Fic: Behind The Scenes, Chapter 8 (CSI, Ryan / Eric, Nick / Greg, Danny)
Title: Behind the Scenes, Chapter 8
Pairing: Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders,
Ryan Wolfe / Eric Delko,
Don Flack / Sheldon Hawkes
Rating: PG
Genre: AU
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
Summery: Six months later. Some things have changed, some things are exactly the same.
Sequel to Soaps R Us:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7
Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 (NC-17)
Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20
Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Epilogue
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 (NC-17) Chapter 5 (NC-17) Chapter 6 (NC-17) Chapter 7 (NC-17)
Ryan opened the door and waited. Eric waved in slowly, looking like he was about to fall on his face anytime. He finally made it to the couch and slouched down.
“They… they… hey…”
“Hey hey, and would you like to tell me how you managed to get yourself to that state? I was only gone for three hours.”
“I went to the hotel bar…”
“Then?”
“They… I think they tried to get me drunk…”
“And you had nothing to do with it?”
“I just said I wanted to try local specialities… after that they just kept coming and they all had pineapple and coconut…”
“Of course. You remember what I said before I left?”
“Two drinks, not before meal and leave your key to the reception or you’ll loose it.”
“Did you eat?”
“I… I had a fluid lunch. All these funky colours…”
“Well, at least you didn’t loose your keys.”
“Yeah, I gotta have some points for that…” Eric nuzzled sleepily against Ryan’s shoulder. “Wanna get naked?”
“Normally I would say yes, but when you’re that drunk I’ll have to say no.”
“I can still get it up!”
“Yeah, but you can’t get yourself up.”
“I can!” Eric bounced up on his feet and fell down on the carpet face first. “I’ll just take a nap first…”
“Do you want to sleep there or do you want help to get to the bed?”
“I’ll wait here for a minute…” Eric groaned. “Who goes to see volcanoes on his honeymoon anyway…?”
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“What are you doing?”
Greg jumped up and swirled around. He almost dropped the small book he had in his hand.
“Don’t scare me like that! I could have had a heart attack!”
“What are you doing with my notebook?”
“I’m looking for a number.”
“From my notebook?”
“He’s your buddy, not mine.”
“Who is?”
“I can’t just jump into that part. I need to start from the beginning.”
“Are you going to tell me or not?”
“I was thinking… Don’s been here for four days now.”
“I know.”
“I think I know what his main problem is.”
“The broken arm?”
“No, the break-up. And what’s the best way to get over a break-up?”
“According to my ex: Shopping.”
“No, when you fall off a horse you gotta get back in the saddle. Or just get on a horse without a saddle.”
“What does any of this have to do with horses?”
“Forget horses, we need to find him a new guy.”
“And you’re looking for one from my notebook?”
“Who even has notebooks like this anymore? I thought everyone kept phone numbers in their cell phones or something like that.”
“I like to have things written down in black and white. Who are you looking for?”
“This guy.” Greg picked up a newspaper from the table and gave it to Nick. “Industry news, little piece close to the end of it. Right there.”
“New pilot… Danny?”
“Yeah, and I know you know him, so you’ll call him and make sure he’s single.”
“I’ll call him? I can’t just call him and ask if he wants to go on a blind date with a guy he’s never even heard about!”
“Sure you can. He’s in L.A. doing a new pilot, you call an old buddy and surprise, surprise: You got a great guy for him.”
“I don’t even know him that well. And he’s Speed’s ex! What if they get together and the whole thing blows up in my face?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time something-”
“No ejaculation-jokes now. This is a prelude for a disaster.”
“It can’t be any worse then Don and Hawkes.” Greg shoved a phone to Nick’s hand. “Call him and say you want to get together. And find out if he’s single. If he’s seeing someone he can stay right where he is.”
“Fine.” Nick chose a number and pressed the phone against his ear.
“Messer.”
“Hey, it’s Nick Stokes. I don’t know if you remember-”
“Sure I remember. I was gonna call you when I got here last week, but I’ve been busy. How’s it hanging?”
“I’m good.”
“You still with that writer… Lambert?”
“Sanders. Greg Sanders. And yeah, we’ve been together for a year now.”
“Speed told me about it when we talked some time ago.”
“I didn’t know you’ve kept in touch.”
“We call every few months and compare notes. Now that he has that cop he actually has some interesting stuff to tell.”
“You got a cop of your own?”
“No cops and no robbers.”
“What about owww!”
“What about my owww?”
“Nothing. Lambert here just poked me in the ribs. This pretty embarrassing, so I’ll just say it and you can say no. Greg wants to set you up on a blind date.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
“I’ve never even met him, so why does he wanna set me up? Does he go out on the street and pull off unsuspecting people for dates?”
“No, no he’s not that crazy. Almost that crazy, but not owww!”
“Ribs again?”
“Yep. Anyway, Don’s been down lately and he had a nasty break up. He could use some distraction.”
“How ugly is he?”
“He’s not ugly.”
“Then why does he need you as a matchmaker?”
“I’m not a matchmaker, Greg is. And Don’s not ugly.”
Greg snatched the phone from Nick.
“Hello? Messer?”
“Who is this?”
“Sanders.”
“Right, Lambert.”
“Listen, Don’s a great guy and he’s the kind of piece of meat that will be snatched as soon as he’s back on the market, so I’m doing you a huge favour here.”
“Let me guess: First caller gets a free knife set?”
“No, but you’ll get a really good guy. Tall, nicely built, pretty face and really blue eyes. Are you interested? Yes or No?”
“Is he a total perv?”
“No.”
“Drunk?”
“No.”
“Drug addict?”
“No.”
“Insane?”
“No.”
“Actor?”
“No.”
“Then… what the hell, I’ll take him out. But that’s all. If I don’t like him I’ll bring him back to you and that’s it.”
“Good, clear the details with Nicky.” Greg covered the receiver with his hand and gave Nick a crooked grin. “See? That’s how it’s done.”
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“Querido…?” Eric spit the lint from the carpet out of his mouth. His head felt like a bongo drum in the middle of a hyperactive solo. “Babe? Ry? Ry-babe?”
“Feeling good?” Ryan’s voice asked from somewhere near. Eric turned his head to the direction of the voice. Ryan was sitting on the couch watching the TV.
“Did I eat my shorts?”
“No, you tried to bite of bits from the carpet.”
“Have I been drunk?”
“You’re having a hang-over, what do you think?”
“Sorry…”
“That’s alright. It was great to come back to my newly wed wife, who passed out on the rug, right after he tries to eat it.”
“I’m not the wife!” Eric protested and his head made it clear what it thought about the increase in volume. “Ouch…”
“Get up.” Ryan shoved a glass of water to his hand and two painkillers to the other. “Take those, I called room service. They should be here soon.”
“How did you know I was gonna wake up?”
“We’ve been together for a year, I know the noises you make when you`re about to wake up. They’ll bring some coffee and toast.”
“Toast?”
“That’s all you`re getting till your stomach settles. I remember what happened when you tried to eat scrambled eggs the next morning.”
“Thanks, querido. And sorry.”
“I got to see the volcano.” Ryan shrugged. “Each to his own.”
Chapter 9