Title: Secrets, Mirrors, and Reflections
By: sarcasticsra
Summary: Do mirrors reflect all secrets?
Pairing: Implied Nick/Bobby
Word Count: 578
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Interestingly enough, I don't own CSI.
Author's Notes: Beta'ed by Kelly, of course. ^^
He runs the water hot, almost unbearably so. The mirror starts to fog before he's even opened the curtain, but he doesn't really care. Nick doesn't want to look at himself right now.

He steps into the ceramic tub and pulls the generic white shower curtain closed, surrounding himself in the heat and warmth of the water, pulsating onto his chest, soothing him.

Nick needs some soothing, some sort of reassurance, now. Grissom's words are still ringing in his mind, spooking him and making him wish his boss wasn't so goddamn perceptive.

He turns around in the shower, grabs his shampoo off the ledge in front of him. Water droplets drip off the bottle, and he watches them, distracted, before taking a small glob of shampoo and lathering up his hair. He stands under the spray for a few minutes, letting it rinse out, and savoring the alone time that allows him to think.

Secrets always get people in trouble, Nick thinks, as he stands under the constant beat of the water. He tries his best to be open, honest as much as he can so he doesn't have to worry about any stupid secrets or the consequences of anyone finding out about them. It almost works, except for that one thing that he can't quite change, no matter how many times he wishes he could.

At least Grissom is a level-headed guy and doesn't care. He won't announce it to anyone else, but his comment had been pointed enough, though; I know your secret, Nicky, but it's safe with me. Those obviously were not his exact words but Nick is smart. He can read between the lines.

He sighs and breathes in deep, the steam from the hot water filling his nostrils and it relaxes him. He grabs the bar of soap off the ledge where it sits next to his shampoo and scrubs at himself, harder than he might normally. He doesn't care, though. He's far too distracted.

It's not long before Nick steps out of the shower, the shower curtain protesting only slightly as he slides it across. His wet feet hit the towel on the tiles of the bathroom floor, and he stands there, dripping, before reaching for a towel. He dries himself off, breathes deep again, and tucks the towel around himself. He heads to the still-fogged mirror and shakes his head.

Minutes pass and the mirror slowly loses its fog. Before long, Nick can see himself clearly. His face is still flushed from the shower and he wonders, is it obvious? Do people look at me and know?

Shaking his head again to clear his thoughts, he starts to shave. When he's finished he allows himself a few more minutes of quiet reflection.

I didn't ask to be this way, he thinks. I just am, and it's a hell of a secret. I don't know if I'll ever escape it.

Suddenly: "Nick, you almost done in there?" calls a voice, and Nick starts before blinking back his surprise and getting himself back under control.

"Yeah, Bobby, I'll be out in a sec," he responds, inordinately pleased with himself for sounding normal and not like he's been contemplating his entire existence in the fifteen minutes it took for him to shower. Nick releases another sigh before he takes one last glance at the mirror and the reflection therein.

Maybe mirrors don't show all your secrets, after all.

Maybe they help you hide them.


-End