Chapter 7
Two weeks later…
Darla was back to work. Catherine was waiting for her.
"Hey Darla."
"Hey, Cath what's up?"
"Well, it looks like I'm in charge for a while. Grissom's gone to Denver or Boulder, some place in Colorado. He's racing cockroaches or something. Are you sure you're up to work?"
"Yes." She sighed deeply "I was going crazy being at home with nothing to do. I couldn't even go out. I was on bed rest plus I was goofy from the painkillers."
"Well, you had Nick to keep you company, didn't you? That's all this place has been talking about. We love to gossip."
"You need to check your sources. I haven't talked to him since it happened. I wanted to but I haven't found the words."
"In situations like these you don't need words, actions will do."
"Ah, spoken like a true ex-stripper."
"Speak of the devil." Catherine nudged Darla's shoulder as they both saw Nick strolling down the hallway.
Catherine cleared her throat. "I'm gonna go check that thing I gave to Greg." She left but not before Darla could give her a thank you/I'm gonna kill you later look.
She looked into Nick's eyes. "Oh god where do I start?" they both said.
"No you first." They were starting to sound like a really bad ventriloquist act.
They both chuckled nervously.
He stared into her piercing blue eyes and sighed.
She couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed him and hugged him. She didn't care who saw. She needed this. She wanted him to know it wasn't his fault nor did she blame him or change her feelings for him. One simple embrace and he understood.
One year later…
"Congratulations, Darla Stokes, I made you CSI 3!" Grissom declared in the break room as everyone applauded.
"So what's next for you?" Catherine asked.
"I'm going to Disneyland!" she laughed. "But first I have to buy some maternity clothes."
They cheered again.
"Congratulations." Sara said.
"Oh no, another Stokes running around, God help us all." Warrick chimed in with a snicker.
"Nick, aren't you going to say anything? You're about to be a father." Grissom asked.
"I'll say something later." He winked at Darla.
"Oh, yeah? Well don't be too sure you can speak, that's only half the story. Today I found out I'm having twins." For once she wasn't joking.
"Oh my god!" they all cheered.
"Wow, we have so much to celebrate for once. This is awesome." Catherine exclaimed.
"Speech! Speech!" they demanded.
"Oh boy!" she began "This past year has been amazing. Now I know how Grissom feels on that roller coaster. But you know what? I think I'm gonna like it here. I know my first case was a disaster and it took a lot to get over it. I'm still dealing with it and probably always will be but I know I have friends I can lean on and a great teacher and husband who saw me through the ups and downs; I couldn't ask for more than that. Thank you all. I love you. By the way, Grissom, may I speak to you for a sec?"
"What's that about?" Sara wondered aloud.
They walked to his office, the most private part of the lab.
"I was just wondering how your 'Denver roach races' went." She whispered, covering her mouth.
"They won." He whispered back.
"I'm happy for you." She figured a hug would be too much so she offered her hand and he shook it.
"Hey Darla, Gris, you gonna re-join the party or not?" Nick yelled from the break room.
"I'm coming honey." Darla replied.
Brass entered the room.
"I hate to break up the party but we got a shooting at end of the strip."
"Time to go catch the bad guys." Catherine said.
"Yep, only this time, Darla, if you see something, speak up." Nick prodded.
Another comment worthy of a razz berry.
The End.