Nobody's Listening

Summary: Greg's been coming into work lately with his iPod headphones everlastingly attached to his ears. No one can figure out why…

Pairings: Nick Stokes/Greg Sanders

Warnings: Slash

Spoilers:

Chapter Eight: You Need A Vacation

The drive to Greg's house that normally felt like a second seemed to suddenly take an eon. The front of Nick's black T-shirt was still wet from the droplets that eluded Greg's skin, but all Nick cared about was the shivvering blonde in the front passenger seat. "Daddy... can we get something to eat? I'm hungry."

Looking back at his adopted daughter, Nick smiled. "Yeah, peanut. What do you want?"

"Can we get SubWay? We just had Arby's last week." Nodding, Nick made a left on to a main road and suddenly pulled into an empty SubWay.

"Come on, Greggo. Lets eat something." Placing his bear hand on the back of Greg's neck, the Texan squeezed it a few times before getting out. Kassie bolted from her seatbelt and waited for Uncle Greg to close the door. Linking arms with him, she tugged the older man towards the door. At this, Nick was sure he saw a glint of amusement in Greg's eyes before he disappeared into the fast food restaurant.

Two foot long's and a six inch sub later, the three found themselves back in Nick's SUV. Kassie sat in the back, animatedly talking on her cell phone to Lindsay who was trying to dish out any dirty details between Uncle Greg and Uncle Nicky. So far, Kassie was only able to tell her that Greg has been silent the entire car ride. Even Nick, who would talk to Kassie, was silent. Something was up, and the two girls wanted to know; now.

Pulling into Greg's driveway, Nick cut the ignition and looked to his blond haired friend. "Let me go open the door and grab Dax." Nick nodded, knowing just how crazy Greg's retriever was. He wondered sometimes if Dax got his zaniness from Greg.

Holding back a shakey breath, Greg knew Dax was on the other side of this door, dancing around, and just waiting to go jump on someone. Sliding the key through the key hole, Greg turned it, unlocking the door slowly. Pocketing his keys, the blonde slowly opened the door. Brading himself, he caught Dax in a full-on leap in the air, aiming for an excape route towards Nick and Kassie.

Stumbling slightly, Greg fought to put his over zealous dog down onto the ground. Planting the canine's feet on the ground, the young CSI motioned for his company to enter his home. Closing the door behind his company, Greg steered Dax out into the back yard, and let the dog run free barking wildly at the neighbors cat on the other side of the fence.

Slowly turning around, Greg half smiled at Nick's expression. Kassie was laughing; trying to hide it with her hands. "Sorry the place is such a mess." Greg mumbled as Kassie dashed into the living room to put on a movie. Walking towards the cabnet, Greg opened it and pulled out a bottle of pills. Antibiotics for his ears is what he guess they were. After a while, the blonde stopped caring what the doctors were perscribing him and just took what ever the hell they gave him. "Theres pop, tea, jucie and--" Slipping on a puddle of water in the middle of the floor, Greg landed on his back.

"Greg!" Nick exclaimed, kneeling next to the ex-lab tech, the CSI shook the younger man awake. "You okay?"

Shaking the dizzyness from his vision, Greg slowly groaned. Accepting a hand from Nick, he slowly was pulled to his feet. "Owe..." Holding his lower back, Greg winced in pain slightly.

"Here," Out of the corner of his brown eyes, Greg could see Nick fishing around his his freezer for something. Closing his eyes, he forced out the pain in his back, willing it to go away. Not expecting it, Greg felt the back of his shirt being lifted and replced by something cold. Hissing, he craned his neck to see Nick dabbing the inflamed spot on his back gently with a wet paper towel, wound around a few ice cubes.

"That's cold," he whispered.

Nick just smiled and held the make-shift ice pack against Greg's skin. In the other room, the Texan could hear his daughter fishing around for something, but when he saw her walk through the kitchen with a saddened look on her face, he had to wonder what she didn't find.

"Uncle Greg, where's your Christman decorations?" She asked in a small voice, wondering where all the homemade ornaments she and Lindsay made for Greg last year.

When Greg didn't answer, Nick tapped his shoulder and motioned to his daughter. "I'm sorry, what'd you say honey?"

"Where's your Christmas stuff this year?" She repeated, walking further into the kitchen. Letting Dax in, the two older men gave him a scolding glance for the melted ice on the floor, before turning back to Kassie.

"I just didn't feel like putting it up this year. Anyways, Ecklie has me working day shift the 24th, 25th, and 26th. Then, I get double time in on the 25th and 27th from Grissom and graveyard shift."

"Greg, those hours are insane!" Nick protested. Reading the Texans lips, with slight diffculty, Greg shrugged.

"I guess, but I'm not in the mood to do holidays this year." Greg said softly, not meeting the eyes of his company. "So, what movie did you pick out, honey?"

"Kassie, can you take Dax into the other room. You can start eating without us, I need to talk to Greggo." Nick said softly as he watched the blonde fish around on the floor for his pill. Finding it, he dusted the capsule off and poped it into his mouth.

"Greg," Nick stared, reaching out to the boy he grasped his wrist and held him still. "Look, I don't know whats going on, but what ever it is, you can't keep bottling it up. What happened, we used to talk all the time. But, when you came back from that class reunion in California, you... you've been acting different." Nick took care to keep his voice down, and to move the two of them to the stairs, away from Kassie, but he completely missed the look of confusion across Greg's face.

"Uh..." Pinning Greg to the wall, Nick used his arms to block any means of excape for the younger CSI.

"Just listen to me!" He snapped suddenly. "You don't talk much at work anymore--it's nerve wrecking to not hear your normal banter about the lab and on a scene--also, you look like shit. Have you been sleeping? Lets not get on the subject of you skipping your breaks and lunches just so you can burry you head into your work, Greg."

"Nick, slow down--"

"No, you need to get your head on straight. I'm here, and I want to help you. So does everyone else. We're all worried about you. Sure, I show it more than the others, but were all worried about you. And what's this, you're skipping christmas to work all day? Since when do you take jobs from Ecklie?"

"Nick!"

"You know what? You're going to Grissom tomorrow and requesting the 24th through the 3rd off. And during that time, you're going to Dallas with me and Kassie for Christmas vacation." A small cheer from the other room could be heard, but Nick chose to ignore his happy daughters exclmation. "You tell Grissom you're going to Dallas with me, and I'm sure he'll understand."

"But--"

"Just say yes!" Nick snapped.

"Okay." Stuck between the wall and Nick, Greg could feel his hot breath against his skin. Chills and shivers coursed through his veins, arousing some pleasant thoughts in his head. Breathing deeply, Greg could feel his pants getting tighter and tighter, the hem of his jeans suddenly jabbing into his hip bone. Ferveshily nodded, Nick stood back and looked down to Greg's cell phone, hooked on his jeans.

"You're phones ringing."

Biting his lip, Greg looked down and saw it was Mandy. Probably still trying to get me to sleep with her. I DON'T WANT A SANTA BUNNY! I don't even know what one is, but if it's from her, it can't be good. Shrugging, he ducked under Nick's bladed stance and headed into the kitchen. Grabbing his six inch sub from the counter, Greg met up with Kassie on the couch. As soon as Nick joined them, squished Greg between himself and Cassie, Dax leaped up onto his lap. Licking Nick in the face, the dogs joints dug into Greg's legs, making them sore.

"Dax!" Cassie scolded as she grabbed his collar and pulled him off of Greg while the two men fought to keep their sandwhiches.

Finally breathing fully, Greg looked his crazy hound in the eyes before it hit him. "I didn't feed you yet, did I?" Dax barked loudly as his legs bent into a playful stance. His but stuck up in the air, tail wagging in resembalance to a helicopter. He barked again, before grabbed Greg's sock in his mouth and pulled the blonde into the kitchen, depostiting him before the cabnet that held his personal doggy stash.

Feeling the dog bounce behind him, Greg bent over to grab the dogs chewed, stainless-steel dish from the ground. Not doubting the fact that his dog was yiping and talking behind him, Greg continued to press faster, hoping to keep his attention and not have the dog dive to the counter and steal his turkey sandwhich.

Dumping the dry dog food into Daxter's dish, Greg continued to add food from a few nights ago. Take out had to be the retrievers favorite, cause that's all that dog craved. Sure, when Greg went out by himself, he'd return with a half of a steak and when he would return from work the next day, the steak would be gone; he doubted a mouse or an army of ants came in and took it. Dax licking his chops was always a give away.

Setting the dogs dish down, he stood back and watched the "starved" dog inhale his food. About ten seconds later, Dax looked up at Greg and burped loudly. Licking his chops, smoothing down his small golden hairs around his lips, his tail wagged before his hungry eyes caught Greg's sandwhich ontop of the counter. "No boy..."

Returning to the living room, Greg noticed his ALS out on the floor beisde the couch. Nudging it into a hiding place, he flopped down next to Nick and Cassie. His body swayed into Nick's before he righted himself and started to watch the movie that the girl he considered his daughter had popped in. "Maybe later we could play Guitar Hero or DDR?" Cassie asked.

"We'll see, Peanut." Nick answered, Greg seemed to be too into the movie. Through the boy's jeans, he could feel the blond's cell phone vibrate. But when Greg made no notion to pick it up, he shrugged and continued to watch the movie himself.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation--

Walking into work later that night, Greg gave Nick one last glance, trying to get out of going to Dallas to meet his family and spend Christmas with them. With Nick's firm look, Greg walked into Grissom's office to see him and Sara talking, probably over evidence. Clearing his throat, just as Grissom placed his hand on Sara, the two flung apart and looked at Greg. Their postures relaxed, and Sara visiably sighed.

"We'll talk later." She told Grissom before pushing past Greg and into the lab.

"Did I interupt something?" Greg asked softly, eyes locking on Grissoms lips.

"No, we were just talking." The elder responded, taking notice at how Greg was looking at him. His eyes locked on his lips, like he was sex-crazed and wanted Grissom to play "mad-doctor" with him, but that distant look confused him. The usual happy emotion that was evident on his face, suddenly was not there. It was the first time Grissom had seen the young CSI so vulnerable in such a long time. Possibably, the last time he noticed this look was when Greg was on trial. Even in the hospital, he noticed this look. "Did you need something?"

Reading Grissoms words, it took a moment for Greg to respond, head already swirling from his own thoughs and then adding Grissoms words to it did no help. "Yeah..." Grissom waited. "Nick wants me to go to Dallas with him and Cassie for Christmas. I can understand if you say no--"

"--Greg--"

"--I won't mind, I really don't want to go--"

"--Greg--"

"--forcing me to. I'd have to find a babysitter for Dax, and--"

"--Greg!" The blonde shut up instantly when Grissom put his hand down on the boys shoudler, forcing him to look at him. "It's ok, you can go. You've got enough vacation time to last you over a few years. Go, have fun, and come back refreshed. You look like you need it." The salt and pepper haired man said, making sure his words were slow.

Greg's eyes were locked on his lips once agian, before he nodded. "Are you sure, I mean--"

"--Greg, you're going. Anyways, you have a B and E in an apartment complet is Seven Hills." The blonde nodded, taking his assignment slip from his supervisior. "Greg, is there something you'd like to tell me.?"

The blond shook his head quickly. "Nope! I'll get to work on this."

"You need to be back on the fourth, Greg!" Greg's turned back never once flinched in responce.

Grissom starred after Greg for a moment, trying to understand how a perfectly healthy human could possibly have lost his hearing. He knew the signs all too well. The distance looks, the lip locking, reading the body language, and all around the confusion that would leave the person with a throbbing headache. Frowning, he stood up and wandered out of his office in search of Catherine.

After checking the AV lab, Trace, and DNA, he finally found the blonde in the locker room with Warrick. Frowning, he made a face before making his presence known between the two collegues. "Cath, has Greg been acting strange to you?"

"When isn't Sanders weird?" Warrick commented as he threw a clean shirt over his head.

Both Catherine and Gill threw Warrick a look. "Yeah, I've noticed. He had a break down yesterday. Wait, why? What happened?" Rising to her feet, Catherine took a few steps forward, wanting to know it Grissom knew anything.

"I don't know, I was just seeing if he told you something." Grissom shrugged his shoulders.

"I wish he would. Also, see if you can get him to take Christmas week off. Poor kid needs a break."

"Already done, Nicky is taking him to Dallas with him and Cassie tomorrow morning."

"Really?" Warrick asked, shocked beyond compare. "Wow."

Grissom and Catherine both nodded in agreement.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation--

In the break room, Nick poured himself a cup of Greg's specical coffee. Smelling the brew, he took a long careful gulp and sighed in content as the hot liquid trickled down his throat. Savoring the taste, he sat down with a case file and grabbed his bagle from the desk. Taking a bite, he opened his folder to read. Yesterday, he and Sara closed a case on a rape victim that was found dead in a hotel room. Going over his report, Nick suddenly felt that he wasn't alone. Looking up, he noticed Hodges starring at him. "Can I help you?"

"I don't think you really could." Hodges remarked, smirking widely. "So, aren't you going to thank me for cracking your case from yesterday?" Sitting on the end of the table, Nick looked at him oddly.

"No..." Going back to his paper work, Nick continued to ignore Hodges loud banter about how he should get credited for all his hard work. Gritting his teeth, Nick grunted inwardly as he re-read the same line for the fifth--or was it sixth--time.

"You know something Stokes? You all should be happy I'm here to pull this lab out of the gutter where Greg Sanders left it. At least now we dont' have to listen to all that rubish around here while we're all trying to work. I mean, how annoying, really, is it to work with that twit? If it were me, I'd request a change in shifts. Dyed blonde hair, crazy clothes; distracting. And his personality--"

"HODGES!"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to say this once, and let me be very clear." Nick gritted, his teeth suddenly feeling like sandpaper. "SHUT UP!"

"Fine, be that way. See if I crack anymore of your cases." Making a loud noise of disapproval, he turned on his heel and left the breakroom, to see who else he could talk to on his break.

"Maybe Sara is still in Trace..."

Drinking in the blissful silence, Nick took another long gulp of Greg's brew and seemed to instantly calm at the taste. The smell wrapped around him, blanketing him in a sheet of content. Taking another bit of his bagle, Nick went back to his paperwork, suddenly finding that he could actually work without the annoying Lab Rat known as David Hodges.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation--

Kira: I'm SO sorry for the late update! I know, I know, there's no excuse, but myself and another writer have started a co-written fic, and I'm also helping her post her stories on (since her computer is a piece of shit). So, until that story is complete, these updates may come in weeks instead of days. When school starts, I'm not sure when I'll be able to update, but I'll try as hard as I can.

I love you all who have stuck with me this far. Also, I think I'm going to shoot for twenty chapters. I came up with a few more ideas to this story, and I've also decided not to just base it around Nick and Greg, even though we love them the most. Sure, don't skip arond to just read the Nick and Greg parts, cause I promise the other stuff is important.

LOVE YA!

--Dark Angel Kira--