Chapter 23

Disclaimer: I claim no CSI characters. I am not sure I want to claim Katie right now, but if I have to I will.

Chapter 25

Energetic Bridezilla

Katie and Sheldon decided that they wanted a small quick wedding. So they decided on the first Saturday of June. Jessica had done as she said and answered to every whim of the bride. First, she wanted a gothic vampire wedding, and then it was a Coney Island wedding with the girls in Daisy Dukes and black corset and the guys in jeans and black t-shirts with the nuptials complete with a ride on Cyclone, which scared the hell out of Jessica. The month of May had flown by and it was two weeks before the wedding. School was out and Jordan had gone to spend those two weeks with her biological grandparents in Ohio.

"Jessica!" The pounding on the door startled Jessica since it was three in the morning and she had been asleep for several hours. Danny had jumped and grabbed his gun until Jessica touched his arm.

"Just Katie. Go back to sleep."

Jessica tiredly walked to the front door in her purple sleep pants and cami. She barely had it unlocked before Katie had pushed her way in. Jessica followed her sleepily to the couch.

"I've got it." Katie bounced on the couch as she spoke

"Got what Katie?" Jessica rubbed her eyes.

"The wedding." Katie said exasperated that it wasn't obvious to Jessica what she was talking about.

"What about the wedding. I have booked everything, bought the outfits, and it is all set." Fear etched Jessica's voice knowing that Katie kept changing her mind.

"There was a slight change in the plan." Katie slinked back afraid Jessica was going to scream at her.

"What?" Jessica extended every syllable of the word and was wide awake now.

"I was talking to a friend of mine in Brooklyn and she said that she could work out the details and Sheldon and I could be the Mermaid King and Queen in the Mermaid parade. And we could get married on a float." Katie was bouncing again with excitement.

"A what? A mermaid. You have got to be kidding me." Jessica said slow and deliberately.

Katie looked defeated. "You don't like the idea? I thought you said no matter what you would be there for me?" Katie stuck her bottom lip out.

"Fine. We can go merpeople shopping tomorrow. Danny will be trilled to be the best merman and I, the mermaid of honor. Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Yeah. I will be here at eleven in the morning. Be ready to go." Katie jumped up and bounced out the front door. Which Katie promptly locked and went back to bed relieved Katie was gone and hoping she would change her mind again before morning.

Danny's cell phone went off at seven and he left for a crime scene. Jessica dragged her self to the shower after he left. She was getting dressed when she heard a banging on her door.

"Katie?" Katie plowed in the apartment when Jessica opened the door, "What happened to eleven?"

"I couldn't sleep. Saw Danny leave figured you were up." Katie rocked from heal to toe as she spoke.

"Are you on something?" Jessica looked at Katie with curiosity.

"Just took a few energy pills with coffee." Katie could not stop moving.

"Katie, how many in a few?" Jessica's hands were on her hips now.

"The package came with five. I figured I could take them all." Katie bounced as she walked. "You ready to go yet?"

"Let me tie my shoe. Does Sheldon know that you took that many?" Jessica had a tinge of concern on her face as she placed her foot on the table to tie her show.

"Naw. He was at work all night. I have been working on wedding stuff. I found the perfect mermaid suit for me and you." She pulled a picture out of her bag and shoved it in Jessica's face. "Like it?"

"I don't know, you would have to quit moving it first." Jessica grabbed the picture out of the jumping beans hand. She gasped when she saw the shimmering blue tail fin and two small sparkling star fish over the boobs of the woman in the picture. "You want me to wear that?"

"No. That is mine. Yours is the pink one in this picture." Katie stumbled as she took the other picture out to show Jessica.

"You ok?" at Katie's nod Jessica looked at the second picture. It was a neon pink tail fin with a bikini top that match. The mermaid in the picture had hair that matched the outfit. "I will not color my hair that color Katie."

"I thought you might say that. So I bought you this wig last night." Katie fell and grabbed her chest before she could pull the wig out of her bag.

"Katie!" Jessica grabbed Katie's arm.

"Jess, I think something is wrong. I don't feel so good." Katie had sweat pouring down her forehead and was shaking. "My heart feels like it is beating out of my chest."

"I'm calling Sheldon." Jessica rushed to the phone and dialed Sheldon's cell phone

"Hawkes."

"Sheldon this is Jess, I'm worried about Katie."

"What's wrong?" Sheldon sounded concerned.

"She said that she took five energy pills last night. She is having problems with her balance and all of the sudden she got dizzy and fell. Now she says that she feels like her heart is beating out of her chest and she is covered in sweat." Panicked Jessica kept glancing at Katie while she was talking to Sheldon

"Ok, Jessica, you need to get her to the hospital. I will meet you there. Can you do that?"

"Yeah."

"Alright I will see you there." Sheldon hung up the phone.

Jessica quickly hung up the phone and grabbed her purse. She helped Katie up and they headed out the door.

"Where are we going? I'm tired," Katie slurred as Jessica directed her towards the elevator.

"We are going to go see Sheldon." Jessica got Katie into the cab.

Twenty minutes later they were at the entrance of the emergency room and Sheldon was standing there waiting on them.

"Hey." Sheldon grabbed Katie from Jessica and took her inside.

Jessica collapsed on the curb and put her head into her hands, taking long deep breaths. Five minutes later once she had regained her composer she walked into the emergency room to find Sheldon talking to the triage nurse as they took Katie back. When he was done Sheldon walked to Jessica.

"She is fine. The nurse said they will probably want to keep her for a while and make sure that there is no serious damage." Sheldon said seeing the concern on Jessica's face.

"Is there anything I can do?" Jessica wanted to be there for Katie the way she had been there for her.

"I don't think so. I am off so I will stay with her. Go home and I'll call when we leave the hospital." Sheldon could see the circles under Jessica's eyes and knew she hadn't slept much.

"Ok. Tell her I love her." Giving in, she hugged Sheldon.

"I will. Now go." Sheldon said shooing Jessica away.

Jessica walked out of the hospital slowly and hailed a cab. As she told the cab driver her address she changed her mind and headed towards the costume shop Katie had mentioned earlier. Maybe if she got some of the wedding stuff done she would feel better.

Three hours and four merpeople suits later, she had everything she needed for the parade. Her cell phone started ringing as she set everything down on her couch.

"Hello."

"Hey Jess. It's Sheldon." Jessica's body tightened at the sound of Sheldon's voice, "We are headed home."

"Is Katie ok?"

"Just a little embarrassed but she is fine. We are going to grab a pie on the way home. You and Danny want to join us."

Jessica relaxed knowing Katie was going to be the same annoying bride she had been. "Sounds good. I'll call and see where Danny is."

"Ok, see you in a bit. Bye."

"Bye." Jessica hung up the phone.

Jessica set on the couch next to the mermaid outfits and took a deep breath and rolling her eyes, "I will be so glad when this wedding is over."