A/N: On behalf of this glorious day I present the ninth chapter! I am bestowing this piece to fanfiction as recognition for mine and Grissom's birthday! August 17th! Happy Birthday to us!
"I don't know, Katrina," Greg leaned against the back door as he watched his wife change her clothes, "I don't like the idea of it."
"Greg," Katrina pulled her green blouse above her head and tossed it in a suitcase, "I don't like it either, but it's the least we can do. And if it comes down to this to keep our family safe I have to do it."
Greg sighed and looked out tinted windows at people gassing up their vehicles, "I don't like it."
Katrina was inspecting a shirt when she let her arms drop, "Greg," he didn't look at her, "Greg," she crawled over to him and grabbed his hands, and in one swift movement his bandaged hands where on her breasts getting his attention.
"What the hell are you doing?" Greg tried to pull his hands away, but she held them there.
"These are yours," Katrina looked him in the eye, "not anyone else's." She moved his hands to her butt, "This is yours…not anyone else's. Do you get the idea?"
"I'm not sure that I do, quite yet," Greg gave a sly smile.
Katrina smirked and kissed him, "I'm glad you understand."
Greg straightened himself up and kept his eyes on Katrina, "Do I get to change?"
"No," Katrina decided on a light blue 'V'-neck shirt that buttoned down the center with sleeves that came down to her elbows.
Greg shook his head, "I thought you said those were mine."
"I did," Katrina pulled her hair out of the back of her shirt and shook her head loosening her hair, "I never said anything about the cleavage though."
"Tushay," Greg gave a nod and continued to watch her, "Does my watching bother you?"
Katrina shook her head, "Nope, it's no different than a Saturday night."
Greg chuckled.
Katrina pulled her boots off then her pants, "God, I hate changing in cars."
"Do you do it often?" Greg asked.
"I think I liked you better when you could barely talk," Katrina muttered.
Greg gave a cocky grin, "What can I say your love heals me."
Katrina pulled out a knee length pencil skirt and slipped it on followed by dark pantyhose, and finally put her black knee high boots back on, "How do I look?"
"Like a wife and mother," Greg answered.
Katrina leaned over and kissed him one more time before opening the back door to get out, she turned around and waited as Greg moved his legs to hang off the back of the Tahoe.
"It's time to sit in a normal seat," Katrina grabbed his arms and pulled him out, but once his feet hit the ground he fell forward giving Katrina just a little time to catch her balance and hug him so he wouldn't fall.
"Sorry about that," Greg huffed.
"It's okay," Katrina turned herself so she could put an arm around his waist and he could put one around her shoulders, "Let's get you back in the truck."
"Sounds…fun," Greg stuttered out.
Katrina got to the side of the truck and pulled open the door, she doesn't really recall how she got him in the truck she was only happy she was able to. She went back around to shut the back door before coming back to help Greg buckle, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Greg smiled.
Katrina leaned across him to poke Peter in the stomach.
The little baby let out a high pitch giggle.
"You keep an eye on Daddy now, okay Petey?" Katrina tickled his tummy again before retreating back to kiss Greg lovingly, "I love you Greg."
"I love you too," Greg kissed her again.
"Hey," Katrina turned to see Nick walking towards them Ebony already bounding ahead to get in on the other side.
"Hey yourself," Katrina replied, "Ready?"
"Yep," Nick walked around the Tahoe and climbed into the driver seat waiting patiently.
Katrina gave her true husband one last passionate filled kiss, before shutting the door and getting in the passenger seat to be by her fake husband.
)(
"Mommy," Ebony whined, "Peter keeps pulling my hair."
"Ebony, honey, you're the big sister," Katrina turned in her seat to look at the two, "so be the big sister."
"Now, sunshine," Greg began, "when we get to Uncle Nick's house you can't call Mommy, Mommy…okay?"
Ebony nodded her round face, but stopped as Peter pulled her hair, "Ow." The little boy giggled loudly getting a smile out of all three of the adults in the truck.
"Here we are," Nick announced.
"Stokes Family Ranch," Greg chuckled, "very creative."
"Got any better ideas city boy?" Nick asked.
"Nope," Greg said without hesitation.
"Didn't think so," Nick smiled and pulled the car to a stop just a few yards from a large three story white ranch house, he shut it off and waited for sound.
"Wow," Katrina breathed.
"It's not much," Nick opened his door and went around to open Ebony's door, the pink dressed girl jumped down and walked over to a wooden fence where she climbed up to look out at a vast field.
Katrina was next out of the car, hugging herself as she looked up at the house.
"Shit," Katrina looked to her side to see Greg standing there balanced on his crutches.
"I know," Katrina said.
"Kat, do you want to get Peter so I can get the bags?" Nick called out.
"Yeah," Katrina touched Greg's arm then went back to the truck, she went around on the side Ebony had gotten out of and climbed half way in unbuckling Peter, "Hi sweetie, are you ready to get out and see the big house."
The baby clapped his tiny hands twice before trying to put one of his fists in his mouth as he looked at his mom, "Wa."
"Don't put your hand in your mouth," Katrina smiled and Peter giggled. She carefully maneuvered Peter out of his seat and all the way out of the car. She adjusted him onto her hip and held one of his tiny hands as she bounced lightly.
"Dad," Ebony shouted, "There's horses!"
"Ebony, get down from there!" Katrina yelled. "Help Uncle Nick with the bags."
Ebony groaned, but did as she was told.
Katrina walked back around the truck with Peter pressing his cheek on her arm so he could see behind them.
"Nicholas!" Every head snapped towards the porch where a tall thin woman with dark brown hair streaking gray stood waving. She practically jumped the three steps to come running out.
"Hey Momma," Nick walked past Greg and Katrina to allow his mom hugging access.
"I didn't think you were coming till Friday!" She held her son's face and smiled big, "Wait till your daddy knows you're here. Oh, and the grandkids will be thrilled, your sister Beth has been worried sick."
"Beth?" Nick grabbed his mom's wrists and pushed them down, "Is the whole lot here?"
"Yes," Mrs. Stokes nodded eccentrically.
"Great," Nick sighed and looked over his shoulder, "Um, Momma, this is my colleague and best friend Greg Sanders he was recently in accident, we've been looking after him so he tagged along, this little cutie is his daughter Ebony and this," Nick put a hand out for Katrina to walk up next to him, "is my wife Katrina and our boy Peter." Greg looked at Katrina, "This is my mom Jillian Stokes."
"Pleasure to meet you," Katrina held out a free hand, but Jillian wrapped her arms around the woman and the baby.
"Oh, you are so much prettier than I imagined," She looked at Peter, "and he is adorable. May I?"
"Um, sure," Katrina allowed Jillian to take Peter.
The older woman cooed at Peter, "What's his whole name?"
"Peter Gilbert Sa-Stokes," Katrina caught herself.
"Gilbert?" Jillian looked at Katrina.
"Yes, it's my father's name," Katrina smiled.
"Cute," Jillian looked back at Peter, "Let's go inside and meet the others." She turned and started toward the house.
"Ebony and I'll get the bags," Nick said, "You help Greg get tackle those stairs."
"Thanks buddy," Greg smiled and moved the crutches carefully with each step as Katrina rested a hand on his back.
They could hear Jillian's voice shouting through the house, "Where is everybody! Nick's here!"
Katrina got Greg to the top of the stairs and couldn't help, but smile at her husband's brave attempt not to wince in pain.
"Its okay honey," Katrina whispered, "show the pain."
"Hell no," Greg muttered.
Nick walked past Katrina and entered the house with Ebony in tow, the sounds of bags dropping followed by shouts of joy and hellos, Ebony quickly ran back outside, "I got scared."
The two chuckled and Greg moved closer to Ebony so she could hold his wrist, "Let's go into together, Princess."
"I'm not a Princess," Ebony stomped her foot and glared at her dad.
"Well, excuse me," Greg smiled and allowed Ebony to help him inside; Katrina took a deep breath and entered.
"…and this is Katrina, Nick's wife," Katrina looked over at Jillian just as the woman finished. Her attention snapped back to packed full foyer, "Katrina dear, I'd like you to meet the family."
Katrina's smile faltered at the idea of remembering all the names. The first person to approach her was a black haired woman with brilliant green eyes, "Hi my names Beth, this is my husband Dean and our boy Teddy." Both the father and son had blond hair and hazel eyes.
This is how it went on and eventually Katrina compiled a list in her head:
-Beth had black hair and married to Dean who has blond hair as well as their son Teddy.
-Katie had dark brown hair and was married to John (black hair) and their twins Kyle and Don each had black hair.
-Tory had dark brown hair; married to the curly brunette Tom, they have a daughter named Carter with brunette hair.
-Jane had deep crimson hair; married to a bald Frank, they had two girls: Alisha and Ashleigh (twins) each with brown hair (probably Jane's original hair color).
-Gina had black hair (was Beth's twin), and was married to Herb with vibrant orange hair, they had three kids, Heidi, Julie, and Jake (all with vibrant orange hair).
-And finally Max with black hair, married to Mandy with blonde hair and one kid Jimmy with black hair.
Weirdest thing all the kids were the same age aside from Julie and Heidi who were only four.
"It's nice to meet you all," Katrina said quickly then looked around for Nick.
"So, do you work with Nick?" Tory asked.
"Uh, yes, I do actually," Katrina smiled at her, "in fact my dad used to be his supervisor…so his boss."
"No way!" Max boomed from the staircase, "Nick, you were having sex with the boss's daughter!"
"Maxwell!" Jillian snapped, "Watch your mouth."
Katrina felt tension rise in her back as eyes burrowed into it, "Actually, my dad retired before any of it." Lies.
"Okay, I want everybody outside, it is way to damn crowded for all of us!" The voice came from down the hall and instantly Katrina recognized him as Judge Bill Stokes.
Outside was a big backyard that stretched further to a field then a barn, the yard was huge and wide giving room for kids to run and play.
Once the whole lot was outside the kids ran to the yard and tackled each other followed by Fathers trying to ease the fighting.
"Hey, Nicky, up for a game of old family football," Max came up behind Nick patting him on the back.
"I don't know man," Nick said, "The last time we played I kicked your ass and you cried."
"I did not!" Max padded out further onto the yard, "You and me Nick, we're captains! You pick 'em first."
"Let the kids play too boys!" Jillian yelled as she found her way to the closet table.
"Same teams as last just to make it easier," Nick asked.
Max nodded, "Hell yeah."
"Alright let's do this!" Tom jumped the rail on the porch and ran towards the opening grabbing a football of the ground.
"Tom, be careful!" Tory yelled.
"Tory, don't fret yourself he's fine," Katie giggled and sat down at the table closest to the back porch.
Katrina stayed glued to her spot by the stairs as she watched Nick's sisters, Max's wife, and Jillian all sit at the table; little Peter still in the woman's arms.
Katrina looked at the end of the porch just in time to see Ebony plop down at a circle table while Greg took the seat next to her, he set a little pink case on the table and immediately Ebony ripped it open to get paper and crayons. Katrina longed to walk over there and join them, but she knew she should sit with the Stokes family…her legs didn't move.
"Katrina, dear, why don't you come and join us?" Jillian waved at Katrina.
Katrina nodded and slowly went down the stairs to get to a free chair in between Jillian and Gina. Right as she sat down Peter started stretching towards her; she reached out and took the small boy. Katrina cradled Peter in her arms and looked out at the on going football game.
"So, Katrina," Jillian rested her arms on the table, "where do your parents live?"
"My dad lives in Las Vegas with his wife, and my mom," Katrina paused, "hasn't been a mom to me for the past ten years…so I don't know where she is."
"Well, you have me now sweetie," Jillian smiled and looked over at the porch just as Bill was descending the stairs, "Honey, why don't you go and ref the game…I don't trust those boys."
"Already on it," Bill walked towards the new made field, he brought a silver object to his lips and a loud whistle rang out halting the game, "How we doing this game?"
"Shirts vs. Skins," Max shouted.
"Okay," Bill looked at the two teams, "Nicky your team is skins, just because Max has the girls on his team."
"Alright, Coach," Nick pulled off his shirt and tossed it off to the side; his sculpted chest drew Katrina's attention and as much as she tried to look away she couldn't. With every movement his muscles pushed at his skin showing how much more masculine he was compared to the other boys.
"You make it look like you've never seen his chest," Katie giggled.
Katrina blushed and looked down at Peter, "Uh, yeah, well it catches me off guard each time."
"So," Tori started, she leaned closer to Katrina, "how's the sex life?"
"Tori Ann," Jillian snapped, "Don't be asking such things."
"What?" Tori asked innocently.
"Well, we have Peter don't we?" Katrina forced a smile.
"That you do," Jane agreed.
"And if I do say so he is so adorable," Beth cooed.
"Thank you," Katrina said.
Katie was about to ask a question, but stopped short as a hand tugged on Katrina's shirt, "What do you want sweetie?"
Katrina looked down to see Ebony, "What's wrong?"
Ebony looked up at Katrina and pulled at her pigtails, "Daddy's hands are bleeding."
"What?" Katrina looked over at the porch to see Greg starring at his white wrapped hands with confused eyes, "Um, Beth…can you take Peter?"
"Absolutely," Beth immediately took her "nephew" without hesitation as Katrina started for the porch.
"Do you need help?" Jillian yelled after her.
"No, I'm fine," Katrina walked over to Greg and grabbed his arm gently pulling him out of the chair, "C'mon Greg."
"I'm fine," Greg muttered.
"No you're not," Katrina handed him his crutches and helped him into the house; Ebony was right behind, "Ebony, honey why don't you go and draw your daddy a picture."
"Okay," the little girl quickly retreated out the back door leaving the two.
Katrina led Greg down a hall till she found a large bathroom, "Sit on the counter."
"Easy for you to say," Greg said.
Katrina left the bathroom and ventured towards the front door where the bags still sat. She dug into Greg's and found new bandages; she quickly went back to the bathroom and sat the supplies on the counter.
Greg held up a hand, "So, does he have a better chest than I do?"
Katrina pushed up his jacket sleeve and rolled up his shirt sleeve, "You know the answer to that."
"So, yes?" Greg smirked.
Katrina looked at him then back at what she was doing, "No, you know I think you have the sexiest chest," she slowly started to unravel the bandages, "What were you doing?"
"I wasn't doing anything," Greg sighed, "I was just sitting there watching Ebony color, listening as she told me some jokes, want to hear my favorite?"
"Sure," Katrina smiled and peeled back the last strip.
"Knock, knock," Greg started.
"Who's there?" Katrina smiled and grabbed a damp cloth.
"Owls," Greg watched her delicate hands.
"Owls who?" Katrina asked.
"That's right owls hoo," Greg chuckled and looked up at his smiling wife, "I remember laughing then my hands started to bleed. She is so cute; you should've heard how high and mighty she sounded when she said the last line."
"I'd believe it," Katrina padded at his hand lightly trying to stop the bleeding.
"Kat," Greg whispered.
"Hm?" She slowly began wrapped the new bandages around starting with his fingers.
"I don't think staying here is a good idea," he looked at his hand.
"It's the only idea we have, it's the best we can do to keep our babies safe," Katrina finished off his fingers and began wrapping his hand.
"Yeah, I know, but I'd rather you be Mrs. Sanders than Mrs. Stokes," Greg lifted his left hand where a slight bulge on his ring finger showed, "I mean how do I explain this if anybody sees?"
"Your wife fell into a coma six years ago," Katrina looked at him, "I mean it's not completely a lie."
"Yeah," Greg sighed.
"Greg, I'm not going to kiss him," Katrina giggled, "If that's what you're worried about."
"No, I'm also concerned about tonight and sleeping," Greg looked at his freshly bandaged hand and held out the other one, "What I mean is Peter, and tonight…what if he doesn't stop?"
Katrina looked at him, "I thought about that too. I'll figure something out."
"Okay, I hope so," Greg closed his eyes and fell silent.
"Katrina! Katrina, honey, where are you?" Jillian's voice rang through the empty house.
"In here!" Katrina shouted.
Jillian's figure appeared in the door, "Oh, honey, I was just talking with the other girls and we've decided to go out tonight."
"Oh, fun," Katrina smiled, but didn't look up as she finished pulling off the bandage, "Where to?"
"Well, there's a place it's very high class and Bill is having a business something or another there and we decided to bring the whole lot to go. You're coming right?"
"Yep," Katrina smiled and looked at Jillian, "What about the kids?"
"Oh, well Gina and Herb are staying behind," Jillian beamed, "They have their own business and have some things to go over so they're going to watch over the kids. And Greg, we'd love if you joined us."
"I don't know," Greg looked at the woman, "I don't want to intrude on family time."
"Nonsense," Jillian giggled, "You're coming," hers eyes veered to the gold ring on Greg's hand that had just been blotted clean, "You're married?"
Greg looked at the ring, "Yep, almost two years."
"Where's your wife?"
"She fell into a coma six years ago, she woke up two years ago long enough for me to purpose and get married to me, but she became sick again and fell straight back into it."
Jillian's lit up eyes fell dark with sadness, "Oh dear that is so sad. Is she Ebony's mother?"
Greg nodded, "Yep, we visit her four times a week and every Sunday, but as of right now her dad is watching over her."
"Well," Jillian began to change the subject, "we're leaving at three, and it's eleven so we have some time to get you all unpacked."
"Great," Katrina finished up with Greg's hand and rolled his sleeves back down. She handed him his crutches and he got to his feet slowly.
"Well, Katrina," Jillian began, "you and Nicky are going to be up in his old room, while Greg you get the guest room across from them, how are stairs for you?"
"Not too bad, but once I'm up, I'm up," Greg smiled.
Jillian laughed, "I'll have one of the boys bring your stuff up for you."
"Thanks."
Jillian beamed one last time before exiting to go back outside.
"We should go back outside," Greg sighed.
"Yeah," Katrina let Greg go by first before following after.
