I have never written for the CSI characters before. I apologise if anybody is out of character. I would really like to hear your opinions. Spoilers for On The Job,What You See is What You See, and Grave Danger. This first chapter is a prolouge of sorts that takes place just after On the Job. The rest of the story will take place after the season finales. I have a feeling Nick Stokes and Danny Messer would get along very well with each other.

"Hello?" said Nick, answering his phone. There was silence on the line. At first Nick thought it might be a prank call. He was just about to hang up when he heard someone say in an unsteady voice, "Nick?"

"Danny, is that you? What's wrong, are you okay?"

Ever since Horatio Crane had introduced Gil Grissom's Vegas team to Mac Taylor's New York team Danny Messer and Nick Stokes had been good friends. But now something was wrong, Danny didn't sound like himself. Nick wondered why his friend was so upset.

"Nick-Oh God, Nick I didn't know-I didn't hear him, I swear I that I didn't-"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down! What are you talking about?" Nick interurrpted.

Danny took a shaky breath. "I killed a cop Nick! But I didn't know he was a cop, I didn't hear him identify himself, I swear to God I didn't!"

"Tell me the whole story, Danny. From the beginning."

Danny explained everything, from the crime scene not being cleared to the shoot out in the subway and the investigation that followed.

"But you didn't hear him Danny! With all that racket I'm surprised you could hear anything. What did Mac say?"

"Well I'm off the promotion grid," said Danny a bit more calmly. "I kinda expected that. What I didn't expect was for Mac to tell me that people tried to talk him out of hiring me. I really didn't need to hear that."

Nick felt bad for his friend. "Wish there was something I could do. You know I 've got your back though right?"

"Yeah, you're the only one who does." said Danny.

"That's not true! I'm sure your friends care. Maybe they just don't know how to show it."

"Maybe." said Danny, sounding doubtful. "Flack did bother to ask how I was doing."

"See?" said Nick. "Listen, I've got to go now all right? We'll talk again soon okay?"

"Sure. Bye Nick."

"See ya." Nick hung up the phone and went to work. He found Grissom in his office, looking through some sort of book.

"Hey Nick, is there something I can do for you?" Grissom asked.

"I don't know. You remember Danny Messer? He works for Mac Taylor."

"Yes I know who you're talking about. Is he in some kind of trouble?" asked Grissom.

"Yeah, I want to help him out, but I don't know what to do. Wish I could be there for him."

"Maybe you can't be there physically, but you can be there emotionally. Just let him know he has a friend. It sounds like he needs one."

"I'll do that." said Nick. But deep down he couldn't help but worry it might not be enough.