You Save Me
A story of opening yourself entirely to someone, loving someone unconditionally, and trust.
Nick/Greg friendship and eventually pairing. Characters are not mine. Please R & R.
By: Animegirl1129
Chapter 3:
It took Greg several hours to explain the entire scenario to Nick, between the frequent pauses to calm himself down enough to speak again and Nick's threats of bodily harm on the bastards that did this to his friend.
By the time he'd finally finished, the younger man was exhausted; having lost several days of sleep due to the constant nightmares and the fear that engulfed his mind.
"It's okay…" Nick tried to comfort the spiky-haired ex-lab rat. "It wasn't your fault. Everything will be alright, Greggo…" he whispered quietly, running a hand through the other's disheveled hair.
Greg shook his head against the Texan's chest, too tired to move from the spot. "It's my fault. If I wasn't…. this way… it wouldn't have happened, Nicky."
Nick swallowed his own tears upon hearing the younger's words. "No, it wasn't your fault. They had no right to do that to you. No matter what. You didn't want it to happen, they broke the law, and they hurt you in ways I Don't want to think about. They are the ones at fault. Not you."
"When did you get so smart?" Greg let out a choked laugh, his tears staining Nick's grey 'Texas A & M' t-shirt. "Will you stay until I fall asleep?"
"I'll stay as long as you want me to."
Content for the moment, Greg rested his head against Nick's shoulder, the Texan moving his arm out of the way and letting it rest across the back of the sofa they were seated on. The older man closed his eyes, as sleep claimed his love, letting his mind process all that he'd heard in the last few hours.
He was positive that Greg was asleep, but the silent sobs that rocked the body he was holding made him think otherwise. In an attempt to further comfort the man, he let his arm drop from the sofa to lie across Greg's back, holding him against him lightly. A few moments later the sobbing subsided, replaced by a soft snoring sound that told the Texan that he could return to his own thoughts.
His best friend had been raped by three men a week ago today. It was a hate crime, they'd done it because they'd found out one of Greg's secrets. Secrets he hadn't even known about until today. Greg had gone to the hospital afterwards, or, more accurately, been taken to one when a pedestrian happened upon his body in an alleyway three blocks from this very apartment. He had chosen not to press charges at the time, but Nick would eventually talk him into letting the evidence that was collected be processed. He wanted everything to be normal again, but it never would be.
What seemed like only minutes later, Greg's trashing woke him from a sleep he didn't even know he'd fallen into, in response, he pulled the younger man closer t him, holding him tightly in his arms.
Two pairs of arms held his squirming form as still as possible as the third man prepared to finish what he'd started, removing the C.S.I.'s jeans and kicking them aside.
"Don't do this, I work with the police, you won't get away with it." He tried tossing his final bargaining chip into play, only to find it thrown right back at him.
"Not if you're dead you won't." The third man's right hand clamped around his throat, cutting off his oxygen. "We know where you live, where you work, how you get there and who your friends are. If you tell anyone we will tear your life apart."
Greg froze, his body going stiff with terror as the reality of what was happening really sunk in to the full extent. He was trapped.
"Let go…." He whimpered softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Don't…" he managed to pull out of Nick's arms, pushing off against the older mans chest and flying to the other side of the room.
Nick stood up in concern, apprehensively approaching the other. "Greggo… it's just me. I won't hurt you. I'd never hurt you. Look at me Greggo." He said softly, watching the fear fade and recognition pour into Greg's eyes before he threw himself at the Texan.
His breathing was ragged, a cold sweat covered his skin, he had a pounding headache and the room was spinning as he fell into Nick's arms. "I'm sorry." He cried. "I can't let anything happen to you…"
"What are you talking about, Greggo? I'm fine. I'm scared to death for you."
"I told you. They said they'd tear my life apart if I told. Currently, my life is you." He whispered, his eyes falling to the floor as he pulled away from the man.
Nick shook his head. "I'm not leaving you alone with those bastards still out there."
"You don't understand! They'll kill you. They know everything about me! It wasn't just a random attack they know where I am, where I'm going… they know that you are my friend."
"I won't leave you." He swore.
The ringing of the telephone on the coffee table caused Greg to jump a foot in the air at the sound, cutting off whatever he was about to say.
"Should you answer that?" the Texan questioned.
Greg swallowed, that same question running through his mind as well. Reluctantly, he picked up the receiver, holding it to his ear.
The three words he heard before the distinct 'click' of a hang-up sent him running into the bathroom to throw up what little food he had eaten lately.
Nick came in behind him. "What did they say?" He was almost afraid to ask, but he had to know.
Greg hung his head. "We're watching you."
