They had argued but Greg ended off going to work as he said he would. He seemed to be feeling better so maybe it was going to be okay. Nick in the meantime, stayed home flipping through the TV channels until there was a knock at the front door. He got up gingerly as he still hurt a little in his chest but it was improving. He looked out the peephole and saw their new neighbor, Joe, standing there. He opened up the door to him.
"Hi Joe, come on in." He walked in, looking around the house he had never been in before. It was a pretty nice place for a cop he figured. He had a basket of fresh fruit with him. "So I heard you were shot and all. I figured some fresh fruit might be something you are able to have and can help you out," he said as he handed Nick the basket. Nick smiled at him and took it.
"Thanks! That was really thoughtful of you. I definitely will eat most of this. Why don't you take a seat?" Nick offered while he placed the basket of fruit on their coffee table.
Joe sat down and looked around more. "Nice place you got here. How long have you lived here?"
Nick took a seat too. "Wow, I don't know. I guess about 10 years at least now. I lived here a couple years before Greg moved in. We were together here about 4 years before we split. He just came back earlier this year to live with me again."
"So you two were apart for a few years it sounds like," Joe queried.
"Yeah, a lot of that was my fault. He had lost his job and I wasn't taking his feelings into consideration when I was still working and telling him all about work. Plus he had been really depressed about what happened." Nick thought back, realizing now that Greg's problems really did start back then. He says he was happy when Matthew was in his life but he never witnessed that. He supposed it was true but sometimes wondered how happy he really was.
"But I guess he found his way back to you after all that time," Joe said, hoping to learn more about the couple from Nick directly. He already knew a lot just by looking up Greg Sanders name on the internet. He had been shocked to learn that he been involved in drugs and prostitution in the recent years. They must have had a really strong bond for Nick to fight to get him straightened out, which he did seem to be now.
"Yeah it was a bit…rough for a while but we never really stopped loving each other and in the end I guess that is what won out."
"He always seems a little preoccupied when I see him, is that common?" Joe asked him. Nick was starting to wonder where all these questions about their relationship were coming from.
"Perhaps, but why so many questions about us?" Joe cleared his throat. "Uh, I guess I am just trying to get to know my neighbors better. And perhaps I am maybe a little jealous of your relationship. I've never been so lucky to have one last so long." He shrugged. "I'm sorry I guess I should be asking how you feel and if there is anything I could do for you."
Nick relaxed a bit more hearing Joe's apology. He guessed he never thought about how long they had been together, off and on. "I'm feeling okay. Still a bit sore but taking it easy so I can recover faster and get back to work."
"Yeah I bet. I go crazy if I am not working too many days. I get restless, especially since I have nothing going on outside of work right now."
"Have you tried going to any of the local clubs or bars at all yet?" Nick asked him, kind of feeling sorry for the newbie to Las Vegas.
"No, guess I have mostly been focused on my new job. I suppose one of these off days I will try going to one. I did hear there was a new bar for gay, professional men to enjoy each other's company at. I think it is called Golden Ram."
Nick coughed a little, hearing the name of Greg's work location. "Um, yeah funny you mentioned that place. That is where Greg works as a bartender."
Joe was genuinely surprised. "Really?! Oh I had no idea. That is kind of funny. Maybe not the place to go to then, I don't want to make him feel awkward serving me or anything."
"I doubt he would feel that way, besides you are new to town and that might be a good place for you to go to. Greg said it is decent just not his ideal place to work though."
"Well maybe I will someday. Anyway, right now, is there anything I can help you out with while I am here? I am a good handyman," he showed off his pearly whites at Nick.
Nick laughed. "No, I think we are okay for now. Say, do you play any video games? I get bored with playing by myself when Greg is gone."
Joe smiled again. "Yeah I love video games. Probably the only thing that keeps me busy when I am at home. What's your fave?"
They started talking about the video games they liked to play. They then started a game of Call of Duty.
Xxx xxx xxx xxx
Luckily Greg had an uneventful day at work. The OxyContin had done a much better job than the Ibuprofen was doing but his last pill was wearing off on his drive home from work. He was going to have to try to sneak another one from Nick's bottle when he got home.
He opened the door and surprised to see Nick sitting on the couch with their neighbor, Joe. Nick looked up at hearing the door open. He looked surprised. "Wow, is it that late already?"
Greg walked in feeling a little perturbed by the visitor being there at such a late hour. "Yeah it is that late already. Why is Joe here? Did something happen while I was gone?"
Joe stood up quickly and moved away from Nick. He had really enjoyed Nick's company and they got to playing games for hours and then just were talking about things in general the last hour or so. He didn't even realize it was as late as it was. "No, sorry. I just came by earlier to give Nick this fruit basket since I heard he was shot. I guess we got to talking and playing games and lost track of time."
Greg looked at Joe and saw he seemed a bit nervous. He then looked to Nick so seemed not too worried about anything. "Yes, exactly what he said. We were playing Call of Duty for a while and then moved to GTA and just been talking for a while now. I had no idea it was the time it is. How was work? You feel okay?"
Greg looked between the two of them and felt a little weird. Here were two great looking men, both gay, having a good time together in their house while he was not around. "Um, yeah I am fine. I'm just tired is all. Standing so many hours kind of has put a strain on my back, so I am going to shower and hit the sack. You two can keep doing whatever it is your doing."
Greg took off to the bedroom with hardly another word. He saw that Nick still had the pills on his nightstand. He looked back and saw Nick and Joe talking. It looked like Nick was going to walk him to the door to leave. Greg quickly grabbed the bottle and grabbed two more pills and placed it back before Nick came back into the room.
He managed to get into the bathroom and swallow down both pills. He really was in a lot of pain and two pills before sleeping would be okay, he told himself. He got in the shower and felt the warmth of the water wash over him. He was already feeling more relaxed with the pills that he didn't even hear Nick walk into the bathroom.
Nick stepped out of his clothes and joined Greg in the shower, causing the younger man to jump in surprise. "Geez, don't sneak up on someone like that."
"Well I would have thought you heard me come in. Must have a lot on your mind, I hope it's not about Joe," Nick said to him as he grabbed the loofah out of Greg's hands and started washing his back with it. He made sure to go lightly on his lower back area. He noticed the bruise looked almost worst today.
"Well I was a bit surprised to see him when I came home. I mean when you see your boyfriend with another gay man on your couch your mind might play tricks on you," he admitted.
Nick made him turn around to face him. He saw it now, the worry in his face. He reached up and touched his face. "Babe, you have nothing to worry about. I only want you." Greg frowned. "Yeah but he is really good looking."
Nick had to smile at him. He was just too adorable when he was jealous. "Yes, he is really good looking. But you are the hottest thing to walk this planet." Greg blushed some and for some reason he always felt he owed Nick when he complimented him. He placed his hand around Nick's penis and gave it a tug, causing the older man to gasp at the tease.
"You're pretty hot too. I bet I can make you even hotter," he said before going down on Nick. As the water washed over the top of his head, he licked the tip of Nick's penis before taking him fully in his mouth.
Nick's head fell back as Greg worked his magical mouth on him. He had to admit, he never grew tired of Greg sucking him off. He really was a pro at it. He just tried not to think of why he was such a pro at it.
"Oh Greg, holy fuck!" he called out as he came in his mouth. Greg swallowed all of him and retreated his mouth from his penis. He stayed kneeling for a little while. His knew he probably should not have knelt down with his back being the way it was.
Nick looked down at him not moving and realized he couldn't get himself up. He grabbed his hands in his own and Greg looked up. "I'll help pull you up." Greg nodded and on the count of three Nick helped him up. Greg moaned a little in pain as he stood up. Nick frowned at him. "You shouldn't have done that with your back hurting."
Greg hung his head. "Yeah, I realize that now."
"I loved it though. So let's finish up this shower and get to bed to get some sleep," Nick finally said to him. Greg just nodded. Nick never liked it when Greg got quiet, especially after sex. He often wondered if he thought back to his days as a prostitute. He knew he was often disgusted with himself for that time of his life but he rarely talked about it.
Nick sat on the side of his bed and picked up his pill bottle. He was still thinking about Greg that he didn't notice any pills noticing when he took his one. Greg had been eyeing him out of the side of his eyes trying to gage if he noticed anything. He was relieved when Nick took his pill and lay down in bed next to him.
Nick leaned over and kissed him on the lips. "Get some sleep, Babe. You need your rest too. It's not just me," Nick told him.
"I know. Good night Nick." Greg couldn't stay on his back so he turned on his side away from Nick and fell soon asleep.
Greg woke up hours later feeling on edge. Nick was still asleep. He looked at the pill bottle and wanted to grab a couple more but he couldn't with Nick right there. He could wake up and see him taking them. He had already taken four pills. He was going to notice soon if he kept taking two at a time but those were the only pills helping him with his pain. He knew something else that could help him even more. He shook the thought out of his head. He just had to manage to get a couple more pills from Nick's bottle. He needed Nick to wake up and at least use the bathroom. That would give him enough time to grab a few.
He purposely loudly stretched and turned over in bed to face Nick. Nick cracked open his eyes and saw his lover. "Good morning, sunshine," he said to him. Greg smiled but felt guilty doing it. "Sorry if I woke you," he said to him.
Nick waved his hand at him. "No worries, I think I slept long enough. I slept some more after you left yesterday anyway. I am getting more sleep than you. How did you sleep?"
"Fairly well, I guess. I just woke up myself."
Nick reached out and touched his head where the stitches were. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I haven't had any dizziness so that is good."
"That is good. I'll be right back." He got up and grabbed the pill bottle as he walked to the bathroom. Greg laid back his head in frustration. He wasn't going to get any pills this time.
Nick washed his hands and then opened his pill bottle to take one. He noticed it looked like there were fewer pills than should have been in it. He poured them out into his hand and started counting them. He thought about how many he had taken and knew there were less remaining than should have been. He kept them at his bedside or on him most of the time. But there were a few moments he left them on the nightstand when he was out of the room, but Greg was still there. He clutched his hand around the pills not wanting to think Greg had taken some but if he was in pain from his back, he knew there was a really good chance he had. He looked at himself in the mirror and took a deep breath before confronting Greg.
Greg was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling when Nick came out. "We need to talk," Nick started. Greg looked at him and realized he had figured out pills were missing. Now he had to figure out what to say.
"What do you want to talk about?" Greg said quietly. Nick held up the OxyContin bottle. "We need to talk about these. There are some missing. Did you take them?"
Greg sat up and glared at him. "Oh so your first thought is Greg, the former drug addict, had to have taken these pills. In no way could the pharmacy screwed up and not given enough pills." He got up and grimaced but stood to face him anyway. "Once an addict always an addict, isn't that what they say?" Even as he said it he knew they were right and he was lying to himself to think he didn't already want a stronger fix.
Nick didn't expect to him get quiet as agitated as he was. "So you are saying you didn't take them?"
"That's what I am saying. Now if you'll excuse me I need to use the bathroom too." He walked right past him and shut the door behind him as he entered the bathroom. He stopped at the sink and looked at himself. He knew Nick knew he was lying. He completely over-reacted. How was he going to save face with Nick? He wasn't really addicted yet. He only had 4 pills so far. It was not that much.
He knew he could not avoid Nick forever. He wasn't going anywhere. He had to face the music. He walked to the door and took the handle. He opened the door slowly and saw Nick sitting on the bed staring at him as he opened the door.
Greg moved to the side and leaned against the wall, folding his arms defensively. "Okay, I took 4 pills. Two yesterday and two the day before, that's all. No more than the normal daily dosage. My back was hurting me more than I let on. I won't take anymore. I'll stick with what the doctor gave to me," he told Nick.
Nick was actually surprised he fessed up to taking them so quickly. Perhaps he didn't need to worry about him as much as he thought. He stood up and approached Greg. He noticed Greg tensed up. "I'm proud of you confessing that you took them. I'm also glad to hear it was not too many. I did count and your numbers match what is missing."
"Okay so now what?" Greg asked, unsure of what Nick wanted from him. Nick took his hand and said to follow him.
He followed him into the kitchen. Nick pulled the bottle out of his pocket and proceeded to dump the contents into the sink. He started running the water and then the garbage disposal.
"Wait! Stop! You need those," Greg exclaimed.
Nick waited until the pills were all disposed of and then turned to face his boyfriend. "No I don't need them, not at the expense of you possibly taking them." That act made Greg feel incredibly guilt, so he turned away and walked into the living room.
Nick sighed. "Look I didn't mean it the way it came out. I'm not in that much pain anymore. I really can do without them. I can just take over the counter stuff."
Greg turned around, hurt evident in his eyes. "No, you meant you wanted to keep them away from your former drug addict boyfriend. You don't want me to get hooked again."
"Can you blame me? I mean really Greg. I saw you at your worst. I don't ever want to see that again."
Greg rubbed his hands over his face. "I know, I know." He finally sat down on the couch. Nick came and sat next to him. "I don't want you to feel bad about this because I know what that does to you. Like I said, I am proud you ended up telling me the truth. That is huge, Greg."
Greg was looking down at the ground. "It doesn't feel like it. It feels like I was caught red handed with my hand in the cookie jar. And now I am just waiting for my punishment."
Nick put his hand on his knee. "There isn't going to be any punishment. The drugs are gone. You said you are going to keep clean. It's just easier without any temptation around."
"Yes I guess," he frowned.
Nick grabbed his chin and made him face him. "It is. Just remember I am here if you need to talk." He gave him a lingering kiss.
"I love you, remember that," Nick said to him.
"I love you. I love you so much. I don't know what I did to deserve your faith in me."
"Let's not go down this road again. You deserve my love more than I deserve yours. Now let's get you out of this funk. Why don't you cook up some breakfast? I know it helps you to cook."
Greg smiled. He was right, it did. "Okay food coming right up."
