nickngreg | Round Robin Part 6 (Reply)

ROUND ROBIN: A new chapter by a different author every two weeks!
Part 6: The next morning.
Author:

csichick_2

Beta: none, so all mistakes are mine
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none really
Summary: What happens the next morning?
Spoilers: none
A/N: Sorry this is a little late, school, packing, and exhaustion all ganged up on me.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. If I did, they'd have been canon a long time ago.
Previous parts: Part one, Part two, Part three, Part four, Part five.

When Nick wakes up he finds the bed empty. He panics at first until the aroma of coffee reaches him. He gets dressed before heading to the kitchen, where he finds Greg clad only in his boxers.

"Sleep well?" he asks, taking the mug of coffee Greg offers him.

"Thanks to you, yeah," Greg says, looking everywhere but at Nick.

"You okay, G?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Then why won't you look at me?"

"Look, Nick, I like you and all, but..." Greg starts.

"But just not like that. I get it," Nick says sadly.

"No. I do like you like that, Greg corrects. "It's just right now, the timing is bad considering the case and all."

"I see," Nick says, staring at his coffee.

"I will want you as a lover, but I need a chance to heal first. Right now, I need you as a friend."

Nick nods. "How long is this healing going to take?"

Greg shrugs. "Could take weeks, could take months, could take years. You can't put a time table on things like that, Nick."

"I'll always be here for you, Greg. But I do have a couple things I need to before work."

"I understand," Greg says sullenly.

"I'm not trying to run away on you, G. I promise."

"I know you're not. I just don't want to be alone right now."

Nick sighs. He's concerned about Greg, but he also needs time to process everything. Something that's not going to happen if he doesn't leave. And if he stays, Greg will know he lied about having something to do. "I'll call you in a couple hours to see how you're doing, okay?"

"Okay. I guess I shouldn't hold you up and longer."

"Hang in there, G. Things will get better."

*****

Three hours and two beers later, Nick doesn't have any more answers than he did when he left Greg's. He knows he cares about Greg, hell maybe even loves him, but he also knows waiting for Greg to be ready could damn near kill him. Patience never has been his strong suit.

Looking at his watch, he decides enough time has passed for him to call and check on Greg. When he gets the answering machine on his home phone, he calls Greg's cell, which goes straight to voicemail. Worried, Nick heads out to his truck to go back to Greg's.

... the final chapter will be posted on Sunday January 4 by tanzensiemit!

Information on the Round Robin project: here