Chapter Text
Getting over Jon was not as easy as it really should have been. But Bobby got there.
After blocking his number, taking back the house key, and having to turn the man away when he showed up to ‘apologise’, Bobby was getting better.
He ended up staying at Hodges’ place for a couple more days, and the man took every opportunity having a captive audience provided. By the end of his stay, he had an extensive knowledge on rare Las Vegas plants, how to raise hamsters, and the three species of flying squirrel in North America. Bobby was glad for the distraction, though he took equal opportunity to complain about the constant chatter.
The rumours around the lab were, as he was informed, quite mild. Thankfully, Bobby didn’t have to go around wearing Jacqui’s makeup— the bruising went down pretty quickly. And the only others that knew the gossip was wrong were Nick and Warrick. Which wasn't a problem, seeing as both of them were too unsure to confront him.
But time passed, and Bobby’s outburst faded into a distant memory. Jacqui and David let up on their unique ways of hovering. The other Lab rats made jokes that Bobby should look out for doors, and the CSIs probably didn't even remember it happened.
All was back how it should be.
The break room was quiet but no less occupied when the loud squeaks of Greg’s sneakers strolled in. He didn’t disturb the atmosphere much, aside from Bobby and Archie looking up to greet him with a short nod and a smile.
Hodges was pouring over a book of animal hairs for comparison, once again trying to race the database, while Bobby and Jacqui were having a moment to rest over coffee. Archie sat at one of the tables, his sandwich in hand and a magazine laid out before him.
Greg pressed the button on the coffee machine, his own Blue Hawaiian trickling through in place of the government-provided ‘coffee’. “So, is anyone else working on the Johnson case?”
Bobby didn’t know which case that was, shaking his head. Out of the corner of his eye he saw David tense, giving Greg a patent-pending Look. “What of it, Sanders?”
Greg shrugged one shoulder, eyes on the floor. Bobby frowned. Greg was the most confident person in the whole lab.
“I hear the guy was pretty gay.”
The atmosphere of the room tensed. David didn’t seem any different, already locked stiff, but Jacqui was now glancing over the top of her cup, expression purposefully mild. Bobby himself felt his hands and head go cold. Archie, oblivious to the tension, just nodded and went on reading.
“Again,” Hodges cut through, even as he leaned back in his chair. “What of it?”
The DNA tech shrugged again, pouring himself a coffee when the machine impatiently started to beep. “I just… wanna know what you all think of… people like that.” Greg grabbed the sugar, tearing open the paper packet and stirring it in. “Do you guys think it’s… wrong, or are you, like, okay with that?”
“Because… well—” Greg turned back to face the room, his shoulders tense, “I’m bisexual. And I don’t want to be wondering whether you all would hate me.”
Bobby nearly dropped his cup. Looking around, everyone was in various levels of surprise.
Except David. He didn’t seem fazed. He had, in fact, relaxed by a large margin.
“I’m straight,” he said, “But I don’t care what you do or with whom you do it.”
Greg smiled slightly at that, letting himself relax a touch. Jacqui shrugged.
“I’m a lesbian.”
“Well,” Archie spoke up, “as a Trekkie I’m fundamentally required to be accepting. But I’d think no differently of you even if I wasn’t. You’re my friend.”
The room slowly started to loosen up. Brown eyes turned to Bobby, and he couldn’t help the nip of anxiety in his gut. Which was ridiculous, because it was obvious that nobody in the room would judge him for who he was.
On the other hand, nothing good had ever come from him saying those words. His family practically disowned him, he had to move crime labs once or twice, and it led to him dating Jon.
Bobby swallowed, glancing at Jacqui, who was looking back with soft eyes, and then at Greg, who was brave enough to share that part of himself even though it could’ve ended so very badly.
Bobby let himself smile, even if it was weak. “Greg, I’m gay, don’ worry yourself.”
The man chuckled, looking between his coworkers and friends with almost palpable relief. “Man, and here I thought if anyone would be gay it was Hodges.”
Said man snorted, raising an eyebrow at the younger tech. “And I knew you were bi without even having to talk to you.” At their confused glances, David threw a hand up in Greg’s direction. “Just look at him.”
The others looked between Hodges and Greg, searching for a tell. Sure, Greg dressed a bit strange, but aside from that Bobby definitely couldn’t see it.
Hodges sighed. “You’re all blind.”
Just then, Mandy walked in, beelining for the smell of a caffeine that didn't promise death.
“Hey, Mandy,” Greg caught her attention, “You gay?”
“Pass me the salt?”
Greg passed the salt shaker over the table, Archie taking it with a nod in thanks before generously dusting his fried eggs.
The Lab Rats were having their monthly breakfast meeting. Strictly speaking, it was their dinner, but it was still seven in the morning. The diner was full to the brim with people quickly grabbing something on their way to work, creating a loud, chaotic environment. After the quiet lab, it made for nice white noise.
“Arch?” Mandy muttered around a mouthful of pancake, ignoring Hodges’ gagging noises at her action. “You still got that extra sugar?”
Strictly speaking, Mandy was the print tech from swing shift, and was actually having an early breakfast unlike the rest of them. But she did overtime often enough that she worked the night shift regularly ( and often covered Jacqui when she was babysitting her niece ), and was permitted to join them. She got bonus points for having the other shift’s gossip.
Archie nodded, and grabbed the paper sachet. As he moved his hand to toss it to her, he caught the rim of his orange juice. The fruit juice went flying over his food, ruining perfectly good eggs. It started to spill over the edge and the table rushed to throw whatever paper towels they had towards him. “Could someone grab some more tissues?” They were still a few towels short.
“I’ll get ‘em,” Bobby volunteered, already standing from his seat.
The napkins weren’t kept far from their table, but the diner was packed with the breakfast rush, making it more tedious to navigate. Bobby murmured a few apologies under his breath as he bumped shoulders with busy business employees just trying to get a decent meal.
After weaving through the crowd, he grabbed a handful of the paper napkins. It was definitely more than he would guess they’d need. But historical evidence suggests that something else would get spilled sooner or later; as you could expect with a group of six bone-tired scientists.
Bobby turned to head back to the table, nearly dropping his fresh acquisition when he walked into a fellow customer. “Sorry, I didn’t see ya’ there…”
The ballistics tech’s words trailed off looking at the man. Soft, fluffy brown hair, warm brown eyes framed by wire-rim glasses, and a little taller than Bobby himself. He was wearing a business suit, but even if he wasn’t Bobby thinks he would’ve been handsome either way.
Bobby ignored his rapidly warming cheeks. The man gave a lopsided grin. “It’s alright, I wasn’t paying attention that well.”
Bobby nodded, smiling tight-lipped to avoid blurting something he’d regret. Because all of a sudden that grin was making his knees weak. He averted his eyes to his hands. “I should, uh, let ya’-“ Bobby made a gesture to the self-serve station. “Have a nice dinner.”
The man - the cute, handsome man - went to respond, before tilting his head with a confused look. Bobby stared back, his words finally catching up to him. He smiled tightly then ducked his head and fled back to the table.
Bobby dumped the napkins in front of Archie, digging back into his omelette. He didn’t dare look up, his face still hot and his heart still making itself unpleasantly known. He just focused on the taste of salt, veggies, and eggs from his omelette. Archie muttered as he soaked up the spilt juice, and—
And it was quiet. Not the diner; that was still loud as ever with clinking plates and glasses and layered chatter. That wasn’t it. Bobby glanced up from his meal, meeting four pairs of eyes that glistened in a way that made him nervous. It was his table that was quiet.
“…Y’alright?”
Next to him, Jacqui leaned over, resting one arm on the table and raising an eyebrow. “You do realise we saw that, right?” And just to rub it in, she slowly pointed a look at The Man who was now stirring about four sugars into his coffee.
Bobby cleared his throat, looking back down at his plate and pushing around his next bite. “And?”
“Bobby.” Across the table, Greg looked entirely exasperated, leaning forward. “You should ask him out!”
The ballistics tech shook his head. “No, Greg, I— I can’t just ask him out.” Bobby abandoned his food in favour of crossing his arms across his chest. “Aside from the fact that I jus’ royally embarrassed myself, there’s no way I can assume he’s into guys!”
On the few occasions that Bobby had dared to ask a guy on a date outside of certain bars it hadn’t gone well. At best they gave a polite smile and a no. At worst? Well, there was a reason Bobby transferred from Georgia.
His friends collectively groaned. Bobby sank further into himself, shoulders scrunching around his head as if to protect it. “Bobby, please, ask him out. I promise we won’t even haze the guy until a couple weeks in.” Because that was supposed to be Mandy’s idea of an incentive.
“‘S not that,” Bobby muttered. He could feel everyone’s stares, though he didn’t look up to meet them. “I don’ wanna… make a scene or somethin’.”
Archie hummed next to him. “What if, and hear me out -,” the ballistics tech used every shred of will he had not to get up and leave, “- but if we knew he liked guys, would you ask him?”
It… was a tempting offer. Not that there was a way for the others to know without asking him themselves, so it was a pointless thought. But… “Yea, maybe.”
Of course, Bobby made a mistake. He gave the Lab Rats a goal. Jacqui and Greg immediately turned to David, who was sitting between them. Up till now he hadn’t really been participating in the peer pressure.
Greg started batting David’s arm. David, who had been happily eating his waffles, sighed. “Yes, Sanders?”
“Y’know how you could just tell I was bi?” Greg smirked at Bobby. “You can tell with most people, right? How long do you need to know someone you can tell?”
Bobby nearly scoffed. Then a memory came back from months ago, after the lab explosion.
“I’ve known you were gay since we first met,” David smirked. “I’m not blind, Dawson. I just don’t care.”
And David had been able to tell that Jacqui was a lesbian as well. Bobby didn’t know how long that took him to figure out. If it had been as quick as his previous claims? That would suggest a trend.
“It’s a gift and a curse,” Hodges said, interrupting Bobby’s progressively derailing train of thought. “A reliable sixth sense, if you will.”
Bobby’s stomach twisted with butterflies as David smirked, then turned in his seat, looking across the diner. Greg gave Bobby a thumbs up and a grin.
“That man.” David turned back around with a solemn nod. “He’s bisexual.”
The others all turned to Bobby with expectant grins. Bobby sighed.
He stood up, glaring half heartedly at all of them as he stepped away. As he left, David caught his arm, slipping a pen into his grip. Bobby opened his mouth to ask, but David just shooed him away with a wink.
Once again, Bobby wormed his way among the people. The guy was sitting in a window seat, enjoying his breakfast.
Bobby almost stopped and turned back, but the thought of how his friends - dear as they were - would tease him forever probably— Bobby nervously kept going.
The man noticed Bobby walking up, and gave him a slightly confused smile. Bobby smiled back while his stomach flipped.
“Hi. I’m sorry for bumpin’ into ya earlier,” he started, trying not to come off too awkward. “But I was wonderin’…” Bobby had the man’s undivided attention, and the slight blush he had deepened. “Would you like to go out? For coffee or somethin’?”
The man smiled, a faint blush going across the tips of his ears. “That sounds nice.” Bobby grinned. The man held up his hand for a handshake. “I’m Mark Worth.”
Bobby shook his hand, his poor heart skipping another beat. “Bobby- Bobby Dawson. I should—“ Bobby patted himself down for the pen Hodges had given him and grabbed a tissue from the table. He shakily wrote down his number. “Call me? Or text, and we can set up a date?”
Mark took the number and folded it, putting it in his breast pocket. “I will, Bobby. It was lovely meeting you. See you soon?” Mark took the pen, writing down his own number and giving it and the pen back to Bobby.
“You too, see you soon.”
Bobby smiled and retreated back to his table.
The other techs looked at him, a question in their eyes that they already knew the answer to.
Bobby sat down in his seat, grabbing his cutlery and starting to eat his cooled omelette. After a moment, he handed David back his pen.
“So?”
“His name’s Mark,” Bobby gave the other techs. “And we’re gonna arrange to go for coffee.”
A quiet cheer went round the table, and Archie affectionately bumped his shoulder.
Bobby couldn’t restrain a bright grin.
Yeah. Bobby loved his friends.
I saw the brook, frozen in winter.
Overcast skies reflecting a silver sheen,
A mottled surface, like glass in the hand of the maker.
I wonder what, underneath the cold, lies unseen.
Each day towards spring it cracked and thawed;
Rivulets running forth with life and mirth.
The coating of frost, once sharp, softened.
Green shoots rising up around in a mirror of rebirth.
Life melted its edges bit by bit, getting closer to the heart.
Against all odds nature won over its past identity,
With subtle changes, unstoppable in its path,
The brook had fled last season’s cold claws, embracing warm intensity.
And the brook flowed as a river, bringing forth abundance,
Snowdrop blooms leading way to daisies and sweetness,
Bird, hare, and deer alike finding peace by its side.
The cycle would continue one day; nature’s waltz of motion and stillness.
But today winter’s brook is free.
- Winter’s Brook, R.N.