nickngreg | For What It's Worth

Title: For What It's Worth
Rating: PG-13
Author: nowheretogo26
Warnings: None, really.
Summary: For Nick and Greg, things seemed to be...okay. Not perfect, but okay. But when something tragic happens, will their shaky relationship be the thing that saves them both?
Disclaimer: I own the OFC, Becka. That's about it, haha.

Chapter 1 – Another Night Alone

**

Nick sighed deeply, resting back against the couch. It was almost two in the morning and he had been mindlessly flipping through channels for hours now. His eyelids were drooping and the only light was the flickering television screen across the room. Greg was out on a date with Becka and 2 AM was just about the cutoff point—if Greg wasn’t home by now, chances were he was spending the night at her place.

Nick wondered vaguely what Greg told Becka every time she asked if they could go back to his place. He couldn’t very well tell her that his roommate was the guy he had been casually dating for over seven years. Not everyone was as understanding as Nick. Not everyone could just sit back and trade nights next to Greg with some woman they’d never met before.

But even Nick was growing tired of the routine. He hadn’t been seeing anyone but Greg in almost two years—he hadn’t wanted to. What he had wanted was to take things to the next level with his current boyfriend—an exclusive and open relationship.

Greg would never understand. He was bi. All of their coworkers had been speculating his sexuality since they had met him. But no one ever wondered if Nick was gay. It’s not like he even tried to hide it. He hadn’t had a girlfriend since he had left Texas and the only times anyone ever saw him interact with women, he was either on a case or in a club—the two places he felt most comfortable. But coming out to his coworkers was different. He could still remember when Greg first found out.

Nick was stirring his coffee with a spoon absentmindedly, staring off into the distance. Greg walked into the break room, sidling over to the refrigerator and pulling out his yogurt.

Glancing over at Nick, he gave him a concerned look. “You okay, man?” he asked, sitting next to him on the couch.

Nick looked up and shrugged. “I guess...”

Greg cocked his head to the side. “Woman troubles?”

Nick froze, his entire body tensing up. “Not... not quite.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Greg asked, sincerity evident in his voice. Putting his yogurt down on the table, he reached out and set a hand on the other man’s arm gently. “I’m here to listen...”

Nick’s arm burned where Greg’s hand was resting. “I...” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not a... woman...”

He felt Greg’s grip on his arm tighten a bit as realization sunk in. “Well, I... uh... What happened?”

Nick looked up from his lap and locked eyes with Greg. “His name was Mark... We met at a club, and he...” He paused, a wave of electricity passing between them. He lowered his gaze, swallowing hard. “We’d been dating for almost a year. He wanted... he wanted me to come out to my friends and family, but... It would change everything, y’know?”

An uncomfortable silence settled between them, and when Greg finally spoke, his voice was soft and raspy, “So he gave you an ultimatum?” Nick nodded slowly, his steely resolve slipping away. The younger man sighed, sliding his arms around Nick and exhaling sharply. “I’m so sorry... He’s an idiot, if he couldn’t understand how hard that would have to be for you.”

Nick chuckled softly, relaxing into Greg’s warm embrace. “Thanks, Greg... You’re the best...”

“I know,” he said, his goofy smirk resting on his lips again.

Nick sighed, the memories flooding back to him. It seemed like only yesterday that that conversation had happened. But so much had changed since then. An awkward kiss led to a secretive dating life, which paved the way to...whatever they were right now.

Nick heard the front door of their small house open and then soft footsteps tiptoeing into the living room. “Good morning,” Nick murmured and Greg jumped, his hand flying to his chest.

“Damnit, Nick, what are you doing still awake?” he whispered, his breathing ragged.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said softly, eyeing his boyfriend with a careful gaze. “Bed was too cold.”

Greg sighed. “I... I’m sorry...”

Nick shrugged. “Hey... What are you gonna do, right?”

“Well, come on, then,” Greg said simply. “Let’s go to bed.”

“Good idea,” the older man muttered in reply, pushing himself off the couch with effort and following his boyfriend into their bedroom down the hall.

Slipping under the covers, Nick listened to the other man strip down to his boxers before joining him under the blanket. The Texan snuggled close to Greg, wrapping his arms tight around him. “Welcome home,” he whispered, pressing his lips against Greg’s in a tender kiss. The younger man’s breath reeked of alcohol and Nick sighed softly, pulling back from the embrace. “Good night.”

“Night, Nick...”

**

A/N – First chapter’s done. Let me know if you think I should continue or not. Go to entry for Chapter One...