Title: Eternal Happiness
By: Carina Scott
Rated: FRM
Summary: Warrick's world shattered with the doctor's ominous words.
Characters: Gil Grissom, Warrick Brown, Warrick/Grissom
Warnings: Angst, Character Death, Dark Themes, Established couple, m/m, slash, suicide/mention of

"Gil, please don't do this."

"Warrick, it's not fair. I can't hold you to me forever. You have so much more to live for, you deserve so much more."

"I don't want anything more. You're all I need. You are enough for me."

Gil blinked back the tears that threatened to spill at the love in Warrick's voice. "Ricky, please. For me. Just go. I want you to be happy."

"I can't be happy without you. Can you really be happy without me?" The hurt in Warrick's tone was undeniable, and it only caused Gil's heart to ache more at his next words.

"Warrick, do you really want to know what will make me happy? If you walk out that door right now, find someone that will treat you right, cherish you, love you, and treasure the gift of your love; that will make me happy. If you can do that for me, I will die happy, knowing that you are happy."

"Don't say that Gil. I don't want you to die."

"I know baby. But you heard the doctor. Stage Four cancer. There is no Stage Five. It's just a waiting game now."

"Then I'll wait."

"Warrick, please. I love you; I don't want you to feel obligated to watch me wither away to nothing."

The tears that had been threatening since the doctor's news finally spilled over Warrick's cheeks, in stark contrast to the dry eyes that looked back at him. "I don't feel o-obligated. I'm ho-honored that I can be here for you. Please, Gil, let me be here. Let me love you."

"On one condition."

"Anything."

"Promise me that once I'm gone, you'll do everything in your power to be happy."

Without hesitation, Warrick nodded, "I promise."

~*~

Gil held on for six more months and Warrick was by his side each step of the way. He held Gil to keep him warm when nothing else could, helped him eat when his limbs became to weak to hold a spoon, and he sang to him as he made the final step over the threshold of death.

He spread Gil's ashes in a small, private ceremony at Lake Mead, surrounded by family and friends.

On the one year anniversary of Gil's passing, Warrick kept his promise. He chased down the half bottle of Gil's leftover pain medication with a mostly full bottle of gin, and made the final journey towards his eternal happiness. He would be with Gil again, and he would finally be happy once more.

END