AN: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.

1. Reliving the Past

Nikki adjusted her bag on her shoulder as she stepped out of the elevator and looked around. Turning she headed for Mac Taylor's office. She had noted the lab technicians and uniformed personnel going about their business, but she hadn't spotted the tall dark haired, blue eyed detective leaving the lab. However, Don Flack jnr had seen her. She hadn't changed since he last saw her two years before. He was surprised to see her in New York let alone in the Lab, he never thought she would come back. He took a breath and approached her.

"Nikki"

She recognised the voice, he was the last person she expected to meet at that moment, it was silly really she knew he was attached to the Crime Lab and worked most cases with the CSIs and that they would meet at some point during her stay. She'd hoped to have more time to get things in perspective to decide what to say to him. She turned around.

"Don, how are you?"

He looked at her, she held her breath waiting for the backlash, he could see her reaction; he knew she was waiting for an outburst from him; he didn't want to argue with her, certainly not here in the lab, he shrugged his shoulders

"Ok you know" he paused "you? What about Amy?"

Nikki was surprised by his response, memories of their last meeting replaying itself in her head. She slowly answered "I'm ok, Amy's fine, she's back home with Mum"

He asked why she wasn't with her, Nikki stared at the floor

"Its time I faced up to the past, all of it" she whispered.

He nodded at her knowingly. "Drinks later, just to talk?" He was desperate not to push her right now, she was clearly struggling to deal with why she came back, it wasn't going to be easy for her, the least he could do was just be there, maybe in the process he could mend some of their broken fences. He'd actually thought a lot about her in the last few months, since the bombing.

She shook her head, she told him she had other plans, she had things to sort out.

She wasn't ready to deal with their issues yet. She was still dealing with one reason for coming back to the city which she had left almost 5 years ago.

He didn't get a chance to respond as Mac arrived and greeted Nikki, apologising for making her wait. He sensed the tension between the detective and the young woman before him and hoped it wouldn't affect how they worked.

Don's phone rang and he excused himself and walked away.

Mac gave Nikki a tour of the lab and introduced her to the team. Shortly after a call came in and Mac sent Nikki out with Sheldon Hawkes on what appeared to be a simple case. He noted the strained look on Nikki's face as he informed them the body was located downtown in Nelson Rockefeller Park near Ground Zero, but she took the call without question.

On the way to the Park Nikki and Sheldon talked a little, but as they got closer Nikki became quieter. Don met them as they got out of the vehicle, he looked at Nikki taking in her pale face and tense look, he asked if she was alright, she glared at him then asked about the case. A brief glance between the detective and doctor left both of them concerned.

Once they had dealt with the scene Nikki packed the evidence and her kit back into the vehicle and stepped away, and moved to where a corner of the park gave her a view across to Ground Zero and she stood gazing over towards a the site, images of the TV coverage showing the falling towers running through her mind,

Don went over to her. This was where their problems had begun, where he'd watched her suffer with the tragic consequences of that day 5 years ago. He knew what she was thinking, seeing, he knew she had to do this, but he wanted nothing more than to make everything right again, but he didn't know how. He waited for her to say something, she sighed; she knew he was there. She took a breath and tried to speak, her voice shaky, telling him what he already knew.

"It's the first time I've been this close, this is why I came back, and I have to deal with it" she whispered.

"I know," there was a moment's silence and then he spoke again "its time to go Princess". His nick name for her slipped out before he could stop it. "I used to hate you calling me that", she sighed. She seemed resigned to everything, once she would have argued with him about the name. She brushed a tear from her face, shivered and turned heading for the vehicle.

The case did turn out to be a simple one, ruled as natural causes by the ME; the victim had had a heart attack while out jogging.

As she left the lab a week later she ran into Lindsay, they talked briefly about their cases and Lindsay asked how Nikki was finding being back. She admitted she had missed New York, and it was good to be back for a while, but she was also looking

forward to going home again.

"What's the story with Flack you two seem pretty cool with each other" she asked posing the question no one had voiced

Nikki shrugged, "we've got history, it's complicated, we've got a lot of stuff to sort out, I've gotta go I'll see you Wednesday"

Nikki punched the button for the elevator as Lindsay walked away.

Don was leaving the lab on his way back to the precinct and saw Nikki at the elevator.

"Nikki? wait up!" He joined her "what are you doing tomorrow?"

She told him she had plans, he knew what she was planning, he didn't want her to do it alone. "d'you want some company? I could switch my shift" he offered. She looked up at him and shook her head "Thanks, but I need to do this on my own". He nodded then added, "You know I'm here, I'll call you tomorrow to check you're ok". This time Nikki nodded and entered the opening elevator.