Chapter 10 By Shacky

It had been five nights since the incident at the pet store, and Nick could still feel some oddness between him and Warrick. One of them was having difficulties letting go, and it wasn't him. He spent his day off at home. Alone. No visits for once and he had all day to lounge around and watch baseball. However, the serenity of that quickly wore away, when his next four nights on shift were spent on an endless amount of B and E's. Then there was the missing person...who wasn't.

The "missing" wife thought shed 'get away' for a few days without bothering to tell anyone. It was almost laughable by now, but he was slowly getting more and more agitated each night. His coworkers still acted a bit off around him. He was always treated with over politeness or painful awkwardness. Hell, even some of the cops assigned to his scenes acted overly nervous around him.

Worst of all was the increased tension between him and Warrick. He felt like he had some invisible collar strung around his neck, with his partner straining to keep him within arm's reach. Nick didn't know how to feel. He loved Warrick like a brother, but the man was almost like some nervous father, the term over protectiveness didn't even begin to describe what it was like working with him. Nick missed their banter, small chitchat between shifts, locker room talk, discussing women and their escapades. Now it was just concern and worry. It was driving him crazy and no one seemed to notice. Nick felt like stopping in the middle of the lab and scream at everyone to go check in their issues at the desk.

He wanted to work. He wanted to do his job, but no on else seemed to think he was capable yet.

Warrick was his constant companion. Nick couldn't help but wonder what or if Warrick said something to their supervisor's about his small panic attack. It really was no big deal to him. Actually he thought he handled it pretty well compared to the vomiting in the diner the previous time he experienced one. He knew Greg understood what it was like to have everyone watch your every move, waiting for you to fall. That was what he felt like Warrick was doing, waiting for him to fall. But he wasn't, going to. Not now, not after all this time and work.

He had tried to sneak a peek at Warrick's report to Gris before it was sent off. The last thing he wanted was to have his supervisors and team members start second guessing him because of a few damn fish tanks. He got through it just fine he thought. He recovered quick and finished his job. Why couldn't Warrick see it that way?

He had a moment the following week, where he thought it was going to change. They all scrambled to the scene. Two DBs. It looked like a husband and wife, at a very large and upper class estate in one of the better parts of Las Vegas. All hands on deck for this one. Finally, he would be back on a murder case, after almost two and half months.

The team had all gathered when he and Warrick showed up. Grissom barked out orders to his team. Some things never changed.

"Here's what we've got. Female and male DB's were found by the groundskeeper this afternoon. I've already been here for a while and got the walk through done. Both DB's had their throats slit, and were shot at close range. This is a big one guys, keep it quiet." Grissom instructed his team.

"David all ready released the bodies. We're scouting this as the primary crime scene. They were both killed outside, back in their garden area near the side of the house. It seems to be a very important spot for some reason. The garden is quite elaborate. So we'll focus on there to see if we can't find out why."

Catherine chimed in with the rest of the details that they had noticed on their earlier walkthrough. "The garden will be our main focus, this murderer was sending a message with it somehow. The wife was found in a wheel barrel in the garden area, but she was covered in her award winning Daffodils. Husband was found a few feet away near the wooden stakes holding up his tomato plants. This might be a personal vendetta against the couple."

"I've seen this house in Better Homes and Gardens." Sara chimed in.

Catherine nodded. "This couple has won numerous awards for their garden. This all seems too personal to leave them out here with their prizes otherwise. We are ruling out robbery as a motive or a random break in. Nothing was taken, no jewels, no artwork, or anything of value. This feels like revenge or a crime of passion."

"We are also assuming they this garden was a project that they themselves worked on diligently, something personal to them, or they wouldn't have been killed and lain out here. So guys, let get at it." Catherine looked back at Gil to hand out assignments.

Grissom scanned his eager Team.

"Sara, I want you working the perimeter of the garden. I want anything that looks out of the ordinary. This was a very carefully kept garden. I want any broken flowers or plants noted. Get footprints plastered and matched against all the groundskeeper or anyone else that had any reason to be here. This place was immaculately kept; nothing should be out of place. If something is, I want it noted."

"Got it." Sara picked up her case and started around the front gate. She put her gloves on and started her search for anything out of place.

"Warrick. Catherine and I want you to work the overall sketch of the scene. I want everything detailed and marked. Like I said nothing here should be out of place, so if it is, note it. Any rock, cigarette butt, lay out everything for us Warrick."

"I'm on it." Warrick went off to his delegated assignment as well, leaving Nick and Greg waiting for their turns. Catherine followed him.

"Cath and I are each going to take a body. I will take the husband, and Catherine is going to process the wife. I need a different kind of help from you two."

"Uh Gris, where does that leave me and Greg?" Nick questioned his boss. His discontent at the situation was apparent. He had the sneaking suspicion he was being delegated to rookie work.

"I want you two to go back to the Lab and hit the computers. We have absolutely no motives for these murders. I want you guys to check through phone, credit, and computers records. Also look for any expense accounts of gardening centers. Focus on any gardening or flower awards, contests they might have been entered in and won recently. Look who came in second, and maybe cross check how many of the same people were in the same flower shows. Look for anything that doesn't look right."

"You want us checking out flower shows? This is the biggest case in months and I'm on desk duty?" Nick didn't hide how upset he felt. It was his first murder since he got back and he was supposed to be at the Lab and search the computer and phone records.

"Yes, Nick, we need a connection to anything with this garden and these flowers. Maybe a rival got too upset from their constant winning. There might be a tie to some fellow competitors." Grissom explained. He wasn't in the mood to be second-guessed by one of his CSI's.

"Well, I'm going to go wait in the truck for you Nick. We'll get right on it, Grissom." Greg knew words might be exchanged between the two and he thought it would be best to just get out of the way. The last place he wanted to be was in the middle of a shouting match.

"Why am I not working the scene, Gris? You all have been handing me softballs since I got back. If I couldn't handle it. I wouldn't be here. I want to work this scene, Grissom." Nick didn't notice his voice rising or the incredulous stare of his supervisor.

He continued on, the anger he had been feeling bleeding into his tone. "Damnit! I've done my Lab time. And don't think I haven't noticed Warrick glued to my side ever since I got back doing ever B and E in the greater Las Vegas area. When are you guys gonna let me work a scene like a CSI?" He couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice.

"Nick, working the computers and on the motive is just as important as processing the scene. Without motive we don't have a case and you know that. Plus, I am your supervisor and do not owe you any explanations as to your assignment." Grissom stated his reasons, even if the didn't admit all of them to himself.

"No, what I know is that I have been at back for work for almost a month. I've only been in the field with Warrick, handling cases that a Level One would oversee."

Nick fixed his boss with a serious look, the stress he had been feeling pinching his features as he unloaded. "You guys are so scared to let me do any real work. That's your problem, not mine. I am willing to take that chance Gris, it's my job. " Nick had raised his voice loud enough to attract the attention of the other CSIs.

Nick stood there staring astounded at his supervisor. Maybe Warrick had told Grissom about the pet store incident. He couldn't understand any other reason why Gris wouldn't want him working the actual scene. "Don't you trust me either? Are you waiting for me to freak out also? Or are you waiting for me to fail also so you can keep me safe in the Lab?"

"Nick, you don't get it." Grissom said somewhat exasperated. "This is a garden, a fairly large one."

Nick just stared at his supervisor with a look of utter confusion. It was almost priceless.

Grissom exhaled slowly, then he spoke in a much quieter voice. "Who knows what kind of insects inhabit such a spacious botanical area. In fact, I have a pretty good idea. Pesticides or not. I just can't take the risk of you being in there." Grissom's voice was almost defeated in nature. This admittance almost too much.

"I can't yet. It's too soon for me Nicky, I can't take that risk with you." Grissom seemed almost fragile now. It was an obvious effort to let the other man know his reluctance.

Nick swallowed he was touched by the concern. He would have killed for such attention years ago from his mentor. But right now, it was the last thing he wanted.

"You aren't taking the risk. I'm trying to do my job, and you all are holding me back. Not for me, but for your benefit. I'm not...I'm not trapped underground anymore." Nick's last words were forced.

"I'm right here. That's also why I carry this just in case." Nick pulled out his now constant friend, his epi-pen . "I don't have the problem anymore," Nick cast a glare at his coworkers who were trying their best to work on the scene. "You all do."

With that, Nick stormed his way back to the truck attracting the attention of everyone at the scene. He hated seeing all his coworkers stare at him.

"Enough people, back to work." Grissom shouted to the rest of his team letting them know the show was over and the decision was his take make. He went over and started processing the body of the husband.

Greg was already sitting in the truck having heard most of the conversation between Nick and Grissom. How could he not? Unlike Nick's usual partner though, Greg was sitting in the passenger seat holding out the keys to his friend, who eagerly grabbed them. Nick started the truck and headed back towards the Lab.

Nick gripped the steering wheel so hard on the way back his knuckles were white His jaw was clenched so tight that the cords around his neck stood out. Greg thought it had to be painful to be that tense. Not a word was spoken between the two on the short drive back to the Lab. They both hopped out and shut their doors. Greg noticed Nick shut his with a little more force than necessary.

Their first words weren't spoken until they were settled into the evidence room pouring over computer printouts and phone records. Pictures of prize Daffodils taken at the last three recent flower shows the couple competed in were spread all over the table.

"Look Nick, I know this isn't where you want to be, stuck here in the Lab with the rookie looking over phone records. But at least it's a murder case again. This is the first homicide you've got to be back on since your return. And I know it's not where you want to be, but it's a start." Greg was once again trying to be the optimistic one, showing Nick the positive side of the situation.

"G, it isn't that at all. I can do my job. They won't let me. They don't think I'm ready." Nick got out of his chair and started pacing.

"They aren't ready to let go of me. Let my out of their sight. They can't take the chance that something might happen to me again."

Nick was obviously frustrated at his situation but who knew Greg could do nothing about it.

"Nick, remember what I told you that day at the Lake? I don't think you get it." Greg's voice got lower. "We thought we were watching you die. We couldn't help you... we watched you scream and in pain." Greg swallowed. "All we could do was...was grasp at straws."

Greg couldn't help the tremble in his voice at the horrible memories. "We care about you man, and we came so close to loosing you. Give us a little space and time. This wasn't just about you. I'm not saying you didn't suffer the most or take the most torture, but what we saw...all.. of it. I don't know if no one else will ever fully forget that."

"I'm sorry G, but I need to get back to my life, before that night. I want to be the same person you all saw me as before. I feel like no one wants me to be that person again. I have to be or I can't continue working here like this." Nick felt defeated in his admission.

"Nick, they will, we all will. But give us some time too. You're part of our family, even Grissom's. Even though he won't say it, he was scared too. Now let's do our job and show them all that we make the best team this crime lab has ever seen. I'll go get some fresh coffee while you get these papers in order." Greg hoped he was breaking through some of Nick's anger at his teammates. He wanted to show him they did mean well. They just didn't know how to express it.

"Yeah, ok man, ok. I'm sorry, I uh, didn't mean to unload on you. You are the one person who still treats me normally." Nick said sheepishly, almost embarrassed.

"Well, that what friends are for Nick, like I said, give them a little time. It was hell on them too. So, how bout some coffee and let's get at this mess of printouts?"

"Sounds good to me man, I'll be here waiting for you." Nick watched the newest CSI walk out the door. He thught about what he said, about what they all must have seen and went through that night. He knew it was difficult, but he had a life to get back to. Right now it started with this paperwork in front of him, and he would prove to them all he was still the same old Nick.

tbc..

Kristen's thanks:

anmani:

Thanks. I love Nick's fascination with animals, its so endearing, but as you said, its represents another unexpected trigger. Warrick has things to work out, we'll see as times go by what will happen from it. Thank you, I really think Warrick would be over protective about almost everything.

Ponchlives:

Nick needs a support system, but when those people are also in need of help, then everyone is going to have issues. You're right Nick needs his friends, but their constant hovering is only going to add stress to an all ready volatile and complicated situation.

new creation:

Wow, thank you. I hope the show does deal with some of these things, I want my focus still be crimes, but some continuity of Nicks' recovery needs to be in the background. It was too big not to be.

Designation:

Warrick's refusal to give up the keys are just small things he feels he has control of. Not even playing a simple game of chance speaks many volumes of all the crazy things in his head.

Bebob-

Thank you, glad you are liking what Shacky and I have written.

Katnits:

You hit the nail on the head, however, we will have to wait and see if the team will begin to get it together, because you are right, they are only to cause more problems then help Nick.

Groban.

tension. Its about tension between all of them!

Lemon grass-

Nice to see you back. I really liked writing the pet store scene. before the "incident": Nick would be so enamored being there. His true love of for nature and animals. Yep, Nick wants to face his demons and learn to work them out, brother Warrick means well, but...

CSIxMiss-

Shacky and I thank you for such nice praise. Glad you are enjoying this story.

Higherbeingfriendfan-

Thanks. The panic attack in the aquarium area was a challenge to write, I'm glad it came out emotional and real. That means a lot.