IX - NANCY

Nancy Elizabeth Watson was not what Nick had been expecting. Looking at her from behind the one way glass, he was taken aback by her fragility. Her hair was matted and dirty, and despite the fact she was in Las Vegas she was wearing a heavy wool sweater. Sitting at the big table, with only O'Reilly in there watching over her, she looked strangely lonely and vulnerable.

"How old is she again?" he asked Sara, who was standing right beside him.

"Nineteen. But she doesn't look at day older than 15, does she?" Grissom responded to Nick's question as he walked into the room. "How long has she been here?"

"Just came in about a half hour before you guys arrived." Brass was leaning against the small table in the room, a look of disgust on his face. "Waltzed in here, pretty as you please, claiming she'd lost her baby and wondering if we could help find him."

Grissom cocked an eyebrow at this new piece of information, before turning to look at the girl a little more closely. "Well, that's an interesting alibi. Has anyone talked to her yet?"

Brass grinned. "Nope. I knew you would want to be here, especially when we discuss the anti-freeze and sexual abuse, so I've been waiting. Thanks for showing up."

"Okay then. Let's get this show on the road. Sara, why don't you join us inside - the presence of another woman during the questioning might make her a little more loquacious. Nick, you stay here. Watch for any interesting reactions we might miss."

As they stepped out into the hallway, Sara spotted Warwick coming towards them.

"Questioned her yet?" Warwick asked, in lieu of a greeting.

"Not yet. Just headed in there now." Sara smiled at him, before leaning forward and whispering softly, "Will you go in there with Nicky? I don't think he should be alone."

Warwick looked surprised. "Sure thing, Sara. I was heading in there anyway, and I think Greg and Doctor Robbins are going to try to come watch as well. This one's got us all stumped."

Warwick watched with a slightly bemused expression as Sara turned and walked into the room where Nancy was waiting, following Grissom and Brass. He quickly entered the next door, moving quickly to Nick's side.

"Hey Nick, my man!" Warwick kept one eye on Brass and crew as the sat down opposite Nancy, and one eye on Nick's reflection. "Or should I say, 'Nicky'." He leaned closer and took an exaggerated sniff. "Boy, you sure smell pretty. What is that, lillies?" he teased.

Nick smiled. "Nope. Freesia. Thanks for noticing."

"So - do you have anything to tell me???" Warwick was fishing and he knew it. Nick merely cocked an eyebrow, and met Warwick's gaze in the reflection of the one-way mirror.

"Such as?"

"C'mon Nick. Don't bust my balls here. What happened between you and Sara? You left, she went chasing after you, and here you are 10 hours later smelling just like her."

"Nothing happened. We talked." Nick squirmed uncomfortably, his movements not lost on Warwick.

"And?"

"And nothing. Honest. Nada - zip - zilch - zero. Nothing. Now shut-up, I want to hear this."

"Nancy? Hi Nancy. My name is Gil Grissom. This is Sara Sidel and Jim Brass. We're here to help you, okay?"

At Nancy's nod, Grissom continued. "We understand you lost your baby. What can you tell us about him?"

"His name is Timmy. He's wearing bright yellow pajamas with fold-over feet, and has a Blue's Clues Blanket and a little stuffed elephant."

"And where did you last see Timmy?" This time, it was Sara who asked the question.

"I had to leave him for a little while. I needed to get him some more cornflakes, because cornflakes are his favorite cereal."

Grissom and Sara looked at each other, expressions grim. Behind the glass mirror, Nick swore softly. Greg and Doctor Robbins shown up moments earlier, and Greg shook his head at Nancy's soft response.

"We understand that. You were just trying to take care of him. Where did you leave him?"

"He's scared of the dark. You have to help me find him. I don't want him to be all alone."

"Nancy." Grissom's voice was firm. "Where did you last see him?"

"I left him in the desert with his blanket and his elephant. I kissed him goodbye and told him I'd be back soon. He was sleeping so peacefully. I glued his eyes shut, so that if he woke up he wouldn't see that I was gone and be scared..." her voice trailed off, and tears started to fall from her eyes. "Please, you have to help me find him."

Sara tried to stifle the fury quickly mounting inside her. This woman was crazy. Sara thought she was going to vomit, and indicated to Grissom and Brass she was stepping out for a minute.

Standing in the hallway, she rubbed her arms vigorously before bending over from the waist, letting her hands touch the floor. After she had gotten her anger under control, she slipped back into the room. Brass was just opening the case folder, getting ready to place the pictures taken at the crime scene on the table for Nancy to look at.

Sara walked over to the mirror, and leaned against it just in front of the area she had been standing beside Nick in, in the other room. She knew he was watching this, and wondered if he was handling it well. She hoped he understood her silent gesture of support.

Nancy studied the pictures from the crime scene, nodding and smiling. "Yes - yes - that's my Timmy. You've found him. Isn't he beautiful? Is he okay?"

"He's dead." Sara's voice surprised even her. She glared at Grissom, daring him to say anything to her, before she repeated. "He's dead."

Nancy looked at Sara and smiled. "Of course he's dead. I killed him."