nickngreg | Fic: Life Changes 19/29 (Reply)

TITLE: LIFE CHANGES
RATING: NC-17 only for graphic description of crime scene
PAIRINGS: Nick/Greg
WARNINGS: Very adult content and language. Crime scene descriptions and blood
SUMMARY: A casual remark can change a life
SPOILERS: None
BANNER: Created by Bflyw
DISCLAIMER: If you don’t recognize it, it’s mine. Otherwise, everything belongs to Bruckheimer, CBS and Zuicker.

Previous chapters can be found here

Three weeks after Nick’s 49th birthday, life changed again for a lot of people. As I mentioned earlier, a lot had happened to Greg and Nick in the 9 years they’d been together.

Two months after Sara transferred to Swing, she turned in her resignation, took 2 weeks of sick leave and left Las Vegas. Catherine who had begun to agree more and more with Nick about Grissom found her old instincts kick in; she felt she had to take care of him. She went to him and asked if he was OK. She was surprised when he not only did not say he ‘was fine’, he actually asked her to have breakfast with him like they used to. They met at their favorite diner from the old days.

When they walked in together, Mabelle, their favorite waitress looked up and said, “My God, I thought you two had died.”

Mabelle was now the owner but she showed them back to their usual booth, handed them menus and said she would be their waitress. They ate; getting comfortable with each other. Finally, Grissom leaned back and said, “I know you think I’m pining away, but I’m really not. I think I’m relieved.”

Catherine asked him if he had really loved Sara. His response was no, he thought he was scared of turning 50 and being alone.

“Sara was always there telling me we belonged together; no one could understand me like she could and it was easy to just go along with her. I tried to convince myself she was the love of my live, but I think I always knew she was just ‘familiar’.” Grissom let out a little embarrassed chuckle and said, “I sure managed to mess up my life didn’t I?”

Catherine agreed that he certainly had. She also told him that it was possible he could get his supervisor status back now that Sara was gone but Grissom told her he was a lot happier as a CSI 3 working the cases.

“After all, Cath; it’s always been the work, the science, the evidence that I got off on. It was never the leadership. I only held on as long as I did because when I took over all of you were so young and new. I wanted the opportunity to train you all to be not just good CSI’s but great ones and I think I’ve done it.”

Catherine and Grissom tried to regain their old friendship but it was never the same. Nick did not change his mind. He worked with Grissom and treated him with the same respect and courtesy he gave to all his co-workers but he never called him Gil or even Gris; it was always Grissom.

Three years later, Ecklie was named Director of the Las Vegas Crime Lab. His first action was to name Catherine the new Assistant Director. Catherine’s first action was to name Nick Stokes the new supervisor of the Graveyard Shift. No one was more surprised than she was when Nick didn’t jump at the promotion. In fact, he went to her office to tell her he did NOT want to be supervisor. All she could do was look at him and say, “Why?”

He sat down, leaned forward in the chair and told her why.

“Cath, it’s Grissom and Sara all over again. Greg and I are in a permanent relationship. You were at our commitment ceremony for God’s sakes. The only way it would work would be if Greg went to another shift and I will not allow that. We don’t see each other enough as it is with the case loads we carry and I’m not about to give up a single second with him. The promotion isn’t worth it to me.”

Catherine thought for a moment. She knew she had to have Nick as Graveyard supervisor to make her plans for the lab come true. Finally she said, “Nick, there is no comparison between your situation and Grissom’s. In the first place, you and Greg have been completely open and aboveboard about your relationship. You came to me when you two started seeing each other and made sure that I knew about it so I could keep Greg under my supervision while he was being trained. You did not work together on cases until he was a level 2. With the awards and commendations the two of you have acquired, no one could possibly say you were showing favoritism. I will personally do Greg’s evaluations and assessments.”

Nick thought a moment and said, “I would have to have it in writing signed by both you and Ecklie. Greg and I will always work the same shifts for as long as we work here at this lab.”

Catherine said, “I think I can assure you of that. Give me one week before you officially turn me down, OK?”

Nick said he would.

Ecklie had no problem, had the document drawn up and both he and Catherine signed it with pleasure. She thought everything was taken care of until Grissom stuck his head in her office and asked to speak with her. She was totally unprepared when he handed her his resignation. She sat silent for a few moments and finally said exactly what she had said to Nick; “WHY? Is it because Nick is the new supervisor? Do you think you should be?”

“Absolutely not. I told you I didn’t want to be in charge. Nick will be so much better than I was, in fact, he will be better than you were. No, I think it’s time for a change. I’m over 60 now and I can’t get down on my knees like I used to. I’ve been offered a professorship at the University of Las Vegas. I would like to work out a deal with you and Ecklie to work as a special consultant to the Lab when you have a case that needs my expertise. This is a perfect fit. I can teach the new ones the basic's better than anyone else and steer the best of the bunch to you where you and your guys can finish them off. We could have the best CSI assembly line in the US.”

They talked some more and Grissom told Catherine some personal things that surprised her even more than his resignation.

Grissom once said there would be no cake in the break room when he left. He was so wrong. There was a week long party that involved every person who had ever worked with him. Even Fromansky showed up and shook his hand. When he left, he was stunned at the depth of affection he had been shown. He’d never realized people felt that way about him.

Later, Nick and Cath were talking about his new life. Nick asked Catherine to tell him the truth; did Grissom really leave for the reasons he gave or did he just not want to work for him. Catherine smiled and said, “Well, Nicky; he actually is jealous of you.”

Nick got up and walked rapidly around the room, shaking his head. “I knew it, I just knew it. He couldn’t face the idea that I would be the one giving assignments and evaluating him.”

Catherine laughed and said, “Oh no Nicky; that’s not what he’s jealous of. It’s your relationship with Greg. He said every time he looked at the two of you, the love between you was so obvious it almost shed a light around you. It made him realize what an idiot he’d been for getting involved with Sara and made him ache for what he would never have.”

Nick was amazed. He sat down and just shook his head.

Catherine told him Grissom wasn’t the only one. “Every time I think that maybe the guy I’m seeing at the time might be OK, I look at you and I see what real love can be. I may be alone for the rest of my life, but I’m not going to be like Grissom. I’m not going to settle.”

Nick smiled at the woman he still loved and said, “Have you ever thought that maybe, you don’t have to be looking all over town for Mr. Right? He might be right under your nose.”

Cath laughed again and said, “Oh yeah, I can just see Greg agreeing to a threesome and being willing to share you.”

Nick said, “I’m not talking about me. For a smart woman, sometimes you can’t see evidence that’s right in front of you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Nick got up, walked over to Catherine, turned her around and walked her over to the door of her office. “What do you see across the hall?”

“Warrick working on some evidence in the layout room.” At that moment, Warrick felt the eyes on him, looked up and smiled his warm, sweet smile when he saw his two friends standing there watching him.

He walked over to them. “What’s up with you two? Now that you’re both bosses, you don’t do any work anymore?”

Nick said, “No I was just breaking the bad news to Catherine that Greg and I aren’t going to be able to take her out to dinner tonight. Lindsay stood her up and Lily is off on a trip with her senior group and Cath’s alone tonight. Do you think you could step in?”

Warrick said, “Let me see…taking the most gorgeous woman in Las Vegas out for dinner or settling for a TV dinner and watching a 3rd rate football team. How can I possibly make a choice between those two?”

Nick smiled inside but with a straight face he told the two confused, starry eyed adults he had to get back to work and he’d leave them to settle the details.

Eleven months later, he and Greg stood up with Warrick and watched Jim Brass escort a glowing Catherine Willows down the aisle. Everyone said it was the best wedding they’d been to since Nick and Greg’s commitment.

One of the other changes was Nick’s health. He’d gotten a bad cold at a crime scene that turned into bronchitis and finally pneumonia. It had taken months to completely get over it and he was left with sinus that acted up every time he got tired or run down. He was coming down with a case of sinusitis, his doctor had called in a new prescription but Nick had to attend a budget meeting with Cath and the other 2 supervisors at 8.00am right after his shift. Greg told him not to worry; he’d pick up the drugs, stop by the store and get juice and more water and be waiting for him at home when he got there.
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Greg did not know when he’d seen the drugstore so crowded at 8:30am. That’s what comes from living in a city that runs 24/7 he guessed. Thank heavens, the prescription had been called in. At least he didn’t have to wait in line to turn it in and then wait for it to be filled.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Officer Campbell; no, make that Detective Jacob Campbell standing behind him.

All those years ago when he and Nick had first come out, there had been some nasty comments until Brass, Vega and Vartann had a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting and told the rank and file they could grouse all they wanted on their time but when it came to work, they were expected to protect every single CSI at the risk of their own lives and if they didn’t want to do that, the path to the front door was clear.

Officer Campbell had come up to both of them when they walked out of the lab at the end of that day. He told them he was a Christian and the bible said their actions were wrong. Nick was fuming and was ready to take him down when he added, “I may not like your life style and I may think you’re both sinners but I’ve never known either of you to do a dishonest or dishonorable thing. I will protect you both and I will make sure that every officer I work with protects you. I give you my word of honor.”

Nick looked at the earnest young man in front of him and asked him if he would shake his hand. Officer Campbell shook hands with both Nick and Greg and they had built a strange and unusual friendship from that day forward.

Greg and Jacob stood there talking about Nick and Jake’s wife and little girl and were passing the time when suddenly there was screaming and shouting and people started running back to the pharmacy. They looked up and saw 3 guys; one on each side and one in the middle of the store. They had masks on and what looked like Uzi’s in their hands. Greg turned slightly, ducked behind Jacob, pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and speed-dialed 911. He managed to get his name and designation out but that was all; the guys were coming back towards them faster than he realized. He slipped the open phone up on the counter behind a gum display, turned around and put his hands up.

Two of the guys were herding everyone together and the third was going behind the counter with a duffle bag. They were obviously after the drugs and money. Greg turned to the two who were guarding them and said in a loud voice, “Boy you guys have really got balls. Just three of you robbing Carlisle Drugs, the biggest drug store in Las Vegas at 9.00am. That takes guts.”

The bigger guy came over to Greg and shoved the gun in his ribs hard enough to leave a bruise and said, “What are you, a wise guy?”

Greg shook his head and tried to pretend like he was really impressed by the guns and the tough guys. “No, No…I’m serious. I love all those crime shows on A&E and the Discovery Channel. They’re always showing these serious crimes but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this. Just the three of you and there must be 40 people in here and you’ve got complete control.”

Greg tried his best to put an expression of admiration on his face. It must have worked because ‘Big Crook’ took the gun out of his ribs, backed away and told him to keep quiet and stay still with his hands up. Greg hoped to God, he’d been loud enough for the 911 operator to hear the details of the crime scene; 3 guys at Carlisle Drugs with 40 hostages being held at gun point. It was the best he could do under the circumstances.

Everything would have been OK if the other one; the one Greg thought of as “Little Crook” hadn’t decided to get a few tips and started taking peoples wallets, rings and watches. When he took Jacob’s wallet he took one look at his police ID and started cackling like a demented hag.

“Hey guys, guess what? We got us a real Las Vegas Po-leece man. I bet this is just killing you ain’t it Pig? There’s nothing you can do except stand here and watch us clean this place out. How does that make you feel Mr. Po-leece man. “

Jacob kept his mouth shut and didn’t say a word. The guy kept on taunting him and poking him with his gun. Greg knew the minute it turned bad. The guy reversed his gun and slammed the butt into Jacob’s gut. Jacob went down, groaning and holding his stomach. The guy stood over him, reversed the gun and aimed it at Jake. Greg didn’t even stop to think. He launched himself at the gun, grabbed it and jerked it away from Jacob. The gun went off and Greg felt pain that made his burns from the lab explosion seem like a flea bite. He was unconscious when he hit the floor. He never heard the blast from the 3rd guy's gun that took Jacob Campbell’s life.

The SWAT team was already outside when the sounds of the two guns rang out. Their leader shouted, “GO GO GO” and they burst into the store both front and back. All three gunmen went down and miraculously only 3 hostages were wounded in the exchange of gun fire.

Jim Brass was working his last week for the LVPD. He was retiring to live with his Annie. She had come out from LA 2 years earlier for a 2 week vacation which turned into a lifetime together. When he got to the crime scene, he checked back with the 911 supervisor. He asked her if they had a make on the cell phone that was transmitting the events from inside the drug store. When she told him the cell was registered to CSI Greg Sanders, Jim knew his heart stopped beating for a few beats. He grabbed the leader of the SWAT team who had shown up at the same time he and his guys did. He told him he knew that at least one of their own was inside the store and had managed to turn on his cell phone. He was the Good Samaritan who had placed the initial call and given them all the info they had.

The SWAT commander was really good. Within minutes he had his team deployed; some in the back, a few ready to break through the glass doors in the front. He’d even deployed 4 guys to the roof to see if they could get entrance up there. The men on the roof had actually gotten inside an air vent and were almost in place when the shots were heard.

After that, so many things happened at the same time that no one was exactly sure how things went down. Jim thought that one moment he was talking to the commander, the next he heard shots, then he was waiting outside the store while SWAT went in and took down the bad guys.

He really came back to the present when he bent down between Greg and a body without a face. There was so much blood, he was soaked through within seconds of kneeling. “Ah God kid, what the hell have you gotten yourself in this time?” he thought. From the bottom of his rib cage to the top of his head, Greg looked fine. The left side of his body was gone and Jim was looking at his guts spilling out of the huge gaping wound where his hip used to be. He couldn’t do anything to stop the blood, all he could do was hold Greg’s hand and tell him over and over again that he would be OK, the medics were on their way, he would be OK.

The paramedics had to pry Greg’s hand out of his to get him away from him. No one had ever seen Jim Brass cry and no one felt like saying anything about the tears running down his face as he followed the gurney out to the ambulance. No one had the guts to try to stop him from climbing into the ambulance with Greg