Title: Approvals & Accidents
By: cameragirl
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Summary: In which Nick is the one in a bad relationship.

***

Warrick winced as he heard the crack of Greg's head hitting the table. Sara just sat back, arms folded, and letting herself be amused by the sight.

"Aaarrgh!" Greg shouted into the table.

"What's up now?" Warrick sat down at the break room table with Sara and Greg.

Greg's head shot up from the table and glared at Warrick. "Sara here," He gestured to the brunette, "Insists on approving every single guy I date."

"I'm just doing it for your benefit." Sara told him, shrugging.

"She's only trying to look out for you." Warrick immediately regretting the words as they came out of his mouth and he saw Greg's death stare.

"It could work." Nick came into the room and the conversation. "I mean, I let one of my old college friends set me up before, that worked out great."

"Oh right," Greg thought for a minute, "Matt, right? How is that?" They had all only met Matt once, but Nick seemed to like him so that was all that really mattered.

"Great!" Nick beamed. "Three months this week."

"Cool," Greg said graciously, even though it sucked that Nick had a boyfriend and he didn't. Nick and Greg were best friends but then Nick met Matt. Then their friendship slowly faded into just a work relationship.

...

Greg used to think that if Nick was happy, then that's all that mattered. Nick was one of Greg's best friends and nothing could change that. They still talked on a regular basis but something was always missing. Then one day, Greg figured out what was wrong.

Sara had insisted on taking Greg out after his last disastrous date. And of course, it was someone that Sara didn't like. Instead of her usual "I told you" routine, she just told Greg that she'd take him out. They would have a fun night out on the town and he could forget all about that last date.

It was outside the club, while getting fresh air, that Greg saw Matt kissing a guy. A guy that wasn't Nick. Nick's Matt was kissing someone that wasn't Nick.

Greg's heart immediately dropped. Nick hadn't mentioned breaking up with Matt. In fact, Nick had told Greg how great their dinner had gone the other night.

Oh god oh god not good not good. Greg was not supposed to be seeing this. It had to be some kind of mistake or an accident. Greg knew how absurd it sounded, even in his head.

Squinting his eyes to get a better look, Greg saw that, yes, it was definitely Matt, and no, no, the guy with Matt was not Nick. And they were doing more then just kissing. He quickly ran back inside before either could see him.

"Sara!" Greg pulled her out the back door of the bar, "Matt is out front."

"So..." Sara waited for Greg to get the point.

"He was with someone that wasn't Nick." Greg continued, not wanting to explain out loud what he had witnessed. That would make it real and he couldn't think about how devastated Nick would be if he found out.

"Oh god..." Just by the look on Greg's face, Sara could tell what he had seen.

"Oh Greg, no...Maybe you make a mistake, I mean, it's dark and..." She stopped her excuses when she saw Greg shaking his head. The lab tech looked as though he was going to be sick.

"Sara, what do I do?" He asked. "Nick was so happy the other night. He kept going on and on about how perfect everything was."

"I know it's hard but you need to tell him." Sara put her arm around Greg. "If you don't tell him, then he'll just be more upset when everything comes out."

Sara was right, Greg decided. He had to tell Nick.

...

It was a double shift for everyone the next day. The city was in a constant crime spree that didn't seem to plan on ending. Greg finally caught up with Nick in the locker room. .

"Hey Nick," He started off nervously.

"Hey G," Nick grunted, more occupied with unknotting his shoe than exchanging pleasantries.

"We need to talk." Greg blurted out loudly, causing Nick to turn around, confused.

"Uh, ok G, shoot." Greg had Nick's full attention now, complete with worried look and searching eyes.

Greg just couldn't contain himself; there was no way to drop this lightly.

"Me and Sara were at Keenan's Pub last night and we...well, we-we saw Matt with another guy." He waited nervously for Nick's reaction which wasn't what he had expected at all.

"Yea, he told me that he was hanging out with some of his friends last night." Nick shrugged casually.

"No, not just friends," Greg insisted. "Nick...he was kissing someone else."

Nick's eyes squinted in concentration, staring Greg down for any sign that this was a joke. Greg just looked nervous and a little nauseous as well.

There was no way that Matt would ever cheat on him. They had had a great few months. Amazing, even. Greg had to be mistaken.

"It was probably just someone else Greggo, keep your imagination on a leash." Nick said in a harsh tone of finality. He exited the locker room, leaving a distraught Greg.

...

After finishing paperwork, all Greg could do was go back to his own apartment. He had tried and he could always tell Nick again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. He would do what it takes to keep Nick from getting hurt.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" An angry voice came from Greg's stoop. He quickly shut his car door and moved towards the front of the house.

"Matt?" He asked incredulously.

"Yea, who the hell did you think it was?" The tall, dark haired man took a step forward towards Greg, which only caused Greg to take a step back.

"Um, what-what can I help you with?" Greg swallowed nervously.

"I think you know why I'm here. You tried to rat me out to Nick. Not that it worked but damn it was close." Matt sneered at Greg and kept moving towards him. "You need to keep your mouth shut and stay out of business that doesn't concern you."

"Nick's one of my friends. I can't just sit out and watch you do that to him." Greg said angrily, finally stepping forward. He didn't get far though, all he got was a punch in the face. Greg heard a crack but he knew that nothing on his end was broken. The ground rose up to meet Greg and he felt his head hit the grass. Tires squealed and disappeared into the night as Greg slowly lifted himself off the ground. His day just kept getting better and better.

...

A knock on the door startled a dozing Greg. The young tech had showered, thrown on a plaid pair of pajama pants, placed ice on his soon-to-be black eye, and turned on the SciFi channel for a well deserved Doctor Who marathon. He had had no intentions of going to work the next day. Or ever, actually. Or maybe just until he could convince Sara to put makeup over his eye so no one could see the bruise.

More persistent knocking convinced Greg to get up off of the couch. He peered through the hole and saw a nervous looking Nick, anxiously knocking on his door.

"Greg?" Nick called and knocked again. He was about to threatened to break down the door when he heard the door being unbolted.

A tired Greg was revealed when the door opened. He was just in pants and his hair was still wet, practically matted down onto his head. A perfectly shaped bruise around his left eye was starting to appear. Greg looked almost stoic though.

"Greg..." Nick reached out to touch the bruise but Greg recoiled automatically. He pulled back his hand. "I'm...I'm sorry. You were right. I was wrong. And I should have believed you." Nick told him slowly, making sure each word was accented.

Greg was still just staring at Nick and the Texan took that as a sign that he should continue.

"I...I told him what you said and he seemed strained. Then he said he needed to go to run a quick errand but that he'd be back to spend the night at my place." Nick glanced at Greg's bruise again and briefly shut his eyes. He knew that he was the cause of the bruise and that near killed him.

"When he came back, his hand was all messed up and one of his fingers was broken and I-I...I knew what he had done." Nick reached in to touch the side of Greg's face and this time Greg stayed still, allowing the comfort of Nick's warm hand on his aching bruise.

"I'm...I'm just glad you're ok." Greg said softly.

"Are you ok though?" Nick asked, he allowed to hand to rest on Greg's face now, studying the way Greg took a deep breath and leaned into the touch.

"I'll be fine." Greg whispered, suddenly pulling away, leaving Nick confused and a little hurt. He hadn't meant to pull away. He liked the feeling of Nick's hand. Greg was just tired and had jerky movements that he couldn't control. Nick didn't know that though.

"Greg, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not believing you and I'm sorry for letting this happen. I should have taken your word. Friends first." Nick told him sincerely. Greg just nodded, he knew Nick was sorry and he was glad to have his best friend back but he really just wanted to take some advil and sleep.

"You're not going to work tomorrow." Nick told him suddenly.

"What?" Greg asked, confused, looking up at Nick. Wait a minute. Up at Nick? Greg looked around and found that they had made it to Greg's couch. When had that happened?

"You don't look so good." Nick said gently. "I don't mean that as an insult. I'm just saying that tomorrow is my day off and I think I need to take you to a hospital. Or at least, let me take care of you. You were about to fall over before we made it to the couch."

Oh, Nick was the reason Greg was on the couch. It was starting to make sense, little by little. Nick was really close though. Really close to Greg. And there was another close, warm feeling. Nick's side was pressed against his. Fingers were methodically running through Greg's hair. Greg hummed appreciatively and turned to huddle himself into Nick's warmth.

Nick didn't really think Greg knew what he was doing but that didn't stop Nick was enjoying the snuggling.

"Nick?" Greg mumbled.

"Yea, I'm here." Nick told him.

"Good." Greg opened his eyes and smiled. That's all it took for Nick to realize what he had. Greg was amazing and honest. His smile could light up a room and he never failed to make Nick laugh. Nick was an idiot for missing it all these months. He never thought a little sexual tension could turn into Greg's protectiveness over him and his own willingness & determination to fix everything that seemed to pain Greg.

"Don't be too hard on yourself." Greg murmured as he closed his eyes. However, he felt himself being kissed a moment later. He didn't bother opening his eyes but he still responded to the kiss, giving Nick all he could, even in his sleepy state. When Nick decided they need air, Greg obliged and settled back against Nick's side.

"Good night." Nick whispered, his mind was still wandering but that wasn't something that couldn't be helped. He was at ease for the most part. After all, months ago, Sara had told Nick that he was the only one for Greg for which she would ever approve.

***