Prologue: Run

To think I might not see those eyes

Makes it so hard not to cry

As we say our long goodbye

I nearly do

His entire world fell apart on a warm, balmy day exactly two hours after his shift had started. He remembered he was wearing a dark green shirt, the one that Greg said brought out his eyes. He was on a solo case, a DB at the back of some club in Vegas, it was something he was used to seeing by now. It wasn't even high priority because Brass had left hours ago, something about the case Greg and Grissom were on. Not that he minded, sometimes he liked the easy cases and liked processing alone. It was then he would let his thoughts wonder and more than likely he would end up thinking about Greg. Greg who didn't know that just him smile made Nick's whole day. Over the years Nick had found himself drawing closer and closer to Greg and maybe he was even falling for him, but how do you tell another guy you had hots the for him? Especially ones as painfully straight as Greg. So maybe it was just better to keep it all to himself, if there was one thing he would not do it was risk losing the friendship he had come to treasure. And damn it there was no evidence to go on, probably just some idiot who OD for a new high. Nick shook his head, Vegas did weird things to a person. He sighed and figured he'd get nothing more at the scene and would just wait until he got the coroner's report. Just as he stood to dust himself off his cell phone went off.

"Stokes?"

"Nicky it's Catherine."

"Cath? What is it? What's happened?"

"It's Greg….just get to the hospital please."

"Catherine tell me what happened to Greg."

"He was….oh god he was shot and they don't think he will make it, just please hurry Nicky." And the phone clicked off. Nick had to let a breath out, this could not be happening, Greg was going to be fine that was all just some weird day dream but in the very back of his mind he knew it was all real.

Nick all but ran through the corridors of Desert Palms hospital looking for any sign of anyone he knew.

"Nicky!" He saw Catherine running toward him, tears streaking her cheeks.

"Cath." He breathed out and let her hug him. "Is there any news?"

"They won't tell us anything, Grissom has tried."

"Dammit." Nick cursed. "We're his family, they need to tell us something, anything."

"I know, but they won't." Nick closed his eyes and wished this was not happening, wished it was not Greg. It was then Catherine gripped his arm and he looked up to see Grissom with the doctor, the expression on his face said it all. "Come on." Catherine tugged his arm and they made their way over to Sara and Warrick.

"The doctor just came out." Sara whispered. "It does not look good."

"Why is this happening?"

"I don't know Nicky." Warrick sighed. Nicky felt himself pale as Grissom walked their way, he knew the news was not good.

"Just give it to us straight Gris." Sara pleaded with tears in her eyes.

"He's lost too much blood and they failed to retrieve the bullet, they don't look for him to survive the night. The doctor said you better said goodbye while you can." The silence was deafening and Nick felt like he could not breathe, Grissom's words kept echoing through his mind: While you can.

"Nicky…Nicky come on we're going in."

"No." he shook his head. "I want to go in alone, last."

"Is that what you want?" Catherine asked softly.

"Yes, please I have my reasons."

"I know." Nick watched them disappear down the hall and then he all but crumpled into the closest chair. He always figured there would be time, but now it was all slipping away so fast and he was on the brink of losing the most important person in his life and Greg would never know.

"Nick you better go." Nick looked up at the sound of Grissom's voice. "He does not have long."

"How does he look?"

"He's hanging on for you." Nick could only nod as he followed Grissom down the hall. Warrick and Catherine were standing outside the door gripping onto each other tightly. Nick didn't say anything as he passed them, creeping into the room to see Sara gripping Greg's hand tightly.

"Nicky…" she let go of Greg's hand and kissed it softly. "Nick's here Greg, it's going to be ok." She then turned away as more tears began to build in her eyes. "He's in so much pain Nicky.

"I know." He whispered. "Can I just…"

"Of course." Nick watched her leave shutting the door softly behind her. Nick approached the bed, Greg was struggling he could tell, he was so pale and he did not look like himself.

"Oh Greggo, how could someone do this to you?" He sat in the chair Sara had vacated and took Greg's hand in his. He felt Greg respond and that's when Nick broke down, full heavy sobs racked through his body. "I'm sorry I never told you, but I love you Greg I have always loved you." He saw Greg's eyes flicker and somehow he knew. "It's ok if you let you go Greg, I know it hurts." Nick felt Greg's hand start to slip and he held on as long as he could until the nurse's came to pry him away as Greg flat lined.

Doc Robbins had seen a lot of people come and go on the cold table, but never did he expect to be looking at someone he knew so well. It was harder than he thought, but he had to retrieve the bullet so they could find the bastard who did it.

"I thought it was just rumors." A somber voice said to the right of him.

"I wish it were David." He sighed.

"Do you know who is on the case?"

"I assume everyone, which is why this must be done so they can solve this we need that bullet."

"I know." And for the first time since David became a coroner he closed his eyes as Doc began his work.

Nick took a deep breath as he stood outside Doc Robbin's door, he asked to be the one to do this, Catherine, the strong woman she was would not be able to handle it and Sara who was the closet to Greg was already in denial. It was between him and Warrick and Nick had stood up, face set in a grimace, that he would do it because if they wanted to catch the killer it had to be done. Now he was thinking maybe this was not a good idea because he could see from the place he stood, blood spattered on Doc; Greg's blood. He took a deep breath and pushed the doors open, it was now or never.

"Hello Doc."

"Nick." He nodded. "You were the lucky one huh?"

"I needed to do this, we have to find out who did this."

"I know." Doc sighed. I recovered the bullet that pierced his lung, but he died from internal hemorrhaging. It was a through and through."

"He was shot twice? So there is another bullet."

"Unfortunately yes, he bled to death."

"I saw him in the hospital, he was in so much pain."

"If he had survived Nick he would not be the same, maybe brain dead. Do you think Greg would have wanted that?"

"No." he whispered. "It's better this way."

"I know this is hard, but we all have to keep focus if we want to catch the person who did this, for Greg."

"For Greg." Nick nodded as the tears began to well up again.

Everyone had vacated the cemetery long ago, but Nick had stayed, standing by the fresh mound of dirt that covered Greg. It was too hard to see him in the coffin, dressed how he would have wanted in a band t-shirt and ratty jeans. Although he didn't look like the Greg everyone knew, the Greg he had fallen for so long ago. This Greg was hollow and Nick could barely straight Catherine had to help him to his seat because he felt like he was going to collapse. Now it was all over and Greg was laid to rest, Nick found himself trying to breathe again. He only had one regret and that was not telling Greg how he felt because now Greg would never know. He fell to his knees next to the fresh mound, running his fingers over it.

"Why did you have to leave? It was too soon Greg." He sobbed. "If only I had another chance."

Nick blinked his eyes and wondered how he ever got home. He looked at the clock by his bedside and realized he was going to be late for work. "Dammit how long was I there…." He didn't even remember coming home, but he didn't have time to think about that now, Grissom was going to have his head.

"Late night Nicky?" Catherine joked as he came running through the doors. Nick wondered how she could be so happy after just witnessing Greg's funeral the day before.

"I was at the cemetery too late."

"The cemetery, why?" Now Nick was starting to get angry how could she just act like Greg never existed now that he was gone.

"Because Greg…" he trailed off as he saw Sara round the corner, next to her was a very much alive Greg.

"Nick? Nicky? You're starting to scare me." But Nick never heard her because his entire world became black.

Light up, light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you cannot hear my voice

I'll be right beside you dear