A/N: This is told as spoken. the speaker is Greg Sanders. The lines inside the ( - ) are the happenings of Greg at the funeral. Please take the time to let me know what you think about it. -Mys

Into The West
By: Mys
Rating: PG13
Warnings: Violence, Character Death

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Chapter One:
The Typical Day In the Life

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Lay down your sweet and weary head.
Night is falling you have come to journey's end.
Sleep now dream of the once who came before.
From across a distant shore.

(Stepping on the podium, he took a deep breath, and gave a small glance around. The room was shrouded in black and grays. "Thank you all for being here," he greeted the gathered crowd. He took one last breath and began.)

Everybody always thought I hated waking up in the mornings. They were wrong. I loved waking up. It was my favorite part of the day. See, Nick would always wrap his arm protectively around me and hold me close. I loved to lye in his arms and listen to his heart beat.

He would wake up, and pull me close and press his lips gently to my temple. I would smile and said I loved him. He'd roll out of bed, and pull the covers off me. I would gripe about it, as he sashayed towards the bathroom and tossed a pillow my way.

Though, few would know it, but he had his quirky moments. It's a shame that so little people ever saw that side of Nick. He was always like that though. He would always hide who he truly was. It was a shame that no one knew he was capable of playing such playful games.

I would follow him into the bathroom and join him for a shower. I don't think I need to get into that, but it was one of the several things that made waking up with Nick so grand.

We'd go to work, sometimes together, sometimes separately. He would always play our relationship down around his coworkers, but they always suspected with the way he would look at me. He always did look awestruck when he gazed at me through the windows at the lab.

(He wiped a tear from his eye, and gazed around the room. He noticed Sara sitting in the front row, with a white tissue pressed against her nose, and tears streaked down her pale cheek. Greg tried to reassure her with his eyes, yet he was unable to make the connection.)

You know, Nick was always a very private individual. He wouldn't say much. Whenever he did say something, people listened. He never wasted his time with non important things. Whatever he said something, it was straight to the point, heartfelt, and exactly what he meant to say. Even though he kept his life private, it never took anyone long to figure out what he was about. What you saw was what you got.

There were times that weren't so pleasant to be around him, but I would always find a way to get him to crack a smile. I would pull some antic that everyone would cringe at and yet, there Nick stood in the middle of the hall wearing a smile as big as Texas. I always tried to brighten his day. Seeing that smile always made my day. It made it worth it. I always thought he took things too seriously.

We always arrived back home at strange hours of the day. I'd race him to the house, and wait for him anxiously on the couch, the PlayStation's controller in my hand. He would walk through that door, and I took pleasure in seeing all that stress he carried for work melt away. That Texas smile would spread across his face at the sight of me. You all know the one. Nick's smile could always light up a room. He'd take a seat next to me and we played some video games.

The days would always wrap up, with him cooking dinner. If you asked, he would've denied it, but he really was a great cook. Again, a talent he only really shared with anyone except for me.

On most nights, we would both drift to sleep snuggled close in each other's arms.

(He sighed, inwardly still thinking about the man he loved. The man he was there to help lay to rest. He closed his brown eyes and took another deep breath.)

I will always treasure all the little things Nick would do for me. I would come home, worn down and tired and I'd walk inside our place to find he spontaneously bought me a few dozen roses. I will always remember the way he would always think of me first. My love for him will continue to live on through the memories of him. I know I will always remember the way he touched my life.

(He stood there silently for a few moments and watched the listening audience through teary eyes. "I would like you all to take a few moments and tell your neighbors how Nick Stokes has touched your life." Greg stood back from the podium and listened to the chatter of the audience. Seeing them sharing their experiences with Nick touched his heart deeply. It pleased him to know how many people whose lives were truly touched by Nick. He loved to hear them retelling their stories of Nick and keeping his memory alive. Now, Nick would only live in the memories of those who knew him best.)

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see, all of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms, you're only sleeping
.

To Be Continued...