Pain and New Hope

Pairing: It's mostly about Nick, but it will be a Snickers story at the end.

Spoiler: Stalker

Nick's first day back at work is boring and slightly overwhelming.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI characters or extras

Welcome Back to Work, Nick Stokes

Four Days Later

Sara and I walked down the hall of the crime lab. It was my first day back at work since the Nigel threw me out of the window. I wonder what it would be like.

"Welcome back, Nicky," Catherine grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing much better," I smiled. "The ribs are going to take some time to fully heal, but everything else is either healed completely or almost healed. My wrist is much better, but the doctor wants me to wear the brace for a few more days."

"It's good to have you back," she said. "Has Sara been taking very excellent care of you?"

"Yes, she has," I smiled.

Greg came out his lab and saw me. He nearly retreated in fear since he was the one that distributed my Crimestoppers article around the lab. That sent me on the warpath and wanting to kill him for trying to make me the lab's celebrity. I remember grabbing him by the shoulder, squeezing it hard and told him to stop invading my privacy. I now understood why he may be afraid of me.

"Greggo, get your ass over here!" I shouted. "I promise not to bite your head off!"

"Nick, you're back!" he said running wanting to hug me, but Sara stopped him.

"Greg, his ribs are still sore," Sara said. "Besides, I don't think he needs to be overwhelmed."

Grissom appeared from the office after hearing the commotion down the hallway. He saw me and smiled.

"Nicky, it's great that you're back," Grissom said shaking my hand. "I need to speak with you at my office to discuss your duties."

I followed him to his creepy specimens in jars infested office with that talking and singing bass hanging over the door. I slowly sat on a chair while Grissom sat at his desk.

"Nicky, how are you feeling?" Grissom asked.

I don't know how many people asked me that since the whole thing happened. It was getting very annoying, but this was my boss here. I didn't want to risk losing my job for speaking to him in a harsh tone. On the other hand, he would have understood. Still, it wasn't worth the risk.

"I am feeling better," I said politely. "It's the ribs that still bother me. I am still wearing the wrist brace for a few more days although it feels a lot better. I am fully recovered from the concussion and got the stitches removed from my forehead."

"That's good to know," Grissom said. "Do you have that form that I had the doctor fill out for medical clearance?"

"Yes, I have it here with me," I smirked as I handed him the form.

"Now we can discuss your duties," Grissom said. "For the time being, you will only do lab and desk duty. You aren't quite ready to return to the field until medically cleared for it. When do you have to see the doctor again?"

"In about two weeks for the ribs," I said.

"I have also arranged for an appointment for you to meet with the department counselor," Grissom said. "It's going to be this Wednesday at 3:15, here's the card with the address."

"Do I have to see this quack?" I asked with a whine.

"Nick, you don't have a choice," Grissom was firm. "You need to talk about your ordeal and the counselor has to assess your psychological readiness to return to the field."

"I don't want to talk about it," I said. "I don't need to be reminded of the hell that Nigel Crane put me through and nearly killed me twice."

"Nick, if you don't speak to the counselor," Grissom tried to gently reason with me. "Memories of the ordeal will eat you alive and you will likely snap at everyone for no apparent reason. Also, you won't get clearance to go back to the field. Of course that means that you won't get to work on solos that you complain that I never give to you."

He really got me there. Ever since I became a CSI Level 3, I have been begging Grissom for a chance to work on solo cases. He often told me that I wasn't ready for them and gave me some idiotic test that I failed. Silk, silk, silk, what do cows drink? I told him milk, but I got it wrong. Next time he gives me that test, I should say water.

"I'll go speak to this person," I said. "For how long I have to see him or her?"

"I really don't know," Grissom shook his head. "I guess until you feel you could put this behind and move on with your life. Also, I will get a report of the counselor's assessment. Do you have any questions?"

"No sir," I said.

"First thing I want you to do is some paperwork," Grissom said. "Then, you can help the lab techs out when the evidence arrives for processing."

I nodded and avoided arguing and whining. Arguing at this point was very futile and not good if I wanted to keep my job. If I whine about my duties, it would only get an admonishment from Grissom telling me that I am a grown man and to stop my whining. I got up, smiled at him and walked out of his office.

"Hey Nick, welcome back," Warrick said still wearing that look of guilt as he saw me leaving Grissom's office.

"Yeah, I am back at work, thanks," I said. "Warrick, you are still looking guilty. My attack wasn't your fault, that son of bitch Nigel was responsible."

"If I hadn't step away to take that damn phone call," he said. "You wouldn't have gotten hurt and we could've had that fucking bastard's ass hauled to jail sooner."

"Stop feeling guilty about what happened to me," I insisted. "That phone call was probably important and work related. One of these days, you are going to rack up enough frequent flier guilt trip miles to get you a trip to the shrink's couch."

"It's good to have you back," Warrick chuckled.

"Well, it's good to be back," I smiled and Warrick left to go to Grissom's office.

I was on my way to my office to start on the dreaded paperwork when I almost ran into Brass. He smiled when he saw me.

"Hey Nicky, welcome back," Brass said. "You are looking better than the last time I saw you. How are you feeling?"

"The ribs are still healing," I smiled. "My wrist is better, the concussion is gone and the gash on my forehead is healing nicely."

"I am glad to hear that you are doing better," he said. "So, who took you in while Ecklie's team processed your house?"

"Sara took me in," I replied. "Actually, I kind of invited myself after considering other scenarios."

"I am sure you had delivery and takeout to eat," he chuckled.

"Not really, she did cook," I told him. "It was decent, but she is improving big time."

"She will do fine with time," Brass smirked.

"How is my house?" I asked. "Is it still a big mess?"

"It's still in terrible shape," Brass shook his head. "It still hasn't been released from Ecklie's people. You need to talk your homeowner's insurance agent about this. Also, you need to find a reputable contractor to fix the damages."

"Especially, one whose employees don't have psychotic tendencies," I chuckled slightly. "I think I have had enough of psychos for a while. Brass, I would like to continue this discussion, but I have to get to my office to deal with paperwork and see if any of our lab techs need help."

"You poor kid!" Brass sighed. "You will be back in the field soon, that's where you excel."

"Thanks," I smiled and we made our separate ways.

I first went to the break room to get a cup of that Blue Hawaiian that Greg makes. I was relieved that nobody was there, since I didn't feel like having another conversation with anyone at the moment. It wasn't that I wanted to be rude, I just needed a breather from all the attention I had received earlier. When I arrived at my office, there was a pile of paperwork on my desk waiting for me. Usually I dreaded doing this, but in some crazy way, it was comfort. I sat down at my desk and slowly drank my coffee. After I finished, I threw the cup into my garbage can. I went to work on the pile papers before me. I filled out and signed wherever they needed me to fill out or sign.

When the evidence from the two crime scenes that Warrick and Grissom and Sara and Catherine were working on arrived, I helped processed it. Even Greg seemed to welcome my help. He was still afraid of me, but I told him I was in a bad mood a few weeks ago. I even told him he could play any Black Flag CD on full blast until Grissom returned or we had to analyze the results.

When shift was about to end, I was back in my office doing some light work on the computer. Sara came to my office and took a seat in front of me. I smiled at her and she smiled back at me.

"How's your first day back?" Sara asked.

"It's full of paperwork and lab duty," I said. "Other than that, it's okay. How were you working with Catherine?"

"She has her bitchy moments," Sara chuckled. "Tonight, working with her was great. Grissom told me you have an appointment with a counselor."

"Yeah, I have to see this person tomorrow afternoon at 3:15," I protested. "I don't want to do it, but I have no choice."

"I'll take you there," Sara said. "Nick, shift is over. Do you want to go with me to IHOP for breakfast? It's my treat!"

"Sara, I would love to go with you," I smiled. "Let's go."

We both got up for our chairs and left my office. We said our good mornings to everyone. Once we were out of the building, we were in her Tahoe. She put on her Cure CD and we were singing along to 'Love Song'. As she pulled out of the parking spot and headed toward the street, we were thinking about what we were going eat there. I was also falling in love with Sara.

TBC