Previous part of Lost and Found

***

The next morning was wet and windy and they had to be out of their room by midday, but Gil paid for another extra day since his flight wasn't until seven that night and Nick's was at eight.  They would go to the airport together.  But after another day in the city they thought they could come back to the room for a last minute shower.  Or even have sex...Nick decided.
 
Despite the weather they decided to do the walking tour of World Trade Centre...if they could get tickets.  Nick called the ticket office and got tickets for the one o'clock tour.  They decided to go over to Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty that morning, but tickets for a visit up to the Crown had been sold out for months.  Their day planned out for them it was only just after nine that they made their way to Battery Park for the ferry.
 
The weather eased off a little and they got some good shots and reminisced about what they knew about their families. Nick knew that his maternal great-grandmother had come through Ellis Island form Greece.  And Gil's paternal great-grandmother had come from Denmark.  Around about the same time, too.
 
"It would be weird to think that they could have been standing in line beside each other."
 
"Anything is possible.  What about you father's family?"
 
"They went out to Texas from the East coast...they were immigrants from Europe...England and Ireland but way back in the late eighteenth century I think."
 
"Some of the very first American settlers."
 
"I guess."
 
They arrived for the World Trade Centre tour with just a couple of minutes to spare.  This was an altogether different experience.  History that was still raw like a festering wound.  It was a sobering experience to see the area of destruction and hear of the heroics of those men and women, many of whom lost their lives. But as they made their way back to their hotel both men agreed that they were pleased to have made the journey and that the memorial taking shape would be a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives, to those who helped and to the American people who would never forget.
 
Once back in their room they spent a few minutes just standing hugging.  Both thinking the same thought.  It was ridiculous of them to be so emotional about being apart for another month or so after what they'd seen that afternoon.
 
"Seeing it at first hand brings it home to you."  Gil spoke first.
 
"I was thinking exactly the same thing.  If we'd lived in New York we'd have probably been at the heart of the investigations."
 
"Yes, that's likely.  We've all complained enough about long hours and too little time to ourselves but it pales into insignificance against the work that had to be done by everyone on the ground afterwards."
 
"I'm not going to complain about you being away.  It wouldn't be right."
 
"I know, but at the same time it is human nature to get on with your life and move on...just never forget that it happened."
 
"Yeah...you're right.  Do you want anything to eat?"
 
"No, I'm fine, what about you?"
 
"Don't want to be stuffed on the flight...might have something light at the airport.  So..."
 
"So?  Shower?"
 
"Yeah.  Together for the last time until the end of May."
 
"It'll come soon enough."
 
"It will."
 
They showered and Gil fell to his knees and blew Nick...at least he tried but he kept choking on the water cascading over them.  In the end Nick pulled him to his feet and kissed him and took his own and Gil's dick in his hand...Gil instantly got his drift and his hand joined the fray.  In no time at all they were coming over each other's hands and bellies...gasping for air under the hot water.  They washed each other down and then got out to dry themselves.
 
"I reckon we've used all the money you've paid for the room just in hot water."
 
"But we have mostly showered together so isn't that ecologically sound?"
 
"I don't think so babe, we've been in there twice as long as it would take to have two normal showers."
 
"My bad.  I'll have to leave saving the planet for another day."
 
"Okay, me too.  But...you know when we get a new place together I thought we could put all the latest money saving, planet saving, energy saving gear that we can lay are hands on, in it."
 
"I agree.  It would be ridiculous to buy a place that needed doing up and not then use everything we could to help our finances...and the planet, of course."  He smirked at Nick's raised eyebrows.
 
"When I get a spare minute or two I'll google around and see what's on offer."
 
"Making plans already?"
 
"It's what I do...and you wouldn't let me plan the wedding."
 
"And do you think that was the right decision?"
 
"Absolutely.  Stop grinning."
 
"It's difficult not to when I'm right about one thing...it's usually you."
 
"That's true, man."
 
"Don't get too cocky about it..."
 
"...cocky?"  Nick laughed as he played with his limp dick and got a bit of a rise out of it.
 
"We haven't any more time."
 
"I know, but this is the last major parting and I feel okay about it."
 
"Me to."  Gil grabbed Nick and hugged him tight, their bodies still damp. "You need some diaper lotion?"  He chuckled.
 
"I'm going to put some on because I'm going to be sitting still on the plane for a few hours. It's not itching so badly.  I don't think I'm going to go bare again; do you mind?"
 
"No, I don't...for one thing it makes your dick look unreasonable large..."  He laughed.
 
"That's why porn stars do it for...hold on a minute, are you saying I'm not that large then?"
 
"I didn't say that.  But if I shaved off all my pubic hair it would give you a fright."
 
"Really?"
 
"Yes, really."
 
"You'd need a lawnmower to get through your curly hair."
 
Gil laughed and Nick laughed along and once more they were hugging.  "We'd better get a move on."
 
"The sooner we get going the sooner you'll be back in Vegas."
 
"Correct."
 
They had a taxi to Kennedy airport and checked-in.  They both only had carry-on luggage so found a café and had a coffee and a croissant.
 
"We had this at Charles de Gaulle."
 
"And I bet it tastes no better here..."
 
"You're right.  Gil?"
 
"Mmmm..."  Gil had been looking at his boarding card.
 
"Did you ever do that on-line therapy with Heather?"
 
"As a matter of fact, no.  I completely forgot to tell you...that's because I got side-tracked by her inviting herself to our wedding.  I asked her about it and she said she'd think about it and get back to me and when she did she said I didn't need it...you would see that I was okay."  Nick started laughing.  "What?"
 
"She asked me if I thought you needed it and I said, I didn't think so because I'd keep you in line, and she said she believed that I would."
 
"Heather Kessler is a very wise woman."
 
"I think so."
 
"Nick, I love you.  I cannot tell you just how happy you make me and how much I'm looking forward to our wedding."
 
"It's been the best year of my life, so far, and I know it's only going to get better..."

***

When Nick got back he had to pace himself to get everything done.  They had work coming out of every orifice.  And he had to cope with the insane itching while his pubic hair grew back...that settled it once and for all.  He would remain hairy come what may.  At least he had the lotion that Gil had bought and he slathered it on before he got into bed and then put a lighter coating on before he went to work.
 
After a week he was sufficiently in charge of everything to be able to find the time to get a realtor in to give him a price on Gil's house.  With Nick texting Gil they agreed on what they all thought was a reasonable price to put it up for sale and a lower figure to accept after negotiations and it would go straight on the market.  The realtor thought it would be promising; a nice property in a nice neighbourhood.  Not too big or too small, or in need of work.  He was certainly talking up a sale...all they needed was someone to buy it.
 
And it was Nick who found the buyer.
 
He was on the way to a scene and he was driving with Greg in his passenger seat.  They stopped at some traffic hold-up and Greg leaned over Nick to look at something across the street.
 
"What are you doing?"
 
"Looking at that house, it's got a For Sale sign.  I'm looking to move out of the condo and buy somewhere...give me a bit of gravitas you know?  Homeowner.  Mortgage ‘round my neck."
 
"You should be able to get a good deal with nothing to sell; prices are lower than they've been for a couple of years.  I had the realtor give us a price on Gil's place..."
 
"...Grissom's selling up?"
 
"Yeah.  We both are.  Gil first and then look for somewhere for the two of us and then mine.  No rush...because even if we can buy cheaper we have to sell cheaper too."
 
"Grissom's place is already up for sale?"
 
"Couple of days ago."
 
"Man!  His place is exactly what I'm looking for."
 
"Really?"
 
"Yes, really."
 
"Really?  Right...well, if you want to go and have a look around we can go after shift."
 
"That would be great."
 
"I can't cut you too good a deal ‘cause it's in the hands of the realtor now and he'll want his cut."
 
"I will pay the going price I wouldn't expect any favours...you need to make money...but a house with a history knowing that Gris lived there, that's good, that's karma."
 
Nick looked across at Greg.  "It's a house, Greg."
 
"I know, but I like continuity...family.  You and Gris are my Las Vegas family."
 
"Whatever you say."  Nick chuckled.
 
"Nick, can I ask you something?  Personal?"
 
"Sure.  Might not answer you."
 
"Fair enough.  Sara."
 
"Oh, right."
 
"Why did she marry Gris and why didn't he tell her he was gay...I mean none of us knew.  Only you, I guess."
 
"I didn't know until this past Christmas."
 
"Really?"
 
"Yeah, really."  Nick laughed at Greg's surprise.
 
They were quiet for a few minutes but Nick reckoned he could hear the cogs in Greg's brain turning and dropping into place.
 
"So is Gris bi?"
 
"Not particularly.  Look Greg, I don't know why he married her and do you want to know something really weird?  Just between us, right?"
 
"No further than in this truck.  What?"
 
"Neither does he."
 
"Oh."
 
"Yeah.  He thinks and I agree...that he was just desperately lonely and he knew her and she wanted him and..."
 
"...it kinda happened."
 
"That's it exactly."
 
"She chased him for years and years and he didn't once falter I don't think; did he?"
 
"No...and then he left and didn't know what to do and..."
 
"...it kinda happened.  A mess then."
 
"That's about the strength of it... we're here."
 
After shift Nick met up with Greg at Gil's house.  Nick was chuckling to himself most of the time.  Greg was like a kid in a candy store.  He appeared to like the place a lot.  He went from room to room and touched things and rubbed his hands on doors and walls.
 
"This place has got really good vibes, Nick.  It's like Gil took really took good care of it and it feels loved."
 
"It feels loved."  Nick couldn't help but laugh.
 
"Mark my words when you're looking for a new place with Gil...when you go into a house feel it...feel the energy.  If you just take a few minutes you'll know whether the walls hold good or bad memories."
 
"You reckon?"
 
"I know."
 
"I want this place, Nick.  Can you see if Gil is willing to sell it to me?"
 
"I don't need to ask him.  It's yours.  The asking price is not what the realtor said we'd get but he gave me a figure that would be reasonable to accept and you can have it for that price."
 
"I don't mind paying the asking price..."
 
In the end they settled on a figure half way between the two and everyone was happy.
 
Since Greg didn't have much furniture or belongings he said Gil's stuff could stay there until he'd sorted through it...and he also stipulated that if there was anything that Grissom was thinking of selling then to give him first refusal.   In that case they also agreed that Greg could move in just as soon as he'd got his mortgage sorted.
 
It was a deal made in heaven.
 
When it had all been agreed Nick and Gil had a Skype talk about it.
 
"To be honest babe, I'm a bit spooked about his having some of your old stuff...he's got this karma thing going on...says you treated the house lovingly and he wants to live with your history...it's a bit strange."
 
"It's Greg, Nick.  It's the way his is and he's always had a great regard for history and continuity and everything...I think he'll be fine with my stuff."
 
"You're not just saying that so it will be easy for you to unload your stuff on him?"  Nick was still sceptical.
 
"Absolutely not."  Gil spoke quite sharply and Nick knew he'd crossed a line because Gil would never just unload anything.
 
"I'm sorry.  You're right.  He's a family guy and he says you and me are his Las Vegas family."
 
"I think that's it exactly; there's nothing sinister in it at all."
 
"Yeah.  But I have had an idea about my house."
 
"What's that?"
 
"Let LVPD staff know I'm selling...see if we can save a realtor's fees on mine."
 
"An excellent idea.  Yours in a good house...much more homely than mine.  Though I dare say Greg will make a lot of it."
 
"I think you're right...he's an odd mix of scientific and..."
 
"And?"
 
"I don't know really what word applies..."
 
"...ethereal?"
 
Nick laughed.  "I guess."
 
"On a totally unrelated topic have you called Tom?"
 
"No, man.  I keep being busy with other things.  I'll do it right after we end out call...though I don't want to end it..."
 
"I know.  But I actually need to go to bed pretty soon...work's hectic with all the tests and evaluations.  Thank God it'll all be over soon...I've had enough.  It's not that I haven't enjoyed my time here, I have, it's just that I have you now and I want to be with you."
 
"Soon."
 
"They've also asked if I've changed my mind about coming back here..."
 
"...but you haven't."  It was a statement and Nick grinned.
 
"What do you think?  How's the situation with Ray?"
 
"It's a nightmare.  Something's got to give sooner rather than later..."
 
"Please be careful, Nicky.  Please."
 
"I will, I promise." 

***

Nick sat on a bunk bed in the sparse cell with his legs stretched out and his ankles crossed; his back against the cold wall. Thinking about what had happened.  No doubt Ray was doing the same as he sat on the other bed with his feet on the floor; his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.
 
What a fucking mess.  He clearly remembered saying to Gil at Kennedy Airport that things were going to get even better and here they were rapidly going down the pan...and then there was his promise to Gil.  He'd promised to be careful to the man he loved with all his heart and yet what had he done...gone in with all guns blazing without a fucking care about the consequences.
 
He was lucky to be sitting here alive and not lying on an autopsy table somewhere....dead.
 
He had really thought that he was going to try and save Ray from Haskell. That Haskell wanted to kill Ray; but it was obvious he didn't or he would have done so quite easily...and him.  Haskell wanted Ray alive but he didn't want Nick...he didn't care about Nick one iota so the chances of him being killed were far greater and yet he hadn't been...killed.  If Gil ever found out what he'd done, he'll go ballistic and dump him or kill him anyway for doing it.  That was almost a certainty.
 
 
His head was thumping.  He didn't suffer with headaches at all...but this situation warranted a headache, even a migraine.  Ray looked as if he was in the same boat.
 
"You okay?"
 
"Yes.  What a fucking mess."  Ray mumbled to him.
 
"I just thought that.  Nate didn't want you dead did he?"
 
"No.  No, he didn't.  It's strange how we can come up with the right answer given twenty twenty hindsight.  He wants me back in Vegas."
 
"Yeah.  I figured that."
 
"I'm sorry. Nick."
 
"I'm a grown-up I make my own decisions."
 
"You could lose your job."
 
Nick hadn't thought that thought and he felt a wave of nausea overtake him.  "There's always another job."  He said, with some false bravado, but was thinking he'd be fucked if he lost his job.  Gil would dump him.  He screwed his eyes shut against that thought. No, Gil wouldn't do that; he'd stick by him because he was a keeper.  He was sure.  He hoped.
 
An officer came down the corridor. "Okay you guys can go...but let me tell you there's a woman out there hopping mad and you might consider asking me to keep you locked up a while longer."
 
"Don't tell me, she's got red hair?"  Nick knew.
 
"That's the one...and she's breathing fire."  He laughed but neither Ray nor Nick did.
 
They made their way to the desk to collect their weapons and Catherine was there looking mean and Sara was there looking smug.  At least Catherine thought to send Sara away before she laid into him.  It was all his fault.  It was all his doing.  She sent him out to do one thing and he did another.  She was right.  But when she'd sent him to find Ray what did she expect him to do when he found him and he wouldn't come back?  Leave him? Abandon him?  A maverick with a gun, on his own.  At least with Nick with him there was some semblance of control.  Yeah, who was he kidding?
 
When he got back to Vegas and Skype'd Gil he didn't tell him even a quarter of the story.  He felt guilty and actually physically sick at his subterfuge and thought that maybe he would have tell him when he got back...before someone else decided to fill him in...but for the time being Nick was keeping a lid on it.
 
"So how was LA?" Gil had asked.
 
"I didn't see much of LA we were chasing our tails on a pointless exercise because the man had come back to Vegas.  He has Ray's ex-wife...I say ‘has' it's probably ‘had' since he's never kept anyone that long, we don't think, without killing them.  Ray is beside himself with grief and fury and Catherine's mad at me."
 
"At you?  What did you do to make her mad?"
 
"She told me to go find Ray and bring him back.  I found him and he wouldn't come back...so I figured I'd be better off with him, keeping an eye on him than just leaving him.  But...Catherine saw it the other way."  Nick was honest but he was missing the biggest chunk out of the story and he hoped like hell that Gil wouldn't question him.
 
"But you obviously got back in eventually?"
 
"Yeah.  But she was mad."  Would Gil accept that or would he want more; like the bit about him being arrested?
 
"Catherine tends to get mad but she soon calms down.  What's happening now?"
 
"Not much, we're sifting through stuff, I've got to go back to work in an hour."
 
"Sweetheart, have you slept?"
 
"I've had a few hours and don't feel too bad."  In truth he felt worse about not telling Gil the whole truth than he did about not sleeping.
 
"I think we should cut our time down so you can rest."
 
"No, I'm up now to see you and talk, I don't want it to end.  How is it your end?"
 
"Frantic...I've had tears and tantrums and that's just the faculty staff.  Marie is at her wit's end with everything and said she's going to retire, or murder the Dean, but can't decide which...she asked if I could help with my forensic knowledge."
 
"I think if you're going to murder you need to do it alone...too many loose ends if someone else is involved."  Nick chuckled.
 
"Are you suggesting that I help her kill the Dean and then kill her?"
 
"Makes more sense."
 
"Remind me not to cross you, Nick."
 
"I'm not the murdering type...or I would have...you know."
 
"I know.  I'm sorry I reminded you of that."
 
"It's okay.  I thought of Warrick while I was with Ray...maybe if..."
 
"No, Nick.  No maybes and ifs...it didn't happen like that and you can't change the past.  You helped out Ray as much as you could and sounds as if you got your balls chewed because of that.  You did what you had to."
 
"I guess.   Wished it was you chewing my balls...would have been more fun."  He chuckled but he needed to change the subject.  "Have you started packing?"
 
Gil laughed.  "Yes, I have.  You didn't expect me say that did you?"
 
"No, man...I did not.  So..."
 
"I've sorted through some stuff and taken books I don't want to keep into the library for them to do with as they please.  I've already thrown some stuff away and I've packed a whole box of stuff that I'm sending back by air freight...probably next weekend as I should have two boxes by then."
 
"I'm impressed."
 
"You should be.  You know Nick?  I think Ray will resign over this.  I can't see him continuing with the necessary detachment after what has happened to his ex-wife."
 
Back on the subject again.  "You could be right...he's had his guts ripped out of him.  He's the brooding type and he won't recover easily...he wasn't even over his divorce from her and now...I really think it's too late."
 
"You could be right.  Any more news?  Brighter news?  Greg settling in?"
 
"He is.  There's no doubt at all that he loves it...he keeps eulogising about what he's doing and then stops and says do I think you'll be mad at him for changing your home.  I have pointed out five or a hundred times that it's his home now...oh, and yes, I do have some news.  Do you know Morgan Brody?"
 
"The name isn't familiar.  Male or female?"
 
"Female...used to be known as Morgan Ecklie."
 
"His ex-wife..."
 
"...ex-daughter.  Took on her step-father's name."
 
"I had no idea he had a daughter."
 
"Catherine knew her.  I...we met her in LA, she's a CSI."
 
"Really?  I hope she's better than her father."
 
Nick chuckled. "Tell it as is it, why don't you?"
 
"I have never hidden my opinion of Ecklie's forensic skills...I would grudgingly say he's a marginally better politician."
 
"Well, I think she is good.  She did some good work for us in LA."  Just then Nick's cell buzzed.  He picked it up and read the message. "Been called in straightway.  Haskell."
 
"Be careful, Nick.  Please, for me?"
 
"I will, I promise."  And this time Nick intended to keep his promise.

***

As it happened Nick wasn't in on any of the action.  But Haskell was dead and staggeringly, Gloria was alive but very deeply traumatised. And there was some serious shit going off...
 
Nick processed Ray and did everything by the book.  He was a CSI and he always did his job to the best of his ability and this was no exception.  But they were all jittery and jumping around like cats of a hot tin roof.
 
Sara was very suspicious of everything but Nick knew she liked nothing better than investigating fellow CSI's and finding them guilty as charged...even before they were charged.
 
Greg was almost childlike in his presumption of Ray's innocence and wary of Sara's attitude.
 
Brass was so shifty about everything that Nick tried to keep out of his way.
 
Catherine was bold and in everyone's face but Nick knew that she knew that if, or when, the shit hit the fan she would get covered in it...
 
And Ray was a defeated man.  Nick knew Gil was right...it didn't matter what IA decided, Ray would be gone as soon as he possibly could.
 
When Nick was interviewed by IA he was honest and answered every question truthfully.  What he didn't do was elaborate on anything.  He gave them facts, no opinions.  What he was most relieved about...and he knew he was being disloyal, but he couldn't help it...was that he hadn't been with Ray at the old homestead when Haskell had died.  What he didn't know or didn't see he couldn't offer any opinion about, whatever he felt.
 
In his CSI bones he knew Ray had killed Haskell and that, from the way he saw it, felt it, it wasn't self-defence. It was revenge.  Brass knew something that was plain to see and he was first on the scene.  He didn't want to condone murder but sometimes the edges between right and wrong were blurred...
 
Ray left the lab without even hearing that he had been reprimanded for his actions, and that was that.
 
But they were all still skittish, especially Catherine, who spent hour after hour with the Sheriff, and the Under-Sheriff...Conrad Ecklie.
 
When it was Nick's turn he tried to be as relaxed as he could and told the truth again.  As it happened.  No embellishments, no frills and most importantly, he thought, he didn't apportion any blame to anyone else...even when asked to do so.  If he thought he was genuinely in the wrong he said so and if he thought he had acted reasonably he said so.  He hoped for the best but honestly, he expected the worst.
What pissed him off the most was the timing.  It all cracked off on May twelfth and Gil was due home on the thirtieth. There was so much to catalogue and work through regarding the murder scene but at least, they hoped, all the murderers were dead.  There was no one else waiting in the wings for these particular murders and yet Nick and Greg had discussed how long it would be before some pervert decided to go down the same route.  Not long, they decided, unfortunately.
 
He was excited about Gil's return; to see his lover again.  But he was dreading it for another reason.  He would have to tell Gil the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  He needed to anyway to get it off his own chest but the dread was what would Gil do...what would be his reaction to it all...to Nick's own culpability in the shit.
 
Nick knew his job would be okay.  If they'd only reprimanded Ray, he would not be fired but his position as Assistant Supervisor?  He thought he would be lucky to survive with the position.  And Catherine?  She'd got a long history with the lab, but she'd not had a spectacular success at any of her supervisory jobs.  Warrick and him to start with.  Riley Adams.  Ray Langston.  Nick thought she would be demoted and him along with her.
 
Nothing was known about their jobs when Nick waited at McCarran for Gil's plane to land.  It was ten minutes early coming in from Dallas.
 
When Gil walked through baggage reclaim with a trolley loaded high with his bags he looked around expectantly and happily for Nick.  Nick swallowed the lump in his throat and barged through the people milling around to get to the man he loved so much...and was now very frightened of losing.
 
Gil grinned from ear to ear as they hugged in the middle of the concourse.  He pulled back and looked at Nick, his face a picture of love and happiness for a moment and then he frowned.
 
"Nick, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
 
Nick couldn't stop the tears rolling down his cheeks.  "I can't tell you here...but..."   He was choked and couldn't say anything else.
 
"Then let's get going, come on."
 
Even through his tears Nick smiled a little, wanly, but a smile.  Gil was taking charge and he felt good.  He had not intended to just blurt it out; his plan was to set the scene and explain rationally and logically about everything...fat chance!  As soon as he'd seen Gil his guilt had overwhelmed him.
 
They walked to Nick's truck and loaded it up with Gil offering words of encouragement as Nick tried to fit everything into the back seat...his trunk was full of his work paraphernalia.
 
Gil took his trolley back and when he got back Nick was sitting in the driver's seat with the engine idling and the air con roaring on full.
 
Gil climbed aboard and immediately put his hand across the console onto Nick's thigh and spoke to him.
 
"Nothing is as bad as it seems, sweetheart, whatever it is we'll get through it together.  I promise."
 
It was the word, ‘promise' that was Nick's complete undoing.  He started to sob and put his head down on the steering wheel.  Gil was out of his depth and had no idea what to do.  He settled for rubbing Nick's back for a few minutes until Nick calmed down.  Nick had a box of tissues in the console and unearthed a few to wipe his face and blow his nose.
 
"Man, I'm so sorry..."
 
"...get out of truck and come round to my side...I'll drive..."
 
"...but you've just come all the way..."
 
"I'm okay.  I'm in better shape than you."  Gil tried a smile and put his fingers on Nick's face and trailed them down his cheeks feeling the dampness and heat of his skin. "You are so beautiful and I've missed you.  Now come on, let's get home."
 
Nick nodded and did as he was told and the men met as Nick opened the door Gil got out of the passenger seat and once more pulled Nick into a hug.  "It'll be okay, I know it will be okay."  He whispered to Nick and then helped him climb into the seat he'd just vacated. 
 
Traffic was mercifully light and just over half an hour later Gil pulled up into Nick's driveway beside his own truck.  They'd made the journey in silence though Nick was furious with himself for being such an idiot.  Couldn't keep his mouth shut for even one hour. 
 
"Like old times?  Me driving.  Strange to drive a truck again after my little C1."  He smiled again.  "Tea?  Coffee?  Or unload first?"
 
"Unload...get it over and done with."
 
"I'm with you."
 
They spent a good ten minutes getting all the stuff in and Nick took each case where Gil directed it...bedroom, den, spare room.  As Nick took the last case to its destination, Gil stood and looked around.  It felt very good to be home.  He huffed.  All he had to do was sort out Nick.  Whatever it was, it was serious. He went to the kitchen to start a coffee pot.  He'd missed that nearly as much as Nick, but not quite.
 
He toed off his shoes and wriggled his toes...he had on flight socks and they were tight but they did a good job.  Nick came into the kitchen almost stealthily.
 
"Before anything else...come here."  He smiled and opened his arms and Nick almost fell into them. They hugged again and then Gil found his mouth and kissed him softly, gently.  He savoured the moment because he knew the storm was imminent.  He had absolutely no idea what it was that was troubling Nick so much but he'd find out soon enough.  "Coffee's ready.  You want it in here or in the living room?"
 
"In here?  We can sit at the table."

***

It was over an hour before Nick finished and picked up his mug of cold coffee and put it down again.
 
"That's it?  All of it?"  Gil had listened with hardly a word just the odd question to clarify things.
 
"Yeah.  It is.  I'm sorry.  I broke my promise."
 
"You did.  And Ray's gone?"
 
"Middle of last week."
 
"I want you to make me a promise now that you will keep."  Nick looked at Gil, who looked deadly serious.  "Don't you ever do anything as stupid as that ever again.  I could have lost you.  And I knew nothing about it...which is a good thing.  If I'd been here...I don't know...would you still have done it?"
 
"I don't know.  I felt I had to try and help him even though I knew it was a dangerous thing to do...a lost cause."
 
"Well my fault as well...I was the one who encouraged him over Nate Haskell...gave him a taste for the job and he took it...  It doesn't say much for my skills at reading a man's character, does it?"
 
"You read mine."  For the first time since Nick saw Gil at McCarran he felt optimistic.  "You're not going to leave me..."
 
"...leave you!  Nick, you sold my house from underneath me, where would I go?"  Gil laughed before getting serious again.  "There's only one place I want to be, Nicky Stokes, and that's in your bed, at your side, with you...you get the picture?"  Nick nodded and tears of relief rolled down his face.  "But you must promise me never to do anything like that again...you were a whisker away..."
 
"I know.  I got lucky.  I promise I will never do anything like that again.  I've used up far too many lives."
 
"The best life of all will be with me, Nick.  Me."
 
"I know.  You want to go to bed?  Fool around?" Nick smiled almost shyly.
 
"I want to...whether there's any life in the old dog is another matter entirely.  You're at work tonight aren't you so you need to sleep."
 
"Yeah. So..."
 
"I'll come up to bed and fool around and then get up and start getting all my stuff in order.  That's if I actually wake up."
 
"Shower, Dr Grissom?"
 
"One of my greatest pleasures, Mr Stokes; a shower with you."
 
They both slept well after some very gentle lovemaking.  Nick was so happy to be forgiven and to have Gil back for good, the sex was great but it's wasn't the be all and end all of their life together.  Just being together was all Nick ever wanted...and a side of great sex was a bonus.
 
That night as he prepared to go to work and Gil made him his tunafish sandwiches he was as close as he'd ever been to reneging on work...to calling in sick.  But he couldn't.  Catherine knew Gil was back and it would be too obvious, even to her preoccupied mind.
 
But luck was on his side...easy work, nothing taxing and he was out the other side quicker than usual and unscathed.
 
When he got home he found an exhausted Gil...he hadn't been back to bed but spent the night going through his cases and boxes, washing and drying clothes.  Even a little ironing and it felt wonderfully familiar.
 
"Honey, I'm home."  Nick called.
 
"In the kitchen..."  Gil came out wiping his hands.  "Good to see you, sweetheart."  They kissed and hugged.  "Good night?"
 
"Yeah, luckily."
 
"When do you finish your early shifts and go back onto nights?"
 
"A week on Friday and then back to work on Monday night...it's my long weekend off.  Why?"
 
"A little plan I have.  Nothing concrete yet."
 
Nick smiled. "I'm so happy to have you home at last and I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart for dropping that shit on you."
 
"As long as you never do it again...or even think of doing it again...you're forgiven."
 
"Yayyyy..."  Nick jumped up like a child and then lifted Gil him from his feet and whirled him around, but when he dropped him he grimaced.  "Ow."
 
"What is it?"
 
"You sure you've been dieting, I think I've put my back out..."  Nick manoeuvred his back in circles from his waist.
 
"I'll have you know that your scales say I've dropped thirty-two pounds...that's despite flying and retaining fluid...and it's two pounds over my goal."
 
"Wow.  I'm impressed."
 
"I'm getting married...got to look my best."
 
Nick grinned, his back forgotten.  "Which reminds me we have to go look for new suits and wedding bands..."
 
"Let me get settled back in first."  Gil whined.
 
"No way...I'm not rushing around on the day before we're due to fly out...we're getting it done asap and you'll be grateful in the long run."
 
"Back to being bossy."
 
"Yeah and while I think about it, it's Tuesday and that's tea with your Mom night."
 
"Oh.  Really?  Every week?"
 
"Really.  Every week."
 
"I could argue but I don't think I'd win, would I?"  Gil asked a little hopefully.
 
"No way.  You said it, I'm the boss."
 
"I like you being the boss...we do have to put our heads together and make some plans though.  This house...our new house.  My job.  Dogs."
 
"Yeah...all of that and more.  I do think the first priority should be the wedding though...make sure all that is okay and then we can gradually move through the list.  Dogs...probably last when we've got a new place?"
 
"Agreed.  The suits and the wedding bands...is there anything else or will the wedding planner do it all?"
 
"He does it all.  Griffin."
 
"Oh yes, I remember you saying.  That's good isn't it?"
 
"I was thinking about putting my house up for sale after we get back from honeymoon...but we have a few months...do you want to see how the land lies?"
 
"Put a notice up at work first and see if there are any takers and if not we can think about a realtor.  We've got all the time in the world...as long as we have a list and work through it."
 
"Okay.  Gil, there's a chance...a very good chance...I'm going to get demoted.  It'll mean I won't have so much cash to pay for a mortgage on a new place."
 
"I don't think that will present a big problem.  I didn't have a mansion in mind.  Just a nice place big enough for the two of us and two dogs with a big yard for you to grow stuff and attract insects..."
 
"Insects?  Eating my vegetables?"
 
"You're not going to use an insecticide, I hope?"  Gil spoke quite sternly.
 
"No, just natural methods...probably you and a pair of tweezers picking the little rascals off one by one."  He laughed.
 
Gil came up to him and hugged him again.  "I don't want you worrying about work.  I want you to just do your best, as you always do...even if you are a little misguided sometimes."
 
"Don't suppose you would come back as a supervisor?"  Nick was a tiny bit hopeful.
 
"I don't think so...besides we'd have to be on different shifts so it would defeat...your object."
 
"There is that.  Hey...I've got something for you...I forgot about it in all the drama..."  He rolled his eyes. "...it's a first attempt and I'm not that happy with it but I will be doing a lot more in the future so be prepared.  Hold on."
 
Nick went off to the den and Gil followed, wondering what it was Nick had for him.
 
Nick opened his leather case where he kept his drawings and pulled out a water colour.  He looked at it again and shook his head.  "I think I can do a lot better...but it's the first one."  He gave it to Gil who took it and looked at it open mouthed.
 
"Nick, it's wonderful.  I've never seen anything so good...really I haven't.  You are so talented."
 
The picture was about an eight by ten scene of Gil's head and shoulders, wrapped up against the cold in Paris.  The Eiffel Tower was vaguely in the background and the grey's and blues of the water colour made it look as if the weather was cold.  But in the forefront of the picture Gil looked vibrant with his honey-toned skin and bright blue eyes and the almost luminous silver of his hair against the red of his anorak pulled around his neck.
 
Gil looked up at Nick again and he was plainly shocked.  "It's wonderful."  He repeated.  "You have captured the scene exactly...the cold and yet the look in my face as I look at you.  I can see the love and you have painted me with the same love you have for me.  This will be my most treasured possession...forever.  Even if you paint a thousand more over the years...this will always be the very best."
 
Nick felt tears threatening again and he'd cried far too much since Gil had been back so he grinned instead.  "It's easy to paint something you love...when that something...loves you back..."

***

"Dr Grissom!  It's great to see you!"
 
"It's good to see you, Judy."
 
Gil smiled at Judy's very enthusiastic welcome but was bemused when she came from behind the reception desk and threw herself into a hug with him.  But he felt comfortable. Wasn't he a new man?  He smiled some more as he returned her hug although a little less enthusiastically than her full-on affair.
 
She giggled and realising that perhaps she'd been over-familiar she went back, rather sheepishly, behind her desk.  Gil stood there waiting and she looked at him questioningly.
 
He realised she had no idea why he was standing there.  "I'm a visitor; I need to be signed in and given a pass."
 
"Oh, gosh, sorry."  And she blushed, almost crimson, to the roots of her hair.  "Here..."  She passed the visitors' book to him to sign and gave him a pass.
 
"Thanks, Judy.  Do you know if anyone is in?"
 
"I think you're in luck, they all are...at least they were about twenty minutes ago.  Do you want to me to page Catherine?"
 
"That's okay I'd like to surprise them."
 
"I'm sure you will...oh, it' so good to see you. I heard, we all have, about Nick..."  She stopped; she looked really embarrassed despite the fact that Gil was still smiling at her.
 
"I bet that was a surprise?"
 
"Well, it was there's no denying that...but Nick, is, well, you know...he's..."  Gil wondered what on earth she was trying to say before she managed to get it out.  "...special."
 
"Yes, he is."
 
"And it's so civilised with Nick and Sara..."  She stopped this time and her pleasant features looked mortified at what she obviously perceived as really over-stepping the mark.
 
"It is."  And still Gil smiled although he was now doing so at her obvious discomfort and that was cruel so he qualified his remark.  "There can't be many people in our situation who are still speaking to one another."
 
"Exactly."  She'd calmed down now and was much more business-like.
 
He signed the register, took his pass from her, smiled at her once more and with his pass clipped to his jacket he started to walk down the familiar corridor towards the laboratories of LVPD's Crime Scene Investigation.  It was like he'd never been away and yet it also seemed totally different.  As he walked past each of the labs, he saw some old faces who didn't look up and a couple of new faces who did but then ignored him.
 
He heard them before he saw them. 
 
From the direction of the chatter they were in the break room and he could make out Catherine's voice and Hodges.  He smirked to himself.  Nick said Hodges was still the same as ever.  Even though he was a fine scientist he was still the resident dickhead, he believed was the phrase Nick had used.
 
And as he turned a corner he saw them. 
 
Nick and Greg had their backs to him and Catherine was opposite them...and Sara, at the end of the table.  Hodges was standing, holding court.  All holding themselves together despite not knowing what the immediate future would hold.  They could be split up.  Ecklie had done that before and it had been a disaster but it was so long ago and things had changed so much.  Perhaps the lab needed new blood.
 
It was Hodges who noticed him and grinned like a loon and held his hand up in a surprised wave. 
 
"Grissom.  Welcome home." 
 
Everything seemed to stop.  The air stood still around them all, sounds seemed to die and it was like a scene in slow motion.
 
Nick turned around and smiled at him.  "Hey."  He said and Gil smiled and nodded at him.
 
Greg looked ecstatic...a little like Judy.  Gil thought he was going to leap up and hug him like Judy.
 
Catherine looked up at him and smiled.  She looked drained, just as Nick had said.
 
Gil kept his main focus on his lover and kept smiling at him.  He'd mentioned to Nick that he might drop by one shift but had given no indication when that might be because he didn't want Nick orchestrating anything even though he promised he wouldn't.
 
And then, as if someone had flicked a switch, they all started talking at once, except Nick.  Gil laughed a little and tried to speak and quieten them down; Hodges was standing by him now and very nearly in his face and was almost fizzing with delight.  Greg was trying to say welcome back.  He held his hand up and tried a few ‘shhh's', but at the same time his placed his other hand squarely on Nick's shoulder and pressed and squeezed.  It was an act of ownership.
 
"I thought I'd come and share my news with you...and familiarise myself with this place again..."  He looked around back at where he'd walked in. "...although it looks exactly the same."
 
"What do you mean?"  Catherine was straight in and Nick caught the wariness of her tone.  Was Gil coming back to take over again and push her aside.  It was still her territory...at least for the time being?  Or was it?
 
"I've been offered a job.  Starting a new training facility.  LVPD are going to set up a programme to train CSI's from all over the country...cashing in on the lab's performance and standing in the forensic world and charging for the privilege and I've been asked to help plan out a training programme and syllabus and then take on a teaching post.  They are in the early stages of trying to work with UNLV and set up either a graduate or post graduate course with all the appropriate accreditation.  If that doesn't come off, then they'll keep it in-house.  But I think these labs will be the focus of some on the job training for each aspect.  That's about it."  They'd all listened intently.
 
Greg nodded his head as he listened. "That makes sense.  They send staff from here to train elsewhere when in fact this is the best facility outside Quantico." 
 
Hodges was opening and closing his mouth as if he was going to say something, but he didn't.
 
"The question is, will it mean more work for us?  Mentoring or training while trying to do our job."  Catherine wanted to know.
 
"Not entirely.  We will be recruiting training staff but the overall plan is to increase the strength of the teams first to be able to take on some training roles. The revenue generated should provide the lab with more, not less resources.  It wouldn't be much of a plan if we let the reputation suffer by being too thinly spread around because you're a training facility and not a forensic lab. The only obvious place where changes will have to be made is in the morgue and pathology.  There are no practise runs available for dealing with death and we will have to rely on being able to see and be part of the autopsy procedures.  We've already spoken to Al Robbins about expanding the facilities."
 
"He kept that quiet." 
 
"Yes, he did, on strict instructions and this conversation shouldn't be repeated out of this room until the official announcement...in a day or two, so I'm giving you the heads up."
 
"When does it all start?"
 
"I start work October third.  We hope we may be able to have our first intake next April or before if we're really lucky but it takes a lot of planning."
 
"You're not going back to work in Paris?"  Hodges found his voice.
 
"No.  It was good while it lasted."
 
"They wanted him back, though."  Nick added quite proudly and Gil nodded.
 
"You're not going to leave Nick are you?"  This stopped all other movement, speech and once more everything appeared to slow down; time was standing still...because it was Sara who had asked the question.
 
"No, I'm not." Gil answered lightly, not knowing the direction she was going to take.
 
"That's good.  It doesn't work."
 
"No, it doesn't."  Gil smiled at her.  They'd hurt each other badly but he thought maybe things would be okay between them in the future.  He looked at Nick and smiled again. "I've hurt people in the process but I have learned a lot from my mistakes...so I'm looking forward to the future, whatever it brings."
 
No one spoke or moved as they digested that information; but then Gil looked across at Catherine.  "I have come to ask you a favour though."
 
"You can ask."
 
"Let Nick out early tomorrow...about three?  It's his long weekend off and I have plans."
 
Catherine hesitated and Nick knew that she did not want to do it.  Felt no need to let him have some benefit and let Gil get away with a power play in the lab he'd left.
 
Sara saved the day; followed by Greg.
 
"I can stay and cover.  Let Nick go."  She smiled as she said it.
 
"Yeah, same here.  It's only a couple of hours."  Greg agreed.
 
Catherine couldn't object and she knew it, but it was through almost gritted teeth that she spoke.  "No problem."

***

Before he went to work Gil had told Nick that he would be packing his stuff for a couple of days away and if there was anything special he wanted to take to tell him; but since he wouldn't tell Nick where they were going Nick said he'd rely on Gil to pack the right stuff for him and off he went to work.  He had a very good idea where Gil was taking him, but didn't want to spoil the surprise for him.
 
Catherine stayed out if his way for the entire shift but most other people chatted with him about Grissom's return and how well he looked...and how happy.  Those comments made Nick's chest swell with pride because he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he made Gil happy.  Catherine had piled his in-tray half way to the ceiling with paperwork so he sat, diligently, and did as much as he could.  Working through his lunch break and his coffee breaks he reduced the pile considerably.  At two o'clock he took a piss and when he got back Ecklie was waiting for him.
 
"Hi Conrad, what can I do for you?"  His stomach sank as he spoke because Ecklie looked murderous and then he had to stop himself from chuckling...since he realised Ecklie looked exactly as he always did.
 
"Nick, are you still taking an interest in bugs?"
 
"Yes.  I'm the bugman...not in Gil's league of course; I did that course a couple of years ago."
 
"The intermediate course.  Do you want to go on the advanced one?"
 
"Yeah, yeah, I do."  Nick's gut kind of released itself.  He was not being fired, although he didn't really think he would and he might not even be demoted if he was being considered for an advanced training course.
 
"When do you get back from your vacation?"
 
"August thirtieth."
 
"Well this is in Hawaii...thirty-first to September twentieth.  If you can bear to be parted from your new...husband."
 
"After a vacation we'll probably need a rest from one another."  Ecklie smirked.
 
"Or he could go with you....at his own expense, of course."
 
"Of course."  Nick grinned.  "That'd be great, Conrad.  Thank you for thinking of me."
 
"You're welcome.  I'll go break the news to Catherine.  I need to see her about...another matter."
 
Gil would be picking him up in about forty-five minutes so he'd have some good news for him.  Maybe things wouldn't be as bleak as he'd thought.  He had a job, whatever it was and he had Gil and that was just about all he wanted or needed.  He daydreamed for a few minutes about Gil and their possible destination and then shook himself out of his reverie.  He needed to get some more work done.
 
At five minutes past three he walked out into the car lot and saw Gil waiting for him.  He was leaving his own truck in the lot at LVPD and going, wherever it was, in Gil's truck.  He'd changed his clothes and he put his work clothes in his own truck before joining Gil.
 
"Hey, babe."  He leaned over to Gil and they kissed.
 
"Hey, yourself.  Good shift?"
 
"The best for weeks.  I mean, it might mean us being separated for three weeks but my job's going to be okay.  Ecklie's put me on the Advanced Forensic Entomology course in Hawaii.  But I have to go August thirty-first...that's the day after we get back from honeymoon.  I didn't think I should turn him down."
 
"Of course not.  This is good news.  I could come out and visit you."
 
Nick grinned.  "That's what I thought...and you could help with my studies."
 
"I could...I'd love to.  Things have a way of turning out right don't they?"
 
"They sure do.  Come on, let's get on the road.  Blue Angel, right?"
 
"I knew you'd guess but I thought we could just spend a couple of days getting reacquainted..."
 
"...are we doing the trail?"
 
"I brought all our gear.  But at this time of year it'll be very, very hot."
 
"We can go really early...before day break even and watch the sun rise..."  Nick smiled at the thought.
 
"That would be special wouldn't it?   And I brought your drawing materials...it'll be a lot warmer for you to sit and sketch."
 
"That'd be great."
 
"It would, wouldn't it..."
 
Nick settled back into his seat and Gil eased the truck out of the lot and into the traffic...heading for the canyon.  Nick looked over at Gil as he was concentrating on his driving.  He was so handsome and so loving.  They‘d only been together for just over five months and yet Nick had absolutely no doubt that Gil was his forever and he relaxed into his seat sure in that knowledge.  He might have had to wait a long time...and Gil had waited even longer...but they were together and that's really all that counted for them.
 
They'd both been lost but now...now, they had found each other...
 
 
The Epilogue
 
Everything for their wedding went like clockwork with thanks to their wedding planner. Judge and Mrs Stokes, Betty Grissom and Heather Kessler all got on like a house on fire.  The setting was wonderful and the weather was glorious.  They had very plain, thin, platinum wedding bands.  They had their names and the date of the wedding engraved inside each ring and the word, ‘Forever'.  Betty Grissom cried first and set them all off, although Judge Stokes vehemently denied that he had succumbed.
 
When they returned from honeymoon and Nick went off to Hawaii Gil had a tattoo put on the inside of his left wrist.  It was so painful when he was having it done that the tattooist broke out is own supplies and Gil had five shots, one after the other of neat Russian vodka.  He had to take a taxi home and collect his truck the next day; his wrist and his head thumping in unison
 
When Gil flew out to Hawaii the following week Nick couldn't believe his eyes.  In neat blue ink the tattoo proclaimed: viii 18
 
A civilian worker at LVPD and her husband bought Nick's house.  Nick and Gil bought a three bed single story house in need of quite a lot of work but it had a long back yard and already had a little established orchard.  It was cheaper than they'd been expecting to pay and so they'd have the money to have work done and improvements made.  When they were looking over it before buying it Nick felt it had a real positive energy and Gil looked at him askance for a few moments...but then agreed.
 
They had their joint wedding party, birthday bash for Nick and combined it with a Halloween night.  It was the best party they'd all had for years...and interestingly, Tom and Greg hit it off like a house of fire.  Although everyone thought it odd that the new supervisor didn't bring his wife...
 
They went to the pound and got themselves two dogs.  A Labrador that had been very badly treated.  He had only one eye and walked with a limp.  He was about three years old.  They called him Tag in honour of a dog Nick had had when he was a boy.  Their other dog was a terrier-like mongrel bitch; she was very young, they thought probably no older than a year.  She was exuberant and Gil decided that she thought she was in charge of everything and everyone; Nick called her Spring...mainly because she just bounced everywhere...
 
...and they all lived happily ever after!
 
The End

***