Title: What Dreams May Come: Of Sushi and Sake
By: Lady Jane
Pairing: Gil/Nick
Rating: PG
Genre: Episode Related, Established relationship
Spoilers: Way To Go - Season 6
Summary: Sara Who? It's all a dream...
Author's notes: Like so many others, I didn't like the ending to the season finale, so I decided to write it from my own POV.
WARNING: Very Sara non-friendly.

Nick lay on his side, head propped on his hand, watching his lover sleep. A frown marred his brow as he watched Gil. The older man was tossing and turning and mumbling, sweat beading his brow, even though the room was air-conditioned.

Grissom was obviously reacting to the stress of the last few days; Brass being shot, finding out in the worst possible way he held medical power of attorney for his friend, dealing with Ellie, and all the while still performing his normal duties as a working supervisor.

Grissom's body began to twitch, his hands moving restlessly. From all appearances he was having a bad dream. Nick bit his lip, wondering if he should awaken him. Hadn't he read somewhere it was dangerous to wake someone in the midst of a bad dream? He didn't know what would happen, but he didn't want to chance it.

Gil took the decision away when he jerked upright in bed. With a small sound of distress he threw off the covers, stumbled out of bed and bolted towards the bathroom. By the time Nick reached him, the retching was nearly over.

Nick filled a paper cup with water and wet a paper towel. Crouching beside Grissom, he handed the older man the cup. Gil took it with a weak smile of gratitude, rinsed his mouth, spit in the toilet and flushed. Nick took the cup, tossed it in the trash, then used the wet paper towel to wipe Grissom's sweat-beaded, bearded face.

"Thank you, Nicky."

Nick smiled sweetly, stood, then helped Grissom up. Once they were back in bed, the entomologist's head cradled on the young Texan's broad shoulder, Nick began running his fingers through the sweat-dampened graying curls.

"Feel better?" Nick asked softly.

"Not sure. I think the sushi and sake were bad."

"I had the sushi and sake, too, Gil, and I feel fine." Nick placed a gentle kiss on the top of Grissom's head. "Maybe it was the fact that you followed it up with a dessert of chocolate-covered crickets."

Grissom was quiet for a moment before saying, "Maybe. I just know I don't want anymore sushi-and-sake-inspired nightmares."

"Were they bad?"

Grissom shuddered, still tasting the vomit in his mouth. "Horrible."

"Want to tell me about it?"

Gil calmed somewhat under the soothing motions of the hand stroking his back. "I was lying on a bed wearing a shirt only Greg Sanders could appreciate."

Nick smiled but didn't interrupt.

"I was talking about how I wanted to die, spouting off some nonsense about wanting cancer as the means to my demise."

That managed to surprise Nick. "Cancer? Why would you choose cancer?"

"I don't remember exactly. It was something to do with wanting to know ahead of time. I honestly don't remember, especially with what happened next."

That definitely peaked Nick's curiosity. "Oh? What happened?"

Grissom shuddered again. "I was telling this to someone in the bathroom, and when she came out-"

"She?"

"Yes, she. At first all I saw was legs, then my eyes traveled up, over a robe and nightgown nearly as ugly as the shirt I was wearing, and there was the stuff of nightmares."

"An old girlfriend?" Nick guessed.

The fingers of the hand resting on Nick's stomach curled into the firm flesh. "Worse. It was Sara."

"Sara? Is she bothering you again?"

"I'm not sure. I thought she was over her obsession, but after that look she gave me a couple of weeks ago and all the ones since then, I just don't know."

"What kind of looks?" Nick asked, an edge to his voice at the thought that Sara was once again up to her old tricks.

"The kind that make me feel like one of my bugs under a microscope. The kind that says she'd like to experiment on me."

"Sara better back off. You're mine." Nick's embrace unconsciously tightened.

Grissom smiled at the possessiveness of the younger man. "Yes, Nicky, I'm yours. And you're mine."

"Yeah, Gil, I am. Always yours."

Tilting his head back, Grissom looked into the dark chocolate gaze of his life partner. "Make love to me, Nicky. Wipe away the bad images."

Smiling wickedly, Nick lifted Grissom's chin with one finger. "Gladly," he said, leaning down to the waiting lips. "By the time I'm finished, you'll forget Sara Sidle ever existed."

Gil's eyes closed as his mouth was completely, thoroughly and exquisitely explored by Nick's talented tongue. When they broke apart for air, glazed blue eyes opened and slowly focused on the beautiful face so close to his own.

"Sara who?" he questioned.

Nick smirked, dark eyes sparkling. "Exactly. Sara who."

THE END