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. Thanks for all the reviews!
By: Animegirl1129
Chapter 14:
"You know him?" Greg questioned, sitting beside the man he loved as the bullet wound Nick had gained in the struggle was treated.
The fight for the guns had injured Nick substantially as well. He had a busted lip, a black eye, and several bruises marring his skin. He hadn't seemed this bad at the crime scene, he'd been fine, other than the gun shot wound, but now he looked terrible, fighting against the morphine to stay conscious. Greg had come out of it with some bruises and had several stitches across his forehead where he'd been pistol whipped.
Nick nodded, cringing as the bandage was pulled tight on his right upper arm. "His name's Jason King. He was my best friend in school, we were always in the same classes, from pre-school to college. We lost touch since I came to Vegas, but we talk on the phone occasionally. Even still, I never thought he'd do anything like this."
The younger man's reply was cut short, the doctor, Rebecca Taylor, ordering Nick to get some rest, though she allowed Greg to stay.
Greg caught the woman on her way out, stepping outside of Nick's room. "Is he going to be okay?" he asked, concern filled in his eyes.
"He lost quite a bit of blood, and we managed to remove the bullet without emergency surgery. He's pretty beat up, too, but he'll live," she explained briefly. "Now, go stay with him."
The exhausted ex-lab tech returned to the room, standing at the end of the bed. "Nicky…" he said softly, the man was half asleep.
"Mmphm…" the Texan groaned, opening his arms. "Let me hold you?"
Greg smiled, laying down beside him, wrapping an arm over the man's chest, careful to avoid the injuries his love had gained while protecting him. "Get some rest."
Nick nodded, pressing a chaste kiss to the top of Greg's head, holding the man against his heart, finally succumbing to the effects of the powerful sedative. "Love you, Greggo…"
Greg tried to fall asleep, listening to the sound of Nick's breathing evening out, his heart rate slowing, unable to do the same.
"You could have died because of me…" realization dawned on Greg, as he nuzzled against Nick's throat, finding a safe haven in the other's warm embrace. "That guy could have killed you, Nicky, because you were with me, because you tried to protect me…"
His reply consisted of soft snoring from his love while the older man subconsciously pulled him closer.
He moved away from the comfort of Nick's arms, fighting back tears. "You didn't deserve this. I don't deserve you, you did all this for me, to save me, and it almost ended up getting you killed," Greg thought aloud, guilt flooding through his mind as he recalled this evenings incident. "I'm sorry, Nicky…"
Greg stood, moving off the bed and stepping toward the door. He'd just gabbed the handle when the other's voice stopped him. "Where are you going, Greggo?"
The younger man shook his head, walking through the door, away from Nick.
"Greg?" Nick called out for him again, this time hurt. Despite being heavily medicated, and painfully injured, he stood on unstable feet and followed the man he loved.
"Sir, you need to be resting…" a nurse making her rounds protested, trying to turn Nick back toward his room.
"No," he pulled away from the woman, watching Greg round a corner. "I have to get to Greg… Leave me alone…" he squirmed, freeing himself, as he continued down the hallway.
He turned the corner his love had, watching Greg push the button for the elevator.
"Greg…" Nick whispered, moving back towards him. "Why'd you leave?"
"You shouldn't be moving…." he said, staring intently at the panel above the elevator, marking what floor it was on.
Nick reached out, grasping Greg's arm with his own. "I don't care, Greggo. I want to know why you're running away."
"I can't do this…"
"What?"
"Be with you," he stated. "It almost got you killed tonight, Nicky. Don't you understand?"
Nick shook his head. "No, I don't understand. I love you, Greggo, I'd do all of it over again if it meant you would be safe."
"How can you want to be with me?" Greg asked, tears now rolling down his face. "I was raped, by three guys, one of which was your best friend, they bugged your house because of me, and you could have died! Because of me!"
Nick pulled the younger man into his arms, fighting him when he tried to escape, holding him tight as Greg broke down in his arms. "Shhh…" he whispered.
Greg cried, his head buried against his love's chest. "How can you still want me?" he repeated, moving to look Nick in the eye. "I'm filthy! I'm dirty! I can't get them off of me, Nicky… How can you want to be with me knowing that?" he sobbed.
While Greg had been rambling on, Nick had pulled them over to one of the large sofa's in the waiting area on the floor, which was pretty much empty. "Do you know how terrified I was when I saw you with a gun to your head? The idea of losing you back there… I would have done absolutely anything to get you out of there alive, even if it meant that I wouldn't be."
"Nicky…"
The older man leaned over, pressing a long kiss to the other mans lips. "Just… please, let me in. Let me love you, Greggo."
Greg fell into place against Nick's chest. "Loving you is easy. It's just that…I'm afraid that sooner or later you'll want something from me that I might not be able to give you…" he admitted. "I'm afraid I'll lose you because of that.
Nick touched Greg's chin and titled his head up to look into his eyes. "You're afraid I'll leave you because I want sex?"
Greg sighed. "Not that…I mean, I don't know when I'll feel comfortable enough to have sex again. It's just…when I saw you lying there, Nicky, hurt and so beaten…I realized how short life is. I did through what I've experienced, but seeing someone I love hurting…it was horrible. You're better off falling in love with a girl who can give you children, give you a family. Something I can't do."
Nick watched the tears brim Greg's eyes and bit his lip, cradling the younger man in his arms. "Don't you think I know that, Greg? I know that you aren't ready to make love yet…and I know you can't give me a family, but obviously I can't give you a family either. Believe me, Greg, I've thought long and hard about my feelings. And they belong to you. You alone. I love you."
Slowly Greg kissed Nick, ignoring the tears that were marring his cheeks. "I love you too…I love you so much."
Nick held the crying boy with his free arm. "Don't think differently, okay? Don't put that on yourself. You're everything I need, Greggo. I promise you."
Greg stood up and helped Nick to his feet. "Thank you, Nicky…" he whispered. "Now come on, I don't want you out of bed yet."
The Texan laughed when Greg slowly pulled him once more into his hospital room and helped him into bed. "Greg, please, stop crying, okay?"
Greg nodded and sat beside the one he loved. "Okay."
The older male rested on the bed and watched as Greg tried to get comfortable in the chair. "What are you doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing?"
"Get your ass up here," Nick laughed. "I want to hold you."
Greg smiled and climbed onto the bed. "I love you…"
"I'm glad. What made you agree so easily? Usually you enjoy putting up a fight."
"When you said…" Greg closed his eyes and bit his lip, nuzzling his face against Nick's neck. "When you said 'making love.'"
