Headliner

Chapter 5

Sara carried the last of the plastic bags into the house. She plopped them down on the floor next to the multitude of containers. "There," she said and wiped the sweat from her brow, "that's the end of them."

"Thanks, Sara. I couldn't have done it without you," said Nick.

"Sure you could have; it just would've taken a lot longer." She grinned. "You know, Nick, Lexi has most of this stuff at my house. All she had to do was pack it up and bring it here."

"Nah, I don't want her to have to feel like she's moving every other week. She should have stuff at both places. It'll be easier for her."

"You're going to have one heck of a time trying to get this all set up. You bought enough for five kids."

"I'll just wait until she gets here and let her do it." Sara raised an eyebrow. "Or I'll help her with it," he corrected.

Sara pulled a key ring out of her pocket. "I've got to be going. Lexi's friend should be dropping her by here shortly. Make sure she does her homework. Oh, and you should know that she's not a vegetarian, but she doesn't really like meat. She doesn't drink much soda and she rarely watches television. She loves blasting music, so you should probably get some earplugs." Nick held up his hand.

"Relax, Sara, she's not two. She can speak for herself."

"I know, I just," he interrupted her.

"We'll be fine. I'm a big boy now. Go."

She punched him in the shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow. Give my love to Lexi, okay?"

"You got it." He showed her out the door and then turned to face his living room. The floor was barely visible beneath the sacks. He grabbed four at a time and carried them to the spare bedroom that was now becoming his daughter's room. His sports posters were still on the wall. Maybe she'd like to leave them up. He doubted it.

The doorbell rang in the middle of baggage transportation. He hopped over a bedspread and grabbed the knob. A girl with dark brown hair stared up at him. "Hey, Lexi, come on in."

She gave him a quick hug and glanced around the room. "What is all this stuff?"

"It's for you."

"All of it?"

"Yeah."

She saw a pile on the couch. "Why did you get me six different bed sets?"

"I wasn't sure what you liked so I got all the ones your mom said were your style. I figured you could pick and then I'd just take the others back."

"You didn't have to do this."

"Sure I did. You're my kid and that means you get the best. Help me take this stuff to your room."

They spent the day eating popcorn and arranging her room. The posters of various football and baseball teams came off the wall. Photos of musicians and movie stars went in their places. When they had finished, Nick called the lab to check in and Lexi began to explore the house. He found her a few minutes later looking at pictures on the mantelpiece. He stayed in the doorway and watched her. She ran her fingers over the wooden frames. She stared straight-faced at the people. She removed a photo of a whole group of people in a field and sat on the couch. "So this is your family?" she asked.

He nodded and joined her. "They're your family too."

She didn't respond to that comment, but veered around the subject. "Where was this taken?"

"A field behind my parents' house. That was a few years ago around Thanksgiving. Stokes Family Football."

"It sounds like fun."

"It is," he agreed, "You know what? I've got an idea. When do you get out of school?"

She rested the picture on her lap. "Next week, why?"

"Would you like to go to Texas with me for a week or two this summer? You could meet the other half of your family."

Lexi remained quiet for a moment. "Sure, that sounds good to me."

"It's settled then. I'll have to ask your mom, but I'm sure she'll say yes."


Sara strolled in and sat around a table. Grissom would be there any minute with assignments. She figured they'd be busy since Nick had the night off.

"No Lexi tonight?" Warrick asked.

"Nope. She's at Nick's getting settled."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" said Greg.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Sara asked, confused.

"She hardly knows the guy."

"So? I know the guy. He wants to be her father. I'm not going to stop him."

Greg opened his mouth to retaliate, but Catherine shot him a look that stopped him in his tracks.

"I think it's good that Lexi is spending time with her father. It's good for Nick too. He needed a change of pace," she said.

"Thanks, Catherine."

At that, Grissom came in and the group got down to business.


"I'm going to run to the store in a few minutes. You want anything?" Nick asked Alexis through a mouthful of salad.

"Can I go with you?" she responded.

"I don't see why not."

"I've always loved these cars," she said as they exited his Denali in the store parking lot.

"Really, why is that?"

"Probably because my mom drives one. When I was little I used to think she was a superhero. The car was her special vehicle."

"Like the Batmobile."

"Exactly. And I always wanted to be just like her."

"Do you still?"

"I don't want to be a C.S.I. if that's what you mean."

"Why not?"

"Science isn't really my thing."

They walked up to the sidewalk and Lexi grabbed a cart. Nick waved to the doorman and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "What are we here for?" she asked.

"Food. Now that I've got more than just myself to feed, we need to get something more than TV dinners and steak."

"I don't really like steak."

"Your mom mentioned you weren't a big meat eater."

"It's true."


Sara entered her home early the next morning. The silence was deafening. Every noiseless step she took reminded her that she was alone. She threw a rice bowl into the microwave and poured a glass of wine. She settled herself down in front of the television and turned on her favorite crime show. After fifteen minutes she shut it off. She set her lonely dishes into the sink. She crawled into bed and closed her eyes.

Sleep would not come. She switched positions several times before giving up. At last she climbed out of bed and sauntered down the hall. She pulled open Lexi's door and frowned at the fact that it was empty. Of course there were objects everywhere. It was a completely full room. It was just missing one thing: Lexi. She continued to the stereo and put in one of Lexi's favorite CDs. She turned up the volume so the house rattled and moseyed back to her room. This time, slumber came much more easily.

She awoke later than usual to a stale-smelling house. Sara got ready extra fast and was out the door in under two hours. She was at the lab forty-five minutes before the start of shift. As she made her way to the locker room she saw she wasn't alone. "Nick what are you doing here so early?" He looked at her. His eyes were half closed and had deep bags under them. "You look terrible," she said.

"Thanks Sara. Good evening to you too."

"Let me rephrase that. You look tired."

"You were right, Sara."

"About what?"

"That kid of yours sure loves to blast music."

"Oh, Nick, why didn't you just ask her to turn it down?"

"I didn't want to overstep my boundaries," he said.

"Nick, you're her father. You have every right to be in control of your house."

"Uh huh," he yawned, "Oh yeah, Sara, when she's out of school can I take her to Texas for a couple of weeks?"

"Why on earth would you want to do that?" she asked.

"My family lives down there, you know. She has a right to meet them."

"Oh, yeah, she does. Sure. If she wants to." Nick couldn't help but notice she didn't sound all that convinced.

"Sara, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Nick. Go ahead, take her to Texas, but let me know when you're going to do it so I can get her some stuff."

"I can do it."

"No, Nick, I need to do this."

Nick was taken aback by the curtness of her remarks. She was definitely not happy about the Texas trip. Why didn't she tell him what was wrong; didn't she trust him?


A/N: More later, I promise. Let me know what you thought.