Chapter 4 by Shacky
Greg turned to look at his charge for the night, who was presently sitting on the couch solemnly. He closed and locked the door after seeing Warrick take off. Greg walked back towards the living room. Something had grabbed Nick's attention again, and he was completely engrossed in it. Greg saw this time what it was, a small brown medication bottle.
Nick realized he had been caught again for a second time in less than fifteen minutes. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he decided that honestly this time, would be the best policy. He couldn't hide it anymore.
"I just don't think I can take these, man. I know what they can do to you, and I can't feel out of control of the situation. I just cannot do that to myself." Nick desperately hoped his friend would get it and not press the issue too much. He wasn't up for a fight already.
"It's OK, I can understand that Nick, they really can make you groggy. Let's just wait on these for now. They'll be there later if you think you need them to sleep or relax later. All right?"
Greg removed the bottle from Nick's hands, out of sight out of mind he was taught. The ex-tech placed the bottle along Nick's kitchen counter with the rest of the medications. Jesus, there were so many. Greg shook his head. There were pills for everything: anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, medications to help him sleep, antidepressants just in case just in case all the other pills weren't doing the job, and now anti-anxiety pills completed the set. No wonder Nick didn't want to take anything else and feel more drugged up and out of control.
"Hey, can I get you anything while I'm out here?" Greg yelled from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I could use some tea."
"Do you want the hot stuff or the cold stuff?" Greg wasn't sure which he preferred right now.
"Iced please boss, although it was a nice thought. I'm not a hot tea kind of guy, ya know? Despite what Sara tried to hand off to me."
"Hey, no need to explain yourself to me," Greg said as he sat down a glass of iced tea for each of them. "Some things about me have changed, but I still drink enough coffee for the entire department." Greg always restocked the coffee stash, since he was responsible for consuming the most.
Nick laughed at that thought, how could he forget about Greg's coffee fixes? He hadn't seen much of the newest CSI since that damn shift split.
"Speaking of things changing. What in the world did you do with all of your old crazy shirts, man? Don't tell me they are ALL gone."
He looked over at Greg still milling around in the kitchen. Even though was off for the next couple of days still had on a plain old button down blue shirt, which covered up a plain old T-shirt, blue jeans and his black dress shoes.
"What is this man, a conspiracy? First Hodges, now you. What is this world coming to?" He waved his hand dismissvely at the perplexed look Nick gave him.
"Forget it, don't ask. Hodges tried to talk to me about fashion sense and style. Don't worry; I still have every one of those loud obnoxious shirts, thank you very much. I do still get to go out on rare occasions and need something fashionable to dress in. I'm just going for the more professional look now." Greg said, smugly.
"Well, it's just you know, it takes some time getting used to the new you. The old Greg was so, so not like this." Nick hoped his point came across without making his friend feel bad.
"Hey, the old me is still under here so you and Hodges can stop your worrying about it. The other Greg, well let's just say he's keeping a lower profile now." He turned his head to look back at Nick, who actually grinned at him, which was a great sight to see, even if it was at his fashion expense.
"Anyway, it's about time I think you got something to eat. What sounds good to you? Probably anything after hospital food for four days." Greg understood he had to get his friend to eat something with that medication, and he wanted to make it was as tempting as possible.
"Yeah, I could go for a little something." But the thought behind the words didn't even sound believable to him.
"Well, OK, let's try this again, but with a little more enthusiasm. Hey Nick, are you hungry for anything bud, come on, my treat. Even on my meager CSI salary now."
"Yeah, yeah, we all know, pay cut. I probably don't want to know what you made before your 'promotion' do I?" Nick asked jokingly.
Greg just looked at him and shook his head. "No, you don't, and you're stalling. Food, now." He pressed the subject one more time.
"Ok, Ok, let's see here, I think I could go for some Chinese. I think. Something simple though, just some fried rice or something." He figured the compromise was good since he wasn't too hungry, but knew there wasn't any getting out of it completely.
"See, now that wasn't too hard, now was it? Be right back after I make that phone call." Greg called in their dinner.
An hour later, after several empty cartons of chicken fried rice and sweet and sour pork boxes, and the now finished basketball game. Nick was lay there half asleep on the couch. The sight made Greg feel at ease, on the inside, for the time being.
"Not bad for breakfast." Greg deadpanned. "This is usually my waking hour, but my body has no internal clock anymore. How's swing going? I don't get to talk to you too much anymore."
"Yeah I know man. It's still difficult getting used to. I mean after seven years of getting up when the sun's going down, it's damn hard to sleep when it's dark."
He wasn't being sarcastic. After he would get home, unless he pulled a double, Nick would usually sit up until at least 4 or 5 in the morning completely out of habit.
"Well, night shift sure isn't the same without you, Warrick, and Cath. It's kind of quiet. Sara and Sophia aren't ones for goofing around too much. No one to play video games with in the break room anymore." That was one thing Greg really missed about his friend not being there, just his companionship.
"Yeah, I miss those nights too, but have to go by Commander Ecklie's rules now unfortunately."
Nick stifled a yawn, as he realized he couldn't keep his need for sleep at bay any longer. "Hey man, I'm gonna head on to bed."
"Okay man, get some rest. I know where everything I need is already, so don't worry about me. If you need anything, I'm right here." Greg said gently, as he gave Nick a soft pat on the shoulder.
"Sure thing boss, I'll be fine, and... uh, thanks for staying with me... I really didn't want to be alone." Nick was afraid to admit it, but he was thankful his friend was here.
"No problem. Oh, and one more thing, are you sure you don't want that bubble bath Nicky?" Greg shouted over his shoulder at the retreating man.
"Ha Ha Ha, real funny lab boy!" Nick went down the hall towards his linen closet.
"Just trying to help."
"Ugh! Hey!" Greg felt the dull thud of something hit him in the back of the head. Ah, his blanket for the night, then another soft object hit his head, yep, his pillow.
"Kidding man, just kidding," Greg couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Nick's face.
"Yeah remember that, next time it will be that spare bowling ball I keep under my bed." Nick played back.
Nick went into his bathroom. God it felt good to be home, his own stuff, his place, and his personal space back. There were so many moments he thought he would never be standing here brushing his own teeth. He finished getting washed up and went into his bedroom.
The CSI took off his sweat pants and changed T-shirts. His neck and arms itched. Hell, every part of his flesh was so agitated, but he wasn't going to think about that. Nick turned off his light, closed the door and crawled into his own bed. It was a pure joy to have some privacy. It was his first time being alone. Nick shook his head. He was NOT going to think about the last time he was alone. He sighed, now was not the time to go down that road, he chastised himself.
Greg knew he wouldn't be able to sleep for several hours, and that was if he was lucky. It was only 10 o'clock. He was usually just getting ready for work at this hour. Everything had been so screwed up since that damn package come in. Twenty-four straight hours they spent searching for Nick. Then four more days back and forth from the hospital and Lab. He should be dead tired. But in reality, he was so wound up he could barely sit still, the adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. They found Nick alive. Greg wouldn't allow himself to think about what almost happened.
It didn't matter. All the what ifs and perhaps... were irrelevant now. Here he was sitting on Nick's couch about to settle in for the night while he took care of his friend. Yeah, life was pretty good at the moment as he sat there channel surfing.
Dark.
His room was so dark.
Nick never realized it before.
Quiet, it was really, really quiet.
Wasn't there usually more noise then this?
After sleeping during the day and working nights for so many years, he still hadn't gotten used to the stillness of the evening. Where was Greg and why was he making so little noise? He was sure the younger man was still out there. He wouldn't have left him alone, would he? Nick knew he had been in here close to an hour, but no matter how exhausted he felt, sleep did not come for him.
Relax he told himself, take deep breaths, in and out just like the doctor showed you when he explained how to release tension. Where was his gun? Maybe he would feel better if he had his gun. Nick took it out of the drawer where he kept it and set it where he could see it on his nightstand.
Yeah, that made him feel better now. He grabbed it and turned the safety off as he set it down within arms reach. Now if he could just stop this damn anxiety.
Why the hell was he shaking like this? What the hell was this coming from?
It started ever so slightly. His hands trembled, at first. Then he switched to lying on his side. Being flat on his back, had started it perhaps. But, then the slight movements started to affect his arms, and then his whole body shook.
His room was pitch black. No color, just darkness. It used to comfort him, lull him to sleep. Now it was eerie. He closed his eyes despite the increased beating of his heart. The slight constriction in his throat.
He squeezed his eyelids tight then covered them with his hand.
It didn't help, he felt the fear. The bed, the outlines of the mattress around his body. It was unnerving.
He raised his hands in the air to make sure there wasn't a lid above him. It should have dampened the paranoia, but instead it just increased it. Finally he couldn't take it anymore. Nick opened his eyelids into mere slits.
There it was...a bright white light. In his room...shining right in his eyes.
He shot it out, he knew he had. Nick remembered that well.
The sickly sweet gum. His ears still felt sticky on the inside. It took forever to get them clean again.
Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was lack of sleep. Perhaps it was some odd side effects of his meds, but Nick would never know.
However, nothing changed the fact what that the light represented.
Pain and torture. He was under a microscope, and it was back in his underground hell. Nick grabbed his gun. He could do it again, shoot the damn thing out if he had to.
What the hell, OW!
Something was crawling up his legs, biting him. No! He wasn't sure if he actually screamed this time or if he was yelling inside his own head. There it was again, something was sneaking up his arms now and he kept brushing away phantom ants from his body. That light was still on. Damn it!
He shot it out...didn't he?
Who the hell kept turning the God forsaken light back on? He aimed his gun towards the light again, as the biting started once more.
"Turn off the damned light! Can't you see me?"
Nothing. No response.
" I'll blow it out again, I swear to God I'll do it. Don't think I won't !" Nick screamed at the phantom kidnapper who was peering at him through the bright light. He made his point by aiming unsteadily towards the window.
One hour had passed and Greg had found some classic movie slasher flick on Sci-Fi. He thought he would be sick of this stuff with his line of work, but movies where a different story. He got comfy in his T-shirt and boxers not too long after Nick went on to bed, and it was still only 11o'clock. His night was just beginning he thought to himself, as he took another drink from his coke.
"Damn this is gonna be a long night if I don't catch some sleep." He said to the empty room.
Greg hadn't even finished the thought when he heard shouting coming from Nick's bedroom. It wasn't just the screaming that sent him running. It was the tone: the fear and utter desperation dripping form Nick voice.
Greg was in Nick's room in a flash. When he got there, the sight before him chilled him to his core. No training had prepared him for a situation like this, or could it have. Nick was laying there in the dark, his right arm pointing his gun out the window, while his left was busy brushing away phantom fire ants off of his body.
The last thing he wanted was to spook his friend, but he needed to bring him back form whatever horrible nightmare and flashback he was trapped in. The younger man stared at the shaking gun pointed in one direction. He knew full well that Nick wouldn't think twice about firing it at anything that frightened him, as his body thrashed about the bed.
'My God, what did you go through Nicky?' Greg thought to himself.
The younger man knew he needed to reach his friend somehow, and bring him out of the place he was ensnared in.
He slowly opened the door further as quietly as possible. The last thing he wanted was that gun pointed at him.
"Nick... Nicky?" he said very softly and as calm as he could in this type of situation.
"Nick, it's Greg, remember me? I'm here with you Nick, you aren't alone." He hoped the soothing tone would reach inside the CSI's nightmare.
"You're not there Nicky, you're home. I'm here with you this time, you are NOT alone Nick, I'm here."
"Greg, make it stop, make it stop, turn that damn light off please!" Nick half begged.
It made his heart break at the sound of his friends fear.
"Nick, you trust me right? You know I'm not gonna let anything happen to you while I'm here." Greg could see Nick shake his head slowly up and down in the darkness.
"Good Nick, then I need you to do something for me. I need you to trust me and close your eyes, can you do that for me?" Greg prayed he was getting through to his friend.
"I don't know.." Nick's voice wavered, still trapped by his fear.
"I know your scared Nick, but if you trust me, I can make it all go away. I promise, all right? Now just please close your eyes real tight for me." Greg pleaded to his frightened friend.
He could see him frantically nodding his head again though the dark.
"Good Nicky, Ok I'm gonna turn on your light on and it will all be gone, all right. Ready, one, two, three." With that Greg flipped the light.
The room filled back up with solid images of his bed, dresser, and closet. The nightstand came back into view, as well as his window.
"See Nicky, it's OK, you can open your eyes now. See, look, you're in your own room Nick, it's safe here." Greg tried to reason with him, hoping it would dawn on the other CSI where he was.
The grief stricken man slowly opened his eyes. He blinked several times as the safety of his bedroom slowly came into focus.
"Greg?" He looked at him panicked. "Oh Greg, God, I'm so, I'm so sorry, I didn't . . . . I mean... Oh God, did I? ...What did I . . ." he tried to continue, but couldn't find the words.
Greg stepped in and helped. "Hey man, it's all right. Flashback aren't uncommon, just do me a favor please and give me your gun."
The Texan almost seemed surprised to be holding his loaded weapon, ready to fire it.
"Oh Jesus Greg, what was I . . What am I doing?"
He turned the gun around butt end first and handed it to his friend. Greg snatched it quickly, snapping the safety switch back in the on position, and set it atop of Nick's dresser.
Well, Thank God that part was over Greg thought to himself.
"Hey dude, it's all right." He sat down next to Nick on his bed and gently put his arm around his back, trying to console him.
"These things are gonna happen. You went through hell, and you can't expect to come back unscathed from it all. I can't tell you how many nights I woke up swearing I was covered in glass and smelled my own burning skin." That wasn't a lie to make him feel better.
"Yeah, but I wasn't sleeping I couldn't get to sleep. Too dark, too quiet." He was tried to explain behind a shaky voice.
"Then I saw a light, or...uh..imagined one and, I was right back there. It was just like that damn bright light, and, and I . . I grabbed my gun, and then I was pointing it and. . . I don't remember Greg, I don't remember." Nick rubbed his face wearily with his hands, truly terrified at what he almost did.
Greg once again laid his hands on Nick's shoulder to let him know he was there. Then he had an idea.
"OK, that's it, you're coming with me." With that Greg grabbed Nick's pillows and blankets off of the bed.
"Dude, we're having a sleepover." Greg walked out leaving a very confused Nick Stokes in his wake.
The Texan followed Greg out into the living room, where he had carried armloads of blankets and pillows back towards his original location.
"Uh bossman, a sleepover?" Nick questioned him.
"Yeah, remember sleepovers? Staying up late, well scratch that since we do that every night now. You know, play games, eat too much junk food, play more video games. You do have junk food in this house don't you?" Greg asked as he stalked off towards the kitchen, he was a man on a mission.
"Tell girl stories, play some more until your eyes bug out, paint our toenails and do each other's hair."
At the perplexed look he got from Nick he laughed out loud. "Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention." Greg shouted back over his shoulder from the kitchen as he searched for something they could munch on.
"What, no chips, no dip, no cheetos, no chocolate. Oh salsa, that's original." For the second time that night he felt something smack the back of his head.
"Some of us just eat healthier than other." Nick teased back.
"There's healthy, then there's down right boring, and you my friend are no Mr. Excitement."
"Well, I think there' some ice cream in the freezer, if it meets your high standards." Nick could feel the glare Greg gave him across the room.
"I knew you'd have something, now go set up your PS2, cause I'm so going to kick your ass at Madden 2005. Please tell me you don't use Randy Moss anymore, he is such a loser."
Nick went back in his living room and hooked up the game. He felt much better already being back out here, with noise, the lights, and the company.
"Yeah, like Mr. Atlanta Falcons should talk. What did happen to them, oh that's right, nothing. No, I go with Peyton Manning now." Nick was loosening up by the minute, he could feel it is his muscles.
"Well, at least that's an improvement, and I'm so going to beat all over you if it follows reality at all, cause I have two, no make that three words for you.
"New England Patriots." Greg yelled back over his shoulder as he inspected Nick's freezer, once again disgusted with the contents.
"What, are you a communist or something? Vanilla and chocolate, you really now how to walk on the wild side there, Nicky."
"I think there's more back there if you just look, and what's wrong with vanilla and chocolate, there's classics and I like them." Nick defended his ice cream choices to the younger man.
"Nothing's wrong with it, it's just so you. ...Ah Ha! That's more like it, it's no Chunky Monkey, but it'll work, mint chocolate chip. Wow, really must have been a special night there huh?" Greg joked, as he grabbed the carton and two spoons.
The ex-tech sauntered back into the living room and plunked down by Nick who had the game ready to go. He held out his hand and gave Nick his spoon and two small pills.
"I know you don't want to take them, and I understand, but you need to relax and get some rest, some real rest. Nothing, and I repeat nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here, I promise you that my friend." Greg said this as seriously as if he were presenting evidence to Grissom.
"Thanks man," the CSI swallowed, "for everything." Nick knew he needed to give in and get some rest. With someone here, he truly felt safe, so he swallowed the sleeping pill and one of his anti-anxiety meds with a swig of coke. "You Uh, ...really helped me out back there, and um, ...I don't know what would have happened if,... if . . ."
"Hey don't. That's what friends are for. Not let's get at it."
Two hours later, and a half a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and getting his butt utterly whipped 45-21, Greg was beyond humiliated.
"Are you sure you don't want to do my hair, I mean it isn't too late to change your mind. See, it's longer now, come one, you know you want to." Greg tried his best to distract his friend, even resorting to batting his eyelashes.
"Take defeat like a man G, you got you ass handed to you by the Colts" Nick yawned. "Speaking of, what's with the flat look anyway man?"
"Oh, you know me, something different. Trying out a new style. What do you think?" Greg seriously wanted to older man's opinion.
"Honestly, man." Nick yawned again leaning back against his pillow which was spread out across the floor along with his blankets. "I kind of miss the spikes, you know, the finger in the socket style I liked to call it." Nick's eyes started to close involuntarily. "I liked that it was just so you, set you apart, like your personality. Don't let this CSI stuff change who you are too much man, the old Greg was fun."
That thought make the young CSI smile for some reason, he didn't really like it either, but thought it looked more professional, well as professional as he wanted to get.
"Thanks Nick, I'll keep that in mind."
Nick's eyes shot back open for a moment and he grabbed Greg's shoulder.
"Thanks again, G. I...I mean...I don't know what would have happened." Nick stopped mid thought. He wasn't the type of guy to talk about his problems, this was very hard. "I'm glad you're here."
With those final words Nick's eyes drifted shut one last time. "And I so kicked your ass lab boy." Nick grinned as he drifted off.
Nick's breathing evened out and he actually looked peaceful this time. Greg knew the combination of the medications would help him get a good nights sleep and hopefully keep the dreams at away for the night.
Greg went over and covered up his friend, but kept his arms out because he knew if they got to hot, they might start to itch.
"Sleep well my friend, you're safe now, I won't let anything happen to you tonight, I promise. Good night Nicky."
Greg quietly picked up their mess, and shut off the TV. He went over and grabbed his pillow and blanket to settle himself onto the couch where he could still keep a watchful eye on his charge just in case he was plagued by dreams. He wanted to remain close by. He reached up to turn off the lamp by the couch, and just as his fingers touched the switch, he thought better of it. They would both probably sleep better with the light on tonight. Greg laid his head on his pillow, and quickly followed his friend to sleep.
tbc...
Kristen999 A/N. I want to thank everyone for such lovely comments. I'm glad that each character rang true as that is always my aim to be emotional, but realistic. I love friendship stories, and interaction between characters. There will be tons of development throughout the story, so I hope everyone enjoys. Shacky has the next two wonderful chapters, and you really make me blush with yourkind words.Talk to everyone soon.
Shacky20 A/N: Thank you all for reading this. I really feel like this is my first chapter of the story since my first chapter basically constisted of recapping the show itself, just through Warrck and Greg's eyes. I really tried to capture the Nick and Greg banter that I have missed so much this season. I believe they still remain good friends even thought the team split has left them with extremely liittle on air time together this season. I really miss there fun and quirky scenes together, and I hopefully captured the essesence of their characters and friendship. I hope you like it and thanks for giving me a chance. I appreciate your time and feedback.
Jewelbaby- I must say this is ironic because I remembered your review while reading all of Kristen's other stories. I know You were looking forward to some Nick/Greg interaction, I hope you enjoyed this one then, I hope it lived up to your expectations, and they will be plenty more next chapter.
Shoebe- Wow, I hope we can live up to our expectactions, we have a lot planned at for our boys, al of them, and they go through a lot, hope you like where we take it.
Amy- I hope you enjoy my intrepretations of the friendships as much as Kristen's, she's a tough person to follow, I hope I can do an adaquete job
Karen- Thank you for your wonderful review. This will be a highly emotional story, and I hope we can keep the emtions high and true to character.
Brandy-Layne- I know so many people are reading this because it is a Kristen story, heck, I'm on here email alert list, I love her stories, I really hope you liked this chapter and the portrayel of Nick and Greg's friendship, and the rest of my chapters, I really want to live up to everyoe's expectations because I know how many people love Kristen's work, me included.
Groban- I hope all parts of this story keep you just as interterested and enthralled, it was a thrilling piece to write, and we tried to keep it as true to character as we thought was true, I hope this chapter was the same for you.
Chap 1 Anon- Well i hope you don't stay anon too long, I really hope you enjoy what Kristen and I have written for you all.
Tvspaz626- Well, I'm honored that you consider this one of the better "GD" stories you have read, but we have a long way to go, hope you hang on for the ride.
Miss Anonymour hp- I really hope you are enjoying this Nick/Greg/Warrick Friendship piece, it was a pleasure to write, and we believe we put a realistic take on how Nick will react, and how Warrick and Greg not only react, but help their friend get through it.
Katknits00- Yes, my main focus of the first chapter was basically to give a more indepth view of how Greg and Warrick were dealing with Nick kidnapping and how they were going out of their minds with worry and trying to help. Now they are going to do their best to help Nick deal with what he's been through, while dealing with their own feeling of helplessness.
Sokerfreek922- I hope you like the emotional stuff we are going to tackle now with Nick's recovery, and that you liked this chapter as well.
Designation- Well, I hope I lived up to the wonderful set up Kristen left me with at Nick's first night home with Greg. Kristen has an incredible talent for writing such great medical scenes, I hope you liked the emotional connection and banter I tried to keep between Nick and Greg which I have sorely missed.
Bolero- Worse than crack huh? I hope ours falls into that category, and we well be feeding this addiction reguarly.
Amarrawind- I hope my parts are just as amazing and gripping as Kristen's, I tried to lean on my strength, more emotional and angst, and I am such a big Nick and Greg fan and have missed their banter so much this season. Updates will be quick, don't worry.
Highbeingfriendsfan- I really hoped you liked this chapter as well, I too loved how Kristen wrote Sara and Grissom in Chap 3, so true to character.
Genvissel- I really hope you like the Greg I wrote in this Chapter, trying to take charge yet still be his friend and understanding and the 'old Greg' first
Phoncolives- I hope this GD stories lived up to all to all of your expectations and you enjoyed this chapter as well