Title: Some People Are Assholes
By: cameragirl
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Summary: In which Greg is shocked, Nick is angry, and homophobes are fired.

***

Greg heard his ringtone coming from somewhere on this floor. Where the hell could his phone be? He checked in each lab, making sure it was cell-phone free.

"Find it yet?" Sara called from the break room. She had used her mobile phone to dial Greg's number so they would hear his ringtone.

"I think this is what you're looking for?"

Greg spun around at the new voice and saw the ballistics sub staring at him, phone in hand. He was eyeing Greg was distaste, almost as if he wanted nothing to do with the young lab tech.

"Oh yea, thanks man. I've been looking everywhere for it." Greg grinned happily and reached in and took his phone.

"Whatever," The man turned to go back into the lab but not before Greg heard his last word, "Fag."

Shocked, Greg just stood there and watched the tech walk away back to the lab desk. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Looking down at his phone, Greg saw there was an opened text message from one of his friends. Just a friend, not a boyfriend. But the text suggested that Greg go on a blind date with one of his brothers. Crap. That guy had seen the message.

That wasn't all though, this guy kept talking. He was muttering under his breath.

"I can't believe they let scum work here. Foolish. Could ruin the credibility of the whole establishment."

"Greg? Did you find it?" Greg jumped when Sara put a hand on his shoulder.

"Greg? What is it?" She asked, concerned, seeing the nauseous look on her friend's face.

And Greg did feel nauseous. His entire body felt heavy and...dirty. At any moment, Greg fully expected his lunch to resurface.

"You don't look good." Sara put a hand on his forehead.

This grabbed the attention of the tech again who turned around. When he saw it was still Greg, he sighed and continued his work. "Careful lady, you might catch it." He mumbled under his breath.

Sara didn't have time to respond because Nick and Warrick came walking up at that moment.

"Hey Greggo, Sara," Nick grinned at both of them.

"Did you ever find Greg's phone?" Warrick asked.

"Oh, they found it alright." The tech said again. Greg shot him a dirty look.

"What?" Warrick shot a curious look at the ballistics expert. He didn't like this guy that much but he was only a sub, Bobby would be back soon.

"Nothing, it's nothing." Greg urged them. "Yea, we found it." He told them.

"Greg? What's wrong?" Nick asked sternly. Nick knew something was going on but he wasn't sure what. He didn't like the way Greg looked sick all the sudden. And what was with Greg's hostility towards the substitute tech?

"It's nothing. Let's just go. Earlier, you said you had samples for me to run." Greg said finally.

"No way," Nick grabbed Greg's arm before he could move away. "What's going on?"

Warrick and Sara blocked Greg's other escape paths. They were his friends, he knew that. They were just concerned for him but-

"Please, not here. Anywhere but here." Greg murmured. He could easily make up a lie about what was wrong if he just had another minute.

"They're going to find out eventually. You might just even want to get it over with. They deserve to know." The tech leaned against the doorpost, enjoying watching Greg try to figure out what to do.

"Know what?" Nick asked, his voice was soft when he addressed Greg but he looked like he wanted to kill the substitute.

"That this man's a faggot." The tech said simply.

"Excuse me?" Sara turned to look at the man, her eyes were wide with shock.

"You want to try that again?" Warrick clenched his fists. He looked at Sara and saw that she was ready to take this guy. There was no way someone was going to use that language against their friend and get away with it.

"Jesus christ, this can't be happening." Greg muttered.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Nick asked the tech harshly, putting his arm around Greg's shoulder. Warrick stood with Sara, blocking the man's view of Greg who was looking up as if he didn't really believe Nick was there. That look hurt Nick more than anything. He was there for Greg and he would be damned if this asshole was trying to belittle the young man.

"I'm just warning you. Look out. Where I come from, they're-"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," Grissom stood on the other side of the hallway and watched as the scene in front of him had unfolded. "You can get your stuff and I'll send someone to escort you out of my lab. You don't talk to anyone, you don't look at anyone." Grissom said angrily and watched the tech almost shrink at his tone.

Nick stood still, not moving just yet. If he moved, Nick was afraid he would accidentally commit murder. The only thing that stopped his anger was shaking him was that fact that he still had body contact with Greg.

Greg looked like he was about to fall apart. Nick decided to tighten his hold, wrapping the arm that had been around the shoulders around the thin waist. Greg involuntarily leaned against Nick, wondering how everything could change in less than two minutes.

"Nick," Grissom said quietly, "Get Greg outside, some fresh air will do him good. And you two," He turned to Sara and Warrick, "I know you're angry but you need to calm down. The only thing you can do now is tell Brass what happened and give your statements."

Obediently, Sara and Warrick moved to leave the hallway Greg. Sara put a confident hand on his shoulder and squeezed before following Warrick down to Brass' office.

Nick led Greg outside where they sat down on the parking garage steps.

"Greg? Come on, that guy was a douche. He doesn't know you." Nick tried to lift his spirits.

"I hate it." Greg said quietly. "I hate him and I hate people. No one was supposed to find out." He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on them, staring blankly at the cars.

"And why not?" Nick asked suddenly, causing Greg to look up. "Why shouldn't they know about you being gay?" He clarified.

Greg opened his mouth and then closed it again. "It's just...people...People like that..." He didn't know what to say.

"People like that don't deserve to know you or get close to you. They'll never know how amazing you are because they're so close-minded." Nick said firmly. He paused before asking, "Greg...why didn't you tell us?"

Shrugging, Greg responded, "Because I was...scared. Scared of that. Of what just happened. Someone finding out and judging me for one aspect of my life."

"So, you got four of five good responses. Look at that!" Nick smiled as Greg's confused look and explained, "Me, Warrick, Sara, and Grissom. We're fine with it. More than fine with it. That should be enough to convince you to forget about some asshole." Nick's voice softened towards the end.

"You're ok with it?" Greg asked and looked up. Nick's expression was all he needed to see. The CSI was smiling at him and he only had eyes for Greg.

"I'm more than ok with it." Nick leaned in and gave Greg a small kiss.

FINITE