Merge Into You
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Rating: PG-13/T
Spoilers: Grave Danger mostly and bits of other season 1-5 episodes.
Summary: This is the sequel to "Love Is Not A Crime". I would advise reading that prior to this. This story takes place one month after Grave Danger. Nick and Greg move on past the events of Nick's kidnapping with a few setbacks and more lab drama will ensue!
Chapter Two: I'll Stand by You
Date: June 30, 2005 / July 1, 2005
So
if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and
talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well
I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
And
don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
cause even
if you're wrong
Ill stand by you
The Pretenders, I'll Stand by You
Addison Merritt walked briskly through the halls of the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Her brown hair was in a tight ponytail. She wore the usual pants suit and heels, this time a nice cream color. She carried a large black Prada tote; her ID badge swinging as she walked. After what seemed like hours of looking, she finally found Nick.
Nick was in the locker room rifling through his coat. His brow scrunched as he looked through the coat. He finally found what he needed: his anxiety medicine. He popped a pill and looked at the ceiling in relief. It was his first night back and he was stuck processing in DNA with Wendy. Greg and Catherine were out on their case from the night before; Warrick was with Grissom on a 419 on the desert. And where was he? Stuck in the lab.
"Nick?" Addison asked popping her head into the locker room.
Nick looked at the brunette psychologist through his glasses.
"Do you have a minute? I was thinking maybe we can sit down and talk? Maybe even get some clearance for you?" She smiled and couldn't help but notice the smile growing on Nick's face. "Sure."
The two were sitting in her office. She was sitting not behind her desk but in the seat next to him. Her legs crossed and a clipboard with a legal pad in her lap.
"Anything you say is of course confidential. However, if I find you not cleared for field work Ecklie will be informed but with my discretion. Nothing you say will go back to him or any other member of this lab." She started off with and Nick nodded his agreement and understanding.
"How are you sleeping, Nick?" she asked.
"Okay, I guess. I still have nightmares." He said looking down at the ground.
"Understandable. How do you combat these nightmares?" she asked.
"I sleep with my bedside light on every night and I keep my loaded gun on my nightstand."
"Do you think that this could happen again? Possibly from your own home?"
"Yes."
"Nick, do you feel safe in your home?" she asked looking at him through her glasses.
"Only during the day." He said weakly.
"Because you're afraid of the dark?"
"Because Greg isn't home at night and I worry."
"You worry about Greg? His safety perhaps?"
Nick nodded his head lightly.
"Is there anything about that night you wish to talk about?"
"No. I don't mean to be rude, Addison, but I've been through all this with my psychiatrist."
"Did he or she prescribe anything?"
"Yes, a mild antidepressant and some medicine for anxiety."
"Do you feel anxious?"
"At night mostly and today."
"Why today, Nick, if I can ask?"
"Being back here is weird. I haven't been here since my you know."
"Nick, do you say the words kidnapping or abduction when you're home?"
"No, and Greg doesn't either."
Addison nodded her head and jotted something down.
"How has Greg taken to this?"
"He's been a champ, really. He is so caring and supportive. He doesn't care that the lights on or that my parents are still here. He loves me, and I couldn't make it through this without him."
"Understandable, do you know how Greg reacted when he found out?"
"No, we don't like to talk about that day unless we're in therapy."
"Is Greg in therapy?"
"Yes, he had a breakdown when I came home."
"Is he on anything?"
"Nothing prescribed. He's been smoking a lot more, which irks me but I let him have his space when it comes to his dealing. Although I would appreciate it if he stopped smoking in our bathroom."
Addison let out a small laugh.
"How did Greg react?" it was his turn to ask the questions.
"He lost it. He tried so hard to be strong, but no one believed it. None of us did."
"He's a bad liar."
"You would know, Nick. It was in those hours that we all truly saw just how much you mean to him."
Nick got a tear in the eye.
"Nick, what did you say in the box on the tape?"
"Goodbye to everyone, and thank you."
"Thank you?"
"For trying."
"And Greg?"
"I didn't say anything. I couldn't bear the thought of saying goodbye, especially if I had you know with the you know."
"Of course, Nick, I understand."
"Are we almost done?" Nick asked uncomfortably.
"Yeah, we're done. You'll receive a letter by end of shift with my decision."
"Thank you Addison. Thank you!" Nick smiled his Texan smile and shook her hand.
Nick was eagerly awaiting the end of shift to get his letter from Addison concerning his clearance. He had helped Wendy process DNA all night and was beginning to feel bored with his life. He had never been one for the lab rat life. That was Greg's niche for so long and he loved it but seeing him flourish as a CSI was amazing too.
"Nick, have you seen Conrad?" a voice asked Nick's back. Nick turned around and saw Dr. Alex Holt, the medical examiner that joined their ranks the previous November.
"Surprisingly, no I have not seen him. Anything I can help with?" Nick asked eagerly wanting to do something other than cutting swabs and testing for DNA.
"Maybe, as you know Robbins went on three week sabbatical and I've been covering for him and what not, and Conrad told my office to have me do a post on a body and have the COD to him in the morning."
"What do you need me for?" Nick asked.
"Hold on, as I was saying, Conrad sends in the body under the instruction that I have it to him by sunup, that was seven hours ago, and here I am with the COD."
"Seven hours?" Nick asked baffled.
"Sixty stab wounds I finally found the fatal one."
"Good times, I don't even think Ecklie is in right now. It's two thirty in the morning after all."
'Well, can you point me in the right direction of his office?"
"You've never been to Ecklie's office?" Nick laughed.
"I prefer the dead when it comes to him."
Nick let out a heavier, more hearty laugh, "Go past ballistics and take a right at the QD lab then it's right there on the left by Catherine's office."
"Thanks, Nick oh and welcome back!" Alex smiled and walked away.
"Thanks, Alex, it is good to be back!"
Nick let out a long sigh and sat back down at the table he was working at. Wendy was on her fifteen minute break and he had nothing to do. And he had nothing to do until almost three forty-five when Greg walked through the door, physically exhausted.
"Hey sweetheart, how was everything?" Greg asked Nick as he took a seat next to the older Texan.
"Good, now I'm just awaiting clearance from Addison."
"Good." Greg smiled lightly. As he reached forward and placed a kiss on Nick's lips.
"You were smoking, weren't you?" Nick asked as he tasted tobacco.
Greg remained silent.
"I don't care, Greg. I really don't, at least not as much as I use to."
"Where did you put my real boyfriend?" Greg joked.
"Smart ass." Nick said with a chuckle as the two both got quiet at the same time and saw Addison walking towards the DNA lab. A white letter sized envelope which has Nick's current future in her hand.
"Here you go, Nick." Addison smiled kindly and handed him the letter. Good sign? And she was gone as fast as she came.
Nick looked into Greg's eyes and Greg did the same. Nick took a deep breath and reached for the back of the letter.
"No matter what I'll stand by you." Greg whispered lightly as Nick tore the back of the envelope. He pulled out the folded paper and began reading to himself.
"And?" Greg asked excitedly.
Nick read aloud, "Mr. Nicholas Stokes, After reviewing the facts of the case in which you were required to attend counseling, I find you…"
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