A/N: Set after Grave Danger. My first CSI fic. Please read and review, I welcome constructive criticism

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters of CSI but Emma is my creation in this fic

Chapter 1

Nick rolled over in bed groaning at the sound of his alarm clock. He had been distinctly unenthusiastic about going to work after what had happened. It had been 3 weeks since he had been buried alive in that glass coffin and the memories were still haunting him. His family, who had been there for the first week, were now all at home getting on with their lives. Nick wanted to move on but he found himself stuck in the same self destructive place. He slowly got up and wandered through to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. His phone rang but he let it go to the answer machine. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

"Hey Nicky it's Becca. Jake's mom is sick and we have to go help look after his dad. I was wandering if you could look after Emma this week. Call me back. Bye."

Nick stared at the phone. Maybe it would be good for it to look after his niece Emma; it might help take his mind off what happened. She was really fun to be around so he put down his coffee and called his sister back.

"Hey Becca it's Nick."

"Hey did you get my message?"

"Yeah I would love to have her. You want me to come pick her up?"

"That's great. You don't have to pick her up we can drop her off on the way. We'll be there at about 7 tonight. Thanks Nick

"Ok see you then." Nick said hanging up the phone

He was glad to have the company for a while. Emma was now 14 but she loved hanging out with her uncle Nicky. Nick never said it to anyone but she was his favourite niece. He had another 2 nieces who were his other sisters' daughters. Nick headed off to get dressed and jumped into his Tahoe. He put on his favourite country music and started singing along. He was finally getting back to normal again.

He arrived at the lab and was walking inside when he saw Sara arriving.

"Mornin'" Nick said smiling

"Hey, you seem happy today" Sara was glad he was happy today as he hadn't been himself since the whole incident

"Yeah. Emma's coming to stay with me this week."

"Awww. That sounds good." Sara said hoping Emma would help him get better

"She'll be here after shift. I was gonna order in pizza. You wanna come over?"

"Sure. What time?"

"8 o clock my place."

"Sounds good. You want me to bring dessert."

"Of course you have very good taste as I remember." Nick said referring to the few dinners they had together as friends. Both of them wanted to take it further but were afraid of what it might do to their friendship.

The day went by with a few cases as usual which were all solved and wrapped up by the end of shift for a change.

Sara walked into the locker room just as Nick was changing his shirt. She had to admit he had a really hot body.

"Nice." She said raising her eyebrows as he looked at her

"I know." Nick said

"And modest too."

"You know it." He said winking at her

"I'll see you tonight." He said brushing past her as he left the room