Title: Guilt
Author: CSI_Nightowl
Pairing: David/Nick
Rating: PG
Warning: slash
Spoilers: none
Summary: A night out turns into something David never expected.
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or its characters. If I did there'd be much more Nick, David and Greg screen time.
A/N: Please read and review. I love reviews! It's almost embarassing how happy they make me.

"Come on, Dave, it's just a couple of drinks with friends." Jacqui insisted.

"I don't have friends." David replied.

"What am I?"

David smirked as he started to answer.

"Don't even." She glared.

"But you make it so easy."

"You are going and that is that." She grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hallway.

"Damn woman, you're cutting off my circulation."

Jacqui rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you will survive."

"Alright I'll go. Now let go of me. People are staring."

She released him as they entered the locker room.

"Ya'll ready to go?" Nick asked.

Funny how Nick's name wasn't mentioned when she was telling him who was going. He glared at her. What did she think? That he'd get drunk and finally tell the Texan how he felt about him.

"We're ready." Jacqui grinned.

"Glad you decided to come with us, David." Nick smiled.

David grunted and silently resolved to spend the night plotting the woman's demise.

********

David had been nursing his beer for the past two hours. He had to stay sober to keep a watchful eye on Jacqui. He wouldn't put it past her to "accidentally" let it slip that he was interested in Nick. He knew she meant well but there was no way someone like Nick Stokes would ever be attracted to him. All she would accomplish is embarrassing him and make working with the CSI awkward.

The first person to leave was Archie. Greg soon followed then Warrick, Bobby and Jacqui. It took David a minute to realize that he was now alone with Nick, who was feeling no pain. Actually, David couldn't believe he hadn't passed out yet.

"Looks like it's just you and me, buddy." Nick slurred.

"Nick, don't you think you've had enough?"

"Hmm." Nick thought about it. "Not really."

"Well, I'm going. You need a ride home?"

"Nah, I'm riding with Warrick."

David shook his head. "He left twenty minutes ago."

"Oh. I guess I do then." He stood up and stumbled to the door.

It was official; Jacqui Franco was a dead woman.

******

"Do you want to come in?" Nick asked as opened the car door.

David hesitated. "I'd better not."

Nick turned and studied the other man. "Why not?"

"Um, it's late." That was lame.

"What, you turn into a pumpkin or something?" Nick laughed. "Come on, just for a few minutes."

David knew it was a mistake but he couldn't say no to those pleading puppy dog eyes. Besides, he wasn't sure Nick could make it inside without help. "Okay, for a minute."

Nick gave him a huge smile and got out of the car. When he got to the steps he tripped, almost knocking them both down but David was able to keep them upright.

"Sorry man." Nick laughed as he leaned against him.

"Let's just get you in the house before you break something." David said shakily. He hoped Nick would think it was because they almost fell, not because he was standing so damn close.

As David took the keys and unlocked the door, Nick leaned close again. "You smell so good."

He did not just say that. David had to be imagining it. Even if he did, he's drunk. He didn't mean it.

"Want something to drink?" Nick asked as they entered the living room.

"No, and like I said before, you've had enough. We should get you to bed."

Nick grinned. "Why Dave, I thought you'd never ask."

He's drunk, he's drunk, David keep repeating to himself. He led Nick to his bedroom, not daring to look at him.

"David, I…"

"Nick, you need to sleep, okay?"

Nick looked disappointed. "Thanks for bringing me home."

"Don't mention it." David started to release his grip on the Texan but somehow their feet had gotten tangled. At the realization they were going to fall, David overcompensated causing Nick to tumble back onto the bed, pulling him down too. It had barely registered in his brain that he was laying on top of Nick before the man flipped them over so now he was on top and kissing him desperately.

"Nick, we can't do this."

"Why?"

"Because you're drunk and I don't…" David moaned as Nick ran his hands under his shirt.

"Relax Dave; I'm not going to hurt you."

Tonight, no but tomorrow when he sobered up and realized what they had done, that was another story. David sighed. He wanted this, had fantasized about it but he knew if Nick was sober it wouldn't be happening. He should leave before it went any further, but then those hands wandered lower and all rational thought fly out the window.

******

David's plan was to leave as soon as Nick fell asleep. If he was lucky Nick wouldn't even remember tonight, but David had never been that lucky. When he moved to get up Nick threw an arm around him. He tried again. This time the Texan inched closer. He tried a few more times with the end result being Nick's head on his chest and arms and legs holding him in place.

David started up at the ceiling for over an hour, wondering how Nick was going to react to waking up in his arms. He chastised himself for taken advantage of his drunken friend. He'd probably have to leave Vegas because how could they work together after this. Whatever happens, it had been worth it. He looked at the man in his arms. He was beautiful, David's dream come true, a dream that would most likely turn into a nightmare in the morning.

*******

When David woke up he was alone in the bed. He glanced around the room. Damn, he hadn't meant to fall asleep. He quickly got up and grabbed his clothes. He went into the bathroom to get dressed, mostly to avoid Nick for a little longer. He was surprised to find a brand new toothbrush on the sink. The man couldn't be that upset if he left a toothbrush out for him. Nah, he probably just hates bad breath. David dressed, brushed his teeth, splashed water on his face, then tried to work up enough courage to open the door. When he finally did he jumped at the sight of the Texan standing there, coffee in hand. He could see the steam coming from the cup and wondered if Nick was going to throw it in his face.

"Want some?" Nick held out the cup.

Okay so he's not going to throw it, maybe he poisoned it. "No thanks."

They stood staring at one another till David couldn't take it anymore.

"Nick, I'm sorry. I knew you were drunk and I let it happen anyway. I should have stopped it. I took advantage of the situation and I'm sorry. I only hope you aren't too mad at me.

"Are you really sorry it happened?"

"No … yes… shit."

Nick frowned. "There's something I have to tell you."

"I know, I'm scum and you don't ever want to see me again." David mumbled.

"That's not what I was going to say."

"Look, it didn't mean anything, I know. You were drunk."

"That's just it Dave, I wasn't." Nick whispered.

"Nick, I watched you toss them back all night. I was surprised you could even walk."

Nick looked away guiltily. "What you saw me drinking wasn't alcohol. I'm friends with the bartender. I asked him to make it look like I was getting beer but actually I only had one beer all night."

"But the slurred speech and the stumbling." David said bewildered.

"I wanted to make it look like I was drunk."

"Why?"

"I've been attracted to you for a while but I was afraid to ask you out. I wasn't sure how you'd react."

"So you tricked me into thinking you were drunk?"

"I figured if you said no we could laugh it off as me being drunk."

"We could have broken something falling down those steps." David pointed out.

"Honestly, I tripped."

"And I'm supposed to believe you? What about the bed, was that an accident too?"

"Yes, I swear. When you basically ignored the blatant passes I made, I decided to forget it. But then we fell onto the bed. You were so close; I had to chance a kiss. That's all I meant it to be. I didn't mean for it to go that far. I keep telling myself I should stop that it was all based on a lie but god Dave I wanted you so bad. I'm so sorry. I'm the one that's guilty of taking advantage of the situation."

David was at a loss for words. He was still trying to process everything. Nick wasn't drunk, he knew what he was doing, he was attracted to him, wanted him even.

"David, please say something."

"The boa constrictor imitation?"

"I felt how tense you were. I didn't want you to leave so I pretended to be asleep and held you."

"Another trick." David said accusingly.

"I'm sorry. I guess you hate me now."

David's anger disappeared at the sadness in the other man's voice. "I have a theory."

"Yeah?" Nick asked confused.

"If last night was wonderful with both of us weighed down by guilt, imagine how amazing it will be without it."

"I don't blame you. Wait. What did you say?"

David smiled.

"Y-you mean you want to... you're not mad?"

"I think being the brilliant scientists we are, we should test this theory."

"So it's all for science, huh?" Nick started grinning.

"Absolutely." David took the coffee cup out of Nick's hand and sat it on the bathroom sink. "Actually, we'll have to test it several times, you know, for accuracy."

"Of course." Nick laughed as David gently pushed him back towards the bed.