FF_992224_10/4/2009

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.


Remember My Name

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Nick whispered, clenching his hands tightly together. Before he could say any more, there was a disturbance outside the room.

"I just want to talk to him," insisted the one voice.

"There's no way in hell I'm lettin' you in there with Nick!" It was Pat Tucker not quite shouting in response. "You've done enough!"

"If y'all could prove I've done anythin'," replied the visitor, "I'd be in jail now. It's not your call. Let Nick know I'm here."

"No," Pat seethed, "and there's no way you can make me."

The situation outside the hospital room quickly deteriorated into a stalemate with the first voice's angry insistence of "Well, I'm not leavin' till I've spoken with Nick. And since you've no proof I've done anythin' wrong, there's no legal way y'all can make me go."

Inside the room, both Billy and Calleigh had paled when they recognized the voice of the visitor. Billy moved between Nick and the door, glancing back and forth, ready to defend his brother from the intruder. Calleigh shrank back and her hands plucked at Nick's left arm, almost as if she was seeking his protection from that same visitor.

Brass moved next to Billy. "That's the Judge out there." It wasn't a question, but Matt answered it anyway.

"Yeah, that's the Judge," he frowned toward Nick. "And he's right – we have no proof he's done anythin' illegal."

Nick lay there silently, his eyes closed. He fought to keep the tears from sliding down his face, but he couldn't. He was so tired. But he knew the Judge wouldn't just go away quietly, though. Maybe after what he'd so recently remembered, Nick should be afraid of him – but for some reason he wasn't.

What he was, was tired: tired of the pain, the fear, and the drama that always seemed to follow the Judge around like a shadow. Thinking about it was making him irritable. He saw the looks the others kept shooting at him – the looks that said they were just waiting for him to fall apart. Those looks were transforming his irritation into true anger. Nick knew he wasn't going to get any rest until he dealt with the Judge.

So what he said next shocked the heck out of everyone else, but seemed perfectly reasonable to Nick. "Let him in," he said quietly.

Nick sat silently through the uproar that followed his words. He looked down at his still shaking hands and waited until the others got it out of their systems. When the room was silent again, Nick repeated, "Let him in."

"Nick…" Brass began. His words faded when he met Nick's eyes.

"Y'all can stay if you want," Nick spoke calmly and quietly. But Brass saw the anger in his eyes. "But let him in, now."

Brass nodded at Vega to open the door. Vartann took Maria's place on Nick's right. Maria and Megan moved to Nick's left, next to Calleigh, away from the door. Billy stayed between Nick and the door, next to Brass.

Pat looked at the door in disbelief when it opened. Before anyone else could speak, Nick called hoarsely, "Let him in, Pat."

"But…" Pat protested

"Now, Pat," Nick was adamant.

"See," the Judge said triumphantly. He moved into the room, stopping abruptly when he saw the number of Nick's visitors and their glares.

"Nick," it was Grissom who spoke first. When Nick moved his eyes to Grissom's face, he continued. "We'll wait outside," he gestured to Catherine, Greg and Ecklie.

Nick nodded without speaking. He wasn't surprised when Calleigh joined them. She was looking at the Judge like he was a snake, with horror and loathing in her eyes.

Nick waited for them to leave and the door to be closed. Then he moved his eyes back to the Judge and asked, "What do you want?" His expression was blank and his tone was neutral.

"I want to talk with you," the Judge said.

Nick let a little of his anger show. "What do you want?" he repeated.

The Judge looked around the room. Matt's expression was carefully neutral, but his hands were clenched in his pockets. Denny Dennison was clearly hostile, his stare like daggers. Bob Casey openly examined him, trying to reconcile the monster of Nick's stories and memories with the man standing before him. Vega stood just inside the door; his eyes the watchful stare of a cop, his expression giving nothing away. Vartann, standing next to Nick's bed, was a little more protective of Nick, but again, it was the watchful, prepared, police officer the Judge saw there.

Maria's attention was focused on Nick. Megan O'Rourke was looking from Nick to the Judge and back. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were worried. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea.

The Judge let his eyes skate over the two figures in the center of the room; radiating hostility like the sun radiates heat. Brass's hand was on Billy's shoulder. He could feel the younger man trembling with the force of his emotions. Hate, rage and grief shone in Billy's eyes, though his face was the stone of a professional solder.

Brass wasn't the only one who noticed Billy's reaction. "Billy, will you please sit down?" Nick asked softly. Billy didn't move, his stare focused on his father. "Please, Billy," Nick repeated.

Never taking his eyes off his father, Billy slowly moved to the chair at Nick's left. "Thank you," Nick said, his voice staying soft. Nick knew the chair wouldn't stop Billy if he started after the Judge, but his seated position might help him think before he moved.

"Jim?" Nick quietly focused on Brass now. Brass inclined his head, and with a swift glance at Nick, he moved several steps back until he was standing at the foot of Nick's bed.

Nick moved his eyes back to the Judge. "What do you want?" his tone had hardened from what he'd used with Billy and Brass. His impatience peeked through. "Why are you here?"


A/N: Hope y'all like it! :)