Title: Apologies
Author: Joani
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Summary: Nick has to make amends. Set after 'Random Acts Of Violence' (ep 3.13)
Disclaimer: I wouldn't use these pretty boys for money. Entertainment only!

***

Nick figured that Greg would be slightly hurt by the time he got back from the field with Archie. What he didn't expect was for Greg to pull him over and mention publicly and ever so blithely that he thought they 'had a relationship'.

He could see that Greg was a little more than slightly hurt and sighed inwardly. A spurt of annoyance seemed to short-circuit his thinking momentarily and he blurted out something stupid about the right tool for the right job.

And suddenly, Nick knew it would be one of those long, sleepless couch days.

He tried an engaging grin and an example. Archie had been the more qualified one for the case, after all, and he was sure that Greg would see this was the best answer, too.

But even as Greg acquiesced grumpily with a sharp 'Point taken,' Nick realized it would take a lot more than this to get out of the dog house, especially for tonight.

He just hoped he'd get the chance to explain before Greg shut the bedroom door tonight.

***

As it were, Nick barely made it through the front door before Greg was shutting and locking it.

And it wasn't long after that when Greg's glares made Nick's back tense. He figured that Greg had a point, as he knew how long Greg had wanted to work the field.

He sat at the island in the kitchen while Greg rooted around in the fridge for something, trying to figure out how he could fix this.

Greg emerged with grapefruit juice, and Nick was silently amused to see that, despite his annoyance, Greg had brought out two glasses and was filling them.

"Look, I'm sorry, but Archie had a strength where you weren't as experienced..." he tried.

Greg's hand twitched and spilled juice on the counter. Carefully, he set the carton down and got a paper towel, laying it down precisely over the spill. His face was set, and Nick knew that the clenching of the jaw meant that Greg was not just jealous, but rather irate as well.

"It's nothing more than business."

Greg didn't twitch this time, but kept cleaning up the mess of grapefruit juice. This wasn't going nearly as smoothly as Nick wanted it to, watching the pink soak into the white towel. The silence was itchy.

"I'll take you into the field next time."

Nick looked up and felt deflated as Greg turned his back to drop the sopping paper towel into the waste basket. Greg was being childish, Nick decided, unreasonably so, and it was starting to really irritate him.

"I don't see why you're so mad," Nick retorted at Greg's stiff back, "I would have taken you if I could have, you know that. But this had to do with complex computer stuff, and I know you love your computer, but these guys were pros."

Nick had been with Greg long enough to know that the slow exhale meant Greg was really considering his words.

"And I bet you beans to buckets that Archie wouldn't know the difference between Metallica and Skinny Puppy..."

A snort from Greg.

Nick was dismayed as he realized exactly how envious Greg had been of Archie's venture outside of C.S.I. walls on shift time. He stood up and moved the island of the kitchen separating them and turned Greg to face him fully. Bracing himself against the counter, trapping Greg against it, Nick looked him in the eye and gave him a soft brush of lips that barely hinted a deeper kiss.

"Besides, Archie was starting to get on my nerves."

Finally, Greg broke into a smile, albeit a small one. Nick leaned in for a longer kiss, which extended for what seemed like several minutes. When he finally came up for air, Greg's eyes were slightly glazed and his cheeks flushed. Nick pressed himself against Greg and smiled a little, hopefully seductive smile.

"Oh," said Greg faintly, "Point taken."

Nick smirked, "Well, soon, anyways."

***