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Sobs and tears flowing was all he could hear from outside her locked door. He turned the knob again and again, and knocked gently, calling her name, but she just kept on crying.

"Mally, come on. Open up. Let's talk about it." He encouraged her, but he was getting a little irritated after a few minutes. Sometimes Mally could be so stubborn.

"Mal. It's dad. Open up."

"Just go!" She finally yelled across the room. Mally was curled up on her bed with her favorite teddy bear. She'd been willing her father to just go away, but he kept relenting. Mally knew he'd never leave her in tears.

"I'm not leaving, Mal, until you open this door."

"Go play catch with them, dad! They really like it!"

Nick let out an unbelievable sigh, shocked that she had actually taken their little game to heart. He knew it had always been their thing, but there were two new kids in the house now. They deserved time with him just like she did.

"Is that what this is about? You're jealous of three year olds?"

Silence on the other side of the door, and then angry steps. Mally angrily unlocked the door and stormed back to her bed. Nick took a deep breath before opening the door. Seeing her curled up in the fetal position crying on her bed broke his heart, so he pulled up her desk chair to the side of her bed.

Instead of talking to him herself up front, Mally had a tendency to misbehave when she was really upset. Her outburst in the backyard and just now told Nick that she wasn't happy, and it was his job to figure out why. It was always more than the immediate problem. She didn't like sharing him. Yes, she was jealous of three year olds.

"Mal, you were an only child for fourteen years, and I know it's hard to let Bailey and Aidan into your routines, but they're a part of this family now as much as you are. They want to spend time with me too."

"They don't have to play catch." She spat out angrily, still facing away from him. Nick reached out his hand and rubbed her shoulder gently.

"They can't play baseball, because you do?" Nick reasoned with her, trying to make her realize how unfair she was being.

"They can play, just not with you and me." Mally told him. Nobody touched her time with her dad, not even her siblings. She wasn't ashamed to admit she was a daddy's girl. Mally had to be, because that was all she had growing up. She treasured her time with Nick.

"I know that was a little abrupt, asking them to join, but I thought it would cheer you up to help teach them. Obviously, I was wrong." He was trying to guilt-trip her and she knew it.

"Well, I'd rather not." She told him bluntly. Mally wasn't in the mood to feel guilty and was dead set on not getting it from her father.

"Okay, suit yourself." He said, getting up. Nick leaned down and kissed her cheek, giving her shoulder a pat. "I'll be outside cheering up Aidan. We'll call you down for dinner."

Nick left the room, hoping he had gotten through to her. She hated to be guilt-tripped, but it always worked like a charm. Nick was counting on the fact that he'd raised her right, and would come back to play with her siblings.

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About half an hour later, Nick started dinner. He decided to make some sort of casserole, throwing together a bunch of noodles, sauces, and ground beef. Mally was still up in her room when Sara walked in the door. The twins were still outside happily playing. Aidan seemed to have gotten over his shock of Mally running off. He was sensitive, but pretty resilient.

"Hey, baby." Nick greeted her, stirring the ground beef in a saucepan. Sara sighed and put down her workbag, walking over to Nick and giving him a kiss. "How was your day?"

"Uhhh!" She sighed as she took a seat on a stool. It had been long and hard to say the least. "Double homicide, rape, and a missing woman. I am so glad to be home." Sara admitted. Her job made her love her family that much more, because they were her escape. "How are the spawn?"

"The twins are great. They're outside." He threw a towel over his shoulder as he started chopping up vegetables for salad. "Mal's not doing too well again." Nick sadly reported.

"What happened this time?"

"Well, first she brought home a note from a science teacher, saying she was getting a D."

"She has a D now? Are you going to ground her?"

"No, no, no. That wouldn't help at all. The poor girl's trying, that's all I can ask.

"But how can she try and still be getting a D?" Sara wondered, popping a piece of carrot in her mouth.

"Well, not everyone's Harvard material like you, Mrs. Stokes."

"Is that what you think of me?" A voice from the corner suddenly yelled. Nick and Sara both twisted to see Mally standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, and tears in her eyes. She'd come down to go play with the twins, and had stumbled upon her parents' conversation. "You think I'm dumb, dad?"

Nick looked shock and apologetic, knowing what he said didn't come out right.

"Mal, that's not what I meant." Nick wiped his hands on the towel and made his way closer to his daughter, who looked pretty pissed.

"Then what did you mean?"

"Hardly anyone is great at everything, Mal. You're worrying too much about school."

"Then why don't you go adopt Natalie? She's perfect! Or better yet, just ignore me totally and focus on bringing up Aidan and Bailey right. All the mistakes you made with me, you won't have to make with them! And their mother went to Harvard, maybe they'll fulfill your dream!"

"Mally, go to your room." Nick told her calmly, nodding towards the stairs. He was having so many doubts right now about whether he was spending enough time with each kid, and he was about to snap at this accusation. He felt horrible that Mally felt this way, but she needed to stop and calm down.

Mally pushed her father in the chest hard and started to run away, but Nick grabbed her wrist, spinning her around. She tried to break free, sobbing now, but he kept a firm grip on her, taking possession of her other wrist also. Nick used all his strength to pull her to his chest and envelop her in a hug. Mally finally gave in and started crying almost uncontrollably. She'd never gotten physical with him before, and it scared him bad. It seemed she'd lost all control of her emotions as she continued bawling. Sara got up and went outside to leave the two alone.

Nick quietly walked her over to the couch and sat down with her. He was surprised when she crawled into his lap like she did as a little kid, clinging to him. She was so scared, and he didn't know what was wrong. He just rubbed her back silently until she'd finally calmed down.

"Mal? Baby?" He gently called her when she was almost silent. "We're gonna get you an appointment to go see a doctor, okay? And we'll see what's going on. I've never seen you like this."

Mally didn't say anything, keeping her face buried in her father's neck.

"Are you feeling anxious a lot?" Nick asked her soothingly.

Mally nodded into his neck. Nick turned his head and kissed her forehead.

"Well, they have medications for that sort a thing that might help us out. What do you say?"

"Okay." She whispered, her voice laden in frustration and exhaustion.

"Okay." Nick finally felt like they had taken a step. "I'll call tomorrow morning. Are you hungry?"

"No."

"Then why don't you go lie down for a while." Nick suggested, seeing that she wouldn't be getting any work done after her meltdown. Nick carefully lifted her face from his shoulder, studying her face briefly. She looked defeated and lost, unlike anything he'd ever seen in her before. He helped her stand up, putting his hand on her back to steady her.

"Are you okay to walk up?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. You sleep as long as you need."

Nick watched her climb up the stairs until she'd disappeared into her room again, closing the door gently. He sighed and ran a hand over his face. How had it gotten so bad and how'd he not see that coming? Nick prided himself on being close with his children, so it killed him that Mally had gotten so upset. He made his way outside to join Sara and the twins. She was pushing both on the swings and gave Nick a smile.

Nick walked around the swingset to the back with Sara, after getting a "Hi, Daddy!" from both twins. He kissed his wife tenderly and put an arm around her waist.

"She's sleeping now in her room." He said quietly, so the twins wouldn't worry. Nick started pushing Aidan, and Sara concentrated on Bailey's ride.

"Is she okay?"

"No, I don't think she is." He said honestly. "I'm getting her an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. Maybe she needs to be medicated."

"You think she's depressed?"

"I don't know, maybe. Or just really anxious."

"I think that's a good idea." Sara admitted, looking at her husband seriously. She didn't know Mally like he did, but she had definitely seen a change in her personality in the last month or so. School had always been important to her, and she was beating herself up about chemistry. She just didn't get it at all. It was the first time in her life she completely didn't understand anything.

The two parents continued to push their children for another ten minutes or so, and then Nick went back inside to finish the dinner, his mind still on Mally.

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At lunch the next day, Mally and Natalie were again having less-than-superb days. Natalie was exhausted once again, and actually put her head down on the table. Mally ended up never waking up from her nap, and slept through the night. She was fully awake, to say the least.

"Natalie, I think you need to go to the nurse. You can't work like this." Mally told her friend, echoing her father.

"I have a big test sixth period." She said from the table. Natalie was so driven, but almost too much so.

"But seriously, Nat. You're practically asleep. You should go home."

"You can't just go home because you're tired." She picked her head up and stared back at her friend.

"Well, you've been tired for over a week now, even after the weekend when you can sleep in. Maybe it's something more."

"I don't think so. I'm fine." She told her friend. Just then, the bell rang for the next period to start.

"Think about it. I think you should go." Mally urged.

"Whatever."

The two friends went their separate ways to face the rest of the day.

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The telephone rang in Gil Grissom's office. Catherine was out in the field with Nick and Sara. They'd both decided to pull overtime and work into the day. Both figured they could sleep when they died.

"Grissom." He answered.

"Yes, this is Mrs. Rawlings at Las Vegas High School. I have Natalie Grissom in here."

"Is she okay?"

"Yes. She's resting now, but she fell asleep in her AP U.S. History class, and her teacher sent her down. He said she's been really exhausted the last week or so."

"Does she want to come home?"

"That's where I need your help. She doesn't want to go, but I'm recommending she does, and also get tested for mono."

"Mono?"

"She's showing all the symptoms. Natalie's just exhausted, and it's been going on for about a week already. She's running herself into the ground."

"Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Rawlings. I'll be in to get her."

Gil hung up the phone and sighed. Natalie had the same drive as he did. No one could tell him to stop or to rest, and he really wished his daughter hadn't picked it up too. She was so stubborn in that manner. He wasn't looking forward to the battle to get her home, but that was his job as a parent. This wasn't good for her health. Gil called Catherine to let her know what was going on and drove to Natalie's school. He quickly found the nurse's office, which he had never been to before. Natalie was one to stick things out, and had only gone home from school sick once or twice in her life.

As he entered the office, Mrs. Rawlings greeted him and lead him to one of the side rooms. As she opened the door to the darkened room, his eyes fell on a sleeping Natalie, out like a light, a blanket covering her form.

"I'll let you wake her." The nurse told him, and Gil thanked her. He briefly considered trying to carry her out to the car without waking her, but decided against it. She would probably wake up and though she was tiny, she was still heavy for the aging father. He knelt down next to the cot and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking Natalie gently.

"Nat?" He whispered. "Natalie, it's dad. Wake up."

After a few moments, she stirred, opening her eyes.

"Daddy?" She croaked. She'd actually been sleeping deeply for once and had been totally out. Then she remembered where she was, and got angry and argumentative again.

"Daddy, tell Mrs. Rawlings I need to go back to class." She yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous." Gil told her firmly. "You're coming home."
"No, I'm not!" She was getting defensive. "I'm fine!"

"Nat, she thinks you may have mono."

"I know! She's crazy!"

"Watch your tone, Natalie." Gil warned her.

"I'm not going home." She declared, crossing her arms. "I'm going to chemistry class."

Gil paused, wondering how to continue.

"I'll give you a choice. You can walk out of here with me and go home and go to bed, or I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you out in front of everybody. Your decision."

Natalie glared at her father. He wouldn't dare, but then again he was weird. She glared at him for a few more moments, and he just stared back, not backing down. Finally, she angrily stood up and slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Fine! Take me home, but I'm working."

Gil would deal with the sleeping part later. At least he was getting her out of the school now. She stormed out ahead of him, and he followed closely behind.

The car ride was silent, and when they got home, Natalie stormed up to her room with her backpack. Gil decided to give her a few minutes before he went upstairs and made her go to bed.

About ten minutes later, he entered her room to find her asleep at her desk. So stubborn. This time, he did decide to pick her up, and she awoke when she hit the mattress.

"Dad, what are you doing?" She spat out angrily.

"Tucking you in. You need to sleep."

"No, I need to work!"

"You fell asleep at your desk."

"I did?"

"Yes. Go to sleep."

Natalie turned over angrily and pulled her covers up tight.

"If I don't get into Stanford, it's your fault." She muttered.

Gil decided not to say anything. She was crabby and irritable, and he knew she didn't mean it. He shut off the lights and left the exhausted teen to sleep.

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"Yes, this is Nick Stokes, and I need to set up an appointment with Dr. Lockwin, for my daughter."

He listened to the receptionist type on her keyboard.

"Yes, Mally Elyse Stokes, age seventeen. As soon as possible."

He paused as he listened to her ask routine questions.

"The reason?" He ran a hand through his hair, not believing it had come to this. "Possible depression and anxiety."

"Tomorrow would be great." He told the receptionist. "Thanks."

Nick switched off his cell phone as he sat in the CSI locker room. He was going to get Mally some help. She was going to be okay.