One Step at a Time

“Hey man.”

“Nicky, hey,” Warrick said, looking up from the microscope with a smile.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, not even around here, which is saying something. How’ve you been?”

“Not bad.” Avoiding you just so we wouldn’t have to have this or any conversation, but I’m sure you don’t want to know that. “How about yourself?”

“Bout the same,” he nodded. “Case going well?”

“It’s looking good. Yours?”

“Yeah. Should probably have the paperwork wrapped up in about an hour.”

“I hope I’m half as lucky, but either way, I’m out of overtime.”

“Well, you know, I was thinking, since we’ve got tomorrow off, why don’t we go out for a couple beers, maybe shoot some pool, watch a game?”

“Tomorrow? For beer?”

“Yes, beer. You know the stuff, fermented grain, kind of gold in color, comes in pitchers, you drink it.”

“Nick, that sounds great, but. . .”

“But?”

“I’ve sort of got plans.”

“Dude, you’re seeing someone?” Nick’s face burst into a smile. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Just a date then.”

“Not exactly. I’m going to the symphony.”

“The symphony?” He didn’t think Nick could look more confused. Hell, he didn’t really understand it himself. “Did you lose a bet?”

“No. I want to go. I’ve actually been going quite a bit lately.”

“‘Rick, I know we haven’t spoken in a while, but is there something you want to tell me?”

Warrick pretended to think about it for a moment, then shook his head. “Not that I know of,” he answered, lying through his teeth. “About the drink, you know, I can probably get together once the concert’s over. You want to meet up then?”

“Yeah, sure, if you think you can fit me into your schedule,” Nick grinned.

“I’ll see what I can manage,” he joked as he turned back to his work. “Catch you later.”

Nick stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. “Later.”

Greg peered around the corner where he’d been waiting for his chance and as soon as Nick left the room, he followed the Texan down the hall.

“Hey Nicky,” he said, slinging an arm around his shoulders. “What’s going on?”

“Hey Greg.”

“You’re looking kind of down there, big guy. Anything I can do?”

“No.”

Taking a quick glance around, Greg grabbed Nick by the arm and pulled him into an empty interrogation room.

“Greg!” Nick protested as the younger man closed the door. “What are you doing?”

“It’s clear you need to talk, so I’m providing you the opportunity to get it off your chest, whatever it is.”

“Greg, I don’t need to talk.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Nick--” Whatever he was going to say, he didn’t get a chance.

“I think Rick’s avoiding me.”

Greg was so startled, he lost all train of thought. “What?”

“Warrick’s avoiding me. You know all the gossip--did I manage to piss him off somehow? Because I’ve gotta say, G, I can’t take much more of this.”

“I don’t think--” he started, and again Nick interrupted. That was it. He was just going to stop trying to speak and let Nick get it all out.

“It’s been like this ever since. . . you know, and I know he feels responsible for what happened, and we all know he shouldn’t, but if this is going to affect our friendship, then damnit, I’m going to tell him it is his fault if it just means I’ll get my best friend back. I mean, this is fucked up, right? I’m the one who was buried alive and nearly blew my own brains out, but I feel like everyone else is suffering more than I am! And you know what, that just makes it worse, because I have to be so goddamn careful to make sure I don’t say or do anything to set off anyone off and make people think I’m losing it! I can’t go through a day when I don’t get so turned around trying to reassure everyone I’m fine, I don’t even know if I am fine, but I can’t let on to anyone that because then I won’t have another second to myself for the rest of my goddamn life!”

“Nick!” Greg said, grabbing him by the shoulders. “Stop it!”

The Texan took a deep breath and sighed it out. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

“No, I mean stop it! Stop worrying about everyone else. If they’ve got problems with what happened, then let them figure it out themselves. You are not responsible for the rest of the world! You’ve got to stop putting everyone else first and worry about you!”

“Easier said than done,” he muttered.

“Actually, it is. Next time someone starts to make you feel guilty about feeling, tell them to go straight to hell. Blow up at them. Let them know you’ve had enough of people treating you like the slightest thing will make you shatter and that you just want things to go back to normal.”

Nick stared at him, his eyes wide. “Shit, G, is this how you felt?”

Greg looked towards the window and shrugged. “Well. . . yeah, kind of.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nicky, you apologize one more time, I’m going to punch you.”

He chuckled. “All right, it’s a deal. Same goes for you.”

“Agreed. Now, about Warrick. . .” All the good feeling Greg had managed to develop vanished from the room. “You think it’s possible that there’s other stuff going on with him?”

“Maybe,” Nick shrugged. “I mean, he did mention going to the symphony tomorrow night, and it didn’t involve a girl. That’s definitely not something he’d normally do.”

Okay, this was the point where he should gracefully bow out of the conversation because he was definitely not the one to be sharing anything about Warrick’s personal life with Nick.

“Did you talk to him about it?”

Nick looked at him like he was crazy. “No. Why would I?”

Greg sighed. “Talk to him, Nick. I know it’s not the ‘manly’ thing to do, but I think you’ll both get past this is you just suck it up and talk to each other.”

“Greg--”

“Don’t argue with me, just do it.”

Nick looked at him with a wary eye. “You sound like a commercial.”

“If it makes a good point, then I won’t deny it.”

He slumped into a chair. “Well, we are going out for beers tomorrow after the symphony’s over. I suppose I could talk to him then.”

“You’re going out?” Greg asked, unable to keep the surprise from his voice, and immediately bit his lip to keep from saying anything incriminating--like ‘what the fuck is Warrick thinking going out with you when he’s supposed to be coming home with us?’. “I mean, great. That’ll be the perfect opportunity to talk. You’ll both be a little drunk and you can always blame it on the alcohol later.”

“You know, maybe you’re right,” Nick said, his face brightening. “Hell, at this point, I’ll do anything if it’ll just end this weirdness we’ve got going on.”

Because a couple beers and an awkward chat was going to do that, Greg thought while giving his friend an encouraging smile. “I hope it’ll work. Good luck.”


Warrick shifted awkwardly in his seat, running his finger under the tie around his neck. Beside him, Greg quietly smirked. He was being punished for going out with Nick afterwards, he knew it. Of course, Greg had never said anything, and neither had Jack, but he could sense the tension from the way they acted around him. The outright dirty looks were also a big hint, as were the possessive hickeys on his neck that were not going to just vanish in a day no matter how much he might wish it.

But he wasn’t going to say anything. Nothing would happen between him and Nick, of course, but if thinking something did was going to keep them this worked up, he wasn’t going to object. They could get pretty enthusiastic when they were jealous.

“Stop squirming,” Greg hissed.

“I can’t help it,” he whispered. “You tied it too tight.”

“Tough shit. Suffer quietly.”

“I’m taking it off.”

“You’re not taking it off until we’re back home and I can use it to tie you to the bed. Now stop ruining Jack’s night and pay attention.”

“I’m not ruining Jack’s night,” he muttered, but didn’t say anything else. He just slumped down in his chair to focus on their lover who was scowling at them both from the stage. Oh, yeah, he was definitely getting tied up tonight, and nothing he said was going to change their minds. But what did they expect? Was he supposed to ask for permission before hanging out with a friend? It was Nick, for gods sake. Greg at least should have understood, but knowing it was Nick seemed to put the younger man on edge even more. It made him wonder--did Greg think he had feelings for Nick? They were buds, that’s all. What he did with Greg and Jack he would never do with Nick. He didn’t want to do those things with Nick. No, Greg and Jack--they were something special, better than any fantasy he could dream up, and he could seriously see falling in love with them both.

But one step at a time.

At that moment, the conductor lifted his arms and the music began. Seeing Jack play like this wasn’t the same as when the three of them were alone, but it was enough. Jack kept his eyes on them the entire time and Warrick quickly found Greg clutching his hand. He glanced over at the former lab rat and smiled to see the awestruck look on that adorable face, the one he got every time they heard Jack play.

No matter how much Greg bitched about being dragged to hear ‘mortuary music--Live!’, Warrick wasn’t fooled. He’d seen Greg’s heart ripped to pieces by some of the performances they’d seen and he loved it that Greg was so affected by the music.

“I know, baby, I know,” he said, raising Greg’s hand to his mouth and grazing the knuckles with his lips, and Greg smiled without ever looking away from the stage, giving Warrick’s hand an acknowledging squeeze.

Yeah, they were fools if they thought he would ever give this up. Now, if he could just find a way to smooth things over with Nick, his life would be perfect.