Running From Monsters Chapter 18 (final chapter)
Title: Running From Monsters Chapter 18/18
Author: CSI_Niteowl
Pairing: David/Nick, slight Greg/OC
Rating: PG -13
Warnings: slash
Spoilers:Grave Danger
Summary: This is the final chapter and I have no idea how to summarize it.
Disclaimer: I don’t own CSI or its characters. If I did there’d be much more Nick, David and Greg screen time. I do, however, own the original characters that came from my twisted mind.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing. Hope you enjoy this final chapter. I’m not sure the Vegas CSIs carry handcuffs (I know the ones on NY and Miami do) but for storyline purposes I’m going to say they do.
Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
“Hey baby.” Nick said without opening his eyes.
“How did you know it was me?” David asked taking his hand.
“I always know when you’re around.”
“Really?” David asked skeptically.
“Well that and I heard you talking in the hall.” Nick finally opened his eyes. “The doctor said I’d be fine.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you look so worried?”
David looked away. “I’m sorry I broke my word to you. I wouldn’t blame you if didn’t want me here.”
Nick was silent for a moment and David though it was going to tell him to leave.
“Can you look at me instead of the floor, please?” Nick frowned.
David slowly looked back at Nick.
“The reason I made you promise to stay in the lab was because I wanted you safe. Yeah, I was angry when you showed up at the warehouse but you were right, I would have done the same thing. So how can I be upset with you? We’re alive and together and that’s all that matters.”
David leaned over and kissed him. “I was so scared for you.”
“I know. I was scared for you too especially when you were struggling for the gun.” Nick sighed. “Which reminds me, we’re going to have to work on your habit of grabbing weapons. I thought you’d learned with the knife but apparently not.”
“Excuse me for saving your life… again.”
Nick laughed. “How did you know to bring the key?”
“They took Warrick’s gun and handcuffs so Grissom figured they’d use them on you.”
“How is Rick?” Nick couldn’t believe he hadn’t asked about his friend before.
“From what I hear Johnny did quite a number on him. The doctors are keeping him here for a couple days.”
“Have you seen him?”
“No.”
“David, it wasn’t his fault. They snuck up on us.”
“Yeah, I know.” David agreed but didn’t sound like he really meant it.
Nick didn’t feel like arguing so he just dropped it.
“So is the interrogation over?”
“What was your signal word?” Nick hadn’t been able to tell what David said to Teddy right before all hell broke loose.
David smiled. “Monster.”
Nick laughed. “How appropriate.”
“I thought so.”
“You look tired. Go home and get some rest.”
“You’d like that, huh? Leave you here alone with all these pretty nurses. Not a chance.”
“It was worth a shot.” Nick grinned. “But you really do need to rest.”
“I will. I’m just not ready to leave you yet.”
“I hope you’re never ready.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, and to be honest, I’m not ready for you to leave either.”
David frowned. “Speaking of leaving, there is a lobby full of your fans that won’t leave till they see you.”
Nick groaned. “Can’t you tell them I’m sleeping or something?”
“Now who’s being anti social?” David smirked. “And no, I’m not going out there and telling them they can’t see you. Good god, I’ve already escaped death once today, isn’t that enough?”
Nick grinned. “Okay, fine but no sneaking out while they’re here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
*******
The well wishers had finally left. David was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Nick’s hand.
“Are you going to explain why Catherine had your pocket watch?” Nick had noticed her giving it to David before she left.
“I didn’t want those bastards to get their filthy hands on it.” he shrugged.
“But why Cath? Why not give it to Mary to hold?”
“I told Catherine if anything happened to give it to your parents. I figured Mary was already worried enough without hearing that.”
Nick nodded. When David had first come to the lab, he had disliked him. He was, in Nick’s opinion, a kiss up and only out for himself. He couldn’t have been more wrong. David was fiercely protected of the people he loved.
“Hey Stokes, where did you go?”
“I’m proud to be your partner.” Nick smiled.
David wasn’t sure what to say so he just smiled back.
Nick started moving over. “Lay down with me.”
“I don’t think you’re in any condition for that.”
“I need to feel you near me.”
David toed his shoes off and got into the bed, pulling the other man into his arms. The truth was he needed to feel him near too.
“I love you so much.” Nick laid his head on David’s chest.
“Love you too, Nicky.” David ran a hand through his lover’s hair. “I’m so glad that you’re alright.”
“Shh”
After a few minutes of being quiet David’s curiosity got the best of him. “What are you listening to?”
“Your heartbeat.”
“Huh? You’re listening to my heartbeat?”
“It’s proof you’re still alive.”
“And my talking doesn’t prove that?”
“Would you just be quiet?”
“You’re the one in the hospital so I should be listening to your heartbeat.”
Nick didn’t say a word. He just moved David’s hand to his chest. Feeling the steady beat of the Texan’s heart, he smiled. It was comforting, so comforting that they were both asleep within minutes.
*********
One week later
David kneeled by the headstone and slowly traced over the name with his fingers. A part of him felt silly for even being here and another part felt compelled too. He frowned. What do people say at graves anyway? How you doing or what have you been up to just doesn’t seem appropriate. He took a deep breath and started talking.
“I guess you’re wondering why I buried you here. I’m sure your first choice would be to be with your parents but…” he shook his head. “Did you know our parents plots are beside each other? Burying you there would have meant burying you next to Brenda. Mary and I discussed it and neither of us could image you having to spend eternity beside that bitch. That’s right, she’s died. Mary talked to her doctor a couple of days ago. Apparently her last few hours were pretty painful. I know that shouldn’t make me happy but god help me it does. I feel like going back there just to dance on her grave.”
David brushed away a few leaves around the stone. “Johnny and Teddy are dead too. I still have a hard time believing they are all gone. Mary and I are free now. Mary. You should see her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, talented and caring.” David sighed. “I tried to keep her safe, to keep her shielded from them. They never hurt her physically but no one can live it that kind of environment and not be scarred by it. I promised I’d never hurt her but I did. When she wanted to see Brenda… I just couldn’t handle it. I said some awful things and pushed her away. But she’s here now and it’s almost like before except she’s all grown up. She says she’s staying in Vegas. Says she doesn’t want to lose me again. Of course, it has nothing to do with Greg Sanders. Okay, I’ll admit she could do a lot worse but still… Nick says I’ll never think anybody is good enough for her and I guess he’s right. But I do want her to be happy. So I’m trying to keep my mouth shut. You know how hard that is for me.”
“Remember that picture of the three of us you carried around? A copy of it is hanging on our living room wall. Nick insisted we hang it. I told him we didn’t have to but he said it belonged with our family pictures. He never ceases to amaze me. Personally if he wanted to hang a picture of his first love on our wall I’d kill him. Well, maybe not kill him but I’d sure be pissed. The difference between him and me, I guess.”
“I wish you could have had the life I have now. I actually own a house. It’s nothing like the house we lived in either. It’s filled with love and laughter not fear and violence. Nick is the most caring man I’ve ever met. I tried so hard not to fall for him partly because I was afraid of getting hurt but also I felt like I was betraying you somehow. But I realize now that you wouldn’t want me to be alone, you’d want me to be happy. And I am happy. When you died all my dreams died too. My life was about protecting Mary and work. Then along came this handsome Texan to shake up my whole world. Now I have a home, a real home, a man that loves me and I have Mary back. I never imagined I could be this happy.”
David stood up and stretched. “Mary has this theory. She says you are watching over us, that you had a hand in getting us away from Brenda. She also thinks you sent me Nick. I like to think she’s right. If she is, could you do me a favor? Would you watch over Nick too? He has the worst luck. I mean, who else could get kidnapped at a courthouse. Maybe it’s wrong of me to ask but I couldn’t survive losing him.”
“Speaking of Nick, he’s waiting up in the truck for me. He insisted on driving me enough though he hates cemeteries ever since he was buried alive. So I guess I ought to go. He told me to take as long as I needed. He’s always been so patient with me. I have no doubt he’d wait for hours for me and only come looking for me when he started worrying. You know, he asked me the other day if I still wanted to leave Vegas, he would have too. Just packed up and moved because I wanted too. I told him that even though I’m still not comfortable with people knowing what we went through this is my home and I’m not going to run from the past anymore. He just smiled and said whatever you want, babe. He’s amazing. God, listen to me. I sound like a school girl gushing about her boyfriend. I can almost hear you snickering.” He sighed. “I love you, Petey and I miss you.”
*****
As David approached the truck he could see Nick was on his cell phone. When the Texan saw him he smiled and ended his conversation.
“Please don’t tell me that was work.”
“No, it was Mary.”
“Is she alright?”
“She’s fine, babe.”
“So what’s with that look?”
“Mom called and talked to her. She asked her to come with us for Thanksgiving.”
David smiled. “What did she say?”
“That she didn’t want to intrude on a family event.”
David rolled his eyes. “I’m sure Jillian let her off with that.”
“Right” Nick grinned. “She told her that she was family and that and I’m quoting here ‘If your brother hadn’t been so bullheaded you would have been invited a long time ago.’ end quote.”
“I’m not bullheaded.” David protested.
“You keep telling yourself that.” Nick chuckled.
“So what did Mary say?”
“She said she would and Mom even told her she could bring Greg.”
“Greg? We’re not really going to subject the family to Sanders, are we?
“Yes, if that’s what Mary wants.”
David sighed deeply and Nick knew it wasn’t because of Greg.
“Come here, you.” Nick said pulling him into his arms. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah.” David mumbled against Nick’s neck. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“Anytime, babe.” Nick placed a kiss on his forehead. “Guess what else Mary told me?”
“What?”
“Greg’s taking her out tonight. She said not to wait up.”
“And you’re happily telling me this because?”
“Think babe, we’ll have the whole house to ourselves.”
“Exactly what did you have in mind, Mr. Stokes?”
“Something involving you, me and a hot shower.”
“I was kind of thinking of you, me and a warm bed.”
“That sounds good too.” Nick chuckled.
“Or we could do both.”
“I love the way your mind works.” Nick kissed him again. “You ready to go home, baby?”
“Home.” David smiled. “Yeah, let’s go home, Nicky.”