Chapter Twenty Five:
"G wake up! Greg! Greg!" I snapped my eyes open looking round at Nick stood outside the parked truck. "We're home. C'mon bud, you can sleep upstairs." Nick ushered me out as he pulled the bags out the back.
I looked around at the parking lot then yawned widely. "I fell asleep?"
"Yeah, about an hour ago. You were completely out." He chuckled, closing up the back of his truck. "C'mon G, out."
"I'm coming." I moaned, sleepily rubbing my eyes open as I took the giant leap down from his truck. "What's the rush?" I asked, leaning against the side of his truck as I struggled to wake myself up.
"People could be watchin'." He stated, sounding completely paranoid. "Did you sleep well, sleepy head?" He asked, pulling his bag over his shoulder. I shrugged grabbing my bag from the floor beside him. "Did you have another nightmare?" I shrugged again then looked up at the wide eyed expression on Nick's face. I looked in the same direction he was, seeing an angry pregnant Starla coming towards us.
Uh oh!
"Where the hell have you been Nick?" Starla shouted as she waddled over.
I watched as the blood completely drained from Nick's face, deciding to step in to speak for the speechless broken man behind me. His biggest fear was that Starla would find out about us and here she was. "Well Nick just picked me up from the airport..."
"Was I talking to you, yah little dweeb!" She shouted at me.
"Hey, don't shout at Greg!" Nick defended me. "I was just pickin' him up from the airport like he said."
"I'm not little." I moaned at her.
"Greg's just got back from LA." Nick explained.
"I don't care about Greg! I mean the doctor's appointment you missed!" She shouted angrily, folding her arms over her increasingly huge stomach. "I shoulda known better, I mean you were a lousy husband too."
"I got busy at work is all." Nick simply stated.
They were about to argue again but both of their eyes turned to me as if I was an unwanted third party to their bickering.
Quick, make up an excuse and get out of there! "Oh, I should... I should go." I grabbed my bag and Nick's from his hands so she thought it was mine, heading off for the front door as I retrieved my keys from my pocket.
"Yes you should." Starla barked after me.
"Goodbye Scarla, nice to see you again." I remarked sarcastically, just to piss her off even more.
"It's Star-la!" She yelled making Nick snicker.
"I. Don't. Care." I stated back walking off into the apartment complex without Nick at my side.
I hope this thing with Starla doesn't make Nick stay ten feet away from me at all times. I just got him. I can't lose him now.
I rode the elevator up alone, feeling my skin still crawling from the dream that haunted my mind. I wished they would stop already. I was so sick of these restless nights. I didn't want to be tormented by him in my dreams still. This time as Ryan fell in the pool I went to check if he was okay when he suddenly pulled me in, holding my head under so I couldn't breathe.
I shivered at the memory again.
I looked up as the lift opened up to the eighth floor, looking down the hall at my apartment door. There was an envelope stuck to it just beneath the spy hole. I raised my keys to the lock, pulling the envelope off as I unlocked the door.
A love letter to Nick. Great!
As the letter wasn't sealed I decided to take a peek. Just to check he wasn't cheating on me already, of course. I dropped my bag on the floor as I made my way towards the couch, pulling the letter from the envelope. It was written on a light pink piece of paper with little hearts in each corner, reading:
'Dear Nick,
It is very important for me to express to you how much you really mean to me. I wish I could do this in person while holding you in my arms and gazing into your eyes. But since we are physically separated by miles of emptiness, this expression must come in the form of letters such as this.'
What? Separated miles apart? Who did he tell that he was going to Los Angeles? I decided to continue reading even though my heart was aching already at the thought of Nick cheating on me.
'I know it is difficult for you Nick, as it is for me, to be separated for so long. Life seems to be full of trials like this that test our inner strength and more importantly, our devotion and love for one another.
What I'm trying to say Nicky is that I love you. I can't forget about you Nick. I wish you didn't have to make it so difficult for the both of us. I wish I didn't love you.
I just wish we could work things out.
Yours truly
~ Cathleen ~
All I could think of was, what a bitch! Nicky's mine! What should I do? I pondered looking around the apartment. I could hide it and never let him see it? Or I could play the immediate jealous boyfriend that I am and confront him about it.
I decided to hide it. Cowards route!
I shoved it back in the envelope then stuffed it under the sofa. I'd have to do some CSI work to find out who this Cathleen is.
I crashed back on the sofa, stretching my legs out to get comfy. Starla must be giving Nick an earful downstairs. They can never talk for this long, only argue.
I closed my eyes as I relaxed back against the cushions, so glad to be back home, finally! I hoped things with Nick wouldn't change too much now that we were back. He seemed okay in the car, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.
A few minutes later I felt a soft butterfly kiss to my forehead. "C'mon Greg, the bed would be comfier." Nick's voice rasped as he pulled my arm over his shoulder, lifting me up into his strong arms. A few seconds later I felt myself being lowered to my bed. Nick pulled my sneakers off, softly running his fingers through my tousled hair. "Good night sleepin' beauty." He whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of my face.
At least he still loves me!
I woke up a few hours later, softly rubbing my eyes open. I stretched my arms out, turning to face the warm body beside me. Nick was lying on his back, with a book in his hands. "Hi there, sleepy head." He smiled softly as he saw me awake. He snapped the book in his hands shut, placing it on the bed beside him as he rolled to face me. "Did yah sleep well Bubba?"
"Not bad . . . how did I get here?" I asked looking around the room.
"I carried you." He pressed a soft kiss to my cheek as his hand drifted down my chest. "You know we are goin' to have to talk about these dreams of yours eventually G."
"Isn't that a job for a psychiatrist?" I joked.
"Yeah, but psychiatrist's don't watch you sleep. I do and it scares me. You toss and turn all night then you start sweatin' and shakin' . . . what's goin' on in that head of yours baby?" He asked, trailing his fingertips across my forehead as he looked into my eyes.
"It's nothing . . . probably just that post traumatic stress thing you were talking about."
"You wonna talk about it G?" I shook my head. "No . . . well I'm always here if you need me." His hand drifted further down my body.
"Here I thought you'd be too afraid to touch me once we hit Vegas." I chuckled.
"Not quite." He smiled, slipping his other hand down my side to grip my hip. "I still wonna be with you . . . and you are irresistible." He seductively rasped.
"I noticed." I grinned widely. Nick captured my lips for a passionate kiss, swirling his tongue around in my mouth. I closed my eyes as he softly sucked on my lower lip, sliding his palm across my chest again. "When do you have to go to work?" I asked.
Nick looked up at the clock. "Less than an hour . . . do you want to? I mean it has nearly been eleven hours?"
"You've been counting?" I laughed.
"I love the feel of being inside of you Greg; I've never felt closer to anyone in my entire life." He admitted. "I think I'm addicted to you, I keep cravin' you."
"It's the honeymoon phase." I smiled up at him. "Something new and exciting gets your adrenaline pumping for me."
"Gets the blood flowin' too." He smirked, sliding his hand across my crotch.
"Well we could..." I reached over for my side draw, disappointed as I didn't have any condoms left. "But we don't have any condoms in here; you got some in your stash." I turned to look round at Nick, watching as he pulled a condom out of his jeans pocket along with a small tube of lubricant. "Always come prepared, huh?" I laughed, looking at the lust in his eyes.
"We don't have to . . . if you're too tired."
I looked round at the time then back at Nick. "Well I've gotta do something to keep me awake. I have to switch my sleeping schedule again."
"I know. I hate doing that." He groaned.
I lifted my t-shirt off my head, tossing it over the side of the bed. "Well? What are you waiting for cowboy?"
Nick rolled on top of me, joining our lips for a sensual kiss as his hands caressed the sides of my body. "All this time I've known you, I never thought we'd be sharin' somethin' so special." He smiled at me.
"Are you glad we are?"
"Very." He rasped. "The first time was a little weird coz your Greg . . . but now it seems perfect and right."
"Told yah." I smiled up at him. "And what do you mean weird coz I'm Greg? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked feeling offended.
"Well you know." He gulped nervously. "I-I just mean... You know... You're Greg Sanders, the quirky lab rat that danced in the halls with a show girl's hat on his head, along with a rubber glove." He anxiously chuckled. "You can make jokes out of anythin' . . . and you're always so confident and sure of yourself."
"Not always . . . you're forgetting tons of over stuff there that's different about me... do you think I'm a freak or something?" I pouted.
"No way, I think you're adorable . . . Oh but you did check out one of your dates DNA under the scope, that's a little freaky. I hope you don't do that to me."
"Technically... I already have." I cheekily grinned.
He looked at me surprised. "When?" He gasped.
"I'm not a crazy stalker before you start thinking that." I quickly clarified. "I had to look at your little swimmers for the Kristy Hopkins case."
"Oh." Nick remembered. "That's true." He ground his hips against me, kissing me passionately again. "Think it's time I take a look at your DNA again Sanders." He rasped as he worked my jeans open.
"You sure you want to?"
"Gotta keep practisin' . . . I don't want you to leave me for someone more experienced." He smiled, kissing me hungrily again.
"Never happen." I gasped as his hands slid beneath my boxers, making me harden instantly.
Nick slid my jeans and boxers off my legs so I was completely naked beneath him, working kisses across my jaw line, down my neck then across my exposed chest. I closed my eyes as his mouth enveloped me perfectly; weaving my fingers through his hair as he softly licked and sucked in all the right places, just like a professional.
I moaned his name as I started to shudder, arching my chest up off the mattress as I felt the ecstasy surging through my body.
Nick returned to my mouth, kissing me deeply so I could taste myself on his tongue. I love it when he does that. Suddenly my doubts about him cheating on me were put aside. Maybe I should tell him about the letter?
Nick slowly pulled back, licking his lips, staring into my eyes lovingly. "Yep, you still taste perfect G . . . just as I thought, nice and sweet." He grinned down at me, brushing his fingers gently through my hair. "Do you wonna shower with me G?" He asked holding the condom packet and lube in his hand as a clear sign of what he wanted.
"Okay. I won't make you late will I?"
"No." He cheekily smiled pressing a kiss to my lips. "I always come on time." He joked, pulling me off the bed with him.
"My God, a quick chat with Starla and you're completely gay." I laughed. "She turn you off women completely?"
"No, one quick chat with Starla made me realise how much more I love bein' with you G. You're perfect, irresistibly gorgeous and sexy as hell." He rasped, pulling me into the bathroom with him. I slid his jeans down off his legs then lifted his shirt off his head as we kissed our way towards the shower.
Nick flung his boxers off as I pulled us under the spray of the shower, watching as he set the supplies down on the side. "Remember our first shower together?" He rasped against my parted lips.
"How could I forget?" I smiled widely at him, between kisses, caressing my hands down his silky smooth body.
"I can't believe how far we've come." He cupped my face in his hands, looking passionately into my eyes. "I really do love you Greg. I've never felt like this over anybody before." He tilted his head to the side, smothering me in lusty kisses as his hands slid down my body to rest at my hips. "You're bruises are gone." He suddenly noticed my arms.
"I told you they were no big deal." Nick lifted my wrist to his mouth, softly kissing the skin that was once bruised. "I bruise easily."
"I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I'd do without you G."
"Let's not find out." I smiled at him, circling my arms around his waist to pull us closer together. "C'mon, you really are going to be late for work at this rate."
"Right." Nick covered my mouth with his as he ground his hips against me, slowly turning me in his arms to face the wall. I closed my eyes as the water poured down across my face, feeling two of Nick's lube coated fingers steadily slipping inside of me. I held the bar in front of me to keep myself steady as my knees started to weaken already.
Nick dispensed warm kisses to my neck and back before I heard the condom wrapper opening and his fingers slipped out of me under much protest. Nick gently kicked my feet apart a little more to spread my legs before he slipped himself inside me.
I gave out a loud gasp as he slid so smoothly inside of me, feeling his arms wrapping around my chest as he slowly started thrusting his hips towards me. The world around me began to melt away as Nick made passionate blissful love to me. I'm so glad he still feels confident enough to touch me even though we're back in Vegas.
He soon had us both seeing stars, so much so that I actually fell asleep again in his arms this time.
I woke up a few hours later on the bed, feeling completely relaxed. This time I hadn't been awoken by some horrible nightmare. I yawned widely then heard a high pitched ring coming from the bedside table. God that bloody phone again! I really must change the ring tone.
I reached over for it, snapping it open as I put it to my ear I yawned again. "Sa-Sanders."
"I knew you'd fall asleep again." Nick answered with a laugh.
"I did not." I lied, trying to hold out another yawn.
Nick laughed into the phone again as he heard me trying to stifle a yawn. "This is the fourth time I've called you today Greg. And the only time you've answered."
"I coulda been busy."
"You were asleep; I know your just woken up voice well." He smirked. "Greg you gotta stay awake if you wonna get your sleepin' schedule back on track or you'll be completely exhausted by the time you come into work in a few days."
"I've got plenty of time to switch over. I was just about to start the laundry."
"Really?" He laughed, not believing me for a second. "What are you wearin' right now then G?" I looked around the dimly lit bedroom, reaching for the bedside light. I lifted the covers slightly, looking down at myself to see I hadn't even got dressed since our shower together. "You're still in bed right where I left yah, huh?"
"How do you know these things?" I giggled, rolling onto my stomach. "Do you have a secret spy cam in my bedroom somewhere?"
"Nope . . . maybe I should get one though so I can catch you out when yah lyin' to me you little tease."
"Kinky." I cheekily giggled. "That's not a half bad idea actually Nicky, maybe you can pick one up on your lunch break, I can put on a little show for yah?" I teased him. "Do you think Grissom would mind you watching porn on your off hours? Or do you think he'd join you."
"Ew Greg . . . you really are a horny lil perv G, you ruined a perfectly good tease by addin' Grissom. I don't want him pervin' over my pervy little boyfriend."
"I'm not a perv; the camera was your idea." I laughed, feeling him rolling his eyes at me through the phone. "Even if I am I'm your horny little perv of a boyfriend."
"And don't you forget it baby." He chuckled softly. "I gotta get back to work now G, just wanted to make sure you were awake!"
"And I was."
"Yeah, yeah... go and do somethin' to keep yourself awake until I get home Bubba."
"Craving me already Sugarplum?"
"Yep, I'm shakin' and sweatin' like a drug addict without a fix." He teased me. I licked my lips, still able to taste him on my breath. "Luckily I stole a kiss before I left so I can still kinda taste you, but I'm gonna need another fix soon... shoulda never gone cold turkey from you baby." He joked, but I think he was actually seriously craving me.
"You got spoiled too fast cowboy." I chortled.
"Yeah, but you are irresistible G." I smiled widely, rolling onto my back again. "I'll call yah later baby, or text yah if I'm workin' late." All these years I've known him I always thought he was a straight up tough guy but he really does have a romantic soft side to him. I've grown super addicted to his affection over the past few days.
"Okay . . . you really are a big softie Nicky."
"Only to you though Greg, don't tell anyone." He joked. "Bye baby, gotta go . . . don't go back to sleep." He warned me before he hung up.
"Even to dream of you?"
"Especially that, I'll be home to you as soon as I can."
"Okay, love you Nicky."
"Love you too Bubba."
There's that nickname again. Bubba. I suppose it's not so bad.
I snapped my phone shut with a Cheshire grin on my face, taking a minute to stretch out and wake up before I crawled out of bed to get some clothes on, to only realise all my stuff needed washing. I grabbed a pair of Nick's boxers then started the first laundry load, sitting myself in front of the television to catch up on everything I TiVo'd while I was away.
I started off with some Lost; Hurley's gotta be my favourite character. I especially loved the episode when he tried to help Jack out, but his hemophobia got to him and he collapsed during the surgery; it reminds me of when I first went out into the field as Nick's assistant. As soon as that bus driver started choking up blood I completely froze up. I never knew I was afraid of blood before then, it doesn't bother me so much anymore, but you never forget your first time. Certainly not my first time with Nick. That one will live with me forever!
I stayed put on the sofa until the first load of washing was done, putting in the next load before I returned to the sofa with a bag of thin and crispy potato chips, barbeque flavour. Mmm, my favourite. Nick tells me not to eat them because he's so concerned with his diet and everything. But I never get fat no matter what I eat, and they taste good!
Thinking of Nick again made me think back to the love letter.
I pulled the love letter out from under the sofa to read through it again. If I had Nick's phone book I could look through it to find this mysterious Cathleen. The envelope didn't have an address on it so she must have hand delivered it.
Ooh! I have an idea. I quickly grabbed some of my clothes, which I soon found out were still a little bit wet, before heading off downstairs to my car.
"You want me to what?" Mandy asked confused.
I rolled my eyes at her, I explained it very clearly to her, yet she was still looking at me like I was off my nut. "Run. The. Prints." I clearly stated to her again, checking the halls constantly to make sure Nick didn't see me. It was bad enough that I didn't tell him about the letter, but now I was even checking it for prints. What was I going to do next? Get an arrested warrant for this Cathleen woman for taking an interest in my boyfriend?
"Okay." She sighed heavily, pulling some gloves on to print the letter and envelope in my hands.
"Don't read it though." I warned her as she started to look it over. "I just need to know whose prints are on it."
"Did you touch it?" I nodded. Mandy pulled out a print card handing it to me. "I'll need yours to exclude them from the others." I quickly ducked under the table as I saw Nick walking past in the hallway talking with Sara. I watched him go then saw Mandy crouch down too. "Greg? What are you doing?" She asked completely confused, looking at me like I was an idiot now.
"I don't want anyone to see me. It's supposed to be my day off." I simply explained, climbing to my feet again. "Can you do it for me or not?"
"I can. Prints." She ordered, pointing to the ten card. I opened the little ink pallet, pressing my fingers into them then onto the ten card, leaving perfect imprints of my fingerprints. "So why do you want me to print a love letter addressed to Nick?" I kept quite watching her taking some prints off the letter. "So why are you spying on Nick's love life?"
"I'm not." I protested, folding my arms across my chest. "Just do the prints Mandy!"
"Okay." She smiled widely. "Let's see if they're in the system then." Mandy scanned the prints into her computer, starting a comparison match.
"How long will this take?" I anxiously asked, keeping an eye on Nick in the DNA lab with Wendy.
"Not long. Patience Greg." She smiled at me. "So... I've always suspected there was something a little off about you. I never thought you had the hots for Nick though."
"I don't."
"You're just stalking him then? Isn't that a little creepy?" She snickered. "Got a match." I walked round the table to look over her shoulder. "Cathleen Taylor. She's a criminal lawyer."
"Can you bring up a picture?"
Mandy looked at me curiously. "What's it worth to you?"
"Huh?"
"Seeing the woman Nick's been screwing? What's it worth to you? Are you jealous of him, or in love with him?"
"The picture Mandy." I insisted, but she held it captive and she was surprisingly strong for a lab tech girl. I tried to open it myself but she could easily defend me off. Maybe I'm really just that pathetic. "Okay... I'll give you twenty dollars." I pulled my wallet out, handing over the money.
Mandy held it up to the light, checking it was real then opened the picture. I watched as she brought it up seeing a very smart looking woman with wavy black hair and crystal blue eyes. I had never seen her before and Nick had never talked about her either. "Thanks Mandy. Don't tell anyone." I went to grab the letter but she held it out of my reach. "Mandy." I moaned.
"What's it worth to you?"
"What? I just gave you twenty dollars."
"That was for the picture. What's it worth to you to keep this a secret?" She smiled widely at me.
I groaned heavily, folding my arms across my chest. "God is everyone out to blackmail me? Do I have schmuck written across my forehead?"
"No. What do you mean everyone?" She asked confused.
"Never mind . . . How about . . . dinner?" I suggested.
"You're gonna buy me dinner?"
"Sure." I nodded. "As friends . . . not in a date like capacity." I warned her.
"Obviously if you're gay." She laughed at me. "How about a date of my choice? You can come along for morale support."
"Morale support for what?"
She tapped her nose smiling at me. "I'll call you later with the details." She winked, ushering me off out of her lab. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul you've got the hots for Nick Stokes and you're spying on him."
"I'm not." I angrily protested, checking Nick's whereabouts in the lab.
"If you say so." She chuckled. I frowned at her, sneaking out of the lab the same way I got in without anyone seeing me, heading towards my car.
I drove off to get a burrito to snack on before I got back to the laundry at home. As I was walking back to my car from Wal-mart I saw Rita, Ryan's mother. What the hell is she doing here? I thought about turning round and heading back but she had already seen me.
"You. Greg Sanders." She shouted. "You're Greg, right?"
"Um..." Don't answer that Greg! I warned myself. "So what if I am?" Smooth Greg!
"Are you Greg Sanders, the Greg Sanders that got my son arrested? The Greg Sanders who slept with my son, the disgusting little queer who turned my son gay again."
"Okay, technically your son was always gay. And he attacked me."
"Oh shut up you little queer!"
"Can people stop calling me little?" I moaned frustrated. "I'm not that small." That's really not the point Greg!
"Just stay away from my son." She shouted angrily.
"I'm not very likely gonna go and see him in jail am I?"
"He won't be in there for long you little shit! His brothers a lawyer you know. He'll be out of there before you know it!" She shouted then stormed off.
I leant against the side of my car, hearing her words echoing in my head. He'll be out of there before you know it. Over and over again.
No! Please No!
Sorry it took so long. Really busy few days at work and on the one day I did have off I suffered a complete writers block, unable to write a thing. But it seems to have worn off.
I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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