Title: Close
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Category: ficlet, action, romance
Summary: It was supposed to be a simple breaking and entering. Then bullets started flying.
A/N: Written for prompt #1 from 50 cliché tropes and prompts: There's people chasing us and I pulled you into the alley with me and wow you're close.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
Nick didn't know how it happened. One moment they were processing a scene – what looked like a simple breaking and entering case – and the next one they were being chased by half a dozen thugs. He had been showing Greg how to bag and label evidence, where to look for signs of forced entry, how much pressure to apply when dusting for fingerprints, and just as they were about to wrap things up, he heard a commotion outside. The officer who was with them shouted something, and then he heard the first shot. And a second one, and a third. After that, it was impossible to keep count.
Nick drew his gun and told Greg to call for backup as he slowly walked to the window and looked out. There were at least twenty people, all armed, shooting at each other. Nick groaned. He knew there was a turf war going on between two gangs in the area, but they had never done something like that: a full-fledged shooting in the middle of the street, with a police car parked in plain sight. They were getting careless. Or cocky. Either way, things didn't look good for them.
"Backup will be here in five minutes," Greg said, leaning over to take a peek at what was happening outside. "Maybe if we just stay here, they won't notice us."
Nick turned towards him, looking clearly unconvinced. As if on cue, they heard steps approaching.
"Shit."
Nick stretched out an arm, pushing Greg behind him, and aimed his gun at the door.
"Yo, look at the size of that TV."
"I bet there's a stereo too. And jewels. I want something for my girl."
"Whatever. Finders keepers."
"Freeze!" Nick shouted, and wished he hadn't when the first shot flew just a few inches from his face. He shot back, and the two men retreated out of the door.
If only Greg was armed, Nick was sure the two of them could stand their ground until backup arrived. But Greg didn't carry a gun yet, and Nick wasn't going to risk it. He turned towards his colleague and nodded to the backdoor.
"Be ready to run," he whispered. He saw a few more people walking towards the house and knew they didn't have much time.
"Run!" he yelled, just as the first bullets started flying through the living room.
So there they were, running down a dimly lit alley, trying to shake off a bunch of armed guys. As they turned a corner, Nick saw a narrow space between two buildings, a Dumpster blocking most of it. He grabbed Greg's wrist and pulled him along as he squeezed his way past the container and hid behind it. He pushed Greg against the wall and brought his index finger to his lips, wordlessly asking him to be quiet as he kept his gun aimed towards the alley. The group of men ran past their hiding spot, but Nick didn't move until the sound of their footsteps had long faded away. Only then he let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and lowered his gun.
"We should be safe for now," he said turning towards Greg.
Greg, who was pressed between Nick and the brick wall, his flushed face only a few inches away from Nick's. He was still breathing heavily, and Nick could feel his chest expand against his own each time he inhaled. He knew he should take a step back, put some distance between them, but he found himself rooted to the spot.
"I guess now would be a bad time," Greg eventually muttered.
"A bad time for what?" Nick asked, suddenly unable to look away from Greg's mouth.
"For this."
Greg only had to lean his head forward and his lips were on Nick's, warm and wet and slightly parted. Nick barely had time to register what was happening before Greg was pulling back, looking even more flushed than before.
"A terrible time," Nick agreed, and went for another kiss.
Greg let out a small moan and opened his mouth, both hands finding their way to Nick's hips. Nick moved even closer, pushing Greg up against the wall as he bit down on his lower lip and ran his tongue over it, enjoying the small whimper that escaped his friend. He raised his free hand, the one not holding the gun, and placed it on Greg's shoulder, sliding it up his neck and further upward, cradling Greg's jaw in his palm as they kept kissing. He only pulled back when he heard the distant sound of sirens approaching.
"Guess backup is finally here."
Greg was out of breath, his cheeks red and eyes barely open, and Nick wanted nothing more than to have him right there against that wall.
"Yeah," he managed to rasp, and had to make an enormous effort to take a step back. He swallowed and put his gun back into its holster.
"Think we could finish this later?"
Greg sounded unsure as he stood there, back still pressed against the wall and biting his lip.
"Oh, we're definitely finishing this later," Nick replied.
Greg smiled, and Nick couldn't help leaning in again, stealing one last quick kiss before they walked back towards the scene.
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March 2022