Title: The Fourth of July
By: flipflopadd1ct
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Summary: Five Independence Days, shown in terms of Nick and Greg. Slight spoilers for "Play With Fire" and "Grave Danger".

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July 4th, 2001


They barely knew each other then.

Relatively, Greg was still a newbie to the Las Vegas crime lab, having only been working there for a year. He had worked a few cases with Nick, simply running DNA through CODIS or analyzing trace samples. They weren't friends, then, and they certainly weren't what they are now.

Greg had a crush on Nick. Every time Nick passed him in the halls, Greg felt that little flutter of attraction in his stomach. He worked his best to conceal it, to try not to stutter or blush when talking to Nick because he didn't know how his feelings would be received if he gave himself away.

What Greg didn't know was that the feelings were mutual.

July 4th, 2002


A lot can happen in a year.

Breakfast after work had turned into confessions of lust over beers and then sex in Nick's bed. Even with all the flirting that occurred between them, Greg never expected that it would actually reach that point. On Independence Day, they had been sleeping together for exactly one month, two weeks, and four days. Keeping track of the days was one of Greg's little quirks that Nick had found irresistible.

They curled up together on Nick's couch and watched the fireworks show on TV. As they kissed, and the colors exploded on the screen, they knew the bond between them was love.

July 4th, 2003


Independence Day, 2003, was different than any in the past.

Nick and Greg decided to watch the fireworks show from their apartment balcony. Nick never thought about what the show would do to Greg, who was still recovering from the explosion and whose nightmares weren't totally gone. At the first big boom, Greg visibly flinched and stepped back. A second and third rocket went up in unison, cracking like thunder and lighting the sky like fire...

Concerned, Nick turned and saw that Greg was gone. Searching frantically through the rooms, Nick found Greg huddled on the bed. Nick thought he heard a sob.

He held Greg until they both fell asleep, until the fireworks stopped.

July 4th, 2004


It was their first big fight.

Trivial annoyances kept adding up until they exploded like the firecrackers illuminating the night sky. Greg had angrily kicked Nick out in June and they stopped talking to each other, ignored each other at work. Nick shaved his head in response, or perhaps defiance. Their coworkers noticed, for what might have been the first time, that there was something between Nick and Greg.

Greg spent the holiday with friends and didn't think of Nick at all.

July 4th, 2005


That year, it was a true celebration.

Nick and Greg had managed to pick the fractured pieces up and put themselves back together. Once more, they were the happy couple they used to be. Under the festive glow, they rejoiced. Above all, Nick had survived being buried alive. Amidst the crowds of excited, jubilant people, they kissed in honor of all they had.

The fireworks were vibrant and colorful and full of life.

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