Disclaimer - I don't own anything to do with CSI.
Fight for All the Right Reasons
"And that leaves you three with a double homicide at a rundown house off strip. Brass is already there." Grissom said, finishing assignments and handing Warrick the slip. He left with Catherine to go to their scene in Henderson, leaving Nick, Warrick and Greg in the break room.
"Alright gentlemen. Let's roll." They walked to the parking lot, arguing over who was gonna drive.
"Warrick get's road rage too easily." Greg commented with a smirk.
"And you don't concentrate cuz you're listening to Marilyn Manson." Warrick shot back.
"So it's decided. Nick's gonna drive." Greg said, patting Nick on the back.
Nick sighed. "Whatever keeps you two from fighting."
"Aww, we're not fighting." Greg said, receiving a sidways glance from his boyfriend.
"Yeah." Warrick added. "More like competetive negotiating."
Nick laughed and playfully pushed his best friend. "Whatever the hell you wanna call it." They quickly walked across the parking lot. It was cold outside, especially for Vegas. Nick hopped in the driver side of his Denali, and couldn't help the smile that came across his face when he saw Warrick and Greg arguing over who got to ride in the front.
"Seniority privelages buddy." Warrick said.
"Seniority my ass. He's my boyfriend." Greg tried, even though he knew it was useless. Nick beeped the horn, and Greg put his hands up in defeat. "Alright, whatever. You're so stubborn." Greg said, escaping to the back seat before Warrick could hit him. Nick laughed as Warrick climbed into the passenger seat.
"What are you laughing at?" Warrick said, a smile of his own tugging at his lips.
"Just some competetive negotiating." Nick said, turning the keys and pulling out of the parking lot. Greg sat forward and reached for the radio, but got slapped on the wrist by Warrick.
"I'll break those fingers." Warrick said, half joking.
"Nicky." Greg whined. "Make Warrick stop being mean to me."
"Tattle tail." Warrick and Greg chuckled.
Nick rolled his eyes, but smiled nontheless. "I'll turn this car around if you don't knock it off. Brass would be thrilled with that...us being late to a crime scene because I had to referee you two fighting over who rides in front and the stupid radio."
"Competetive negotiating." Warrick and Greg said in unison. Nick laughed. They may argue constantly and make fun of each other, but he knew his best friend and boyfriend were good friends. He remembered the day he told Warrick about him and Greg.
Nick hesitantly walked up to Warrick in the locker room. Warrick turned when he heard Nick behind him.
"Hey buddy. What's up?"
Nick sat down next to Warrick and took a deep breath. "I gotta tell you something...but you have to promise not to freak out."
Warrick laughed and turned around so he was facing Nick. "I swear." He saw how serious Nick was, and got a little nervous. "What's going on man?"
"Well..." Nick took and a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I'm gay." Nick didn't open his eyes and was contemplating getting up and running away when Warrick's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Nicky, look at me." Nick opened his eyes and look at Warrick, and relief washed over him when he saw Warrick was smiling. "It's okay Nick. It's nothing to be ashamed of man. Relax, I'm not gonna beat you up or anything."
Nick laughed, letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. "I know, I'm sorry. I guess it's just how I was raised...but that's uh...not exactly what I wanted to tell you."
Warrick's grip on Nick's shoulder tightened. "You can tell my anything bro."
Nick took another deep breath before saying, "Me and Greg are dating."
Warrick smiled wider and Nick felt all the pressure that had been bearing down on his chest suddenly disappear. "Catherine owes me 10 bucks."
Nick smiled, but was clearly confused. "What?"
"You know better than anyone not to make a bet with me." Nick laughed again and shook his head. "Seriously though...that's great Nick. When did this happen?"
"Two days ago."
Warrick nodded, clapped Nick on the shoulder, stood and walked past Nick. "I gotta go collect my winnings." Nick chuckled and leaned back against the wall behind him and closed his eyes. He was the luckiest guy in the world, and he knew it. He jumped a little when someone straddled his lap, but smiled when he opened his eyes and realized it was Greg.
"You told him?" Greg's ear to ear smile made Nick's stomach do that little flip thing, but it was a good flip.
"Yeah, I did. Catherine owes him 10 bucks. It's a good day for everyone." Greg laughed and leaned in and kissed Nick. Nick sat up and eagerly kissed Greg back, then the realiztion of where they were set in and he reluctantly pulled away. "G...we're at work..."
"I know where we are." Greg said matter of factly. He pushed Nick back against the wall and pushed his lips open with his tongue. Nick let his eyes close and allowed Greg's tongue into his mouth. When they had to break apart for air, Nick groaned and gently tried to push Greg off him.
"That's so not fair."
"What?" Greg said, smiling that Greg smile.
"Kissing me like that here...we have to get to work on that paperwork or Grissom's gonna kill us. We can't make out in the locker room." Greg pouted and got off Nick and let him stand up. "As much as I'd love to, you know we can't."
"I know." Greg said, rolling his eyes and sighing. "Stupid paperwork...stupid Grissom..."
Nick laughed and pulled Greg against him. He ran his hand through his hair and kissed him gently. "I know. He ruins everything." Nick said smiling.
"Yepp. He really does. Only..." Greg grabbed Nick's left hand and looked at his watch. "Seven hours until we get to go back to your place." Greg groaned and closed his eyes. "This is gonna suck so bad."
Nick laughed and kissed Greg's forehead before they left the locker room.
Nick smiled as he perfectly remembered that day, almost 4 months ago. Since then, they had told the whole team they were together. Everyone was overjoyed, and Grissom was still wondering how he hadn't noticed. Greg had moved in with Nick, and everything was great.
Nick was brought out of his thoughts when he heard some very loud and obnoxious rock song come on the radio. Greg had found an umbrella in the backseat, and used it to push the button for his favorite station. When Warrick went to change it, Nick shook his head. "It's not use man. You will never, ever win a music war with him." Warrick looked back at Greg, who was smiling proudly.
"You're lucky you found the only person on Earth who would put up with you Greg." They all laughed at that remark as Nick turned onto the street their crime scene was on. It was the last house on the right, and looked like it belonged in a vampire movie. They got their kits out of the back of the Denali and walked up the front stairs to the porch, where Brass was waiting for them.
"Two male DBs, no ID, been dead around 2 hours. David just left."
"Who made the call?" Greg asked.
"Anonymous 911. All these houses are deserted, so no witnesses or neighbors to talk to."
"Someone knows something." Warrick said, clicking on his flashlight and peering through the dark doorway behind Brass.
Brass checked his notes quick then looked back up at the CSIs. "One guy's in the living room, the other one's down the hall in the bedroom."
"Do you think someone actually lives her?" Nick said, thinking out loud more than asking a question.
"If they do, they have more than a couple dead bodes on their hands. This entire house is one huge meth lab."
The CSIs exchanged glances. "Okay," Warrick said, taking the lead. "Let's get started." Nick and Greg followed him into the house. Brass was not exaggerating. This was no small scale operation. There were numerous stoves, glass pans, heat lamps...everything you needed to make crystal meth.
"These guys know what they're doing." Greg said, taking in his surroundings.
"Yeah." Nick said, moving to the first body in the living room. Warrick walked down the hall to the bedroom, and Greg made his way into the kitchen. He set his kit down and looked around him, amazed by all the chemicals and supplies. The floor creaked behind him, and Greg spun around, shining his flashlight towards the door. Just abandoned house creepyness, stop freaking out. Greg turned back to the kitchen. He knelt in front of the stove and reached to his kit for some print powder when he heard a ticking. He looked through the glass window on the stove door and his breath caught in his throat. There was a small black box in the stove. A bomb. Greg stood and tried to yell, but no words could escape his dry throat. He slowly walked backwards into the hall, walking into Nick who was heading into the living room to see if Warrick had anything.
"Greg...what the hell are you doing?" Nick followed Greg's gaze to the kitchen, but didn't see anything. "Greg!" He yelled, grabbing Greg's shoulders and turning him so he was facing him. "What's wrong?"
Greg's hands were shaking. "There's a bomb in the stove." Greg choked out. Nick's eyes went wide.
"What's going on?" Warrick asked, walking over to Nick and Greg.
"We gotta get outta here." Nick said, moving towards the door.
"Nick, what the..." There was a click and a whirring sound. Nick pushed Warrick and Greg to the floor. Nick covered Greg as the bomb went off, blowing the wall seperating the kitchen from the living room onto them. It was a smaller blast than Nick had expected, but still big enough to cause serious damage. Nick rolled onto his back and looked over at Warrick, who was laying on his side in disbelief. Other than a few cuts and bruises, he seemed to be okay. Nick looked to his left and saw Greg rolling over onto his back as well. He tried to ask him if he was okay, but the air had been knocked from his lungs. Greg was shaking and his eyes were filled with fear. Nick's heart sunk when he saw the black figure standing over Greg. Nick lunged and grabbed Greg's hand as he was picked up by the figure. The man tried to tug Greg's hand away from Nick's, but Nick wasn't letting go. He saw the glint of the fire on the gun the guy holding Greg had pulled, and heard an eerily familiar voice from the other side of the room.
"Don't waste your time. Leave them, just take the kid." With that, the man smashed the gun onto Nick's wrist and tore their hands apart. Nick felt the guy from the other side of the room run by him, following the guy with Greg out the front door. Nick tried to yell, but no words came out. He felt Warrick pull him to his feet, and they slowly made their way to the front porch where they saw Brass clumsily getting to his feet. Blood was trickling down the side of his head.
"I didn't even see him coming." He said, wiping the blood away.
Nick finally caught his breath. "They took Greg. They fucking took Greg!"
Warrick put his arm around Nick and gently squeezed his shoulder. "We're gonna get him back Nicky. I promise."
Nick didn't remember anything in between then and when he walked into the break room and collapsed on the couch with Warrick. Their clothes were black and singed, and they had cuts all over them. They didn't even flinch when Grissom, Sara and Catherine came running in.
"What happened? Who took Greg?" They all seemed to yell at once. Nick's head was spinning. He got up and began walking over to the sink to get a glass of water when Sara grabbed his arm and spun him around.
"Where the hell is Greg?" She screamed, tears threatening to fall.
Nick shook his head. "I don't know...there was an explosion and someone took him..."
Sara slapped Nick and pushed him against the wall. "You're supposed to protect him! How could you let this happen?" She screamed, hitting Nick as hard as she could with each word. Nick just stood there, unable to move. Grissom ran up and pulled Sara gently away from Nick by the shoulders. Nick slowly slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor. He closed his eyes, rested his elbows on his knees and let his head fall into his hands as the tears started to fall.
Warrick stood up and tried to run at Sara, but Catherine got in his way. She put her hands up and pushed against his chest. "You have nothing to say to him!" Warrick yelled. "This isn't his fault. We were almost blown up for Christ's sake. He saved us. He covered Greg when the bomb went off...if it wasn't for him, all three of us would be dead!" Catherine pushed Warrick back down onto the couch and sat next to him. Grissom forced Sara into a chair.
"Everybody just calm down. Brass alerted the PD and Ecklie's working on it right now. The situation is under control."
"There is no situation." Everyone turned and looked at Ecklie standing in the doorway. "There's nothing we can do. We don't negotiate with terrorists. The same thing happened when Nick was-"
Nick stood up and cut Ecklie off. "They're not terrorists, they're murders, and they have Greg."
"Nick, I understand. But we don't even know who has him or why." Everyone fell silent. Nick sank back to the floor and buried his head back in his hands. This is not happening. It's all a bad dream. This can't be happening... "I'm really sorry." Ecklie said before he turned and left.
"So we just give up?" Sara asked, looking around. "We didn't give up when Nick was taken." Nick slammed his head against the wall before he got up and walked as fast as he could to the locker room. Warrick glared at Sara before he ran after Nick, running through the door as Nick fell to his knees. Warrick knelt in front of him and hugged him tight.
"Why is this happening?" Nick choked out between painful sobs.
"I don't know." Warick whispered, rubbing Nick's back. "I don't know, but we're not giving up." As if on cue, Nick's cell phone started ringing. He pulled it from his belt and his heart stopped when he saw who it was.
"It's Greg." He said, looking up at Warrick. He quickly opened the phone and put it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Nick don't-" Greg was cut off when the phone was moved away from his mouth.
"Greg are you okay?" Nick asked, panic obvious in his voice.
"He's fine. Just a little scared." The familiar voice said.
"Who is this?" Nick's mind was racing. Why does he sound so familiar?
"I thought you'd remember me Nick."
"Who-"
"This is Nick Stokes, right?"
"Yeah."
"It's your old pal JJ."
Nick shook his head. "I don't know any JJ's."
"Yes you do. Dallas PD, oh, maybe 15 years ago?"
Nick felt like he had just been punched in the stomach. "JJ Learings...we were partners for, like, a year...what are you-"
"So you do remember me? Ya know, I never liked you that much Nick. You were too cocky and arrogant."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Well, the two guys back at the house, they were getting greedy, so they had to go. The bomb was supposed to cover our tracks, but you guys showed up. I had no idea you even lived out here."
"I didn't know you were a criminal either."
"Cute. Keep it up and your boyfriend gets a bullet between the eyes."
Nick clenched his jaw. "What do you want?"
"World peace, reliable buisness partners..."
"For Greg."
"What would you do to get him back?"
"Anything."
"Okay, I'm sure we can work something out. Now listen carefully...we're at the Tangiers, room 8208. I'm smarter than you think. If you even think about calling the cops, Greg will be dead before you can even blink. Come alone...actually, bring along that other guy from back at the house. Knock once on the door and step back with your hands up. If you wanna see your darling Greg again, don't do anything stupid. I'm expecting you in...oh, no more than 30 minutes." The line went dead. Nick slammed his phone shut and fought off the urge to throw it at the wall.
He quickly told Warrick what JJ said. "What are we gonna do?"
"We have Brass get a team to stand by, and we go up to room 8208 and get Greg back."
"But what if he sees-"
"Nick, you know we can't go there without backup. This guy may be smart, but he's not that smart."
Nick nodded and took a few deep breaths before standing up. "Okay. Let's go get Greg."