Title: The Day The Earth Shook
By: kennedy
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Summary: Inspired by a line from my previous story Into The Fire, we see Nick and Greg in the early stages of their relationship just after the lab explosion.

***

"Don't you remember what I was like after the lab explosion? The day they were detonating the old hotel, and I hid in the robe in my apartment? You wouldn't let me feel like an idiot."




The news was on in the background, but Nick Stokes' mind was on other things as he pressed Greg Sanders further into the sofa and kissed him eagerly.

"I missed you today." he said breathlessly.

"You knew where to find me." Greg reached up, and pulled him back down.

"I just couldn't get away from the case, and there were no tests to use as an excuse to sneak down and see you."

"You never need an excuse." Greg gave his lower lip a light suck.

"I know... but it was a hell of a day. It's getting better though." Nick gave him that devilish smile which accentuated his dimples.

It always made Greg flush, and give an instant wide smile back. Nick's warm hand slipped under his t-shirt, moving across his belly. Greg moaned happily, until Nick's hand slid further and came into contact with his back. Before he realised what he was doing, he gave a slight yelp and scrabbled away to the other end of the sofa.

"G?" Nick was immediately full of concern. "I'm sorry..."

Greg shook his head. "Not your fault. I guess it's just a little tender today."

"Has it been hurting at work?"

"It was sore on and off."

Nick stood and disappeared into the bathroom. Greg scowled at himself and cursed his body for its betrayal. All thoughts of passion had immediately dissipated, and he knew it was now the farthest thing from Nick's mind as well.

Nick re-entered the living area, carrying the bottle of medicated lotion Greg had been prescribed. "Roll over." he instructed.

"I'm not to be babied, Nick." Greg said, even though he knew he may have sounded a little whiny.

"I'm not babying you." Nick said matter-of-factly. "Don't you know oiling you up is the best part of my day?"

Greg slowly rolled over, hiding his smile. "You're a freak." he said, muffled by the cushion. He shivered as Nick lifted his t-shirt away from his skin, and pushed it up to let it pool around his neck.

"Did you take any painkillers?" Nick asked as he poured a small river of liquid along Greg's spine.

"I took a couple just before you got here." Greg murmured.

"Good." Nick began gently kneading Greg's damaged back. As always, when he looked down upon the scarring and Greg was unable to read his expression he felt the edge of tears come to his eyes but he blinked them away. "Let me know if it hurts."

It was hurting, but Greg didn't say a word. He felt peaceful when Nick's hands were upon him, moving over his skin as if by force of will he could smooth it out again.

"I wish..." Greg began to say, then repressed the thought.

Without stopping, Nick asked, "You wish what?"

Greg couldn't reply.

"Come on Greggo, talk to me."

Greg sighed. "I just wish you had seen my back before..."

Nick stopped the massaging, leaned back, and sighed deeply. "I don't care about that, why do you?"

"Wouldn't you, if you were me?"

Nick pulled down the shirt gently, then levered his hands below Greg's belly to roll him back over and face him. "Well, I guess I might."

"There you go."

"But then, wouldn't you be telling me that it didn't matter?"

"Yes."

"And you would mean it?" Nick asked.

Greg flushed. "Of course I would!"

"Well, there you go."

Greg smiled, despite himself. "You always have an answer, don't you, Stokes?"

Nick pulled him up towards him. "I do."

Greg traced along Nick's jawline and was about to kiss him again when the television distracted him.

"The demolition of the landmark hotel will go ahead, despite protests, this Thursday..." the female anchor was saying. "We now cross to the site in question to speak to Alan Lindsberg, head of the 'Save Historical Vegas' committee..."

"Nothing lasts forever." Greg murmured, pressing the mute button.

"Hey..." Nick pushed his gaze back to him. "What is it, Greg?"

"Nothing." Greg shook his head non-convincingly. "It's just sad that they blow everything up in this city."

"Yet somehow Caesar's Palace remains standing." Nick mused.

"That's not even the tackiest hotel in Vegas."

"I thought you liked tacky."

"There's tacky, then there's tacky."

Nick closed his eyes, and drew Greg in closer to him. Despite his protestations, Nick knew that he was troubled and all he was capable of doing at the moment was holding him. Greg was comforted by that, as he knew there was little he could do for himself at the moment either. All he could do was try and ride out the sadness he felt, the memory of smoke in his lungs, glass cutting into him, and the feeling of fire on his back "“ none of which was passing or fading, or as easily wiped from his mind as a twenty-storey building could be from a streetscape.

---------------------------------


When Thursday rolled around, Nick knew he had to be with Greg. He had been withdrawn the past few days, and Nick was worried about him. It was already Greg's scheduled day off; and although he had left him that morning with every intention of going to work, by the time he had reached his own apartment he was already deciding to call in sick. After doing the admittedly fake-sounding raspy voice of the 24 hour flu, Grissom had accepted his absence and told him to rest up. Nick had then gotten back into his truck and driven straight back to Greg's place.

He fingered the key Greg had cut for him, smiling to himself before entering it in the lock.

"Greg? It's me!" he yelled out, by way of greeting.

There was no answer from within. He couldn't hear the shower running, and he had noticed that Greg's car had been in his parking space. He moved along the hall to the bedroom, wondering if he was sleeping in.

Greg's bed was neatly made, and clothes were laid upon it. A pair of his favourite jeans, a t-shirt which had some kind of ghost-thing from a Japanese animation emblazoned upon it and his cherry-red Doc Martens sprawled on the floor.

Concerned, Nick called out his name again.

The sound of the robe sliding open made him jump and whirl around, automatically reaching for a gun he knew wasn't there.

Greg sat on the floor of his walk-in robe, dressed in sweatpants and a ratty jumper. "Hey." he said softly.

His heart racing, Nick sat on the edge of Greg's bed. "Jesus! Hey, lab-rat, just a word of warning... never scare someone who is used to entering crime scenes and may have a weapon!"

Greg looked him up and down. "Aren't you meant to be at work? I mean, I kinda assumed you wouldn't have a weapon seeing you're not on duty."

"I called in sick."

"Why?"

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Uh, I think I have the more pressing question... what are you doing?"

"Would you believe me if I told you spring-cleaning?" Greg asked hopefully.

"No, I wouldn't."

Greg looked at him, but his eyes were out of focus, as if he was looking through Nick instead. "I got up as per usual... I thought I would maybe catch a movie or something. I got my clothes ready and I was about to have my shower when..." he trailed off. "I just couldn't do it."

"I know, G."

Greg's eyes swam into intense focus upon him. "What do you know, Nick?"

"It's Thursday."

"So?"

"They're demolishing that hotel today."

"And?" Greg wasn't budging.

"Do you really want me to spell it out for you? It's like a five minute walk from here."

"I thought I told you I didn't want you to baby me."

Nick cracked his knuckles. "I am not babying you! I am trying to support you! That's what you do in a relationship, G!"

Greg softened at Nick's words. Neither of them had really put into words what they were doing together, it was all unspoken. They had gotten together in extreme circumstances, after the lab had exploded. Time had passed so quickly, the wounds on Greg's back were still fresh and healing. Although they both knew this was a long-term thing almost immediately, they still hadn't voiced it.

"You might have to do it for me one day." Nick continued.

Greg couldn't imagine Nick feeling so weak and helpless, and inwardly scoffed at the notion in his head.

He was unaware that his countenance had nakedly displayed his reaction.

Nick shook his head. "Hey, maybe if you're lucky Nigel will escape and stalk me again."

"That is not funny!" Greg scowled, his eyes wide. "Don't even joke about that!"

"I wish you had been there for that." Nick said softly. "I mean, you were there as a friend... but..."

"I wanted to be."

"Yeah, well, no use wishing. We're here now. You gonna come out?"

Greg groaned. "There's an obvious joke waiting to be made about that statement."

"Technically, it was a question." Nick smiled down at him.

The fear had returned to his eyes. "I don't think I can, Nicky."

Nick stood up. "Then I'm coming in. Shift over."

"What?" Greg asked, astounded.

"You heard me. Scoot."

Realising he wasn't kidding, Greg skidded along on his butt to give Nick enough room to settle in behind him. His back against the wall, his legs formed a protective frame around Greg, who leaned in against him.

"Mmm, cozy." Nick said cheerfully.

Greg rolled the robe door shut.

"Uh, slightly spooky." Nick said in the darkness.

"I feel better like this." Greg replied apologetically.

"Closed it is, then."

A few moments of silence passed between them. Nick pressed the button on the side of his watch which turned the face blue and allowed him to read the time. It was five to three, and he knew the demolition was scheduled for three o'clock. This meant it was probably still ten to twenty minutes away, accounting for whatever speech the local politician forced to attend would give and any other ceremonial hoo-hah which would take place before the plunger was pressed.

"We're going to feel it here." Greg murmured.

Nick rubbed his thumb along the scarring that marred Greg's neck. "You surf, G. Just imagine it like a wave you're catching to shore."

"Okay, Yoda."

The slight chuckle from Greg cheered him.

Greg stroked his right leg gently. "Do you think I'm weird?"

"It's what I like about you."

"No, I mean... about this."

"No." Nick said without hesitation. "But... you know you can't hide in here forever."

"Just for today."

"Deal."

Greg licked his dry lips in an attempt to get them moist again. "You know... I love you, right?"

"Yes. And I am closed up in a robe with you in the dark. So you know I love you too, yeah?"

Greg smiled. "I guess so. Glad that's out of the way."

Unseen, Nick smiled as well. "Did you think I didn't? You really are weird, G."

"I just can't believe I had to say it first."

"Get over it, man."

They both laughed, and Greg leaned in closer. A faint rumble was heard in the distance, and Nick felt Greg stiffen against him.

Even from this far away, they felt the ground begin to shake. It would only have been seconds, but to Greg it felt like an hour as he was reminded of how the simple act of opening the fume hood had caused him to be blown off his feet and through a window. Except this time Nick was there holding him, so he didn't fall. He wasn't injured. As his brain tormented him with flashbacks of smoke and flame, he felt the physical reality of Nick's arms circle around his waist and hold him tight. This grounded him, and the air that he had been holding in was released and he began to breathe easily again.

The rumbling ended, and the only sign that there had been something amiss was the fact that the coat-hangers above their head were still swaying.

He knew that this wasn't a magic cure, that it didn't mean his nightmares would end. But he had Nick with him, and this would mean he wasn't alone in confronting his demons.

His hands shaking slightly, Greg pulled open the robe door, and light entered their space. They both squinted against it.

"Why don't you get your shower, and I'll make you some coffee?" Nick suggested.

Greg nodded, crawling out of the robe. He offered his hand to Nick, and helped him up.

"Thank you." Greg whispered, pulling him in for a kiss.

"No problem." Nick grinned. "Like I said, you can return the favour one day."

***