Title: Crash
By: it-glitters
Pairing: Greg/Nick
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Series: 1) And Across Town, 2) Rough Start, 3) Simply, Words Stall, 4) Out to lunch, 5) It Ain't Pretty
Summary: Nick snaps.

***

"Ms. Lindz!" Nick called as he pounded on the apartment door. "Las Vegas Criminalistics!" He yelled at the closed door. They could hear shuffling inside, and Catherine tentatively put her hand on her gun. She had seen what this woman's cohorts were capable of and she didn't want her and Nick to be next on the hit list.

A petite and disheveled woman answered the door with a cigarette in her hand.

"What the fuck do you want?"

"I'm Nick Stokes and this is Catherine Willows – we're with the Crime Lab. We wanted to ask you a few questions about an incident that occurred earlier today."

"I've been home all day," she said brusquely and moved to close the door. Nick put his hand out to stop her.

"We get that. It's about a 'friend' of yours," he said vehemently.

"Fine," she said, leaning against the doorway, clearly not about to let them in. "What friend of mine."

Catherine started, "Greg Sanders was attacked earlier today by someone who says he knows you."

"Little prick got what he deserved."

Nick stood up very straight, holding back the urge to beat the information out of the woman. Catherine stepped between Nick and Ally.

"We're looking for a white guy, about 30 to 35, 5'11, 200 pounds with some tattoos."

"Fuck off," Ally said closing the door.

"We're coming back with a warrant!" Nick yelled at the closed door as he stormed outside.

"Fucking bitch!" He picked up the nearest object – a trash can – and threw it as hard as he could against the wall of the apartment building.

"Nick... Nick, c'mon, calm down." Catherine took a cautious step toward him and placed her hand on his back.

"Cath, I'm sorry, I just... I haven't even gotten to see him yet... and this girl..." He didn't even finish his fragmented attempt at a sentence.

"Go. Go to the hospital and say hi. I'm sure he would like a visitor and then that will give me time to talk to PD about getting a warrant."

....

"Greg?" Nick stepped into the dark hospital room. By the time he had gotten himself together it was the middle of the night, and he had had to flash his badge to get into the room.

Greg was sleeping. He looked pretty bad, but Nick had seen worse – just, it had never been one of his friends. Nick couldn't stop himself from creeping up to the narrow hospital bed to brush a piece of hair out of Greg's face. And then... maybe... cup his face a bit; maybe run his thumb over Greg's slightly parted lips. He couldn't believe that he was nearly molesting his sleeping coworker, but he needed to feel. He had to feel Greg's warm breath on his hand, if only to know that he was alive, that he was ok. Then Nick felt his body move of its own volition to give Greg's mouth the gentlest of kisses. He ran his fingers through Greg's hair just once more, before forcing himself to leave.

***

Next story in series - A Man to Look After.