One Step at a Time

Jack slid out of bed and into a robe, pausing only to send a fond glance at his sleeping lovers before walking quietly towards the living room. They didn’t stir once as he left--he wouldn’t be surprised if they slept throughout the rest of the day. They’d had Greg so worked up, it had taken them nearly half the morning to wear him out, and by then, all three were completely drained. Warrick had fallen asleep not long after Greg, but Jack’s mind was too busy to let him rest.

Placing a Nina Simone album into the CD player, Jack curled up on the sofa, wrapping his arms around a throw pillow. Parker padded into the room and stretched out on the floor next to him, happy for a moment alone with his master. Closing his eyes, Jack let Nina and Parker carry him away, her voice and his even breathing soothing the knots in his stomach.

What had he gotten himself into?

The first moment he’d laid eyes on Greg struggling with the lawnmower, Jack had known he wanted him. What he hadn’t expected was Greg’s unfailing good-nature, his enthusiasm, the way he made him laugh, the dedication in those brown eyes when he spoke of his work. Greg was wonderful in ways he’d never imagined.

And then there was Warrick, whose touch was lightning that spread throughout his entire body, whose green eyes saw everything, but kept it to himself, speaking when necessary and somehow managing to always find the right words. He’d make himself a willing slave for that man, but he knew Warrick would never ask. Warrick was troubled, and Jack understood that he and Greg were only a step in his journey to finding his right path. The thing that worried Jack most was what happened when Warrick did find his path. What if he left, or worse, what if he took Greg with him?

From the stories Greg had told him, Jack knew it was difficult for the criminalists to have a lasting relationship with anyone. Lovers couldn’t handle the demanding schedules, but even more, they couldn’t face the horrors they saw reflected in the CSIs’ eyes. He wasn’t even sure he could. Greg had spoken of a few of the cases he was working on, and it was enough to make Jack’s sleep uneasy, but only because he knew Greg had withheld the most gruesome details. He didn’t understand how Greg could do this day in and day out, but part of him was reassured by the knowledge that what his lover did saved lives, that Greg’s work provided people with comfort, with peace, with the closure they needed to go on with their lives.

But in the end, all this meant was who better to love a CSI than another CSI?

Warrick and Greg would be able to understand each other in ways that Jack never could. They could talk about blood spatter and sexual assault as simple facts of a case, when just the mention of bone fragments made Jack want to leave the room. These things should not be part of everyday conversation, but for Warrick and Greg, it was what they did, and the fact occasionally made Jack’s blood run cold.

Which was why they were better paired for each other than he and Greg ever could be.

Parker’s head lifted and he heard footsteps as someone entered the room.

“Jack?” Greg whispered, kneeling down next to him. “You asleep?”

He shook his head.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“If that’s true, will you please look at me?” he asked, brushing the hair away from Jack’s face. He opened his eyes, and Greg smiled. “That’s better. Now, you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

He shook his head.

“Is it Warrick?”

“No, not. . . not really.”

“Is it me?”

“No, not really.”

Greg’s eyes turned fearful. “Is it us? Are you having second thoughts?”

Jack smiled. “No, beautiful, it’s not us.”

“Good,” he said, relieved. “So what is it?”

He shook his head. “You’ll think I’m being stupid.”

“Probably, but I want to hear it anyway.”

“I’m. . . I’m afraid. I’m afraid Warrick’s going to leave, and he’s going to take you with him.”

Greg stared at him for a moment, then smiled. “You know what? You were right. You are being stupid,” he said, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Jack, I want you to know, no matter what happens with Warrick, I’m not going anywhere.”

“It would make sense. He’s better for you than I am.”

“Who says?”

“I do. Look at the two of you. You’ve got so much in common.”

“We have our jobs in common,” Greg shrugged. “That’s all.”

“That’s enough.”

“Jack, part of the reason I like being with you is because you have nothing to do with the job. You’re free from all that, and when I’m with you, I’m free from it. You’re my security net, Jack. When I’m done for the day, I want you to be able to catch me. I want to fall into your arms and be reminded that there are good things about the world. Solving a case is an amazing high, but these past few weeks, knowing you’re waiting for me has been the best part of my day. I don’t want to lose that, not ever.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Every word,” he grinned, giving him a kiss.

“But Greg. . . what if Warrick stays? I mean, you’re the one I. . .” Blushing, he stumbled to a halt.

“Yeeesss?” Greg said, eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Look, I like you a lot--more than a lot, and I think you know that.”

“Yeah, but it’s always nice to hear--though, preferably, in less vague terms.”

Jack poked him in the stomach. “Focus, beautiful. Warrick’s a great guy, and if he decides he wants to stay, I wouldn’t mind--I’d be thrilled, actually, but I want to know how you’d feel about it.”

Greg’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? Between Warrick and Nick, I’ve been living in a gay man’s fantasy for the past few years. To actually have the Warrick half of the fantasy come true--let’s just say I’m not complaining. So long as you’re okay with him, I’m okay with him. More than okay. In fact, I can’t picture my life right now without both of you in it. So will you come back to bed? I’m exhausted, but I’m not sleeping unless you’re there with me.”

Reassured, Jack smiled and allowed Greg to lead him back to the bedroom. Warrick appeared to be fast asleep and didn’t seem to have noticed he’d been left alone. The two paused in the doorway, Greg tilting his head thoughtfully.

“You know,” he whispered loudly, “if we pull the sheet down just another couple of inches, we’d have the perfect view of his ass.”

Jack grinned at him, sliding an arm around his waist. “I was thinking the same thing. Wonder if he likes being woken up in the middle of the day.”

“He doesn’t,” came the muffled response from the bed.

“But if he’s already up. . .”

“He’s not.”

“No point in wasting an opportunity.”

“Yes, there is,” Warrick groaned, rolling over and placing an arm over his eyes.

“You know,” Jack smirked, “if we pull the sheet down another couple of inches. . .”

Warrick grabbed onto the sheet and pulled it up to his chest. “This is the last time I date anyone who’s younger than I am.”

“Oh, so we’re dating now,” Greg said, jumping onto the mattress. “Are you going to send me flowers at work and bring me chocolates and take me out for romantic dinners at nice restaurants?”

“Will it shut you up?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

Jack and Greg exchanged surprised looks.

“Really?”

“Well that’s not fair,” Jack said, hopping on the bed next to Greg. “If he gets flowers and candy and romantic dinners, I want them too.”

“Fine. So long as you let me get some sleep.”

“Okay, but starting tomorrow, I’m expecting something sweet or something with petals to be delivered to me at work,” Greg said as he curled up next to Warrick while Jack slipped out of his robe to curl up next to Greg, who began sliding an oh-so-inconspicuous hand beneath the sheet.

“Greg,” Warrick warned.

“Just getting comfortable.” A minute passed. “Jack,” Greg warned.

He grinned. “Just getting comfortable.”

“From now on, I’m sleeping at my own place,” Warrick said, turning over so his back was to the both of them.

“The hell you are,” Jack said, leaning up on his elbow, feeling suddenly possessive of his little trio. “You fuck us, you stay with us.”

“This a new rule?”

“Brand new. Think you can handle it?”

Warrick raised his head to look at Jack. “I can handle anything you got.”

“Glad to hear it. So stop bitching and go back to sleep.”

An eyebrow arched over a green eye. “When I wake up, you’re going to be in a world of trouble.”

“Promises, promises,” Jack grinned, leaning over Greg and kissing him. He then kissed Greg, who was looking a little bereft, and settled down to sleep.