Disclaimer: CSI and it's characters do not belong to me. The only characters that I own are Lexi, Rosa, Corinne, Jessica, and basically any other ones you don't recognize.

Author's Note: Sorry it's taken me so long to get this out. The holiday season's been pretty hectic, and I just haven't had time to sit down uninterrupted and type.

I'll be introducing a few new characters in this chapter, and I want to point out that Corinne is pronounced Ker-IN, with the emphasis on the second syllable. I think that's the only name you might be unsure of how to say. If there are any others, just let me know in your reviews and I'll clarify the pronunciation.

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to cRaZyPiXiE. I can always count on her for a pat on the back for whatever I write, and I don't think there's anything I've written that she hasn't reviewed, which means so much to me. Thank you, pixie. Your feedback makes my day. c,")

~*~*~*~

Nick looked up as Sara dumped a stack of envelopes in front of him. He was sitting at the break room table, steaming cup of coffee in hand, reading the sports section with his feet propped up on the chair in front of him.

"What's all this?" he asked, folding the paper and setting it aside as he picked up one of the envelopes.

"More responses to the nanny ad," Sara answered as she grabbed the coffee pot from the counter and poured herself a cup. "We're going to have to pick someone soon, Nick. This is getting ridiculous."

Nick shook his head as he slipped a finger under the seal of the envelope and pulled out a crisp sheet of paper. "There hasn't been anyone good enough. You know how long it took us to decide on Rosa. Besides, this is our daughter we're talking about. We can't just leave her with some stranger we know nothing about."

"I know," Sara replied, somewhat defensively, her forehead crinkling. "I know that. But I also know that in three days Rosa will be gone, and we haven't even come close to choosing a replacement."

Nick said nothing as he read the piece of paper in front of him. A moment later he tossed it on the table and grabbed another envelope.

"What was wrong with that one?" Sara asked, picking up the discarded sheet of paper.

"Released on parole two months ago," Nick answered. Sara's lips formed a silent 'oh' as she crumpled the paper and tossed it in the garbage.

"This one looks promising," Nick commented as he read another resume. "Twenty-three years old, moved from New York to Vegas a year ago. Currently working as a waitress at Ellen's Café."

Sara walked around the table and skimmed the paper over her husband's shoulders. "Jessica McCormack," she read contemplatively. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders as he handed the paper to his wife. "Beats me. Should we call her?"

"Yeah," Sara said as she raised the steaming coffee mug to her lips. "Set up an appointment for tomorrow morning."

Nick cringed slightly at her words and tried to mask it, but he wasn't quick enough for Sara.

"What?" she demanded.

Nick's face once again contorted into a cringe, and he moved towards the coffee pot, Sara trailing close behind him.

"What?" she demanded again, this time more forcefully.

"Tomorrow morning I have to go pick someone up at the airport," he said slowly as he refilled his mug with the steaming, dark liquid.

Sara's forehead crinkled with his response. "Who?"

"Now, honey, don't get mad at me," Nick began slowly, his accent thick with nervousness. "Rosa'll be gone in a few days, so I called in some reinforcements."

Sara's patience was running thin and she shot Nick a look that could only be described as lethal. "Who?"

"My mother."

~*~*~

"Next time I'm in town, we're going to that restaurant again," Jackie announced as she and Warrick strolled hand in hand along the Strip. "That food was amazing."

"Glad you approve," Warrick said with a smile, and Jackie turned and grinned at him.

They continued walking amidst the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas nightlife in silence, simply enjoying each other's company. Jackie paused when they reached an ice cream stand on a corner.

"What do you say to a scoop of Rocky Road?" she asked with a playful glint in her blue eyes. "My treat."

"I say yes to the ice cream and no to you paying," Warrick answered as he pulled his wallet from his back pocket.

"Baby, let me pay," Jackie insisted. "What's the rule? Whoever asks, buys."

"I hate that rule," Warrick admitted with a smile as he peeled a ten from the wad of bills and handed it to the man behind the cart.

Jackie let out an exaggerated sigh and crossed her arms across her chest. "You just hate that rule because it hurts your big macho ego."

"And you just love it because it builds up your feminist one," he countered as he graciously took the two ice cream cones from the vendor.

"No," Jackie corrected with a teasing smile, "I just love it because you're the one who does most of the asking."

"Oh, so that's how it is?" he chuckled as they continued their walk. "In that case, fork over ten bucks."

"Uh-uh," Jackie grinned, licking the side of her cone. "I offered to pay, but you refused. Guess you're outta luck, buddy."

Warrick laughed and grabbed the cone from his girlfriend's grasp, tossing it in a nearby garbage can along with his own.

"Hey!" she exclaimed. "What'd you do that for? I wasn't finished."

Warrick took a step closer and placed his hands on either side of Jackie's waist. "I just thought of something better," he said huskily.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, and Warrick nodded as his girlfriend's arms wrapped around his neck. "And what would that be?"

Warrick leaned in and whispered seductively into her ear. "I have ice cream at my place."

Jackie grinned as she captured Warrick's lips with hers. "I like the way you think, Mr. Brown."

Warrick merely grinned in return.

~*~*~

Delays and cancellations flashed across the arrival board at the airport where the Stokes family was anxiously waiting, but thankfully it looked like their anticipated flight would be on time.

"Is Grandma here yet?" Lexi asked impatiently as she shoved a handful of M&M's into her mouth. They had been sitting on a set of chairs near the gate for almost an hour, and the little girl was growing antsier with each passing minute.

"Not yet, shortcake," Nick replied. "But she should be here soon."

Lexi sighed dramatically as she popped more pieces of the chocolate into her mouth. "I'm gonna miss my ballet class. I wanted Grandma to see my solo for the recital."

"You can show her at home," Sara pointed out as she reached over and grabbed a few M&M's from Lexi's bag.

"Hey!" the little girl exclaimed. "Those are mine."

Sara shot her a warning look, and Lexi's protests stopped, although she slyly slid the bag to the other side of her body. Nick laughed at the exchange and pulled a dollar bill from his pocket.

"Lex, why don't you go get Sara her own bag?" Nick suggested as he handed her the bill. Lexi gladly took the money and rushed off to the vending machine at the opposite end of the room.

When Sara was sure Lexi was out of earshot, she turned to Nick and her eyes flashed with anger.

"I still can't believe you invited your mother without talking to me first," Sara hissed quietly so that no one but Nick could hear her.

"Yeah, well, if I talked to you first, you would say no," Nick explained matter-of-factly.

"Then why the hell did you invite her in the first place if you knew I wouldn't want her here?" Sara asked hotly.

"Because we need someone here in the meantime, and your mother sure as hell won't want to come and play babysitter," Nick replied somewhat testily.

Sara knew he had a point there, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of agreeing with him.

"You still should have talked to me about it."

Nick ran a hand across his face and sighed. "I don't know why you don't like her."

"It's not that I don't like her," Sara said. "She's just so . . . perfect. She's the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect . . . everything. I feel like I'm always being scrutinized, like she's waiting for me to screw up so she can prove that she's better than me."

"Sara, my mother would never think that," Nick insisted as he placed an arm across his wife's shoulder. "Believe me. She loves you."

"I highly doubt that," Sara said sarcastically.

"It's true," Nick assured her as he rubbed her back with on hand, the other draped across the back of the seat. "And if Mom was here I'm sure she'd tell you the same thing."

"I'm sure I would," a voice said behind them. "Whatever it is."

"Mom!" Nick greeted happily as he rose from his chair and wrapped his mother in a hug. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you, too, Nicky," she replied with a smile as she pulled away.

"It's good to see you, Mrs. Stokes," Sara said as she wrapped the older woman in a hug.

"Sara, how many times do I have to ask you to call me Corinne?" she asked with a teasing smile, her accent thick as honey. "You make me feel like an old lady."

Sara reciprocated the smile and hoped that her worries and insecurities about her mother-in-law's visit were misplaced. "Welcome back, Corinne."

"It feels good to be here with my baby boy and his family," Corinne said with a wink. "Lord, it's been months since my last visit. And you, little lady," she said, looking down at Lexi, who was tightly holding her grandmother's hand. "Must have grown three inches since the last time I saw you. Did those clothes Grandpa and I sent you for your birthday fit?"

"Yup," Lexi grinned with a nod. "They're perfect. Thanks."

"You're very welcome," Corinne replied, smiling down at the little girl.

"We should probably go get your bags," Nick suggested, and his mother nodded as she hoisted her carry-on over her shoulder.

"I wasn't sure what to bring, since I didn't know how long you'd need me," Corinne explained. "So try not to have a heart attack when you see all my bags."

"I'm sure it's not that bad," Nick said with a laugh as he led the way to the baggage claim.

"Oh, you'd be surprised, Nicky," Corinne replied with a smile.

Lexi reached into her pocket and pulled out the bag of M&M's. "Here, Mom. I forgot to give them to you," she said as she handed them to Sara.

Corinne raised her eyebrows at Lexi's use of the word 'mom' but said nothing.

"Thanks, munchkin," Sara replied as she ripped off the edge of the bag and popped a few into her mouth.

"And Mom?"

"Yeah?"

Lexi paused and bit her bottom lip before continuing. "Could we go to Ellen's for lunch?"

"We bought all those cold cuts, remember?" Sara said. "We'll have that."

"But mom.."

"No buts," Sara admonished. "We're having sandwiches."

"You know, Lexi," Corinne began with a smile, "I'd much rather have a sandwich right now. But I'm sure your mom--" At this she paused and cast a smile at Sara. "-Wouldn't mind if we went there for dinner, would you Sara?"

Sara bit her tongue to keep from bringing up the lasagna she had prepared earlier that morning and forced a smile at her mother-in-law. "Sure, why not."

"Terrific!" Corinne exclaimed. Turning to Lexi, she said, "Lexi, wanna help me get my bags?"

Lexi nodded and the two headed toward the carousel.

"Ellen's..." Nick pondered aloud, "Isn't that where that girl works? The one who answered the ad?"

"I think so," Sara replied. "Which reminds me: did you ever call her?"

Nick shook his head and smiled sheepishly. "I guess I forgot."

"Well call her and make an appointment for tomorrow," Sara instructed. "I don't know how much more of your mother I can take."

~*~*~

A/N~ Next chapter: More about the case (thought I'd forgotten about it, didn't ya?) and the interview with Jessica McCormack. Possibly some other stuff, but I'm not making any promises. Lol

I hope Sara didn't come off as a bitch in this chapter. One of my New Year's Resolutions (one of many) is to make my characters more realistic. And the fact of the matter is, no one's perfect. You show me someone who's happy and cheery all the time and I'll show you someone who's either looney or high. But, if you think any of my characters are acting OOC, please let me know. Constructive criticism helps me improve my writing, and I thrive for it.

~Emily