"I'm not sure." Greg admitted, his nervousness once again beginning to eat away at him... "Sunsets are pretty awesome, and oh so romantic." He joked batting his eyelashes. "But I think I'll come in." He resisted the urge to run back to his car and hide.
Stepping aside Nick allowed Greg to walk in, realizing that no one but Warrick from the crime lab had seen his new place. He'd just been so busy pretending to be okay that he'd forgotten to actually have a house warming party, or have anyone over other than the regular poker games with a few friends and Warrick.
Looking around Greg took in his surroundings finding the neutral tones oddly soothing and perfect for a man like Nick, he calmed down immediately, turning to look Nick in the eyes. "So what's up?" He asked as casually as he could manage despite the burning desire to kiss Nick deeply right there, anything to get rid of the haunted look in the other man's eyes.
"You can ask you know." Nick told him pointedly, trying to ignore the worried look in Greg's eyes, not wanting to admit that the other CSI even had a reason to worry, he was fine, after all.
Greg smiled crookedly. "How are you?" He arched an eyebrow wondering if Nick would finally tell the truth, he'd lied whenever Greg had asked that on the phone but this was the first time he'd actually gotten up the nerve to visit Nick, despite Warrick's insistence that Nick wouldn't mind.
Nick crossed his arms over his chest to hide the fact that his hands were shaking, wondering if he should actually tell the truth for once. "I'm fine."
"I'm sure you are," Greg murmured softly, his gaze shifting to Nick's crossed arms, he tried not to frown, not wanting Nick to know that he could see through every single lie that came from the Texan's mouth..
Fighting the quelling ball of panic in his stomach Nick forced a smile on his face. He knew Greg saw right through his lies, but he still couldn't allow them to slip.
"Do you need me to leave?" Greg asked, his own smile slipping away, he didn't want to leave Nick, not when the older man might actually need him, might actually need the friendship he was so willing to offer. Besides, Greg wasn't entirely sure he wanted to be alone anymore.
Nick shook his head. "That's okay Greggo. Do you want some coffee?" He tried to remain calm and relaxed, not wanting to break down in front of Greg.
Greg looked interested and smiled slightly. "Got any Blue Hawaiian?" He joked but brightened when Nick blanched slightly. "You do? Oh man, I told you you would submit to the coffee god's." He felt like dancing around the room, something about him had gotten through to Nick, even if it was just coffee, it meant that Nick paid attention to him.
"I couldn't help it, you got me addicted, and next thing I knew I was paying forty bucks a bag for coffee." Nick began making it, nearly dropping the two mugs, he bit back a groan, frustrated by his display of weakness.
Walking over to Nick Greg took the mugs from him. "Let the professional handle it." He grinned as he began making the coffee, the familiar routine making him able to relax further.
"I suppose I could let you work your magic," Nick sat on one of the kitchen bar stools, eyes on Greg, he allowed them to stray down the younger man's body, admiring the firm, beautiful form and his graceful movements, stuck on the way the lab tech/CSI's jeans fit him so perfectly. He shook his head quickly when Greg started to turn around, ridding those thoughts from him head.
Greg handed him a cup of coffee and sat down beside him sipping his own. He kept his eyes on Nick's hands resisting the urge to take one in his own, wanting desperately to calm them, wanting desperately to hold Nick and make every single bad thought in his head go away.
"What is it?" Nick asked, Greg's attitude was odd, even when he'd stopped by the lab the younger man had still been filled with the same nervous energy that made him think that Greg might bounce off the walls at any second, but now, he just seemed so calm.
Shaking his head Greg shrugged, not knowing if he should tell the truth right away, not wanting to make Nick retreat further away from him and everyone else.
Nick sighed, a little frustrated at everyone's oversensitivity, they couldn't just tell them the truth, which was what he really needed to hear to snap out of the dreamy world he found himself in. "What are you staring at?" He tried again, his eyes pleading with Greg.
"Your hands," Greg replied truthfully, giving in, he smiled weakly then lowered his eyes.
"They won't stop shaking," Nick muttered, rubbing one hand with the other. "And there's nothing anyone can do." He sighed and resisted the urge to run away and hide behind a locked door until Greg left him alone.
Greg placed his hand over Nick's. "They will," He assured; he would help them stop shaking if he had to.
Nick managed a weak smile. "You would know," He responded softly, remembering how badly Greg's hands had shaken after the explosion in the lab.
"Yes I do, and it will stop," Greg continued drinking his coffee unaware that he hadn't yet moved his hand, when he realized it he still didn't move it, Nick didn't seem that bothered by it so he stayed in his current position.
Sipping his coffee Nick felt his stomach growl and his cheeks flushed, remembering that he had yet to eat something for dinner.
"We should order a pizza," Greg told him pulling out his cell phone. "What would you like on it?" He prayed for Nick to allow him to stay longer, not wanting to leave his side just yet.
"Extra cheese, green peppers, onions diced, pepperoni and tomatoes," Nick responded without hesitation, he bit his bottom lip hoping that Greg wouldn't realize that he was desperate for him to stay.
Greg placed the order for delivery. "How about you show me this giant television Warrick is always raving about?" He stood finally letting go of Nick's hand immediately feeling the loss of warmth that Nick seemed to exude.
Nick stood up and grabbed two Coke's from the fridge before leading Greg into the living room, he sat down in his favourite recliner, feeling more relaxed then before, Greg's presence soothing him in a way he never thought possible.
Flopping down on the couch Greg grabbed a can from Nick. "Coke Nick? I figured you more for a bar man. Cold beer right from the bottle and whatnot." He teased lightly, falling into the comfortable roll of the geeky lab tech turned best friend.
"Can't drink while taking medication." Nick explained, the bottle of pills on the bathroom counter still bugging him, had he taken his evening dose yet? Would he end up breaking down in front of his best friend, showing his ultimate weakness?
"Ah I see, taken up some medicinal Mary Jane have you?" Greg wiggled his eyebrows, noticing a preoccupied look in Nick's eye that worried him horribly.
Nick chuckled. "I think that's more your style then mine," He replied. "Not that I'd hold it against you or anything." He amended quickly, not wanting to insult the San Franciscan.
"Not lately but yeah," He admitted grinning, no longer wanting to hide the person he was from Nick, figuring that he could start small, well, as small as regular drug use could be.
"How do you pass the blood tests?" Nick asked him, intrigued by every facet of the man in front of him.
"Uhm, Nick, I'm a genius," Greg pointed out, mock arrogance on his face. "I was a lab tech before I was a CSI remember." He shivered lightly, not wanting to think about the coldness of the lab.
Nick rolled his eyes. "Like I'd forget that, besides that was merely months ago." He sniffed lightly, the smell of smoke drifting into his nose abruptly before he managed to stamp down the memories.
Greg shrugged sipping his drink. "You won't tell Grissom or anyone will you?" He asked, a nervous twitch in his right hand, he couldn't stand to lose the job he'd fought so hard for.
"I wouldn't, I know that with this job sometimes it's better just to relax or you might go crazy," Nick promised, realizing he'd never been able to keep his eyes off Greg when he was in a room, and also that Greg was the one thing that kept him from going crazy. This realization stunned him and he sat back, surprised at himself.
When the doorbell rang Greg decided to get the pizza after noticing Nick's visible flinch. Getting up he walked to the door and checked who it was before opening it and paying, making sure to close and lock the door out of concern for Nick. He found the plates and grabbed two before making his way back into the living room, putting them down on the table he served up food for him and Nick handing him the plate.
"You didn't have to pay for it," Nick told him softly, a peculiar sense of contentment filling him as he began to eat.
"I know," Greg said simply before he began eating happily, realizing that Nick was beginning to warm up to him finally.
Nick found himself smiling more than he had in weeks and more relaxed as well, he continued to eat, no longer caring if his looks at Greg lasted longer than those of a simple friend would.