Title: Stop the World
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Nick Stokes
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Series: 1) The Word Is Out, 2) In the Light of Day, 3) Property, 4) Flames of Hell, 5) Bottles and Broomsticks, 6) At the Killing Edge, 7) Into Your Arms, 8) Uncharted Territory, 9) Out of the Woods, 10) Kiss Your Tears Away, 11) Security Blanket, 12) Help Is on the Way, 13) Walls Break Down, 14) Made of Glass, 15) More Than A Heart Can Hold
Author's Note: Mentions of rape/torture.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Nick Stokes, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg looked across the McDonald's that Nick had insisted on coming to for lunch, wondering just why his boyfriend had wanted them to be here, of all places. He didn't mind fast food, but Nick had never seemed to be all partial to this place.

Nick was turning away from the counter, holding a bag and a single milkshake. Greg frowned slightly; why one and not two? Maybe they had run out of chocolate. It was the only explanation he could think of, but it didn't seem a very likely one.

It was still odd to think of Nick as being his boyfriend, even though the older man had insisted that he had to adopt that attitude. It didn't matter that they had to keep their relationship hidden from everyone they worked with; Nick still looked as them as being a couple.

He wanted to be thought of as Nick's boyfriend more than he'd ever wanted anything, Greg thought wistfully as he watched the other man make his way across the floor to their table. He wanted the whole world to know that he was in love with Nick Stokes, that they were together.

Most of all, he wanted everyone to know that he belonged to Nick. He wanted every person that he knew to acknowledge the fact that he was Nick's, that the two of them were in a relationship and that neither of them was available in any way.

But because of the stupid rules at work, they couldn't even hint that they might be gay, Greg thought with a frown, feeling resentful. It was ridiculous, really, saying that people who worked together so closely were forbidden to have any kind of personal romantic relationships.

"Hey, thundercloud, what's wrong?" Nick's tone was teasing, but his look was concerned as he slid into the booth on the other side of Greg. "You look like somebody just rained on your parade. Did somebody say something to upset you, baby?"

Greg shook his head, sighing and wondering if he should bring up what he'd been thinking about with Nick. Throwing caution to the winds, he murmured, "I was just thinking that I want everybody to know I'm with you. And how much it sucks that I can't tell anybody."

"Baby, I wish we could, too," Nick said softly, covering Greg's hand with his own where it lay on the table. "But you don't really think the people we work with don't know, do you? I think they knew from the time we found out that bastard had taken you out of the hospital."

"You do?" Greg's eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't thought that Nick had behaved in a way that would let anyone catch on as to what his feelings were. "I've tried not to do or say anything that would let people know, but maybe I have. I don't know."

"Not you, Greggo. Me." Nick chuckled as he began taking their food out of the bag. "I don't think anybody would be fooled by me saying we're just friends. Not after the way I threatened to kill your ex with my bare hands. And the way I carried you out of that hellhole."

Greg shuddered at the memory of the house that Shane had been keeping him in; it was a nice place, but to him, it had been a prison. He hoped that he would never have to see the place again, or see the man who had held him captive there.

"Don't think about it," Nick told him, his voice soft. "That's behind you now, Greg. I'm not going to let him touch you again. He's not going to have a chance to get near you. Even when you go back home, there are going to be people looking out for you."

"I don't want to go back home," Greg blurted out before he could stop himself. "I want to stay with you. I keep feeling that if I go back to my own place, he'll just be waiting for me and he'll find some way to get to me again." His eyes filled with tears at the thought, his voice trembling.

"Greg, that's not going to happen." Nick got up from the table, going to the other side and sliding into the booth next to Greg, slipping an arm around his young boyfriend's waist. "Don't worry about that, baby. I'm going to make sure he never has anything to do with you again."

Greg nodded, swallowing hard and trying to push his fears away. This was the first time he and Nick had gone out on what might be considered a date since Nick had brought him home from the hospital; he didn't want to mess things up by getting upset.

"If you don't want to go back home, then you don't have to," Nick told him, his voice soft and reassuring. "We'll work something out. If the lease is up on your place soon, I don't see any problem with you moving in with me. I don't care what anybody else might think."

"I don't either," Greg said, relaxing into Nick's embrace. He didn't want to think about the rest of the world and what they might think of what he shared with Nick. All that mattered was that the two of them were together, and that they were happy with each other.

"Here, have one of these." Greg turned his head to realize that Nick was holding a french fry up to his lips; obediently, he opened his mouth, startled when Nick put one end of the french fry in his own mouth and chewed until their lips met.

Closing his eyes, he let himself sink into the kiss, tasting the saltiness of the food and the sweetness of Nick's kiss, all in one. He was sure that if the other man's arm wasn't around his waist, he would slump bonelessly to the floor and fall out of the booth.

"I've wanted to do that ever since the first time I saw you eat a french fry," Nick whispered into his ear. "You have the sexiest mouth I've ever laid eyes on. Every time I talk to you in the lab, I want to grab you and kiss those lips. It's so hard to keep myself from doing it."

"You can kiss me any time you want," Greg whispered, unable to speak any louder. His senses were reeling, his mind trying to absorb what Nick had just said. Nick had wanted him since .... when? He had to ask. He'd go crazy with wondering if he didn't.

"How long have you wanted me?" he murmured, his words meant for Nick's ears only. There weren't any other people sitting near them, but he still didn't want anyone to hear what they were saying to each other. It seemed too private for anyone else's consideration.

"Ever since the first time I saw you," Nick said promptly, his arm tightening around Greg's waist. "I went home the day we met and dreamed about you. I dreamed about holding you and kissing you and making love to you. And I've been dreaming about doing that ever since."

Nick was using his free hand to unwrap two straws and put them into the creamy chocolate milkshake that was sitting on the table in front of Greg; with a slight smile, he pushed it across the table towards the younger man, inviting him to drink some of it.

Greg did so, raising his gaze at Nick and realizing that he was also drinking through the other straw. He'd always wanted to do this, but every person he had ever been involved with had thought it was corny and cheesy. But somehow, Nick was on his wavelength.

He wanted this moment to go on forever -- sitting here gazing into Nick's eyes, both of them drinking from the same milkshake, feeling as though he was closer to Nick than he'd ever been to anyone. This was one of those moments that would stay with him all of his life.

"What would your parents say if they knew about me?" Nick asked softly, not taking his eyes from Greg's face. "I was just thinking last night that I should meet them sometime. And you should meet my family, too. I want them to get acquainted with the guy I love."

"I think they'd want to meet the person who's making me happy," Greg murmured, somewhat taken aback by Nick's words. He hadn't thought about the possibility of his parents -- and his grandparents, too; they'd have to be included -- meeting the man he loved.

"I want to meet Nana and Papa Olaf, since I've heard so much about them," Nick told him, his voice soft and husky. "I already feel like I know them. And I want to thank them personally for bringing you into the world -- and let them know that you'll always be safe with me."

"If my parents know, aren't you worried about the people we work with finding out -- and it getting back to Ecklie?" Greg pointed out, shaking his head. "I want you to meet my family, Nick. I want them to a part of your life with me. But there's some risk involved."

Nick nodded, picking up another fry and holding it to Greg's lips. "Don't worry about that, baby," he said, sounding confident. "I don't think anybody's going to say anything at work. They might know, but I've got the definite feeling that they all approve. And that they won't tell Ecklie."

"Let's not talk about Ecklie right now, or work, or anybody else but us," Greg whispered, raising a hand to press a finger against Nick's lips. "I just want to be here with you, and pretend that there's nobody else in the world but the two of us."

"I'd stop the world for you if I could, baby, but I don't think that's possible," Nick said softly, smiling at Greg's words. "But I'll try my best to make you feel like there's nobody but me for you, every day for the rest of our lives. I can promise you that."

"I already know that there's nobody else in the world for me," Greg replied, leaning closer to Nick. "As long as you feel the same way, then I'm happy. Even though I'd be a lot happier if you took me home and we could cuddle on the couch instead of being out here in public."

"Your wish is my command, but I think we should finish lunch first," Nick laughed, pushing the fries and shake towards Greg again. The two of them bent to take the two straws into their mouths at the same time, each of them smiling as they did so, not caring if the whole world could see them.

***

Next story in series - No Reason To Worry.