Next of Kin

A/N - CSI and its characters do not belong to me, they belong to CBS but if they were mine Nick and Greg would be together in the show, not just in Fan Fiction. Anyways, the story is set just after Nicky was rescued from being kidnapped, but you should get that from the story. Enjoy!

All of the CSI night shift was sat in the waiting room of the hospital. They had just rescued Nick from being buried alive just over an hour ago, Nick's parents were with them. Sara was sat next to Grissom who had an arm around her, Warwick was leaning against a window, staring out of it. Catherine was staring blankly at yesterday's newspaper. Bill and Jillian Stokes were just say holding the other's hand. In fact the only person who was moving was Greg, he was pacing in a circle. This went on for another fifteen minuets until a Doctor walked into the room, everyone stood up to look at her.

"How is he? Will he be okay?" Jillian asked her.

"I'm sorry but I have to talk to Mr. Sanders - Stokes next of kin first." When the Doctor had said Nick's surname all but the doctor and Nick's parents turned to stare at Greg.

"What?! I'm his mother! And his name isn't Sanders, its just Stokes!" Jillian said, getting very upset at this point.

"I understand but you are not down as his next of kin. Is anyone here?" the Doctor asked, addressing the rest of the room with the last sentence. There was quite for a moment before Greg stepped forward, all the CSI s still watching him.

"I am." was all he said, trying to give away as little as possible but the Doctor made that impossible with her next questions.

"Your name?" she asked, looking at the file she had.

"Gregory Hojem Sanders - Stokes."

"And your relationship to the patient?"

"We're married, he's my husband."

"Follow me." she turned to leave the room and Greg followed her but not before shooting a apologetic look over his shoulder. It took about three minuets before anyone was able to speak. When they did Catherine was first.

"Wow! Did anyone know?" Everyone in the room shook their heads, everyone but Grissom.

"Grissom?" Catherin asked.

"I knew, they told me afterwards so I could change their paperwork to reflect their status and their emergency contacts, apparently they have been together for quite a few years."

"No, not possible!" Bill said, getting angry. "My son is not gay!"

"Yeah, he is." Warwick said "and if you were any kind of a father you wouldn't care, you'd just be happy to have him!"

"Now you listen to me young man……." Bill started on Warwick but he couldn't finish as Greg walked back in.

"Well?" Sara asked.

"He's gonna be fine, it'll take time but he's gonna be okay. I can take him home in a few days if he continues to get better." Greg said with a relived smile.

"Oh, thank heavens." Sara said. Just then the Doctor walked back in the room.

"He's asking for you." she told Greg with a smile.

"Thanks" was his reply, smiling too and as he raised his left hand to open the door that had closed behind the Doctor after she left Grissom noticed that the platinum ring that he normally wore around his neck on a chain was now on his ring finger. Soon they were all thinking about their next of kin as Greg sat with the love of his life all the way through the night.

The End

xxx