Chapter Three: Constant

Nick threw his keys into his apartment and they hit something with a ping. Nick didn't know what they hit, and he didn't go to find out. He let his coat fall to the floor in front of the door. He didn't even know why he'd gone into work. Everyone had tiptoed around him, gone out of their way to ask him how he was, and in the process, not let him get any work done. Even Grisson had told him to "take it easy." Nick didn't want to take it easy. Nick wanted to catch murderers and rapists and theifs and whatever else was out there to catch, and he wanted to forget about Nigel Crane. And his co-workers and boss were not helping to that goal.

Greg hadn't come to work. Grissom had been pissed, because he had to call in one of the other lab techs from day shift, who was also pissed at being moved. Nick had been pissed because everyone was coddling him, which made Warrick pissed because he was working with him. Catherine was pissed because she was always pissed, and Sara was probably the only one in a semi-good mood. Keyword: semi-good. Without Greg there, there was no one to make them laugh. He really was important. No wonder Grissom never let him take vacation days.

Nick flicked on the lights and made his way to his bed room, noting for future reference that his keys had landed next to one of the lamps by his couch. He'd need to find them in the morning, and didn't have time to go rooting around because he'd forgotten which direction he'd thrown them.

As soon as he entered his bedroom, he froze. The bed was still unmade, the sheets thrown haphazardly everywhere. There was a little indintation in the mattress where Greg had slept on his side, closest to the door, and another one where Nick had slept next to him. The bedroom was haunted with memories, and Nick didn't feel like he could handle those memories right now.

He walked back into the living room, grabbed his keys, picked up his coat, and left, slamming the door much harder than he'd meant to. He cringed at the sound, and walked briskly down the hallway. Down the front steps, down the sidewalk. Everything was down. Fitting, slightly, Nick mused.

He wondered what he'd do the next time he saw Greg. Chew him out for leaving? Apologize for putting him in that situation? Kiss him again? Boy, he wanted to, but he probably wouldn't. He'd probably keep his head down and only speak when necessary.
Nick looked across the street. The houses were all in a row, orderly and neat. Constant. Nothing was constant in his life, except those houses in their cute little rows with their cute little bushes and lawn ornaments. They had always been there, since he'd moved there, and they always would be if he had anything to say about it. Not that he would. Now that he thought about it, they weren't really that constant at all.

Nick looked back in front of him, and wandered down the sidewalk. A taxi drove by, and he motioned for it. It stopped. He told the driver to take him to a coffee shop he often went to, just for the hell of it. It would probably be closed, or it might just be empty. Nick didn't really care. He was only going somewhere to be somewhere, not as if there was any point. He could have gone anywhere and it wouldn't have mattered. No where was important to him at the moment. No where was home.

Greg was determined, like he'd never been, and when Nick got out of the taxi in front of the coffee shop, his heart jumped. He realized he hadn't thought much farther than this. He considered yelling Nick's name, but he didn't want to risk him just getting in the cab again and driving away. He waited patiently until Nick paid and the taxi had driven down the block, and then he approached.

"Nick," he said, his voice choking in his throat. Nick turned around and didn't look surprised to see him. He didn't look anything, in fact.

"I'm not sure that I want to talk to you," Nick said, and he really did sound unsure. His voice had lost it's edge, and he was talking so quietly that it was hard to detect his accent. Greg gave a weak smile.

"I wouldn't want to talk to me, either," he said. "Fortunately, I don't have that dillema, seeing as I try not to talk to myself too much anyway. Sometimes I slip up, though, and it's usually right when someone's coming into the lab to talk to me. Serendipity, I suppose, but I still wish it wouldn't happen."

Nick smiled in spite of himself. He could tell that Greg was nervous, ranting like that. "It must have taken a lot of courage to come talk to me," he wondered, aloud, mostly to himself. Greg nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, it did!" he said. He looked up at Nick and sighed. "I just... I'm sorry. I was scared. I shouldn't have left... but I did. You have to understand."

Nick didn't say anything. He just looked solemnly down at the younger man, with his cute, puppy-dog eyes. He was begging, Nick decided. Begging Nick to forgive him. Nick still wasn't sure that he could do that.

"You lied," Nick said, finally, his soft voice rising. "You told me you weren't scared of me, and then you left without even saying good-bye. What the hell am I supposed to think?"

Greg looked at the ground. It was his turn to say nothing.

"I know you're sorry," Nick continued, "but I'm not sure if I'm ready to forgive you yet. I'm not sure if you're really sorry, or if you're just saying this now so things don't have to be awkward between us."

"Don't you think they will be awkward between us anyway?" Greg said. "At least for a while. I'm new at this, Nick. I didn't know what to do. I-I freaked. I'm sorry. Really sorry. I'm not just saying that."

"I'm not sure there's much you can do to prove that to me," Nick said, and walked brisking passed him, into the coffee shop. Greg grabbed his arm, but Nick pulled it away. He stopped for a moment. He looked over his shoulder. Greg was staring at him, imploringly.

"This was more than a one-night stand, Greg," Nick said. "Even if it only lasted one night."

"It doesn't have to," Greg said, but Nick was already gone. Greg stood for he didn't know how long, just staring at the ground. He could have stayed there forever. He couldn't feel his heart beating in his chest. He couldn't feel himself breathing. Nick hadn't broken his heart, Nick had grabbed it from his chest and thrown it as far as he could.

Of course, that's probably what you did to him, too, Greg thought. He looked up. He was still determined, he decided. He wasn't about to give up so easily.He marched into the coffee shop. Nick was still sitting at a table, ignoring the cup of coffee in his hands. He didn't notice Greg come in. Before he knew what he was doing, Greg swooped down to connect their mouths.

Nick nearly screamed, until he realized who it was. He calmed, and then nearly screamed agian, until Greg silenced him with his tongue. He wasn't shy anymore, he wasn't scared. He was sturdy, strong, everything Nick needed, all rolled up into one kiss. He was constant.

Greg pulled away. People were staring at them, but he didn't care. He barely even noticed. Nick had his mouth open. It was comical. It almost made Greg laugh.

"Did I prove anything to you?" he asked. Nick smiled a crooked smile and laughed.

"Yeah," he said. "You proved a lot."

FINISHED

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews. I have another Nick/Greg idea in the works, but I want to get some other fics finished first, so hang tight. Really, though, you're reviews have given me so much encouragment. . Thanks so much! Feel free to review any of my other fics. (wink wink, knudge knudge). Thanks again!