Can't be helped

“Hey, I’m here… Sorry about that. How was the trip?” I pretended not to notice the relief in his voice when he replied, hoping that he wouldn’t notice how breathless my own was. Maybe I’d get lucky and he’d assume it was only because I ran to catch the call.

“Oh, hey… I was worried that maybe you’d fallen asleep or something. The trip was fine. We’ll be headed back around mid-day tomorrow, though. Just gotta take care of a few loose ends and we’ll be on our way again.” I frowned at the statement, even though it really was wonderful news.

“Why do I get the feeling that isn’t a good thing?” A low chuckle sounded, and then I realized that my words might not have come out quite right. He didn’t seem to mind, though.

“You’d be both wrong and right… We found his body when we arrived. His C.O.D was a single gunshot to the back of his head. No signs of a struggle, so he might have known the killer. It also looks like he was robbed blind. The television, laptop, and stereo systems are missing. His car is gone, too. But get this, we put out an APB for it, and not an hour later we got a report back. Seems a young woman was spotted driving it. The beat cop that spotted the vehicle lost it before he could pull her over, though. Either way it looks like our main suspect is a girl around the same age as the tortured kid.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. As far as we know he doesn’t even have any friends… Did they get a good look at her? Do we have a description to go off of? If it’s a girl the Vic knew, or a student at his University, then a description should help us find her pretty quickly.”

“We’re working on that now. The officer who spotted her is being interviewed and we’ll put out a BOLO for her once that’s done.” I nodded to myself, silently agreeing. Knowing that to be the best course of action.

Languidly stretching, I smiled and asked, “So you guys have both had a busy day, huh?” A tired sigh met my words and I realized that he was probably way more exhausted then he was letting on. But I couldn’t help but smile… because as tired as he seemed, he still called me before even thinking of going to sleep. For some reason, that thought warmed both my cheeks and my belly. Far more so, in fact, then any lingering embarrassment over what I’d just done in not ten minutes prior.

Instead of continuing my earlier train of thought I changed the subject. “Listen… I don’t know if Grissom is around you or something. But even if you can’t say anything out loud or openly or whatever… I just… I miss you, Nicky. I know that probably sounds stupid… because it’s only been a few hours… but I do. I really do… and I just wanted you to know, so…” I bit my lip as I trailed off in an effort to stem the horrible river of words streaming from my mouth. I know that I ramble far too much at times but usually I don’t really care. A moan filled with longing sounded in my ear and it was enough to spark a twitch of interest from my lower half. Then a breathy chuckle and he was speaking slowly, softly but so very clearly on the other end of the line.

“How the hell do you do that? Just a few words… and I’m aching. Not just in the way you’re thinking, either. God damn it. I want to hold you so badly, right now. I want to run my fingers over every line on your beautiful back, through your soft hair. I want to trace your palm and kiss every knuckle, every finger. It kills me knowing that you’re there, right there waiting for me… And I’m not going to be there to hold you tonight. You really have no idea what you do to me, do you darlin’?”

My eyes must have been as big as dinner plates when my brain registered the term of endearment he’d used. My breath stuttered in my chest as I pulled his pillow to my face, letting my eyes close and inhaling his spicy scent. Subconsciously, I squeezed the phone closer to my ear. Whether to try and pull him closer or to pretend I could feel him there, I’d never know but… fuck. Why does he have to say these things when he’s so fucking far away? My words came out in a half -wine, half-moan as I rolled onto my side, pretending that I could feel his arms wrapped tight around me. “Tomorrow. You’ll be back here tomorrow… and when you are, I am going to hold you to every word you just spoke. You got that Stokes? Every damn word…”

A light, happy little chuckle met my words and it made me feel very pleased with myself right then. Like I’d won a prize I hadn’t even known I was trying for. “I miss you too, Greg. I can’t wait to come home… I have to go now, though. We’re getting up real early. Gonna see if we can get everything taken care of before seven. Keep my bed warm for me, ya hear?” I stifled a small chuckle at just how close to the mark his words had actually been.

“Promise, Nicky. It’ll be nice and toasty for you, complete with a human body pillow.” He laughed quietly, but I could tell he was drifting, so we bid each other good night and I put the cordless phone back on its charger. Suddenly feeling both giddy and lonely at the same time. But it couldn’t be helped… Such is love. It was probably a bad idea to let myself get too comfortable with everything. Sure this thing was going well so far, but that didn’t mean that Nick was looking for anything terribly serious or long term.

Before I let any more negative thoughts bog me down, I cleaned up and settled in for bed. Thinking of his smile and of the fact that he’d be back tomorrow. Sleep overtook me a few short minutes later.