Title: Shake
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Category: Hurt/Comfort, ficlet
Summary: Greg's hands can't stop shaking.
A/N: Inspired by prompt #24 of this prompt list I found on Tumblr: "Don't let your fears dictate your life."
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
Greg was sitting in the break room, a glum expression on his face. He was holding his hands out a few inches above the table, but no matter how hard he stared at them, they wouldn't stop shaking.
"Hey, G."
He whipped up his head at the sound of the familiar voice, quickly lowering his hands in his lap.
"Hey. Sorry, I didn't hear you come in."
Nick smiled.
"So I noticed." He walked to the table and gestured toward the chair next to Greg. "Mind if I join you?"
Greg shrugged. Nick grabbed the chair and sat down, keeping some distance between them.
"Everything all right?"
Greg sighed.
"Not really. Grissom just called me out because of my hands."
Nick frowned.
"He what?"
"Of course he said everything's going to be okay, but what if it doesn't stop? What if it really starts affecting my work? What if..."
"Greg," Nick interrupted him, leaning forward and placing a hand on his arm. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"This," Greg answered, holding his hands out in front of him. They were visibly shaking.
Nick looked from them to Greg's face.
"Is it because..."
Greg nodded and lowered his hands again, placing them on the table.
"I... I didn't know, man. I'm sorry. And Grissom gave you hell for it?" Nick asked, incredulous. It didn't sound like Grissom.
"No, he was actually pretty supportive, said the shaking will stop eventually and that I can talk to him if I need to. But what if it doesn't? What if I can't do my job anymore?"
Greg looked so worried Nick felt a pang in his chest.
"Hey. Don't let your fears dictate your life. If Gris said it'll stop, it will stop. You know he's always right," he added with a grin.
Greg smiled back, and Nick felt his heart do that funny thing it had been doing more and more often around Greg lately. He reached out, covering Greg's hands with one of his own.
"Tell you what: shift's almost over, what do you say I treat you to breakfast? I'm even willing to cut your food and feed you if you can't hold your fork and knife."
Greg burst out laughing, a blush slowly creeping up his face.
"That would be nice. The breakfast, I mean, not the feeding," he hastily added, cheeks turning even redder.
Nick decided he liked that flustered look on Greg's face and wanted to see it as often as possible.
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November 2021