IIII- ISSUES

Sara was staring at Nick intently, while trying to pretend she wasn't. She hadn't missed the pointed looks Gris had been shooting her way all night, and they were making her uncomfortable. Sara had never seen Nick so worked up about a case, not even the time when his friend, Kristy, had been murdered. Of course, she knew why this case was getting to him - Nick had a good-guy streak a mile wide. In her mind's eye, she sometimes envisioned him with a big white cowboy hat, riding in to rescue the weak, the downtrodden, the abused. Nick wanted to save the world. Cases with children - especially abused children, always got to him.

The case file Brass had been sent had provided a little more background information. Timmy had been taken from his mother within weeks of his birth. Her aunt and uncle had asked for custody of the child, and Timmy had been living with them since. They were listed as the official guardians of the minor child. According to the files, Timmy had been taken away from his mother because she wasn't a stable person. The last few years prior to his birth, she had suffered several breakdowns. For a while, she had even lived on the street. On his birth certificate, Timmy's father was listed as unknown.

It was assumed that Nancy had finally decided to cut and run with Timmy because her aunt and uncle, with the support of Children's Services, had been trying to have her parental rights revoked. They had wanted to adopt Timmy themselves. Nancy Watson had been vehemently opposed to this idea, but the case had not been going her way. A final ruling had been expected the day after Timmy had disappeared. Not surprisingly, the ruling - delivered in abstentia of Timmy and his mother, had ruled in favour of the aunt and uncle.

While Brass had been revealing this information, Sara had watched Nick stoically take it all in. His jaw was all tensed up again like it had been at the crime scene when they had been examining the boy and taking pictures. He had hunched his shoulders inwards, and assumed a defensive position. His left arm rested across his chest, and his right hand drummed obsessively on the table top.

"Any indication in those files as to who sexually abused him?" Nick's voice was blunt, and sudden.

"Nope. Nothing indicating it was ever even reported." Brass shuffled the papers in his hands, waiting for Nick's response.

"How much access did the mother have to Timmy before she abducted him?"

"Not much - she was trying for more, but her aunt and uncle were blocking it. According to this, she'd seen him once in the last 3 months - supervised."

"So it couldn't have been her, then. So, if it wasn't her, it was someone who had total access to him - perhaps the aunt or uncle."

"That's a pretty big leap, Nick." Grissom interjected. "But past sexual abuse is not really an issue here. The murder is."

"Past sexual abuse is ALWAYS an issue." Nick's voice raised, and he stood suddenly, facing Grissom. "Jesus - what is with you and your automaton act all the time? You may not think it's an issue, but I bet it was a damn big issue to that little boy. He was only three years old, for God's sake." Nick's voice trailed off, and he slumped back into his chair. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Grissom said nothing for a few seconds, just studied Nick's dejected form sitting across from him. He sighed. Something was just not right here. "No, I'm sorry. You're right, Nick. It was an issue for this little boy. So, we actually have several crimes committed here: first one, obvious - murder. Second: sexual abuse. Third: kidnapping and abduction of a minor across state borders. We have to find the mother to see what we can get from her."

"On it!" said Brass, standing and leaving the room. "I'll put out an APB with picture, see if anyone spots her. And I'll see what we can find out from the DMV. Maybe we'll catch a break."

Gris looked at his watch. "Listen, there's only 10 minutes left to this shift. We're not going to get anything new between now and then, so go home. I expect you all to get some sleep - this will not be solved in a day, and I don't want the tension from tonight returning for the next shift. Leave now."

Nick didn't look at anyone as he stood and stalked out of the room. Warwick, Sara and Grissom watched him leave, concern evident in their eyes.

"I've never seen Nicky like that, man." Warwick stated.

"I have. He was like that when we found the body. I'll see if I can talk to him, find out what's going on." Sara stood, said her goodbyes, and left Warwick and Grissom alone together.

Warwick couldn't help but notice that Gris was still watching the door Nick, and then Sara, had so quickly exited. His concern was evident, but his face also had a trace of annoyance.

"Listen, Gris - about what Nick said. Don't let it bother you so much. He's just upset. We all admire how you put your emotions aside on these cases. He didn't mean anything by it."

"Yeah. Well, to be honest, that's not really bothering me. I understand the need to vent, and he was right. This little boy was a victim long before he was murdered." Grissom smiled sardonically at Warwick.

"But, listen. You and Nick are good friends, right?" At Warwick's nod of assent, Gris continued. "He and Sara - are they friends, or is there more going on there?"

"Friends. Nick may be attracted to her, but I don't think it's gone any further than that yet." He narrowed his eyes at Gris thoughtfully. "Why you asking? Are you against fellow employees dating?"

"I have issues with it. That's all." Grissom's response was curt. He nodded his goodbye to Warwick, and muttered as he was leaving, "See you tonight."

"Issues. I'll be damned." Warwick chuckled to himself as he left the lounge.