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, Warrick Brown/Catherine Willows
Warnings: Slash
Spoilers: Gum Drops
Chapter Twelve: Christmas Eve
Lindsay sighed heavilly. There was nothing to do on the first official night of her winter vacation. With no swim practice for the night, and Cassie gone until after New Years, the sixteen year old blonde found she had nothing better to do. Annoyed by this fact, the girl stormed up to her room and looked around, searching for anything to do to keep her from going crazy. Looking to the crate in the corner of her room, the girl knelt down before it and peered over the top in search of the small rodent.
"There you are, Hammy!" She exclaimed happily as she lifted the tiny hampster from the cage. Cradling the small animal in her hands, the blonde kissed the top of his head and started to stroke the little white blaze over his forehead. "I guess it's just you and me tonight?" Hammy's tiny eyes ventured over to Lindasy, and gave her a small look. "You're not that much fun any more."
Putting the small creature back into his cage, added some food to his dish and filling his water bottle, Lindsay all but shrieked when the rodent went back to sleep. "Seriously!"
"Seriously, what?" Catherine asked as she stepped into Lindsay's room. "What is all this yelling over?" Watching her daughter flop down onto her bed, Catherine had to smirk. Her daughter was a huge drama queen.
"I'm bored!" She whined; words muffled by the pillow over her face.
"Well, how about we go to the mall, see and movie and catch some dinner on the way home? I'm off tonight."
Lindsay's body seemed to fly with this new information. Bolting upright, the girls eyes were wide with joy. "Are you serious?"
"Would I lie to you?"
"...yes..." The younger muttered, earning herself a look from her mother.
"Hey now--"
"Can we just go?"
Driving down the strip and making a right, the two blondes found themselves at the mall. Eddie always hated bringing Catherine here when they were married, always worried that his wife would over charge on his cards and use all his money. But now that it was just the two of them, Catherine usually put all her money towards her daughter. It was no surprise to the mother of the exzuberant teen that Hollister would be the first store they would walk in to.
Standing back, and watching her daughter fly around the store, Catherine could feel a sense of longing. Sure, if she could, she'd do this a lot more withjust her daughter. As much as she loved Cassie, and as much as Nick loved Lindsay, it was nice to just have your own child around for some parental bonding.
"How about this one mom?" Walking out of the dressing room with a tight, long sleeved, blue shirt on and a pair of khaki's, Lindsay looked all grown up.
"No."
"What? Why!"
"That shirt is too tight across your chest." She had to be a responsible mother. After all, what would it look like if she allowed her daughter to look like a hooker in school. She wasn't going to allow Lindsay to grow up like she did. Lindsay was going to wait to go to college, get an education and get married before she had sex. And if that meant her daughter looking like she came out of under a rock, then so be it.
"But mom!"
"No buts, missy. Your B's don't fit in an extra small shirt like that." Lindsay's face flushed, before she went back into the stall to change.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation--
It sucked, there was one day till Christmas Eve and Cassie was here hangoing out with her cousins. They'd been in Texas a grand total of three days so far and all the sandy blonde haired teen heard about from her aunts was either "look how cute Nicky's friend is" or "Oh my gosh, do you think they are secret lovers?" The lists of conspiracys ran long of the girls trying to figure out if their brother was gay and, even, if Greg was gay. Cassie was even shocked to hear that her uncle Chris had gotten in on the action.
"I'm so bored, Lindsay!"
"You're bored? Ha! What about me?" Lindsay retorted as she held Hammy in her hands, petting his softly.
"Mmh, good point." The two girls shared a short laugh. "So, this entire vacation, my Aunts and Uncle have been trying to see if Dad and Greg are gay for each other."
"Well, duh, that's obivious enough."
"True, but remember, I'm in Texas. They are not used to homosexuals here. I think it's forbidden in fact; way they act." Flopping down on the couch in the game room, Cassie turned on the TV and settled on Spike TV.
"But how can you not tell?"
"I know. Dad is none to secretavie about his feelings for Greg." Turning down the volume, Cassie adjusted herself on the couch, proping her feet up on the arm rest.
"Hopefully, something good will come out of this vacation--oops, someone's on the other line. Gotta' go, bye!"
Aggravated that Lindsay had gotten off the phone so quickly, Cassie lolled her head to the side. The glow of the lit Christmas tree illuminated the room, casting a soft glow on the girls face. Looking to the tree, Cassie felt a string pull at her heart. She could see her father lifting her over his shoulders, just to place the star or angle on the top of the tree while her mother and brother would continue to decorate the tree with tiny ornimants.
It hurt that they weren't here to share her new life with Nick and Greg. But, as she learned over time, everything has a lesson to be learned. What was her lesson then? To know what if felt like growing up in an all Texan family? To know that there are still people in the world who still cared and loved her? She wasn't sure, but from time to time again, she found herself coming back to that same question, wanting to know the answer.
Reaching into her bag, Cassie pulled her computer and logged onto the internet. Signing onto AIM, she was shocked when a single person instant messenged her.
SoccerJock: Hey kiddo
xXScooterXx: I'm not a kid, I'm almost 17
xXScooterXx: You're not that much older than me!
SoccerJock: I am 17 years old.
xXScooterXx: Yeah, well...
SoccerJock: lol, so what's up?
xXScooterXx: I'm so freaking bored, it's insane!
SoccerJock: Tell me about it. Dad and Luke have been out for hours.
xXScooterXx: Ew, only wondering what they are doing.
SoccerJock: Please, spare me.
xXScooterXx: lol
xXScooterXx: So, is your dad and Luke actually dating or are they just friends with benefits?
SoccerJock: No, they've been together for over a few years now.
SoccerJock: Why?
xXScooterXx: Cause, I want to know how to get daddy and uncle greggo together.
SoccerJock: Well, since their brothers, I don't think they will get together.
xXScooterXx: No! No, nothing like that.
xXScooterXx: Dad's not related to Greggo in any way. They work together and I've known Greg since I was 10 years old. So, he's just been like my awesome uncle through everything.
SoccerJock: Oh
Laughing to herself, Cassie looked up when she heard her two cousins, Gavin and Hayden, bounding down the stairs. "Cassie! Uncle Nicky says you need to go get ready for church!!!" They both screamed at the same time. Sure, they were the same ages, but damn, two six year olds were annoying when you weren't getitng paid for it.
"I'm going. I'm going." turning back to her computer screen, Cassie's fingers skipped over the keys telling her new friend that she'll talk to him later. Rushing upstairs, after shutting and storing her computer, Cassie instantly when to straightening her hair.
In the other room, down the hall, Nick stood pacing his room, wondering where Greg had gone. When the younger had acked that morning to borrow his Tahoe, Nick had no idea that the younger would be gone for nearly six hours. His family was leaving in one hour, and Nick was really hoping that Greg would work his dazzling charm on his whole family.
Sharing a room with the blonde for the last three days had taken it's tole on Nick. The first morning, Nick woke up with Greg curled up in his arms, with his head resting on Nick's chest. Even a small pool of drool had been collecting over his heated skin. Luckily he had detached himself before Greg woke up to find them like that. The second night, Greg had been sleep talking and muttering Nick's name all night. Then, last night, the younger woke up in a cold sweat. He was breating heavilly. But when Nick asked him about it, the CSI just curled up in his arms and went back to sleep.
The blonde was a mystery, even to Nick, who thought he knew the younger so well. It had seemed that ever since Cassie came into Nick's life, Greg was always there, willing to babysit, pick the young girl up from school, tudor her, and be a second father to her. It had seemed that Greg had always been there, and Nick had to wonder why he hadn't seen it before. Maybe then, he would know what's wrong with the man and be able to just hold him in his strong arms and tell Greg that everything was going to be okay... Just because I'm here.
"So sorry I'm late!" Greg said, bringing Nick out of his thoughts. Turning around, Nick wondered what Greg had stuffed under the bed, but decided not press the matter. "Traffic was terriable and... ugh!" Looking to the pair of khaki's and a nice polo hanging up for him in Nick's closet, Greg grabbed the articles and ran to the bathroom. It seemed almost instantly that the shower was on, then off.
"It must me nice to have energy like that."
"Tell me about it." Hannah said from the door way.
Looking at his younger sister, Nick shook his head. "Hey, how's my baby sister?"
"Good!" Welcoming her brothers hug, Hannah kissed his cheek. "So, is that the hottie that my sisters have been bragging about?"
"Huh?"
"Oh please, Paige and Olovia have probably been staring at his package ever since they met him. The only reason they haven't jumped him is because the entire family thinks he's gay. You picked a good-one, Nicky. We were all shocked when you brought home that... Bo guy. He was a nerd, there was no way you two would work out."
"But Greg's so much different."
"He's a nerd too? Does he have a pocket protector like the last one?" She nearly screamed.
"No, but he's got a cool pair of Avaiators." Offering a smile to his babysister, Nick had to wonder how the gossip in the family had gotten to Hannah so quick.
"Hannah!" Cassie screamed! Hugging her aunt, the two girls seemed to beam to one another. "Come on, we need to talk." Just as the two seemed to head downstairs, Greg reappeared into the room, looking slightly winded.
"How do I look?" He asked softly.
Scanning his eyes over the formfitting khakkis and the dark blue polo with a white under shirt on, fitting snugly against his frame, Nick was at awe. A gold chained necklace rested on his collar bone, showing off the sparly cross hanging. His Bulova silver watch seemed to accent his whole outfit. Then there was his Dulce and Gabbana cologne that sent Nick's sences on overdrive. "Y-you look am-good."
"Huh?" Confused by Nick's stuttering, Greg softened his eyes and stepped back.
"I said, you look amazing." The breath-taking smile from Greg was all he needed to see. Greg was specical, and everyone could see that, including his family.
"Nicky, Greg, let's go!" Jillian called from the bottom of the steps, urging the two to hurry up so they would be late.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation--
Kira: I'm so sorry for the late update!!! Gah!!! But I made it longer, I think. I watched Criminal Minds and I wanted to cry this week as to what happened to Garcia... balls my eyes out... anyways! REVIEW AND READ!!!
--Dark Angel Kira--
