kristen999 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kristen999) wrote2005-07-13 08:39 pm
kristen999) wrote2005-07-13 08:39 pm
"Reclaiming Life" Parts 4 and 5
Title: Reclaiming Life
Authors: Kristen999 and Shacky20
Category: Drama/Angst
Spoilers: Grave Danger
Disclaimer: All rights belong to CBS and all their fine writers. Please don't sue. This is just for fun.
Summary: The Team try to help Nick recover after his abduction and move on. Little does anyone know the true ramifications of this traumatic experience has had on everyone. Goes from the events in the episode to the days and weeks afterwards. This is a Nick-Greg-Warrick Friendship. There is drama, angst and even humor.
Notes: This story was written by both Kristen999 and Shacky 20.
CHAPTER 4 BY Shacky
Chapter 4 by Shacky
**************************
Greg turned to look at his charge for the night, who was presently sitting on the couch solemnly. He closed and locked the door after seeing Warrick take off. Greg walked back towards the living room. Something had grabbed Nick's attention again, and he was completely engrossed in it. Greg saw this time what it was, a small brown medication bottle.
Nick realized he had been caught again for a second time in less than fifteen minutes. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he decided that honestly this time, would be the best policy. He couldn't hide it anymore.
"I just don't think I can take these, man. I know what they can do to you, and I can't feel out of control of the situation. I just cannot do that to myself." Nick desperately hoped his friend would get it and not press the issue too much. He wasn't up for a fight already.
"It's OK, I can understand that Nick, they really can make you groggy. Let's just wait on these for now. They'll be there later if you think you need them to sleep or relax later. All right?"
Greg removed the bottle from Nick's hands, out of sight out of mind he was taught. The ex-tech placed the bottle along Nick's kitchen counter with the rest of the medications. Jesus, there were so many. Greg shook his head. There were pills for everything: anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, medications to help him sleep, antidepressants just in case just in case all the other pills weren't doing the job, and now anti-anxiety pills completed the set. No wonder Nick didn't want to take anything else and feel more drugged up and out of control.
"Hey, can I get you anything while I'm out here?" Greg yelled from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I could use some tea."
"Do you want the hot stuff or the cold stuff?" Greg wasn't sure which he preferred right now.
"Iced please boss, although it was a nice thought. I'm not a hot tea kind of guy, ya know? Despite what Sara tried to hand off to me."
"Hey, no need to explain yourself to me," Greg said as he sat down a glass of iced tea for each of them. "Some things about me have changed, but I still drink enough coffee for the entire department." Greg always restocked the coffee stash, since he was responsible for consuming the most.
Nick laughed at that thought, how could he forget about Greg's coffee fixes? He hadn't seen much of the newest CSI since that damn shift split.
"Speaking of things changing. What in the world did you do with all of your old crazy shirts, man? Don't tell me they are ALL gone."
He looked over at Greg still milling around in the kitchen. Even though was off for the next couple of days still had on a plain old button down blue shirt, which covered up a plain old T-shirt, blue jeans and his black dress shoes.
"What is this man, a conspiracy? First Hodges, now you. What is this world coming to?" He waved his hand dismissvely at the perplexed look Nick gave him.
"Forget it, don't ask. Hodges tried to talk to me about fashion sense and style. Don't worry; I still have every one of those loud obnoxious shirts, thank you very much. I do still get to go out on rare occasions and need something fashionable to dress in. I'm just going for the more professional look now." Greg said, smugly.
"Well, it's just you know, it takes some time getting used to the new you. The old Greg was so, so not like this." Nick hoped his point came across without making his friend feel bad.
"Hey, the old me is still under here so you and Hodges can stop your worrying about it. The other Greg, well let's just say he's keeping a lower profile now." He turned his head to look back at Nick, who actually grinned at him, which was a great sight to see, even if it was at his fashion expense.
"Anyway, it's about time I think you got something to eat. What sounds good to you? Probably anything after hospital food for four days." Greg understood he had to get his friend to eat something with that medication, and he wanted to make it was as tempting as possible.
"Yeah, I could go for a little something." But the thought behind the words didn't even sound believable to him.
"Well, OK, let's try this again, but with a little more enthusiasm. Hey Nick, are you hungry for anything bud, come on, my treat. Even on my meager CSI salary now."
"Yeah, yeah, we all know, pay cut. I probably don't want to know what you made before your 'promotion' do I?" Nick asked jokingly.
Greg just looked at him and shook his head. "No, you don't, and you're stalling. Food, now." He pressed the subject one more time.
"Ok, Ok, let's see here, I think I could go for some Chinese. I think. Something simple though, just some fried rice or something." He figured the compromise was good since he wasn't too hungry, but knew there wasn't any getting out of it completely.
"See, now that wasn't too hard, now was it? Be right back after I make that phone call." Greg called in their dinner.
An hour later, after several empty cartons of chicken fried rice and sweet and sour pork boxes, and the now finished basketball game. Nick was lay there half asleep on the couch. The sight made Greg feel at ease, on the inside, for the time being.
"Not bad for breakfast." Greg deadpanned. "This is usually my waking hour, but my body has no internal clock anymore. How's swing going? I don't get to talk to you too much anymore."
"Yeah I know man. It's still difficult getting used to. I mean after seven years of getting up when the sun's going down, it's damn hard to sleep when it's dark."
He wasn't being sarcastic. After he would get home, unless he pulled a double, Nick would usually sit up until at least 4 or 5 in the morning completely out of habit.
"Well, night shift sure isn't the same without you, Warrick, and Cath. It's kind of quiet. Sara and Sophia aren't ones for goofing around too much. No one to play video games with in the break room anymore." That was one thing Greg really missed about his friend not being there, just his companionship.
"Yeah, I miss those nights too, but have to go by Commander Ecklie's rules now unfortunately."
Nick stifled a yawn, as he realized he couldn't keep his need for sleep at bay any longer. "Hey man, I'm gonna head on to bed."
"Okay man, get some rest. I know where everything I need is already, so don't worry about me. If you need anything, I'm right here." Greg said gently, as he gave Nick a soft pat on the shoulder.
"Sure thing boss, I'll be fine, and...... uh, thanks for staying with me..... I really didn't want to be alone." Nick was afraid to admit it, but he was thankful his friend was here.
"No problem. Oh, and one more thing, are you sure you don't want that bubble bath Nicky?" Greg shouted over his shoulder at the retreating man.
"Ha Ha Ha, real funny lab boy!" Nick went down the hall towards his linen closet.
"Just trying to help."
"Ugh! Hey!" Greg felt the dull thud of something hit him in the back of the head. Ah, his blanket for the night, then another soft object hit his head, yep, his pillow.
"Kidding man, just kidding," Greg couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Nick's face.
"Yeah remember that, next time it will be that spare bowling ball I keep under my bed." Nick played back.
**************************************************
Nick went into his bathroom. God it felt good to be home, his own stuff, his place, and his personal space back. There were so many moments he thought he would never be standing here brushing his own teeth. He finished getting washed up and went into his bedroom.
The CSI took off his sweat pants and changed T-shirts. His neck and arms itched. Hell, every part of his flesh was so agitated, but he wasn't going to think about that. Nick turned off his light, closed the door and crawled into his own bed. It was a pure joy to have some privacy. It was his first time being alone. Nick shook his head. He was NOT going to think about the last time he was alone. He sighed, now was not the time to go down that road, he chastised himself.
***********************************************.
Greg knew he wouldn't be able to sleep for several hours, and that was if he was lucky. It was only 10 o'clock. He was usually just getting ready for work at this hour. Everything had been so screwed up since that damn package come in. Twenty-four straight hours they spent searching for Nick. Then four more days back and forth from the hospital and Lab. He should be dead tired. But in reality, he was so wound up he could barely sit still, the adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. They found Nick alive. Greg wouldn't allow himself to think about what almost happened.
It didn't matter. All the what ifs and perhaps... were irrelevant now. Here he was sitting on Nick's couch about to settle in for the night while he took care of his friend. Yeah, life was pretty good at the moment as he sat there channel surfing.
************************************************
Dark.
His room was so dark.
Nick never realized it before.
Quiet, it was really, really quiet.
Wasn't there usually more noise then this?
After sleeping during the day and working nights for so many years, he still hadn't gotten used to the stillness of the evening. Where was Greg and why was he making so little noise? He was sure the younger man was still out there. He wouldn't have left him alone, would he? Nick knew he had been in here close to an hour, but no matter how exhausted he felt, sleep did not come for him.
Relax he told himself, take deep breaths, in and out just like the doctor showed you when he explained how to release tension. Where was his gun? Maybe he would feel better if he had his gun. Nick took it out of the drawer where he kept it and set it where he could see it on his nightstand.
Yeah, that made him feel better now. He grabbed it and turned the safety off as he set it down within arms reach. Now if he could just stop this damn anxiety.
Why the hell was he shaking like this? What the hell was this coming from?
It started ever so slightly. His hands trembled, at first. Then he switched to lying on his side. Being flat on his back, had started it perhaps. But, then the slight movements started to affect his arms, and then his whole body shook.
His room was pitch black. No color, just darkness. It used to comfort him, lull him to sleep. Now it was eerie. He closed his eyes despite the increased beating of his heart. The slight constriction in his throat.
He squeezed his eyelids tight then covered them with his hand.
It didn't help, he felt the fear. The bed, the outlines of the mattress around his body. It was unnerving.
He raised his hands in the air to make sure there wasn't a lid above him. It should have dampened the paranoia, but instead it just increased it. Finally he couldn't take it anymore. Nick opened his eyelids into mere slits.
There it was...a bright white light. In his room...shining right in his eyes.
He shot it out, he knew he had. Nick remembered that well.
The sickly sweet gum. His ears still felt sticky on the inside. It took forever to get them clean again.
Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was lack of sleep. Perhaps it was some odd side effects of his meds, but Nick would never know.
However, nothing changed the fact what that the light represented.
Pain and torture. He was under a microscope, and it was back in his underground hell. Nick grabbed his gun. He could do it again, shoot the damn thing out if he had to.
What the hell, OW!
Something was crawling up his legs, biting him. No! He wasn't sure if he actually screamed this time or if he was yelling inside his own head. There it was again, something was sneaking up his arms now and he kept brushing away phantom ants from his body. That light was still on. Damn it!
He shot it out....didn't he?
Who the hell kept turning the God forsaken light back on? He aimed his gun towards the light again, as the biting started once more.
"Turn off the damned light! Can't you see me?"
Nothing. No response.
" I'll blow it out again, I swear to God I'll do it. Don't think I won't !" Nick screamed at the phantom kidnapper who was peering at him through the bright light. He made his point by aiming unsteadily towards the window.
***************************************************
One hour had passed and Greg had found some classic movie slasher flick on Sci-Fi. He thought he would be sick of this stuff with his line of work, but movies where a different story. He got comfy in his T-shirt and boxers not too long after Nick went on to bed, and it was still only 11o'clock. His night was just beginning he thought to himself, as he took another drink from his coke.
"Damn this is gonna be a long night if I don't catch some sleep." He said to the empty room.
Greg hadn't even finished the thought when he heard shouting coming from Nick's bedroom. It wasn't just the screaming that sent him running. It was the tone: the fear and utter desperation dripping form Nick voice.
Greg was in Nick's room in a flash. When he got there, the sight before him chilled him to his core. No training had prepared him for a situation like this, or could it have. Nick was laying there in the dark, his right arm pointing his gun out the window, while his left was busy brushing away phantom fire ants off of his body.
The last thing he wanted was to spook his friend, but he needed to bring him back form whatever horrible nightmare and flashback he was trapped in. The younger man stared at the shaking gun pointed in one direction. He knew full well that Nick wouldn't think twice about firing it at anything that frightened him, as his body thrashed about the bed.
'My God, what did you go through Nicky?' Greg thought to himself.
The younger man knew he needed to reach his friend somehow, and bring him out of the place he was ensnared in.
He slowly opened the door further as quietly as possible. The last thing he wanted was that gun pointed at him.
"Nick..... Nicky?" he said very softly and as calm as he could in this type of situation.
"Nick, it's Greg, remember me? I'm here with you Nick, you aren't alone." He hoped the soothing tone would reach inside the CSI's nightmare.
"You're not there Nicky, you're home. I'm here with you this time, you are NOT alone Nick, I'm here."
"Greg, make it stop, make it stop, turn that damn light off please!" Nick half begged.
It made his heart break at the sound of his friends fear.
"Nick, you trust me right? You know I'm not gonna let anything happen to you while I'm here." Greg could see Nick shake his head slowly up and down in the darkness.
"Good Nick, then I need you to do something for me. I need you to trust me and close your eyes, can you do that for me?" Greg prayed he was getting through to his friend.
"I don't know.." Nick's voice wavered, still trapped by his fear.
"I know your scared Nick, but if you trust me, I can make it all go away. I promise, all right? Now just please close your eyes real tight for me." Greg pleaded to his frightened friend.
He could see him frantically nodding his head again though the dark.
"Good Nicky, Ok I'm gonna turn on your light on and it will all be gone, all right. Ready, one, two, three." With that Greg flipped the light.
The room filled back up with solid images of his bed, dresser, and closet. The nightstand came back into view, as well as his window.
"See Nicky, it's OK, you can open your eyes now. See, look, you're in your own room Nick, it's safe here." Greg tried to reason with him, hoping it would dawn on the other CSI where he was.
The grief stricken man slowly opened his eyes. He blinked several times as the safety of his bedroom slowly came into focus.
"Greg?" He looked at him panicked. "Oh Greg, God, I'm so, I'm so sorry, I didn't . . . . I mean..... Oh God, did I? .....What did I . . ." he tried to continue, but couldn't find the words.
Greg stepped in and helped. "Hey man, it's all right. Flashback aren't uncommon, just do me a favor please and give me your gun."
The Texan almost seemed surprised to be holding his loaded weapon, ready to fire it.
"Oh Jesus Greg, what was I . . What am I doing?"
He turned the gun around butt end first and handed it to his friend. Greg snatched it quickly, snapping the safety switch back in the on position, and set it atop of Nick's dresser.
Well, Thank God that part was over Greg thought to himself.
"Hey dude, it's all right." He sat down next to Nick on his bed and gently put his arm around his back, trying to console him.
"These things are gonna happen. You went through hell, and you can't expect to come back unscathed from it all. I can't tell you how many nights I woke up swearing I was covered in glass and smelled my own burning skin." That wasn't a lie to make him feel better.
"Yeah, but I wasn't sleeping I couldn't get to sleep. Too dark, too quiet." He was tried to explain behind a shaky voice.
"Then I saw a light, or...uh..imagined one and, I was right back there. It was just like that damn bright light, and, and I . . I grabbed my gun, and then I was pointing it and. . . I don't remember Greg, I don't remember." Nick rubbed his face wearily with his hands, truly terrified at what he almost did.
Greg once again laid his hands on Nick's shoulder to let him know he was there. Then he had an idea.
"OK, that's it, you're coming with me." With that Greg grabbed Nick's pillows and blankets off of the bed.
"Dude, we're having a sleepover." Greg walked out leaving a very confused Nick Stokes in his wake.
The Texan followed Greg out into the living room, where he had carried armloads of blankets and pillows back towards his original location.
"Uh bossman, a sleepover?" Nick questioned him.
"Yeah, remember sleepovers? Staying up late, well scratch that since we do that every night now. You know, play games, eat too much junk food, play more video games. You do have junk food in this house don't you?" Greg asked as he stalked off towards the kitchen, he was a man on a mission.
"Tell girl stories, play some more until your eyes bug out, paint our toenails and do each other's hair."
At the perplexed look he got from Nick he laughed out loud. "Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention." Greg shouted back over his shoulder from the kitchen as he searched for something they could munch on.
"What, no chips, no dip, no cheetos, no chocolate. Oh salsa, that's original." For the second time that night he felt something smack the back of his head.
"Some of us just eat healthier than other." Nick teased back.
"There's healthy, then there's down right boring, and you my friend are no Mr. Excitement."
"Well, I think there' some ice cream in the freezer, if it meets your high standards." Nick could feel the glare Greg gave him across the room.
"I knew you'd have something, now go set up your PS2, cause I'm so going to kick your ass at Madden 2005. Please tell me you don't use Randy Moss anymore, he is such a loser."
Nick went back in his living room and hooked up the game. He felt much better already being back out here, with noise, the lights, and the company.
"Yeah, like Mr. Atlanta Falcons should talk. What did happen to them, oh that's right, nothing. No, I go with Peyton Manning now." Nick was loosening up by the minute, he could feel it is his muscles.
"Well, at least that's an improvement, and I'm so going to beat all over you if it follows reality at all, cause I have two, no make that three words for you.
"New England Patriots." Greg yelled back over his shoulder as he inspected Nick's freezer, once again disgusted with the contents.
"What, are you a communist or something? Vanilla and chocolate, you really now how to walk on the wild side there, Nicky."
"I think there's more back there if you just look, and what's wrong with vanilla and chocolate, there's classics and I like them." Nick defended his ice cream choices to the younger man.
"Nothing's wrong with it, it's just so you. ....Ah Ha! That's more like it, it's no Chunky Monkey, but it'll work, mint chocolate chip. Wow, really must have been a special night there huh?" Greg joked, as he grabbed the carton and two spoons.
The ex-tech sauntered back into the living room and plunked down by Nick who had the game ready to go. He held out his hand and gave Nick his spoon and two small pills.
"I know you don't want to take them, and I understand, but you need to relax and get some rest, some real rest. Nothing, and I repeat nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here, I promise you that my friend." Greg said this as seriously as if he were presenting evidence to Grissom.
"Thanks man," the CSI swallowed, "for everything." Nick knew he needed to give in and get some rest. With someone here, he truly felt safe, so he swallowed the sleeping pill and one of his anti-anxiety meds with a swig of coke. "You Uh, ..........really helped me out back there, and um, ..........I don't know what would have happened if,.... if . . ."
"Hey don't. That's what friends are for. Not let's get at it."
Two hours later, and a half a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and getting his butt utterly whipped 45-21, Greg was beyond humiliated.
"Are you sure you don't want to do my hair, I mean it isn't too late to change your mind. See, it's longer now, come one, you know you want to." Greg tried his best to distract his friend, even resorting to batting his eyelashes.
"Take defeat like a man G, you got you ass handed to you by the Colts" Nick yawned. "Speaking of, what's with the flat look anyway man?"
"Oh, you know me, something different. Trying out a new style. What do you think?" Greg seriously wanted to older man's opinion.
"Honestly, man." Nick yawned again leaning back against his pillow which was spread out across the floor along with his blankets. "I kind of miss the spikes, you know, the finger in the socket style I liked to call it." Nick's eyes started to close involuntarily. "I liked that it was just so you, set you apart, like your personality. Don't let this CSI stuff change who you are too much man, the old Greg was fun."
That thought make the young CSI smile for some reason, he didn't really like it either, but thought it looked more professional, well as professional as he wanted to get.
"Thanks Nick, I'll keep that in mind."
Nick's eyes shot back open for a moment and he grabbed Greg's shoulder.
"Thanks again, G. I...I mean....I don't know what would have happened." Nick stopped mid thought. He wasn't the type of guy to talk about his problems, this was very hard. "I'm glad you're here."
With those final words Nick's eyes drifted shut one last time. "And I so kicked your ass lab boy." Nick grinned as he drifted off.
Nick's breathing evened out and he actually looked peaceful this time. Greg knew the combination of the medications would help him get a good nights sleep and hopefully keep the dreams at away for the night.
Greg went over and covered up his friend, but kept his arms out because he knew if they got to hot, they might start to itch.
"Sleep well my friend, you're safe now, I won't let anything happen to you tonight, I promise. Good night Nicky."
Greg quietly picked up their mess, and shut off the TV. He went over and grabbed his pillow and blanket to settle himself onto the couch where he could still keep a watchful eye on his charge just in case he was plagued by dreams. He wanted to remain close by. He reached up to turn off the lamp by the couch, and just as his fingers touched the switch, he thought better of it. They would both probably sleep better with the light on tonight. Greg laid his head on his pillow, and quickly followed his friend to sleep.
CHAPTER 5 By Shacky
Chapter 5 by Shacky
***********************
Greg woke up promptly at 8AM the next morning. He grinned when he heard Nick was still snoring away on the floor. At least he was getting some good rest Greg thought and felt relieved. He quickly got up and put his plan into motion calling Catherine. When the supervisor heard his idea, she was more than willing to do her small part to help put it in action.
After a quick shower, he didn't want Nick to wake up alone, he hopped back into the kitchen. He tried to scrounge something up for a quick breakfast before their little adventure, when he heard the soft knock on the door.
Greg walked over and opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb his sleeping man, who was sprawled out on the floor.
"Hey Catherine, thanks for pulling this together on such short notice."
"No problem Greg, anything I can do to help, ....uh.... why is Nick sleeping on the floor out there?" Catherine gave Greg a questioning look, but Greg thought he would keep their late night incident to themselves.
"Oh Nick, was having a hard time relaxing in his bed so we had a sleepover and played games until he finally just conked out. He looks so relaxed out here I dared not try to wake him or move him."
"He does look a little better, how was the first night home?" She asked, genuinely concerned.
"Um, it went good. I got him to eat some dinner, then we played some PS2 until he finally fell asleep. I felt better where I could see him." Greg was being half truthful, because he could rest better when he could see Nick, but Catherine didn't need to know Nick was afraid to be alone in his room. That would stay between the two friends.
"So, what are these big plans for the day with this?" Catherine asked, as she handed over the special order Greg put in an hour ago.
"I thought that it might do Nick some good to get out of here for a couple of hours today, if he feels up to it. I thought we'd drive up to Lake Mead, take in some fresh air, open space, have a picnic lunch. Thanks so much for bringing this stuff over. I really didn't want to leave him alone." Greg said, as he looked back over at his friend.
"That's understandable, and anything else I can do to help, you let me know. Oh, and I put in a bottle of bug spray since you guys will be outside. Nothing to spray directly on Nick, that could aggravate the skin, but something to put around the ground and the blanket. It supposedly blocks anything from getting in."
"Thanks Cath, I never even thought about that for some reason. Gosh, why didn't I?" He chastised himself.
"Hey Greg, don't worry about it, it's not something we usually think about, but I figured better safe than sorry now."
"Thanks again, and Warrick's coming over tonight to stay with him, he really needed to get some rest, he looked beat." Greg said, fishing for a little info on his other friend.
"Yeah, he was pretty tired after all those days at the hospital, thanks for staying with Nick last night. I don't think Warrick was up to it yet."
"Hey, I'm his friend too, and I want to help, so anything I can do, just let me know, okay?" Greg walked over and gave Catherine a quick hug.
"He's good, we're all good. Now we just need to get Nick all healed up and help him now."
"I know, doesn't make it any easier knowing when almost. . ." then Catherine stopped herself, knowing this was exactly the point Greg was getting across to her.
"I need to get home. You two have a good time today, but don't let him overdue it." Catherine still handed out the orders like the supervisor she was.
"Yes Mom, and I'll have him home before bedtime." Greg teased back and Catherine smiled that grin that Greg hadn't seen since before this whole nightmare started.
"Have a safe drive and I'll see you two soon. Bye." She gave Greg a quick kiss on the cheek and was gone just as quickly as she came.
Just as the door shut Greg heard grumbling coming from the floor where Nick was starting to wake up.
"Was that Catherine I just heard?" Nick asked through a sleep thick voice.
"Yeah, I asked her to drop something off for me. How did you sleep?"
"Well, I feel better. Like I actually got some rest if that's what you mean. I must admit those pills did help." Nick really hated giving into that fact, but it was true.
"Just remember they're only temporary, so what do you want for breakfast? How does some scrambled eggs and toast sound? Then I have a special surprise for you."
Greg was beaming, so Nick knew he had something planned. "Sounds pretty good. Are you gonna tell me the second half of the or do I have to guess?"
"Oh I'll tell you after you shower, go on, I'll make breakfast, and not one joke about my cooking abilities mister or no butter on your toast. So go clean up, and it'll be ready when you get back." Greg quickly put the basket full of sandwiches and pop in the refrigerator to keep them chilled until they left.
"Ok, give me ten and I'll be back." Nick got up a bit unsteady at first and shuffled his way towards the bathroom and his shower.
When Nick came back to the kitchen he could smell his breakfast cooking.
"Do I still need to guess or are you going to tell me what Catherine was doing here?" Nick questioned.
Greg looked up at Nick, and handed him his medication for the morning to take with his breakfast.
"No back talk about the medicine, just the essentials this morning." Nick looked at he pills with only mild distain but picked them up and took them anyway.
"I just thought you might like to get out of the house for awhile today. Nothing too stressful, just a little drive, a little water, a picnic lunch, how does that sound?" Greg asked, hoping his gesture wouldn't be for not.
"Really? Where to man?" Nick's curiosity was definitely piqued now.
Greg braced himself against the kitchen counter and looked up with a serious expression.
"There's this little spot up at Lake Mead I used go to and sometimes still do when I want to get outta my head. Remember what's good with the world, or just kind of think, you know? I uh ......I used to go there quite a bit after the, you know, after the explosion. I uh .....didn't know if I would ever be able to come back. I used to drive up there and just think and sit. I'd stare at the water, and sometimes it really helped. I though maybe I could take you up there today and just kind of relax. We could get some fresh air."
Nick just looked up at him, a little stunned for a moment. Greg never ever talked about the time after the explosion and he had no idea Greg thought about never coming back. The place where Greg Sanders went to clear his head must be a special place.
"That sounds like a great idea G, I think I could use a little fresh air."
"Great." Greg looked up genuinely surprised and happy at Nick's agreement to go. "Great man, I had Catherine drop by some sandwiches and soda and stuff in case you said yes. So whenever we get done hear with breakfast and cleaned up, we can head on out of here." Greg seemed enthused about their adventure.
***************************
An hour later after the dishes were picked up and put away, the SUV was packed up with a few things they might need. The two were on there way for a day of sun and relaxation.
Greg drove and headed South on Highway 582 towards Henderson, and then turned East onto Highway 564. Within an hour, they were pulling into Greg's spot, right around the Las Vegas Bay Area of the Lake. It was on the Western
Side of the Lake, not too far from Vegas itself. Nick had to admit that Greg had found quite a beautiful peaceful spot. Away from most of the tourists and boats, and people in general. Plus it had a spectacular view of the Lake, as far as the eye could see was blue water, and Nick breathed in the fresh air like his life depended on it.
"Go ahead and find a spot to sit," Greg yelled over to Nick. "Just let me grab these couple things, and I'll be right over."
The young CSI grabbed a blanket for them to sit on, the picnic basket that Cath had packed and the cooler for their drinks. Then he went to join his friend under a nice shade tree he had picked out that stared out right over the water.He brought over the bottle of bug spray and held it up and started spraying around the blanket. At the strange look from Nick, Greg tried to explain.
"Hey, better safe than sorry, man. I don't even want a knat coming within 25 feet of you. Speaking of, did you grab that epi-pen the doctor gave you just in case?" Greg forgot to check before they left the house to see if Nick had grabbed it. Like he said, he didn't want to take any chances at all with being outside.
"Yes Dad, it's right here." Nick grabbed it out of his pants pocket and showed Greg, who was giving him his best insulted look.
"Just trying to look out for you man, can't be too careful right now." He was serious though, he didn't want to think what another bug bite of any kind could do to Nick right now.
Greg grabbed a bottle of iced tea and handed one to Nick and then grabbed one for himself.
"I thought it might be a good idea to get out in the open for awhile. I used to come out here quite a bit, after, uh, you know, "BANG'!" Greg made a wild gesture with his hands, even to this day he didn't like to use the word explosion.
"You know I almost didn't come back to the lab." Greg said quietly, admitting a secret he hadn't shared with anyone before.
"No, G, I didn't know that. Did you tell anyone else?"
"No, I had to think it out for myself I decided. I was so scared, I mean literally scared to be in the lab for a while. I always doubled checked everything for the longest time. I began to second-guess everything I was doing in the lab, my ability to do my job, my ability to be part of the team. " Greg was speaking from the heart, and Nick understood that he was trying to get something across to him.
"But then I would come out here, and if I got off work at just the right time. I could get here just right when the sun would come up over the water. I loved my job, I loved what I did, and I loved working with you all. I realized that there was no way I couldn't come back, because that wasn't me. I wasn't going to be scared off by an accident." The memories took him back to a place that Greg didn't like being, but he thought it would help Nick understand he wasn't alone.
"You know Greg, I never knew you didn't consider coming back. I'm glad you decided to stay, it wouldn't have been the same without you." Nick was sincere, it was like watching his little brother graduate from college.
"Well of course it wouldn't have, I'm the life of every party." Greg laughed.
"Of course, how could I ever forget that." The smile on Nick's face felt good.
"Then sometimes when it got hard, when I thought maybe I made the wrong decision. I would come back out here. The time I failed my first proficiency I came out here and spent hours just thinking "What the hell have I done? Why did I think I could ever leave my 'Lab'?"
"You should be proud Greggo, you made it happen, all by yourself. You're a real CSI now, and still a hell of a Lab Tech. That's a lethal combination in a courtroom."
Greg chuckled at that comment, he had been told that several times. "I just hope that you don't let what happened to you destroy you like it almost did me. We were so scared Nick, I don't think you understand that part, you couldn't. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you, and if you need to talk." He grinned and handed his friend a sandwich.
Nick grabbed the sandwich, although he wasn't real hungry. He looked over at his friend and thought maybe he was right.
"Greg, I can't tell you how many times I thought ....."
Nick visibility shuddered at the memories and couldn't bring himself to contiune. Not yet.
Greg thought that maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."Hey, we don't have to talk about it. Just know if you need to, or when you are ready, you have lots of people ready and willing to listen. You will probably be sick of us all by within the next couple of weeks."
"I really don't think so," Nick grudgingly admitted. " I don't want to be alone....... doesn't that sounds crazy?" Nick looked away for a second, but forced himself to continue. "I need to be reminded I'm not alone, and I like hearing the noise, voices......."
Nick's voice grew quieter. This was difficult and his old habits of bottling everything up kicked back in.
"You won't have to worry about that." Greg knew everyone had their shift with Nick until he kicked them out. They figured he would know when he was ready for his privacy back.
Nick sat on the ground, and allowed his lungs to fill with fresh, crisp air. He never knew if he'd feel this alive again after his whole ordeal and even though he sensed that Greg needed to talk about things, he just wasn't up for it. Everything was too ...fresh and raw.
Talking, people always thought discussing things were a way to heal wounds.....it just was never his way. Move on. He wanted to forget, and re-hashing his experiences inside the box wasn't going to help him now. If he just concentrated hard enough, then he would start to salvage parts of his personality back. He looked over at Greg and knew the kid needed this as much as he did. He smiled slightly, the younger man was really trying.
"I made it out Greg. Everything's going to be fine. I mean, look? I'm out at the Lake sharing a sandwich with you and I'm going to heal, it will just take a while." Nick knew he wouldn't heal overnight, but he was feeling a better that he was out of the hospital and with his friends again.
The Texan swallowed, it still seemed like his friend had some reservations. Of course freaking out last night was bound to give the kid doubts. "I'm sorry about last night. It's....well, I just kept seeing that damn light in the darkness. It was so freakin' bright, and it was so stifling in there...I.......just... ..couldn't stand it being on all the time."
Nick took a shaky breath. He wouldn't share any more. All it did was rattle him. He just hoped that little bit of information would let Greg feel a bit better about things.
"I'm so sorry we kept that light on so long, if we had any idea what it was doing to you, we wouldn't have, but we just had to ..."
"Wait, what are you talking about? How did you know about that light?"
Nick's tone was troubled and his body had visibility tightened up, and up that point Greg realized he had opened his mouth once again without thinking.
"I, I'm sorry Nick, I thought you knew. I was sure someone had told you by now." Greg resigned to the fact that he would have to tell Nick the whole story now by the scrutiny of the Texan's glare.
"Shit man, I just assumed." The nervousness is Greg's voice was coming through.
"Well, I didn't and I would like someone to explain it to me. How did you know about the light Greg?" Nick knew his words were coming out harsher then he meant too, if wasn't his friends fault, but only Greg could give him the answers he wanted know.
"Not long after we knew you were missing we got a small packaged delivered to the Lab. It was a web feed and we popped it into the computer. On the screen, it said 'you can only watch'. When he clicked, there you were. Greg felt defeated having being the one to tell this to Nick, but he deserved to know.
At Greg's words, Nick visibly paled. He felt so violated. It wasn't like he hadn't been through hell, but knowing that they had all seen him. He felt humiliated, like an insect under Grissom's microscope. He wanted to look at Greg and tell him it was all right, it wasn't his fault he didn't know, but he couldn't. He was too ashamed and deep down angry at the moment. He waited for the lab tech to continue. He knew there was more, and he knew he didn't want to hear it, but he wanted to know what everyone else did.
"If we had any idea that it was doing that to you, or taking up so much battery, we wouldn't have. But, it was the only way we could see you. We had to know you where all right. See you were still alive." Greg said the last words so softly Nick had a hard time hearing them.
"Someone was always in there keeping their eye on you, making sure you were all right." Greg had a hard time hiding his own trauma of witnessing Nick's plight in the box. The memories still haunted him to no end.
"Hey man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come down on you." He put his arm around Greg's shoulder and gave it a squeeze to make the younger man look at him.
"I just didn't know. Needless to say this comes as a shock. And you're right, I can't imagine how helpless you all must have felt." He was trying to reassure Greg he wasn't upset at him, but deep down he felt somewhat angered that no one had bothered to tell him in the past four days they all watched him suffer, cry, scream in panic, and didn't tell him. He hadn't felt that violated since he knew Nigel Crane had been watching his every move in his own home. He felt himself pull back from Greg a little. He just wanted a few moments to think about the information just given to him, and how to handle it with Warrick and the rest of the team.
"In a way, it saved your life, because that was the only way we knew how to find you. Grissom had been uh.... watching the screen, when your face started to change. He could see you look down and squirm. Grissom panned in towards the cracks in the glass and could see them moving and realized they were ants. He waited until one of them crawled in front of the camera and took it's picture."
Somehow that though made Nick chuckle. Grissom taking pictures of ants as he was being eating alive by those things. He listened as Greg continue his story of that night.
"He found his book and identified it as a certain fire ant, which are very rare apparently in Nevada and only keep to tree and plant nurseries. We found every tree and plant nursery in the Las Vegas area. Archie and I compared the web cam transmission radius with the black box mileage we got from the kidnappers SUV and only two were within the overlapping land. Then it all happened so fast. Sara remembered that the kidnapper's daughter, Kelly, worked with plants and ran and grabbed her file, and found the nursery she worked in. She came running back into the room and pointed to exactly where you were." Greg told his story as detached as possible, but it was hard not getting caught up in the stressful moments again.
We went there with every available cop car, fire truck, responder unit we could, which was the entire department I think. Hell even Ecklie was there."
At that Nick looked up at Greg.
"You're kidding?" He was surprised to here he even helped out.
"I told you Nick, everyone was looking for you, we weren't gonna lose you when we were that close to finding you. And as bad as it may seem, if it wasn't for that camera and those fire ants, we may never have known where you were." Greg was trying not to make Nick feel any worse or embarrassed than he probably already did.
"Thanks for telling me Greg, I'm not mad at you." He wasn't upset at Greg, at least he had been truthful and let him know what had happened.
"I just feel bad Nick." Greg confessed, as he wiped away a couple of tears.
"I bring you out here to get your mind off of all of this, relax and enjoy some fresh air. Then all I did was add to your troubles."
"G, you didn't add anything, only one person is responsible for this and he's dead. I'll recover man, I always do." Nick smiled one of his 100 watt grins, and Greg instantly felt better.
What he said was true, but he would get his answers from someone. Warrick, Grissom, and Catherine. He wanted to know why no one told him this.
"I am glad you brought me here, I needed to get out for a while. I must admit the sunlight feels good, now how about we finish those sandwiches."
The two ate in companionable silence for the next hour. Enjoying the breeze off the lake, the fresh air, talking about Nick's fishing trips when he you growing up back in Texas. Reliving the case about the Scuba Diver up in the tree not too far from where they were. Nick was growing tired quickly and his caretaker could see his eyes growing weary.
"Hey, you ready to head back man? Warrick should be at your place soon, plus you look a little sleepy." Greg was trying not to sound overbearing, but he didn't want to wear his friend out.
"Yeah I am a little tired, let me help you here." Nick stood up but wavered somewhat.
"You're kidding right? Get in the truck and sit down, I'll get this. I'm here to help you, so let me do my job."
"Ok ok, I'll be in the truck waiting for you bossman." Nick was worn out, but he was trying hard not too show it too much.
Greg threw the stuff in the back of the SUV and hopped into the driver's seat. "I guess I'll let you pick the music for the drive home, and yes, that is quite an offer from me so don't mock me."
Nick smiled a little and put in an old country CD he hadn't listened to in quiet awhile. However, he could barely keep his eyes open. They pulled out onto the main road and when Greg looked over to ask Nick if he needed to stop and get anything, he was fast asleep.
*********************
"Hey man, wake up." Nick slowly opened his eyes, not knowing he had even drifted off.
"What, are we home already?" Nick asked through a fog of sleep.
"Yeah, that's what happens when you doze the whole way home. Come on, let's get you inside. Looks like Warrick is already waiting for us. I hope I don't get in trouble for keeping you out too late."
"Don't worry, I'll tell him I make you take out, he won't yell at me."
"It's not you I'm worried about right now." Greg looked a little concerned that he would scolded by the older CSI when they got inside."Come on, let's head on in before you fall down man."
Authors: Kristen999 and Shacky20
Category: Drama/Angst
Spoilers: Grave Danger
Disclaimer: All rights belong to CBS and all their fine writers. Please don't sue. This is just for fun.
Summary: The Team try to help Nick recover after his abduction and move on. Little does anyone know the true ramifications of this traumatic experience has had on everyone. Goes from the events in the episode to the days and weeks afterwards. This is a Nick-Greg-Warrick Friendship. There is drama, angst and even humor.
Notes: This story was written by both Kristen999 and Shacky 20.
CHAPTER 4 BY Shacky
Chapter 4 by Shacky
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Greg turned to look at his charge for the night, who was presently sitting on the couch solemnly. He closed and locked the door after seeing Warrick take off. Greg walked back towards the living room. Something had grabbed Nick's attention again, and he was completely engrossed in it. Greg saw this time what it was, a small brown medication bottle.
Nick realized he had been caught again for a second time in less than fifteen minutes. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he decided that honestly this time, would be the best policy. He couldn't hide it anymore.
"I just don't think I can take these, man. I know what they can do to you, and I can't feel out of control of the situation. I just cannot do that to myself." Nick desperately hoped his friend would get it and not press the issue too much. He wasn't up for a fight already.
"It's OK, I can understand that Nick, they really can make you groggy. Let's just wait on these for now. They'll be there later if you think you need them to sleep or relax later. All right?"
Greg removed the bottle from Nick's hands, out of sight out of mind he was taught. The ex-tech placed the bottle along Nick's kitchen counter with the rest of the medications. Jesus, there were so many. Greg shook his head. There were pills for everything: anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, medications to help him sleep, antidepressants just in case just in case all the other pills weren't doing the job, and now anti-anxiety pills completed the set. No wonder Nick didn't want to take anything else and feel more drugged up and out of control.
"Hey, can I get you anything while I'm out here?" Greg yelled from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I could use some tea."
"Do you want the hot stuff or the cold stuff?" Greg wasn't sure which he preferred right now.
"Iced please boss, although it was a nice thought. I'm not a hot tea kind of guy, ya know? Despite what Sara tried to hand off to me."
"Hey, no need to explain yourself to me," Greg said as he sat down a glass of iced tea for each of them. "Some things about me have changed, but I still drink enough coffee for the entire department." Greg always restocked the coffee stash, since he was responsible for consuming the most.
Nick laughed at that thought, how could he forget about Greg's coffee fixes? He hadn't seen much of the newest CSI since that damn shift split.
"Speaking of things changing. What in the world did you do with all of your old crazy shirts, man? Don't tell me they are ALL gone."
He looked over at Greg still milling around in the kitchen. Even though was off for the next couple of days still had on a plain old button down blue shirt, which covered up a plain old T-shirt, blue jeans and his black dress shoes.
"What is this man, a conspiracy? First Hodges, now you. What is this world coming to?" He waved his hand dismissvely at the perplexed look Nick gave him.
"Forget it, don't ask. Hodges tried to talk to me about fashion sense and style. Don't worry; I still have every one of those loud obnoxious shirts, thank you very much. I do still get to go out on rare occasions and need something fashionable to dress in. I'm just going for the more professional look now." Greg said, smugly.
"Well, it's just you know, it takes some time getting used to the new you. The old Greg was so, so not like this." Nick hoped his point came across without making his friend feel bad.
"Hey, the old me is still under here so you and Hodges can stop your worrying about it. The other Greg, well let's just say he's keeping a lower profile now." He turned his head to look back at Nick, who actually grinned at him, which was a great sight to see, even if it was at his fashion expense.
"Anyway, it's about time I think you got something to eat. What sounds good to you? Probably anything after hospital food for four days." Greg understood he had to get his friend to eat something with that medication, and he wanted to make it was as tempting as possible.
"Yeah, I could go for a little something." But the thought behind the words didn't even sound believable to him.
"Well, OK, let's try this again, but with a little more enthusiasm. Hey Nick, are you hungry for anything bud, come on, my treat. Even on my meager CSI salary now."
"Yeah, yeah, we all know, pay cut. I probably don't want to know what you made before your 'promotion' do I?" Nick asked jokingly.
Greg just looked at him and shook his head. "No, you don't, and you're stalling. Food, now." He pressed the subject one more time.
"Ok, Ok, let's see here, I think I could go for some Chinese. I think. Something simple though, just some fried rice or something." He figured the compromise was good since he wasn't too hungry, but knew there wasn't any getting out of it completely.
"See, now that wasn't too hard, now was it? Be right back after I make that phone call." Greg called in their dinner.
An hour later, after several empty cartons of chicken fried rice and sweet and sour pork boxes, and the now finished basketball game. Nick was lay there half asleep on the couch. The sight made Greg feel at ease, on the inside, for the time being.
"Not bad for breakfast." Greg deadpanned. "This is usually my waking hour, but my body has no internal clock anymore. How's swing going? I don't get to talk to you too much anymore."
"Yeah I know man. It's still difficult getting used to. I mean after seven years of getting up when the sun's going down, it's damn hard to sleep when it's dark."
He wasn't being sarcastic. After he would get home, unless he pulled a double, Nick would usually sit up until at least 4 or 5 in the morning completely out of habit.
"Well, night shift sure isn't the same without you, Warrick, and Cath. It's kind of quiet. Sara and Sophia aren't ones for goofing around too much. No one to play video games with in the break room anymore." That was one thing Greg really missed about his friend not being there, just his companionship.
"Yeah, I miss those nights too, but have to go by Commander Ecklie's rules now unfortunately."
Nick stifled a yawn, as he realized he couldn't keep his need for sleep at bay any longer. "Hey man, I'm gonna head on to bed."
"Okay man, get some rest. I know where everything I need is already, so don't worry about me. If you need anything, I'm right here." Greg said gently, as he gave Nick a soft pat on the shoulder.
"Sure thing boss, I'll be fine, and...... uh, thanks for staying with me..... I really didn't want to be alone." Nick was afraid to admit it, but he was thankful his friend was here.
"No problem. Oh, and one more thing, are you sure you don't want that bubble bath Nicky?" Greg shouted over his shoulder at the retreating man.
"Ha Ha Ha, real funny lab boy!" Nick went down the hall towards his linen closet.
"Just trying to help."
"Ugh! Hey!" Greg felt the dull thud of something hit him in the back of the head. Ah, his blanket for the night, then another soft object hit his head, yep, his pillow.
"Kidding man, just kidding," Greg couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Nick's face.
"Yeah remember that, next time it will be that spare bowling ball I keep under my bed." Nick played back.
**************************************************
Nick went into his bathroom. God it felt good to be home, his own stuff, his place, and his personal space back. There were so many moments he thought he would never be standing here brushing his own teeth. He finished getting washed up and went into his bedroom.
The CSI took off his sweat pants and changed T-shirts. His neck and arms itched. Hell, every part of his flesh was so agitated, but he wasn't going to think about that. Nick turned off his light, closed the door and crawled into his own bed. It was a pure joy to have some privacy. It was his first time being alone. Nick shook his head. He was NOT going to think about the last time he was alone. He sighed, now was not the time to go down that road, he chastised himself.
***********************************************.
Greg knew he wouldn't be able to sleep for several hours, and that was if he was lucky. It was only 10 o'clock. He was usually just getting ready for work at this hour. Everything had been so screwed up since that damn package come in. Twenty-four straight hours they spent searching for Nick. Then four more days back and forth from the hospital and Lab. He should be dead tired. But in reality, he was so wound up he could barely sit still, the adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. They found Nick alive. Greg wouldn't allow himself to think about what almost happened.
It didn't matter. All the what ifs and perhaps... were irrelevant now. Here he was sitting on Nick's couch about to settle in for the night while he took care of his friend. Yeah, life was pretty good at the moment as he sat there channel surfing.
************************************************
Dark.
His room was so dark.
Nick never realized it before.
Quiet, it was really, really quiet.
Wasn't there usually more noise then this?
After sleeping during the day and working nights for so many years, he still hadn't gotten used to the stillness of the evening. Where was Greg and why was he making so little noise? He was sure the younger man was still out there. He wouldn't have left him alone, would he? Nick knew he had been in here close to an hour, but no matter how exhausted he felt, sleep did not come for him.
Relax he told himself, take deep breaths, in and out just like the doctor showed you when he explained how to release tension. Where was his gun? Maybe he would feel better if he had his gun. Nick took it out of the drawer where he kept it and set it where he could see it on his nightstand.
Yeah, that made him feel better now. He grabbed it and turned the safety off as he set it down within arms reach. Now if he could just stop this damn anxiety.
Why the hell was he shaking like this? What the hell was this coming from?
It started ever so slightly. His hands trembled, at first. Then he switched to lying on his side. Being flat on his back, had started it perhaps. But, then the slight movements started to affect his arms, and then his whole body shook.
His room was pitch black. No color, just darkness. It used to comfort him, lull him to sleep. Now it was eerie. He closed his eyes despite the increased beating of his heart. The slight constriction in his throat.
He squeezed his eyelids tight then covered them with his hand.
It didn't help, he felt the fear. The bed, the outlines of the mattress around his body. It was unnerving.
He raised his hands in the air to make sure there wasn't a lid above him. It should have dampened the paranoia, but instead it just increased it. Finally he couldn't take it anymore. Nick opened his eyelids into mere slits.
There it was...a bright white light. In his room...shining right in his eyes.
He shot it out, he knew he had. Nick remembered that well.
The sickly sweet gum. His ears still felt sticky on the inside. It took forever to get them clean again.
Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was lack of sleep. Perhaps it was some odd side effects of his meds, but Nick would never know.
However, nothing changed the fact what that the light represented.
Pain and torture. He was under a microscope, and it was back in his underground hell. Nick grabbed his gun. He could do it again, shoot the damn thing out if he had to.
What the hell, OW!
Something was crawling up his legs, biting him. No! He wasn't sure if he actually screamed this time or if he was yelling inside his own head. There it was again, something was sneaking up his arms now and he kept brushing away phantom ants from his body. That light was still on. Damn it!
He shot it out....didn't he?
Who the hell kept turning the God forsaken light back on? He aimed his gun towards the light again, as the biting started once more.
"Turn off the damned light! Can't you see me?"
Nothing. No response.
" I'll blow it out again, I swear to God I'll do it. Don't think I won't !" Nick screamed at the phantom kidnapper who was peering at him through the bright light. He made his point by aiming unsteadily towards the window.
***************************************************
One hour had passed and Greg had found some classic movie slasher flick on Sci-Fi. He thought he would be sick of this stuff with his line of work, but movies where a different story. He got comfy in his T-shirt and boxers not too long after Nick went on to bed, and it was still only 11o'clock. His night was just beginning he thought to himself, as he took another drink from his coke.
"Damn this is gonna be a long night if I don't catch some sleep." He said to the empty room.
Greg hadn't even finished the thought when he heard shouting coming from Nick's bedroom. It wasn't just the screaming that sent him running. It was the tone: the fear and utter desperation dripping form Nick voice.
Greg was in Nick's room in a flash. When he got there, the sight before him chilled him to his core. No training had prepared him for a situation like this, or could it have. Nick was laying there in the dark, his right arm pointing his gun out the window, while his left was busy brushing away phantom fire ants off of his body.
The last thing he wanted was to spook his friend, but he needed to bring him back form whatever horrible nightmare and flashback he was trapped in. The younger man stared at the shaking gun pointed in one direction. He knew full well that Nick wouldn't think twice about firing it at anything that frightened him, as his body thrashed about the bed.
'My God, what did you go through Nicky?' Greg thought to himself.
The younger man knew he needed to reach his friend somehow, and bring him out of the place he was ensnared in.
He slowly opened the door further as quietly as possible. The last thing he wanted was that gun pointed at him.
"Nick..... Nicky?" he said very softly and as calm as he could in this type of situation.
"Nick, it's Greg, remember me? I'm here with you Nick, you aren't alone." He hoped the soothing tone would reach inside the CSI's nightmare.
"You're not there Nicky, you're home. I'm here with you this time, you are NOT alone Nick, I'm here."
"Greg, make it stop, make it stop, turn that damn light off please!" Nick half begged.
It made his heart break at the sound of his friends fear.
"Nick, you trust me right? You know I'm not gonna let anything happen to you while I'm here." Greg could see Nick shake his head slowly up and down in the darkness.
"Good Nick, then I need you to do something for me. I need you to trust me and close your eyes, can you do that for me?" Greg prayed he was getting through to his friend.
"I don't know.." Nick's voice wavered, still trapped by his fear.
"I know your scared Nick, but if you trust me, I can make it all go away. I promise, all right? Now just please close your eyes real tight for me." Greg pleaded to his frightened friend.
He could see him frantically nodding his head again though the dark.
"Good Nicky, Ok I'm gonna turn on your light on and it will all be gone, all right. Ready, one, two, three." With that Greg flipped the light.
The room filled back up with solid images of his bed, dresser, and closet. The nightstand came back into view, as well as his window.
"See Nicky, it's OK, you can open your eyes now. See, look, you're in your own room Nick, it's safe here." Greg tried to reason with him, hoping it would dawn on the other CSI where he was.
The grief stricken man slowly opened his eyes. He blinked several times as the safety of his bedroom slowly came into focus.
"Greg?" He looked at him panicked. "Oh Greg, God, I'm so, I'm so sorry, I didn't . . . . I mean..... Oh God, did I? .....What did I . . ." he tried to continue, but couldn't find the words.
Greg stepped in and helped. "Hey man, it's all right. Flashback aren't uncommon, just do me a favor please and give me your gun."
The Texan almost seemed surprised to be holding his loaded weapon, ready to fire it.
"Oh Jesus Greg, what was I . . What am I doing?"
He turned the gun around butt end first and handed it to his friend. Greg snatched it quickly, snapping the safety switch back in the on position, and set it atop of Nick's dresser.
Well, Thank God that part was over Greg thought to himself.
"Hey dude, it's all right." He sat down next to Nick on his bed and gently put his arm around his back, trying to console him.
"These things are gonna happen. You went through hell, and you can't expect to come back unscathed from it all. I can't tell you how many nights I woke up swearing I was covered in glass and smelled my own burning skin." That wasn't a lie to make him feel better.
"Yeah, but I wasn't sleeping I couldn't get to sleep. Too dark, too quiet." He was tried to explain behind a shaky voice.
"Then I saw a light, or...uh..imagined one and, I was right back there. It was just like that damn bright light, and, and I . . I grabbed my gun, and then I was pointing it and. . . I don't remember Greg, I don't remember." Nick rubbed his face wearily with his hands, truly terrified at what he almost did.
Greg once again laid his hands on Nick's shoulder to let him know he was there. Then he had an idea.
"OK, that's it, you're coming with me." With that Greg grabbed Nick's pillows and blankets off of the bed.
"Dude, we're having a sleepover." Greg walked out leaving a very confused Nick Stokes in his wake.
The Texan followed Greg out into the living room, where he had carried armloads of blankets and pillows back towards his original location.
"Uh bossman, a sleepover?" Nick questioned him.
"Yeah, remember sleepovers? Staying up late, well scratch that since we do that every night now. You know, play games, eat too much junk food, play more video games. You do have junk food in this house don't you?" Greg asked as he stalked off towards the kitchen, he was a man on a mission.
"Tell girl stories, play some more until your eyes bug out, paint our toenails and do each other's hair."
At the perplexed look he got from Nick he laughed out loud. "Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention." Greg shouted back over his shoulder from the kitchen as he searched for something they could munch on.
"What, no chips, no dip, no cheetos, no chocolate. Oh salsa, that's original." For the second time that night he felt something smack the back of his head.
"Some of us just eat healthier than other." Nick teased back.
"There's healthy, then there's down right boring, and you my friend are no Mr. Excitement."
"Well, I think there' some ice cream in the freezer, if it meets your high standards." Nick could feel the glare Greg gave him across the room.
"I knew you'd have something, now go set up your PS2, cause I'm so going to kick your ass at Madden 2005. Please tell me you don't use Randy Moss anymore, he is such a loser."
Nick went back in his living room and hooked up the game. He felt much better already being back out here, with noise, the lights, and the company.
"Yeah, like Mr. Atlanta Falcons should talk. What did happen to them, oh that's right, nothing. No, I go with Peyton Manning now." Nick was loosening up by the minute, he could feel it is his muscles.
"Well, at least that's an improvement, and I'm so going to beat all over you if it follows reality at all, cause I have two, no make that three words for you.
"New England Patriots." Greg yelled back over his shoulder as he inspected Nick's freezer, once again disgusted with the contents.
"What, are you a communist or something? Vanilla and chocolate, you really now how to walk on the wild side there, Nicky."
"I think there's more back there if you just look, and what's wrong with vanilla and chocolate, there's classics and I like them." Nick defended his ice cream choices to the younger man.
"Nothing's wrong with it, it's just so you. ....Ah Ha! That's more like it, it's no Chunky Monkey, but it'll work, mint chocolate chip. Wow, really must have been a special night there huh?" Greg joked, as he grabbed the carton and two spoons.
The ex-tech sauntered back into the living room and plunked down by Nick who had the game ready to go. He held out his hand and gave Nick his spoon and two small pills.
"I know you don't want to take them, and I understand, but you need to relax and get some rest, some real rest. Nothing, and I repeat nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here, I promise you that my friend." Greg said this as seriously as if he were presenting evidence to Grissom.
"Thanks man," the CSI swallowed, "for everything." Nick knew he needed to give in and get some rest. With someone here, he truly felt safe, so he swallowed the sleeping pill and one of his anti-anxiety meds with a swig of coke. "You Uh, ..........really helped me out back there, and um, ..........I don't know what would have happened if,.... if . . ."
"Hey don't. That's what friends are for. Not let's get at it."
Two hours later, and a half a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and getting his butt utterly whipped 45-21, Greg was beyond humiliated.
"Are you sure you don't want to do my hair, I mean it isn't too late to change your mind. See, it's longer now, come one, you know you want to." Greg tried his best to distract his friend, even resorting to batting his eyelashes.
"Take defeat like a man G, you got you ass handed to you by the Colts" Nick yawned. "Speaking of, what's with the flat look anyway man?"
"Oh, you know me, something different. Trying out a new style. What do you think?" Greg seriously wanted to older man's opinion.
"Honestly, man." Nick yawned again leaning back against his pillow which was spread out across the floor along with his blankets. "I kind of miss the spikes, you know, the finger in the socket style I liked to call it." Nick's eyes started to close involuntarily. "I liked that it was just so you, set you apart, like your personality. Don't let this CSI stuff change who you are too much man, the old Greg was fun."
That thought make the young CSI smile for some reason, he didn't really like it either, but thought it looked more professional, well as professional as he wanted to get.
"Thanks Nick, I'll keep that in mind."
Nick's eyes shot back open for a moment and he grabbed Greg's shoulder.
"Thanks again, G. I...I mean....I don't know what would have happened." Nick stopped mid thought. He wasn't the type of guy to talk about his problems, this was very hard. "I'm glad you're here."
With those final words Nick's eyes drifted shut one last time. "And I so kicked your ass lab boy." Nick grinned as he drifted off.
Nick's breathing evened out and he actually looked peaceful this time. Greg knew the combination of the medications would help him get a good nights sleep and hopefully keep the dreams at away for the night.
Greg went over and covered up his friend, but kept his arms out because he knew if they got to hot, they might start to itch.
"Sleep well my friend, you're safe now, I won't let anything happen to you tonight, I promise. Good night Nicky."
Greg quietly picked up their mess, and shut off the TV. He went over and grabbed his pillow and blanket to settle himself onto the couch where he could still keep a watchful eye on his charge just in case he was plagued by dreams. He wanted to remain close by. He reached up to turn off the lamp by the couch, and just as his fingers touched the switch, he thought better of it. They would both probably sleep better with the light on tonight. Greg laid his head on his pillow, and quickly followed his friend to sleep.
CHAPTER 5 By Shacky
Chapter 5 by Shacky
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Greg woke up promptly at 8AM the next morning. He grinned when he heard Nick was still snoring away on the floor. At least he was getting some good rest Greg thought and felt relieved. He quickly got up and put his plan into motion calling Catherine. When the supervisor heard his idea, she was more than willing to do her small part to help put it in action.
After a quick shower, he didn't want Nick to wake up alone, he hopped back into the kitchen. He tried to scrounge something up for a quick breakfast before their little adventure, when he heard the soft knock on the door.
Greg walked over and opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb his sleeping man, who was sprawled out on the floor.
"Hey Catherine, thanks for pulling this together on such short notice."
"No problem Greg, anything I can do to help, ....uh.... why is Nick sleeping on the floor out there?" Catherine gave Greg a questioning look, but Greg thought he would keep their late night incident to themselves.
"Oh Nick, was having a hard time relaxing in his bed so we had a sleepover and played games until he finally just conked out. He looks so relaxed out here I dared not try to wake him or move him."
"He does look a little better, how was the first night home?" She asked, genuinely concerned.
"Um, it went good. I got him to eat some dinner, then we played some PS2 until he finally fell asleep. I felt better where I could see him." Greg was being half truthful, because he could rest better when he could see Nick, but Catherine didn't need to know Nick was afraid to be alone in his room. That would stay between the two friends.
"So, what are these big plans for the day with this?" Catherine asked, as she handed over the special order Greg put in an hour ago.
"I thought that it might do Nick some good to get out of here for a couple of hours today, if he feels up to it. I thought we'd drive up to Lake Mead, take in some fresh air, open space, have a picnic lunch. Thanks so much for bringing this stuff over. I really didn't want to leave him alone." Greg said, as he looked back over at his friend.
"That's understandable, and anything else I can do to help, you let me know. Oh, and I put in a bottle of bug spray since you guys will be outside. Nothing to spray directly on Nick, that could aggravate the skin, but something to put around the ground and the blanket. It supposedly blocks anything from getting in."
"Thanks Cath, I never even thought about that for some reason. Gosh, why didn't I?" He chastised himself.
"Hey Greg, don't worry about it, it's not something we usually think about, but I figured better safe than sorry now."
"Thanks again, and Warrick's coming over tonight to stay with him, he really needed to get some rest, he looked beat." Greg said, fishing for a little info on his other friend.
"Yeah, he was pretty tired after all those days at the hospital, thanks for staying with Nick last night. I don't think Warrick was up to it yet."
"Hey, I'm his friend too, and I want to help, so anything I can do, just let me know, okay?" Greg walked over and gave Catherine a quick hug.
"He's good, we're all good. Now we just need to get Nick all healed up and help him now."
"I know, doesn't make it any easier knowing when almost. . ." then Catherine stopped herself, knowing this was exactly the point Greg was getting across to her.
"I need to get home. You two have a good time today, but don't let him overdue it." Catherine still handed out the orders like the supervisor she was.
"Yes Mom, and I'll have him home before bedtime." Greg teased back and Catherine smiled that grin that Greg hadn't seen since before this whole nightmare started.
"Have a safe drive and I'll see you two soon. Bye." She gave Greg a quick kiss on the cheek and was gone just as quickly as she came.
Just as the door shut Greg heard grumbling coming from the floor where Nick was starting to wake up.
"Was that Catherine I just heard?" Nick asked through a sleep thick voice.
"Yeah, I asked her to drop something off for me. How did you sleep?"
"Well, I feel better. Like I actually got some rest if that's what you mean. I must admit those pills did help." Nick really hated giving into that fact, but it was true.
"Just remember they're only temporary, so what do you want for breakfast? How does some scrambled eggs and toast sound? Then I have a special surprise for you."
Greg was beaming, so Nick knew he had something planned. "Sounds pretty good. Are you gonna tell me the second half of the or do I have to guess?"
"Oh I'll tell you after you shower, go on, I'll make breakfast, and not one joke about my cooking abilities mister or no butter on your toast. So go clean up, and it'll be ready when you get back." Greg quickly put the basket full of sandwiches and pop in the refrigerator to keep them chilled until they left.
"Ok, give me ten and I'll be back." Nick got up a bit unsteady at first and shuffled his way towards the bathroom and his shower.
When Nick came back to the kitchen he could smell his breakfast cooking.
"Do I still need to guess or are you going to tell me what Catherine was doing here?" Nick questioned.
Greg looked up at Nick, and handed him his medication for the morning to take with his breakfast.
"No back talk about the medicine, just the essentials this morning." Nick looked at he pills with only mild distain but picked them up and took them anyway.
"I just thought you might like to get out of the house for awhile today. Nothing too stressful, just a little drive, a little water, a picnic lunch, how does that sound?" Greg asked, hoping his gesture wouldn't be for not.
"Really? Where to man?" Nick's curiosity was definitely piqued now.
Greg braced himself against the kitchen counter and looked up with a serious expression.
"There's this little spot up at Lake Mead I used go to and sometimes still do when I want to get outta my head. Remember what's good with the world, or just kind of think, you know? I uh ......I used to go there quite a bit after the, you know, after the explosion. I uh .....didn't know if I would ever be able to come back. I used to drive up there and just think and sit. I'd stare at the water, and sometimes it really helped. I though maybe I could take you up there today and just kind of relax. We could get some fresh air."
Nick just looked up at him, a little stunned for a moment. Greg never ever talked about the time after the explosion and he had no idea Greg thought about never coming back. The place where Greg Sanders went to clear his head must be a special place.
"That sounds like a great idea G, I think I could use a little fresh air."
"Great." Greg looked up genuinely surprised and happy at Nick's agreement to go. "Great man, I had Catherine drop by some sandwiches and soda and stuff in case you said yes. So whenever we get done hear with breakfast and cleaned up, we can head on out of here." Greg seemed enthused about their adventure.
***************************
An hour later after the dishes were picked up and put away, the SUV was packed up with a few things they might need. The two were on there way for a day of sun and relaxation.
Greg drove and headed South on Highway 582 towards Henderson, and then turned East onto Highway 564. Within an hour, they were pulling into Greg's spot, right around the Las Vegas Bay Area of the Lake. It was on the Western
Side of the Lake, not too far from Vegas itself. Nick had to admit that Greg had found quite a beautiful peaceful spot. Away from most of the tourists and boats, and people in general. Plus it had a spectacular view of the Lake, as far as the eye could see was blue water, and Nick breathed in the fresh air like his life depended on it.
"Go ahead and find a spot to sit," Greg yelled over to Nick. "Just let me grab these couple things, and I'll be right over."
The young CSI grabbed a blanket for them to sit on, the picnic basket that Cath had packed and the cooler for their drinks. Then he went to join his friend under a nice shade tree he had picked out that stared out right over the water.He brought over the bottle of bug spray and held it up and started spraying around the blanket. At the strange look from Nick, Greg tried to explain.
"Hey, better safe than sorry, man. I don't even want a knat coming within 25 feet of you. Speaking of, did you grab that epi-pen the doctor gave you just in case?" Greg forgot to check before they left the house to see if Nick had grabbed it. Like he said, he didn't want to take any chances at all with being outside.
"Yes Dad, it's right here." Nick grabbed it out of his pants pocket and showed Greg, who was giving him his best insulted look.
"Just trying to look out for you man, can't be too careful right now." He was serious though, he didn't want to think what another bug bite of any kind could do to Nick right now.
Greg grabbed a bottle of iced tea and handed one to Nick and then grabbed one for himself.
"I thought it might be a good idea to get out in the open for awhile. I used to come out here quite a bit, after, uh, you know, "BANG'!" Greg made a wild gesture with his hands, even to this day he didn't like to use the word explosion.
"You know I almost didn't come back to the lab." Greg said quietly, admitting a secret he hadn't shared with anyone before.
"No, G, I didn't know that. Did you tell anyone else?"
"No, I had to think it out for myself I decided. I was so scared, I mean literally scared to be in the lab for a while. I always doubled checked everything for the longest time. I began to second-guess everything I was doing in the lab, my ability to do my job, my ability to be part of the team. " Greg was speaking from the heart, and Nick understood that he was trying to get something across to him.
"But then I would come out here, and if I got off work at just the right time. I could get here just right when the sun would come up over the water. I loved my job, I loved what I did, and I loved working with you all. I realized that there was no way I couldn't come back, because that wasn't me. I wasn't going to be scared off by an accident." The memories took him back to a place that Greg didn't like being, but he thought it would help Nick understand he wasn't alone.
"You know Greg, I never knew you didn't consider coming back. I'm glad you decided to stay, it wouldn't have been the same without you." Nick was sincere, it was like watching his little brother graduate from college.
"Well of course it wouldn't have, I'm the life of every party." Greg laughed.
"Of course, how could I ever forget that." The smile on Nick's face felt good.
"Then sometimes when it got hard, when I thought maybe I made the wrong decision. I would come back out here. The time I failed my first proficiency I came out here and spent hours just thinking "What the hell have I done? Why did I think I could ever leave my 'Lab'?"
"You should be proud Greggo, you made it happen, all by yourself. You're a real CSI now, and still a hell of a Lab Tech. That's a lethal combination in a courtroom."
Greg chuckled at that comment, he had been told that several times. "I just hope that you don't let what happened to you destroy you like it almost did me. We were so scared Nick, I don't think you understand that part, you couldn't. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you, and if you need to talk." He grinned and handed his friend a sandwich.
Nick grabbed the sandwich, although he wasn't real hungry. He looked over at his friend and thought maybe he was right.
"Greg, I can't tell you how many times I thought ....."
Nick visibility shuddered at the memories and couldn't bring himself to contiune. Not yet.
Greg thought that maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."Hey, we don't have to talk about it. Just know if you need to, or when you are ready, you have lots of people ready and willing to listen. You will probably be sick of us all by within the next couple of weeks."
"I really don't think so," Nick grudgingly admitted. " I don't want to be alone....... doesn't that sounds crazy?" Nick looked away for a second, but forced himself to continue. "I need to be reminded I'm not alone, and I like hearing the noise, voices......."
Nick's voice grew quieter. This was difficult and his old habits of bottling everything up kicked back in.
"You won't have to worry about that." Greg knew everyone had their shift with Nick until he kicked them out. They figured he would know when he was ready for his privacy back.
Nick sat on the ground, and allowed his lungs to fill with fresh, crisp air. He never knew if he'd feel this alive again after his whole ordeal and even though he sensed that Greg needed to talk about things, he just wasn't up for it. Everything was too ...fresh and raw.
Talking, people always thought discussing things were a way to heal wounds.....it just was never his way. Move on. He wanted to forget, and re-hashing his experiences inside the box wasn't going to help him now. If he just concentrated hard enough, then he would start to salvage parts of his personality back. He looked over at Greg and knew the kid needed this as much as he did. He smiled slightly, the younger man was really trying.
"I made it out Greg. Everything's going to be fine. I mean, look? I'm out at the Lake sharing a sandwich with you and I'm going to heal, it will just take a while." Nick knew he wouldn't heal overnight, but he was feeling a better that he was out of the hospital and with his friends again.
The Texan swallowed, it still seemed like his friend had some reservations. Of course freaking out last night was bound to give the kid doubts. "I'm sorry about last night. It's....well, I just kept seeing that damn light in the darkness. It was so freakin' bright, and it was so stifling in there...I.......just... ..couldn't stand it being on all the time."
Nick took a shaky breath. He wouldn't share any more. All it did was rattle him. He just hoped that little bit of information would let Greg feel a bit better about things.
"I'm so sorry we kept that light on so long, if we had any idea what it was doing to you, we wouldn't have, but we just had to ..."
"Wait, what are you talking about? How did you know about that light?"
Nick's tone was troubled and his body had visibility tightened up, and up that point Greg realized he had opened his mouth once again without thinking.
"I, I'm sorry Nick, I thought you knew. I was sure someone had told you by now." Greg resigned to the fact that he would have to tell Nick the whole story now by the scrutiny of the Texan's glare.
"Shit man, I just assumed." The nervousness is Greg's voice was coming through.
"Well, I didn't and I would like someone to explain it to me. How did you know about the light Greg?" Nick knew his words were coming out harsher then he meant too, if wasn't his friends fault, but only Greg could give him the answers he wanted know.
"Not long after we knew you were missing we got a small packaged delivered to the Lab. It was a web feed and we popped it into the computer. On the screen, it said 'you can only watch'. When he clicked, there you were. Greg felt defeated having being the one to tell this to Nick, but he deserved to know.
At Greg's words, Nick visibly paled. He felt so violated. It wasn't like he hadn't been through hell, but knowing that they had all seen him. He felt humiliated, like an insect under Grissom's microscope. He wanted to look at Greg and tell him it was all right, it wasn't his fault he didn't know, but he couldn't. He was too ashamed and deep down angry at the moment. He waited for the lab tech to continue. He knew there was more, and he knew he didn't want to hear it, but he wanted to know what everyone else did.
"If we had any idea that it was doing that to you, or taking up so much battery, we wouldn't have. But, it was the only way we could see you. We had to know you where all right. See you were still alive." Greg said the last words so softly Nick had a hard time hearing them.
"Someone was always in there keeping their eye on you, making sure you were all right." Greg had a hard time hiding his own trauma of witnessing Nick's plight in the box. The memories still haunted him to no end.
"Hey man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come down on you." He put his arm around Greg's shoulder and gave it a squeeze to make the younger man look at him.
"I just didn't know. Needless to say this comes as a shock. And you're right, I can't imagine how helpless you all must have felt." He was trying to reassure Greg he wasn't upset at him, but deep down he felt somewhat angered that no one had bothered to tell him in the past four days they all watched him suffer, cry, scream in panic, and didn't tell him. He hadn't felt that violated since he knew Nigel Crane had been watching his every move in his own home. He felt himself pull back from Greg a little. He just wanted a few moments to think about the information just given to him, and how to handle it with Warrick and the rest of the team.
"In a way, it saved your life, because that was the only way we knew how to find you. Grissom had been uh.... watching the screen, when your face started to change. He could see you look down and squirm. Grissom panned in towards the cracks in the glass and could see them moving and realized they were ants. He waited until one of them crawled in front of the camera and took it's picture."
Somehow that though made Nick chuckle. Grissom taking pictures of ants as he was being eating alive by those things. He listened as Greg continue his story of that night.
"He found his book and identified it as a certain fire ant, which are very rare apparently in Nevada and only keep to tree and plant nurseries. We found every tree and plant nursery in the Las Vegas area. Archie and I compared the web cam transmission radius with the black box mileage we got from the kidnappers SUV and only two were within the overlapping land. Then it all happened so fast. Sara remembered that the kidnapper's daughter, Kelly, worked with plants and ran and grabbed her file, and found the nursery she worked in. She came running back into the room and pointed to exactly where you were." Greg told his story as detached as possible, but it was hard not getting caught up in the stressful moments again.
We went there with every available cop car, fire truck, responder unit we could, which was the entire department I think. Hell even Ecklie was there."
At that Nick looked up at Greg.
"You're kidding?" He was surprised to here he even helped out.
"I told you Nick, everyone was looking for you, we weren't gonna lose you when we were that close to finding you. And as bad as it may seem, if it wasn't for that camera and those fire ants, we may never have known where you were." Greg was trying not to make Nick feel any worse or embarrassed than he probably already did.
"Thanks for telling me Greg, I'm not mad at you." He wasn't upset at Greg, at least he had been truthful and let him know what had happened.
"I just feel bad Nick." Greg confessed, as he wiped away a couple of tears.
"I bring you out here to get your mind off of all of this, relax and enjoy some fresh air. Then all I did was add to your troubles."
"G, you didn't add anything, only one person is responsible for this and he's dead. I'll recover man, I always do." Nick smiled one of his 100 watt grins, and Greg instantly felt better.
What he said was true, but he would get his answers from someone. Warrick, Grissom, and Catherine. He wanted to know why no one told him this.
"I am glad you brought me here, I needed to get out for a while. I must admit the sunlight feels good, now how about we finish those sandwiches."
The two ate in companionable silence for the next hour. Enjoying the breeze off the lake, the fresh air, talking about Nick's fishing trips when he you growing up back in Texas. Reliving the case about the Scuba Diver up in the tree not too far from where they were. Nick was growing tired quickly and his caretaker could see his eyes growing weary.
"Hey, you ready to head back man? Warrick should be at your place soon, plus you look a little sleepy." Greg was trying not to sound overbearing, but he didn't want to wear his friend out.
"Yeah I am a little tired, let me help you here." Nick stood up but wavered somewhat.
"You're kidding right? Get in the truck and sit down, I'll get this. I'm here to help you, so let me do my job."
"Ok ok, I'll be in the truck waiting for you bossman." Nick was worn out, but he was trying hard not too show it too much.
Greg threw the stuff in the back of the SUV and hopped into the driver's seat. "I guess I'll let you pick the music for the drive home, and yes, that is quite an offer from me so don't mock me."
Nick smiled a little and put in an old country CD he hadn't listened to in quiet awhile. However, he could barely keep his eyes open. They pulled out onto the main road and when Greg looked over to ask Nick if he needed to stop and get anything, he was fast asleep.
*********************
"Hey man, wake up." Nick slowly opened his eyes, not knowing he had even drifted off.
"What, are we home already?" Nick asked through a fog of sleep.
"Yeah, that's what happens when you doze the whole way home. Come on, let's get you inside. Looks like Warrick is already waiting for us. I hope I don't get in trouble for keeping you out too late."
"Don't worry, I'll tell him I make you take out, he won't yell at me."
"It's not you I'm worried about right now." Greg looked a little concerned that he would scolded by the older CSI when they got inside."Come on, let's head on in before you fall down man."