Nine: Proof of My Love
Six weeks later Greg had almost forgotten about Nick's visit and was moving on with his life again. He never mentioned the encounter to Sara and she never asked, so they were back to not talking about Nick. He didn't tell Ryan or Calleigh either, not wanting to remember anything of that day, he was sure Nick didn't mean any of those things because Nick never meant things like that.
"Greg we need you, Horatio has called a meeting."
"But I'm not a CSI Erik."
"He requested everyone; I heard we got a new CSI, a transfer."
"Oh, I didn't know we were getting a transfer."
"Me either, but he wants us all in there to meet him."
"Ok I am on my way." He wondered who this knew CSI was, he didn't even know they needed one and why didn't Horatio just ask him? He took a seat next to Ryan who looked just as confused as he did.
"Ok now that you are all here I would like you to meet Nick Stokes a transfer from Vegas, Greg you might know him." Only Greg wasn't listening because all he could do was stare at Nick, his eyes wide with shock.
It took Nick a lot of begging and pleading but Grissom finally relented and gave him the transfer he wanted. It taken him a bit longer to convince Horatio Cane to add him to his team, but finally every thing was falling into place and he was starting the Miami Dade crime lab that day. Everyone in Vegas had called and asked him if he was crazy, moving his entire life when Greg wanted nothing to do with him. He told them all the same thing, Greg was worth fighting for, and he was worth everything and then some. So he nervously waited for the moment when he would see Greg and see his reaction. He knew he had a long way to go to win Greg back and he was ready to just about anything. What he wasn't ready for though was the look Greg had on his face, the look that clearly said he wanted to do with Nick at all.
Greg found peace in the bathroom where he could freak out in private.
"Greg you in here?"
"Over here Ryan." He mumbled as Ryan found him huddled in the corner. "I can't believe he's here, what the fuck is he doing here?"
"I don't know Greg, maybe he is trying to prove something."
"Well it's not going to work; I'm moving on from him, I've told him that."
"Greg you can't stay in here all day."
"I know, but I don't know if I can do this."
"You'll get past this."
"I've tried! If I can't move on when he is thousands of miles away how can I possibly do it when he is here?"
"Greg please calm down, don't let him ruin your job."
"I just…I can't look at him without all those feelings coming back full force."
"Don't let yourself fall under his spell Greg, you're stronger than that, I know you are."
"You don't get it do you Ryan?" Greg said as he shook his head. "When it comes to Nick Stokes I'm weak because he renders me powerless." Ryan didn't know how to respond and Greg couldn't blame him. "Just give me a few more minutes."
"Ok." Ryan whispered.
Calleigh was ready to pummel this guy, mad that Horatio had picked her to take this Nick character out with her to a scene. She couldn't believe this was Nick Stokes, the one that had hurt Greg so badly. She had to admit he way easy on the eyes and that accent could charm anyone, but he had broken Greg far beyond repair and for that she would hate him.
"I know you must hate me."
"Yeah, got that right."
"I understand that I do."
"Then why are we even having this conversation? You're lucky you're out with me and not Ryan he's just waiting to punch your lights out."
"And I deserve it."
"You deserve more."
"I know." He sighed.
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I have seen the error of my ways and yes I realize it took me a long time and it cause Greg nothing but pain, but even though he wants nothing to do with me I cam here for him."
"You moved your entire life for a guy who doesn't even want to talk to you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I love him wholly and deeply and I will prove that to him even if it takes my entire lifespan to do so."
"That doesn't make everything right." She paused. "But it's a start."
"I hope so."
Greg knew it was bound to happen, but he hoped he could avoid seeing Nick on his first day, but God didn't love him that much. He didn't have to even look up to know who just walked into his lab, he could always sense when Nick was around.
"You're results aren't up yet."
"Greg…"
"You're working that double with Calleigh right?"
"Yes." Nick sighed.
"Then the results aren't ready."
"I didn't come here for the results Greg."
"Well you're not getting anything else, so leave me to do my work."
"We need to talk."
"We already did that the last time you were here."
"And I told you I wasn't giving up that easily."
"And I told you to leave which is what I am saying now. So here." He thrust the results into Nick's face. "Now go."
"This isn't over Greg."
"I think it is." Nick didn't say anything more as he took the folder and Greg turned away from him going back to his work. Nick wasn't about to give up though, he would find a way to prove to Greg how much he loved him no matter what it took.
"You knew didn't you!? How the hell could you have not told me something as big as this!"
"Greg please…"
"I'm so mad at you Sara right now, I can't even think straight."
"I didn't know until a week ago Greg I swear."
"Well you still could have told me I thought I was seeing things when he walked into that room."
"We never talk about him Greg so I didn't want to say anything."
"Well I think I could have made an exception to this, Nick coming to Miami permanently is a big thing Sara. Dammit, just what is he trying to do?"
"I don't know." Sara sighed. "You should talk to him."
"I did, I told him to leave."
"You need to stop acting like a child Greg."
"He's up to something I know it."
"Of course he is, he moved all the way to Miami for you even though you rejected him."
"Well it's not going to change my mind."
"Greg, I think he is serious."
"I don't care."
"Maybe you should hear what he has to say."
"Since when are you on his side?"
"I'm not on his side Greg." Sara sighed clearly agitated with his childishness. "I'm just saying."
"Well I don't need to talk to him."
"Whatever you say Greg, I have to go."
"Ok fine, bye."
"Bye, and really think about it." And then she hung up. Greg knew she was wrong he didn't need to talk to Nick; he'd ignore Nick it was easy to do. It seemed like the best way to handle the situation even if it was taking the coward's way out.
He found the first note two weeks later taped to his cd player. He wasn't sure what to make of it.
Like red on a rose
And that was all it said nothing more and he wondered of Ryan was trying to play a joke on him. He kept it though and he really didn't know why, but when he found another one three days later he knew exactly who the culprit was.
When your lips first smiled at me
This one had something written after it and Greg had to sit down when he read it or his legs would have given out.
You may not think I remember but I do, I remember when we first met. You were playing loud music and you just looked up at me and smiled and even if I didn't know it then I know now how that moment changed my life.
Only Nick would think of something like this, something so sweet that would almost make him cave, almost. Greg wouldn't fall for pretty words, he wasn't about to fall under Nick's spell again that easily.
Nick was pretty sure it was the most cliché and cheesiest thing he could do, but when he had the song he knew. That song seemed to say everything he couldn't and it got straight to the point. The memories after the lyrics of course were real and the words he had written spoke the truth. He wanted to see how much he loved him, to see written so clearly. It was like that song was written for them because it said everything Nick never could. He only hoped Greg could see it too, could break his walls down even if it was just a little. Nick was ready for a fight and this time he wasn't going to lose.
When the third post it arrived it was stuck to the reports Calleigh handed him, Nick must have snuck it in when she wasn't looking.
I was captured instantly, to each his own
Seeing you was always the best part of my day because I knew no matter what kind of day I was having you could always bring a smile to my face.
Greg placed it with the other two and sucked in a deep breath, he felt tears gather at the corners of his eyes. Nick couldn't mean any of those things, this wasn't real he'd wake up and Nick would still be in Vegas.
"Hey Greg you got the Carlton hair samples I gave you?"
"Yeah Ryan right here." He handed Ryan the folder who looked very puzzled at what he saw.
"These aren't my results Greg."
"Oh shit." His eyes went wide and he snatched the folder away from Ryan. "No, here's your results."
"What was that Greg?"
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"It's nothing really."
"It was something, they were song lyrics."
"No, it's nothing really…"
"Greg…"
"Fine they were from Nick; he's been leaving them here for me." Ryan picked up the folder again and Greg wished he hadn't been so stupid to just hand over the wrong folder.
"I know this song, Calleigh loves it. He seems pretty serious Greg."
"Song lyrics aren't going to make me run back into his arms."
"Then why are you keeping them?"
"I don't know." He whispered.
Like blue in the sky, the gaze of your willing eyes
I love your eyes, they are like windows to your soul and I loved the way those eyes looked me when we were together. I want to see that look in those eyes again; I want to gaze into your eyes for the rest of my life.
Greg stared at this one longer, it made his heart tighten and if he wasn't in the lab he would have broken down into sobs. He wished he wasn't so weak and Nick wasn't even there, but he found himself wishing he was because despite it all Nick's plan was working.
"So Miami is ok then?"
"Yeah Rick, change of scenery is nice." He sighed.
"But you're getting nowhere with Greg."
"I might be getting somewhere; I mean I can understand why he is scared after all I did."
"But did you make the right choice Nick? Leaving Vegas to pursue a man who wants nothing to do with you?"
"I did because there is nothing I wouldn't do to get Greg back Warrick you have to understand he's it."
"I do understand Nick; I just hope you know what you are doing."
"I do know believe me."
"Well ok man, just keep in touch ok?"
"I will man." He hung up the phone and took a deep breath. He only hoped he was getting through to Greg.
And I love you cuz I know I can't do anything wrong, you're where I belong
It's you Greg, you're it, and you're the one no one else but you.
His fingers trembled as he placed it next to the others, he knew Nick was avoiding the lab, always having the others bring in his evidence and he was glad for the fact because he probably would have fallen into those arms when the first post it arrived.
"Greg this is ridiculous you've been calling me since you got the first one and you still haven't done a damn thing."
"Maybe I'm scared Sara, look at what he has done before, how can I believe him? Believe all this?"
"Greg he moved for you when you told him to leave that's saying something, he knows what he did was wrong, I think he honestly loves you."
"But can you blame me for doubting him?"
"No I can't." she whispered.
"I can't let myself get hurt again; I fell in so deep before."
"I know it's hard Greg, but even if you don't anything and then meet someone else they will never fully have your heart and you know it."
"It's true." He admitted quietly. "He has my heart."
"Then talk to him."
"I can't." And then he hung up the phone before Sara had a chance to respond.
And I love you cuz I know you give me a heart of my own
You've taught me the meaning of love Greg, real honest to God love, Lori wasn't love you are love Greg and I will love you till the day I die even if you never love me back.
Greg saw the tear before he felt it as he saw it drop to the piece of paper, no one had ever been that honest, that open and he never expected it from Nick.
"Greg are you ok?"
"Um…yeah Calleigh I am."
"No you're not."
"I need…" he took a deep breath. "I need your opinion."
"On what?"
"These." He said handing her the folder where he kept all the post its. Calleigh took it and read it in silence, but he could see her eyes beginning to water.
"Oh Greg, did Nick give you these?"
"Yes."
"He's trying real hard isn't he?"
"I don't know what to do."
"Listen Greg." She said as she put the folder down. "I don't know Nick that well, and I really don't know you all that well either, but what I do know is that whatever happened before is in that past and that this right here right now is real and it's time you let him in again. You need to let yourself be happy again."
"I want to be happy."
"I know you do, just think about it."
"I'll try." He closed his eyes. "If I can."
Nick was going crazy and people were beginning to wonder why he avoided the DNA lab like the plague. Greg was not seeking him out, so he wondered if his idea was just a waste of his time. He had one more lyric left to deliver and he really didn't know if he should even try. He told himself he wouldn't give up; he'd do anything to win Greg back so why give up now when he had so much to lose? Greg was his life and he would keep on trying until the day Greg was in his arms again.
Greg found the last note in a place he never expected, taped to the door of his apartment.
You make my blood flow
YOU are the reason I breathe
Greg felt his knees give out and he collapsed against his door as he sobbed clutching the paper to his chest. He knew what he had to do now; suddenly he was tired of running.
Nick opened the door to reveal Greg standing there clutching that last post it note in his hands.
"Greg…"
"No let me speak please. You hurt me Nick more than you'll ever know and I want to forget, I wanted to move on from you when I left Vegas and I tried but you were every where and then you came here and…and…" he sucked in a deep breath closing his eyes as tears fell to his cheeks. "I never fell out of love with you Nick and I know it's not going to easy but I can't go on pretending I don't need you because I do." He opened his eyes to find Nick standing closer than he was before, he reached out to touch grasp Nick's hand. "You are the reason I breathe." It could have been minutes or seconds for all Greg cared but the next thing he knew he was being pulled into a crushing kiss that he lost himself in, clutching Nick and never wanting to let him go. "I'm sorry I…"
"No Greg you don't apologize never, this whole mess was my fault, let's just make up for lost time."
"For you being an idiot?"
"A big idiot." Nick grinned as he went in for another kiss. "I love you Greg and I'm sorry it took hurting you to see it."
"I love you took Nick and that is all that really matters. We're here and we're here together." He touched Nick's cheek and he knew it wasn't perfect and they were in for a long road ahead of them but Greg knew it was all worth it, Nick was worth it.