Ok! This might be the quickest I've ever updated…and it wasn't even by choice. My husband made me, well, not really. She got a REALLY good grade on a math exam (hate math…) and I was so proud of her that I promised I would update tonight. So I am.

Anyways, this chapter is therefore dedicated to math tests and the spelling of the word 'forward' which I will never mix up with 'foreword' again…no, that was not supposed to make sense to more than one person.

So, enough boring chitchat, and onto what you're really here for! Review answers!! (haha…)

Jellycream: I love your penname…it's so very random! Anyways, you get feedback and answers to review questions and sneak peeks at the chapters all the time, so I don't think this is really necessary, but meh, it's fun. I'm really glad you like my writing, cause otherwise you'd be so bored all the time (cause let's face it, I'd still make you read and comment and pretend to be interested…).

mafiaprincessa.k.a. alias: I'm glad you're enjoying it! Sorry for the slow updates, hopefully they'll speed up soon! And yeah, you're right, Greg is slowly coming around. I think I want him to- WAIT! I can't spoil it! Silly me…he he he, you'll see. I pretty much have it all planned out now. Hope you like the newest addition!

Inseer: I'm really happy that you like the plot, 'cause I wasn't so sure about it working and all. I'm very happy that you like it!!

QueenOfTheUniverse: Oh. My. Dear. Lord. I cannot believe you actually reviewed this!! I am in love with your fics, but I was always so embarrassed by my lack of real writing skill that I never reviewed your stories. Ghost what amazing! So well written, I was hanging onto every word until the very end! I almost cried when it was over, just 'cause it was over and there wouldn't be anymore anticipation for the next chapter and all! Well, I hope that my story isn't too bad, even though it kinda pales in comparison to yours, and don't worry, you'll find out what's going to happen to Greg pretty soon!

Cutiepie2191: thanks! Short and sweet, just perfect! I hope you like the new chapter, and hopefully the next one will be up soon enough!

Chapter VI:

It had been bittersweet to feed his blond companion coffee by the spoonful and tiny bites of buttered toast. He had always loved to nurture his better half, take care of him from sun-up to sun-down, until the other began to complain that being pampered was one thing, but he was not a baby and by no means did he need to remain in bed all day while his lover scurried around the apartment. But to stare into the listless eyes as he gently pushed against his pouted lips with a little piece of crunchy bread had been agony. To watch this most vibrant man having been turned into such a poor imitation of a lifeless shell had reopened the welt that he had made over his own heart, and had only just begun to heal.

He could still feel the jolt of surprise running through his body at the sound of the ringing doorbell. He had almost completely forgotten about the world outside their bedroom, that though everything had been frozen in time for him, the Earth had continued spinning and people had continued living. Calling out to whoever had rung for a minute of patience, he moved the breakfast tray that had previously taken up position on the bed to the kitchen counter before opening the door to let the man in.

Piercing blue eyes met his own shielded brown ones in a moment of silent reprimand, shortly followed by a quick nod. Gil Grissom had moved farther into the home, not bothering to ask for admission. The investigator's eyes swept methodically over the room from wall to wall taking in every detail, every misplaced piece of furniture, askew portrait on the wall, and cataloguing it in a mental evidence sheet.

"That's where you found him?" He had asked the younger man, pointing vaguely toward the far wall.

"Yeah…" Nick's voice had been rough with an emotion that could only be described as most desperate guilt. "Right against the wall, hadn't moved an inch…"

The salt and pepper haired man had exhaled strongly, his nostrils flaring under the pressure. Quiet acceptance filled the room, and though it wasn't forgiveness, or even understanding, Nick felt a small weight lift from his weary heart. "If you want to see him, he's in the bedroom- I just finished giving him breakfast."

Grissom paused to ponder the new information quietly, nodding distractedly all at once. "I would like to…see him, that is. If you're sure it's no-" He broke off. "Will I be trespassing on your space if I do visit him?"

"No, Griss. Actually, I'm kind of hoping it'll help. I mean, he put so much energy into impressing you, who knows- maybe he'll react to your presence over anyone else's. It's right down the hall and to the right- first door. I'm just going to wait out here, if you don't mind."

The nightshift supervisor had nodded once more and made his way to designated room, stopping only once to look over his shoulder before turning the knob and entering the private domain.

As soon as the group's father figure had disappeared into his lover's room, the Texan began fidgeting. He had known what it was that he had to do, had waited for the other man to arrive to do. Heading for the couch, he had reached out a hand to pick up the phone from the side table and dialled a number that had been burnt into his mind from what felt like hours of staring at it on a little white piece of cardboard.

It had rung once. Twice. In the middle of the third ring, someone had picked up. "Doctor Emily Charles' office, how may I help you?"

The cheery voice had been so soothing that Nick almost forgot to answer, and when he had, it had felt clumsy and inarticulate. "Yeah, I- a doctor from the hospital gave me this number. I need an appointment with Dr Charles. As soon as possible, please."

"Well, if by as soon as possible you mean today, that's marvellous because someone just called to cancel their appointment and she's free for an hour in an hour. Would that fit your schedule, Mr…?"

"Stokes. And yeah, that would be perfect."

"Alright, do you need directions on how to get here?"

"No, thank you, the address is on the card. So in an hour?"

"Yes, sir. We'll see you in an hour. Have a nice…hour!"

And he had hung up, just in time for Grissom to walk back into the sitting room, a perplexed frown on his face. "I tried to talk to him, get him to talk back. Nothing. And I mean nothing. Not even a blink. Has he been like that since it happened?"

"Yes. Listen Griss, I need to ask you a favour. I just scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist, and it's in an hour- amazing, I know. But I really don't want to leave Greg alone right now, and I was wondering if you could possibly…uh…"

"Stay with him?"

"Yeah, stay with him, if it's not too much to ask. I mean, I know it is, but-"

"It's not. I'd be glad to stay with him while you go talk things out."

"Thanks Griss."

He had made a move to hug the man, but held back at the last second, not entirely sure that it was appropriate.

"So, let me get this straight. You love this man more than you've ever loved anyone in your life. He's the reason you didn't completely lose your mind when you were kidnapped. And you screamed at him, and you don't know why. Is that about it?"

Emily Charles was a middle-aged woman, slim, but not dangerously so, with blond hair and bright green eyes that could spot out a lie before it even passed through your lips. She had sharp, angular features that matched her personality to a tee; they left no room for inane arguments or frivolous comments.

"Yeah, that is about it. And now I'm going to lose him. I need him, and he's going to hate me when he wakes up."

"That's not your choice to make, Nick. If he really is going to hate you, let him be the one to decide that. Don't shoot yourself down before even trying to win him back. And stop making this all about you. You can't expect him to get better if you don't focus more on how this is affecting him, and less on how it has affected you."

As soon as the words left her mouth, he felt himself falling back into his teenage years, and his mother is the one lecturing him about the importance of a good education- all because of one skipped art class. Only that time, he was fully aware that doctor Emily Charles was blowing nothing out of proportion, and if he wanted to make things right between Greg and him, he was going to have to fully understand what he did, not to mention why he did it. And at that moment, he had no clue about either.

"Let's talk more about your experiences at the hands of this Walter Gordon…"

Her words faded into a blur as he lost himself in the memory of his own burial, unaware that he was speaking at the same time. Speaking about things he had not dared to mention to anyone before, speaking of things that he had not dared to think about before. The floodgates had opened, and it was going to take more than simple placations and false sympathies to close them once more.

Well, that's it! I know it's kinda short, but that's what deadlines do to me. Besides, I don't think it was that bad, I mean, at least it wasn't 99.9 dialogue like last chapter…right?…