The Ticket to the Future is Blank

Prologue:

Disclaimer: I suppose I should have put disclaimers on all of my fanfics. I'm just lazy I guess. So here it is – I don't own the rights to any of the characters within this fictional story that are on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, they are the property of CBS and the original creators. I got $2 to my name, so it wouldn't be very smart of you to sue me.

Description: Nick Stokes suddenly has to fulfill his duties as godfather when his cousin Evangeline and her husband die in a freak car accident.

A/N: this is my first RL fanfic, I've only ever written anime fics before, so this is something new for me. This story just started forming in my head and it's taken me several tries to make it work. It's typical OC placement, but I hope I've made it – if anything – slightly different from other fics. Also, I'd just like to say that I have somewhat of a crush on William Peterson (even though he is severely my senior), and it's really quite odd and unfortunate that my printmaking professor resembles him. sighs oh well. Hope you enjoy this.

Tabitha

Prologue:

He hadn't even been able to get to the crime lab before he was called out to the field. DB in the park, and from what Catherine told him it seemed to be sexual assault-turned-murder. He felt disconcerted and somewhat jaded when the thought of that being something 'typical' passed through his mind. Sometimes I swear this job is ruining me, he thought.

He pulled up to the crime scene in his Chevy; everything was sadly routine. He didn't quite know why this had started to bother him. This was his job, his life. It consisted of dead bodies and the people responsible for them, and he was to play the role of detective every time.

"Hey, Nick!" came the pleasantly raspy voice of his coworker, Catherine Willows. He hadn't really realized he had gotten out of the car and was walking towards the crowd of people until he heard her voice. OK, Nick, stop spacing out. You're on the job now, he inwardly scolded himself. He waved to the older woman as if he'd seen her from the get-go.

"Evening, Catherine. So what exactly do you have for me tonight?" he smiled. The same smile they all used when at work, one full of sadness and sick humor – it was disturbing sometimes what one human could do to another.

"Young girl, about 19-20. She was found by a couple taking a late night walk right over there." She pointed in the direction she had started to lead him. "She's pretty scantily clad,"

"What, you think she's a prostitute?" he asked. Memories of Kristy flew through his mind for a few brief moments.

"Not sure. Her clothes aren't really a dead giveaway. She could just as easily be a local girl or tourist. You know fashion these days." Nick gave a quick smirk and nod as a response as Catherine led him still further.

When they came upon the body Nick had to stay his breathe. The girl's neck had been broken, as well as blood matting her hair to the back of her head. He knelt down to take a closer look.

"There wasn't any kind of identification on her, so she very well could be a hooker. She hasn't any underwear, which normally wouldn't be that surprising if she is what we think she is, but there is evidence of sexual assault – vaginal bleeding, bruising all along her arms. What do you think, Nick?"

"I think-"his cell phone started to go off in his pocket. "Excuse me a sec." He stood up and pulled the phone out of his jacket pocket. "Nick here." He answered.

Catherine didn't even look at him while he was taking the call, figuring it was Grissom. She too crouched down to inspect the body, looking for anything that may be a relevant clue. It wasn't until she heard the sharp intake of breath and the muttered 'Oh my God' that she swiveled her head to look at her partner. When she saw Nick's face her maternal instincts kicked in and she stood up immediately. Nick looked like a deer in the headlights – eyes wider than she had ever seen and mouth gaping uncharacteristically.

"OK, I'll be there as soon as possible." And he hung up, just staring into empty space until Catherine put a hand on his shoulder.

"Nick? Nick, what's wrong?" she asked in honest concern.

"That was my Aunt Helen," he said briefly.

"And?" the blonde woman asked, really curious as to what could evoke such a reaction in her coworker.

"It's my cousin Evangeline. She and her husband were killed in a car accident." His eyes looked haunted.

"Oh, Nicky." Catherine cooed as she took the shocked man into her arms.