Title: Mistakes
Author: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Nick/Gil
Disclaimer: I own nothing.....
A/N: This is the sequel to “There Ain't No Future In This.”

***

Nick stood against the door trying to keep it together. When he heard Gil's car start, the tears that he was holding back began to fall. He knew he had done the right thing, but it sure didn't feel that way. He made his way to his bedroom, fell on the bed, and cried himself to sleep.


 

Meanwhile, across town, Gil was at home beating himself up over what happened. He knew what he had done was wrong, but he also knew he hadn't planned it. He wouldn't have been that intentionally cruel to Nick. The only thing Gil could do was do what Nick had told him to do: figure this out!


 

When Gil arrived at the lab that night, he was surprised to note that Nick's truck wasn't in the lot, for he knew that Nick was on the schedule. He made his way to his office, and Catherine came in right behind him.....

“Catherine.....”

“What have you done, Gil?”

“What are you talking about? I just got here.....”

“Don't hand me that! Nick called in tonight, and I know he's not sick.....”

“Wait a minute.....”

“No, YOU wait! Obviously you and Nick are having some sort of problem, and I want you to know that you need to fix it!”

“Do me a favor...Come see me after I hand out assignments. I need some advice.”

“Sure, Gil, No problem.....”


 

After Gil handed out assignments, he and Catherine met in his office. He explained what had happened with Nick the night before, and when he was finished, Catherine spoke.....

“You mean you actually called out your ex's name?

“Yes...”

“Wow, Gil, you really messed up.”

“Yes, Catherine, please don't rub it in...”

“I'm not, Gil...You know Eddie did the same thing to me a couple of times before we were married.”

“So what did you do?”

“I gave him hell!”

“Did that work?”

“Sort of...He was real careful after that.”

“I just need to know what I can do to make this right with Nick.”\

“You sure do! One thing you need to ask yourself is this: do you really want Nick, or do you still feel something for Nathan Adams?”


 

Gil spent the rest of his shift pondering that very question. He knew that Nick was who he really wanted, and he also knew that Nathan Adams was a poor substitute. He'd been in love with Nick for longer than he cared to admit. When he thought Nick and Greg were going to get together, he turned to Nathan to ease his pain.


 

Nathan knew from the beginning that he was just a pity fuck. He harbored no illusions that Gil wanted him for anything else. That's what made things good between Gil and Nathan. Nathan also knew that Gil was in love with Nick Stokes, and that he would never love anyone but Nick.


 

When it was time to go the next morning, Gil decided to go out for breakfast. This was something Gil rarely did, and even then, it was with the team. He made his way to Ernie's Diner and placed his order. After the waitress brought his coffee, he was reading the paper when a shadow fell over his table. He looked up and there stood Nathan Adams.....

“Hello, Nathan...”

“Gil...”

“Would you care to join me?”

“Are you sure?”

“Certainly...how have you been?”

“I've been fine...how about you?”

“Well, things could be better...”

“That bad, huh?”

“I guess.....Nick and I are having problems...”

“Already?”

“Yes, I made a major mistake the other night, and now I'm paying for it.'

“So what did you do that was so bad?”

“The other night when Nick and I were in bed, I made the mistake of calling him by your name at that crucial moment.....”

“You idiot! What the hell?”

“I know...the thing is, I don't know exactly why I did it. I didn't mean to.”

“Maybe not, but I can certainly see why he would be pissed.”

“He's definitely mad about it. He doesn't want to see me until I've got this figured out.”

“Well, I think the best thing you can do is be totally honest with the man. Just tell him that it was a mistake and that you will never ever do it again, and prove to him what you say is the truth.”

“You think that will work, Nathan?”

“It sure as hell couldn't hurt. Listen, I've got to go, but take my advice and talk to Nick.....”

“Thanks, Nathan, it was good to see you. Take care.....”


 

Gil went home and thought about what both Catherine and Nathan had told him. Sure, Nick was gonna be mad as hell for a while, and he'd probably make Gil miserably for a while, but honesty was going to be the thing. He made a mistake, but that mistake didn't have to cost him the thing he wanted most in Life, did it?.....


***

Nick listened to the message on his machine once more. Gil had called while he was out and wanted Nick to meet him at Raffles. Nick hadn't been there since he and Gil had started dating, and Gil knew he really liked the cinnamon coffee there. He called Gil's number and left a message stating that he would be there at the appointed time. He knew that he might as well get this over with. If not, Gil wasn't going to let up until he did.


 

Nick had been doing some thinking about the situation, and had come to the conclusion that Gil was still hung up on Nathan Adams. There was no other explanation. Sure, Gil might be in love with him, but Nick knew that they had no chance at a real relationship until the whole 'Nathan Adams' thing was dead and buried. Nick knew that he never wanted to be in second place, and wouldn't if he could help it.


 

Nick arrived at Raffles to find Gil already there. Gil had taken an outdoor table and had taken the liberty of ordering for the both of them. When Nick's cinnamon coffee arrived, he had to smile in spite of himself. Leave it to Gil to remember.....

“So.....how have you been, Nick?”

Nick just looked at Gil, and Gil looked away, embarrassed.

“How do you think I've been , Gil?”

“Look, Nick, I was just.....”

“Sorry, Gil, it was just a really dumb question.”

“It was indeed. I've been thinking a lot about our situation, and.....”

“Wait, Gil, you mean to say you've been thinking about 'your' situation, right?”

Gil knew then that Nick wasn't going to make any of this easy, But, then again, he couldn't say he blamed the Texas in the least.

“Yes, Nick, my situation...”

“And...”

“Well, it's kinda complicated.....”

“I've been thinking about your situation, too.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, I have, Gil, and there's really only one explanation.”

“And that is?”

“Whether you want to admit it or not, you still have feelings for Nathan.”

“But, I love you, Nick!”

“That may be, but there's still unfinished business between the two of you.”

“I don't see how, Nick. The only reason I took up with Nathan in the first place was because I thought you and Greg had gotten together. I didn't think I had a chance with you. He was like a....consolation prize.”

“But it went a little deeper than that, didn't it?”

“I don't know...maybe...”

“I guess you'll just have to find out, won't you?”

“What do you mean, Nick?”

“Well, Gil, it's like this...I refuse to play second fiddle to anybody. I won't do it. I know you've said you love me, and that may be true.....”

“It IS true, Nick...”

“Like I was saying, you can't love me like I deserve to be loved until the whole thing with Nathan is dead and buried. After you've gotten that situation resolved, then maybe, just maybe, we can talk and see where things stand. I can't promise anything.....”


 

With that, Nick stood and walked away. Although it was ripping Gil's heart out to watch his world walk away, he knew that Nick was right. Sighing, Gil took out his cell phone and dialed Nathan's number.....


 

THE END