Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's all the property of CBS and Anthony Zuiker
AN: A thousand and one apologies for the length of time it has taken me to update this, uni took a crazy turn, and now almost a year on, I'm back in the first year on a different degree… Thanks to everyone who is still following the story, and if anyone still wants the first how ever many chapters it is, please email me and ask for it and I shall send you a copy. Hope you enjoy the chapter, and as always, reviews are gratefully received!
Nick stood in front of the door to Greg's room, wondering if there was any way to escape from this waking nightmare. He squeezed his eyes shut, mentally running through the list of injuries that they now knew Greg had. Cut tendons. Burns. Trauma. Bruising. Cuts. And worst of all, evidence that Greg had been raped. Nick felt the nausea rise up in him again, and he urgently sucked in some deep breaths, forcing himself not to react. After the doctor had broken the news to the CSIs, Nick hadn't been the only one running for the bathroom. He was pretty sure that most of them were still in shock, even though they knew that people were capable of anything, it was a horrific shock when it happened to one of their own.
Nick forced himself to concentrate and braced himself, knowing that what awaited him inside the hospital room would not be pretty. He took a deep breath before opening the door and walking in.
The sight that greeted him was even worse than he imagined. Greg was hooked up to countless machines and covered in scrapes and bandages. He looked unspeakably young, but at the same time, there were signs of age, signs that had amassed suddenly and ones that had no right of being on Greg's face.
"Oh Greg," sighed Nick, the guilt surging up as he looked at the figure in the bed.
The doctor had told them that Greg was heavily sedated, but it didn't stop Nick walking over to the bed, picking up Greg's hand, and speaking gently to him.
"Hey, Greg, it's me…you're safe now, Smith is dead, he can't hurt you now," he felt tears well in his eyes but continued to talk, albeit brokenly. "I'm sorry, Greg, but you're safe now. You're safe."
From Greg there was no response, he lay there still and silent. Nicks only reply was the steady beating of the machine measuring Greg's heart rate.
Nick sighed and sat down, only to jump to his feet as an experienced looking nurse walked into the room.
"Hi, I'm Laura Jameson, forensic nurse. I'm here to process Mr Sanders?"
Nick nodded silently, having the forensic nurse there in front of him seemed to make Gregs status as the victim all the more obvious. Realising the nurse was still waiting for a vocal reply Nick cleared his throat.
"Hi, sorry, I'm Nick Stokes, with the crime lab."
It was the nurses turn to nod, as she pulled on a pair of gloves and turned to look at Greg.
"Right, let's get started then," she said and walked over to the bed.
As she processed, Nick found himself living through one of the most painful half hours of his life. Sure, he'd heard the verbal report from the doctor, but it was in no way similar to actually seeing the results of the torture that had been inflicted on Greg. He was grateful that the nurse was both efficient and gentle, as this made it somewhat easier. Nick was also impressed by the way that she talked quietly to Greg, despite Greg being unconscious.
"Mr Stokes? The next part of my exam is for the rape kit…I was told that you knew Mr Sanders so if you wanted to step out for this bit I'd understand."
When Nick shook his head, Nurse Jameson merely nodded like she'd been expecting his answer.
"In that case, if you could stay on that side and talk to him for me, maybe even hold his hand…that's great, thanks."
As she started processing, Nick cautiously picked up Greg's hand, being mindful of the bandages and IV lines, wondering what the hell he could talk about.
The nurse seemed to understand his dilemma, and advised him to talk about what came naturally - people they both knew, maybe work, even sports if he felt like it.
"Hey Greg…uhh you haven't missed much in football, the Giants won their last game…umm, Hodges is in everyone's good books at the lab 'cos he told Ecklie where to stuff it…Archie misses you, I think he's going to make you go over to his and play video games and watch Star Trek…Catherine's threatening to throw you a welcome back party, so that should be…Greg? Greg! I think he's crying! Is that normal? I thought he was unconscious!"
Nurse Jameson paused and looked at Nick with sad eyes.
"One thing that this job has taught me is that people are capable of anything. Another is that you don't have to be awake to cry."
Nick swallowed hard, the lump in his throat threatening to overwhelm him. He gripped Greg's hands as tightly as he felt he could and whispered words of comfort, feeling completely helpless while he did so.
Tears continued to leak from Greg's eyes throughout the whole of the exam, and even once the nurse had finished and taken her findings to be logged in.
Desperate, Nick tried drawing on other topics, on gently wiping the tears away from Greg's eyes; he even contemplated singing to him.
But no matter what Nick tried, Greg wouldn't stop crying.