What Did You Do, Mr. Stokes?
Chapter One
Greg was anxious. They had made it safely through their first Christmas together, mostly, in his mind, by focusing on the kids. The kids had never really had a big Christmas, but this had been their first without their mom. They had gone all out….huge tree, lights, piles of presents. The gang at the lab spoiled the crap out of the kids on a regular basis; Christmas only gave them more of an excuse. But Nick and Greg had only gotten each other a couple of things, nothing huge or meaningful or even relatioship-y. They were nice gifts, but nothing different than they would have given had they still just been friends. But the big day was looming, the day that could, sadly, make or break a relationship if you fucked it up. Valentine's Day.
Nick was restless as he tried to finish up the last of his paperwork and clear his desk. He fidgeted as he stared at his computer screen blankly, biting the inside of his lip. Catherine stood in the doorway for several moments watching him, before knocking on the door frame. "What's got your undies in a bundle?" she asked, smiling. Nick focused and looked towards the grave supervisor, confused. "What?"
Catherine smiled and crossed her arms, looking at the floor and rocking on her heels. "Trouble in paradise?" she teased.
Nick covered his face with his hands briefly and let out a long breath. He smiled softly as he looked over at his friend. "Not exactly, Cath. Something's just picking at the back of my brain and I just can't seem to work it out." Catherine stepped into the office and closed the door, making herself comfortable on the small sofa opposite his desk. "Well I'm all about the helping. What's up?" Nick leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together across his abdomen. "And if it's not work related?" Catherine grinned at her colleague. "Then it's just more interesting, Nicky. Now spill, so we can get it taken care of and get back to work."
Nick sized her up briefly. And finally caved. "Valentine's Day," he sighed dejectedly. Catherine raised an eyebrow and nodded wisely, biting the inside of her cheek hard to keep from laughing at her friend. An act that didn't go unnoticed by Nick. "Look, you don't have to help me…" he started, but Catherine waved her hands in front of her apologetically. He sighed again. "Look, Cath, I don't think the average guy is good at the whole Valentine's romance thing…but in this situation…" he raised one hand, gesturing helplessly. "Two average guys make it even tougher? Look, Nicky, not to get too personal, but do you love him?" Nick surveyed her for long moments. "Yeah, Catherine, I really do."
Catherine rested her chin on her hand and looked right back at her friend. "Do you understand Greg? I mean more than most of us?"
Nick nodded his head and smiled. "Nicky, you know him, you understand him, you know what to do, you just haven't figured it out yet. But you will." Nick frowned and fingered his chin. "You know," Nick started, "there's something else that's bothering me. Or it's bothering him. Or it's bothering me that it's bothering him…cripes." Catherine made a 'go on' gesture, and Nick struggled to continue. "He asked if he could paint the kids' room the other day, but he was really squirrelly about it. Back peddled, said he didn't have to. After he left to take the kids to daycare I looked around and realized that my place, our place, really hasn't changed much since they'd moved in, other than it just seems happier to me. But it's still all my stuff on the shelves and on the walls." Nick rested his chin on his palm. "I think he still thinks of it as my place, not ours. I guess I haven't done enough to make him believe I want him there, permanently."
Catherine beamed at him. "See, you knew all along what you needed to do!" She rose and walked around the desk to peck him on the cheek, and left his office with a grin on her face. Nick watched her leave with an amused look of confusion on his. He chuckled a bit at his colleague and sat back in his chair with his fingers laced behind his head, staring at the ceiling. As he looked back down at the paperwork littering his desk the corner of large envelope addressed to him from the benefits department caught his attention. He pulled it out from beneath the rest of the paperwork and held it by opposite corners, spinning it slowly between his palms. He cocked his head as a slow smile made it's way from one corner of his mouth to the other and an idea blossomed in his mind. He pulled out the paperwork and surveyed it seriously. After filling it out he made copies. The copies were inserted into a new envelope, the originals re-inserted in the original envelope. He smiled broadly to himself and picked up the phone, putting in calls to his attorney and his accountant. They would fax the paperwork to him. Now all he needed was a big bow to put on the envelope, and his Valentine's Day shopping was done, for this year. Humming to himself, he rubbed his hands together gleefully before getting back to finishing his paperwork. This was going to be a great Valentine's Day.