Title: This is Dedicated to the One I Love
Author: Buffy
Rating: PG
Archive: Taking Chances and WWOMB, anyone else just ask
Summary: I heard you on the wireless back in 52, lying awake intent on tuning in on you
Notes: My friend's brother worked at a college radio station, and he swears that they got an email about a romance that happened something like this. Whether or not you believe it is up to you, I thought it was kinda cute. I ran with the song theme in the title and summary, apologies to the artists that I pilfered from.

***

Gil had been firm when they'd gotten into the car: Greg could change the volume, but Gil had the final say on the radio station they listened to. He'd allowed the change from his usual classical station, but since they were going to be at least 45 minutes driving to the scene, he had rejected Greg's alternative-heavy-metal-rock station. They'd compromised on the UNLV station, which played an eclectic mix. It turned out that in the late night it was an all-request show, and Greg was fascinated by the different reasons people had for choosing songs.

"You're listening to KCNO, Casino 91.7. Well fellow night owls, we've got an emailed request for this next song. This one goes out to Gil, and apparently he should know who this song is from, it comes with the message `Just a reminder that the option is there, you've gambled on me before, think about making the stakes higher.'" Greg was staring at his supervisor's impassive profile even as the strains of ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me" started to fill the Tahoe with the upbeat disco rhythm.

Greg kept staring and squirming in his seat, trying to suppress his questions even as he tried to force Gil to answer them. Finally, he could stand no more, "So, how many `Gil's do you think there are in Las Vegas?"

"There could be any number, Greg, considering the number of names it could be from." Grissom didn't even twitch, and his voice gave absolutely nothing away. Greg was impressed; he almost believed that Gil wasn't affected at all. Would have totally bought the act if he hadn't caught the split-second look of shock and joy that had passed over Gris when the DJ had read the message. He had just opened his mouth to ask another question when Gil cut him off, "Greg, discretion is the greater part of valor. Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies. But if you say one more word about this to me, you'll get the next decomp, cat piss-soaked house, or dumpster examination I can find, understand?"

Greg's mother hadn't raised a fool, "You won't hear another word about it from me." Of course, that left the entire rest of the lab to discuss this with. Greg's money was on Sara being the anonymous dedicator, but he'd check with Catherine, see if she knew anything he didn't.

* * *

Warrick and Nick were processing the clothing from their vic in silence, the radio filling the room with background noise. Warrick was not happy; he'd been called in on his night off because one of the other guys on swing had called in sick with the flu. Nick decided to brave getting his head bit off and spoke, "So, other than being called in on your night off, what's got your boxers in a twist?"

Warrick snorted with derision even as he shook his head, "I had /plans/ for tonight. I'm talking about serious plans. Now I'm probably going to have to do some making up for this instead."

"Damn, that sucks," Nick sympathized with Warrick; their schedules could play hell with a relationship. They let the quiet return for a bit, focused on looking for some clue about what the hell had happened.

The music changed to some public service announcements, then the DJ's spiel began, "You're listening to Casino 91.7, courtesy of UNLV. The sun is down, the desert is cooling, and lovers are heating up. This is Rick, with our all-request night. Call or email us with your requests and dedications. And we've got one here going out to a lucky guy by the name of Warrick. Apparently the poor guy got called in to work on his night off, but he's a lucky guy because the dedication on this one is "We'll make up for lost time next time." Here's The Turtles with `So Happy Together' for ya Warrick."

Nick couldn't stop smirking, and though he kept his head down and his eyes on the jeans he was swabbing he could see the tinge of pink showing through Warrick's normal mocha coloring. It was the glare Warrick sent at him that made him lose control of the chuckles he'd been holding back. "Look at the bright side, man; it sounds like you won't have to do much crawling. So, tell me, who is it? You haven't said a word about who you're dating, usually I at least hear a basic description."

Warrick was getting the blush back under control, but he was still glaring at Nick for the laughter, "None of your business."

"Sounds serious," Nick kept his tone light and teasing, "Come on, gimme a clue at least."

Warrick just smirked and went back to processing, knowing that leaving Nick's curiosity unsatisfied was a better payback for the Texan's laughter than anything else he could do.

* * *

Nick was hanging around, waiting for Greg to get in. Greg'd promised he'd loan Nick his newest play station racing game once he'd set his personal high score on a memory card. Nick was itching to get it and wipe the floor with Greg. Since they'd been waiting for results from one of the tests anyway, Nick didn't mind waiting the extra twenty minutes for the former labrat to show up for graveyard shift.

Once Greg had gotten in, he'd asked Nick for an opinion on something from one of his cases. They'd been walking past Grissom's office when they saw Warrick go in. The door was left open just a crack, and neither man could resist the temptation to eavesdrop a little.

"It's only right to think about the /girl/ you love, huh? Since when did I become the girl in this?" Warrick sounded like he was teasing, rather than actually upset, and it took a moment for Nick to figure out what Warrick was talking about.

Gil sounded shy, "I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking about the, `No matter how they toss the dice, we're meant to be' part. I forgot about the gender pronouns."

"Well, since you were so forgiving about me getting called in, I guess I can forgive you for that." There was a soft sound, one that Nick recognized after a second as a kiss, then, "Besides, I think that was the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me. Who knew `Gruesome Grissom' had a sappy streak in him?" There was a hint of laughter in Warrick's tone now.

"We're even then; you're the first person to ever dedicate a song to me. I'm glad I took the chance." There were more soft sounds of what might have been kissing. Nick glanced at Greg to see that he'd obviously made the same connections. Greg had told Nick about the song dedication a month ago. Obviously Warrick had decided to make a move since he was no longer under Gil's direct supervision. Nick was happy for his friend, a little freaked at the fact that it was /Gil Grissom/ that his friend had found love with, but happy none-the-less. Before he and Greg could even start to try to sneak away, they heard Gil's voice again, "You're shift's over, go home and get some rest. Drag Nick out with you and send Greg in here so he can brief me on his case on your way."

Nick and Greg were still standing there with what was probably a pair of deer-in-the-headlights expressions on their faces. Warrick just smirked at them, "You heard the bossman, Nick let's get out of here and grab a beer. See ya, Greg, good luck tonight!"

Nick clapped Greg on the shoulder as the terror on the younger man's face increased, "Man, I'm glad I'm not in your shoes," and he broke into a jog to catch up with his friend. Warrick had some explaining to do.