Nick was trying to be patient with Greg. Greg couldn't make up his mind. There were just too many choices. "You know, we don't have to decided today. We can come back another day."
"But, all the good costumes will be gone!" Nick couldn't help but to laugh. It had been a while since he had seen Greg this happy. How could he deny him this joy?
Nick sat down and leaned back against the wall. His minds drifted back to those early days when Greg was still just a lab rat. Even then, Nick had been attracted to him but he refused to acknowledge that fact. Greg's youthful and carefree ways had always been a source of pleasure for the Texan. Being raised in an rather conservative family in Texas left him a bit reserved himself. When he went away to college, it was his first taste of a more liberal lifestyle. Being within a couple hours drive of his family, he was always hesitant to try anything out of fear it would somehow work its way back to his he discovered there was an open position as a CSI Level 1, he jumped at the chance. It was that fateful day when he had met his dear friend, Warrick Brown. Warrick was born and raised in Las Vegas. That evening, Warrick took him and showed him the town. He fell in love with the town. Shortly after then, Greg was hired as the new DNA lab tech.
"How's this?" Greg asked as he emerged from the dressing room, snapping Nick out of his daydreams. Nick looked up to see Greg standing there, dressed in a fireman coat, pants and boots. "You are hot that is for sure!" Nick laughed.
"Yeah, no kidding. It is like an oven in this outfit. How do the firefighters do this? I am standing in the cool confines of a costume shop and they are battling fires where temperatures can reach 2000 degrees!"
"Back to the drawing board?"
"Yeah."
As Greg went back to change into yet another costume, Nick's mind drifted to the day of the lab explosion. That was probably the first event that caused Greg to start losing his carefree ways. Even now, Greg still bore the scars of that day. Physically, he may have healed but the slashes across his back were a reminder of that day. He still had to exercise so that the skin did not become too tight. Once, they were laying in bed together. Greg's bare back was to Nick. Nick gently ran his fingers across Greg's back. As he did, Greg whimpered slightly. "Oh baby, did I hurt you?" When there was no response, Nick knew he was asleep and was probably having a nightmare. He tenderly kissed Greg's shoulder where there was a scar. As he drifted off to sleep, Nick scooted closer and held him in his arms. When the explosion happened, Nick had not been quite ready to admit his feelings. He had just assumed that there would be time in the future to let know Greg how he felt. The lab explosion had forced him to realize that life was precious and it could be snatched away at any time.
After that, he had been more careful to keep an eye on Greg. He would often find himself wondering what Greg was up to or sneaking a peek as he walk past the DNA lab. He started including Greg in more things. If he and Warrick were going to get together to watch a game, he invited Greg. He even bought him the occasional gift. Nothing major, just a book here or a CD there. It was never presented as a gift, more as a 'Hey, I saw this and thought you might like it.'
All of a sudden, Nick heard Greg's voice and snapping fingers. "Come back to me, Nick."
"Huh? Oh hey, Greg!"
"What do you think of this costume?" When Nick looked up, he screamed. Greg was wearing a Grim Reaper costume. "It certainly has a Halloween kind of feel to it. But, I… I…""You don't like it?"
"I just thought we see enough of him in our daily lives that you would go a different route."
"I can change."
"If you like it, then I am okay with it."
"No, you are right. I need something different." As Greg walked back into the dressing room, Nick got up and followed him. "Hey, what are you doing?" Greg questioned as he smiled goofily. Pulling the door closed behind him, "Just this…" Nick pulled him close and gave him a kiss. "You really looked like you needed that."
Nick winked and walked back out. Greg grabbed his shirt and pulled him back in. "You just going to love me and leave me?"
Nick laughed, "Never. You are stuck with me forever!"
Greg sat down to catch his breath. His mind flashed back to the time when he thought he was going to lose Nick forever. Nick had gone out on a routine 'trash run'. It was merely chance that he did it and not Warrick. Nick had been kidnapped. Greg had never shared how he felt about Nick with anyone. From the first time he had laid eyes on Nick, Greg had admired him. Nick possessed a quality about him that Greg wished he had. Nick was always so sure of himself. He had no trouble attracting the attention of the ladies. Sure, Greg had fawned over Sara. Who wouldn't? Sara was a challenge and beautiful to boot. But, Nick was the one he wanted. After Warrick had become angry with Greg, Greg had turned to Sara. Greg wasn't angry with Warrick. He knew Nick and Warrick had been friends for a long time. What he said came out of frustration, not out of true anger at Greg. He had poured out his heart and soul to Sara. He didn't know if Nick liked him back or even if it was the right time. He just knew what he was feeling in that moment. In that moment, he was grieving at the possible loss of his friend and coworker.
Sara had tried her best to comfort him. She had told him that it was not Nick's day to die. Nick would be found. He would get a second chance. She had encouraged him to reach out to Nick if he was found, WHEN he was found.
When Nick was brought into the hospital, Greg was there already. He had probably broken at least 10 traffic laws getting there, but he didn't care. He just had to see Nick with his own eyes and reassure himself that Nick was okay. Greg had stayed by his side, never leaving. He had reached out to Nick. Nick accepted it willingly. On those nights when Nick woke feeling as if his skin was crawling, Greg had been there to reassure him and hold him. That was about the only thing that had worked. A knock made Greg realize that he was still sitting there, holding the Grim Reaper mask in hand. The door opened and Nick came in and sat beside him. "What's up buddy?" Nick asked as he intertwined his fingers with Greg's.
"I was just thinking back to a horrible time. The night you were kidnapped. The Grim Reaper had almost taken you away from me."
"Ahh…" Nick said, thoughtfully. "I know it had to be hard on you. You were actually one of the people on my mind as I held the gun in my hands. What that tape didn't capture was my good bye message for you."
"For me?"
"Yeah, how about we talk about it over dinner tonight? My place?"
"Yeah, I am interested in what that message might have been." Greg responded.
"What other costumes do you have left to try on?"
"Just this…" Greg laughed as held up as 'gangster' costume. "Why does that not surprise me?" Nick chuckled. "Okay, G, I'll be waiting."
Once he was outside of the dressing room, he couldn't help but to remember the night of Greg's beating. Some wanna-be thugs had been swarming all over town beating up and even killing people. Greg had tried to do the right thing and stop the beating of an innocent person. When he intervened, he was pulled from his vehicle and beaten as well. Because of his actions, the victim had lived. Unfortunately, he had inadvertently hit and killed Demetrius James. That led to a lawsuit by the family. That was probably Nick's hardest day. Sara had been there for Greg and for that he was thankful. Nick trusted Sara immensely and knew how much she cared for Greg. That night, Nick had stayed in the hospital room with Greg. He was afraid Greg would slip away from him. When Warrick had stopped in to check on Greg, he had discovered Nick. Nick's head was resting on the hospital bed and his hand was wrapped around Greg's.
Nick had stirred when Warrick came in. That was the night that Warrick found out. Seeing that Greg was sleeping peacefully, Nick stood and carefully adjusted a bandage. He leaned over and kissed Greg on the forehead, whispering, "I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't you leave me, ok?"
Nick whispered and motioned for Warrick to follow him into the hallway. The two of them had walked down to the cafeteria that was bustling with people. Warrick, while curious about what he had seen, didn't want to pry. Nick started, "I'm sure you are wondering about that." Warrick nodded and Nick shared the whole story. When he was done, Warrick had said, " I knew that something had changed. Changed for the good…"
From then on, Sara and Warrick and Nick and Greg often went out together. They were all protective of one another and the relationships they had. To an outsider, it was probably just attributed to the fact that they worked together in a field where 'watching each other's back' was expected. But it was deeper than that.
When Greg leaped out of the dressing room, Nick smiled. Greg was dressed in a Superman costume!
Nick said in a falsetto voice, "My hero!"
Greg beamed at the compliment, however corny it appeared.
"What are you going to pick for Warrick if he loses?"
"IF he loses.. More like WHEN he loses…" Greg retorted. "I think that he will have to wear a court jester costume."
"Hmm.. You know I love you, baby….but there is something about seeing you in a showgirl costume that I just can't resist."
"Alright, mister! We need to figure out a costume for you."
Once Greg was back in street clothes, he and Nick roamed about the shop. "What about a dog?"
"A dog? Are you serious?" Nick said. "Is this about puppy love?"
"This is Vegas. You know the Elvis song, "Ain't nothing but a hound dog'"
"Hahaha, very funny! Try again"
"What about the King himself? You could be an Elvis impersonator!"
"Greg!"
"What?" he said innocently.
"Don't you think there are enough Elvises in this town as it is?"
Finally, Nick came across a Popeye costume that looked promising. He tried it on, but wasn't sure if he liked it. "I could go as a scarecrow, Greg."
"Naw.. Scarecrows are not strong and muscular. You are most definitely not going as a scarecrow!"
"How about an old time mobster?"
"Oh, that is an excellent idea! It was my idea though."
"Yes, it was and I absorbed it" Nick said with a wink.
