Title: No Words Needed
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Gil Grissom
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Table: 5_prompts, Written in the Stars challenge
Prompt: F10, There is an intelligence above language
Author's Note: Slight spoilers for the S6 CSI: Vegas episode "Spellbound."
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 Gil Grissom, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.
Series: 1) Welcome To Hell, 2) Live Through This, 3) Racing Against Time, 4) Rip Him To Shreds, 5) Killing Lies, 6) Never Give Up, 7) Just When I Needed You Most, 8) First in Line

***

Greg leaned on Gil as the other man helped him out of the car; he was still having a hard time walking, but he hoped that wouldn't last for much longer. The last thing he needed was any physical reminders of what he'd so recently been through.

There were enough reminders that came to him when he wasn't conscious, he thought with a grimace. He'd only been in the hospital for a couple of days, but that had been long enough for those memories to settle in, attacking his dreams with a frenzy he hadn't expected.

He had seen so many horrible things as a CSI, Greg thought, taking slow steps as he and Gil headed for the front door of the other man's house. But he had never thought he would be dealing with some of those things from the perspective of a victim.

"Penny for your thoughts," Gil said softly, glancing at Greg as he fitted the key into the front door and turned it. "Or maybe a dollar, if they're worth that. I'm willing to bet that whatever you're thinking right now must not be too pleasant, judging from the look on your face."

Greg nodded, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. How was it that Gil always seemed to know what he was thinking, even when he never said a word? There was a strange kind of connection between them, one that had always been there.

When he had been working in the lab, before he'd become a CSI, that connection had existed. He'd felt it long before he'd been willing to admit that he had feelings for Gil; he had almost been afraid to admit that he could feel so strongly about anyone.

That was when he'd been a kid, without a lot on his mind outside of his job and getting laid, Greg thought ruefully. Maybe if he'd been more serious and grown-up at the time, it wouldn't have taken so long for Gil to decide that being with him was the right thing to do.

"Actually, I wasn't thinking about what those guys did to me," he said, still leaning on Gil as they entered the house and Gil closed the door behind them. "Actually, I was thinking about you and me. About how we've always seemed to have this kind of connection."

Gil nodded as Greg sat down on the couch, looking thoughtful. "Yes, there's always been something of a sixth sense between you and me, hasn't there?" he mused, smiling. "Especially when we worked on that case involving the psychic a few years ago."

Greg couldn't help but laugh at that memory; he had switched days with Warrick to be on that case, and he had been thrilled to be working by Gil's side for a while, though the case had really belonged to Warrick. "Yeah, that was a case to remember, wasn't it?"

"It certainly was," Gil told him, still smiling as he gazed down at the young man. "I was a little annoyed at you for switching days with Warrick without telling me, but inside, I was glad you did. I wanted to work with you more. I was just afraid of what I might say if I did."

"And now you don't have to be afraid of saying whatever you want to," Greg answered, his voice soft and husky. It still amazed him that Gil could feel the same way he did; what had he done to get lucky enough for this man to want to be a part of his life?

It didn't really matter why he was here with Gil, did it? The only important thing was that they were together, that Gil loved him and wanted to be with him. He didn't want to ask why. He only wanted to be secure in the knowledge that this wouldn't end.

"There's a connection -- and an intelligence -- between some people that goes far beyond words," Gil told him, his gaze focusing on Greg's face. "I think we've always had that, Greg. I just never wanted to admit it because I was afraid of feeling that close to anyone."

"Did you have that kind of a connection with Sara?" Greg asked, knowing that this probably wasn't the best time to bring up the subject of Gil's soon-to-be ex-wife, but needing to know the answer. "Did you ever feel that close to her, all the time you were together?"

"No, Greg, I didn't," Gil said softly, his gaze not leaving Greg's face. "I wanted to believe that I did, but I never felt anything close to this for Sara. She was always second best -- and I think a part of her knew that all along. I didn't want to hurt her, but I didn't have a choice."

Greg nodded, Gil's words taking his breath away. He was mesmerized by the look in the other man's eyes; he couldn't have turned away if he tried. There were no words needed to express what they were feeling; he could read Gil's emotions clearly in his gaze.

Gil leaned closer to Greg, raising his hands to cup the young man's face. Their gazes still locked with each other, he leaned forward to press his mouth against Greg's softly parted lips, the kiss gentle at first, then becoming more searching and intimate.

Greg closed his eyes, letting himself sink into Gil's kiss, savoring it to remember each individual moment later. It almost felt as though Gil was drinking from his mouth, tipping his head back to deepen the kiss, those hands soft and gentle on his skin.

Gil was right, he thought dreamily, letting himself sink into the warmth and growing passion of that kiss. There was an intelligence between the two of them that went beyond language, a connection that didn't need words; it was a part of them, residing in their hearts and souls.

He had never felt as close to anyone as he did to Gil. The connection he felt to this man went deeper than any other emotion he'd ever felt; no one who he'd been involved with, or cared about, in the past had touched him in the way that Gil did.

This was what it felt like to be in love, Greg told himself. This was what it was like to give himself to one person in every way, surrendering himself completely, heart, body and soul. He had thought that wouldn't be easy for him -- but with Gil, it was.

When the other man pulled away from the kiss, Greg almost moaned in protest; it took a great effort on his part not to wrap his arms around Gil's neck and pull him closer. But he managed to keep himself from doing so, sitting back on the couch and looking up at the other man.

"Let me go get your bag out of the car," Gil murmured, his voice a little unsteady. "I'll be right back." He turned and left the room, his footsteps seeming reluctant, as though he didn't want to leave and the haven they had begun to create here in this room.

He'd always felt this strong connection to Gil, even when they had first started working together. There was an electricity about the man, something that had drawn Greg to him immediately. The emotions had only grown stronger from there.

It had taken so long for them to find each other, Greg reflected, resting his head back against the soft cushions of the couch. It seemed like half a lifetime had gone by since he'd met Gil; they'd both been through so much in the time since they'd first met.

Maybe they had needed to go through all of those things to get to where they were now, Greg thought, grimacing as he shifted a bit uncomfortably on the couch. Though he wished that the situation he'd lived through so recently hadn't come to pass.

He wasn't going to think about that, Greg told himself firmly, opening his eyes as he heard Gil come back into the house. This was the beginning of the rest of their lives together -- and he was sure that the connection between them would only get stronger from here.

***

Next story in series - Make Believe.