Laws of Motion – Book 2
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Prologue
September 7, 2005
The Blakes
6:15 a.m.
While the house was still quiet, Sean lay in bed thinking about the future...about being a teen, liking girls, and fitting in at school. Once again his heart picked up its pace. What if the previous week was a fluke? What would he say happened when kids asked about his scar? And every time they asked, he would be reminded of the humiliating circumstances surrounding the injury. Adolescence was a minefield, and as Dr. Grissom had pointed out, there was no escape...he was on a forced march directly through it.
Years from now, adulthood would be the next destination on this unstoppable journey called life, and after witnessing the traumas and dramas the grownups around him had experienced of late, Sean knew the future would be just as fraught with trials and tribulations.
A child no more, he understood the easy days were permanently over. It was a terrifying realization, and one that had snuck up on him far too fast.
"Sean..." Wendy called as she knocked on the door. "Rise and shine, Honey. You don't want to be late for your first day back."
"I'm awake, Mom." He tossed the covers and jumped out of bed, relieved that his dreams had been unproductive. Then, in the quiet voice of a little boy, the teen added, "I'm awake, but I'm not sure I'm ready for what's ahead."
Chapter 1
The Townhouse
6:30 a.m.
Standing in the kitchen filling a jumbo travel mug with freshly brewed Kona Diamond, Greg watched Tawny working out with her new Yoga DVD in the living room. "Are you sure you're allowed to do that when you're pregnant?" From the second he slipped the engagement ring on her finger, his paternal instincts notched up ten-fold. "It looks dangerous. Like you could..."
"Greg..." Holding up the DVD box Tawny pointed to the title. "Yoga for pregnancy. But I think it's cute that you're worried. Speaking of worried...how are you feeling this morning about your first day back?" Since he hadn't suffered a nightmare since their first night in California, she was hoping it meant his fears had subsided.
"Right now...I feel fine." Placing the lid on his coffee mug Greg confessed, "I'm not sure how I'll feel if I have to work in the field today. I think I'll be okay as long as I don't have to work in a confined space with only one escape route."
Pressing pause, Tawny stood to walk her skittish fiancé to the door. "Will you call me and let me know how you're doing when you have the chance?"
After stealing a kiss he asked, "Are you sure your new boss won't mind you getting calls at work?"
"Considering he's supervising me from San Francisco, I don't think Ron will know or mind. By the way, he and Lina will be back on Thursday, in plenty of time for the wedding...and your bachelor party."
"Come on...just tell me how bad Nick's planning on torturing me."
"Fat chance." She pecked his lips. "It can't be that bad because it's the night before the wedding and Nick knows if you're incapacitated for the ceremony, Carrie, Jillian and I will strangle him."
Greg's shoulders relaxed. "Right."
"You better go, because you don't want to be late for your first day back." Standing in the open doorway Tawny filled her lungs with morning air and fronted bravery for her jittery man. "We're both going to have good, uneventful days, and tonight..." She placed her hands on his shoulders. "We'll celebrate your successful return to work, and review wedding plans with our best man and maid of honor."
"Sounds perfect." Grabbing her left hand, Greg pressed a kiss to the ring adorning it. "Okay...I can do this." He took a deep breath. "Don't tell him I said this but...I really wish Nick would be there today coaching me through it."
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
6:40 a.m.
Hustling into the kitchen Nick exclaimed to Carrie and his mother, "Damn, I'm excited to go back to work."
"I've been that annoying, huh?" Carrie half-joked, knowing that she'd been tense from all the heavy decision-making they had done while house shopping and at the fertility clinic over the previous two days. Smiling, she handed over a travel mug. "Just brewed."
"Thanks, Darlin'." Grateful for the coffee and her continued pampering, Nick pecked her cheek. "To answer your question...my excitement has nothing to do with getting away from you. It's all about missin' my job."
"You are going to follow doctor's orders, right?" Jillian asked with a degree of skepticism. "He only released you to your desk, and remember...no lifting more than ten pounds...no driving...no leaving the building for anything other than personal matters or going home at the end of a five hour day...that's five, not ten. Because if you violate any of those terms and get injured, you won't be covered by your medical or disability insurance and you'll most likely lose your job."
"Ladies..." Nick made the boy scout sign with his fingers. "On my honor, I will stick to the rules. Besides...Jim will kick my ass if I try to break them."
"He'll have to get in line and wait until your mother and I are through with you," Carrie informed her man while slipping her hand in his. "I'll call you as soon as I hear something from the realtor." They had made an offer on the house in Pine Grove Estates the previous day and asked for a reply from the seller by noon. "I'll grab Binda's leash and we'll wait outside with you until Jim gets here."
"You just want to show off our kid to Uncle Jimmy," Nick teased when they reached the living room. "Speaking of kids..." He glanced over his shoulder to make sure his mother hadn't followed them. "I should get my motility results this morning, right?"
"Are you worried?" Carrie bent down to clip on Binda's leash.
"Hell yeah...what guy wouldn't get tense knowing someone's checking out his sperm?"
The Blakes
6:45 a.m.
When Sean returned to his bedroom, he found his brother looming over his bed. "What are you doing?"
Per the rules of their 'chores for silence' arrangement, Ryan came prepared and held up a note that read 'Checking your sheets for evidence, Wanker!'
"Sorry to disappoint you, but you won't find anything." Grabbing his backpack Sean sighed, "It's my first day at school since my head injury, please don't stress me out."
"Hey! Do you think the knock to the head made you dumb?" Ryan expanded on his paranoia-inducing idea. "What if you get to school and can't do basic math! Quick...what's two plus two?"
Tense over seeing Lindsay after she busted him staring, Sean curtly replied, "Four and I'm fine."
"One thing's for sure, the bump on the noggin' definitely didn't improve your sense of humor, Bro." Walking out of the room Ryan snickered and held up a sign. 'Have a good day, Spanky!'
Crime Lab
6:50 a.m.
When Grissom walked into Trace he wished he had gone deaf years ago.
"Don't want to live…all…byyyyy…myself! An-nee-morrrrrre!" Hodges sang with the exuberance of a man made delirious from remaining awake for thirty-six hours and overdosing on cream soda.
"When was the last time you slept, Hodges?" Grissom couldn't ever remember him looking quite so depraved.
Lowering his head toward a microscope Hodges confessed, "I can't go to bed...the bed still smells like her."
"Ever think of washing the bedding?" he posited while glancing around the room to make sure nothing was out of order.
"I can't go in the bedroom," Hodges admitted.
"Aren't your clothes in there?"
"I went to Wal-Mart and bought new stuff so I wouldn't have to go in the bedroom." Hodges pointed to his feet. "Who knew Wal-mart carried cowboy boots?"
When the lab door flew open, both men turned to see who was entering.
"Did you miss me, Hodges?" Greg had already seen Grissom the day before when Tawny stopped by to show Sara her ring. "I bought you a little something in California." Shaking a green plastic bag with the name 'Pet Lover's Paradise' on it, he chuckled, "This store caters to pet fanatics. Your ferret-obsessed wife would fit right in." Reaching into the bag Greg said, "You've mentioned that you collect funky boxer shorts."
While he watched David sinking deeper into depression as Greg rambled on, Gil realized he had forgotten to mention the marital break up in the middle of Nick and Carrie's living room just a few days earlier. "Uh...Greg."
"Check it out." Grinning, Greg held up a pair of ferret boxer shorts with a ferret picture and the words 'Love Me, Love My Ferret' and red hearts encircling it. "Won't Celeste love you in these!"
Hodges was quick to reply, "The only way Celeste would love me now is if I became a ferret."
Greg's smile faded. "Uh...did something happen while I was gone?"
Walking Greg out of the lab Grissom whispered, "Something happened the other night at Nick and Carrie's."
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
7:00 a.m.
With Binda's leash on her wrist, Carrie walked the puppy over the apartment's lawn while she waited with Nick.
"Jim's still not answering his cell." When Nick saw Carrie smile he prodded, "Do you know something I don't know?"
"Yeah..." Checking her watch she laughed. "Jim is purposely making your late for your staff meeting to test your patience and see if you've calmed down any."
"Thanks for warning me, Sweetheart." He waved when he saw Jim's car on approach. "I was failing miserably."
"It's part of my job to help you look better." Laughing she joked, "Too bad you can't return the favor, Tex...because I'm already perfect."
"And you're modest too, Roxie."
Crossing the sidewalk Brass enthusiastically greeted, "Congratulations! I hear Labradoodble makes three."
Picking up Binda, Carrie waved her paw and spoke in a cutesy-wootsy puppy voice, "Say hello to your Uncle Jimmy. Tell him what a good girl you are going to the bathroom outside. Yes...you're a very good girl. Now it's time to say bye to Daddy because he's going to work." She waved the puppy's paw at Nick and then stole a kiss for herself.
When Jim shot him a look Nick nodded. "Yeah...I'll pay for that cavity you just got. Forgive us, the stress of late has made us a little sappy."
"You mean sappier than normal, right?" Jim patted the pooch on the head. "I was actually thinking about getting a dog for Ellie. Taking care of a pet is supposedly a good extension from Equine Therapy."
"How's she doing?" Carrie asked, hoping the answer was positive.
"Much better than I thought. She's into it and she's already looking forward to moving in with me and working for Heather when she completes rehab."
"Hold up..." Nick cocked his head. "You're gonna let her work at The Dominion?"
"In the office."
"I think that's a great idea," Carrie announced much to the surprise of both men. "While a lot of stuff that goes on at Lady's Heather's is vile to me, she runs a tight ship free of drugs and prostitution. Word around the courthouse is that people have been trying to bring her down for years but can't, because she's so strict. I think that makes it a very safe place for Ellie." Smiling she added, "And I have a feeling she'll keep an extra close eye on the daughter of someone special to her."
Jim returned the grin. "That's two cavities, Blake. Now kiss Nicky goodbye so he can go play with his friends."
Conference Room C
7:10 a.m.
Coming off night shift, Catherine and Warrick helped Sara, Pete, Jas and Sofia set up for the little welcome back gathering for Nick and Greg.
Walking in with a few boxes of Krispy Kremes, Pete laughed, "I bet Nick is convulsing from being late on his first day back. I love it."
Stowing a jumbo box of puppy biscuits Warrick laughed, "Nah...it will give him a few minutes more with the wife and baby." He and Cath had stopped by the previous day and met the bundle of furry joy.
Cueing up a video tape in the VCR, Sara informed the group, "Carrie called a few minutes ago and said he was wearing a whole in the sidewalk waiting for Jim."
"Where's Chuckles?" asked Catherine. "How can we be sure he won't walk in here?" They were hiding everything on the floor under the table so it would be a surprise.
"Gil has him busy in DNA with Max." Sara waved the remote control for the ceiling-mounted TV. "Greg's American Idol audition tape is ready to roll."
Just then Sara's pager went off. "They're walking into the lab. Jim knows to pick up Greg and Gil in DNA. Places everyone."
Quickly they took seats around the table and replaced their happy expressions with complacent ones.
DNA Lab
7:15 a.m.
"Thanks for helping me with that Greg," Max said as he finished his analysis. "You're still the man around here."
Half-joking Greg replied, "If I piss my pants in the field today, I may have to be the man around the DNA lab."
"You'll do fine," Grissom encouraged while checking his watch. Then he saw Jim and Nick walking down the hall. "Look who else is back today."
Throwing open the door Nick spoke like a giddy school girl, "Oh my gosh, it's Clay Aiken!" He grabbed the nearest pen and paper. "My name's Nicky and I'm your biggest fan! Can I have your autograph!" Dropping the act he opted to slap his buddy on the back. "You're lookin' good, Man. Engagement must be agreein' with you."
"Thanks, Bro." A wave of relief washed over him now that he knew he'd be reporting to Nick and not Pete. "Why didn't you tell me you'd be here today?"
"I just got the A-okay for deskwork from my doctor late yesterday." He nodded at Max. "How are you doing?"
"Me?" he laughed. "I should be asking you since you died on the OR table and were brought back to life."
"See how things work around here?" Nick shot Grissom a look. "The rumor mill has it all wrong. I didn't die on the table. I was a full two minutes from death when the ER docs stopped me from bleeding out."
"Time to break up the love-in." Jim tapped his watch. "Stokes, you're late, and your team awaits you and Clay in Conference Room C."
Walking out of the room Nick suggested, "Greggo...I was thinking that from here on out we should start the morning rally with you belting out the Star Spangled Banner."
"I'll say yes if you call off the bachelor party nightmare I know you're planning."
"Gris...Jim...you know what I have planned...tell the boy it's harmless."
Grissom caught Greg's eyes. "Are you current on your hepatitis shot?"
"Okay, whatever." Greg rolled his eyes. "Just remember, Labradoodle Daddy...your wedding is after mine and payback is a bitch."
"Sofia!" Nick called out when he saw his co-worker hanging outside the conference room door. "I think Carrie might get a little jealous if she finds out you were pacing the hall waiting for my return."
"Don't flatter yourself, Stokes," Sofia broke into an easy smile. "I stepped outside to take a phone call." Giving him a hug she said, "Good to see you back to your old self. Uh...when you have a minute later, I have a case I need to talk to you about. It can't wait." Ever since realizing her bedroom faux-pas she had been looking for a good time to apologize.
"Sure thing."
Watching the hug, Grissom, Greg and Jim all winced, remembering that, once upon a time, the Nick-Sofia action used to go further than hugging.
Inside the conference room Catherine watched through the glass and snarked, "I still can't believe Nick used to sleep with her."
"Nick slept with Sofia!" Jas yelled in an uncharacteristically loud voice. "Sorry."
Lounging in a chair Pete calmly asked, "You got something against inter-office romance, Jazzy?"
In her ear Warrick whispered, "Considering the crowd, I'd say no if I were you."
"Hey!" Nick called out to Jas and Pete, both of whom he hadn't seen since leaving for Flagstaff. "Great to see ya!" After exchanging pleasantries he yelled, "Okay, everybody...listen up...I want y'all to take it easy on Greggo today. He's been livin' like a movie star in Beverly Hills and will probably have a hard time adjusting to life as a working-class guy."
Walking into the room, Greg held up his hands, "Let's get all the jokes out of the way as soon as possible so I can return to obsessing over having a gun pulled on me again while working in the field."
"Hit it, Sara!" Catherine pointed to the TV. "The first half of our celebration is in honor of Greg 'Songbird' Sanders, but don't worry, Nicky...we're coming after you next." Snapping her fingers she said, "First up...eating Krispy Kremes while watching an episode of Perfect Proposal."
In horror Greg watched the TV click on. "You don't have a copy of..."
"We do!" Catherine happily assured him. "Thanks to your best man. He decided to start roasting you early."
Just as the performance began, Nick's cell phone rang. Pulling it off its clip he saw it was the fertility clinic. "Please continue to humiliate Greg while I step out and take this call."
"I think we can handle that, Boss," Pete announced before ooo'ing and aww'ing with the rest of the group.
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
7:37 a.m.
"Woo hoo!" Carrie jubilated as she darted into the kitchen to tell her mother-in-law-to-be the good news. "We're going to be home owners! I just hung up with the realtor. The seller's acceptance was sitting on his fax machine when he woke up this morning!"
"Congratulations, Honey." Jillian loved every ounce of joy on her future daughter-in-law's face. "I know you and Nicky are going to be very happy in that home. It's perfect for you, the pup, and the family you're planning."
"I have to call Nicky!" As if on cue, the cordless phone rang in her hands. "He's calling me." With the phone to her ear she dashed out of the kitchen.
As soon as Carrie pressed the talk button she yelled, "We got the house!"
"I've got virility to spare! We're talkin' Olympic-worthy swimmers, Darlin'. Everything's perfect. Wait...what did you just say?"
"I said, we got the house! Ooh...and I can't wait to host your perfect sperm!" Then she realized Jillian had followed her out of the kitchen. "It's not what..."
"Please..." The frustrated mother sighed, "He's only been gone a half hour and you have to have phone sex?"
IMHD, Inc – Vegas Office
7:46 a.m.
Walking into her new office, Tawny took a seat at her desk and once again rejoiced that she had a great-paying job that didn't require her to remove her clothes for sleazebags. But before she could even lift a pencil, her cell phone rang. Pulling it out of her purse, a smile eased over her lips. "Do you miss me already, Chuckles?"
"I'm being humiliated and I wanted you to hear it so you know the ramifications of my perfect proposal."
A second later she heard a flood of off-key voices singing, 'come what may' at the top of their lungs. "Whoa..." Feeling sorry for him Tawny turned on her sultriest voice. "I promise to make it up to you tonight, Baby. I'll even let you drive the peg again if you want. Would you like that? Taking me up against the wall hard and fast...hearing me scream from the pleasure. Wow...just thinking about it has me hot and bothered over here. I can't wait for you to thrill me, Baby...mmm...I can't wait because you're soooooooo good."
"Uh...Tawny...I had you on speaker. Cath, Warrick, Sara, Gris, Nick, Sofia, Pete, Jas and Jim all just heard you say that. "
"What! I was only kidding!" Flustered she frantically explained, "Wait! I'm not kidding about Greg being good...he's fantastic...the best I ever had! I was kidding about how I was talking...I don't usually talk to him like this while he's at work, so please don't write him up, Nick! And Gil, please don't tell your dad I was talking dirty while on company time. I really love my job!"
Becca's Office
7:57 a.m.
Arriving a half hour early for the emergency meeting her bosses had called, Becca plopped in her desk chair ready to look as diligent as possible. Being a savvy girl she knew when working toward a partner spot, you took every opportunity to impress the decision-makers.
"Rebecca..." Mitch Steiner called from the doorway. "You're early."
"I live here Mitch," she replied while relaxing in her chair. "You know there's no one around here that works harder than me."
"There's also no one else around here who's lost the firm as much money as you."
Stunned by the comment it took a moment to recover. "Um...excuse me?" When she saw him gesture to follow, Becca jumped to her feet. "Is this what the emergency meeting is about?"
"Bingo." Grinning he pointed down the hall. "Nelson and Glenda are waiting in the boardroom for us."
Feeling like a lamb being led to the slaughtering house Becca followed her boss. "Where is this coming from?" she whispered to him as he held open the door to the glass-walled boardroom. One glance in Glenda Parks direction and she had her answer.
"Have a seat, Rebecca," Glenda curtly instructed.
"I can't believe you'd do this because..."
"Because you lost a high profile trial that cost our firm a fortune not only in dollars but reputation." Glenda cackled. "I can't think of a better reason."
"No one could have won that trial! Not even Harold or Dan, and you know that! That's why I got assigned in the first place, instead of a higher profile attorney." Stepping to the edge of the table she yelled, "Your sorority sister Bev Sanders is behind this. Her exact words on Saturday were 'I will ruin you, starting with your career, because I went to college with one of the partners. Did you owe her a favor? I can't believe you're firing me because of a personal problem I had with her son!"
"And I can't believe you have the audacity to slander me in a room full of lawyers. I think you've been watching one too many soap operas, Ms. Turnbull, when you should have been watching Court TV. One more accusation and I'll be suing your ass on top of firing it." Glenda looked to her partners and sighed. "You were right, she's not taking accountability for her screw up." Returning her gaze to the outraged young woman staring her down she very calmly said, "I'm afraid there's no longer a place for you at Parks and Pratt. Security will accompany you to your office and supervise the packing of your things. HR will have the necessary paperwork and information." Standing, Glenda said, "I sincerely hope you'll learn from this experience."
"Go to hell and take your sorority sister with you. I'll have the last laugh." Holding her head high, Becca turned to meet the security guard waiting outside the door. "I was quitting tomorrow anyway. I'm far too talented for this place. You're lucky I stuck around as long as I did."
Once their ex-employee was gone Mitch said, "I've never met a more devoted narcissist."
Butterfield Academy
8:45 a.m.
"Sean!" Celine called out when she saw her pet project walking towards her. "I heard you were in an accident and I freaked! I mean, what a waste of time it would have been for me to work on your image if you ruined your face." Inspecting his head wound she said, "I think we can capitalize on the Harry Potter effect!"
"My brother said the same thing," Sean enthused, relieved that Celine's attention the previous week wasn't a fluke and that she was indeed still his friend.
"How is your brother?" Celine inquired in a dreamy tone. "Maybe you could invite me over to study so I could see him again."
"Do you like my brother...I mean...like him?"
"Duh...he's nuts about me. Didn't you see the way he was looking at me when he came to get you the other night?" Fluffing her tresses she giggled. "Can you blame him? Oh!"
"What?"
"This is so soap opera!" she exclaimed, happy to be in the middle of such drama. "Are you and Ryan going to fight over me after school one day?"
"Why?"
"Because you're in love with me too."
"No, I'm not," he quickly replied, wondering where she got the idea.
"Ohhhh." Celine nodded knowingly. "So you really are gay."
Crime Lab
9:22 a.m.
Standing in Trace watching Hodges analyze lint, Greg was caught off guard by an intimate question.
"About that night you kissed me..." Hodges stated as he jotted notes. "If you were gay...do you think you would have thought I was good? Because maybe I'm not good with women because I'm supposed to be with men. After all, you thought I was gay. Maybe women can sense it, even though I can't."
"Hello!" Greg glanced around ensuring they were indeed alone. "We said we were never going to mention that insanity again. Certainly not here...and I'd prefer never."
"Oh, sure..." Incensed Hodges blasted his supposed friend. "When you needed to explore possibilities I was expected to pucker up, but when I need figure out my inner-self, you won't even listen to me!"
Feeling guilty Greg relaxed his stance. "Sorry. Just promise you won't plant one on me at the lab...or ever. If you're in the mood to explore, go see Benny, he's one of the bartenders at Club 9...he's always willing to go slow with a newbie...or so he said when he hit on me time after time. Personally...I think you need to give yourself a chance to lick your wounds before jumping into a drastic lifestyle change."
"Oh sure, you have a girlfriend for two months and now you're a relationship expert. Need I remind you that my heart wouldn't be in two thousand pieces if it weren't for you and your meddling fiancée!"
"Hey!" Getting pissed he reminded his friend, "You begged me to get Tawny to set you up with someone. She finds the perfect woman for you...so perfect you marry her a day later, and now when you blow it, you blame us! Give me a break. This is all on you, Pal! You shouldn't have married her without talking about serious stuff. Hell, Tawny was pregnant with my babies and I didn't run to the chapel, because I wanted to make sure were had more in common than a love of coffee, donuts, movies and sex. Dude...just because you live in Vegas doesn't mean you have to get insta-married."
Nick had arrived just in time to hear the speech. "My little bro really did grow up in California." Nick placed his hand on Greg's shoulder. "Now I've got another growth opportunity for you. I'm sending you out with Sara."
"Out?" Greg swallowed hard.
Waving Nick said, "Tell your buddy Hodges you'll see him when you get back."
"I'll see you when I get back, Hodges."
With his arm around Greg's sagging shoulders, Nick said, "When I was six, I fell off my horse and snapped my arm. I was scared to death after that...didn't even want to go near the stable. Do you know what my father made me do as soon as the cast was removed?"
"Uh...since your dad scares the crap out of me and he's probably on the board of the National Rifle Association, I'll go with...shoot the horse?" After chuckling nervously, he changed his answer. "Yeah, yeah, I know...he made you go for a ride and break your fear."
"Exactly." Nick winked. "After that he made me shoot the horse."
"Really?"
"No," he joked. "My mom shot the horse for me, because she was ticked at it for rearing up on me."
"I'm sure my mom would have." Greg saw Sara waiting in the hall with her kit and his. "Okay, Danger Twin...what are the odds of something happening to us again?"
"Million to one," she assured him. "Hidden Cove Apartments...plenty of escape routes there...and definitely places to hide."
"You're in good hands, Greggo." Nick gave him a gentle shove. "I want a full report when you get back."
"Yes, Sir." Greg grabbed his kit and took a breath. "Let's go."
Standing in the hall watching Greg walk away with Sara, Nick heard Brass coming up from behind.
"Aww...you're missing your Labradoodle right about now, aren't you?" Brass pointed toward Trace. "If you need something to cuddle, I bet Hodges would let you. That dog is starving for affection."
"I think I'll be okay." Nick glanced at his watch. "Hey, time for the staff meeting."
"And of course Dr.Grissom is MIA."
The Morgue
9:37 a.m.
"Doc..." Grissom hustled over to the exam table. "You paged me."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
Al removed his fingers from the victim's chest and glanced up. "I think I'd remember." Then he saw the time. "Ahh...you're avoiding Jim's staff meeting."
"No, I'm..."
"Gil!" Jim shouted into the room. "Get your ass to my office or I'm sending you to a seminar in Akron with Sofia."
"Bye, Gil." Doc waved his slimy gloved hand. "And remember...you can't pick and choose the parts of the job you enjoy." With that, he dove back into his work.
IHMD, Inc
9:43 a.m.
Working her way down the list Lina had left for her, Tawny grew to love her assistant job a little more with each passing minute. 'Familiarize yourself with Mr. Grissom's schedule' was next on the list, so she turned to the computer to access her employer's calendar.
In the midst of perusing the monthly overview, her desk phone rang. In her cheeriest corporate voice she answered, "IHMD, Tawny Sanders." She had figured it would be less confusing to everyone if she started out with her married name since she would only be working four days under her maiden name.
"I really need to speak with you."
"More secret bachelor party plans?" she giggled.
"Uh...it's not Nick, it's Drew. But don't hang up!"
"Ugh!" She shot the phone a look. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't slam the phone down hard enough to break your eardrum!" Realizing her door was open she lowered her voice. "How dare you call me at work!"
"I can answer both of those questions with one answer. I'm working there too, remember? Until B-PAC has a building, I'll be working out of IHMD. That's why I'm calling. I didn't want the first time we speak to one another since...the incident, to be in the office in front of everyone."
"The incident?" she snipped. "Is that the politically correct way of saying 'the night you propositioned me to be your perma-whore'?"
"Okay...see...this is what I'm talkin' about. We can't be airing this dirty laundry in the corporate office. We need closure. As insane as it sounds, I was serious when I said I never meant to hurt you, Tawny."
Grabbing her water bottle she took a swig. "Go ahead... let me hear how a married guy apologizes for trying to make a girl his love slave for hire, after pretending to be her boyfriend for months. I'm waiting!"
"Thank you for the opportunity. Okay...um... hmm...just saying I'm sorry doesn't seem to cut it."
"Hardly." For the babies, she breathed deep trying to lower her rising blood pressure.
"Maybe we need to approach this backwards...you know, how things got to where they did?"
Tapping her nails on the desk she snipped, "I'm listening..."
"My marriage was in the toilet that first night I saw you in Vegas. I had already cheated on Lissa dozens of times...and she knew it. She gave me permission because she didn't want to get physical, but she didn't want to get divorced. It's a very complicated situation with lots of deep rooted issues, and we're working through it. Anyway...after screwing around in every city I traveled to for work, I started to realize what I needed wasn't a good romp, I needed a woman who cared about me and made me feel special...because that's what my wife wasn't doing anymore."
"So you find me and get me to care about you while you're lying to my face!" Reminding herself not to scream, Tawny heatedly whispered, "Where is this possibly going that's going to make me feel better! Have you told this part of the story to your wife?"
"Yes...I have...in all its mortifying detail."
Surprised by the answer her voice softened. "Really?"
"Yes. Tawny...I didn't know what else to do. I wanted to be with you, but I couldn't be with you legitimately. Once I got to know you, I hated the idea of you tossin' your clothes for hundreds of guys a night in exchange for bills in your g-string. In my head I thought we'd be helping each other out...you could quit your job and have fun with me, and when I wasn't around you could do all the fun stuff you said you liked to do, but didn't have the time or money to pursue. You said you never traveled anywhere...I had this idea I could take you places you had never been and you'd be thrilled. In return, I'd have the attention I craved any time I wanted it. I saw it as a win-win. I never factored in how insulting the offer would be to you because...okay, I'm goin' for honesty here, so be prepared..."
"Okay," she squeaked while turning her chair to the back wall.
"Honey, you were a high school drop out, shoving your chest in guys faces nightly for cash. You slept with me the first night we met hoping I was Prince Charming because I wined you and dined you big time. You being insulted by my offer was never on my radar screen, because I honestly thought you'd thank me. So that's what I mean when I say I'm sorry I hurt you. And yeah...if you talk to Nicky he'll be honest and tell you I said some degrading things about you that night he fought me...but you have to understand...I wasn't going to appear weak in front of my brother. I never would have told him that I wanted to be with you because I needed affection. I spoke of it like I was just in it for the sex...but I wasn't, I swear. I think deep down you know that because we had plenty of fun together without taking our clothes off too."
After a minute of silence and sighing Tawny replied, "Thanks for the explanation. It helps. My pissed off-edness is decreasing. I mean, if your wife can forgive you then...ugh." Sighing she admitted, "I do realize I was living a shitty life and as much as I hate to admit it, you would have spoiled me...you always did...that's why I fell so hard so fast. I mean...as far as whore jobs go, I'm sure you would have been an excellent client...right up there with Richard Gere in Pretty Woman...except you wouldn't have shown up offering the full fairy tale at the end of the story. And for the record...I didn't sleep with you on our first date because you wined me and dined me...I slept with you because I liked you and your stupid-ass County Fair Ribbon-winning story. Did you really win that ribbon?"
"Yes, ma'am...you can ask my mother if you don't believe me. I wasn't lying when I said your Midwestern charm appealed to me. I picked you for a reason, Tawny. Of course, now neither of us wish it had worked out, but...if you think back, we were good together...who knows where things would have led if Lissa had ever agreed to divorce me?"
"I could have been the next 'Mrs. Drew Stokes...trophy wife'." A smile spread over her lips. "I'm so happy I'm going to be 'Mrs. Greg Sanders...love of his life' instead. That reminds me...can we expect you and Lissa at the wedding?"
"You aren't serious."
"Hell no." Surprisingly she found herself laughing. "But your Mama will be there...she's filling in as Mother of the Bride...how weird is that!"
"Hell, the Dallas papers would have a field day with that. Jillian Stokes, famed Dallas Public Defender and wife of Texas Supreme Court Judge, William Stokes, fills in as mother of the bride for her son's ex-mistress. The best man is the brother of the adulterous Drew Stokes and is also the groom's boss. Yeah...luckily they'll never know any of that. Hey, Tawny..."
"Yeah." Her tension rapidly declining she took a cleansing breath.
"This is awkward too but, what part of this isn't so, here goes...are you absolutely certain there's no chance the babies are mine? Because I know you can't safely have a paternity test now, and I had this nightmare that Lissa and I had everything back to normal, then you gave birth and Greg did a DNA test, finding out they're really mine."
"Not a chance," she spoke confidently. "We've analyzed the dates and the ultrasound findings a hundred times. And you always wore a condom."
"You're sure about that, right? Because I can account for everything except that night we partied with your friends."
"I'm positive because I found two on the bathroom floor that morning...you didn't hit the garbage because you were so tanked. We did a lot of dumb things that night, but unprotected sex was thankfully not one of them."
"Okay...thanks for clearing that up too. I can breathe a little easier now." He chuckled lightly. "I was paranoid because Nicky was conceived after my father had a vasectomy, and Liss got pregnant on the first try every time. Stokes men are a virile bunch."
Crime Lab
10:01 a.m.
"Yes, Mr. Stokes," Jim pointed at his most studious employee who was sitting around the table with Catherine, Warrick, Grissom and Pete.
"Have the job description and procedures for the Master Criminalist position been finalized yet? No offense, Gris, but after sending Greg into the field this morning, I was reminded that we need to clarify the shift in supervisory responsibility when the MC takes over a case."
"Thank you for reminding me." Jim nodded at his secretary, Betty, who was sitting off to the side. "Mark that as a 'To Do' item. I haven't gotten to that because, contrary to popular belief, I actually do work very hard around here planning how to improve your lives." Standing up he walked to the white board which was covered with a large sheet of black paper. "Who's ready for a big change?"
"Oh no." Grissom slumped in his chair. "Please tell me I'm not getting supervisory responsibility."
"Not a chance." Smiling at Catherine, Jim said, "I told you that Ms.Willows was our special guest, but actually she's going to be your peer. Mr. Brown already knows this for obvious reasons."
"But there's only three shifts," Pete blurted, "and you said I would be getting Swing."
"Lady and Gentlemen..." Brass removed the piece of paper to reveal their new structure. "I present to you our new staffing plan. We're switching to what you've been begging for since Gil didn't have a beard... working three twelve hour shifts, and one eight shift, with four teams...Day A led by Nick, Day B led by Catherine, Night A led by Pete, Night B led by Warrick." Smiling at Cath and Warrick, Jim remarked, "Now a certain managerial couple will always have three full days off together. Also, the Master Criminalist believes this change will significantly help our continuity problems and relieve us of over-using the rally shift personnel. Here's how it looks on paper." He handed out the first schedule. "All teams work three twelve hour shifts and eight hours every Wednesday...that's when you'll receive up-training from the Master Criminalist. Every other weekend...you're off both Saturday and Sunday. Who loves me?"
"Me!" They all yelled.
"This is freakin awesome!" Nick shouted. "I've wanted this forever, and now I won't have to supervise you, Willows. Damn, this day is getting better by the minute." The ring of his cell phone halted his celebration. "It's okay...I don't have to take it. So, when do we start this, Jim?"
"Sunday. Now, I want to..." The ring of Nick's pager interrupted Jim's words.
"Sorry," Nick apologized. "Carrie and I are buying a house. She must have forgotten what time I told her I'd be in a meeting. You were saying, Jim?"
"In other good news, the Tahoes are heading out to pasture and we're getting a fleet of brand new Denalis."
Catherine raised her hand. "Did the County rob a bank?"
"The Sheriff worked out some kind of..." A knock on the door cut short his answer.
Brass waved in Judy. "What is it?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt but..." She looked at Nick. "I have Carrie on hold...she says it's urgent...house stuff."
Warrick elbowed his buddy. "Is that code for the Labradoodle did something cute and I can't wait to tell you?"
"Shut your pie hole, 'Rick." Looking to his boss, Nick said, "Sorry...I'll make it fast." After slowly rising from his chair, he hurried as fast as he could out the door and over to Judy's desk.
"Line four," she informed him.
"Thanks." After clicking the line he whispered, "Darlin'...did you forget I have a staff..."
"Nicky, I'm scared."
"What? Why?" He checked the display and saw she was calling from her cell phone. "Where are you?"
"In the Crime Lab parking lot."
"Did you get another threat!" The hairs on his neck stood. "You need to calm down and tell me what's going on."
"No...the fertility clinic called and said I had to come back in right away and have my blood work repeated, but they wouldn't say why." Choking on tears Carrie said, "I'm terrified. What if they found signs of cancer? Remember the doctor said it can be hereditary? What else could be so urgent? I'm sorry, I know it's your first day back but...I thought I could go on my own, but I can't. I need you with me. It's only a few minutes from here so..."
"Sweetheart, everything's going to be fine. Just give me two minutes...I'll be out there to go with you to the doctor." Hanging up the phone he saw Judy's concerned expression. "Will you apologize on my behalf, and let them know I'll be back as soon as possible." Heading down the hall he shouted back, "I'll call in!"
Hidden Cove Apartments
10:12 a.m.
After pulling their kits out of the Tahoe, Sara and Greg waited for the detective on the scene to meet them on the sidewalk. "You doing okay?" Sara quietly asked.
"So far so good. It helps that these apartments don't have basements."
"You've been here before?" she asked with an unintentional lilt in her voice. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was prying."
"No, I haven't been here before," he chuckled at her discomfort. "The sign out front said garden apartments. Garden apartment don't have basements."
"Welcome Back, Sanders," Vartann warmly greeted. "First time in the field since almost biting it in that basement?"
Sara shot her least favorite detective a warning glare. "Let's not do that."
"Oooh...look who's getting all Mama Bear," he joked. "Pregnancy hormones will do that to you."
"That reminds me." Sara opened her kit and removed the custom made barf-bag on a chain Gil had made for her.
"What's that?" Greg stared as she pulled it over her head.
"I barfed at a crime scene." She proudly sported the device. "This is allowing me to stay in the field."
"Enough small talk, people," Vartann abruptly announced. "Not to sound narrow-minded but, hanging out at this gay apartment complex is creeping me out because I keep catching guys checking out my ass."
Laughing at him, Sara commented, "You have a very check-outable ass...you should be flattered."
"Right...why couldn't Stokes or Brown be here to empathize with me?" Vartann flipped open his notepad as they started walking. "The vic is eighteen, and surprise...a homosexual male."
Greg asked the first question. "Who told you he was homosexual if he's dead?"
"Look around, Sanders...what straight guy would be caught dead here?"
Rolling his eyes, Greg clarified, "I meant he could be bi-sexual. What if he was doing a girl across town and she found out he was doing a guy here...catch my drift?"
Entering the apartment Vartann replied, "The vic's boyfriend informed me of the deceased's sexual orientation." He pointed to the bed where the boy's battered body was embarrassingly posed. "I didn't see any signs of forced entry or struggle, so...you know what I'm thinking. No TOD yet...we're still waiting for the coroner."
Studying the bloody bed and body Greg mumbled, "Uh...I may need to borrow your barf bag, Sara. Damn...it's amazing how fast you can get un-used to this after being on a relaxing vacation. Remind me again why didn't I take that corporate job I was offered for a hundred grand in San Diego?"
Vartann's eyebrows shot up. "You gave up a hundred g's in an air conditioned lab near the beach to keep your shit job here when you're marrying a trophy wife and have two kids on the way. And you're supposed to be a genius?"
"You need to step outside?" Sara asked while watching Greg turn a deeper shade of green.
"I'm thinkin' so...yeah."
"Take your time." Once Greg was gone Sara forged on. "Name?"
"Ezekiel Johnson...just relocated from Utah three weeks ago. Left home on his Mormon mission, but ditched his group. He wanted to be a dancer. His dancer dream came true quick, unfortunately so did the end of his career and life. He just got a part in some show about the Garden of Eden. He was hired to be the..."
"Apple?" Sara gulped when she saw Vartann nod. "Dammit."
"Stage name Dante. He also worked as a waiter at that fondue place...The Melting Pot. Ugh...I took the Ex there once. I don't even want to think how much cash I dropped on that bitch there."
Covering her mouth, Sara rushed out the door.
Alone in a room with no CSIs Vartann yelled, "C'mon! What the hell is going on today with you people!"
Fertility Institute of Las Vegas
10:34 a.m.
Once Carrie was done giving a blood sample, she hurried back into the waiting room and Nick's arms. "They said it would only be a few minutes until they took us back to see Dr. Hudson." Images of her mother enduring painful surgeries and chemo continued plaguing her over-taxed brain. "I'm so scared."
"Try to stay calm, Sweetheart." She was trembling hard enough to shake the chair she was in. "Let's not jump to the worst conclusion. You're not showing any signs of illness, so God-forbid, even if something's really wrong, it has to be in a very early stage." Kissing the top of her head, he tried to convince himself to follow his own advice and remain calm. "They probably just screwed up your first sample and don't want to admit it."
"Ms. Blake..." the nurse greeted from the doorway ten minutes after drawing the patient's blood. "Right this way."
Clutching Nick's hand Carrie walked toward the smiling nurse.
"Second door on the left."
"Thanks." Nick gulped down his fear as he led the way.
"Ms. Blake...Mr. Stokes...thank you for coming right in." The doctor stood up behind his desk. "Please have a seat." Seeing the despondent state of his patient, Dr. Hal Hudson flashed a reassuring smile. "You don't have cancer or any other serious illness. That's what everyone who looks like you do right now wants to know."
"I don't?" she sniffled.
"No...and I apologize for the cryptic nature of the visit, but I think you'll understand my position in a moment." The doctor grabbed two lab reports. "When couples come to see me, the one thing I never want to do is raise expectations only to crush their hopes later. Therefore, I didn't want to tell you anything until I had your blood work repeated, Ms. Blake." Handing over the reports, he said, "You came to me yesterday inquiring about egg harvesting because you were hoping to get pregnant in the future, but the catch is...you're already pregnant."
"What!" Nick and Carrie shouted simultaneously.
"That's impossible," Carrie informed the doctor. "I had a pregnancy test on August 24th and another one just last Thursday at my GYN's office. They were both negative. We haven't had sexual intercourse for almost two weeks." Looking over she saw Nick was stunned speechless. "No...it's not possible."
The doctor pointed to the patient chart he was reading. "That's what I had written in my notes. Now do you understand why I was so confused? The level of HCG in your blood sample indicates conception occurred within the last four days."
"But I told you, we haven't had sex for almost two weeks," Carrie protested, feeling as though she had stepped into the Twilight Zone. "I know sperm can live for a few days, but even then it wouldn't be possible. Could some form of cancer be elevating my hormone levels?"
"You're not growing a tumor...you're growing a baby." Staring at the stupefied man and frantic woman, the doctor gently prodded, "Perhaps you would prefer to speak with me alone for a few minutes, Ms. Blake?"
"Why?" Then she understood the implication. "No, I didn't have sex with anyone else! I'm not pregnant...because being pregnant would be so...oh my God...no...it's not possible. Wait! Maybe I'm producing hormones because a new mom to a puppy? I've heard women can produce hormones when they have a strong maternal instinct and..." When she saw the doctor shake his head, it was Carrie's turn to fall into near-catatonia.
"While we've never had a case of Immaculate Conception, I suppose there's always a first time." The doctor turned to the man. "But let's rule out a few other possibilities before we alert the Vatican. Is your fiancée a sound sleeper, Mr. Stokes? Do you recall maybe having a little too much to drink and engaging in sexual intercourse while your fiancée dozed? I've seen that scenario a few times over the years."
"No, I don't make love to my woman while she's asleep," Nick protested. "That's nasty."
"Okay, let's break it down a little further. When and where did you ejaculate in the past week, Mr. Stokes?"
"Uh...in the hospital shower the morning of the day I was discharged...Thursday." He glanced over at Carrie. "I know I wasn't supposed to, but it kind of just happened." Suddenly it hit him. "Oh, shit." Nick gripped the arms of his chair and spoke in a freaked out ramble. "The lap dance on Sunday...holy shit..." He looked to the doctor. "She gave me a lap dance at home! I was in my boxers and she was wearing real delicate lace panties...things got heated...so heated I tore a hole in the lace from bumping up against it...holy shit...we had a case like that once...a father accused his daughter's boyfriend of rape when she turned up pregnant, but she insisted she was a virgin. When they examined her it turned out she really was a virgin...there was never any penetration, conception occurred while they were grinding naked."
"So, Mr. Stokes..." the doctor cheerily asked, happy he wasn't dealing with a messy infidelity scenario, "are you confirming that you ejaculated in the vicinity of your fiancée's vagina within the last five days?"
"Yes," he gulped as his hands clutched his head trying to comprehend the truth. "We got pregnant without having sex...unbelievable...our freak streak continues."
"But, Nicky..." As a combo-tear of relief and happiness splashed into her lap, Carrie said, "This time the freaky thing that happened to us isn't bad...unless you think it is, because of the timing. Do you think it's a bad thing?"
Seeing the excitement building in Carrie's eyes, Nick pushed beyond his fright of becoming a father sooner than planned and the guilt of messing up the wedding plans. "I couldn't be happier, Sweetheart."
"Really?" Her smile was uncontrollable as it quivered across her face.
Pulling her close, he whispered, "Yeah...I'm just in shock."
"Me too," she squeaked. "But it's really happening...little Megan or Garrett."
"Ms. Blake and Mr. Stokes..." Upon hearing names for the blastocyst, the doctor felt obligated to bring them back to reality. "While I'm thrilled for you both, I also want to caution you...it's your first pregnancy, and it's extremely early...implantation is just occurring, and this is the riskiest time. The odds are in favor of everything working out, but there's always a chance it won't, so you may want to keep the information quiet for a while. This is something I tell every patient, so please don't think there's something wrong with you."
Nick acknowledged the information with a nod. "Not at all. My sister's an OB. I remember her telling my brother the same thing when he was bragging to the world about his wife being pregnant the day she missed her period." He squeezed Carrie's shoulders. "We understand...and we're conservative people...we won't be rushing out of here telling anyone."
The doctor appreciated the logical response. "Great." His smile returned. "Congratulations to the both of you. Your due date is May 28th, 2006. You'll want to make an appointment with your OB as soon as possible, Ms. Blake. There will be a prescription for pre-natal vitamins, and a bag full of reading material waiting for you at the front desk." Standing, he headed for the door. "Feel free to take a few minutes in my office. When you're stable enough, head out the door to your right and check out with Diane, just like you did yesterday. Best of luck."
Alone for the first time since hearing the news, Nick and Carrie stared at each other as excitement slowly overcame their trepidation.
Laughing sweetly Carrie said, "I swear I didn't trap you."
"When you're a millionaire, you never can be too sure," he joked in return. "And how do you know I didn't trap you?"
"The sheer terror in your eyes."
"It shows, huh?" Nick lowered his head smiling. "I know we talked about it a million times in theory, but...wow...I can't believe we're having a baby."
Her nervous laughter strengthened. "We're also having a wedding with two hundred guests when I'll be six months pregnant. I bet the Dallas papers would love that wedding photo, huh?"
Returning his gaze Nick softly said, "I'm afraid we'll need to change plans, Sweetheart."
Her smile abruptly fading, Carrie rambled her newest concerns, "Nicky...if we run out and get married then everyone will know I'm pregnant, and I don't want anyone to know right away because you heard the doctor...things may not work out. Ugh...but we can't keep planning something we know we're not going to have because that's not fair to the people involved...but I don't want anyone to know. If they know and I lose the baby, then they'll all pity me and I hate that feeling, I lived with it for years. I want to feel confident, I really do, but...we both heard what the doctor said yesterday...there could be undetectable ramifications from my childhood abuse that may hinder my ability to carry a baby...my cervix could be damaged or..."
"Or a meteor could fall out of the sky and take us both out in the next ten seconds." Placing his fingers over Carrie's mouth, Nick calmly made some suggestions. "Let's stay positive. You seem to be forgetting that the doctor also told us the chances were extremely slim that you were permanently damaged. You're a lawyer, you know doctors these days have to tell you everything for fear of getting their asses sued down the line, right?" When he saw her nod, Nick continued, "How about this...we keep planning the big wedding, we just move up the timeline to the weekend of Thanksgiving when my family is due out here anyway? That way you won't be showing, and if things sadly don't work out... no one will be the wiser." His smile returning, Nick said, "We'll check with the church and the hotel to see what's available...if there's nothing there, we'll find another place. Remember, Darlin'...budget's not the same problem as it was before...we have flexibility."
Breathing a little easier she agreed. "Right...money talks."
"Exactly." He pecked her lips before relaying the next part of the plan. "We'll go to Greg and Tawny's wedding this weekend and really pour it on about not being able to wait until February...we'll even joke about heading to the chapel later that night. Monday morning we tell everyone we've bumped up our date because the excitement got to us. I seriously doubt anyone will be suspicious, because everyone knows we're head over heels."
Rebounding from panic Carrie jokingly added, "I'll tell them I don't want Binda to be forced to hide her illegitimacy from neighborhood dogs for too long."
"There you go...much better attitude." Relieved to see his nervous fiancée's outrageous smile return, Nick assured her, "Even though I'm nervous about becoming a dad sooner than expected, I know everything's gonna work out just fine. I feel it in my gut. You just said the other day you felt good things were ahead for us, remember? Don't you feel it too?"
A wave of excitement washing over her Carrie rejoiced, "I do!"
Busting into a grin, Nick nostalgically said, "Yeah...say it just like that in November, Sweetheart."
Authors's Notes:
Thanks for coming back to read Book 2! I hope everyone had a lovely last three weeks. I'm glad to be back writing and posting. J
The Dante case file will continue over at least the next 8 chapters, so if you missed the case element in Book 1, it's definitely back in Book 2. In case you've forgotten, we met Dante in L of M Book 1, chapter 16.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the opening chapter. If have any comments, I'd love to hear them,
Maggs
