Kiss Me, Lab Rat

The days just seem to be flowing by. It had been months since the Chapstick incidence had started the chain reaction in the crime lab. Little did Nick know what he was starting with that Chapstick and a first kiss.

Nick and Greg had settled into Nick's place making it their home. They were good for each other and it carried over into the lab. Somehow even when their nights off were different they worked it out. Gil had tried to keep them the same but the coverage in the lab had to come first.

Now Catherine was asking for the same nights as Warrick. They kept it very quiet. They worked very hard to not let it show around the lab, and most let them think they were succeeding at it. But the gossip was growing. And so was the pot for the wedding day pool.

Sara and Lisa usually found a way to have breaks or lunches together whenever Sara was in the Crime Lab. Sara had moved in with Lisa instead of renewing her apartment lease. Since Lisa was in charge of the schedule for the clerical, she managed most of the time to keep their nights off the same.

A new program was started with the university to have interns work in the Crime Lab. Gil had worried at first about the issues surrounding the chain of evidence but they found a way for the interns to help and still keep it intact. One other issue came up a few weeks into the program when rumors made their way to Gil about one of the clerical youth aides dating an intern. Of course the whole issue faded into the wood work when he found out that the youth aide was almost eighteen and the intern had just turn twenty.

Hodges wasn't one to be left out for very long. He had his own unique way of finding a lover. He had fallen over him, and I do me literally, and right there in the hallway with most of the night-shift watching. Jim Brass was showing Dan Rude, his new driver, around the lab when Hodges in his hurry to score the big points barreled into the new detective causing them both to lose their balance. Hodges landed on top of the guy who didn't seem to mind at all by the speed at which the two of them got up.

Towards the end of the next shift everyone was whispering about how mellow Hodges had been all night. Nick and Gil sat in the break room slipping on drinks and talking. Hodges walked by and the two men checked him out as he went by. They laughed as they turned back towards each other realizing what they had just done. Greg popped into the room at that moment.

"What's so funny?" Greg watched the two of them just shake their heads as they regained control. He knew that was going to be the only answer he would get so he continued on, "Have you noticed how Hodges is walking?"

Again the two of them laughed before Gil spoke. "You mean the…" he glanced around the room before he continued "…well-fucked-ass-walk, yeah, I noticed."

Nick jumped in with, "and what about the yawning? He's acting as if he didn't sleep all day."

Gil added as he stood, "I noticed that too. See you later."

Gil left the break room and headed for the trace lab where he expected Hodges to be. When he caught up with him Gil spoke with him for a few minutes. Then Gil sent him home early to get some rest.

At home Gil spoke to Jim about the issue. Jim hadn't noticed any in change in Dan. Now both were watching the two men for proof that they were together. Except for a few things that hinted at it, like the fall, Hodges mood change, the change in the lab tect's walk and when in the lab just as Jim seemed to head for Gil, Dan headed for Hodges. But they really couldn't find anything to prove it. No one caught any kissing, touching or intimate talk only the same old guy talk.

At least that was until Dan; four nights later drop David off at the lab. Of course, Hodges just explained it away by saying his car was in the repair shop and walked away. But how many new friends drive across town on their night off to play taxi? And then return in the morning to pick up? But the real proof came when David dropped Dan off at work two nights later. Gil was also dropping off Jim and they both saw the kisses.

A few weeks later Jim came to a halt as he looked over at the supply room door. There had been a change. Below the larger SUPPLY ROOM sign were two smaller sliding signs, the kinds that have different things on each side. At the moment, the top one said "Inventory Check In Progress" and the bottom had a smiley face.

Jim finally walked into Gil's office, "what's up with the new sign on the supply room?"

Gil looked up, "sign?" Gil tried to give Jim one of his innocent-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about looks.

"Gilbert Grissom, don't even try it. Who had the signs put up and why?" Jim stood at the door.

Gil motion for the door to be shut and then to the chair in front of his desk, "I started hearing a few more rumors of people finding the door locked. Then Ecklie stayed late one night to talk to me about it. Seems the ladies have noticed an odor in the room after it's been locked and they don't like it. So I was told to deal with it."

Jim smiled, "how about a little more detail?"

Gil grinned with a slight blush, "I figured if the women knew when to stay away, it would help. So I gave a little talk about what the signs mean and how when certain signs are showing no one should go in. Like now, that means someone is checking the inventory. Of course, no one likes to be interrupted when they're doing an inventory check. They might lose…a mum…their momentum."

With prefect timing the door to the supply room opened. Nick walked out and down the hall. A few moments later Greg emerged from the door. He reached up and turned the sign around then continued on to his lab. It now had symbols across it of gloves, bags, test kits and etc.

Jim looked back at his lover with a spark of lust, "So how did you handle the smell issue and what's the other sign for?"

Gil grinned, "I told everyone on night shift that if they saw the 'Inventory Check' sign to give it at least fifteen minutes before entering. And I had one of those automatic air fresheners unit put in there, like we have in the restrooms. This model has a button in case an extra shot is needed." Jim started chuckling. "The other sign says 'Supply Stocking In Progress'."

"Okay, so what does that one really mean?"

"Ecklie and I came to an understanding. Night-shift is responsible for creating the orders and day-shifts is responsible the stocking. It seems day-shift is having the same problem. Before you ask they just put the sign up today and no we're not going to test it out."

"But…" Jim's cell rang at that moment, "Brass here." Jim flashed Gil, an okay-you-got-your-way smile. "I'm on my way," then he closed the phone, leaned over the desk giving Gil a quick kiss and was out the door.

Jim pulled open the supply room door took a whiff then headed for the trace lab and his driver. He made a mental note to let Gil know that the fresher seemed to be working. Nick was walking out of the lab with a report in hand as Jim reached it. He motioned for Dan to join him and the two were off.

Gil had watched as first Jim and then a few minutes later one of the clerical girls checked out the supply room. The girl left with her arms full of supplies and a smile on her face. Gil settled back in his chair with the knowledge that the smell issue seemed to be handled. But a moment later his thoughts flashed to Jim's comments on scheduling and the growing number of couples in the lab. He started to get a headache as thoughts of figuring out how he would explain the schedule and why only some names where on it, especially his.

Gil forced himself to shift his thought back to the case that lay before him. With his thoughts locked into the case he didn't notice the time fly by until the phone rang. It was Jim asking about breakfast and what he wanted. It took only minutes for Gil to close the case folder, shut down the computer and grab his things before he headed out the door for home.

Warrick waited for Catherine in the car as he had had the night off. He watched as the night-shift flowed out and into their cars. Then as Catherine sat in the car he voiced his thoughts.

"Who would ever think that a simple foot experiment done by Gil could trigger such a change in the Lab."

She leaned over for a kiss first, "Don't you mean Chapstick and a first kiss?"

"No, I mean Gil's foot experiment on Greg that pushed Nick to finally take a chance with Lab Rat." Rick pulled Cath in for another kiss before continuing, "And I'm sure happy that Gil did it."

"Me too!" came from Catherine as she settle into her seat and slid the ring from the chain around her neck on to her finger. "Me too!"

The End.