Title: Oh, Mandy...
Author: Dee
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 400 (Couldn't do that again if I tried!)
Pairing: Gil/Nick
Characters: Gil Grissom and Nick Stokes
Warnings: AU and v.v.fluffy!
Spoilers: Mild for S7.E08 'Happenstance'
Disclaimer: In my dreams they are like, totally mine!
Unbeta-ed: All mistakes will be mine.
A/N 1: I watched this old epi on the telly last night and threw this together. Thinking about it I could expand and make this story a longer one shot…it's up to you!

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"You okay?"

"Sure. I heard you sang at work today, to Mandy."

"Yeah. I promised her I would if she got a result. She did so I had to; you know, the Barry Manilow song, 'Mandy'."

"You still have fun at work, don't you?"

"Of course I do…why do you ask?"

"I don't. Have fun anymore."

"So there is something wrong?"

"I don't know, Nicky. I don't know."

"Not like you to not know something."

"I know that. That's the worrying bit."

"It's not me is…"

"…no, no, of course not. You are what's right with my life."

"So…"

"Would you mind if I went away for a few weeks."

"No. You need some time to re-charge your batteries?"

"I do. I think I do. It's not a vacation. I'm not thinking of taking a vacation without you. I wouldn't want to do that…"

"…but if it would help, that would be good for you."

"No, it wouldn't be a vacation without you. I've been approached to do a post graduate seminar…four weeks away in Massachusetts. I can prepare some of the work before I go."

"It sounds about right for you; I think you're a great teacher. Just what you need."

"You think it would be?"

"Yes, I do. Do you want to be left alone…"

"…I thought you could visit when you have your weekend off. It's not you I need to be separated from…it's work."

"You think you might have run the course? Is it time for you to hang up your boots?"

"I don't know. But this would give me a break to think about it…and if I did…want to hang up my boots?"

"That's your decision to make when you think the time is right. Whatever you want to do I'll be behind you a hundred and ten percent, you know that."

"You're good for me, Nick. You're with me but you don't suffocate me. You let me be me."

"It's you I love. Not much point in loving someone for who they are if you then want to change them into something they're not."

"That's very logical."

"Been trained by my boss."

"Pity he didn't train himself the same way."

"I think he did, he's just lost his way and needs to find the right road again."

"Yes. That's exactly what I need to do. Thank you, my love."

"For what?"

"Being my love."

The End

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