Fic: Last Seen Wearing, Chapter 6 (CSI, Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders)
Title: Last Seen Wearing, Chapter 6
Fandom: CSI
Pairing: Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
Notes: Inspired by Jared Cade`s book The Eleven Missing Days
CSI Las Vegas Main List
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
“Wait a minute.” Catherine placed her hand on Nick’s shoulder, trying to keep him still.
“This can wait, I want to see him.”
“No, this can’t wait. You need to know something before you go in there.”
“What? You said he’s fine.”
“Physically. He…. He has some problems with his memory.”
“What kind of problems?”
“When I went to see him, he thought he had just started working in the lab. The past seven years are gone.”
“You mean…. he doesn’t remember me?”
“He remembers you, but not that you two were together. Or the whole thing with Parson.”
“Did you tell him?”
“No, and you can’t tell him about it either. The doctor said we can fill him in on the stuff that has happened, but nothing that could upset him. You’re not saying a word of Parson, do you understand?”
“Yeah.”
“And make sure he stays away from Greg. They said he can go home today, if we make sure he’s being looked after.”
“Excuse me?” A man in white coat approached them. “Are you here for Mr. Sanders?”
“Yes.”
“Are you taking him home?”
“Yes.” Nick responded. “Do you need to do some more tests?”
“No, we’re done.”
“Catherine told me about his memory. How long is that going to last?”
“Impossible to say. There’s no fractures or bleeding, and he already went through eleven days without medical care. If he had suffered a more serious injury, it would have already shown up. According to the police the people at the Inn saw a large bruise on his head, and he still complains about headaches.”
“What does that mean?” Catherine interrupted.
“It looks like he got a bump on the head in the crash, causing his brain to move rapidly back and forth.”
“Like a whiplash?”
“Like that. The rapid movement puts pressure on the frontal lobe, causing swelling. But in this case….” the doctor lowered his voice when a group of nurses walked past them. “….he was upset and agitated when the accident happened. I can’t say how much of it is physiological, and how much is mental.”
“Mental?”
“His mind doesn’t want to deal with some things so it shuts them away.”
“Do you think he should see a psychiatrist?” Catherine glanced at Nick, but the man looked million miles away. He had crossed his arms across his chest, and kept biting his bottom lip, like he was thinking furiously.
“I always encourage incident victims to seek counselling. It eases the recovery. But like I said, he still has those headaches. We’ll give him some medication when he goes home, but it is not a good sign this long after the accident. Try to keep him in a good mood and make sure he doesn’t get agitated.” The man gave them a nod and left.
“Can I go in now?” Nick asked.
“Sure, but remember what he said. Nothing that could upset him. Not a word about your break-up or Parson.”
Nick pushed the door open and walked in. Greg had an open newspaper laying on his chest but his eyes were closed.
“G?”
“I wasn’t sleeping, I….” Greg blinked to get his eyes to operate. “Hey. You’re…. Nick.”
“Right.”
“Stokes.”
“Right again. How are you feeling?”
“I would be just peachy without the headache.”
“It will go away. They told us you can go home today. I was thinking about it and… you shouldn’t be alone right now. People can come and visit, but if something happens when you’re alone-”
“I’m not gonna drop dead at a moments notice.”
“I didn’t mean that. I was just thinking ti would be better if you stayed with me, at least for a while. “We were talking about it before your accident.”
“Talking about what?”
“Moving in together.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did we talk about moving in together?”
“Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t remember. We’re together. We’ve been together for almost nine months.”
“Together? You mean….?” Greg stared at him for a long time. Then he started laughing. Uncontrolled, half-hysterical laughter. After a while a he noticed the eager look on Nick’s face. "Oh shit, you’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“We’re…. Why? And when?”
“We… well, I… I mean you…. You asked me out. Nine months ago.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, but when we got back to my place after the date, you ripped my pants open before we even got out of the car.”
A long, awkward silence followed.
“Sorry, that was a joke, you didn’t do that.”
“I didn’t ask you out?”
“No, you did, but you didn’t-”
“I still don’t understand why I would ask you on a date. No offence, but your ass doesn’t make up for your personality.”
“Well, you did anyway and you didn’t complain.”
“And that was nine months ago?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened before that?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did I ask you out just like that? After six years?”
“Pretty much. But we were friends before that. Kind of friends.”
“What does that mean?”
“Can we just say that we got together and move on to other things?”
“Fine. Who’s the top?”
“Not now.”
“So you’re the bottom.”
“Greg!”
“What? Don’t tell me I finally grew up and learned to shut my mouth on time.”
“Don’t worry, you didn’t.” Nick tried to give him an assuring grin. “Anyway, I’ll take you to my place and then we’ll get reacquainted.”
“What kinda place do you have?”
“Why?”
“Guestroom?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I’ll take that.” Greg unfolded his newspaper and put it on the nightstand. “I’m sorry, but…. No matter how much I think about it, you sound like a co-worker, not a lover.”
“Okay, but… you believe me, don’t you?”
“I guess.” Greg shrugged. “Why would you lie about something like that?”
TBC