Disclaimer: I don't own them, and believe you me, you'd know if I did.
Author's Notes: Well, I'm pleased that I managed to get this out tonight, I wasn't planning on writing at all today, it's been a rough week so far at work, but I was so wound up that I needed to get my frustration out, so voila! That would also explain any mistakes you find, or if you think it's crappy overall, I was totally distracted while writing. Good news: I got a (semi) promotion at work-instead of apprentice, I'm going to be '2nd assistant', which means that I am a lot more involved. Bad news: 1st assistant was out today, and I had to do some hands-on training at work (which up until now I had only done this much detailed work on the computer simulation program) and I had to participate in an autopsy of a young little boy. Just when I think I'm cut out for my job, I'm complimented on my lack of being squeamish, I'm praised constantly for jumping right in and learning quickly, something like this comes along and makes me turn into a weepy little ball of sadness.
I like replies. They make me happy. If I get them, I shall work harder to produce. It's bribes for the less financially stable people.
Jenny
Two:
"Nick! Sara, come on! You said tonight was just going to be about us!" Greg said angrily, his hands clenched into angry fists, "No interruptions, remember?"
"Greg, he sounds really bad, you know how hard he's been struggling with his family, he said he needed a friend." Sara said calmly, trying to keep her cool, because she knew if she did, Greg would. The last thing she needed was for them to start fighting.
Greg shook his head, "It's always about Nick, and this little 'friendship' you guys have. Sometimes I think you spend more time with him than you do with me."
"That's bull and you know it." Sara snapped, "Nick's just a friend, he's not more important to me than you are, and I resent you saying that he is. You know that you come first in my personal life, and it pisses me off that you still don't trust me."
Greg crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed, "I do trust you, Sar, but it's hard to believe that nothing's going on and that you're focused on us when every other minute you're rushing in to work, you're running off to Nick's house, you're going shopping with Catherine instead of breakfast with me. Do you not even care about having private time with me? I thought that if we took this slow, you'd be able to make a commitment, apparently, you're just unable to."
"Don't even start with that crap, Greg!" Sara yelled, slamming her fist against the couch, "I want a relationship, I want you Greg, even though I'm not sure why right now. What about the times you hang out with the guys? Or when you go home after shift to play those stupid online video games? How dare you say I'm not committed? Am I not allowed to have other friends? I could have sworn you weren't that kind of guy, but you know what? Every day you surprise me a little more."
Greg's anger deflated slightly and a hurt look crossed his face as he watched her slam through her apartment, grabbing her shoes and purse, "You're allowed to have friends, but normal friends don't spend the night at their female friend's apartment and answer her phone, do they?"
Sara turned to face him, her jaw open in surprise, "Excuse me?" She said, her voice low and cold, "Any time that Nick has stayed here has been completely platonic, we're just friends Greg. How many times do I have to tell you? So what if he comes over when I'm having a rough time? So what if I do the same for him? So what if he picks up my phone? Maybe, before you jump to conclusions, you should get the facts." She slammed her fist down on the counter, the sound reverberating through the apartment, anger flashing in waves across her face, "And for the record, smartass, you have spent far more many nights here, before we had a relationship, than Nick ever has. Don't be a fool, stop acting like some hormonal-driven teenager."
"Maybe you should tell him the same thing." Greg said, his tone accusing, unable to stop his words before they exited his mouth. He had been trying to keep his temper and jealousy cool for months now, the night he told Sara he wanted a relationship, only to have Nick answer her phone still in the front of his mind. Now that he had started the 'Nick' fight, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop himself before saying something he'd regret. "Sara, I'm a guy, I know how guys act, I know what he's thinking, and he's thinking that he wants to get my girlfriend to his apartment to stay over God-knows-how-long instead of going to the movies with me!"
Sara spun around from her spot by the door, her hand shaking in anger, "Greg, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard you say. His sister is in jail, Greg! He's been going crazy over that, you know how close his family is, you know how hard this has been on him! Have you ever seen someone you love locked up? Known they've killed someone? Have you ever had anyone you loved sitting across that table from you, knowing they would be in prison for the rest of their life? Knowing someone else's blood is on their hands? Do you know what that does to a person? Do you have any clue how that makes you feel? Don't tell me he's got some secret agenda. Until you've been in that position, I don't want to hear it. Keep it up, and I won't be your girlfriend anymore."
"How would you know?" Greg retorted, "Sometimes I find it hard to believe you could love anyone."
The moment the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back.
He saw her face pale slightly, as her mouth slightly opened with shock, blinking back tears that had instantly welled up in her eyes. She clenched her fists, shaking her head and saying with a shaky voice, "I don't have time for this. My friend needs me."
"Sara, I'm sorry." Greg said, taking a step towards her, "Please, I didn't mean to-"
He was rewarded with the resonating sound of the front door slamming shut behind her. Sitting down on the couch, he propped his elbows on his knees, sighing heavily, then dropping his head into his hands. He had screwed up this time, and bad. He could tell he had hurt her, badly, and now he was left alone to kick himself over it while his angry girlfriend went to her male best friend's house. Sending an angry girlfriend to a man's house was almost as bad as sending a horny one...he had royally screwed it up this time.
Picking up the phone, he dialed information, "Las Vegas, Nevada..Vegas Florists...Thank you."
He hung up the phone, digging out his wallet and dialing the number he had just been given. After a few seconds, he spoke nervously, "Yes, this is Greg Sanders, and I need to have 2 dozen red roses delivered to..."
Sara knocked on Nick's door, her tears wiped away, and a fake smile on her face. This wasn't the time to dwell on her problems, there would be plenty of time for that later when she curled up on the couch with beer, ice cream, and her favorite forensics documentary series.
She hated to fight with Greg, with anyone she was close to, actually. She knew he was jealous, but she couldn't find a way to show him it wasn't necessary, that there was nothing to be jealous over. Every time Nick's name came up, though, Greg got moody and snippy, sometimes more than others, but it was starting to work Sara's patience.
She was allowed to have friends, and some of her friends happened to be male. If Warrick was in the same situation, she'd be at his house too, it wasn't only limited to Nick.
She could see his point, she had spent a lot of time flirting with Nick when she first arrived in Vegas, and he had spent a lot of time at her apartment, but what irritated her the most was that Greg wouldn't believe her when she said nothing was going on between them. She just wanted to be trusted by the man who was supposed to love her.
Nick's door opened and Sara drew in a sharp breath, "Oh, honey, you look awful."
"Thanks." Nick replied dryly, stepping aside to allow her in, "I just don't know what to do anymore."
Sara gave him a tight hug, noticing how thin he had gotten over the past few months. His house was filthy, trash on the floor and tables, files pertaining to Jessica's case littering the counter space. Seeing Sara's confused face, Nick explained, "Her lawyer made me copies to see if I could find anything useful. It doesn't look too good for her."
He sat down with a loud sigh, and Sara sat beside him, taking his hand into hers, "You'll make it, so will Jess. You both are fighters, as long as you have each other, you'll be able to keep up the fight."
"She doesn't want me to visit anymore." Nick said softly, breaking down and allowing the tears he had been holding back to fall, "Sara, she's my big sister. All I want to do is get her out of that place, back to Texas where she belongs. How can one mistake change so much? Why Jessie? How could she have done this?"
Sara pulled him into an awkward hug, unsure of what to say. She really wasn't the best at these types of situations. Instead of speaking, she just held him close and let him cry it out. Sometimes crying was the best therapy. After a few minutes, he seemed to start regaining his composure.
"I'm going to Texas." He said softly, his angry tone betraying the quiet words, "I'm going to confront my parents, I'm going to find out why they haven't called, haven't visited. She's still their daughter, no matter what she's done, she's still family. You don't turn your back on family."
Sara bit her lip, looking down at her hands, trying not to be defensive. Sometimes, yes, you do turn your back on your family. This just wasn't the time to voice that.
She squeezed his hand, "Nicky, if you think it will make a difference, or even make you feel better, do it. Do what you need to do to get through this. And if it gets them to come visit Jess, then that's even better. I'm sure she misses them."
"You know what?" Nick said, the anger bursting out as he jumped to his feet and slammed his fist in the wall, "She misses the hell out of them, all of them! Mom, Dad, Karen, our other sisters and brother, and they don't give a rat's ass about her. Not even a letter, Sara! How hard would it be to get out a damn pen and sheet of paper and just say 'we haven't forgotten about you'. She is in that cell, waiting to be tried for murder, and it's all because of Karen's loser husband! But has Karen lifted a finger to see her? To deal with the aftermath? No! This whole thing just makes me sick, it really ticks me off."
Sara watched him pace the room angrily, venting about the lack of support Jessica had gotten throughout the whole process, about how Nick was the family outcast for making Jessica talk to the police, about how it seemed his whole family forgot that they worked for the side of the law dedicated to serving justice. It was the good ole' boy system, he could almost guarantee that if this would have happened back on the Stokes' territory, Jessica would be in her own bedroom, without a care in the world. It would have been a returned favor to either of his parents, and no one would have even missed Travis's body. If Nick had to name one thing he hated most in the world, 'crooked politics' would be moving up to first place.
"Nicky, sit down, we'll call your parents. I think you need to talk to them, calmly, okay? You can hear what they have to say, then you can get some of this off your chest." Sara suggested, touching his arm gently as he passed by her.
Nick shrugged her grasp off, storming off to his bedroom, "If you want to make yourself useful, you can help me pack and drive me to the airport. I've had enough of this crap, I'm going home."
Deciding arguments would be futile, she followed him to his room and helped him pull his suitcase down from the top of the closet. Maybe after he cooled off a bit, she'd try again.
An hour later, he was booking himself on the next flight to Dallas. He hung up the phone, his face still stony with anger, "Let's go, the flight leaves in two hours."
"Are you sure-" Sara began, but was interrupted by Nick tossing the suitcase on the ground with a loud thud.
Nick turned the numbers on the combination lock and slipped his shoes on, "You said you'd help me, you can help me by driving me to the airport and saving me a fortune in parking costs."
"You know I'd do anything for you." Sara replied, sighing unhappily. As much as she was for Nick talking this problems through with his family, she wasn't sure it was ready to happen face-to-face. Sometimes things were better left 1,000 miles away.
"But Mom!" Lindsey whined, stomping her foot down angrily on the ground, "You promised! You said that no matter what, you'd take me!"
Catherine stifled a yawn, trying to focus on Lindsey's tantrum of the moment, "Lins, sweetie, we can go this weekend to buy new bedroom stuff. Tonight let's stick with going out to dinner and renting a movie, just like our original plans, okay?"
"But this weekend won't still be my birthday, and you said that on my birthday, we could go get new decorations for my bedroom. You promised me! You never do what you promise!" Lindsey said angrily, "We're going out to dinner, it won't be a big deal to stop at the store too!"
Catherine shook her head, unable to suppress her yawn this time, "Lindsey, I'm exhausted. I worked all day, when I got home I had to go get your birthday cake, I had to clean the apartment, I had to run all of my errands for the week, and I just don't feel like doing anything else. It's bad enough that I only got one hour of sleep so far today, and by the time we finish dinner and get back home, it will almost be time to go back to work."
"You work all the time, you like your stupid job more than me," Lindsey declared, shifting gears, "That's all you do is work, work, work and then hang out with Warrick or Sara. It's like you don't even want to be around me."
Catherine's eyes shot fully open and she pointed her finger at her daughter, "Now listen here little girl, every time I have approached you and asked if you wanted to go to lunch together, or to a movie, or shopping, or for a walk, you have told me you made plans with your friends. I know we don't see each other as much as we'd both like to, but don't you dare tell me that I put my job before you. If I didn't work, you wouldn't have anything that you have right now, and believe me little girl, you wouldn't be redecorating your bedroom for the third time this year."
"You promised we'd go shopping!" Lindsey yelled, her voice showing just how frustrated she was, "You said no matter what, you'd make a point to take me on my birthday! I only get a birthday once a year, you know, and it's not fair to make me wait until the weekend to go shopping for my birthday present!"
Catherine sighed angrily, her head pounding from fatigue, "I don't have the energy for this. If we finish dinner with enough time to go shopping, we can stop by and you can pick up a few things, but I am not going all around the city tonight to find everything you want. That, my dear, can wait until this weekend when we've got a little more time."
"Thanks Mom! You're the greatest!" Lindsey exclaimed, throwing her arms around Catherine and kissing her on the cheek, "I love you!"
"Yeah, yeah, I love you too, hon. Go get ready, Warrick will be back any minute and then we've got to go."
Catherine watched Lindsey rush off to her room, a blonde bundle of energy, and wondered if it was possible she had that much energy at that age. Or even 5 years ago. She wasn't old, by any means, but more and more as the months went by, she was able to feel her body slowly aging. And now, her baby was going to be 12 years old. She just couldn't believe how fast time had passed her by. If anyone had old her 12 years ago that she'd be where she was today, she would have laughed. So much had changed, continued to change, that some days it felt like life was whizzing on past her, leaving her stranded in the dust it left behind.
She yawned again, unable to focus on the school papers she was supposed to be signing for her daughter, and decided to rest her head on the table for a few moments. 5 minutes would be all she'd need to refresh her for the evening, and with any luck, work would be slow and she'd be able to duck out early.
Half an hour later, Lindsey was shaking her shoulder roughly, "Mom, wake up, it's time to go. Warrick's home."
"What?" Catherine asked, sitting up and looking around, still disoriented from sleep. "Oh, right. Give me a second, I'll meet you in the car."
Lindsey grabbed her purse and cell phone (a present from Nick), and swatted Warrick on the arm, "Race you downstairs. Winner gets to drive."
"I guess I better hurry then." Warrick countered, sprinting after her, their laughter echoing down the hall.
Catherine picked up her own purse, fighting off the exhaustion that had a relentless hold on her body, and casually walked down the hall after them, slow enough to where they weren't visible any longer, but Lindsey's shrieks of laughter were still audible.
By the time she made it to the car, Warrick was standing with the keys held over Lindsey's head, a relaxed smile on his face, "Come on, Lins, get them if you want to drive."
"I don't care what the bet was, no one under the age of 16 is driving this car," Catherine said in a warning voice as Lindsey jumped high enough to catch the keys, "The closest thing you're going to come to driving anytime soon will be on a video game."
Lindsey's eyes lit up mischievously, "Does that mean I can get a Playstation? With some games?"
Catherine had opened her mouth to tell Lindsey no, that she was getting bedroom decorations for her birthday and that was expensive enough, when Warrick shrugged, "Why not? Everyone needs video games, right Cath?"
"And by everyone, you mean yourself, right?" Catherine asked, slightly ticked for having Warrick agree without consulting her, but forcing herself to remain calm. If Warrick was going to be in Lindsey's life as a parental figure, he had a right to make a few decisions. She just wished he'd start with what to cook for dinner, instead of 200 dollar toys.
She leaned her head against the window, her body sore and tired, as she tried to block out the sounds of Warrick and Lindsey arguing over which games were "cool" and which ones they would play each other at. She tried to keep a running total of costs in her mind, but after the 5th game the agreed on, she figured it was a waste of time. It was definitely a good thing that payday was at the beginning of the next week, otherwise they may have to go without food to pay for this new video game addiction.
It hadn't been as bad as she thought it would be, living with Warrick. They had made their own little family with their own set of rules, and things had been pretty smooth so far. For the length of time she and Lindsey had been alone, and how long it took for them to adjust, it wasn't nearly as difficult to adjust to having Warrick constantly around. Looking back at all of her big decisions, other than not aborting Lindsey when she found out she was pregnant, Warrick was probably the single-most best decision she had ever made.
TBC if I get any sort of response...
