Nick was released from the hospital 2 days later. Warrick was there with him the whole time, and was now driving him home.
"So, what happened to your house?" Nick asked carefully.
"Oh, the classic 'pilot light went out' or some bullshit. Insurance should cover it, though."
"Do you need a place to stay?"
"Nah, I'm probably just gonna get a hotel. Catherine offered, but her house is packed enough with her, Lindsey and her mother there."
Nick saw the chance to get things between him and Warrick back to normal quickly. "Well, I have an extra room...why don't you stay with me instead of wasting money on a hotel? I could use the company..."
Warrick looked over at his best friend. He knew what he was trying to do, and it seemed like a good idea. "You sure? I don't wanna intrude or anything."
"Oh yeah, cuz my life is so crazy outside of work..." Nick started laughing at his own joke. He couldn't even say it with a straight face.
"Fine, just until I find another place. I don't wanna get in the way of your 'crazy life.' " Warrick laughed.
"Stay as long as you want, cuz we both know you're not gonna look for another place."
"Oh? We do?"
"Yepp. I know you better then you know yourself. Sad, isn't it?"
"Considering it works both ways...no." Warrick shot back. Nick gave him one of his famous smiles. "So, Nick...we're okay, right?"
"We always will be bro."
They drove in a comfortable silence for a little while. Nick was already feeling better, and so was Warrick. They knew everything was going to be okay. Warrick pulled into Nick's driveway and they slowly made their way into the house. Nick was still a little sore. Once inside, Nick went straight to his room to get some clothes Warrick could change into. He'd been wearing the same ones for 3 days. Warrick showered quick, changed, and headed into the kitchen where he smelled Nick making burgers. They were both starving so they finished quickly without much conversation. It was obvious to Warrick that Nick was still a little nervous about the whole Catherine thing, so after they had finished eating, Warrick decided they had better get it over with.
"Nick...we should talk...about, uhh..."
"Yeah...yeah I know. Let's go into the living room." Nick picked up the dishes and put them in the sink before following Warrick onto the couch. He stared down at the floor and his hands were shaking slightly.
"Okay..." Warrick started. "Why don't you just tell me the whole story? Everything." Nick looked up nervously. "I'm not gonna punch you in the face again bro."
Nick laughed, but it was obvious it was forced. "Okay..."
Nick's hands were shaking and he was paler than the dead body he was staring at. "Nick...why don't you go home and get some rest? I can take care of things here." Sofia gently placed her hand on Nick's arm.
"I don't want to leave you alone here."
"Dave's on his way over and Brass is outside talking to a few neighbors. I'll be fine, you should really go home." Nick just nodded and left. He was surprised he made it all the way back to the lab without getting into an accident. His hands were shaking worse now, and the image of Kelly dying right in front of him wouldn't leave. It's my fault...I should have been able to help her...fucking Grissom...this isn't over...it's never gonna just be fucking over...As soon as Nick sat down on the bench in front of his locker, he just broke down. He couldn't help it. He let go, stopped holding everything back and stopped pretending he was okay. He heard the door open and could barely see Catherine through the tears. She walked over and sat next to Nick, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a hug.
"I heard about Kelly...I'm so sorry..." She knew he was thinking that he could have helped her. "Nick this isn't your fault."
"Yes it is. She killed herself because her dad killed himself because of me...everything's my fault. I should have just pulled..."
"No Nicky. Don't say that. You did everything you could. What Gordon did to you...this is his fault, not yours, okay?" Nick just shook his head, not really believing Catherine.
Nick stood up and grabbed his jacket from his locker. "I'm gonna go home."
"Want some company?"
"Would you mind?"
"Not at all." Nick smiled and led Catherine out to his car. They drove in a comfortable silence for the 10 minutes it takes to get to Nick's from the lab. He unlocked the door, letting them both inside. "Make yourslef at home." Nick said, motioning to the couch as he dissappeared into the kitchen, returning with 2 beers. He handed one to Catherine and sat down next to her on the couch.
"Thanks." She looked down at the floor before continuing. "Ya know...you don't have to keep pretending you're okay."
Nick looked at Catherine, a little shocked. He hadn't expected her to say that. "I'm not pretending...most of the time..."
"It's okay Nick. Warrick's really the one that noticed it, then when he mentioned it to me I saw it too. Let us help you, you don't have to do this by yourself." Nick just nodded and took a long sip of his beer. They finished their drinks in silence, and Nick got up to go get some more. Before they realized it, they had had 4 or 5 beers each. They had somehow gotten on the subject of first kisses, and after Catherine had finished telling a story about one on a boat with some guy from high school, Nick noticed how beautiful she looked and decided to comment on it.
"You look really beautiful right now."
"Right now? So other times..."
"No, that's not what I meant. Prettier than usual." She smiled warmly at him. Before he even knew what he was doing, Nick leaned in and kissed her. Catherine wrapped her arms around Nick's neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.
"Then..."
"Yeah. She can do that to you." Warrick laughed. He had been wanting to ask the same question since Nick had told him about Catherine...he had to know. "Nicky..." Nick looked up at met Warrick's eyes. "Do you have feelings for her?"
Nick was a little surprised. "No, no man of course not." Nick said a little too quickly, and Warrick picked up on it.
"You sure? You can tell me if you do bro."
"I don't, I promise." This time Warrick could see the sincerity in Nick's eyes.
"Okay, I believe you." They fell into somewhere between a comfortable and awkward silence. Neither was sure what to say next. Warrick decided to break the silence. "Nick, you don't have to put on an act, at least not for me. If you need help, you can always ask me okay?" Nick laughed. "What? Why is that funny?"
"No, it's just that's what Catherine said, well sort of. She said I didn't have to pretend I was okay and that you noticed it." Nick sighed. "I was just thinking I was starting to really get over the whole buried alive thing. It's been over a year and I'm still afraid of the dark...it's so fucking stupid..."
"No it's not. What's stupid is you thinking you have to do this by yourself. You never have to do anything by yourself bro, I'm always gonna be here for you." Nick smiled and Warrick pulled him into a tight hug. "It's gonna get better...everything's gonna be okay...I promise."
"I'm not strong enough to get over this..."
"Yes you are. You made it for over 24 hours in that fucking box. You saved my life and you've helped me more than you will ever know..."
"I can't be a hero..." Nick said, quoting the fire fighter that tried to stop him from saving Warrick.
"Yes you can, and you are. You're my hero."
THE END
