Title: I Love You More Today
Author: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Nick/Gil
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just visiting friends...
Summary: Nick meets with an old friend...

As he pulled up to their townhouse, Nick had a feeling that something was wrong. He wasn't sure what it was or how he knew, but the feeling was there. When he came in he noted that Gil was in the front room reading. He stowed his gear in the front closet, walked over to Gil's chair and kissed him on the cheek.

"Hi, babe..."

"Hello, Nick."

Nick took a step back and looked down at Gil with a frown on his face. Gil sounded cold and a bit angry.

"Gil, what's wrong?"

"Why would there be anything wrong?"

"You sound a bit angry."

"No, just tired. I think I'll turn in now."

Gil rose and walked past Nick down the hall to their bedroom.

"By the way, you have some messages on the answering machine."

 

Nick went over to the desk and punched the button on the machine. There was a message from his mom, two messages from two of his sisters, and the final message was the one that got Nick's attention. It was from Keith Leonard. Nick played the message back in disbelief. He hadn't heard that voice in a really long time. Keith and Nick had been lover briefly when Nick was in college, but had kept in touch off and on over the years.

Now Nick understood why Gil sounded angry. Keith had said that he was in Vegas on business and would like to see Nick if possible. Gil knew about Keith and that he and Nick had been lovers, and Keith's calling must have bothered him.

 

Nick was torn. He didn't know if he wanted to call Keith or speak to Gil about the situation. He decided that the best thing to do would be to talk to Gil first and try to clear things up before too much damage was done. He padded down the hall to the bedroom to find Gil sleeping. Nick quietly washed up and got into bed. He curled up next to Gil only to have Gil turn his back to him. Nick fell into a troubled sleep thinking he would deal with this when he woke up.

 

Nick woke up when the alarm went off and found himself alone. He listened for sounds of Gil moving around but heard nothing. Nick got up and went into the front room. No Gil. He went into the kitchen and found a note propped next to the coffee maker.

"Went in early, will see you at the lab. Gil" That's all it said. Nick was puzzled. It wasn't like Gil to leave without at least trying to wake him up. Then it hit him! Gil was still upset about the phone call from Keith.

 

When Nick got to the lab, he headed for Gil's office. He went in and shut the door.

"Hey, Griss..."

"Nick"

"Why didn't you wake me when you left?"

"I had some tings to do so I left early."

"Gil, I think I know why you are upset, and I wanted to talk to you about it."

"Why am I upset, Nick?"

"I think it has to do with the phone call I received from Keith Leonard."

"Now why would I be upset by a phone call from an ex-boyfriend?'

"I don't know exactly, but that has to be why you turned your back to me in bed this morning, and why I woke alone."

"Are you going to call him back?"

"I don't know. Would you rather I not?"

"You're a big boy, you can make your own decisions."

"I really don't see what the problem would be if I did. You aren't jealous are you?"

"Do I have a reason to be?"

"What? Hell no!"

"Nick, this really isn't the time or place for this. We'll finish this at home."

"Fine!"

 

Nick turned and left Gil's office. He was pissed now, because Gil was acting like an ass. Why would Gil be jealous over someone who was a part of Nick's past? It didn't make sense. Nick knew that Gil had no reason to act like this, but if that's how he wanted to play, then let the games begin!

Nick decided he would call Keith, and might even go to see him. If Gil wanted to be jealous, Nick just might give him a reason to be.

 

After Nick's shift was over he went home and straight to bed. He woke up alone again sometime in the early afternoon and found that Gil wasn't home.  He went to the desk and picked up the phone. He left Keith a message, and went to the kitchen for a snack. While he was eating his food, Gil showed up.

"Hey Gil...."

"Nick"

"Where have you been?"

"Running errands."

"Gil, about last night..." That's as far as Nick got when the phone rang.

 

Nick went into the living room and answered the phone. The voice on the other end took him way back. He had to admit that it was kind of nice to hear Keith's voice. They made arrangements to have drinks that evening at Keith's hotel.

Nick went back to the kitchen to find Gil deep in thought.

"So you called him back?"

"Yeah, so, what the problem? Jealousy got you Gil?"

"Stop acting like a child, Nick, it doesn't become you"

"And jealousy doesn't become you!"

"Besides, Gil, it's just a drink and catching up with an old friend."

"You sure are awfully excited about a drink and old times!"

"Wouldn't you be? Yes, we were lovers, but that was a long time ago, and yes, I still consider him a friend. What in the hell is wrong with that?"

"Well, for starters, did you ever once consider that your meeting with him would bother me? No! Did it occur to you that this might make me a bit insecure? Obviously not!"

"Now wait aminute, Gil..."

"No, YOU wait a minute, Nick!"

Nick could tell by looking into Grissom's eyes that he had crossed a line. In all the time that they had been together, Nick had never seen Gil like this.

"Nick, I get the part about him being a friend, but what about the part where you two were lovers? What happens if you go to meet him and things go too far?"

"Do you think I would do something like that, Gil?"

"I'd really like to think you wouldn't, but who's to say?"

"Me, that's who!"

"Nick, you don't really get what's going on here."

"Obviously not, and I wish to God you would tell me."

"Never mind, Nick! Just forget I said anything at all. Go have your drink with Keith, and if you do come back, then maybe I'll explain."

 

With that, Gil got up and left the house leaving Nick confused, hurt, and still just a little bit pissed off. He went and took a shower, and left to go meet Keith. On the way to the hotel, his anger evaporated, and doubt started creeping in. He questioned what he was doing, but decided that since he'd come this far, he might as well see this through. By the time he got to the hotel, he had things under control.

 

When he made his way into the hotel lounge, he spotted Keith immediately. To Nick's surprise, Keith hadn't changed all that much since college. As Nick walked up to the table, Keith looked up from some papers he was going over.

"Nick!"

"Hello, Keith."

"How the hell are you?"

"Good , and you?

"Couldn't be better."

Keith signalled for the waitress, and while they were waiting for their drinks, they made small talk about what they had each been doing, their jobs, and other things. As the evening progressed, Nick thought about Gil more and more. After dinner, Nick began trying to think of an excuse to leave without being rude because the more Keith drank, the clearer his intentions were for why he really wanted to see Nick.

 

When Keith suggested that he and Nick go back to his room, Nick stood, and told Keith he was

leaving. He thanked him for the drinks and dinner and made his way to the lobby to leave. Keith caught up to him while he was waiting for his truck, and tried to apologize to Nick, but Nick wasn't having any of it.

"Keith, I'm very happy with Gil, and I don't want to mess that up."

"So I don't stand a chance at all with you anymore?"

"Not a snowball's chance in hell!"

 

Nick got into his truck and drove away. When he arrived home, he was surprised to find Gil's Tahoe in the drive, since Gil was suppossed to be at work. As he let himself in, he found Gil sitting in the front room in the dark. As he made his way into the front room, he reached and turned on on of the lamps. Gil sat on the couch with a snifter of brandy, and from where Nick stood, he could see that Gil had been crying.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"Hey Nick..."

"Gil?"

"Nothing's wrong, not now...."

"What do you mean, Gil?"

"I thought I had driven you away."

"It's going to take a whole lot more than you being human to do that."

"I see that now, but I was afraid that that was exactly what I had done."

"Gil, I made a mistake by going to see Keith. He hasn't changed a bit. He tried to get me to go to his room with him, but I didn't because I have everything I'll ever need or want right here with you."

"Nicky, are you sure?"

"Hell, yes! If I weren't sure, I wouldn't have stayed with you as long as I have."

"I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I thank my lucky stars every day."

"Don't worry babe, I love you more today than I could love anybody from now on."