Title: Sleep
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: G
Category: Hurt/Comfort, ficlet
Summary: Greg didn't bother turning his head toward Nick. He could barely see through his left eye anyway, the right one swollen and sore and pretty much useless.
"I must be a sight."
"You've looked better."
A/N: Inspired by prompt #16 of this prompt list I found on Tumblr: "You can go to sleep now. I will keep watch."
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
Greg's left eye fluttered open, a small moan escaping his lips as he tried to move his head.
"Hey," Nick whispered, leaning forward in his chair and resting his elbows on his knees. "How you feeling?"
"Like I was run over by a truck," Greg rasped. He didn't bother turning his head toward Nick. He could barely see through his left eye anyway, the right one swollen and sore and pretty much useless. "I must be a sight."
"You've looked better."
Greg's lips twitched upward, but the tiny smile instantly turned into a grimace of pain.
Nick reached out and placed his hand on Greg's fingers, carefully avoiding the bandage wrapped around his wrist.
"Grissom was here earlier," Greg muttered, trying to move his mouth as little as possible. "He wants to call my parents."
"Well, yeah, they need to know you're at the hospital," Nick said, gently running his thumb over Greg's knuckles.
"Can you... Can you do it, please?"
"Sure, no problem, G."
He sighed.
"This isn't how I wanted you to meet them for the first time."
Nick smiled.
"Life has a way of messing with one's plans."
"That's an understatement."
He sighed again and closed his good eye.
"You can go back to sleep. I'll keep watch."
Greg fought off another smile.
"You know we're not stuck in the middle of the woods, right? There are no wild animals hiding in the bushes, waiting to attack."
"Yeah, I know."
Greg let out a small moan, but didn't say anything else. Within a few minutes his breathing slowed down, his head rolling slightly to the side as he fell asleep. Nick kept his promise and watched over him, trying not to think too much of how he would explain to Greg's parents what had happened to their son.
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November 2021