title: Breaking Away
fandom: CSI
pairing: Gil/Nick
rating: NC17
series: Second Chance
sequel to: Miracle
spoilers: everything and nothing as yet.
author: nancy
email: the_tenth_muse1@yahoo.com
feedback: yes, please!
archive: sure, just let me know!
summary: Gil and Nick finish breaking away from their old life.
warnings: bad language and graphic m/m sex, that's about it.
disclaimers: not mine, never will be, not making any money, that's for damn sure!
notes: can't promise part3 will be up in the same amount of time, but ya never know. *grin* and again, original challenge from Rueful. she kicks ass, doesn't she? *big grin*

****

Breakfast was at a diner down the street in the no name town their bus had stopped in. There wasn't another bus due in until the end of the day, so they had time to get some supplies and not look like fugitives. Though technically neither had done anything wrong and no law enforcement agents should be after them, Gil's paranoia was on full alert. He'd been paranoid a good portion of his adult life and, unfortunately, been proven right often enough to remain so.

After the shower and a nice, incredibly long make-out session under the hot spray that hadn't led to anything except a soft expression in Nick's eyes that probably matched his own, they'd left the hotel. The diner was a small place, only about twenty booths, but filled with enough people to make Gil nervous. There were too many witnesses. Too many people who could described them and point officials in the right direction.

"Hey. Breathe, Grissom."

Startled by Nick's soft order, Gil looked over at the younger man, who was calmly eyeing the menu. Snorting, Gil replied, "Sorry. I've never actually done this before."

"Really? Cause you seem like a pro," Nick teased, glancing up briefly from the menu.

"You guys all set?" the waitress asked, stopping at their booth.

"Yes ma'am," Nick agreed, grinning. "Kelly, I am going to have your country breakfast with extra bacon and a big ole glass of orange juice, please."

She smiled back at him and replied, "Healthy appetite, I like that in a man."

Nick winked at her and held out the menu.

Giggling, Kelly took it and turned to Gil with, "And you, sir?"

"Ah, I'll have the same, thank you," Gil answered, forcing a smile at her. "But no extra bacon, and a cup of coffee, please."

"Got it."

After she moved away, Gil leaned on the table and reminded, "We're trying to not draw attention to ourselves, remember?"

Nick leaned forward too, and countered, "What's she going to remember more? Two guys with a smile and healthy appetite, or two guys who seemed to be hiding something?"

Oh. Good point. Sighing, Gil complained, "Just keep the flirting to a minimum, okay?"

"Why Grissom. Are you jealous?" Nick teased lightly.

"No."

Practically crowing, Nick exclaimed, "You are!"

"I am not!" Gil replied testily.

Nick laughed and leaned back against the booth. "Gil Grissom. I can't believe you turned out to be a jealous lover."

Irritated, Gil just picked up his water and took a long gulp, trying to cover his agitation. He was about to make some kind of response, though what he hadn't yet figured out, when he caught the waitress grinning at them only a few feet away. Certainly close enough to have overheard what Nick had said. He flushed and glanced away as she brought their drinks.

Her hand trailed over his shoulder and he looked at her in surprise. She winked and said, looking between them, "You two need any help while you're in town, you come see me or my friend Maggie, she runs the bookstore down the street."

"Uh, thanks," Gil replied, confused and a little worried as to why she'd be offering.

Nick chuckled softly and said, "Thanks, we appreciate that."

When she walked away, Gil demanded softly, "What was that about?"

"She's a lesbian," Nick answered, just as quiet, drinking greedily from his glass. Putting it down, he asked, "Didn't you see the tattoo?"

Gil frowned and shook his head.

"Double bladed axe, set just above the neckline on her shoulder," Nick informed him.

"And.?"

"Wow, Gris, it's been a while for you, hasn't it?" Nick replied, arching an eyebrow. "It's a Labrys. Lesbian symbol."

Feeling a bit like a fool, Gil covered, "I know that. I just.didn't see it."

"Right."

"Nick."

"Here we go," Kelly announced, forestalling an argument as she set a plate in front of Gil. "Anything else I can get you?"

Forcing another smile, Gil shook his head and answered, "No, thank you."

"Yes, please. Can I get another large orange juice and a glass of ice water?"

Gil looked at Nick with some worry, knowing that he'd been drinking a lot of water since waking up. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine, just thirsty," Nick answered.

Kelly winked at Nick and said, "Coming right up."

"Maybe I should take your temperature when we get back to the hotel."

"Gil, I'm fine. I'm just really thirsty is all. My body just, ah, needs to replenish. I'm always like that after, you know."

This time it was Gil who arched an eyebrow as Nick flushed. Nick was embarrassed to talk about sex?

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like that."

"I am not looking at you like anything."

"Wow. You guys have been together for a while, haven't you?" Kelly observed, setting the drinks in front of Nick. "My parents argue like that over my Dad's heart meds."

Gil nearly choked on his own tongue, inhaling so fast in surprise at the comparison.

Nick just started laughing.

* * * *

The book store was actually very well stocked with a lot of different sections, very cosmopolitan considering they were in the middle of nowhere Texas. Nick watched in fond amusement as Gil strolled over to the science section, then headed for the counter where a pretty blond woman was reading at the register.

She looked up, pinning him with sharp blue eyes, and greeted, "Hey."

"Hey," he replied, smiling. "Kelly said my friend and I should check your place out."

Those sharp blue eyes trailed over to Gil, who was frowning at a book cover, then back to Nick. A faint smile quirked her lips and she answered, "She did, did she?"

He leaned on the counter. "She did."

"Well, we don't run an underground railroad or nothing, but what can I do for you?" Maggie offered.

Putting on his best, `trust me, I'm completely innocent' smile, Nick replied, "I was wondering if you had a car we could borrow."

* * * *

Gil felt a little guilty, playing on the good nature of the women who were "renting" their car to him and Nick. He'd been close enough to hear the spin that Nick had put on their tale. Plenty of truth, but enough misdirection that if and when the Men In Black, or worse, came calling, the women would think they were private eyes or goons hired by Nick's father to bring him home and reorient him, as well as toss Gil in jail on some trumped up charge.

Still, it gave them the break that they needed, and it wasn't like Kelly and Maggie weren't being amply compensated. It would be easy enough for one of them to pick the car up in a few days. Nick would call once they got to a city where they could leave it, though they still weren't sure where that would be.

At the moment, the highway was bare of any other car and the back seat and trunk were filled with a ton of water, both in case the car broke down in the desert, and for Nick, who couldn't seem to drink enough. It was the only thing really worrying Gil, because even though Nick was drinking like a camel, he wasn't urinating nearly enough to expel the amount he was taking in.

"Stop thinking so damn much, okay?"

Again startled out of his thoughts, Gil looked over at Nick, who was settled easily in the driver's seat, all his coordination back, and then some. He claimed to have greater strength and agility before, though they hadn't done any testing. Gil was worried about what that greater strength and agility was doing to Nick's body and nearly desperate to get his lover somewhere safe where he could give him a thorough exam.

"I can't help it," Gil sighed at last. "I'm worried."

Nick's hand reached over and gripped his shoulder, massaging him lightly. "I know. I am too, but there's nothing we can do about it right now anyhow."

Sighing, Gil reached up and took Nick's hand in his, bringing it to his mouth to kiss. "Think we'll make somewhere with a bed tonight?"

"We might," Nick replied.

Falling silent again, Gil kept hold of Nick's hand, wanting the connection, wanting something solid to hold onto. The pulse under his thumb was strong and steady, reminding him that Nick was in no current danger. That could change any time, but then, he could have a heart attack from the stress, too.

"I want to call my mother," Nick announced quietly, about twenty miles later.

Gil nodded. He'd been expecting that. "We can use my cell and then just get rid of it."

"Okay."

"I'm going to call Catherine, too."

"Yeah. Yeah, that's good," Nick agreed.

Moving closer, Gil said, "We had to leave like that, Nicky."

"What if we didn't?"

"Nicky, you know what it would have been like."

"But, it's not like my family is powerless. My dad could've protected me."

"He might have," Gil admitted heavily. Nick's family loved him to pieces. They would have done everything in their power to keep him safe, just like Gil was trying to do. "But what if he couldn't? I'm sorry, I.maybe I should have let him, but I didn't want to risk you. I couldn't risk you. I saw that look in Al's eyes and it just hit home that he was a friend and wanted to dissect you. Perfect strangers looking at you would see either a miracle, a sign of the devil, or a scientific oddity, and in all cases, you wouldn't have had your own life, ever again."

Nick glanced over at him, his hand tightening in Gil's, and said, "I'm not accusing you of anything, Gil. I just wish it hadn't had to happen in the first place. And I wish I knew who'd been in my townhouse. Who did this to me."

That was something that had been plaguing Gil, too. It had occurred to him, more than once, that for whatever reason, Nick had been part of some government experiment and now they were both trying to duck unofficial radar of an unofficial program. It was insane. Completely insane. And yet.it made perfect, horrifying sense.

He was beginning to think that if they were going to have any peace at all, they would have to figure out that mystery, first and foremost.

"Hey. Hotel."

Gil's eyes caught the flash of a highway sign and agreed, "Stopping sounds good."

It was another ten minutes before they came to the hotel itself, a small, plain building of only one-story. It had one of those tacky, neon orange HOTEL signs that always made him cringe inside. Getting out of the car, he groaned as he worked the kinks from his back. Sitting for long times reminded him that he wasn't as young as he used to be.

"I'll give you a massage when we get a room," Nick offered with a grin.

Gil looked back at him and replied, "I'll hold you to that."

Wriggling his eyebrows, Nick said, "Good."

Nick's hands were the happiest they'd been in a long time, as was Nick himself. Straddling Gil's upper thighs.naked, upper thighs, his hands were rolling and squeezing and rubbing over Gil's broad back. Gil's naked, broad back.

Skin. So much wonderful skin. Warm and soft to the touch. Responsive. So responsive that when he just trailed a finger over Gil's back, the other man shivered and goosebumps erupted. Leaning in, Nick kissed and licked his way up Gil's spine, nipping here and there and worrying the skin between his teeth.

Gil groaned, arching up against him, and said, "Any time now, Nick."

Chuckling, Nick replied, "Patience, Gil."

"God. You're trying to kill me and I can't even call the police," Gil teased, looking over his shoulder at Nick.

Nick laughed outright and sucked hard at Gil's shoulder blade, dragging his cock up and down the groove of Gil's ass. Gil groaned again and his legs spread. Hissing in surprised lust, Nick complained, "We don't have anything!"

Stretching, Gil pulled open the drawer of the bedstand table and grabbed something, tossing it over his shoulder at Nick. Lubed condoms. "Oh very nice. I'm not even going to ask where you got them."

"Glad you approve. Hurry up, would you?" Gil demanded.

"Not a chance."

Gil huffed a little as he collapsed on the pillows again and Nick put the condoms on the bedspread. He moved down, settling between Gil's legs and trailing his tongue up the cleft. Moaning, Gil surged back into the caress and Nick would have grinned, but instead pushed his tongue inside his lover. He took a few minutes to work Gil over with his tongue, sucking at the sour hole and probing with his tongue as deep as he could.

His hands gripped and massaged Gil's ass and he felt the near continuous shudder under them before bringing one back to loosen Gil more. Several minutes spent feeling his lover from the inside out, devouring the sight of Gil moaning and pushing back onto his fingers. It was the hottest thing he'd seen in a long time and meant so much more to him than anything before. Sweat dripped down Gil's back, sliding along the spinal column as Gil arched and twisted.

Finally Nick put one of the condoms on and moved his cock around the opening. Leaning over Gil, he slowly sank into the willing body, his movements controlled and easy, wanting to make this as good for Gil as he possibly could.

"Oh God, Nicky, you feel so good in me, give me more, please, want you so bad," Gil gasped, moving onto his knees and pushing back on the cock impaling him.

Nick groaned and shoved in the remaining couple of inches, plastering himself completely against Gil from behind. He mouthed the sweaty flesh and started moving, thrusting his cock in and out of Gil just a little, barely moving, not wanting to give up any part of the embrace. Not even to relieve the desperation sizzling at the base of his spine that signaled how close to orgasm he was.

"Gil, Gil I love you, fuck, you're so tight, feel so fuckin' good man," Nick panted, biting and sucking on Gil's ear as he reached under and wrapped his hand around his lover's hard and leaking cock.

Things got fast and hard right after that. Gil met him, thrust for thrust, just like Nick knew he would. His stomach clenched and his balls tightened, but he held on by a thread, determined not to come until Gil did. One final twist of his hand and Gil shouted, spilling over the bedspread. Nick humped against him hard, letting go of everything as he came, struggling to get as deep into the hot hole of Gil's body as he could.

Nick collapsed when Gil did, staying on top of his lover's back, motionless with his heart thundering in his chest.

"Oh God," Gil panted. "God, Nicky, that was.incredible."

Licking a broad swath across Gil's shoulder, Nick chuckled and replied, "Not so shabby yourself, lover."

Gil laughed softly, then sighed, relaxing utterly against the mattress. Taking that moment to pull out, Nick rolled off the condom and tied a knot, tossing it into the barrel. By the time he'd finished with that, Gil had pushed down the blankets and was under the dry sheet, his eyes nearly shut.

Curling up against him, holding Gil in his arms, Nick smiled when Gil's breathing changed into that of sleep. He'd done what had seemed impossible even days ago.he'd made Gil Grissom scream in pleasure. Snorting in amusement, Nick briefly thought about the bet he'd made with Warrick years ago. Looked like he'd lost. Gil was a noisy bed partner, after all, and Nick wouldn't have him any other way.

* * * *

Nick smiled and kissed the warm skin under him as he woke wrapped around Gil. What a great way to wake up, he thought sleepily.

Stirring, Gil shifted and stretched, yawning as he greeted, "Morning."

"Morning," Nick replied, leaning over Gil to capture his lips in a soft, sweet kiss. "We should probably get going."

Gil nodded and turned onto his back, wincing as he looked up at Nick. "Ow."

"Are you okay?" Nick asked anxiously.

Grinning, Gil cupped his face and replied, "I'll be fine. I just haven't done that for a while and certainly not so.enthusiastically."

Nick couldn't help the smug smile from surfacing.

Gil snorted, then turned serious with, "We should make those calls this morning too."

"You don't want to wait longer? Give things a chance to die down some more?"

"I don't think it matters."

His fingers played with Gil's chest hair and Nick observed, "I want to find out who did this to me. We both know that I didn't.die.of natural causes."

Gil caught his hand. "I know. And I agree. But to do that, we need to go back to Las Vegas and see what's left for evidence at your townhouse, if anything, and we can't risk it."

"So what do you suggest?"

Thoughtful, Gil stared into space for a moment then said, "I think we should stay under the radar for a while, maybe a few months or half a year, even. Start over somewhere else and not investigate anything."

"But."

"No, hear me out," Gil interrupted.

Nick subsided with a sigh. "Go on."

"I think that whoever did this to you is expecting us to investigate and is going to use that `need to know' of ours, to trap us," Gil theorized slowly. "I think that in order to really get to the bottom of this, we can't fall into our regular patterns of behavior. We need to think outside the box, even more than we usually do, and approach this in a completely different way."

Gil sighed heavily and continued, "Our lives aren't our own anymore, Nicky, and that's something we have to get used to, the sooner, the better. Even when we figure this out, we probably won't be able to pick up the pieces, we'll just.be able to avoid trouble more effectively."

Nick knew that Gil was right, but hearing it all out loud was enough to make him want to hit someone and cause serious damage.

"Nicky! Stop!"

Gil's gasp of pain broke through his thoughts and Nick instantly pulled his hand off Gil. He stared in horror at the finger-length bruises already forming on his lover's chest. "Oh my God, Gil, are you okay?"

Wincing as he sat up, Gil tentatively touched his chest and hissed in pain. He looked seriously at Nick and said, "I think we need to figure out just how strong you've become, too."

Nick crossed his arms over his chest and apologized, "I am so sorry, Gil, I wasn't even thinking!"

"It's okay, Nicky, really," Gil assured him, reaching out to rub his shoulder. "Come on. Let's get showered and dressed and then make those calls."

Still upset, Nick nonetheless let Gil prod him into the bathroom.

* * * *

Gil had offered to give him privacy, but there was no way that Nick was calling his mother alone. And to make sure Gil didn't leave, Nick sat on him. Not literally, but he did plant himself between his lover's legs on the bed and wrap Gil's arms around his waist while he dialed his parent's phone number from the cell phone.

"Hello?"

For a few precious seconds, Nick couldn't answer his mother's greeting. She sounded the same, just tired, and it was so good to hear her voice.

"Hello? I'm hanging up now."

"No! Mom, wait! Don't hang up!"

There was another pause as his mother inhaled sharply, then exclaimed, "Who is this!?"

"Mom, it's me, it's Nick," Nick answered.

"My son is dead. Whoever you are."

"Mom, please, you have to believe it's me, because I don't have a lot of time here," Nick interrupted. When she didn't hang up, he continued, "I broke Gramma's locket when I was ten and tried to fix it on my own, but only made it even worse. But you said not to worry, that it was even more special to you because now I'd left my mark on it, too."

She gasped, "Oh God, Nick?"

"Yeah, Mom, it's really me."

"But, they told us you were dead. That Mr. Grissom had, had."

Frowning, Nick demanded, "That he'd what, Mom?"

"That he'd stolen your body."

"No way!" Nick denied hotly, staring at Gil in shock. So that was how their absences had been explained. But what about Al and Sara? "Mom, Gil's with me, yeah, but we're both alive and, and he loves me. And I love him. We're doing our best to keep each other safe."

"One minute, Nicky," Gil warned softly.

Nick nodded. "Look, Mom, I just wanted to let you know that I'm alive and safe for now. We're trying to figure out what's going on and who wanted me dead, but we can't do it in Las Vegas."

"Nick, come home. Your father."

"Can't be involved, Mom. You can't even tell him I called," Nick interrupted.

"Thirty seconds."

"Mom, I have to go to keep this call untraceable, just in case they're listening and tracking us."

"But who?"

"We don't know yet. And, I don't know if I'll ever be coming home, but I love you, Mom."

"Nick, honey, I love you to, but please, please just come home."

Swallowing heavily against the tears that were closing his throat, Nick whispered, "I can't. I love you, I gotta go. Bye, Mom."

"Nick! Don't."

Nick hung up and instantly curled into Gil's arms, which wrapped around him. Gil's hand rubbed in soothing up and down motions over his back and gentle kisses pressed to his temple and cheek.

"I wonder what they think I'm doing to your body," Gil said at last, wry amusement coloring his tone. "I probably don't want to know."

A short laugh escaped Nick and he wiped at his eyes as he sat up. "Thanks, I needed that."

Gil gently wiped Nick's face and he replied, "One more call and then we're gone."

"Right. Your turn," Nick agreed.

Sighing explosively, Gil took the phone and dialed, putting it to his ear. Nick leaned against his chest, both to hear better and to be more comfortable.

"Catherine Willows."

"You don't look at your caller ID anymore?" Gil teased lightly.

There was a brief silence, then Catherine demanded, "Gil!? What the hell are you doing? First you steal Nick's body, you knock out Sara and Al, and now you're making jokes?"

"Well, if you can't laugh at yourself."

"Gil, what is going on?"

Nick felt the subtle relaxation in Gil's body at Catherine's demand. She was confused, but not pissed, or, not enough to make a difference anyhow. She would listen and help if she could.

"I have someone who wants to talk to you, hold on."

Nick took the phone and said, "Hey, Catherine."

There was a stunned silence, then she gasped, "Nick!?"

"Yeah. I'm alive," Nick confirmed. "Gil didn't steal my body, he just thought very damn fast, as usual, and got me out of a dangerous situation."

"Dangerous situation? Okay, I'll ask again. What the hell is going on?"

"Hang on, I'll give you Gil again. Bye, Cath," Nick replied.

Taking the phone back, Gil explained immediately, "We don't know what's going on, not really. We're going to start over somewhere else to make sure that whoever tried to kill Nick, doesn't succeed for real. And you can't tell anyone that we called. We have to make sure everyone keeps thinking that he's dead."

"Except Warrick," Nick said insistently.

With an aggravated sigh, Gil allowed, "Except Warrick. But not right away. Give us a couple of more weeks to find a place and then you can tell him."

"He won't believe me," Catherine pointed out.

"Tell him he still owes me double on the Wilson case," Nick told her. "That'll convince him."

"You were betting on a case?" Gil demanded.

"It's pretty much SOP with us."

"Excuse me?"

Catherine laughed and interrupted, "Guys, guys, don't start. And now I know this is real."

"Catherine I'm sorry, but our time is just about up. We have to go," Gil announced.

"Okay. Well, I guess, stay safe. And when you can, drop me a line."

"You too, Cath," Nick said.

"God, Nick, I'm so glad you're alive. I wish I could just hug you to pieces!"

Nick ducked his head against Gil's chest in embarrassment when Gil replied, "Don't worry, Catherine, I'm taking care of that for you."

Catherine crowed, "I knew it! I knew it! I *knew* it!"

"Good bye, Catherine."

She laughed again at Gil's pointed tone and replied, "Be happy, guys. And be safe. Bye."

"Bye," Nick said, just before Gil hung up.

Sighing deeply, kissing Nick's forehead, Gil said, "All right. Time to get on the road."

The room was already wiped down, the sheets that they'd messed up the night before, folded neatly in a bag and in the car with their bags, as well as the trash. They left with Gil carefully using a sleeve to shut the door. They both knew that if someone really looked, they would find evidence that they'd been there, but weren't really worried about it. By the time the calls were traced, if they could be, he and Gil would be long gone.

Nick took the phone from Gil once they were outside and experimentally squeezed the small flip phone. It took some effort, but Nick crushed it into a mass of metal and wires.

"I definitely need to get you into a lab," Gil announced, fascinated, staring at his hand.

Nick grinned and threw the phone as hard as he could, watching it sail a good two hundred meters before landing in some brush by the road. Turning back to Gil, he said, "When we get settled somewhere, you can run all the tests on me that you want."

Kissing him briefly on the lips, Gil promised, "I plan to. You want me to drive?"

"Yeah," Nick agreed, walking to the passenger door. He looked around the barren area for a moment, just the desert and the cheesy hotel, and shook his head in dark amusement.

What a weird place to break away and start a new life.

Next part of teh story - Second Chance: Misonceptions