Disclaimer: I don't own Any of the CSI characters, they are all property of Jerry Bruckheimer … but oh, the fun I'd have if they were mine …

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI characters, they are all property of Jerry Bruckheimer … but oh, the fun I'd have if they were mine …

A/N: Chapter 10! Wooooho! Unfortunately, I start school tomorrow so I'll have homework to do but I'll try to update as frequently as possible. So please keep up the reviews and feedback so I'll know you're still liking it and I'll feel encouraged.

Anyway, enjoy!

"This is Great, ma!" said Nick with his mouth half full; if there was one thing he missed about life at the ranch, it was Eleanor's cooking.

"Yea, Mrs. S" said Greg his mouth also full

"Thank you, boys" she said smiling as she too started eating.

"Where're the kids?" asked Catherine looking at Greg and Warrick

"we tofd 'em de lunc ws svrd" tried Greg after taking a large bite

"What?!" asked Catherine

"We told them lunch was served" said Warrick

"Oh…and?"

"They said they were coming…" said Warrick poking a piece of meat with his fork and holding it in the air as he spoke "I can go call 'em again, if you want"

"Would you?" asked Catherine who just wasn't in the mood for confrontation, after all, it was Christmas eve, fighting wasn't something she wanted to do.

"Ok" said Warrick smiling quickly as he left his plate in its place and went to get the kids

"Guys…" called Warrick when he entered the family room

"Huh?" asked Lindsey who seemed to have understood how to use the controller and was, much like Austin had, turning the controller and her whole body as if it would help while Megan did the same to try and beat her.

"Lins, your mom wants you to go eat, and so do your parents" he added pointing around at the other three teens "come on, the others are already there" he said referring to the other 8 stokes kids.

"Uh…ok…just…one…sec" said Lindsey as she killed Megan's character for the first time "Yea!" she shouted high-five-ing Austin and smiling at him only to receive a smile back.

"Uh…" sighed Warrick seeing the interaction and knowing how Cath's peace was sure to be disturbed by it "ok, come on now"

"Coming" said Lindsey getting up and smiling as everyone else followed

After lunch, Matt and Helen decided to for a walk with their kids and Debbie and Chris said they had some shopping to do and left around 3pm.

The rest of the Stokes adult clan just sat around chatting while Nick took his friends into the dining room.

"So, what'd y'all wanna do?" he asked

"Uh… I'm really partial to just sleeping…" said Greg who was still angry at the fact that he kept waking up so early.

"Well, I'd like to go ride, since my last trip got cut short" said Sara and Nick nodded

"I'm up for a little PS2 with the kids, if y'all don't mind" said Warrick who had been invited by his young friends to join them in a tournament

"Brass?" asked Nick

"Uh, I think I'll go riding too" said the cop

"Ok, Cath?"

"Uh…I'll go ride too" she replied

"Griss?"

"Uh…" he thought about it. Riding meant being with Sara, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could be near her without being with her, so that's wasn't that good of a choice… he wasn't exactly sure what PS2 was, but it didn't seem like something he'd want to do, so instead he said "I think I'll just stay here, catch up on some reading or something"

"Ok, I'll go ridin' with y'all" said Nick looking towards Catherine, Brass and Sara"

Within 15 minutes, Grissom was sitting on a chair on the front porch reading an entomology text book, Warrick was yelling at the TV with the youngsters, Greg was sound asleep in his room and the other four CSI's were on their horses trying to figure out where to go.

"Well, we have two hours, so, I say we just go for a tour around the property, maybe stop by the stream for a while and then head back, get showered and ready for dinner. What'd ya say?"

"Sure" said Catherine and the other nodded.

Sitting on the porch, Grissom saw his friends and Sara head off and couldn't help wondering why he was so bad at just showing how he felt.

"Come on, come on" James shouted at the controller in frustration as he lost again.

"Hey, you know what they say" said Warrick smiling happily as Lindsey gave him an extra point on the score sheet they'd come up with "practice makes perfect"

Sighing, James merely shook his head and handed the controller to Megan so she could try her luck against the unbeatable CSI.

"Look, there they are again" said Catherine as she pointed to the two horses they'd seen the previous day "he can actually stand now" she said smiling

"Oh…" sighed Sara directing June to stand next to May on whom Catherine was sitting.

"Ladies?" asked Brass wanting to go on

"Huh, yea. Let's go" they said turning away and following along the stream to the back of the stokes property.

Beep beepbeep beep

"Let me guess, your mystery lady again?" asked Sara as Nick pulled out his phone and as smile spread on his face "I'll take that as a yes"

Texting quickly, Nick replied to the message and quickly put his phone away and kept going.

"So, you gonna tell me about that?" asked Catherine who always wanted some fresh gossip as she and Sara manoeuvred their horses to walk one on each side of Nick's horse Trigger.

"I dunno, are you two gonna tell me about your mystery men?"

Laughing, Brass too got his horse in line with the other three and said "Oh, come on Nick, their guys are no mystery…"

Looking away, Sara and Catherine feigned ignorance

"Oh come on, girls, if you want the dirt on us, you have to give us some on you…" said Nick as he and Brass smiled

"Nicky, if there was anything to know about, don't you think a CSI of your calibre and a seasoned detective like Brass would know?" asked Catherine hoping flattery would get her and Sara, though mainly her, out of the conversation.

"Oh, I don't know, Cath" said Nick grinning towards Brass before continuing "I don't think being CSI's makes us any better at picking up on these things, I mean look at… well, you know who I'm talking about." He said smiling at Sara who was purposefully looking straight a head "Oh, and of course there's the other CSI who dives head first into rash…uh…conclusions…without realising that there are other…uh…pieces of evidence to take into consideration…"

Yea thought Sara being the top CSI in the lab doesn't make him see a damn thing when it comes to… I'd say 'us' but there is no 'us'! Argh!

Meanwhile, Catherine was thinking of something herself yea, diving head first into a rash marriage without realising that there were other women out there. I wonder what CSI's he's referring too…

However, neither wanted to admit to their feelings so instead, Sara looked at Catherine and she said "well Nicky, I guess you're right. I mean, even our lab techs are getting sloppy with noticing things. Maybe that's why you're spending so much time there, helping them out. That's sweet Nick, I'm sure … they really appreciate it" she said looking at him while holding her hand out behind her so Sara could 'low'-five her without Nick noticing.

Trying to come up with a retort, Nick looked to Brass who merely looked back at him with an amused expression.

"Uh…"

"Yea…" sighed Catherine smiling "that's what I thought" said Catherine kicking her horse a little so she'd start galloping off. Following her friend, Sara did the same and soon Brass followed.

"Oh, you're not getting away from me that easy" said Nick smiling as he got his horse, which happened to be the fastest of the four, to run after them.

TBC

I hope you're still liking it and please leave a review and tell me what you think, thanks ;)

Please review!

CJS-DEPPendant