Spartan III

Declan Elias (Haugen, Östberg, Falk, Gunnarsen)?

A few others roll off the tongue better but don't mean much or just look weird as a name.

Anyway basics:

CSI III Swing shift, float

Undergraduate degrees: Biology, Physiology focus

Advanced degrees: Microbiology and Immunology

Specialty: Coroner's Office, analyzing microbes and organic trace on bodies

Besties: Greg, Bobby, Catherine, Ray

Car: Navy PT Cruiser with silver flamework (my childhood dream car)

Likes: Nick, microscope history, autopsies, looking at pathogens and microbiological samples at super high magnitudes, names his exemplars like Grissom names his bugs, video games, tattoos, gay men

Dislikes: Hodges snark (but appreciates his contributions and respects his knowledge and intellect), Ecklie, Vegas heat

Before being promoted to CSI III, took an extended leave of absence to study microbiology in Antarctica. Thought he was dying upon return to the Vegas heat.

Owns a few horses across a couple riding disciplines.

Night shift didn't know about him and Nick until Grave Danger. Warrick knew for a few months prior. In a relationship with Nick for about a year and a half at that point. Traveled to Texas with Nick several times.

Anyway, it is now 2026. I have officially seen every episode and the finale.

Positive masculinity towards his male friends.

"Just shows girls around" but doesn't and isn't dating them.

Was the dependable guy friend in high school.

Just gives gay vibes because what straight man acts like that (especially in the early 2000s)

In conclusion: Nick Stokes is gay and now I want to rewrite my 5th grade fan fiction where my self insert and Nick are gay af.

P.s. Yes I wrote a fan fiction in like 5th grade where I was a self insert character who made tons of sexual innuendo dialogue.

All I want to do is scream.

It's just me...

I said it upon entering the front door. Always following a little tap on the door. As I turned my key I'd hear you sprinting down the stairs and somehow not slam into the front door. I'd wait. Open the door. "It's just me," I'd say. You began to sit at the door patiently.

How things turned out wasn't fair. You didn't deserve to have your mind plagued by so many demons that you began to take out your fear and frustration on me. I loved you so much. Even after you bit me the first time, all I wanted was to put in the work and help you to be happy. Even after the second attack where you drew blood, ended up giving me a bloody nose trying to literally eat my face, and left me with scars from where your beautiful smile tore into my arms. Even then, I didn't want to do this.

I cried so much on your last day, I screamed in the room holding your head in my lap while the vet just let me cry. I was in there cuddled next to your limp body for an hour because I couldn't let you go. I didn't go home until 7am the next morning because I couldn't bare the thought of walking inside without you there to greet me.

I ended up dropping out of school because the grief had me in hell with the anger and depression and being suicidal. I was in therapy for 3 hours that day and I hadn't stopped crying.

Your old family... I'm sure they loved you but not enough to take care of you. Not enough to keep you safe from other animals. Not enough to get you vaccinated. Not enough to even give you a tag with a name and address. What life did they give you if you had these demons inside you? How did they treat you? Abuse? Neglect? If I could go back in time I'd save you all over again. You deserved so much more than you got in life. I'm so angry at the world for not letting me love you for your full lifespan.

Theta Marshmallow, you will always be my baby.

You shall forever live on in my heart, and on my skin.