Disclaimers and notes apply from part 1

Part 9


"Are you sure?"

Sara was walking up the corridor, when she overheard voices coming from the print lab.

"That's what she said.  And I saw them yesterday.  It looked very cosy, if you know what I mean."

Sara stopped in her tracks, a small frown appearing on her face.  

"No, I don't believe you, those would be the last two I would suspect."

"Well, you know what they say.  It's the ones you least suspect..."

There was some muffled sniggering.  Sara's frown deepened.

"But come on; Nick?  Greg maybe, the shirts and the hair, yeah, but Nick?  He had that hooker a couple of years ago, he's a ladies man isn't he?"

Sara's face hardened suddenly and she strode forward, bursting into the print lab.  Two startled faced met hers.

"Did someone page me?" she asked innocently.

"No..." Julie, the girl form day shift looked confused, casting a glance at Mandy, who looked more sheepish. 

"Oh, sorry, my mistake.  Must have got the wrong number."  Sara smiled, all teeth, before turning and walking out.  Once outside in the hallway, her smile disappeared, replaced by another deep frown.  Pausing slightly, she gritted her teeth; decision made.  

*******

As Nick walked down towards the breakroom, he passed the print lab, throwing Mandy a relaxed smile as he walked by.  She smiled back but then it faltered and after a second she turned away.  Nick raised his eyebrows in puzzlement, but shrugged it off.  He had more important things on his mind.  He was off to meet Greg for an opportune coffee break.  Swinging into the breakroom, he smiled as he spotted Greg already hovering over the coffee pot.  

"Hey."

"Hey."  Greg turned and threw him a wide grin.  "Glad you could make it."  He handed Nick a mug of coffee, letting his fingers brush Nick's.  Nick smiled, feeling unashamedly gooey.  They had begun doing activities that could definitely be described as 'dates' now and enjoying every second of them.  Just last night, they'd hit the movies and then an out of town restaurant.  Nick smiled again, memories of the night washing over him.  


Sara looked through the glass window of the break room, pursing her lips when she saw both Nick and Greg in there.  Pausing, she took a breath and walked in.

"Hey guys, any coffee going?  She headed over to the counter, ignoring the subtle increase in space between them.

"Hey, Sara." Greg held out a packet of biscuits, silently offering.

"Oh thanks."  She picked out one of the chocolate chip cookies carefully.  "Um, you guys, is it just my imagination, or is this place getting more gossipy?"  It definitely wasn't her imagination that saw two pairs of ears metaphorically perk up.

"What makes you say that?" Nick asked from his seat on the bench, an apple held casually in his hand.

"Oh nothing really.  Just I noticed that it doesn't take long for stuff to get around here these days.  I mean, not that it didn't before, but it just astounds me how much interest people have in other people's business."  She snuck a glance at Greg, seeing the quick look he shot at Nick.  "Not that it should surprise me, working in this job."  She pulled a face.

"Anything in particular?" Greg asked, faking mock intrigue.

"Well, Mandy was discussing a possible work relationship when I walked into the print lab earlier.  I mean, what's better gossip than that, right?"  She pulled another face.  "Remember me and Hank?"

"Huh."  Nick munched on his apple.  "Anybody we know?"

"She didn't mention any names."  Sara leant over to rummage in the fridge, wrinkling her nose at what she found.  "Just they both worked here."  She sniffed something in a paper package tentatively.  "Could be anyone in the department."  She looked up, flashing a grin at them both.  "Makes you wonder though, doesn't it?"  She waggled her eyebrows. 

"Yeah."  Greg matched her grin, but somehow she noticed that it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"People gossip, they always will," Nick stated.  "Chinese whispers, most of it."

"Yeah," Sara agreed.  "Besides, if is someone here in the department, then personally, it's their own business, not ours.  Good luck to them I'd say."  She stood up a coke can in her hand.  "Anyway I'm going to go chase down Ron, he's got a notepad he was working on for me.  I'll see you guys later."

"Later." Nick watched as Sara walked out, before raising his eyes to Greg who was already looking at him.  

"It's us, isn't it?" he asked quietly, walking over.

Nick shrugged.  "Could be."

"Oh come on, Nick.  Who else could it be?"

"Catherine and Warwick.  Dave and Clare.  Ecklie and Romano."

Greg scoffed, turning away.  

"All I'm saying is that it doesn't have to be.  It could be anyone here in the department.  Night shift, day shift.  Take your pick."  He stood up, moving over to throw his apple core into the bin, his appetite suddenly gone. 

"Nick..."

"I know," he said quietly, his back to Greg, his eyes still focused on the trash can.  He turned to meet  his eyes. "It would explain the weird look Mandy shot me on the way in here just now."

Greg leant his head back, closing his eyes. Nick, even in his current worry, couldn't help but gaze at the lines of Greg's face, taking in the beauty of the man in front of him.  He ached to reach out and caress, to soothe.  But he couldn't.  Not here, not in the middle of work.  Any comfort would have to be vocal, not physical. 

"It'll be all right.  Rumours are just that, rumours.  Nobody knows.  Not unless we tell them."

"Or give it away."  Greg gazed at Nick.  "I think sometimes, that people only have to look at my face when you're in the room to know.  To know exactly how I feel about you."  He gazed at Nick, emotion in his eyes. 

Nick smiled.  "Know what you mean."  He sighed quietly.  "This sucks.  We're not doing anything wrong.  It's...It sucks that we have to worry about this."

Greg nodded.  "I know.  But we do."  He glanced back at the door.  "Look, I'd better get back.  Do you want to do something after work?"

Nick grinned.  "You bet."

Greg smiled back, then jumped slightly as someone came into the room behind him.  Looking at Nick he mouthed, "later," before backing out of the room.

Nick threw a cheerful smile and nod at the unwelcome intruder and then strolled out.

*******

It's getting worse isn't it?"  Greg's face was buried in his favourite place, Nick's neck, his naked body clamped around Nick's like a limpet.  A light sheen of sweat on both their bodies glistened slightly in the dim light, slicking their skin together sensuously.  Nick stroked his hand up and down Greg's side, caressing the slick expanse of skin.  "People at work."

"Hmm," he murmured in affirmation.  His eyes were closed, taking in the sensation of a naked Greg in his arms.  A naked and sweaty Greg.  It had been over two weeks since their conversation with Sara in the breakroom.  In those weeks nothing had been overtly said to either of them, but both men had noticed more and more 'looks' thrown in their direction.  Some subtle, some downright blatant, especially in the last few days. They both knew they had been lucky to last this long without someone actually saying something out loud to them.  It was obvious what people were thinking.

Turning his head, he buried his nose in Greg's hair, which had of late started to return to its original darker colour.  Although he hadn't actually said anything out loud, Nick was secretly pleased.  Not that he didn't like Greg's more blond look, because he did, but he liked the way the natural brown complimented his dark eyes, especially when it grew out and turned slightly curly.  He loved running his hands through it.  

"I know," he rumbled, his voice low with satiation and sleep, his eyes still closed.  "I don't know what we can do though."  He felt Greg take a deep breath.

"We could tell them."  Greg spoke quietly, almost a whisper.

Nick frowned and pulled back to meet Greg's eyes, searching them intently.

Greg took a breath, unable to keep eye contact.  "I know it would be difficult..."

"Too right it would.  I don't really think that's an option, do you?"  He pulled back slightly from their embrace.  "Are you really prepared for what would happen?"

Greg shifted as well, pulling his arms from around Nick's waist.  "Probably not.  But I just think that eventually they're gonna know, and I just, I think it might be better coming from us than from people finding out second hand on the grapevine."

Nick took a breath.  "I agree, but I just don't know whether we can."  He looked down at Greg's hand laid out on the covers.  "It's going to make things very difficult.  We don't know how people are going to react.  Homophobia is still rampant in the work place."

"I know."

"We don't know if Grissom will allow us to stay working in the same department."

"We're not the military you know." Greg cracked a grin.

"I know."  Nick raised his eyebrows at Greg. "But still, it's workplace ethos.  We're still related to law enforcement."  He took another deep breath.  "And...," he paused slightly, "people have only just found out about your attack."  He raised concerned eyes to Greg's.  "Are you prepared for what people might say."

Greg looked away, his expression a mixture of hurt and resignation.

Nick closed his eyes for a moment, hating to have to bring it up, to cause that hurt he saw in Greg's face, but knowing what was likely to happen.  He saw the worst side of human nature every day in his job.  "People are cruel and hurtful and ignorant.  I'm just saying that we have to be prepared for people to come to the wrong conclusion.  To get completely the wrong idea."

"I know," Greg's small voice.  "I had 'friends' who came to the same conclusion back in college.  The ones I actually told; was stupid enough to tell,"  Nick reached out to touch Greg's arm drawing him back towards him, "automatically assumed that I was out looking for it.  That I was the 'faggot' who just got what he was asking for."  His voice was low with scorn and disgust.  "Some put it more politely than others but the essence was just the same. They just assumed I was gay because of it."  He laughed.  "I mean I know I am, or part of me is, which is just so ironic.  But they didn't know that.  They just assumed that because I was raped, that it was because I was gay." He snorted softly.  

"People are ignorant and cruel,"  Nick reaffirmed again.  "Human nature."

"Yeah," Greg sighed.  "We see it all the time, with what we do. What you do."

"You do too."

"Not out in the field though."

"You see it all in the lab, just in a different way. Different perspective."

"Hmm,"  Greg looked thoughtful.  "Never thought about it that way before."

Nick hugged Greg, turning so he was holding him from behind, his chin resting on Greg's shoulder.  He felt Greg melt back into him and sighed closing his eyes.  

"We'll think about it, okay.  Take it as it comes.  If it looks like it'll be better to...come out," he smiled around the words, "then we will.  But lets just take it slow for now."

"Okay." Greg agreed.  "But we know Sara knows."

Nick smiled.  Just a week after their conversation in the breakroom, Sara had found them holding hands in the car park to the back of the CSI building.  They'd been taking a quiet break together when Sara had come looking for Nick.  Taking them by surprise, she had been embarrassed at first, but then Nick had been even more surprised to realise that he and Greg were more embarrassed than she was.  She had eventually confessed that she had suspected for a while, but that she hadn't said anything for fear of being wrong.  She confirmed that the conversation she had overheard with Mandy *had* been about them.  Her face had turned serious then, as she made sure they understood that she supported them one hundred percent, that she had been angry with all the gossip that she had been hearing.  She had promised to tell them anything else she overheard, understanding that they didn't want to be kept in the dark.  Both Nick and Greg had been relieved to find out that at least one of their friends understood and accepted them.


The sound of Nick's doorbell broke the moment and Greg turned to frown at Nick.  "Are you expecting anyone?"

Nick shook his head, looking puzzled.  "No."  He reluctantly loosened his grip from around Greg and reached down to snag his boxers off the end of the bed.  Swinging his legs out from under the covers he quickly pulled them on, grabbing his jeans on the way out of the room. 

Greg leaned back as he watched Nick disappear down the hallway, wondering who it could be.  It was still early evening, but it was their night off, having planned to spend the evening and most of the next day just relaxing in each others company in Nick's flat.  There hadn't been much opportunity over the last week to spend much quality time together with several heavy cases straight after one another.  After a moment he heard voices and feeling both curious and concerned he sat up and started to climb out of bed himself.  



Nick ambled over to the front door doing up the last button on his jeans.  Peering through the spy hole he smiled and opened the door.

"Guys.  What are you doing here?"

Warrick and two other guys they knew from work were stood outside.

"Hey, man," Warrick greeted as he strolled in.  "We were all going out for a drink, thought maybe you'd like to join us."

"Um, yeah," Nick cast a quick look in the direction of the bedroom.  "Wasn't really feeling like doing anything like that tonight, guys.  You know, first night off in a long time.  Was just going slob around in front of the TV, have some beer."

"You spend too much time in front of the TV man," Warrick frowned playfully.  "You need to get out more.  You're always moaning about you're lack of girl action.  How are ever going to meet anyone if you never go out, huh?"

"I go out plenty, thank you very much.  I'm just not in the mood tonight."

"Come on Nick." One of the other guys joined in.  "Chris and I hardly ever see you now, working opposite shifts.  What's better than joining your mates for a beer, if all you're going to do is watch TV?"

"*If* that's all he's doing."  James, the other guys cast a suspicious look at Nick and then at the bedroom.  "You haven't got someone stashed in the bedroom have you now, Nick?"  He smirked playfully.

Warrick raised his eyebrows at Nick.  

"Guys!"  Nick threw his hands up.  "There's no one in my bedroom."  He prayed to God, Greg had heard them and was staying out of sight.  This was the last thing they needed. It was one thing to muse about telling people at work and have people gossip about them.  But to be caught read handed together, that was whole other matter.  

Then he realised he was stood in the middle of his room with just his jeans on and silently swore, praying that none of them had noticed or thought anything of it.  Then his eyes caught sight of the couch and his stomach dropped slightly.  There, draped across one of the arm cushions in plain sight was Greg's shirt.  His eyes flickered to Warrick quickly but he was facing the wrong way thankfully.  There was always the chance they would think it was one of his, but the fact that it was one of Greg's less than subtle designs meant that chance was slim.  If Warrick saw it, he might recognise it as the one that Greg had been wearing at work the night before.  He mentally prayed.  

"Hmm," James continued, winking at the others, "just wearing jeans, thrown on quickly, trying his best to get us to leave and refusing a drink with his best buds, the only explanation is a girl in his room."  He grinned broadly and stepped forward heading towards the bedroom.

"James, no!" Nick moved forward trying to head the other man off.  He reached out a hand to his arm, but James just shook it off still grinning.  

"Hey, James, cut it out."  Warrick called out moving forward too.  He cast a puzzled look at the worried look on Nick's face, sensing that there was a real reason Nick didn't want to go out with them, but unsure as to what it was.  He didn't put it past Nick to have a girl with him, but he was sure Nick would have mentioned something to him if he were seeing anyone.  They'd got pretty close over the last two years as friends and he knew they could both confide in each other if the chips were down.  Nick had been a good friend when he was going through it with the gambling and he knew Nick felt trust in him too.  If Nick didn't want anyone going into his bedroom then so be it.

James though was not to be put off and he pushed open the door.  "Come on Nick, let's see what your hiding..."

He broke off, a heavy silence falling.  Warrick moved forward to see what was wrong.  As he came round the corner he saw what had shut James up.  There, stood nervously, but trying not to let it show, was Greg Sanders, dressed in nothing but a hastily donned pair of blue jeans.  He was leant up against a chest of draws at the far end of the room, arms folded defensively across his chest, eyes cast down.  

Warrick's eyes were drawn to the bed; covers and sheets askew.  Two T-shirts were piled on the floor in a messy heap and a canvas trainer was just peeking out from under the corner of the bed.  Not the type of shoe he had ever seen Nick wear.  He looked back at Greg who had raised his head to look at Warrick.

"Hey."  Greg's voice was small, his smile weak.  

"Oh my God."  Chris had turned and walked out of the room shaking his head. James his face a picture of amazed shock turned to look at Nick who was staring back defiantly.  

"Nick...?"

Nick stayed quiet, his eyes never leaving James face.  James turned to look at Warrick and then back at Greg who had knelt to pick up his T-shirt but then suddenly changed his mind, sensing that the actual act of getting dressed somehow made it seem worse.  All the more obvious as to the state of their *undress*.  

"What...what the hell...?"

Nick's face got pinched, his arms folded across his chest as he glared back at James.

"You and he...You're doing it...with Sanders?"  His voice was both shocked and disgusted at the same time.  "Jesus, Nick!"

"It's none of your business, Hanson."  Greg saw Nick rise to his fall height, saw the waves of anger pouring off him.  "What Greg or I do in our personal lives.  I certainly don't have to answer to you."

"But, you're not gay!  Surely!"  James cast is eyes over to Greg who was watching the scene, his face one of misery and fear.  Warrick had edged round James on the side nearest Greg, unconsciously providing an extra barrier. 

"What he is none of your business."  Greg suddenly cut in.

James whirled on him.  "You! You I'm not surprised about.  I've always had my suspicions about you.  Your funny shirts and your wacky music.  There's been something off about you since the day you started here."

"Hey!"  Nick moved forward, arms dropping to his sides.

"Nick."  Warrick warned.  "Leave it.  He's not worth it."

"No," Nick ground out, "no he's not."  He moved closer to James.  "Get out.  Go on, get out.  You've said you're piece, now leave."

"My pleasure."  James cast them both a scornful look, before backing out of the room.  "I don't know you Nick."

"Right back atcha, James."  Nick could feel the adrenaline pumping in his veins; anger, outrage, fear clouding his vision.  He watched as James stalked out, heard the front door slam, wincing despite himself.  Looking up he met Greg's anxious eyes and silently moved forward, drawing him into a tight embrace.  He could feel the slight tremors running through the taut frame and moved his hands up to stroke his hands across the back of his neck, dropping light soothing kisses to his neck.