Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.

AN: Sorry for the long delay, with RL issues and a missing muse this has been a hard chapter to pull together. I needed something a little more light-hearted before moving on with future plans for this.

20. Parasites

Mac looked up as he pulled on a pair of gloves as Annie and Don walked away, he noted Luke was still hovering nearby and grinned slightly at the young man. "Want to get your hands dirty again?" He asked holding up a camera. "I could use some help."

Luke looked at Nikki, "I'm supposed to be in class."

"It's fine, we were going to talk about decomposition today anyway, just let me have your assignment by Friday, title's on the Department Web. Mac I'll go chase up this list for Don and talk to the Dean, do you need anything?"

"No, we're fine," He opened the door and stepped inside, releasing a putrid smell which made Nikki gasp as she hurried away.

Mac moved into the room enough to allow Luke to join him. The sharp intake of breath forced Mac to glance at the young man. "First decomp? .... Breathe through your mouth, you don't smell it so much then and if you feel sick, head straight outside, don't throw up in here or it will contaminate the scene." He instructed noticing the strained expression on his temporary assistant as he cast his expert eye around the cramped space. The professor was laying on the floor, evidence of a dried blood pool surrounded him and what appeared to be thousands of maggots, the room was warm and a number of flies, both alive and dead were evident. "Luke, take the overalls and then we'll focus on the Professor." he added handing over the camera.

Mac proceeded to study the scene for several minutes, including assessing the body for wounds. Finally Luke lowered the camera. Mac glanced sideways at him, "First observations?"

"Warm room, insect activity, bloating, decomposition has started. Maggots indicate flies have been laying eggs for at least 3 days, although the heat will speed things up, it's quite humid too, otherwise there'd be signs of mummification. No immediate signs of a wound, but it could be hidden by the state of decomp. The ME will need to give a better evaluation."

"Anything else?" Mac hadn't worked directly with the young man during his internship in the lab, and was impressed by his knowledge.

Luke crouched down for a moment and using a pen, moved the professor's trouser leg a little to see his skin. "Lividity seems to confirm he's been here a while, so he probably died here and wasn't moved."

"Good work. How would you proceed now?"

Mac continued to question Luke as they worked through gathering some of the different insects and examining the body.

-----

Don closed his memo book as he released the last of the students who had hung around then he turned to Annie who had remained quietly at his side for the last hour.

"Any thoughts?"

"Me? Um, Most of them were pretty shocked to discover the professor was dead." She glanced around the empty lecture room, hoping for something good to say.

"Anything seem off about anyone?"

"Not really, Webster is a loud mouth anyway, wouldn't expect him to react any other way, he's pissed that Luke and I got there first and kept him out. Likes to be up the front, he ended up with a crime scene clean up crew for internship because none of the labs would take him with his attitude, so his nose is kind of out of place as we got to do the real work."

"That right?" Don watched her wrap her hair in ringlets around her fingers, she was nervous. "Annie, I'm not going to bite, just interested in your views. You want to be a CSI this is good experience."

"He's right, you know." Both turned to acknowledge Nikki as she joined them in the room.

"Hey, get anything useful?" Don asked her taking the sheet of paper she held out.

"List of the professor's students. The Dean has cancelled classes for today in this building, give you time to go over everything and find out what happened. Annie would you let my class know I'm not coming, but if anyone is taking any of the professor's classes they should report here if Don hasn't already spoken to them."

"Sure Detective." Don noted she offered a nervous smile before escaping from the room.

He watched Nikki turn to him with a fixed look. "What?"

"You been teasing her again?"

"Who me? ... Nah, just getting her views on her classmates. There's a few to watch out for, guy named Webster's all good at giving it mouth, could have taken out the guy if he wasn't getting what he wanted. One of the girls too, she's the opposite all quiet and intimidated. They say you've got to watch the quiet ones." He grinned at her while raising his eyes.

"You trying to tell me something Detective?" He felt his heart flutter as a glint appeared in her eye as she smiled back at him.

"Quiet ones can sneak up on you and take things before you even know it. I learnt that a long time ago."

"You referring to me?"

He chuckled, these are the moments he missed now she wasn't working with him. "Took me so long to know you stole my heart you were marrying that scumbag by the time I realised."

"Yeah, but you got me in the end. ... Shouldn't you be working?" He gave her one last grin before turning his attention back to the list in front of him.

"You staying for round 2?"

"I'll go check up on Mac and come back. Be nice to Annie."

"I always am." She turned to leave and he grabbed her wrist stepping closer to her. "Not so fast Mrs Flack, we got a minute to ourselves here, and I miss you" He leant in to kiss her and she stepped back.

"You're working Don, and I'm supposed to be, we don't have time for this. Someone could walk in here any second and this wouldn't be very professional. .... When we're done you can take me to dinner and make it up to me all you like."

"Not even one kiss?"

"The mood you're in even one kiss would be dangerous. I'll see you later." He let her wriggle from his grasp and walk away this time. She was right, he'd want more than what they could get away with right then. They had jobs to do and he had to let her do hers.

-----

Several hours later at the Morgue, Sid carefully divested the professor of his clothing, paying close attention in order not to dislodge the parasites which were crawling over it. He carefully placed each piece in a separate plastic container and sealed the lids. Once the body had been stripped he took various photos to add to the collection already obtained from the scene. His next task entailed collecting various samples of the remaining insects and sealing them in jars. This then left him free to examine the body for any other trace evidence.

Once all the tasks were completed with his external examination he lifted the shower head and washed away the remaining detritus and cleaned the body in preparation for the next stage of the process. Once he was satisfied that all was ready, he pulled the trolley of tools towards himself and took a scalpel. Making the normal Y incision he prepared for the release of any gases which had built up inside, thankful for the extractor fan going over his head.

-----

Don was interviewing the last of the professor's students in the hallway outside the lecture theatre when he noticed Nikki in an intense conversation with someone on the phone. He was standing just out of earshot, but guessed the discussion wasn't going well by the look on her face. He turned back to the student he was with and rapidly finished up the interview before marching over to his wife, whose call had just finished.

"Hey, Princess, everything OK?" He thought she looked tired, but didn't say anything.

"Yeah, that was just a response to some information I wanted, how did you get on?" She asked turning the tables back to his investigation, clearly not wanting to talk about the call. He let it slide, half expecting her to talk about it later when they were at home.

"The usual. Not sure that any of them can help."

"You heading back to the lab now? Mac's already gone." She replied a little too brightly for his liking.

"Nik? You OK, who was on the phone?" He watched the panicked look in her eyes, "I can hang around a bit if you want to talk."

"No, it's college stuff, I'm fine. You've got an investigation to handle."

"You sure?" He pressed standing squarely in front of her and crossing his arms over his chest; he knew she was lying, but knew if she wasn't ready to talk he wouldn't get her to tell him anything, he just hoped she would.

"I'm sure." She held his gaze and rested her hand on his arm, "we're fine Don, I promise," she glanced at her bump as she ran a hand over it before looking back at him. "You go, I'll see you later." He noted the intense look in her eyes and nodded. He was convinced at the moment that she was in herself OK, he just wondered what was going on in her head.

He needed her to understand how worried he was about them, he had tried with words, he just hoped his actions would convey a better message as he couldn't resist pushing his hand in her hair and resting his other hand on the side of her bump as he poured himself into an intense toe curling kiss. After a moment he released her lips.

"I love you."

"I know, and I know you worry about me, but I can take care of myself. ... Don't you have to get back to work?"

He nodded reluctantly and stepped back from her letting his hands drop to his sides after a lingering caress of her abdomen, a smile crossing his face as he could feel the movement of the baby under his hand.

"Looks like he's just woken up." He noted the look of pure adoration in her eyes as she looked up. After all the scares, after she ended up in hospital, the pregnancy had been remarkably smooth. He was given all the horror stories by well intentioned colleagues, but she was sailing through, there was still two months to go, but right now, everything was perfect.

"He?" He gave her a quizzical stare, "poor kid's probably going to be confused over what sex it is when it's born."

"We've been through this before, I'm not going to keep saying it and we decided not to know what we're having, and it's easier than keep saying he or she. Besides you and Amy have far worse names for it than I do. Now you should go."

"I guess I should, I'll try and be home on time." He gave her one final kiss and walked away and as he headed for his car his thoughts centred on what would be waiting for him when he got there.

------

Mac walked into autopsy later that afternoon as Sid put the last stitch into their victim. He looked up as he heard the door open.

"Aaah, Mac, just in time. I just finished."

"So what have you got for me Sid?" Mac asked stopping by the table opposite the ME and inspecting the body.

"You're average overweight fifty something guy, his organs all tell me he was leading a somewhat vicarious existence, fatty foods and a little too much beer, his muscles and build tell me he wasn't much for exercise, but apart from the putrefaction, a totally unremarkable autopsy."

"So you're telling me there was no cause of death?"

"Not at all, would I call you down here for that? .. No, your vic did have one problem, anyone report him behaving oddly lately?"

"Not that I know of why?"

"Chances are he'd be complaining of headaches if nothing else, I found evidence of a mid-sized cerebral aneurysm wedged between the temporal lobe and cerebellum. Did you find what might have caused the blow to his temple?"

"The only sign of anything was a blood smear on the edge of his desk. We thought he might have been pushed against it."

"Well in my opinion he probably had a fit collapsed against the desk and was knocked unconscious before he could get help when the aneurysm burst. The timing would suggest that both the rupture and blow to the head happened around the same time, and that if he was the last one in college and security had already done their sweep explains why no one found him till this morning."

"So you're ruling his death from natural causes?"

"Unless there's anything else that makes you think otherwise."

"Actually no, I was struggling with a lack of viable evidence and motive."

"Then that's my findings." Affirmed Sid as he moved to cover the body with the sheet. "Has anyone located next of kin?"

"Nikki called his niece, she's flying in tomorrow from Seattle."

------

Mac walked slowly through the lab a few minutes later, his eyes observing his staff busily working at their respective stations, when one particular member of staff caught his eye. Her brown curls bounced as she laughed at something Hawkes had just said to her. For a moment he stopped just to watch her, the smile spreading across her face seeming to get wider and her eyes sparkling as she caught him looking at her. He realised he had been caught when she waved him over to join them and he felt his cheeks flush a little. A slight grin spread across his own face as he stepped forward. As he entered the lab Hawkes left muttering something about ballistics evidence, leaving them alone.

"Penny for them?" She asked her curls still settling from where she had been laughing with Hawkes.

"I just wrapped up the Chelsea University Professor's case. Sid ruled natural causes. Kinda got me thinking about things, he was only 58 and to be taken out so suddenly like that, makes you wonder what's in store for the rest of us."

"You can't dwell on things like that Mac, you keep yourself fit, have to in this job, I'm sure you've got a lot of good years left in you yet."

"Maybe. ... Just makes you think that you don't know what's around the next corner."

"Are you getting to the point here Mac or you staying all melancholy on me?" He noted the tone in her voice, prompting him to make an invitation, one they had often shared as friends, but this time that wasn't all that was behind his thinking. For the first time in a long while he was hating being alone all the time, and he was beginning to think that just maybe somewhere out there was another human being who would challenge him as Claire had done. He had seen Nikki thrive the last few months and it was giving him hope that now he could move forward again without Claire's shadow haunting him.

"I guess there was something, ... Are you busy Wednesday?"

"I'm on call, but otherwise no, .... you got something in mind?" The look of anticipation which crossed her face gave him the encouragement to complete the invitation.

"We're playing a new set at Cosy's, I'd like your opinion."

"I'm no music critic, but you know I always like to hear you play, so yes, I'm in."

She gave him an encouraging smile to which he nodded an acknowledgement and walked away, allowing himself a small smile as he turned his back on her.

-----

Don could hear giggling coming from the kitchen as he opened the door that night. He couldn't resist the smile which spread across his face as he picked out the tones of his wife and daughter. His stomach lurched at the thought that he actually loved this life, he loved coming home to find his girls together sharing stuff.

"Hey! I'm home." he called as he pulled his gun and cuffs from his belt and stowed them in the top of the hall cupboard and turning just in time to scoop up a mini tornado as his daughter flew out of the kitchen and threw herself at him.

"Daddy! ... You're early!"

"I know, what have you and your ma been doing?" He asked, hugging her and tweaking her nose.

"We've been cooking, we made fairy cakes!"

"You did huh?" he questioned as he carried her through to the kitchen and stood in the doorway watching Nikki finish tidying up.

"Yeah, you and mummy can take some for lunch tomorrow."

"That sounds good, you got enough for uncle Danny too, coz you know he likes your cooking." He asked raising his eyes at the girl in his arms and giving her a big smile.

"Sure, Mummy says there's enough for everyone and that you could take them and share them out."

"OK Ames, time to wash up for dinner, and be careful not to spill water all over the bathroom again." Nikki's voice interrupted them and Amy twisted in his arms to listen.

"I be careful." She answered solemnly as Don put her down and let her go. He folded his arms across his chest as he watched his wife moving about checking on dinner. When she stopped and started to breath heavily he stepped over to her as she rested her hand on her abdomen.

"Hey, you ok?" He asked, resting a hand on her shoulder and one on the baby she carried.

"Yeah, just a little dizzy."

"Come here," he pulled out a chair from the table and guided her into it, "you had that a lot?"

"No, just happened. Don't panic, I'm fine." He pulled out a chair and sat down facing her, his hand caressing her cheek.

"Talk to me Princess. what's going on?"

"Nothing, I just got a little carried away and turned around a little quick, its fine."

"You sure?"

"Positive, here," she took his hand and rested it on the bump.

"Wow, parasite's pretty active in there," he exclaimed feeling the way her stomach lurched as the baby moved. "That hurt?" he watched as her stomach rippled, the baby was definitely active.

"No, just feels pretty weird sometimes." He looked up to catch her watching him, her eyes soft and shining. "You don't look like you believe me."

"The weird part yes, the hurting part, not so much, you sure it doesn't hurt?"

"Don, I'm not a china doll and I've done this before, I know you haven't, but trust me to know what's OK and what isn't." She rested her hand on his as she leant forward, he knew she was trying to convince him, and he was fairly certain that she was alright, but it didn't stop him worrying. "Now before Amy comes back, tell me how the case is going."

"Nah, stop changing the subject," He grinned at her, shaking his head, "we're talking about you, ... I just can't help getting a little freaked out over all this." He told her turning serious again as he rubbed her abdomen. "I'm still finding it a little weird that you're growing our son or daughter in there, .... that you're taking all this in your stride, you're still doing all this stuff, I thought women had all these crazy cravings and swollen ankles and things."

"And that's a problem?"

"Nah, I guess I just expected it."

She shook her head and laughed. "Have you not learnt yet that I'm not like other women?"

He chuckled as he watched the lights dance in her eyes. "Oh yeah, I think I'm learning that everyday. .... Come here." He pushed his chair back and stood up, pulling her to her feet. He cupped her face in his hands and caressed her cheek with his thumbs. "I just want everything to be perfect."

"I know, but you know what? Nothing can be more perfect than what we have right now."

"Sure about that?" he asked raising his eyes at her and leaning in he pressed his lips to her forehead and her nose before gently seizing her lips.

He pulled back for a few seconds to look at her before taking her lips again and deepening the kiss.

"Ewww! Daddy!" Amy's voice interrupted, Don broke his lips away from Nikki's and rested his head against hers for a second.

"Busted again." he whispered letting her go finally and turning to his daughter, a sly grin on his face as he left Nikki blushing. "Come on Squirt, we'll lay the table, let your ma dish up."

Scooping her into his arms they turned towards the door. "Do girls really like it when boys kiss them?" She asked wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Your Ma likes it when I kiss her." He answered glancing over his shoulder and winking at his wife, who shook her head and turned back to more mundane matters.

AN: Hope you like this, reviews would really give me a boost right now and speed the next chapter along. Thanks