Disclaimer: If I owned CSI, you wouldn't be reading this story. This would
have been made into a made-for-TV movie, with Dakota Fanning as Lexi and
Gwyneth Paltrow as Carrie. So no, I do not own CSI.
Author's Note: Alas, this is the final chapter. ::wipes away tear:: But all good things must come to an end. But, before you read the epilogue, I have to thank everyone who reviewed this story. You guys are amazing. Absolutely amazing. I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for your continued support and encouragement for this story. With 200+ reviews and not a single flame, you guys are unbelievable. So, I have to thank each and every one of you. The following people have reviewed this story so far, and I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your kind words are what brought me this far: drvvh Pagan CSIRMT MissyJane Angelic Little Devil Sylphide Kiki Desirae anarchistgirl Hyperchick88 Moose Erin CSIaddict Stoked Andorian Ice Princess Jhfortier Emily spikeswench nr Katie Joey-Sidle Lucila Penteado Lunardi Melindotty Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog boscolvr Rya Maire Kayrah Amanda@s csi_crazy1 asd Emmy i love johnny *hee hee Meee Neoenergy Loco Sara Sidle Stokes Oceanwave A Bloom undacoveragent9 FREAK!! Aroseisarose Kelly Crazi River Lynn M Karlei Shaynner cRaZyPiXiE Candace Adpi24 SisterBear milo-n-vaughn candaceFABULOUS padfoot1979 PeTiTeCaT OOoOo ScuzMoll csifan2000 EmmyMik Prue Halliwell-Trudeau CSI_Sammie Jnp Jorja Fox Stokes-CSI3 Dolly Spikes-storm Hockey Gurl Elle9 Lu Delgado Miss.Mary-J Maura Tierney Prillygirl Nepeace BRi Trubee ERbaybe Lisa Alex mistress squirrel Pendray Me_a Franny2
If I left anyone out, or said anyone's name twice, I sincerely apologize. You guys are the absolute best.
And so, without further adieu, the conclusion. Please read and review.
~Emily
~*~*~*~
The ground was soft from the previous night's rain as the funeral procession made their way across the green field to Carrie's gravesite. The solemn expression of the minister was reflected on the faces of everyone present. Nick, Sara, and Lexi, had flown to Dallas, where Carrie was going to be buried, along with the entire nightshift team, who felt it was the least they could do to pay their respects. Katie had returned to Texas, as had Lori Donavan and Krista, who were also present.
The minister said a final prayer for Carrie, and Lexi placed a single lily on top of her mother's coffin as it was lowered into the cool ground. She held tightly to the locket around her neck, never taking her eyes off the casket as it disappeared into the earth, until finally Sara took her hand and led her away so she wouldn't see as her mother's grave was filled in.
Nick, however, was rooted to the spot. He watched as shovel after shovel deposited earth on top of the casket and filled the hole. The air was chilly, but the sun beat down on his back, causing a comforting heat to radiate through his body. Memories of all the good times, as well as the bad, flooded his mind, and he wiped away a stray tear with his thumb.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't hear Grissom's footsteps as the older man approached him, stopping behind him and clasping his hands together respectively.
"I'm sorry, Nick," he said, unsure of how to proceed. Nick nodded and the two men stood in silence, gazing at the rapidly filling hole.
"How did this happen?" Nick asked, his voice barely a whisper. "How did any of this happen? It's-it's inexplicable. It's unreal."
"I don't know, Nick."
"Sometimes I think I'm going to wake up, and this whole thing is going to just be some kind of a dream, ya know?" Nick continued, not taking his eyes off the grave. "Like none of it happened. Because sometimes it's all just so overwhelming."
Grissom sighed and took a step forward. "It's the classic tale of life and death," he said philosophically, "One part of your life died, and in came a new, wonderful burst of life. Lexi."
"'To everything there is a season'," Nick quoted sadly.
"A time to be born and a time to die," Grissom continued, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." He grew silent and Nick looked at him curiously.
"I thought you gave up on religion?" he questioned.
"Some things you don't forget," Grissom replied, turning and joining the rest of the team at the far end of the cemetery.
Sara and Lexi walked towards Nick, and Sara put a concerned hand on his shoulder. "You ready?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," he replied, giving Carrie's grave one final look. "Let's go." He took Lexi's outstretched hand, and Sara took the other. They walked through the hilly cemetery together, hand in hand. As a family.
THE END
~*~*~*~*~
A/N~ And so ends the saga. It's been almost a year, and I hope you guys enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Perhaps a sequel will be in the future. Depends on what you guys want. And don't think that just because this is the last chapter that you get off reviewing! Hit that little purple button down there and let me know what you thought of this story as a whole.
~Emily
Author's Note: Alas, this is the final chapter. ::wipes away tear:: But all good things must come to an end. But, before you read the epilogue, I have to thank everyone who reviewed this story. You guys are amazing. Absolutely amazing. I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for your continued support and encouragement for this story. With 200+ reviews and not a single flame, you guys are unbelievable. So, I have to thank each and every one of you. The following people have reviewed this story so far, and I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your kind words are what brought me this far: drvvh Pagan CSIRMT MissyJane Angelic Little Devil Sylphide Kiki Desirae anarchistgirl Hyperchick88 Moose Erin CSIaddict Stoked Andorian Ice Princess Jhfortier Emily spikeswench nr Katie Joey-Sidle Lucila Penteado Lunardi Melindotty Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog boscolvr Rya Maire Kayrah Amanda@s csi_crazy1 asd Emmy i love johnny *hee hee Meee Neoenergy Loco Sara Sidle Stokes Oceanwave A Bloom undacoveragent9 FREAK!! Aroseisarose Kelly Crazi River Lynn M Karlei Shaynner cRaZyPiXiE Candace Adpi24 SisterBear milo-n-vaughn candaceFABULOUS padfoot1979 PeTiTeCaT OOoOo ScuzMoll csifan2000 EmmyMik Prue Halliwell-Trudeau CSI_Sammie Jnp Jorja Fox Stokes-CSI3 Dolly Spikes-storm Hockey Gurl Elle9 Lu Delgado Miss.Mary-J Maura Tierney Prillygirl Nepeace BRi Trubee ERbaybe Lisa Alex mistress squirrel Pendray Me_a Franny2
If I left anyone out, or said anyone's name twice, I sincerely apologize. You guys are the absolute best.
And so, without further adieu, the conclusion. Please read and review.
~Emily
~*~*~*~
The ground was soft from the previous night's rain as the funeral procession made their way across the green field to Carrie's gravesite. The solemn expression of the minister was reflected on the faces of everyone present. Nick, Sara, and Lexi, had flown to Dallas, where Carrie was going to be buried, along with the entire nightshift team, who felt it was the least they could do to pay their respects. Katie had returned to Texas, as had Lori Donavan and Krista, who were also present.
The minister said a final prayer for Carrie, and Lexi placed a single lily on top of her mother's coffin as it was lowered into the cool ground. She held tightly to the locket around her neck, never taking her eyes off the casket as it disappeared into the earth, until finally Sara took her hand and led her away so she wouldn't see as her mother's grave was filled in.
Nick, however, was rooted to the spot. He watched as shovel after shovel deposited earth on top of the casket and filled the hole. The air was chilly, but the sun beat down on his back, causing a comforting heat to radiate through his body. Memories of all the good times, as well as the bad, flooded his mind, and he wiped away a stray tear with his thumb.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't hear Grissom's footsteps as the older man approached him, stopping behind him and clasping his hands together respectively.
"I'm sorry, Nick," he said, unsure of how to proceed. Nick nodded and the two men stood in silence, gazing at the rapidly filling hole.
"How did this happen?" Nick asked, his voice barely a whisper. "How did any of this happen? It's-it's inexplicable. It's unreal."
"I don't know, Nick."
"Sometimes I think I'm going to wake up, and this whole thing is going to just be some kind of a dream, ya know?" Nick continued, not taking his eyes off the grave. "Like none of it happened. Because sometimes it's all just so overwhelming."
Grissom sighed and took a step forward. "It's the classic tale of life and death," he said philosophically, "One part of your life died, and in came a new, wonderful burst of life. Lexi."
"'To everything there is a season'," Nick quoted sadly.
"A time to be born and a time to die," Grissom continued, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." He grew silent and Nick looked at him curiously.
"I thought you gave up on religion?" he questioned.
"Some things you don't forget," Grissom replied, turning and joining the rest of the team at the far end of the cemetery.
Sara and Lexi walked towards Nick, and Sara put a concerned hand on his shoulder. "You ready?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," he replied, giving Carrie's grave one final look. "Let's go." He took Lexi's outstretched hand, and Sara took the other. They walked through the hilly cemetery together, hand in hand. As a family.
THE END
~*~*~*~*~
A/N~ And so ends the saga. It's been almost a year, and I hope you guys enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Perhaps a sequel will be in the future. Depends on what you guys want. And don't think that just because this is the last chapter that you get off reviewing! Hit that little purple button down there and let me know what you thought of this story as a whole.
~Emily