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The hug was brief and awkward. Grissom pulled Nick towards him and felt the momentary flinch away as he pulled him into the embrace. It was further evidence that Nick was a changed man. It was evidence that they were both changed men.

Grissom hugged him just long enough to feel him relax a little - although the shakes were still evident - then pulled back. The anxiety in the younger man was still obvious but he seemed more in control. He collapsed back against the wall and ran shaking hands through his hair. Grissom sat back next to him on one side and Jim mirrored him by sitting on the other. Jim brought a hand up and ruffled Nicks hair slightly giving him a reassuring, tight smile.

And they waited.

Grissom and Jim took it in turns to initiate conversation on any topics that came to mind - anything to keep Nick's mind off their situation. Nick contributed very little - he was too consumed with trying to keep it together.

Although it seemed much longer, it was only about 10 minutes later when there was a slight shudder of the elevator car (enough to make Nick's head swing up to the ceiling in terror) and it started moving back down towards the ground floor.
Nick was on his feet in an instant and out the door as soon as they opened with a sound between a sob and a groan. He pushed past the fire officer who was waiting to make sure they were alright and stumbled to the chairs in the foyer, collapsing heavily in one and dropping his head down into his hands.

Grissom and Brass pushed themselves up off the floor, both grimacing and throwing each other pained smiles.

"I'm too damn old for sitting on the ground." mumbled Jim with a chuckle then, looking out at Nick, added "I'm glad that's over."

Grissom gave a short nod.

"You guys OK?" asked the fire fighter in a thick Southern accent.

"Yeah, yeah. We're fine." answered Jim as he finally stepped out of the elevator.

The fire officer nodded in Nick's direction.

"Looks like your friend over there's pretty glad to be out."

Grissom looked at Nicks hunched figure - his shoulders slumped forward, his face buried in his hands and his fingers clenching and unclenching fist-fulls of hair. He was getting looks from some of the by-standers - some concerned, some amused.

Grissom frowned and walked over to stand in front of Nick - trying to shield him, even a little, from the prying eyes of strangers. He was a mess. His whole body succumbing yet again to the shakes, his shirt drenched around his neck and armpits, and sweat beading about his face, dried tear tracks from his earlier panic attacks still staining his cheeks. Grissom reached out a hand to grip Nick's bicep, encouraging him to his feet.

"Come on, pal. We'll find a bathroom and you can clean yourself up a little. It'll make you feel better."

Nick got to his feet but did not make eye contact with his boss as he muttered, "Yeah, better. 'cos it's over."

Grissom frowned and paused at the comment but decided to let it slide.

Instead, he walked Nick through the foyer, keeping a supportive hand on his back, until they found the Mens Room. Nick ran the water and splashed several handfuls over his face. He looked up at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and barley recognised the man looking back at him. He looked like hell. Finally, he rested both hands on the sides of the basin and dropped his head down, eyes closed. He sighed heavily. Grissom watched out of the corner of his eyes, busying himself with washing his own hands and drying them thoroughly with paper towel.

Nick took several deep breaths. He was terribly pale and he was breaking out in a fresh sheen of sweat.

Grissom frowned again and asked "Nick? Are you..." but before he could finish, Nick bolted to a cubicle and Grissom grimaced as he heard the wretching start. He waited several moments to give Nick's stomach time to settle before he took some paper towel from the recepticle, wet it and pushed open the cubicle door enough to lean through and hand the damp towel to Nick. He stood at the door and watched as Nick dragged the paper towel across his face and pushed himself gingerly to his feet - a shaky hand flushing the toilet as he stood.

He walked slowly back to the basin and splashed more water over his face, finally breaking after several moments and folding into the basin, elbows perched on the edges of the porcelain and his head falling into his open hands. Sounds of painful sobs started and Grissom hung his head and walked to the door, turning the lock to give Nick some privacy.

Nick brought his hands down hard, slamming them into the porcelain.

"It's not over, Grissom!" he cried. "It'll never be over!"

"Nick..."

Nick swung around to meet his eyes. There was an intensity in them that Grissom didn't know how to interpret.

"It is not over!!"

Grissom dropped his head again for a moment before bringing it up sharply - this time there was an intensity in his gaze that matched his young colleagues.

"It's not ov..."
"Nick!!!" Grissom barked. Nick was stopped in his tracks as effectively as if he had been slapped across the face.

"Listen to me!!" he continued. "I'm sorry I said it was over. I'm sorry I said it. It was a mistake. I'm not faultless, Nick. I have flaws. I'm human. It's not over for you. But you can survive this."

Nick looked at him, dumbfounded.

"I'm sorry, Nick." Grissom said again and moved to stand in front of him. "I'm sorry."

Nick held Grissom's stare and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"You still need help to get through this, Nick. Don't bury your feelings away, OK. Come to me when you need help. Or Catherine. Or Warrick. Come to any one of us. OK? Don't try and be a superman, Nick."

"Thanks, Gris." he murmured, so quietly it was barely above a whisper.

Grissom smiled gently. The subconscious shakes were still there, but he seemed much calmer now. He lay a hand on Nick's shoulder.

"Come on, pal."

Nick walked out with Grissom, ignoring the looks he was still getting. They paused only briefly as they passed Jim - who had been waiting for them in the foyer - and the three of them headed out to their vehicles.

It had been a long day. It was time to go home.

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