AN: I changed the rating from M to T. I think I was a little afraid of making a major mistake, but I think a T rating will work. If anyone out there thinks I need to put it backl to a M rating, please let me know!
Chapter Seven
Vartann clicked his cell phone shut and turned making eye contact with Warrick, Sara and Nick, motioning upwards with his head. Warrick and Sara acknowledged the unspoken command as Sara leaned in towards the four law enforcement officers and smiled seductively, "I feel like a round of body shots, how about you guys help me out, huh?" She stood and walked towards the bar, her hips swaying provocatively. The four men stood quickly and followed her without looking back.
Warrick reached quickly for Greg's free arm and pulled him upright, moving towards the door with Nick close behind. Vartann moved between them and the front doors of the hotel as they moved towards the elevators. "Sara," murmured Greg.
"She'll be fine for the few minutes it will take us to get to the room. My buds are not going to let anything happen to her," Nick responded, as he placed his hand on Greg's lower back urging the hesitant young man into the elevator.
Warrick and Vartann entered behind them, their eyes scanning the lobby as the doors closed. "Get your key out, Greg," Vartann commanded. "We are not going to spend any more time in the hallway than necessary."
Greg fumbled in the back pocket of his slacks for the key and handed it over to Warrick. He looked up at the Texan and smiled apologetically, "Sorry for getting you into the middle of this mess, Nicky."
"It's going to be okay, G. Not going to let anything happen to you. Serve and protect, right? That's me, one of Dallas' finest. Making sure your ass is safe," he grinned.
Greg smiled back, "As long as it's you watching my ass, officer."
Vartann coughed slightly and the two men looked towards the front of the elevator. Warrick was biting back a huge grin and Vartann was trying not to make eye contact in the reflective surface of the elevator doors. At that moment the lift stopped and all four men tensed as the door slid open.
The hallway was empty and Vartann strode forward towards their rooms, Warrick following behind the group. Vartann opened the door to Greg's room and ushered him and Nick inside. He turned to Warrick and said only one word, "Sara."
"On it," said the tall, dark-skinned man as he turned back towards the elevators. "Be back in a couple of minutes, unless Sara hasn't drunk them under the table yet."
Less than ten minutes later there was a knock on the door and after looking through the security peephole, Vartann opened the door to Sara and Warrick. "Anything new downstairs?" he questioned.
"Naw, as far as I can tell they haven't entered the building, but this place is big, they could have came in another entrance," Warrick relayed.
Vartann went over and opened the door connecting Greg's room to the one he had reserved for himself. "We are holing up in here until morning, guys. You two go across the hall and gather up your belongings. You'll take my room. I'm not leaving this one until we head to the airport." He turned towards Greg and Nick. "Take the bed farthest from the door and get comfortable, we're holed up here for the next twelve plus hours."
Sara and Warrick opened the door and looked up and down the hallway. Vartann stood by the open door while they entered their rooms. "Open the connecting doors between your rooms while you gather your belongings. Call on my cell phone when you are ready to come back over here and I'll be ready with the door." They nodded and closed their doors. Vartann closed his door and slid the security chain into place.
He turned to look and the couple standing by the far bed. "I'd rather not turn on the television, if you don't mind. I want to be able to hear anything that might happen in hallway."
"No problem. Can't think of anything I'd want to watch right now anyway," Nick quipped. He gently maneuvered Greg down onto the far side of the bed. "Sit down, G. You look like you're about to drop where you stand."
About three hours later, Greg lay asleep on the bed with Nick sitting against the headboard, gently running his fingers though the sleeping man's hair. Vartann held the same position on the second bed. The room lights were off, but the bathroom light shone dimly through the edge of the ajar door. Sara and Warrick were in the second darkened room, presumably sleeping.
"When we leave tomorrow are you going with us?" asked Vartann, figuring he might as well have this conversation while Greg was asleep. He still was unsure of this southern man and didn't want to presume that even though Greg was already totally committed that this Texan had made any long or even short-term decisions.
"I'd like to make sure Greg makes it back safely, so I guess so. Do you have any problem with that, Vartann? Nick shifted his eyes from Greg to the other man.
"I just don't want to see Greg get hurt. His father is my best friend and I've never had a child of my own. Greg's like a son to me. I'd die to keep him safe and kill to keep him from being hurt," Vartann volunteered.
"I don't plan on hurting him, but I've never met anyone who jumps in with both feet so quickly. How can he be so sure? The way he approached me I would have thought he was a practiced player, but hell, he told me he's never even been attracted to a man before. Said he felt a 'pull'. What the hell was he talking about?" Nick wondered out loud.
"It's not about gender, race, age, beauty, or anything of the sort, Nick. 'Family' members do feel a pull when they are around the person they are destined to spend their lives with. But I've never seen it as strong as it was with Greg tonight. When we got out of the car in front of the hotel earlier, he was practically vibrating. We had to chase him down the street to the bar. Two blocks away, Nick! I've never seen it like that, never even heard of it happening like that before."
"Vartann, what the hell is going on here? Who are you people and who the hell is this other group trying to get to Greg? I think I've earned the right to some answers," pushed Nick.
"It's not my place to answer those questions, Nick. But after you and Greg have talked I'll be more than willing to answer any other questions you might have."
"I have to know, Vartann. When you talk about 'family', I don't get the idea you're talking about 'family' as in the Mafia or anything of that sort, but I am a law enforcement officer so I have to know if I'm getting into anything illegal here."
Vartann chuckled, "No worries there, at least in our group, can't promise that all of the other 'families' out there are totally above board. You've already had some confirmation that the Dallas faction might be a little shady. Greg's dad, Grissom, is one of the most moral and honest individuals I have ever known. Anyone stepping outside the boundaries within our community would be severely punished or banished. You won't have to compromise your beliefs if you choose to make a life with us."
Nick sat quietly for a period of time. "Hey Vartann, Greg mentioned working at the Las Vegas crime lab. That surprises me. He doesn't seem the sort. He seems too gentle, too …. breakable."
Vartann leaned his head back to the wall behind the headboard. "Yeah, Grissom had a hard time allowing Greg to leave and go to college and then afterwards to work outside of the estate. Most of our members find a way of working from home. The internet has made getting college educations easier and many can find work that can be completed via a computer.
But Greg is crazy smart and would not be deterred. Went to Stanford and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Had a hell of a time keeping him safe on that college campus. Thought I'd by white-haired before he finished his master's degree.
When he obtained a job in the crime lab, Grissom had to scurry to make sure there would be people around that would be able to help keep an eye on Greg. A good friend of ours who is 'non-family' works for the police department and managed to get transferred, so that helped. And Gil recruited someone from another family who also has a chemistry degree to apply for a job on the same shift as Greg. But after this threat I know his dad is going to have a hard time letting him go back to work when his vacation time ends."
It was quiet for a long time, then Vartann spoke again. "Greg has always been so fun-loving and goofy. He was one for practical jokes and loved that noise that he called music. Never met someone that would light up a room just by entering like he could."
"Could?" asked Nick quietly.
"He's been different the last five or six years. Like someone blew out the candle in his heart. He's gotten quieter and introspective. Stopped playing that music that almost made my ears bleed and switched to sad, teary songs. Can't remember the last time I saw his face light up the way it did tonight, Nick. I hate to lay this on you, but I thought you should know what you hold in your hands before you make any decisions. And that's all I'm going to say on the matter."
After about a half an hour of silence Nick asked, "Hey Vartann, would it be possible for me to pick up some things from my house tomorrow before we leave. I'd prefer to wear my own things when I get to Vegas."
"Yeah, I'll try to arrange that when our reinforcements arrive."
"Thanks. And Vartann…"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the perspective."
"No problem, Nick."
"You said you never had children, Vartann, but did you ever have someone special? Someone that you had a 'pull' with?" Nick paused. "Sorry about that. I shouldn't have asked. Don't know what I was thinking. Guess I really wasn't thinking…."
"Stop blabbering over there, Nick. Yeah, I did. Lost her many years ago and thought I'd never survive it. Not sure I'm over it yet, maybe will never be over it. But I continue to have a strong support system and I'm moving on slowly. Try to get some rest, will ya."
"You sure you can stay awake without someone to talk to?"
"Got it covered over here. It's almost dawn and you might need your A-game tomorrow. Get some sleep, Stokes," he said, using the surname he had heard used by Nick's coworker.
Nick nodded his head and shifted his body down beside Greg. As he settled beside the young man, he felt Greg snuggle his body towards the warmth he radiated. A smile crossed Nick's face as he felt the younger man's body mold to his. Hell, earlier that night he'd hoped to wake up with Greg draped across his body, but this was not the scenario he had been anticipating.
AN: Don't own 'em, just love 'em.
