No Problems

Chapter 10

Here's chapter ten. There are spoilers of Season Eight Episode Two: A La Cart. There are only about five chapters left, so some serious shit is going to go down soon. I have noticed though that when I look at this online, the title of the chapter is moved to the left, and I also fixed some things in the previous chapters again. I said Danika was a professor at UNLV. I changed it to WLVU. Anyway, here it it. Enjoy.

By the time fall semester started back up again at WLVU, Danika was a piping hot mess. Nick had told her countless times that everything was going to be fine, but Danika still had her doubts. There was still the thought of him being there that would screw with her head. She got to her classroom on the first day early. Earlier than she normally did to make sure she had everything ready. She did. Then at about a quarter of nine, her new set of students began piling into the room. Her eyes darted back and forth between each person just waiting for Hunter to pop in. But he never did. Nick was right. Again.

Hunter did not come into any of her classes and for that she was greatful. When she realized that she was fine, Danika started class, and she thought last semester's group was smart. This group was going to give them a run for their money. The kids were interested and discussed with her. Something only a small number of people did in the spring. This semester was going to be a breeze.

September was easy. It passed by like a snap of the fingers. The majority of the time, she along with the fifty students in her room, eased into the material. Nothing too difficult. October, now, would be the time where the topics would become a bit trickier.

It was a slow day for the crime lab. Normally that would have been a good thing. Less crime meant less bodies piling up around the city. However, it seemed like there would always be time for the crazy cases. What were the chances of finding headless kid riding a go-kart? It sounded like a horrible horror movie, but after they found the body, well, it was one of the crazy ones Nick had to deal with. Maybe he should start making a list.

Nick and Greg, after listening to Hodges explanation of what black dust that was found in the victim's kart was indeed go-kart rubber, they found themselves at the racetrack. Nick hadn't been to one in years. He watched the racers pass each other around the track while Greg asked the young woman, Kristen, at the front desk, questions about the victim.

"Have you seen this guy before?" he asked her, flashing her a picture of the boy.

"Day before yesterday. Day before that, and the day before that. Oh man, did he get in trouble?" she answered.

"Are these the race stats?" Greg continued.

"Uh huh."

"Do you keep records of all of them?" he asked, staring at the screen with all of the possible track options.

"Yeah, all in here. People ask for them every day like they're some sort of trophy."

"Could you print out Vincent Bartley's trophies from the last time he was here?" Greg asked.

"Yeah, but I'm not getting him in trouble am I?"

"No, not really," Nick announced. "You know when I was a kid we used to make these things out of lunch trays and old lawn mower engines."

"When I was a kid I used to make bombs," Nick gave Greg an odd look. "Little bombs," he took the printed out stats from Kristen. "Oh, Vinnie Vroom won all three of his races, beat out a guy named Hot Rod."

"Vinnie ran circles around him," Kristen smiled. "Rodney went from being A Rod to being No Rod. There he is. Right over there." She pointed to the kid stepping out of the parked go-kart.

"Hot Rod!" Nick hollered at him. The idiot ran which, to Nick, confirmed that the kid was guilty. Rodney made it all the way to his truck out back, but wasn't going anywhere. "Get out of the truck! Get out of the truck now! Nothing says I'm guilty like running from the cops, dumbass. Give me his wallet." Nick flipped through it. "Rodney Banks huh? We're with the Vegas Crime Lab, Mr. Banks."

"Yeah, I didn't do nothing!" Rodney exclaimed, struggling in the cop's hold.

"You've got quite a mess in your truck here, Rod. Mind if I take a look?" Greg asked, opening the door, rummaging through the pile of clothes on the front seat. "Look at this."

"Where'd you get that belt?" Nick asked.

"I don't know."

"Where?"

"I don't know!" Rodney shouted again.

"Got blood," Greg said. "Looks like things got a lot hotter for you, Rod."

2:45. Danika's final class of the day was over. Now it was back home for some personal time. A nice, long bath with a glass of wine was calling her name, maybe even a movie. When the last few students left her room with a smile and a wave, Danika grabbed her belongings and headed home. Turning the light switch on, she dropped her bag onto the couch and headed towards the bedroom. She had to get out of those clothes and into something much more comfortable.

"What will it be today?" she asked Maddie, scanning through the movie selection. "What about Role Models? I could use a good laugh," the phone rang. "Hmm, I wonder who that could be," she answered the phone. "Hello?"

"What are you doing right now? You're done for the day right?" Nick asked from the other end of the line.

"Yes, just got back. Nice timing by the way," Danika smiled. "I was going to watch a movie. Drink a little wine. Relax. Why what's going on?"

"Well, we just solved a case that involved a kid getting his head snapped off by a truck tire while racing go-karts on the road."

"That sounds lovely," she said.

"Anyway, the place where the go-karts were taken from are letting the entire lab play around for a few hours, want to come? You can meet the rest of the people in the lab?" he asked her.

"Go-karts huh? I haven't been in a go-kart in years. Are you sure I can come with you? I feel like I would be imposing."

"You won't. Trust me; everyone you've met already wants to see you. Greg and Warrick want to see what you've got. They think that they can kick your ass. Their words not mine," Nick laughed. "I'll be by the house in less than a minute. You better be ready."

"Nick, I-" a car honked from out front. "You knew I would say yes."

"I had a feeling," he said. "Get in the car."

"Someone's demanding," Danika ended the call. "Well, Maddie. We'll have to watch that movie another time." The dog whined, dropping her head onto the pillows.

"Catherine, where are Sara and Grissom?" Nick asked, once they arrived. The others grabbing their helmets, getting ready to see who the best of the best was. "They said they would be coming. Danika didn't meet Gris yet."

"I don't know, Nicky," Catherine answered. "Danika, it's good to see you again."

"It's nice to see you too, Catherine," Danika replied.

"Grab a helmet. Let's see what you've go." Catherine smiled at them, pulling her helmet on.

"You go it," Danika said. "You're going down, Nick."

"Right."

Danika had forgotten how much fun go-kart racing was. Sure, Nick might have beat her twice, as well as Greg and Warrick who didn't let her live it down, but it was fun to forget everything and just drive. And by driving that meant having everyone beat you in a race that shouldn't have been as competitive as it was.

Taking the turn sharply, Danika spotted Nick waving her over. Sara was there standing by a man she could only guess was Grissom. Pulling up beside him, Danika took off her helmet and stood my Nick's side.

"Sara, how are you doing?" she asked. "You're looking better."

"Hey, Danika. I'm doing well thank you. Feeling better too," Sara answered with a smile.

"That's good to hear," Danika said. "That would make you Grissom wouldn't it? It's nice to finally meet you."

"It's very nice to meet you as well," Grissom replied. "I would still like to know why it took so long, Nick. Why am I always the last when it comes to meeting people?"

"It's not my fault that you are always busy," Nick answered. "We all have crazy schedules."

"I suppose," Grissom said. "Danika, that's Slavonic for morning star isn't it?"

"It is. How did you know?"

"Grissom's known for being full of random information," Nick announced. "What do you say we get back to racing? I was just about to beat you again for the third time if I recall correctly. What about the both of you?"

"I wish I could, but I'm fine with just watching," Sara said.

"I like to watch." Grissom added.

"Suit yourselves. Let's go, babe."

Gil couldn't help but smile as he watched the interaction between the two. Even though he was a little upset that it took a while to meet her, Grissom was glad that he did. Better late than never. He liked her already, just like all of the others. Anyone could see that they were infatuated with each other. He was happy for Nick. He really was.

"You should go," Sara told him.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"All right." Grissom smiled at her, stepping onto the track, putting on the helmet that was already waiting for him. After all, he needed time to relax too.

kadee son 12345 - Oh good. I'm glad. Thank you for taking time to review. Reading reviews makes me really happy. I hope you liked this one as well.