(Insert standard Disclaimer here)
"Nick…" Riley said waving her hand in front of his face.
"Huh, what? Oh hey Riley," he said looking down at his desk then back at her.
"Something wrong?" She asked looking at him worried.
"No I'm fine, so what's up?"
"Just wondering if you'd seen Greg," she said motioning to his desk.
"Nope can't say I have," he said getting up. "Wanna go get some coffee?" he said heading for the door.
"I'm good," she said sitting at her desk.
"Okay," he said heading for the break room. He poured the sludge that passed for coffee into his mug and sat down. "Dammit," he hissed laying his head down.
"Hey Nicky," Catherine said sitting down across from him.
"Hey Cath," he said looking up then back down.
"Hey Greg," Catherine said getting Nick's attention. "Riley was looking for you."
"Thanks Catherine," he said hurriedly, avoiding eye contact with Nick. "See you later," he said rushing out and to his shared office.
"What's gotten into him?" she asked turning back to Nick.
"Not a clue, he hasn't talked to me since last week," he said laying his head back down.
"What happened?"
"I have no idea, we were hanging out at the bar laughing and I go to the bathroom when I come back he suddenly had to go somewhere."
"That's odd, have you asked him about it?" she asked laying a hand on his arm.
"No, its kinda creeping me out how quiet he is."
"Well you should Nicky," she said rubbing his arm.
"I will Cath, I promise," he said getting up and heading back to their shared office.
Nick had been put on a case with Greg and the car ride was killing him. Greg hadn't said anything the whole way. He was just staring out the passenger window like a zombie.
"Hey G," Nick said putting a hand on his shoulder when they pulled up to the scene. Greg jumped from the contact so Nick took his hand back and put it on the wheel. "Greg what's wrong? You've been acting weird lately, Riley told me you're okay around her, but what's with me? Did I do something? Come on Greg tell me so I can fix it," Nick begged wanting to make amends for whatever he had done.
"Its nothing, you didn't do anything wrong," he muttered looking anywhere but Nick. "We got a case lets go," he said getting out of the car and away from him.
"Hey Nicky," Catherine motioned him over when he walked in the bar. "How'd it go with Greg today? Did you work it out?"
"No, I asked him about it and he said it was nothing then threw himself into the case which is probably how we wrapped it up so fast," Nick sighed as he sat down across from Catherine. "I just wish he could tell me what the problem is, then I would know what I did wrong."
"How do you know it has anything to do with you?" she asked as Greg and Riley walked into together. They were talking about something then Riley pulled Greg back out.
"Because he talks to everyone but me," Nick groaned laying his head down. "I really don't want to lose him as a friend Cath. I know that's all he'll ever be, but…" he said trialing off. Nick had told Catherine he had a crush on Greg a long time ago. She didn't want to see him hurt so she decided not to tell him Greg was just talking to Riley so when they came in and sat down with them she didn't ask even though she was dying to. Nick went to the bathroom and Catherine had her chance to pounce.
"What were you two talking about when you came in here?" Catherine asked them as soon as Nick was out of earshot. Riley looked at Greg who was bright red and looking anywhere but there table until his eyes fell on Nick then he stared at the ground.
"Does it have to do with why you won't talk to Nick because its really starting to piss him off," she said staring Riley down.
"Come on Greg can I tell her?" Riley asked turning to her friend who had slowly turned back to his normal color then turned beat red again. He shook his head no and looked pleadingly at her. "Are you going to tell her?" Riley asked challenging him.
"Tell me what?" Catherine demanded, upset they would keep something from her.
"Greg," Riley said in a warning tone, glaring him down. Greg tucked his head down again and muttered something.
"What?" Catherine asked.
"ImighthaveaminorcrushonNick," he said quickly. She sat there processing the words for a little bit before she realized what he said.
"A minor or a major?" she asked looking towards the bathroom.
"Maybe major maybe not," Greg admitted meekly.
"Oh, okay then," she said going back to her drink.
"That's it?" Greg asked looking up at her.
"Yeah, do you want me to make a big deal while Nick is one his way back?" she asked motioning at him with her eyes.
"No," he said stealing a fry and trying to act normal now that he knew he was angering Nick with his silence. It was still awkward on his part because Greg knew Nick Stokes was not gay, he had had too many girls to not be straight.
"Be right back boys, Riley and I need to talk about some girl stuff," Catherine said pulling her to the bathroom.
"Jeez Cath, what's the emergency?" Riley asked when she had her arm back.
"How big is Greg's crush?" she asked ignoring Riley's question.
"Um… What do you mean by how big?" she asked wanting to know where her friend was going with this.
"Like is it a 'you're cute' crush, or 'wanna go out' crush or what?" she asked calming down some and sitting on the counter.
"Probably the second one why? It's not like Nick would go out with him," Riley said rolling her eyes and leaning against the wall.
"You'd be surprised," Catherine said sliding off the counter and out the door before Riley could ask anymore questions.
"Wait Cath," Riley said catching her arm. "You have to keep what Greg said a secret, I was sworn to secrecy and so are you."
"Okay, same goes for Nick though," she said walking casually back to the table. She rolled her eyes when she saw how awkward Greg felt, but how happy Nick was that he was at least talking to him again.
"Well Nicky I think I'm heading home see you tomorrow," Catherine said giving him a hug. "Glad to see you're feeling better Greg," she said giving him a hug then she went out to her car and left Riley with the two boys. After awhile the tension lifted, not that Greg noticed. He was so wrapped up in just hanging out with his friend again that he didn't even realize when Riley left. Meaning he had no ride.
"Shit," he hissed when they came out an hour later and it dawned on him he had no car.
"What's wrong G?" Nick asked looking at the empty parking space Greg was standing in.
"Riley was my ride because my car is in the shop," he groaned at the sky.
"No worries Greggo," he said throwing a friendly arm around his shoulders and pulling him towards his car. "I can drive," he said opening the door for him.
"Always the southern gentleman," Greg muttered climbing in.
"What?" Nick asked climbing in the driver's seat.
"Nothing," Greg said looking out the window.
"Don't do that again G," Nick whined as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Do what?" he asked still looking out the window.
"That," Nick said like Greg should know what he meant. Greg looked at him and shook his head.
"If I knew what that was Nicky, why would I have asked?" he teased.
"Because you're my Greggo and that's what you do," he said turning to smile at him at the stoplight.
"Whatever," Greg said flushing slightly that Nick had said he was his. He knew Nick didn't mean it, but he could wish. They talked about nothing in particular on the way to Greg's, mostly about cases in the past week, or how odd the girls were at dinner.
"Here we are," Nick said pulling up at Greg's apartment.
"Thanks Nick," Greg said smiling at him.
"Anytime," Nick said smiling back. Greg tried to open the door but it was jammed. "Let me get that," Nick said leaning over him and jiggling it loose. "There you go," he said sitting back in his seat, slightly embarrassed at his dysfunctional car and at how close he had been to Greg.
"Thanks again," Greg said getting out and heading up the steps.
"Hey Greg," Nick called rolling down the window. "I can pick you up for work if you want," he offered.
"That would be great as long as its not any trouble," Greg said smiling meekly.
"No trouble at all," Nick said smiling back.
"Okay see you later," Greg said turning back to the stairs and heading to his apartment to call Riley and tell her he didn't need a ride anymore.
Just randomly came to me and I decided to write it. Not sure if I'm going to continue. If anyone wants me to just let me know and I'll come up with something.