"Nick, there's no way in hell I'm gonna stand back and watch. Knock on the door." Nick took a deep breath, knocked once, took a step back, and he and Warrick put their hands in the air. A few seconds later, the door opened and a guy who could easily pass as an NFL linebacker came out into the hall. He looked both ways, then patted Nick and Warrick down, taking their cell phones and keys. Without a word, he ushered them inside and locked the door behind them.
JJ and his linebacker weren't exacly roughing it. The room was huge, undoubtedly a suite. To the far right was a balcony overlooking the strip. There was a mini fridge, bar, king sized bed, leather couch and a big screen tv. And in the middle of it all was Greg, in a chair, with JJ holding a gun to his head. Greg wasn't tied or gagged, and Nick realized he didn't need to be. The linebacker had a gun of his own, and it's not like Greg could get far if he somehow took one of them out. His face was bruised and bloody, obviously from mulitple punches. Nick fought back the urge to run at JJ and punch him as hard as he could until he couldn't lift his arm anymore.
"Perfect timing my boys." JJ said, walking over to Nick and Warrick. The linebacker took JJ's post in front of Greg. "You made a wise choice by following my instructions Nick." JJ stood toe to toe with him, and Warrick willed Nick not to deck him.
"Tell me what you want." Nick said through clenched teeth.
"Well...here's the thing...I kinda of changed my mind after thinking about our history. Do you remember when you became a CSI in Dallas...and my brother was killed...and I asked you for help and you said there was nothing you could do because the coroner 'ruled it a suicide'?"
Nick tried to relax his tense muscles. "Yeah." He said quietly.
"Well, I lost someone very close to me that day, and you didn't care at all."
"There was nothing I could-" JJ slammed the gun into Nick's gut, knocking the wind out of him. Nick fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Warrick took a step towards Nick, but the linebacker pulled him back and threw him in a chair next to Greg.
"You're such a jerk." JJ said, kneeing Nick in the face. Nick fell backwards onto his back and tried his hardest not to black out. Greg looked away as JJ started kicking Nick in the ribs and face. He stopped and stepped back as Nick slowly got to his feet.
"If you wanna beat the hell out of me, fine. You don't need them here. Let them go, you can have me."
JJ shook his head. "I wish it was that simple."
"I don't see why it's not." Nick said. JJ punched Nick in the face, sending him stumbling back against the wall.
"I know that nothing hurts more than loosing someone close to you." JJ walked over and grabbed Nick by the neck and brought him in front of Warrick and Greg. He motioned for the linebacker to give Nick the gun, and he handed it over before moving behind them and pulling another one out. JJ pressed his gun against the back of Nick's head. "Now is really not a time to do something stupid. One false move and you take a nice long nap." Nick stared down at Greg and Warrick. Gregs hands were shaking violently, and Nick wanted nothing more than to hold Greg close and make everything okay. Warrick was slightly clamer than Greg, but the fear was still present in his eyes. "Here's the deal Nick." JJ pressed the gun harder against the back of Nick's head. "You kill them, or you die." Nick wanted to turn around, but thought better of it.
"What?"
"Kill your boyfriend and best friend, or you die."
"Why?"
"So you'll feel the loss I felt."
Nick shook his head and tears started to fall from Greg's eyes. "No." He said.
"No?" JJ lifted the gun and brought it down on the back of Nick's neck. Nick fell to his knees in front of Greg and Warrick. "Nick..." he said, firmly placing the gun at the base of Nick's neck. "Come on. Save yourself."
"No. I won't do it. Kill me, I don't care."
"Nick, I don't have time for these games."
"No." Nick said defiantly, looking back and forth between Greg and Warrick.
"Big mistake Nick." JJ said as he grabbed the gun from Nick's hand and threw it on the bed. "Turn around Nick." Nick smiled at Warrick and mouthed 'I love you' to Greg before he slowly turned, still on his knees, so he was facing JJ. JJ forced the gun into Nick's mouth, and smiled evily. "Goodbye Nick." He pulled the trigger. Nick fell back at Warrick and Greg's feet, blood pouring from the hole on the left side of his neck, just under his jawbone where the bullet had ripped through. Warrick stood up, but was again forced back into the chair by the gun JJ pressed against his chest. Greg stared in horror down at Nick. Everything around him went black. All he could see was Nick lying on his back, surrounded by a pool of blood. His blood. Tears rushed down his cheeks and his muscles felt like jell-o. "Poor Nick...such a tragedy." JJ said.
"You son of a bitch!" Warrick yelled.
"Ouch. That was kinda harsh. Marty," he said, gesturing to the linebacker. "Take care of the kid here." Marty picked Greg up by the shirt and pushed him towards the sliding glass door that led to the balcony eight stories up. Warrick watched in horror as the bigger man shoved the gun against Greg's back and forced him onto the balcony. He effortlessly picked Greg up again, and Warrick realized what was about to happen. He didn't think twice as he quickly kicked JJ as hard as he could in the crotch. JJ doubled over in pain. Warrick slammed his fist into his nose, instantly knocking him out cold. He ran up to the linebacker and grabbed the gun as he turned around. He had already forced Greg over the edge of the railing, and he was just barely holding on. Don't look down...don't look down. Greg looked down and screamed. There were flashing lights, cars, and people rushing by hundreds of feet below him. His hands were slowly slipping. Warrick somehow managed to wrestle Marty back against the wall, but control over the gun was still up for grabs.
"Hang on Greg..." Warrick said as he continued to struggle with Marty. Greg's fingertips were his last line of defense. He tried as hard as he could not to slip, but it was no use. He closed his eyes as he felt his fingers slip from the railing. He didn't even fall 3 inches when he abruptly stopped. He looked down to see if his feet were on a ledge, but there was nothing beneath him. Feelings the tight grip on his wrists and sudden strain in his shoulders, he looked up.
Nick was leaning over the railing, tightly holding Greg's wrists. "I got you Greg." he choked out. His voice was hoarse and blood was still running down his neck. Greg thought he was dreaming, but then he felt Nick start pulling him up.
When Warrick heard Nick's voice, his adrenaline sky rocketed and he gained control of the gun. He pressed it against Marty's chest and fired. Marty crumpled to the ground and Warrick dropped the gun. He turned around and saw Nick pull Greg completely over the railing. Greg threw his arms around Nick's neck and buried his face in the crook of his neck. Nick tighly wrapped his arms around Greg. He slowly walked backwards, leading Greg back into the hotel room. Warrick grabbed a blanket off the bed and handed it to Nick, who wrapped it tightly around Greg.
"I thought you were-"
"Shhh." Nick said, putting his finger to Greg's mouth. "I'm fine." He croaked, sounding more like an emphezyma patient than Nick. Warrick quickly went to the bathroom and wet a towel, bringing it to Nick.
"Put this on your neck bro." Warrick said. Nick tried to take the towel, but his vision blurred and he fell back on the bed. Greg firmly pressed the towel against Nick's neck, under his jaw. Nick closed his eyes and coughed up blood onto Greg's shirt.
"Sorry." Nick forced the words from his throat.
"For what?" Greg said, wiping the sweat from Nick's head and running his hand through his hair.
"Bleeding on your shirt."
Greg choked back tears and tried to make his voice sound strong. "I love you." Greg gently kissed Nick's lips and wiped his eyes.
Warrick came back over to the bed and stood next to Greg. "Paramedics are on their way up. How's he doing?" Warrick asked.
Greg smiled. "He's worried about bleeding on my shirt." Greg looked up at Warrick.
Warrick shook his head and smiled. "Leave it to Nick..." He put his hand on Greg's shoulder and gently squeezed. "You alright?"
Greg nodded. "Yeah...is he gonna be okay?" He couldn't keep the worry from his voice.
Warrick playfully ruffled Greg's hair. "He's gonna be fine."
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Nick slowly began to open his eyes, but when the wave of pain hit, he closed them again. He felt like he had been hit by a truck. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes all the way. He was a little confused at first, then he realized he was in the hospital. Greg was sitting to his right, holding his hand. Warrick stood next to him, his hand on Greg's shoulder. Catherine was next to Warrick. Grissom, Sara and Brass were to his left. He tried to sit up, but stopped when Greg squeezed his hand.
"Relax Nick. You broke a couple ribs, you'll be sore for a while." Nick's vision became clearer and he looked around the room at his friends. He tried to speak, but violently started coughing. His chest felt like it was being stabbed repeatedly, and he reached up and felt the thick bandage on his neck. He had the horrible taste of blood in his mouth, and his throat was bone dry. Greg squeezed his hand again. "Don't try to talk. You need to rest." His voice was calm and soothing.
Sara gently put her hand on Nick's thigh. "Nick...I am so sorry..." Tears started falling from her eyes. "What I said before...I didn't mean it. I was just scared...I'm so sorry."
Nick ignored the pain in his chest and throat. "It's okay Sara." He smiled and closed his eyes.
"You should get some rest." Grissom said. "Let us know if you need anything, okay?" Nick opened his eyes and nodded. Brass led the way out, followed by Grissom, Sara, and Catherine. Greg stood to leave too, but Nick pulled him back down.
"Will you guys stay with me?" he choked out, sending himself into another painful coughing fit.
"Of course we will bro." Warrick said, pulling a chair up beside Greg.
"Only if you promise to rest." Greg added.
"What you did back there was amazing Nick." Warrick said quietly.
Nick opened his mouth to protest, but Greg cut him off. "It's true. You saved our lives because you were willing to give yours. Not many people would do that."
Nick smiled. "Not many people have so much to fight for."
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A month later, Nick was fully recovered. The wound under his jaw healed, but it left behind a scar. Greg was lying next to Nick in their bed. Nick was sleeping, and Greg was thinking about Nick and how lucky he was they were together. He lightly traced his finger over Nick's scar. Nick's eyes slowly opened and he smiled up at Greg. Greg smiled back and shifted so he was laying on top of Nick. He leaned up and kissed Greg. He let his head fall back against the pillows as Greg kissed him back. Greg moved his kissing to the right side of Nick's neck, across his jaw, and then focused all his attention on Nick's scar. He gently ran his tongue over it and kissed it softly. Nick closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Greg's waist, pulling him as close as humanly possible. When Greg pulled back, Nick opened his eyes and looked at him.
"I love you so much." Greg said, kissing Nick's forehead.
"I love you too."
"I can't believe how lucky I am to have you."
Nick blushed. "I'm not a superhero or anything G."
Greg smiled. "No, much better than that. You're Nick." Nick threaded his fingers through Greg's thick hair on the back of his head and pulled him for a long, slow kiss.