Title: The Pantry
By: 10th-letter
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG13
Summary: The new CSI on the scene forces Nick to realize what's he's been hiding for his whole life.
A/N: Minor spoilers for the end of season 8 and the beginning of season 9.


~~~~

Nick Stokes wasn’t sure where his mind had been the past few weeks. He had an excuse, really. With Warrick’s death, Sara’s return and quick exit and the shuffling of CSI’s to fill the gap in the graveyard shift’s roster, the Texan hadn’t really had all that much free time. Then the new girl had arrived. Riley Adams. He had barely noticed her. After his best friend had passed away, he didn’t want to get too attached to quickly. Truth be told, they hadn’t had that much time to work together. As soon as she arrived, she had been out with Grissom to pass her proficiency exams. They had only really seen each other a few times.

She seemed nice though. She had this twisted sense of humor that reminded Nick a bit of Greg. Nick smiled as he leaned back in his chair as he remembered the last time he and Greg hung out and the events of the past few days

~~~~

”So it’s about time you invited me here, man.” Said the lanky CSI as Nick opened his front door.

“Off to a great start, Sanders. I was getting around to it, but with all the drama lately with Sara, I-“ stammered Nick.

“Nick, calm down, this isn’t the Spanish Inquisition. Besides I couldn’t pull off the red robes. I don’t have the hips.”

Nick laughed nervously.

“So, you doing to invite me in or are your neighbors going to stare a hole through my back?” asked Greg.

“Oh, right. C’mon in.”

Greg shuffled in and tried not to focus on the fact that, due to a cramped entryway, their crotches were mere millimeters apart.

Nick coughed “So, um. You bring the movie?”

Greg smiled and waved a DVD case. “Yep. Unrated Director’s Cut of Fight Club. Even has a documentary commentary with Ed Norton and Brad Pitt.”

“Sweet. Pop it in! You want somethin’ to drink?” asked Nick, heading to the fridge

“Sure. I still can’t believe you’ve never seen Fight Club. Ed Norton’s in amazing shape in this move! His abs are killer!.”

“Brad Pitt’s in it too, right?”

“Yeah, there’s some pretty gnarly fight scenes in it. Really, those two are some of the hottest guys, I mean some of the best actors around, you know?” Greg rambled, hoping Nick hadn’t caught everything he’d said.

In the kitchen, Nick put down the beer bottles and caught his breath.

“What’d you say, G?”

“Oh, nothing. Hey, what’s the hold up? You harvesting the grain in there?”

~~~~

Greg had come out as bisexual to him just a few days later. The younger CSI had made some comments about not wanting to hide anymore and how most of the lab had probably already assumed anyway, but he had wanted to make sure Nick had heard it from him, not from some gossip monger at the water cooler. Nick said he was ok with it, but Nick didn’t have the guts to come out of the closet himself. Shortly after, Warrick had gotten tangled up with Gedda and after the funeral; they were two CSI’s short so they never saw each other. Secretly, Nick was happy for the reprieve. He could focus more on his work and not Greg.

Then she showed up. The new CSI, Riley Adams. On their first case together, she cracked some awkward joke about porn and fluffy handcuffs and Nick couldn’t help but smile. It was almost word for word the first joke Greg had made on their first case together. When he was down laughing, Riley looked at him in surprise.

“Oh, come on, Nick. It wasn’t that funny.”

“No, it was. You probably haven’t had a lot of time to work with him yet, but Greg Sanders said pretty much the same thing to me the first time we worked a scene together.” Said Nick.

“Greg? The tall, skinny guy with the great ass?” asked Riley.

“Well, I mean, he, um, he used to work in DNA for a long time before he transferred to the lab and-.” Stammered Nick.

“Aww, that’s so cute.” Smiled Riley.

“What?”

“You’re totally blushing! You love him don’t you?” said Riley.

“What? I- no, I mean, I like him fine and all, he’s a great CSI and he makes me laugh and all but- I mean- I’m not- I like women and Greg’s totally not a woman I mean, not that there’d be anything wrong with a women like-“

“Nick! That’s the longest sentence you’ve used since I started here. Look, I know we barely know each other and all, but you seem like a nice guy.”

“Thanks.” Said Nick, quietly, staring at the floor.

“And there’s nothing you could say that would shock me. Besides, Greg already came out to me.” Said Riley.

Nick was shocked. “He what?”

“He came out. He told me right after Grissom introduced me to everyone. He said he wanted to make sure I heard from him first.”

“Oh. That’s how he told me.”

“And I told him I don’t care. We already made plans to see that new action movie. The really gay one.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I also told him that I was the treasurer of my college’s Gay-Straight Alliance. So I don’t care if you’re gay Nick. If you’re half the man everyone around here says you are, you’re still twice as manly as my last five boyfriends combined.” Said Riley, placing her hand on Nick’s shoulder.

Nick reached up and grasped Riley’s hand and smiled. “Thanks. Yes I am. I’ve never told anyone before but I am. I’ve been hiding for my whole life, but I don’t think I can anymore. Before he di– before Warrick passed away, he told me I should just be comfortable living my life for the fullest and stop worrying about what others thought. It was how he lived his life and I should’ve taken his advice sooner. Honestly, I think he knew I was ga- I wasn’t straight long before I did.” Said Nick, directed Riley and him to sit at a nearby table.

“He sounds like a great guy.” Said Riley.

“He was my best friend.”

“Then you know what you need to do? Greg and I were going to grab breakfast after shift. He wanted to welcome me to town. Come with us. I’m sure Greg wouldn’t mind.” Said Riley.

“I wouldn’t be imposing?”

“Hell no. Greg would be thrilled.”

“You think so?”

“He told me after he came out- Oh look blood smear!” said Riley, grabbing her kit.

“What? What did he say?” blurted Nick. Riley’s only response was a sly smirk.

~~~~

When they got back to the lab after processing the scene, Riley dragged Nick to the DNA lab where Greg was helping out Wendy.

“Oh hey guys. I don’t have anything ready yet, but I will in a few hours.” Started Wendy. “Oh, hi. You must be Riley Adams. I’m Wendy Sims, one of the DNA technicians here. Nice to meet you.”

Wendy and Riley shook hands and Riley grinned. “So, Wendy, do you mind if I borrow Greg for a second?”

“Sure, I’m almost done here anyway.”

Riley grabbed Greg’s hand and pulled him out to where Nick was waiting. “So, Greg. Would you mind if Nick came with us to breakfast?”

Greg looked stunned for a second before talking “Um, sure. Of course not. You sure you don’t mind, Nick? We’re not going to our usual place.”

“Where you guys going?” asked Nick

“Some place called ‘The Pantry Bistro’? It’s sounded kinda dirty to me, but Greg says it’s not.” Explained Riley.

“You sure you don’t mind Nick?” asked Greg.

“No. Of course not.”

~~~~

The trio walked through the front doors of The Pantry Bistro and Nick was shocked. It was a gay bistro. There were same-sex couples kissing over croissants in one corner a drag queen made out with his go-go boy boyfriend. The waiter led the three of them to their booth and they sat down. Nick was trying not to have a heart attack.

Greg looked across the booth at Nick. “Nick, man, you’re sweating bullets. Are you sure you’re ok? We can leave if you want.”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

When the waitress chassèd over to their booth she took one look at Greg and Nick and smiled. “Well aren’t you boys a lovely couple? And who are you honey, are you their mistress?”

“Oh, only Thursdays,” Smiled Riley. “I’ll have the three cheese omelete.”

Nick and Greg were too stunned to answer, so Riley picked up the slack. “He’ll have the silver dollar pancakes and the one with the accent over there will have the bacon biscuit. Now, if you’ll excuse me boys, I have to use the ladies room. Maybe there’s another hot blonde in there.” She winked at Greg before leaving.

~~~~

“Nick? You look like you’re about to shit bricks. You ok?” asked Greg.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Look, Greg there’s something I need to tell you and I really hope you won’t think any less of me because of it.” Started Nick.

“Nick, I promise.” Said Greg taking a sip of his coffee.

“Greg. I’m gay. And I can’t keep pretending anymore. I’ve been lying to myself to Grissom, to Catherine to everyone all these years and I can’t do it anymore. But most importantly, I’ve been lying to you, Greg.”

Greg’s eyebrows shot up from behind his coffee mug, but his face showed no other reaction.

“I’ve been lying to you, Greg. And now that I’m coming to terms with it all I realize that I’ve been in love with you since we first met. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.” Said Nick, and he reached out his hand, shaking with nerves and placed it over Greg’s free hand. Nick smiled softly at Greg.

Greg placed his mug down and took a breath. “I’m not going to lie either.” Said Greg, placing his now free hand over Nick’s nerve-wracked hand. “ I’ve been in love with you since I first met you too. I’ve been trying to keep it in because we’ve worked so hard to get to where we are in our friendship.”

“You’re hand’s nice and warm.” Nick said quietly. “Would you want to go out on a date with me sometime? After shift? Something nice and quiet? No dead bodies, no blood? Just you, me and some sushi?”

Greg smiled. “I’d love to.” Greg leaned over across the table and whispered in Nick’s ear. “Would you mind if I kissed you?”

“Nope.”

Their lips locked and Nick closed his eyes, wanting to relish every moment of their first kiss. When they finally broke apart, Nick sat back down.

“You taste like coffee.” He said.

“I usually do.”