Title- Life's Dealings
Author- KrazyKid197
Pairings- Nick/Greg (kinda) & Greg/OFC
Warnings- pre-slash, Domestic violence.
Spoilers- Nope.

The flinch, though unmentioned, did not go unnoticed. Nick was, after all, a CSI, and his job was to observe things, but as they were in a public place, he left it and went back to asking for his results, with the full intention of chasing the matter up at some point.

He didn't have to wait long. After stealing a quick glance at the clock, Greg stood up and headed towards the locker room.

Having a character trait that didn't allow him to just let things go, Nick followed and after entering the locker room, closed the door so that no one could hear what he was going to ask. He leaned against the door to stop Greg from bolting from the small room, which was completely possible.

Greg had opened his locker and grabbed his coat, locked up and turned to leave, stopping when he saw Nick.

"Was there something you wanted?"

"Are you OK, Greg?"

Greg stopped short and then answered quickly.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"In the lab a minute ago, you flinched. People don't flinch like that for no reason Greg, what's going on?"

"I told you, nothing's going on. I've got to get back."

Greg put his hand on the door handle and tried to pull it but Nick grabbed his wrist to stop him. Another flinch. The scientist knew this one would be spotted, and he quickly straightened, but it was too late and Nick pulled the sleeve up.

The wrist was a palette of grey bruising. It had been hit with something. Hard. Nick shot a questioning look at Greg, who looked as if he would rather be anywhere else than here at the moment.

There was a pause where neither man moved, with Greg making no attempt to hide the injury. Finally, he tried to shrug it off lightly.

"I tripped over a step. It's no big deal. It looks a lot worse than it is."

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

There was a hesitation before the answer; it was only fleeting, but Nick caught it.

"No."

Nick pushed the sleeve up further to try and verify the statement. He found a plaster covering the elbow, but before he had a chance to call Greg on it, the lab tech pulled his arm back, covering the skin up once again. His eyes were downcast and he mumbled something. Nick cupped a hand under his chin and lifted his face up gently so that their eyes met.

"Talk to me."

Greg didn't pull away immediately, and stayed long enough so that Nick could see the fear resting in the depths of his eyes. But when he did, he looked at Nick again and pleaded.

"Please. I need to get home."

Nick sighed, he was already to stand firm, but something in Greg's eyes stopped him and he stood to the side and let him pass. He waited a moment before heading out of the locker room again; he wasn't going to leave it there. He'd seen people scared like that before, and it very rarely ended well.

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Greg practically ran out of the building, almost knocking down another lab tech in the process. He was going to be late. It was never good when he was late.

Nick had cost him the little free time he had. Greg had been so sure that Nick was going to figure it out, and then. Then things could only get worse. Plus, then everyone would find out his shame --that he was weak, and he couldn't let that happen.Though the small voice in the back of his head told him that Nick was only trying to help and that maybe they would have sorted things out. But he quickly shook the thought from his mind.

After signing out, during which he got a look from the receptionist, probably to do with the fact that he was jumpy and wearing a "deer- caught-in-the-headlights" look on his face. He smiled at her and then quickly left, checking behind him to make sure he wasn't being followed before heading home.

=========================================================

Nick looked up at the clock for what had to have been the 100th time in the past hour. He couldn't help it, but had made plans to find out Greg's address and go round to his place after his shift had finished, and try and drag the truth from him. He had a feeling that Greg would hate him for it, but had still made up his mind to continue.

When the second hand finally reached the twelve, he leapt out of his chair and headed quickly towards the locker room, lengthening his stride to shorten the time.

After grabbing his coat, he headed to Grissom's office and knocked.

"Hey Gris? Do you have Greg's address?"

Grissom looked up at the younger CSI, curious.

"Why would you want it?"

Nick paused. He didn't want to spill his guts to Grissom on what could have been a hunch, but on the other hand he was worried about Greg --Though he would kill him if he went behind his back.

"I...can't say. It's just a hunch."

"Then I can't release that information to you, Nick. It's confidential."

Nick sighed.

"OK then. See you tomorrow."

He turned and left the office. After signing out, he stood in the car park thinking. Then, he suddenly had a brainwave. Breaking into a run, he found the nearest phone-box, and waited impatiently outside while the man in there finished his conversation, tapping his feet as he did so. The older man inside the box hung up and glared at him as he left, probably for interrupting him, the CSI thought. But that didn't exactly bother Nick now. He opened the phone book inside, flipping frantically through the pages looking for a name while muttering to himself.

"P...Q...R...S...Sanders...G. Sanders. That's it!"

He ripped the page out, not feeling too guilty as the book was looking a little thin anyway, and left, walking back to his car.

=============================================================

"Nick? What are you doing here? How did you find my address?"

Nick sheepishly held up the page from the phonebook.

"I...umm...borrowed this from a phonebox near the lab."

"Look, you can't stay here, you just can't, she'll be back any minute, and..."

"Greg, what's going on here? Who's your friend?"

Nick spun round to see a young woman, maybe 25, approaching, she took Nick in with one look, eyes narrowing slightly, before she got control of herself and smiled.

"Hi, I'm Jess. You staying?"

"No! I mean. Nick was just leaving."

Nick sensed that he wasn't going to be able to do something now, and so admitted defeat.

"OK, I'll see you later Greg."

And he left, watching as Greg held open the door for Jess, and the couple went inside.

============================================================

"Now what exactly is going on?"

"It was nothing, he just came round to see if I wanted to go out tonight. As in friends."

She stepped up to him, rising to her full 5' 8".

"I don't like being lied to, Greg. It makes me feel stupid, and you know I don't like that."

"I know, I know. I got rid of him didn't I?"

Jess cocked her head to the side and studied him. Just as he thought he was in the clear, and she was going to leave him alone, she kicked him, catching his stomach. Greg fell to his knees, clutching it as it screamed pain at him. Another blow caught the side of his face and he cried out. He couldn't help it. But at that she pulled off, worried about the neighbours hearing him. Something for which he was thankful.

Jess bent down and whispered in his ear.

"You're mine, and if you think otherwise, I can always tell people about you. What would they think then? Do you want them to know?"

Greg shook his head wildly, she planted a kiss on his cheek, before she moved, and left him, walking into the bedroom, stopping before she closed the door and whispering.

"Mine."

The door locked and Greg sat there, fighting back the tears.

===============================================================

The next night at work, Nick was watching Greg outside the DNA lab. The scientist had a new bruise on his cheekbone, which when Grissom had commented on it earlier while picking up some results, he said he had walked into a lamp post the previous evening. Grissom had rolled his eyes and left.

Nick took a deep breath and entered the DNA lab.

"Hey."

He muttered softly, but Greg still jumped, pausing to catch his breath again before turning around.

"Nick, what can I do for you?"

"We need to talk."

Greg feigned confusion.

"I can't see what about."

"Greg, I'm not stupid. I know what's going on, and you have to do something."

"Like what? You don't know what she's capable of, and I shouldn't even be having this conversation."

"You can leave, file a report. Greg this has to stop, one day she could seriously hurt you."

"Why do you care all of a sudden? Why? It's none of your business."

"Because I..."

Because I care about you. But I can't tell him that, and yet it might be enough.

Greg was still watching expectantly, as satisfied grin surfacing as Nick struggled with what to say. Always better with actions and words he stepped forwards and cupped Greg's face in his hands, planting a small kiss on his cheek.

"That's why. If you change your mind about doing something, you know where to find me."

And he left, forcing himself to keep walking and not to turn and look back at the man behind him, who was staring, mouth agape.

END