A/N: Hey guys! Wow, I got 9 reviews on the last story, which I think is the most on one so far, so thank you very much! Yet another Hurt!Greg prompt from the lovely McGeeklover, who this time suggested poor Greggo gets food poisoning, I wonder if there is anything I haven't put him through yet? ;)

Summary – Nick unintentionally gives Greg food poisoning and is desperate to make it up to him.

Food Poisoning

Nick arrived at his crime scene in the kitchen of a small burger joint. The owner had arrived that evening to find one of his chef's dead in the freezer, having apparently locked him in, although Nick doubted that very much.

It was his first solo case since returning to work a few months ago after being buried alive. Over that period time, his friend's had been great, being patient with him at crime scenes, and helping him through when he was clearly struggling; Greg in particular had been uplifting Nick with his antics, making the Texan laugh and keeping his mind off things; Nick loved his little brother for that. But now the CSI felt he was becoming a bit of a burden, and wanted to gain some of his independence back.

"I hope you can find out what happened to the poor boy" Mr Lake, the owner spoke. He hadn't stopped hovering over Nick's shoulder since the CSI arrived and it was getting on Nick's nerves. "Alex was such a hard worker… I would appreciate it if we could keep this hush-hush though, not very good for business is it?"

"Mr Lake, a young man just died…" Nick spoke incredulously, how could business be the only thing the man cared about right now?

"I know, and that's awful" Mr Lake interrupted, although he didn't seem very genuine "But maybe if you keep this quiet and quick I can throw in something a little extra for you…a burger special, on the house" he said with a smile.

The place was absolutely filthy. Food was not being stored properly, the walls had grease and grime stains on them, and pots and pans littered the place, adding to the distinctly stale smell. Nick half expected a rat to run over his feet at any minute, and why the place was still even allowed to be open was beyond him.

"Erm…no thanks" Nick mumbled as he scanned the kitchen with wary eyes "I…I'm a vegetarian" he lied.

"Really? I beefy Texan like you who doesn't eat beef?" Mr Lake asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, we're a very rare breed" Nick said with an unsteady smile.

"Well then my boy, one of my burgers is bound to turn you!" Mr Lake said with an oblivious smile, and left Nick to work in the freezer before the CSI could even begin to protest.

An hour later and Nick was heading out of the freezer again, ready to go back to the lab with his evidence, when Mr Lake arrived and shoved a brown paper bag on top the of the Texan's pile.

"Enjoy!" the owner said with a wide smile "And remember, keep it quiet okay" he said tapping the side of his nose and then walking away.

Nick just sighed and rolled his eyes at the greasy bag carelessly dumped on his evidence.

What a nut job!

Now back at the lab, Nick was unloading his evidence from his truck, when Greg Sanders came bounding over to him.

"Hey dude, how's the case going?" Greg asked, obviously in one of his trademark good moods and Nick found himself smiling like the temperament was infectious.

"Not too sure yet, just bringing my evidence in" Nick explained "Fancy giving me a hand carrying all this stuff?"

Greg scoffed "Sorry, I've just finished a double shift and I'm starving!" the young man said, rubbing his stomach for emphasis "I'm going to get some food and then sleep for a few days"

"Please, Greg, it'll only take five minutes… and I have burger and fries here if you want it?" Nick tried the bribing tactic.

Greg raised his eyebrow suspiciously "That depends…how long has it been in the back of your truck?"

"A month" Nick replied seriously and Greg's eyes widened. Nick laughed "I'm kidding, G, only about 10 minutes, my crime scene was at a burger joint and the owner gave it to me"

"Well, why don't you want it?" Greg asked, still not convinced.

Nick sighed "I'm working, I don't have time! You want it or not?"

Greg's growling stomach answered the question for him "Sure, thanks" he smiled going to take it but Nick batted his hand away.

"Ah, ah, ah, help me carry this first" he said with a smile and Greg rolled his eyes, before picking up some of the evidence.

The next night and Nick was in the locker room when Grissom entered to give him a case. "I know it's kind of a big task just for one, but it's a busy night and Greg called in sick" Grissom told him.

Nick frowned "Greggo's sick?" he seemed fine yesterday.

After he'd finished his shift, Nick decided to go around to Greg's apartment and see if he wanted any company to make him feel less miserable. It took the young man an unusually long time to open the door and Nick began to worry.

When Greg did eventually open the door he looked extremely pale and not much like himself at all. He wore a hoodie and some sweat pants which were far too big for his slender frame, and he hadn't even bothered to sort out his ruffled hair, which Nick knew was a major cause for concern.

"Oh, it's you" Greg said bluntly as he leaned on the doorframe to stop Nick coming inside, and folded his arms.

"Yeah, it's me?" Nick said with a confused frown, not sure why the young man seemed so mad. "Grissom said you were ill…"

"All thanks to you" Greg said a little bitterly, the expression on his face blank.

"What?" Nick blinked.

"That stupid burger gave me food poisoning!" Greg snapped "I haven't stopped chucking up all day!"

"Oh…" Nick said biting his bottom lip a little awkwardly. "I…I'm sorry?"

"Where the hell did you get that thing!?" Greg asked, highly frustrated.

"I told you, the owner of this burger joint gave it to me! I was investigating a dead chef there and…"

"Wait, wait….someone was found dead in that kitchen, and you still gave me that burger?" Greg asked incredulously.

"He wasn't killed by the food!" Nick tried to defend himself "I'm sorry Greggo; I didn't know it was going to make you sick!" Greg didn't look at all impressed "Look at the bright side, you're the thinnest you've ever been" Nick added with a nervous smile, trying to lighten the mood, but Greg's eyes just widened in horror.

"Are you saying I'm fat!?" the young man exclaimed, self-consciously moving his arms to cover his stomach.

"No! No, that came out wrong!" Nick waved his hand and then sighed "Oh c'mon Greg, I'm really sorry, you know I'm not good at this stuff" he whined.

"Well you should have thought about that before you nearly killed me" Greg said bluntly.

"That's a bit of an over exaggeration isn't it?" Nick replied despite himself.

"Nick, I'm not even sure I've got guts anymore because I've been vomiting so much" Greg hissed "Now, just go away, leave me alone!"

"No, G" Nick said placing his hand on the door so Greg couldn't close it "I feel really guilty, okay? I hate seeing you like this and knowing it's my fault" he said sincerely.

Greg sighed, lowering his guard a little. He supposed it wasn't really Nick's fault, it wasn't like he'd cooked the food knowing it was bad…actually, Greg supposed he could have some fun with this and see just exactly what Nick would be willing to do to make it up to him.

"You wanna come in and watch the game with me?" Greg asked.

Nick smiled "Yeah, sure"

"Good, because when I say that I mean I'll watch the game and you'll clean my apartment" Greg grinned.

Nick rolled his eyes. "No way am I sorting out this pig sty…how about I let you take charge of all the cases we work for a month? You can boss me around all you want then"

Greg considered this "Two months, and you stop stealing my coffee"

"Deal" Nick replied a little reluctantly, and Greg stepped aside to let him in.

About half way through the game, Greg suddenly shot up from the couch and ran to the bathroom. Nick followed him concernedly, and grimaced when outside the door he heard his younger friend throwing up harshly. Greg himself found it a wonder he even had anything left to throw up.

The young man took a shaky breath once he'd finished and flushed the toilet before going to grab himself some water from the sink. It took more than two attempts for Greg to pick up the glass as his vision had become doubled and he was sweating a little. The next thing he knew, Greg stumbled forward as his blurred vision made him misplace his step, and the young man hit his head on the sink before falling to the ground.

After hearing the thud from outside the door, Nick immediately opened it to find his young friend sprawled out across the floor.

"Greg!" the CSI exclaimed as he dropped to his friend's side, Greg let out an almost inaudible groan. "Greggo, come on buddy" Nick pleaded with worried eyes as he gently tapped his friend's cheek.

"N-Nick?" Greg moaned "What the hell are you doing in my bathroom?" he asked with a slur "Didn't know you swung that way…"

"I don't, and you fainted or something" Nick told him "Just hang on a sec" he instructed, going to get some water and then helping Greg sit up, before holding the glass to Greg's lips.

"Thanks" Greg breathed, and then put his head in his hands "Oh, Nick I'm seeing double"

"You just need to relax, buddy" Nick said rubbing his back soothingly. "C'mon, let's get you to bed to lay down" with that, the older CSI placed Greg's arm around his shoulders and hoisted him up, before leading the younger man to the bedroom.

Once there, Nick gently placed his friend on the bed and smoothed Greg's sweaty hair from his forehead "I feel awful, G" Nick said sadly "I'm so, so sorry that this happened."

"It's okay…" Greg whispered as he closed his eyes "You didn't make the thing, or shove it down my throat…maybe I could sue the restaurant?"

Nick chuckled "Yeah, maybe. But I'm going to take care of you now until you feel a hundred per cent better"

"Oh God, please don't turn into my mom" Greg moaned, and Nick smiled.

"I won't, I'm just a concerned friend" Nick promised him.

"Nick?"

"Yeah Greggo?"

"Do you really think I'm fat?"

Nick laughed lightly "No, you're a twig Greggo"

"Good" Greg smiled and opened his dozy eyes to look at Nick "You really don't have to stay if you don't want to…"

"No, I do want to" Nick said with a slightly sad smile as he looked at his sick friend. "I promised myself a while ago that I would be there for you, or Sara, or Warrick whenever you guys needed me. I mean I've only been back at work a few months since…since the Gordon's, and you have been there for me, to make me talk, to make me laugh, and I couldn't have got through it without you G…I want to return the favour now"

Greg smiled up at him "Thanks, Nick"

Nick smiled back "You're welcome buddy"

So this was a little bit of fun really, not for Greg I'm sure :S

Got some ULTRA angsty Morganders coming up for ya next, so stay tuned! ;)

Did we enjoy the CSI: NY killing spree in the UK? I sure as hell did! Poor Adam :'(

I love your prompts and your reviews :) xx