Title: Convoluted
Author: Dee
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 7424
Pairings: Gil/Nick
Characters: Gil, Nick and various team members and an OMC
Warnings: Fluff and, I think, v.v.AU and OOC. Start of some serious SS bashing.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: In my dreams they are like, totally mine!
Beta: jayceepat and podga for their invaluable help in the Americanisation of the fic and their insightful comments – which I may well have ignored! I thank high_striker for his wonderful icons. I am indebted to them all. Any errors are mine.
A/N 1: This is Part Five of Eight of an ongoing saga. It follows on from Four Times In Twenty Four Hours, Upping the Ante, BFF and Facing Up. It will help to be familiar with these as they form part of the whole! I think this a sort of ‘filler’ fic…filing in various bits and pieces. All my legal and medical stuff is either: made up, from House MD, Boston Legal or Wikipedia – I am, therefore, an expert!


"......do you think 'sweetheart' is too......girlie?"

"Sweetheart.....I like it, it's nice isn't it, being 'sweet'...I don't think it's girlie at all, not when you say it to me." Nick was in fact feeling a bit 'girlie', or so he thought. 'Mushy' was perhaps more accurate. Their simultaneous orgasms had left him very sticky but feeling relaxed and comfortable like he'd never experienced before. This was 'love', he was in no doubt about that. And now, his 'babe' was going to call him 'sweetheart' - everything was just about perfect; his life had managed to sort itself out.

"Hey.", he addressed a very drowsy Gil.

"What is it.....sweetheart?" That felt good, to say, maybe, he was the one getting girlie!

Nick grinned. "Ed is going to be one happy dude, he told you, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. So you've 'ventured', have you 'gained'?"

"Unequivocally, immeasurably, unbelievably, incredibly, indubitably, undeniably, irrevocably......brain's shutting down around about now...."

"That's a 'yes' then"

"Mmm, what, exactly, are you going to tell Ed?"

"Let's think.....that you pushed me up a door and came in your pants; that you swallowed first time; that you jerked off while you watched me and then you jerked us both off holding our cocks together, all in the first twenty four hours, man.......why, what did you think I'd tell him?"

Gil looked at Nick; he wasn't absolutely sure he was joking. "You are...joking aren't you?"

"Errrr, no." Got him.

"You can't tell him that, he'll think I'm some sort of dirty old man!"

"Oh, aren't you then?"

"..................I fell headlong into that, didn't I?"

"'Fraid so, babe. You stay there I'll get a cloth to wipe you down."

"Don't think I could move anyway, but I like you looking after me, breakfast, cleaning up, that's the kitchen bit, and now me. You better be careful not to spoil me."

"Feels good....I've never had anyone to look after and spoil, before." Nick bounced off the bathroom.

Gil groaned, his bouncing days were way behind him, but as Nick returned with a warm wash cloth a minute or two later and wiped clean his stomach and flaccid, dead to the world, worn out penis, he was overwhelmed with love for this man. He was in love for the first and last time in his life; he had no doubts at all and he caught Nick's eyes and smiled, seeing the same feelings reflected back.

They both thought that life was indeed, a strange affair, with its twists and turns, but life was now the best it had ever been.

Sara's descent into complete madness took a few more days, but whatever the state of her mind she still had her, somewhat warped, intelligence and went about formulating her plan with precision and without haste. She would have one shot at this and that would be it, but Gil would be eternally grateful to her, she knew.

As it turned out Nick didn't have to tell Ed, because as he walked into the room for his next appointment the therapist took one look at the Nick's 'signature', shit eating grin and knew.

"I take it there have been significant developments, then Nick?"

"I think that that would be a fair assessment, but Gil has forbidden me to tell you the details for fear of being labelled a 'dirty old man'."

"I don't need to know the details, just how you feel about it." Although, in truth, he wouldn't have minded, if looks were anything to go by, a good time was had…..

He'd thought that Gil would cave, sooner, rather than later. Nick Stokes, although he had no idea about it himself, oozed sex. If there was a test for these situations, he knew Nick’s pheromone rating would be over the top and these had been unceasingly directed at Gil Grissom for a year at least.

He'd held out admirably, considering, and that was actually a good thing because it'd given them a chance to develop their friendship, a solid base for this new relationship.

Nick had settled himself in his usual chair, but couldn't wipe the smile off his face, although he was actually trying.

"I cannot begin to tell you Doc, just how fabulous it is. And, it's not just the sex, it's the closeness that it's brought to us, and we were pretty close before. There is something so special about lying in the arms of your lover, sharing the same space and feelings, and Gil, well he's just so.....well....incredible....fabulous... .at it.....I must say I never thought that...really, because I thought no one could live up to the fantasies that you built around them, but Gil...." Nick petered out giving the clean version of the 'significant developments'.

"I think it may be a fruitless continuing this session Nick, since you're obviously floating up somewhere near the ceiling!"

"Ain't that the truth? But there are things... That Sara, I told you about her, the one who was REALLY obsessed with Gil; she's been fired, for...misconduct...I think. Gil has told our shift about us - they're fine, and then he told the bosses and they seem okay about it too, but this guy has to head up an investigation into Gil and me to see if there's been any, you know favouritism...or impropriety."

"Things have moved forward very quickly. How do you feel about that? Will they find any impropriety?"

"They will not find a thing, Gil is like…the most professional man on the planet, well he is now...you know that at one time he was more or less holding me back, not anymore, of course, if I mess up, he tells me, if I do good, he tells me...but he's the same with all of us...even poor Sara. But the guy who's investigating us, he can't stand Gil and Gil can't stand him, but the sheriff's got it covered, so it should be okay. You might have guessed that I'm really very happy that 'it's' happened and Gil.....and me...we decided together to tell everyone."

"How do you feel about the time when Gil held you back?"

"I'm fine about that now, I really am. I did resent him when he did it, obviously, but when I confronted him and he investigated himself, he realised what he'd done and why he'd done it. He was going to resign over it, I told you didn't I? But he apologised and then he became my 'best friend forever'....now he's my 'best fuck forever'. Sorry...just slipped out.” Nick was marginally contrite.

"No worry Nick - sounds as if it's the right title for him." Until Ed had met the esteemed Dr Grissom, he'd assumed the 'resignation' ploy had been just that, a 'ploy', but he now thought that it had been genuine. He also thought that if more people investigated their own motives, he'd be out of work, but it'd be worth it.

"I must tell him....hey, I forgot about my parents too, I had a bit of a......post orgasmic moment, would probably best describe it....I realise that it wasn't me at all, was it, it was them and I need to focus on that....isn't that what you've been getting at, man?"

Ed couldn't help laughing at Nick's 'epiphany'. "Exactly, Nick, exactly!"

They chatted some more and the only thing the therapist was now worried about - he could be worse than his patients, sometimes - was if the ‘Gil and Nick’ show came to an end, what would become of either of them. He further reduced Nick's anti-depressants dosage, to the lowest amount before stopping completely. He thought the high of his post orgasmic serotonins would probably keep him going for the next decade, and then some.

Sara bought a new note book and pencils and began to plan with due diligence. Gil had taught her that it was the lack of attention to detail that was the criminals' downfall and the attention to detail that was the criminalists' trump card. She made copious notes of her plans and determined that each step she took towards her ultimate goal would be scrupulously documented; she would be meticulous and Gil would be so pleased, and thankful.

Ecklie, tried, he really did; he left no stone unturned, no file unopened and interviewed anyone he could get hold of, whether on 'graveyard' or not. He could not find one scrap, one iota of evidence that even remotely resembled favouritism, impropriety or any God damned thing.

He was very conscious of the old tape recorder that Gil had pulled out of his desk drawer like a fucking white rabbit. He didn't really know if it was real or not, but it would seal his own fate if it was real and he was not that stupid. It was real though, he knew Grissom well enough to know he didn't bluff so he now had to work with one hand tied behind his back.

Dr 'know-it-all' Grissom would be staying, that's what irked him most - Stokes was a good CSI, or even better, if his files were anything to go by. Not that he'd ever tell him; whatever had gone on with the sheriff, Stokes was now the 'blue eyed boy' - perhaps the sheriff fancied him himself. Geez, if Grissom and Stokes could be gay, there was no accounting who else might be.

At the end of a four week period, Ecklie delivered his comprehensive report to the sheriff. He'd found nothing at all to implicate Grissom, Stokes or the lab. They were in the clear. The sheriff, to his credit, told Ecklie that he hadn't, for one moment, imagined that he would find anything.

There were only three things in his life that he could count on - taxes, death and Grissom. He was amused at his own joke and Ecklie, tried, really, really, hard, to laugh along - but failed. When he'd the left the sheriff's office the sheriff laughed some more, at Ecklie’s expense this time. Ecklie was good at what he did - which was exactly what the sheriff wanted him to do.

While the investigation had been underway, the graveyard team had been a little jittery, but mostly annoyed and amused at Ecklie's clumsy interventions and very basic interviewing technique. He was so determined to find something that he'd asked leading questions, closed questions, silly questions: 'You have seen them kissing at a crime scene then?'.......'No'........'Never?'......'N o'.......'At the lab then?'........'No'......'Never? 'No, never, not ever, not even once, ever.' Or questions in a very similar vein.

When Nick was interviewed he was the model of restraint at Ecklie's continued snide insinuations. Gil had told him, on pain of death, or a night at the Dominion, strung up, to remain calm and answer as monosyllabically as he possibly could. In Gil's opinion Ecklie would try his level best to imply that Gil had used his position to seduce Nick. Gil was exasperated when Nick asked, "Which position was that...69?"

(Since that had been a recent sexual venture, not terribly successful, in truth, when Gil had again promised Nick a night at the Dominion if he farted in his face. Gil had discovered that his ‘dear’, ‘innocent’, sweetheart was ‘windy’, and he wasn't quiet about it either. They'd had to abandon their love making for thirty minutes while Nick tried to stop laughing and crying, and when he'd actually had another noisy little gaseous emission, they'd both cracked up with a definitive promise from Gil that he would never ever go anywhere near that 'end' again. And he didn't, for four days anyway, until he discovered rimming!)

Gil couldn't be mad at Nick for long, especially when Nick was nibbling his ears, and his neck and promising untold delights if Gil would forgive him - so Gil lasted at being mad for.....three minutes...tops....(thought Nick). But Gil had spoken seriously about Ecklie, and Nick had taken in every detail and remembered everything Gil had said, as Ecklie tried his level best to incriminate Gil.

"Did he make a pass at you at work?"

"No, never."

"Did he touch you at all?"

"Well he slapped me on the back when I found that link in the Frobisher case."

"Didn't you think it was inappropriate for him to do that?"

"No...you did it to me when I helped out on that case on days.....you know, at Caesars, were you being inappropriate?"

"No, of course not."

"I didn't think so...and neither was Gil."

"Well okay.....what about the first time, you know, were you in the lab or at a crime scene?"

"Most definitely not."

"Well after your.....first time...did he approach you at the lab or a crime scene?"

"No, most definitely not."

"Did you approach him?"

"No, most definitely not."

"Do you think you should be working together?

"I do not think for one moment that either of us has compromised this lab, LVPD, or each other. We have a winning combination with our team, I think it would be foolish to break us up and lose that team dynamic and the interaction we share. Of cours, if my colleagues, on the team, believe that we are a liability then I would move without hesitation - Gil should remain where he is - that would be the most effective solution and LVPD would still gain the most from his considerable skills."

Ecklie gave up. 'Yeah, move Stokes and be slapped with a discrimination lawsuit - I need that like I need a hole in the head.' Every single member of the team had expressed horror at the thought of them breaking up and not one of them had one, even petty, complaint, about Gil, or Nick, or Gil and Nick. There was only one other person to interview and Ecklie was dreading it. He had to do it and he knew it would be a mere formality, if no one else had slipped up, the chances of Grissom 'accidentally' giving him an opening were infinitesimal multiplied by a million.

He was right. When Grissom arrived he'd stood in front of his desk and asked if he'd wanted to check him over for a wire. And it had gone downhill from there. Grissom did as he'd pleaded with Nick to do, answer as shortly as possible; if you could get away with a 'no' or a 'yes', then do that. He did. To all the kissing, touching, fondling, leching and ogling questions he'd been firm, and actually polite, but they were all, 'no'. When asked if he could continue to work with Nick, if the team could, if their position was still tenable, they were all 'yes'. Ecklie gave up but couldn't resist one last question.

"Did you record our conversation in your office?".

"What do you think Conrad?"

In truth, Gil had been amazed at the ease of the transition from straight boss, with only his bugs to love, to gay boss with Nick Stokes to love – along with his bugs, of course. The women all seemed much friendlier; Catherine had said it was because gay men posed no threat and the women didn't have to compete with each other. They were a few jealous looks directed at Gil, for snagging 'their' prize though. Nick was a thoroughly 'nice' young man and many a heart had been, if not exactly broken, then certainly bruised a little. The strangest thing was, that when it came down to the line, Nick being gay didn't 'really' surprise the women, who all thought, 'Oh, yeah...I can see that......'

Over the weeks, Gil and Nick talked themselves silly about their relationship. They knew each other well anyway from their friendship, but now they had more intimate things to talk about. 'Penetration', was a subject that Nick wanted to discuss.

He'd been googling like mad to find out all he could about physical homosexual relationships and what could be done and what he'd like and what he didn't like. What he wanted to do to Gil and what he wanted Gil to do to him. He wanted to be penetrated and they discussed it at length, Gil googled, and they discussed it more. Gil was concerned about pain but Nick was willing to try. Actually Gil wanted to be penetrated too, so he could experience it too. How would they know if they were a 'top' or a 'bottom', or neither, if they didn't?

When Nick asked Ed he had the stock answer. "If both of you want to try something, try it. If one of you doesn't, then don't. If you try it and like it, do it, if one of you doesn't like it, don't do it. What you do in private is between you and no one else, even if what you do is not....legal." Gil had said virtually the same thing.

It was agreed that they would try anal penetration, but not straight away; they didn't want to do it just because they could, they wanted to do it because that was what they wanted at that moment. Nick, however, stocked up on every form and flavour of lubrication he could find, and condoms of every colour; even fluorescent ones; Gil just couldn't see why they, or anyone, would need 'fluorescent' condoms. He'd laughed when Nick had said it was so they could see what they were doing in an unlit passage.

He bought everything in sets of two, one set for his own condo, and one set for Gil's townhouse. Gil, truly, had never had so much fun and neither, of course, had Nick.

The anti-depressants were nearly done with and Nick felt great. He spoke about his family and even remembered some good times; these had been buried under all the other 'shit' (his description). He was going to stay in therapy, but probably only monthly and not weekly as he had done - sometimes twice weekly when he'd unearthed 'Mitch'. He was also able, with Ed's recommendation, to get his insurance company to pay and not the lab - although it was still 'work' insurance.

They were more sexually adventurous and were both physically fulfilled as never before. Gil could not quite believe how he’d become so sexually active, after years of sexual inactivity; was it really as mundane as ‘riding a bike’ syndrome? But, he was sure he felt healthier, happier, less tired, and even a little slimmer than he had been for many years.

Nick was as randy awake as he had been, and still was, asleep. After that very first twenty four hour period he'd never had another wet dream, but he had on a number of occasions awoken aroused, only to find that Gil's hand or mouth in his dream, were actually the real thing.

On one memorable occasion Nick had woken with his erection firmly nestled between Gil's ass cheeks with the swollen head against the back of Gil's scrotum, it had been impossible for him not to start gently thrusting into the warm space and Gil had himself woken almost immediately, realised the rear assault and pushed back against Nick. Nick had reached around and pumped Gil's very nearly hard cock in time with his thrusts, and kissed, bit and licked Gil's shoulder as they groaned and grunted to mutual orgasm.

They were gradually getting used to the 'mess' that two men made and kept tissues and baby wipes by both their bedsides. These were Nick's idea - 'baby wipes for his babe', when Gil's eyebrows questioned their appropriateness, but Gil had soon realised they were an excellent idea - from his ever practical lover.

But all their love making, all their intimacies were firmly behind closed doors. And, as Ecklie had tried his damnedest to disprove, they were always completely detached and professional at work. (Very nearly anyway, but then, they were never caught.)

Their colleagues had very quickly assimilated the startling news. The Gil and Nick that they knew well, had not changed at all. There was, perhaps, a more relaxed atmosphere around them, but Catherine, Warrick and Greg all attributed this to Sara's demise. There was no doubt that she'd been very good, but she was so volatile that they all spent their time around her on tenterhooks, although, until she'd actually gone they hadn't realised just how much her moods influenced their work place.

Catherine, in keeping with most of the women in the lab, developed a softer approach around both men and was particularly motherly towards Nick. She would vehemently deny this, if challenged - but no man was that stupid. Warrick was exactly the same as he ever was; not a lot fazed him, he was a child of Las Vegas after all, a 'sin city' original. Nick was his best friend 'before' and he was his best friend 'after'. No change there.

Greg was more affected than he'd let on. Not that his boss and his mate were gay, but the fact that he found himself really thinking about it, and the possibility that he wouldn't mind trying it on for size. If Gris could be bi-sexual, could he be, it didn't feel wrong; should he give it a whirl? How would he go about it? He'd have to give this some careful thought; perhaps ask Nick about it. On second thought, he'd keep it to himself.

All the lab staff were similarly accepting - with the exception of Hodges, of course. Not that he would say a word about it to anyone. Dr Grissom was his hero, the stuff of legends, just to work in his proximity gave Hodges untold delight. He wasn't bothered at all that 'Gil' was gay; he really had no problem at all with it. No, his problem was that the object of 'Gil's' affection was Stokes.

A man, in his opinion, and his opinion counted, in his opinion, who was simply not worthy of being 'Gil's' partner. He was intellectually lacking - he joked, for God's sake, in the lab, how he actually solved any crimes was absolutely beyond Hodges, except that Hodges knew it was the skill of the backroom boys, himself actually, that managed to save Stokes' skin, case after case. When 'Gil' realised this, he was sure that Stokes would be history.

Jim had spent a memorable twenty minutes with Gil discussing life and death issues. "Young lover indeed! You completely forgot to tell me that 'she' was a 'he' and what is he, twenty years younger - you old dog, Grissom!"

"He's exactly fifteen years younger - our birthdays are on consecutive days in August. Do you really think I am an 'old dog', Jim?"

"Are you sure it's only fifteen years, have you checked? You are an 'old dog'...but I have to say you shouldn't take much notice of me...I'm thinking if you can do it, then so can I, although I must say that my inclination lies to the female of the species, as I thought yours did."

"So did I Jim; so did I, but it turns out....I was turned, so to speak. Never contemplated a man before, but you know...."

"No...I don't want to know, thank you very much!"

"Bit of a homophobe are you Jim?"

"I am not and you know it, but I don't want to know the details of you and Nick anymore than I do with Warrick and Catherine!"

"Warr..... No, you're joking, Warrick's got more sense, surely?"

"Oooh....what do you know about Catherine, that I don't?"

"Well nothing really, but would you want her telling you what to do, how to do it and when to do it, and then rate you on a scale of ten?”

"Errrr wouldn't mind, you know, any port in a storm....but you may be right, but I would think Warrick is too laid back to notice and would do what he wants anyway."

"Yes, that's probably right. So you do fancy Catherine then?"

"Wellll....yes and no....maybe. Haven't you ever had a little bit of a crush on her?

"No, never. I rather like, that should be, 'liked', Sofia. I did contemplate asking her out, once upon a time, I was actually talking about her to Nick when I discovered how he felt about me...." Gil remembered his startling discovery at Nick's condo.

"Now you're talking...Sofia. I think she's gorgeous, but way out of my league."

"Yeah, you're right, way too old, and too bald....and she's too young and beautiful for you, for that matter. And, of course, she does carry a torch for me – allegedly - I've probably broken her heart and turned her off men altogether...so you do stand a chance then."

"Ha. Thank you very much for those kind words."

"Ask her out Jim , I dare you, if this 'old dog' can turn queer and capture a fabulous young man, you can at least take a chance.....someone told me, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' and it worked for me."

"I think I'd be too scared to ask her."

"If you don't ask, you'll never go out with her; if you ask and she says 'no’, you still won't go out with her, but at least you'll know and won't be wondering about it. There is a chance, okay at your age, it's pretty slim....but she could say 'yes' and then we could go out in a foursome and Nicky would love that.....and I bet Sofia would too."

"I don't think I would though, would you be all sloppy and lovey-dovey with Nick....oh, God, you've got me thinking I could. I was supposed to be taking the piss out of your queer old ass and you've turned the tables on me.....nothing new there then. Gotta go."

"Ask her." Gil told Jim's back as he left his office. But, he'd already started planning; he'd get Nick to speak to Sofia - Nick would love it, just love it...God the pair of them were getting to be as gay as gay can be. He laughed, it was certainly the most fun he'd ever had in his life. He wondered if that was why they were called 'gay'. He’d google that.

Gil spoke to Nick at the first opportunity they'd had, after a leisurely love making session, on Gil's couch. No mess on the leather, they'd both swallowed.

"What do you think about Jim asking Sofia out for a date?"

"Better idea than you and her."

"Still smarting, sweetheart?"

"Nope, but just so you know, don't, okay?"

"'Right. Anyway it transpires that one James Brass, has serious unrequited love issues with the aforementioned Sofia Curtis, and finds himself completely unable to make any appropriate utterance towards her, regarding this matter, and I thought that you, and I, could expedite the matter on his behalf, facilitating, at the very least, one romantic interlude. What do you say?"

"What I say man, is how the hell can you come up with these conv.....conov....long sentences when you've just shot your brains down my throat?"

"Ah, well I believe that I, myself, have just partaken in a protein shake in a similar situation to the one you've just described, and find myself enervated by the act!"

"You know what springs to my mind babe?"

"What exactly is that, sweetheart?" Gil had a pretty good idea what was coming.

"I can't quite decide which it is, but it's either 'cocky bastard', or 'smart ass'!"

"Well, as much as I may want to go for the 'cocky' option, I'm afraid that I feel unable to comply at this juncture and equally, my mother would have been horrified to hear her only child referred to as a 'bastard'; therefore, in these circumstances 'smart ass' will have to do."

Gil could feel Nick's body against his, shaking from his laughter. "You're one of a kind, you know that, man; I love you...” He'd just remembered the original canvol....convil........long request Gil had made. "We'll set Sofe and Jim up, no problemo, man."

"There you are, you can speak a foreign language in your post orgasmic haze. What're you going to do, Nicky?"

Nick groaned, "Give a man a break, will ya, I'll think of something, just not at this particular moment. Hey, babe, scratch my back for me, pretty please?"

This was a fairly new phenomenon; Nick liked his back rubbed, more than scratched, when they'd finished their love making. Neither man knew why, and they'd only discovered it by accident, when Gil had done it once and Nick had positively purred at the gentle soothing, not arousing (not much anyway) movements on his back.

Nick had tried it for Gil, and all Gil had experienced were real itches elsewhere on his back that really did need scratching. This was yet another instance of the joy that had come into both of their lives, the loving and the sex aside, they had so much fun and laughter together, it was amazing.

Nick would put some serious thought into the 'Jim and Sofia' project. Now that he was happy he wanted everyone else to be happy.

"Hey babe, did you hear about 'Rick and Catherine?"

"I did indeed."

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

"Well....I....I'm sorry....hold on a minute, if you knew, why didn't you tell me?"

"I forgot."

"And me."

"Call it quits then."

"Right....oh no, nearly got caught again, how often do you do that me?"

"Mmmmm, not often.....much."

"Well watch it. I'm getting wise to your little tricks, Nicky, my boy."

"Okay, then. I like being your Nicky."

"I love you being my Nicky, well sometimes anyway."

"Convoluted…"

As it turned out Sofia left on vacation the very next day for nearly two weeks in the UK, visiting family - who knew she had relatives there?

On one of their anniversaries, well they had been 'best fucks forever' for eight weeks, they held a little party, very successful it was too, all the guests had a great time, though there were only two guests and they were easily pleased.

They'd ordered Thai, to be delivered, and Nick had bought cream cakes for dessert. This was a calorific extravagance, as Nick watched his diet very carefully and unfortunately for Gil, Gil's also. Hence Gil's weight loss, which he firmly believed was due to the 'sexercise' he was getting - it was a bit of both.

Nick didn't want Gil to lose too much weight, he liked his physique....no....he loved it. Gil was stronger than he appeared, what could be construed as.....fat.....was in fact a solid mass, in the case of his arms, muscle and in the case of his stomach....okay, it was fat. But Nick loved it.

It was at this anniversary party that Nick and Gil first discussed their living arrangements. They'd been haphazardly sharing each other's homes, on a 'need to go home’, basis... 'to' feed bugs, collect clean clothes, launder clothes, collect post, throw sour milk away....that sort of thing; they even spent a couple of nights actually alone. But, Gil pointed out; did they need two homes, should they live together?

Nick would have got a truck and moved everything to Gil's, there and then, and Gil would have been okay with that. But he wanted to be sensible and responsible about this. So they decided that Nick would rent his condo on a short lease, never a problem in Las Vegas. And Nick could live with Gil in the townhouse to see how it went. As Gil pointed out, they'd only lived together about ninety-five percent of the time for eight weeks - what if they lived together one hundred percent of the time and hated it.

They looked at one another and laughed. But again, Gil was being sensible and responsible, he said they hadn't had an argument yet, and as sure as God made little apples, they would have one eventually. Nick was sceptical, what on earth would they argue about, and Gil had told him that they supported different baseball teams for a start and then there was the small matter of who lay on which side of the bed. People, as Gil sagely attested, had murdered for less.

But Gil had also said, "If this works out, should we sell both places and buy a place together.....our place?" Nick lost all his humour and jollity and was biting his bottom lip hard but still he felt tears sneak their treacherous way down both cheeks.

"Oh, sweetheart, what’s wrong?" A very concerned Gil moved to Nick's side and enveloped him in a hug.

"Our place, babe, our home, together." Nick sobbed into Gil's neck.

"Oh Nicky, I love you so much, so much. I will take care of you I promise. I will make you happy."

"I AM happy!" Nick managed to choke out; half laughing and half crying.

"Yeah, I believe you....millions wouldn't." Gil held him tighter and although he didn't cry, he was only just holding on.

They were inordinately busy for the next six days, non-stop, pulling doubles almost daily, with a suspicious fire, with multiple deaths, a suspicious plane crash in the dessert, with five deaths and a suspicious motor boat accident out at Lake Mead, with four deaths. They spent more time apart than they had in a long time, but made an effort to spend a little time together; Nick didn't even have a chance to register with a rental agency.

Every so often he'd have a shiver down his spine and a strange feeling that he was being watched, he'd turn around and see nothing unusual - he put it down to tiredness and way too much coffee.

Sara was still keeping copious notes on her observations. She was getting increasingly angry though, because the bastard was confusing Gil by not being consistent. He'd not stick to any given times for anything and it made her job more complicated, what use was a comprehensive dossier, if she couldn't build up a pattern of behaviour because he wouldn't stick to any sort of schedule. Poor Gil must be furious, unable to shake himself free of him, because he kept changing everything he did. Two or three times he'd even looked around to see if he was being followed, he obviously didn't want to be found out. It was a good job she'd decided on the disguise, this was proving to be trickier than she thought. But Gil was depending on her to save him, so she'd persevere; she should be ready soon.

When he did get around to using a rental agency, they were able to fix Nick up with a client immediately. A young man was doing a semester at WLVU and didn't want to stay on campus or in a hotel. Nick's condo would be perfect. Nick would have to prove that he was the owner, and that he was entitled to rent it out, but the guy wasn't due for three weeks, so all of that could be taken care of. Nick marvelled at his change in fortune, everything he touched seemed to fall into place.

His therapy was really paying dividends - he felt that given just a little more time he would go back to Texas, just for a short visit with his parents. He'd tell them that he was gay, tell that he was very happy for the first time in his life and that they should be happy for him.

They didn't know themselves what they were doing with Nick, he was so different from their other children that he'd thrown them a loop. He would tell them about the babysitter and this time he would make them believe him - perhaps they would even show a little remorse - he hoped; he wasn't pinning his hopes on that. But, even if he never saw them again afterwards, he'd feel some closure, he'd have done his bit, they could do whatever they chose to do with it.

Gil remained calm when Nick spoke about his family, but he was sceptical, to say the least. He was secretly plotting the perfect murder for the Judge and his wife for their behaviour towards their youngest child. But, he would stand by whatever Nick decided to do - even though he privately thought, (he would never dream of telling Nicky what he really thought about the Stokes'), that Ed and himself may well end up picking up the pieces and putting Nick back together again. He was okay with that too, he was in this for keeps and he’d do whatever he had to, to keep Nick; to keep Nick happy.

Work was going well too, the whole shift seemed to effortlessly solve even the most complex cases. Privately, Gil thought Nick's contribution was easily the best, the guy couldn't put a foot wrong, but he said nothing until he was approached by Catherine, who, as Nick's new reporting officer, told Gil, officially, that Nick's success rate for clearance surpassed every other CSI in the building.

She told him that cops from all shifts and less experienced CSIs were asking if they could have Nick’s help or opinion on cases that they were finding it difficult to solve. Catherine had recommended him for a bonus – a new incentive scheme in the labs.

"Now that's good idea, he can buy me a present."

"Gil Grissom, how dare you take advantage. You know if you asked him to he'd do it."

"Yes he would, I'm only joking Catherine, if he asks me I’ll tell him what he should do with it, but I know what he will do."

"What do you think he'll do?"

"Something for the whole shift, share it out...and he will get something for me, a new bug maybe....."

"I think you're right, he's a strange young man."

"Excuse me, this is my lover you're talking about!"

"I don't have to tell you how weird that sounds Gil..." They smiled at each other and Catherine thought Gil looked kind of dopey, in love. "....but I'm not being horrid. It's this job, we see the worst of the worst, we scrape bodies off the sidewalk, see the worst humanity has to give us and yet Nick remains a kind, and even sweet boy, he must have been a divine child, what do you think, a choirboy, I bet."

Catherine saw the cloud flit across Gil's face and knew there was obviously more to that.

"He's like he is, despite his childhood, not because of it, and don't breathe a word of that outside this room, I've betrayed his confidence by saying that much." Gil's dopey loved look was replaced by an expression of worry.

"Please don't worry, I won't say a word; but Gil?" She leaned across the table and put a hand on his arm. "If it was as bad as you seem to be indicating, then how wonderful he's turned out as he has, and that he now has you to love him and take care of him."

"Thank you Catherine, I will spend as long as I can, or as long as he will let me, taking care of him and making up for the first thirty years of his life."

"I believe you Gil...but I do tend to subscribe to the general theory making the rounds of the lab..."

"...and that is....?"

"You've been taken over by an alien presence and there's probably a spare pod in a room at your house - we should get Mulder and Scully down here."

"Ha, ha, now you know I'll have to ‘change’ you too.... and you do know that Mulder and Scully are pretend don't you?"

"No.....they're not, are they.....of course they must be, the real FBI aren't that good are they?"

"Not in my experience, I must admit. Do you think we should be getting on with some work here, we don't want to tarnish our image, do we, and we all have to aspire to Nick's new heights of detection."

"True, and my lips are sealed, I promise."

Several shifts later Nick came dashing in to see Gil in his office, which was fairly unusual - both the dashing and the visit.

"Catherine's recommended me for a bonus, because I've done some good work, she says. Mind you, it's not just me, it's the whole team."

"It’s you Nicky.....you, on your own, are that good."

"You knew about this....and didn't tell me?"

"I did know, but it isn't my place to tell you these sort of things, anymore."

"No, no, you're right....what shall I spend it on?"

"Save it, you don't have to spend it."

"I do, you don't save a bonus, man, you splash out. I know, I'll treat us all for a night out somewhere fancy. Like the tower at the 'Paris', or 'Olives'.....no, that's special, remember it was our first date?"

"I do, but you should spend this money, if you actually get it, it’s a recommendation not a foregone conclusion, you should spend it on yourself."

"I know. But I did think that I would buy us a new bed Gil, you know one of those fancy things, electronic or maybe a water bed. What d'ya' think?"

"Actually, that would be an excellent idea; both our beds are past their 'sell by's'. If we do though, I'd have to go half with the cash."

"No, I want to get it for you."

"Look, we're crossing bridges here, even before the road's been laid.....wait 'til you know whether you've got the bonus first and we'll argue about it then."

"Okay...but I’ll win!"

Nick left Gil's office with a wave and his trademark grin, he mouthed the words, 'I love you', and was gone; he came back almost immediately, "I forgot to say I'm going to the gym, I’ve,.....", he looked around to see if the corridor was clear before continuing, “.....gotta keep this ass toned man, don't know when it's gonna see some action." He patted said ass as he wiggled it out of Gil's office.

Gil was smiling, but not laughing as he might have done, because he thought that ass might well be seeing some action, and soon. The last time they'd made love he'd slipped a finger into Nick for the first time and had tried to locate the prostate gland - with enormous success it must be said - his smile now morphing into a quite evil smirk. Nick had arched up under him and let out a grunt, he thought he had anyway, because it had stopped mid 'grunt' and as Gil had moved his finger around what he assumed was the 'spot', Nick, wide eyed with wonder, had ejaculated without any assistance from Gil's spare hand, or either of Nick's, or any other friction for that matter.

Nick had been struck dumb and immobile for several minutes and then could not find the words to express the experience. But one thing had been clear, Gil was to do it again as soon as possible and that he would be doing it to Gil, as soon as possible. And, that Gil would have to give him instructions about finding it and doing what he’d just done.

As Gil thought these thoughts the heat in his groin spread around and his erection was stuck, uncomfortably, in his pants. He made a few surreptitious adjustments and smirked as he thought that this was the usual time for Catherine to walk in and catch him. He must think work thoughts and not Nicky thoughts, but it was hard.

That was both literally and metaphysically.

Sara was becoming increasingly disturbed, not in her mental state, which was already as far from reality as it could be, but at the difficulty in pinning her target down. He was deliberately confusing Gil by being unpredictable and making her job more difficult. But, when did she let difficulty get in her way? She'd do it now as soon as possible - no point in trying to establish a more definite pattern. Go for it; Gil would prefer some sort of action, he'd told her last night when he visited. He was staying longer and longer now - he loved her so much and so wanted to be free of Nick’s clutches. Gil thought the disguise was brilliant, but he hoped she would go back to her usual appearance. She'd assured him she would, because if that was how he liked her, that's how she'd be, anything for Gil.

Anything.

The End…..tbc in The Insane Kind (Be afraid; be very afraid....)