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Mar. 29th, 2006 11:17 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
kennedy-unknown.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
nickngregCSI
Title: Into The Fire
Chapter: An Unexpected Situation (8/?)
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst, Drama
Previously: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Summary: The whole day has become 'an unexpected situation'. Greg and Nick climb out of the ravine.
Cross-posted at WMTDB.
8. An Unexpected Situation
“Sure is easier going down than it is getting back up.” Greg panted as he scrabbled up the side of the ravine, bent over to keep his gravity centred, one hand reaching ahead to help hoist himself up. Nick was only a few feet ahead of him, in the same position. “The view’s much nicer this way though.”
Nick paused long enough to look back and grin. “Nice to know that staring death in the face doesn’t keep your mind out of the gutter, G.”
“I try to be consistent.” Greg smiled, while his backpack felt like it had suddenly gained a few bricks.
Nick shook his head with laughter, and continued climbing. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead and stung his eye. He wiped at it, but only succeeded in aggravating it with some dust.
As soon as Nick’s back was turned again, Greg’s smile dropped. His lungs were burning, and spots were dancing in front of his vision as he struggled for breath. He closed his eyes, feeling like he was five years old again and spinning around just to feel the after-effects of dizziness. Except this time it wasn’t fun.
Rocks from underneath Nick’s boots as he stumbled rained down upon Greg.
“Sorry.” Nick called over his shoulder, down to him.
Too out of breath to answer, Greg merely nodded.
Nick had reached the top of the ravine now, and was able to stand fully-upright and stagger back onto the main road. He reached down and offered Greg his hand, who gratefully took it and was helped the last few steps up.
“What now?” Nick asked. In both directions the road was empty. There was a nagging thought at the back of his mind that an evacuation being in effect probably meant there would be few people coming along this road now, if any. He tried to push it away as best he could, because worrying would do nothing for their situation.
He turned back to see Greg crouched on the ground, his head between his knees, and his breathing labored.
“Greg!” he cried, dropping to his knees and placing his hand on Greg’s back.
“O-okay.” Greg wheezed. “Just… need to get my b-breath back.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed, both with concern and with realisation. He knew Greg shouldn’t have had that much difficulty getting back up the ravine, even though they were at a slightly higher altitude.
Greg sat down properly, Nick remained on his knees and took Greg’s hands in his own. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s nothing, really. It sounds a lot worse than it actually is.”
Panic gripping his heart as if it was in a vice, Nick counted to three in his head. “Then tell me.”
Greg looked up at him. “I’m just having a little bit of trouble catching my breath. The doctors warned me that my lungs were affected---“
“The explosion?” Nick asked grimly.
Greg nodded. “Look, they weren’t too concerned about it at the time. They just said that I might experience problems at higher altitudes and in certain situations.”
“How come you never told me?”
“Well, I was never really in a situation where I was affected before. And they told me before we were really together - it wasn’t exactly something I wanted to advertise.”
Nick swore softly into his chest.
Greg looked at him plaintively. “Are you pissed at me?”
“No… yes. Kind of. I just wish you had told me.”
“It’s just a minor thing, Nicky. Like I said, it’s nothing that really bothers me that much.”
“Well, it’s bothering you now.”
“It’s just an unexpected situation, that’s all.”
“This whole day has been an unexpected situation.”
Greg reached up and tenderly wiped away a smudge of dirt underneath Nick’s left eye. “It will be one for the newsletter.”
Nick felt like he was going to lose it. This day had gone to hell so swiftly before he had time to process any of it, and he was starting to feel like he couldn’t handle it. There was a part of him that wanted to revert to childishness and cry out “It’s not fair!” Because it wasn’t fair. Hadn’t the both of them been through enough? Did it have to come down to this, yet another life-or-death situation for him, a mere couple of months since his last one?
Greg looked at him, as if he had read his mind. “You’re not alone this time, Nicky.”
“What, you think I would rather have someone suffering along with me?” Nick asked, an edge to his tone.
“I would.” Greg said, honestly.
Nick could only stare at him.
“I’m not saying I would willingly want someone to be put in danger just so I wouldn’t be by myself… but I honestly think I would go crazy by myself.”
Nick wondered how Greg could make so much sense, and know him so well, when he so often went out of his way to differentiate himself from others and appear as if he was blissfully on another plane of existence. “I almost did.” he admitted softly.
“Well, I definitely would.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” Nick looked down the road in the direction from where they had driven, and didn’t like the look of the thickening smoke. “We better start walking. Are you up for it?”
Greg shrugged. “Have to be.”
Nick stood, and helped him up. Without a word, he took Greg’s backpack off him and slung it over his own shoulder.
“I can take that.” Greg protested.
Nick shrugged. “I know you can.”
Greg nodded, deciding to let it go. “Let’s move. We may have a long walk ahead of us.”
As they started down the road, Nick reached out and took Greg’s hand. “You wouldn’t, you know.”
Greg looked at him. Despite the situation taking place, he was glad to have Nick’s hand in his. It was such a simple gesture, but it was one he appreciated. “Wouldn’t what?”
“Have gone crazy. You’re a lot stronger than you think.”
“Where’s your evidence to back that up?”
“It’s on you.”
Greg stopped walking, and raised an eyebrow. “On me?”
“Look at what you survived, G.” Nick said earnestly. “You spent weeks in that hospital bed, recovering. Enduring skin graft operations. And you had to do it alone.”
“Not exactly. You were there towards the end.”
“Yes, and you were there when they lifted me out of the ground. But nobody suffered through that explosion with you. Oh, Sara got a few cuts, and I’m not diminishing what happened to her and how that may have affected her, but you were the one who truly suffered. And you came through it.”
“But---“ Greg made to interrupt.
Nick shook his head to silence him. “You know how I got through some of the nights after I was out of the hospital? I watched you sleep. And I knew that you had gotten through it, and came out stronger… and I knew that I would too, eventually. You gave me hope.”
“You’re not going to start singing Wind Beneath My Wings, are you?” Greg gave an attempt at levity.
Nick rolled his eyes. “I’m trying to be serious here.”
Greg sobered instantly. “I’m sorry. Just, you know, bad humour always… I’m sorry. However you found it, I’m glad you realised you would come through. It sounds selfish, but I needed you to. Because I felt helpless.”
“And as I said, you weren’t. Jesus, Greg, you mean everything to me.”
“I hope you know it goes the same way for me.” Greg reached down for his hand again.
“I do.” Nick smiled. “But we better get moving.”
They set off again. They had only gotten about five steps when Greg began singing, “Did I ever tell you, you’re my hero…”
Nick shook his head. “You’re lucky I love you.”
But he laughed, and it was the best thing they could both do at that moment.
Title: Into The Fire
Chapter: An Unexpected Situation (8/?)
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst, Drama
Previously: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Summary: The whole day has become 'an unexpected situation'. Greg and Nick climb out of the ravine.
Cross-posted at WMTDB.
8. An Unexpected Situation
“Sure is easier going down than it is getting back up.” Greg panted as he scrabbled up the side of the ravine, bent over to keep his gravity centred, one hand reaching ahead to help hoist himself up. Nick was only a few feet ahead of him, in the same position. “The view’s much nicer this way though.”
Nick paused long enough to look back and grin. “Nice to know that staring death in the face doesn’t keep your mind out of the gutter, G.”
“I try to be consistent.” Greg smiled, while his backpack felt like it had suddenly gained a few bricks.
Nick shook his head with laughter, and continued climbing. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead and stung his eye. He wiped at it, but only succeeded in aggravating it with some dust.
As soon as Nick’s back was turned again, Greg’s smile dropped. His lungs were burning, and spots were dancing in front of his vision as he struggled for breath. He closed his eyes, feeling like he was five years old again and spinning around just to feel the after-effects of dizziness. Except this time it wasn’t fun.
Rocks from underneath Nick’s boots as he stumbled rained down upon Greg.
“Sorry.” Nick called over his shoulder, down to him.
Too out of breath to answer, Greg merely nodded.
Nick had reached the top of the ravine now, and was able to stand fully-upright and stagger back onto the main road. He reached down and offered Greg his hand, who gratefully took it and was helped the last few steps up.
“What now?” Nick asked. In both directions the road was empty. There was a nagging thought at the back of his mind that an evacuation being in effect probably meant there would be few people coming along this road now, if any. He tried to push it away as best he could, because worrying would do nothing for their situation.
He turned back to see Greg crouched on the ground, his head between his knees, and his breathing labored.
“Greg!” he cried, dropping to his knees and placing his hand on Greg’s back.
“O-okay.” Greg wheezed. “Just… need to get my b-breath back.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed, both with concern and with realisation. He knew Greg shouldn’t have had that much difficulty getting back up the ravine, even though they were at a slightly higher altitude.
Greg sat down properly, Nick remained on his knees and took Greg’s hands in his own. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s nothing, really. It sounds a lot worse than it actually is.”
Panic gripping his heart as if it was in a vice, Nick counted to three in his head. “Then tell me.”
Greg looked up at him. “I’m just having a little bit of trouble catching my breath. The doctors warned me that my lungs were affected---“
“The explosion?” Nick asked grimly.
Greg nodded. “Look, they weren’t too concerned about it at the time. They just said that I might experience problems at higher altitudes and in certain situations.”
“How come you never told me?”
“Well, I was never really in a situation where I was affected before. And they told me before we were really together - it wasn’t exactly something I wanted to advertise.”
Nick swore softly into his chest.
Greg looked at him plaintively. “Are you pissed at me?”
“No… yes. Kind of. I just wish you had told me.”
“It’s just a minor thing, Nicky. Like I said, it’s nothing that really bothers me that much.”
“Well, it’s bothering you now.”
“It’s just an unexpected situation, that’s all.”
“This whole day has been an unexpected situation.”
Greg reached up and tenderly wiped away a smudge of dirt underneath Nick’s left eye. “It will be one for the newsletter.”
Nick felt like he was going to lose it. This day had gone to hell so swiftly before he had time to process any of it, and he was starting to feel like he couldn’t handle it. There was a part of him that wanted to revert to childishness and cry out “It’s not fair!” Because it wasn’t fair. Hadn’t the both of them been through enough? Did it have to come down to this, yet another life-or-death situation for him, a mere couple of months since his last one?
Greg looked at him, as if he had read his mind. “You’re not alone this time, Nicky.”
“What, you think I would rather have someone suffering along with me?” Nick asked, an edge to his tone.
“I would.” Greg said, honestly.
Nick could only stare at him.
“I’m not saying I would willingly want someone to be put in danger just so I wouldn’t be by myself… but I honestly think I would go crazy by myself.”
Nick wondered how Greg could make so much sense, and know him so well, when he so often went out of his way to differentiate himself from others and appear as if he was blissfully on another plane of existence. “I almost did.” he admitted softly.
“Well, I definitely would.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” Nick looked down the road in the direction from where they had driven, and didn’t like the look of the thickening smoke. “We better start walking. Are you up for it?”
Greg shrugged. “Have to be.”
Nick stood, and helped him up. Without a word, he took Greg’s backpack off him and slung it over his own shoulder.
“I can take that.” Greg protested.
Nick shrugged. “I know you can.”
Greg nodded, deciding to let it go. “Let’s move. We may have a long walk ahead of us.”
As they started down the road, Nick reached out and took Greg’s hand. “You wouldn’t, you know.”
Greg looked at him. Despite the situation taking place, he was glad to have Nick’s hand in his. It was such a simple gesture, but it was one he appreciated. “Wouldn’t what?”
“Have gone crazy. You’re a lot stronger than you think.”
“Where’s your evidence to back that up?”
“It’s on you.”
Greg stopped walking, and raised an eyebrow. “On me?”
“Look at what you survived, G.” Nick said earnestly. “You spent weeks in that hospital bed, recovering. Enduring skin graft operations. And you had to do it alone.”
“Not exactly. You were there towards the end.”
“Yes, and you were there when they lifted me out of the ground. But nobody suffered through that explosion with you. Oh, Sara got a few cuts, and I’m not diminishing what happened to her and how that may have affected her, but you were the one who truly suffered. And you came through it.”
“But---“ Greg made to interrupt.
Nick shook his head to silence him. “You know how I got through some of the nights after I was out of the hospital? I watched you sleep. And I knew that you had gotten through it, and came out stronger… and I knew that I would too, eventually. You gave me hope.”
“You’re not going to start singing Wind Beneath My Wings, are you?” Greg gave an attempt at levity.
Nick rolled his eyes. “I’m trying to be serious here.”
Greg sobered instantly. “I’m sorry. Just, you know, bad humour always… I’m sorry. However you found it, I’m glad you realised you would come through. It sounds selfish, but I needed you to. Because I felt helpless.”
“And as I said, you weren’t. Jesus, Greg, you mean everything to me.”
“I hope you know it goes the same way for me.” Greg reached down for his hand again.
“I do.” Nick smiled. “But we better get moving.”
They set off again. They had only gotten about five steps when Greg began singing, “Did I ever tell you, you’re my hero…”
Nick shook his head. “You’re lucky I love you.”
But he laughed, and it was the best thing they could both do at that moment.
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Date: 2006-03-29 04:29 am (UTC)LOL!! You've got the quintessential Greg down! No matter how bad the situation, he can find humour in it. Love it!
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Date: 2006-03-30 08:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-29 05:57 am (UTC)It's so brilliant and so them.
I like the idea of Greg having smoke damage in his lungs, I have seen many fanfiction where he has scars, but never damaged lungs and it's just so possible.
Wonderfully done.
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Date: 2006-03-30 08:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-29 08:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-30 08:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-29 11:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-30 08:09 am (UTC)