FF_992224_10/4/2009

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.


Remember My Name

But Nick saw the pain there. So he did something so uniquely Nick. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

The Judge nodded once, in acceptance, then met Nick's eyes again. "It would have been better for both of us if I'd chosen the divorce papers that day." He looked down at his hands again before admitting softly. "But I couldn't. I couldn't walk away from her."

There was a few minutes of silence before the Judge offered, "She loved you, Nick. She really did."

Nick just shrugged. It didn't make any difference now.

"She still does, in her own way," the Judge reiterated.

Nick stared at him in disbelief before looking away. The Judge was about to speak again when Nick asked, abruptly, "What do you want?"

The Judge looked at him for a moment uncomprehending.

Nick said roughly, "You said you had two things to tell me and a question to ask. So, what do you want?"

"A truce," the Judge said softly. "I know none of the people in this room will stop coming after me unless you ask them to. All I want from you is a truce. I swear I'll leave you alone, if you and yours just let me fade away into retirement."

Nick stared at him in silence for a moment. Then he asked, softly, "Walter Gordon? Sylvia Mullens?"

Their eyes locked and Nick knew. He knew from the look in his eyes that the Judge had been behind the attack. Before he could ask why, the Judge's eyes moved nearly imperceptibly towards Billy then back, and Nick knew the rest as well. That was when the Judge had found out about Nick and Billy's relationship. Nick said nothing; just put his arm over his face. He couldn't let Billy know the truth. It would tear him apart.

The Judge surprised everyone by saying, "Sylvia didn't want to let it go."

Nick moved his arm and met his eyes. "So you let Jillian know…" he let his voice trail off.

"I knew she'd been in contact with Kelly Gordon. And I knew she wouldn't stand for Sylvia's plots. I didn't quite expect exactly what happened, though. And neither did Jillian. But Sylvia was no longer a threat."

Nick nodded and searched the Judge's face carefully. "I agree to a truce," he finally said.

"Nick," Billy protested.

"It's my decision, Billy," Nick said softly. "I'm not gonna change my mind. And I've already told y'all I'd be satisfied with it."

Silence filled the room until the Judge said quietly, "Thank you." He turned toward the door. Vega opened it for him. The Judge appeared to hesitate slightly, before continuing, any last minute thoughts unsaid.

Back in Nick's hospital room, Maria took charge before anyone could speak any of the myriad thoughts she could see on their faces. "Nick needs rest," she said quietly, but authoritatively. "There will be plenty of time to discuss what just happened later."

Brass nodded and jerked his head at Vega to open the door again. No one spoke as they filed out. Billy kept shooting searching glances at Nick. But Nick had his arm over his eyes again and didn't see.

When the room was empty except for Maria and herself, Megan O'Rourke quietly asked Nick, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Nick moved his arm and looked at her. His face was calm and composed. "Not now," he answered, just as quietly. "I really am tired now. And like Maria said, we have plenty of time to discuss it."


A/N: I know this is even shorter than usual. But it was the best way to split things up. I'll post the next and last chapter quickly to make up for it. :)