Disclaimer: Okay, so I don't own these people. But oh, the things I would do with them if I did...
A/N: Okay, so this was supposed to be a one chapter thing, but then a very lovely and kind lady told me to write a second. So I did. And then someone else very lovely added this to their alert list, and now I feel obligated to write another one. I just wished I'd titled this something different. It's now vaguely reminiscent of 'Sunburn Sin' (if you picked up on that oh-so-subtle CSI reference, good for you.) and it makes me more than a little insane. I'm sorry for the horrible title, people. Really, I am. I just suck at titles is all. Anyway, enjoy. Or don't. I'm done rambling now.
It had been nearly a week since that horrible desert case and the everything-but-horrible aftermath on the way back to the lab. Things between Nick and Greg now were more than awkward, but neither would go so far as to say they regretted it. Because in all honesty, they still ran through those select few minutes in their heads at every opportunity. It made working together even more difficult than it had been before the incident.
They'd been sitting in the lab for the longest hour of Greg's life, waiting for the mitochondrial DNA results they'd sent away to come through on the fax machine. And they hadn't said a word. Merely avoided each others glances and pretended like they were alone in the room. They could hear each other breathing. There was also the incessant noise of Greg's foot tapping the floor. It was annoying both of them, but Greg couldn't stop it from happening.
"Greg, we have to talk eventually." Nick broke the silence, and Greg exhaled, relieved.
"I know we do. I was waiting for you to talk first."
"Oh." And then another ten minutes of silence.
They were the only ones still at the lab. Everyone else had somehow managed to finish their cases and go home early. It was like some higher power was plotting against them; stopping every criminal in Vegas from doing what they did. All they needed was the result back. Even Mia had left, secure in the thought that Greg knew what he was doing in the lab more than anyone else.
Greg sighed.
Nick shifted in his chair.
"Okay, I'm done with this. Was it a mistake? Should I forget about it? Is this nothing?" Greg leaned forward in his chair and looked expectantly at Nick, who seemed spaced out and oblivious to his random exertion of sound. Greg wondered if he'd somehow managed to tune him out. "Nick?"
But Nick was listening. And thinking. Hard. "I don't know."
"Great. You don't know. You seemed fairly sure of yourself when you were shoving your tongue down my throat." Greg sat back in his chair and sighed again, obviously frustrated.
Nick snapped out of his haze at that last comment. "You think this is my fault?" He stood up and walked over to where Greg was sitting. "You were the one professing your undying love for me in the passenger seat."
Greg stood up to meet Nick's gaze. "Excuse me? Were you ever going to say anything?"
"What makes you think I feel the same way?" Nick shot back, immediately regretting what he'd said.
Greg opened his mouth to say something, but instead shook his head and stormed out of the lab. Ouch. He'd just assumed from Nick's reaction in the desert that he felt the same way.
He walked quickly to the locker room and fought with the door of his locker. "Fuck!" And he slammed it open, denting the locker next to his. He reached in and pulled out his jacket. And then he realized what had just happened. Greg let himself slip down the wall and collapse in an awkward position on the floor.
Nick had heard the bang come from inside the locker room, and he wondered if Greg was okay. On his way there, he tried to think of something to say. When he got there, he saw Greg on the floor, staring with empty eyes into space.
"Greggo," He started.
"Get out," responded the younger man without moving his eyes from where they were set. When Nick just stood there, he said it again, more forcefully.
"No Greg, listen to me. I'm sorry, I-"
Then Greg looked him in the eye and Nick realized the effect of his words. He'd never seen Greg so angry, or hurt. "I didn't mean what I said. I need you, Greg. I'm glad you told me how you feel. I never would have been able to say it."
Greg's eye twitched slightly and he looked away from Nick. "You don't mean that. Stop toying with me."
Nick lowered himself to the floor and sat directly across from Greg. Then he grabbed Greg's hand with his own. "I do mean it. Why do you think I've been avoiding you all week?"
"...Because you're an ass?" Greg smiled the tiniest smile and then looked Nick in the eye. "I need you too, Nicky." Then he looked away again and felt Nick's hands on his face.
And their lips met again.
-.-.-.-
A/N: Horribly lovey-dovey, I know; but that's the mood I was in.