For the September Challenge
Sep. 15th, 2007 10:40 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
rabidfan.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
nickngregFor the September challenge “Summer Love” at NicknGreg
Title: “Hard Work is its Own Reward”
Characters: pretty much the whole gang
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AU. Nick is a high school math teacher, Greg is a student teacher assigned to Nick’s school.
Part One
Nick was a good teacher. He knew he was. The run-down high school where he taught mathematics was lucky to have him. Gil Grissom, the principal and resident genius, told him so frequently. The fact that he was more known for his summer field trips than his classroom work didn’t faze Nick in the least. Any way he could reach his kids was okay with him.
Most teachers felt such optimism was a waste of time. The teacher’s lounge was the epicenter of the on-going debate whether Nick did more harm than good by “encouraging his charges to look beyond their station” in life. Conrad Ecklie, one of his most vocal opponents, taught English As A Second Language. Once upon a time, he’d been a good teacher. Conscientious, kind. Now, the other teachers whispered about burnout and stress disorders. Nick hoped Conrad never heard the whispers. He liked him. He hoped to get him out in the wilds this summer. Nick figured it was a way to help Conrad back; help him find himself again as a teacher.
Nick loved teaching. He loved that moment of clarity; that spark in the face of a student when they “got” it for the first time. When something that seemed impossible suddenly made sense. It was a rush like no other, and Nick knew that no matter how rarely that moment occurred at Vegas High, he wanted to be there to see it.
One of the reasons Nick had become a teacher was the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child. He had hit the jackpot with his own family; very few families had the kind of love and rapport that the Stokes clan shared. He wanted to share just a little of the warmth and understanding he’d always enjoyed with some who had neither. He found a lot of needy kids working at Las Vegas’ most seedy school. Some didn’t come any needier.
With the end of the school year in sight, students were beginning to ask what this summers trek would be, and how many would make Nick’s “cut”. Getting a chance to get out of the city was rare enough, but to have one of the nicest teachers in the school pay for the trip as well was a prize that all the students coveted. For some, it would be the only vacation they would ever know.
Nick was picky about who he took. The kids that made it onto his list had to be outstanding. That didn’t mean that they had to be straight-A students, for so few at Vegas could claim that. No. They had to be trying hard to succeed. They had to be active within the school, with athletics or the music program that Miss Sidle ran virtually out of her own pocket, or with the peer program, helping other students get ahead. There were many paths to Nick’s list, and lot’s of kids trying to get there.
It was shaping up to be a banner year for Nick’s trip. He had a working list of over thirty kids who qualified for the summer treat. Even with the help of Coach Brown along to chaperone, there was no way Nick could manage that many kids. Financially it’d be a squeeze too. He was beginning to sweat a little, but he had a month or so to work it out. Pulling himself together, Nick realized he was running late for the weekly staff meeting. Principal Grissom was surprising low key about most things, but he valued punctuality. Nick hustled into the teacher’s lounge just as Mr. Grissom stood to open the meeting.
“Now that it appears we’re all here, perhaps we can begin.” Mr. Grissom’s pointed look over his glasses made Nick shrug apologetically.
“Finals begin in less than two weeks.” All the assembled teachers sighed, as though on cue. “I realize that helping your students prep for finals isn’t your favorite activity, but teaching the same students again next year won’t be a lot of fun either.” Another pointed look silenced the dissention.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to help all those kids pass a test when they rarely pass one all year,” Mr. Hodges groused. “It’s like they don’t even try to learn the periodic table!” he seemed surprised at that, “I need help. Why can’t we get more help?”
It was an old complaint, one they’d all shared. Too few college graduates were willing to become teachers. The low pay, and the very real possibility of ending up somewhere like Vegas High kept the brightest away from the classroom. It was a pity.
Grissom looked up at Hodges, as though he’d voiced a new thought. “As it happens, we are going to have a student teacher with us for theses last six weeks.” That got everyone’s attention. “He is a science teacher, you’ll be pleased to note,” another look for Hodges. “He’s a little older than we’re used to with students, but solid academically. He’s fresh out of the military, and a former graduate of Stanford University.” Grissom paused here. Stanford? Someone with a degree from Stanford should be able to do better than Vegas. “His name is Greg Sanders, and I’m sure you’ll all make him very welcome tomorrow when he joins us.” Grissom smiled, as though he had solved all the staffing problems with this one temporary placement.
“Any questions? No? Then I suggest we get on with our day.” With that, they all filed out, buzzing about fresh meat. Coach Brown waved Nick over.
“Think he camps?” Warrick asked with a laugh. “Not that that ever stopped you from getting free help before.” Nick had to smile at that. Warrick had never set foot outside city limits when Nick first recruited his help. Now, he was a seasoned camper, and actually looked forward to the yearly trek.
“I was thinking just this morning that we’d need another teacher with us if all the kids on the list make it to the end of term.” Nick sighed. He hated the idea of turning any of the kids down. “I don’t see how we can control thirty kids with just the two of us. Think Mrs. Willows will still be willing to come?”
Recently Warrick and Catherine Willows, the girls’ fitness instructor, had had a falling out. It had put a strain on the friendly banter the teachers had with each other, but lately things between the two seemed to be evening out.
“She was just asking where we were going this year, so I’d say that’s a yes.” Warrick looked a little sheepish. He knew a lot of the tension remaining was due to his own unwillingness to open up about his feelings. He’d rather have root canal surgery than talk about feelings.
Nick was relieved. They needed a woman along or they’d have to make it “boys only”. That would cause a lot of hurt feelings, and Warrick wasn’t the only one that wanted to avoid that topic.
“So all we need to do is round up another teacher or two, and we’ll be set! Well, that and figure out where we can take thirty kids and not have them burn the place down!” Nick shot one of his dazzling smiles at his friend. Warrick just sighed. Nick’s eternal optimism was old-hat to him. He could almost ignore it. Almost.
“Maybe the student teacher will be a camper after all.” Warrick tried his own hand at optimism. “Maybe he’ll be a regular Eagle Scout.”
Nick snorted. “Let’s not get carried away.” He smiled again, turning to start towards his classroom. “Let’s just hope he’s not hopelessly stupid and that he likes teaching. I’ll settle for that.”
“Now who’s getting carried away?” Warrick tossed back, heading towards the gym. “See you at lunch?”
But Nick was already lost in thought, caught up in his hopes for the summer, and for the new student teacher.
By the time Nick made it to the teacher’s lounge for a cup of coffee the next morning, the whole staff was already buzzing about the new teacher. Everyone, it seemed, had already met him. All save Nick. Nick decided that he would fix that immediately. If the guy was a science teacher, he would be with Hodges. If Hodges was breathing, he was in the teacher’s lounge drinking coffee. No one ever said Nick had wasted the cash his parents had spent on his education.
His first glance was promising. Greg was standing with his back to the door. Nick took in a tall, slender man with good shoulders and long limbs. “Looks like a swimmer,” he thought. It made him smile. Warrick was right. He was already sizing the guy up to see if he’d be useful on the upcoming excursion. Mrs. Willows caught his eye and gestured to Greg to turn around.
“Greg, I’d like to introduce Nick Stokes. Nick teaches math.” Catherine smiled at Nick. “Nick, this is Greg Sanders. He’s on loan to us for the next six weeks. He’ll be working with David in the science department.”
Momentarily struck dumb, Nick extended his hand to Greg. “Wow” was the most coherent thought in his head. The front completely lived up to the back. Warm brown eyes below expressive brows, delicate features, a mobile mouth, lush lips. Nick knew he’d been quiet too long. Every eye seemed to be upon the two of them. Looking into Greg’s eyes, Nick knew he’d been caught. A small, rueful smile played across that tantalizing mouth.
“I’m Greg Sanders, how do you do?” Greg broke the silence. “I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone. Catherine says you teach math?”
“Yeah.” Nick stammered. “Math.” Giving himself a mental shake, Nick gave his best, most dazzling smile to the man still shaking his hand. “Welcome. What brought you to teaching?”
“My parents are both teachers,” Greg stated with obvious affection. “They showed me it was a career to be proud of; that could make a real difference. So, when I had my GI money burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to finish up what I’d started at Stanford and follow in their footsteps.”
He delivered his little speech with a rueful smile, indicating he didn’t take himself too seriously. Still, what he’d said was pretty impressive to Nick. Solid family, good ideals with the conviction to carry through. This guy was quickly becoming someone Nick could fall for. Nick knew he’d be in trouble if he didn’t tread carefully.
Warrick interrupted with a good-natured shove at Nick. “Yeah, all that’s just great, but do you camp?”
Greg’s bemused expression brought laughs from the assembled teachers. Catherine took pity on the furiously blushing Nick and explained to Greg. “Nick here takes the top students on a camping trip each summer. The kids work hard to snag spots on the trip, and this year he’s going to need extra help keeping them all in line.”
“I go along,” Warrick picked up the explanation. “And Catherine, sometimes Sara Sidle from the music department, and some of the others help out as they can.” Warrick’s green gaze seemed to drill through Greg. “So, rookie. Do you camp?”
Hodges broke in with a resentful huff. “Don’t try to get him into one of your departments. He’s a science wanna-be, so he belongs to me. Period.” He glared at the startled Greg. “This is a school of losers. Just accept that you’ll be teaching summer school, not hanging out with the chronically buff.” He gave a vigorous nod, as though that put an end to all discussion on the subject. With one more poisonous look at the assembled group, he clutched Greg’s arm and dragged him from the lounge.
Greg looked back with all the appearance of amusement and called “I’ll get back to you about the camping!” as he disappeared down the hall.
The assembled teachers laughed and began their preparations for their day, all equally charmed by the new student teacher. Nick was more than charmed, and he was feeling guilty for the thoughts he was having over a student. Sure, he was old enough. Sure, it had appeared that he was very well aware of Nick’s interest, and that he wasn’t adverse to it. Yeah, Nick was in trouble.
The kids in Nick’s fourth period class were buzzing about the new science teacher. “Mr. Sanders is so cute!” and “Mr. Sanders is so funny!” were a sampling of the girls take. “Mr. Sanders is cool.” And, “Mr. Sanders was a Paratrooper!” rang out from the boy’s conversations. Nick had to smile. Greg was making a name for himself on his very first day.
True to his word, Greg sought out Nick early the next day to inquire about the camping trip. “I’d love to go, if it’s okay with you.” In deed, he seemed excited at the prospect. “I used to camp with my dad over the summer. I miss it, and the kids seem great. It’d be a blast.”
“It’s usually good times,” Nick concurred. “It helps to have a good turn out of teachers. It keeps the urges down, if you know what I mean.” Nick’s rueful smile told Greg what Nick was leaving out.
“Yeah. Nothing kills rebellion and libido like a tent full of teachers!” Greg smiled, “So, where are you planning on going?”
“I’m still narrowing it down to where I can take thirty plus kids and still pay my mortgage.” It was proving to be more of a challenge than Nick thought it would be.
“Well, I have an idea that may work for you, if you want.” Greg was diffident. He didn’t want to assume; step in where he wasn’t wanted. But he had camped near by with his family, and thought it may be the answer to Nick’s problem.
“Hey, I’m open to suggestions!” Nick wasn’t the type to turn down advice. Given who was giving the advice, he was even more open to suggestion than normal. Not that he would be sharing that tidbit with his newfound friend any time soon.
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Date: 2007-09-15 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-15 06:19 pm (UTC)Thanks for the nice words!
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Date: 2007-09-15 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-16 10:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-16 06:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-16 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-16 03:59 pm (UTC)lori
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Date: 2007-09-16 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-16 07:17 pm (UTC)Thank you for saving my sanity. Because I saw this fic when you posted it first but when I wanted to actually read it it was gone. I have spent the last 4 days wondering if I might suffer from haluzinations. YOu just proofed I don't. =) Thaks.
And I love it that so far no one in your fic is a bad guy. Very good. And nick is already falling. Lalalalalal =)
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Date: 2007-09-16 10:50 pm (UTC)No bad guys in this one. Not even Ecklie.
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Date: 2007-09-17 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 02:07 am (UTC)