Fic: Take a Break, Chapter 2 (CSI, Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders)
Title: Take a Break, Chapter 2
Fandom: CSI
Pair: Nick Stokes / Greg Sanders
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
CSI Las Vegas Main List
Chapter 1
“What was that at the lab?” Warrick asked. His eggs were currently running down
his chin. After Catherine and Sara left they were the only ones left in the diner.
“What?” Nick hid his face behind his mug.
“With Sanders. You know what I’m talking about. Are you two breaking up or
something?”
“No. We just…. had a fight.”
“Right…. I gotta say it lasted longer than I thought.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Every time we go somewhere he acts weird. And he doesn’t even come to
the breakfast anymore.”
“Weird how?”
“You both act like you’re not together, so I thought it’s probably not that
serious.”
“It is serious!” Nick glanced to the counter to check if anyone had heard his
outburst. “At least it was.” He paused again. “I think he’s going to dump me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“He said he wants to take a break.”
“From the lab?”
“From me! He said that we have nothing in common nowadays besides sex.”
“Maybe he’s right. Remember that chick you dated….. Clare or Cara….”
“Mara.”
“Yeah, that one. You used to tell me how you took her on camping trips and line
dancing and who knows what. I don’t remember you ever telling me about going
anywhere with Sanders.”
“We’ve gone out!”
“Without me?”
Nick didn’t answer that.
“That redhead waitress.”
“What about her?”
"When you tried to chat her up I made sure I had something to do elsewhere. You
know full well I don’t mind giving you some privacy. When I go to Chuck’s with
you and Sanders it’s not like a night out with a couple. More like a regular boys
night out.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
Warrick shrugged. “Your thing, man. I’m not getting mixed up in it.”
-------------------------------------------
Greg opened the door and gave Nick an amused look.
“When I said I wanted a break, I meant longer break than three hours.”
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
Nick walked in and Greg grabbed his phone to finish his call.
“You still there? Yeah, I’ll see you at seven. Okay. Bye.” He hung up and went
to the kitchen. “You want coffee?”
“Who was that on the phone?”
“I’ll take that as a No. It was Chad.”
“Why are you calling him?”
“We`re going out tonight.”
“Are you kidding?”
“Why would I be kidding?”
“You’re not going out with that guy.”
“That guy is the oldest buddy I have in Vegas. I knew him before I knew you.”
“That creep is always all over you.”
“He’s just affectionate. Like an oversized golden retriever.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No you’re not.”
“I am. You’ll be screaming for help under an hour when he starts groping you.”
“Is that some Texas way to say you don’t trust me?”
“I do trust you, I don’t trust him!”
“That’s funny. You do stuff with your best buddy all the time and I’ve never
questioned that.”
“I’ve never….” Nick paused to let the shivers of nausea go through him. “He`s
my friend, I’ve never even thought about him like that.”
“Nick, I’ve never asked you why you and Warrick always need to go to the bath-
room together when we’re out, which by the way is really girly habit.“ Greg took
a sip from his coffee. “That’s a pretty big sign of trust.”
“We go there to do our…. business. And to talk.”
“And you can’t have your conversation in front of me?”
“I didn’t mean that-”
“But you don’t trust me to spend time with my friends?”
Nick leaned back against the wall and slammed his head on it.
“G, would you listen? You want to have some time alone with me. I can do that.”
“I know you can do that if you want, but obviously you don’t want to do it. I’m
not asking you to cut all other human contacts, I would just like to be prioritized
above them sometimes.”
“I do prioritize you above them! Call Chad, cancel your plans and we can go out
tonight.”
“So you want me to limit my time with my friends? I should do that but you don’t
need to?”
“Greg, this whole conversation is going around in a circle. I don’t want to have
a break, I don’t want you to go out with that guy, can’t you just do that for me?”
“I could do that for you and I’ve done that for you. Remember? I cancelled my
plans couple weeks ago when you wanted to check out that new Mexican place.
You just forgot to mention that about half the lab was coming too.”
“I thought you knew!”
“Nick, ever since we got together I’ve let you call the shots. I’ve tried to compro-
mise and keep things going, but enough is enough.”
“Greg-”
“No, listen to me. I don’t mind stretching now and then to make you happy, but
it’s always me who’s compromising. I just…. I can’t keep doing that forever.”
Nick wasn’t sure what to say.
“You better get going. I need to get some sleep.”
TBC