A/N: This chapter was pretty easy to write. I hope you enjoy it. I still don't own CSI, just Johanna, her family, and the critters.

Previously: Johanna smiled wistfully. "Give them all a big hug for me, and tell them I love them." Carefully the siblings hugged before Gage and Nick headed for the airport.

Thoughts were flying through Nick's mind as he drove back to the hospital. He kept recalling the Christmas ideas list he had stumbled across earlier that day; something Gage said before heading into the airport nagged at him…

"Mom's going to ask if I managed to convince her to come and visit," Gage commented as the airport terminal came into sight. "Dad won't say anything, but I know he wants to see her come home for a while. So do Cole and Ian. Hell, I think even the cattle want to see her again." Nick chuckled. "Maybe she'll decide to visit while she's recovering. I think it would be good for her."

"Nick…" The Texan could tell that Gage was struggling to find the right words, "Maybe you could give her a push to come home for a while. It would mean a lot to Dad, especially after what happened."

Nick had agreed to try, and the two men parted ways. He had come to like Johanna's brother, with his blunt and straight-forward ways; Nick wondered if her other brothers were cut from the same cloth. The majority of the trip back from the airport was spent pondering on how to broach the subject with Johanna; by the time he reached the hospital, he was still at square one.

Johanna had put the Scrabble board away and was idly reading a magazine article when Nick came back. "Looks like Gage's exit was quieter than his entrance," she remarked, a smirk crossing her pretty face as she set the magazine down. "Care to help me meander the halls?" Now that she was in the step-down unit she was expected to walk the halls every couple hours.

"Of course, beautiful." Nick stood by as she carefully swung her legs to the edge of the bed and eased to a standing position. Picking up the hospital-issue robe that had been tossed over the back of a nearby chair, he gently settled it over her shoulders, taking care not to jostle the thickly-wrapped right one. "Ready?"

"Don't forget Harold."

Nick blinked. "Harold?"

Johanna grinned. "I named my IV stand; figured if I have to drag it along everywhere, it might as well have a name. Harold's as good of a name as any."

"Okay…Harold," Nick said, reaching down to unplug the machine from the wall. The IV monitor bleeped as the battery took over. "Let's go." He let Johanna set the pace, keeping a close eye out for any sign of fatigue or pain. Slowly they made their way around the ward.

Finally Johanna spoke. "Dr. Smythe stopped in not long after you took Gage to the airport. It sounds like he wants to schedule the shoulder surgery for the morning after tomorrow. Dr. Benson said it shouldn't pose a problem with the recovery from the last surgery."

Nick nodded, digesting the information. "I reckon the sooner they get it fixed, the sooner you'll be on the road to recovery."

Johanna nodded. After another moment she questioned, "Have you talked to Grissom about the dogs?"

"Not today," Nick admitted. "I was planning to call him during the shift tonight to check on them. I know I wouldn't be able to just waltz in there to check on them, since they're technically evidence. But I also know that Grissom would have called if something serious came up."

A small smile played across Johanna's full lips. "I wish you could smuggle Amigo in for a visit."

The Texan chuckled. "I know how much you'd love that, sweetheart," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Silence resumed as they continued walking. They finished the first lap around the hall and were a quarter of the way into the second when Johanna spoke again. "There's something I've been thinking about."

When she didn't immediately continue, Nick pressed, "What have you been thinking about?"

"Well, with all that's happened, I'm not going to be able to really work for a while. I'm sure that within a couple months I'll be cleared to do paperwork and dictations, but…I'm pretty sure I'll have some time on my hands." Johanna paused for a second, then continued. "I think I'd like to go to Montana for Christmas."

Nick breathed a silent sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to work to convince her, after all. "Your family would love to see you." And I'll miss you like crazy when you go.

"They'd love to meet you, too," Johanna replied softly, coming to a stop in the hallway. Turning, she looked at him, her emerald eyes watching his toffee brown eyes. "Nick, will you come with?"

He hadn't been fully expecting the question. Slowly a smile spread across his face, and he leaned forward, gently pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Of course I will, honey."

TBC...

I've named many an IV stand during hospital stays...Harold has always been a favorite name, lol!