Jul 22, 2005 15:31
The Bed
rating: PG, PG13 if you really strict about one references
Spoilers: hints about things that happen during season five
His bed is far too big, he’s decided. Flinging his limbs around, Greg tries to fill the void. Rolling over, the cool sheets snag onto his lithe body, wrapping around him. He thinks they are too cool against his skin.
That’s what his bed is, big, empty, cold.
It makes him wish it were winter, then he could use the thick feather comforter, if he wrapped himself up tight and warm in that and closed his eyes, Greg could pretend the extra warmth was due to another being in his bed. These sheets aren’t warm from shared body heat, aren’t slick and damp from sweat, they’re just there.
Hours later Greg wakes from a dream, to find those cool sheets of his are clinging to his hips, they are still cool, too cool, but now have an area of warm, sticky fluid on them, it had been on of those dreams, an all too vivid, too real dream about someone who hardly said too words to him since they’d been put on separate shifts. He sighs and hauls himself towards the shower, promising himself he’ll buy a new bed as soon as he gets his next pay check.
He realises as he snuggles into man beside him that he doesn’t want a new bed anymore, this one seems perfect with it’s sweaty sheets lying, long since forgotten, on the floor.
Feeling Nick’s hand caress his cheek, he smiles leaning into the touch.
It hadn’t just been the bed that had been empty and cold, he knows now, it had been him. The strain of becoming a CSI had changed him, everyone told him so but it hadn’t occurred to him why he’d changed, until now. He’d been lonely, desperately lonely. It was quite obvious now, now he had Nick but even he hadn’t known it then, he’d simply been blaming his bed for all his problems and changes.
Much to everyone’s delight and surprise the ‘Old’ Greg had resurfaced; though his shirts didn’t make a comeback, the unbearably loud music now could once again be heard throughout the lab as he worked with evidence, he joked and flirted, he bounced around the place bringing hope and an upbeat attitude at even the darkest moment and he’d acquired a new found energy and zeal when it came to solving the cases too.
Only he, Nick, Cath and Sara know what has brought on such a change in him and he likes it that way.
“I love you, Nicky” He whispers, fingers tracing a few scattered ant-bite scars as he felt sleep over taking him
“Luv yeh too, G” came his boyfriend’s very sleepy reply.
He was getting the distant impression that their bed was far too small. He woke to the sound of excited chatter, and glanced around the crowded bed. He and Nick had been pushed to the furthest edge by their two Labradors, Jake and Twiggy who lay stretched across the mattress and by the their kitten, Miss Kittyfantastico, who had curled up on Greg’s pillow, glaring at the sleeping canines as though it was their fault that Greg had given her a tinsel collar the day before.
The excited chatter was coming his way, coupled the patter of feet across the hallway. He hardly had time to prepare himself as a 17 year old Lindsay Willows burst in with his beloved daughter, Tara, in her arms. The three year old was thoroughly overexcited and reminded Greg of himself after a particularly strong vat of Cafè Cubano.
He sat up, giving them space to sit down amongst the four sleep occupants of the bed and himself.
Tara was complaining that none of the family was awake yet, Greg smiled as she pouted and claimed that Uncle Warrick and Auntie Cat had the guestroom door locked so she couldn’t wake them, that Grampa Griss had taken out his hearing aid so she couldn’t wake him and besides it would mean risking waking Nana Sara who was too scary in the morning to think about waking. A big smiled cross her face as an idea occurred to her. “Let’s wake Daddy!” She squealed before jumping on the sleeping Texan. Lindsay giggled and joined her baby cousin in tickling her uncle. The kicking, wriggling and laughing that ensued woke not only Nick and the two dogs but also sent Miss Kitty into hiding under the bed.
A suddenly awake Nick sat up and scratched his head with his left hand; a glint of gold caught Greg’s eye as the new band shone in the light as he did so. “Morning girls” Nick smiled before slipping an arm around Greg’s waist, he leaned back into his husbands embrace and Nick planted a small kiss on his neck. “Merry Christmas, Baby.”
Tara scrunched up her nose “Stop that!” She demanded “It’s disgusting! And I’m the baby, not him!” She sulked
The other three laughed at her words “It’s better to have parents who do that all the time than parents who fight all the time, Tara.” Lindsay’s voice was light and playful, but Greg could see the hurt of past pain in her eyes but it was quickly hidden as she quick glanced at Greg and Nick giving them a knowing smirk.
“Come on, Baby-girl; let’s go see what Santa brought for you. Your Daddy’s need a few minutes alone, I think.” They raced off again, followed by a pair of excited dogs, whose barks seemed to have woken the rest of the family, judging the extra voices and cheery conversation that rapidly filled the house.
Tilting his head back to kiss Nick soundly on the lips, Greg murmured “Gonna be best Christmas ever.” His husband chuckled a little, returning the kiss “And you haven’t even opened my present yet.”
Later that morning, Greg sat and watched as his family unwrapped their presents and silently thanked God that he wasn’t empty and cold anymore, he felt warm and whole and more love than he ever thought possible. It was the best Christmas gift he’d ever received, except perhaps that bike Papa Olaf bought him when he was eight. Man, he’d loved that bike.