One Year, Two Mismatched Men and Three Million Dollars 8b/?

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

Title: One Year, Two Mismatched Men and Three Million Dollars
This is part 2 of the 8th chapter... The first part (along with all the A/N's) can be found here

“What are you doing here so early?” Sara asked as she entered lab 34 to see Greg already working on the various samples and experiments they were working on. “I thought you’d be at home with that Texan of yours.”

 

“Yeah,” Greg snorted. “I love spending time with him.”

 

Sara sensed that he was being sarcastic; she could smell the alcohol wafting in the air, mixed with the stench of cheap perfume and cigarettes- she instantly knew that Greg had been out on a binge last night.

 

“If you don’t, I will.” Sara said light-heartedly. “Your description really didn’t do him justice.”

 

“You want him? Take him. Take Grissom too. I bet that could be a fun evening for all involved.”

 

“Someone is a little cranky today, rough night? Too much alcohol, too little sleep on the back-seat of your car and too many emotions all running high?” Sara said coldly, snapping a pair of gloves on violently. “Guess the honeymoon period is already over for you guys huh?”

 

“There wasn’t a honeymoon period. There wasn’t anything. There weren’t any feelings. There were just two guys thinking they could make something work when in reality, they were doomed from the beginning.”

 

“Someone is on an angst fest today.” Sara said, taking up her space next to her friend, noticing the bags around his eyes and his rumpled demeanour- it wouldn’t go unnoticed by the other two. “Come on Greg, you can talk to me about the troubles you’re having. I know marriages aren’t easy.”

 

She was referring to her parents, there had been a honeymoon period where they’d had their daughter- but within a few months it had all but vanished and turned into drunken brawls and finally resulted in the police arriving and arresting the pair for a drunken fight that had escalated into full on blood bath. She’d vowed from that day on to keep an eye on anyone close to her in a marriage or a relationship because you could never tell what was going on behind the scenes.

 

“We had a fight.” Greg admitted, “I said some things I shouldn’t have, he just retaliated the same way- words that really hurt and I just walked out on him and spent the night down at some bar.”

 

“You’re both under a lot of stress.”

 

“I know.”

 

“That’s probably what did it. You’ve both been wound so tight that you just snapped and he snapped too.”

 

“Yeah probably.”

 

“By the time you get home he’ll have a meal waiting for you and a bunch of flowers and a thousand apologies.”

 

Greg snorted, only in his dreams would anyone do that for him.

 

-------  

 

Warrick had been slightly uneasy about coming here and meeting Nick’s partner; he didn’t want to have to adjust his view on Nick because he was married to some flamboyant guy or even realise that Nick was gay and married to a guy. It sounded selfish but Warrick didn’t want Nick to be gay, it totally distorted his world. He’d never considered that his best friend, the supposed womaniser, the guy that loved sports was actually homosexual.

 

He was happy for his friend, he couldn’t help to be, but he wished that he’d found the love of his life in the opposite gender. He wasn’t going to tell Nick that, because as a friend he knew you had to be supportive of each other and really he owed Nick that much. It was just going to take some getting used to knowing that all along he’d been in a closet and had never told him about it.

 

Warrick knocked on the door and waited for his friend to open it. He wondered if the place would be reorganised and redecorated and whether Nick would still have all his possessions or whether Greg’s would be mixed in as well. He heard the shuffling towards the door and the muffled voices discussing something quickly before the door swung open to reveal Nick stood there, Greg hovered a few paces away looking terrified.

 

“Hey,” Nick said, stepping aside to let his friend in. Warrick nodded an acknowledgement at Nick before turning his attention to his husband.

 

He was certainly different to what Warrick had envisioned; then again he was in a different gender from what he’d imagined too. When he’d found out Nick was married to another guy, he’d imagined some southerner with a passion for football or sports, someone that was Nick’s equal in everyway… Not someone that was skinny and not at all brawny, someone that wasn’t conservative and wore his hair with blonde streaked through and spiked at odd angles. He didn’t seem to be Nick’s type… But then again, what was Nick’s type in men?

 

“You must be Greg.” Warrick said, realising he’d been eyeing the man, who now looked even more edgy. “It’s nice to meet you, Nick’s told me a lot about you.”

 

“He has?” Greg squeaked, looking surprised. “I didn’t know he really spoke of me at work. You know business and pleasure and all that sort of thing.”

 

Warrick raised his eyebrow at the young man who was still shifting nervously under his steady green eyed gaze. He wondered how old this man was, he didn’t seem old enough to be someone Nick would even consider to be mature and yet he was stood there, both with matching bands.

 

“Anyway,” Greg said, trying to break the tension. “It was nice to meet you Warrick, but I really have to get on with my studies.”

 

Warrick’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, and Greg looked panicked looking at Nick for help. Nick was just as clueless to his friend’s reaction it seemed.

 

“Studies?”

 

“Yeah, for work… Oh wait, you thought I was still in UNLV!” Greg’s laugh seemed forced and strangled. “I am not that young, although as they say looks can be deceiving. Anyway, I’ll leave you two to your thing and I’ll go to do mine.”

 

Greg spun on his heel and headed towards the back bedroom, Nick looked visibly relieved that his partner had managed to get through the first introduction. Warrick hadn’t come there to do his thing with Nick (whatever that meant); he’d come here to meet the husband, the person Nick was willing to dedicate the rest of his life to and get to know him better. With Greg retreating into his room, he saw that opportunity disappearing and knew that he had to stop it.

 

“Greg, can’t you’re studies wait?” Warrick asked and the young man froze, “I came over to meet you, learn more about the newly weds- get to know all about wedded bliss. I’m not sure if Nick told you yet but I’m thinking about getting married myself.”

 

“Congratulations.” Greg said, still facing the bedroom with his back to Warrick. He was torn between keeping to the plan and trying to win over Nick’s friend and lull him into the illusion. “I don’t think I can really put off my research though.” He squeaked.

 

“Yes you can.” Nick spoke out this time and Greg turned around to face his husband, looking confused. “Come on, Warrick wants to get to know a bit more about this all and if the worst comes to the worst I’ll phone your boss and say you’re ill.”

 

Greg looked flabbergasted at Nick’s suggestion and Warrick hazarded a guess that Greg was an honest person that wouldn’t dream of lying to anyone, even for personal gain… Oh, how wrong he was.

 

“Fine.” Greg sighed dramatically, flopping down onto the sofa and stretching himself out. “Grab me a beer will you? If you want to steal me away from my studies then at least grant me this one pleasure.”

 

Warrick laughed slightly, taking one of the armchairs, watching as Nick skulked off to the kitchen to retrieve the three of them beers.

 

“So what do you want to know about married life? Perks or downfalls?”

 

“There are no downfalls!” Nick called from the kitchen, eyeing Greg carefully as he came back into the room. “It’s all perks, perks, perks.”

 

“For you maybe. I, however, was sort of used to living solo and you were a huge shock to the system.” Greg said, snatching a beer off Nick. “Downfall number one, the bed is cramped.”

 

Nick choked on his intake of alcohol, as did Warrick. Both men began to cough and looked hysterically at Greg.

 

“What?” Greg said, playing innocent. “It’s a downfall and I know if someone had warned me about it, I’d have second thoughts about getting married.”

 

“You can sleep on the couch if you think it’s that bad.” Nick retorted.

 

“Downfall two, partners sometimes get hormonal and you really don’t want to be on the receiving end of that.”

 

And Warrick actually laughed at that, so it went unnoticed by him when Nick gave Greg a thumbs up.

 

“I really hadn’t thought about that; I’d been in the house with two hormonal women… Ouch.” Warrick rubbed the back of his neck, looking between Nick and Greg.

 

“And I thought he was bad.” Greg quipped lightly, dodging the cushion that flew towards him. “See what I mean.”

 

“I can tell you a few downfalls too,” Nick said to enact his revenge upon Greg. “Clothes everywhere.”

 

“I don’t leave my clothes anywhere!” Greg protested meekly.

 

“Sure,” Warrick rolled his eyes at Greg, seeing straight through the lies. “Anyway, less about the downfalls, what about the perks?”

 

Both Nick and Greg exchanged a quick glance, wondering what to say because at that time they’d only found downfalls. Nick remembered back to his parents, what they had told him were the perks of getting married… Greg however was relying on what Papa Olaf had told him about when Nana had been by his side.

 

“Company.” Nick said, “You always have someone to talk to, someone to spend empty moments with. A companion that will always make sure you don’t feel alone.”

 

“Someone to keep you warm at night, no need for blankets anymore.”

 

“You care about each other, you look after each other, there’s always going to be someone there to make sure you’re going to be okay and someone that you know cares for you.”

 

“It’s like a friendship, amplified.” Greg summarised. “Friends care, friends support, friends keep you company, friends watch your back but unlike friends this person will always be there… Through thick and thin.”

 

Warrick felt as though he’d fallen through the looking glass- because things were suddenly very different to what it had been before. But at the same time as wondering whether he’d ever escape it and come back out the other side; he was glad to be there because his best friend was happy, in love with a man that he knew was actually a perfect match for him.

Comments

[mangojunkie.livejournal.com]

Awwww

The scene with them being able to talk hours about te downfall but nearly fialing in talking about the Perks is so funny. And yeah Warrick sees it as well, sees that Nick and Greg are made for each other. Now just the two of them need to see it. And that... can taek some time. Great story.

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

I always seem to find more downfalls about coupledom than I ever find perks, I suppose that scene reflected it xD

And yeah, if only they'd hurry up and realise they're perfect for one another then all would be well... But he-he-he... We all know that's not going to happen soon!

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[abbynormalitis.livejournal.com]

Awww. I don't know weather to be sad or happy. Everyone's falling for the illusion and it must be so hard to the boys. not only to lie, but to build up this kind, loving relationship that's just not there. Like they're lying to themselves along with everyone else. *snugs Greg somemore* Nicky doesn't get snugs until he apologizes >p Or falls in love with Greg. Whichever comes first!

Lovely chapter (all of it ;D) And I can't wait for more hun!

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

I know, it's sort of a hapad (or sadpy) situation... In one way you want to be happy, and in so many ways you want to be sad... I've already written the last few chapters (odd considering I'm on 8 out of 40 and yet 40th Chapter is done) and that's really sadpy.

Thanks for both the reviews, it lovely to hear feedback! And also thanks for reading xD

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

It was that sort of irony that you need to have somewhere... And Warrick sees exactly what we see... But they don't see it yet 0_0

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[boonesfarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Greg is amazing. Now Nicky will see it too.

Great story.

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

Damn straight.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! xD

[wojo62.livejournal.com]

I knew if Warrick came over to meet Greg he would want to get to know him and the plan to retreat to Greg's room would not work! Good chapter.

[donnab810.livejournal.com]

HAHahaha, that chapter was soo funny. Greg is soo funny!!!

I agree with Wojo, there was no way that Warrick would accept the quick hello from Greg.