Lover's Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
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Ch2: Fresh Air


"Daddy, why is everything so small? It looks like little baby bugs…" Lilly said pointing at Las Vegas as they flew away.

"Because we are very high above it, baby." Nick said looking over at Mandy as she put her head in her hands. It had been a longtime since she had been on a plane and she must have forgotten the wicked motion sickness that came with it. They hadn't even been in the air that long before Mandy's stomach started to do somersaults and make her feeling queasy. "How are you feeling?" Nick asked as he gently rubbed her back.

"I feel like I'm going to get sick…" Mandy said, she choose to sit on the edge just in case she did get sick but Nick thought it was counterproductive and probably just making her more sick.

"Do you want to change seats?" Nick asked unsure how he could ease her discomfort. Of course their flight left late only adding to Mandy's discomfort, neither of them had slept well and Mandy felt like this may be one of the days where her and Nick may be at odds. They didn't sleep well, and they were both stressed. Yup, this was going to be a great day… she thought.

"No, I'm just tired… maybe if I can just get some sleep I will feel better." Mandy said sitting back, giving Nick a fake smile.

"Me too, mommy." Lily said curling up against Nick's arm using him as a pillow. "Daddy makes a comfy pillow." Lily chuckled and Nick smiled at Mandy.

"Please, baby. Daddy is my pillow." Mandy chuckled and Nick smiled in shock at Lily as she giggled.

Nick sat in the middle as they used him as a pillow. His girls. He loved them and cared for them more than himself. Nick knew that Mandy was his true love as cheesy as it sounded he thought, but he never found love like the one they shared even on their rough days. There was no one else he'd want to be with, because even on their rough days they still had the strongest love.

Nick had always felt that he and Lily too had a strong connection, and at first he just thought that it was because she was his first born but with all the craziness that surrounded his shooting Nick knew that he couldn't take anything for granted especially raising his daughter. And as crazy as it may sound Nick was just about certain that Lily was there with him, and the fact that his father and Warrick said that they seen her, Nick knew that she was the reason he pulled through.

"Who else is going to be there?" Mandy asked bringing Nick from his thoughts. Nick looked down at Lily who was sound asleep.

"I thought you were trying to sleep? Am I not the perfect pillow?" Nick teasingly whispered so he didn't wake Lily.

"Not like this… I need you naked and laying down." Mandy said looking up at him, seeing him blush. Mandy got great joy out of making the Texan blush or making him stumble with is words. It was a talent that Mandy had mastered. Nick would try to do the same but he had yet to master the technique.

"I… I forgot what you asked?" Nick stuttered Mandy smiled bigger and nestled against his arm holding his hand.

"Who is going to be there?" Mandy asked again quietly.

"Oh… um… right now, it's just mama. The others will be coming tomorrow. My older sister, Laurel, and her family will be coming in a few days; she and Matt don't get along."

"Matt is getting married?"

"Yeah, for the third time. Their getting married at the farm. My brother Matt is a little bit of a jerk, he feels because he is the oldest of the boys that we should all look up to him especially after my father… passed, but he's not even helping mama prepare the farm for HIS wedding." Nick said getting slightly angry, but pausing to make sure that he didn't wake up Lily.

"Easy there, big guy." Mandy teased lifting her head and holding his hand a little tighter.

"I'm sorry, my brother is a jerk." Nick said composing himself. Ever since the shooting Nick didn't get angry a lot but when he did it wasn't that he got a little angry, he would get very angry without much provocation some days but he could always compose himself quickly.

"Who is the oldest out of the Stokes' children?"

"My sister, Laurel. It goes Laurel, Matt, me, my brother Tucker, and my baby sister Luann. I don't know, I hope Tucker is going 'cause then we will have some fun." Nick chuckled.

"You, Stokes' boys better not get to rowdy." Mandy teased.

"there are no promises darling' Tucker and I may get pretty rowdy." Nick chuckled, but then there laughter subsided as Nick became victim to his thoughts again. Mandy squeezed his hand seeing the gears in his brains working hard. "Thank you, for coming." Nick said kissing her hand looking at her sweetly.

"A two week vacation was too sweet to pass up." She teased, he chuckled. "It is going to be nice to see your mom under better circumstances." She said softly. Nick smiled a little. As much as he wanted to visit his mother often as he thought he should, something always seemed to come up and hinder his efforts. He called her often and even though his mother didn't need it Nick did help out with some expenses. Nick and Lily would call her via Skype so that she could still have an active role in Lily's life.

Mandy's face turned white and Nick quickly handed her the barf bag just in time, as she held it to her face as the remains of her breakfast violently came back. Nick rubbed her back unsure what to do or how to help her. He just rubbed her back as she held her head, and handed her his bottle of water.

"Damn, motion sickness." Mandy teased looking up at him as she wiped her mouth.

"I wish you said something before, we could have driven."

"In your gas guzzling bully? No way, and I bet this will just go away once I get adjusted to it." Mandy said trying not to show the amount of discomfort she was in.

Unfortunately for Mandy her motion sickness never went away, but she was very delighted to see that they were landing. However Lily's face lit up in fear but Nick was there to quickly comfort her. The three year old didn't appreciate the rude awakening and let everyone on the plane know about it. Then everyone in the airport got a piece of the cranky three year old. Nick left to get the luggage as Mandy got the rental car with Lily. Nick offered to drive so that Mandy could soak in the fine Texan air.

As much as Mandy wanted to disprove Nick's logic that Texas air was any better than anywhere else, but the fresh air did do wonders on her soul and got her relaxed enough to fall asleep. She didn't sleep comfortably though as all the anxiety of meeting Nick's whole family step in. She knew that they were going to think she was some hooch or badge bunny, when she wasn't. She was sure that they already had their preconceived notions about her and their relationship. Just as Mandy felt like she was going to slip into deep sleep she started bouncing as if the car wasn't on the road and immediately panicked. Her first thought was that Nick fell asleep while driving.

"Nick!" Mandy yelped hitting his arm.

"What are you doing?!" Nick said frightened by her outburst.

"Where are we? What's going on?" Mandy said realizing that they weren't crashing but rather on a dirt road.

"We are here. I was going let you sleep until I pulled in." Nick said confused.

"You just scared me half to death." Mandy said swatting Nick in the arm.

"You scared me." He chuckled as he shielded himself the best he could. "Stop I'm driving." Nick laughed.

They approached this large beautiful southern style manner, and Mandy saw a woman she assumed to be Mama Stokes sitting on the porch rocking back and forth as she read a book. Mama Stokes stood as they approached excited for their arrival. Nick put the car in park and Mandy felt all her mixed feelings and nerves peek at once.

"Hey mama." Nick said swallowing his mother in a hug. He immediately thought of when he first woke up out of a coma and saw her and Mandy by his side waiting for him, he gave his head a quick shake forcing the memory out.

"Hi, Nicholas. How's my grandbaby?" she asked as Mandy quietly left the car.

"She's all pooped out. She kind of had a melt down on the plane and in the airport." Nick said, Jill nodded slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to shower her granddaughter in kisses just yet.

"How are you, Mandy? You will great." Jill said hugging Mandy.

"I'm good, how are you?" Mandy said showcasing her best smile she could offer.

"I'm doing better. All my babies are in town, and my grandbabies." Jill said pinching Nick's cheek a little to exaggerate her point a little.


There is alot going through both of their heads, how do you think it will play out? What do you think? Please review!