An: Two things. A special shout out to csifan (you know who you are.), Ladybug07, and Wild 320, for being my first reviewers on the story. Now the two things: 1. I know that in one of the chapters Stephanie's last name is Wyly, it should be Austin, a small mistake but you'll live. 2. I know this chapter is short, but I will post another chapter tomorrow (Saturday), I just wanted it to end here. With that said, I still own nothing, except Katie, Steph, Todd, and April. Now please enjoy.

Chapter 3

It was two am when Nick walked back over to the break room. Greg had proved that the hair and blood, from the picture frame, belonged to Katie. They figured out that Katie and the guy had gotten into it and she was only trying to protect herself and April. He rounded a corner and saw a blonde woman practically throwing April into Katie's arms. "You cause so much trouble, you know that?" She said as he walked into the room.

Nick took one guess. "Stephanie?" He asked. She turned to face him and for the first time in eighteen years he got to look into her beautiful blue eyes. Except they were different now. Her once care free features were now hardened and the love and kindness that use to radiate off of her, were now showing cold and bitterness. 'What happened to you?' He thought.

"Well, are you going to say something?" She snapped.

"Can I have a word with you, outside?" She began to resist. "It will only take a second." He said following her out into the hall as she reluctantly went. "How have you been?" He started.

"If you're trying to rekindle an old flame, it won't happen. I'm with someone else now." She said, stilling being snappy.

"Yeah he's a real stand up guy." He muttered. "Do you even know why your kids were here?"

"Of corse. That kid got into a fight with Todd. Can we hurry this along?"

"Did you know that he hit her, even threw her against the wall?" Nick grew angrier.

"April?" She said questioning.

"No Katie. She refused to let him get to her." He said in his temper.

"Oh." She said as her face went from confused to 'I don't care'. "It was probably her fault to begin with." Nick notice how she never used Katie's name.

"You would say that, after the way you just handled that toddler. Those kids need a parent who protects them. You should be there for them. And also why is Katie taking on the responsibilities of being a mother? She's seventeen. She should be playing with other kids, going on dates."

"You have no idea how hard it is to be a parent." She said crossing her arms.

"Why don't we ask Katie?" He threw back.

"You think you know what's right? Fine, you take 'em." She said turning away.

"They're not my responsibility." He said.

She turned back to face him. "One of them is. I left to give that child a better life, and all she does is cause trouble and make my life harder. You think you can do better? Then be my guest." She said walking away.

He was to stunned to move as he blankly watched her walk out. He was a father? He had a child for seventeen years, and he missed out. He was more upset about missing her life than he was about finding out he was about having a child, although he was a little unprepared. He looked into the break room and saw Katie standing there staring at him, and he undoubtably knew that she had heard the whole thing. He walked into the room and she turned away to April. She picked her up and began to carry her out. "Katie wait."

"Look." She said, not wanting to bother him. "We've been through this before. She kicks us out and we stay at the neighbors house for a few days. Then when she realizes that there's no one to do the grocery shopping or the laundry, she'll want us back home." She said walking down the hall.

"Katie, you can't go out there alone." He said running after her.

"It's no big deal." She said, not wanting him to see her cry.

"No." He said sternly. He was not going to let her walk out of his life just as quickly as she had come into it, especially not back to someone who didn't care about her. She stopped just before she reached the doors leading to outside. He walked up behind her.

"You're a nice person Nick." She said as April woke up. "You don't need the burden of two trouble making children." She said, using the words her mother often used. April realized she was crying and brushed a tear away. She took a deep breath as Nick placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her around.

"You're not trouble makers, and most of all you're not burdens." He said seriously, feeling pain for these children. "I'll admit, I'm not prepared for having kids," Katie looked down and he lifted her head by placing a finger under her chin. "but I'm willing to give it my best shot, if you'll let me."

Katie looked at his kind eyes and then down at April. 'I guess he's ok, he is my father after all.' She thought. "I'm not sure."

Nick figured it was because they had just met. "I'll tell you what, since we just met I could get a hotel room, two. One for you two, and one for me, with a door that goes through." He said. And then tomorrow, we could go shopping and get to know one another?" He more asked his idea.

"I don't want to put you out." She said. A part of her told her not to inconvenience him, but a part of her wanted to hug him and never let go.

"I never want to hear that again." He said. "You're not putting me out." There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes that was clear to the world, and Katie had no choice but to agree. "Ok. I just have to let my boss know I'm leaving." He said as the girls followed him to Grissom's office. He left the girls outside the door as he talked to his boss. "Hey, boss, I need tomorrow night off." He said.

"How come?" He asked looking up from filling out his papers.

"Something came up, and I need to attend to it." He said, not giving much away.

Grissom looked at him. Nick never asked for a day off unless it was absolutely necessary. "Alright." He said writing it down, so he wouldn't forget.

"Thanks Griss." He said walking out of the office. "Let's go." He said leading them out.