Title: What's It Gonna Be?
Author: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Nick/ Gil
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Gil confesses his feelings, and Nick drags his feet making up his mind.

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Gil sat in his darkened living room brooding. He'd had a long day, and still he couldn't sleep. He was thinking about Nick and wondering if he'd made a mistake. He had confessed his feelings in a rare moment of weakness, and things hadn't gone the way he'd anticipated. While he hadn't turned Gil down flat, he'd hesitated and asked for some time to think about what Gil was offering. Gil promised to give him the time he needed to think things over, and they had left it at that.

Now, nearly a month later, Gil still had no clue where he stood. Nick was still professional at the lab, but any overtures made by Gil to talk to Nick outside of work were met with excuses. It was during this time that Gil noticed that Nick seemed to be spending quite a bit of time with Greg Sanders. They had always been friendly at work, but Gil noticed that when he asked Nick about meeting him for breakfast, Nick always left with Greg or shortly after.

This knowledge cut Gil to the core. It also explained Nick's reluctance to talk to him after work. Gil took it to mean that Nick was actually interested in Greg and not him, and that hurt Gil deeply. He should have known that he wasn't good enough for Nick. After all, he was an introvert of the first order, he was 15 years older than Nick, and he was what Catherine had called 'socially retarted'. It was no wonder Nick wanted Greg. Gil decided to just leave the situation alone, and go back to worshiping Nick from afar.

Just about the time that Gil had gotten his emotions back under control, Nick blindsided him with an invitation to breakfast after shift one morning. Against his better judgement, Gil agreed. When it was time to leave, Nick asked if they could meet at Grissom's place. Gil agreed, and Nick told him he had something to do first, but he would meet him there. Gil was a bit confused, but headed home to tidy up and start breakfast.

Nick arrived nearly two hours later to find a very cranky, very sullen Gil. He apologized over and over again for being late, and tried to explain why. Gil was in no mood for excuses, and told Nick to get to the point of his visit, or get out. Nick was shocked to say the least. He'd never seen Gil act this way before, and he wasn't quite sure what to think.....

"What the hell, Gil?"

"What do you mean, Nick?"

"What's with the attitude and the anger?"

"Frankly, Nick, I've had it with you!"

Nick's heart nearly stopped when Gil said those words to him. He knew then that he had made a huge mistake in taking so long. The most he could hope for now was to do some serious damage control.....

"What do you mean, Gil?"

"Nick, I'm not blind. I feel like a fool for ever confiding in you about how I felt. You asked for time to think about it, I agreed, and they I see you taking up with Greg. It really made me feel like an idiot to think I might have a chance with you. So, I'm going to ask you this, and make it really simple because I'm tired of beating myself up. What's it gonna be, Nick? Him or me?"

"Gil, please listen to me.....It's always been you, and it always will be. When you told me how you felt, I was so happy. Then I got scared. I needed time to think about it, and believe it or not, Greg helped me see the light. I had lots of concerns, and Greg helped me find my way. I wanted to really have my shit together when I gave you my answer so that you wouldn't regret choosing to be with me. Beneath Greg's goofy lab rat exterior, he's a really wise man. He helped me see my way clear to telling you that I wanted to be with you forever....."

Gil thought about what Nick had just told him. He felt like an ass for jumping to conclusions,, and told Nick so. He and Nick talked for the better part of the day, and were able to make some serious headway in being together. Later, after Nick and Gil had been together for a few months, Gil took Greg to lunch to thank him for helping Nick. Even though Gil had come close to giving up, he was glad he hadn't. Nick made him very happy, and that's what counted.

END

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