Title: Burned
Author: Dee
Rating: R
Word Count: 2214
Pairings: Gil/Nick
Characters: Gil Grissom and Nick Stokes
Warnings: Fluff and AU
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: In my dreams they are like, totally mine!
Beta: jayceepat and podga for their invaluable help in the Americanisation of the fic and their insightful comments. I thank high_striker for his wonderful icons. I am indebted to them all. Any errors are mine.
A/N: I hope you all had a Happy Easter!

They'd taken a couple of personal days off from work to celebrate. It was their 'Three Months Together' anniversary. Okay, not that long, but as far as both of them were concerned it was the best three months of their lives.

The suddenness of the beginning of their relationship had given way to a steady development - a gentle discovery process for them; of their likes and dislikes, their loves and hates, their differences. They were very different men; of course they would not deny that but they also shared many traits.

Sometimes they would deny that was the case. Gil would say how handsome, or even beautiful, that Nick was. Nick would deny that, he was just run of the mill Texan as far he was concerned. Nick thought Gil was THE most handsome of all men and Gil would adamantly refute that statement. So, while they would spend their time in denial about their respective attractiveness, an independent observer, should they have appointed one, would have judged them both correct. They were both very handsome men, and that was that!

They shared the common bond of work - they both loved the puzzle, the evidence collection, examination and conclusion - their being able to side with the victim, to give a voice to the silenced and to even the score for the aggrieved. True, they did it in differing ways, Gil in a quiet methodical manner, Nick in a vocal and sometimes agitated manner; but both men were passionate about what they could achieve.

For every bug that Gil could spout some irrelevant (to everyone else) information about - Nick could do similarly about birds. They fitted together like a nut and bolt. Different components but nevertheless perfectly compatible.

They had decided that since they both wanted to celebrate this first milestone of their togetherness it called for something special, just a little bit extra.

Some people might've thought a night at the Bellagio or Wynn's with champagne and strawberries would be the way to go; well the champagne and strawberries were to their liking but they chose a very different locality.

A tent, to be exact, on a campsite within the Grand Canyon. After all, the place was crawling with bugs and the sky was full of birds. The cooler held the cold bottle of Krug and the strawberries. They'd taken a few supplies but ate at the restaurant at the visitor centre. They guzzled the champagne and the champagne soaked strawberries by their tent on two camp chairs staring at the dark navy blue, star filled sky such a short distance from Las Vegas but a million miles away in atmosphere.

When their touches and words to each other, outside the tent, had inflamed their senses, fuelled by the delicious alcohol, they retired into the tent. First time lovemaking under canvas, with a small lamp to illuminate their heated flesh had been an extraordinary experience for them and two very satisfied, tired and happy men fell asleep in each others arms, warmly encased in the double sleeping bag on top of the inflatable mattress - purchased just for this very special occasion.

Nick woke first, the early morning bird calls gently rousing him, unfamiliar initially with his surroundings; he remembered last night's activities and knew where he was, snugly fitted into Gil's side, their arms around each other as much as they could manage. Warm, comfortable and relaxed he snuggled down a bit closer to Gil and was suddenly aware of a familiar burning sensation: he eased his body back a little, away from Gil.

This was by no means the first time he'd had these sensations. If truth be told he'd had them every time they'd had a passionate encounter such as the previous evening but there was no way he would blame Gil for his passionate love making. No way. Well not exactly anyway, it was probably his fault just as much as it was Gil's. After all he'd never told Gil and Gil had never said that he knew, or realised, or noticed. But then after most of their love making one or both had slept, gone to work or generally had to do something else.

As Nick considered his burning sensations he thought they were the worst he'd felt since they'd been together. Maybe it was the very warm interior of their tent or the confines of the sleeping bag. No, it wasn't, Nick knew very well that last night they'd done more than they'd ever done before; Gil had gloried in the delights of Nick's body and there was nowhere, nowhere, that had escaped his intense scrutiny, his tongue, his mouth and his bloody beard........

The beard was strange though, because if Nick stroked it downwards it was as soft as the proverbial baby's bottom.....but if he stroked it upwards, it was prickly and lets face it some of Nick's bits and pieces were 'delicate'!

The more Nick thought about it the worse his injuries smarted and he squirmed in the bag and concentrated on just where the 'smarts' were situated. His face, despite his own overnight beard growth felt inflamed - all around his mouth and cheeks and his lips, then down his neck both sides. His collar bones had come in for a fair amount of attention, he himself had elicited that attention with his moans and, what, begging - he'd have to admit to that.

Then there were both nipples and surrounding chest area and there was a pathway down to his belly button - remembering THAT had him smiling and smarting in an altogether different manner in another area not a million miles away. Gil had paid a lot of attention to his belly button and they both liked that a lot! Now, what about that other area further down?

As he thought about it and identified the burned areas he knew that his dick was okay, that was a beard free area, not, obviously, a tongue and mouth free area, but it had escaped. On the other hand his crotch generally was sore, there was no denying that. All round his scrotum and groin and the inside of his legs were affected. Oh dear, he'd just discovered another place and this was a 'first'!

Last night in their tent, in the lamplight and in a fairly confined space - on top of the sleeping bag - Gil had rimmed Nick for the first time. It was what.....fantastic, absolutely fantastic. It was Nick's first time ever and after overcoming his initial embarrassment - I mean it wasn't like they hadn't fucked - but it was intimate, and had he mentioned, fantastic? He was sure he had and chuckled to himself despite the pain and suffering he was presently undergoing. (He was a man after all!!)

As he lay there contemplating his unusual situation - what to do, what to say, Nick decided that his bladder needed a little attention of its own. He'd drunk at least half the champagne and despite the sweat he'd lost during their physical endeavours he was still in fairly urgent need of a pee.

He spotted his abandoned boxers and retrieved them, slipping them up his legs after extricating himself from Gil's embrace. He had disturbed Gil and knew the man would be fully awake within moments. He got up onto his knees by the tent opening and unzipping he stuck his head out. It was a glorious morning, cool but with a clear sky, it would become a glorious day. There was no one camped nearby and there was no one around that he could see, so he fully opened the tent flap and sprung out into the open.

They'd purchased an eco friendly tub for 'bathroom use' - mind you both of them would only use it for peeing - anything else called for a.......well, a bathroom. Unless there was an emergency - they'd agreed on that! This tub was between a bush and tree round the back of their tent so Nick gingerly made his way to it, careful to look where he put his bare feet. Finding the tub and starting to pee he heard Gil getting out of the tent, groaning at the effort by the sound of it.

Then Gil was moving towards him and the tub as gingerly as Nick had.

"Hurry there, desperate need approaching." Gil spoke as he arrived by the tub just as Nick was finishing up and adjusting his boxers.

"A man in need here Nicky........what.....what's wrong...you're covered.....a rash....." Even as he was looking at Nick's body, the parts that were exposed to the morning air anyway, Gil was processing the sight and determining a probable cause.

"Oh no, its beard burn isn't it? I'm sorry Nick I had no idea, God it looks sore.....oh God....is it everywhere?

"Yep...no probs man - it ain't your fault." Nick was blushing now.

"You're wrong, it's entirely my fault and it does look like a problem, it looks sore. I'm so sorry. It just never occurred to me; I've never noticed it before - is that me not seeing or is this the first time?"

"Well.....I've had a bit before but this is the worst it's felt. It isn't your fault babe, you wouldn't have done it on purpose and did I stop ya' - did I heck." Nick was making light of his predicament but he was secretly craving a mirror - just how bad was it?

"I thought you wanted to use the 'bathroom' anyway? Come on."

"Yes I do. We'll pack up quickly and get you to a pharmacy for some lotion to soothe your skin." Gil had become Mr Efficiency.

Nick found the anti-bacterial hand cleanser, in lieu of soap and water and then chanced a peep at this crotch to assess the damage down below.

"Please may I look Nicky?" Gil said this almost keeping a straight face and Nick was about to let him peep too until his caught the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Nope." He said, as petulantly as he could and snapped the boxer's waistband back into place.

They smiled at one another, one of those moments - forgetting the beard burn - and remembered their first night spent under canvass together. Nick put his hands on Gil's bare chest and rested them against the cool skin. It actually felt to Nick as if they'd been lovers for far longer than three months. They had known each other for a couple of years though, so he supposed that helped, but they seemed to be perfectly synchronised.

Nick loved Gil and he suspected (he sincerely hoped with all his heart and soul) that Gil loved him. Neither man had made the declaration and in that moment as they looked at each other Nick knew that is was inevitable and irrevocable.

"I love....." was as far as he got because at exactly the same time Gil had spoken.

"I love...."

Nick laughed and his face crinkled with those adorable dimples that had made Gil's breath hitch even on the first day they'd met. 'Perfectly synchronised', thought Nick and moved to kiss Gil.

"Oh no you don't Nicholas Stokes." Gil started to Nick's surprise, "There won't be any kissing until this damned beard is gone!"

Seeing Nick's frown he continued. "If you could see your lower face you wouldn't be so keen to enter into a liplock, let me tell you." At Nick's pout Gil planted a quick kiss on the end of Nick's perfect nose and pulled him into a hug, avoiding resting his face anywhere on Nick.

"I do love you though, Nicky, more than anything, more than anyone."

"I love you, man, I can't imagine not being with you, it's like we've always been together, y'know?"

"Indeed I do. Last night was the best....well.....the best for me, ever." Gil held Nick tighter and he felt Nick nodding on his shoulder.

"Yeah. The best."

"Beard burn notwithstanding?"

"Not. With. Standing? What kinda word is that?"

"Obviously not a Texan one."

"Couldn't ya' have just said 'in spite of'?"

"Yep s'pose ah could've cowboy!" Gil mimicked a Texan drawl.

"On second thoughts you say the big words man, leave the accents to me!"

"Indubitably a 'sound', forgive the pun, choice."

"We sort of fit together don't we - you have what I want...and need....and I hope that, y'know, I have what you want......"

"You have everything Nicky, everything, that I've ever wanted or needed.....there is something I've got that neither of us need though."

Nick looked puzzled and then stroked Gil's beard, "I will miss it, but one thing's for sure my ass won't!" he then reached around Gil and groped each of his ass cheeks with a firm grip.

"Breakfast Nick?"

"Is that the food variety breakfast or....."

"Beard burn Nicky - or had you forgotten your sore ass?"

"Can I get dressed first? Do you think I'd better keep away from the cafeteria, you could get takeout for me?"

"It is advisable to dress but why d'you need to stay out of the cafeteria?"

"Well, two men camping alone in a single tent, one with a beard and one with beard burn, what do you think the evidence suggests?"

"That at least two campers had a great night Nicky, a truly great night!"

The End