CSI: Sanctuary: Chapter 12

"Mommy! No!"

Nick walked in the front door to hear his daughter half screaming and half sobbing from her bedroom. Dropping the bag he carried, he rushed up the stairs to see what was going on.

"You little bitch! I told you I was having company over for the afternoon. I told you to stay in your room and out of the way. And you didn't listen!"

When he reached his daughter's room he found his wife snatching up toys from the floor and stuffing them in a giant trash bag while Cara sat on her bed, feet dangling over the edge.

"How many times did I tell you to pick up this mess? Huh? How many?"

Tears streamed down the little girl's face. "I'm sorry! I won't be messy again! I promise!" She clutched Eeore to her chest, sobbing.

"What the hell's going on in here?" Nick asked, frightened of his wife's actions.

"What does it look like?" Kristy grabbed one of Cara's Legos from the floor and stuffed it into the bag. "Say goodbye to your precious toys."

Cara backed into the corner of her bed, watching her parents with wide tearful eyes.

"What are you doing, Kristy?"

"I'm filling up the garbage bin out front. What does it look like, CSI Man? I told her if she misbehaved this would happen."

"This is a little extreme. Don't you think? If she really did something wrong, maybe take them away for a day or two. But... what you're doing is just..."

"I just got lonely, Daddy. Eeore can't talk to me. I don't think he's very happy here."

As soon as her mother had moved out of the way, Cara bolted off the bed and ran straight to Nick, clinging to his leg while sobbing into his jeans.

"Hey, now, it's alright to get lonely sometimes. Why don't you tell me what happened?" Nick hoisted her up and set her down on his hip, her arms encircling his neck.

"I went downstairs to ask Mommy when you were coming home. She got mad at me, and yelled at me."

Nick glared at his wife as she started to pluck toys off the book shelves once the floor was clean. The trash bag was already over stuffed.

"And why'd she yell at you for that?" Nick did his best to keep his voice soothing to the girl while he shot daggers at Kristy.

"Her friends aren't supposed to know about me. She says they won't be her friends ever again because of me."

Nick turned to face his wife, half shielding his daughter from her. "How could you do that?" he asked, barely able to mask the emotions bubbling up. "Do you know what you've done to her?"

"I told her if she misbehaved this would happen. And I clearly told her what I expected of her. All she had to do was stay up here in her room for a few hours."

"She's only three and a half, Kristy! You can't leave her alone for that long!" Nick became aware that his knuckles were turning white as he clutched his daughter. He loosened his hold. What he failed to notice was the loud thunk of the garbage bag as it hit the floor. Before he even had a chance to blink, Kristy's hand shot out and punched him right in the face. He whirled around, surprised more than anything else.

"Don't you dare tell me how to raise my child!" Kristy seethed. "This is all your fault!"

Nick turned his back on her and started walking down the hall. "Come on, honey, let's go for a walk in the park. Ok? You'd like that wouldn't you?"

Cara only buried her face in his shirt without a response. Feeling his own chest tighten at the situation she'd been put in by her own mother, he ignored the dark clouds forming over head and left his truck in the driveway. Walking off his anger, he decided, would be better than letting it fester in the truck on the way to the park.

Finally. The apartment was clean. Greg finished scrubbing the stains from the couch and threw the rag into the kitchen sink as the rain continued to pour from the sky in stinging torrents. Stains on the couch... just thinking about what he'd cleaned up reminded him of the take out he'd ordered with Nick. The take out they'd never gotten a chance to eat because Nick was a beautiful hunk when he was naked. Especially when he was naked and congratulating Greg on finally passing his proficiency. Oh yeah. That had been one hell of a wild ride. If only there was more than one proficiency he needed to pass in order to become CSI. Maybe then, he'd get even more beautiful sex.

He realized his jeans were straining at the crotch and sucked in a huge breath. He'd made himself hard in a matter of seconds. And there was no one around to help him out. It was either do it himself, or do his best to forget about his predicament. He sighed. He still wanted Nick to take him and fuck him, but he told himself he wouldn't force the issue. Nick would do it when he was ready. And besides, it wasn't like they couldn't do other things to turn each other on and get each other off. He always enjoyed their time together, no matter what they were doing, and he had a strong feeling Nick felt the same way. Eyeing the Wenger Mountaineer watch on his wrist, he knew he was right. Nick had spent a fortune, and one didn't do that unless they had good reason.

A knock on his front door made Greg jump. Who would be calling on him now? Perhaps it was his landlord wanting to change the batteries in the smoke detector. It wasn't the time of year for the biannual bug inspection. He looked down, groaning at the erection still straining to escape his pants. What could he use to hide it? He darted into the kitchen, grabbed a clean dish, ran it under the tap, and reached for the dish towel.

He approached the door, holding the wet plate partially with the towel, letting the rest of the material hang down in front of him. Doing his best not to blush, he opened the door.

"Nick?" Standing out in the hall, he found a sopping wet Nick, clutching the small hand of his daughter. "Come in. Come in. Let's get you both dried off." Greg put the wet dish on the kitchen counter and went to get two thick bath towels from the hall closet. Making a detour to his bedroom he grabbed a clean t-shirt from the closet. "I know you have a second key. Why didn't you use it?"

He handed Nick one towel while he knelt on the floor to rub Cara's wet hair. Even as she stood there and let him dry her off, her eyelids drooped heavily.

"Because I didn't come alone, and I didn't want to surprise you. I'm really sorry, G. I didn't mean to intrude like this."

"Don't worry about it. You know my home is always open to you. Answer me one more question?"

"What?"

Greg helped Cara out of her wet clothes and pulled the extra large shirt over her head, the short sleeves on Greg were long on her, covering her clammy hands. He picked her up and set her down on the couch.

"What were you doing out in the rain? Since my parking lot's covered, I know you didn't drive here."

Nick's chin hit his chest as he stared at the floor. "Things got nasty at home. Kristy's pissed off and all her yelling was upsetting Cara, so I took her on a walk to the park. I didn't know it was going to rain. And when it started, there was no where else we could go. Kristy will be mad for a long time. I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring all this horribleness into your happy day, but this was the safest place I could think of. I'm sorry. Really."

Greg approached Nick, cupped his face in his hands, and placed a quick kiss to his lips. "You are safe here and I'm glad you know that. You don't have to be sorry for anything. Now, go get changed. You both need some sleep." He followed Nick into the bedroom to get an extra blanket and pillow for Cara.

Returning to the livingroom he got Cara settled on the couch. "We didn't get to say hello earlier," he commented, pulling the blanket up over her little body.

"Tired."

"Yeah I know. Hey, you want to watch cartoons until you fall asleep?"

"K."

Greg turned the tv on and tuned it to a good channel for children. By the time he left the room her eyes were already closed.

"What if she tells Kristy?" Nick asked, already in bed.

"Tells her about what?" Greg stripped down to his boxers and climbed in beside Nick.

"I brought her here. I'm sleeping in the same bed with you. You kissed me out there in front of her."

Finding warm skin waiting for him, Greg's erection was quick to return now that Cara wasn't in the room with them.

"I wouldn't worry about it. She's only three and a half after all."

"And smart."

"Just like her father."

Studying Nick's face, he could have sworn the skin color was off over one of his cheekbones. But in the dim light, he couldn't be too sure. He forced the unwelcome thought out of his mind. Nick was fine. Whole. Here in bed with him, and ready to get down to business. There was no doubt about that.

Greg let his hand roam over the tented sweat pants beneath him, leaning in to press a needy kiss to Nick's lips.

"G..."

"She's sound asleep. With the tv on. She won't hear a thing, long as you can be quiet."

Nick was breathing heavily as Greg tugged at the sweat pants and yanked them down past his hips.

"Been thinking about what you did to me on the couch yesterday... so fucking hot."

Nick rolled him over onto his side, kicking the pants off, and helping Greg out of his boxers at the same time. A large, warm, hand ran down his chest, fingers brushing over nipples. His stomach swirled with butterflies as the hand splayed over tight muscles and went lower. A hard knee and thigh pushed between his legs, opening him, spreading him. Fingers spread him even further as Nick nestled closer against him, his wiry black hair tickling Greg's oversensitive skin. Nick's thick cock fit lengthwise into the cleft of his cheeks and he rubbed himself into Greg, dragging a low moan from his mouth directly into Greg's ear.

Taking Nick's free hand, Greg guided it onto his heated cock and Nick obliged, already knowing what he wanted. He let out a grunt of pleasure and clenched his cheeks around his lover. Nick trembled, groaning, shifting behind him to bring them both to a workable rhythm. Greg bit his lip, to keep from calling out.

"Oh fuck."

"I know it's not what you really want but..."

Greg gasped, as Nick's hand twisted around his member. "...so hot... You can do anything you want to me."

Nick picked up the pace, using his knee to open Greg wider, stroking him harder, dragging his own cock between Greg's cheeks with more pressure.

"You really like this?"

"Yes. Oh God... please don't stop."

Nick let out a chuckle. "Wasn't planning on it. Need you too."

A second hand joined the first between his legs, touching him, stroking, fondling, as Greg jerked, arching his back, wanting more.

"Nick... Nick... gonna..." He was coming before he knew it, spreading wet heat over Nick's hand and his own stomach.

His ass cheeks clenched tighter around the cock ensconced between them, as Nick rode out his orgasm. The muscles in Nick's arms tightened around him, and he felt his release only moments later. Reaching around him, he grabbed Nick's ass and pressed him closer, dragging the orgasm out of him slowly, until he was empty and had relaxed against him.

"Did I congratulate you on passing your proficiency yet?" Nick asked, still breathing hard.

"Yes, you did. Many times in the lab, and yesterday was... amazing. Who knew you were that good on a couch? You're too good to me."

"No, you're too good to me."

Nick took his leg from between Greg's and Greg rolled over to face him. The kiss they shared was warm and sweet, just the kind of kiss he'd always dreamed about sharing with someone special after sex.

"I don't want to sleep. Just want to hold you."

"Suggestion?"

"Yeah?"

"We shower, strip the sheets, then you can hold me in bed."

"Love it. But let's leave the door open incase Cara needs one of us."

"You got it."

The water sluiced down on both men as Nick finished rinsing Greg's hair. Greg cleared his eyes from the water droplets threatening to sting his retinas and turned around to return the favor.

The spot just over Nick's cheekbone was definitely changing color. He'd had his suspicions, but now he was sure. The pasty yellow color was quickly giving way to purple. Greg gently brushed his fingertips over it, noticing how Nick flinched ever so slightly at his touch.

Things got nasty at home... This was the safest place I could think of...

"She hit you, didn't she." It wasn't a question.

"No." Nick had trouble meeting his eyes.

"You didn't have this when you left work yesterday."

His boyfriend sighed, the quiet sound barely heard above the water pelting the tile.

"You couldn't do anything to defend yourself, could you."

"She's my wife." Nick rested his forehead on Greg's shoulder, as the pain in his voice reached Greg's ears.

"She didn't hurt Cara, did she?" Fear at that thought, flooded Greg's senses and almost knocked him out.

"No. No, she didn't. Thank God."

Cold relief jerked his body and he sucked in a breath of moist air. His face felt hot, but whether it was due to the water or the fact that he was upset, he couldn't tell. Just like he couldn't tell whether the drops running down his face were only water or actual tears.

"Nick..." He tried to say something about how worried he was for both Nick and his daughter, but no words would come out. He grabbed the shampoo bottle and poured some of the soap into the palm of his hand before working it into Nick's hair.

If Nick had been a woman he would have insisted she get professional help, that she move out of the house right away. But this was Nick. He was strong at times when Greg couldn't be. He knew what was clearly happening, and he'd seen many women in the very same position. He'd talked to some of them, told them to seek help for their abusive husbands. He knew the facts, knew what could happen. Maybe Kristy wasn't very abusive physically. But she was abusive in so many other ways. That was no way for a child to grow up. No way for a man to live.

Greg didn't want to see Nick get hurt by any means. He just couldn't say anything to him. He'd told Nick he wouldn't sway him so many times over the past year and a half, and now, all he wanted was to be able to talk some sense into him, to tell him how much he...

His arms dropped from the lather on Nick's head and engulfed his body in a tight hug, holding them as close together as he possibly could. If only there was something he could do...

It was weird how everything came together that day, even though Greg had seemed upset at finding the bruise. Once they'd gotten back into bed redressed with clean sheets, Nick held Greg while he read a new novel about a gay cop with the ability to talk to dead people. He read parts of it over his lover's shoulder, sometimes giving him a light kiss here or there. It felt good. Normal. Almost as if they already were a family.

"Can I borrow some of these novels of yours sometime? I'm not getting the whole story reading them like this."

"Feeling a little deprived?" Greg looked over his shoulder. "Should I get naked again? You know they say the real experience is even better than just reading about it." He winked.

Nick let himself smile, despite the bad joke. "Yeah, maybe I am a little deprived. But certainly not deprived of sex, real or imagined. Not with you around." He gave Greg a kiss to his bare shoulder.

"Of course you can borrow my ereader." Greg turned and shared another kiss. "Anytime."

Only two hours later Cara came bounding into the room, not seeming to care or notice that her father was holding another man in bed where her mother should have been. She was wide awake from her nap, and complaining that her clothes were still wet.

Greg put his ereader away and got up. "I should have put them in the dryer earlier. Nick, you want to make something for dinner while I go do that? I'll throw yours in too."

In the kitchen, Nick searched the cupboards for something he knew how to cook. Greg was getting better and better at cooking every day. Sometimes he arrived to find him watching the Food Network on tv, studiously taking notes. Other times he was on the phone with his mother talking about a dish he was preparing.

Just like Nick's family, Greg's had no clue he was actually cooking for someone else. His mother kept asking him when he planed to settle down with someone, though it didn't seem to matter who he settled down with. Greg tried to explain that he was settled down. He had his own place now, even if he was still renting, and he was happy with that. But she didn't seem to get it.

"Ah!" Nick grabbed the box of Bisquick and brought it to the counter. This he could do. And here, he wouldn't be ridiculed for it.

"That's my Christmas present!" Cara noted with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, it is, sweetheart. And this, is what we're gonna have for dinner. But you've got to promise me something." He knelt in front of her, taking her shoulders in his hands, just as Greg returned from the laundry room in the basement. "You have to promise me you won't tell Mommy what we had for dinner. Can you do that?"

"Yeah! Mommy's mean sometimes."

"Yeah, I know."

When he stood up, he noticed the arched eyebrow on Greg, and pointed to the pancake mix.

"Ah." Greg knew enough about their home life to understand without an explanation, and for that, he was grateful.

While Nick was busy flipping pancakes, Greg took Cara into the livingroom and kept her busy with a guessing game until dinner was ready. He carried her into the kitchen and set her down on a chair. Her nose touched the table.

"Nick, you want to grab some of my text books from the shelf in the livingroom while I set the table?"

"Sure thing."

When her father returned, Greg picked her up, impressing her with his one arm wrapped around her middle. She giggled, watching Nick set several thick, hardcover chemistry text books on the chair. Greg set her back down.

"Now, you be careful up there, sweetie," Greg warned. "We don't want you falling off, so try not to move around too much. Alright?"

"Ok."

Nick put a pancake on her plate, cut it up for her, and poured maple syrup over the top. Both men watched her stuff a slice into her mouth. She tasted it for a moment, letting it sit on her tongue before her eyes lit up in wonder. She was quick to chew and swallow, stuffing another slice in her mouth.

"That's good!"

"I'm glad you approve."

"Mommy's stupid."

"Hey, don't talk about your mother that way." Nick sighed. "I might agree with you, but it's still not nice."

After the dishes were done and Cara was settled in front of a movie playing on tv, Greg pulled Nick aside for a quiet conversation.

"You know she doesn't seem to notice a lack of estrogen around here. She's acting like this is normal, like this is her real family."

Nick could only nod in agreement.

"I'm trying not to influence your decision making on purpose, but I need to say this... I wish this was her real family, Nick. And I mean that. I really do."

Their eyes locked and he saw nothing but sincerity in Greg. He had to ask himself why Kristy couldn't be like this, why she had to be such a bitch at times.

"Daddy?" He turned to the sound of his daughter calling his name, but saw nothing except one big blur in front of him. He blinked his apparent tears away to see her standing at his feet, looking up at him. "Why are you crying?"

He picked her up and she wrapped her small arms around his neck.

"It's a long story, honey. Maybe some other time I'll tell you."

"If I can make Eeyore happy, maybe I can make you happy too. Do you think so?"

"I know so. Say, that movie didn't finish already, did it?"

She shook her head. "Come watch with me? It's a happy movie!"

"Why don't we all watch it together," Greg suggested.

Cara sat between the two men on the couch, Greg's arm resting comfortably around Nick's shoulders.

"Hey," he whispered into Nick's ear. "Next time you come over, you should bring some toys with you. All I have is what's on tv."

"You're acting like this will become a regular thing."

"Well, seeing you is a regular thing."

Nick rested his head on Greg's shoulder, a smile on his face. He could do toys. He could definitely do toys. "But can I still see you alone sometimes?"

A soft kiss landed in his hair. "Of course. You know I need you alone just as much as I need my family time."

His smile turned into a grin. If he could never leave this moment, he wouldn't.

A/N: The ebook that Greg is reading is called Psycop and it's a series of books written by Jordan Castillo Price, one of my new favorite authors. It's fantastic, and I highly recommend it. You can easily find it on Amazon.

Also, I apologize for the delay in posting chapters. The rest of my life got in my way. But I'm going to do my best not to let it happen again until I'm done with this piece. There are six chapters left to edit and post, and then I still have to write the epilogue. With luck, though I doubt it'll happen, I'll post about three chapters per week, which will have them all done by the time I go on vacation. When I get back, perhaps I'll have an epilogue to post. But don't hold your breath. If that doesn't work out, hopefully, I'll get plenty of editing done while I'm on vacation. Let's hope.

I just came up with a brand new idea this morning about a sci-fi tragic romance story, and I really can't wait to start writing it! It's original, not fanfic. Don't know if I'll post it to fictionpress or not, but I might. If I do, I'll be sure to let you know.

And now, I'm off to edit chapter 13. Thanks for reading, and for any reviews you leave me. They are greatly appreciated!