Title: Green
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Category: angst, hurt/comfort, ficlet
Summary: He can't move.
A/N: Written for George Eads Appreciation Week/Month. Week 4 (March 19-25) - It’s Not Easy Being Green / Movin’ Right Along: Hardships or road trips!
Special thanks to panchostokes for the inspiration.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
He can't move. His legs feel heavy, stuck to the ground, and his knees won't bend. He wants to reach out, but his arms are glued to his sides, fingers grabbing uselessly at the rough denim of his jeans. He tries to sit up, but there's a weight on his chest, an invisible hand pushing him down and keeping him in place.
He's itching. He can feel hundreds of tiny legs marching on his skin, crawling along his arms, up his neck, roaming all over his face and trying to make their way into every orifice.
He can't breathe. The air is stifling, suffocating, sweat drops running down his forehead as he opens his mouth, tries to gulp down some oxygen, but nothing gets past his pharynx.
And then there's the green glow. It's seeping through his closed eyelids, painting the darkness in a sickly emerald hue, and he knows what he would see if he opened his eyes: cracked glass walls, dark soil, and an army of ants ready to eat him alive.
He feels his heart beat faster as his hand closes around the gun, the barrel hard and blessedly cold against the underside of his chin as he pulls the trigger.
He wakes up with a start. He's drenched with sweat and panting harshly, eyes moving frantically around the dark room as he tries to figure out where he is. He pushes back the covers and sits up, placing both feet down on the floor but not standing up. He leans forward, taking his head in his hands as he wills his breathing to slow down.
"You okay?"
Nick almost jumps.
"Y-yeah," he croaks out, voice low and raspy. He clears his throat. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."
He hears the bed sheets rustling, then two hands gently touch his back.
"Bad dream?" Greg asks, gently rubbing his shoulders.
Nick nods.
Greg doesn't say anything else, doesn't ask him if he wants to talk about it, doesn't offer fake reassurances. He just continues to run his hands soothingly along Nick's back and shoulders until Nick feels his tensed-up muscles start to relax again.
"Want me to get you some water?"
Nick shakes his head.
"Okay."
He feels Greg place a kiss on the back of his neck, and a shiver runs down his spine.
"Think you can manage to get some more sleep?"
Nick really doesn't want to, afraid of what he might see if he closes his eyes again, but they're both exhausted and could use a few extra hours of rest before they start the daily scavenger hunt that is their job.
He sighs and turns around. Greg is looking at him with a worried expression, face lined with sleep and hair a wavy mess. He slides back to his side of the bed, making room for Nick, and lies down. Nick reclines back and reaches out blindly, finding Greg's hand under the sheet and squeezing it.
"I'm here," Greg whispers.
Nick closes his eyes and turns onto his side, inching closer to Greg until he's curled up against his front, forehead pressed against Greg's chest and Greg's arm wrapped protectively around him.
"I'm here," Greg repeats.
For the moment, that's enough.
-----
March 2023