Headliner
Chapter 14
Alexis Nicole Sidle was quite pleased with herself. Not only had she managed to get her parents to live in the same house, but she had done it all and got in very little trouble. She had gone to bed the night of her running away thinking she had got of scot-free. She woke up the next morning to find out she had been wrong. She was, however, only grounded for a week. It was the best week she had ever spent grounded.
The Sidle-Stokes family had created a kind of rhythm that all three of them were very used to. The parents made a large point to call her several times a day and stop by and see her once in awhile. Lexi found her life getting much easier. She didn't have to worry about whose house she was staying at or who she was making mad at that week. She had everything she could ever want. She continued to devote her summer to her true love: theatre. She had been in school plays as a kid and always loved them. As a high schooler, she really wanted to continue it. Both Sara and Nick encouraged it greatly. It was not only a great way for her to gain confidence, but it kept her out of trouble.
As Lindsey knew she would, Catherine had only punished her a little. She'd been grounded from the phone for one day. She was glad she had helped Lexi in her dilemma. Now if only she could get her mother together with Warrick.
Nick practically skipped into work the next day. He'd gotten a wonderful night's sleep. Sara had told Lexi that she couldn't have her music at such a catastrophic level all hours of the day. For this, Nick was grateful. He was also planning a surprise for his ladies. Lexi hadn't been to Texas in a couple of months, and as stressful as the time had been, he knew she wanted to go back. He was perfectly willing to take her. That is, he was willing, if Sara would go as well. His family deserved to meet the mother of his child even if they weren't married. He hoped Sara would see this as well.
He walked in to find Sara brooding over a case file in the break room. He pranced over to her and threw a brochure on top of her pile of papers. She didn't look up.
"Trying to work here, Nick," she said annoyed.
"Fine. I'll take Lexi and Greg on vacation then."
She snatched up the brochure from his hands.
"Vacation in Texas?" she asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"
"Doesn't your family live there?"
"Again I say yes and again I ask, what's wrong with that?"
She focused on the brochure. "Nothing. Well, I mean, we don't have to stay with them do we? You can, of course, they're your family, but me, me and Lexi, we can stay at a hotel right?"
"Sara, I don't understand the problem. Lexi did fine last time. I think she'd want to stay with them. She likes them, especially Hutch and Ace. They give her someone to hang out with."
"Oh, I see. Well, okay, she can stay with you and them. I guess I'll just stay at a Hilton nearby or something."
"Sara, there is plenty of room at my parents' house for you. They'd be happy to have you."
"You sure about that?" she said and raised her eyebrows.
Nick looked at Sara and stepped backwards. "Oh, Sara! I didn't even think about that."
"No kidding," she muttered.
"Listen, if you decide to go and stay at the house, I'll give my family a strict talking-to. It worked the first time, it'll work the second."
Nick had gone a few minutes later to discuss the timing of the vacation with Grissom. He knew his boss would not be happy at the thought of losing two of his employees for a week, but he had to try.
"Nick, I must remind you of the guidelines concerning inter-lab relationships. It is greatly frowned upon. We wouldn't want anything jeopardizing the integrity of our cases."
"Griss, you have nothing to worry about. Sara and I aren't in a relationship. We're simply taking our kid on a trip."
"I sure hope so. Enjoy your time."
Nick noticed the lack of real conversation from Grissom but wasn't surprised by it. He's probably still sore about Sara hiding the truth, he thought. Deep down, Nick was still a little sore as well, although it was fading gradually.
Nick sat on the plane with his hand on Lexi's knee. Sara was in the restroom. Nick looked over to his daughter and saw her clutching the hand rest. "Lex, what's wrong? I thought you decided you loved planes."
She released her grasp and smiled at him. "Oh, I do, I'm just nervous."
"Why? You've already met everyone. They love you."
She nodded. "Yes, but they haven't met Mom. She's the one they're really going to judge. I can feel it. You may have realized that I'm a bit of an eavesdropper, and I overheard some of them talking last time I was there. I'm afraid she'll be disappointed. I'm afraid they won't like her."
Nick took hold of her hand. "Lexi, everything will be alright. I promise you that."
Sara returned and Lexi got up to use the restroom herself.
"How are you?" Nick asked her.
"I'm great. I'm dandy. Okay, I'm a mess. I've never been this concerned about anything in my life."
He laughed. "It never ceases to amaze me how alike you and Lexi are. She's worried out of her skin."
"I've taught her well."
"Sara, I was serious when I told you I'd tell my family to back off. I've already called them, but I'll do it again in awhile."
Sara breathed out slowly. "Alright, I'll be fine. How much longer?"
Lexi felt the familiar silence wash over her. She felt the prying eyes of her father's family move from her to her mother and back again. She saw the expressions of doubt and disappointment and still felt the sting. She wondered when they truly would accept her for who she was.
Sara had one hand on Lexi's shoulder and the other on a suitcase. She tried her best to put on a smile, but it was challenging. Their stares bore into her skin. She wondered how her daughter had managed to make it two weeks with these people. She then wondered how she was going to make it just one.
The Stokes family turned around, signifying that it was time to go. Sara glanced up at Nick and then down at her daughter. They walked out of the airport.
"Let judgement day begin," said Sara.
A/N: Once again, it is Sara's turn to feel the pressure she has put on her daughter. Stay tuned. Let me know what you thought.
