Title: What We Must Live With
By: Ericalynn
Fandom/Pairing: CSI: Vegas- Nick/Warrick
Rating: PG-13
Prompt: #6- Consequences at my table
Warning: alcohol and language use; minor slash make-out session
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or the characters or anything affiliated with them.
Summary: He wouldn't be ignoring every call to his cell phone. He wouldn't feel the sting of tears in his eyes at the thought of losing this beautiful man forever.
A/N: Follows my mini-series. Please read "The Lines We Never Cross", What We Choose To Ignore, and What We Decide first.

What We Must Live With

You made your decision Rick. I hope you can live with it.

Warrick slammed his hand down on his steering wheel for what had to be the tenth time in so many minutes. He was angry, no he was pissed because damn it! Nick was right. He had made his decision but it wasn't what Nick thought it to be. If he had chosen his shitty marriage over the bliss he'd found with Nick, he wouldn't be speeding to the man's house right now. He wouldn't be ignoring every call to his cell phone. He wouldn't feel the sting of tears in his eyes at the thought of losing this beautiful man forever.

"Fuck you, Nicky" he muttered as he angrily swiped his arm across his face, hoping beyond hope that he could erase the tears. But it was damn near futile as Nick's last words to him echoed over and over again.

‘Tina' blinked up at him from his cell phone as it came to life again, ringing incessantly. He could almost hear her angry words to him, demanding answers of where he was once again. He should have been home an hour ago but instead, he was chasing his heart. Snatching up the phone, he turned it on vibrate, shoving it into his pocket out of habit as he pulled up in front of Nick's place.

He hesitated for only a moment, trying desperately to collect himself, before he hauled ass out of the truck and up to Nick's front porch. His fist pounded furiously at the door four times before he forced himself to step back and wait. And he did wait. He waited through another unanswered phone call before he rang the doorbell and pounded the knocker again.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Nick had come home and crashed immediately in bed, barely managing to remove his clothes before his head hit the pillow. Working a double and his fight with Warrick had really drained him. Sleep thankfully was kind to him, pulling him into a deep and dreamless sleep almost instantly.

That was until an incessant knocking invaded the darkness, pushing it farther and farther away from his grasp. When the doorbell joined the mix, Nick angrily pulled himself out of his bed, not bothering to pull anything over his only sleep pants clad body. He cursed, stumbling over his bag from work in the hallway, bumping into the couch, then finally making it to the door as another round of knocks rained down on the wooden surface.

Pissed beyond belief, Nick hauled open the door well aware of the crazy sight he would make; hair sticking out at all angles, face pinched with anger and sleep, eyes wild, pants hanging low on his hips. He was ready to rip whoever was there a new one, but never had he even considered it would be Warrick, though in hindsight, he should have. The shock barely had time to register before the anger took over once again as he started to slam the door shut.

Warrick stepped partway into the house, blocking the door's intended path and keeping the space between them unoccupied. A growl of frustration left Nick's lips as he dropped his head against the door, a resounding thud echoing through the still house but the pain never registered. He forced most of his anger down, trying to pull himself together in order to get Warrick out of there as fast as possible. When he opened his eyes he avoided looking directly at Warrick, choosing to look over his shoulder instead.

"What do you want?" The words came out harsher than intended, but Nick couldn't deny the trill of pleasure he got out of Warrick's flinch. "Haven't you done enough damage for one day?"

"Nicky, please. Just give me a minute. That's all I ask."

Whether it was the sheer strength with which Warrick pushed against the door, or the visible tears swimming in those emerald depths that persuaded him, Nick wasn't sure. But he did know that a moment later he acquiesced, stepping away from the door to shuffle into the living room. He plopped on the couch, leaning back with false ease, bare feet propped up on the coffee table, hands folded over his bare stomach while he waited patiently for Warrick.

A moment later he came in, hands stuffed in his pockets. Warrick's eyes were dry now, though Nick's trained eyes could pick out the wet streaks on the man's sleeves. Guilt reared it ugly little head, momentarily breaking up the resentment that was building in his chest, before it was tamped down once again.

"Well …" Nick motioned for Warrick to get on with it. And he watched as a blush crept up the other man's cheeks, his eyes turning to the floor as he paced in front of the TV.

"I never meant what I said to you the other day, … when we-" Warrick shrugged his shoulders as if it were no big deal but the tense set to his shoulders gave him away. He awkwardly cleared his throat, trying to bring himself back on track. "So yeah, I just wanted to apologize for that first. You're my best friend and I've always got your back."

Warrick came to sit in front of Nick on the coffee table, his hands clasp together in front of him so as not to give into the temptation to touch. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was going to say next. Then he looked right into Nick's eyes and let him have it.

"You were right. I did make a decision, but its not who you think." His lips curved into a small smile at the open astonishment on Nick's face. "Yeah, but it shouldn't be a shock, man. It's always been you."

Nick forced his jaw shut as he stared at the man before him, not yet willing to believe the words floating around his head. Warrick had chosen him? But he was still wearing his wedding ring. Nick's brow started to crinkle into a frown as he looked back up into Warrick's eyes, the eyes that could never lie to him. And there shining back at him was pure, unadulterated love, and such an honest vulnerability that Nick couldn't hold himself back.

He reached forward, cupping the back of Warrick's neck and pulling him down onto the couch. Nick wrapped one leg around Warrick's hips as his lips claimed those above him. It was warmth and completion and confusion and frustration all wrapped into one war of dominance and teeth, tongues and lips. But it was Nick would came out on top, his lips breaking away from Warrick's to travel down his jaw to his neck. He suckled, his teeth sinking gently into that inviting flesh, marking it and claiming it as his own.

He only pulled back when something began to vibrate against his hip. And it wasn't quite part of Warrick's anatomy. Nick's hand wandered down into the offending pocket before Warrick could get his head wrapped around what was happening. Then all of a sudden Nick was pushing the other body off of him, anger and embarrassment once again fighting for dominance. Anger at being lied to and embarrassment for falling for the lies once again.

Warrick pushed himself up off the couch, his head still spinning from Nick's sudden mood and positional change. That was until he saw what Nick held in his hand. Warrick's still ringing cell phone. And judging by the look on Nick's pale face, that little device had just made him a liar.

‘Tina' blinked up at Nick. The one fucking thing that had always been between them. Whether it was a tangible object or just her memory, she had always come between him and Warrick. Angrily he tossed the phone at Warrick, his glare deadly as he spun on his heel and opened the front door wide. He waited until Warrick was on the porch, just turning around with some half-assed apology on his lips, before Nick slammed door shut in his face, chaining it in place.

He snagged his bottle of sleeping pills and a bottle of beer before he fell back on his bed, tears already burn trails down his cheeks from his already closed eyes.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Warrick no longer had the energy to put up a fight. He knew he had blown it and couldn't for the life of him think of how to fix it. He didn't know why he hadn't waited to talk to Nick until he and Tina were over and done with. He didn't know why he had even taken his constantly ringing cell phone in with him. It's because he'd gone in half-cocked like he had a tendency to do when it came to matters concerning Nick.

Begrudgingly, he parked his Jeep in front his house and pulled himself out of the driver's seat. The day's events were quickly catching up with him leaving him feeling suddenly exhausted. He just hoped that Tina was already in bed or getting ready for work if she worked dayshift today. He didn't have the energy to argue or to explain. Not when all he truly wanted to do was be curled up next to Nick on his bed, holding the man in his arms and listening to his soft snores.

Neither of his wishes came true though as he stepped into his house. The body waiting for him definitely wasn't Nick's. And that same body was neither ready to leave nor already sleeping. Tina was wide awake, sitting on the couch with the phone clutched in her hand, eyes blazing as he came into the living room. She didn't even give him a chance to close the door before she rounded on him.

"Where the hell were you?! And why weren't you answering your phone?! I've been trying to call you for over an hour." She tossed the phone onto the coffee table where it bounced once before hitting the floor.

It was obvious she was just getting started but Warrick was in no mood. He tossed his bag on the floor by the kitchen counter and toed off his shoes. "Sorry, some shit went down with Nick today at work. I went over to check on him to make sure he was okay," he responded, his voice oddly emotionless considering the subject.

It wasn't a lie … exactly. He had been at Nick's. Shit had gone down between them. And he was checking up on the man. The details weren't what mattered at the moment he decided as he made his way into the bathroom.

Tina was quick to follow. "What about this morning? Where were you then?" Her voice was just as cocky as her stance, leaning against the doorway, arms folded across her chest, chin jutting slightly in the air.

"I got called out to work a scene. Didn't you see the note?"

"And before that? I know you came home way passed your regular shift time before you left again. Where were you?" Tina's voice cracked just the slightest before she regained control. Warrick spun around, incredulous at the sudden hurt in her voice but he never got a word in edge-wise as Tina rounded on him again, this time with renewed anger.

"What the fuck is that on your neck?!" Warrick spared a quick glance in the mirror, heat suddenly flooding him at the sight of the hickey. Though whether the heat was from embarrassment at being caught or the memory of how that mark came to fruition, he wasn't quite sure. He did know, however, that Tina was on the verge of tears though her anger wasn't quite sated just yet. "Who is she?! Who the fuck is she?! I'll tear that bitch apart-"

Warrick held out his hands in sudden defense as Tina rushed towards him, her tiny fists flying in sudden fury. "Whoa! Cut that shit out. Now!" Warrick grabbed both her wrists in one hand, stilling her violent movements, though he made no other move nor said another word. He let her drag in a few deep breaths, calming herself before he loosened his grip and set her free.

"Tina," he dropped his placating hands to his sides and pushed his way passed her into the bedroom. He flopped down on the bed, listening as her footfalls brought her into the room, the bed still between them. "We both knew it was doomed from the beginning." He turned to look at her, this time directly into her eyes so there would be no miscommunication. "I'll always chase tail. You want commitment, to settle down, to have a family. That's not me."

He made no move to comfort her as her tears started to flow. What he said was only partly true. He'd always been the thrill seeker, going from woman to woman until he'd met Nick. That cool Texan attitude had slowed him down quite a bit, inevitably settling him with his cover girlfriend turned wife. No he wanted nothing more than to settle down and let all those dreams of families and happily-ever-afters come true, as long as they were with Nick.

And even though it was his apartment, he made the decision to let her have it if she wished. He would either live with Nick or start fresh. Either way he would leave the passed behind him. He'd made his decision and he was going to live with whatever consequences came his way. He couldn't think of anything else he'd rather do. "I'll be out of here by tomorrow night."

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Continued in #13- Fool