A New Addition
Pairing: Nick and Sara
The team is at McCarran to see Cynthia Stokes off.
Spoiler: There is a hint of Overload
Disclaimer: I don't own Nick, Sara or any other CSI character. I do own Nick and Sara's families and any other non-CSI character.
Cynthia Leaves Vegas
Nick was holding Abigail while Sara waited for their colleagues to arrive. Cynthia, along with her luggage, was in line waiting to be checked in and get her boarding pass. Abigail was looking around the area of the airport with curiosity. It was her first time in an airport and the sights were strange. Suddenly, she started fussing and crying.
"Sara, I think she needs to be changed," Nick said gingerly handing her over to Sara. "Don't worry, I will still be here when you return. I think I see Grissom, Catherine and Lindsey coming. You take care of our daughter."
Sara left to go to the nearest ladies' room to change Abigail. She was lucky not to run into Catherine, Lindsey or Grissom on the way. Abigail was crying louder telling her mother to hurry up or she will start screaming at her loudest from diaper rash. Sara wished she could make the two and a half month old infant understand that she is trying to find a bathroom that was nearby the tiny crowd forming around Nick. When she finally found one that would allow her to change Abigail, she went in and unlatched the changing tray with one hand. She laid her daughter on the tray and proceeded with the diaper change.
"She is so beautiful," a woman said when she saw the infant after entering the bathroom.
"Thank you," Sara smiled.
"How old is she?" the woman inquired.
"She's two and a half months old," Sara replied as she completed the diaper change.
"She's very precious," the woman smiled.
"Thanks," Sara said as she washed her hands and keeping an eye on her daughter.
After she replaced Abigail's pastel purple one piece, she gingerly lifted her and pushed the tray back in its upright position. She left the bathroom carrying a very happy baby in her arms and a diaper bag on her shoulder. When she rejoined Nick, Cynthia had already checked in and was standing with Nick and a few other people. She immediately approached the group.
"How's my little Munchkin?" Nick asked taking Abigail off of Sara's arms and ignoring Warrick rolling his eyes. "I heard her crying loudly."
"Nick, she's much better now," Sara said. "She really needed a diaper change. In fact, she's quite content."
"I'm glad," Cynthia said. "Now can we find someplace decent to eat in this airport?" I am not leaving Vegas without having a meal with my son, daughter-in-law and their colleagues. Of course, I forgot all about my newest granddaughter. Let's find a place nearest the security area I have to go through. Don't worry, we have plenty of time before I have to go to my gate. I also want to spend a few minutes relaxing and meditating at the airline's club before they call board for first class passengers."
"Leave it to my mom to upgrade her ticket to first class," Nick chuckled. "Come on guys, let's grab a bite to eat. I hope wherever we are eating has a highchair for Abigail and vegetarian options for Sara. I especially don't want to get the Wrath of Sara in front of my cousin Janine when we get home."
"Nick, haven't you learned anything from knowing, dating, being engaged to and marrying Sara?" Warrick asked. "Most restaurants offer vegetarian options and if they don't some can be pretty accommodating. Do you remember when we went to that new Brazilian restaurant?"
"Yeah, I remember that you called ahead and alerted them about a vegetarian in our party," Nick beamed. "Sara got a tasty vegetarian appetizer and entrée and now she wants to go for Brazilian once every two weeks."
"Nicky, things turned out fine in the end," Warrick smiled.
When they finally found a restaurant that offered quite a few vegetarian options, they were seated. Nick managed to get a highchair for Abigail. Everyone ordered some sort of pasta dish and a side order of house salad with the dressing of their choice as well as nonalcoholic beverages. Their meal was accompanied by conversation, jokes, laughter and sharing memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas with the entire Stokes clan in Vegas. Catherine still couldn't get over hosting a Texas Barbeque themed outdoor Christmas party. Nick was proud that he made some barbeque pizzas and got his dad hooked on them. Greg remembered flirting with Zoë during Thanksgiving and Christmas, making Nick into an overprotective uncle. Sara thanked everyone for making Abigail's very first Thanksgiving and Christmas special.
They decided against having dessert at the restaurant and Cynthia paid the check and gave a generous tip despite her son's insistence. Instead, they went for coffee and pastries at Starbucks. Nick paid for the drinks and treats with his credit card since his mother told him he could pay for Starbucks after he nearly whined about wanting to pay for lunch.
With the coffee and pastries, conversation had resumed. Abigail was in her carriage looking at her father sipping his coffee and eating a chocolate chunk cookie. She fussed to get his attention. Nick immediately looked at her and she pointed to the piece of cookie he was about to eat. He gently waved his index finger as to tell her she couldn't have any yet. She started fussing a little louder and began to cry a little. Nick gingerly lifted her from the carriage, got up from his chair still cradling his daughter and politely excused himself. Sara saw and heard what was happening, politely excused herself, got up and followed Nick. She managed to catch up with him as he walked with their daughter around the area of the airport.
"Nick, what's the matter with Abigail?" Sara asked with concern in her voice.
"She saw me eating my cookie," Nick said. "She wanted a piece of it, but I didn't let her."
"Abigail is only two and half months old," Sara shook her head. "She doesn't have teeth yet. Nick, I am still nursing her. She can't have any cookies until she is old enough and has her first set of teeth."
"Try telling her that," Nick chuckled. "I doubt she knows she isn't ready for that food. "
"Let's just walk around until she calms down a little," Sara sighed.
The young family walked around where the shops and other eateries were. Abigail was looking around in curiosity. In her mind, she wondered what all those places were and what kids, teenagers and adults did in them. She calmed down considerably and made some happy gurgling noises.
"I guess she was really bored," Nick said. "I think she wanted a piece of my cookie to play with as if it was a toy."
"How does an infant get bored?" Sara asked incredulously. "I have been a mother for two and a half months now. I have never seen her get bored."
"I have been a father for as long as you have been a mother," Nick said. "However, I have been an uncle for nearly 23 of my 34 years. I have seen some of my nieces and nephews get bored at time when they were babies. They need to be amused and stimulated when they are awake. You're an aunt. Have you seen your niece and nephew bored as infants?"
"My sister-in-law wouldn't let me get anywhere near those two monsters when they were babies," Sara pointed out. "Do you remember my telling you this when we first started dating?"
"I remember that you didn't have much experience with babies until we had our own," Nick sighed. "Let me give this scenario in a nutshell. Abigail was in her carriage and she got bored. She saw a piece of cookie I was about to eat and started fussing. I thought she wanted to eat it somehow so I wave my index finger to tell her she couldn't have it. She started fussing louder and was about cry. That prompted me to pick her up and take her for a walk around this shopping area. You joined us for this walk. As we walked, it dawned on me that she didn't want to eat that piece of cookie, she wanted to play with it."
"Thank you, Dr. Nicholas Freud," Sara said. "I think she is better, so let's rejoin the group before your mom goes to the lounge before her boarding call. Our coffee is going to get cold. Also, aren't you concerned that Greg might steal the rest of your cookie?"
"I'll kick that punk's ass," Nick hissed.
When they returned to the tables, the group was still seated and talking. They acknowledged the return of Nick, Sara and Abigail. Nick gently put Abigail back in her carriage. He inspected what was left of his cookie and saw it was how he left it. He shot Greg a 'you are so lucky' look, the youngest CSI couldn't understand what happened. Sara explained to the rest of the group what happened with Abigail. Catherine and Cynthia gave Sara and Nick sympathetic smiles. Cynthia wanted to share some stories about Nick when he was a baby, but she decided against it since she didn't want to embarrass him. Once everyone was finished, they cleared off the tables, put them back the way they found them and threw out the garbage.
"Well, I have to get going," Cynthia said as she looked at her watch.
"Mom, stay with us for a few more minutes," Nick insisted.
"Nicky, they are going to start a boarding call for my flight in twenty minutes," she said. "After I go through security, I want to spend a few minutes at the airline's club relaxing and making a few phone calls."
"I'm going to miss you," Nick said as he and his mom hugged.
"I'm going to miss you, too," Cynthia said. "However, you, Sara and Abigail are coming to Dallas in three months."
"Cynthia, thank you for being there for Nick and me," Sara said. "Especially, when I went into labor with Abigail. We appreciate your help and advice on our transition to parenthood."
"I'm glad that I was able to help," Cynthia said hugging her daughter-in-law.
She then approached the baby carriage and saw Abigail half asleep.
"Abigail Melanie, be a good little girl for your mommy and daddy," Cynthia cooed to her granddaughter and kissed her in the forehead. "In three months, you are coming with them to Dallas for a few days. Stay out of trouble!"
Cynthia then proceeded with exchanging hugs and kisses with the rest of the group starting with her granddaughter's godfather Warrick. She also gave everyone her business card that included her personal email address. In return, she got their business card. When she got to Catherine, she took her aside so nobody else in the group could eavesdrop.
"What is it you want to tell me?" Catherine asked. "Is there something that I should know, but not the others?"
"I just want to thank you for getting Nick to open up a little," Cynthia said in a low voice, but enough for Catherine to hear.
"Open up about what?" Catherine asked with confusion.
"I am talking about the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of that last minute babysitter when he was nine," Cynthia whispered.
"Now I know what you are taking about," Catherine whispered. "We were on a case that really affected him. I threatened to take him off the case. I could tell he was in emotional pain and wanted to know what was eating him up. He told me the brief version. Did he finally tell you what happened? I know he told Sara when they first started dating."
"Yes, it was when he wanted his favorite aunt to move to Vegas to help take care of Abigail while he and Sara were at work," Cynthia said. "I was livid at the teenage girl who did that to Nick, but I was quite disappointed in him for waiting so long to tell me. He is one brave man!"
"Yeah, he definitely is," Catherine agreed. "Cynthia, I know you wanted to spend some time at lounge before you board your plane, so I don't want take up anymore of your time."
"Oh, nonsense!" Cynthia hissed. "I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes. I still have a little time to relax. Here is my business card so you can contact me. I already gave your colleagues each one and they gave me theirs."
"Thank you," Catherine said. "Here's mine to add to your collection. After I marry Grissom, I am not sure if we are going to share an email address or continue to have our own individual ones."
"Catherine, don't worry about it," Cynthia said. "You'll let me know when you've crossed that bridge. Say hello to Lindsey for me when you see her."
"I will," Catherine said.
The two women exchanged hugs as if they were longtime friends that haven't seen each other in years. A minute later, Cynthia prepared her ID and boarding pass to go through security. She turned around and waved goodbye to the group and they waved back. They stood still watching Cynthia successfully go through the metal detector and her carry on bag and purse went through X-Ray. When they saw she was on her way to the lounge, they started to leave the airport.
"Come on, we first have to go to Nick and Sara's place," Warrick said. "We have to help move Janine's boxes out of there and into that storage facility she reserved before arriving in Vegas."
Nick chuckled at the thought that his cousin shipping some of her things to his place. He was just glad that he and Sara could finally reclaim some living space.
TBC