Okay, I was going to wait until I finished chapter six to post this, but….there's a pretty good chance I'm moving halfway across country tomorrow (I've been waiting a month so all I can say is it's about time.) So, because of this happy little news, we are getting two chapters today. Well….one now and one later tonight. Mostly cause I don't know when I'll get a chance to post again after tomorrow…

Also….not beta'd. All mistakes are mine and mine alone. There's probably a few that I missed. I'm sorry.


"Greg, what happened?"

Greg looked over at his boss, "Honestly Gris, I don't know. It can't be related to the case I was last working on. The suspect was a twerp. There's no way he could have done it."

Grissom frowned and glanced at Brass then over at Nick, who hadn't left Greg's side since they had arrived at the hospital. Grissom knew Nick Stokes, had in fact tried to get him to join his team as a CSI but the man didn't want to work third shift and so Grissom had helped him get into the police department instead. He also knew Brass was planning on training Nick to take his spot, as the older man was up for a promotion in the coming months. Grissom could see that Nick knew what was coming and was gearing up for an argument. The entomologist felt a surge of approval towards the Texan.

He turned back to Greg and frowned as his youngest team members words finally stuck, "What case are you talking about?"

"The B and E at Drove's Liquor, why?" Greg said slowly, as if speaking to a group of five year olds.

"Greg," Grissom said in the same tone of voice, "The casing you working on when you went missing was a suspected hit and run outside of Henderson. Near Foothills Montessori."

Greg's mouth dropped open to straighten out his boss before it slowly closed again as he took in the faces of his boss and the police detective standing next to him, "Are you sure?"

"You were working the case with Jeremy. He's missing as well." Grissom said, rubbing his forehead.

Greg felt a shiver of fear skitter up his spine at the name of the other CSI. Was there a chance he was connected to this in some way? The fear must have shown on his face, because all three men instantly boomed out, "What?"

"I…I think this has something to do with Jeremy."

Before anyone could respond to that, the doctor walked in with a clipboard in hand, "All right then, Mr. Sanders. No internal bleeding, light concussion, minor cuts, rope burns, two cracked ribs and a wrenched knee. We would like to keep you here for observation for a couple of hours minimum and then we'll see about letting you go. The nurse will be in to wrap the knee and ribs. She'll also have the prescriptions for pain relievers and a medicated cream for the bruises. Do you have any questions?"

Greg shook his head, his head twirling a bit at the rapid speed the doctor was rambling at, "I'm good."

"Okay then. The nurse will be in shortly." He paused at the door, "I do apologize for the rapid in and out like this, but we've got an accident coming in." With that he was gone.

"Why do you think it was Kastner?" Brass asked, stepping closer towards the bed as the nurse bustled in with a tray in her hands.

Greg shivered as the nurse dropped the top of the gown off of his shoulders to get to his ribs, "I don't know. A feeling, I guess."

"A feeling…" Brass snorted.

Grissom frowned at his friend. The man had always preferred hard facts over gut instincts, "Greg, even if Jeremy had nothing to do with it, you can't go home right now."

"Why not?"

"Because, G, if someone did try to kill you they're going to be watching your place for awhile to cover for eventualities. If you go home at all in the next few weeks, you're pretty much a dead man." Nick replied.

Greg paused in trying to keep the gown covering his privates as the nurse began work on his knee. He wasn't exactly naked underneath, but it had been a few days and his underwear weren't in the best of conditions. He smiled a bit at the nickname before it dropped into a scowl, "I do not want to be put into a safe house. You can't, Gris!"

Grissom met Nick's eyes over the top of Greg's head and raised his eyebrows. Nick glanced at Brass before turning to look down at Greg, "You're not. You're coming home with me. I have a pretty decent guest room."

"Oh. That's…okay, then."


Nick helped Greg into the truck before climbing in himself, "You up to walking around a bit?"

Greg looked over at Nick and smirked, "Well, no not right now. I'm in a car."

"Smart ass. I meant we really should get you some clothes and toiletries, maybe some books or something. I also need to get in some groceries." Nick paused, "Do you cook?"

"I can, yeah. Why? Payment for taking me in?" Greg asked, a grin crossing his face at the ideas of some other forms of payment he'd like to give the man.

"No! Of course not! I meant that since you'll, you know, be eating with us is that you can help out if you want. I do a lot of the cooking from boxes or whatever and I swear we have pizza more than we should. I can pick up whatever you want to get."

Greg's heart sank at the 'us' and 'we' that Nick threw out. It was pretty bad that he had a crush on the southern man already and now he had to see him being all cutesy with a significant other. Sometimes his life really sucked, "Yeah, that's fine. Do you have a crock pot?"

Nick glanced at him, "A what?"

"You kidding?"

Nick shook his head, "Nope. The name doesn't sound like anything I have. How about you point one out in the store and I can give you a definite answer then."

"Yeah I can do that."

They stopped at a super Wal-Mart that was almost literally right down the road from Nick's house. Greg decided to stay in the truck, something Nick wasn't going to argue about as it was obvious the pain meds were still floating around his body and he was feeling about ready to drop back off.

He was a bit bummed about the crock pot thing, but it didn't matter much. He was good at cooking other things. He gave Nick his sizes for clothes and then dropped his head back.

Greg could not believe how quickly he was falling for Nick. A saving hand, a few nice words and he was gone. He wasn't sure if that made him pathetic or not. Maybe it was just the pain meds talking and he'd feel damn foolish about this later.

It didn't take Nick very long, twenty minutes at the most and after he filled up the backseat they were on their way. He lived in a very nice neighborhood, Greg had to admit. None of the houses were the new cookie cutter style that were going up in suburbs all over the country, nor were any of them the Mediterranean style that houses along the west coast boasted. In fact, Nick's house almost had a Florida feeling to it. Like one were to step off the porch onto a white sandy beach, not grass and rocks in the middle of the desert.

The house was long and narrow with an attachment that could be called a garage if Nick drove a slightly smaller vehicle. The porch, as well as the second story deck, had fans attached to the roof coverings. Nick's landscaping was no nonsense, it seemed. A plain grass yard met the brick driveway and there were only two palm trees, one at each corner of the yard. The front yard was wider than it was long, ending on both sides by metal decorative fences.

"This is a nice place."

Nick smiled at him, "Thanks. It was a lucky find, actually. Let's get you inside and situated at least in the living room so I can start hauling everything inside."

"K." Greg slid out of the truck and waited for Nick to lead him up to the front door. Once inside, Greg's jaw dropped, "Wow. That's a lot of books."

Nick shrugged, "I like to read. Most of them belonged to my granddad before I got them. Come on, family rooms more comfortable."

Greg followed him down the hallway, nodding when Nick pointed out a small bathroom on one side of the hall and a set of stairs opposite that led outside as well. Just before the kitchen was the stairway to the second floor.

The kitchen went the width of the house and just beyond was the dining room/family room. There was a long table in the dining room that only took up about a third of the space. The other two thirds housed a long, dark brown suede couch that looked perfect for napping. There were two chairs along the back wall and all were centered around a square coffee table facing the biggest TV armoire Greg had ever seen.

As Greg settled down onto the couch Nick asked, "Your meds on you or out in the truck?"

Greg yawned, "Truck I think."

"All right. I'll bring those in with the first load. After I get everything put away, we're gunna get you cleaned up."

"We?" Greg asked, canting his head a bit to see Nick.

"You have a couple of cracked ribs. I'd pay big bucks to see you try to raise your hands over your head without it hurting."

Greg nodded, "We then."


Greg awoke to someone patting lightly at his chest and whispering softly to him. He took a few ragged breaths to try and ease the adrenalin fueled terror still encompassing his body. He knew it was a nightmare, all the other times he had woken it was to stone floors and dripping pipes not to soft sheets and kind words. He paused at the thought and took a deep gulp of air. He was remembering. Too bad it wasn't anywhere near enough.

He looked down when the hand stopped patting his chest, only to lock eyes with a pretty little girl who was no more than four. She was curled up on his good side and holding a ratty teddy bear between them, "Hi." He whispered, his voice cracking slightly. Had he been screaming? If he had, then why hadn't Nick come running?

"'Lo." She whispered back, as if they were playing a game.

Greg eyed her for a moment. There was no doubt in his mind that this was Nick's daughter. She had the same dark locks and same shaped eyes. The only difference he could really see was that while Nick had deep, intense chocolate brown eyes his daughters were a startling blue hidden away behind little children glasses.

"Yous was havin' a nightmare." She whispered, "Teddy said we should help. Did we?"

Greg smiled; she was really cute, "Yep. Is it very late?"

She shook her head, "No. Daddy hasn't made dinner yet." She bit her lip before sitting up and holding out her hand, "I Maddy."

"I'm Greg. Did your daddy tell you about me?"

Maddy nodded, "Yup, said I have to be quiet 'cause yous was 'cuparatin. I go tell daddy yous awake." She made to scramble off the bed and almost took a tumble instead. Greg managed to catch her with a hiss, his muscles protesting the rapid movement.

Maddy's eyes grew impossibly round behind her little glasses and her hands flew up to cover her mouth, "I sorry!"

"It's ok, really. I'd rather be a little uncomfortable than have you sprawled on the ground. Nick doesn't need two of us hurt." Greg said, pulling Maddy gently to his side.

"Got that right."

Maddy's head whipped around and she pulled away from Greg, "Daddy!" She wailed, bursting into tears, "I hurt Greg."

Greg met Nick's eyes, startled. Granted, he had never been around kids that much, but he could have sworn she was no where near tears a second ago. Nick gave him a 'what can you do?' shrug before coming fully into the room and setting a tray down on the dresser. He pulled his daughter up into his arms and then sat down on the edge of the bed, "Roo, Greg's muscles are tight from sleeping. He didn't catch you on his bad side. It's okay."

"Your dad's right Maddy. I just moved too fast." Greg said.

Maddy sniffed, "You sure?"

"'Course I'm sure." Greg reached out and ruffled her hair, "Now I smell food and my stomachs starting to rumble but first…" He paused and then grimaced, "I really have to go to the bathroom."

"Maddy, go wash up. I'll help Greg to the bathroom and then get him eating then it'll be our turn, okay?"

Maddy looked up at Nick then over at Greg before her lower lip began to tremble, "Can't I eat up here with Greg?"

Nick shook his head and slid his daughter off his lap, "You know the rules."

"Aww." Maddy stomped her way out the door and down the hallway. Both men cocked their heads as they listened to the pounding of little feet going down the stairs.

"She's cute." Greg said as he inched his way to the edge of the bed.

Nick gave him a blinding grin, "Thanks! She can be a little terror, though, as you just witnessed." He stood up and slid an arm around Greg's back, hoping that the extra support would keep most of Greg's weight off of the wrenched knee.

They hobbled down to the bathroom and Nick leaned against the sinks while Greg did his business in the water closet, "So Mister Sanders, you mentioned this morning that you used to be a lab-rat? What does that mean?"

Greg flushed the toilet and limped his way out of the closet and to the sink, "I worked DNA. There was…an accident a few years ago in the lab. After that, I did everything I could to get out, even taking a pay cut to do so."

Nick narrowed his eyes slightly, "What kind of accident?"

Greg looked at him, "You didn't see my back?"

"I was more worried about your chest and those ribs, to be honest." Nick said, shaking his head.

Greg stared at him for a moment before turned and lifting the back of his shirt up, "There was an accident, something put into a machine that was turned on when it shouldn't have been. It exploded right next to me and I was flung through the glass wall of the lab."

Nick reached out and traced the spider web of scars running along Greg's back, "How can you talk about it so easily?"

"Grissom made me go to therapy. A month afterwards, when I was back at work, he caught my hands shaking when I was going over a report with him. It wasn't interfering with my work, but it worried him." Greg dropped the shirt down and turned to face Nick again, "It took almost a year until I was comfortable in short sleeves, let alone going shirtless around people. Speaking of shirtless, you said something about a shower earlier before I apparently passed out?"

"After we eat. You can use mine. It's a stand alone so it'll be easier to get in and out of. If you want I can…" Nick was interrupted as Maddy yelled for him, "Hold your horses, Madeline!"

Greg snickered, "You sounded like my mom."

"I think that's a universal parent thing." Nick said with a laugh, "Come on, let's get you back in bed."

Dinner for Greg was simple; soup, applesauce and some tea that had him wrinkling his nose a bit until he tried some. Afterwards, Nick led him into his room to use the shower. The master bath was fairly large and the free standing shower was big enough for two grown men to move freely in it. That was a good thing as Nick had been right. He couldn't lift his arms very high at all.

Greg supposed he should have been shy, standing under the water naked with a guy who was practically a stranger, but there was something about Nick that made him comfortable. He also kept thanking the pain killers that were basically killing any erection his body wanted to produce. Having someone half bathe him was a particularly arousing experience.

Greg spent some time reading to Maddy, bemused that little girl seemed so enamored with him. His experience with children was limited and those he did run across seemed to find him weird. He could only think of one exception to that and that was Catherine's daughter Lindsey, before she hit her wild streak.

At nine, Nick came back in to usher Maddy to bed. He paused by the bed and cocked his head, "You look better without the spikes."

Greg's eyebrows shot up, "I like my spikes." Sort of. He was actually ready for a change, having had the same hairstyle for the past few years. Maybe now was a good time for that. The only question was could he actually go natural with his hair?

"Just saying." Nick shrugged and swung a sleepy Maddy up into his arms, "The curls are cute. Take your pills. I'll wake you in the morning before Maddy and I take off."

Greg nodded, "Okay. And Nick?"

Nick paused at the threshold and glanced back over his shoulder, "Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"No problem. Night."


TBC….

Oh, and for anyone who didn't get a response (I know there were a few but my email hates me) Thank you for leaving a review! So cool!

Also...did I forget to mention this was a kidfic? But heck, if you've read my stuff before, you should have expected it...in some form or another...