Author: Sazmuffin

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Title: A Dozen Dogs

Ship: Nick/Greg

Rating:

A/N:

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Anyone else would think it unorthodox to have eleven dogs parading around such a small house, let alone with two owners who were gone for days at a time. But Greg and Nick were far from orthodox, and nothing could change that. Greg simply wouldn't have it.

The couple purposely moved into a homey neighborhood with friendly neighbors that would only be too happy to check in periodically with two "cops". Kids nearly littered the street, so it was only polite to call upon their energetic spirits to play with the dogs.

As luck would have it, leading an active sex life with eleven hyper dogs controlling your home was not an easy feat. Nick wasn't able to count on all his fingers and toes how many times they had been interrupted by the pitiful cries of young dogs, yearning to go outside or the powerful, echoing barks of their two Great Danes.

They had become quite the celebrities at the humane society. Everyone loved them, loved the fact that they cared so much about these homeless dogs. Greg was an animal person; animals were drawn to him like bees to honeysuckle. Nick loved that about him. That's why he answered yes to another dog without a thought.

The older CSI leaned against the walls of the kennel, tucking his fingers into his Wrangler jeans. Crossing one foot over the other, he folded his arms over each other as Greg sat, cross-legged style on the floor in front of the first candidate. She was a previously abused black Labrador, with a white stripe down her chest and stomach. Her eyes were sweet and she howled in excitement as Greg leaned closer through the fencing.

"She's beautiful," spoke the young man, awe pouring out of his mouth.

"We've been working with her, and she's beginning to make progress. Housebroken, relatively good with other dogs; I think she's right up your alley, guys." The woman in charge of the kennel, clad in aqua scrubs, grinned at them. She leaned forward and unlatched the gate between man and dog.

The lab approached Greg slowly, sniffing him. Circling him, she began vigorously licking his face. Greg let out a breath he hadn't even know he had been holding, laughing in relief. Bringing his hand up to pet her, his fingers ran over old scars of where she had been beaten. Looking over at his partner, he beckoned Nick over to sit next to him.

"Her name is Athena. I'll go get the paperwork," the woman left them with a small wave goodbye, and left them to play with Athena.

"She's gonna love it at home," Greg said, grinning like a madman. His hands smoothed down her fur like it was made for his touch. She seemed to relax immediately.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Nick put his arm around Greg's shoulder, playfully biting his boyfriend's ear.

"I'm know I'm one great shag, but really, you're breaking out the big guns, here, Nicky," he teased, laughing.

"You're a cocky bastard, too."

"But you're the guy that lives with the cocky bastard, so what does that make you?" Nick just shook his head, and bent his head in defeat. "You're too sweet to ever really take me on."

"Looks like it, don't it?"

Once the paperwork had been filed, the employees had their goodbyes with Athena, watching as she jumped happily into the backseat of their Denali. Greg joined her as Nick got into the driver's seat. Upon hearing the barking of other dogs, Athena pulled enthusiastically at Greg's hold on the leash, eager to meet her new roommates.

Nick had always wondered how he would deal with the fact that he could never have children of his own with Greg, but as it turned out, he didn't have to worry. Greg filled that hole in his heart with his love of dogs. Together, they had twelve babies, all with their own personalities and needs. They required just as much attention as any human child did. That's why Nick hid the gold engagement band in the box of dog treats. He knew Greg would find it eventually.