AN: 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.
28. Blood and Coffee
Nikki entered the house in the New York suburbs. She stopped in the doorway taking in the blood trails through the foyer and up the stairs. Danny was already working in the lounge to the left of the main entrance so she shouldered the camera and turned to enter the room, trying to ignore the iron metallic smell which hung in the air. He looked up as she entered.
"So Mac let you out of the lab finally?" he asked.
"Finally .. I tell you a week is long enough, he said you could use another pair of hands for this place. Where shall I start?" She asked looking around at the disturbed room and trying to breathe despite the smell assaulting her.
"I've covered here, can you take upstairs?" She half nodded at him hoping that the scene there was better than downstairs.
"Sure ... Only one vic?" She asked, noting the blood pool and trails into the foyer.
"Looks that way"
"Isn't there too much blood" She asked pushing her hair off her face.
"You're on my wavelength ... , I've swabbed everything to the front door to be sure ... Uniforms say they've cleared the house, no one else here" he added.
"We got this on our own?"
"Stella's on her way, she just finished in court." He told her.
Nikki snapped on a pair of gloves picked up her box & camera and cautiously headed for the stairs, she gradually made her way up the stairs, studying the blood trail as she went. At the top of the stairs she paused and looked up and down the hall ways off as a draft blew the blood smell in her direction it assaulted her senses and she almost passed out with the nausea, she grabbed the rail to steady herself, but dropped the camera which bounced down the stairs. Danny heard the noise and immediately was there, he reached out and steadied her, while she took some breaths and calmed down.
"Nikki? You ok?" He asked, wondering what had happened but taking in her appearance, she was pale, shaking, sweating, almost as if she was about to puke.
"... I'm fine, the smell just made me a bit lightheaded." She answered slowly, grateful he was still supporting her and stopping her from collapsing.
"You sure, you're looking pale there"
"I'm fine, not sure about the camera though" She stood up straight and looked down the stairs to the camera on the floor, as she tried not to pitch forward. At that moment Stella walked in and noticed them on the stairs. She picked up the camera.
"Everything ok?" She asked.
"Yeah, my fault, I dropped it" she answered indicating the camera. "Thanks Danny". He looked at Nikki for a moment then slowly descended the stairs and returned to his scene. Nikki slowly followed, ensuring she held onto the rail for support. At the bottom she reached to take the camera from Stella.
"You don't look right Nik, what happened?" She noted Nikki's appearance as Danny had. She was aware something wasn't right.
"The smell was a bit overpowering, that's all" Nikki replied.
"Look why don't you take outside, I'll do upstairs" She offered. Nikki didn't argue, grateful for the chance to escape the smell before she really did throw up. Stella looked puzzled as she moved into the lounge and Nikki left. "Danny, is Nik alright?"
"I don't think so, She almost passed out, that's not like her" he replied
"I agree, I've sent her outside, I'll do upstairs, best not let her back in incase she's coming down with something." Stella said and retraced Nikki's steps up the stairs.
Nikki was sitting in the break room with a glass of pineapple juice when Stella came in and helped herself to coffee.
"How are you feeling now? You still look pale"
"I'm fine. I don't know why I reacted like that, its never happened before." Nikki sighed. She still felt queasy. Stella sat down next to her and Nikki caught the coffee smell and almost keeled over.
"Nikki, What's up?" She looked at Nikki who was sitting with her head in her hands trying to breathe. Slowly she sat up.
"I'm just a bit hypersensitive to certain smells at the moment. It'll pass"
"How long has it been going on?" Stella asked, wondering if there was something more she wasn't saying.
"A couple of weeks, on and off" Nikki answered honestly.
"Any other symptoms?" Stella prodded, trying to see if her observations the last few days were correct.
"Not really" Nikki answered not realising what Stella was leading to.
"So there are ... Does Flack know?" she asked.
"Know what?" Nikki asked confused at where Stella was going with the conversation.
"Nikki, does he know?" Stella asked again. Nikki finally realised what Stella was saying.
"If you're referring to me being pregnant I'm not!" Nikki exclaimed.
"Have you done a test?" Stella asked pursuing the point.
"Only about 5! ... they're all negative" Nikki finally confided.
"I suggest then that you see a doctor, cos something clearly isn't right. Why don't you take off, I can recommend someone if you want." Stella offered. Nikki shook her head.
"Thanks Stella, but I've already sorted something. You sure you can manage this afternoon?"
"Go home, get yourself sorted out."
Nikki got up slowly and went to the door. "Stella, please don't say anything to Don, I'll talk to him later"
"You want someone to go with you?" Stella asked.
"Nah, I'll be fine. It's probably all down to stress from the move and getting Mum and Amy settled. I'll see you later"
"Second time around you should know the signs." Stella teased.
"This is nothing like when I was expecting Amy and the tests were negative. I don't think they could be wrong 5 times! ... I'd better go." She left.
