Chapter 4--The Keys

Greg talked all the way back to the lab. Nick didn't mind. He knew Greg needed to tell stories and it made him glad that Greg had chosen him to be the one to talk to.

As Nick pulled into his parking space. Greg reached over and laid a hand on Nick's forearm.

"Thanks Nick. You listening means a lot. I...I uh, wanted to be able to tell you these things...under different circumstances would have been better, but...just...thanks." Greg softly smiled and gave Nick's forearm a squeeze.

They sat there a moment longer. The engine was now silent. Nick's keys swung slowly from the ignition.

Greg sighed wearily and slowly slipped his hand away from Nick. His gaze went to the building. "Guess we better go in. Inquiring minds will want to know..." his voice trailed off.

Nick, without a second thought, reached out and placed his hand over Greg's which lay upon the seat. "Hey Greg...I won't...I wouldn't say..."

"I know Nicky." Greg looked down upon their hands. He seemed to breathe more deeply. His thumb reached up to grab hold of Nick's little finger. "I trust you. I..." Suddenly he sat more upright and he rolled his eyes. "Oh God. Sara's probably blabbing to them all right now about the tattoos." He then laughed and threw his hands over his eyes, feigning fear. "I'm doomed! I'm doomed!"

Nick laughed. "You want I should kick her ass?"

Greg peeked out behind his hands. "No, I better do it. I'll go kick her ass."

And suddenly the two of them were playing out another of their favorite banters: Who should kick Sara's ass? Finally, they ended with the usual, "Let's get Catherine? Yeah, she can kick ass like nobody's business."

The laughter felt good to them both. Their faces were plastered with the brightest of grins. Funny how that can happen, even on the saddest of days.

"Let's go." Nick hopped out of the truck's cab and Greg followed suit, after he grabbed Nick's forgotten keys.

"Stokes!" Greg hollered and tossed the keys over the hood. "What WOULD you do without me?"

Nick laughed again, this time his eyes disappearing into a grin that showed every tooth in his mouth.

"What am I going to do WITH you?"

Greg's eyesbrows did a dance. "I'll have to get back to you on that..."

(I hope so.) Nick thought as they strolled into the lab. He stayed shoulder to shoulder with Greg, feeling a need to protect him. Feeling his own need to just be near him.

Everyone else stood around a table littered with evidence. Grissom looked up and met them in the hallway.

"Greg, come with me to my office."