"You didn't have to-"
"Greg," Nick cut him off rather forcefully, "while I'm here, I might as well have a drink, the connecting flight doesn't take off for another few hours."
"Why are you even here?" Greg asked studiously watching a droplet of water trickle slowly down the outside of the green-glassed beer bottle before being absorbed by the label.
"I don't actually know," Nick replied honestly looking around the bar, "I like your hairstyle, it makes you look like a little teenage punk," he added nonchalantly.
Greg's head whipped back round to look at him in surprise before a bright smile spread across his face. "Thanks!" he said before getting another bottle from the bartender.
It appeared to be Karaoke night, although no one seemed to be willing to go up and sing. Nick had known the moment he'd gotten off the plane that he wouldn't like Miami at all and the bar had merely made the feeling of dislike even more intense. Everything was so superficial, why was there a karaoke night if no one did karaoke? What was wrong with all these 'beautiful' people? He looked at his watch before draining the last of his bottle and ordering another, not knowing what you were doing in a strange city full of strange people was… strange… Everyone seemed so shallow in their small clothes, with their obscure cocktails and their false tinkly laughs. His eyes paused on a few men by the stage, cops. Even in Miami you could tell them apart, sitting together with their beers, ever wary eyes scanning the room and street between conversations.
"WOAH! Greg! Why are you drinking so much?" he asked only just noticing the row of empty bottles that Greg had lined up in front of him, labels all facing the same direction.
Greg put down another empty bottle at the end of the row, "I'm starting tomorrow," he said nervously looking at Nick through dilated eyes.
"So you want to start your first day with a hangover the size of Africa? What are you so worried about? You're the best DNA tech ever."
"Awwwww, Nick, that's sweet. You're very sweet. Sweet and fluffy like a cloud, except clouds aren't sweet. Or fluffy actually. Did you know that clouds aren't even white? They just have a high visible reflect-"
Nick jumped as Greg gasped sharply, his eyes focusing on something behind him.
"Nick! Karaoke," the last word whispered so quietly that Nick almost missed it. As Greg got up and wandered towards the stage looking at the microphone slightly reverently he wondered if he should stop him from going up and doing something ridiculously embarrassing. He decided to let Greg have a bit of fun if that's what it would even be and then rescue him if he so needs it. He sighed heavily and took a gulp of the cold beer before moving closer to the stage, knowing at some point Greg would accidentally pitch himself off it.
Ryan grinned at his beer as he heard a song start up from the stage, sometimes there could never be enough tourists in Miami.
"Just a small town girl, living in a looooooooooooonely world. She took the midnight train going aneeeeeeeeeeeewhere."
Not too bad at singing either he noticed despite a slight slurring which suggested a rather copious amount of alcohol consumption, he turned towards the stage noticing that pretty much everyone else had too, some with some with looks of amusement and some with disgust. He rather hoped his was one of indifference but knew it was definitely amusement on his features. The singer was tall and skinny, young, blond-ish spiky hair, no more than 25 and definitely not from Miami if his tan-less-ness was anything to go by. He watched as the guy swayed happily to the music, nodding his head before launching back into the song.
"A singer in a smoky room, A smell of wine and cheap perfume.
For a smile they can share the night, It goes on and on and on and on."
He found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the obvious crowd pleaser, complete with hand actions and full-usage of the stage along with long drawn out lyrics. The guy should have been a rockstar, in another city though, one with crazy kids. He bit back a laugh as the guy winked at one of the bar-girls who giggled and winked back.
He found himself moving on instinct to stop him falling as the singer made a more outrageous slide across the stage and lost balance, toppling forward towards Davis. The guy gave him a huge grin before bounding back on stage in time to belt out the last part of the chorus,
"Hiding somewhere in the niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight"
Cheers erupted from the staff and a few of the police as the song began to conclude,
"Don't stop belieeeeeeeeeeeving" he sang directly at a laughing dark haired man who appeared to be recording the entire performance on his phone.
"Hold on that feeeeeeeeeeeelayeeeying"
The music stopped leaving Ryan with a slightly disappointed feeling at the loss of entertainment, he really needed to watch more TV.
"I know this song!" the singer piped up as the music started again.
"No you don't," the dark haired man said in a Texan accent.
"It's the one in the tunnel! I know it Nick! I do!"
"I think, its time we got going."
"It's my life, it's now or never. I ain't gonna LIVE forever!!!"
He watched as the Texan pulled the guy from the stage and began to lead him out, before turning back to his drink, one day, he would be brave enough to do something as ridiculous as karaoke.
"That was exciting," Davis said sarcastically.
Ryan sighed heavily, "wasn't it just?"
"They're going to pay big money for this back home," Nick chuckled tucking his phone away and slinging an arm around Greg as he walked him in the direction of the hotel, "I may even get Archie to post it on youtube."
"Can I see it? Will you send it to me too?" Greg asked excitedly looking up at Nick.
"Of course G! First thing in the morning when you can't remember what happened," Nick said with a grin.
"Hey Nick?" Greg asked suddenly sounding a lot more sober than he was.
"Yeh?" Nick replied as he helped Greg up the steps to the hotel and then towards the elevators.
Greg sighed heavily and leaned his head against the smooth, cold wall looking at Nick with sad heavy eyes, "If I were to stay behind, here, in Miami, and not go back to Vegas, would you miss me?"
Nick stilled, shocked in to silence as the doors opened and closed without them.
"Is that," Nick cleared his throat and pressed the elevator button again, "Is that what you're planning to do?"
Greg opened his eyes lazily to stare at Nick, "I'm just asking theoretically," he said before sliding into the elevator and leaning against the mirrored back, eyes still trained on Nick.
"What is this about?" Nick asked pressing the button for the third floor before turning back to Greg.
"Nothing," Greg sighed closing his eyes and slumping back further in to the wall as a heavy pounding began just above his ears.
They walked in silence to Greg's room, Nick opening the door as Greg stood sulkily against the opposite wall.
"C'mon Greg," Nick said encouragingly motioning inside the room with his hand. Greg slouched across the hallway at a slow, lazy pace, the epitome of teenage rebellion
"Don't you have a plane to catch?" Greg asked in obvious dismissal as he passed Nick. Raising his eyebrows in bemusement, Nick followed Greg into the room and sat down on one of the chairs as Greg collapsed on the bed.
"Hey Greg?"
"Yeh."
"You will come back right?"
Greg laughed, "Of course, Vegas will be in shambles without me."
"Don't I know it," Nick agreed standing up as he checked his watch, "now, as you earlier pointed out, I do have a plane to catch."
He walked over to stand by the edge of the bed, "Take care G, I want you back in one piece," he said sincerely before quietly leaving the hotel room.
Greg rolled over on to his stomach as the door clicked shut and buried his head in the pillow, he probably shouldn't have drunk so much...
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A/N: 1. Greg seemed to channel a bit of Dr. Spencer Reid. Sorry about that. I cut him off though. D.
2. Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing', not a Greg Sanders song, I agree. But it's a brilliant karaoke song. Whenever I hear it, I have to sing along. It's sickening.
3. -waves- Hey Ryan. I think you're pretty. hides
4. I am aware of serious OoC… but I mean frankly most fanfiction is, especially non-canon.
5. All we need now is Detective Flack… gleeful grin then manic cackle but that would be a bit too insane… I'll have to get my Flack kicks elsewhere.
6. Sorry it took so long. I forgot...