"Collision"
Title: Collision
Author: LadyMacbeth
Fandom: CSI
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Category: Romance, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: R
E-mail: ladymacbeth_451@msn.com
Disclaimer: I don’t own CSI or any of the actors involved with the show. This story is FICTIONAL.
Warning: This story centers around a m/m pairing. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
Summary: In the dark of the night, the unforgiving Nevada desert storms into the lives of two men, tearing them down, and building them back up.
Note: I’ve had this story sitting around in my Fanfic folder for a while. It was written more than a couple years ago, but I still love how it turned out.
“It’s all you, man.”
Greg Sanders scowled in the general direction of Nick Stokes. It was all he could do; if Greg flipped him the bird, Nick wouldn’t see it.
The Lab Tech took another cautious look at his surroundings. The harsh Nevada desert terrain glared eerily at the dark sky, the full moon casting its blue light over the land, giving it an unearthly aura.
The two men stood quietly along the foreboding highway. Silent in either direction, the midnight mist curled hungrily around skeletal shrubs dotting the side of the road.
The night temperatures caused the young man to shiver and shift uncomfortably. Why this couldn’t wait till morning, he didn’t know.
Shadows of the jagged, jutting boulders seeped across everything, like blood from a wound. They covered the men entirely, leaving them to fumble blindly in the dark, desperately searching for an artificial light.
There had been an accident here a week ago. The nature of the crash seemed suspicious, so the Las Vegas Crime Lab had been called in. It was discovered by the team that foul play had indeed taken place, and the bastard responsible was now waiting on a trial date.
So why was he here? In their haste to solve the case, as well as several others (it had been a rough week), some of their equipment had been left behind. Mostly markers and the like. The numbered cards created an erratic orange zigzag running parallel to the highway; a ghostly neon connect-the-dots.
The entire scene set the young man ill at ease. Normally, Greg would relish any chance he got to be in the field instead of behind a microscope, but the Edgar Allan Poe-like setting was giving the CSI-hopeful second thoughts.
And it didn’t help the situation, of course, when it was revealed that Greg was going to be left on his own in the middle of the dark desert. Not fifteen minutes after the two men had arrived, the older of the two, Nick, had received a phone call requesting his assistance back on the strip.
The men had, of course, only taken one vehicle.
After a small argument, it was decided that Nick would leave Greg to clean up the scene, and the Lab Tech would call the Texan when the equipment had been cleared.
It seemed simple enough, yet, the young man still couldn’t shake the night’s shadowed tendrils. The darkness grabbed at him from all sides, despite the best efforts of his flashlight and about a dozen hazy, orange flares scattered amongst the scene.
Though still unsure of himself, the smaller man felt a reassuring squeeze of his shoulder. Greg turned to meet the eyes of the handsome CSI.
The man’s gaze was soft. The look of humour was gone, leaving only understanding in its wake.
“You’ll be fine,” he said. And those simple words, made melodic by the man’s lascivious Texan accent, calmed the younger man. He was, in no way excited by the experience, but neither did he jump when the moon darted behind a cloud.
Sensing the man’s unease, the cowboy leaned in closer over Greg’s right shoulder, the strong hand still firmly in place. The younger man could smell his aftershave.
“Look, we’ll both have our phones on. If you need anything, just give me a call, ok? I promise that I will come right back. Sound good? Don’t be so nervous Greggo, you know I’ve always got your back. Alright?”
The blonde swallowed nervously and nodded his head spastically. The CSI smiled as the movement caused the Lab Tech’s hair to flop wildly. That was Greg for you. Whether you loved him or hated him for it, the man was certainly unique.
With one final pat on the back, Nick Stokes left Greg Sanders alone in the dark Nevada night, sure that he would hear from the handsome young man within the hour.
*****
While Nick sped back towards civilization, Greg began his scavenger hunt. Thankfully, his supervisor, Gil Grissom, had been organized enough to disclose to the young man a list of all of the equipment that had yet to be collected. The blonde scanned the sheet of paper. The outstanding items seemed to have mostly been made up of markers and a few pylons. There weren’t that many, but the crime scene was vast. Finding everything would be challenge enough.
Pausing only to glance at his watch, which resulted in a dejected sigh, Greg started walking.
*****
All through the drive back from the crime scene, Nick’s mind drifted back to the young blonde man. No matter what he did to distract himself, the CSI’s thoughts always seemed to wander back along the deserted roads to Greg Sanders.
The rational Texan tried his best to reason with himself. He just felt bad leaving Greggo on his own. Greg was a good friend. Greg was…
Nick’s thoughts were so far away from the conscious world that he very nearly missed the off-ramp that would take him to his desired location… in the real world where everything was just a little more black and white.
Grey could be dangerous.
As the man pulled into the parking lot of the CSI headquarters, he banished all questionable thoughts and feelings from his head.
And they stayed out… for about as long as it took to park the SUV.
For, just as Nick stepped out of the vehicle, the most terrible and foreboding feeling hit him right in the chest, knocking the very air from his lungs.
*****
Number thirteen… the only missing marker. What were the chances?
Greg glanced up from his checklist. He had managed to find everything rather quickly, but the last piece of forensic equipment continued to elude him. He had checked the ditches thoroughly and the road was clear. Everywhere else was supposed to be done.
The young man checked his watch. It was already two fifteen in the morning. He didn’t want to have to stay much longer, but he knew that he couldn’t leave anything behind.
Debating with himself over his next move for a moment, Greg finally decided to do one last walk along the road. If he didn’t find anything, he’d just call Nick and tell him that someone must have stolen the missing marker.
It sounded simple enough.
So, tucking his checklist beneath his arm and his pen behind his ear, the young Lab Tech began his trek along the lonely roadside.
Greg kept his eyes on the pavement the whole time. He didn’t even register the fact that he had started to drift farther into the road. He just wanted to find that damn little piece of plastic and go home… Or better yet, go get something to eat with Nick.
The young man smiled to himself. He just couldn’t deny the charm of the older man. He could never tell him, of course, because Nick was a well-known ladies man… But still, Greg could do nothing to quiet the butterflies that swarmed in his stomach whenever the sultry Texan smiled at him.
Greg was so absorbed in his thoughts that he had almost completely stopped in the middle of the road. He just stood there, lost in his head, not even noticing the car that came speeding ‘round the corner.
*****
Nick was getting nervous. It had now been over three hours since he had dropped Greg off at the cleared crime scene.
He sat, fidgeting in the driver’s seat of the SUV, trying to decide his next course of action. He unconsciously bit at his nails, something he hadn’t done in years, while he stared out through the windshield, not really seeing.
He had been parked in that same spot outside a local burger joint, for the last twenty minutes. Every other minute, he was on the verge of going back to get Greg.
But every time, he just took the keys out of the ignition and waited a little longer.
The whole situation confused the Texan to no end. He didn’t know why he was getting so worked up over Greg. Sure, he liked the guy, but not in that way. He was straight. He didn’t see the eccentric Lab Tech like that… Did he?
Nick wasn’t so sure anymore.
A high-pitched, electronic wail split the silence, causing the solemn man to jump.
It took him a moment to realize the noise was coming from his phone. He let out a sigh of relief as he reached for the little gadget sitting on the passenger’s seat.
He flipped it open and put the device to his ear.
“Hello?”
“…”
“Hello? Anyone there?” Nick listened closer. Normally, he would have hung up by now, but a bad feeling had started to grow in the pit of his stomach again.
“… … … Nick?”
Nick’s blood turned to ice in his veins.
“Greg? Greggo? Are you ok?”
“… … No.”
“Christ… What happened?!” Nick’s blood had thawed and was now racing through his heart.
Greg struggled for words on the other side of the phone. Nick could hear his laboured breathing.
Finally, one word broke through Greg’s lips.
“Car.”
The Texan nearly dropped the phone.
“Oh God… Oh God, hold on, Greg! I’m coming, ok? I’m gonna come get you. Just… just keep talking, alright? You know the drill. We have to keep you awake. Please… just hold on, Greg…”
The older man started the car.
“I’ll try, Nick… Nick?”
“Ya?”
“Hurry.”
With that, Nick sped off into the night.
*****
It was about fifteen minutes later that Nick came across the broken man.
He had been scanning the road, frantically trying to find the body that belonged to the quickly disappearing voice on the other end of the phone.
Just by his tone, Nick could tell that it was taking everything Greg had just to stay conscious. He was getting weaker by the moment, and the Texan’s heart stopped each time the younger man didn’t respond right away.
Nick knew he just had to keep the kid talking. He tried to act as if his world didn’t crumble every time Greg let out a cry of pain. So, the older man attempted to carry on a relatively normal conversation. Greg seemed to understand what the other man was trying to do, and so, went along with it.
They talked about anything they could think of: work, sports, movies. All the while, Greg became quieter. Nick had to strain to hear him every time he spoke, but it was so hard to hear anything over the pounding in his ears.
As Nick drew closer to the scene, a silence resonated from the phone. Panicking, Nick tried to come up with a new subject.
“So, uh, Greggo… um, you, uh, seein’ anyone?” He waited for a response with baited breath.
“… No Nick… still single.”
The Texan breathed again. “C’mon, now,” he said, trying to convince himself that the circumstances surrounding the conversation were anything but reality. “You’d think you’d have girls lined up around the block for you. What’s the deal, Greg?”
Just keep the kid talking…. That’s all he had to do…
Greg took a considerable pause before answering, causing Nick’s heart to race even faster. The young man seemed to be deliberating as to what to say.
Finally, he spoke. “Actually, I have my eye on someone…” The older man’s blood pounded thunderously through his ears. “I’ve actually had feelings for the person for a long time… I’ve just never had the guts to say anything.”
Nick could hear the Lab Tech’s laboured breathing through the phone. Talking might be helping Greg, but it was killing Nick. The CSI’s heart was breaking as he listened to the young man accept a fate that may not be his own.
However, it was his fragile sanity that seemed to shatter as the hard breathes turned into racking sobs.
Nick was at a loss. The man he cared for more than he would admit, was dying, physically and emotionally, on the other end of the phone.
“I… I guess this i-is my l-last chance to… to say something, so… so…” Greg paused as another tidal wave of tears flowed forth.
Nick felt moisture creep at the corner of his own eyes. “Greg… C’mon, Greg… Don’t talk like that. You’re gonna be… fine. Just fi-”
“I love you, Nick.”
And that’s when the SUV’s headlights found Greg.
*****
“Greg!”
The young Lab Tech blinked against the harsh headlights that cut at the night. He could see the figure of a man silhouetted against them, making him glow with a pure, white aura.
In his semi-conscious state, Greg thought, perhaps, that the figure belonged to that of an angel. But why, then, did the voice calling his name sound so much like Nick? Was Nick an angel? He didn’t know angels came with Texan accents…
The absurd thought made Greg want to laugh. But as he opened his mouth to chuckle, sound refused to come out. His throat felt incredibly sore, and his lungs didn’t seem to work right.
“Greg?!”
Suddenly the figure was beside him. Greg could feel the atmosphere around him change. He was barely aware of a hand tentatively brushing the matted hair from his eyes. The older man was trembling and Greg was sure he could hear someone crying.
“Greg? Greg, man, I just called 911 and an ambulance should be here in about fifteen minutes. You’ve gotta hold on until then, you hear me? Greg?”
The young man tried again to say something, anything. But once more, his body refused to cooperate. Instead of words, when Greg opened his mouth, his lungs spazzemed and he shook violently as he coughed, leaving him with a disgusting, irony taste in his mouth.
“Oh Jesus… Oh God, Greg! C’mon, stay with me… you can’t leave me Greg… What would I do without you?”
The Lab Tech heard the crying turn into sobs. He felt an odd pressure on his head as the older man pressed his forehead to his. The hand was back, this time gently running across his cheek, trying to brush away the dirt and the tears.
It was all so overwhelming. For what had seemed like an eternity, Greg had laid there in that road all alone. The night was there, watching him, looking down at the broken figure crying, scared and isolated. He was so afraid as he drifted in and out of consciousness, seeing the stars wink at him.
It was a miracle that his cell phone had survived.
Now he had Nick there to take care of him. The older man would never let anything happen to him… He couldn’t…
Greg thoughts were interrupted as a low rumble split the horrible stillness. Suddenly, it seemed as if the gods had lit a thousand firecrackers as the lightning raced across the sky. For one single, agonizing moment, both men were completely exposed to each other; their souls bare, their feelings naked.
The electricity hummed all around them, eliciting goose bumps and nervous pants. For that brief instant, everything was clear. They couldn’t hide from each other out there in that desert under that bright sky.
“Greg?” The older man whispered, fear distorting his voice.
Summoning every bit of strength he had, the damaged Lab Tech dragged his mobile arm from its sleeping position. With tears blurring his vision, both from pain and fear, Greg hesitated just a moment before letting his fingertips graze the cheek of the other man. He watched as Nick shuddered and closed his eyes at the cool touch.
Breathing heavily, Greg realized that this was his chance; probably his last chance. He had nothing to loose. Suddenly, before either could comprehend what was happening, Greg had brought Nick’s lips to his, sealing them together.
It was all so sad and so beautiful, that even the gods began cry.
*****
Nick could feel the rain begin to drench him as he continued to hold onto Greg for dear life. He was so shocked by the kiss, but he couldn’t bring himself to break it. This was what he had always been missing, right here, this man.
Overheard, the sky continued to urge him on with shocks of bright lightning. They seemed to light the entire desert up. Everything was painted in deep, desperate blues. Each flash exposed the mortals below, moment by moment, playing like a strobe light.
All of a sudden, Nick pulled back, desperate for air and clarity. It wasn’t right. Greg was injured and he was taking advantage of him. He wasn’t in the right state of mind. He…
But the young man’s eyes said different. The cloudy haze was gone, replaced with a startlingly clear look.
God, Nick could get lost in those eyes. He smiled down at the Lab Tech as he brushed a bit of stray hair from his eyes.
Greg tried to smile back, but just then a horrible wave of pain ripped through his body. His mouth opened in a silent scream as he felt his body begin to seize.
Nick watched in horror as the young man spazzemed on the cold roadside, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. The Texan could hear someone screaming, and barely registered the fact that it was him.
Time seemed to stop, and yet the rain just kept falling. It pelted them, stinging their exposed flesh, but Nick didn’t care. He couldn’t wrench his away from the horrific look of agony on the young man’s face.
The Texan desperately tried to hold onto Greg as he shook, wanting to prevent more damage, but as the Lab Tech’s eyes began to flutter close, Nick knew they were losing the battle.
Overhead, the sky continued to explode, but the lightning was no longer beautiful; it was angry. The gods sent stream after stream of light across the sky, banging their thunderous drums, furious at Fate’s terrible injustice. How dare she separate these men when they had only just found each other.
They beat the drums harder and threw more light, crying desperately for Fate to have mercy on the mortals below.
Beneath the celestial battle, Nick was bent over a limp Greg, holding his face in his hands. He was screaming again, but this time, words raced from his mouth, anxious to reach the younger man’s ears before it was too late.
“Greg! God, Greg, listen to me! The ambulance will be here any second! Just hold on!” But as he spoke, he could feel the younger man’s pulse slow to an agonizing pace. Nick felt something inside him break. “Greg! Please! You can’t leave me! … I love you!”
And with that, Greg Sanders’ heart stopped dead.
Out there, alone in the unforgiving desert, Nick Stokes let out a terrible, heart wrenching cry, drowned out by the siren screaming around the corner.
*****
It was almost twelve hours later when Nick woke up in a cold sweat, haunted by that mangled, lifeless body. It came to him, over and over, and always, there was that voice on the other side of the telephone, repeating again and again, the last thing Greg had said to him before he died.
“I love you.”
Nick spoke the intensely emotional words aloud… Not to himself, but to the unconscious man in the hospital bed. The battered figure remained still, the numerous machines monitoring heart rate, breathing, and about a million other things.
The Texan glanced quickly at the chart at the end of the bed… the one titled: Greg Sanders.
The doctors had said it was a miracle that he had survived. The young Lab Tech looked as if he had been hit by a Mack truck instead of a car. At least 50% of his bones were broken and he had some pretty serious internal bleeding.
All in all, he was a mess… but he was alive.
Nick felt his entire world end the moment Greg’s heart stopped… The paramedics had told him they were lucky to get there as fast as they did. If they had been delayed any longer, they may not have been able to restart his heart.
The older man just couldn’t think about that. He just couldn’t imagine that that moment out there in the desert was the end. It would just be too cruel, for Fate to rip the two of them apart like that… To rob him of the thing he loved the most.
Nick ran his hand gently over Greg’s head, trying in vain to smooth down the wild hair. The man smiled sadly. He had made it. The hardest part was over. Sure, Greg still had a long recovery ahead of him, but the doctors had told him that the surgeries were successful and the medication was doing the work. He was out of the woods. And Nick would be there with him every step of the way.
The Texan hadn’t realized that he had closed his eyes until he felt the surface beneath his hand shift. Startled, he opened his eyes quickly in shock.
There, staring back at him in drowsy confusion, was Greg.
Nick couldn’t even form words.
The two men just stared at each other. Finally, Greg cleared his throat.
“I love you too, Nick.”
And then Nick was there, kissing him with all the passion he had, ever careful not to hurt the bruised young man. Greg returned the heated exchange, silently thanking whoever it was that had let him live through the night.
Eventually, the two broke apart, gasping for air, eyes clouded with love and lust.
Breathing heavily, Nick let his hand drift back over the Lab Tech’s hair. He smiled down at him, and the man smiled back. He leant down and kissed Greg gently on the forehead.
“Get some sleep, Greggo,” he whispered gently, “You need the rest.”
Greg smiled again, but looked slightly uncertain. “Will you still be here when I wake up?”
“Ya, Greg, right here.”
“Y-you… you won’t leave?”
Nick breathed a contented sigh. “No, Greg. I’ll never leave you again.”
THE END
Author: LadyMacbeth
Fandom: CSI
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Category: Romance, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: R
E-mail: ladymacbeth_451@msn.com
Disclaimer: I don’t own CSI or any of the actors involved with the show. This story is FICTIONAL.
Warning: This story centers around a m/m pairing. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
Summary: In the dark of the night, the unforgiving Nevada desert storms into the lives of two men, tearing them down, and building them back up.
Note: I’ve had this story sitting around in my Fanfic folder for a while. It was written more than a couple years ago, but I still love how it turned out.
“It’s all you, man.”
Greg Sanders scowled in the general direction of Nick Stokes. It was all he could do; if Greg flipped him the bird, Nick wouldn’t see it.
The Lab Tech took another cautious look at his surroundings. The harsh Nevada desert terrain glared eerily at the dark sky, the full moon casting its blue light over the land, giving it an unearthly aura.
The two men stood quietly along the foreboding highway. Silent in either direction, the midnight mist curled hungrily around skeletal shrubs dotting the side of the road.
The night temperatures caused the young man to shiver and shift uncomfortably. Why this couldn’t wait till morning, he didn’t know.
Shadows of the jagged, jutting boulders seeped across everything, like blood from a wound. They covered the men entirely, leaving them to fumble blindly in the dark, desperately searching for an artificial light.
There had been an accident here a week ago. The nature of the crash seemed suspicious, so the Las Vegas Crime Lab had been called in. It was discovered by the team that foul play had indeed taken place, and the bastard responsible was now waiting on a trial date.
So why was he here? In their haste to solve the case, as well as several others (it had been a rough week), some of their equipment had been left behind. Mostly markers and the like. The numbered cards created an erratic orange zigzag running parallel to the highway; a ghostly neon connect-the-dots.
The entire scene set the young man ill at ease. Normally, Greg would relish any chance he got to be in the field instead of behind a microscope, but the Edgar Allan Poe-like setting was giving the CSI-hopeful second thoughts.
And it didn’t help the situation, of course, when it was revealed that Greg was going to be left on his own in the middle of the dark desert. Not fifteen minutes after the two men had arrived, the older of the two, Nick, had received a phone call requesting his assistance back on the strip.
The men had, of course, only taken one vehicle.
After a small argument, it was decided that Nick would leave Greg to clean up the scene, and the Lab Tech would call the Texan when the equipment had been cleared.
It seemed simple enough, yet, the young man still couldn’t shake the night’s shadowed tendrils. The darkness grabbed at him from all sides, despite the best efforts of his flashlight and about a dozen hazy, orange flares scattered amongst the scene.
Though still unsure of himself, the smaller man felt a reassuring squeeze of his shoulder. Greg turned to meet the eyes of the handsome CSI.
The man’s gaze was soft. The look of humour was gone, leaving only understanding in its wake.
“You’ll be fine,” he said. And those simple words, made melodic by the man’s lascivious Texan accent, calmed the younger man. He was, in no way excited by the experience, but neither did he jump when the moon darted behind a cloud.
Sensing the man’s unease, the cowboy leaned in closer over Greg’s right shoulder, the strong hand still firmly in place. The younger man could smell his aftershave.
“Look, we’ll both have our phones on. If you need anything, just give me a call, ok? I promise that I will come right back. Sound good? Don’t be so nervous Greggo, you know I’ve always got your back. Alright?”
The blonde swallowed nervously and nodded his head spastically. The CSI smiled as the movement caused the Lab Tech’s hair to flop wildly. That was Greg for you. Whether you loved him or hated him for it, the man was certainly unique.
With one final pat on the back, Nick Stokes left Greg Sanders alone in the dark Nevada night, sure that he would hear from the handsome young man within the hour.
*****
While Nick sped back towards civilization, Greg began his scavenger hunt. Thankfully, his supervisor, Gil Grissom, had been organized enough to disclose to the young man a list of all of the equipment that had yet to be collected. The blonde scanned the sheet of paper. The outstanding items seemed to have mostly been made up of markers and a few pylons. There weren’t that many, but the crime scene was vast. Finding everything would be challenge enough.
Pausing only to glance at his watch, which resulted in a dejected sigh, Greg started walking.
*****
All through the drive back from the crime scene, Nick’s mind drifted back to the young blonde man. No matter what he did to distract himself, the CSI’s thoughts always seemed to wander back along the deserted roads to Greg Sanders.
The rational Texan tried his best to reason with himself. He just felt bad leaving Greggo on his own. Greg was a good friend. Greg was…
Nick’s thoughts were so far away from the conscious world that he very nearly missed the off-ramp that would take him to his desired location… in the real world where everything was just a little more black and white.
Grey could be dangerous.
As the man pulled into the parking lot of the CSI headquarters, he banished all questionable thoughts and feelings from his head.
And they stayed out… for about as long as it took to park the SUV.
For, just as Nick stepped out of the vehicle, the most terrible and foreboding feeling hit him right in the chest, knocking the very air from his lungs.
*****
Number thirteen… the only missing marker. What were the chances?
Greg glanced up from his checklist. He had managed to find everything rather quickly, but the last piece of forensic equipment continued to elude him. He had checked the ditches thoroughly and the road was clear. Everywhere else was supposed to be done.
The young man checked his watch. It was already two fifteen in the morning. He didn’t want to have to stay much longer, but he knew that he couldn’t leave anything behind.
Debating with himself over his next move for a moment, Greg finally decided to do one last walk along the road. If he didn’t find anything, he’d just call Nick and tell him that someone must have stolen the missing marker.
It sounded simple enough.
So, tucking his checklist beneath his arm and his pen behind his ear, the young Lab Tech began his trek along the lonely roadside.
Greg kept his eyes on the pavement the whole time. He didn’t even register the fact that he had started to drift farther into the road. He just wanted to find that damn little piece of plastic and go home… Or better yet, go get something to eat with Nick.
The young man smiled to himself. He just couldn’t deny the charm of the older man. He could never tell him, of course, because Nick was a well-known ladies man… But still, Greg could do nothing to quiet the butterflies that swarmed in his stomach whenever the sultry Texan smiled at him.
Greg was so absorbed in his thoughts that he had almost completely stopped in the middle of the road. He just stood there, lost in his head, not even noticing the car that came speeding ‘round the corner.
*****
Nick was getting nervous. It had now been over three hours since he had dropped Greg off at the cleared crime scene.
He sat, fidgeting in the driver’s seat of the SUV, trying to decide his next course of action. He unconsciously bit at his nails, something he hadn’t done in years, while he stared out through the windshield, not really seeing.
He had been parked in that same spot outside a local burger joint, for the last twenty minutes. Every other minute, he was on the verge of going back to get Greg.
But every time, he just took the keys out of the ignition and waited a little longer.
The whole situation confused the Texan to no end. He didn’t know why he was getting so worked up over Greg. Sure, he liked the guy, but not in that way. He was straight. He didn’t see the eccentric Lab Tech like that… Did he?
Nick wasn’t so sure anymore.
A high-pitched, electronic wail split the silence, causing the solemn man to jump.
It took him a moment to realize the noise was coming from his phone. He let out a sigh of relief as he reached for the little gadget sitting on the passenger’s seat.
He flipped it open and put the device to his ear.
“Hello?”
“…”
“Hello? Anyone there?” Nick listened closer. Normally, he would have hung up by now, but a bad feeling had started to grow in the pit of his stomach again.
“… … … Nick?”
Nick’s blood turned to ice in his veins.
“Greg? Greggo? Are you ok?”
“… … No.”
“Christ… What happened?!” Nick’s blood had thawed and was now racing through his heart.
Greg struggled for words on the other side of the phone. Nick could hear his laboured breathing.
Finally, one word broke through Greg’s lips.
“Car.”
The Texan nearly dropped the phone.
“Oh God… Oh God, hold on, Greg! I’m coming, ok? I’m gonna come get you. Just… just keep talking, alright? You know the drill. We have to keep you awake. Please… just hold on, Greg…”
The older man started the car.
“I’ll try, Nick… Nick?”
“Ya?”
“Hurry.”
With that, Nick sped off into the night.
*****
It was about fifteen minutes later that Nick came across the broken man.
He had been scanning the road, frantically trying to find the body that belonged to the quickly disappearing voice on the other end of the phone.
Just by his tone, Nick could tell that it was taking everything Greg had just to stay conscious. He was getting weaker by the moment, and the Texan’s heart stopped each time the younger man didn’t respond right away.
Nick knew he just had to keep the kid talking. He tried to act as if his world didn’t crumble every time Greg let out a cry of pain. So, the older man attempted to carry on a relatively normal conversation. Greg seemed to understand what the other man was trying to do, and so, went along with it.
They talked about anything they could think of: work, sports, movies. All the while, Greg became quieter. Nick had to strain to hear him every time he spoke, but it was so hard to hear anything over the pounding in his ears.
As Nick drew closer to the scene, a silence resonated from the phone. Panicking, Nick tried to come up with a new subject.
“So, uh, Greggo… um, you, uh, seein’ anyone?” He waited for a response with baited breath.
“… No Nick… still single.”
The Texan breathed again. “C’mon, now,” he said, trying to convince himself that the circumstances surrounding the conversation were anything but reality. “You’d think you’d have girls lined up around the block for you. What’s the deal, Greg?”
Just keep the kid talking…. That’s all he had to do…
Greg took a considerable pause before answering, causing Nick’s heart to race even faster. The young man seemed to be deliberating as to what to say.
Finally, he spoke. “Actually, I have my eye on someone…” The older man’s blood pounded thunderously through his ears. “I’ve actually had feelings for the person for a long time… I’ve just never had the guts to say anything.”
Nick could hear the Lab Tech’s laboured breathing through the phone. Talking might be helping Greg, but it was killing Nick. The CSI’s heart was breaking as he listened to the young man accept a fate that may not be his own.
However, it was his fragile sanity that seemed to shatter as the hard breathes turned into racking sobs.
Nick was at a loss. The man he cared for more than he would admit, was dying, physically and emotionally, on the other end of the phone.
“I… I guess this i-is my l-last chance to… to say something, so… so…” Greg paused as another tidal wave of tears flowed forth.
Nick felt moisture creep at the corner of his own eyes. “Greg… C’mon, Greg… Don’t talk like that. You’re gonna be… fine. Just fi-”
“I love you, Nick.”
And that’s when the SUV’s headlights found Greg.
*****
“Greg!”
The young Lab Tech blinked against the harsh headlights that cut at the night. He could see the figure of a man silhouetted against them, making him glow with a pure, white aura.
In his semi-conscious state, Greg thought, perhaps, that the figure belonged to that of an angel. But why, then, did the voice calling his name sound so much like Nick? Was Nick an angel? He didn’t know angels came with Texan accents…
The absurd thought made Greg want to laugh. But as he opened his mouth to chuckle, sound refused to come out. His throat felt incredibly sore, and his lungs didn’t seem to work right.
“Greg?!”
Suddenly the figure was beside him. Greg could feel the atmosphere around him change. He was barely aware of a hand tentatively brushing the matted hair from his eyes. The older man was trembling and Greg was sure he could hear someone crying.
“Greg? Greg, man, I just called 911 and an ambulance should be here in about fifteen minutes. You’ve gotta hold on until then, you hear me? Greg?”
The young man tried again to say something, anything. But once more, his body refused to cooperate. Instead of words, when Greg opened his mouth, his lungs spazzemed and he shook violently as he coughed, leaving him with a disgusting, irony taste in his mouth.
“Oh Jesus… Oh God, Greg! C’mon, stay with me… you can’t leave me Greg… What would I do without you?”
The Lab Tech heard the crying turn into sobs. He felt an odd pressure on his head as the older man pressed his forehead to his. The hand was back, this time gently running across his cheek, trying to brush away the dirt and the tears.
It was all so overwhelming. For what had seemed like an eternity, Greg had laid there in that road all alone. The night was there, watching him, looking down at the broken figure crying, scared and isolated. He was so afraid as he drifted in and out of consciousness, seeing the stars wink at him.
It was a miracle that his cell phone had survived.
Now he had Nick there to take care of him. The older man would never let anything happen to him… He couldn’t…
Greg thoughts were interrupted as a low rumble split the horrible stillness. Suddenly, it seemed as if the gods had lit a thousand firecrackers as the lightning raced across the sky. For one single, agonizing moment, both men were completely exposed to each other; their souls bare, their feelings naked.
The electricity hummed all around them, eliciting goose bumps and nervous pants. For that brief instant, everything was clear. They couldn’t hide from each other out there in that desert under that bright sky.
“Greg?” The older man whispered, fear distorting his voice.
Summoning every bit of strength he had, the damaged Lab Tech dragged his mobile arm from its sleeping position. With tears blurring his vision, both from pain and fear, Greg hesitated just a moment before letting his fingertips graze the cheek of the other man. He watched as Nick shuddered and closed his eyes at the cool touch.
Breathing heavily, Greg realized that this was his chance; probably his last chance. He had nothing to loose. Suddenly, before either could comprehend what was happening, Greg had brought Nick’s lips to his, sealing them together.
It was all so sad and so beautiful, that even the gods began cry.
*****
Nick could feel the rain begin to drench him as he continued to hold onto Greg for dear life. He was so shocked by the kiss, but he couldn’t bring himself to break it. This was what he had always been missing, right here, this man.
Overheard, the sky continued to urge him on with shocks of bright lightning. They seemed to light the entire desert up. Everything was painted in deep, desperate blues. Each flash exposed the mortals below, moment by moment, playing like a strobe light.
All of a sudden, Nick pulled back, desperate for air and clarity. It wasn’t right. Greg was injured and he was taking advantage of him. He wasn’t in the right state of mind. He…
But the young man’s eyes said different. The cloudy haze was gone, replaced with a startlingly clear look.
God, Nick could get lost in those eyes. He smiled down at the Lab Tech as he brushed a bit of stray hair from his eyes.
Greg tried to smile back, but just then a horrible wave of pain ripped through his body. His mouth opened in a silent scream as he felt his body begin to seize.
Nick watched in horror as the young man spazzemed on the cold roadside, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. The Texan could hear someone screaming, and barely registered the fact that it was him.
Time seemed to stop, and yet the rain just kept falling. It pelted them, stinging their exposed flesh, but Nick didn’t care. He couldn’t wrench his away from the horrific look of agony on the young man’s face.
The Texan desperately tried to hold onto Greg as he shook, wanting to prevent more damage, but as the Lab Tech’s eyes began to flutter close, Nick knew they were losing the battle.
Overhead, the sky continued to explode, but the lightning was no longer beautiful; it was angry. The gods sent stream after stream of light across the sky, banging their thunderous drums, furious at Fate’s terrible injustice. How dare she separate these men when they had only just found each other.
They beat the drums harder and threw more light, crying desperately for Fate to have mercy on the mortals below.
Beneath the celestial battle, Nick was bent over a limp Greg, holding his face in his hands. He was screaming again, but this time, words raced from his mouth, anxious to reach the younger man’s ears before it was too late.
“Greg! God, Greg, listen to me! The ambulance will be here any second! Just hold on!” But as he spoke, he could feel the younger man’s pulse slow to an agonizing pace. Nick felt something inside him break. “Greg! Please! You can’t leave me! … I love you!”
And with that, Greg Sanders’ heart stopped dead.
Out there, alone in the unforgiving desert, Nick Stokes let out a terrible, heart wrenching cry, drowned out by the siren screaming around the corner.
*****
It was almost twelve hours later when Nick woke up in a cold sweat, haunted by that mangled, lifeless body. It came to him, over and over, and always, there was that voice on the other side of the telephone, repeating again and again, the last thing Greg had said to him before he died.
“I love you.”
Nick spoke the intensely emotional words aloud… Not to himself, but to the unconscious man in the hospital bed. The battered figure remained still, the numerous machines monitoring heart rate, breathing, and about a million other things.
The Texan glanced quickly at the chart at the end of the bed… the one titled: Greg Sanders.
The doctors had said it was a miracle that he had survived. The young Lab Tech looked as if he had been hit by a Mack truck instead of a car. At least 50% of his bones were broken and he had some pretty serious internal bleeding.
All in all, he was a mess… but he was alive.
Nick felt his entire world end the moment Greg’s heart stopped… The paramedics had told him they were lucky to get there as fast as they did. If they had been delayed any longer, they may not have been able to restart his heart.
The older man just couldn’t think about that. He just couldn’t imagine that that moment out there in the desert was the end. It would just be too cruel, for Fate to rip the two of them apart like that… To rob him of the thing he loved the most.
Nick ran his hand gently over Greg’s head, trying in vain to smooth down the wild hair. The man smiled sadly. He had made it. The hardest part was over. Sure, Greg still had a long recovery ahead of him, but the doctors had told him that the surgeries were successful and the medication was doing the work. He was out of the woods. And Nick would be there with him every step of the way.
The Texan hadn’t realized that he had closed his eyes until he felt the surface beneath his hand shift. Startled, he opened his eyes quickly in shock.
There, staring back at him in drowsy confusion, was Greg.
Nick couldn’t even form words.
The two men just stared at each other. Finally, Greg cleared his throat.
“I love you too, Nick.”
And then Nick was there, kissing him with all the passion he had, ever careful not to hurt the bruised young man. Greg returned the heated exchange, silently thanking whoever it was that had let him live through the night.
Eventually, the two broke apart, gasping for air, eyes clouded with love and lust.
Breathing heavily, Nick let his hand drift back over the Lab Tech’s hair. He smiled down at him, and the man smiled back. He leant down and kissed Greg gently on the forehead.
“Get some sleep, Greggo,” he whispered gently, “You need the rest.”
Greg smiled again, but looked slightly uncertain. “Will you still be here when I wake up?”
“Ya, Greg, right here.”
“Y-you… you won’t leave?”
Nick breathed a contented sigh. “No, Greg. I’ll never leave you again.”
THE END