Author: Nicksfriend
Rating:
Spoilers: Grave Danger
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me...that is for sure.
Author's note:This is my first CSI fic. Please be gentle.
Okay...I want the team involved in Nick getting better. I really don't see Nick's family as major players in his recovery, though I do respect writers who have sent him home to Texas, I want to go a different direction. I have always considered his CSI team more of a family and I see them actually knowing Nick better than his real family. I promise no explosions or babysitters popping up anywhere.
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"John I will not be going back to Texas, Dad can threaten me all he wants but I am staying here, this is my home." Nick argued as his brother and mother gave him angry stares.
"You've just been through hell Nick, you don't know what you want, You just got out of ICU yesterday and those ant bites still are a big reminder that you have a lot of healing left to accomplish." John argued back, working in the DA's office was a plus when it came to him having convincing arguments.
"He will have to drug me and restrain my ass, because I am not going back to Texas, not on his terms." Nick seemed tired, the arguments had lasted most of the afternoon and his nurse had come in several times to see if he was okay.
"Nicky, You know that we love you, that Dad loves you. Just come home for a couple of weeks, time enough for you to heal, then if you want to come back then you can." His mother pleaded, her tired appearance giving Nick proof that she was worried about his health.
"He will not allow me to return, he wants me home so he can reign me in when I slip up. He wants to control me like he controls all of you, that is why I left, that is why it took me so long to be able to be solo on a case. I had no confidence in myself, I've grown here, matured into the man I want to be,and I have compromised nothing to be the man I want to be in life and on the job." His mind was set, he would not allow his father to rule him again.
"Nick, you leave us no choice. I have been instructed by Dad to ask for a competency hearing, it is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Any judge will side that you are in no shape to make decisions on your own. Dad will get power of attorney and upon discharge you will be coming home with us. Sorry Nick, but you are giving us no choice." John sounding more like a lawyer than a brother shook his head then stood to leave.
"You can't do that John. You can't do that!" He yelled at the man standing before him.
"It is already done Nick, sorry." John's face saddened that he had to do this to his brother but his father ruled and that was the decision, he had no choice."Tomorrow Dad will become your power of attorney. He will make your decisions until a psychiatrist says that you are able to make them on your own."
Catherine entered from the hallway and held up a piece of paper, "He already has a Power of Attorney, Gilbert Grissom."
"What the hell are you talking about and who are you?" John asked angry at the intrusion into his family's personal business.
"I am Nick's boss and I had Nick's personnel file pulled. It is standard procedure for all officers to have a living will, it places Mr Gilbert Grissom in charge of all decisions for a Nicholas Parker Stokes if he is unable to make said decisions on his own. This document gives Mr Grissom full authority. So if you have him declared incompetent then this notarized sheet of paper will come into play." She smiled and handed a copy of the document to Nick's brother.
"You know that I will contest this document in court." Lines of frustration crossing his face.
"In Nevada, it would do no good for you to contest it, it was determined before the incident of his trauma and therefore will stand up in court." She looked over to a smiling Nick and gave him a wink.
John and Nick's mother stood to leave,"Nick, this is not over, you might as well make plans to come home. I know Dad, this document will not stick." John was frustrated at the turn of events. Both John and his mother walked out of the door,the relief of their departure evident on Nick's face.
"Well Nicky, don't underestimate my talents yet. I have a little bit more up my sleeve." Placing his folder on the bed and leaning over to give him a gentle kiss on his head. "Time for part two." She whispered in his ear.
Nikki walked in with a smile, "Hey cowboy."
"Hey, you're here early, they call you in for another double?" he asked confused that his favorite nurse had shown up at three o'clock in the afternoon.
"Well, I actually got the night off to help a friend." She smiled and looked over to Catherine.
"Okay, I'm lost." His southern accent seemed to be returning since his intubation.
"I got Nicole's number from Cathy, they are going to give us some much needed help." Catherine's forced smile concerned Nick.
"Listen, I am not going to get anybody in trouble for helping me, I respect and appreciate what you guys might be trying to do for me but listen, their my family and I should deal with them myself." The stress of the day had worn him out, and Cathy had just delivered another Xanax, which was making him extremely tired and sleepy.
"Our choice Nick. Catherine explained to us what your father is trying to do, so just let us do what has to be done." Nicole would have none of the self sacrifice from this man, he had been through enough.
"Where are they by the way? Out trying to find me a straight jacket that fits properly?"His voice slurry from the medication.
Hey, that is probably a good question, Catherine thought to herself, none of the Stokes family were around and that made her nervous.
Nicole picked up her cell and made a quick call, things had to go smoothly, Nick needed to get out quick and unrecognized. She had promised Dr Mason,Dr Allen and Dr Kasey that she would make sure that Nick was taken care of with the early discharge that she was able to procure from them, she would take Nick to his daily visits at Dr Kasey's office and have the doctors set up home health under an alias to protect their patient.
She almost found it unbelievable that a guy she had fallen for just a couple of days ago would all of a sudden be such a big part of her life. He really was a nice guy, and he must also be well respected to have so many friends that cared so much about him,it would be a privilege to help this cowboy.
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Warrick walked up the hallway, watching for any of the Stokes family, it was almost ten at night and visiting hours were over. It was time to put the plan into action, time to get Nick out of the hospital and somewhere that he could heal without all of the stress.
Flashing his badge and walking towards Nick's door he heard a commotion and he knew immediately that he was in for a confrontation.
Rebecca Stokes stood outside Nick's door, she was having a verbal debate with Catherine over her brother's care and not being quiet at all about her feelings that he was coming back to Texas to be with her family.
"You or nor any of those people Nick calls friend have any right to tell us how to take care of our brother. He is my brother and I feel we know what is best for him."
"Listen, it is his choice, not yours or your father's. You are lucky to have such a wonderful brother. I just can't understand why you and your family are trying to alienate him from your lives," Catherine shot back at the skinny little woman who was shaking her finger in her face.
"Nick never acted like this at home, he always respected our father and never talked back, he was such a good son." Rebecca responded, her untamed hair flying into her face as she was speaking, she took a hand and swiped it back behind her ear, frustrated that his friends would not leave them in peace.
Warrick felt that he needed to interrupt the fight before it got out of hand, he wanted to hurry and get Nick out of the hospital and out of sight of his father or his family.
"Rebecca, how are you doing?" he asked ,his voice calm and low.
Tears filled her eyes and she fell into his arms, Warrick motioned Catherine into the room. "Hey, listen. Let's go and get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria." he looked down at sad, tear filled eyes, he felt bad but they were too wrapped up in what their father wanted and Nick's needs and wishes were being totally ignored.
She nodded in agreement, she trusted this man, Nick's friend."Sure."
Together they walked off the floor, Catherine had entered the room, it was time for the plan to begin but Warrick had been side tracked. Now she had to make a decision, whether to proceed or to wait.
Catherine pulled out her cellphone and made a call, Grissom would have to take Warrick's place.
"Grissom." He suddenly recognized the caller id was showing Catherine."Something wrong?"
"You need to take Warrick's place, he is trying to get Rebecca out of the way but it won't be for long. Hurry Gil." she closed her phone and started helping Cathy get a very sleepy Nick ready to leave.
Grissom looked at Nicole and shrugged, "Change of plans, wait here."
She nodded and hoped that security had turned off the cameras as directed by Nick's boss, otherwise she might not have a job when she came back.
She watched as the older man disappeared into the hospital, they needed to hurry before they became too conspicuous. The media were still hanging out everywhere just to get that picture of Nick, the man buried alive.
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Grissom started up the elevator, he was by himself. He was lost in thought however when the elevator opened and a tall man entered, it was Nick's brother and he seemed to have an agenda, He pulled out his cell and made a call, unaware of Grissom's presence.
"Dad. I got it, we have temporary custody of Nick until the hearing." He paused as if he were taking more orders from his father. Then he spoke again,"I have a psychiatrist who will do what we ask,paid in full. He will be on a plane home tomorrow, drugged to the gills."
That is all Grissom needed to hear, he needed to alert Catherine before the brother got to the room. He pulled out his cell and did a quick text, hopefully Catherine could get him out without his assistance, he needed to get Brass involved.
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Catherine's phone beeped and she flipped it open to see the text,'John is on his way up, get Nick out now!'
"We got to go now Cathy, it is you and me." Cathy nodded and assisted Nick to the stretcher which she had arranged to be in the room earlier. After he was on the stretcher she opened the door and looked down the hallway, they would have to use the back way out. She would call Nicole as soon as they got to the elevator.
They pushed the stretcher with a now covered from head to toe Nick, to the elevator, waiting nervously until the door finally opened. They quickly entered, She pulled out her cell and called Nicole.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" she asked as she waited outside the emergency room in the awaiting ambulance, the paramedics owed her a big time favor and she had called it in but the plan was not working out, they would have to pick him up at the loading deck. She quickly gave Catherine directions and then hung up the phone. Giving the driver the new plan.
Catherine did a text to Grissom who had stayed on the elevator after John had exited on the step down unit,instructions had already been given to the officer standing outside of Nick's room to stop anybody who tried to enter,even family. He headed out the door to meet them at the loading dock.
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"Jim." He answered his phone, also waiting outside of the hospital in case Grissom needed some back up.
"Listen, Nick's brother has somehow got a judge to assign him as temporary custodian until the hearing, they have plans to drug and ship Nick tomorrow. Catherine is coming out at the loading dock, I need you to run some interference."
"You want me to get the paparazzi's attention?" Brass asked as he rolled his eyes, his job description seemed to change everyday.
"Do something." Grissom's tone was that of a protective father.
"Okay, time to take a streak around the building." He hung up the phone not giving Grissom a chance to respond.
Grissom brought the phone down from his ear and starred at it,"Surely he was kidding." But knowing his friend, he could have been very serious. He continued towards the loading dock, hoping that Jim was definitely kidding.
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Okay, I going away on business for a couple of days. See you Monday! Feedback does motivate me though, I will take my laptop.
