"Nicky? Wake up...come on Nick wake up." Greg said as he gently shook Nick's shoulder and held his head up off of the floor in his lap.
Nick's eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Greg, the smile returning to his lips. "Hi." Nick said again. His voice was barely above a whisper.
Greg couldn't stop himself from smiling. "Hi." He shifted so he could help Nick get back on his feet, which was no easy task. He was obviously in pain and only half awake. He somehow managed to get Nick into the bathroom, undressed, and into the shower without too much hassle.
Greg was speechless at all of the bruises, cuts, scrapes, burns, and scars that were covering Nick's body. He was holding Nick steady by having him lean on the bathroom wall for support as he stood on the other side. Once he was under the warm water, Greg noticed he still had his jeans and t-shirt on and he was getting soaked. But he stopped caring when Nick started leaning on him for support instead of the wall.
"What happened to you?" Greg whispered against Nick's neck as the older man wrapped his arms around Greg's waist and pulled him as close to his own body as he could. Greg tried to pull back when he felt Nick wince in pain, but Nick wouldn't let him go. So instead Greg folded his arms around Nick's neck and closed his eyes.
"Nothing, I'm fine." Nick said as he kissed Greg's neck lightly.
"I'm not an idiot Nick."
"I know, you're actually a genius." Nick moved his kissing down Greg's neck and to his collarbone.
"Where were you?" Greg asked. He had to try very hard to keep his voice from breaking and tears from falling from his eyes.
Nick spun them around so he was gently pinning Greg between himself and the cold tile wall. He kissed his way back up Greg's neck and over to his mouth, capturing Greg's lips in a breathtaking kiss. Nick pulled back slightly so his lips were barely touching Greg's. "I was protecting you."
"From what?" Greg said. "I'm fine, I never was in any danger. Why did you leave me?" Greg couldn't help it anymore. His voice cracked as tears started rolling down his face.
Nick swallowed the lump in his throat and kissed away Greg's tears as best he could. "I'm so sorry sweetie." Was all Nick could say.
Greg shook his head slowly and dropped his eyes away from Nick's. "It was so hard not knowing where you were...then I thought you came back and then the songs...I really wish I could hate you for this. I hate that I can't hate you. I love you so much it hurts." Greg wrapped his arms around Nick's neck tighter and rested his head on Nick's shoulder.
As much as standing, being awake and pressing Greg up against him was hurting Nick right now, seeing how he had hurt Greg was so much worse. Nothing was more painful to Nick than seeing Greg crying because of him. It was unbearable. Nick's own tears dripped from his eyes and ran down his cheeks. "I love you too Greg...I'm sorry I hurt you...that was never my intention."
Greg pulled his head off of Nick's shoulder and looked him in the eyes. "It doesn't matter. Regardless of everything that happened...I just can't live without you."
Getting Nick dressed was harder than it had been to get him into the shower. He was so exhausted and wasn't much help. But finally Greg had gotten him into clean boxers, his own sweatpants, and a t-shirt. He let Nick lean on him as he threw the covers on the bed to the side. He firmly yet gently but his hands on Nick's hips and carefully let him fall backwards onto the bed. After getting his legs up into the bed as well, Greg threw the blankets back over Nick and turned to leave. He would have too, if Nick hadn't grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
"Stay with me." He said weakly.
"I..." Greg started, but couldn't think of the right words to say.
Nick forced his tired eyes to stay open. "I know you hate me. I don't blame you for it. But please...I need you Greggo."
Greg let Nick hold onto his hand. He didn't have the will to pull it away. "I don't hate you Nick. I never could. I just...this is hard. You suddenly being gone then coming back and everything..."
Nick pulled on Greg's hand as hard as he could, causing the younger man to fall onto the bed. He thankfully landed to the right of Nick and not on him. Nick wrapped his right arm around Greg's shoulder with a groan of pain and held on to his hand. "I'm staying with you." He said softly. He kissed Greg's forhead gently and smiled at his boyfriend.
"I hate it when you do that." Nick furrowed his brow in confussion. "How can I not trust you with that smile?"
Nick smiled wider and kissed Greg sweetly. "You need to trust me on something else." Greg nodded slightly. "I love you more than anything. Everything I do, I do it for you. I would do anything to keep you safe because I love you so much."
Greg smiled slightly and kissed Nick again. "Okay, I trust you." He snuggled against Nick and carefully rested his head on Nick's chest. "I couldn't sleep much without you."
Nick kissed the top of Greg's head and closed his eyes. "You're then only one I ever believed in...the answer that could never be found." He started, singing Greg to sleep. "The moment you decided to let love in...I'm banging on the door of an angel...the end of fear is where we begin...the moment we decided to let love in."
In all honesty, Greg laying on him the way he was right now was causing Nick a lot of pain. But he didn't care at all. He knew it would have hurt so much more if Greg had walked away, or if he had never gotten the chance to do this ever again. He was well aware he probably needed to go to a hospital, but had talked Greg out of forcing him to go. All he wanted to do was lie here with him for as long as possible and know Greg was safe.