OOM: The Crime Lab

[gris_bug_man]

The lab is always busy even during relatively "calm" periods. The sights and sounds of technicians frantically scurrying from one location to the other is almost soothing to the experienced criminalist.

One such criminalists strides through the door into his domain, a stranger following at his heels.

Welcome to the crime lab, Tony Almeida.

[ooc: Locked to iwasalevel6, say sorry.]

Comments

[gris_bug_man]

"The various duties are naturally segregated by specialty. Trace, Fingerprinting, DNA, Questioned Documents, AV and the like. The technicians generally do not work with us out in the field unless there is dire need."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

He nods. "Like CTU. How easy is it to switch departments?"

[gris_bug_man]

"As long as you have the appropriate training, it isn't that difficult. Of course, competition can be fierce at times." Leading him down the hall, he steers him into Fingerprinting, Jacqui looking up impatiently.

"I said I would page you--"

"Yes, you did. However, would you like to demonstrate your techniques for my friend, here? Jacqui Franco, Tony Almeida."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

He nods. "Nice to meet you," he says, and walks behind Jacqui to view the screens.

[gris_bug_man]

Thrilled with the opportunity to show off, Jacqui proceeds to clear up a smudged print, running it through AFIS. "Congratulations--your perp is looking to get his third strike." Priting off the page and handing it over before giving Tony a quick smile. "Hope you enjoy the tour--not many are given."

Grissom takes the paper, shaking his head slightly as they walk out. "She is one of the best technicians I have worked with, but she can be...blunt."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony quirks an eyebrow. "I've worked with people like that before," he says. Clearly, Grissom hadn't worked with Chloe O'Brian. Otherwise he'd know the true meaning of blunt.

[gris_bug_man]

[ooc: Now I must beg slowtime as the pain meds aren't working. *sigh*]

"I'm glad such won't be off-putting." Another slight smile as they continue to walk down the halls.

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

[ ooc: that's fine with me. i need to be a good sick person and go to sleep. ]

He grins. "It's one of the requirements for being a techie CTU: must be obnoxious. Jacqui's definitely not the worst I've met."

[gris_bug_man]

"It is true--she is probably the most gregarious one of us." Grissom is amused.

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony nodded wryly. So there was worse than her here. He could deal. Couldn't he?

[gris_bug_man]

Their next stop is in Trace, the domain of one David Hodges. On a good day, Hodges likes to comment that Greg seems to be less of an idiot than normal.

Tony should be able to deal.

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony follows Grissom into the room, looking around at all the equipment assembled there.

[gris_bug_man]

They are regaled by a surprisingly gregarious Hodges who consented to demonstrate how the equipment was utilized to analyze trace substances.

"I hope this hasn't been boring thus far," Grissom comments at one point. "But our work often consists of brief periods of intense activity interspersed with long interludes of meta-analysis."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head. "No, actually that's similar to what happens at CTU. In fact most of the time we're following paper trails, decoding messages, that sort of thing."

His voice is optimistic. Something similar to CTU without the intense, world-saving pressure of CTU. He could easily see himself doing this.

[gris_bug_man]

"The pressure to close cases is intense," Grissom feels compelled to add, "and politics can be brought into play as well. That infuriates most of us more than anything else--a DB (dead body) is a DB, regardless of the person's stock portfolio or hut in an alley."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony nods. "I agree. Personally, I don't think politics has any place in law enforcement, but certain individuals--" like Ryan Chappelle when he was amongst the living "--always want to place their personal preferences above the same protocal they claim to uphold."

[gris_bug_man]

He nods. "Our assistant director, Conrad Ecklie, is that way. We've adapted to the point of following his mandates long enough for him to hold a press conference. Then we do our true work."

Leaving Hodges with his next batch of samples, Grissom leads Tony to Questioned Documents. Ronnie looks up eagarly. "I believe I've found a match in the Morrison case--"

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony perks up. Investigation in action! His gripes about overly political bosses vanishes as he enters the room and tires to make himself as unobtrusive as possible.

[gris_bug_man]

Cue 20 minutes of excited rambling and proposed hypotheses. When the two men leave the room, Ronnie almost bouncing with excitement, Grissom smirks. "I enjoy it when a case falls together with minimal trouble."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

"Saves a lot of headaches and the added expense of tylenol, right?"

[gris_bug_man]

"Not to mention the coffee supply. You haven't seen Sara without it yet, I believe."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. I've seen her around the bar sleeping a lot."

[gris_bug_man]

"Hmmm." Privately he decides to speak to her about that later.

"Think you can stomach an autopsy?"

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony stares, his face going a little pale. "I guess."

[gris_bug_man]

"Tony, you have nothing to prove to me. We can observe an autopsy another time if you would prefer."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Some part of him deflates in relief, not embarassment. "That's fine," he says gratefully

Blame it on the same machoism that drove him to become a Marine to "prove himself."

[gris_bug_man]

"It can be distressing even for those of us accustomed to them," he says calmly. "Don't worry about it for now."

They continue on to Ballistics, arriving in time to watch Bobbie test three guns.

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony's reaction to this may be surmized as 'OMG AWESOME!'

One never can separate a boy from his toys.

[gris_bug_man]

Grissom's reaction to Tony's reaction can be described as 'amused'. Yes. Amused is a good adjective.

The normally placid technician is absolutely beside himself with the prospect of showing off, and inquires whether or not Tony would like to shoot the .50 Glock.

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he says in lieu of saying absolutely.

[gris_bug_man]

The gun is handed over without ceremony and Bobbie directs him to an empty tank.

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

Tony has handled a gun like this before. Several time before, to be exact. Still, familiarity didn't make handling a gun any less exhillerating to Tony, and he readily tested it with expert marksmanship.

[gris_bug_man]

"You will have no trouble with the firearms proficiency test," Grissom says, nodding in approval. Bobbie retrieves the gun, giving Tony an understanding grin. We love our toys.

"DNA does much of the same work as Trace, so I don't think there is truly a need to go by there," Grissom comments after they leave the area. "What do you think? Is this something you would like to explore?"

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

He nods. "Yeah. It's close enough to what I did, it'd j ust require some more training, I think."

[gris_bug_man]

"I'll find out that information for you," he offers. "And I do think you would be a tremendous asset to our lab. And to my team."

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

He grinned. "Thanks."

[gris_bug_man]

[ooc: Wrap?]

[iwasalevel6.livejournal.com]

[ ooc: fine with me XD ]