Jackson and baby Finn are my original characters, but I don't own CSI.
Thank you again for following and reviewing! Vegas nivel 3, VegasGirl09, csinycastle85, TotalCSIFan, RosePetal7, annemlfe, NickyCatherineStokes2442, FinlayXXStokes, and all who are following, thank you!
If you like this story as much as I enjoyed writing it, there might be more Nick and baby Finn stories. And I am still writing Jackson and Greta stories!
Nick and Finn are home...and a certain special someone visits? Please read and review!
Nick tried to get Finn to go to sleep, but the baby boy was crying and nothing Nick or his parents did soothed him. Nick fed him and changed him, but Finn's wails carried through the house. Nick had never felt more helpless in his life.
"He misses his mother," Nick told Jillian.
"That's true," Jillian said. "But all babies can go through this. I remember when you were born. You kept your father and I up all night when you first came home." She smiled softly at her son. "Maybe that's why you work Grave."
Nick gave his mother a humorless laugh. "Maybe. What about him?" Nick gestured to the crying baby boy in his arms.
"Honey...you're doing fine," Jillian said.
"No, I'm not! He's still crying."
Jillian hugged her son and rubbed Finn's back. "Sweetheart...I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are doing fine. And Finn is a healthy baby."
Nick sighed and held Finn to his chest. "I-I just...what if I do something...what if Finn...?" He hugged his crying son close as his mother sympathetically smiled.
"Nicholas...you are doing fine. Every parent has those same worries. But the most important thing is taken care of...Finn is loved."
Finn continued to wail as Nick held him to his chest. Nick hummed a little tune and Finn began to quiet down.
"It's all right," Nick whispered to his son. "You're all right." He kissed the top of Finn's head and the baby continued to quiet down. "I've got you," Nick whispered to his son. "I've got you."
Jillian and Roger both wished Nick and Julie could be raising baby Finn together, but knew Nick was already a great father. They were proud of how Nick put Finn first and wanted to be a dad.
Nick smiled at his son, who was slowly calming down. "It's all right, Finney. I'm not leaving you. I know..." he sadly smiled. "I know you never knew her, but you had a very good mom who would have loved to have met you. And maybe..." his lower lip started quivering. "Maybe she is watching both of us and watching you grow up. And I promise you I am going to be the best daddy I can be. That's what you need and-and what she'd want. Like I said, I don't know how, but...we're going to be okay."
Finn gazed up at his father with tear-filled eyes, like he knew what his daddy was saying.
"You're doing fine," Nick's father Roger said. Nick gave his father a sad smile. "Pancho...you're a good dad. You're putting Finn first and you love him. Everything else will fall into place."
Nick took a deep breath and smiled sadly. Looking into his son's face, he knew his father was right. Seeing his baby son gaze up at him, Nick marveled at his baby boy. He knew, no matter what, they'd be just fine.
Sometime during the night, Nick thought he heard Finn crying. Instinctively, he woke up and looked over to his crib. What he saw shocked him. Illuminated by soft white light, singing a soft lullaby was Finn's mother. Nick knew he was dreaming, but didn't want to wake up.
"I should have told you," Julie said, not taking her eyes off their baby boy.
"Julie?"
His love glanced up and smiled softly. "I thought...with all the stress of the Winthrop/Briscoe thing...I thought it was just stress or a flu. It wasn't until just before..." she stopped and looked at baby Finn. "By the time I finally realized it..."
Nick sighed tearfully. "You knew...?"
"I found out for sure just before," Julie insisted. "And I was going to tell you. But you were offered the post in San Diego..."
"I'm not taking it," Nick insisted. "I'm staying for him, and I would have wanted to stay with you."
"I know," Julie said calmly. "And I'm glad you're staying. Finney needs his family here. And I am so glad he's going to grow up with them."
Tears filled Nick's eyes. "I am, too. Finney, Jackson, Eli and Joshua...those boys are going to be the Musketeers."
Julie smiled softly. "They will. And Finn is going to have you and so many people who love him. His Aunt Morgan will teach him to love science, his Uncle Greg will teach him to love all kinds of music and appreciate history, his Uncle Doc will teach him to play guitar, his Uncle Super Dave will take him to his first baseball game, his Uncle Henry will teach him to like books, his Uncle Hodges will teach him to cook and appreciate good food, and his Aunt Sara will teach him to respect animals. And you..." she stared at Nick. "You will teach him everything. From rooting for the Cowboys to working hard and trusting himself. Finn has so much love already."
Nick choked back a sob. "He has everything...except you."
Julie offered Nick a sympathetic smile. "I know. But I protected him. Remember, they found bruises all over my arms but none on my stomach?"
Realization dawned on Nick. "You protected our son."
"Yes. I knew he deserved a chance at life. And I knew you deserved a chance to be a dad. Finn needs you, Nick."
Nick sobbed quietly. "He needs you, too."
"And I'll be with him," Julie softly insisted. "I'll be watching over him and you. When he learns to ride a horse at your parents' ranch, I'll be there. When he gets first prize at his science fair, I'll be there. When he gets sick and you don't know how you're going to wake up and take care of him...I will be there." Julie smiled at Nick. "And when he grows up...and he follows in his parents' footsteps and becomes everything you hope and you know he will be...I'll be right there."
Nick choked back a sob and said, "I know."
Julie gave Nick a sympathetic smile. "I love that you named our son Finn. I love that his middle name is Warrick. He says thank you, by the way."
More tears fell down Nick's cheeks. "I wish you both were here."
"We are," Julie assured him. "Warrick is so proud Tina has cleaned herself up and let you be a father figure to Eli. He loves that your sons and Greg's and Super Dave's will all grow up together. And you are right...you and Finney both will be okay."
Nick sobbed uncontrollably. Knowing he and his son really would be okay meant the world to him. He looked at the ghost of the woman he loved and cried.
Julie smiled softly at the man she'd loved. "You and Finney are going to be fine. Yes, there will be arguments and bad days ahead...but you two will never forget how much you love each other. No matter what happens, you'll always have each other."
At that moment, Finn began crying softly as though he knew his mother was about to leave. Nick and Julie both gazed in wonder at the baby boy they created.
"You will be just fine," Julie said. Finn calmed instantly hearing her voice. Nick smiled tearfully at his son with his mother.
"Tell him I love him," Julie said as she gazed lovingly at baby Finn. "I may not have known until it was almost too late...but I love him."
"I will," Nick said softly. He reached into the crib and took Finn's hand. The baby's hand curled around Nick's finger. "He'll know his mother wanted and loved him."
Julie smiled softly and gently tapped Nick's shoulder.
Nick jolted awake and looked around. All he saw in the dimly lit room was his son's crib with the baby boy softly cooing in it. Tears came to his eyes as he remembered the dream and everything Julie told him. Sitting up and pulling his knees to his chest, he sobbed quietly into his hands. Julie did love their son, she did protect him. And Nick felt thankful that she did want their son to be raised by him and with his CSI family.
Looking up at the ceiling, Nick thought about how Julie said she'd always be watching over him and Finn. "Thank you," he said.
Finn gurgled softly and Nick looked over to the crib and smiled. He got out of bed and went to his son. Looking down on the sweet baby boy, Nick smiled warmly. "Hey, Finney," he whispered. Finn looked up and cooed quietly.
Nick reached in and lifted his son. Holding him in his arms, Nick never felt so much love. "You know something, Finney? Your mom loved you. And she might not have..." his lower lip quivered. "She might not have known about you until it was almost too late, but she wanted you. She loved you so much. Don't you ever doubt that she wanted you...and so do I."
Finn yawned and slowly closed his eyes. Nick sat on the bed and marveled at everything about his son.
"Don't ever doubt that she loved you," Nick whispered to his sleepy son. "She wanted you and she's watching over both of us." Nick pulled his knees up and gently set Finn on his legs. He knew the only thing that mattered now was the innocent baby boy falling asleep in his arms.
"She's watching over both of us," Nick continued. "And as you grow up and become the most amazing person...she'll be there. And I can't wait to watch you become who you're going to be." He gently kissed Finn's little hand. "I love you, Finney."
TBC...