Title: A Happy Place
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Steve McGarrett
Fandom: CSI: Vegas/Hawaii Five-0
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1, 52_challenge
Prompt: 15, A picnic
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 Steve McGarrett, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

"Why did you decide to come out here for a picnic?" Greg asked Steve, looking around with trepidation. It didn't seem like such a good idea to him for them to be out here in what felt like the middle of nowhere, though he trusted Steve to keep him safe and protected.

"Because I don't want either of us to be looking over our shoulders all the time," Steve said, his tone sober and serious. "We've both been doing that lot since ...." His voice trailed away, and Greg knew that his boyfriend was trying to think of a good way to talk about what had happened.

"I know we have," he answered, his own voice very soft. He had to work to keep the shakiness out of his voice when he talked about those hours that he'd spent as a helpless captive, but he couldn't skirt around it forever. He and Steve had to talk about it sooner or later.

They hadn't really talked about it much at all, Greg thought ruefully. Steve had tried to bring it up a few times, but he hadn't felt as though he was ready to talk -- and when he'd finally wanted to talk about how he'd felt, his lover had been busy with other things.

Maybe this would be the day that those walls finally came down, and they had a good long talk about what had happened and how they both felt about it. Greg hoped that they would, but if they didn't, there would always be another time for that. Maybe.

Did he really want to talk about that while they were here? he asked himself, looking around again. It was a beautiful place, he had to admit that, but it felt so lonely and isolated. If anyone had followed them here, then they would be easy pickings, out here alone and vulnerable.

Steve wasn't going to let that happen, he told himself firmly. His boyfriend wasn't going to bring him to a place where he would feel like a target; Steve had more sensitivity than that, especially when it came to people he loved. They were just here for a relaxing picnic.

Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, he followed Steve away from their car, into a wooded area. The other man smiled and took Greg's hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked along. Steve seemed perfectly at home here, comfortable in this kind of wilderness.

He should be comfortable, too, Greg told himself firmly. He was here with Steve, and he knew that his lover was going to keep him safe. There was nothing to be afraid of, no reason that he should feel any trepidation about the two of them being here alone and exposed.

"Don't worry," Steve said softly, squeezing Greg's hand. Greg glanced over at his boyfriend, noting the worried expression in Steve's blue eyes. "Nothing's going to happen, Greg. This is one of the most peaceful places I know. You're safe here. I promise you."

Greg nodded, moving closer to Steve and returning the gentle squeeze. "I know," he murmured, not looking at the other man. "I guess it's just kind of hard for me to get used to being in places where I feel so isolated. After all, I've been kidnapped twice now."

"That's my fault," Steve said softly, his tone rueful. "I should have protected you more, Greg. From now on, I will. Nothing's ever going to happen to you again. Not on my watch. Anybody who wants to get to you will have to go through me first. That's a promise I mean to keep."

Greg nodded, believing Steve's words, but not sure if his boyfriend could keep that promise. He already knew how easy it was for their enemies to get to them; he didn't want to hold Steve to a promise that might be impossible for him to make reality.

"I think this is a good enough place," Steve said, stopping as they emerged from the trees into a clearing and turning to smile at Greg. "This is why I wanted to bring you here. It's such a beautiful place, and I though you might like to see it. It's one of my favorite spots."

Greg drew in a breath as he looked around them, his eyes wide. It was indeed a beautiful spot; they were in a clearing where a small lake flowed, surrounded by all kinds of lush greenery. The sky was a bright blue over their heads, and the sun shone down through the trees.

This was the kind of place that inspired peaceful thoughts and relaxation. Steve was right, Greg thought with a smile. It was the perfect place for a picnic, the perfect place for them to spend some time alone just enjoying each other's company and being together.

He watched as Steve shook out the blanket they'd brought and laid it down on the moss-covered ground under a particularly shady tree; Greg sat down, then watched as Steve did the same. His boyfriend reached out to take his hand again, smiling as he did so.

"We can't keep looking over our shoulders and waiting for the next time somebody comes after one of us, Greg," he said softly, his blue gaze intent on Greg's face. "That's no way to live. I'm not going to let any of the thugs we deal with at work take our happiness away from us."

"Neither am I," Greg answered, his voice very soft and husky. "I've never been happier than I've been since I came here and met you, Steve. I don't want to lose that. And you're right, being cautious and scared all the time is no way to live. I'm not going to let it rule me."

"Good." Steve let go of his hand, turning to open the top of the picnic basket he'd carried. "We've got a lot of food in here. I think I brought more than we'll be able to eat, but better to have too much than not enough, right?" he said with another of those smiles that melted Greg's heart.

Greg could only nod, leaning back on the blanket and letting his gaze roam around the secluded clearing. It was a perfect place for someone to jump them, he thought, his gaze moving from one spot to another. He couldn't help wondering if anyone was out there .....

He closed his eyes, shaking his head as though to dispel those thoughts. He didn't need to think like that; there was no reason to assume that they'd been followed, or that anyone was watching them. Steve wouldn't bring him to some place that he didn't feel was safe.

He had to stop being so paranoid, Greg berated himself. This place was beautiful, and there was no reason fro him not to relax and enjoy being here, and being with Steve. This was one of the rare moments they had alone together, away from everything else in their lives.

Steve leaned over to brush a gentle kiss across his parted lips, and Greg sighed contentedly, letting himself sink into the pleasure of that kiss. He wouldn't mind staying here forever, locking the rest of the world away, and just enjoying his time with Steve.

"Come on, let's eat," Steve said, breaking into his thoughts. "I don't know about you, but I'm starved. And we did come out here for a picnic, y'know." He sounded happy and cheerful, and Greg couldn't help but smile at his words as Steve dug into the picnic basket.

"Sounds good to me," Greg agreed, moving closer to the picnic basket and reaching for the sandwich that Steve held out to him. As he bit into it, he couldn't help thinking that this would be a happy place for him and Steve to come back to often -- and that he was looking forward to it.

***