FIC: Like Minds (Chapter 2)
Title: Like Minds (Chapter 2)
Author: Knightmusic and Laurelgardner
Rating: G (each chapter will be individually rated)
Pairing: Gil Grissom/Will Graham
Summary: A frightening and brutal signature killer brings Will Graham to Las Vegas to join the investigation. We all know how Grissom feels about getting into bed with the FBI. Maybe this partnership will change his mind.
Author's Note/Warnings: See Chapter 1.
Disclaimer: We own neither CSI nor Red Dragon/Manhunter. We're too old to play with action figures, so we do this instead.
It wasn’t that Will Graham hated flying, far from it. If he had, it certainly would have made his job that much more unbearable, considering it was an intrinsic element. But this had been a bad flight at the end of a long, bad night, and now he was looking at being up at least for the rest of the day. He hated the red-eye.
While he couldn’t say that he really wanted to be going to Vegas to start another twisted mind game, at least he didn’t have the sick dread anymore. But that could be just because he didn’t know what he was getting into with this guy. They hadn’t sent the case reports; he hadn’t wanted them.
He had no interest in anyone else’s opinion.
The last ten years had not been pleasant for Will Graham. The decision to come back to work for the FBI had disrupted absolutely everything about his life, and some of the shrapnel had yet to be dislodged. But, as Crawford had pointed out - rather tactlessly, Will thought - he had a gift for this like no one else did.
He’d tried to walk away. Molly had tried to pull him away. But in the dark of night, even with her arms around him, he couldn’t forget about the world outside of Marathon, Florida and what was happening to people in it. He’d watched “Buffalo Bill” with sick horror - not at what was being done, although that was a part of it, but at himself for doing nothing to help. After that he’d known he needed to go back. Molly hadn’t understood.
This was the problem with flying without a case file; all he had to do was think about what this life had cost him. Sleeping was a laughable idea.
By the time the plane landed in Vegas he was completely wound up on bitterness and resentment. He’d had a few drinks to try and calm him, but he suspected they were just contributing to the problem at this point. Oh well, he wasn’t known for his first impressions. Not much he could do about it now.
He didn’t have checked luggage - he almost never did when he flew - just carried a duffle on with him, but he followed the horde of people off the plane and down to the carousel. He’d been told that there would be someone waiting for him there.
He was standing looking around when someone said, from just behind his left shoulder,
“Special Agent Graham?”
He turned, just a little startled that he hadn’t noticed someone get so close to him.
“Yeah,” he said, but winced a bit at the title. It wasn’t entirely accurate, although from the way he acted and the kind of work he did, it may as well have been.
“Gil Grissom. I’m with the Las Vegas Crime Lab,” the man extended his hand and Graham shook it.
“Will,” he said. He didn’t like correcting people, but he liked being called “Special Agent” even less.
“Okay,” Grissom said. He glanced at Will’s bag, then back at the carousel. “Do you need help with anything?”
Graham shook his head. “Nah, this is it. Let’s get outta here.”
Grissom nodded, turned and led the way through the airport to the parking ramp and up to a dark blue Tahoe. He didn’t seem likely to say anything more as he loaded Graham’s duffle bag and opened the door. Graham found it a little unsettling. He never knew what to expect from the local department when he came in on a case. Normally there was a bit of attitude and resistance. Local units didn’t like government interference; they took it as a sign that they were incapable of doing their jobs. Graham found it very tiresome.
“Look,” he said, stopping Grissom before he got in the SUV. “I think we need to get something sorted out right away. I have one reason for being here, and that’s to see this guy stopped. I don’t care how it happens or who does it. I’m not looking to put a feather in my cap. I’m in this for the same reasons you are. Okay?” He fixed Grissom with a hard look, hoping to make sure the guy knew he was serious. Better to get this kind of thing out in the open right away. It didn’t always help, but sometimes it did.
“Then we understand each other,” Grissom said evenly. He nodded at the SUV, indicating that Graham should get in. Graham did, feeling that he had somehow had his thunder stolen. He’d been expecting a bit more posturing than that. It was a good sign, though. He’d hoped that Grissom would be easier to work with than most. By reputation he was reasonable and knowledgeable, which was why Graham had specified him. That, and he hadn’t gotten along with Culpepper, which instantly endeared him to Will.
“Where are you staying?” Grissom asked as they pulled out. “I’ll take you-”
“No. I want to go straight to your lab,” Graham interrupted. “Are any of the houses still open crime scenes? I want to go there next if they are.”
Grissom nodded. “The last one is. I’m afraid there’s not much I can tell you about the cases. We’ve only managed to collect minimal evidence and -”
Graham waved a hand, cutting Grissom off again. “I don’t want to know any of that yet. I want to see the houses, then all the crime scene photos you have. I need to come at this clean.”
Grissom nodded again and made no further attempt to speak. Graham thought he might have offended him, and he was sorry, but couldn’t bring himself to care much. It had been a long time since he had cared, really.
He thought it was better this way
* * *
Once they reached the lab, Grissom seemed to forget that he had Graham in tow - except to tell him he could leave his bag in the Tahoe before they went in. Graham followed him in, getting a quick look at what was probably Grissom’s office as he stopped in to grab a box of files, then headed down the hall to a break room.
Two men and two women were waiting in the room, and they looked much the same way Will felt - dead tired but toughing it out. They all snapped awake when Grissom started talking.
“We’ve got a new priority,” Grissom said. “This is Will Graham from the FBI, he’s here to help us work on the signature killer case.” The two men leaning against the counter exchanged a look.
“I thought that was Ecklie’s case,” said the man on the left. He had a strong Texan accent.
“It was, but it’s ours now.”
The blond woman looked like she was about to say something, but decided against it. Instead she leaned back in her chair, sipping her coffee and giving Grissom the look of a mother warning a child that he knows better. Grissom didn’t react.
“Will and I are going out to the last scene,” Grissom continued. “Sara, Nick, I want you two to go over these files. When we get back, I want you to bring the whole team up to date on everything we have on this guy. Warrick, Catherine, I need you two working with us on this case as soon as possible. Try to get your cases wrapped up as quickly as you can.”
Grissom turned back towards Will. “Let’s go,” he said. Will had been expecting more explanation and instruction than that, but the rest of Grissom’s team clearly hadn’t. Sara and Nick were already opening files and reading notes, and Warrick and Catherine had already left the room. Will wondered if the response meant fear or respect for their supervisor.
He and Grissom left for the latest victim’s house.