Disclaimer: I still don't own them, but let's just say...we evil geniuses are persistent. And resourceful. (evil, evil grin) And as usual, any perceived plotholes are imaginary.
Notes: Thanks to my beta reader, Impulse...she gets extra chocolates this time around! Yay!
Chapter 6
Nick looked into the Trace lab as he passed by, and immediately felt uncomfortable and guilty. Alex was there, working hard as always, talking with Grissom and Warrick, her face pale, her usually sunny expression now quiet and sad.
It was like someone else had taken over Alex's body, but Nick didn't feel like making any 'who are you and what have you done with my lab tech' jokes right now.
Alex definitely wouldn't appreciate it.
Somehow, knowing that Alex was unhappy made Nick unhappy too. It was as though he could somehow feel her inner pain and misery. Thankfully it didn't affect his work, or Grissom would have really given it to him.
Only one thing cheered him up that day – Catherine had taken great blackmail pictures of Greg and Chorizo. The unfortunate tarantula had been flushed, but Greg and Warrick had hastened to the nearest exotic pets store to buy a replacement…not to mention a new leash for Chorizo.
If Grissom noticed he had a new tarantula, he said nothing. But Nick noticed he kept a close eye on Alex – rare for Grissom, who usually didn't notice much that was happening around him. When it came to science he was a master, when it came to daily life, he had the hint of the absent-minded professor.
Nick found himself checking on Alex more than once, but getting her alone – Nick wasn't even sure if he wanted to apologize or confront her till he got some answers – was out of the question. Apparently the motherly Catherine had picked up on her upset state, and had decided to give her some moral support, and even instructed the others to do the same.
Well, except Nick. Nick had been working a solo case, and she had probably decided not to bother him.
Nick wondered why seeing Alex like this made him hurt so much inside. It made no sense.
At least not to him.
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Alex wondered how men thought women didn't notice when they were staring at them. Nick had been peeking into the Trace lab so many times now, she counted at least five minutes between each look into the lab.
He didn't look happy. After the way he had acted yesterday, Alex had no idea why. Shouldn't he be telling Grissom there was something funny about the Trace lab tech? Shouldn't there be IA people investigating her?
Alex glanced up as Nick passed by yet again. Why did he look so unhappy?
She cast a glance over at Catherine, who was her current babysitter. Alex appreciated the gesture, but right now, she wanted to find out what was wrong with Nick.
"Uh, Cath?" she asked. "Could you keep an eye on the lab for a while? I need to go to the little lab tech's room for a second."
Cath looked up, and nodded. "Sure."
"Great!" Alex got up, and was halfway out the door before she stuck her head back in and added, "If Grissom stops by, his evidence is already processed and on the table over there."
Cath made an irritated sound of agreement, and continued to read her magazine. Alex grinned, and left.
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Alex no longer felt like smiling by the time she reached Nick in the locker room. Sitting by himself, he looked so miserable that all she wanted to do was go over and hug him. And at the same time, she couldn't forget or forgive the hurtful things he had accused her of just the night before.
She stopped at the door, hesitant, unsure. On one hand, she loved her friend. On the other…
What exactly was on the other? Her pride? Her hurt? Her…love? Love for Nick? Maybe even her fear that she was even admitting to herself that she was in love. With Nick.
Slowly, she advanced towards the CSI, who looked up as she approached. The minute their eyes met, Alex realized what had happened. She flashed back to the day – or night, depending on how you looked at it – she had healed Nick, remembered how she had focused on nothing else other than saving his life…
Oh, no, she thought, realizing what must have happened. It had only happened once before, when she had tried to heal her grandfather before he died…
Somehow, when healing Nick, she had made a mental connection between herself and Nick. Which wasn't really good, since now he was connected to her, he would be able to feel her emotions, and vice-versa. Alex no longer needed to wonder why Nick was so depressed. She knew. Because they were connected, basically – when Alex was hurting, Nick hurt too.
"Oh, Nick," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
He just looked at her, and she couldn't stop herself, the healer instincts she had been born with needing to soothe his pain and confusion. Moving to his side, she hugged him.
To her surprise, he hugged back. They melted together easily, seeming to melt into one person with two souls, and everything else, the lab, their co-workers, even Chorizo and the tarantula, were forgotten. And somewhere along the way, both asked for forgiveness from the other, and was forgiven in return.
They said that fighting sometimes helped strengthen relationships when the fighting pair made up again. Alex had never once thought that it could be true. Now she found that it was, as she felt the bond of friendship that they had always shared become somehow stronger, more lasting.
The locker room door swung open as someone walked in. But it was the loudly asked, "Nick…Alex…what do you think you're doing?" that broke them apart.
They turned…to see the nightshift supervisor standing in front of them with a stern expression on his face.
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Oh, I just love cliffies, don't you?
Right, sorry about the delay in posting, but school's started, and I'm going to be posting less and less frequently I imagine, with only Saturdays to work on the fic. Hey, my beta reader has school too, you know? Unfortunately we underage evil geniuses have to study. It's the first thing I'll rectify when I take over the world. And make no mistake, one day...i will rule this joint!
Ahem. Right. Now my evil mania has faded...
Shout-outs:
esmi26de - No need to be sorry you're a Snicker! No one should have to be ashamed of their ship! Like me, I like any ship as long as it's not GSR. I'm glad you like my story, and I hope you'll keep reading!
DCHeesegirl - Keep Greg in check, would you? LOL, and technically it isn't Greg's monkey. Chorizo belongs to his friend, and let's all hope he takes his monkey home soon...Keep reading and bear with me!
love N/S - Hey, let's not diss the tarantula, okay? I hate tarantulas...why must they be so big and hairy, and scary? Hey, that rhymes! (coughs) Right. Okay, Nick asBatman?Well...Idunno, the mask would hide his handsome face...aren't there any superheroes that leave their faces uncovered?
gelf - Gelf! Gelf! You're here! I love you! And you reviewed! (huggles) And the purple buttons are all part of a scheme to take over the world! (:p) So...now I've got your attention, keep reading, reviewing...and I'll see you at MXPhoenix later! Ciao dear!
Right, I find Iam out of George Eads plushies...off to make some more! But in themeantime, keep the reviews coming! the pretty purple button's waiting for your loving click...
Oh. And if you found this too sappy or mushyor anything, let me know and I'll tone it down in the next chapter...see, the last part wasn't really betaed, I couldn't wait for Impulse.(puts finger to lips) Don't tell anyone! They're not supposed to know that!
