Author's Note~ First, I want to thank everyone who reviewed All Alone: Jo, Lia, stef, blithe, Melindotty, csichicagolove, :), and Kate. You guys rock! I wasn't sure about that story, but I got lots of great reviews--you guys are the best. Secondly--I tried to get this out ASAP, but of course you know how I am: lazy. Well, I have an excuse. I wasn't here all last week, so I couldn't write, and then I was concentrating on my other story to get that out of the way ASAP so I could continue to work on this. But this week I'm on break, so I'll work on this as much as possible. Also, I realize that this is starting to drag, so after this chapter I'm going to skip a few weeks, and cover things with flashbacks. I just had to get this chapter out of the way first, and then comes the good stuff. Okay- enough of my idiotic ramblings- on with the story!

~*~*~

"Are they here yet?" Nick asked, glancing out into the hallway. He was beginning to grow impatient, and the rest of the team was growing impatient with his constant fluttering about.

"Nick, relax, they'll be here soon. They probably just got caught in traffic or something," Sara said calmly, and indicated to the seat next to her. Gaining no reaction from Nick, she sighed and walked up to him. "Chair. You. Sit." With that she shoved him forcibly onto the chair and took the seat next to him.

Catherine laughed. "You tell 'im, Sara."

Sara grinned, and took Nick's hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "There's nothing to worry about, Nick. Lexi can't wait to come meet everybody. She called back three times yesterday; I thought we were never going to get any sleep."

"And we can't wait to meet Lexi, either," Catherine added. "In fact, after you called yesterday, I told Linds about Lexi, and she hasn't been able to stop talking about it ever since. I think Elizabeth is going to bring her by later."

"Really? Your sister won't mind?" Sara asked, surprised that Catherine's sister would be willing to drive Lindsay over just to meet Lexi. Although really, it shouldn't have surprised her. After all, Elizabeth stayed with Lindsay almost every night while Catherine worked, so she must really love the kid.

"Of course not," Catherine replied, "But I know how you feel Nick," she began, "I remember when I brought Lindsay to work for the first time. I was so nervous. But you have nothing to worry about. The way you and Sara have been raving about Lexi, I'm sure we'll all love her." She gave his hand a comforting squeeze.

"Thanks, Cath," Nick said, thankful that he had such good friends. He knew that whatever happened with Lexi, his friends would be there to help him and Sara.

"Hey, Nick, man, I think I found something that belongs to you." Nick heard Warrick's voice from the hallway.

"What?" Before he could finish, Lexi bounded into the room. Her blonde hair was done up in two small pigtails, and she wore navy blue corduroy pants with a baby blue tee shirt that read "Princess" in sparkles.

"Daddy!" She jumped up onto Nick's lap and wrapped her little arms around his neck, giving him a giant hug. She then hopped off his lap and went up to Sara, repeating the action. "Hi Sara!"

"Hey, munchkin," Sara said, smiling at the little girl and returning the hug. "We've been waiting for you."

"I've been waiting too! I've been waiting for like forever! I just kept thinking about it all day yesterday, and all night too, and I kept asking Mommy, 'Can we go yet, can we go yet?' and she kept saying, 'Not yet, Lex, not yet.' And then I was calling you, to make sure I was still coming, well, until Mommy said I shouldn't bother you anymore, but I did want to call again, because I've been so excited to come and meet everybody, and then guess what? Today came! And now I get to finally meet everybody who you were telling me about, like Lindsay. Lindsay is coming right? I hope she's coming, because I've been really looking forward to meeting her, because I haven't met anyone my own age yet, well, Lindsay is a little older than me, but she's close to my age, and-"

"Whoa, cowgirl! Slow down, you're talking a mile a minute," Nick said, tousling her hair.

"Daddy! You'll mess up my pigtails!" she whined.

Nick laughed. "Sorry, shortcake. I didn't mean to mess up your hair. You look beautiful, by the way." She grinned, and Nick winked at her.

"Thanks! Mommy did them for me. She said I had to look special today because I was going to meet your friends."

Nick noticed Carrie for the first time. She was leaning against the doorway, observing the scene that had unfolded. "Hi, Carrie. This is Catherine, Warrick, and over there is Grissom."

"Hi, I'm Carrie Barnes, it's nice to meet y'all." Carrie shook hands with each person, and then turned to Nick. "I hate to just drop her off and run, but I'm running late already, and-"

"Don't worry about it. She'll be fine-- won't you Lex?" Nick looked across the room at Lexi, who was staring in awe across the hall to Greg's lab.

"What?" She smiled sheepishly, realizing she had been caught daydreaming. "Of course, Mommy. Me and Daddy and Sara are gonna have lots of fun! And I promise to be good. I'll be really, really good. And I won't touch anything- cross my heart and hope to die." She looked solemnly at her mother, who was still wary about leaving her daughter.

"Well. . . "

"Mommy! Will you just go already! I already promised to be good," she said, putting her hands on her hips and giving her mother a stern look.

Carrie laughed, and gave her daughter a hug. "Okay, okay--I'm leaving." With that she turned and walked down the hall, leaving the CSI's alone with the six year old.

"So, Lex, let's introduce you to everybody." Nick turned to Catherine. "This is Catherine."

Catherine crouched down so that she was at eye level with the little girl. "Hi-ya, Lexi. It's nice to finally meet you. Your daddy and Sara can't stop talking about you." She grinned at her, her blue eyes twinkling, and shook Lexi's hand.

"Hi! You're Lindsay's mom, right? Is she coming today? I really want to meet her."

Catherine laughed, recalling the girl's recent ramble. "Yes, I'm Lindsay's mom, and yes, she's stopping by later. Her Aunt Elizabeth is bringing her over."

"That's cool."

Catherine stood up, and Nick walked up to his daughter. "Lexi, this is Grissom," he said, leading her to his boss.

Grissom shook her hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Lexi."

"It's nice to meet you, too." She paused. "You have a funny name."

"Actually, its my last name," Grissom explained.

"Then why don't they call you Mr. Grissom?"

"That's a good question. I don't know why. I guess I just don't like formalities much."

"What are for-mal-ities?"

"Uh. . . being very formal." It was a horrible answer, but she seemed to be satisfied.

"Oh. Like the dress I had to wear to Mommy's friend Jill's wedding. That was very formal too. At least that's what Mommy said. I hated that dress." She paused again. "We're the same, then. I don't like for-mal-ities either." She frowned. "Well, if I get to call you Grissom, then you can call me Barnes."

"Okay then, Barnes." Grissom looked over at Catherine, who was trying to suppress her laughter at the scene. That kid is so adorable. Nick and Sara are lucky to have her.

Sara, still smiling at the girl, took over where Nick left off with the introductions. "And this is Warrick."

"I already know Warrick. He's really nice. Me and Mommy couldn't find you, but Warrick showed us. Right Warrick?"

"That's right. Me and Lexi bonded already. She introduced me to her doll and everything," Warrick said.

"Lexi! I thought I was supposed to be the first one to meet Nala!" Sara exclaimed, feigning hurt.

Lexi's face fell, and she gasped loudly. "Oh, no! Sara! I'm sorry. You and Daddy were supposed to be first! But Warrick was right there, and he asked about her, and so I showed him and. . . you're not mad at me, are you? Mommy said I'm not supposed to make you mad at me, because-"

Sara went up to the girl and took her in her arms. "Hey, munchkin. Don't worry. I'm not mad. I was just kidding. I'm glad you showed Warrick your Nala. And your daddy's not mad either, are you Nick?"

Nick came over to the two, shocked at the motherly side of Sara that was kicking in. "Nah. It's okay. But are you going to show us now?"

Lexi wiped her eyes, and pulled the doll out from behind her back. It was a small rag doll, immaculately hand-sown, wearing a red and white checked apron. "Oh, Lex. She's beautiful." Nick took the doll and ran his fingers over it. This was his daughter's most prized possession. His daughter's. Referring to a child as his own was still a new experience for him, and he was loving every minute of it. Granted, it had only been a few days, but they had been the best few days of his life.

"Hey, let me see." Catherine walked up to the small group, followed closely by Grissom, and bent down to see the doll. She put out her hand as if to ask if she could hold it, and Lexi gently placed it in her hands.

"Okay, but be careful. I can't let anything happen to her. My Poppy gave her to me, you know."

Catherine looked at Nick quizzically. "Carrie's father. He died when she was one," Nick explained. Catherine nodded before handing the doll back to Lexi.

"Her name's Nala, right?" Lexi nodded. "Well, your Nala is a very lucky doll to have you to watch out for her."

Lexi grinned, and looked again across the hallway at the lab longingly.

"You like my lab?" Lexi jumped at the voice behind her. Greg was leaning against the doorframe and smiling at the little girl.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Greg. And you must be Lexi. Your dad seems to have forgotten his manners." He indicated with his finger for her to come over. "That's because he's old and senile," he whispered into her ear, "he forgets everything."

Lexi giggled. "I like you. You're funny."

Greg put an arm on her shoulder and pulled her close. "Well, I'm glad someone around here thinks so."

"Is that your lab?" she asked, pointing to what she had been dying to see ever since she set foot in the building.

"Yep. Sure is. You wanna see it?"

"Yeah!" She ran into the lab and hopped up on one of the stools, spinning around and squealing with delight. "I like where you work, Daddy! It's fun!" she called out to Nick, who by now had made his way into the lab along with the rest of the team.

"Well, just be careful that you don't hurt yourself. Your mother would kill me." He put his hand on the stool and stopped her spinning, despite her pout.

Sara pulled Greg to the side. "Listen Greg, I know it's a lot to ask, but do you think you could keep an eye on Lexi tonight? Nick and I will watch her when we can, but do you think you could take care of her when we're out in the field or in autopsy?"

"No problemo. Do it with Lindsay all the time. I have a way with the ladies, you know," he said with a wink.

"Well, good, because Cath's sister is bringing Linds over for a little while later, so you'll have your hands full."

"Don't underestimate me, Sara. I think I can handle two little girls."

"I complete faith in you, Greggo." She gave him a peck on the cheek and went back to the group.

Nick was picking Lexi up off the stool and placing her back on the ground when the doors to the lab opened and Lindsay bounded into the room.

"Uncle Grissom! Uncle Warrick! Uncle Nick!" Lindsay yelled.

Warrick scooped her up in his arms. "Hey! You're getting big. I don't think I can hold you anymore, Linds."

She laughed, and climbed down. "Hi, Mommy! Hi Sara!"

Catherine gave her daughter a hug and kiss, and waved to her sister, who mouthed that she would be back later to pick the little girl up.

"What about me, Lindsay?" Greg asked, putting his hands up in the air. "Have you forgotten about me that easily?"

"Uncle Greg! I didn't see you." She gave him a bear hug and turned to Lexi.

"You're Lexi." It was a statement, not a question.

"You're Lindsay."

Lindsay walked up closer to Lexi and whispered in her ear. "I'm glad you're here. I'm tired of being the only kid around here." She smiled and took Lexi's hand. "C'mon. I'll show you around. I practically live here."

~*~*~

Carrie entered the parking lot and walked toward her Jetta. Taking out her cell phone, she quickly dialed a number and hopped into the driver's seat. A familiar voice came on the line. "Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey. Dammit, Carrie, where are you? You were supposed to be here a half hour ago."

"I'll be there in a little while. I'm just leaving now."

"I thought you left the apartment an hour ago?"

"I did. I had to drop Lex off at Nick's work."

"Oh. How's he taking it?"

"Don't worry. Everything is going perfectly. We don't have anything to worry about." She smiled into the phone. "Listen. I've got to go. I'll see you in a few." She hung up the phone without waiting for a response.

~*~*~

Nick walked into the CSI building, followed closely by Sara and Warrick. They had had a rough night, and all three were anxious to go home. The sounds of Lexi and Lindsay's laughter and Greg's moans could be heard from down the hallway. Nick and Sara looked at each other and rushed to Greg's lab, anxious to see what damage Lexi had done.

"Oh my god." Sara tried to stifle her laughter, but to no avail. Greg's hair was done up in tiny ponytails that stuck up all over his head. Some were pink, some were blue, and others were florescent green. Greg was holding a mirror in his hand, and staring in horror at his reflection.

Nick slapped Greg on the back and looked into the mirror with him. "Nice look, Greggo."

"Look what you did to me!" he yelled to the girls.

Sara couldn't stop laughing. "So, uh, Greg. What happened to 'I can handle two little girls'?"

Greg began furiously ripping out the rubber bands and trying to restore his hair to its normal look, which wasn't hard, since it always looked as if he purposely tried to make it unruly. "Two little girls I can handle. But these are two little monsters we're dealing with."

"Awww, come on, Uncle Greg. You don't really think we're monsters, do you?" Lexi asked, batting her eyelashes.

Nick and Sara exchanged a glance at what Lexi had called Greg, but didn't ask about it.

"You guys are evil, you know that? And that goes for you, too, Miss Willows," he said to Lindsay, who gave him an innocent smile.

"What did I miss?" asked Catherine, who had just walked in on the scene. "Oh my God, Greg. What happened to your hair? And are those pink highlights?"

"And green and blue. Compliments of those two and my hi-lite markers," he said, pointing to the two giggling girls, who instantly put on angelic faces.

"Who? Us?" Lindsay asked innocently.

"I'm not even gonna ask. Come on, Linds. Say good-bye to everybody. We're going home."

Lindsay gave Greg a hug. "Sorry, Uncle Greg."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll wash out."

"Bye everybody. Bye Lexi." Catherine and Lindsay grabbed their things and left the lab.

"We're going too, Lexi," Nick said.

"Okay." Lexi said good-bye to everyone, and apologized to Greg. She ran into the break room and grabbed her doll, then followed Nick to the door. Sara stayed behind to talk to Greg.

"Thanks for watching Lexi tonight, Greg," she said.

"No problem, Sara. She's a cute kid. And I don't mind about my hair... much," he replied, making Sara laugh.

"Well, thanks." She started to walk out of the building, then stopped and turned around. "And, Greg?"

"Yeah?"

"Did Lexi call you Uncle Greg?"

He looked embarrassed. "Uh, yeah. Lindsay was calling me Uncle Greg, and Lexi asked if she could call me that, too. I hope you don't mind. She said that she didn't have any real uncles, so I would be the only one. I thought that was sweet."

Sara smiled, thinking that Lexi would have a lot of aunts and uncles if she was going to be a part of their family. "Yeah, that is sweet. Bye Greg."

"Bye Sara." Sara walked out the doors and into the parking lot, leaving a smiling Greg alone in the lab.

~*~*~*~
A/N~ I think this was the longest chapter yet! Eight pages, yeesh! I hope you enjoyed it. Remember to review!

~Emily

(Oh, and loco—thanks for the idea.  I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. :-D)