Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of its characters. I only own the characters I create.
Author's note: This is a sort of one shot. It involves an original character from my other fan fics. This story doesn't really happen, but if it did it would be right after Hands of Fate. I won't mention is again. And I apologize in advance, I've been watching too many talk shows. I tried not to write this, but it took over!
Father's DayShe sat in the bathroom, staring at the plastic stick in her hand. Please, let it be a minus. The window on the stick showed a plus sign. Damn! This can't be happening.
She knew something had been missing for the last two months, she just didn't realize it had been her period. Due to all the stress, she thought her body was just a little off. But pregnant? It just couldn't be. Guess I have to go see the doctor, she thought as she picked up the phone.
A couple days later the doctor confirmed what she already knew—pregnant. She should be happy. However, Alex Hart's life was in transit. She had just left the FBI and taken a job as a CPA. After being nearly beat to death and then almost shot, she'd had more excitement than she could handle. She tried to make the Bureau work, but in the end she took a job she thought would be less exciting.
On the positive side, she did live near family. Her father, Gil Grissom, was now an active part of her life. Well, as active as Gil Grissom could be in anyone's life. She also had a wonderful boyfriend who loved her. Greg, she thought, we haven't even discussed kids. When they finally did decide to take things to the next step, they thought they had covered all the bases on precautions. But that wasn't her biggest concern.
Going to the doctor confirmed something else for her, the estimated date of conception. This only caused things to be more confusing because two months ago, she'd cheated. And now, she was pregnant and didn't know who the father of her child was. And worse yet, the other man was one of his close friends.
Alex sat and cried in her apartment. How did this happen? she asked herself. I never thought this would happen to me. But Alex knew exactly how it happened.
After she was nearly beaten to death, she had struck up a friendship with the other man. They had both been through a traumatic, life-threatening experience. It caused them to have a kinship with one another. Then, he saved her life and it cemented their friendship further.
She really hadn't thought of Nick as more than a friend—like the brother she never had. She really and truly did love Greg. But there was just something about Nick, a bond that she couldn't deny. She hadn't suspected his feelings for her. If she had, she probably wouldn't have become so friendly with him. She never wanted to lead anyone on. So that night, it was a total surprise.
Nick had come over for one of their movie nights. Both of them happened to like old westerns. And Greg was cool with their friendship. Now, she couldn't even remember what movie they had chosen for the night. What she did remember was the kiss.
Normally, they sat with a good foot between them. As her grandmother would say, they were leaving room for the Holy Ghost. But that night, Alex had misjudged where Nick was sitting. As she plopped down on the couch, her hip brushed against his, her shoulder touched his. She unconsciously put her hand on his knee to get leverage so she could move over. When she did, she felt his muscles tighten. She looked over at him and smiled apologetically. He couldn't stand it any longer. He leaned in and kissed her.
He had so much emotion built up. Since the day she had held him so tight after he had shot a man trying to kill her, he had longed to kiss her. He would have that day, but he knew she was dating one of his good friends—and coworkers—Greg. He and Alex had stayed friends, but they hardly ever touched. If they did, it was just an awkward hug or a high-five. He never wanted to betray the trust he and Greg had.
That night, though, when she touched his leg and then smiled, it was more than he could take. And he just did it; he kissed her. He felt a wave of relief when he did, but then immediately felt guilty.
She pulled away and turned her head.
"I'm so sorry," he apologized, touching his fingers to his forehead.
"It's-It's alright," she replied, having mixed emotions. The kiss was hot and passionate, but she had never really thought of Nick romantically. She could feel the emotion behind it and it startled her. But it also excited her. Ultimately, she too felt guilty; she was committed to Greg.
There was an awkward silence, where neither looked at the other. Both were trying to figure out what had just happened and where to go from there.
Finally, it was Nick who broke the silence, "Maybe I should go." He stood up to leave.
She stood up as well. "Yes, that's probably best," she agreed, not really wanting him to go.
Where she was standing Alex was blocking the door and so Nick walked towards her. She didn't move, even as he got closer. She was still frozen by confusion. After just a few steps, they were standing face to face, Alex still not moving.
"I need to get by," he smiled apologetically.
His smile melted away the rest of the room. She looked up and right into his eyes. They captivated her and she held his gaze as she walked backwards into the hall. She stopped when she ran into the opposite wall. Then she smiled awkwardly and looked down again. He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face up. Then he kissed her again.
She lifted her hands, about to push him away, but when her hands touched his chest she could feel his heart pounding. It echoed her own at that very moment and that's when she knew. She simply slid her arms around him and melted into his kiss. She couldn't deny her attraction to him. That night they consummated their love and ended their friendship.
The next morning she was so racked with guilt, she nearly threw up. They swore to each other that they wouldn't tell anyone and that it would never happen again. Since then, they'd kept their distance, hoping no one would notice the change in their relationship. Things were also problematic with Greg, but lessened as the days went on. But now, now she would have to tell.
She knew whom she was going to tell first: the one who already knew of her indiscretion.
"This is Nick," he answered his cell.
"Hey, it's Alex, are you around Greg?" she replied, her voice wavering only slightly. She hoped he hadn't noticed.
"No, I'm by myself," he said, sitting in his car outside of the lab. "Is everything alright, you sound upset?"
He did notice. "Can you come over? We need to talk?" she asked.
Nick looked at his watch. "Yeah, I just got off shift. But it'll I won't be able to stay long."
"That's ok," she replied. "It won't take long."
Alex was sitting on her couch wringing her hands when Nick knocked on the door. She quickly wiped the tears away and hoped her eyes weren't too red. She rushed to the door and quickly ushered him in. She poked her head into the hall and made sure no one had seen him enter.
"What's up?" Nick asked, once Alex had shut the door.
"Why don't we sit down?" she replied, trying to keep her composure.
Nick was concerned. "Are you ok?" he questioned, as they walked into the living room and sat down.
"Well, that depends on how you look at it," she responded, still not having the strength to tell him.
"What is it, Alex?" he touched her hand. "You know you can tell me anything."
"I'm—I'm pregnant," she finally got out.
Nick sat for a moment digesting, "Pregnant?" Then, as it sank in further, a smile slowly spread across his face. "Mine?"
She shook her head, "I don't know."
His smile faded as he realized the gravity her words. "Oh," was all he could say. Then, "Have you told Greg?"
Again, she shook her head. "You're the first."
"What are you going to do?" he questioned. She knew he wasn't talking about the pregnancy.
"I don't know," she started to sob.
He moved so he was sitting next to her and started to rub her back. "It's alright," he tried to soothe her.
She calmed down a little and finally said, "I love Greg, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. And I don't know what Greg will do."
Nick was silent for a moment. Then he slid off the couch and onto one knee beside her. Her head was buried in her hands so she didn't notice.
"Alex," he said, grabbing her hand in his. "I've loved you for so long."
At this, she opened her eyes and looked into his. Then she noticed how he was positioned. "Nick," she started to interrupt.
"Let me finish," he replied, silencing her. "I've wanted to tell you for so long, but never could. Now, all of this, it's fates way of telling me I shouldn't be silent. Alex Gillian Hart, will you marry me?"
She was rendered absolutely speechless. "But…but…" she started, but didn't know what to say.
Nick stayed there, on one knee, waiting for an answer.
"I…I need time," she finally answered. "I mean, it might not even be yours."
Nick was disappointed, but at least it wasn't no. "Time I can give you, but know that it doesn't matter to me if it's not mine," he replied. "I love you and your baby."
She started to cry again. She was so confused. Here was a man, who until two months ago, she'd never thought of as more than a brother. And now, he was asking her to marry him, not caring if the child she was carrying was his. When the man she'd loved for so long, Greg, didn't even know she was pregnant with what might be his child.
Nick left shortly thereafter without much ado. He knew Alex needed time to think and time to talk to Greg. He only hoped Greg might be able to forgive him. And if not him, that Greg would at least be able to forgive Alex.
After Nick left, she called Greg. She knew the longer she put it off, the harder it would be. She had thought about not telling him at all about Nick and just letting him believe the baby was his. After all, it might be. But she knew the guilt would destroy her and in the end be harmful to the baby.
Her eyes were red from all the tears when Greg finally came in the door.
"Alex?" he called, letting himself in.
"In here," she responded, sitting on the couch.
Greg made his way down the hall and entered the living room. He noticed her state of disarray and was worried. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head and tears started to fall. Greg sat down next to her and put his arm around her.
"It's alright, Alex," he said, giving her a kiss on her forehead.
"No, it's not," she responded. She looked up and into his eyes. Oh Greg, she thought, I don't want to tell you this. "I'm pregnant," she blurted out.
His eyes grew wide at her statement. "Pr-pregnant?" he stammered.
She nodded, trying to figure out what he was thinking.
"Wow," he sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "A baby. That's…That's," he wasn't sure how he felt.
She buried her head in his shoulder. His response only worried her.
He sensed her turmoil. "Hey, hey," he said, lifting her chin. "I love you and we're going to have a baby!" he was trying to sound happy.
"Greg," she shook her head and then turned away. "It…The baby might not be yours."
His arm slid down and rested behind her. He wasn't sure he heard her properly. "What?" he was trying not to sound angry.
She turned and looked his straight in the eyes. "The baby might not be yours." The hurt in his eyes broke her heart, as she knew she had just broken his.
He stood up and walked to the other side of the room. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Who?" was all he said.
"It doesn't matter," she responded, not wanting to add more hurt at this time.
"The hell it doesn't matter!" he yelled. "Who was it?" She didn't answer. He repeated, "Who was it?"
"Nick," it was barely a whisper, but he heard.
His eyes grew narrow and his jaw tightened. "Nick? You cheated on me with Nick?" And then she saw recognition flash in his eyes. He finally knew why Alex and Nick had grown distant.
"I…I can't believe this! You betray me with one of my best friends!"
Alex stood and walked over to him. "I'm so sorry Greg," she said, putting her hand on his arm. He shook it off. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It was just once. I was stupid!" she tried to plead her case.
"No, I'm the one who was stupid," he responded. Then he brushed past her and started down the hall towards the door.
She went after him. "Please, can't we talk about this?" she begged.
"There's nothing to talk about," Greg dismissed her and then left, slamming the door behind him.
Alex fell to her knees where she stood and started to sob. She had no idea what she was going to do, except have this baby.