Chapter 14

It hadn't taken long for Dani to become incredibly bored with staying home. In fact, since she couldn't go back to work, no matter how hard she tried to convince Grissom, she soon just gave up and became a blob on her couch. For the first few days, she'd forced herself to get out of bed and go outside, even if it was only for a walk around the block. Now, she couldn't muster up the mental energy to force herself even to get dressed, never mind go for a walk. So it was that, three mornings after being dismissed from the hospital, she was found asleep on the couch, blonde hair tangled and messy, and the soap opera network playing on the T.V in the background. She was having a very pleasant dream that suspiciously involved her, Nick and a bouquet of red roses.

The annoying buzz of her doorbell woke her abruptly out of slumber, and shattered the image like crystal. With a groan, she called out from her pillow, her voice muffled. "Who is it and what do you want?" After a moment's silence, a concerned voice answered.

"Dani? It's Nick…can I come in?" Nick had come with a plan, as he had overheard Sara and Catherine talking about how lethargic Dani had become over the past few days. They said that she wouldn't leave her house, and Nick had come to change that. Blinking sleepily, Dani finally pulled herself off her couch, pajamas and all, and stumbled over to the door, pulling back the chain and opening it, eyes squinting as the sun hit them.

Nick blinked, staring at her, then grinned at her. "Well, don't you look like a barrel of sunshine." He said teasingly and she gave him a half-glare before moving back to let him come inside, which he did. Closing the door, she watched him, sleepy brain trying to process what he was doing here, and whether or not she was still dreaming. Blinking sleepily, she proceeded to climb back onto her couch, stretched out, indicating a chair for him to sit on if he wished.

"May I ask what you're doing here?" She finally asked, watching him from a half-closed eye and he grinned mischievously, which made her very nervous. "What are you planning? Whatever it is, leave me out of it, I don't want to do anything but sleep…"

"That is exactly the problem, Dani…now up and at 'em, you're going out and greeting the sunshine." When she didn't move, he frowned and stood up, standing over her with a disapproving look on his face, and she looked up at him before rolling over onto her stomach and burrowing farther into her pillow, muttering something about being too tired. He gave an exasperated sigh, watching her, having not exactly expected this much resistance. After a few more moments pondering, he came to a decision and suddenly he reached down, sliding his arms around her waist and hoisted her up and over his shoulder, gripping the back of her knees to keep her from slipping onto the floor.

"Hey, put me down!" She said, and started smacking his back with her fists, although not hard enough to really hurt. He grinned mischievously, carrying her towards the hallway, pushing open each door until he found the bedroom. Dumping her onto the bed with a slight 'oof' from her, he paused for a moment, breathing hard, his hands on either side of her, face dangerously close to hers, before quickly pushing himself away and over to her drawers.

"No, you are getting up and out of this house, if I have to carry you every step of the way." He said, trying to sound stern, even as a playful grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. After going through the drawers for a moment, he tossed some jeans and a shirt onto the bed. He also disappeared into her bathroom, and the sounds of her shower turning on wafted into the room. Re-appearing, he gave her a stern look. "Now, I'm going back into the living room. If you aren't out there in half an hour, looking presentable, I'll be back." The warning was only semi-serious, but she pretended to scurry into her bathroom, a giggle escaping from her lips.

He returned to the living room, and started to clean up for her, dumping at least three frozen dinner remains into the garbage and snapping off the T.V, wondering vaguely why on earth she was watching soap operas. He folded up the blankets, and picked up the pillow; which had been knocked onto the floor by her flailing arms when she'd tried to escape being carried like a sack of potatoes. He grinned to himself, having enjoyed the sensation of his flesh on hers a lot more then he should have.

Half an hour passed, and then the sound of a door opening greeted his ears and he stood up, watching as she walked in, looking absolutely gorgeous, with her hair straightened and untangled, wearing a low-cut black top and tight jeans. "Now that is more like it. You are definitely ready to greet the world." He said, after a second of shocked silence. My, she did clean up well. She grinned sheepishly and shrugged, brushing a small piece of lint off her shirt. "Now come on…" He walked over and opened up the door, letting in the sun. After a second of hesitation, she walked confidently out, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

"There…now doesn't that feel so much better?" He asked, his heart pounding in his throat as he watched her, grinning. "Come on…lets go for a walk…there's a nice park only a block from here…" She glanced at him, and grinned, seemingly acting shy, then tried to give him a stern look.

"Is that an order, Mr. Stokes?" She asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow, putting her hands on her hips. He put on an innocent face and shook his head, his dark eyes shining mischievously. They both watched the other, waiting for them to crack, while the corners of their mouths twitched. Finally, they made eye contact and neither of them could hold it in any longer. Dani started giggling uncontrollably, and Nick was chuckling, and they both were grinning and they started walking.

When they reached the park, they entered, and followed the path, chatting idly, and Nick couldn't help but grin with pride as he saw the cobwebs disappear from her mind, and she became animate and positively giddy. So they walked, Nick trying to work up the courage to tell her, and Dani wishing that he liked her as much as she loved him.

-----------------------------------------------------Five Days Later-----------------------------------

"I'm baaaaack!" Came a happy yell from the crime lab's hallway as Dani sauntered down it, looking absolutely radiant. Familiar heads poked out of doors at the noise, and Greg came rushing out, picking her up and spinning her, making her incredibly dizzy.

"Greg, put her down before you make her sick…" Catherine said, and Dani looked grateful. "Welcome back, Dani…how was your week off?" She continued, grinning.

"Awful, as can be expected…I hate not having anything to do! I resorted to watching soap operas!" Greg put on a mock-appalled face, and indicated the way to the break room with a flourishing bow. "Let's get going, Grissom is handing out assignments in a few minutes." Catherine said, and pushed Greg lightly in the direction of the DNA lab. "Go back to your lab, Greggo, we'll come find you when we need you."

They entered the break room together, and Dani stifled a small grin that crept up into her face as she saw that Nick was already there, chatting with Warrick, but they both looked up when they came in, and Nick grinned a dazzling grin, aimed solely towards Dani. "Welcome back, Dani." Warrick said, glancing at Catherine, both of them wearing identical smirks as they looked at Nick, who was obviously fighting not to show too much emotion.

"I'm glad to be back…" She said, and took a seat on the couch, fidgeting with her hands in her lap, still remembering being saved from total blobness by Nick, only a few days before. The sensation of his face close to hers, his warm breath on her lips…woah, back up there…you're on the job now…and besides, nothing happened…clearing her throat, she grabbed a mug and poured herself some coffee, yawning. "Oh great, I've got to get used to staying up late all over again!" She said, with a mock pout, which soon broke into a grin as she sipped her coffee.

Before any more welcomes could be given, Grissom walked in, noting that Dani had returned, but making no comment except a one word greeting. Rolling her eyes, she took another sip of her coffee, waiting to hear who she would be shadowing, and when her name wasn't called, her grin faded, and she frowned. "What about me?" She asked, while the others disappeared out the door. He looked back and shrugged. "You can't come…you've got to get ready…we're heading to court tomorrow…against Trent Ricardo." With that, he disappeared, leaving her stunned, all joy of getting back to work vanishing, replaced with nervousness. She had to testify against Trent Ricardo…what if she messed up? What if they pressured her and she made a mistake? Oh, so many questions…so many problems…Sighing, she went to find Greg. Maybe he'd cheer her up.

((Phew…sorry it took me so long to update guys, but I have been majorly busy. Exams are coming up, and the teachers have been throwing assignments at us like there's no tomorrow…glares at teachers Review, Review Review!!))