Title: Watching over You
Author: PsychoticScam
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Nick visits a hurting Greg. Slight spoilers for Fannysmackin' and reference to Play With Fire.
Disclaimer: I don't own, I rent.
Author's Note: This episode made me cry when I saw what they did to Greg. Then there was a zap with Nick's eagerness, so I couldn't help it.

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Sara left awhile ago, and so now that they weren't in any kind of situation that could be a weight on their jobs, Nick took the chance to scoot closer to Greg and hold his good hand, stroking it gently and lifting it to his lips to brush a soft, gentle kiss over his knuckles.

"I'm sorry, babe." He said, a soft flush of air against the back of his lover's hand. Greg's eyebrows furrow with confusion.

"Why? Were you one of those guys? 'Cause I don't remember smelling you." He said, chuckling a bit, reminding him of what he had said to Sara earlier that week, when he'd first been found. But Nick didn't find it the least bit amusing. Shaking his head, he inched closer.

"I'm sorry it took so long to come see you." Greg's smile had faltered a bit. He remember that Nick hadn't seen him at all when the lab exploded, and he landed in the hospital with the pulsating, fiery sensations of the 3rd degree burns on his back. It had hurt him a lot. Worse than the explosion had. Hurt his heart. But that was all back in the past now. 5 years ago. That was long enough to be the past, right? Whatever. He wrapped his good arm around Nick's broad shoulders, minding his injured one as he leaned into the embrace of affection and intimacy. He let out a breath he never knew he'd been holding when Nick returned it, holding it firmly yet gently. The perfect hug. The one he liked. It had all the right components in it. Love, Friendship, everything Greg wanted and needed.

"It doesn't matter." He finally said, and he felt Nick turn his head a bit as their cheeks bumped. Satisfied that he finally caught Nick's undivided attention, he continued.

"It only does that you're here now. It doesn't matter that you didn't come when the lab exploded. I figured you were working on an important, and you were at the time, case." Greg stated matter-of-factly as he gently rested his bandaged head against Nick's. The Texan Heart-throb joined him on the bed now, sitting with one leg hanging of the bed and the other pressing against the hanging one.

"But you should have been priority one, like now. When I heard that guy, what's his name, the pig ass bastard, talk about the situation that way, something just snapped, and I couldn't help myself. I still have that urge to shoot him. Shoot him for what he did to you." He whispered the last words, kissing him softly with a quick glance at the door just in case. Greg returned it with slight difficulty due to his swollen cheeks. Nick pulled back, placing a caroused hand on his cheek, yet it felt gentle.

"When we got there and I saw you like that, I was afraid I lost you." He admitted, his voice cracking and tears threatening his eyes. Greg leaned forward and embraced him once again.

"I'm not leaving yet." He suddenly felt so tired. He wanted to sleep, but he was afraid to. Afraid that he might wake up, and being beaten again, and no one to save him this time, and they wouldn't stop. As if sensing all his fears, Nick kissed his swollen eye softly and helped him back on the bed.

"Get some rest. I'll be right here, watching over you." Greg smiled, and nuzzled into the pillow, and before he nodded off, intertwined his fingers with Nick's. And when he slept, it truly felt like someone, no, Nick was watching over him.

END

A/N: Sorry it's so short. But it's fluff. And it's sweet, with tang, tang, tang! Hee!

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