Sniffling Greg found himself trembling almost violently in Nick's arms, tears sliding down his cheeks as he came back to himself, reality sinking in, he'd just admitted to Nick that he was weak. He'd admitted that he was like so many of the women that they had both seen come into the crime lab, alive and dead, unable to defend themselves from their husbands.
Anger which had filled Nick the longer Greg had explained to him his fears and innermost thoughts caused him to practically seethe, his eyes dark, almost black in their hatred for the man he had only seen once, and hatred for himself for not noticing what had been happening to the young man who he had considered a close friend, the man he loved. "Who cares what that asshole thinks?" He spat holding Greg closer.
Greg shrugged and wiped his cheeks frantically trying to get rid of the remnants of his tears. "I guess I do." He muttered, every bad word that Eric had ever said to him still floating through his mind, haunting him and making him think less of himself, every second of every day.
"I don't care what he thinks of you Greg, because I know what I think of you." Nick told him forcefully. "But do you know what I think of you Greg?"
Shaking his head Greg worked up the courage to look into Nick's eyes surprised to see only love there.
Nick pecked him on the lips softly, his hand running up and down Greg's side gently, in an attempt to sooth him. "From the moment I first saw you I realized that you would be a problem."
"Oh thanks Nick," Greg interrupted sarcastically, turmoil flowing through him as quick as his pleasure had moments before.
Pressing a gentle kiss to Greg's lips once again, Nick shushed him gently. "I knew you would be a problem before you were just so damned beautiful, you seemed to hold an almost angelic grace despite your nervous nature."
Greg smiled weakly, remembering how nervous he'd been on his first day and how awed he'd felt at the sight of the Texan.
"And you were everything I'd always wanted to be but I was so scared to, you were quite obviously gay despite how hard you'd been trying to hide it," Nick whispered softly into his ear, as though he was telling his biggest secret.
Closing his eyes Greg rested his head on Nick's shoulder, willing to listen to his explanation without question.
"You liked to take risks and chances, dressing the way you wanted, you're cool Greg, and you're just Greg. I think that's what made me fall in love with you, you're so busy being yourself and denying your sexuality that you don't realize that no one actually cares." Nick stroked his cheek the lightest bit. "I didn't want to be around you as much as I was but obviously I couldn't deny it, I couldn't just ignore you, you were the most efficient tech in the lab, without the arrogance and ass kissing of Hodges."
Greg chuckled softly, flattered.
Nick smiled back at him kindly. "In high school I was the jock, dating the head cheerleader, acting so cocky and confident. I acted exactly like I thought my parents wanted me to, like everyone wanted me to. And college wasn't really any different, I had one night stands with guys sure, but in the morning…in the morning I was often cruel in my attempts to get them to leave, in an effort to wash away that part of myself." He took a deep breath. "It made me resent you in some ways, because you were so natural, so fluid in your life, you settled into Vegas right away, without the wide eyed shock that I had had no choice but to succumb to. And at the same time I wanted you to be the one to teach me how to be me, to teach me how to feel comfortable in my own skin, which in a sense you have."
Feeling touched Greg brushed his lips across Nick's cheek gently.
"Just by being around and being in your presence I learnt that denying myself and you was such a horrible thing to do." Nick murmured. "Because life is so short and you only have so much time, I was ready to give myself up to you." He swallowed heavily. "And then there was the lab explosion…"
Greg squirmed uncomfortably.
"When I heard that you'd been hurt I thought that my life was over Greg, because I'd been too chicken to tell you how I really felt about you, that you were more than just some lab tech who I needed for friendship and information." Nick stroked his hair. "I told you while you were asleep, when I thought you would be unable to hear me, because I still managed to convince myself that you deserved better. But what I should have realized is that you are the perfect match to me that my grandmother always talked about. You understand me better than anyone else. Now do you see that I love you?"
Greg hesitated slightly, fear still in his eyes before he nodded slowly.
Nick grinned. "You don't have to fear me, now no more arguing, just go to sleep."
Grinning Greg willing moved further into Nick's arms, resting his head on the Texan's chest he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep pretty quickly, his dreams no longer haunted by visions of fire and caskets but of Nick, happy and smiling.
Nick lay awake for awhile, merely watching Greg sleep before he succumbed to darkness, receiving the deepest sleep that he'd had in months.