Chapter 11

Writer's block is what took me so long :( sorry, but here's the next chapter. Enjoy! :)

3 Days Later

Her eyes were ice cold, staring at him accusingly. The worst part was she was lying right next to him, rotting and making him sick to his stomach.

"This is your fault Greg; you lied to me! You said we would be saved, not just you. You said I was going to see my mom again! Why did you lie to me Greg? Why didn't he kill you? You should be dead, not me!"

"I'm so sorry, Katie, I didn't know he'd kill you. I would switch places in a heartbeat."

"Yeah, sure you would. You would've escaped the minute you had the chance if it weren't for the gimpy leg; you would've left me behind! I hate you, Greg; I can't believe I ever trusted you!"

"No, please don't say that; I'm sorry Katie, I'm-"

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it, you bastard," sneered Katie.

Suddenly Conrad came out of nowhere, slashing Katie's throat with a knife, blood pouring out onto the ground.

"You're next, Greggo," he said, inching closer to Greg who was cowering against the wall.

"No. Nick said you were dead, you can't be here!"

"And yet I am, boy."

"Please just get away from me!"

"No can do. Now, I want you to look at me when I kill you; I want to see the light fade away from your eyes every single damn time I stab you in the chest. Look at me Greg…Greg? Greg! Greg…

"Greg! Come on man, you're scaring me!"

The younger CSI's eyes snapped open and he shot forward; he felt hands on his shoulders and he jerked away, knowing that those hands were going to strangle him.

"G, calm down, it's just me; Nick!"

Greg frowned for a moment at the Texan before recognition flooded back into his eyes.

"Greg?" Nick said cautiously.

"I-I'm okay, I'm fine I just…" he trailed off, not knowing how to explain the nightmare he didn't want Nick to know about.

"The hell you are, G. Something's up and I want you to tell me now; you've been like this for days and I'm tellin' you man, it's going to destroy you. You hardly talk to anybody that visits you, you've barely finished one jello cup since Conrad brought you to that lake house and I don't think you've slept peacefully for who knows how long. Greg, I don't want to lose you again, for god's sakes; please just let me help you."

"Nick, for the hundredth time; I'm okay, stop worrying about me. I was kidnapped, saved, kidnapped again and saved again. It's not that bad."

"'It's not that bad?' Not that bad; you got to be fucking kidding me, Greg. Conrad tortured you, he hurt you, he nearly kills you and you say it's not that bad? What the hell man?" Nick stood up from his chair and paced the room, still looking at Greg. "You can't keep it all bottled up, man, because if you don't let it go now, you might explode at the worst possible moment."

Greg remained silent, looking down at his trembling hands. His breathing was becoming erratic with fear and a touch of anger. He wanted to tell Nick, he really did, but he knew it'd be a bad idea. He hates you; everyone does. They don't want their time wasted by your feelings.

"Come on bud," Nick pleaded, coming up to Greg and grabbing both his hands in his. "Just talk to me; aren't I your best friend?"

The anger seemed to dominate his fear and Greg ripped his hands away. "I don't know, are you?"

Nick looked taken aback, frowning in confusion. "What?"

"Are you my best friend, Nick? Is anyone my friend around here?"

"Greg, what the hell are you talking about, of course we are."

"Don't lie, Nick, I know you guys all hate me. I'm a burden to everyone, but no one wants to be the ass and tell me!"

"Greg-"

"No, I understand; no one wants to hurt the weak, stupid wannabe CSI, right? Maybe I should've just given up a long time ago. Well, you know what? You guys won't have to deal with me anymore, because I'm quitting."

Nick was completely stunned at what he just heard. He grabbed Greg's shoulders roughly and forced the kid to look at him.

"Greg, come on man, why are you saying this?"

The younger CSI looked at Nick darkly before turning away. His features softened and he sighed heavily.

"What did he do to you; what did he say, G? I know he said something and I'm telling you that whatever it was it's not true."

Greg stared at the Texan sadly for a moment, wondering if he should tell the man, but knew it'd be a big mistake. Nick would laugh at him, make fun of him, them leave him alone. In fact, right now, that's what he wanted to be: alone.

"Please," he whispered so softly, Nick had to move in closer to hear. "Just go."

"No, not until you tell me what the hell is going on in your head."

"It's nothing! Just leave me the hell alone!"

Nick backed off and put his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright; take it easy, man. I'll leave."

Greg could see the hurt in Nick's eyes as he watched the man back out of the room. What was wrong with him? Nick was trying to help him and all he did was push him away. The man even went through an ordeal like his and he was brave enough to talk about it. So why couldn't he? Because you're weak and pathetic. His body began shaking and his breathing hitched. You're a screw-up, Greggo. Everyone hates you but they won't say it. And that's when he couldn't take it anymore; it was all too much. He ripped out the wires and the I.V and jumped out of bed. He cried and screamed, throwing things around, flipping chairs over, even broke a mirror. He was broken and nothing would ever go back to the way it was.

When Nick heard the screaming while speaking to a nurse at her station, he gave her a worried look before rushing back to Greg's room.

"We have a code gray over here!" The nurse shouted as she followed Nick, along with additional staff.

Nick ran into his friend's room and found the kid throwing objects around and blood running from a gash in his hand. The younger man was screaming and had tears running down his pale face.

"Greg! Greg, man, calm down! Gre-" Nick dodged the lamp that was chucked at his head and smashed against the wall. "G, come on, stop!"

"It's all my fault; I'm weak and pathetic. You guys are better off without me, I should be dead!"

Nick's heart tore, but he needed to stop Greg before he hurt someone or himself. He quickly ran at the man before he could pick something else up, and wrapped his arms around Greg's.

"Stop, let me go, please! Just let me go!" Greg shouted, struggling in Nick's hold.

"You're okay, G, take it easy. I've got you, man, you'll be alright." I'm gonna get you through this.

Suddenly a nurse came up to them and inserted a sedative into Greg's neck. Almost immediately, Greg collapsed to the floor, bringing Nick down with him. His crying began to cease and the body tremors became less violent.

"Shhh, you're gonna be alright, G. I'm gonna help you through this," Nick whispered, running a hand through Greg's hair as the man grew limp in his arms. There was something that Greg hadn't told him and whatever it was, was tearing the kid by the seams. Well, he wasn't about to let that happen.

TBC

Sorry for a short and possibly bad chapter(and maybe a bit OOC for some) annnd that it took me ages to update it. This chapter was a bit tough, but the next one won't be 'because Nick is going to get Greg's head on straight that EVERYONE loves him! Stay tuned! Reviews! :)