CarlyBabes1234 – A kid huh? Well read down and you'll see if she has! Thanks for reviewing.
punkrocker269 – Thanks for reviewing! I'm trying to find the right place for Greg and I haven't found it quite yet but don't worry – before the end he will be in it!
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Well this is the chapter where it all unfolds! Enjoy reading…
Chapter 8Katie nervously fiddled with the loose strands of hair framing her face, pushing them out of the way. She re-checked her make-up in the hall mirror one last time and said goodbye to the person watching the TV in her family room. She opened the door to see Nick walking up the path of her house, holding a bunch of white roses. She quickly pulled the front door to, and a quick glance at her house to make sure everything was alright, before walking up to meet her date.
"Wow, you look fantastic." She was wearing a strapless, black dress, with her hair tied up and a small black jacket covering her shoulders.
"You're not so bad yourself," she replied, looking Nick up and down to see him dressed in an open-collar shirt, black trousers and jacket. "Are these for me?" she asked, referring to the flowers.
"Don't let anyone ever tell you I treat a woman bad," he winked and handed her the flowers. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, so where are you taking me then?"
Nick led her to the passenger door of his vehicle and opened it for her, "Hmmm… well you'll just have to wait and see."
Nick took Katie to a well-known restaurant, 'The Highview', where he had reserved a very private table, which was lit by candlelight.
"This is so nice, how did you manage to book this at such short notice?" she asked, as she sat down and started reading the menu.
"I helped the manager with a problem." He glanced round to make sure no one was listening and leaned towards Katie, "A hooker in a motel room scammed him. Suffice to say he was relieved when I brought back his credit cards… and wedding ring."
Katie's eyes widened and she laughed, "No!"
"I'm telling the truth, scout's honour!" He looked at her closely as she studied the menu, "You know I don't think I have ever seen you laugh like that before. You always look so sad," Nick said.
"Sad? I'm fine," she tried to reassure him.
" 'I'm fine' seems to be your motto. Please do not say that because I know it's not true. But I'm not going to pressure you. I'll let this lie for now." Nick gave her one last look before the conversation turned to a lighter tone. "So have you finally settled in at the Las Vegas crime lab?"
"Yeah, I think I finally have."
"Do you miss California?" he asked.
She sighed, "Sometimes, I mean some of the cases were so straightforward there. Man gets angry, kills someone. Or that old motive, revenge. Here people seem to be that slightly more sadistic. But it keeps me on my toes."
"So what's the weirdest case out there?"
"Well, I don't know about the weirdest case but I certainly know what the funniest one was. There was this guy who's girlfriend robbed him. They had only known each other a few months and one day she ripped off his whole house - stereo, TV, jewellery, everything. But she didn't just rob him. She stripped him down and had handcuffed him to the balcony. He had to yell to next room to call someone. When I walked in to look at the scene I did not know where to look!" She started to blush and laugh at the thought of it, which caused Nick to burst out laughing. "I swear, I didn't know who was more embarrassed!"
"I can imagine."
Throughout the rest of the conversation and the meal the two had obviously found a connection and could not stop talking. The two sat there for hours and eventually had to be interrupted by the owner, Brad.
"I'm sorry to bother you but we're sort of closing," Brad said, as he stood at the table of the dining couple.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess we lost track of time," Katie said, finishing her drink and standing up.
"Why don't I settle the bill and I'll meet you outside?" Nick said. Katie nodded, smiled at Brad and headed in the direction of the exit.
"She's a keeper," Brad watched Katie leave. He saw Nick reach for his credit card, "No, no, the meal's on me. Call it a thank you for you-know-what," he said, winking at Nick.
Nick decided to take Katie for a ride of the big city and bright lights, wanting to spend as much time with her as possible. Discussions soon turned to families.
"So are your family still in Texas?" Katie asked.
"Yeah, my mom and dad live in Dallas while my two brothers own a ranch just outside of the city."
"That must be nice for them. Do you miss them?"
"Yeah, it can get lonely sometimes but they say Vegas never sleeps so there is always something to do here. What about you? Your family still round here?"
"Well, I'm an only child… and my mom died when I was in university."
"How did it happen?"
"She was driving and a joy-riding teenager drove straight into the front of her. She died instantly. That's actually part of the reason why I wanted to take a job as a CSI – to find what happens to people. There were so many questions that I wanted answering, technical ones about how it happened. At least now I can give clarity to the people who lose their family."
Nick was silent for a few moments until he pulled up outside her house. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I've come to terms with her death a while ago."
"What about your dad?"
At the mention of her father, Katie was silent. "I've… I've got to go. Thank you for this evening." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car and walked hastily up the front path. Nick, confused by her sudden behaviour, followed her.
"Katie, wait. What's wrong? Is it something I said?" Katie ignored Nick's voice and carried on walking up the path so Nick grabbed her and spun her round to face him. He could see he had hit a nerve, "What are you hiding from me?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"God, stop saying you are fine. You are not fine!" Katie was taken aback by his sudden outburst. "Look, I'm sorry but you need to tell me what is wrong."
"I just… It's complicated."
"Then uncomplicate it. Just tell me. Is it something to do with your dad?"
She looked up and nodded.
"What? Is he alright? Is he dead?"
"No."
"He's not violent towards you, is he?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
Katie looked at her hands, "If I tell you what it is you have to promise not to tell a soul about this. I'm serious, not Warrick, Grissom, Catherine or Sara."
"I promise."
"My dad isn't dead but he is ill. He has Alzheimer's disease." Nick stood silently, "I look after him." Nick didn't know what to say. "Soon after my mom died he started being forgetful and moody, and we just thought that wasn't dealing with her death very well. But he was soon diagnosed with the disease. He can't look after himself so he lives with me. That's why I moved back from California to Vegas to be with him. I didn't want the job at Vegas but I needed to be near him."
Nick was speechless, "I don't know what to say."
"Maybe now you will understand why I am so tired. When I'm not working I'm looking after him. It's a full-time job in itself."
"I'm sorry how I reacted before. I shouldn't have pushed you," he said.
"You know, it feels good to tell someone," she smiled. "I better get inside. I promised him I wouldn't be long, he should go to bed soon. Thanks for not freaking out."
"No problem. Well I better get off then," Nick started to walk back to his car.
Katie waited a moment, deciding whether she should say what she wanted to. She decided to do so, "Nick, um… my dad usually doesn't like new people coming to the house but I was wondering if you would like to come in and meet him."
He smiled, "That would be great. If you are sure though, I don't want to upset him."
She looked at Nick and then at her house before smiling, "I'm sure."
Well that's her secret – no kid I'm afraid! Hope it was worth the wait….
Chapter 9 is up soon! Thanks for reading and reviewing…