Title: Let's Pretend I Didn't Hear That (3/18)
Author: Emono
Rating: PG-16
Fandom: CSI: Las Vegas – Miami – New York
Pairings: Grissom/Greg, Horatio/Speed, Mac/Danny
Disclaimer: I may give my heart to CSI, but I am only aloud to play with the characters.
Summary: Greg finds out that Grissom's going deaf through Danny.
Warnings: SPOILERS!! But, really, it's been on long enough, so who cares? I swear, you look up the profiles of these people and the whole show gets ruined.
Beta: gil_follower
Word Count: 2,157

Author Note: I kinda realize I'm doing a lot of Gil/Greg, but it's only because I really like this pairing and Gil is my favorite to play. Though, I do admit, I play a seriously good Horatio.

"This is the scent of dead skin on a linoleum floor
This is the scent of quarantine wings in a hospital
And it's not so pleasant. And it's not so conventional.
It sure as hell ain't normal but we'll deal...we'll deal."
---"Camisado" by Panic! At the Disco!

Grissom was going deaf.

He had gone through the tests, pretty much failed, and he was afraid to go into the field. He knew soon he would have to give in and have surgery. So until then, he was living a lie and trying not to hurt his performance level nor the ones of those around him.

But reality bit him the hardest just earlier today. He had been in the DNA lab, playing delivery boy to Nick's evidence. It was the least he could do, sending the Southerner out solo once again. But Gil wasn't about to object to spending time with his younger lover, it was good to have an excuse to hover while Greg worked.

And Greg had been quite excited, he had gotten tickets to a concert for a band called 'System of a Down'. Grissom had heard them enough coming from his lover's speakers and iPod to know that they were a Metal group with an eclectic style. Apparently Speed loved the band too, and he was going with him. Danny had down right turned them down on the offer, going on about how he didn't need to go deaf at an early age.

Great tickets, amazing music, Greg was excited beyond measure.

But Grissom had been leaning against the desk, watching the machine that analyzed materials hum and spin absently (though he took note at how muted it was). Greg had gone quiet for a bit, probably reading something to himself or doing real work for once. But then the hum from the machine kicked in, as did his lover's voice...

"-but it's better if you don't see me like that."

"What?" Gil turned to Greg, finding the man watching the machine as well and not doing anything else as busy work.

"You heard me" Greg tisked playfully "I said it was too bad you didn't like them, SOAD? Cause Speed and I party hard to that music, and it's way better if you don't see me all stupid and attempting to dance."

Grissom was almost struck dumb, "What...what else did you say?"

Greg had to think for a moment, "Uh...something about how white guys can't dance. I think I slipped a really cool joke in there, you should seriously pay attention, Gil. I would think you didn't like me!"

Greg pouted, then burst out into a chuckle as he pulled the results out of the machine. By the time he had turned around, his lover was already half way down the hall.

Gil had retreated to his office, pulling down the blinds and locking it. He remembered leaning against the door, putting a hand to his mouth and staring at the floor. His hearing had gone out while Greg was talking, he hadn't heard him at all! Grissom had never taken his hearing problem as seriously as he did now.

If he could tune Greg, his lover, out so easily...what else was he missing?

~*~

Grissom eventually had to swallow his pride, hands almost shaking with a repressed urge to smash his phone as he dialed his best friend's number.

"Lieutenant Caine here" came a soothing voice on the other line.

"Horatio..." Gil sighed, collapsed on his couch and sick with nerves "I'm going deaf."

There was a pause on the line, "Gil...we both know you've had some minor problems in the past. You don't want to blow this thing out of proportion too soon-"

Grissom choked back a growl, "Greg spoke to me today...and I couldn't hear him."

The red head's tone changed to something empathetic, "I presume you've had the test?"

Grissom nodded before he realized the red head couldn't see him, "Yes...and it didn't go well at all."

Horatio's sighed over the phone, "I suppose you'll have to tell him, this will lead to surgery. You can't keep something this important from your boy, Gil. It'll destroy his trust...and I'm sure you don't want that."

"What if he comes to his senses and leaves?" Gil gushed before he had a chance to swallow the words to the pit of his stomach.

Horatio's smile was evident in his voice, "You're being just as insecure as Mac. I can't baby-sit you both...Gil, you have to believe Greg loves you enough not to care. I've seen his eyes when he looks at you...he's madly in love with you."

Grissom prayed Horatio knew what he as talking about.

~*~

Greg loved music.

He loved heavy baselines and drum solos, he loved rhythm guitar more than lead, and he loved to dance like no one was watching. Greg loved his music loud and fast, head-banging music that made his body tingle. That's why he loved System of a Down, they were just the band for him.

But he loved Gil Grissom more.

So when he got The Call, all his plans changed.

Greg's cell phone suddenly belted out Panic at the Disco's 'I've Got Friends In Holy Spaces', scaring him and forcing a yelp past his lips. He settled down soon enough, recognizing who's tone that was and picking up the cell.

"Hey baby" Greg teased as he pressed the phone into his shoulder, using his free hand to place a couple of drops into an awaiting test tube with unknown DNA at the bottom "How is my favorite New York boy?"

"G, man, it's good ta' hear ya."

Uh oh, when Danny's accent got thicker something was terribly wrong. Greg put down the dropper, curling his fingers around his phone and giving the call his full attention.

"Something wrong?"

"Uh, yeah" there was a shuffle sound, like Danny was fidgeting "Listen, G, this may be hard for you ta' hear. So...just sit down, kay?"

Greg obeyed and sat down on his stool, "Tell me."

"I heard Mac talkin' to Horatio today" Danny began hesitantly "They were talkin' about Gil, about his hearing."

Greg sat upright at that, "Danny, you have five seconds to spill before I e-mail Mac the video of you having sex with Speed."

"You still have that?!" Danny exclaimed, then calmed down "Listen, Greg...if what I heard is right, Grissom's losing his hearing. It's fadin' in and out a lot, and it's got him pretty spooked. Horatio told Mac somethin' about how he already took a test, and the only option left is a surgery of some kind."

Greg was glad he was sitting, his legs seemed to go numb. He brought his free hand to his mouth, pressing his knuckles hard against his lips as he closed his eyes. How could he have missed something as big as that? Of course, the other day when Gil spaced out on him...what if it was because his hearing had given out?

"Thanks Danny" Greg cleared his throat, cursing how hoarse he sounded "I'm glad you told me."

Danny paused, "...what are you gonna do?"

Greg sighed heavily as a weight settled in his chest, "The only thing I can...Listen, call Speed for me? Tell him that I can't make the concert Saturday night...tell him I'm sorry, but I need to stay home this time. I'll express them right to Miami, I promise."

"Eh, send me one too, kay?" Danny sounded resigned "Tim's gonna want someone to go with him...and I know he's gonna drag my ass there."

Greg smiled despite himself, "You're a good friend...at least try to have fun."

Danny scoffed, then the line went dead. Greg flipped his phone shut, staring at it a moment too long before setting it down on the desk. He glanced up, spotting Grissom retreating into his office from the hall. The brunette made a move to get up, but kept himself firmly on his stool. He curled his fingers around his scarab necklace, feeling it's cool, smooth surface and reminding himself where he was.

No...now wasn't the time.

~*~

Saturday night rolled around, Gil found himself to be alone in his apartment. He sat in front of his couch, laptop set up on the coffee table and turned to one of those surgery sights for his hearing. He slipped off his glasses wearily, letting them settle beside the computer as he leant back against the flat of the couch. The pressure of all this was really starting to get to him, it settled thickly in his chest and didn't do anything to settle his nerves about losing his hearing altogether.

Gil jerked violently when someone slipped in behind him, warm arms coming over his shoulders and locking loosely across his chest. He calmed when he recognized the sleeves, a light tan with skulls along the very rim of the material.

Greg spoke softly, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Grissom didn't bother to answer, merely savored the lips that brushed the rim of his ear.

"You could have said something..." Greg stared sadly at the glowing computer screen, estimating how far his lover's problem had escalated.

"No...no I couldn't have" Gil replied truthfully, for he knew his pride would never let him admit such a thing to his younger lover. Greg nuzzled his gray-tinged hair, placing kisses on the tresses and wishing he knew how to make it all better. Gil lost himself for a moment, only being brought back when the cold stone of his lover's necklace brushed the back of his neck. "Why are you here? The concert was tonight-"

"You're more important" Greg smiled secretly "And I thought you could use some cheering up."

Grissom turned in his lover's embrace, coming face to face with his boy. Greg's smile turned warmer, arms still wrapped around the man as he brought him in for a kiss, something sweet to hold onto. Gil caressed the jean-clad thighs, following the line of seam in the pants until the younger man was a bit breathless. They pulled apart long enough for Gil to stand, easily picking up his boy. The brunette gave a cry of surprise, but clung on for dear life and captured the man's mouth again as he was taken to the bedroom.

Gil spread his boy out on the mattress, hovering just over him. Greg tried to make a grab for him, but the man merely pinned his wrist up by his head. The brunette tried to arch into him, hips seeking hot flesh, but Gil tisked and pushed the boy's hips down with the flat of his palm. Greg gave up and turned his head to the side, sighing softly and relaxing against the soft blankets beneath him.

Gil looked over the young body beneath him, "How could I get so lucky...?"

Greg's lips moved in a reply, but the older man scowled as his hearing faded out and the words were lost in a low hum. Gil trailed his fingers up from the boy's stomach, tracing the muscles along his chest and up the line of his neck. He let the tips of his digits brush the brunette's jaw, turning his head so their eyes locked.

"Tell me again..." Gil whispered, nearly forlorn as he swiped his thumb along the sweet bottom lip of the mouth he loved so much "Let me see you say it."

"Because I love you" Greg replied, breathless "Because I'll always love you."

Just as Grissom leant down for another kiss, the cell phone on the bedside table went off.

'A simple contradiction could shake my whole foundation
I'm taking back every step towards you
Still failing at everything I do
In the meantime just talking to my shoes
Converse with my Converse™'

"Just Tim..." Greg murmured, his breath catching as his lover nibbled at that certain spot on his collarbone "...complaining-oh damn...about the concert..."

Grissom reached over and shut off the cell easily with a devilish smile, "Let's pretend I didn't hear it, ok sweetness?"

Greg nodded eagerly, reaching for the man's shirt with naughty thoughts in his head.

TBC

R&R, I feed off it

---Emono