For Cassie

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?

Unwritten Journey

It had been a week or so later, actually probably closer to then two weeks since everything had happened, and Nick was appreciating his time off. Nick was out fishing with Sam which proven harder than he thought with his broken hand. He had to go to the lab later and meet with Ecklie and discuss his possible future at the lab. But he didn't want to think about that now, he liked the tranquility of being out with just Sam.

Through the last two weeks, Nick's father had nursed Nick through his alcohol withdrawal DTs. Getting sober proved to be harder than what he was expecting. All Nick wanted to do was knock one back but the repercussions were to steep now. Nick refused to believe he was an alcoholic, which made going to AA... Harder.

It was eerie that he felt relaxed out on the water. His subconscious remembered the brisk night as he came out looking for Cassie's body. Nick rubbed Sam's head abandoning his fishing pole.

"Cisco, you woulda liked Cassie. You too, Sam." Nick said as Sam rested his head on Nick's lap. Roger smiled as he adjusted his fishing pole.

Roger was weary of this conversation. Cassie's death was still relatively recent and this wound was fresh. Each time they had tried to talk about it before it would stir up a whirlwind of emotions and usually led to a relapse, and Nick trying to pick a drunken fight with someone.

Cassie was super nervous. She was giving the closing speech at her graduation as class president. Cassie was excited but nervous. Sage was also excited for a different reason.

"Ah, why'd I make my speech so long! I'm going to mess this up." Cassie said with her nervous raspy voice.

"You're gonna do fine." Sage said smiling as she hair sprayed a stubborn fly away. "There. Now, we have to go." Sage said tapping Cassie on the shoulder. They made their way to the kitchen and Sage began intently looking into the fridge, while Cassie sat at the counter reading and rereading her index cards. Then there was a small knock at the door but Cassie was too wrapped up to hear it.

"Is someone at the door?" Cassie asked after a minute passed.

"Yes, can you get that? The shelf in here looks busted again." Sage said while she was really texting on her phone.

"Yeah..." Cassie said going to the door. When she opened the door she saw a man in a suit but his face was covered with a small bouquet of flowers.

"I heard someone was graduating today?" Nick said and Cassie dropped her cards and hugged him.

"I thought you had to work today. I thought you couldn't make it." Cassie cried as Nick hugged her tight.

"You thought I'd miss it." Nick chuckled, smiling wide.

Nick nervously stepped into the elevator. Luckily he was alone. He didn't know if he was ready to face his friends at the lab. He knew he had too. He felt ashamed by his behavior, but a small part of him didn't regret it.

The elevator stopped and Mandy hopped on alone. She paused for a moment surprised to see Nick. He looked different to her but she couldn't put her finger on it. She couldn't help but stare at him.

"Surprised?" Nick chuckled trying to break the awkwardness.

"To be honest... Yeah, a little. How are you doing?" Mandy asked holding her paperwork close to her chest smiling at him.

"I'm alright..." Nick said but Mandy gave him her famous apprehensive look. "I'm getting there."

"Are you here to see Ecklie?" Mandy asked.

"Yeah."

"Do you want to come back?"

"Well, I haven't talked to Ecklie, yet..."

"That's not what I asked... Do you want to?" Mandy asked looking directly into Nick's eyes. Nick looked down and gave a small nervous chuckle.

"I... I don't know..." Nick said scratching the back of his head, shrugging his shoulder. Mandy looked down as the elevator came to a stop. Mandy turned to leave but turned back and gave Nick a much needed powerful hug.

"You get better. If you ever need anything, call me." Mandy whispered as she let go. Nick nodded trying to fight his emotions seeing Mandy's eyes get glassy as she left.

Nick went to looking for the team. He wanted to see them first just in case his meeting with Ecklie didn't go well, even though Nick was still trying to figure out what he wanted to happen. He could hear them laughing in the lockerroom. He took a deep breath as he entered the doorway.

"Nick?" DB said as the others had his back to him, but they all turned excited to see him. Sara and Greg immediately went and hugged him, and the others followed.

"Hey!" Greg said excited as the group hug dispersed.

"What are you doing here?" Sara said relieved.

"I came to make sure you weren't having too much fun without me. I'm just kidding. I gotta meet with Ecklie." Nick said shrugging his shoulders. Phones started to chirp, and Finn and Morgan had to go.

"How's everything going?" DB asked tying his boots.

"AA is stupid and anger management sucks, but besides that everything is alright... I wanted to thank you guys. I... I know the way I acted was... unacceptable and I'm sorry for any trouble that it's caused. I'm lucky to have such great friends,that still care about me when my dumbass forgets... I'm sorry." Nick said trying to give them a smile but it was hard as his emotions started to get the best of him.

Nick and Sage anxiously sat in the crowd. They excitedly clapped and took plenty of photos as Cassie walked across the stages as she received her diploma. Then again as she center stage to give the speech that she had been fretting about. She took a deep breath and placed her index cards on the podium.

"welcome, and thank you for coming. This has been a long journey for all of us. But our journey is just beginning, as it branches off into different directions... Telling different stories. Some are going to be brother and sisters in arms and serve in our great armed forces. Others are going to play sports at the college levels hoping to make it big one day. Some are going to go to all parts of the world and make a difference, or go to school and learn the necessary skills to fulfill our dream. And for a few of us our story is not written yet, while this chapter ends another is sure to we set out into a world and a society during trying times, I couldn't have asked for a better group of classmates to enter this new world with. For some of us this accomplishment alone is a great one and some of us weren't suppose to make it this far. We are all underdogs. We come from a small school but we won championships, and many times upset the big schools. We are going to make a difference in this world, whether they're ready or not. We will not be counted out... During a difficult time in my life, I had great friend, and mentor, tell me..." Cassie said clearing her throat. "Struggle whether it is big or small is what's makes a person, I guess." She said mimicking a southern accent, even adding Nick's famous nonchalant shrug. Sage patted Nick on the arm, as he chuckled.

Nick took another deep breath but he wasn't as nervous as he thought. He wasn't nervous at all. He felt indifferent either way. Nick knocked on the door, seeing Ecklie working on paperwork. Ecklie looked up and waved for Nick to come in.

"How are you doing?" Ecklie asked, unable to hide the fact that regardless of what happened. Ecklie still wanted to make sure that Nick would be taken care of.

"I'm alright, how about you?"

"Oh you know, same stuff, different day. You ready to talk about this?" Ecklie asked as he took a seat.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Nick said shrugging his shoulders. "But, before we start, Conrad. I just wanna say that I'm sorry, and whatever happens here. I know that you and the team were just trying to look out for me even though I was too hard headed to listen and to ungrateful to appreciate it. Thank you."

"I appreciate you saying that, Nick. And I hate that, this has come to this point."

"Me too." Nick sat down trying to rub his hands together, to ease his anxiety. Nick looked up at Ecklie, who looked to be battling some of his own inner demons.

"You've done the people of Clark county and this lab a great service throughout the years. Even after everything that has happened, they still think very highly of you, as they should... I can't... If you want to come back after you get your hand fixed and get your mind right, you can. I know, and understand that a lot has happened, and I can't let you go because of this, but I won't force you to stay. If you want to come back we can work on that, if you want to leave, I will help you with that. What do you want to do?"

Please Review! What did you think? I set up the ending for a possible sequel. Sequel, yay or nay? Let me know!