Halloween Party (Part 4)
Fandom: CSI
Pairings: Nick Stokes/Greg Sanders
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Sexual Content and Language
Spoilers: None
Summary: Greg convinces Nick to dress up for Halloween and things don’t go according as planned…
Disclaimer: I don’t own, but wish I did J
A/N: We’re getting near the end. The last chapter, Part 5, will be posted soon. Enjoy!
Beta’d by the wonderful cristine_hazelx
Part_1 Part_2 Part_3
Nick was devastated. How was he ever going to apologize to Greg? He’d been pacing the waiting area just outside of Greg’s hospital room for the past half hour. Every bad scenario of how seriously the brown eyed man was injured was fighting for dominance in his head. The thought of Greg lying weak, lifeless and alone in a hospital bed was making Nick feel sick to his stomach. It was a picture in head he didn’t want. It was bad enough the images from Catherine’s bathroom had already set up residency there. He decided he was just going to walk into the room and support the injured man in any way he could; that is, if Greg would let him.
Nick took a deep breath and placed his hand on the door. Just as he summoned up the courage to push the door open, he hesitated. ‘Why are people laughing in there?’ The images of Greg lying unconscious flashed through his mind. ‘Don’t they know there’s nothing funny about this?’
Nick leaned toward the door and listened more closely. It was definitely laughter invading the Texan‘s ears. “Greg, you’re crazy you know that?” Nick heard Sara’s voice fill the room along with the laughter of an unfamiliar female.
“You can’t call me crazy, Sara, a little sympathy, please. I’m dying here, remember?” ‘Dying? Jesus, Greggo. What did I do?’ That was definitely Greg’s voice Nick was hearing. Except, he didn’t sound like a man who was dying. He sounded happy.
“The doctor said you have a mild concussion, Greg. You were only out of it for about 30 minutes. Don’t be so dramatic, you‘ll be fine.” Nick could imagine Sara rolling her eyes at Greg while she spoke. The brawny man took a deep breath, relieving some of his tension at hearing Sara last words.
Nick stood for a few more moments wondering if he should go into the room. He soundlessly pushed the door open, peering through the crack as someone would do when eavesdropping on a private conversation. “Does this skirt make my butt look big?” He watched as Greg twisted his body to look over his shoulder, tuning in circles, trying to look at his ass. Again, more laughter.
“You’re the only man I know who can wear that skirt and look good in it, Greg.” Nick noticed how light and happy Sara’s voice sounded compared to the anger and rage he heard back at Catherine’s house.
“Anyone who can fit their rear in that little thing is definitely not fat.” The Texan concluded the unknown female voice belonged to a older, but lively, plump nurse who occupied the room with Greg and Sara.
It took Nick but a second to realize the mood in the room had shifted. Suddenly, the laughter was abated and three sets of eyes were staring at him.
“Hey Nick.” The Texan was frozen where he stood, relief washing over him. ‘You’re awake and laughing. Thank God you’re OK, Greggo’ Nick let out the deep breath he hadn’t realized he was holding as he slowly entered the room.
“What the hell are you doing here, Nick?” And just like that the murderous venom was back in Sara’s voice. The older CSI knew Sara was fiercely protective over Greg, but her ‘in you face’ attitude was beginning to annoy him. He decided to dismiss her and continued to focus on the young CSI.
“How ya feeling, G?” Sara on the other hand chose not to be ignored. She put herself between Greg and Nick, showing the Texan he would have to get through her if he intended to hurt the younger man.
“He’s obviously much better no thanks to you,” the gapped tooth CSI spat, as she now stood inches in front of him.
Nick held both his hands up, palms out, in a non-threatening pose. ‘Who the fuck does she think she is?’ Still choosing not to acknowledge Sara, the older CSI walked passed her as he continued to speak.
“G, I came to apologize. I’d really like to talk to you.” Nick then focused on Sara, dark chocolate eyes challenging piercing brown ones. “Privately,” he added, staring directly at her.
“Ah, hem…well, if you kids will excuse me, I’ll just go and get your discharge paperwork, Mr. Sanders.” It was obvious the three CSI’s forgot the older woman was still in the room as they all startled. The plump nurse continued speaking as she walked toward the door to excuse herself. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Holler if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Warner, and please, call me Greg.” The slender man spoke to the exiting nurse as he reached out, turning Sara to face him. “Sara, just stop, OK?” Greg’s voice was hushed but stern as he spoke. “Nick didn’t do anything wrong, and I’d really like to talk to him.”
“Why?” Sara was not so quiet and spoke in a voice that demanded to be heard. “To hear a bullshit apology about how he didn’t mean to hit you? That he’ll never do it again if you just give him another chance?” Sara’s voice grew louder as she continued to speak. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.” ‘Does everyone think I’d really hurt him? Why does she think I hit him?’ Even though Sara looked genuinely worried for the younger man, Nick couldn’t believe what she was insinuating.
“Sara, I don’t need you to protect me!” Greg threw his hands in the air and his tone of voice grew much firmer. “Nothing happened! Nick did NOT hit me!” Greg let out a deep breath and calmed before continuing. “We were talking, and I just lost my balance and hit my head. It’s these damned heals. It’s not Nick’s fault.”
‘God, G. It’s most definitely my fault you’re here.’
Nick couldn’t figure out why Greg was defending him. Granted, he hadn’t ‘hit’ Greg, but he was still the reason the younger man was in the hospital.
Sara didn’t seem convinced. She held Greg’s hand as she continued to plead with him. “Greg, how many times have we listened to abused women say the exact same thing?” ‘What the fuck is she talking about? Abused women?’ And OK, Nick knows he pushed Greg, but abused?
“Sara, I am not an abused woman.” Greg didn’t raise his voice, but spoke as if he were simply stating a fact. “I know I’m pretty and all, and I am wearing this,” he laughed as he gestured with his hands from head to foot, indicating the outfit he was currently wearing, “but I’m still a man, Sara. All man.” ‘Yes you are, Greggo. Definitely all man.’
“This is no time for jokes, Greg.” Sara lowered her voice and looked directly at the brown eyed man. Taking his hands again, it appeared to Nick as if she were actually begging him.
“You know as well as I do that domestic violence can occur with same sex -” Sara was immediately cut off by three different voices.
“Domestic violence! What the fuck are you talking about, Sara?!” Nick was now furious with her.
“Same sex couples, Sara? Really?” Greg raised an eyebrow in confusion, but not his voice.
“Mr. Sanders…Greg. You’re all set to go home. I just need you to sign…” The lively nurse stilled, as she clearly recognized she had chose the wrong moment to walk into the room.
“STOP! Both of you!” For the first time that evening Greg had raised his voice intending to take control of the conversation. He approached the older woman apologetically. “Mrs. Warner, we’re very sorry. My friends and I were just having a minor disagreement and can continue our conversation somewhere else.” Greg looked to both Sara and Nick challenging either of them to say otherwise. He gestured back to the nurse. “You were saying?”
“Yes, um…” the older lady faltered momentarily before continuing, “you can go now, but you’ll need someone to stay with you, at least for tonight.” She paused, glancing at Nick and Sara, then proceeded. “As the doctor told you earlier, you have a mild concussion. Whomever stays with you will need to check on you once every hour while you’re sleeping, at least for the next 24 hours.” She handed the paperwork over to Greg indicating where to sign. “You’ll also need to come back in 7 to 10 days to get the stitches removed.” Greg had needed several stitches to close the wound on the back of his head.
“Thank you, Mrs. Warner.” Greg signed the paperwork and didn’t look back as he walked out the room leaving two confused CSI’s and one amused nurse in his wake.
This evening was getting more strange by the minute. Nick wished he could go back in time and just tell Greg that he wasn’t going to Catherine’s damn Halloween party. He took a deep breath before following the slender man out of the hospital.
The three co-workers made it to the parking lot without incident. Once there, Sara became agitated again when Greg insisted that Nick ride with them back to his apartment. Nick’s truck was still at Greg’s as they had shared a cab to Catherine’s so that their alcohol consumption wouldn’t have to be an issue for the evening.
Currently, Nick sat in the back seat of Sara’s car listening while Greg tried to convince her that he and the Texan were not involved in a relationship. ‘Why does everyone think were a couple?’
Nick was confused by young CSI’s actions, or lack of thereof. He expected Greg to be angry with him, maybe throw him out of his hospital room or at least tell him he didn’t want to see him for a while. But he was defending Nick, basically lying to Sara by telling her he just ‘lost his balance.’ From Sara’s perspective, he could understand why she thought their younger friend was covering up for him. ‘Why is Greg acting as if nothing happened though?’
“Sara, please. We’re friends…and only friends.” Greg was desperately attempting to win this debate with their angry co-worker. “We went to Cath’s party as friends, and we’re going home as friends. The conversation Nick and I had in the bathroom was a private one. Which is why we were having it in there, away from everyone else.” ‘Conversation, Greg? Really? Jesus, I was jerking off, and you grabbed my dick.’
Nick barely listened to the rest of their conversation. He leaned back into the seat as he stared out of the window looking at the world passing by and thought back to earlier in the evening.
**Flashback**
Nick sat quietly in the passenger’s seat of Warrick’s truck. Catherine sat in the back seat, having decided to ride with them to the hospital. She could see fear and worry in the Texan’s eyes and had a feeling he might need her support. They had been driving for about five minutes before Warrick finally spoke.
“So, you gonna tell us what happened back there?” Warrick’s voice was calm, but Nick could still pick up the apprehension in his tone.
“I really don’t want to talk about it, ‘Rick.” And he didn’t. Nick still hadn’t fully understood the turn of events himself. He was humiliated beyond belief and beginning to feel sick to his stomach from troubled nerves.
Nick felt the truck slow, and Warrick suddenly pulled off the roadway and into an abandoned parking lot.
“What the hell, ‘Rick?” Nick was confused and becoming agitated. “Why are we stopping? Take me to the hospital. I need to see Greg, NOW!”
“Not until you start talking, man.” The older CSI had stopped the truck, turned off the ignition and was in the process of getting out of the vehicle when Nick grabbed him.
“This,” his friend gestured to the tight hold Nick had on his arm, “is exactly why I’m not taking you to the hospital, man.” The Texan slowly released his firm grip and stared at the other man with pleading eyes. Warrick wasn’t fazed. ‘Shit. He thinks I’d really hurt Greg.’
Warrick could sense Catherine was going to protest. He turned in his seat to fully face her.
“Listen, I don’t know what happened back there between them, but unless Nicky can convince me that it was an accident, I’m not taking him to see Greg. He’s been hurt enough tonight.” Warrick was genuinely concerned for both his co-workers. Nick was one of his best friends, and Greg was like a little brother.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him, ‘Rick, you gotta believe me!” The Texan began trembling slightly. “It was an accident. I just wanted him to stop! I would never hurt him!” Nick could feel the tears beginning to pool in his eyes again as he thought back to the paramedics working on Greg’s body. The slender man was lying on the stretcher with IV tubes and oxygen attached to him looking so helpless. Nick closed his eyes and willed the tears back.
“What do you mean ‘stop’? What exactly was going on in that bathroom?” Nick didn‘t want to answer his friend’s questions. He just wanted to get to the hospital and see Greg. He didn’t want to tell Catherine and Warrick that he was caught masturbating and offered a helping hand by their younger co-worker. It went so much deeper then just the physical aspects of what happened.
“Nicky, look at us.” The three co-workers had exited the vehicle and were now leaning on the hood of Warrick’s truck. The Texan slowly turned his head to face his friends.
“Was Sanders trying to force himself on you or something?” Nick couldn’t believe what Warrick was asking him. The look on Catherine’s face showed she couldn’t believe this was possible either.
“NO! Absolutely not! God, ‘Rick….I got scared. He just….he was touching me a little more intimately than what I ready for. That’s all, I swear. I panicked and pushed him off me. I guess I pushed a little harder than I thought.”
“So what is it then? You guys are together in a relationship but haven’t “done the deed” yet. He couldn’t wait for -” Warrick made quotations marks with his fingers to emphasize the phrase but didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence.
“No, Warrick! Stop! It was nothing like that! He wasn’t forcing himself on me!” Nick held his fisted hands on either side of his head as he spoke. The entire night was spiraling out of control. He needed the other CSI to know the conclusion he was coming to was way off base.
“I have feelings for him, ‘Rick. More then just friends, ya know?” Nick lowered his hands to his side as he continued speaking. “I think he feels it, too. That’s what he was trying to tell me when I freaked on him. I got scared. The whole thing scares me.”
It struck Nick that Warrick said, ‘you guys are together in a relationship’. This was the first time he was confessing his feelings for the younger man, so, why was it that Warrick thought they were already involved? ‘Does everyone think we’re together?’
“What are you scared of?” Warrick was still leaning against his truck with his arms folded across his chest. Before he drove Nick to see Greg, the Texan needed to convince him that he didn’t intend any harm to their younger friend.
Nick took a deep breath and looked up toward the sky. ‘What exactly am I scared of?’
Catherine’s eyes widened with concern. “Jesus, Nicky. You’re scared because of what happened with…” The female CSI quickly covered her mouth with her hand not being able to finish the sentence due to the sudden realization of the situation.
Now the few tears Nick was desperately trying to hold at bay fell. He didn’t try to stop them. The Texan just wiped them away and roughly ran his hands over his face.
“Does Greg know what happened to you?” Catherine was reaching out to hold Nick as a mother would a child. Nick fell into her embrace and let his tears fall freely.
Looking at the confusion written across the African American’s face, Nick knew Warrick would be the second person he would tell his well kept secret.
**Present**
“So you guys really aren’t seeing each other? You’re not a couple?” Nick was brought out of his private memories at hearing Sara’s voice.
“No, Sara, we’re not. Nick, you coming?” Greg was looking at the older man with one eyebrow raised, gesturing toward his apartment.
“Um, yeah.” Nick had been so lost in his own thoughts, he didn’t realize they had arrived.
“I just need to stop by my place and get a few things. I’ll be back in 30 minutes.” Sara sat behind the wheel of her car as she spoke.
“No, Sara,” Greg looked directly into the Texan’s eyes as he spoke. “Nick’s staying with me tonight. Right, man?” It seemed Greg was the only one not worried about how Nick reacted earlier.
“Yeah.” Nick hesitated for only a second. “I can stay.” Nick was certain the younger man could see the confusion written across his face.
Nick couldn’t recall what Greg and Sara had talked about during the car ride, but the younger man must have convinced her that Nick was not a threat to him because for the first time tonight Sara didn’t protest. “OK. Just call me in the morning,” was all the female CSI said before leaving Nick and Greg at the curb.
TBC…