Crushed
Author: Daniela
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Greg/Grissom
Rating: PG
Category: Angst, Romance
Series/Sequel: Breaking the Ice
Disclaimer: I donīt own them but I love them dearly.
Summary: Grissom pays Greg a visit at the hospital.
Warnings: Spoilers for "Play with fire" and the 2. Season, Pre - Slash
Feedback: Yes, please. Itīs the icing on my cake.
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Released: July 2003
Beta: Isha
Although Grissom was exhausted, he didnīt feel ready to drive home yet. He didnīt want to be alone. So instead, he drove to the hospital to pay Greg a visit. When he arrived, he stopped at the desk of the trauma department to ask the nurse in charge about Gregīs condition.
"He is stable, but needs to rest," the nurse let him know and reluctantly allowed him to go in for a short visit.
Even though he found Greg asleep, Grissom sat down on the chair at the bedside.
Greg was breathing deeply.
Grissom sighed. Why did I come here anyway? To check Gregīs condition personally? Or to watch him sleep?
Greg was looking like a schoolboy.
His hair is more out of place than usual, Grissom noted, amused. He considered leaving but was too tired to get up. The last few days had been a nightmare. The explosion in the lab and Catherineīs involvement, the handling of the messed up cases, director Robert Cavalloīs attitude and finally Sara. Saraīs coming on to him. Shit! What a mess! I donīt know what to do about her. Maybe I should tell her the truth? Sorry, but Iīm not interested in you. Why, Grissom? Because Iīm more interested in men. Sure. That would be fun. He could imagine Saraīs shocked face.
Greg shifted and moaned in his sleep.
Speaking of men, seeing his boyish lab tech like this made him utterly sad. He didnīt like these feelings one little bit.
Shortly after the explosion, he had feared Greg could be dead. He was worried sick until it had been clear, that Gregīs life wasnīt in danger. Grissom didnīt want to feel so strongly about anyone. Not now, after all these years of loneliness. At that he was having feelings for Greg. Couldnīt it be someone more suitable?
Gregīs eyelids fluttered. He opened them and threw a confused look at Grissom. He didnīt seem to recognize him.
"Hi. Itīs me. Grissom."
Greg blinked, amazed. "Grissom! What are you doing here?"
"Just checking on you. Iīm leaving now. "
"No. Please stay." Gregīs brown eyes were begging.
"Okay, but just a little bit longer. You need to rest."
Silence. Both men didnīt know what to say. They felt awkward.
"Iīm sorry," Greg started finally.
"Huh? What for?"
"For all the trouble."
Gregīs strange statement amused Grissom. "Donīt be silly. You know it wasnīt your fault."
"Yeah. Catherine told me."
"She was worried sick about you. The whole team was worried."
"Were you worried too?" The second the question was out of his mouth, Greg regretted it. What was I thinking? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. How could I expose myself like this?
But Grissom surprised him with unusual humor. "Certainly. My best chemist is injured and now I have to deal with Hodges."
Greg grinned, pleased, his eyes were shining brightly.
Affectionately, Grissom smiled back.
Gregīs heart started beating a lot faster. It pounded almost painfully in his chest. Jeez! Donīt be so sentimental. He is your boss! Get him out of your system. He will be never interested in you. He is just nice to you, because youīre in a hospital.
They stayed silent for some time. Greg was chewing on his lower lip; Grissom was staring at his hands. Maybe it was the strange circumstances or the pain killers or Grissomīs good mood, which gave Greg the courage for the next question. "Can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure. Go on." Grissom had to be in high spirits.
"Are you losing your hearing?"
Grissom winced slightly and stared at him.
After a while Greg become very intimidated by his glare and lowered his eyes. "Sorry. Please forget it. I shouldnīt have asked you something like this. Itīs none of my business."
Grissom took a deep breath. "No, itīs alright. I will tell you. Itīs true. Iīm losing my hearing."
"Why?"
"Itīs the same disease my mother has. Itīs genetic."
"Thatīs awful. Iīm so sorry."
"Thank you. Please promise me you wonīt tell anyone else. Nobody knows...at least thatīs what I thought. How did you figure it out?"
"Iīm a good observer." Another stupid mistake.
Suddenly, Grissom was wide awake. "So, you have enough spare time to observe your boss? Thatīs interesting."
Greg blushed fiercely.
Grissom had an astonishing epiphany. Maybe Greg hadnīt fallen for Nick. Maybe Iīve been blind the whole time.
Greg pulled up his blanket and yawned.
Grissom smiled about Gregīs childish trick to change the subject. "You have to go back to sleep. Iīll leave."
"No. Please stay. Just until I sleep."
"What for?"
"I feel better with you here."
Pure amazement swept through Grissomīs body. He tried to catch Gregīs expression, but the young man had already closed his eyes.
But he went on talking. "Thank you for coming by. It means a lot to me."
"Donīt mention it. Everybody else will pay you a visit as well."
"I donīt prefer everybody," he confessed, unflinching, and drifted off to sleep.
Grissom watched him closely. "Oh boy, you will cause me a lot of trouble," he murmured in the stillness of the room.
