Title: Flames of Hell
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Nick Stokes
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: R
Author's Note: Mentions of rape.
Series: 1) The Word Is Out, 2) In the Light of Day, 3) Property
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Nick Stokes, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg didn't know how long he'd slept; he'd been given stronger painkillers since Nick's angry words with the doctor, and they'd kept him under for much longer than he'd expected. He didn't want to wake up; being conscious would only mean dealing with more pain.

The sunlight was filtering through the curtains again, though he could tell by the angle that it was getting later in the day. The thought made his heart beat a little faster; Nick would be going to work in a little while, and then when his shift was over, he'd be here.

He was living for those hours when Nick was here in the hospital room with him; and tomorrow morning, Nick was going to sign him out and take him home. He'd be able to stay with Nick, safely hidden away from Shane, without having to endure the physical torture that had been inflicted on him for months.

Greg didn't know just how Nick intended to get him out of his relationship with Shane, but he trusted the other man to do so. Nicky always kept his promises; if he said that he would do something, then he would see it through. Especially if he was doing it for a .... a friend.

A small sigh escaped him at the thought; he wanted to be so much more than Nick's friend. He wanted Nick to love him the way he loved Nick; he wanted Nick to be his lover, to hold him and kiss him and make love to him, to make him forget Shane and his cruelty.

"Thinking about your boyfriend?"

Greg gasped as a rough hand clamped over his mouth, muffling any cry that he could have made. He looked up to see Shane leaning over his bed, an amused smile on his face as Greg struggled to jerk his face away from the bruising grip.

"You think I don't know there's been another man coming here to see you?" Shane hissed between his teeth. "I don't give a shit if he's somebody you work with. I've seen the way you look at him. I know you want him -- and I know damn well he wants you."

Greg tried to shake his head, to deny that there was anything between himself and Nick other than their friendship -- but he couldn't. It was impossible for him to deny his feelings for Nick, even if it meant that Shane would inflict more torture on him.

"The only place you'll see him is at work -- and if he dares to lay one fucking finger on you, then you'll be sorry," Shane whispered through clenched teeth. "Now, get your ass out of bed and get dressed. You're coming home with me. You've been here too long."

"B-but .... the doctor has to sign me out," Greg protested breathlessly when the punishing hand was finally removed from his mouth. "I can't just get up and walk out of here, Shane. You know that." He was almost pleading, grasping at any straw that would allow him to stay here.

Once he stepped outside the doors of this hospital, Shane would have complete control over him again. It had been impossible to stand up to him before -- but now, in his physically weakened condition, it would be so much harder for him to fight Shane in any way.

Shane grabbed his arm, pulling him out of bed and tossing his jeans at him. "I don't give a damn if you walk out of here barefoot and shirtless, I'm taking you home. Now." His tone made it obvious that if Greg disobeyed, he would regret it more than if he went.

With trembling hands, Greg pulled his jeans on, mutely taking the shirt that Shane handed him. He didn't look at the other man as he removed his hospital gown, knowing that Shane's eyes were narrowed as he watched, not wanting his boyfriend to inspect the dressings on his back.

He would have to go with Shane; he had no choice. Nick hadn't had a chance to change the names on Greg's hospital records yet, so Shane had every right to sign him out -- and Greg knew just how charming he could be when he wanted something.

He'd have to find some way to leave the apartment when Shane went to work; he could call Nicky, tell him to come and get him. He would only have to endure one night of whatever torture Shane might have planned for him. If he could make it through this one night, then he could run to Nick.

It took him a few moments to get his socks and shoes on; dressing himself pulled at the burns with each movement, and it was more painful than Greg had thought it would be. But he had no choice; he didn't know what Shane might try to do if he refused to leave.

Shane stepped closer to him, grabbing his arm, twisting until Greg cried out in pain.

"Shut the fuck up, you little bitch," Shane hissed at him. "When we get home, I'll give you something to cry about. You're going to pay for letting that guy touch you. I might not have seen it, but I know he did. Did he try to fuck you? Has he fucked you, you little slut?"

"No!" Greg was aware that his denial was too quick, that his tone betrayed his panic. But what else could he say? Nick hadn't touched him, not in a sexual way. Not yet, at least. And judging from how the situation looked at the moment, he might never get the chance.

"The only guy who's going to be fucking you is me," Shane whispered into his ear, his breath hot against Greg's skin. To him, it seemed as hot as the flames of hell -- flames that already licked at his heels. "And I'm going to give you the fucking of your life when we get home. You can count on that."

Greg couldn't keep back a soft whimper of fear at Shane's words -- nor could he miss the smug smile of satisfaction that crossed the other man's face. Shane wanted him to be afraid; he got off on fear and pain, as Greg knew all too well.

Gripping Greg's upper arm, Shane propelled him out of the door and down the hallway towards the nurse's station. "Now we're going to leave," he whispered, his voice rough in Greg's ear. "And you're going to act like everything is perfectly normal, if you know what's good for you."

Greg had to blink back tears as he nodded, turning his face away from Shane. Why had he thought that he could escape from this hell into a life with Nick? He'd been right when he had told Nick that nobody could help him. It was too late -- far too late. And maybe it always had been.

* * * * * * *


Nick burst into Greg's hospital room, unable to believe what he'd been told at the front desk. How was it possible for Shane to have come here and signed Greg out? He had been so sure that Shane would turn away from Greg -- but he had apparently been dead wrong.

Fear gripped at his heart when he saw the hospital gown tossed across the bed. He moved across the room to snatch it up, holding it to his face and breathing in deeply. The slightly cinnamony, tangy scent of Greg's skin still clung to the fabric, bringing tears to Nick's eyes.

What was that bastard doing to him? It had been hours since Shane had signed him out; he could have taken Greg anywhere. He could be hurting Greg even now, beating him senseless, or .... Nick swallowed hard as the words forced their way into his mind. Fucking him.

Why hadn't he thought to call Greg earlier? And why the hell hadn't he been smart enough to get those admission papers changed last night, just to be sure that he kept Greg safe? It was his fault that Greg was in Shane's hands again. All his fault.

But he wouldn't be for long, Nick thought, fingers clenching around the fabric still clutched in his hands.

He was going to find Greg, and he was going to beat the shit out of Shane. Each blow that he landed on that bastard would be for Greg; he would make Shane pay for every second that he'd made Greg suffer. He was going to make sure that Shane never came near Greg again.

What was that psycho doing to Greg now? Nick closed his eyes, fighting back the panic that he could feel rising within him. Standing here and worrying about Greg wasn't going to do any good; he had to find the young man, make sure that he was safe.

It had been more than ten hours since Shane had kidnapped Greg from the hospital.That was more than enough time for him to have seriously hurt Greg, or .... Nick slammed a door on the inner voice that kept insisting Greg could very well be dead by now.

No. He wouldn't accept that. Greg was not dead. Somehow, his heart would know if Greg wasn't in this world any more. He would feel it. He would know if he had to live in a world that didn't contain Greg Sanders. He'd know, because the pain would be unbearable.

Nick turned and moved towards the door, still carrying Greg's discarded hospital gown. He was going to find Greg -- and when he did, he was going to wrap the young man he loved so desperately in warmth and safety, and make sure that nothing like this would ever happen to him again.

***

Next story in series - Bottles and Broomsticks.