Is This the End?

Chapter One

Author's Note: Brian hits Michael later in this story as he did in the series.  Story will be Anti-Michael for a while.

* * *

"Greg, can we talk?" Nick asked. It was after their CSI shifts and they were in their apartment.

Greg nodded and sat down on the couch. "What is it?"

Nick sat down on a chair, opposite to Greg, and took a deep breath. He knew that what he was about to do was going to tear Greg up. But he'd been living with the guilt for two weeks and he couldn't take it anymore. His heart clenched as he thought about the pain that he was about to put his partner through.

"Greg, you know that I love you. Right?" Greg nodded, a trace of confusion on his face. Nick continued, "I need to tell you something. Two weeks ago, when you were at that convention, Grissom and I had a case together. We went to his house to talk about some of the evidence that we had found.

And... one thing led to another. Greg, Grissom and I ended up in bed."

Greg shot up off of the couch, shock and hurt evident on his face. "You what?!"

Nick got to his feet, moving closer to Greg. Nick reached his hand out to Greg, only to have Greg step back. Nick let his hand drop to his side.

Feeling tears well up in his eyes, Nick whispered, "I'm so sorry, Greg. I didn't mean for it to happen."

"Has it happened... more than once?" Greg demanded.

Nick quickly shook his head. "No! It was just that once. Baby, please... forgive me."

Greg shook his head, tears rolling down his face. He walked past Nick and opened the front door. Before stepping outside, Greg whispered, "I don't know if I can."

All Nick could do was watch as the door shut. Sinking to the floor on his knees, Nick buried his face in his hands as hot tears fell down his cheeks.

Greg sighed as he found an abandoned parking lot and parked his car. He had been driving around Las Vegas for two hours and he was still crying. Although, not as bad as he had been. He looked at the cell phone, that was laying on the passenger seat, as it started ringing.

Nick had tried calling him a dozen times, but Greg refused to answer. He needed to think, and Nick was just going to have to give it time. He wiped the remaining tears out of his eyes and off his face, then laid his forehead on the steering wheel.

He knew that he wasn't going to be able to work at the lab anymore, not for a while at least. Grissom had always been his mentor. Now, he couldn't even trust the man. And, Nick... well, he didn't know when, or if he'd ever be able to forgive him. His trust in Nick had died. And, if there was no trust, how could there be a relationship?

Knowing what he needed to do, he picked up his cell phone. Dialing a familiar number, he waited for his call to be answered.

* * *

 

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

Justin Taylor was sitting on the dingy couch, in the apartment that he shared with his... boyfriend, sketching. It was still hard to think of Ethan as his boyfriend. But he had made his bed, so he would lie in it.

He was laying his pencil down, to give his right hand a chance to rest, when his cell phone started ringing.

"Hello?" he answered.

Hearing the voice on the other end, Justin smiled. "Hey, Greg! It's been a few weeks, how's it going?"

"I know. I've been busy at the lab. Um... the reason I'm calling is that I was wondering if I could come and stay with you for a little while."

"Sure, you can. I'm sure... Ethan won't mind."

"Still with him, huh?"

Justin sighed. "Yeah. So, what's the matter with you? You sound... off."

"I'll explain when I get there. Let's see, today's Sunday... I should be there by Thursday."

"Okay. It'll be great to see you, Greg. It's been a while."

"Yeah. I'll see you Thursday. Bye."

As Justin pushed the cell's off button, he couldn't help feeling that something was wrong with Greg. He picked up his pencil to resume his sketching, and realized that Greg hadn't said anything about Nick tagging along. Justin frowned as he realized that Greg's sudden visit had to have something to do with Nick. He hoped that Greg was okay. And, he was anxious for Thursday to hurry and arrive.

* * *

Greg walked into the Las Vegas crime lab, Thursday morning, making sure to keep his head held high. When he reached Grissom's office, he paused. Sighing, he raised his hand and knocked. "Come in!" Grissom called out.

Greg opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind him. Privacy was probably best. Grissom smiled. "Have a good couple of days off?" When Greg didn't answer, Grissom asked, "What can I do for you, Greg?"

Greg raised an eyebrow and asked, "Nick talk to you?"

Grissom looked confused as he shook his head. "No. Should he have?"

"Look, Grissom, I know what happened between you and Nick while I was at that convention." Greg enjoyed seeing the shocked looked on Grissom's face. Grissom was usually so good at hiding what he was feeling or thinking.

Before Grissom could say anything, Greg continued, "I can't believe that you would betray me like that. So, who fucked who?" At Grissom's look, Greg knew. "You fucked him, huh?"

"Now, Greg--" Grissom started but was interrupted by Greg.

"It doesn't matter, Grissom." But, inside, Greg was falling apart. He felt even more betrayed. Nick had promised him that nobody else would be inside him. Just like nobody else would be inside Greg. They had been a committed couple for three years. They had even started forgoing condoms. 'Oh my God! Did Grissom and Nick use a condom?' he thought. He'd have to find out, but later. But he steeled his emotions and continued what he was saying.

"I talked to Ecklie before coming to see you. I had some vacation time due to me, and he agreed that I could start using it immediately. So, I just wanted to let you know not to expect me in here for a week. By that time, I should know if I'll ever be able to work here again. And, whether I'll be able to forgive you and Nick."

"Greg, I'm sorry. We didn't mean for it to happen."

Greg snorted. "Yeah, so Nick said. A lot of good that does me." With that said, Greg walked out of Grissom's office, running straight into Nick.

"Greg!" Nick smiled. At Greg's cold look, Nick's smile started to fade.

"Um, Greg, can we talk?" Nick asked quietly.

Greg shook his head. "No. I just came to tell Grissom that I'm taking the vacation time I had coming. I'm leaving for a week."

"A week!" exclaimed Nick. "Where are you going?"

"That's really none of your concern. I need some time away to decide about us. And, to decide about whether to keep this job. Goodbye, Nick." Without waiting for Nick to reply, Greg walked away.
 

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER

Greg was seated on an airplane heading for Pittsburgh. In a little while, he'd see his cousin. He and Justin had always gotten along, even though Greg was a few years older. Justin nineteen, he twenty-eight. But they had always been more like brothers than cousins. He knew that Justin would listen to him about what had happened.

And he couldn't wait to meet Ethan, even though he had a feeling that Justin was regretting his decision to leave Brian. Maybe he could also help Justin while he was there. Two and a half hours later, he heard the flight attendant announcing that they were getting ready to land in Pittsburgh. Fighting back the tears, he waited while the plane landed. After grabbing his suitcase off of the carousel in the airport, he hailed a cab. After reciting the address to the driver, he sat back and waited to arrive at his cousin's.
 

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