Title: A friend in need
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Category: humour, ficlet, romance
Summary: Greg runs into his ex while he's out with his colleagues.
A/N: Inspired by prompt #27 from 50 cliché tropes and prompts: "Help me I’m being hit on at a bar please be my fake boyfriend for a second". The story ended up being a bit different than the original prompt.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
"Sorry guys, gotta go," Greg hurriedly said as he came back from the restroom.
"What? You haven't even finished your drink," Warrick pointed out, putting his bottle back on the table.
Greg grabbed his glass and gulped down what was left of his beer.
"There. See you at the lab tonight."
"Greg, wait. What happened?" Nick asked, sounding worried.
"Nothing, I just..." Greg sighed. "I saw my ex at the bar."
Nick gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Bad breakup, huh?"
"Yeah, he's one of those guys who can't take no for an answer, you know?"
Three pairs of eyes stared at him.
"He?" Sara eventually asked.
Greg's eyes widened as he realized what he'd just said.
"Uhm. Yeah. I hadn't really planned on coming out like this, but. Yeah."
His eyes scanned the crowd before he looked at his friends again.
"Anyway. I'm gonna make a run for it before he sees me. Wish me luck."
He shouldered his way through the bar's patrons, keeping his head low and avoiding eye contact with anyone, hoping Andy hadn't seen him.
"Greg? Hey, Greg!"
He groaned inwardly. So much for a clean exit. He kept walking. The place was loud and crowded, he could pretend he hadn't heard him. He just needed to reach the door, get into his car and...
A hand grabbed his arm.
Shit.
"Greg!"
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then turned around and pretended to be surprised.
"Andy."
"Hey. I thought I caught a glimpse of you while I was at the bar, but then I lost you. How are you?" "
Good. Look, I was just leaving, I really gotta go."
"Already? Come on, we meet again after ages, totally by chance, it must be fate. You can't just leave."
Greg got free from Andy's grip and took a step back.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm really in a hurry."
He turned around and made for the door, but Andy stepped in front of him, blocking the exit.
"Are you running away from me?"
Greg didn't like the little smirk on Andy's face. As he was trying to come up with a reply, he felt someone stop by his side and wrap an arm around his waist. He turned his head and almost choked on his tongue when he saw Nick standing there.
"Everything okay, babe?"
"Y-yeah," he muttered, too stunned to elaborate any further.
"And this is?"
"Uhm. Andy."
Nick narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That Andy?"
Greg nodded.
"Yeah."
Nick gave him a tight-lipped smile.
"Hi, I'm Nick."
The expression on Andy's face was priceless. Greg would have laughed if he weren't so shocked by the whole situation.
Nick leaned in and kissed his temple softly, and Greg couldn't suppress a shiver.
"Let's go, babe."
As they walked towards the door, he felt Nick's hand slide into the back pocket of his jeans. Greg knew it was just for show, a calculated gesture to tell Andy Greg was off-limits, but he still felt his cheeks grow warm at the thought of what it must look like.
As they reached Greg's car, Nick pulled his arm away. Greg missed it immediately.
"Thank you," Greg said, standing there awkwardly with his hands deep in his jacket pockets.
"Don't even mention it," Nick answered. "He really looked like a jerk."
Greg burst out laughing. He was about to tell Nick that, yes, he totally was, when he caught movement out of the corner of his eyes and tensed.
"Shit."
"What?" Nick asked. He turned around and saw Andy stand in front of the bar door, glaring at them. Nick took a step towards him, but Greg caught his wrist and stopped him.
"Don't. He's not worth it. I'll just avoid this place for a while."
Nick frowned at him.
"You shouldn't have to turn your life upside down just because some asshole can't get over the end of a relationship."
Greg shrugged.
"Maybe we should send a stronger message."
Greg looked at him with a worried expression on his face. Surely Nick didn't want to resort to violence, he wasn't that kind of guy.
"What do you mean?"
The intensity of Nick's gaze pinned Greg to the spot. Nick lifted a hand to Greg's cheek and leaned forward until their lips touched.
Greg thought he was going to have a heart attack. Nick was kissing him. Nick Stokes was kissing him in a parking lot, right in front of his ex. He parted his lips and wrapped his arms around Nick's shoulders, pulling him closer.
When they eventually broke the kiss, Nick pressed their foreheads together and closed his eyes.
"Is he still there?" he whispered, sounding out of breath.
Greg turned his head slightly, just enough to have a clear view of the bar entrance.
"No."
"Good. I don't like having an audience."
Greg shivered at the deep tone of Nick's voice.
"Me neither."
Nick lowered his hand and took a step back.
"What do you say we continue this conversation somewhere else?"
Greg felt his heart beat in his throat. He nodded, and Nick's smile almost made him dizzy.
"I know just the place: it's nice and quiet and has a decent selection of beers. I'll offer you a drink and you can tell me how someone like you ended up with a tool like that."
Greg grinned. Yes, Andy was definitely a tool. But a tool who had just done him a huge favour.
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April 2022