Author: Nicksfriend
Rating:k
Spoilers:
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me...that is for sure.
Author's note: Something different. A disease of the week kind of fic. I love Nick and I know I put him through a lot but if he weren't so darn cute well I would be picking on Gregg instead.
Catherine walked over towards where Nick was sitting in the car,she was worried about her friend, he didn't seem to be acting like himself.
"Hey Nick, Grissom is sending over Warrick, Gregg and Sara, they should be here within the hour." she took in Nick's appearance, flushed face,swollen jaw and he was scratching at his arms and legs now."
"Listen, I told Grissom about your altercation, he wants you to run to the hospital with Brass and have it looked at,it 's policy." she gave him a small grin.
"Later Catherine, right now we have a crime scene, I need to start sketching upstairs, if you need any help with downstairs let me know." He stood and got out of the SUV and started back towards the house, he turned,"You coming Catherine?"
She was hoping Nick wouldn't be so stubborn but it looked as if he wanted to finish the crime scene first. "Nick,Jim is going to take you now, it's an order, if you're okay then you can come back, if not, go home and I'll talk to you tomorrow." It was the authoritative Catherine speaking now and he knew he wouldn't win.
Throwing down the pad he had in his hands ,he walked away, he was pissed, the woman inside needed him,and Catherine was playing supervisor.
"Bring a doctor's note when you return!" she yelled as Nick walked over to an awaiting Brass.
Nick got into Brass's car without saying a word," Don't worry Nick, she's bitten my ass before too." he gave Nick his genuine smile and pulled out onto the street.
Nick remained quiet,he just wanted to get it over with, and get back to the crime scene.
Desert Palm
Nick walked into the emergency room and signed in, letting the nurse know he was in a hurry, he had a crime scene to get back to and he didn't have time to sit around in a waiting room all night.
Even though the nurse really didn't seem too impressed, she walked back and informed the doctor who told her to send Nick Stokes on back.
Nick walked back with the nurse, Brass took a seat in the waiting room, he had work to do with the new crime scene, but unfortunately Brass was relegated to being his babysitter for the night instead. Catherine was really making this an issue and it shouldn't be one.
"Mr Stokes, the doctor will be with you in a few minutes." She proceeded to take his blood pressure and temperature, though he couldn't figure out why, the man had just hit his jaw, so why all the crap?
She looked at her patient as she removed the thermometer and jotted down the numbers,"Have you been sick today, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other symptoms?"
"He thought about telling her about the rash but he decided it wasn't a good idea, the truth wouldn't get him back to the crime scene, the truth could wait until he got off work."I'm fine, just fine."
She handed him an ice pack which he immediately discarded as she walked out of the room to the bedside table.
An older man with graying hair walked into the room and took a look at Nick's jaw,"He landed a good one, that's for sure." he remarked as he took in the swelling and discoloration. "Probably needs an xray," he then looked down at the low grade fever,"How are you feeling otherwise?"
"I'm fine." he lied again, seeing that this was going to take longer than he expected.
"Okay, I'll get an xray and we'll give you something for this fever. You might want to see your regular doctor if the fever persists, it could be a sign of an infection." he wrote the order for the xray and Tylenol then exited the room.
Nick followed the nurse into radiology and waited impatiently for the xray, the tech taking him after almost thirty minutes, his mood not improving with what he thought was slow service.
He walked back to his cubicle and awaited the doctor's report, he reminded himself that Catherine wanted a note,he would get her a note.
The doctor reentered with the xray and pushed it into the light on the wall,"Not broken, but you will have a nasty bruise, it's going to hurt tomorrow. I would recommend you use the ice pack my nurse gave you, it won't do much good lying on that table."
"I need a note so I can return to work tonight." happy that he could give Catherine the piece of paper.
The doctor jotted down that he could return to work then turned to him,"Listen, if that fever hasn't improved by tomorrow you really need to get it checked out." he then handed Nick his note and left the room.
Nick grabbed the ice pack, took the Tylenol the nurse had given him, then headed towards the emergency room exit, he needed to get back to the crime scene, he had work to get done.
Brass was a little surprised that Nick came out with a smile on his face,"What?" he asked curious to his friend's sudden change in mood.
"I got a note." he waved the piece of paper in the air as Brass followed him to the car.
"Awww, that's going to really piss her off." Brass's sarcastic tone evident.
"What,? I got her note." Nick opened the door to get into the car, Brass entered from the other side.
"I think she's concerned about that rash you've been scratching at all night, the whack to your face was just her excuse to get someone to see you,send you home where you belong." His seemed upset,"You didn't tell him, did you?"
Nick remained quiet for the rest of the ride, he only went to the hospital for his jaw, it was fine and he got a note, that is all that Catherine had asked him to do,and he had done it.
The Crime scene
As soon as Brass's car came to a complete stop Nick got out waving the note in the air, Catherine was looking a Nick with a surprised expression.
"I really didn't think you would be coming back tonight." she took the offered note and read it,"You didn't tell him about your rash, the fever or the vomiting evidently."
"I went to the hospital about my jaw Catherine, I got your note." he stated in a matter of fact tone.
It was turning into a pissing contest, Brass noted and decided before the two of them got into an altercation at a crime scene he would intervene."Listen, he got the note, let him get back to work Catherine."
She looked up at Brass getting the hint,"Okay Nick, sketch the crime scene upstairs, start documenting evidence."
Nick took off to get his kit, he was ready to get back to work. His rash actually felt worse but he would not scratch the itch in front of them, no matter how bad it felt ,he would not scratch.
Catherine and Brass looked on with concern, Nick was being too stubborn and they both hoped he wouldn't pay a bigger price.
It is short but it is my birthday,so I am off to have some fun!