Thanks again to all who have reviewed! Everyone who's been reading, reviewing and following this-you're wonderful! Thank you :)

This chapter is a bit longer, but I wanted to show how supportive and protective Nick and Greg are with one another. Hope you enjoy it! Please, please, please review!

Nope, still don't own CSI.

Nick was rounding the corner as Greg walked past. "Hey, Greg..." he started, but Greg just walked past and mumbled "later."

"Greg!" Nick called to him, but Greg had left the building. Nick walked out and caught up with him. "Greg, what's going on?"

Standing next to his car, Greg sighed. "Nothing." Nick just stood there, staring at him and not buying that nothing was wrong. Greg looked at his best friend. "Look, I just...I just need to cool off."

Placing his hand on the door of Greg's car, Nick asked, "Greg, what is going on?"

Greg sighed. "I talked to Morgan."

"Yeah, you told me."

Greg stood there, looking down. "I didn't tell her that I was beaten up."

Nick removed his hand from the car door and sighed. "Why not?"

Greg looked at Nick with a mixture of understanding and anger. "Because I hate thinking about what happened. I mean, do you like thinking about being buried alive?"

"No," Nick began. "But it's part of my life and I can't change it." Greg sighed as Nick placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I wish that neither of those things had ever happened."

"But they did!" Nick didn't flinch, just kept his hand on Greg's shoulder as Greg looked away. "Nick, I know there's nothing that can change what I did..."

"You acted in self-defense!"

"I know..."

"Greg!" Nick waited for Greg to look at him. "Like I said five years ago, you did nothing wrong. Yes, Demetrius James died. But he's the one that made the decision to hang out with that group of thugs. He and those thugs are the ones that went around beating people up, beat one man to death." Nick stared into Greg's eyes. "And he came after you."

Greg closed his eyes to avoid Nick's concerned stare. When he opened his eyes and looked at Nick, he saw only care and concern. "I know," Greg said softly.

Nick rubbed Greg's shoulder. He hated that he and Greg had both been through their own tortuous ordeals, but both had come out stronger.

"Sorry about that," Greg said sheepishly.

"Don't be," Nick said. "I mean it G, you are one of the bravest people I've ever known."

Greg smiled shyly. "I don't...I don't feel brave."

Nick smiled at his best friend. "Greggo, you were there for me after my kidnapping. You wouldn't let me give up, and I knew you shouldn't give up. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there, just making sure I got to work and-and got on with my life."

Greg looked into Nick's honest eyes. "You did the same for me."

Releasing his hand from Greg's shoulder, Nick said, "You're my kid brother! Of course I would!"

Both men shared a smile and quiet laugh. Greg stared at his best friend and sighed. "I don't think I've said thank you enough."

Nick smiled. "No worries, G."

Greg looked into Nick's face, realizing he meant it. He was so grateful Nick, Sara and everyone had been there for him. Sighing, Greg said, "I-I don't...I know I can never make it up to you..."

"G, don't worry about that."

Looking at Nick's reassuring smile gave Greg a small smile of his own. "Thank you, Nick." Nick saw Greg's expression change from relief to regret.

"What's wrong?" Nick asked as Greg looked away.

Meeting Nick's gaze again, Greg said, "I think I screwed things up with Morgan."

Nick shook his head. "Nah, I think you're okay with her."

"Nick, you remember when that happened." Nick nodded. Greg continued, "I know we're all protective of each other. But...when that happened..."

Placing his hands on the younger man's shoulders and bringing his face to meet his, Nick said, "We all thought we would lose you." Greg looked at Nick, confused. "Not just because of the beating, but with what you went through...you showed us all what real strength is."

Greg held Nick's gaze. "If I learned anything about strength, you're the one who taught me."

Nick smiled. "Thank you, but I think you're the braver one. And Morgan knows you are one of the kindest, bravest, best CSIs there is."

Greg blushed. "You mean that?"

"Yes! She's crazy if she thinks anything else."

Greg chuckled and smiled. "Thank you."

Nick released Greg's shoulder but held his gaze. "You didn't give up on yourself. You shouldn't give up on Morgan."

"I-I know. I won't."

Nick stepped back from Greg's car. "You going to be okay?"

Greg sighed. "Yeah, I'm just going to head home. I-I may call Morgan later."

Smiling, Nick said, "Okay."

Greg opened his door. "Thanks, Nick. Really, thank you."

"You're really welcome," Nick replied. "See you tomorrow."

"See you," Greg said as he got into his car. As he watched Nick walk back into the building, Greg smiled. He was so thankful Nick saw him as a brother and great CSI, not as a victim. He only hoped Morgan would feel the same way.

Morgan was still in the doorway of the locker room several moments later when Catherine walked by. "Morgan?"

The younger woman turned to face Catherine. "Hi."

Clearly surprised, Catherine said, "You okay?"

Morgan shook her head. "Um...yeah."

Looking at the youngest CSI on the team, Catherine said, "I just saw Greg walk out of here." Morgan's head snapped up in surprise. "He seemed kind of upset. Nick went out after him."

Morgan bowed her head. "Yeah," she said in almost a whisper.

"What's going on?"

With a heavy sigh, Morgan said, "He told me earlier about what happened to him five years ago."

Catherine winced as she remembered the whole case. "And?"

"And...he didn't tell me that he got beaten up. Sara did." She looked at Catherine's confused expression. "She didn't mean to. I guess she thought Greg had told me everything. And when she said he looked like hell...that's when she told me."

Catherine sighed. "I remember that case. Greg did look like hell, and he went through hell. The city had to pay the kid's family."

"No, Greg told me that part," Morgan said. "I just...I just wish..."

"You just wish Greg told you?"

Morgan nodded. Sitting down on the bench next to the assistant supervisor, Morgan said, "Now I guess I know why he was so protective after..."

Catherine placed her hand on Morgan's arm. "We're all a family here," she began. "When he was beaten up, it affected all of us."

"She's right."

Morgan turned around to see Nick walk into the room. He walked over to where the two women were sitting.

"Morgan, did you ever hear about a CSI that was kidnapped and buried alive about seven years ago?"

Looking up at Nick, Morgan nodded. "Yeah, a CSI was sent to a staged crime scene, and..." Morgan's eyes widened. "Th-that was you?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah," he said quietly.

Morgan looked away in surprise. "Oh," was all she could think to say.

"You think people see you as fragile?" Nick asked.

Morgan shook her head. "Kinda. I know I can do my job and..."

"We know you can, too," Catherine interrupted. "Morgan, we know you're strong. No one is treating you like you're fragile."

Morgan smiled sadly. "Greg...I know he blamed himself for what happened."

"He was scared!" Nick said. "He was worried about you."

"We all were," Catherine added.

Morgan looked down at the bench. "I wish I hadn't pushed."

Catherine squeezed Morgan's arm. "You didn't know."

Morgan looked up at Catherine and Nick. "I just...I feel like I hurt him."

Nick patted Morgan's shoulder. "He was thinking the same thing about you." Morgan looked at Nick, wide-eyed. "He cares about you. Heck, he's had a crush on you from the moment you walked into the lab."

Morgan smiled shyly and looked away. "Yeah."

"The point is," Catherine began, "We're all a family. We take care of each other. Greg...he's our kid brother, and he's come so far."

"Yeah," Nick added. "I'm the youngest in my family so I know what it's like to have everyone watching what you're doing, questioning why you are or aren't doing something. Greg never complained. He worked hard, and showed all of us that he's a great CSI. He's one of the bravest people I know."

Morgan sighed. "I-I guess life just...happens."

Catherine leaned in to look Morgan in the eyes. "What you do with it, that's what makes you strong. And you and Greg are both very, very strong."

"Thank you," Morgan said with a smile. Catherine smiled back and released Morgan's arm. "I just...I think I might have screwed things up with Greg."

"No, you didn't!" Nick said. "He's more worried about you."

Morgan thoughtfully smiled as she thought of how she'd really come to care about Greg. "He's okay?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, why don't you ask him yourself? He said he was headed home."

Morgan grinned and got up from the bench. "Then why am I still here?"

TBC...