CSI Family
Chapter 7
Here is the next update for you all. Some time has passed since the last chapter. Almost a month. This one, I expanded Lover's Lanes from season ten. I love this episode especially the end. I hope you like what I added at the end. I figured that the Stokes need to have some fun before everything turns to shit. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that. Anyway, read and review. Let me know what you think.
He had almost everything ready. All of the pieces he needed to put forth his plan into action were together and ready for their arrival. All of the trinkets were lining the walls, waiting to be used. The shackles hanging from the pipes were in place. He was growing excited the more he looked over everything. If only he could take action now. Oh how good it would be to take them now. But now wasn't the right time. He needed to wait until she was comfortable and expected nothing. That would make this plan better than it already was. For now, he had to go drop a special something off, and if he was correct with his timing, which he should have been since he had been watching her habits for months now, she would be heading to work right at that moment.
He was happy no one recognized him anymore. He made a smart decision, growing out his hair, but then again, none of these idiots would have recognized him anyway. He hardly recognized himself sometimes the more he thought about it. No more was he that nice, clean-cut, young man who many people had admired, looked up to. Oh no, that man was long gone, and it was all because of her. She was his inspiration behind all of this. He wondered if she would realize it was him after all this time. He doubted it, he really did, but that's what this little trip was all about.
The classroom was filling up by the time he walked in. She wasn't there yet. Perfect, he grinned. Now he would be able to blend in better with the others. The room was the same as it had been the last time he had been there. (Not very surprising, professors rarely changed their rooms.) The only thing out-of-place was the picture of her family that sat on her desk. It made his stomach turn. How disgusting. He watched as the students dropped their papers on the neat pile and made their way to their seats. Even better. He got into line and followed along, dropping the folder beside the others. He hoped that she would open it before he would leave. He had been dreaming of what her reaction would be like. He imagined it would be something like what he had given to her in the manila folder. He had to admit, even that was a little extreme, but he didn't care. She probably showed it to that no-good husband of hers so he would take care of it. He chuckled silently to himself. He found nothing. They would never find anything. He was untraceable.
He sat in the back, and right at 10:00 am, she walked in just as beautiful as he remembered. Watching her from a distance was one thing, but actually being in the same room with her was a whole different game in his book. Parenthood had done her good. The way her chest stretched the fabric of her shirt, he was getting hard just thinking about it. Soon he kept reminding himself. Soon. He just needed to be patient then he would have her all to himself.
"Good morning everyone, I hope you all getting excited for Thanksgiving Break, I know I am," she flipped through the stack of papers quickly, making sure they were all there. "Wow, this is a lot more than I expected from you guys, way to go. So, how many of you are having exams before the break?" He watched as the majority of the hands in the room rose into the air. "That's what I thought. Well, that being said, and because I don't want to grade tests over my break, you'll be having yours when you get back. The first day we'll have a review session then the next class you'll have the test. Does that sound fair to you all?" There was a loud response to her question. That was one of the reasons why many students loved her so much. "That is what I thought you would all say," he grinned devilishly as he saw her pick up the folder only to have his heart plummet when she stuffed it into her bag. What was she doing? She was supposed to open it there and cause a stir! This was not part of the plan! He smacked the table realizing his mistake. He was going to have to sit through a boring lecture now, one that he had most likely heard before. He had things to do! He didn't have time to sit through this nonsense! On the bright side though, he got to watch her for an hour. That was the only plus side, he thought as his hands fell into his lap. Maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as he thought.
"Man, this is more complicated than I thought," Nick made his way through the back of the bowling alley to where Greg was busy snapping away pictures from where the head might have been thrown from.
"You know, at the turn of the century, this was all done by hand," Greg said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, ten-year-old kids called pin boys would run around clearing and resetting all the pins, returning the balls to the bowlers."
"Too bad they're not around anymore. We might have some suspects," Nick joined Greg. "Looks like the head rolled thorough there, huh?"
"Yeah, this is the tower section of the ball return conveyor system. The killer had to start there," Greg shinned his flashlight at the appropriate spot. "It's the only way in; the head went into the pit, through the ball door, up the tower, under the lanes, through the accelerator and out the return."
"You sure do know a lot about bowling."
"Uh, mechanical engineering class in college. We took a field trip to a bowling alley."
"Every Sunday night, family league," Nick told him.
"Yeah? You any good?" Greg asked.
"I'm not bad," Nick shrugged. "Okay, photo, mark, and sample. I have the victim's vehicle registration. I'm gonna go see if his car is in the parking lot. Too bad the only surveillance is at the register and front entrance, huh?"
"Yeah. Hey, does Lovebug bowl?" Greg asked.
"I don't know," Nick answered truthfully. "It never came up. Why?"
"Oh just thought I would ask, and since we're back here, I just wanted to apologize again. I was way out of line and-"
"We've been over this before, Greg. It's okay. No harm no foul. It happened weeks ago. We can put this behind us," Nick started back towards the front of the lanes. "Besides everything is all right now. I won't be a grouch anymore."
"You sure about that?" Greg asked.
"Okay, as much," Nick said. "I'll see you later. Have fun working back here."
"I will!"
"I know you will," Nick muttered to himself.
Danika dropped her bag beside the front door the moment she stepped inside her home and entered the living room to find Cassie laughing along with Laura at the show on the television. She was so thankful that Laura was able to watch Cassie on such short notice. The high school had an in-service day, and she would have completely understood if the teenager wanted to spend the day hanging out with her friends, but she said that she would spend every day with Cassie if she would have liked.
"Mama!" Cassie screeched, noticing her mother had arrived.
"There's my baby girl," Danika picked her up into her arms, kissing her forehead. "Did you have a fun time with Miss. Laura today?" Cassie nodded her head in response, leaning against her mother's shoulder. "Thank you for watching her, Laura. Now go enjoy the rest of your day off."
"Thanks, Mrs. Stokes," Laura said, accepting the money in Danika's hands, exiting the house. "Have a good day!"
"Did you play with your blocks, baby?" Danika took note of the colorful pieces lying in front of the television. "It looks like you had a very busy day."
"Mama," Cassie snuggled closer to her, eyes dropping quickly.
"It's time for someone to take a nap," she said, placing her in the playpen. That way she could keep an eye on her while she went through some of the papers. "This is going to take at least two hours."
She still couldn't believe how many papers there were to grade. It was her fault really. Why did she decide to have them turn in a major paper before vacation? What was she thinking? For starters, she wasn't expecting to have this many on the due date. The students must have wanted to get everything out-of-the-way so they wouldn't have to worry about anything over the break. She knew how that felt. Danika didn't want to do anything either over her mini vacation either. She just wanted it to be her, Nick, Cassie and her family back in Oklahoma. She couldn't wait, but for now she needed to grade these and not get behind so she would be able to get some time to herself.
Nick made it back home in record time. It was times like these where he was glad to be a CSI. The bowling alley was letting them all have a free night to show them their thanks. This was going to be such a blast. He hoped that Danika and Cassie would want to go. It would be fun for all of them. He walked in to see Danika curled up on the couch grading more papers and Cassie snoozing away in her playpen, Maddie lying beside her, keeping guard.
"What's the rush there, Tex?" Danika asked, removing her glasses so she could rub her eyes. Not realizing how long she had been looking over the students' assignment.
"Have you ever been bowling?" he asked.
"Why?"
"Because we're all going, and you're supposed to come with me."
"What brought this on?"
"Solving the case, come on it's going to be fun." Danika stared at him for a little bit, not knowing what to think. Was he serious? He must have been. He was ready to get back in the car and go.
"Fine," she said. "Let me just go change quick."
"Hurry up," Nick shouted up the stairs. "Everyone's going to beat us."
Nick was wrong of course. He just wanted an excuse to get there faster. They were the first ones to arrive, not that Danika was surprised. Nick was always first when it came to social outings. They got their shoes and headed over to the lanes, Cassie holding onto both of their hands tightly as they headed over to the lanes. Cassie loved walking around holding onto them; it was her new favorite thing.
It had been a very long time since Danika had gone bowling. She had gone with her family many times when she was younger as well as a few times in college with her friends, but since then, she really couldn't remember, but what Nick didn't know was that she was actually pretty decent. Pretty soon the others began to arrive. Catherine, Sara, Doc Robbins, Super Dave, Wendy, Hodges, the only ones that weren't present were Ray and Greg. Cassie was very upset about that.
"What do you think? Should we start a while?" Catherine asked, tying her shoe laces. "I have no problem waiting."
"We might as well," Sara answered. "How are we going to do this? Teams?"
"Men versus women?" Wendy suggested.
"That would be six on four then, talk about unfair," Sara answered.
"Then we take Greg when he gets here," Danika said. "That would make it fairer I think. What about you?"
"Greg said he wasn't going to bowl," Nick answered. "Then it would be closer. Five on four. I think the guys versus the girls will work just fine."
"Why do I have a feeling that we are going to get our butts kicked?" Catherine asked. "And I'm not just saying that because I stink."
"You never know, Cath. We could surprise you."
"I need to practice," Catherine rose to her feet, grabbing her ball. "Don't laugh at me all right."
"No promises there," Hodges replied.
"Thanks Hodges," Catherine stepped up to the lane, sending the ball right into the gutter. "Ooh! I had it! I almost had it and I hate this. I hate it! Happens every single time. No more!"
"You know, don't be afraid to rock the granny-roll, Cath," Hodges went up for his turn, throwing the ball from in between his legs. "Always works for me."
"I used to bowl that way too, Cath," Danika chimed in. "Back when I was ten-years-old!"
"Hey now!" Hodges exclaimed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just commenting on your bowling skills," Danika laughed, taking a swig of her beer. "No harm no foul."
"Yeah, well I would like to see you try. It's a lot harder than it looks."
"But I'm enjoying watching you all go," she said.
"Langston's here everyone!" Sara announced, knocking nine pins down on her first roll.
"Sara, that pin is flipping you off!" Wendy laughed.
"There he is," Nick said as Ray slid into a spot beside Sara, quickly putting his shoes on. "Time for a toast. Bowling is a family sport, and I would like to raise a glass to our CSI family. Cheers."
"Cheers!" They all held up their drinks together, laughing when Cassie held up her own sippy cup so she wouldn't be left out.
"But unfortunately, it's time to give the family a little ass-whooping," Nick added, placing his beer on one of the tables, grabbing his ball, bowling himself a strike on the first try, adding in a little celebratory dance.
"Someone please knock him down a few pegs please," Danika commented, dropping her face into her hands. "I can't go home with that. Where's Greg when you need him?"
"Sorry I'm late. I couldn't find my ball," Greg panted, joining us. Speak and he will appear.
"You have a ball?" Hodges asked.
"Yeah, and a bag," Greg pulled out the ball painted like a die.
"Time out. I thought you weren't going to bowl," Nick said.
"Yeah, I changed my mind," Greg smiled, taking his shot. Another strike.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Danika exclaimed. "Thank you, Greg!"
"Oh, all right, it's on, it's on," Nick announced. "What are these teams again?"
"Hold on now," Danika rose to her feet. "I need my practice turn. Everyone else got on. It's only fair that I get mine, right?" she looked between Nick and Greg, unzipping her own bag from under the chair to reveal a pink and black camouflage bowling ball.
"Hold up," Nick said'. "I thought you said you didn't bowl."
"You asked if I ever went bowling," she stepped up to the lane. "You weren't specific."
"You are in big trouble now," Greg said, watching as she also bowled a strike.
"I can't believe this," Nick shook his head.
"You better believe it, baby," Danika grinned facing the girls. "I do believe we said we were going guys against the girls, but we would have Greg to make it five on five."
"That's what I thought we agreed on," Catherine nodded her head.
"That is so unfair!" Nick whined. "Can we switch it up a little bit?"
"Why? Afraid you'll lose?" Danika challenged.
"I need popcorn, this is going to be good," Danika heard Hodges mumbled.
"Fine," Nick sighed. "Guys, we got this. We're going to show them who's boss."
"Whoa now, I think it is us who will be winning," Danika replied, taking her seat next to Cassie who was busy playing with her blocks. "Isn't that right?"
And what an interesting match-up it was. Nick and his team lost by a long shot. Both Danika and Greg lead their team to victory twice. After both of those defeats Nick gave up on his competitive streak, and decided to have more fun. He should have done that at the beginning. Bowling was much better that way to begin with. Especially when he noticed his daughter paying attention to what they were doing not long after they started playing. He took her hand and brought her out to the lane where they both sat on the floor. Ball in front of them, Cassie placed her hands on it and with Nick's help pushed it down the lane. It slowly made its way down the lane, but funny enough, they managed to knock down five pins. Cassie was very happy about that. She clapped her hands loudly, giggling like usual all the way back to the others who all gave her a high-five.
Danika couldn't help but tear up. They were just so cute together. Ray noticed this and placed a hand on her shoulder. He didn't need to say anything, she knew. It was times like those that made her think about how quickly Cassie was growing up. She was going to be a year-old soon. Where had the time gone?
Pretty soon, one by one they headed out, going home to catch up on some sleep before they needed to go into work, and just like normal, they were the last ones to leave. First ones there, last ones to go.
"Are you all right?" Nick asked once he returned their rented shoes. "You look upset."
"I'm not," she answered quickly. "The exact opposite actually. This was a really good idea, Tex. Getting everyone together. Having time to just relax and have fun."
"Too bad I have to go back in tonight," he said. "I would much rather stay at home with you and Cassie. It looked like she had a fun time today. Did you see that smile when she rolled the ball and it knocked those pins down? I don't think I have ever seen her so happy."
"I did," she looked down at their sleeping daughter lying in her arms. "She was a really good sport. I'm surprised she stayed awake so long too."
"Yeah," Nick pulled out the car keys from his pocket. "You ready to go? I'm hoping to get at least five hours before I have to go back."
"Sounds reasonable," Danika got to her feet, hoisting her bag over her shoulder.
vegas nivel 3 - Thank you. I have been playing around with them going to visit Warrick and trying to think of when the perfect time would be to go and do that. I thought that the last chapter worked rather well. I hope this one was to your liking. Let me know what you think. :)
