A New Addition
Pairing: Nick and Sara
Nick and Sara take their daughter to the Dallas Zoo.
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.
Abigail First Trip to Dallas, Part Two
Nick paid for admission to the Dallas for him and his wife, but Abigail got in for free. They entered and stopped over at a table to look at the map that Sara had taken while Nick dealt with admission.
"Do you remember the last time we were here?" Sara asked.
"Yup, we went there with some of our nieces and nephews," Nick smirked. "I remember some of them were misbehaving."
"I remember you weren't always on your best behavior," Sara chuckled.
"Sara, I am always on my best behavior," he gently insisted. "In fact, I promise to behave myself while I am here. When we are back at Stokes Manor will be another story."
"Hey Cowboy, I think we should wait a while to try for a second child," she smiled. "Let's not talk about it any further for the time being. We need to expand Abigail's mind and have some fun looking at the animals!"
They decided to visit the Children's Zoo first. Nick pushed Abigail's carriage as they walked towards a small area for children.
"When you are old enough," Nick said to Abigail. "We'll let you run around, but now you are stuck in this carriage. Mommy and I could hold you up so you could look at the wonderful creatures."
"Nick, we shouldn't look at the lions," Sara said. "She freaked out when she saw the one at the zoo in Vegas."
"Okay, we won't visit them," he smiled. "Maybe in a few years, she'll visit them. How about we see the lemurs, they are cute."
"We should see the birds, primates and lemurs," she said. "I just hope that they don't have a bug exhibition with the exception of butterflies and ladybugs. She doesn't need to see whatever Grissom has in his office here."
"I don't think we should take her to the Dallas Museum of Natural History," he said. "Especially, if we have to revisit that massive bug collection."
"Well, if Grissom wants to check out the bugs of Northern Texas," she sighed. "He's going to Dallas by himself to have a look. I don't want Abigail to fuss and cry in fright over something Grissom."
"If we decide to go to that museum," he winked at her. "We shall avoid that collection and look at the stuffed animals and I don't mean the cute little ones that Abigail will get for her birthday and Christmas. I mean the ones that some poor sucker going to Grissom's place will likely find floating around somewhere in the 'House of Creepy Crawling Critters'."
"Yeah, that man keeps some rather interesting company," she chuckled. "I kind of feel sorry for Catherine. She is marrying him next month, but I am sure Lindsey will have a field day with all that stuff."
"Catherine told me that they bought a new place," he smiled. "Grissom is bringing his bizarre menagerie from his old place to his office. I pity those who have to spend even one nanosecond in his office."
"Nicky, we spend plenty of time in his office," she pointed out. "We need to be pitied."
Sara was about to say something else, but Abigail started to scream and cry. Nick stopped pushing the carriage. They looked at her and Sara immediately picked her up, grabbed the diaper bag and went to the ladies' room. Nick sat on a bench waiting for them. Moments later, Sara and a giggly Abigail came out of the ladies' room. She gently placed the infant in her carriage.
"Will she be hungry soon?" Nick asked. "I don't know where you can go to nurse her with privacy. I know that you brought along a blanket to shield her from onlookers, but-"
"Nick, I fed her before we left Stokes Manor," Sara tried to reassure her husband. "If she does get hungry, I could find a safe out of the way spot and feed her there."
"Good idea!" he said. "Can we check out the children's zoo before she has a major fit? We also want to see the birds, lemurs and the primates. Then we have to get ready to go to Tom's place since he is having a barbeque dinner."
They went around the children's zoo stopping here and there to look at the animals. There were activities and exhibits that Nick and Sara wanted to take Abigail to see, but she was too young to participate and observe. She would have to wait a few years to do those fun things. They left that area to stop over to decide on what to see next, the primates, lemurs or the birds. It was decided to see the birds first since they felt Abigail should see colorful creatures and hear their various songs. When they entered the building that held the birds, Abigail made a happy squealing noise.
"Yeah, these are nature's musicians and singers," Nick said noting his daughter's happiness when she heard the many birdsongs. "Now let's explore the various birds!"
Sara giggled at what her husband said to their daughter.
"Abigail, when I was a kid," Nick said. "My parents used to take us to the zoo and I had often had a great time. As an elementary school kid, I would go on field trips with my class. My friends and I would make fun of the ugliest girl in our class and we tend to get into trouble for that."
"Nicky, let's just look and listen to these fascinating creatures," Sara smiled. "Maybe we could see a bird whose crest of feathers reminds us of Greg's spiky hairdo."
"I brought with me the camera for the occasion," he beamed. "If we see one, I'll photograph it and show it to our Greggo."
"I love how you think, Nick," she winked at him. "I also love you and Abigail!"
"I love you, too," he said. "Abigail also loves you!"
As they walked and pushed the baby carriage, they saw some really exotic looking birds. Nick and Sara admired and listened to the chirps, squawks and songs. They took photos. When Abigail looked at and listened to the birds, she made gurgling and giggling noises. She even stuck out her tiny tongue at a toucan and that was noticed by her mommy.
"Abigail, what did that toucan did to you to deserve your sticking your tongue at her?" Sara asked.
"Maybe she's trying to get her attention," Nick said. "Abigail, I don't think she can come to you. There is some plexi-glass or plastic between her and us. The zookeepers wouldn't be happy campers if Mommy and I let you crawl in there, my sweet little Munchkin."
"You'd get us banned for life from here," she added. "Daddy wouldn't like that one bit. The Dallas Zoo is his favorite. Sweetie, you don't want us to get thrown of the zoo or do you?"
The last bird they saw in the building was the one that reminded Nick and Sara of Greg Sanders. The couple was laughing at the messed up spiky looking crest. They heard Abigail's giggling and squealing noises. It seemed like she loved looking at that bird or it too reminded her of that goofy looking spiked haired CSI.
"Sara, do you want to see the primates first or the lemurs?" Nick asked.
"Let's go have a look at the primates now," Sara said. "Maybe we could see one that looks like Hodges."
"If we find one and take a picture of it," he smiled. "If we show that ass kisser that photo, he would do our bidding for some time. He'll watch Abigail if we tell him to do so. I know that he will stop bugging Grissom. I would rather see him pester his good buddy Ecklie!"
"Nicky, that is so mean," she protested.
"Sara, whose side are you on?" he asked with agitation in is voice.
"I love it!" she said.
They arrived at the primate enclosures looking at the orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and a few other species. Surely enough, there was a primate that came close to resembling Hodges. Sara immediately grabbed the camera and took a photo. Abigail waved at the primate babies as their mothers brought them close to the enclosure barriers. She was very giggly when the young had looked at her. Her parents looked at each other and smiled at the connection their infant made with the primates. Nick thought about the last time he and Sara were looking at the primates at the zoo. A few of their nephews were making faces at one of the species. He was happy that Abigail, at five and a half months, was far more civil than those cousins of hers.
"Wow, it looks like she made some friends," Sara said. "Even if they aren't human, she made a very sweet connection. I am sure that she'll carry that with her as she grows up."
"She's such sweet baby," Nick said. "How about we visit the lemurs now and maybe we could check out the gift shop."
"You've just reminded me," she said. "Next week is Alicia Miller's first birthday."
"Aren't the Millers the ones that used to avoid us like the plague when we first moved to the apartment?" he asked.
"Nick, you have no idea what the power of pregnancy does to some people," she said. "When I started showing, Casie noticed a pregnant neighbor and we became friends. Shortly after Abigail was born, she invited us to join a neighborhood good that provides support for new moms and interaction for babies, toddlers and small children."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" he asked.
"I didn't want you to think I am crazy," she said.
"You are so wrong, Sara," he shook his head. "I welcome the fact you and Abigail have new friends. I just wish you could let me in on it. I'd love to speak with Casie's husband."
"You will," she smiled. "He is forming a neighborhood group for new and not-so-new dads. You should check it out."
"I'll think it over," he smirked. "Speaking of shopping, don't we have to get Grissom and Catherine a wedding present?"
"Relax, Nick!" she hissed. "Catherine and Grissom have a wedding gift registry at Dillard's. We could go to any Dillard's across the country and purchase a present and they will get to them before the wedding. As memory serves me correctly, there are a few stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. How about we go there tomorrow and get something for them?"
"You've read my mind, Sara," he grinned.
Once they arrived at the lemur enclosure, they saw a few lemurs climbing up and down trees. Some were chasing each other around the enclosed area. Abigail pointed to one and looked up at her parents for an answer. She couldn't talk yet, but found a way to get her silent questions answered. She was quite a curious baby. Nick and Sara looked at each other and smiled. Immediately, they turned their attention to their daughter before she started fussing.
"That's a ring tailed lemur, Princess Abby," Nick said. "They're the cutest of all lemurs. Maybe when you are old enough to watch PG-13 movies, we'll show you this funny movie called 'Fierce Creatures'. It's the first DVD your mommy and I rented when we first started dating. The lemur in that movie was priceless."
"You could tell that your daddy loves the lemurs," Sara beamed. "You should also know that he loves birds and watching the Discovery Channel."
"Hey, I love watching quite a few other channels," he replied.
"I know you do," she smirked. "However, I love you anyway!"
"I love you, too," he grinned. "We also love Abigail! She would be jealous if we don't tell her we love her."
"We can't have a jealous baby," she chuckled. "Can we?"
Half an hour later, they were at the zoo gift shop. Sara bought a cute gift that was also safe for a one year girl to play with. Casie didn't have to worry about a sudden trip to Desert Palm Hospital. They also bought a few things, including something for Abigail. After they finished with their purchases, they left the shop. Nick got on his cell phone to call Kathleen and asked her to come get them. Another hour later, they were on their way back to Stokes Manor discussing with her their adventure at the zoo.
TBC