The Ticket to the Future is Blank

A/N: I just have to thank Ash for the lovely first review (claps for Ash). And although your suggestions are good ones (and some will be taken into consideration), I already have plans for Nick's new charge. And yes there's only one. It's going to be quite an interesting and unique situation. I hope my way isn't too much of a disappointment. Hehe. Also, thank you to Megan and dd9736 for the reviews. Keep 'em coming.

Tabitha


The Ticket to the Future is Blank

Chapter 1 : I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

She stood in the open foyer of the house that she had lived in her entire life. She remembered falling down the stairs that stood just in front of her when she was four years old. She remembered coming home from the Saint Como parade every year since she could consciously remember wearing an insane amount of beads that had been thrown into the crowd. She remembered the laughter, the tears, the stress of going through puberty and knowing beyond a doubt that her parents hadn't understood. Well she had gotten over that, and now her parents were dead. She would never again come downstairs to witness her parent's morning ritual of dancing to old records while making coffee, or see them kiss and then look at each other like they were still twenty. She'd always wished she could find someone that could captivate her heart and soul like her father had her mother.

"I can't believe they're dead." She whispered to the house. Somehow that was enough of a goodbye for her. She'd miss this house. It was a living testament to the lives that had been lived within its embracing walls. But now wasn't the time to get sentimental. She had to leave – her house, her city – it was all about to be left behind. All for Las Vegas.

She heard the footsteps come up the front steps and stop just outside of the threshold and open door.

"Miss, we should leave now if you want to make your flight."

She turned to look at the quaint looking older gentleman; his clean white button-up t-shirt and gray pants struck her fancy and they were an immense comfort for some reason. Maybe if she could concentrate on simple things like the clothing of the people around her she'd be able to get to Nevada without crying. Anything, even the mundane and ordinary, to keep her from dwelling on the fact that she was now without anyone. At least for now.

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It was the end of the shift – early morning – and everyone was still distraught over what was now called the 'Phantom Rapist' case. In the past two weeks, three young women had been found raped and had their necks broken. What was frustrating was that there was no sign of any intercourse save for bruising on the cervical tissue. No pubic hairs, no semen found. And although Nick had been on the case from its earliest point, he had family matters to attend to. As soon as he had gotten the cal from his Aunt Helen, he'd called Grissom and said that he had to leave to at least attend the funeral. Grissom had of course consented. Some may view him as a heartless bastard at times, but it wasn't true. He understood the ties that bound one to their family.

So Nick had left Las Vegas that night on the earliest flight to New Orleans where his cousin Evangeline Delequois had lived, and more recently died in. The entire way there he had been in a total state of shock. He and Eva had been so close while they were children, and up until a couple years ago, they had remained in close contact. One can imagine that finding out that your best friend had been killed is quite traumatic. He still couldn't believe that Eva and her husband Renee were dead. He had always like Renee, and the feelings were mutual. Actually, the couple had liked Nick so much that they had made him their first and only daughter's godfather. And that was what was heaviest on his mind.

He walked by the DNA lab on his way out and Greg Sanders hurried out after him, jogging up beside Nick who refused to stop and chat. He hadn't the energy or interest to do such at the moment.

"Hey, Nick. So you're cousin is coming to stay with you, huh? That's cool. How old is she?" the quirky blonde practically bounced beside him. Nick just gave him a sideways glance and a quick curl of the lips.

"Who told you she was a she?" he asked half-heartedly.

"Grissom and Cath mentioned the whole guardianship situation to us so we wouldn't get all up on your back. Personally I think it was purely for Sara's benefit. You know how she gets all bent out of shape sometime and-"

"Greg," Nick exhaled, letting the younger man know that his rambling wasn't appreciated at the moment.

"Oh, sorry. But ya, so how old is she?" Nick stopped and turned to face the smiling lab technician.

"How old are you, Greg?"

"Twenty-nine." The smile grew another half inch.

"She's too young for you." Nick stated simply and continued on his way out of the crime lab, leaving Greg standing there, somewhat disheartened.

"Oh c'mon man!"

"She's too young for you!" Nick yelled over his shoulder as he turned the corner.

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He'd gotten to the airport early. Actually, three hours early. He'd wanted this time to prepare himself. He wasn't quite sure what was going to be in store for him. When he had been in Louisiana he had been completely surprised when he had been asked to be present at the reading of the will. It meant a couple more days in New Orleans, a couple days that Grissom had been more than willing to give surprisingly enough. But it wasn't just the fact that his presence was requested, but what his part in the whole affair was. When he was younger, when Evangeline and Renee had first told him they were expecting a baby, he was surprised and honored that they had chosen him to be their child's godfather. None of his siblings had asked him, not that the thought had even really crossed his mind, but as soon as they asked he hastily accepted. He had been touched that they had even considered him. So the news shouldn't have been as surprising as it was.

Christabel Isabeau Lucille Delequois, his goddaughter, was now eighteen years old. Legally, she was an adult and therefore responsible for her own well being as far as the government was concerned. And according to the will, her parents had left a substantial inheritance with her as the sole beneficiary, so she would be by all accounts completely able to live on her own. Aside from one small stipulation – sole custody would be transferred to her godfather until she became twenty years old. Even if she went away to school, she was still in his care. Nick couldn't understand it. What kind of legal grounds was that based on? He had asked the lawyer that exact question, and though he tried to understand, he still couldn't quite wrap his mind around it. So now he was to be the caretaker of this girl who he hadn't seen since she was eleven years old. This was going to be hard to get used to. Of course the little girl he had known had grown up into a young woman who was miles away from what he had remembered.

And just as he was thinking about how his new charge had changed the announcement came over the speaker that the flight from New Orleans had arrived and was now deboarding. He stood up and walked a little closer to the gate she was to coming out of. His heart sped up a bit, he was nervous, the usual thoughts going through his mind – was she going to like him, would he like her, was it gonna be weird living together – all that practical human relations stuff.

Then he saw her, her skin just a shade or two darker than most Caucasians, her bright aquamarine eyes that she had inherited from her mother, and her long dark hair that had been put into perfectly formed dreadlocks. Her clothing was quite bohemian looking. But it wasn't her appearance that struck him, it was the withheld sorrow that was in her eyes. Even from a distance it was noticeable and his heart went out to her. Every other thought fled from his mind, he just wanted to help this girl now and if it meant letting her into his home, then he was more than willing.