For Cassie ch11

Cassie McBride was saved in gumdrops. Nick was able to watch her grow over the years, but what happens when a body is discovered that matches her description?


Failure

DB meets with Ecklie at the hospital after attempting to do some damage control while still following his duties as supervisor. There was like this black cloud hanging over everyone's head. On one hand, DB knew that Nick was in a lot of trouble, and in danger of losing his job, but at the same time DB felt guilty. Nick was a great csi. A great man who was utterly grief stricken, and didn't deserve any of this.

"Hey DB," Ecklie said, his face shown his own mix emotions.

"Ecklie, what's going on?" DB asked still excited about everything.

"This is hard, DB."

"I know that, but Nick is a good man. He deserves a second chance."

"He almost just beat someone to death in front of you. He got his second chance when he got drunk and fought two patrol man. A full IAB investigation has to go on. This has been all over the news. I have to do something or it's going to look like a cover up." Ecklie said upset.

"We can't imagine how Nick is going through... Or gone through. I read the old case files. He's been through so much, this was bound to happen. This was a manifestation of all the terrible circumstances that happened in his life." DB argued.

"Don't you think I know that?!" Ecklie said angry as the nurse came over to give them an update.

"If the shoe was on the other foot there is no doubt that you or I could be in there?" DB pleaded.

"Sheriff, you asked for an update?" She said wary.

"Yes, please." Ecklie said.

"Mr. Furze, has a fractured nose, a few fractured ribs, a fractured eye socket, which sounds worse than it is, and a couple bumps and bruises." She said reading the notes shrugging.

"What about Nick?" DB asked worried.

"Mr. Stokes, he's a different story. His right hand is badly broken, which probably saved Mr. Furze. He had a deep laceration on his side from a GSW, it took fifteen stitches to close. His BAC was 0.36." She read and Ecklie's face was in shock.

The fact that Nick was alive was surprising because of his BAC. Then, they remembered all the destruction he did and that he drove. Nick shouldn't have been able to do any of that. Nick's broken hand made it near impossible to do the destruction he wanted or handle the gun properly.

"When will they be released?" Ecklie asked.

"Furze will be released in the next couple hours. However, mr. Stokes will be kept overnight."

"Why?" DB asked.

"With his BAC as high as it was he will probably start showing signs of alcohol poisoning. The doctor also believes that Mr. Stokes could be a danger to himself and others." The nurse said.

"Can we see him?" DB asked. The nurse nodded and pointed to his room. It was slightly obvious given the uniform officer standing outside. When they entered the room, they saw Nick laying down in the hospital bed singing quietly to himself. His torso wrapped, his hand was also in a big splint, and his other hand was handcuffed to the bed. Nick was being detained until they could figure what to do with him.

"It was Christmas in Las Vegas... When the locals came to town..." Nick sang as he picked as the sticker on the railing. "Theresa hit a streak and laid her waitress apron down." Nick continued obviously still very much drunk. It was like all the alcohol hit him like a freight train once he had broken down.

"Nick?" DB asked worried as Ecklie released a sigh.

"What? What do you want me to say?" Nick asked angry. "I'm not sorry... That SOB is lucky that I hit a stud in the wall. I'm not sorry, and I won't lie and say that I am." Nick said sitting up.

"You really messed up, Stokes. I don't know if we can help you. You're probably done." Ecklie said. Nick rolled his eyes showing them that he was cuffed to the bed.

"Done? I was done the moment I saw Cassie laying on that autopsy table. Don't you get it? I don't care about this job... Nothing matters anymore." Nick said laying down covering his face as he cried again.

"Nick..."

"Leave me alone!" Nick yelled and they left. As they left they walked past Sara and Greg who didn't bother to stop talk to them but rather go to their friend.

Sara said nothing as she went to his bed side, Nick kept his head turned. He wasn't strong enough to face them, even in a drunken stupor. He felt ashamed and embarrassed. Sara held his handcuffed hand. Greg stood in the doorway unsure what to do. Given that Greg was an only child, it felt like someone had hurt his older brother. They just wanted Nick to know that he wasn't alone... This time.

Nick tried to relax as he finally felt the effects of the alcohol. A feeling he's been trying to achieve days earlier. It didn't matter now though. The uniform officer came in shortly after Nick had finally fallen asleep. Something that shouldn't have been as difficult given that he hadn't slept in days either.

"Hey," officer Kendrick, the uniform who was standing outside of Nick's room, came in and uncuffed Nick. "I've been ordered to release Nick." He said.

"There's going to be no charges?" Greg asked surprised.

"I don't know. Not right now, but I wouldn't let him leave town. IAB is involved." Kendrick said as he shrugged and left.


Please Review! Sorry it took so long to update I've been very busy. What do you think?