Author's Note: Good to see I have a convert, or at least one who can tolerate the Nick/Greg pairing more than before, Mma63. Thanks for trusting in my story-telling skills in spite of the fact that I'm writing about a pairing you don't read! This story is finished, so posting might be faster (maybe later this week, depending on interest). In the meantime, I'm working on three other stories - the Epilogue to Complex (no, I haven't forgotten!), a story called the Seventh Son, the summary for which can be found on my profile, and a preview can be found at my livejournal (user: smilesinc), and lastly, a story called Grim Fandango, which I'll discuss later, but is basically a dark comedy about Nick and Greg's friendship (no slash in that one, though). Alright, plugging over, go ahead and read the chapter!

Chapter Six: A Bloody Doze

It was the end of the day on Friday and Greg was looking forward to going home and putting the better part of this week behind him. He thought about the kiss he had shared with Wendy earlier that shift, and how much clearer things seemed to him now. If only he could make them clear to Nick.

He opened his locker and hung up his lab coat, right next to his vest. He took out his jacket and closed the door. But before he could even put the jacket on, something hit him hard in the nose, sending a shockwave of pain rippling through the bone and directly into the brain. He cursed loudly and profusely as he stumbled backwards, his hands cupping his face as he doubled over.

"Ow!" someone else said, though who, Greg had to take a moment to figure out. His ears were ringing, and his eyes were shut tight to keep out the tears, so it was hard to determine. Slowly, he recovered, and when he was convinced that his eyes wouldn't leak when he opened them, his lids opened wide and he tilted his head back. He saw David Hodges standing in front of him, shaking out his hand.

One hand hovering over his nose, Greg exclaimed, "… the fuck, Hodges!"

"You have a hard face," Hodges returned with a haughty sneer.

"You shouldn't have hit it with your fist!" Greg snapped. His tongue shot up over his lip, where it lapped at the wet metallic tang. "Great, I'b bleeding." He frowned. "I'b… bay be by bo boo… fuck!" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dow I talk like ad idiot. Thanks."

"Hey, I'm not the bad guy here!" Hodges declared.

"I don't have tibe for this," Greg said, holding up his hand. "I deed ice and a towel. Cad you help be out here?"

"You're asking the guy that just hit you for help?" Hodges asked.

"You've got it out of your systeb," Greg said. "So, would you help be?"

Hodges gaped at him. "I oughtta hit you again."

Greg laughed. "You're dot the type to—"

Wham! There it was, this time clear across the jaw, and hard enough to slam Greg into the metal wall of lockers, as he wasn't expecting it. He straightened, a little disoriented and leaned his back against the lockers as he rubbed his jaw and manually moved it in circles. "What is wrong with you?" he said, slowly, and winced as it ached to move his mouth.

"You know what that was for," Hodges said. "You knew what the first one was for, and you still just tried to brush it off like now we're even?"

"You and Wendy aren't eved—"

"But you knew," Hodges growled. "You knew how I feel, how we feel about each other, and you went after her anyway."

"For the record, I dever went after her," Greg said. "It just… happened."

"Oh, well, that's OK then," Hodges said, sarcastically. "And I suppose that kiss today 'just happened' too, right?"

"Doe…" Greg moaned. "I bead… yeah, kinda. I dud doe. Wendy… she kissed be, Hodges, and only to see how it bade us feel."

"What is going on here?"

Both Hodges and Greg turned to see Catherine standing perplexed at the end of the rows of lockers, by the door. Nick stood behind her in the doorway. Greg put his hand over his nose to hide his injuries, embarrassed.

"Duthing, I fell," Greg said, flinching at the fact that it sounded like the excuse of a battered wife.

And Catherine would never buy it. "Fell?" she said, skepticism oozing from the single syllable.

Hodges half-shrugged. "He tripped over the bench, slammed headfirst into the lockers. True story."

"Is there a problem here?" Catherine demanded with her hand on her hip, looking from one to the other. Greg turned away from them so they couldn't see his face and walked up the row of lockers.

"Doe."

"What?"

"He said no," Hodges translated. He pointed at his own nose. "Something wrong with the…"

"So you're telling me I don't have to write up a report?" Catherine asked.

"Doe," Greg repeated flatly.

"Greg, are you sure you—"

"Doe!" Greg burst out, spinning around to face them. Catherine and, Greg noticed, even Nick, made a face in sympathy when they saw his. "I said doe."

"A deer," Hodges muttered. Greg swatted him in the arm and he flinched, but it didn't stop him from adding, "A female deer."

"Shuddup," Greg snapped, even as he saw Nick fight a smile. "It's fide, Catherid."

Even Catherine was trying not to smile now. "Honey, we gotta get you cleaned up."

And then, something Greg hadn't expected happened. Nick stepped forward. "I'll help him." He tossed his head over his shoulder, now not even trying to hide his amusement. "C'mon, Greg."

Greg tossed a scathing look at Hodges who simply stared back inscrutably. But he looked away before Hodges did, knowing that he had at least deserved the first punch, if not the second one. He passed Catherine, who put a hand on his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow.

"Really? You're letting Hodges off the hook here?"

Greg shrugged. "Just trust be when I say I deserve worse."

She frowned, but her hand slid off his shoulder and she let it go. Greg took only a few more steps before he was face to face with Nick. The Texan stepped aside so that Greg could exit.

"Let's go," Nick said. "Break room. There's a sink and a first aid kit there."

Greg was only too happy to follow him. He took a seat at the table while Nick fetched the kit. Greg took the opportunity to test his jaw. He rubbed it with his hand.

"You know," Nick said, conversationally, "I don't really think there is a worse thing than being punched by David Hodges and pretending that you ran into a locker."

Greg snorted. "Oh, really?"

Nick went over to the sink. "Yeah, really." He turned on the faucet. He dampened a piece of cloth from the kit, then came over and kneeled in front of Greg. "Tilt your head back." Greg obliged and Nick touched the warm cloth to his nose.

"Ow."

"Oh, please," Nick said, rolling his eyes.

"Careful with that cloth," Greg said. "There's still a doze under all that blood, you doe."

Nick laughed and furrowed his brow as he smiled. "There's gotta be something obstructing it that's making you talk like that. Here…" He gently wiped away the rest of the blood, then patted it dry. He made a face. "It's pretty swollen."

"Great."

"I don't think anything's been displaced. You might want to see a doctor when the swelling goes down, to be sure."

Greg groaned. "Just by luck I guess."

"How's your breathing?"

Greg inhaled through his nose and it sounded like he had a cold. He winced, and started coughing. Nick put a hand on his shoulder as he recovered. "I think I just breathed id blood."

"Here, I'll get you some ice," Nick said, rising to his feet and going over to the freezer. He took out an ice pack and wrapped it in a paper towel. He came back and kneeled in front of Greg again, placing the ice against Greg's nose.

"You could have just given be the ice pack," Greg said, raising his hand and placing it over Nick's on the ice.

"Where's the fun in that?" Nick asked.

In spite of himself, Greg smiled. "You know, by jaw still hurts, too."

"Oh, it does, does it?" Nick said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There's still a part of me that agrees with Hodges," Nick said. "And I think you're trying to milk this Florence Nightingale thing for everything you can get."

Greg's smile faded a little. "I really am sorry, Nick."

Nick sighed. "Your lisp is almost gone. I think the blood was obstructing your nasal pathway. That's a good sign—"

"Really," Greg insisted, cutting him off and reaching out to take Nick's other hand. "I've been a total idiot lately, and… I'm sorry that I made you hurt like that. I… never knew I could do that to you."

Nick was quiet as he looked down, avoiding Greg's eyes. "OK…" was all he could manage to say.

Greg pressed on. "Wendy's a great girl. She's gorgeous, funny, sweet—"

"Not helping yourself, G."

"— but I could never love her the way I love you," Greg finished, trying to catch Nick's elusive eye. "I realized that today. I realized exactly what it was that I've lost."

Nick took his hand away and let Greg hold his own ice pack. "It's gonna take some time, Greg."

"I get that," Greg said. "I do, I just… need to know that you can… forgive me… eventually."

In response, Nick got up and walked over to the freezer. This made Greg very nervous and he tensed his shoulders. He expected Nick to say something along the lines of, Just because I feel sorry you got your nose broken doesn't mean I forgive you. But then, he reminded himself, that putting words in Nick's mouth was exactly how he'd gotten into this mess in the first place. So he tried to remain calm and wait for Nick to speak for himself. After all, this could just be Nick letting him dangle a little while longer. Nick opened the freezer and pulled something out of it.

"So… what are you doing?" Greg asked, trying to sound casual.

Nick closed the freezer door and turned around, holding another ice pack. "You said your jaw still hurt."

And while it was true, his non-answer was making something else hurt, something worse, and it was beginning to drive Greg crazy. "Yeah…"

Nick approached, holding the ice pack in one hand. "Which side?"

Greg pointed to his left cheek. "He's actually got a pretty mean right hook."

Nick smirked, placing the ice pack against Greg's jaw. "You're bleeding again."

"What?"

"Hold this," Nick said, taking Greg's left hand and placing it on the other ice pack. He got up again and went to the first aid kit and brought back some gauze. He took the ice pack from Greg's nose and dabbed at the blood again, rolling a second piece of gauze into a cylinder. And then, unexpectedly, he shoved that cylinder up a nostril.

"Ow, careful!"

"You're such a baby," Nick said, handing the ice pack back to Greg.

Greg placed the ice pack back on his nose. "I got a swolled doze here."

Nick grinned. "There's that lisp again."

"It's your stupid gauze," Greg insisted.

"That stupid gauze is keeping you from bleeding out through your nose," Nick returned with a chuckle.

Greg pouted. "It still hurts."

"What did you expect?" Nick said.

"Got anything in that kit for the pain?" Greg asked.

Nick put his hands on Greg's knees, his eyebrows raised. He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed Greg's forehead. Greg closed his eyes and let the heat radiate out through the rest of his body. He could feel Nick's hands still firmly on his knees even as the Texan pulled away from him.

"Better?" Nick asked.

Greg felt his face flush as he grinned. "A bit."

Nick snorted. "A bit?"

"You could do better," Greg dared.

"Don't get greedy," Nick said. He reached over onto the table. "You can have these."

Greg looked at the packet of ibuprofen. "I'd rather have the other stuff."

Nick got up again and scooped up a mug, filling it with water. "What's in your hand will be more effective."

"I disagree," Greg said.

"Disagree all you want," Nick replied, handing him the mug of water. "Just take the pills."

Greg scowled, but indulged him. As Greg drank the rest of the water, Nick shook his head and laughed.

"What?" Greg demanded.

"You look a sight," Nick returned. "That's all. Kinda makes me feel a little better, actually."

"Oh, you like seeing by doze swolled up like Rudolph, do you?" Greg asked. "Baybee I was bistaked."

"I'm sorry, what?" Nick asked.

"A bistake," Greg repeated. "Be, falling for you. What did I ever see id you?"

"Yes," Nick said, after a long pause.

"That wasn't a yes or doe question," Greg said.

"No, that was a response to the question you asked earlier," Nick told him. "Or, the question you implied, with that fishing expedition."

Greg's mouth fell open slightly. "Yes, you… forgive be?"

"Yes, I'm capable of forgiving you," Nick explained. "I think. The more I look at that pitiful face, the easier it gets, God help me."

Greg's eyes grew wide and sweet. "Well, what cad I say? I'b adorable."

That was too much for Nick and he turned away from Greg as he burst out laughing. As he recovered, he shook his head in disbelief. "So do you want to know what I would have said to your little confession on Monday? And not, you know, what you said for me?"

"Gotta adbit, I'b a little curious," Greg said with a timid shrug.

"Curious," Nick repeated with an enigmatic smirk. He moved in closer and placed a hand over the ice pack Greg was holding against his cheek. He took it away and placed it on the table by the ice pack for his nose. He replaced it with his hand, rubbing his fingers along Greg's jaw line. The skin beneath his fingers was cool and rough and he traced the purples and blues were blossoming there.

"Still sore," Greg said.

"Baby," Nick repeated.

"So what were you godda say?" Greg pressed.

Nick didn't answer at first. He just stood there, looking down at Greg looking up at him, his fingers curling against Greg's cheek. "I don't know if I want to tell you. I don't think I'm done being mad at you yet."

"Take adother look at by face," Greg said, pointing at it as if Nick had forgotten where it was.

This elicited another chuckle, and Nick nodded. "OK," he said, then bent at the hip, closed his eyes, and brushed his lips against Greg's. He was gentle, being very careful with Greg's nose, but his tongue still slipped through. It was Greg who pushed forward, a little too eagerly. He groaned as he bumped his sore nose, but he didn't pull away. He'd been waiting for this for far too long to let an injury caused by David Hodges of all people to come between him and Nick. His hands flew up, one combing into Nick's hair from the side, the other gripping the back of his neck as he rose to his feet. Nick's hand remained against his cheek, but the other slid into the small of Greg's back. Eventually, and as much as he didn't want to, Greg pulled away and gasped for air. He had to break away from Nick as he caught his breath.

"You OK?" Nick asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Greg nodded, even as his shoulders heaved up and down. "Can't… breathe…" he smirked, then pointed at his face again. "Broked… doze…"

Nick's hand flew over his mouth to cover his smile. He looked a little embarrassed. "Right."

Greg, breathing more normally, cocked his head at Nick. "You dever told me what you would have said."

Nick gestured at Greg. "That… was it."

Greg touched his fingers to his lips. "You… were godda kiss be?"

Nick shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "I wanted to," he confessed. And then he narrowed his eyes. "Until you went on that crazy monologue about who you thought I was. Big turnoff."

"I'll add that to your file," Greg said, tapping his temple. "Doesn't like being told who he is or what he thinks."

Nick leaned against the sink. "You have a file on me?"

"I have a file od everybody," Greg said. "Yours is adbittedly the largest."

Nick nodded. "You must have some faulty information in that thing, then, if you thought that I'd reject you."

"Those files have already bid shredded," Greg promised.

"How big is your file on Wendy?"

Greg rolled his eyes. "Don't start that. I told you. I love Wendy. I'b id love with you."

"About how much do you love Wendy?" Nick pressed.

Greg chortled. "You're actually jealous, aren't you? I dever thought I'd see the day…"

"What?" Nick asked.

Greg shrugged. "You, jealous. Over be. It's kinda hot."

Nick also shrugged, a little sheepishly. He avoided looking at Greg and it stabbed at the younger man, reminding him that all was not well, that wounds were still fresh, and Nick was still feeling it. "You did sleep with her." The words, spoken aloud, sounded cruder than the act itself had been, and it made Greg flinch.

"I did," he conceded. "I was also drunk and thought you hated be. I probably would have slept with a walrus, if it was there. Frankly, I'b glad it was Wendy and not some hideous stranger I'd bet at a bar."

"Why?" Nick asked.

"Well," Greg explained, "imagid how buch bore you would have hated be if you'd showd up and there was a walrus id by bed. Talk about awkward. At least Wendy's sweet. And pretty. And hubad."

Nick sighed. "I don't hate you, Greg."

"You do," Greg said. "And it's OK. It's just a little, and it's datural. It bay even go away, eventually. But right dow? It's OK that you hate be. Just… don't blabe Wendy, OK? She has eduff problebs of her own right dow."

"I think you have a pretty big problem," Nick said, pointing at his own nose. He smirked. "And we should probably get that checked out by a real doctor now. Let's head over to the hospital."

Author's Note: I know not all of the "n"s and "m"s in Greg's speech were changed - that has to do with how the phoneme sounds in the context of the word, like in Wendy's name. Because it blends with the "d" phoneme, there was no real reason to remove it from the word to reflect Greg's lisp. So leaving in a few "m"s and "n"s here and there was intentional, just for the record.