Title: Tea Makes Everything Better
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Gil Grissom
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Table: Liquids, mission_insane
Prompt: 5, Tea
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Gil Grissom, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Gil frowned as he glanced towards the kitchen door, hoping that Greg was still sitting on the couch and hadn't gone into the bedroom and fallen asleep. He wanted to spend some time with his boyfriend, and this morning felt like the perfect time for them to get close.

He knew that Greg was tired; he'd come home with dark circles under his eyes, looking like a wilted flower. He hadn't said much about the case he was working on, only that they didn't have any leads, and that it was getting frustrating, as well as exhausting.

He hoped that a cup of tea would revive Greg -- and if not, that it would at least help his boyfriend to relax before they got some sleep. Gil had been up all night as well -- it was good to know that the two of them could cuddle and fall asleep together.

Greg was slowly but surely becoming more open with him; the Greg that he'd first met, all those years ago when the younger man had been new to the crime lab, was starting to peek through. Gil didn't doubt that, in time, the old Greg would be front and center again.

He was looking forward to that day, he told himself with a smile. He wanted to have that Greg back, the cute, sweet, happy-go-lucky Greg who smiled more than he frowned, the Greg who was always up for anything. The Greg who he'd first fallen in love with.

Of course, he hadn't been able to let that love show for a long time. But now that he could, he never missed a chance to tell Greg just how he felt; he knew all too well how quickly what they had could be snatched away, and he wanted Greg to know in no uncertain terms that he was loved.

He was free to love Greg openly now, and that was a big relief, Gil thought to himself as he set their mugs on a tray, alone with the teapot, milk, and sugar. He carried the tray into the living room and set it down carefully on the coffee table, then sat on the couch beside Greg.

His boyfriend's eyes were closed, but he knew that Greg had heard him come into the room. He hadn't fallen asleep yet, so they could sip tea and talk, cuddle on the couch for a while. Gil busied himself making them both tea, then handed Greg's mug to him.

"You're spoiling me," Greg said softly, giving Gil a soft smile as he took the mug from him. "Normally, I'd just go home and go to sleep. It's nice to have somebody to come home to who'll make me tea and let me cuddle with them. You've changed so many things in my life, Gil."

"I hope I've changed them for the better," Gil told him, his own voice soft and husky. "You've changed a lot of things in my life, too, Greg. And all of those changes are ones I embrace. I love being with you. It makes my heart sing to know that you're here with me."

"I wish we'd have been able to be together like this years ago," Greg said with a sigh as he sipped his tea. "But I guess that would defeat the purpose, huh? Back then, we were both different people. Maybe we wouldn't have last ed if we'd gotten together then."

Gil nodded, not wanting to think in that way. "I think you and I would have lasted no matter when we managed to get together," he said honestly. "Sara and I didn't last because she was just a substitute. If I'd been with you all that time, our relationship would never have ended."

Greg didn't answer, only smiled at him over the rim of his mug. That smile melted Gil's heart; he could read so much into the look that Greg gave him. His boyfriend might not say the words out loud, but Gil knew that Greg believed they would have stayed together, too.

How could they not? They had loved each other for so long, even though they hadn't been able to let that love out into the open until now. But it had always been there, growing stronger over time, even after he had made the mistake of marrying someone he didn't love.

"You look like whatever case you're working on is really getting to you," Gil said, changing the subject. He frowned slightly, leaning back against the couch cushions as he took a sip of tea. "Greg, you've been working too hard lately. You're running yourself into the ground."

"If I don't work, then all I can think about is finding those guys, and that just makes me think about ...." Greg's voice trailed off into a heavy sigh. "I still feel like I have to look over my shoulder all the time. We don't have any more leads on who they are than we did at first."

"We'll catch them, Greg," Gil said, keeping his voice soft and gentle. He didn't want to upset Greg, and he knew that this subject was one that was guaranteed to get him agitated. "It may take some time, but we will. You have to have faith."

Greg nodded, sighing again as he sipped his tea. "I know. it's just hard to be patient, y'know? I want them behind bars so badly, and sometimes it seems like we'll never find them. It feels like they're going to get away with it -- and that I'll always have to worry about them coming back."

"No one's ever going to hurt you again," Gil said, his voice strong and firm. "Not on my watch. As long as there's breath left in my body, I'll protect you, Greg. I know that might not sound like much, but I mean it. I'm not going to let them get to you. I promise."

"I believe you," Greg said softly, his lips curving into a smile. "I always do." He raised his cup to his lips again, his gaze not leaving Gil's face. "Funny how tea can make everything feel all better, isn't it? Just sitting here drinking tea with you makes me feel calmer and more focused."

"Tea makes everything better," Gil agreed with a smile. "It's always been something that I turn to when I need to relax. I don't know why, but it helps keep me .... well, balanced. It's almost as if when I'm drinking tea, I can lose all of the tensions I've been holding in."

"Yeah, you're right about that," Greg said with a sigh. He drained the rest of his tea, then set his mug down. "I don't know about you, but last night was a long one for me. And a frustrating one, too. I'm tired. I hope you're ready to get some sleep, because I'm dead on my feet."

Gil looked over at his boyfriend as he finished the rest of his tea. Greg did indeed look exhausted; there were pale violet shadows under his eyes, and Gil could almost see him losing the battle to stay awake. Greg needed to get some rest -- and so did he.

"I'm definitely ready to get some rest," he said, getting to his feet and holding out a hand to Greg. He pulled the younger man to his feet, then into an embrace, holding Greg close against him and moving his hands down the young man's back.

"Then let's go to bed," Greg said softly, pulling back from Gil's embrace with a tired smile. Gil knew that his boyfriend meant that they'd be going to bed only to sleep, but that was good enough for him. For now, just being close to Greg, having him in his arms, was good enough.

Only a few weeks ago, he would never have been able to do that, he told himself. Greg had been far too traumatized by what had happened to him at that point; he had come a long way since then. Barriers had been broken down, slowly but surely.

"That sounds great to me," he whispered, raising a hand to stroke gentle fingertips down Greg's cheek. With a backward glance at the tea tray sitting on the coffee table, he led the way from the living room down the hall to their bedroom, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him.

The tea had definitely made some things better, but it would take a while for all of Greg's problems to be dealt with. Still, they were making a start, Gil told himself as he pulled Greg closer to him. They had the rest of their lives to break down those barriers -- and he didn't doubt that they would.

***