Chapter 2 - Scattered Memories

Nick fell asleep in one of the chairs, while Greg was still unconscious. The others had to go back to work so they could find the one responsible for the attack on Greg. Nick told them he was staying until Greg woke up and that's exactly what he intended to do, regardless of what the nurses told him to do.

Nick was deep in slumber when Greg's fingers started to twitch, slowly opening his eyes. Greg looked around at his surroundings then looked over to his left finding Nick asleep. He reached his hand out to grasp Nick's. The sudden gesture brought Nick out from his deep slumber, suddenly snapping his eyes open to see Greg wide awake. Nick couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry with happiness as he saw Greg smiling at him once again. Something he feared he would never get to see again. Nick immediately sat up straight, softly running his fingers through Greg's hair.

"Nicky? W-What happened?" Greg groggily asked, "Why am I in so much pain?" He winced.

"Greg, what can ya' remember?" Nick asked.

"Well, I remember arriving at the crime scene then Griss separating us. You were in the backyard with Warrick, Sara and Catherine were downstairs . . . I don't know where Grissom was . . . and I was upstairs . . . then I woke up here. I don't remember much before that though." Greg rasped as he looked at the frown on Nick's face.

"You were attacked Greg." Nick explained.

Greg looked up in shock, he was beginning to ramble in hysterics. "What happened Nicky? Why can't I remember who attacked me? I want to remember, I want to help you catch him, but I just can't remember I..." Nick started stroking his hair again, shushing him to calm him down.

"Shhhh baby, calm down it's ok you'll remember in time. Give it time you'll remember...wait did you just say him?" Nick suddenly asked, remembering what Greg rambled about.

"Yeah! I saw him, but I just can't remember what he looked like." Greg said as he was on the verge of tears trying to picture his attacks face. Part of him didn't want to remember, knowing that face would haunt him forever, but he knew deep down that he had to help them to find this guy, before he hurt someone else.

"It's ok honey, don't rush it. You'll remember, just be patient, ok?" Nick tried to reassure him with a soft smile. He leant down for a kiss and kissed him softly they pulled apart when someone cleared their throat from the doorway. Nick turned slightly to see Warrick standing in the doorway.

"Hey Greg, how are you feeling pal?" Warrick asked, walking into the room.

"A little banged up, my ribs are sore, but I'm better thanks." Greg assured him.

"Well I'm glad you're awake! You gave us quite a scare there buddy, especially Nick. He wouldn't leave your side until you woke up." Warrick grinned at Nick, giving a reassuring shoulder squeeze as he had been fighting for Greg's survival all night.

Greg looked at the two of them with a weird look on his face, then something clicked; Warrick had seen them kiss and he found himself panicking once again. Nick looked at Greg with a worried look on his face. He couldn't understand why Greg was freaking out like this, but he was determined to find out. Greg's freaking out caused Warrick to be worried himself. "Greg? honey? What is it? What's wrong? Did you remember something?" Nick asked worried. Greg shook his head causing Nick to be even more confused. "Then what is it, babe?"

Greg finally managed to speak after his breathing was back to normal. "Warrick h-he saw us! He saw us kiss." Nick stared at Greg for a moment, "is that what his freak out was about?" Nick couldn't help but chuckle at that, causing Greg to glare at him pouting. Nick was a sucker for Greg's pouts, he just couldn't resist that look, it always got him what he wanted and Nick always gave in. Warrick was laughing himself then shook his head.

"Greg baby he knows, in fact he had known that we were together all along, just not married. So I told him and I told Catherine and Sara, but they had to find out when you were hauled on the stretcher, so puttin' it in better terms they all know." Nick said proudly, a wide smile on his face.

Greg was shocked that Nick told them, happy and relieved at the same time, relaxing back in bed, which was not a smart move because no sooner as he moved, the pain shot through his body causing him to writhe in pain. Nick was by his side in a split second. "You ok baby?" He panicked.

"Yeah, just in a lot of pain." Greg answered with a groan. Warrick called for a nurse who came in shortly after, giving Greg morphine which didn't take him long to clonk out. Nick got up when Greg fell back to sleep, walking out with Warrick behind him. Once outside the room he turned to Warrick. He could see the sadness in Nick's eyes as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Hey man it's going to be alright! He's going to be fine." Warrick assured him as he sat beside Nick outside Greg's room.

"Yeah I know he is, it's just I almost lost him 'Rick. I don't know if I could handle it if he was gone. What if his memory of the attack never comes back? Then what? The guy who attacked him will get away, and I sure as hell don't want that to happen. I want the guy responsible for putting Greg in here!" Nick ranted angrily.

Warrick sighed heavily, shaking his head at his friend. "He'll remember Nick, just give it time! And when he does then we'll catch the bastard, but until then...we have to wait...Patiently!" He advised. The way Greg was tossed out of the window like that made something in Nick's head click, making him gasp quietly. Warrick heard it none the less. "Nick what? What is it?"

"The way Greg was tossed out the window like that, it kind of reminded me of...but it couldn't be he-he couldn't be out could he? He's still in jail isn't he?" Nick asked more to himself then to Warrick.

"Who Nick? Your kinda scaring me here." Warrick told him you could hear a little fear in his voice.

"No one, never mind! It's stupid just forget I ever said anythin', ok?" Nick quickly assured him, shaking his head.

Nick got up and walked back into the Greg's room sitting down again. Warrick was still staring at him. He knew Nick was going to say something important, then just like that nothing, he shook his head and walked back to the room, leaning against the doorframe, folding his arms across his chest.

"Nick I know you were going to say something, now tell me what's on your mind. Who were you talking about?" Warrick asked annoyed.

Nick opened his mouth to speak when his cell went off. "Stokes."

"Nick? How is he? How is Greg doing?" Grissom anxiously asked.

"He's doin' . . . better. He woke up not too long ago." Nick informed him, watching his slumbering lover.

"That's great to hear, I'm glad he's ok! Listen, is Warrick with you?"

"Yeah he's standin' right here, do ya' need to talk to him?" Nick asked.

"No! Let him watch over Greg, I need you to come back to work Nick!" Grissom told him. Nick let out a frustrated sigh, he didn't want to leave Greg, but he was told he could stay until he woke up and he had woken up.

"Alright, I'll be there in a few." Nick hung up. "'Rick, watch over him, ok? Grissom needs me back at work." Warrick nodded, placing a reassuring hand on his worried friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry man, I'll watch over him and make sure he's ok." Warrick assured him. Nick nodded leaving Greg in the care of his trusted friend.

This was going to be a long week if only Greg's memories would return then maybe, just maybe they could catch whoever attacked him, but unbeknownst to Warrick that whoever attacked Greg was standing across from the hospital parking lot, with a smirk on his face as the shadows hid him well. He headed for the hospital for now he plans his next move.

Tbc...