Nick pulled up to Greg's apartment and looked up anxiously. He walked up the steps trying to hide his excitement that Greg was talking to him again. He knocked on the door and heard Greg undo the chain and say it was open. Nick walked in and looked around the apartment and realized it was as scattered and eccentric as Greg himself. He heard music coming from somewhere in the apartment.
"Hey Nick you can make yourself at home, sorry about the mess and being late," Greg said darting in and out of rooms looking for something.
"Its no problem Greggo," Nick said settling into the couch. He had gotten there early on purpose so he could see Greg's place.
"Can we listen to some Marilyn Manson on the way in?" Greg said passing by holding up a CD case.
"Sure," Nick said finding Greg very entertaining.
"FOUND IT!" Greg exclaimed coming out of what Nick guessed to be his bedroom, holding a shoe above his head proudly. "Okay we can go now," he said grabbing the CD and heading for the door. Nick followed him out and walked to the car with him, opening the door like the night before.
"Thanks," Greg said climbing in as Nick walked around to the other side. Greg slid the CD in and turned the volume to a reasonable level not wanting to be rude. It was still loud enough to stop Nick from asking questions about his sudden change of mood towards him. Greg sang along with every song and tried to coax Nick into singing a few, but he would just shake his head and smile at the blond.
"Hey G, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out for drinks without the girls after shift," Nick said climbing out of the car and heading for the lab. Greg looked at him and Nick remembered what happened the last time they had gone by themselves. "Unless you want them to come."
"Uhm, I'll think about it," Greg said turning away as he blushed. He walked a little faster than Nick now, making some excuse about needing coffee.
"Stupid," Nick scolded himself hitting his forehead.
The rest of the shift went by painfully slow due to backlog from day shift and their own cases added to that. Nick saw Greg very briefly in the break room before Riley came and pulled Greg away for their case. Nick was having a brief moment of peace sipping coffee when Catherine came in and sat down next to him.
"Ask him out," she said plainly not beating around the bush.
"What?" Nick said giving her his full attention.
"Ask him to breakfast, or a movie or something," she shrugged.
"Why? I just got him back as a friend and I don't even know what our fight was about in the first place," Nick said looking away. "Plus, I'll have you know I did ask him out for drinks after shift, as friends of course."
"And what did he say?" she asked excitedly.
"He said he'll think about it," Nick admitted letting his shoulders drop knowing that thinking about something usually means no.
"I'm sure he'll say yes Nicky," Catherine said patting him on the back. Her pager beeped with her results and she gave him a reassuring hug and left him to wallow in his doubt.
"Hey Nick," Greg said walking in happy as ever even though he was being over worked just like everyone else.
"Hey Greggo," Nick said his spirits and energy rising from being in the same room as him.
"About tonight," Greg started pouring himself a cup of coffee. "The two of us sounds good. The girls were kinda creeping me out last night," he joked taking a sip of the coffee and making a face. "I need to buy more coffee," he muttered taking another sip of it only to keep himself up and hyper.
"Cool," Nick said not being able to keep his smile in. His pager went off this time and he told Greg he would meet him in the break room after shift and they would head out then.
"So Greg I heard you got yourself a date with Nick?" Riley asked walking with him toward the break room after shift.
"It's not a date," he insisted, blushing. "I'm just going for drinks with a friend."
"With a friend you like a lot," she teased lightly.
"Well, when you put it that way. Then yes I'm going on a date, he just doesn't know it yet," Greg winked getting some of his energy back at the thought of having even an unofficial date with Nick.
"Hey G," Nick waved down the hall at him as he entered the break room. Greg picked up his pace some and made it in just before Riley.
"Ready to go?" Greg asked anxious for their not-a-date-date and to get away from the calculating stares of the girls.
"Yeah Greggo, just calm down some and lay off the coffee," Nick joked throwing a friendly arm around his shoulders and directing him to the parking lot. "Bye girls," Nick said waving behind them.
"Bye guys," they said trying not to 'awe' at the boys as they goofed off.
"You know Nicky, this is nice," Greg said throwing an arm around his friend's shoulders. Greg was on his sixth beer and he was starting to feel the side effects.
"What's nice Greggo?" Nick asked still fairly sober since he was their ride home.
"Us, just hanging out," he said almost falling out of his seat, but Nick caught him.
"We've always hung out."
"But he haven't done it in forever," Greg whined leaning into Nick.
"Its been a week," Nick pointed out not minding that he had become Greg's new headrest.
"Yeah, but it felt like a long time," Greg said looking up at Nick.
"Yeah, I guess it did. You only have yourself to blame for that one though," Nick said smiling at him.
"It was your fault too," Greg said sitting up now.
"You told me it wasn't," Nick said cocking his head to the side.
"Well, I lied," Greg said taking another swig of beer and Nick was sure Greg was going to have a killer hangover when he woke up. "If it weren't for how good you look in those jeans I would have never realized I like you." Nick stared at Greg with disbelief as he took another swig of beer and staggered off to the bathroom.
Greg Sanders just admitted to liking him, but that could always be the alcohol talking. But hadn't he read somewhere that you are most honest when you're drunk? He wasn't sure anymore. he thought now would be a good time to get Greg home before either of them did something to jeopardize their friendship. Hadn't Greg already done that though? Were they more than friends now or would Greg deny having ever said that? Would he even remember tonight?
"Hey Nicky, what's wrong?" Greg said coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around him.
"Nothing Greg, I think it is about time to get you home though," Nick said removing his arms and standing up.
"But Nicky," he whined refusing to move from his spot.
"No buts G, you're gonna have one hell of a hangover later and you need to sleep," Nick said putting an arm around his waist to make sure he didn't fall on the way to the car.
"Sleep is for losers," Greg declared as Nick helped him into his seat and buckled him in.
"Whatever you say Greggo," Nick sighed regretting having gotten Greg drunk. He had thought it would have made things more comfortable. Instead Greg was confessing he liked him and deciding he didn't need sleep or a job or anything besides Nick and more booze. Greg fell asleep on the ride to his apartment and Nick realized he was going to have to carry his friend in. Sighing, Nick opened the passenger door and caught Greg as he fell out. He held him like a baby and realized just how light Greg was.
"Nicky," Greg muttered opening one eye as Nick climbed the stairs with him.
"Go back to sleep G," he said taking Greg's key from his pocket and opening the door. He set him on the couch and removed his shoes and socks. He put the keys on the coffee table and helped Greg walk to his room.
"I'm going to get you some water and aspirin for when you wake up later," Nick said leaving him on his bed.
"But, I feel fine Nicky," he said and Nick could tell he had sobered up at least some.
"You're going to want it later G, trust me," Nick said coming back to find a shirtless Greg sitting at the end of the bed.
"Thanks," he said laying down. "Sorry for cutting the night short with my drunkenness."
"It's okay Greggo," Nick said sitting next to him and setting the water and pills down on the table. "I had a good time," he said smiling.
"Me too," Greg said smiling back. "At least I think I did," he said earning himself a small chuckle from Nick.
"Alright, time to sleep," Nick said tucking Greg in and getting up. I'll be back to pick you up for work," he reminded him.
"Okay," Greg muttered as sleep claimed him. Nick grabbed the key on his way out to lock the door and decided to take it with him since Greg might not be up on time.
"You up yet Greggo?" Nick called letting himself in.
"In the bathroom," he said turning the shower on. "You're early," he pointed out climbing in and washing the sweat and grime of the night before off.
"Yeah, wasn't sure if I would have to wake you up," he said settling into the couch.
"Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready," he said hurrying through his shower. "Make yourself at home." Nick did just that and turned on the discovery channel and watched something on birds.
"How do I look?" Greg asked emerging from his room exactly ten minutes later.
"You look like you Greggo," Nick smiled at him, turning the TV off. "I guess we're ready to go," he said getting up and walking over to the door. "Oh yeah, and here is your key," he tossed the key to Greg and went down to start the car up.
"Did I do something stupid last night?" Greg asked climbing in the car.
"What makes you think that?" Nick asked pulling out.
"You're acting different."
"Well you did say one thing that wasn't exactly stupid," Nick said paying more attention to the road than their conversation.
"What did I say?" Greg asked worried.
"You said you liked me and its all my jeans fault," Nick said acting like he didn't care. "Probably just the alcohol talking though, right?"
"What if it wasn't the alcohol?" Greg asked going out on a limb. Nick looked at him quickly before focusing back on the road.
"What do you mean?"
"What if I do like you?" Greg asked meekly.
"I thought you liked my jeans?" Nick asked teasing slightly, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"I do, but I like you too. The jeans just helped me see the whole picture," Greg admitted realizing there was no going back now.
"How am I sure it wasn't just the alcohol that night too?" Nick asked not sure of himself at all. They were sitting in the parking lot now and neither wanted to get out first and risk losing a friend. Greg suddenly leaned over and crashed his lips to Nick's. Nick just sat there in shock before responding shyly and then finding the courage to kiss back fully. When they finally came apart they were both panting and they leaned their foreheads together.
"Are you sure now?" Greg asked pecking his lips once more before climbing out and heading for the lab leaving Nick to think things over.
AN: I think there will be another chapter where they talk it through. I was thinking about adding it to this, but its getting kinda long. Anyway please review :)