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Warrick and Catherine drove in silence as they neared their assigned crime scene. After Warrick's surprise marriage their relationship, both professional and personal, had been a little strained and awkward.

Warrick had cornered Catherine one day and Catherine had been honest with him. Since then nothing had been quite the same.

"So do you know what Nick has planned for his vacation?" Catherine asked to break the silence.

"You had to go and remind me," he said jokingly. "I think he plans on just resting and getting a few things done around the house."

Catherine nodded in understanding; "Yea I'm taking Lindsey to Colorado for some skiing in November. I can't wait. Nothing but snow and hot chocolate for us."

"I hear ya."

The black SUV pulled into the parking lot of the Little Vegas Miniature Golf Course. As usual there was a police car present. The two CSIs exited their vehicle as the coroner's van pulled up. Both CSIs looked over to see Dave the assistant coroner hop out of the van.

"Hey guys."

"Hey David…I thought you were over with Grissom handling another DB?" Catherine said.

"Nope it was a prank. There was no body there. It was a mannequin and it looked real. Talk about a waste of time. Grissom wasn't too happy about it."

"Yea well I can imagine. I would think that people would have better things to do then to mess with us." Warrick said.

During the conversation each of them had retrieved their various kits and such and headed into the golf course.

"You said that you've been here before Catherine."

"Yep…I've been here about two or three times with Lindsey. It's a nice little course. Not to difficult or anything and pretty inexpensive." She said looking around. " I wonder where our detective is?"

"Maybe he's just running behind...I don't see any other cars around here."

The three of them made there way into the course. Catherine and Warrick took the lead in. They would take a few quick shots of the body before Dave went in to check it. The body was facedown on the putting green of the third hole. There appeared to be no blood and no signs of a struggle. One lone officer walked up to them trying really hard not to look at the body, the body that the CSIs were already eyeing.

"Good evening officer…I'm Catherine Willows, this is Warrick Brown we are with the Crime Lab and this is Dave Phillips with the coroner's office."

"I'm glad you guys are here, I was starting to get a little spooked." The young officer said.

"If I may ask where's the detective assigned to this case?" Catherine asked.

"He's right here."

They all turned around to see Detective Jim Brass standing there.

"Sorry I'm late, but I've been running around town all night."

Catherine and Warrick glanced at each other.

"Why what's going on Jim?" Catherine asked.

Brass walked up to the group, "It seems we have a prankster in our midst. Someone is leaving mannequins around and calling it in as a dead body. I have already been to two this evening and have been informed by Vartann that he just left one with Grissom. So do we have a live one here or not?"

The four of them turned to look at the young officer.

"Look I know how you guys work. I didn't touch a thing including the body. I stayed way clear of it."

"Well let me take a look at it." Dave said as he walked over to the body bending down. The CSIs and detective watched as the assistant coroner examined the body. He stood up and looked at them.

"It's another mannequin."

"Well I don't know about you, but I don't think this is very funny. This person or persons are keeping us from doing our jobs. If I ever get my hands on them I'll…" Brass didn't finish the sentence.

Catherine looked at Brass, "You said that you've had two and Vartann has had one, now this one that makes four. O.K. we are going to treat this like a real crime scene. If these guys want to play with us then they are going to regret it. Warrick I want you to start checking around the location see if you can find anything…shoe prints, cigarette butts…you know the drill. I'm going to start taking pictures. When you are done we are going to take the mannequin back to the lab and see what we can learn about him."

"Yea well I'm going to call dispatch and see if I can get my hands on those 911 tapes. Hopefully we'll get lucky and get a number or some kind of lead from them. I follow up with you guys later." Brass turned around and spoke directly to the officer. "Stay here with them until they leave. Do not let them out of your sight."

Catherine and Warrick looked at each other when Brass said that. It was obvious that Brass still wasn't over Nick's abduction and wanted to reiterate the fact that it was the officer's job to watch over them, a fact that Catherine and Warrick didn't mind one bit.

"Yes sir."

Brass took one more look at the mannequin that was now face up with a silly smile on his face, shook his head with disgust, walked over to his car, got in and drove off.

Dave looked at the CSIs, "Well it looks like my work here is done. This sure is turning out to be a busy night even without the bodies. See you guys later."

"Bye David we'll see you back at the lab."

He picked up his gear and headed back to his van. Though he didn't like to be put out he was happy that there wasn't a body. At least that was one less family that would have to be notified.

The two CSIs went through the golf course with a fine toothcomb. They were able to find a few things, some shoeprints and a cigarette butt. Their main piece of evidence however, still wasn't talking. They packed the mannequin into the back of Warrick's SUV and headed back to the lab.

"What do you think Grissom is going to say about all this?" Warrick asked Catherine.

"I'm sure that he will say that the lab's time is valuable and that this will go to the back of the heap if we get any real crimes. I only hope that this person doesn't graduate to real bodies." Catherine replied back.

"I hear you."

"When we get back to the lab providing there's nothing pressing. I want to find out more about the other locations. I want to talk to the owner of the golf course we just left to find out if anyone had a key to get in. I can't imagine that it would have been easy to carry that mannequin out here and I'm betting that there is more than one person involved."

"Is that your woman's intuition talking?"

"No it's just that I had to help you carry the mannequin and you are in shipshape condition my friend. So if you needed help then I would imagine our little jokesters needed help as well."

"You got a point there."

"Yep that's why I get paid the big bucks." She responded back.

"Really?"

"No not really, but it's nice to say every once in awhile."

Nick and Sara had finally arrived back at the lab. Sara parked Nick's truck as close to the door as she could get so he wouldn't have to walk to far.

"How are you feeling? Is the pain getting any worse?" she asked as she came around to help him out.

"The pain is about the same." He said getting out of the truck.

Sara grabbed his arm and started to help him into the lab.

"Sara remember you are keeping a secret if I walk in there with you holding onto me like that, well people are going to start suspecting something." He said to her.

"I'm sorry Nick I'm just concerned about you. Are you sure that you don't just want to go to the hospital?"

"Look Sara, I realize that I'm in a lot of pain here. I have an hour let of shift. I'm going to go over to Grissom's office to see if he will cut me loose, if he does then I will go straight to the hospital. If he doesn't then I will tell him about my pain, and he'll make me go to the hospital."

"Well isn't the whole point of this you going to the hospital. Who cares how Grissom finds out?" Sara replied.

"I guess I'm not making myself clear. Look all of my injuries and hospitalizations have happened while I've been working. I don't want them to start thinking of me as a hazard."

"Nick none of that stuff was your fault."

"I know that Sara, but let's just say that I'm stubborn. Look we can argue about his all day if you want, but the faster we get in there, the faster he may let me leave."

"OK. OK. Fine, but I'm walking behind you." She said.

"Why? Do you want to check out my rear or something?" Nick asked.

"Geez Nick get your mind out of the gutter, I only want to be behind you in case you fall, but since you mentioned I'm going to have to see what got Mr. Jones all riled up."

"Ha. Ha. You aren't really…"

"Nice very nice. All these years and I never really noticed. All those times you were bent over at those crime scenes, it's a good thing it was dark." She snorted.

"Did you just snort?" Nick asked.

"Nope all that pain must me affecting your hearing." She replied back. "Come on Mr. Stubborn let's get you over to Grissom's office. I will stay out in the hall while you talk to him."

"Thanks Sara…. You weren't really checking out my butt were you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." She said smirking.

The two CSIs made there way over to Grissom's office, he was sitting at his desk concentrating on the memo in front of him. Nick looked at Sara who mouthed 'Good Luck' to him. Nick took a deep breath and walked in as normal as he could. Grissom looked up.

"Hey Nick finished with you B & E already?"

"Uh yea, turned out that the son of the owner took the car for a joyride. He was bringing the car back when we were leaving. The owner didn't want to press charges."

"Well that's easy enough. Is Sara going to close the case then?"

"Yea she said that she would. What's going on with your DB?"

"It wasn't a DB it was a mannequin someone's idea of a joke." Grissom looked at his watch. "Look Nicky there's an hour left of shift we've got nothing pressing why don't you go ahead and take off."

Nick pepped up when he said that, "Really…thanks. I think I will. I'll see you guys in nine days. Thanks again!"

"Hey Nicky…have a nice vacation."

Nick turned and left the office. Sara was still in the hallway waiting for him to exit. As he came out of Grissom's office she turned to him with questioning eyes.

"Well…what did he say? Is he going to let you leave early?"

"Yes…I didn't have to say one word to him. He just told me to go."

"Good let's get you to the locker room then you are going to the hospital."

Nick and Sara walked down the hallway and had just gotten to the door of the DNA lab when Catherine and Warrick chose that moment to walk in with the mannequin, they slowly made there way towards them. Nick couldn't resist himself. He poked his head into the DNA Lab where Greg was hard at work.

"Hey Greg…looks like Catherine and Warrick have a date for you. Check it out."

Greg perked up when Nick said that. It was Greg's personality to try to be a ladies man, but he always failed quite miserably. He jumped up to get a quick look and ran to the door.

"What do we have a blond, brunette or redhead?" he said out loud.

Nick and Sara could resist laughing at Greg's face when he saw the mannequin.

"Nick man you are so cruel." He said with a smile.

"Sorry Greggo, I had to get one more in before I left. Speaking of which I'm out of here."

Warrick and Catherine just walked up when they heard Nick say that he was out of there.

"What leaving so soon?" Warrick asked.

"You know it. Grissom said it was slow so he's letting me head out early."

"Man…"

"Hey no complaining or I'm going to tell Tina about the other man in your life." He said grinning, looking down at the mannequin

"Speaking of men in people's lives…" Sara piped up.

"Well look at the time I guess I should be going. I'll see you guys in nine days. If you'll excuse us for a second I need to square away a few things with Sara." He grabbed her arm and yanked her into the locker room.

"What was that all about?" Catherine asked.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Warrick replied with a sinister grin. "Let's get this dummy back to the lab."

"I'm with you."

Sara stumbled as she was pulled into the locker room.

"Nick what the hell."

"You were going to tell them." He said.

"Hey you started it."

"OK. I started it, but please don't say anything. I'll never hear the end of it."

"I can't make any promises Nick. You know how Warrick is. Once he corners you then look out."

"Yea, yea I guess your right but don't offer any information. Only if they specifically ask." He said removing his holster and putting it in his locker.

He grabbed his gym bag from the locker and went through it. He pulled out a CD player and made sure it was working. He used it sometimes when he had to concentrate. The music helped him. He figured he could use it at the hospital. There was no telling how long he'd have to wait before he was seen. He threw a few more things into the bag. Shut his locker and looked at Sara.

"I'll give you a call as soon as I learn anything, but it may be a few hours. So don't panic. OK?"

"OK. already! Now will you please leave?"

"I'm gone."

Nick walked slowly out of the lab and got into his truck. He didn't know Sara was watching him. He started his truck and pulled out of the parking lot towards the hospital. About five minutes later Nick pulled into the parking lot of the emergency room. He parked his truck grabbed his gym bag and walked in.

He was surprised when he walked in that the Emergency room was just about empty. He had timed it well. He walked up to the admission area where an older woman sat. She had her white hair pulled back in a tight bun. She wore black rimmed glasses with a silver chain a long side them so they could hang from her neck. She looked up at her new arrival.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Yes. I need to see a doctor."

"And what seems to be the problem Mr.?"

"Stokes."

"Mr. Stokes."

"I'm not really sure, but I'm having a lot of pain in my right side. The pain has increased since this evening and it seems to be getting worse."

"OK. Mr. Stokes I'm going to need you to fill out some forms, then we'll get you in to see the doctor."

Nick filled out his forms and was asked to go sit in the waiting area until he was called. He was really starting to get uncomfortable when his name was finally called. After he had been put through the ringer with various tests a doctor finally came into his room.

"Mr. Stokes, I'm Dr. Grossman. I've looked over your test results and it looks like you have acute appendicitis."

Gee are any of you surprised? Hee hee...Well I hoped you liked the chapter. Now the story is going to get more interesting. Please review, review and review. See ya next chapter. Take care!