A/N: Here's chapter 24 of "cliched plot line #2434243". Enjoy

Headliner

Chapter 24

Nick had dragged himself to bed after cleaning the mess he'd made in the kitchen and tried not to think about Sara. It was very near impossible. His mind was wrapped around two people at all times lately. The first was Lexi, the second, Sara. He set the alarm for eleven-thirty. That gave him some sleep and plenty of time for a quick shower before taking Lexi to register for her junior year of high school. He knew that through all of the acting like she dreaded the second she had to return to the building she really did miss her friends.

Lexi stared at herself in the mirror. She scrunched up her face and stuck out her lips. "How very Angelina Jolie of me," she said and went back to primping. She had her hair up and then down and back up again. The song on her CD player changed to "Party for Two" and she started jumping up and down. She grabbed her brush off the dresser and sang along. She heard a knock and dropped the brush mid-jump. She put her hands behind her back and faced her mother.

"Having fun?" Sara asked on the verge of laughter.

"If you're going to tease me, you can leave." Sara turned to walk out. "Of course you can always come help me with my hair!"

Sara came back in and took hold of the brush. "What do you want?"

"I don't care, anything. Just make it look good. Hey Mom, are you coming today, because you can't go looking like that."

"Lex, I think your dad's just going to take you. I've got some stuff to do that I really can't put off. Besides, I've gone with you for the past eleven grades. Let's give him one, alright?"

"You got it," she replied.

Nick came in just as Sara was putting the finishing touches on Lexi's bun. He glanced first at Sara but quickly averted his eyes. "Hey, you almost ready?"

"Yep," she piped, jumping off the bed. Sara got up and fumbled with the hair supplies. Nick stayed behind for a moment but Lexi grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway. "Come on, Dad, we can't be late."

"So this is your high school?" he asked when they arrived.

"This is it."

"You know, your mom worked a case here once. Eviscerated cheerleader."

"That's really gross. I vote you leave that out of any small talk that you give today. Especially since some of my friends are cheerleaders. I don't want their parents freaking out."

"Alright, so job talk is out."

"Exactly."

They stood in the line as it moved forward very slowly. Lexi finally got her schedule and groaned. "What? Did they mess it up?" Nick asked, concerned.

"No. I got Hagermeister for math. Nobody likes him. At least I got Jenkins for chemistry. That should make school a bit more enjoyable." She gave a small squeal. "Oh, here comes Katrinne and her mom. Act normal."

"Lexi!" the girl screamed and ran up to hug her friend. "Hey, who's the hunk?"

Nick had overheard and turned away, grinning. Lexi, however, just rolled her eyes. "That's my dad."

"Right, the mysterious father. I heard about that. He's cute."

"My mom sure thinks so." They chatted for a few minutes until Lexi heard the parents' conversation get moved to occupations. She really wanted to end it before the eviscerated cheerleader thing got brought up. They continued down the line of tables and soon made it out to the car.

Once inside, Nick asked Lexi, "Hey, I did okay in there, right?"

"You were going on just fine until you brought up the cheerleader with Mrs. Nesten."

"It just slipped out."

"Lucky for you, she's a teacher here so she already knew about that. Don't worry; you're still welcome to come next year. Oh yeah, you're even more welcome to drive me to school the first day."

"Don't you have a license?"

"Yeah, but I don't have a car. It's proven to be quite problematic at times."

"I bet."


Lexi chose to spend the rest of the day calling her friends and comparing schedules. Nick knew there was no point in trying to sleep any more, so he lounged on the couch watching a baseball game. Sara remained in her room.

She was pacing. She had opened the door a crack several times only to close it once more. She knew she had to talk to Nick; she knew he deserved to know the truth; she just didn't know how to say it. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. She was about to return to her room when she heard a cough and whirled around. "Need something?" Nick asked.

"I, uh, I, no, I'm fine." She went into her room only to feel like an idiot. She walked out and stood at the edge of the couch. "I'm ready to talk."

He shifted in his seat to make room for her. He patted the cushion and she sat down, doing her best to avoid his gaze. "Okay, you want to tell me what's been bothering you?"

"Nick, I haven't been in a relationship for a long time. The truth is I've been pining. I've been hoping Grissom would wake up and see what was in front of his face. I was content to wait until the end of time. Then this whole business with Lexi came out and I was forced to see you in a different light. You were no longer Nick the Cowboy who flirts with all the girls, you were Nick the Father. Then you asked me to move in with you and I did. And now we've got this. I'm scared to death, Nick. I don't know where to go from here."

"Sara, this is new for me too. I've had girlfriends, but never one who was the mother of my kid. We're going to have to take this thing a step at a time. No one said it was going to be easy, but if we try, we can make it good. Based on the reactions we get every day, I'd say Lexi really wants this to happen and I agree with her. I really want this to happen. I like you, Sara. I like you a lot."

"I like you too."

"Good. And now that we've gotten through the sixth grade part of this, what was with the whole dream? Do you not trust me? Sara, I don't like anyone other than you, I promise. Catherine's a good person and everything, but she's Warrick's unofficial girl. He just doesn't know it."

"Of course I trust you. It was just a dream. If anything, I don't trust myself. I've been burned in the past and it's going to take awhile to trust that I'm making a good choice. And see, that sounds wrong. I don't know how to explain it. I'm a scientist and I can't find the answer. That's a dangerous spot to be."

"Listen to me. You have nothing to be afraid of. I'm here for you. Me and Lexi are here for you. That girl has loved you for sixteen years and I don't think she's going to stop. You've got to promise me this though: If you ever need anything, if you are ever unsure about anything, you've got to tell me. I can only help if you let me. Okay?"

She could feel the tears coming to her eyes and fought them back hard. She nodded and reached over to give him a hug. In that moment she felt the comfort wash over her. In that moment she knew she was right where she was supposed to be.


Sara leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. It was nearing the moment of truth. Although she had been quite adamant about telling Grissom when she talked to Nick, she felt dread welling inside her. Grissom had been much more of himself lately and she had a faint fear that this news would bring him back to his surly self. She hoped that if that was the case he'd be mad at Nick too. Then she'd have someone to share her pain with.

Shift was going to start in two minutes so she had to act now. She had overheard a conversation between Lexi and Greg on the phone and figured they had something drastic planned. She needed to get there first. She pulled open the door and walked right in. Grissom rose from his chair but she waved him down. "No, sit. I need to talk to you right now."

He appeared concerned for a moment but shrugged it off as her merely asking for more vacation time. She did that a lot. "What can I do for you?"

"I have something very important to tell you. While I know it's generally frowned upon and that office politics come into concern, I really feel like I'm doing the right thing. I'm happier than I have been in a long time and I don't want that to change. I'm not asking for your blessing in this situation, but rather that you can see where I'm coming from. We've had our differences in the past, but this is something that I have to do. No ifs, ands, or buts."

He raised a brow. This was definitely not about vacation. "What is it, Sara?"

"I'm dating someone."

"Okay."

"I'm dating Nick."

"Ahh, I see." He leaned back in his chair and she raised her hands.

"What? 'I see.' That's all you can come up with? Come on, Grissom, I told you something really big here and I need something more than that."

"I approve, but be careful."

"You approve? I don't understand."

"Sara, what do you want from me? Do you want me to scream and yell and tell you that you can't date Nick because Ecklie will get upset? I don't want to do that. It has come to my attention recently that you and Nick share something other than a relationship and that thing is a kid. It's only natural that you would experiment with a relationship. People do it every day. Granted they usually date and then have the kid, but you're getting there one way or another. Plus, I'm feeling generous today. My new bug book shipment came in. Now go, I have to get ready to start shift."

She sat in the chair for another moment just staring at this man who confused her so many times. She was about to leave when a breathless Greg ran in. "Grissom! Grissom, I have a joke for you."

"Greg, I don't have time for this. Shift starts in, oh, three minutes ago."

"It'll be quick. What do you get when you cross a picture taken on a couch with two angry co-workers?"

"I don't know, Greg, what?"

"Nick and Sara dating. And get this, it's not a joke, they really are."

"He knows, Greg," Sara said.

"He does? You do?"

"I just told him."

"Great. Thanks, ruin all my fun, Sara."

"Can we go? I've got to start shift," Grissom said shooing them from the office.


"Your mom and dad don't mind you being out here when it's dark?" he asked her.

She stared up at the star filled sky and grinned. "Nope. That may be because they're not home, though."

"So they could come home any minute, find me, and have me arrested?"

"No. They work nights so they won't be in until at least two. Oh, and believe me, they wouldn't have you arrested."

"Really?"

"No. They'd kill you themselves and hide the body. You'd never be found. They investigate and solve crimes for a living. You'd have no chance."

"Thanks for the pep talk, Lexi."

"No problem, Luke. Did I mention I have a cousin named Luke?"

"Only about twelve times since you got back from your trip the first time."

"I can't help it. It's a habit."

He leaned over her. "I've noticed." He kissed her and lied back on the grass. "The stars are pretty. Just like you."

"Oh no. I think they're handsome. Just like you."

"You're funny, you know that?"

"I had a pretty good idea."

He kissed her again and pulled her up. He held her hand as they went for a walk around the neighborhood. Lexi was secretly on the lookout for any of her parents' cop friends. She did not want this night ruined.


A/N: Well that was by far the longest chapter I've ever written. I could've split it in two, but because that would've taken me too much time, I left it as it was. Buzz me with your thoughts please.