Title: Observant
Author: DarkTwinkle
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: Post 'Play With Fire'
Summary: Lab rats are an observant species too.
Author Notes: Since this is the first time I've cross-posted to any comm I thought I'd share my first CSI fic. Usual disclaimers apply, any feedback would be greatly appreciated

She was amazed that she noticed the difference between naturally messy spikes and the spikes he obviously worked hard at to maintain there faked messiness...she also knew she was just distracting herself so she didn't have to look at his burnt cheek.

Sighing she ran her hand through said spiky hair, slowly bringing it down to stroke his uninjured cheek with the back of her fingers, withdrawing her hand quickly has his eyes fluttered, opening slightly.

He looked up to see who his visitor was, smiling when he recognised his co-worker, sat by the head of his hospital bed.

"Hey," he mumbled, voice rough with sleep. "How long you been here?"

"Not long" she lied, as soon as the night shift had ended, well, as soon as she'd been able to finish she'd headed for the hospital.

Upon arrival at his room she found it occupied by Catherine, Greg had been conscious at that point. Deciding to get some breakfast in the poor excuse for a canteen, she'd headed back half an hour later to find Greg alone but asleep.

Smiling he looked at her "I know you're lying."

Returning the smile, she continued to stroke his face in a very motherly gesture.

"Would you like anything getting?"

"No thanks Jacqui" he said, shifting his position. "I'm fine."

"You sure?"

Greg decided she knew him too well, all he wanted was to get out of here, all this sitting....well lying still was annoying him but he knew if he tried to move the pain in his back would re-awaken.....sighing he turned to look at her. "Could you get me a drink?"

"Sure" she reached over to the pitcher of water on the bedside table, but he held a hand up to stop her

"..No, I'm sick of the taste of water"

"Well I can't give you alcohol, Nick would kill me" she watched as he blushed slightly at the mention of his boyfriend's name.

The pair had been dating for a couple of months now, of course they were keeping it quiet...they still were, but Jacqui had been one, if not the only one to notice there was more there. She'd watched from her print lab as the pair flirted in their normal way, becoming proud of herself when she picked up on the lingering touches as evidence was passed from one to the other, the way Greg perked up...practically beaming whenever Nick paid him a visit, not to mention the way the pair looked at each other, as though neither of them would notice if the lab came down around them...

...She stopped that thought suddenly, she bit her lip remembering back, the lab had come down around them to be precise the DNA lab.....Greg's lab...had blown up. Greg had been seriously hurt, 1st and 2nd degree burns covered his back. Nick had been in the adjacent A/V lab and had escaped the explosion coming out of it shuck up and in shock, Jacqui being the only one to know the true cause behind his shock, after all who wouldn't be in sock after seeing their boyfriend being thrown through a window.

Jacqui herself sustained a few minor scratches on her face; she lightly fingered her healing cut...

"Stop."

"Huh?" she answered clueless

"Stop thinking about it......and go get my drink" he smiled, he knew she was thinking about the explosion....Hell it was all he could think about, what he had been thinking about for the past 3 days.

She ruffled his hair "Ok but still no alcohol, and I'm not sure I should be giving you anything fizzy..."

"Jack....Stop mothering me" He whined "my backs hurt, not my insides...I'm just sick of the taste of water"

"Ok, ok...I'll grab you a soda."

"Thanks" he smiled, though as she left the room his face returned to a blank canvass. He was really beginning to feel sorry for himself.

* * * * * *

Jacqui left Greg's hospital room, scanning the corridor she noticed him immediately, who could mistake those broad shoulders, not to mention his whole style and posture....it also helped that he was wearing his ID badge, the unmistakeable letters of C.S.I stood out a mile.

And he was obviously trying to act invisible, slouched down in his chair, hand over his face, she paused for a moment...she knew he knew she was there, he'd jumped at the sound of Greg's room door opening, but she was slightly unsure whether to approach him or not.

Greg knew that she knew about the happy couple, but after the young lab tech had spilled the beans he'd begged her not to say anything, so Nick was clueless.

Deciding it was for the best she went over to the very tired looking C.S.I and took the seat next to him

"You can go see him now, if you'd like?"

Nick jumped at the voice, he'd been lost in his own world, looking up he put on one of his famous grins...she could tell it was just that.....put on.

"You...erm...finished?"

"Not exactly, just grabbing him a soda, go in though" she added seeing the look in his eyes "I'm sure he'd be happy to see you."

Nick looked at her, he swore she knew about him and Greg, he had no idea how but the way she was looking at him...that knowing look....she knew alright

"Thanks" he got up heading towards Greg's door. Wondering just how long she'd known...and more importantly how he'd missed it.

* * * * * *

"Thanks Jack..." Greg mumbled, hearing his door open, a bonus of having his own room, when ever the door opened, who ever it was, was there to see him

"Cheating on me now? Eh G?"

Greg's eyes shot open as he tried to sit up and turn towards the door, because he thought he heard Nick's voice. He forced a smile when he realised Nick was actually in the same room as him not just an imaginary image like the last time, the smile wavered slightly as he gritted his teeth through the pain he was currently in due to his sudden movements.

"Hey, relax...don't move so much" Nick soothed, at Greg's side in an instant.

"I'm fine."

"Now I know your bulling me" Nick let his Texan accent come out more, knowing Greg found it relaxing. He leaned over to gently place a kiss on the younger man's lips, the kiss however was re-directed to his cheek has Greg moved his head "Hey Greggo" Nick ran his hand down the uninjured side of Greg's face "What's wrong?"

"It's not that" Greg pleaded "Jacqui will be back soon...she went to get me a soda."

Nick sighed "I know, she came up to me in the corridor."

Nick settled back into the visitors chair that he assumed Jacqui had pulled to the bed, all he wanted to do was climb into the bed and gather Greg into his arms, he knew however there'd be plenty of time for that later when Greg had been discharged.

"Nick, there's summat I gotta tell you," Greg started, reaching for Nick's hand with his, once he found it; he locked fingers with Nick squeezing gently.

"She knows about us" Nick cut him off, sensing what Greg was about to say

"Yea" Greg admitted guiltily "I'm sorry."

"How long?"

"Huh?"

"How long has she known?"

"About a month...look Nick I couldn't help it, I know you want to keep this quite but she got it out of me and....."

"Shhhh" Nick held his finger up to Greg's lips, removing it only to replace it with his own lips.

As they broke apart Nick cupped Greg's face, forcing their eyes to meet

"Calm down, it'll just hurt you more if you get worked up..."

"But..."

"No buts, so what if Jacqui knows, she's known for what? A month? And she hasn't said anything....The only reason I didn't want it getting out was because I figured one if not both of us would loose our jobs, not to mention give us unnecessary hassle"

"That could still happen"

"Shh...right now I don't care what happens.....hey G got something to ask you"

Greg looked up; he could see seriousness in Nick's eyes. He could tell Nick was forming idea's about what to say in his head, if he didn't know any better he'd think that C.S.I was rehearsing what he was about to say.

"When they release you...how would you like it if you moved in with me for a while, or I with you....y'no just until you get better?"

Greg smiled, his turn to make soothing gestures "I'd like that"

Nick leaned over the lab tech once more as their lips met Nick couldn't help but think about how dry and sore Greg's lips felt, he pushed that though out of his head concentrating on returning the passionate kiss the younger man was eagerly giving him. Letting a hand run through Greg's soft spiky hair.

* * * * * *

Jacqui watched through the window in the door, she'd returned to the room, soda in hand, but luckily she'd looked through the window before entering. When she saw the two men talking in what she assumed would be hushed tones, heads close together, she smiled.

She watched as Nick repeated the soothing gestures she'd been doing not half an hour ago. Seeing them together she knew Greg would pull through this just fine, after all he had Nick to lean back on.

Smiling she saw Nick lean forwards to kiss Greg - Jacqui was impressed by how perfect they looked together, she backed away from the door giving the boys their privacy...she sat on the chair Nick had vacated, and glanced at her watch, she'd been here four hours, she figured she'd give them five minutes before she walked back in on them....or at least wait till they where in an uncompromising position.

She didn't want to jeopardise anything with Greg, if Nick didn't know she knew, then that was fine by her. She couldn't stop grinning; the C.S.I's figured they were pretty smart since it was their job to investigate and observe people, but they needed to give credit, lab rats where a very observant species too.

End