemed to be the easiest way. Quick and painless. I don’t know what his approach will be, but he will probably make some changes to set the scene the way he wants it.” Grissom pulled his glasses off and shoved them down to his breast pocket.
“So this is goodbye. I hope you’ll all do your best to make the transition as easy and smooth as possible.”
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“What was that noise?” Catherine lifted her eyes from the make-up mirror.
“A meeting for the whole crew and cast.” Sara stated and dumped several gowns to the dressing room couch. “Gris is out.”
“Like that’s something new….”
“Out of the show.”
“What?”
“They kicked him out. After seventeen years!”
“Well, that’s his own fault. I’ve been in the backburner for months, no wonder ratings are plummeting-”
“All the soaps are suffering.”
“All the soaps don’t have talents like me.”
“What makes you think you’re not the next one out?”
“That’s not even possible, I’m a daytime legend.”
“So was that old crow from Guiding Light.”
“If I go, the audience goes too.”
“Do you ever actually open your mail? The mailroom’s always swamped because you can’t be bothered.”
“That’s the curse of fan mail: How could I find the time?”
“It’s not fan mail, it’s hate mail.”
“You’re lying. I just got an award for being a great role model for women!”
“You’re confusing things again. It wasn’t an awards, doctor Phil made an episode about senior citizens who tried to overtake a retirement home after seeing you set your daughter-in-law on fire. And they didn’t call you a great role model, they called you the worse role model an elderly woman can have.”
“I’m forty-three.”
“And I’m in kindergarten.” Sara deadpanned. “Face it: Any one of us can be the next one who gets the boot.”
“Remind me again why you’re still here.”
“I’m the only one from the wardrobe department who hasn’t refused to work with you. Try the dresses on, you’ll be wearing them next week.”
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“Calm down.” Nick tried to grab the magazine from Eric’s hand.
“I will not calm down! I could be out of a job anytime!”
“They’re not kicking you out, it’s just a rumour.”
“A rumour that made it to the cover of Soap`s R Us. Listen to this: A source close to the production crew hints about more changes in the near future. Among others, the resident hunk Eric Delko might be close to the end of his six year stint as his character continues to gain minimal screen time.”
“Soaps work in cycles, some people have to be in the background so others can get a storyline once in a while.”
“Easy for you to say, they’re not gonna break up you and Calleigh. You two almost won the Best New Couple voting.”
“And I have to endure her morning breath.” Nick groaned. “Storylines come and go.”
“And what if this story is true?.” Eric waved the magazine in front of him. “Last week "Before Sunrise" star Warrick Brown made his final exit with a bang, but his fans have nothing to worry about. While his character might be burned to crisp, he is rumoured to return to daytime in a new role. Inside sources say the actor has auditioned for a part in the "Lights of Vegas". The L.A. based soap was recently renewed for five more season and the producers promise the future to be full of romance, drama intrigue, old favourites and new faces.”
“So?”
“New faces! That means they’ll be getting rid of old faces. I started as a teenage delinquent, then I was a hunky student and now Enrique is a lawyer with two ex-wives, an affair with his brother’s fiancé and plotting to poison his worst enemy. What’s left? They’re either gonna kill him or send him to jail and we’ll never hear from him again!”
He didn’t even realise the door had been opened until he saw the man standing in the doorway. The man was eyeing them with a glint of amusement.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything. I was looking for soundstage Three.”
“Down the hall and to the right, they got signs on the wall.” Nick instructed. “You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks. I guess I’ll see you both next week.”
“Next week?”
“You didn’t know?” The man offered his hand and gave Nick’s a firm shake. “Ryan Wolfe, I’m starting here next week.”
“See that?” Eric exclaimed. “I was right! Out with the old and in with the new.”
“As far as I know, Caine is retiring.” Wolfe glared at Eric. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“That vein in your neck looks ready to explode.”
“Let’s just get this clear.” Nick interrupted. “You’re replacing Caine, right?”
“That’s right.”
“As a director.”
“Right again. What did the himbo think I was here for?”
"I`m right here!” Eric protested. “You’re not an actor?”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn`t go in front of a camera if they paid me three times what I get now. Over-the-hill relics and prima donnas who look good in a Speedo but can’t act their way out of a paper bag-”
“Hey!”
“No offence, but your crying scene looked like someone was cutting out your appendix. See you next week.” He turned around and walked out.
“Can you believe that?” Eric slammed his magazine to the floor. “If I didn’t know they’d just laugh at me, I would threaten to leave.”
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“Gris?” Nick knocked on the door and pushed it open.
“Come in.” A strange voice greeted. Nick stepped in and took a quick look at the office. The shelves were empty and few moving boxes were laying on the floor. A young man with brown eyes and a spiky blond hair was sitting behind the desk with his feet propped onto the desk.
“Sorry, I saw the lights on. I thought Grissom was still here.”
“Nope, but he’ll be back to get his stuff. G.”
“Excuse me?”
“Me. G. Or Greg. Or Greggy.”
“Oh right…. G.H.”
“Yep. And you’re Nicky. Is it Nicky or Nick? Or Nicholas?”
“Anything but Nicholas.”
“Okay, Nicky. Did you want something? I was gonna leave soon.”
“No, I just…. I’ll just leave you to unpack.”
“Not so fast. Now that you’re here, I better give you an advance warning.”
“Warning?”
“Don’t look so shocked, your job is safe.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Have you read the soap rags lately?”
“I never read them.”
“Well, this time they got it right. We snatched Warrick brown. The first big snatch of my tenure.”
“Is somebody leaving?”
“That’s need to know basis only.” Greg smirked. “But you will have a lot of scene with him, that’s why I thought I should warn you.”
“Don’t tell me George is going to be in a triangle with Calleigh and another man again….”
“You’re half right.” The smirk turned even wider. “George is gonna have some doubts about his own leanings.”
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Bisexual triangle is ratings gold.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. And the new audience questionnaires support my policy. Have you seen what they said about you?”
“Grissom never showed them to us.”
“Well, seventy-eight percent wants to see you with a stubble, eighty-two percent wants to see you wearing leather and ninety-one percent of the audience wants to see you in a jockstrap and a pair of cowboy boots.”
“What kinda question do they ask in those questioners?”
“Questions that helps us figure out why people are deserting the show and what they would like to see in the show. You know… only one question got a hundred percent approval from the test audience.”
“What? Some guy-on-guy action?”
“No, the whole audience would like to see Catherine Willows`s character having a nasty rendezvous with a lawn motor.” He leaned back in his chair. “You don’t have a problem with it, do you?”
“With killing characters?”
“With the storyline. I heard you’re man-smooch friendly.”
“Who told you that?” Nick tried to keep his face blank, but he could feel the blushing reaching his face.
“I got my sources.”
“I just…. I don’t make a show of it.”
“I don’t care what you do off-screen as long as you do your job well.” Greg picked up a folder and gave him a quick grin. “Enjoy your weekend and get some rest, I’m gonna work you really hard.”
Nick’s blush reached a new shade of red. He turned around and walked to the door. He heard a small giggle from behind him.
“I’m starting to understand those "jockstrap and cowboy boots" fantasies.”
Nick practically ran out of the office.
Chapter 2