OMG Was the last CSI the most perfect episode ever or what? First of all, Nick looked so friggin' hot with his hair back to normal. All the character's versions of the story were hilarious and totally true to their personalities (I loved Grissom's rhyme!), and last but definitely not least….SHIRTLESS NICK! I love the writers now. Anyways…please review!

A very nervous Lainey Stokes waited with twenty-five other contestants in one of the four hotel rooms in Hollywood. She couldn't believe she'd gotten through all the stages she had so far – the a capella, the singing groups – they were all really nerve-racking, but she'd gotten through it! It had been a tough week for Lainey, being one of the youngest contestants on the show. There were a couple, but not many, high school students mixed in with the crowd, and sometimes she felt like a baby. She had hardly any experience, but she was here.

The hardest part so far was being away from her family and boyfriend for so long. At this stage in the competition, the show wouldn't pay for family members to fly out and watch their children, because there were so many left. She was on the phone with them multiple times a day, and missed them all like crazy. Reagan had actually cried on the phone last time when she'd called, because she missed her big sister so much. Lainey could tell her parents were trying to sound happy, but she knew they missed her like crazy too.

Lainey had made friends with some of the contestants, and she held hands with one of her best friends on the show, Colin Jennings. He was eighteen years old and a senior in high school. Since there weren't many people their age, they latched onto each other and were quickly forming a friendship. They clung to each other when they saw Randy, Paula, and Simon enter the room.

Just like on TV, you couldn't tell one way or the other what they were thinking. They were good actors, because no one knew whether they were going home or not. Lainey missed her family, but she didn't want this journey to end just yet. Back at home, she had become famous, being a contestant on American Idol. She dreaded going home and not being able to be her old self. Would they look at her different? What would they think of her? What if she lost and had to go back? What if she won and could never go back?

"Well, guys, you know this part is always really hard." Paula started, clasping her hands together. Randy and Simon both looked down and mopey. Lainey knew better than to automatically assume they were over. This was part of the whole drama. "You've come so far, and we always have to let some of you go."

"I want you guys to know you've all worked really really hard, and you should be proud of yourselves." Randy told them with serious eyes. A long pause. "Because you're staying! You guys made it!" He clapped his hands together as all the contestants started hugging and screaming and jumping up and down. Lainey was so elated that she'd made it to the next round. She and Colin hugged and jumped up and down, spinning around. They were both so happy at that moment.

Lainey had promised her family she'd call as soon as she'd heard anything, so she tried to find a quiet corner in the room, which wasn't much use, and dialed her home number.

"Hello?" Her father answered in his comforting, all-too-familiar voice. Lainey realized she wanted to jump into his arms and stay there forever at that moment. The sound of his voice was so comforting at that moment, and it brought her down to earth and made her want to cry at the same time. She missed him so much. Lainey had to practically yell over the celebration.

"Daddy?" She sniffled, not knowing why she was so emotionally distraught. It was a combination of happiness, disbelief, fondness, and loneliness.

"Lainey, is that you?" He asked her on the other end. He was currently in the kitchen fixing supper, with Reagan attached to his leg. Lainey heard him shush a babbling Reagan in the background.

"Daddy, it's me! I made it! I'm going to the next round!" She told him, excitedly, putting her finger in her other ear.

"Really, that's great!" He told her. Nick was so proud of what she had done. He could never perform on stage like she did. "I can hardly tell from all the noise." He commented, chuckling.

Lainey could picture her father standing there, his laugh lines spreading across his face as he laughed. He was probably stroking Reagan's head, trying to keep her entertained while juggling the dinner. Lainey felt tears stinging her eyes, and fought to hold them back. She had to beg her father to let her do this. What would he think if she was homesick? She didn't want him to think she was ungrateful.

"They're all pretty excited." She told him.

"Yeah, I bet they are. Did your friend Colin make it?"

Lainey looked back to see Colin watching her from across the room.

"Yeah, he did. He's here with me."

"Well, I'm glad he did too. It's good you're making friends there."

"I can't wait for you to meet him. He's really cool."

"I'll bet." Nick commented, not approving of any male companions she racked up. "Reagan's here. You wanna talk to her?"

"Lee Lee!" She heard her sister scream from the floor.

"Yeah, put her on. I love you, dad."

"Love you too, baby. Here's your sister."

Nick carefully handed his youngest daughter the phone, helping her cradle it to her ear for a few moments before he knew she had it.

"Lee Lee! Didya make it?"

"Yes, I did!" She exclaimed. Hearing her little sister made her want to hop on a plane that instant. She missed Reagan so much, and knew she missed her big sister as well. "I'm in the top fifty."

"You're gonna win!" Reagan told her, teasing a little bit. In her mind, Lainey was already the American Idol. She rocked because she was her big sister.

"We'll see. There's a lot of good singers here."

Sara was motioning for Reagan to hand the phone over, so she said goodbye to her sister.

"Love you, sissy." She told her.

"Love you too, Rea."

"Hey, Lainey! I heard you made it!" Sara said, practically squealing with excitement. She couldn't wait to come out to Hollywood to visit her daughter, and missed her desperately. What would she ever do when she went to college? Or if she actually won?

"I miss you guys so much." Lainey confessed to her mother, not sure if she would be able to control herself anymore.

"We miss you too, Delainey." Sara told her, taking a moment to just listen to her daughter breathe. She could tell Lainey was upset and excited at the same time. It was a tough position for a sixteen year old. Finally, after her mother had used her real first name, something she normally only did in comfort when she knew Lainey was upset, the sixteen year old started sobbing.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Sara walked to another room, so she wouldn't upset Reagan.

"No…" She sobbed, "I mean yes. I don't know. I'm having such a great time, but I miss you guys so much!" Lainey managed to get out before she started sobbing again.

"I know, sweetheart. We miss you too." Sara wished she could hug her over the phone and hold her until she stopped crying like she always did when they were together. "Try to take some deep breaths." She instructed her daughter. "Can you sit down somewhere?"

"Y-yeah." She looked around a little bit, and finally just sat on the floor and put her head in her free hand, trying to calm herself.

"Good girl. Just breathe for a minute." Sara was concerned, and took a seat on the sofa. Nick had since dished out Reagan's dinner and joined his wife in the living room. He could tell Lainey must have taken a turn for the worse after talking to Sara. When Nick was on the phone with her, her voice didn't sound quite right, but he didn't want to push Lainey into confessing anything. Nick sat next to his wife and rubbed her back, because he could tell she was upset too. Lainey's absence had been tough for the whole family. There was a big hole in their home.

All three Stokeses just sat there for a minute or so, waiting for Lainey to calm down.

"Lainey?" Sara called her daughter. "Are you okay?"

"I'm better now." She said after a few moments, but really just wanted to go to bed. What she really wanted at that moment was to curl up on her parents' bed with her little sister, the whole family just laying there together; just being together.

"Do you have to do anything else tonight?"

"No." She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone had been watching her breakdown. Lainey was mortified to see Colin standing about six feet away, looking concerned.

"Then why don't you just go up to your room and watch a little TV, and relax for a while." Her mother's voice was so calm and patient and caring, and her suggestion made a lot of sense. "The Cosby Show is on in a few minutes. Why don't you watch it, and we'll watch it too. You can call us to talk about it if you need to."

"Okay, mom. I will." Her voice was sounding a little stronger.

"Alright. I love you, Lainey." She said tenderly.

"I love you too, mom."

Lainey hung up the phone and turned to see Colin. He came over and sat next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. They'd had an unspoken connection so far, and they both knew what kind of pressure they were under.

"Are you okay, Lainey? Do you need to go home?" He asked her, concern lacing his voice.

"No, no." She told them, wiping her eyes. "I'm just a little homesick. Not a big deal. I'll be fine."

Colin smiled, knowing how she felt. He had left home in Texas for the first time also, but it wasn't as big a deal to him as it was to Lainey.

"You'll be alright." He told her, pulling her tight. "Did you want to go upstairs and watch TV for a while to calm you down?"

"Yeah, that's what my mom told me to do." She smirked. It was like he'd read her mind.

"Let's go." He told her, and he helped her stand, taking her hand. Lainey was surprised when he didn't let go, leading her out of the room, away from the other contestants. As Colin took her up to her room, she couldn't help but wonder what was going on between them, and if this was okay. What would Justin think? What would her parents think? Lainey realized she didn't really care when they got up to her room, and she quickly fell asleep.