Chapter 4
(A month Later)
(we start outside Nick's townhouse and slowly zoom in to see Nick walking around his living room looking for something while on the phone with someone)
Nick: (to person on phone) Oh, please don't. (pause) No if you come to see me I won't have the time to spend with you and I would feel horrible about it forever. (pause)(doorbell rings)(he goes to answer it while still listening to the other person) You wouldn't let me forget it. (pause)
Ali: (sees him on the phone)(quietly) Hey.
Nick: (moves the mouthpiece away slightly) Hey. (smiles) No mom, I was listening. (pause) I answered my front door. (pause) No I can't just make the person wait outside until you're done rambling. That's not how it works. (pause) Why? Because that's how you raised me. (rolls eyes at Ali)(Ali grins sits down on the couch and puts her feet up, getting comfortable.) Mom, I have to go. (pause) No it's not because I'm upset with you. (pause) I have to get ready for work. (pause) Love you too. (pause) Bye. (hangs up the phone)(sits down next to Ali & sighs while pulling her feet onto his lap) I swear sometimes she's frustrating just because she knows how to get away with it. (Ali chuckles slightly and smiles widely) Hi. (leans over & kisses her softly)
Ali: Hi. Are you almost ready to go? Or do I need to leave and come back in an hour?
Nick: Ha ha. I was multi-tasking.
Ali: Doing what?
Nick: I was talking to my mom while looking for my other shoe.
Ali: No luck?
Nick: No. (stands up and goes back towards the front door)
Ali: (giggles) Where did you take them off at?
Nick: (turns towards her) (accusingly) You're the one who took them off last night.
Ali: Oh.. (slight chuckle) that's right.
Nick: I found something of yours though.
Ali: Really?
Nick: Yeah.. and you'd be surprised where I found it.
Ali: (chuckles) Talk about throwing caution to the wind.
Nick: Yeah. (eyes widen) Oo.. hold still.
Ali: (skeptically) Why? (Nick walks towards her again)
Nick: (steps to Ali's left side, bends over and holds something up) Found it! (sits down on the couch)
Ali: (giggles)(turns to stand in front of Nick with her hands on her hips) Well? (Nick finishes tying his shoes and sits up straight and when he reaches for her she takes a step back away from him) Oh, no.
Nick: Oh, come on.
Ali: We don't have time for that. I have to be there early. And you know that. (Nick stands up and takes a step towards her and she backs up another step) Coley.. No. Not right now. I'm going to quote the eternal words of the magic 8 ball and say "Ask Again Later".
Nick: (chuckles softly) "Eternal words"? (steps closer)
Ali: (steps back and hits the wall) Hush you! (Nick steps closer again. He reaches her and slowly kisses her)(wraps her arms around his neck and kisses back eagerly. Her hands slide to his shoulders and she pushes him away slightly) Nick.. (doorbell rings) oh.. saved by the bell.
Nick: (chuckles) What's with all bad 90's references? (Ali sticks her tongue out at him childishly) (chuckles again)(pulls front door open to see Warrick standing there) Rick.. What's up?
Warrick: Not much.. You remember that I was riding with you tonight, right?
Nick: Shit.. I forgot.. Come on in.
Warrick: Okay.
Ali: (faces the door still leaning against the wall) Hey Warrick.
Warrick: (frightened) Jeez! Don't do that.
Ali: (chuckles) Ok... sorry Warrick.
Nick: You're mean. (kisses her lightly)
Ali: I'm sorry. Should I leave now?
Nick: Maybe you should drive yourself for awhile just so we don't get in trouble.
Ali: (shocked)(scoff) Am I getting kicked out of your house?
Nick: No. I'm just saying it might be a good idea.
Ali: Alright. I'll see ya later. (kisses him lightly)(backs away towards the door) See ya Warrick.
Warrick: Later Ali. (she turns and walks out) What was that about?
Nick: She was gonna give me a ride. (Warrick raises eyebrows) Oh jeez, get your mind out of the gutter. (walks out followed by Warrick)(Warrick is chuckling)(Door shuts)
(Cut to CSI headquarters)(hallway)(Grissom and Ali are walking and he is showing her around)
(Cut to break room)(Greg, Sara, and Catherine are sitting at the table talking when Warrick walks in)
Warrick: (sits down at the table) What are we talking about?
Greg: The new girl.
Sara: Catherine and I are almost positive that we've seen her before, on another case, but Greg swears that we haven't.
Warrick: Well but we all have different cases on some nights, so you two might have and Greg hasn't or we all have but he just doesn't remember her.
Nick: I see that being the better possibility of the two scenarios. (chuckles)(walks in and sits down) Who are we talking about?
Warrick: (chuckles) The new girl.
(Grissom and Ali walk into the break room)
Ali: I love being talked about. Now I prefer it not be behind my back, but it's a little late for that. (leans in to Greg) Isn't it?
(Greg blushes)
Grissom: Ok Al, don't tease the poor boy into a heart attack. (Ali giggles and sits down in between Greg and Nick)
Ali: Hello! (Nick slides his hand to her thigh underneath the table)(she grins a little bit then straightens her face to not be obvious)
Grissom: Everybody, obviously this is our newest member. Ali, this is (clockwise around the table from where she is sitting) Nick, Warrick, Sara, Catherine, and Greg. (she nods and smiles to every one of them respectably) I want all of you to welcome and make her comfortable here.
Ali: Gil, it's not a big deal. I'm used to being talked about. It just makes life more interesting when gossip gets started. (Nick squeezes her leg and slowly begins sliding his hand back and forth along it).
Grissom: Alright then. Ali, you need to decide who you are going to follow around tonight so you can learn the ropes around here. Any ideas?
Catherine: I'm the second in command here on graveyard. You can come to me with any questions you have and I will do my best to answer them.
Ali: (Nick moves his hand to her mid-thigh and slides it in between her legs slowly)(begins to slightly blush) Thank you, Catherine. I appreciate that. Gil, I think I'd like to be with Warrick tonight. (Nick tries to move his hand away from her but she has grabbed his and won't let go.)
Grissom: Ok Ali. That's a good choice. Warrick you're up. Make sure you are on your best behavior tonight and make sure she knows how everything works around here.
Warrick: Alright Grissom, you've got my word.
Grissom: Greg, you're with me assault at the Palermo. Sara and Catherine, you are on a homicide in Henderson. (hands Catherine a slip of paper) Nick, you and Warrick, take Ali with you, armed robbery at Atomic Liquors, 917 Fremont. (looks at Ali) You've passed your gun safety course right?
Ali: Yes, I have.
Grissom: Good, come to my office real quick before you three head out and I will issue you one temporarily for the time you are with us.
Ali: Ok, will do. (Grissom, Greg, Sara, & Catherine stand and walk out of the room)(Nick stands and walks towards the back of the room facing away from Warrick and Ali)(leans forward facing Warrick) Should that scare me as much as it does?
Warrick: Which one, Grissom suggesting you need a gun for your first case, or the way he's (nodding towards Nick) acting?
Ali: The gun one… I think I can handle the other, at least I hope. He's just pissed I picked you over him to shadow tonight. I thought it would be a better idea, but that was before we were all put on the same team together so I don't know. (slight chuckle)This could be very dangerous, for all of us.
Warrick: I'll go get the truck and everything ready, meet you both outside in 15 minutes?
Ali: I'll be there.
Nick: Yeah…
(Ali rolls her eyes to Warrick at Nick's attitude)
Warrick: (whispering) I'll leave you to it.
Ali: (sarcastically) Ha, you're funny. (turns to face Nick as Warrick walks out of the room)(walks up to Nick) What's your problem?
Nick: (turns to Ali)(peeved, crosses his arms) You know what my problem is. You had it right when you were discussing it with Warrick.
Ali: (exasperated) Oh please. You're really pissed at me because I did the mature thing and chose someone other than you to shadow? You are really full of yourself you know that? I can't believe this! (Nick rolls his eyes)(something dawns on her) Oh my god!
Nick: What? (Ali begins to form a full wattage smile) WHAT?
Ali: You're jealous.
Nick: You're hallucinating.
Ali: (huge smile) Oh my god, you are! You're jealous. Why would you be jealous of Warrick? (gets closer to Nick)(Nick tries to back away but he can't because he's against a cabinet)(places her hands on either side of his face and pulls him to her)(he avoids her eyes) Look at me.
Nick: (looks in her eyes) We should be going, you still need to get your gun and Warrick wanted us to meet him (looks at his watch) 5 minutes from now.
Ali: (raises eyebrows) So? We need to talk about this.
Nick: We are both on the clock so right now work comes first. Plus because we are actually at work, this is probably not a discussion we should be having right now considering the only one who truly knows about us is Warrick. And that's only because he met you when we went out on what turned out to be a disastrous outing because the god forsaken restaurant lost the reservation. (Ali is looking at him subtly lovingly) What?
Ali: I love it when you rant.
Nick: (rolls his eyes) Jeez… (walks out) Come on or Rick will leave us. Trust me, he's done it before.
Ali: (as the both walk out) Really? You're kidding me.
Nick: No. I wish I was. So we have to hurry. I'll go grab our jackets you go talk to Grissom.
Ali: Ok. Meet you at his office?
Nick: Works for me.
(Grissom's Office)(Ali is standing outside the door waiting for Grissom to answer)
Ali: (to herself) Come on Gil I apparently don't have all day.
Hodgins: Talking to yourself?
Ali: (jumps at his voice)(hand over heart she faces Hodgins) My god, you scared me.
Hodgins: You are an awfully jumpy person. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is David Hodgins I run the trace analysis lab. I took over after Greg quit to become a field member. (Ali chuckles slightly)(Hodgins is waiting) … And you are?
Ali: Oh! Alissia Cordey. Everyone calls me Ali though.
Hodgins: Well, Ali. It is nice to meet you. By the way if you need to talk to Grissom it's best to just walk right on in, otherwise you will never get his attention. I've learned that over the years.
Ali: Oh, okay. Thank you David.
Hodgins: You are very welcome.
Ali: (walks into Grissom's office) Hey.
Grissom: Hello. I was just squaring everything away for you while you're here with the undersheriff.
Ali: Oh, okay, that's great. Thank you.
Grissom: No problem. How is everybody treating you so far?
Ali: Pretty good. However I was told by Nick that Warrick likes to just up and leave people behind if they aren't where they said they would be in a certain amount of time and I'm running late as it is so I should probably get going. (sees Nick waiting for her outside the office)
Grissom: Oh, yes, he does like to do that. Here you go. (hands her a pistol) Good luck tonight.
Ali: Thanks Gil.
Grissom: You're welcome. I will see you later.
Ali: Bye. (walks out the door)(Nick tries to help her put her jacket on) I've got it. (pulls her jacket on and begins to walk away) Are you coming?
Nick: Yeah. (jogs to catch up to her)(Grissom watches the entire interaction questioningly as Nick holds the door open for Ali)
(Crime Scene)
(Ali is squatting taking pictures of an obvious point of disturbance)
Nick: (walks up behind her and places a hand on her shoulder) How's it going?
Ali: Not too bad, if I do say so myself.
Nick: (grins slightly) That's good. (Takes his hand off of Ali as she stands up) Done?
Ali: (slight smile appears as she looks at him) Here, yes. I've still got the register to photograph, then I have to document what was stolen, and take the cashier's statement. (looks at him suspiciously) What are you doing? Just being the supervisor?
Nick: Haha. I have everything that I need to do done. You are taking way too long photographing, at this rate, we will be here all night.
Ali: Well, you know, you could help me. That might make this go just slightly faster.
Nick: You finish up here and do the register photos, and I will take the statement and inventory.
Ali: That would be great! Thank you. (leans into him and gives him a hug)
Nick: (hugs back but pulls away abruptly) Okay, back to work. (turns and walks away, leaving Ali standing there staring at him in shock)
(Later back at the lab)
(We see Ali sitting in Grissom's office)(It is the end of the shift and Gil is having a talk with her)
(Ali looks uncomfortable)
Gil: We had a witness from the crime scene you were at express some concern about two members of the team that were there. She said that the woman and the white man looked a little too chummy to just be co-workers. You want to try to explain that?
Ali: No.
Gil: Why not?
Ali: Because there's nothing to explain. I had a moment of unprofessionalism. Nick offered to help me do some of my work so we could get done sooner, because I was taking too long, and I was thankful and gave him a quick hug. I did it before I realized what I was doing and as soon as I did it was over. That's all there was to it.
Gil: And is there a chance of it happening again?
Ali: I will refrain from losing my dignity again. I promise.
Gil: (grins) Okay, Alissia. I believe you.
Ali: (stands up) Are we finished, boss?
Gil: Yes.
Ali: (walks around the desk and leans over to give a hug and kiss on the cheek) I'll see you later Uncle Gil. (walks away from Gil and out of his office)
(Later outside Ali's house)
(We hear bass pumping from inside)
(Cut to inside and Ali is dancing around the living room and singing to the song "Shakin' Hands" by Nickelback and folding clothes)
(We hear a knock on her door)
Ali: (grabs the remote for her stereo and pauses the song) Coming! (she walks to the front door and looks out the peephole) (slowly opens door with hands on her hips) What are you doing here? (unpauses the stereo and walks away from the door singing and dancing) She ain't no Cinderella when she's getting undressed, 'cause she rocks it like the naughty wicked witch of the west. Far too pretty to be giving it cheap. That's why she's making six figures working three days a week. Yeah she'd even break a promise in the Promised Land. She didn't make it this far by just shakin' hands. She'll shake her money maker twice as hard as anyone can. She didn't make it this far by just shakin' hands.
Nick: (follows her inside and shuts the door behind him as the song ends) You're a spaz, you know that right?
Ali: Only when I dance. (thinks for a little bit) That is unless it's a Spanish dance, that I'm pretty darn good at.
Nick: (walks up to her and places his hands on her hips) Somehow, even though I've never seen that, I believe you.
Ali: Should I be insulted at that little jab? I can't quite make up my mind. (leans in and kisses him quickly on the lips) Hi.
Nick: Hi. (pulls her in for another kiss as he wraps his arms around her) Is this all you do on your days off?
Ali: Oh, you know I do so much more than just this. You just happened to catch me at a rare moment when my guards are down. (grins) What are you up to today?
Nick: Not much. Just came over to check on my girlfriend and see if she needed anything before I go to the store. And also if she wanted to join me for dinner tonight?
Ali: Well, I could use some stuff from the store (walks away) (voice fades slightly) if you would be a dear and pick them up for me that would be great! (walks back into the frame and hands him a piece of paper) (quick kiss on the lips) I would love to go to dinner tonight.
Nick: Great!
Ali: But I can't.
Nick: Way to kill my buzz. What's up?
Ali: I have to meet Isa's family for dinner. They invited me over a few weeks ago and I already told them I could make it. (See Nick pout slightly) I'm sorry.
Nick: (grins) It's fine. I was just giving you crap.
Ali: (smiles slightly) Oh okay. Good.
Nick: (quick kiss) I'll be back in a little bit.
Ali: Okay. I'll be here. Doing my thing. (Smiles widely and starts dancing to nothing) (Nick grins and shakes his head as he walks out the door) (door shuts) (we see her suddenly pale and she turns and runs to the bathroom) (we hear her vomiting) (Toilet flushing and she comes back out to the living room) Oh, no. (she sits down and pulls out her cell phone) Hey, it's Ali. Can I talk to you about something for a minute? (pause) Yeah, that's fine. (pause) I need to see you. There's something going on that I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with quite yet and I need somewhere to go until I am Can I come spend some time with you and the kids? (pause) Yes, I know that running away isn't the answer! (pause) I'm sorry. I shouldn't lose my temper with you. (pause) Thanks. I'll be there in a few days. I need to talk to Uncle Gil and let him know I'll be gone for awhile. (pause) Yes I realize he's not really my Uncle, but he's the closest thing I've ever known. (pause) I'm not going to have this argument with you right now. Okay? (pause) Okay. I'll see you by Friday at the latest. (pause) Love you too. (pause) Adios.
TBC...