Title: His Business
By: kyrdwyn
Pairing: Gil/OMC
Rating: PG
Series: 1) I Never Stopped, 2) Mi Corazon, 3) La Otra Persona
Disclaimer: CBS, Alliance Atlantis, Anthony Zuiker, and a whole bunch of other people are probably tracking me down for playing with their toys without their permission. I make no money off this.

***

Warrick Brown reset the monitor on the rowing machine and pushed back on the 'oars' to begin his workout. The CSI had been at a conference in Norfolk, Virginia, the past week, and while the facilities at the Marriott Waterside had been good, the packed schedule hadn't left him a lot of time to workout. He wanted to get back into his routine, now that he was back home.

There was another reason why he needed to workout today, and it had everything to do with last night. He'd gotten home from the conference and was supposed to be on a date with Lucia, one of the 911 dispatchers. But Lucia had left a message on his machine - one of her colleagues was out sick, and she had to fill in. Warrick had considered just canceling his reservations, but then he decided that a dinner at Ted's, alone, was better than takeout at home, alone.

**~~~**~~~**~~~**~~~**

Ted's was the best place in Las Vegas to people watch, in his opinion. It was so far off the Strip that only locals knew about it, and there was an unwritten code that patrons did not give away the location of the restaurant to tourists. Having grown up in Las Vegas, Warrick held fast to that rule. Hell, he hadn't even told Grissom about the restaurant, and Grissom had lived in the town for almost 20 years.

Warrick had just ordered and was sipping at his wine when a familiar face caught his eye. Salt and pepper hair, dark blue suit, dark gray shirt and tie all made for a very attractive looking man. There were many women, and more than a few men, giving him speculative glances. Great thing about Ted, he was tolerant of 'alternative lifestyles', and didn't object to renting out his banquet rooms for wedding or 'commitment' receptions. He also didn't tolerate bigotry in his patrons. Warrick had seen more than one narrow minded person escorted out by the maitre'd after making a scene. Still, Grissom was the last person he'd expected to see at Ted's. Guess someone else considered Grissom local enough to tell him about the restaurant.

Shrugging, Warrick turned back to his table. Grissom's business was Grissom's business. The man seemed to enjoy being an enigma, and Warrick owed Grissom too much to pry into his life.

That didn't stop him from being surprised when another man walked up to Grissom's table. He was around Grissom's height, his black hair streaked with silver, his skin tone hinting at Spanish ancestry. They were too far away for Warrick to hear what the man said, but Grissom smiled widely as he stood up to greet the man. Clasping hands as if to shake, Warrick was startled when the stranger pulled Grissom in for a one armed embrace. The normally reserved man returned the gesture, and when they pulled away it seemed like Grissom was loathe to let go.

The two men sat down, chatting. Warrick smiled at his waitress as she set down his order. Picking up his fork, Warrick ate and covertly studied the table where his boss sat. The two men barely paused in their chatter as their own meals were set down. It was amazing to see Grissom talking animatedly, smiling and laughing. The other man was talking as much as Grissom, but Warrick didn't know if was the man's usual nature or not. Grissom, on the other hand, was usually reserved. He spoke when he had something meaningful to say, but he wasn't given to long talkative stretches. Tonight he was a veritable chatterbox.

Lingering over his dessert and coffee, Warrick kept an eye on the two men. He'd come to Ted's to people watch, to see what he could pick up on by observing. It was something he liked to do. He was certainly getting an eyeful tonight thanks to Grissom and his unknown companion.

Movement caught Warrick's eye. The man had reached across the table to place his right hand on top of Grissom's left. Gone were the ready smile and laughing green eyes. Now they were serious as he spoke to Grissom, his lips moving in words Warrick could not hear. He was squeezing Grissom's hand, almost like he was trying to reassure the other man. Grissom's back was stiff, like he was hearing something he didn't want to hear, didn't want to know. He was shaking his head. The man's other hand shot out to capture Grissom's. He was holding both of them tightly, still talking intently. Grissom finally relaxed, but it wasn't with relief. More like resignation, Warrick thought as his boss picked up a fork to eat his dessert. Grissom wasn't looking at his companion. If Warrick didn't know better, he'd have guessed he had just witnessed a lover's quarrel.

Paying his check, Warrick kept turning that last thought over in his head. Granted, Grissom's last date with a woman had been over a year ago, but Warrick figured the man was just working too much. Grissom's last 'vacation' had been when the Sheriff had suspended him. Maybe, Warrick thought as he made his way out to his car, Grissom's lack of a personal life wasn't about the Las Vegas crime rate. Maybe it was about keeping secrets, his and his lover's.

Warrick was about to start his car when he saw Grissom cross the parking lot, his companion a few steps behind him. Grissom's body language was still stiff, still…hurt. Before he reached his car, the other man reached out to grab his arm, spinning Grissom around and grabbing the other arm. He was talking urgently. Grissom sagged against his car, turning his face away from the other man. His companion dropped his hands from Grissom's arms and turned away. He took a few steps, then was stopped as Grissom put a hand on his arm, causing the man to turn. Warrick's jaw dropped as his boss reached up and cupped the man's face in his palm as he said something to him. Warrick had almost managed to remember to shut his mouth when Grissom leaned forward and kissed the man. On the mouth. A long kiss, with Warrick unable to turn away, even though he knew this was a private moment for the two men.

Warrick waited until they had ended their kiss and gone to their separate cars before starting his own. He drove home, thinking.

**~~~**~~~**~~~**~~~**

The beeping of the monitor brought Warrick out of his reverie. His workout was over, and he barely remembered it. Shaking his head, he stopped the machine and grabbed his towel, wiping off the sweat.

"Are you almost done with the machine?" a slightly accented voice asked from behind him. Warrick turned and nearly fell off the seat when he saw Grissom's companion from last night standing there in sweatpants and a LAPD t-shirt.

"Uh, yeah." Warrick stood, grabbing the spray bottle and wiping off the machine. He grabbed his LVPD bag - a gift from one of the homicide detectives after he'd caught the guy who killed his partner - and turned to leave when the man stopped him.

"You on the job?" he asked, gesturing to Warrick's bag.

Warrick shook his head. "Not exactly. I'm a criminalist with the department."

The man smiled. "You work with Gil Grissom?"

"Yeah, he's my boss. And you are…?"

"Sorry. Robert Delgado. I worked with Grissom in Los Angeles, and I just transferred to the Sex Crimes Unit here."

Warrick extended his hand to shake the other man's. "Warrick Brown."

Delgado's green eyes sparkled. "I've heard a lot about you." Warrick remained silent -- he couldn't say the same. Delgado noticed the hesitation and gave Warrick a wry grin. "I know. Gil probably never mentioned me."

Glancing around, Warrick saw they were the only two people in the gym. He lowered his voice anyway. "Not surprising, considering what I saw in the parking lot last night at Ted's."

Shock made Delgado's eyes go wide. Fear could be seen in the green depths, but oddly enough the fear didn't seem to be for Delgado himself.

"Mr. Brown, I don't know what you think you saw --" Delgado began. Warrick raised a hand to cut him off.

"Hey, Grissom's business is Grissom's business. I'd only make it my business if I think he's being hurt - cop or not."

Warrick's blue eyes stared into Delgado's green ones. He could see the older man understood his meaning.

Delgado let a smile cross his face as he nodded. "I'm glad Gil has such good friends in Las Vegas."

Warrick returned the smile. "See you around, Mr. Delgado," he said as he turned to leave.

"That's Captain Delgado, Criminalist Brown," the other man replied, still smiling. Warrick acknowledged Delgado's rank with a wave as he left the gym.

**~~~**~~~**~~~**~~~**

Gil was half asleep when he felt someone watching him. Turning over, he saw Robert standing in the doorway, a distant look on his face.

"Hey."

Robert turned his attention to Gil. "Hey," he said with a slow smile.

Gil sat up, leaning against the headboard. He hadn't expected Robert to come over this morning, and he'd been too exhausted when he got home to even bother to undress. He knew Robert had noticed when the man shook his head and chuckled. Robert didn't comment, though, merely removing his shoes and lying down on the bed. Gil frowned at Robert's pensive expression and reached out to brush a lock of hair off his lover's forehead.

"What is it, corazón?" he asked in a soft voice.

"We were seen the other night," Robert replied in an equally soft voice. Gil went still, his hand hovering over Robert's head.

"By who?"

"Warrick Brown."

Gil let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I think we need a refund from whoever built our closet." Robert gave a soft laugh in response. Gil turned solemn again. "How did he…"

"He told me that your business was your business, but it would become his business if you got hurt."

Gil sat up straight. "He threatened you?" he asked incredulously, anger rising.

Robert sat up, putting his hands on Gil's shoulders. "Mi araña, the man cares about you deeply as a friend. He saw us argue." Letting one hand slide up to brush against Gil's cheek, Robert smiled at his beloved. "I would have done the same thing, in his place. I know you would have too."

Gil looked down. "I know. I just…"

Robert pulled Gil to him, feeling the familiar weight of his lover's body resting against his chest. Gil's arms slipped around his lover's waist. Robert whispered into Gil's hair. "I know. You never thought someone would be that protective of you."

***