Funeral for a friend

Funeral for a friend

Nick straightened his tie and remembered the last time he wore this suit was when he was testifying in Greg's inquest. Thought we were gonna lose Greggo and Warrick and I helped him out…now we can't do the same. They were going to bury Warrick today and nothing had happened in his case. Pritchard was no where to be found, he was probably sitting somewhere in Mexico drinking beer and smoking cigars and the dayshift CSI had no clue what to do and the case was getting cold fast. It was bullshit taking Tatum and Ronnie off mid-case they were doing a good job according to Grissom.

Nick sighed and put his suit jacket on and went in the garage and got in his truck. Not supposed to be burying a friend. He sat in the truck for a minute to stop himself from crying and headed out.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Warrick was going to be buried next to his grandmother and his mother in a cemetery a little outside of Las Vegas. The day wasn't to hot for Vegas, in fact it was almost a beautiful day and it seemed to be a cruel joke to Nick. Since Warrick didn't have any family Grissom and Sara had done all the funeral planning and they were holding the service outside next to Warrick's grave. Nick spotted Catherine and Lindsey talking with Dr. Robbins and his wife.

"Hey," said Nick coming up and giving Catherine a hug. She hugged him back and wiped her eyes.

"Hey," she looked around and gave a very small smile. "A lot of people knew Warrick, I'm glad they came out to say goodbye." Nick looked around and had to agree with her. It looked like all the LVPD was here, lawyers, judges, all the night shift lab techs, CSI's from other shifts and people Warrick had either mentored or victim families. He looked and saw Greg going up to Warrick's coffin.

"I'm gonna go talk to Greg," said Nick, Catherine nodded and Nick walked up to the open casket. He saw Greg standing still with a small white box in his hand and he looked torn between crying or laughing. He watched Greg put a small white box on Warrick's chest and stood their trying to regain his thoughts. He stood next to Greg and looked down at Warrick. If Nick hadn't known any better he would have thought Warrick was sleeping off a double shift and just needed to be given a case. It's not fair, it's not fair…this shouldn't be your day.

"Hey," Greg looked up and seemed to snap out his daze.

"Hey,"

"So what's in the box?" asked Nick. Greg gave a sad smile.

"A reminder of how Warrick and Jenna first met."

Nick almost started laughing. Warrick had met Jenna before she and Greg got together for a second time when she was sneaking into Greg's hospital room after she had heard about the lab explosion on the news and had a box of cupcakes she had planned to leave for Greg. Warrick caught her in the room with a passed out Greg and she freaked out and gave Warrick the cupcakes and told him not to tell Greg she had been there. Warrick had been starving and ate the whole box of cupcakes in one sitting and he was always slipping Jenna money for his cupcake fix and he even told Greg if he screwed it up with Jenna he was gonna hook up with her just for her cooking.

"Cupcake?" asked Nick even though he knew the answer.

"Yeah." Nick shook his head and reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a quarter and held it in his hand.

"Ah, my two favorite guys. Ok, I have an assault at Stripperama and a trash run at Flamingo and Kovalt. I'm too busy to play favorites so duke it out," said Catherine and she went back into her office. He looked at Warrick and held up his fists.

"Duke it out?" Warrick rolled his eyes and gave him a look that said 'yeah right!' Boy, we better flip a coin. I'll hurt ya," joked Nick.
"Yeah, you better flip that coin," said Warrick. He flipped it and they called it in the air. Warrick won.

"Have fun with your trash run," mocked Warrick.

"I would flip again but I know you have betting issues," said Nick and he went to go on his trash run and he turned around and tossed the coin at Warrick. "You keep this, it's bad luck."

"Since we're leaving mementos." He took the quarter and put in Warrick's jacket pocket.

"Fare for the ferry man?" asked Greg.

"For good luck." Someone can use it. They walked away from the coffin and Nick spotted Jenna talking with Valerie Nichols and Katie was tugging on Jenna's rosary and chatting at her.

"You brought Katie?" asked Nick his tone came out harsh and he didn't mean it but at the same time he couldn't believe they brought a baby to a funeral. Greg looked nervous.

"We couldn't get a sitter for her. Jenna offered to stay home, but I wouldn't let her."

"Oh," said Nick and he walked off to find his seat. God stop being an asshole…they couldn't control not being able to find a sitter, it's not like they planned for this. He looked back and saw Greg put his hand on Jenna's shoulder and Katie look up at her mother and tug on her necklace.

"Ma mama?" Jenna dug into her purse, pulled out a pacifier and popped it in Katie's mouth and she quieted down. Nick took his seat near the front and he noticed that Greg and Jenna had opted to sit in the back with the lab rats. Great I made them feel like shit now. Nick went to turn his attention to the podium when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Tatum sitting behind him; she was wearing a knee length gray skirt, a white shirt with a gray jacket. She had pulled her hair back into a braid and he noticed her arm was back in the sling.

"I almost got lost coming out here than I started following the train of cop cars and all the uniforms. I figured I was either gonna end up here or at a Dunkin' Donuts. I think a few did stop at the double D before coming here." Nick wanted to start laughing; it was the funniest he had heard in a week. He gave her a small smile instead and looked at her arm.

"You…you mess up your shoulder again?" She gave the sling a dirty look.

"It was getting better until I had a two hour throw down with a punching bag and I threw it out." She leaned in and whispered. "I figure the punching bag was better than screaming at McKeen and getting fired. Well speak of the devil and he shall appear." Nick looked over to where Tatum was looking and he noticed that McKeen was talking to Brass.

"Yeah no shit. Has dayshift come and ask you for help yet? They were complaining about something with Ronnie's notes," said Nick recalling what he had heard from Wendy. Dayshift had come to her bitching about Ronnie's case notes about the DNA from the scene and Wendy had to explain to them.

"No, because asking for my help was banned. I'm not to touch the case with a ten foot pole." Nick went to say something else when he noticed Grissom go up to the podium. "We'll talk later," said Tatum. Nick nodded and looked towards Grissom.

"Today we are here to honor the memory of a friend, a colleague, a mentor: Warrick Brown. I could stand here and bore you all with details of Warrick Brown's life. But really the only thing you need to know was he was a good person and he tried to do what was right, he may have made mistakes along the way, but to err is human and in the end he was human like all of us."

"He was by far one of the best CSI that I've had the privilege of working with and I wouldn't trade the years I've spent working by his side for anything. I look out at the people here to today and at some point in time you have all also had the privilege of working with Warrick Brown and if you knew him the way I did, you understood his devotion, his passion for seeing that justice was done for those who could not get it for themselves."

"For Warrick, justice was more than an idea talked about in the courtroom or in the lab. It was something real. Something that no matter how unreachable it seemed, Warrick was able to reach it for those who needed it most." Grissom paused and pinched the bridge of nose. Grissom took a breath and tried to regain his composure and Nick felt himself starting to tear up and he looked over and saw Catherine was crying her eyes out and Lindsey was doing the same. He's gone and I couldn't help him…

"And for Warrick, I will seek justice. Not just for him, but to those he was not able to help because his time was cut short. However, I would like to remind people to not let the feelings of sorrow over take them and while we should keep Warrick in our hearts we should continue to live our lives. I would like to close with a reading from Kahlil Gibran and to ask that you keep Warrick Brown and what he stood for close to your heart."

You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Grissom stepped down from the podium and Taps started playing. People got up to file past the coffin and pay the final respects to Warrick. He felt that hand on his shoulder again and he turned around and Tatum touched his arm.

"I'm really sorry about Warrick…he really was a great guy." Nick found he couldn't speak and he just nodded at her and followed the line of people to pay respects. He looked at Warrick one last time and he felt that same surge of angry that he felt in the hospital. Why, why wouldn't you let us help you…I thought we were friends and you shut me out. What the hell is wrong with you, he's dead why are you so pissed off with him? He walked away from the coffin and went to head to his truck when he heard a little cheerful voice call out.

"Bye bye!" Nick turned around and saw that Greg, Jenna and Katie were standing next to the coffin and Greg and Jenna both looked horrified. She told Warrick bye-bye before they left the dinner. Maybe she picked up Greggo's sixth sense, maybe in some crazy way…she knew.

"Shush," Jenna said and she put the pacifier back in her mouth. Nick shook his head and turned around got to his truck and found that Tatum had parked her car next to his.

"So you're going to the wake?" asked Nick getting out his keys.

"I'm thinking about following the PD for donuts first before they eat all the good ones with the chocolate filling. You wanna tag along?" Nick shook his head.

"How the hell can you crack jokes at funeral? I mean…" She shook her head and gave him a one armed hug and he hugged her back careful so he wouldn't hurt her arm.

"Because someone has too. I'll see you at the wake" She broke away from him and he found himself wishing she hadn't and got in her car and drove off. Nick got in his truck and sat there for a minute and drove off. No…no…now is not the time to even consider anything outside of work…still…god what the hell is wrong with you.

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He wanted to be alone, but he still went to Warrick's wake. Warrick would have done the same thing for him. It didn't mean he had to be social. He listened to the other CSI's, techs and cops talk about Warrick and that they were going to miss him. Nick wondered if any of them really knew Warrick. He was my best friend and I wonder if I really knew him, if had been honest about investigating Gedda I would have helped him. Stopped him from going so far in he couldn't back out. Tatum looked over at him and started to head over to him and he shook his head no and she just looked annoyed and headed over to Grissom, Sara and Catherine.

Nick found himself out on Grissom's balcony with a drink and he really couldn't remember how many he had since coming here. He knew he hadn't eaten since last night and that he hadn't slept well either. He finished the drink and felt something cold and wet touch his hand. He looked down and saw a boxer nosing at him.

"Hey Hank," he reached down and started petting the dog. He had grown up with dogs and found them to be the best listeners in the world. Since moving to Vegas and working on the nightshift he hadn't had the time for a pet. Haven't had time for a lot stuff since coming out here.

"Stokes," said a voice and he looked up and saw the McKeen had come out on the balcony and Nick felt his temper rise and his grip tighten on the glass. Fuck it I'm not on shift right now.

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Tatum watched Nick go out on the balcony after blowing her off and she sighed. What gives with him…freaking hot/cold hot/cold cold/hot…almost makes me wanna take up drinking again. She understood that he was hurting about losing Warrick; it had broken her heart when her son and grandfather died. Her answer was to push people away and take up drinking to push them away even harder. At least she was predictable and did the same thing over and over again. With Stokes it felt like she was getting close and then he push her away. Why is it pissing you off so much? You're not his girlfriend…but still has a friend it's really annoying to get the mixed signals and not know if you should stop or go.

She liked Nick, he didn't come across like an asshole the way the other guys she had crossed paths with over the years did. Screw it I'm not in the mood to play games with anyone. I have a job that controls my life right now. She decided to tell Grissom what she had planned on tell Nick, a way for them to get on Warrick's case. She saw Grissom talking with Catherine and Sara and figured they were also safe bets to talk too. She looked around and saw that McKeen was talking to some lab techs and headed over to Grissom.

"Hey…can I talk to you guys?" asked Tatum.

"Of course," said Grissom. Tatum looked over her shoulder and saw that McKeen was still distracted and she lowered her voice.

"I spoke to a friend of mine back in Utah who does cold cases now…a case is considered cold after six months, when a case is cold anyone can touch it. It's considered 'busy work'." Catherine and Sara looked at her shocked and Grissom was unreadable.

"So we have to wait six months?" asked Catherine quietly.

"We can't wait that long," said Sara. "You're sure you can't get back on it?"

"I could start offering sexual favors to the higher ups, black mail them to get back on the case. You wanna take me shopping for skimpy undergarments?" asked Tatum. Grissom shook his head.

"That won't be necessary. We'll just have to wait the six months," he said sadly.

"Gil," said Catherine.

"I know you want to find who did this to Warrick, but if we do this wrong Catherine we're all at risk. This stays between us, I hate to keep Nick and Greg out of the loop." Grissom looked over to Greg on the sofa with his daughter and Jenna "But it won't be just us we're putting at risk if this goes wrong." He watched Jenna take the sleeping toddler off of Greg's lap and Sara went over to them and directed Jenna to the bedroom so she could put the toddler down. Sara sat down to talk to them and Grissom turned back to Tatum.

"I owe you for looking into this for us." Tatum shrugged.

"I'm sure if it was me in a coffin you would try for me too."

"Damn straight," said Catherine. McKeen walked passed them and went out to the balcony to Nick. Tatum saw him speak to Nick and heard the alarm bells start going off in her head. Oh this will not be good for anyone. She was proven right when Nick threw down his glass and got in Jeff McKeen's face.

"IT'S BULLSHIT!" snapped Nick.

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"Stokes, I'm very sorry about Brown. I know how close you two were. Brown was a very good officer; it's a shame we had to lose him like this. I want you know that we're going to catch whoever did this."

"Because the CSI you have working on this case are gonna crack it wide open any day now," muttered Nick.

"I stand by my decision to have dayshift work the case. You just lost a friend and that makes it difficult to see what it right."

"IT'S BULLSHIT!" snapped Nick. Nick heard Hank the dog whimper and run past him. McKeen straightened himself up and looked Nick in the eyes

"Stokes…I understand that you are hurt over the lost of Warrick, everyone here is. But I can't let you on the case. Your display here is more than enough reason to not let you on the case," said McKeen. Oh that is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard in my entire time working as a CSI!

"Than put Tatum and Ronnie back on it. At least they knew what the hell they were doing!" he screamed. At least she was getting shit done, these new SOB's you have can't do shit. He felt Grissom touch his arm and speak to him like someone would to a child.

"Nick…let it go," said Grissom. Why does everyone want to let it go…Warrick wouldn't if it was one of us!

"Hell no! The case is getting colder by the day and I'll be damned if Warrick becomes a cold case shut away in the files in the basement."

"It's not going to, isn't that right Jeff," said Grissom looking at McKeen.

"Of course not…Warrick was an officer and his case is priority right now," said McKeen. Nick let out a bitter laugh.

"Until some friend or donor to the mayor or sheriff gets killed or kidnapped and then Warrick's case gets put down for that, then something else comes along that the media jumps on that and sooner or later everyone forgets about him. I know how we work!" McKeen glared at him.

"You're lucky that we're not on the clock. Take some time off and think about how your friend would feel to see you acting like a drunken fool," McKeen turned and left Grissom's apartment and Nick went to follow him when someone grabbed the sleeve of his suit jacket. He whirled around to see Tatum staring at him with a mix of pity, sadness and angry.

"Come on…you've had one to many. I'm driving you home," said Tatum. Don't treat me like I'm a child. That is the last fucking thing I need right now!

"I'm fine!" snapped Nick. Tatum stood her ground.

"Don't make me run a sobriety test on you. I either take you home or you find another way that doesn't involve you driving," said Tatum coldly. Nick glared at her and left the apartment and started walking.

"Nick! Nick! NICK STOKES WILL YOU WAIT A MINUTE?!" snapped Tatum. He felt himself get dizzy and he sat down on the corner. She stood over him glaring.

"You done acting like a dick now?"

"I need a ride," muttered Nick. His head was starting to pound and he knew he was in no shape to drive.

"Yeah, I was pretty sure of that three minutes ago. Can you walk?" He stood up and almost fell and Tatum caught him and almost fell down herself. "God damn you're heavy." She got him over to the car and he leaned against it. God why did I do that, it was so fucking stupid. She unlocked the car and opened the door.

"Get in and don't throw up on the carpet. I swear if you do I will be sending you the bill," snapped Tatum. Nick got in and fell against the seat. Tatum got in the driver's seat and started to drive. "So where do you live again, or should I just toss you into the nearest gutter."

"Stop bitching at me," muttered Nick. He felt overwhelming exhausted and just wanted to sleep. And he dozed off without realizing it.

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At least I had enough sense to get wasted at home where no one would see me…I didn't make public scenes. She looked over at Nick who was passed out in the seat next to her and groaned.

"You know most times when I'm the sober party people tell me where to drop them off," said Tatum. She pulled over and sighed. "You left me no choice and you can't say I raped you." She reached over and into Nick's pants pocket, pulled out his wallet and found his driver's license. "However you can say I robbed you." She took a twenty out of his wallet for gas and for the headache he was causing her right now. She found the house and parked. Nick was still passed out and Tatum tried to shake him awake and failed.

"You know I almost feel guilty groping on you like this, but you left me no choice," muttered Tatum and she started trying to find his house keys.

"Of course in your jacket pocket. Last place I would look." She pulled the keys out and unlocked the front door and went back to the car to get Nick. She opened the door and Nick fell out and he groaned.

"Come on get up…front door is right there." Nick wasn't getting up and Tatum just wanted to kick him for good measure. She took her sling off and hauled Nick up and fumbled to get the front door open. She got the door open and managed to get him to the living room and laid him down.

"You are a heavy asshole." Nick was snoring and Tatum felt a bit of pity for him, he looked like a little kid who tried to do too many things and just passed out. She sat down next to him and patted his head. "You are so gonna feel like shit in the morning. I hope your days as a frat boy prepared you for the headache you are gonna have in the morning." He kind of looks cute when he's sleeping, whoa where did that come from?

"If I was that type of girl and you were awake, you would so be getting laid. But you're drunken and just no. I don't hand myself out like candy on Halloween." She sighed and stood up.

"Come on; let's see if you can sleep this off in the kitchen. That way if you do throw up you won't have to clean the carpet." She grabbed his arms and went to drag and Nick started to groan and he wouldn't budge. "Oh come on!" She went drag him again and felt her left shoulder start to ache. Damn bullet wound, she sat down on the floor and rubbed her shoulder. She heard someone knocking at the door and than they started to ring the doorbell.

"GIVE ME A MINUTE!" she snapped. She got up, went to the door and opened it. She was a bit surprised to see Greg standing there and than she remember he and his family lived across the street.

"Do you have any idea how heavy a drunken thirty seven year old man is when you have one good arm? He's fucking heavy," said Tatum. She let Greg in the house and Nick was still in the living room on his stomach and hadn't moved an inch. Greg looked at Nick and than back at Tatum. Tatum felt the need to explain herself to a very worried looking Greg.

"I figure if he pukes at least he won't choke on it. He'll have to clean the carpet though. I was gonna leave him the kitchen so in case he did upchuck it would be easier to clean…but fuck it he weighs a ton," said Tatum. Greg sighed and went over to Nick.

"If you get his legs, I can help you drag him upstairs to the bedroom." Tatum shook her head but Greg had a point and she went over to Nick and managed to get his legs and Greg took the upper half and somehow they managed to get him to the bedroom floor.

"You're right…fuck him let him get into bed by himself," said Greg out of breath. Tatum shook her head. Karma is a bitch and he's gonna get a huge dose of it tomorrow.

"He's getting treated to my father's hangover cure when he wakes up tomorrow morning. I'm going to love every second of it! Well good night Sanders," said Tatum.

"You're staying the night?" asked Greg shocked. Well I can't have him pulling a Jimmy Hendrix and choking on his vomit!

"Well I can't leave his ass like this. Don't worry I won't take advantage of him and I'll sleep in the living room. However…" Tatum walked over to Nick's drawers and pulled out a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt. "I'm not sleeping in my nice clothes or in the nude. He can suffer me borrowing his clothes for tonight and he can suffer the fact I took gas money out of his wallet." Greg shook his head and eyed Nick.

"You sure?"

"Trust me. He's in good hands," said Tatum with an evil grin.

"When you say it like that it makes me worry," said Greg looking very concerned at the passed out body on the floor.

"Go home," said Tatum. Greg took the hint and headed back home. Tatum looked at Nick on the floor and tapped him with her foot.

"You wanna sleep in that? You're gonna have to undress yourself, I'm not going there, it will only cause trouble." Nick groaned and Tatum took pity on him and took off his shoes and got a blanket off the bed and covered him up.

"I'm gonna use your bathroom, snoop in your medicine cabinet, raid your fridge and sleep on your sofa. If you have any objections you should say so now Betty." Nick started snoring and Tatum turn of the light in the bedroom and went in search of the bathroom. She found it, changed into the shorts and tee shirts and grabbed an extra blanket she found after much searching. She headed into the kitchen so see if she could make the breakfast that her dad treated her too when she came home one summer wasted.

"Yep, steak-check, eggs-check, potatoes-check, all the fixings are here for breakfast. Why am I not surprised that Stokes is a meat and potato guy?" She headed into the living room and set the alarm on her cell phone. She went to settle in when her phone went off. It was after midnight and there was only one person who could be calling her this late.

"Hi dad," answered Tatum.

"Hi solider, sorry about calling so late I just wanted to call before I fly out again." The last Tatum knew her father, Wallace was in Iraq, but that could always change at the drop of a hat, like right now.

"Can you tell me or will you have to kill me if you do?"

"I would have to kill you. You know the rules," said Wallace.

"Yes sir."

"So what have you been up too?" Tatum decided to leave out the fact she had been shot earlier this month, no sense in freaking him out when he couldn't have done anything anyway.

"Well," she filled him in quickly about what happened with Warrick and how she had been pulled from the case and what happened at the funeral and how she hauled Nick home. "So now I'm sitting here in his living room with his A&M shirt and shorts and I can't wait for him to wake in the morning so I can treat him the way you treated me when I was sixteen." Her father laughed.

"I see you got my cruel sense of humor after all. So can I play the nosy father and ask what is really going on between you and Mick?"

"Nick," corrected Tatum. "And it's nothing…I just wanna make sure he doesn't die Jimmy Hendrix style. If he's gonna die tonight it will be because I killed him with my bare hands."

"Yeah," her father sounded skeptical. "You have that little tone in your voice."

"What little tone?"

"That little annoyed tone you have when I catch you lying. Haven't heard that from you in years, think the last time I heard it was when you were seeing that boy in high school and were trying to deny it. Are you seeing Nick?"

"If I want I can go upstairs and see him passed out on his bedroom floor. Other than that, it would be weird, we work together, and he's my superior and I just don't wanna go back into the relationship world with someone who…he's a friend."

"Ok, I won't poke at you anymore tonight." She heard someone yelling in the background and her father telling them in a minute. "I got to go; this should take about a month. I'll try to see if I can get leave sometime this summer and I'll come out there and see you for a change."

"Ok, bye dad."

"Bye solider." He hung up and Tatum hung up her end. God me and Nick Stokes that would be the day. Yeah I like him, but no…it's totally not gonna happen in this life. She settled into the sofa and dozed off.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Well Ana you're late
And Maya, I'm here.
The boys in the band,
Decide to appear.
We walk through the door
Savor the air.

Oh god it hurts, thought Nick. He felt stiff, sore and he wished someone would stop the pounding in his head. He forced himself off his floor. How the hell did I get here? Music was blaring downstairs in his kitchen and he wished it would stop. He staggered down the stairs holding his head and the music got louder the closer he got to the kitchen. I remember getting in a car…someone was bitching at me. Oh god who the hell is cooking?

On top of the noise it smelled like someone was frying something and it made his stomach roll. He looked into the kitchen and someone was dancing in his kitchen and singing with the music. Are those my shorts? Why the hell are they wearing my clothes?

You can call me x,
You can call me y,
You can call me z,
You can come and try.
Come and try.

Don't know what you think you're doing to me,
(Hey! Stripper, Hey! Stripper)
don't know what you see it's getting to me,
(Hey! Stripper, Hey! I wanna be your mister).

The someone turned around and he was shocked to see Tatum in his kitchen. She grinned at him tossed some fried eggs on a plate.

"GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE! THE EARTH SAYS HELLO!" she screamed at him. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard in surround sound at the movie theater.

"Oh Jesus Tate please," he sat down on a stool and put his head in his hands.

"WHAT AM I BEING TOO LOUD FOR YOU SO EARLY IN THE MORNING? HOW'S YOUR HEAD…I BET IT HURTS A LOT?" Nick groaned. Tatum sat a plate of food in front of him and the smell almost killed him.

"What's this?" muttered Nick.

"IT'S FRIED EGGS, FRIED POTATOES AND FRIED STEAK. I FIGURED YOU COULD USE A GREAT BIG BREAKFAST AFTER LAST NIGHT. I EVEN FRIED EVERYTHING IN BUTTER JUST FOR YOU!" Tatum sat down across from him with her own plate and started eating.

"DAMN THIS IS GOOD. EAT UP NICKY!" Nick's stomach revolted and he barely made it to the bathroom to throw up. Oh god, I haven't felt this shitty since college, at least she didn't leave me in my boxers on the football field. The music turned off and Tatum came into the bathroom and leaned in the doorway.

"When I was sixteen and came home so drunk I crawled up the stairs and threw up in front of my daddy's bedroom door. My daddy woke me up the next morning with Conway Twitty blaring, fried eggs and steak and he screamed at me about how wonderful the world was and that I was gonna clean the house top to bottom. Starting with mess in front his door. Be lucky you didn't puke anywhere." Tatum handed him a damp washrag. Nick took it and looked up at her.

"You're a bitch." An evil, mean, sadistic bitch! She looked like she didn't care at all, in fact it looked she was trying not to laugh.

"You say that like it's a bad thing. I'm not the one who got trashed at my best friend's funeral. I at least had the self control to wait until my friends and family left my house after my son's wake before getting so sloppy drunk I couldn't even buy brandy. I was that way for almost a good two years. Trust me, more problems with the bottle than without it. You done tossing your cookies?"

"Think so." There wasn't much to toss, he hadn't eaten anything yesterday.

"Good…you have a birthday party to go to later on this afternoon. I don't think they'll be booze there so you should be good," said Tatum.

"Huh?" asked Nick standing up and grabbing the wall for support.

"I swear your friend Sanders and his baby mama had this kid like a year ago today. Even I know that...I need to go home and shower. So I'll pick you up around three and we can get your truck and than you can have cake and listening to a screaming toddler that will do wonders for that headache you're nursing."

"I don't wanna go." I just wanna be alone right now and not deal with anyone living or dead.

"Yeah, you wanna stay here and mope and in generally be a douche bag, unlike how you acted last night. However, this is me bringing out my inner Dr. Cox and Dr. House and I'm telling you that you're going and you're gonna put on a happy face and celebrate the fact that a another human being has somehow survived to turn a year old. If Warrick was here he would probably drag you across the street and force feed you the cake. However that is now my job and you need to thank Sanders for helping me drag you up the stairs. I'll see you at three."

Tatum patted him on the check and left. Nick stood there stunned for a second and thought came back to him. She took my shorts…oh god she stayed the night. Did we…oh god tell me I did not sleep with Tatum Fritz. Oh sweet god! He crawled into the shower and made it has hot has he could. If Warrick was here…oh he would kick my ass! He finished his shower and got dressed. He went back downstairs and saw that Tatum had left breakfast on the counter along with the dishes in the sink. A perfect houseguest. Nick sat down and finished both their plates before he realized it. Damn I was starving, not half bad. He looked in the cd player and saw she left her cd here. He took it out and looked at it, Soho Dolls.

"Really not a fair trade off for my clothes," muttered Nick starting to put the dishes in the wash. God what happened last night? He went into the living room and saw a blanket had been left on the sofa. She must have slept out here. She didn't have to stay here; I could have taken care of myself. He laid down of the sofa and closed his eyes willing the pounding in his head to stop. Warrick would have stayed the night if he had been here. And once again I owe Tatum Fritz.

Nick fell asleep and was woken up by someone knocking on his door. He got up and saw Tatum leaning in the door.

"What are you doing here?" muttered Nick.

"You wanna get your truck back or not? It's still sitting at Grissom's." Nick let her inside.

"Look I need to know, did anything happen between us last night? Did we…you know. Did I sleep with you?" Tatum just grinned and than she broke out laughing, she sat down on the floor and laughed until she cried. "It's not funny," said Nick.

"Yes it is. Oh my god…you couldn't even walk last night." Tatum wiped her eyes and tried to hold back the laughter. "You were trashed. You honestly think I would take advantage of you like that. I'm sure that maybe the lab girls would, but not me." She started laughing again and Nick frown at her.

"Please stop laughing at me." Tatum took a breath and looked up at him.

"All we need to do is get your truck; I bought a gift for the young Miss Sanders. I heard she clocked a kid in daycare with a see-and-say. Think Greg will get mad that I bought her one?"

"I don't know if I should be there. I can't remember how I acted, but I have a feeling I acted like a dick and I, I just wanna be left alone."

"Well you're going. You owe Sanders too; he helped me carry your heavy ass upstairs." Nick sighed.

"I'm really tried." Tatum looked up and kicked Nick in the shin.

"What the hell was that for?" she kicked him again in the shin and Nick winced.

"Because kicking your ass would involve getting up. This is so much easier. If you're gonna act like a child, so will I." She went to kick him again and he moved out of the way.

"I can stay here all day Stokes," said Tatum. "You don't have car or cash to leave. So are going to come with me to the birthday, not everyday someone turns a year old." Nick groaned and realized that Tatum was right and he owed it to his family here to be there.

"Let me get my shoes."

"And learning has occurred."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Greg opened the door and looked shocked to see Nick standing there.

"Hey," said Greg.

"Hey Sanders. Sorry we're late. Someone is a cranky bear after a nap. Isn't that right Tiny Dancer?" asked Tatum looking up at Nick. God why the girl names, I don't deserve that.

"Sorry man, I…" Greg cut him off.

"Look forget it, it's been a rough couple of days for everyone. If you wanna go home and chill it's cool." Tatum stepped on Nick's foot before he said anything.

"No. Betty is going to stay here, give the baby his gift, eat cake and smile. Isn't that right. Especially since Sanders was so nice last night to come over and help me drag your heavy ass upstairs."

"Yeah…thanks man." They came into the house and Tatum handed Greg a bag.

"I heard your kid likes See and Say."

"She likes beating people with them," said Greg.

"Maybe she can knock some sense into Betty here." Nick looked at her and she just grinned at him and Greg looked like he wanted to laugh too.

"I'm counting to ten and the cake is being lit with or without you," called Jenna. They went into the dining room and everyone looked surprised to see him. I was a real ass last night wasn't I?

"Hi," said Jenna looking at Nick like she had seen a ghost.

"Hi," chirped Katie from her high chair. Everyone looked at her with surprise. Well that brings her up to seven words.

"Oh do it again. Hi," said Greg's mother getting close to her granddaughter.

"Hi!" cried Katie.

"Oh good girl you have the set," said Jenna. "You learned it backwards but that's ok."

"Are we having cake anytime today?" asked Hodges.

"You really are a mood killer," said Grissom.

"Ok…no one else is coming right?" asked Jenna with the match. Nick learned later on that Jenna had tried to light the cake three times and was interrupted by people showing up at the last minute.

"No," said Greg. Jenna lit the candle again.

"Good because I'm not lighting this again."

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Katie, happy birthday to you," sang the group.

"Ok, blow," said Jenna showing Katie how to blow.

"Hi!" cried Katie.

"No sweetie, blow out the candle," said Greg.

"Hi." Hodges leaned over and blew out the candle. Everyone glared at him.

"What?"

"Greg, get me another candle so our daughter can blow out her own candle and my frying pan. The good one."

"Cast iron?" asked Greg.

"She said the good one," said Jenna's mother glaring at the tech. I'll help hold him down, thought Nick.

"Hodges you are now on field rotation for the next five weeks," said Grissom.

"But…" protested Hodges. Tatum looked up at Nick and grinned.

"Aren't you glad you came now?"

"Yeah." He looked over at the toddler who was chatting at Greg and he saw the former lab tech kiss his daughter on the head and realized that Warrick would have made him come no matter what, she's family.

They relit the cake and Katie was finally able to blow out her own candle after Hodges was sent outside with the threat of being made to work ten weeks of field rotation when he blew the candle out again. I hope you have lots of birthday's sweet heart, thought Nick watching Katie try to eat the cake with her fingers. I wish you were here man.

Unknown to Nick, everyone was pretty much thinking the same thing.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"So I'll see at work next week," said Nick. Tatum was getting ready to leave and Nick walked with her outside to her car.

"Good," Tatum went to get in her car and Nick stopped her.

"Listen, thank you. Not just for staying the night, but for kicking some sense into me. I needed that."

"It happens. I'll see you later."

"Hey where are my clothes?" asked Nick.

"In my dirty clothes, I slept in them. You'll get them back when I wash them. Where's my cd?" asked Tatum.

"I'll give you the cd when I get my clothes back," said Nick. Tatum went to kick him in the shin again and Nick moved out of the way. "I'm on to you now."

"Damn it," she whined and kicked her tire.

"Have a nice night Tatum."

"You too." She got in her car and Nick shook his head. God she is crazy, but at least it's the fun crazy. He watched her drive off and Nick wondered if he hadn't been so wasted what could of happened between them.