nickngreg | Just don't expect the next part as quickly

Ok, so I had the day and managed to get the second part of the third part out, so it'd make the first part of the third part make more sense. (unlike that sentence.)

Title: You Say it Best When You Say Noating at All part two
Author: Saebuffyboy
Pairing: Nick and Greg
Rating: PG13-Rish
Summary: Greg has a rough night.
Part: 3.2/???

Disclaimer: Not mine. The people that is, the story is mine.

Part One: You Seem to Move Uneasy
Part Two: I Only Hope I won't Disappoint You
Part Three: You Say it Best When You Say Noting at All Part One

Greg pulled himself off the floor. Judging by the light creeping in around the edge of the curtains, he was running late for work. Greg couldn’t manage to bring himself to go anywhere near Nick’s bedroom so using Nick’s bathroom was out of the question. In fact, he could barley stand to be in the apartment at all. He brushed his teeth in the kitchen sink and somehow managed to change his T-shirt with out getting sick again. Greg took one last disgusted look around the apartment, grabbed his over night bag and cd’s out of the stereo. Before he stepped out into the late afternoon, Greg reached out and pressed the delete button on the answering machine erasing the only evidence of Nick’s infidelity and wishing he could erase it from his mind just as easily.

Nick pushed his way through the lobby for the third time that night, and emerged on the street as darkness was settling in on the city. Nick meandered his way up Michigan Ave., he figured a walk along Navy Pier might clear his head. He made it as far as Millennium Park. When he saw the giant fountain, he was filled with an sudden sense of longing for Greg. Something about the giant faces spitting water at each other seemed like it would appeal to Greg. Nick made a mental note to bring Greg here one day, maybe when they could weasel some time off together out of Grissom. All the thought about time off reminded Nick that he still had a few days off, and a second phase of his plan after the experiment. He pulled out his cell phone and began to flip through his recently called numbers. The first number, a call to his own place was no surprise. The time the call was made however was. His phone said he called around seven Chicago time and talked for three minutes.

“Impossible,” Nick thought aloud. “At seven I was in the middle of asking Carol to....” Now it was time for his mind to do the mental math. “Oh shit.” Was all Nick could muster as he began to call his own number again. His only hope was to erase the message before Greg could hear it. Nick calculated the difference in time and figured that it might be possible that Greg probably hadn’t stopped by Nick’s place before heading into work. Actually it was Nick’s only hope. When the phone started ringing Nick entered the pass code to access his messages from a remote location. An automated voice clicked on and told Nick he had no new messages.

“No, No, No.” Nick said over and over again. Breath catching in his chest. If he hadn’t been outside already he would have stepped out for some fresh air. He started to walk to Navy Pier figuring the wind off the lake, might make him feel better as he ran the possibilities of what could have happened. He figured that either Greg had been there when the call came in and heard everything Nick had said, or played the message and heard everything Nick had said. There was also the option that Greg had just hung up or deleted the message before he’d heard anything too incriminating, but Nick could not bring himself to be that optimistic.

Nick first called Greg’s apartment in hopes that he might catch him if he was running late. All he got was Greg’s machine. Next Nick tried reaching him at work. He called eight times in ten minuets and was finally told by the receptionist that Greg wasn’t expected for another fifteen minuets and not to call back until then. Nick, the hero, had never felt so in distress in his life. He looked around the pier at all the people and when he saw the two men walking towards him, one blond and one brunette, arms wrapped each other oblivious to the world around them that Nick’s stomach thrust in on itself and if Nick had eaten anything all day he was sure it would be on the sidewalk right then.

When Greg got to work, he was in a world all of his own. His normally meticulously groomed hair was sticking out around his head at odd angels. Well, odder angels than usual. The receptionist thrust a stack of messages at him and was giving him some lecture about not having people crowd the phone lines. Greg looked at the first message and saw it was from Nick. He tossed the messages on the counter and told the receptionist he was only taking calls from people who were on shift tonight, period. He blew past the locker room and headed straight to his lab ready to loose himself in his work and some Marilyn Manson. He had barley began processing the samples , when Catherine came in and turned the music down. She gave him one quick look over before saying what everyone that had seen Greg had been thinking.

“Rough night?” Catherine asked rasing her eyebrows at Greg’s disheveled state.

“I guess.” Was all Greg could say as a response. For the first time all day he noticed his appearance in the reflection of the glass lab walls. He noticed the wine stain on his pants, the tired look on his face, and to top it all off, his hair looked like shit. He had to fight to keep his hands from going up to it in an attempt to try and salvage it. “Got something for me already?”

“Um, not actually.” Cath suddenly lost her usual confidence. “Nick just called me from Chicago. Wanted to know how you were doing. He said you hadn’t returned any of his calls and he was kinda worried.”

“Yeah, well, I have a ton of work to get done tonight, so unless it has to do with someone’s samples, I just don’t have time.” Greg’s icy attitude matching the desert heat in intensity. Greg attempted to end the conversation there, by turning back on his music and back to his work.

Catherine stood there for a minute mouth opening an closing like a fish out of water. Greg had been pretty cold to her once or twice after the accident, and she didn’t mind. In fact it was almost comforting when he did. But his reaction was different this time, she’d never seen him lash out like this. All Cath could get out in her shock, was a simple, “It’s you business.” before she turned and walked out.

Nick figured he’d given Carol enough time and headed back to his room. Plus the battery on his phone was running low and he had to call Cath to see how her conversation with Greg had gone. He found his room empty, not a shred of evidence that anyone else had been there. Nick knew better than that he thought, as he plugged in his phone and dialed Catherine again, there was always some evidence left behind. Although he was sure the majority of it would be on his conscious.

Catherine had barley shut the lab door when her phone started ringing. She glanced at the caller id and sighed when she was it was Nick again. Before she could give a greeting Nick was already speaking.

“What did he say?” Nick asked frantically.

“Nothing.” Cath replied as she flagged down Sara who was on her way to the lab to see Greg, cell phone in hand.

“Nothing?” Nick repeated.

“He said he was busy and didn’t have time to take outside calls tonight.” Catherine explained as Sara moved over towards the red head.

“Well how did he say it.” Nick’s inquisition of the brief exchange between Catherine and Greg had started.

“Nick, I don’t know what’s going on, but believe it or not, I still have a job to do here. Whatever it is. Work it out on your time, not mine.” Catherine cut him off and shut her phone.

“Stokes?” Sara asked as she stepped up besides Catherine and began to walk towards the exit to start on their assignment.

“Yeah, he called you too?” Catherine asked sliding on her sunglasses to protect against the fading rays of the sun as they got ready to exit the building.

“He wanted me to see how Greg was doing and to try and get him to call Nick whenever he could. I was just on my way to talk to Greg when I saw you.” Sara explained.

“Well, whatever it is, it must be bad. I’ve never seen Greg look that bad, and I saw him in the hospital after.....” Catherine trailed off.

“Hey, we’ll figure it out.” Sara attempted to comfort Cath. “After all it’s what we’re paid to do.”

Nick threw down the phone in disgust. He’d tried to call Catherine and Sara two more times each but wound up with their voice mail each time. The receptionist refused to take any more calls from him, and told him she would file a harassment charge if he called again. Nick had called Warrick once but remembered it was his day off and hung up. He’d even dialed Grissom’s number but hung up as soon as he pushed send and realized that meant explaining to his boss why he needed to talk to Greg so bad, and to be honest Nick had no clue what he’d say if he actually got through to Greg. Nick decided to make one more call that evening. Within a few minuets a bottle of Jack Daniels and a bucket of ice were being delivered to Nick’s room.

A couple hours later Catherine and Sara returned to the lab with the samples from their crime scene to be processed. When they entered Greg’s lab little had changed from when they left. The music was loud and Greg was still pissed. On their way to the break room they overheard some lab techs talking, about how Greg had actually thrown a box of microscope slides at someone who tried to deliver his phone messages from the front desk. Catherine and Sara exchanged a look that said something needed to be done. Just then a crash from the direction of Greg’s lab. The girls turned in time to see a scared lab tech nearly running out the door of Greg’s lab, and Greg picking up a stack of manuals he had obviously thrown at the tech.

“Ouch, someone’s having lady problems.” Said a voice behind Sara and Cath. The two women turned to give their most scathing look to whoever was behind them.

“Hey I just meant, it looks like he’s having problems with a lady.” Warrick tried to cover his ass.

“What are you doing here, I though I was the only one who came in on my nights off.” Sara questioned him.

“Don’t worry, I just forgot my wallet,” Warrick held up his wallet in explanation.

“Well, while you here do you have a few minuets there’s something I want to talk to the two of you about.” Catherine took charge leading her colleagues into the first empty room she could find.

“Ok, something is going on with Greg and Nick here, and if we don’t figure it out soon, we may not have a lab left for Nick to come back to.” Catherine laid out what she wanted to discuss as another scared tech ran past their door.

“Well, based on Warrick’s observation, we’re looking at some lady trouble.” Sara teased her co-worker. “So what are the options. One of their respective girlfriends is cheating on one with the other?” Sara offered. “Or Nick and Greg are getting two timed by the same chick, Greg flips out, Nick want’s to save their friendship. And here we are”

“What kinda girl would be interested in both of those guys.” Warrick observed moments before Sara socked him. “I just meant that they’re night and day different.”

“That still doesn’t explain why Greg is so pissed at Nick.” Catherine tried to restore order to their discussion.

“Unless he thinks Nick stole her from him.” Warrick offered.

“Hummm,” Sara pondered. “That makes sense Greg could easily feel inferior to Nick. I mean Nick as a much higher profile job, A job Greg wants to have. Plus a record with the ladies, when’s the last time anyone even saw Greg with a girl?”

“Maybe we should go have a little talk with Greg, explain how it’s not Nick he should be mad at how every woman makes choices that can hurt sometimes.” Cath looked back and forth between Sara and Warrick before observing. “Maybe one of you’d better do the talking.”

The three coworkers made their way to Greg’s lab to find the young man digging through his drawers looking for something.

“Damn it.” Greg slammed one drawer shut and opened another. “Where the hell is that cd.”

“Hey Greg.” Sara had apparently decided to lead the discussion.

“If you’re here for you results, I told you I’d beep you when they were done.” He said without looking up.

“Actually,” this time Warrick stepped up. “It’s not about that. It’s about the girl that ran off with Nick.”

“What?” Greg could not help the surprise in his voice. His heart beat faster thinking of all the things Nick could have told them. “Has he been talking to you? What’d he say? Whatever it was is probably lie, that son of a bitch.”

“Hey, he didn’t say anything to us,” Catherine decided it was her turn even though she’d wanted to stay out of the discussion. “Just that he was worried about you and wanted you to call him.”

“So what, you all just sat around discussing what could possibly upset me so much, and concluded that it must be that what.... Some girl I liked ran off with Nick?” Greg said bitterly, in disbelief that the people who saw them every day could be so blind. Especially when it was their job to see what was going on, no matter how well people tried to hide it.

“Basically, yeah.” Sara confirmed his summary of their discussion. Greg went ballistic.

“How dare you come in here treat me like some suspect in one of your cases.” Greg’s voice was growing louder and the three CSI’s in front of him were beginning to wish they had never started this conversation. “You don’t know shit about what goes on in my life outside of this lab, or what goes on in Nick’s.” Greg was now yelling at the top of his lungs. Drawing looks from the people passing by his lab. “What would you say if you knew your precious Nicky.....” Was as far as he got, when Grissom opened the lab door and called for Greg to come with him in a tone far louder than anyone could remember him ever using before. Without another word, Greg followed Grissom out of his lab and into the other man’s office.

Greg sat down in one of the seats facing Gil’s desk as the door was shut and Grissom moved to his seat. They sat there in silence for a few moments. Finally Greg was about to open his mouth and say he needed to get back to work, when Grissom spoke.

“I don’t care.” Gil said in his tone that let Greg know he really did care, but was too pissed to deal with it now. “I don’t care what happens to you out there on your time.” He motioned to the outside world. “But when you bring it in here I do care.” Again he motioned this time signaling the crime lab.

“So what we have to check out emotions at the door to process samples now.” Sometime between the shouting in his lab, and being drug down to Gil’s office, the punk rock rebel in Greg had been awakened.

“No you don’t.” Gil concurred. A little smirk of triumph began spreading across Greg’s lips. “But it is part of working, for me, out there.” And just as suddenly as the smile appeared it faded. Grissom, held the one thing that Greg wanted, and was threatening to take it away.

“I’m sorry.” Greg muttered in defeat. “Stuff just got out of control.”

“You have the night off tomorrow, right?” Grissom asked changing the subject like he always did.

“Yes, sir.” Greg had reverted to old way fo being afraid of Grissom again.

“Why don’t you take the rest of tonight off and get this in control.” Grissom offered. “Two days from now, I’ll begin assessing your attitude again and hopefully we can get you out in the field again soon.”

“Thank you.” Was all Greg could manage to get out. Before the overwhelming urge to hug Grissom filled him, and he knew he had to get out of there before that happened. As Greg was at the door, Grissom offered on last piece of advice.

“Greg, why don’t you call Nick already.” If there was more Greg never heard it because he had already slammed the door and was thundering down the hall and out of the crime lab. He could take a lot from Nick, but dragging their boss into this was just too much. I f Nick was going to have fun while he was away, than by god, so was Greg.

By the time he got home showered and fixed his hair for the first time all day, it was only eleven. In nothing but his newly styled hair, Greg made his way to his room and began rummaging about looking for something in the piles of clothes in his bedroom. After a few minuets of searching he found what he was looking for. The simple black polo shirt Nick had insisted he wear home after Nick tore the shirt Greg was wearing to pieces a couple weeks ago. Greg had meant to wash and return it, but was glad he had not done so yet. Greg laid the shirt out face down on his bed and went over to his closet were he pulled out an old shoe box and a small travel toiletries bag. He opened the shoe box and pulled out a pair of scissors. Making sure not to cut though the front of the shirt, Greg cut a large V out of the back, including the backs of the sleeves. Next Greg reached into the box and took out a package of safety pins. He began attaching them along the edge he just cut off the shirt. When that was finished he took a spool of thin black satin out and cut two long pieces from it. He than wove it in and out of the safety pins starting at each of the sleeves and crisscrossing it over the back. When he had the desired effect he opened the toiletries bag and removed a bottle of spray glitter, a bag of skin safe self adhesive rhinestones, and a black eyeliner pencil. In the mirror facing his bed he applied the eyeliner in a matter of seconds than took the bottle of spray glitter and gave his hair and back a healthy dose of sparkle. He stood there looking at his naked form for a second before deciding to cover his entire body, minus his face in the glitter. He than proceeded to take his favourite pair of black leather pants out of the dry cleaners bag and slipping them on, remembering how he loved the feel of them on his skin. He wiggled into his new shirt making sure not to disturb his hair. Looking at his back in the mirror, he than pulled the loose ends of the satin tight so the shirt that was once two sizes too big for him, suddenly fit like it was custom made. He tied off the ribbons and secured them with a safety pin. Turning his attention to the mirror one last time he began to attach the rhinestones to his face. Two on the outer corners of his eyes, and the rest covering the spattering of birthmarks on the lower corner of his face and chin. When he finished he took one last look at his reflection. It’d been a long time since he’d dressed this way to go out, but there was one thing he was sure of. Tonight he was going to be the sexual fantasy of every gay boy in Vegas. And for the first time all day, Greg smiled with out even realizing it.

He was grabbing his last few personal effects and checking to make sure he had condoms and lube by his bed when he noticed it. That little red flashing light on his answering machine. He reached out to hit the delete button, but decided he’d rather do it after a few drinks, because he was sure it’d be easier then. And now that he looked at the time, he realized if he was going to get any of the boys he had better get going.

When he got the club a line of people were already standing outside waiting to get in. Greg marched past them and up to the bouncer.

“Hey Georgie.” Greg said as he leaned his body against the bouncer and planted a little peck on his cheek.

“Hey man, haven’t seen you in a while what’s up?” The bouncer was talking to Greg like an old friend.

“I got mixed up in something stupid.” Greg explained. “I just want to forget all about it tonight.”

“You picked a good night, hottest boys in Vegas are here tonight.” Georgie replied stepping aside to let Greg in.

“Well, they are now anyway.” Greg said over his shoulder as he walked inside.

Inside was everything the bouncer had promised. The club was full of half naked, half drunk, totally sweaty men all looking to help Greg forget his problems. But first Greg need to catch up to the people on the dance floor. He walked over to the bartender, threw down fifty bucks and began ordering drinks like he had just emerged after days in the dessert.

“Mind fuck me.” He ordered and the bartender hopped to it. “Make it a double.”

“I would as how’s it going Greg, but I think the answer is obvious.” The bartender joked as he set the first drink down in front of Greg.

“Red Headed Slut, Tie Me to the Bedpost.” Greg placed his next two drink orders before he even picked up his first drink.

“Is that an order, or a request.” The red head standing next to Greg asked.

“Woah, down boy.” Greg stopped the man before he got any ideas, and set the empty glass from his first drink down. “Freddie, give me a Lion Tamer too.”

The red head turned away, and Greg made his way though his drink order. He was feeling a good buzz and decided it was time to hit the dance floor. Remembering to always look available but be unattainable. That was until you wanted to be attained. Several men tried to dance with Greg but he was sure to switch partners as soon as possible. The sweat was beginning to run down Greg’s back and he could feel the heat radiating off his body. Just as he was going to get a few more drinks he found what he was looking for standing in the corner by the bar dancing with himself, sipping on a bottle of beer. Greg looked him from the dark hair and darker eyes, to the broad shoulders, to the fit of his jeans.

“Ding, Ding, Ding we have a winner.” Greg said to himself as he stepped up to the bar again close to he man who had been watching him dance.

“Misdemeanor, and a bottle of beer.” Greg ordered wiping the sweat from his brow. “Make it a double.” he called after the bartender. After he finished his shot, he grabbed the bottle of beer and walked over to his dark stallion in the corner.

“Hi” the guy said as Greg stepped in front of him. “I’ve never seen anyone look so hot out there. My name’s....”

“I don’t care.” Greg replied “you’re dancing with me now.” Greg grabbed the strangers hand and began to lead the way to the floor.

“What about your drink?” Greg’s soon to be new dance partner asked. Greg lifted the bottle to his lips and drank the entire thing without taking a single breath. When the brunette began to open his mouth to say something else Greg thrust his beer bottle at him and stopped him.

“I have no gag reflex and I can hold my breath for a really long time. Now stop talking and do nasty things to my body on the dance floor while everyone watches.” Based on the look on the other man’s face he had just came in his pants. “Or we can go to my place if you like it a little more private.” Greg offered.

“Let me get my jacket.” he replied and started wondering through the crowd. Leaving Greg standing dancing with himself and glancing around to make sure he’d made the right decision when someone stepped up next to him.

“Looking for you cowboy?” The spiky blond next to Greg asked.

“Pardon.” Greg replied noticing the familiar man next to him.

“You know the dark, gorgeous, Texan with eyes for you only.” The blond clarified.

“How do you know...”Greg began to ask, but then remember that this was the bartender from the little gay dive he had taken Nick to on their first “date”. “We’re not an item anymore. And my new stallion should be back any second.”

“Really?” The other blond sounded naturally shocked. “Cowboy came in the other day really messed up. Kept going on and on about how much he loved you and how the only thing standing between the two of you was his family, and how he wished he could either tell them or something, because not being with you was killing him. I’d figure you two would have worked it out by now. I see a lot of couples but none have seemed as into each other as you guys.”

“He said he loved me?” Was the only response Greg could get out.

“Yeah, and about a hundred times and a hundred ways.” The blond put his arm around Greg’s shrinking shoulders. “Go home to him.” is all the bartender said before turning away.

As the blond moved away, Greg’s brunette made his way back clutching his jacket and looking like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am.” Greg replied but put a hand on his new beau’s chest to stop him from moving any further. “But you’re not coming with me.”

“But I thought we were going to...” The stallion trailed off. “Never mind, I was an idiot to think someone as hot as you would want to get with me. What was I a joke with one of your friends?”

“Nothing of the sort.” Greg assured him. “In fact you see that blond over there.” Greg pointed to the spiky blond bartender. “Go tell him you want to play his cowboy. I promise you’ll be railing him in minutes.” With out another word Greg tuned and left the club stumbling slightly not only because of the booze in his veins but due mostly to words of his new favourite bartender in Vegas.

“He loves me” Greg muttered to himself as he hailed a cab.

“I love him.” Nick whispered into the phone the over half empty bottle of Jack in one hand, his cell phone in the other.

“I know you do, and I know he loves you.” replied the voice on the other end.

“So will you call him for me.” Nick asked taking a swig of Jack straight from the bottle.

“I’ll do what I can Nicky, but the majority of this is going to rest on your shoulders.” The voice assured Nick.

“I know.” Nick was swaying where he sat in his hotel room.

“It’s going to feel like the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do, but believe me when you do it and realize that the world didn’t come to an end, you’ll finally be able to be happy.” Nick’s phone partner comforted him. “Now I think you need to get some sleep.”

“Thanks, Mama S.” Nick said happy he’d saved this phone number after Greg had borrowed his cell to call home once.

“Any time Nicky.” Mrs. Sanders tightened her robe as she got up from the chair on the back deck of her home a couple thousand miles away. “Remember I love you and so does Greg. Just don’t push him too hard, what you did must have really hurt him if he won’t even talk to you. You’re going to have to earn it if you want him back.”

“I love you to Mama S.” Nick was almost ready to pass out.

“Please, just call me mom.” Mrs. Sanders requested as she walked back inside, shut and locked the door behind her.

“I love you mom.” Nick said laying down on his bed.

“Night Nicky.” Mrs. Sanders whispered into the phone.

“Night, Night.” Nick whispered back before the line went dead. He clicked the phone shut and laid on the bed for a few seconds before getting up and stripping down to his boxers and climbing back into bed. He laid there holding his cell phone for a few minutes before he made one last call for the night. He heard the phone ring four times on the other side before Greg’s voice came on leaving his instructions, and though he’d heard it numerous times before there was nothing Nick wanted in the world than to hear the sound of Greg’s voice one last time before he passed out.

Greg stumbled into his apartment and made is way to the fridge for a beer. Two beers he managed to get to his bedroom and pushed the play button on his machine as he began to untangle the black satin web on his back. He couldn’t bring himself to listen to the first few messages of Nick trying to explain what had happened and deleted them. He managed to wiggle out of the constrictive shirt and focused on removing the rhinestones from his face, when he heard a voice that stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Gregory,” the voice called into the darkness of Greg’s apartment and although his finger was on the delete button his hand instantly recoiled. “Talk to him. He’s sorry and he misses you.” There was a heavy sigh before the voice took on a softer tone. “Sweetie, don’t throw this away on a stupid misunderstanding.”

“There’s more than that.” Greg called at the machine as though it could hear him.

“I know there’s more to it than just that.” His mother’s voice answered his question. “And he’s working on it. Remember what I always taught you.”

“Love is patient.” Greg said at the same time his mother did.

“Just because he doesn’t love you the way you want to be loved right now, doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you with all he has.” Mrs. Sanders reminded her son. “Call me tomorrow, we can talk if you’d like” She said before hanging up.

Greg was trying to fight back the tears, that were welling in his eyes. “I will not cry. I will not be reduced to some fucking crying pussy, over Nick Stokes I will not. I will not give that fucking closet case the satisfaction. God damn it, god damn it, god damn it.” Greg shouted as he began to throw everything that wasn’t nailed down in his room. After a good fit of rage Greg looked about his more than disheveled than usual room. When something caught his attention lying on the middle of the bed. There it was, the shirt that Nick had worn that first night they were together. For the first time since he’d started seeing Nick, he flopped down on his bed clutching the shirt and started to cry. As the tears started to subside Greg noticed a message was still playing on the machine. He hit the repeat button to start it over. It was a faint sound, Greg had to turn the volume on the machine up and listen carefully to make it out. It was someone breathing, shallow uneasy breathing like whoever it was, was crying. Or had been. The longer he listened the more steady and rhythmic the breathing became, interrupted occasionally by soft sobs. Greg took off his pants and crawled under his covers and waited to fall asleep to the sound of his sleeping lover a thousand miles away. Things were far from alright, but Greg knew they were going to get better, they had to. His mom was already attached, and though he tried not to admit it, so was he.

Comments/Whatever welcome

Thanks,
SAEbuffyboy