Abilities and Advantages
Chapter 6
Desperation, Determination, and Desire
Nick and Gil had returned to Gil's condo after lifting every piece of evidence they could find from the alley. They had also stopped by Nick and Greg's apartment, to bag hair samples from Greg and Abby; and to grab both lab techs address books, laptops and PDA's. Both men knew the DNA from the hair they gathered would be in CODIS but Gil would rather have the evidence on hand. They had just finished boxing up the few pieces of evidence that they had gathered. Locking it in Gil's closet so the evidence was secure, except for the electronics and address books. Without probable cause, in light of Nick's suspension and Gil being on medical leave, they couldn't run the evidence themselves at the lab.
"Gris, couldn’t we ask Cath to run the evidence?" Nick asked handing the other man a bottle of water.
Gil opened the bottle and took a drink, "with the lab still backlogged from the explosion, the Assistant Director is breathing down everyone's necks to catch up. Without proof I don't think Catherine could get anyone to run the evidence. Not unless you wanted to reveal your relationship to the whole lab, I don't need to tell you how that would play out do I?" Gil said apologetically.
"I know, Greg said he wanted us to keep our relationship low key, but he didn't mind you or Cath knowing. I knew you'd figure it out, I just don't know about Catherine." Nick said pacing around Gil's living room, like a caged leopard.
Gil started hearing the maelstrom of thoughts from Nick's mind echo within his own again, 'I know Grissom is right, but damn I never thought staying in the closet about Greg would be so difficult. What if…'
Gil reached out for the younger man and interrupted Nick's thoughts sharply and abruptly, "Nick! Do NOT finish that thought don't even think about finishing that thought. We will get Greg back."
Nick looked stunned by the hard grip Gil had on his shoulders forcing the younger man to look at him. "Gris, what the hell is going on here?"
Gil closed his eyes, loosened his hold on Nick's shoulders before turning away looking out his window to his back yard. He stood there for a few minutes breathing deeply trying to calm down. "I'm sorry, Nicky, I don't know what's happening with me. For some reason today you not only keep the outside world from overwhelming my mind, but when you start feeling something strongly I can't help but zone in on it. Right now all I have to do is just reach out a little bit and I can feel your thoughts and emotions around me and inside my mind." 'It's too much a temptation to want to do that. To feel a part of him that not even Greg touches.' Gil thought. Any more revelations were disturbed by Nick's cell phone going off.
"Stokes" Nick answered as he heard the response his eyes got wide, "Abby?...She's not here right now…You…You do? You're bringing the evidence with you right? What do you mean you've got more than that? She was doing what? My boss knows how to sign if you need…your boss does too? I agree it's too much to get into over the phone."
As Gil turned to look at Nick, a look of hope began to shine on Texan's face. Nick continued to speak, "Yeah I'm former Dallas PD. We can pick you up…oh you want to rent a car? Yeah it'll probably be better. Thanks Agent DiNozzo…Tony, you have made my day. Meet you in 4 hours." Nick hung up the phone and faced Gil, "That was one of Abby's friends from NCIS. They have a ransom video showing both Abby and Greg!" Relief shuddered visibly through Nick. "This means we can get the lab involved."
"Nick, it also means you'll be pulled off the case. You're too close to it." Gil countered.
A hurt look crossed Nick's face before the younger man schooled his features to resignation, "You're right, Bossman." He sighed. "Should we turn it over to Warrick or Sara?"
"If I were actually on active duty I'd probably call in dayshift to look into it." Gil began, "Hypothetically, you understand. However since all shifts are still backed up Ecklie would probably allow NCIS to look into this case not knowing the dynamic of the investigating team. Now the NCIS team probably doesn't know Vegas very well so they will need some local people to assist them. I'm sure they will need to request someone from the lab to play guide." Gil looked pointedly at Nick who finally caught on.
"Yeah, and a Federal request trumps a local supervisor." Nick continued, "at least in Ecklie's playbook."
"Exactly, now for a conviction to stick you'd have to be hands off of course." Gil warned.
"Of course." Nick seriously answered. "Gris, will you still help?"
"As much as I can get away with." Gil realized how tired Nick looked, 'He looks like he's be going all out for days not just one.' "Nicky, you look exhausted. Want to take my guest room and get a quick nap before we hit the ground running?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Wake me up in three hours?" Nick asked. Then he went out to his Tahoe to grab his spare clothes bag and stood in the entryway before realizing he didn't know where the guest room was. "Umm, Gris?"
Gil smiled, "Down the hall, past the bathroom, second door on the right."
Nick nodded and Gil watched as the Texan headed in the indicated direction. Gil lay down on the couch setting the alarm on his watch for three hours from now. Soon they would have a better idea of the context behind Greg and his friend being kidnapped. With that maybe, just maybe Gil could keep his silent oath to protect Nick and Greg's relationship.
As Gil made himself comfortable on the couch he thought about what the difference a day made. This morning he was writhing in pain from the mental voices of his neighbors on this same couch and now in the early evening he was being lulled to sleep by the mental whisper of Nick breaking down bird anatomy to fall asleep. He smiled, they never did give Nick much credit for his bird hobby. He would have to remember the next time there were stray feathers at a crime scene to show them or the photos to Nick.
Gil chuckled quietly, 'sure Gil, bring Nick little tokens that he'd find interesting. Next you'd want to leave coffee flavored chocolate treats around for Greg. You really have it bad for both of them.' Gil's critical voice chimed out, before a reply from another part of Gil's mind, 'Yes, I do have it bad for them both but I'm willing to do what I can to make sure that they are both happy. Maybe treat myself once in a great while to a fantasy where they actually cared for me as much I do for them.'