A/N: This story is dedicated to janet1982, who said she wanted a story where Greg was an experienced horseman. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: As always, don't own 'em, just love 'em!

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy

Chapter 1

It had been a couple of weeks since Nick Stokes had managed to get out to the stables to ride his big bay gelding, Lucky Boy. He hadn't had to pull a double at the crime lab today, so he'd decided he'd better go to the stable and take Lucky Boy out, before the poor horse began to think his owner had abandoned him.

Nick didn't have to worry about his horse being looked after, the stable had hired hands who mucked the stalls, fed the horses, and even exercised the horses who weren't ridden regularly by their owners. That didn't stop him from feeling guilty for not being able to ride his horse more often. Working as a CSI at the Las Vegas Crime Lab made that difficult to do.

Many days, he ended up working double shifts, or odd hours. Even though his scheduled shift was from ten o'clock at night until six in the morning, many times, he found himself coming in during what most people considered normal business hours. This was done for several reasons, the usual reason being that he had to sit in on the interview of suspects, or witnesses, or he had to gain entrance to businesses or residences that he couldn't, or wouldn't, go into during what most people considered to be prime sleep time.

He loved his job, though. Putting all of the pieces together to catch the perpetrator of a crime, and watching as the handcuffs were clicked into place, it always gave him a rush. He even loved the people he worked with, considered them a second family.

There was a quirky lab rat, though, that he had feelings for that went beyond what he would feel for a family member. Nick wasn't naive to think he ever had a chance with one Greg Sanders. Greg – with his slim build, spiky blond highlighted brown hair, bubbly personality, and nonstop flirtations with anything on two feet – was unquestionably straight.

So now, after another night of Greg's flirting – every day, Nick swore he would not return the flirtations, but found himself caving the moment he walked into the DNA lab – and Nick's return flirtations, Nick was frustrated, and needing an outlet so he wouldn't blow a fuse. He figured taking Lucky Boy out for a hard run might take the edge off.

He had Lucky Boy tethered to a ring in the aisle outside of his stall, and was just reaching down to lift Lucky Boy's left back hoof to pick out, when he heard a familiar voice floating down the aisle on the hay dust filled air.

"Hey, M.J.! How's my sweet girl doing?" Greg sanders voice carried to Nick from a few stalls over.

As he finished picking out Lucky Boy's hoof, Nick heard the sound of a stall door being rolled aside, and the clop, clop sound of hooves on the hard packed dirt floor of the stable.

Straightening, he looked over Lucky Boy's back, in the direction of the sound. Sure enough, Greg was leading a horse out of the stall just three down from Lucky Boy's.

Nick absently noted the mare Greg lead out was one that had been at the stable for some years. She was a beautiful horse, her whole body jet black, except for a blaze of white starting just between her eyes and running all the way down to the side of her nose, and one white sock. He knew from the stable hands that the horse was named Mica Jade, and that her owner came about as often as Nick did, which was to say, not often at all.

Eyes drawn back to Greg, Nick found himself taken aback by the fact that the younger man obviously knew what he was doing with the mare. Greg and horses were two words Nick would never have used in the same sentence. But here Greg was, dressed in tan riding breeches, tucked into brightly shined black riding boots, a white button down shirt tucked into his breeches.

Even though Nick had never known that Greg rode, it only seemed natural that Greg would ride English style, instead of Western style.

The younger man picked up a pick from a hook next to a shelf containing other grooming equipment and an English style saddle, and began to pick Mica Jade's hooves clean.

Replacing his own hoof pick, Nick picked up a brush and began to brush Lucky Boy with long, even strokes.

Speaking over the horse's back, Nick said, "Hey, Greg! Didn't know you ride."

Greg let out a squeak, and whirled around, nearly dropping the hoof pick. Mica Jade danced to the side, as much as her tether would allow her to.

"Nick! Shit, you scared the crap out of me!" Greg laughed, as he realized who had called his name. A wide smile spread across his features, lighting his light brown eyes with a twinkle.

"Sorry, G!" Nick said with a sheepish smile on his face. He continued to run the brush over Lucky Boy's hide in long, even strokes.

Greg quickly turned back towards Mica Jade, doing his best to calm her, as she was stomping a hoof down on the packed floor, snorting nervously. He didn't turn quite fast enough to hide the blush that had crept up his neck to his face from Nick.

It dawned on Nick exactly how tight those riding breeches were on Greg, and he was happy he had Lucky Boy between himself and Greg. Otherwise, he was pretty sure Greg would notice the bulge in Nick's jeans.

Clearing his throat, Nick said, "So, how long have you been riding?"

Having finally calmed Mica Jade, Greg lifted one of her hooves back up and started cleaning it again. With a small snort of laughter, he said, "It's the only sport my mom would ever let me do. She rode when she was a child. I've been riding pretty much my whole life."

Placing the brush back on the shelf above his tack, Nick picked up a faded saddle blanket and placed it carefully on Lucky Boy's back. He hefted the heavy Western style saddle onto the tall horse's back next. Reaching under Lucky Boy's belly, he snagged the sinch, and had it looped and tightened before Lucky Boy could even think of drawing in a breath.

As he watched Greg placing his own saddle, a simple English style saddle much smaller and lighter than Nick's, on Mica Jade, Nick said, "All these years of boarding at the same stables, you'd think we'd've run into each other before now."

"I usually don't ride in the morning. I like to ride in the late afternoon, early evening. Just haven't had the time lately," Greg replied, sinching up his own saddle. "You have a usual trail you take?" he asked, swinging up into the saddle easily.

"Nah, I was actually thinking about a hard ride around the barrels, today." Thinking about the connotations of the words "hard ride," Nick felt his face heat, and was glad that the younger man had turned his horse towards the door of the barn, heading away from Nick. Putting his booted left foot into the stirrup, Nick easily pulled himself up to Lucky Boy's back, right foot finding the other stirrup out of long habit.

Glancing back over his shoulder at Nick, Greg raised an eyebrow. "If it's a hard ride you want, why don't you join me out on the track. I'm sure Mica Jade would like to stretch her legs a bit." He eyed Lucky Boy appraisingly, "Your bay could give her a run for her money, if we keep it to a quarter mile. Loser buys breakfast."

Never one to pass up a challenge, Nick let a broad, predatory grin spread across his face. "You're on!" Pressing his heels into Lucky Boy's sides, Nick moved the horse so he was walking alongside Greg's, as they exited the barn and headed out to the quarter mile track the stable maintained behind the main building.

At this time of the morning, there were very few people out riding. Of the two horses on the track, only one was doing any serious running, and even that was at a sedate trot. For the most part, the two co-workers had the track to themselves.

Grinning at the flush of excitement on Greg's face, Nick settled himself in the saddle, ensuring he had a firm grip on the horse with his legs, and that he was holding the reins comfortably, yet tightly. Glancing over at Greg, he watched as the younger man did the same thing, before looking to Nick.

Giving a quick nod of his head, Nick shouted, "Hee yah!" and dug his heels into Lucky Boy's sides. The horse jumped forward, and quickly found his stride, muscles rippling and bunching under his hide. Lucky Boy's head bobbed up and down with each ground eating movement of his legs he made. Based on Lucky Boy's speed and Nick's skill in the saddle, he had won several barrel racing contests when he'd been in highschool.

They were approaching the half way mark around the track now, and glancing to his side, Nick saw that Mica Jade was matching Lucky Boy stride for stride. Greg was laying nearly flat along Mica Jade's neck, his lips moving as he urged the horse on.

As they approached the finish line – still neck and neck – Nick pulled subtly back on the reins, and felt Lucky Boy slow marginally under him. Mica Jade pulled ahead, and Nick heard Greg whoop in triumph, as they both slowed their mounts to a trot, then a walk.

Greg's wide smile fell on Nick, as they continued to walk their horses around the track, cooling them down after the hard run. "Looks like you're buying breakfast, Stokes!"

Nick returned the smile, his eyes traveling down Greg's body. He jerked his head around, deciding that he should be paying more attention to what his horse was doing, than the obvious bulge in Greg's riding breeches. He felt sure that Greg would call him on it, but the younger man said nothing, just continued to walk Mica Jade along side Lucky Boy.

"How about you come over to my place, and I'll fix you breakfast," Nick suggested, a plan forming in his mind.

It seemed to be Greg's turn to laugh, as he said, "I didn't know you cook."

Risking beaming a smile back at the younger man, Nick said, "I'm a man of many mysteries. So, what do you say? My place an hour after we finish up here?"

A thoughtful look settled on Greg's face, as he replied, "Can we make it two hours? I'd like to run home and shower, first."

Revising his plan slightly, Nick said, "You have street clothes with you, right?" When Greg nodded, Nick said, "You can shower at my place, while I fix breakfast."

An unreadable expression flitted quickly across Greg's face, then he was saying, "Okay, that sounds good."