A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so much for the reviews! We're back to some hard core angst now, bring on the brotherly love ;)
So if like me you feel that in episode 13x07 it totally sucked Greg didn't get to show his feelings for Warrick like Nick, Brass and Sara did, then this fic is for you :) I hope you like! Xx

Minor spoilers form 13x07 and 13x01

Summary – Nick goes to visit Warrick's grave, and is surprised to find Greg talking to their old friend. And what Nick over hears upsets him…

Brothers Reunited

Nick wondered through the cemetery the morning after the case and found himself trying to think of what to say. The case had opened up old wounds concerning his friend Warrick Brown which he hoped would have been buried deep, but now they had resurfaced and he found himself missing Warrick more than ever. Nick needed to see his friend, but not just his grave; he needed to see Warrick in the flesh. He needed Warrick to make him laugh and tell him everything would be ok.

As Nick rounded the tree to come to Warrick's grave, he stopped, a little shocked by what he saw. There, sat crossed legged by his friends grave, was Greg Sanders. Nick could not see Greg's face as he was sat with his back to the Texan, but Nick could have sworn there was a slight tremble to Greg's slender frame. Nick sighed, he hadn't considered how the case might have affected Greg too, he didn't really get chance to talk to the kid. He heard Greg gently talking to Warrick, so Nick decided to hang back and let him have a little time with his old mentor.

"I'm sorry it's been a while" he heard Greg say "I guess with everything that's been going on lately… well anyway that's not really an excuse" he said sounding a little guilty. "Anyways, I came to talk to you about Nick" he confessed. The Texan's ears pricked up at this "I don't feel like I can go to Sara because she's got her own problems at the moment… and the others didn't know you… and I don't really think Nick wants to talk to me right now so…" Nick frowned, why would Greg feel like he couldn't talk to him?

"I just feel like over the past few years… Nick and I have been drifting apart. I mean you know how hard it is to get him to open up?" Greg asked, as he were expecting a response "I don't want it to feel like that. Nick and I… we've stuck it out you know? Well… he nearly left, but I knew he wouldn't in the end. Did scare me though, the thought of both my older brothers being gone. Who would look after me huh?" he asked with a small smile, it feel when he once again remembered one of those brothers, he would never see again.

Nick's heart hurt to hear such words come from Greg. He hadn't been aware all those weeks ago how selfish his actions truly were, and he was stupid to think that Greg wouldn't care. Of course he did, Greg always cared. And that was one of the reasons Nick stayed, because the thought of leaving his family behind was too much. As for them drifting apart… well Nick had to say he hadn't noticed, but that could just be because he was always wrapped up in a case, or thinking about Warrick… he failed to notice Greg was still there.

"I don't know what to do man" Greg said, his voice cracking for the first time. "I use to think… I had this idea in my head that after you… that Nick was never gunna smile again." He confessed, and Nick started to listen to his young friends concerns for the first time "I thought he'd never be happy. How could he be when his best friend and brother is gone? Probably just pissed at the thought of being stuck with me huh?" This hurt Nick. "I know he wished if it had to have been anyone, it would have been him… and I wished it could have been me, because then you'd still be here and Nick wouldn't be so sad."

"No" Nick whispered as he felt a tear slip down his face "No that wouldn't make me happy at all"

"You don't deserve this, and neither does Nick" Greg continued, still unaware that he was being watched. "I'm just the backup friend Warrick, there's only so much I can do. I love Nick like a brother… whether he feels the same… I don't know. But it hurts for me to see him this way and know that I can't give him the support he needs. Because that was your job and I'm just not as good."

As the speech continued Nick found himself slowly trailing towards Greg, tears still slipping form his eyes "I don't want to replace you. Of course I don't, you and Nick will always be best friends and I would never try and take that away from you. He needs you Warrick, not me… God why did this have to happen!" He cried in anguish and buried his face in his fists as he sobbed "I'm so sorry Warrick, I can't look after Nick, and I feel like I've let you down"

A sudden hand being put down on his shoulder nearly made the young CSI jump out of his skin. The owner of the hand sat down beside him and Greg turned a shaky head "Nick!" he exclaimed sounding horrified. "When… did you…" the look in his eyes was almost frightened "You heard what I said?" Greg asked in a terrified whisper. Nick nodded his head "Oh God… Nick I …" he started to scramble away but Nick gently pulled him back. The terrified look returned to Greg's face "Please I'm sorry, please don't be mad" he begged. But then, much to Greg's surprise, Nick pulled the young man towards him in a tight hug and Greg sobbed into his older brother's shoulder.

"Greggo, what you said hurt" Nick said "But not because it was spiteful, but because some of it was true and I was just to blind to see it." Nick said, referring to Greg claiming Nick had distanced himself. "It hurts that you think I would have cared less if it was you who'd died. Greg, when they found you in that alley and thought… I was terrified." He found himself confessing this to the younger CSI for the first time. "And as for not being as good as Warrick, well that's just bull" he said shaking his head "You are as much as a friend to me as Warrick is… in fact you're more than that, of course I love you like a little brother." He squeezed Greg's trembling shoulders a little tighter as the young man still silently cried.

"Nick you don't have to…" Greg started in a small voice.

"No, I do. And you could never let Warrick down. He loved you like a brother too, and he was so proud of you, so proud. When he told everyone how good you were to mentor, there was always a smile on his face" Nick told him, Greg needed to know this.

"Really?" Greg asked quietly as he looked up at Nick. The Texan nodded. "I miss him Nick, I miss him so much"

"I do too kiddo" Nick said placing a hand over Warrick's name on the stone "And I know he misses us. But we'll visit, and he'll watch over us, because he's always going to protect us and have our backs."

"We're always going to be brothers, aren't we?" Greg asked, needing the reassurance.

"Yeah, yeah of course we are" Nick said as Greg placed a hand on Warrick's grave too "Family is forever. Whether it's in blood or not."

Not much to say from down here for once :P

Reviews and prompts :) xx