A/N: I still don't own anything. YAY for Jorja and George getting hired back.

Chapter 2

The two sisters became fast friends. They'd squished their beds together and sat having a late-night conversation. "Tell me about Dad." Amy put her head next to Ashley's.

"He's never fully happy." Ashley sighed. "He moved to Texas when we were born. Used to work in Vegas."

"Does he date much?"

"No. Never. He says I'm the only girl for him."

"Yeah. Mom says she just never found anyone else."

"Yeah." Ashley stared at the ceiling. Suddenly her expression changed. "Oh. My. God. I have a totally ingenious idea!"

"What's that?" Amy glanced at Ashley suspiciously.

"What if, after camp was over, you went back to Texas and I went back to D.C. When our parents realize the switch, they'll have to fly us back to make sure we don't switch again. They'll meet, fall in love again, and we'll live happily ever after." Ashley grinned.

Amy was still staring at Ashley. "But your accent. I can't fake that."

"Just try."

"Alright." She cleared her throat. "I can't wait to ride Pumpkin." Ashley was impressed.

"Your accent's good. But my horse's name is Donut. My dad's horse is Sara. My OLD horse's name was Pumpkin."

"Right. Donut and Sara. Wait." Amy wrinkled her nose. "Did your dad name that horse after our mother?"

"Daddy says he bought Sara for Mom as a wedding gift. Said that both Saras were very headstrong."

"Oh. Now you try losing the accent. "So, Mom works in the FBI?"

"Yeah, it's kind of annoying. She's always flying around and I either have to fly with her or stay with Jamie Kelly, my mom's bodyguard. Mom doesn't like her trips interfering with my education, so usually I stay at home."
"So are we gonna do it? Are we gonna switch?"

A smirk played over Amy's face. "Let's do it."

"Hey Uncle Grissom." Amy opened the passenger side of the Denali.

"Hey Ash. How was camp?"

"Oh, it was great. I met my-"She stopped short. "My new best friend." She saved herself.

"Sounds great. Your dad's excited to have you back." Grissom turned into the parking lot of McCarran. "I'll see you later Ash." He gave her a hug. "You know, I swear you're different then when you left." He frowned.

Amy's smile froze." Nope. Same old Ash." She shrugged.

"I guess you're just growing up." Grissom's blue eyes expressed fondness for his almost-niece. "Don't forget to visit."

"I won't." Amy grabbed her suitcase and tugged it out of the trunk. "Bye Uncle Grissom."

Ashley stepped into the large Sidle house. Her mother was in her office, working on something top secret, no doubt. "Mom." Ashley rapped on the door. "Mom, I'm home."

Sara stood up instantly. "Ames, it's good to have you home!" Sara pulled Ashley into a hug. "How was summer camp?"

Ashley laughed. "Mom, I know you want me to be a genius and all. But thank you for sending me to Outback camp instead. I had the best time."

"Well, you can tell me all about it at dinner. Jamie's making your favorite! Sausage ravioli."

Ashley loved sausage, so she was sure that she would love the ravioli. "It's good to be home, Mom."

Ashley sat at the dinner table, chewing on her ravioli. "Mom, tell me about Dad." She said quietly.

Sara choked on her ravioli. "What do you want to know about Nick?"

"Why'd you leave him?" Ashley focused her large brown eyes on her mother.

Sara sighed. "So this is going to be that conversation, huh?"

"Yes." Ashley nodded. "A girl can't help but wonder about her totally non-existent dad."

"After dinner." Sara promised.

"Daddy!" Amy charged off the Boeing 757.

"Ashley Amanda Stokes!" Nick picked up his daughter and spun her in a circle. "It's good to have you back." His Texan accent had grown steadily thicker after he'd moved back to Dallas.

"Daddy." Amy hugged him tight. "I missed you so much. It feels like it's been years."

"Boy, that's a better reception than I was hoping for." He laughed and led her to the car. "Let's go home. Donut misses you. So does Sara."

Amy climbed in and turned to the window. "She misses you too." Amy whispered.

"What?" Nick faced Amy.

"I missed them too." She replied. Then, point-blank, "Daddy, why'd you leave mom?" Amy bit her lip.

Nick drew in a breath, like he'd been sucker-punched. "I didn't." He said simply.

"Huh?"

"I didn't leave your mother. She left me. We just weren't in the right relationship."

"What happened?"

"She was in love with your Uncle Grissom."

"Grissom!" Amy shrieked.

"Don't yell Ashley." Nick scolded. "She just ran away one day. She left a note saying that she'd taken a job with the FBI and that we weren't right for each other. She was catching a plane to D.C." Nick shook his head. "I didn't run after her though. I've always regret that. I didn't run after her. I just let her walk out of my life."

"Why didn't you track her down?"

"Ashley, she didn't want me to. I had to respect her wishes."

Amy nodded carefully.

"Enough of this depressing conversation." Nick turned his black Jeep Grand Cherokee onto a dirt road with a big sign above it that said 'Stokes Ranch.'

Amy wondered why her mother had left. Her mother had always seemed to miss Nick very much and she'd never mentioned Grissom. In fact, Amy hadn't even known about Grissom until she'd met Ashley and heard about him.

"There's someone I want you to meet." Nick grinned. "I think you'll like her very much."

Amy's hackles instantly went up. "Her?"

"Yeah." Nick killed the engine. "Come on, I'll introduce you two."

Amy suspiciously climbed out of the car and followed Nick out back to the pool.

"Ash, this is Mandy Loveland." A tell, leggy blonde stepped out of the pool. Amy studied her. She was wearing a skimpy red bikini that accentuated her curves. Nothing like her mother's understated style of dress. Amy didn't like this woman. Mandy was a good twenty years younger than her father and her blue eyes sparkled with greed and malice. The exact opposite of Sara Sidle. Amy decided that Nick must have been burnt pretty bad by her mother to go to such extremes.

"You must be the famous Ashley." Her voice was honeyed and more fake than her boobs. "I've heard so much about you." She wrapped an arm around Nick's waist. "I feel like I know you already." She turned to Nick. "Nicky, when are you going to tell her?"

Amy eyed Nick. She'd found an old journal of her mothers. In every single entry her father was referred to as Nicky. Now another woman was using her mother's reference for him. Her mother's reference. "Tell me what, Daddy?"

Nick cleared his throat nervously. "Ash, Mandy and I are...uh...we're getting married."