Disclaimer: I do not own anything of CSI. If I did, then things would be a whole lot different. I also own nothing that has to do with characters that are owned by DC Comics. I wish though.
A/N: I'm happy to say that I have a new Beta Seshat3 . There are several references to some of the most perfect Greg moments from the show's earlier episodes back when he was in the lab where you all know he should have stayed. The title of this chapter is the name of the 18th track on the Batman Soundtrack by Danny Elfman. It is the waltz the Joker danced to with Vicky Vale in the belfry of Gotham Cathedral.
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Chapter Ten, Waltz to the death.
Two days had passed since Julie told Nick about Greg's experiences at Ratcliff. Nick had tried to get Greg to talk to him about what had happened or ask about his childhood but Greg never elaborated on either subject. He would make a small comment and move onto a new subject. This made Nick wonder even more.
'What else could Greg be keeping a secret from me?'
Nick did not get much time to ponder this. During the past two days, most of his time was spent with Greg and his family. Yesterday, Michael invited the boys to come visit him at the Alliant International University, where he taught. The day before that, they went along with Irene to the mentoring program she helped with. In between that and spending time with Olaf and Greta, Greg took Nick on a tour of San Francisco. They went to number of places, the San Francisco Zoo, China Town, and one of Greg's favorite places, the Cartoon Art Museum.
Today, they were sitting in a small coffee house. Greg astounded the Texan by ordering coffee that was not his typical Blue Hawaiian, which was on the menu. After they both got their orders, Greg led the Texan to a table where a red haired woman was sitting. She got up from her seat and wrapped her arms around the young tech who returned the gesture while Nick looked on, curious as to who the stranger was. When they broke apart, Greg introduced Nick to his dearest friend, Alice Robertson.
Even though he was gay, Nick could still appreciate a beautiful woman when he saw one, and Alice was one of them. She had long red hair, dark seductive green eyes and an attractive slim curvaceous figure. Warrick would have been over the moon if he saw her. Nick offered her his hand but instead was brought into a hug. After letting go of him, Alice told Nick that she was very happy to meet him at last. When they all sat down together, they began to talk about different things. Nick learned that Alice was a botanist and lived in St. Louis. After a few minutes, Alice began telling Nick stories about her and Greg.
"Okay, I got another one for you," the attractive redhead said to Nick, "Halloween of 89; we decide to dress up as Vicky Vale and the Joker for a party. So my Batman obsessed brother is helping us get our costumes ready, when all of a sudden, Greg turns to me and seriously asks what Vicky Vale outfit he's supposed to wear."
"You're joking," Nick said looking from the redhead to Greg who was sitting on the other side of the table.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Greg asked in a perfect Jack Nicholson Joker impersonation.
Nick could not help himself as he started to laugh. He was soon joined by Greg and Alice.
"You should have seem him, Nick. He had the full Joker outfit. Make-up, hair, cane, and he wore a purple beret he found. He even wore a water-squirting flower that actually worked. He went on to win first place in the costume contest that night. And everybody agreed that he was perfect as the Joker that night."
Nick could understand what Alice meant. With his off the wall antics and un-predictable personality, Greg would make the perfect Joker.
"But enough of that. Tell me Nick, what's it like to work with his guy? Is he professional or a pain? "
"I'm a delight to work with," Greg said, "and I'm every bit professional. Tell her Nicky."
Nick gave his boyfriend a deadpan expression. "Like the time you were dancing all around the lab while wearing that showgirl headdress? Or when you were doing that fortune teller act with our results? Or better yet, how you were irritable to everybody in the entire lab after Grissom had used you for one of his little experiments? You mean that delightful and professional?"
Greg made an exaggerated face of offensiveness. "I merely try to bring laughter and joy into what can be a depressing place and suffocating place of business."
"That you do Sunshine," Nick said as he reached over and patted Greg's hand.
"Awww, how cute." Both looked back to Alice who had her head tilted to one side. "So, when's the date?"
Greg gave her a confused look. "Date? What date?"
"The wedding date silly?"
Nick watched as Greg's eyes suddenly expanded. "W…w…wedding date? There's no wedding date," he said in a shocked tone.
"Alright. The Civil Union ceremony date then. Or Commitment ceremony. Whatever you decide to call it. Are you going big or small? Is there possibility that I have to start making travel plans to Canada? You know I'm expecting an invitation right?" Alice was innocently excited at the prospect.
Greg went parlor white as he comprehended what his friend was saying. The younger man's jaw looked like it was about ready to become unhinged while his left eye began to twitch. Nick just sat there, stunned by the question.
"There is no date because we're nowhere near anything like that yet," Greg finally managed to say. "We're not even living together, let alone thinking about anything that big."
"You're not living together?" Alice asked as she gave Nick a flabbergasted look.
Nick looked like a fish out of water. His mouth was agape as he tried to formulate a response. Alice just continued to stare at the Texan, her arms crossed and a waiting look on her face.
Greg started to regain his normal composure when he decided to jump in on Nick's behalf.
"Alice, look. There might a couple of things that might be an inconvenience, but I'm happy with everything."
Alice looked into her best friend's eyes, as if trying to read his soul. Then, she turned her attention back to Nick. "And you?"
"I'm happy." Nick replied in slightly agitated tone.
"Okay, now if you two will excuse me," Greg said as he stood-up from the table, "I have to use the little boy's room. Please be nice," he directed to Alice.
Once Greg had left the table and was out of earshot, Alice turned her attention back to the Texan.
"Don't talk, just listen. You not living together is one thing, but the thing that troubles me the most is the fact that you have not told your parents about your relationship yet. And by the way, I know that because Greg told me. Yes, I know you're from Texas so I can understand why you might be afraid about telling your family," Alice leaned forward, her voice filled with concern as she spoke in a quick tone so as to finish what she had to say before Greg returned, "but that shouldn't matter. If your family loves you, really loves you, then they shouldn't care about something that is so insignificant like you sleep with. And if the worst should happen, you still have Greg and his family. On the subject of telling your colleagues, that's between the two of you of how and when. But, I would suggest sooner rather than later. Because there might come a time when either one of you would benefit from them having that knowledge and having their support."
"You're right," Nick said, "but how can I do anything like that when I find out that Greg's been keeping stuff from me? I had no idea about what happened to you and Greg at that school till two days ago. And I didn't hear it from Greg but from one of his friends."
Alice reached over for Nick's hand. "I know. Julie told me. My advice, ask him but don't let him try to avoid the subject."
Nick saw she was giving him an encouraging smile and he smiled back.
"Trying to steal my man from me Alice?"
Both looked up and saw Greg standing behind them with an amused look, "Because I hate to tell you, but you're lacking one small detail that I have. Well, not that small," he said giving Nick a smirk.
"You freak," Nick replied snidely.
Alice just smiled at the two as she took a sip of her coffee.
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"All right boy, go get it," Greg called out to Nótt as he threw the small plastic hamburger across the back yard.
"He sure does love that toy," Nick commented as they watched the dog franticly search the bushes for the squeak toy.
Greg smiled at Nick. When the younger man turned to see if Nótt had been successful in his quest, the older man came up behind him and wrapped his arms around Greg's waist, pulling him into the Texan's embrace.
Nick loved being this close to Greg. If he could, Nick would be perfectly content with just holding his boyfriend for the rest of his life. Yes, the sex was great, mind blowing actually, but, he would be willing to just being reduced to the joys that the simple touch of Greg's skin could bring to him. Molding the tech's body with his own, Nick felt a sense of pleasure that he knew was beyond the pleasure of sex. When he held onto Greg, the Level Three CSI was able to inhale the younger man's scent. The scent of lavender and vanilla with a dash of coffee beans. That was Greg.
Greg closed his eyes as he felt his body form to Nick's hold. He felt the Texan's chin nuzzle itself into the nook of his neck. A light kiss was placed on the skin. Nótt, who had found his beloved toy and dropped it at Greg's feet, had decided to lie down and wait for Greg to resume their game. But Greg had already decided that he was no longer in the mood to play with his pet.
"Let's go in."
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They had the house to themselves as Greg's parents and grandparents were still out. Nick and Greg lay together on the couch in the front living room while Nótt curled up on the rug in front of the fire place. Greg was laying with his head on Nick's chest, eyes half closed, while fingers made their way gently through his hair. Nick decided to once again try to get Greg to open up but to ease into it slowly. Looking up, he saw the old black and white photo over the fireplace and an idea came to him.
"So I take it that's Papa Olaf and Nana in that photo G?"
Greg lifted his head to look at the mentioned picture. "Yep. Papa Olaf said that was taken back in the Old Country."
"He looks a lot like you."
"That's what everyone says."
"What was it like growing-up with him?"
If the question seemed odd to him, Greg did not let it show. "He taught me all the fine points of jokes and pranks. Papa Olaf was also the one who got me into playing chess and started me on coin collecting. When I had to learn how to swim, he was the one who taught me. Papa was the one who was able to convince mom to let me join the boy scouts."
"Bet you looked real cute in your uniform."
"About the same as you in your little cowboy costume."
Nick groaned. Ever since Greg had found a picture of him when he was seven and dressed like a cowboy, Greg loved teasing him.
"So, what else were you like as a child?"
"Typical," Greg said in a rather quick response.
"Oh come on G. I need a little more than that."
Pushing himself out of Nick's embrace, Greg stood up and walked over to the fireplace turning to face Nick. "There's nothing else to say Nicky," Greg replied slightly irritable tone, "I don't know why you're pushing this all of a sudden."
"I'm sorry G. But when I ask a question, I like it when I get a response. So, when I try to get you to open up and talk to me about what it was like for you growing-up, I would like some form of response."
"So I don't talk about my past. Big deal. Nothing major happened Nicky."
"How about having a knife held up to your face and asked if you want to live? I would call that something major Greg!"
Greg's eyes widened at Nick's comment and he felt like he had received a punch to his stomach. He couldn't talk or even breathe for what seemed like hours. When he found his voice a few moments later, it was filled with shock, fear and dread.
"How did you find out about that?"
"Alan let it slip the other day. Then I persuaded Julie to tell me. Why didn't you tell me G? I had a right to know. You can't keep something as important as that from people."
Greg chuckled hollowly, "That's rich coming from you Mr. Straight-Lace Texan. So, when your parents called you three weeks ago, did you finally tell them that you were fucking a guy? Oh that's right; they didn't say anything because, as usually, you didn't tell them. You chickened out again."
"We've been through this Greg. You know I just can't tell out of the blue and tell them about us."
"I am so sick and tired of that crap Nick!"
Nick scowled. The topic of conversation was getting of course. He did not want to dance around the subject anymore."
"This isn't about me and my parents Greg! This is about you keeping things from me that you shouldn't be."
Neither one heard the sound of the car pulling up the driveway or the garage door opening then closing.
"Well I'm sorry Nick. But, how can tell you something like that when you can't face the truth about telling your parents?"
"So you're saying that the only way you would ever tell me about your past is if I go and tell my parents and possibly face them disowning me."
"If you truly love me then that wouldn't be an issue."
"My family is important to me Greg."
Greg's face became sour. His breathing became more harsh as he continued to glare at the Texan.
"Then what about me?"
Nick did not answer. This only caused Greg to come to a conclusion on his own. "I get it."
"No you don't G. Like I've told you, it's complicated."
"And I've told you, no it isn't."
"I'm sorry. But we all can't be over energetic hyperactive caffeine sex addicts with the attention span and attitude of a two year old who doesn't even give a second thought to other people's feelings!"
"At least I don't try to live up to the standards of some form of outdated and idiotic ideology that an entire state seems to adhere to."
The resentment and annoyance that had been swelling within Nick finally boiled over and exploded in a loud shout that seemed to cause the entire house to shake.
"Greg can't you just shut the fuck-up about things you know nothing about?!"
The second those words left his mouth, Nick knew he had made a major mistake.
"Greg, baby, please wait," Nick called out.
But Greg ignored the Texan's plea and stormed out of the living room to the front door.
Nick made it in the hall just in time to see the door slam shut.
'How could you be so stupid Stokes?'
He did not know how long he stood in that one spot. But he was aware that at some point, Nótt came-up to him and stared to lick his left hand in a comforting gesture. Nick slowly started to come out of his daze and placed his hand on the dog's head to give him a gentle rub. As he turned to go up the stairs to Greg's room to wait for him, he saw that he and Nott were not alone.
Irene, Michael, Olaf and Greta were all standing in the path to the kitchen. From the solemn looks on their faces, Nick knew that they had overheard the fight between him and Greg. Then, Irene spoke.
"It's time we had talk."
-Author's Note-
Please do not forget to review. This chapter was a little hard for me to write. The fight scene was especially hard. I could not seem to find the right words. So, this may not be my best work. But please let me know what you think. Lately, I've been experiencing computer issues which has made it hard for me to update. So until I figure some way to solve this issue, updates may take a while.