Title: Premature
By: BflyW
Summary: Nick comes home one day early.
Thanks to the lovely Anmani for beta! Characters: Nick, Greg
Genres: angst, romance, drama
Rating: G
Warnings: none

Greg woke up by the sound of the key turning in the lock. He abruptly stood up from the couch and turned down the TV he had fallen asleep in front of. Wondering what the hell was going on he walked towards the front door, and met his boyfriend loaded with luggage, arriving home one day early.

It was two weeks ago that he had laid down the ultimatum; "Either you tell your family about us, or we are through. I am sick of this. I am sick of being a secret. I want to share your life – share your family!"

Nick hadn't spent much time deciding. The very next day he had cleared a weekend off with Grissom and called his family to tell them he would come home for a visit. He had left only two days ago, wanting to tell them in person. And now, here he was, home one day premature.

"Nick?"

Greg rushed forward to help him with his suitcase.

"Hi."

"Hi." He waited for Nick to give him some explanation to the early arrival, and he new the question was apparent in his eyes.

"I couldn't do it…"

"What?"

"I couldn't give you what you asked for."

"Why not?" Greg was becoming annoyed and most of all disappointed. At least he had expected Nick to try. He'd thought, he'd actually believed that Nick would put their relationship before his pride, and learning that he had chickened out was a big disappointment. He hadn't asked for a wedding band or promise of eternity, but he'd asked not to be a secret, asked to be Nick's partner in public. Was that too much to ask for? Was it too much to ask for spending one holiday with his boyfriend? Or spending one vacation together? They couldn't now, because Nick was expected back at his family, and Greg was non-existing. So, he was disappointed, hurt that Nick hadn't been able to do this one thing for him.

"I..," Nick traced his hand across his face, "I promised you to share my family. But as it turned out, I no longer have a family to share".

"WHAT?" Greg's disappointment had shifted into shock and guilt. So he hadn't backed out after all, no in fact, Greg had pushed him into loosing his family. They had actually…

"Yeah. It's not like they wanted a queer for a son, apparently it is better not having a son at all."

How wrong had he been?

How selfish was he?

Here he had been disappointed about Nick not telling his family about him, because he wanted to take part in all of Nick's life. And Nick had done it, and with that risked, and lost, his family… for him! How could he have asked him such a thing? How could he have pushed Nick into doing something he had avoided for so long, because of the fear of this happening?

"My God…" Greg took a step closer to Nick wanting to comfort him and give him a hug, "Nick, I am so sorry! Please believe me!"

"Don't!" Nick stepped away, "don't …touch… me!" His voice was hard, and cold. Greg withdrew his hands as if he had burned them on a hot surface, torn by guilt for being the reason for Nick's pain.

"I can't be here right now." Nick cried and walked out of the apartment, closing the door between the two men, and Greg felt more alone than ever before.

************************************************

Warrick had just finished a meal with his wife Tina when his phone rang. "Brown" He answered not too eager to be interrupted.

"Hi eh, Greg here. Ehm look Nick just took off and I'm not sure just what state of mind, I'm not interrupting you, am I? It's just that Nick came home and he shouldn't, and he's all upset, and could you please see if he's at the bar and please keep him company. I don't think ... he should be alone right now and I'm pretty sure that he don't want me for company and I hope it's no trouble Warrick, but please.. I really need you to…"

"Greg! Greg! Calm down! Sure I'll do it, but why exactly can't you do it your self?" All of his irritation cast away as he listened to Greg's rambling. He had heard Greg speak 50 miles a minute before, but rarely with so much agony in his voice. As far as he knew, Nick was supposed to be in Texas, so when Greg called to ask him to check up on Nick, Warrick could only assume that something big and bad had happened

"I am afraid I'm the reason he is out there alone. He doesn't want to see me now, trust me. I've fucked up. Please Warrick, I'm really worried about him." A pleading Greg was more than he needed.

"Sure, I'll keep you posted!"

"Thanks."

************************************************

As expected Warrick found Nick staring into a glass of bourbon, holding more than a double.

"So, Jack Daniels is your new best friend now?" Nick was clearly startled, but didn't respond to Warrick's inquiry.

"So, mind if I join you?" Nick nodded and patted the seat next to him while glancing up at him. "So, Greg called you, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Figures." He looked deep into the glass already wanting another shot.

"Care to explain what's going on with the two of you?"

"With us? Nothing" Nick looked a bit surprised, not sure what had brought on the question.

"Well, your boyfriend called me, worried about you, talking about how he had done something to make you leave."

"What?"

"That's what he said bro."

"But he didn't…" Nick looked around the room trying to find something that could clarify the situation for him, but came up empty. "He hasn't done anything wrong."

"Well, he certainly doesn't know that." Warrick looked straight at him making sure the words reached him.

"But I love him! I just needed time to think…To be alone." Nick said, as if anybody should have understood that.

"Did you tell him that?"

"Yes I did! I said…" Nick paused and closed his eyes, trying to think clear, "no, I didn't. I told him to leave me alone, and I left! Shit!" He panicked suddenly uncertain about the way he'd handled the whole situation.

"Well that would explain the misunderstanding."

"Yeah. I need a new drink." He signed for the bartender to fill up the glass again.

"Sure bro, but first you gotta call Greg and let him know you're alright man."

"Right! Okay, my phone…" If he could only remember where he put it.

"Try your pocket bro…"

"Yeah, right." Pockets were a good thing.

************************************************

Greg jumped as his phone rang. Caller ID showed it was Nick, and he answered before Nick had a chance to change his mind.

"Nick."

"Hi Greg."

Happy to hear his voice Greg let out a sigh. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry though. I didn't mean to imply that you did something wrong. It's not you that I'm angry with."

"You're not?" Greg didn't know what to think, he felt like he was on an emotional rollercoaster and he had no idea where it would stop.

"No! God no! I'm just, I needed to think. And well I wanted to get wasted and you probably wouldn't let me and this is my mess not yours. You don't need this Greg"

"Okay. Warrick's there, is he?"

"Yeah, your guard dog is here alright. In fact, he told me to call you! Smart guy!"

"I'll say!" Greg relaxed now that Nick was talking to him and apparently not angry with him.

"Listen, Greg, I'm angry, no, I am disappointed in my family, not you."

"But I made you do it!" There was no way to get around that.

"Yeah, but if I hadn't, I would have been living a lie, and I don't want that. If they can't accept me as I am, then I am better off without them. You have been right all along you know. You are more important Greg."

"I am still sorry about it though."

"Don't be. And I was wrong by the way!"

"Oh?"

"Yeah I told you I've no family, but I do. I have you and Warrick and Cath and Grissom and even Sara. I have you G and that's all I need!"

With that, Nick hung up. All he needed to say had been said.