Title: Innovo Elementum

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own them. :'(

Chapter Title: Facing the Facts

A/N: This is a sequel to "City Lights" so I suggest you read that first before this. Plus, this story is probably going to be in these categories; angst, romance and drama. Plus, the chapter title means "New Beginnings" in Latin. If that is in correct then please tell me.

Nick had never felt so sore in his life. His stomach ached, his hands bled randomly, and his head was pounding. He couldn't move his neck much without getting a sharp pain down his spine. It was even hard to talk.

His Doctor, Dr. Harrison, had given him medicine to try to ease the pain but it didn't seem to help much. She had also mentioned to him that he may be staying in the Hospital longer than they expected. She explained that he was in worse condition now then he was when he was brought in.

It had confused him. Usually when you go to a Hospital you get better. Why was it the opposite for him? He asked that question to Dr. Harrison and she had told him that everyone was different and that people's healings went in different ways.

The only thing Nick looks forward to during his hospital stay be the visits he received from his colleagues. He had enjoyed the small gifts they had given him and the words of encouragement and hope. Grissom had visited the least out of the group. Catherine said that he probably had work he had to catch up on.

Greg visited the most and Nick didn't mind mostly, because Greg was a younger brother to Nick and because the both of them had gone through the gang attack together. It was a bond that only the two of them could see.

Greg arrived shortly after Dr. Harrison's check up on Nick. He had watched as Greg came in and pulled a chair up next to Nick's bed.

"Hey," Greg said smiling as Nick smiled faintly back, "I brought some stuff for your room."

Nick couldn't speak without his throat hurting so he just gave Greg a confused look.

"Well, seriously man, look at the walls." Greg noted as Nick glanced around at the blank, bare walls. True, they were empty but Nick wasn't so sure if the hospital would mind if Greg decorated. Even Nick kind of feared of what the younger man could do.

"I know you can't really talk or anything," Greg said as he lifted up the book bag that he had brought in with him and opened it up, "so, I'm going to hold up some stuff and you can just nod if you like it and shake your head if you don't."

Nick swallowed hard. "I…can…say some things, G." Nick managed to say as Greg looked over his shoulder at him. "But…don't expect anything longer than this."

The two of them had become more and more comfortable with one another over time. It use to start off with Greg nervous and Nick really uncomfortable with Greg always around but as the days and weeks had passed, the two of them had overcome it. Even Dr. Harrison had mistaken Greg a couple times as Nick's brother.

"So, how about decorating?" Greg asked again, as he turned around to look at Nick. "I mean, do you want me to do it because if I was in this room I would have already pulled my head off. The room is too boring."

"I don't think," Nick stopped to cough, "that the hospital would want you…to decorate their walls."

Greg had frowned and sighed, tossing his book bag to the floor. "Fine. I see how it is. You just don't want me to decorate."

Nick laughed slightly. "How's...work?"

"That new CSI replacement, Michelle, she's annoying."

Michelle West had replaced Nick's spot only until he was able to come back from recovering. She was only twenty-six years old, making her the youngest. So far she's been doing fine, getting along with most people except for Greg which was odd to Nick. The only person that Nick knew that Greg didn't get along with was Hodges but heck, no one could.

"She thinks she's all that. Man, I can't wait until you come back and kick her out. She thinks that everyone likes her and she even stole some of my coffee that I know I didn't make for her."

"Greg, she's on a different shift."

"Yeah but still. I've heard things about her."

Nick's eye brow rose.

"I think her and Hodges are planning something."

"Like?"

"I don't know. I seem them talking a lot. You know how Hodges is."

"G, don't worry about it." Nick said as he yawned. The medicine the doctors had him on made him tired.

Greg had noticed the yawn and thought of it sort of as a cue to leave. "Alright. I've got some things I have to do before shift." He said as he zipped up the book bag he brought with him and swung it around his shoulders.

"See you tomorrow." Nick said as Greg gave him a small wave before the CSI in training had gathered his own belongings and left Nick to rest.

--

"How are you holding up?" Sara asked, as she walked into the locker room and over to her locker which was two away from Greg's. After the attack she and Greg had started to slightly become closer.

"You shouldn't be asking me that." Greg said, as he took off his jacket, not realizing how rude he had just sounded.

"Why shouldn't I?" she asked as she unlocked her lock and pulled it off.

"Because I'm perfectly healthy compared to Nick. I'm not the one locked in a hospital room alone with pain."

She had become silent as she rummaged through her locker.

"I don't have deep cuts and broken bones," he continued as he closed his locker door shut. "The only thing I have is a scar from the bullet and that is nothing."

"Did you ever go to see that psychiatrist that Grissom told you about?" She asked as she grabbed her badge before closing her locket.

"I don't need one." Greg argued. "I'm fine."

Sara sighed as she turned to face him. "Greg, maybe you should consider about seeing one. I know it's been a couple of weeks but you never know. It might help you."

Greg shook his head and moved around her. "I don't need to pay someone to tell me how messed up I am."

"That's not what they're for. They're to help you."

"I'm fine. I don't need any help." He said, leaving it at that, as he left the locker room, leaving Sara standing there with a nauseating feeling in the bottom of her stomach.

BlondeNeko