Disclaimer: I don't own anything even remotely related to CSI, I just write about it.
Love is Love
The lab bustled as the morning crew switched over into the night shift. Grissom was walking slowly along the corridor while reading a report which had just been handed to him. Not watching where he was going, he almost walked right into Nick. "Sorry, long day", was all Grissom said and as an afterthought added, "Oh, Nick, while I have you here, are you interested in attending that conference in Arizona? One spot just opened up for a level three, and that speaker you like, Channing Parell, is going to be there".
"That would be great, when is it" Nick asked?
"Next Wednesday, and tell Greg if you're going because he's going as well".
"Ok and thanks", Nick yelled, but Grissom was already gone around the corner. Greg's workspace was overpowered by loud music. Nick slowly crept up behind him and grabbed his shoulders. Greg twisted and almost fell, but Nick quickly caught him and brought him upright. "My knight in shining armour", Greg said while looking jokingly into Nick's eyes.
"My princess", Nick replied while chuckling slightly.
"So what do you want, because my shift doesn't start for another three minutes", Greg asked while going back to his previous task.
"I can see that, because on work time you surely wouldn't be reading", Nick paused to take the magazine from Greg, "Men's Fitness"?
"What? These babies don't grow themselves", Greg grinned while flexing his bicep.
"Do you have a microscope I could borrow, because I'm having trouble seeing anything"? At this remark Greg playfully pushed him away.
"Did you actually want anything, or do you just take comfort in knowing you've wasted all of my free time" Greg questioned?
"I wanted to let you know that I'm going to that conference with you next week; you know, so you'll have enough time order my champagne and rose petals" Nick added with another grin as he left.
"In your dreams, you'll never get with me Nick so you might as well stop trying", Greg said and glanced at the clocked. The second hand ticked towards the twelve, "damn you Nick" Greg mumbled under his breath and started work for the day.
The next week went by quickly as both Greg and Nick had to finish up whatever work load they had before their "vacation" started. Finally Wednesday arrived and temporary freedom was sure to ensue. "A toast", Nick announced as soon as they were seated into their first class seats with a glass of champagne, "to a few days of relaxation".
"Here, here" Greg replied and sipped his drink. "At least you only have to sit in on seminars; I'm doing training for my level three assessment. I have to actually be paying attention".
"Isn't this nice", the flight attendant remarked as she passed by their row, "would I be correct in assuming you two lovebirds are off on a romantic getaway"?
"Ha", Nick laughed, "you think we're...romantic getaway...lovebirds. What gave you that idea"?
"Oh, I'm very sorry, it's just...well...I've never been wrong before", the stewardest blushed. "I guess I work with people so much I've become very perceptive, good gaydar or whatever it's called", the flight attendant explained.
"That's all right, really, I was just taken aback that's all", Nick replied.
"Sorry again, enjoy your flight".
"Wow, can you believe that, she actually thought that not only were we gay, but also together. I wonder where she got that idea", Nick said to Greg, but he was staring intently at the window. "Greg? Are you ok"? Nick asked concerned.
"Yeah, well, no, you see she wasn't exactly wrong" Greg explained.
"What do you mean...we're not together; or has all of our fun and games led you to believe otherwise"?
"No not that, the other thing".
"You mean the gay bit, well that's not true either, is it" Nick asked?
"Well, it's not as untrue as I'd like it to be", Greg admitted.
"What, you mean..."
"Yeah, well sort of", Greg explained.
"How can it only be sort of true", Nick questioned?
"I'm...oh boy...I'm bisexual", Greg clarified.
"Wow. That's um...wow".
"I wanted to tell you before we shared a room because I didn't want you finding out later and being all he was just doing that to get in my pants. I don't want things to be weird between us that's all", Greg continued.
"If there's one thing that this job has taught me, it's to be open minded. Don't worry about it, it's definitely not what I was expecting to learn on this trip, but I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me. And it's not like we're sharing a bed or anything. So...have you ever had a boyfriend", Nick asked after a few moments of silence?
"Once, in college, but before that it was all ladies for me. There was something about Jason that just got to me. I was completely straight before him, or so I thought", Greg replied.
Nick laughed and said, "so how did you meet if you weren't out patrolling for guys"?
"Roommate", Greg answered and blushed.
"Ah. Does anyone else at the lab know" Nick questioned?
"Catherine, and that's only because she was with me on a case when I ran into him. It was a mutual break-up and we kissed when we saw each other. I didn't even think Catherine saw us, but sure enough she was there introducing herself and giving me her "you're going to tell me everything" look. I could have said he was my brother, but she wouldn't have believed it, I really had no choice".
"Catherine does do that doesn't she. Why did you break up", Nick asked?
"I was going to Vegas and he got a job in Detroit. I'm not very good with long distance relationships, had to break up with my high school girlfriend too when I left for college".
"Didn't you find it weird? First being with a girl and then bam being with a guy", Nick enquired?
"At first, yeah, it was really weird, but then I realized love is love, when you love someone gender doesn't matter", Greg replied softly. The rest of the trip was quite uneventful after that. The movie started, the pretzels were served and finally they had landed.
After having arrived at their hotel, both of them were eager to get settled in after a long day. "Name please", the concierge asked.
"Greg Sanders"
"Here were are, one thirty two, I will get one of the bell hops to bring your suitcases up, I hope you enjoy you stay". The elevator bell dinged and the three of them stepped inside. Nick walked into the room first. "Oh no, this can't be our room".
"Yes sir it is, one thirty two it says so on the door", the young bell hop replied.
"No, I mean, well there's only one bed"!
"Is that a problem sir, I just assumed you guys were-"
"Don't even say it", Nick said cutting him off. Greg just stared into the room, unsure of what to do.
"Are there any other rooms which we could switch into", he asked.
"No sir, I'm afraid there are not. We have been booked solid for months because of the conference. You could try other hotel, but it will most likely be the same over there".
"Well thank-you, we'll talk it over", Nick said as he handed over a tip. "So what do you want to do"?
"It's totally your decision, I have no problem with sharing a bed if you don't", Greg answered.
"Well, it doesn't look like we have much of a choice", Nick said finally. "I'm so tired right now, I don't even care".
The next morning was filled with the many activities in which a conference entails. Greg had gotten up early to attend his first lecture and Nick's was not until later in the day. While he lay in bed he thought about the events of the previous day. About Greg's impromptu coming out, the room mishap, but mostly about how good it felt to have someone sleeping beside him. It was probably just his lack of romantic action in the months previous, but something about having Greg beside him gave him a certain sense of completion. He remembered what Greg had said about love and how much he enjoys their constant bickering. Soon it was time to get up, Channing was about to start.
After meeting up again, the decision was made to order room service while it was on the lab's tab. Dish after dish arrived ending with a large sundae. Nick flicked through the channels; while Greg finished of the last of the ice cream and stopped when he got to a channel with a "Girls Gone Wild" ad on. Greg looked up and laughed. "We're not actually going to watch this are we" he asked? "Besides, all the good stuff is blocked out anyway".
"What would you prefer we watch"?
"I don't even know what's on, give me the remote". Greg flicked through the channel and stopped momentarily on Queer as Folk and grinned mischievously at Nick.
"Oh come on", Nick protested and lunged for the remote. He tackled Greg to the ground and pinned him before grabbing at the remote. Greg held on and pulled it towards himself. Nick lost his balance and ended up a mere inch away from Greg's mouth.
"You know its funny this is the exact same way my relationship started with Jas-", he was cut short when Nick covered his mouth with his own. "What was that for"?!
"I don't know, they were there and I just wanted to".
"I know the feeling, felt the same way when I did that to Jas-". Again he was cut off by Nick intervention. "Will you let me say his name"?! Greg did not seem to be put off at all by what was happening.
"Will you understand what I'm trying to tell you"?!
"What"?
"Here I am kissing you and all you do is continue on with your conversation as if nothing happ-". This time it was Nick's turn to get cut off. They continued for a long while longer, the TV still blaring in the background and woke up the next morning with each other in their arms.