Title: Inside My Coffin

Disclaimer: Slash. Suicide. Angst. Language.

POV: Greg

Chapter Sixteen: Bodies in Motion

"I'm not going to work tonight," Nick mutters into the silence of the room.

"Oh, why?" I ask as I stir on the couch beside him. We've been sitting here enjoying each other's presence for a few hours now. I move my head from his shoulder where I have been resting it.

"I want to give Grissom a night off. He doesn't need to be worrying about me. Last thing I want to do is stress-out the boss-man," he remarks with a sigh.

I run my hand up and down his arm creating a tickling sensation. "That's very thoughtful of you. I'm going to call in sick then. I want to spend the night with you." I lean a bit closer to him. "I've missed you, Nicky."

Our lips meet with the hunger that has built up in the last few days. The taste of his lips drives the hunger into a flame of passion. The memory of the first time I kissed him on this very couch floods my mind. That first moment when our lips touched I knew. It was supposed to be a joke amongst friends. To say that I saw fireworks that cherished day would be far from the truth. I felt like the world had gone away and left me with this burning desire. I knew then and there that I had to have more. I had to touch him. To love him.

Nick mumbles something between our heated kisses. He gently pushes me away before climbing from the couch. I watch as he heads to the bedroom. He wants me to follow, and I will. Absentmindedly I twist the band of solid gray that now rests on my finger. A token of love. It creates a feeling that I never want to leave me. As I head to the room after Nick I realize that the only gift I have to give him is my soul. He already owns my heart.

Nick's strong arms embrace me from behind as I step into the room. The curtains are closed to keep out the shining beauty of the sun and curious eyes of people. I inhale the scent of the man I've come to love. The mix of aftershave, shampoo, and cologne is intoxicating. A scent that is purely him. I want him to cover every inch of my body in it so that the world will know who I belong to.

His lips brush against the nape of my neck. The soft touch causes me to shiver and sends waves of pleasure through my body. I lean into him as his warm hands touch the skin under my shirt. I feel myself going weak in the knees but I'm safe with his arms around me. In one fluid motion he draws my shirt over my head leaving the cool air to brush against my bare skin. Within a flurry of kisses and caresses we're soon standing in nothing but our underwear.

I step away from Nick to take in the delicious view of him. His chiseled body with perfect abs. How his boxer-briefs fit him like a second skin. The only imperfection are the soon to be scars on his wrists. A moment of pain seizes me. I came so close to losing the one person I've ever really loved. I never let anyone know just how much as I was so deep in love with him. Now I would let the world know. Their views don't matter to me anymore. The only thing that matters is being with Nick.

We fall onto the bed wrapped up in one another. I can feel his heart beat. His heat. His every breath. My soul is hungry for him and him alone. I enjoy the weight of his body on mine. The feel of his hands as they pursue my body like buried treasure. We strip off the last of our garments. A stray ray of sun colors his skin a honey-gold.

"I feel like I'm melting," I whisper.

"The fire hasn't reached its hottest flame yet," he replies in a breathy voice.

"Nick, don't torture me. It feels like years since you last touched me. We can fool around later. Right now I just want you to love me." My voice is low and raspy.

"I love hearing you say my name."

I utter his name again as he takes me down the road to the high we're both dying to reach. He plays me like an instrument, tickling the keys. He coaxes the music from me and translates my moans into his melody. I feel that he knows me better than I do. I don't belong to myself anymore…

His name escapes me as the white hot high hits in full force. My mind goes blank and I feel like I'm flying in a sea of blue. Only his touch on my skin can safely bring me back. We hold each other, two sweaty bodies entwined. If I never have to leave this room again I'll die happy.

I sit beside Nick who is sleeping peacefully. The day is starting to give 'way to night. My hand reaches out to touch my sleeping lover but I don't. He hasn't slept so soundly for days now it would be a shame to wake him. I ease out of the bed to carry my naked self to the pile of forgotten clothes near the bedroom door. It takes me only a second to find my cell phone. With cat like stealth I return to my position on the bed.

Night is coming and shift will start soon. I hit speed-dial to make my call.

"Grissom."

"Hey, it's Sanders. I'm not coming into work tonight. Is that okay?" I never know where I stand with Grissom. He can be a little intimidating.

"Yes, that's fine. Thank you for letting me know in advance," he replies.

Nick stirs beside me. I remember him saying that he wished to stay home. "Um, Grissom, Nick isn't coming into work either."

"Is he okay?" I can hear the deep friendly concern in his voice.

"I think he's trying to figure things out," I confess.

A lengthy silence on the other end of the phone has me checking to make sure the connection wasn't lost. Grissom finally says, "Greg, I think he needs you more than anyone else right now. Don't let him down."

The words echo in my mind even after we hang up. Grissom accepts us. Maybe now he'll see that office romance isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe he'll finally notice Sara the way I finally noticed Nick. I curl up next to Nick to sleep away the night time hours. Tomorrow we'll have breakfast with our colleagues. Our friends. We'll all sit together and talk like old times. Like things haven't changed. It's time for the healing process to being for all of us.

Fin