Thanks for the great advice and help with this chapter Holly!
~The arrival at the Hangar~
Destruction.
That is what the CSI's found. What used to be the hangar was now nothing more than a pile of debris. Nick was the first to shoot out of the vehicle, dashing towards the edge of the debris, shouting and screaming Greg's name.
"Greg!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, desperately praying to god that he would hear Greg's reply. He feared the worst that Greg was caught under it all somewhere.
Grissom, Sara, Catherine, Warrick, Korey and Brass all stood behind Nick, looking at the destruction in despair. If Greg had been inside when the building collapsed the only chance of survival would have been if a miracle occurred. But miracles were things that only happened in the movies and the bible.
"Greg." Nick whispered sadly as he sank down to his knees in despair. Tears were falling down his face, landing in small droplets on the pavement. His face wasn't the only one with grief pooling down it; everyone, even Brass was crying for the lost ex-lab rat.
"I'm so sorry Nick." Korey whispered softly through her tears.
Nick didn't respond, continuing to look down at the ground. No! Greg couldn't be gone. He just couldn't be. This wasn't how it was supposed to end! He was supposed to tell Greg that he loved him, give him the most passionate kiss that he could and ever would give someone then be together until their last dying breath.
"We need to call search and rescue. I know it may be a long shot but Greg could still be alive or if not then we need to try and..." Brass couldn't finish his sentence, but they all knew and feared what he was going to say 'recover the body'.
Finding the strength Nick rose up from the ground and looked at the expanse of debris in front of him. As if in a trance Nick took a step forward and started maneuvering himself through the debris, staring at the wreckage all around him; looking and listening for Greg. Behind him he could hear two voices. One was Brass talking on the phone to search and rescue, but the other he couldn't quite make out; stopping, he turned around and saw that Korey had followed him.
"Greg did this, didn't he?" He asked her, remembering the state his living room had been when Greg had unleashed his abilities.
Korey nodded in agreement. "Something in Greg must have snapped." She walked over to Nick and stood in front of him.
"I'm sure if he's...really gone he went out fighting. I may not have known him long, but I knew he was a fighter and he used everything in him to give these bastards hell!" She said confidentially.
Nick hoped she was right. If Greg was really...gone; which he refused to believe, he hoped like hell that Greg had given the bastards who dared to take Greg away from him hell!
As Nick was standing dejectedly in the middle of the debris he could have sworn that he heard a muffled groan of pain coming from the pile of debris next to him.
"Greg?" He asked hopefully, moving to where he thought he heard the noise, getting down on his knees to search the rubble. Another groan answered him; Nick started digging with urgency, not even noticing his hands were cut and bleeding from the sharp edges of the fragments of rubble.
"Greg!"
By this time everyone had joined him, helping a desperate Nick to dig through the wreck. Grissom was the only one with enough common sense to pull Nick away and inspect his scraped and bloody hands.
"You need to have these bandaged up Nick, before they get infected." Grissom advised, holding on tightly to the struggling Texan.
"I'll have them checked out later Griss; right now I have to find Greg! He's close Griss, I can feel him! Now let me go!" Nick begged, continuing to struggle against him.
Grissom was about to reply when a shout came from Warrick. "I found him!" He shouted, kneeling down in the place he had been previously standing.
Nick practically shoved Warrick out of the way, looking down at the uncovered wreckage beneath him. He looked down seeing Greg laying on his stomach with his face almost smashed into the ground.
Nick reached out with a trembling hand, pressing his shaky fingers to Greg's neck for a pulse. He feared the worst, but was thanking god almighty that he found one; it was weak but he had a pulse and that's all he cared about. Greg was still with him. He wanted to pull Greg out of the debris and embrace him but an entire building had collapsed on him so his injuries could be very, very serious, so he held himself back and reluctantly got out of the way to let the paramedics do their job.
"What's his name?" Asked one of the paramedics as they readied their equipment.
"Greg. Greg Sanders." Grissom answered since Nick was unable to answer from the trauma of the despair.
The paramedics carefully lifted Greg out of the wreckage of the building. Nick had to look away when he saw how banged up Greg was. How he had felt after bandaging up Greg after performing amateur surgery was nothing compared to how he was feeling now. Hope, sorrow and hatred mixed together to create one miserable tunnel of emotions.
Greg's face, neck and arms had multiple bruises along with a nasty cut in the back of his head. One of the paramedics held a pad of gauze to the cut as they lifted him up onto the body board and wrapped a brace around his collar. The paramedic then taped the gauze down. His left arm was bent at an odd angle and there was a long jagged cut down his right leg from the hip to his knee.
There were many other injuries but Nick could no longer point them out to himself.
A paramedic checked Greg's pulse, finding that it was weak. He placed an oxygen mask over Greg's mouth then hurried over to the awaiting ambulance.
"What hospital is he being taken to?" Shouted Grissom over the commotion of the search and rescue team who had just arrived.
"Mercy General!" The ambulance doors were closed and the ambulance sped off to save Greg's life.
Nick was still in the same spot as before, in shock. He was so happy and stunned at the same time that they had finally found Greg. He couldn't tell if this was a dream or not, but he hoped it wasn't because he would be crushed if he suddenly woke up in the break room and it turned out they were still no closer to finding Greg. He knew that his heart couldn't take much more breaking.
He was startled out of his state by Warrick.
"Come on Nick, we're going to meet Greg at the hospital." Warrick said, helping Nick up from the ground. He followed them to one of their vehicles and got inside.
Korey sat down next to him. "Don't worry Nick; he's going to be okay." She assured him. Nick nodded his head. The car ride was silent except for the speeding traffic and the squealing of the flashing lights on the vehicle.
~Hospital~
When they arrived at the hospital Nick was once again the first to leap out of the vehicle and dash inside the hospital, with his badge already out by the time he reached the counter. Warrick and the others were right behind him with their badges as well.
"I'm Nicholas Stokes from the Crime Lab. I need to know the condition on Greg Sanders, he was just admitted in from a collapsed building." Nick rushed, showing the nurse his badge.
"Greg Sanders...oh yes he's being treated as we speak so it could be a while before you can see him though." She informed him.
"Do you know if it's serious?" Nick asked panicked.
"I'm sorry; you're going to have to ask his doctor, Doctor Connor." She replied.
"Thank you, we'll be in the waiting room." Grissom led everyone into the waiting room and sat down in the uncomfortable plastic chairs.
And the waiting game began.
~Four Hours Later~
No one except Brass, who hadn't gotten a wink of sleep for the last few days, were asleep when Dr. Connor entered the waiting room.
"Is there a Nicholas Stokes here?" He asked.
Nick shot up from his seat and stepped forward. "That's me! How is Greg doc? Is he going to be okay?" Nick asked anxiously.
"He's under observation right now, but we're confident he's going to pull through. He had three cracked ribs, multiple fractures in his left leg, his right arm was broken, numerous cuts and bruises all over his body and his quadriceps muscles were badly damaged from the wound to his thigh. Now the wound was infected from the sawdust and gravel that was imbedded in the wound. We have him on morphine for the pain and antibiotics to try and get rid of the infection." Dr. Connor informed the anxious people before him.
"Can we see him?" Nick asked desperately, needing to see Greg again to prove to himself that Greg really was back with them, hoping that was the way he was going to stay.
"Yes of course, but I'm going to have to insist at only one visitor at a time. We don't want to over excite him." He advised them.
Before Nick could say anything Catherine volunteered him.
"Nicky'll go first." She firmly stated. Of course no one was about to argue with her because they all knew that Nick was the person Greg needed right now.
"All right then follow me. He's in room 23A." Dr. Connor led Nick down the hall towards Greg's room.
"I'm aware of what happened the last time Greg was in our care and I can assure you that security has since been improved. We have two guards stationed in front of his door, around the clock." The doctor assured him as they approached Greg's room.
"Regardless of what happened to Greg last time, thank you for everything you've done for Greg." Nick thanked him.
The doctor smiled then stopped in front of Greg's door. "This is it and once again I apologize profusely for the events that transpired during Greg's last stay." The doctor apologized again.
Nick knew it was rather rude but he left the doctor standing in the hallway, finally entering Greg's room, closing the door right behind him. He knew from the doctor's description of Greg's injuries what awaited him inside. When he finally allowed himself to look up, it wasn't going to be a pretty sight so he took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself for the sight that awaited him.
He looked at the bed and the only relief he had was that Greg was actually in bed and not missing like last time. With that being said with relief came grief; Greg was lying on the bed with two IV lines hooked up to him. One pumping morphine into him and the other antibiotics. He also had an extensive amount of bandages covering his arms, four to five small bandages on his face and neck; there was most likely more bandaging on his chest and torso along with the lower parts of his body. His left leg was up in a sling with a brace and his right arm was in a bright blue cast.
He approached the bed and pulled a chair up to Greg's bedside then sat down. He took Greg's hand in his, running circles on his palm with his thumb.
"Come on Greg, wake up please! Show me those beautiful brown eyes." He pleaded. As if God was answering his prayers the hand he held twitched and Greg's eyes began to flutter open. "That's it baby! Come back to me!" He encouraged, now leaning forwards in his seat.
Greg's eyes finally fluttered open fully; his vision was that of a drunken haze. Beeping machines and the familiar murmurings of a Texan drawl was what met him. Looking to his right was that hazy outline of a man, but Greg knew who it was even with his foggy vision.
"Hi." He croaked. Nick spotted a glass of water that had a straw already in it. He helped Greg sit up before reaching for the glass, slowly helping him sip from the cup for some much needed water.
"Thanks." Greg said his voice much clearer now. Nick smiled and placed the cup back on the side table, giving his full attention to Greg.
"How are you feeling?" Nick asked, prepared to page a nurse if Greg showed any signs of discomfort.
"A little numb." He replied, making himself a little more comfortable.
"The doctor gave you some morphine to help with the pain, so that might be why." Nick explained.
Greg noticed Nick's bandaged hand and became concerned. "What happened to your hands Nick?" Greg asked anxiously, his heart noticeably increasing.
Nick noticed Greg's distressed heart rate and quickly calmed his nerves.
"I did a number on my hands when I was digging you out. It's nothing to worry about Greggo; the doctor said that my hands will be fine in a couple of weeks." Nick calmed him down, relaxing when he saw that Greg's heart rate was returning to normal.
Nick waited a little while before asking the question he needed answering. "What happened at the hangar Greg?"
Greg didn't respond for a few moments because an inner turmoil was going on inside his head. He was afraid to tell him, he knew that even though General Malcolm and Dr. Needles, along with a handful of soldiers and scientists were dead, he still didn't feel safe in telling him. He knew he would have to tell him eventually but he was afraid of the repercussions it would have. He knew that he already knew about shifting and that was bad enough, but that wasn't what he was afraid of; he was afraid of what he would think of him after he told him he had killed two, possibly more, people.
A monster!
An unlovable, tainted monster! If he were to tell he he would not only lose one of his best friends but the love of his life as well. He would rather have his skin melted off, heal, then melt off again in a never ending cycle rather than let that happen.
His silence had Nick worried that he had gone into a state of shock.
"Greg?" Nick said concerned, ready to page a nurse if the need arose.
Coming to a decision he looked up from his lap and forced himself to look Nick in the eye.
"When I woke up I was strapped down, like some kind of dangerous criminal and there were all these people in lab coats surrounding me. General Malcolm came and told Doctor Needles to begin the 'experiment' that pretty much consisted of electrocuting me until I was under so much stress that everything and almost everyone in the room was lifted up in the air like all of the gravity in the room was turned off. I don't remember what happened next, but I do remember this fuzzy feeling building up in my body, until my body went numb and everything went black. When I came out the blackness I was still strapped down, but soon they chained me down with these restraints that prevented me from using my abilities. I wound up in this cell that looked like a giant glass dome. Not long after I met a scientist and at first I hated her…but then she helped me escape." Greg took a moment to take a breather before he continued his tale.
"After the restraints were suppressed I knew that the only way I would be able to escape was if I made myself imagine the most horrific image I could and...that was one of the hardest images I ever had to imagine, just...talking about it now makes my heart break and my blood boil." Greg took another break to get his heart rate and emotions under control before he continued.
Nick wasn't going to ask what that image was because he could tell how stressful it was, but he knew that if it had that big of an effect on Greg then it was probably one of the darker times in his life.
"The guards came into the cell and I sent them flying backwards where they knocked themselves out. I took the keys to the restraints and freed myself. After I dealt with some more guards I made it to the base of the hangar and that's when I came across a ring of guards that surrounded me. I demanded to see the General and the bastard walked right up behind me and when he got his gun out I forced the gun out of his hand and his guards raised their weapons, but before they could get a shot off I pushed them away then I-I..." Greg choked on his words, unable to tell him what happened next.
Nick noticed that Greg was having a panic attack of sorts and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"You don't have to tell me the rest right now Greg. You've just been through a hell of a lot and I can understand you needing to get some much needed rest." Nick said understandingly.
"No, no I need to tell you, I...need you to know what I did." Greg insisted. Greg leaned back in his bed and looked up at the ceiling, not being able to make eye contact when he told him the rest of the story.
"When I had General Malcolm by the throat and I looked deep into his eyes I felt such rage that, almost in a hypnotic state, snapped his neck and his body just...crumpled to the ground and his eyes...oh god his eyes! Were just staring up at ceiling with no life in them." Tears ran freely down his cheeks and Nick pulled him back into a comforting hug, rubbing his back soothingly and shushing him.
Greg continued to look up at the ceiling, as if trying to see what General Malcolm saw.
"It was self defense Greg. After everything that...bastard put you through. It's a natural reaction to want to make sure he couldn't hurt you again." Nick comforted him.
"I also killed his main scientist, I called him Doctor Needles. He was trying to sneak up behind me and inject something into me. It all happened so fast, one minute I'm looking down at Malcolm's body and the next thing I know Doctor Needles is dead at my feet from a broken neck that I...caused! When I realized what I did all these emotions rage, sorrow and fear washed over me and I knew right then that Malcolm had succeeded...I was a monster!" Greg whispered the last part and closed his eyes in self sorrow.
Nick couldn't believe what he was hearing; his beloved Greg believed he was a monster when that was a downright lie! In Nick's eyes Greg was an angel, a heartbreakingly beautiful angel who had been brought to him from some greater power above. He cupped Greg's cheek and brought his face down to eye level. Greg's eyes remained sealed shut. Gently running his thumb along Greg's cheek Nick leaned in and finally kissed the man he had been waiting for his entire life.
Greg gasped from the shock of feeling lips being pressed against his and the passion that was coursing through the heart stuttering kiss.
All too soon, for both of them, Nick pulled away and rested his forehead against Greg's.
"You're not a monster! You are a kind loving man and I love you with all my heart." He panted.
Greg opened his eyes and stared at Nick in shock. "But-"
Nick interrupted him with another kiss then pulled back and went back to stroking Greg's cheek with his thumb.
"Nothing you say or do will ever make me think of you as a monster or stop loving you. So if I ever find you self loathing or calling yourself a monster, I'll deny you a single touch for an entire month, and the torture will be equal on both sides so please don't make either of us go through that."
Greg leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on Nick's lips who smiled in bliss. "You really do love me don't you?" Greg said a little stunned.
"I do, so much, and if I have to keep convincing you of that fact until the day I die, so be it." Nick gleamed when saw that a small smile had graced Greg's features.
"You really think you can keep your hands off me for an entire month." Greg asked teasingly.
"Probably not, but I'm just gonna have to use all my will power not to." Nick chuckled, happy to see that the old Greg was slowly coming back.
"So I know this is a dumb question, but what are we?" Greg felt stupid as soon as the words left his mouth.
Nick just chuckled and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"I was thinking boyfriend-boyfriend and if things go well a nice to trip to Canada and change that to life partners." Nick answered.
An even bigger smile inched onto Greg's face and even a hint of a blush escaped onto his cheeks.
"That sounds really nice." He smiled.
"Good because I have a feeling we're going to be together for a very, very long time." Nick said, not being able to resist, stole another breathtaking kiss.
"I could definitely get used to this." Greg said blissfully.
They both laughed and dreamed about their future together. Although in the back of Greg's mind he was still worrying that Nick would change his mind.
~Two Hours Later~
Nick looked down at his watch and saw that visiting hours were almost up.
"Guess I'd better let you get your rest." Nick stood up from his chair and the crinks out of his back. He smiled down at Greg then leaned down and planted a sweet kiss on his lips.
"I love you." Nick smiled softly.
"Love you too." Greg instinctively replied. Greg was saddened as he watched Nick walk towards the door. He couldn't let him leave. "Wait!" He called out.
Nick stopped and rushed back to Greg's side, taking his hand in his. "What's the matter? Are you in pain?" He asked frantically, casting a glance to Greg's heart rate.
"No, no, no I'm fine I just...don't want you to go." He confessed, feeling pathetic for being so clingy already.
"I don't want to go either but I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be kicked out but...maybe I could convince the nurses that I don't feel your safe here because of last time and that I should stay with you." Nick came up with.
"Oh you deviant you!" Greg smirked sarcastically.
Greg scooted over a little to make room for Nick. Nick sat down on the edge of the bed, untied his shoelaces and pulled the shoes off, not wanting to get any dirt on the bed sheets and anger the nurses. He lay down on the bed next to Greg, wrapping a protective arm around Greg.
Greg maneuvered himself so he was leaning up against Nick's chest.
"G'night Greg." Nick said kissing the top of his head.
"Goodnight Nick."
A/N: Sorry it took so agonizly long to write this but I'm currently in a play and I don't have a lot of time to update this story. I hoped you liked this chapter so please review because every author loves reviews! So please review!