Title: Keeping An Open Mind
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Ryan Wolfe
Fandom: CSI: Las Vegas /CSI: Miami
Rating: PG-13
Warning: on-going series
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Ryan Wolfe, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

"What's on your mind, baby?"

Ryan's voice was soft, almost concerned. Greg raised his head, his dark eyes wide, meeting Ryan's gaze squarely. He really didn't know what to say.

He didn't know why he'd felt so uneasy for the last couple of days. Well, yes, he did, but he still hadn't talked to Ryan about it for fear of what his boyfriend would think.

What would Ryan think if Greg told him that he was sensitive to paranormal events? Would he laugh and brush off that ssertion, tell Greg that there was no such thing, that they were both men of science and that the paranormal was better left to fantasy novelists?

Or would he take Greg's words seriously? Greg hoped that he would, but this was something they'd never talked about before. He had no way of knowing how Ryan felt about the subject.

Still, he would never know if he didn't bring the subject up. He took a deep breath, searching his mind for the right way to open this conversation.

"I don't know how you'll feel about this," he began, his voice hesitant.

Ryan sat down on the couch beside him, turning towards Greg and taking both of his boyfriend's hands in his own, those green eyes locking gazes with Greg's own.

"Just spit it out, Greg," Ryan said softly, giving his boyfriend's hands a gentle squeeze. "Whatever it is, you can tell me about it. I'll listen, and I won't judge you."

Greg nodded, taking another deep breath before he spoke again. "Ry, I can sense things. Things that aren't of this world," he said, hoping that it was a good way to begin. "My grandmother was sensitive to paranormal elements, and I think I inherited some of that ability from her."

Ryan nodded, looking serious. "I've known people like that," he said, his tone encouraging. "I think I might have a little of it myself, even though there's no incidence of it in my family."

"Really?" Greg couldn't help perking up a bit at those words.

Ryan smiled, tilting his head to the side. "I just never wanted to say anything about it before, because I didn't know what you'd think. People have told me that I'm crazy."

Greg shook his head, frowning. "They've told me the same thing. But it's not crazy, Ryan. I know what I feel. I might not be able to put a name to it, but it's there."

Ryan squeezed his hands again, this time in reassurance.

"You felt something at that crime scene, didn't you?" he said, his voice very soft. "I did, too, but probably not as acutely as you did. For me, it was just a little uneasiness around the edges."

"Could you tell what I was feeling?" Greg asked, his voice soft with wonder. Ryan didn't think he was crazy. Ryan was taking him seriously, and even saying that he himself had a bit of paranormal sensitivity. Just more proof that this was the perfect man for him, that they fit together like hand in glove.

Ryan shook his head, a smile curving his lips. "No, baby, I couldn't. You hid it really well. But I guess you have to, given most people's attitudes."

Greg sighed, nodding in the affirmative. "Yeah, I do. It's not that I don't want people to know, but I just don't want to put up with the disbelief. It's not something I"m just making up."

"I know that," Ryan said softly. "I believe you, Greg."

"Why?" Greg asked, unable to not voice the question. "Pretty much anybody else would just scoff at it and say that I must be imagining things. Why do you believe?"

"Because I've seen other people who had the same kind of sensitivity, and I've seen how it affected them," Ryan told him. "I've seen -- and felt -- enough of it myself to know you're telling the truth."

"Thanks for that," Greg said, squeezing his lover's hands again. "You don't know how much it means to me to know that you're on board with this. I didn't want to have to hide it from you, and I don't think I could have dealt with it if you made fun of me. That would have broken my heart."

"I think that there are a lot of things present in this world that we can't always see, and that we don't understand," Ryan said, sighing. "I wish everybody could realize that."

"Most people never will," Greg said, shaking his head. "I'm just glad that you do. I don't feel so alone in this any more, now that I know you've got an open mind."

"Did you think I wouldn't?" Ryan asked, frowning slightly.

"I wondered," Greg told him, blushing a little. "But I should have known that you'd understand, Ry. Believe me, I'll never doubt you again."

"I've never been accused of not keeping an open mind," Ryan told him, smiling. "That's something you never have to worry about with me, Greg. I've always been open to new ideas, and trying new things. If I wasn't, then I'd never have come here from Miami -- and I'd never have met you."

Greg didn't say anything to that; he only leaned forward and brushed his lips against Ryan's, more thankful than ever that this man was in his life.

Ryan really was his other half. They were so much alike.

"So tell me about what you felt at the crime scene," Ryan told Greg, still gazing into his eyes. "Maybe the two of us can put our heads together and figure out just what it was."

Greg nodded, then began to describe the feelings to Ryan, hoping that his boyfriend might be able to help him shed some light on the disturbing sensations he'd experienced.

He felt better about the whole thing now .... well, somewhat.

He had to admit, he didn't know what they would do if there was something paranormal involved. But really, he didn't think there was.

it was more than likely a good old-fashioned human killer. One who wouldn't hesitate to come after the two of them if he thought that they were hot on his trail.

Something told Greg that they would have to be more vigilant than ever.

***