Disclaimer: I do not own anything of CSI. If I did, then things would be a whole lot different. A/N: Thank you for the reviews so far. Again I'm sorry for any editing mistakes. This chapter took longer than I thought to finish but I hope you enjoy it. And please remember to leave your reviews and opinions. I just love them.

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Chapter Four, Pieces of a puzzle.

Gil Grissom watched as Sara and Warrick walked down the hall and shook his head. Their actions and attitudes toward Greg were inexcusable. He expected so much better from them. Sitting down, he decided to turn his attention to his piles of paperwork before going to find Nick and offer his assistance to their case. The sound of his phone brought him out of small bubble of isolation.

"Grissom."

"Hi Grissom," the voice of Greg Sanders said from the other side of the line, "look, I'm sorry for just storming off in the middle of my shift like that. It was uncalled for."

"No Greg, what's uncalled for is Warrick's and Sara's actions."

His boss's words brought a wave of reassurance to him.

"Thank you. I know my vacation doesn't officially start till end of my shift tonight but with everything that's happened I was kind of hoping that I could start it today a little bit sooner than that?"

The uneasiness in his voice told Grissom that Greg was still dealing with his episode.

"That's fine Greg. You have enough days saved up. Go ahead and take today off. "

"Thanks boss and Greg hung up.

-----

Michael Sanders was sitting in the kitchen when the phone rang. Since his wife and in-laws were out shopping, he walked into the living room and answered it.

"Hello. Sanders residence."

"Hi dad."

"Greg hello. How are you doing? Your mother and grandparents aren't here right now if you wanted to talk to one of them. They all went shopping to get things ready for when you get here."

"That's fine dad. In fact, I was kind of hoping mom wouldn't be home."

The normal energetic tone to his son's voice was gone. Instead, there was an almost hallow timber to it.

"Greg what's wrong," Michael asked his son.

"Nothing really."

Fatherly instincts told the professor of psychology otherwise but he did not want to push Greg too much.

"I just called to let you know I'm coming out."

Light laughter could be heard on the California end of the connection.

"Greg, I think we've already had this talk before."

"No no. I mean I'm heading out today from Vegas a day early. That's all. And also Nick won't be coming with me either. He has to go to a conference in Chicago. He leaves in two days and Grissom can't get him out of it. I know you wanted me to bring him so Nana and Papa could meet him but Ecklie being an ass and he just won't budge."

Michael knew there was more then what his son was telling him. Whenever Greg was having trouble emotionally, he never responded to any kind of humor like his joke about Greg coming out. Past experiences with Greg told him to just let the matter go for now and when Greg got home, and then they could discuss them when Greg felt up to it.

"Alright son. I'll let everyone know."

"Thanks dad. I love you."

"I love you to son. Bye."

"Bye."

-----

His bags were all packed and out in his car. Greg had one phone call left to make. Punching in the appropriate number, Greg waited till ring had stopped and the voice message kicked in.

"Hi, this is Wendy. I'm not available to answer my phone due to the fact I stuck in the lab looking at things through a microscope that nobody should be looking at. You should know the drill: leave your name and message at the sound of the beep and thanks."

"Hi Wendy it's me Greg. If Grissom hasn't told you yet, I'm not coming in to night. I'm going to head out to San Francisco early today. And before you go off, I already talked to Grissom and he agreed to let me start my vacation a day early. It's just that with everything that happened yesterday, I just can't face anyone. I also decided to not ask Nick to come with me. With it being on such short notice, it would make a big mess. I know what you're going to say but it's just too soon. Nick is still a little uneasy about a few things and I just think that if I ask him to go with me, he'll just freak. He wants to take certain things slow and he may be right. I know that once you get this, I'm going to get an earful from you but please, this is what I want. And can you do me a small favor; can you feed my fish for me? When I get settled back home, I'll give you a call. Talk to you later. Bye."

Greg only had one last task. He sat down and began to write a letter to Nick before he left.

-----

"Come on baby, answer your phone. Please."

Nick sat on his couch with his phone on the coffee table and his head in his hands. He had been trying to call Greg for the past few hours to see how he was doing. His boyfriend liked to be alone when he needed it but usually by now, the lab tech had answered the Texan's calls. Nick was starting to get worried.

"I know you went through hell yesterday G. All I want is to be there for you."

Something had been brothering Greg for the past two weeks and Nick could see it. Greg's attention always seemed to be somewhere else. There were times when Nick would walk in on him and the Californian was just staring off into space. One thing that struck Nick was how withdrawn Greg was acting towards him. The normally over caffeinated energetic puppy-like DNA Tech had all of a sudden became very subdued in actions and personality. Oh sure, Greg was always there with his famous charm and quirky responses to the CSIs and other techs but it was in his eyes that Nick saw the truth. The beautiful chocolate eyes to that wonderful soul now seemed as if they were always hooded. The incidents with Warrick and Sara were just further evidence to Nick that Greg was having trouble. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more Nick realized that Greg had started to get into whatever this funk was almost a month ago.

How could he not have seen it?

Nick did not know what burden his boyfriend had settled on his shoulders but whatever the weight was, Greg seemed to cracking under its pressure.

He was a CSI. It was his job to take the evidence and piece the puzzle together.

Picking up his phone, Nick figured to give it one last try as he pressed the speed-dial for Greg.

"You have reached the phone of the one and only Greg. I'm sorry for getting to the phone but my extraordinary skills are constantly keeping me in high demand. So at the end of the beep, tell me what I missed."

Before the beep went off, the phone was turned off.

"Ok Greg," Nick said out loud, "if you won't answer your phone then I'll just come to you."

Pocking the phone as he stood up, Nick walked to the door and got his keys off the small table as he walked out the door.

As he parked his truck, Nick saw that Greg's car was not parked outside his apartment building. Nick made his way up the steps to Greg's floor and to his door. After knocking a couple of times just to make sure, Nick pulled out his key.

Greg had given the key to the Texan for his birthday and Nick returned the favor on Greg's birthday. Turning the key in the lock, the door opened and Nick entered.

The apartment was absolutely quiet.

"Greg. Greg, are you here?"

No response.

Looking around the living room, he saw that something out of place. All the empty CDs and DVDS cases were no longer scattered about. There were no empty glasses or dishes on the coffee table. The television was turned off as well. Making his way to the kitchen, the single most shocking thing was the absent smell of freshly brewed coffee. The sink was void of dishes and everything was placed in its place.

Nick was becoming worried. This was not how the apartment was supposed to be. It was to be a mess with the TV going and the sounds of music always going. Deciding to check the bedroom, Nick walked past the counter and not noticing that had an envelope addressed to him.

The bed was made. There were no piles of clothing on the floor.

"Greg where are you?"

He saw the open closet and saw that both of Greg's suitcases were gone. Several shirts were missing as well.

Nick sat on the bed with his brow furrowed. He tried to figure out what had happened with his boy friend. Did Greg finally had enough and leave? Was he tried with Nick and his rules of keeping their relationship a secret? Or was he just keeping to himself in some hotel?

The sound of the front door opening brought Nick out of his thoughts. Nick jumped off the bed and ran from the bedroom straight into the living room.

"Greg? Is that you?"

"Wrong Tex."

Wendy was standing at Greg's fish tank as she looked at the stunned CSI. She was feeding Greg's fish when Nick found his voice.

"Wendy? What are you doing here?"

"I'm feeding the fish like I was asked to."

"Asked? Who?"

"Greg of course. He called me before he left."

Nick's eyes grew.

"Left? Where?"

"California."

The look on his face told her that Nick was missing several pieces.

"I take it you didn't read the letter."

"Wh…what letter?"

Wendy put the fish food down and looked around the room. Then she pointed to the counter after seeing the envelope, "that letter."

Nick turned to see where she was pointing. He walked over to the counter and picked up the addressed envelope. Slitting open the top, Nick pulled out the folded sheet of paper and went over to sit on the sofa. Wendy sat down facing him in a chair while Nick read the letter to himself.

Nicky,

I want to apologies to you first of all. For the past few days I've not been exactly on the same page as you. There's been a couple of things I wanted to ask you but after thinking about it, I decided that it would be better for everyone if I just let it go. I didn't want to push you or pressure you into doing something I know you aren't ready for.

I have two weeks off and I don't want you to worry about me. I just have a few things I need to do and I will be back as soon as I can. Just wait for me.

I love you.

Greg

Nick was even more confused now than before.

"I'll take it he didn't go into details," Wendy said breaking the silence.

Shaking his head, the lab tech went on to tell the CSI all she knew, praying it would help him and not harm him.

"Greg is in California, to be more precise San Francisco, because he is going to a reunion at his high school. He drove out there today after Grissom gave him an extra day off after what happened in the lab. Then he left me a massage telling me what he decided and to ask me to take care of his fish. A month ago, his mother wrote to him and asked if he was going to bring you with him. Apparently his grandparents have been asking his parents when they were going to meet the boyfriend of their grandson. That's what been brothering Greg lately. He was worried about how he was going to ask you if you wanted to go with him and meet his family. Greg was afraid that you would say no and that it was too soon for something like this. All Greg was worried about was you Nick and your worries."

Nick just sat and listened to Wendy without interruption. In his mind, the many pieces were connecting. Everything was making sense. The sudden change in Greg's personality. Why Greg had brought up the subject of reunions that night. How Greg seemed to be in a different place when Nick was talking to him. With all of these issues on his shoulders and with what happened at the lab with Warrick and Sara, it was no wonder that Greg snapped the way he did. Nick felt he could kick himself for his actions towards Greg.

"Look Nick, I know you haven't told your family about you and Greg or even just about you and you're worried about their reactions but Greg is having a hard time with that. I told Greg that right now his family was ready to welcome you into theirs at the moment and that should be enough for everyone."

Wendy's words sank into Nick. He felt even lower.

"You mean…Greg was just worried about me all the time?"

His voice was a mixture of sadness, hurt, and regret.

"Yes. In case you somehow missed it, he loves you."

The smile on the Texan's face brought relief to Wendy.

"So what do I do now?"

That question annoyed the tech somewhat. She drew to her full height, placed her hands on her hips and adopted a fierce look in her eyes. To Nick, she looked like a female Patton.

"You have two choices Mr. Stokes: you can either sit here and feel like a major heal or," she held out her arm and pointed to the door, "you can get off your ass, call Grissom and get two weeks off than go home, pack your bags, including your suite with the red shirt which brings out your eyes, call the airport and get on the first flight to San Francisco so you can meet his family and go to that reunion so he can show you off to all those pompous asses!"

Nick knew what he had to do without a second guess. He got up from the sofa and walked over to Wendy and gave her a small kiss on the check.

"Thanks Wendy," and he turned and headed out the door. He gave her one last bright grin before he closed the door behind him.

The puzzle was now complete.

"Maybe mom was right; I should have become a Marine Drill Instructor like daddy."

Standing in her friend's apartment Wendy smiled to herself.