A/N: Just some notes, Nick's mother is kind of pushy and, I hate to do it but…she's kind of a bitch. She's totally different than the other 'mom' figures she's portrayed. She's still caring and she loves Nick like normal, that's the reason she is the way she is. You'll get annoyed with her easily. That's just a warning.

Also, I know that I said I would skip days in between the time Nick and Anna talk; However, I'm going to go day-by-day through the first week. It's only because…well…you'll figure out why during the next chapter.


Chapter 3:

"That's the lamest excuse I've heard in a while."

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Delmarco Residence

Backyard

10:34 p.m.

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"Anna!" Regan screamed in terror. Anna took off running at the speed of light towards the house. Nick took off not even a second after. "Anna help!" Regan screamed again.

"Regan!" Anna yelled back. When Anna was not even two feet away from the gate, she grabbed her skirt and cleared the fence.

"Anna hurry!" Regan squealed. Nick jumped it also and watched as the woman moved faster than light itself through the back yard and back door. He was close behind her as she threw the door of Regan's bedroom open. She was breathing heavily.

"Regan? Honey are you okay!" She knelt down and began to inspect her.

"Josh!"

"What?"

"Josh was at my window!" She shrieked and began to cry. Anna grabbed her and held her close trying to soothe her.

"I'll go check it out." Nick announced and turned to leave.

"Nick no!" Anna shouted in terror. He had no idea how much damage this guy could do if you gave him the upper hand for even a second. Anna grabbed Regan and ran after Nick. He turned quickly.

"No! You stay here with Regan."

"Nick!"

"Stay away from the doors and windows. Don't come after me. Just call the police."

"Nick!" Anna pleaded again and Nick turned and left. "No!" She closed the door and sat with Anna in her desk chair. She rocked and soothed the crying girl.

As Anna sat there her mind began to wander to all the horrible things that could be happening to Nick. She wanted desperately to go after him, but knew that she couldn't take Regan with her, but she couldn't leave her alone.

Anna picked up the phone and dialed 911. "My name is Anna Delmarco; I live at 687 Lake Mead Drive. We've had a prowler and I need someone out here. Yes. Thank you." Anna waited till she heard the click on the other line, hung up. She sighed in worry.

She couldn't hear anything, and that scared her more than hearing yelling. She had no idea what was going on. Anna began to bite her nails and prayed that the cops would show up. She heard shuffling and the front door open and close. Heavy footsteps came towards the door and Anna quickly locked the bedroom door. Someone fumbled with the door knob.

"Anna." A male's voice drawled. "It's Nick."

Anna hesitated and slowly walked to the door. She rested her hand on the doorknob and replied, "Prove it."

Nick sighed, "You have a cut on your right leg from your calve to your knee. You got it jumping off the swing at the park after you gave Regan your mint-chocolate chip ice cream. She spilled hers on the jungle gym even though you warned her not too. I called her Regan the Restless and you said that it suited her very well."

Anna opened the door to see him. "Oh my God." He had a small cut across his forehead and a bruise on his cheek bone. His lip was cut and he had several bruises on his arms and a gash across his right arm, extending from his elbow to his bicep. She gasped and covered her mouth. "Oh God Nick."

He shook his head and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "I'm fine."

"Nick! No you're not…where is he?"

Nick sighed, "I don't know. I never actually saw him. I was out there looking around trying to find what was makin the noise, and if it was actually Josh, and then the bastard, pardon my language, hits me with a tree limb. I fell down but grabbed the branch and tripped him. He fell and tried to get back up, but I grabbed him and we…wrestled and he got away." Nick sighed.

"Excuse my mouth, but what the Hell were you thinking!" She threw her hands in the air and grabbed his hand to lead him towards the kitchen. "I told you not to go out there! But did you listen to me? Noooo!" She pillaged through her drawers of the kitchen in search of a first aid kit. She rooted through the cabinets and tops of the counters. "Goodness! Next time I say don't go, don't go!" She nagged and Nick rolled his eyes again.

"You said you were Greek right?" Nick joked dryly trying to lighten her mood. She stopped her rummaging and glared at him. "Listen, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and I've learned my lesson. Okay?" Nick teased and Anna sighed.

"Fine." She finally located the first aid kit and left the kitchen, in head of the living room. Nick followed Anna and Regan poked her head out of the door to her bedroom. She slowly walked into the living room and sat next to Anna.

Anna twisted on the couch so that she was facing Nick. She dipped a cotton swab in peroxide and began to clean the cut on his forehead. He hissed in pain.

"Sorry." She apologized.

"Are you okay?" Regan asked Nick and he smiled.

"Yeah darlin, I'm fine." Nick drawled.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't worry about me." Nick reassured. "I'll be okay."

Regan nodded slowly and then looked over at Anna's stressed face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. The real question is are you alright?" Anna glanced over at the little girl.

"I'm okay…is Josh coming back?" Regan asked timidly.

"No." Anna replied quickly. "In no way, shape, or form is he coming back."

"But that's what you said yesterday morning when he hit you and then he came back-" Regan pointed out thoughtfully.

"Regan." Anna replied cutting her off.

"He hit you?" Nick asked furring his eyebrows.

"No. I told you Regan, I fell."

"Yeah, running from him." She remarked sarcastically.

"Regan," Anna warned. "Go get yourself a glass of water."

"But I have to go to sleep. I can't sleep on a full stomach."

"Well the police will be here and I don't think you'll be able to sleep. Just…go get some water."

Regan shrugged and walked to the kitchen. Anna and Nick sat in silence to make sure the seven-year-old couldn't hear their conversation. Once they were sure she was preoccupied, Nick began "He hit you?"

"No. I tripped."

"That's the lamest excuse I've heard in a while."

"Well that sucks because it's not an excuse."

Nick sighed. "Fine…you tripped…over what?"

"A chair."

"Where?"

"In the dinning room."

"What were you doing while you tripped?" Nick inquired.

"Cleaning."

"Cleaning?"

"Yes. Now please be quiet so I can fix your face." She ordered and Nick shook his head.

"Anna…it's alright to admit he hit you. It's his fault not yours. In fact, you can file a complaint, put him on record and nail him with even more charges than he's already got against him."

"Nick…that's not what I want. Yes I want him away and where he deserves to be, but I don't want Regan to know that I couldn't defend myself or her, for my sake or hers. I don't want her to think that's how relationships go and that's how women should be treated. I don't want her to know what went on while she was asleep and everything that was said. She wouldn't feel protected and she'd be apprehensive and submissive every time a new guy came around. Any other man would terrify her. I don't want her to think like that."

"Anna, she's not stupid. You know that, I know that, she knows that. She also knows you didn't trip. Does she seem submissive? No. Is she acting timorous or reticent? No. Does she seem to not trust you? No. She's strong and she'll be okay. Its okay to want to be strong for her…but do you want her to think that she can't be weak sometimes too?"

Anna sighed. "I-" She was cut off by the sound of sirens and slamming doors. Anna looked at Nick and started to clean up the first aid kit. A knock on the door sounded and Nick stood up to help her clean up the mess. She walked to the door and opened it to reveal Brass.

"Hello Ms. Delmarco. We got a call about a prowler."

"Yeah. Come on in." She moved to the side to let Brass enter. Another police officer came into the room and stood in the living room by the kitchen. "Can I get you anything?"

"No thank you." Brass smiled and waved his hand in dismissal. She turned around to see Nick walk out of the kitchen. Nick frowned and folded his arms across his chest, signaling a cold regard to the captain. "Nick." Brass replied.

"Brass." Nick replied and kept his face firm. Anna glanced back and forth between the two; sensing the tension.

"What exactly happened Ms. Delmarco?"

"Um…well, I put Regan down to bed and Nick and I were out by the docks, and I heard Regan scream. And I ran back to the house and she said she saw Josh, the guy from the hotel." Anna clarified and Brass nodded. "Well then Nick went out to look for who was out there and…I guess they got into a scuffle and Josh, or whoever was out there, got away."

Anna looked over at Nick and he nodded. "Alright. Well, I'll have to have you file a report and since no one actually saw him…"

"There's nothing you can do…I know." Anna sighed and pushed her spiral curls behind her ears. "Thanks."

Brass nodded solemnly. "I can send an officer to stay on the look out but other than that…"

"No, no. We'll be fine. Thank you." Anna sighed and folded her arms across her chest.

Brass turned to walk towards the door and Nick followed. "I'll be right back." He told Anna and she nodded.

Brass and Nick walked down the front door towards the drive way and stopped at his patrol car. Brass turned to face Nick and sighed. "I'm sorry for what I said the other day Nick, in my office. You were right, that was out of line and none of my business. I'm just lookin out for ya kid."

Nick looked down and nodded. "I know. I'm sorry for yelling at you. That was out of line on my part. I was really stressed, but I know that was no excuse for how I acted."

"From what I heard, you've been edgy all week."

"That's kinda why I was told to take a vacation."

Brass nodded and smirked. "You need and deserve it. You push yourself too hard and work too much. You need to get out more and learn to live. Otherwise you'll end up alone, old and, tired…like Grissom." Brass joked and chuckled. "Only God knows when that man's gonna get his act together and learn to 'lift his head out of that microscope' as Cat so lovely put it. He needs to put poor Sara out of her misery."

"Yeah." Nick agreed and looked back down at his feet as he shifted his weight. He heard Regan's chuckle from inside the house and Nick looked back and smiled. Anna laughed along with the little girl to put the thoughts of tonight's events out of her mind. Nick smiled wider.

"She's pretty strong willed huh?"

"Who?" Nick asked.

"Ms. Delmarco."

"Yeah…kinda."

"Watch out for her Nick. If I can't put an officer at her door, then I want you here. By the looks of your face I can see that if that Josh guy can put a real damper on you, he'd have no problem ruffin up those two in there."

"He hit Anna." Nick admitted sheepishly.

Brass ran a hand over his face tiredly, "Damn…is she filing a repot?"

"I don't think so."

"Watch out for her Nick." Brass repeated and Nick nodded.

"Thanks Brass."

"You're welcome Nick. Take it easy."

"You too." Nick waved and watched as Brass climbed into his car and pulled out of the drive way. After he had seen the car off to the distance, he turned and went back into Anna's house.

He opened the screen door and stepped inside, locking the door behind him. "Anna!" He called and she peered around from the kitchen/bar counter.

"Yes?"

"Oh, I uh…I just wanted to make sure ya'll were okay."

She gave a small smile and threw down the sponge she was using to clean the counters. Regan came from out of her bedroom with her blanket and pillow. She tossed them on the couch and sat down. Anna sighed and leaned against the counter and crossed her arms across her chest. "She doesn't want to sleep in her room." Anna informed Nick. He nodded.

"Well…I should leave you two alone and let you get some rest."

"You don't have to leave just yet. I mean, we'll be up for a while so…"

Nick smiled. "Okay."

Anna smiled back and Nick followed her to the couch. Anna situated Regan's pillow on her lap and Regan laid her head on it. Nick covered Regan up with a blanket and sat on the other side of Anna. She smirked and grabbed the television remote and handed it to Nick.

"Can we watch Toy Story 2?" Regan inquired.

"Will you go to sleep when it's over?" Anna replied.

"Yes."

"Then yes, you can watch it."

Regan jumped up and ran to the television. She grabbed the DVD and put it in the DVD player. When it had begun, she ran back to the couch, and curled up on Anna's lap.

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Friday May 6, 2004

Delmarco Residence

12:05 a.m.

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Not too long after the movie had started, Regan fell asleep on Anna's lap. Anna glanced down at the little girl and smiled. "She's out. Man, she's gonna be tired for school tomorrow."

Nick chuckled. Anna scooped up the little girl in her athletic arms, Nick grabbed her pillow and blanket, and the two walked into Regan's room. Nick laid the pillow on the bed and Anna rested her on it. Then Nick tenderly draped the blanket over her. Anna brushed the hair from out of Regan's eyes and kissed her forehead. She smiled and followed Nick out of the room.

"She's adorable."

"Yeah…I know." Anna boasted.

They laughed as Anna folded the throw blanket over the back of the couch. "Well, it's about 12:07…I should get going." He turned towards the door and Anna followed. He opened it and turned to face Anna. She examined his wounds from earlier and felt a wave of guilt wash over her.

"Are you still coming over tomorrow?"

"If ya'll are up for it." Nick drawled.

"Well, I think a little girl in the next room would be heart broken if you didn't show up. She's hooked on you." Anna teased.

Nick shrugged. "It happens." He said in a mock-conceited voice. They laughed again and Anna leaned her head against the door. "I'll see you tomorrow Anna."

"You can come over any time. God knows I'll be up." She smirked and so did Nick. Once again, her eyes wandered to the bandages on his forehead.

"You should take a break yourself." Nick pointed out and Anna scoffed.

"I'll get right on that."

There was a pause. Anna dragged her eyes up to Nick, and green met brown. Their gazes locked. Anna felt her skin tingle, her hair stood on ends, and her skin flushed. She broke the gaze and looked down at her feet. "I'll see you tomorrow." Nick said softly and smirked.

Anna was silent as she closed the door and locked it. She still felt like Jello from the intensity of their stare. She turned around to look at her living room and took a deep breath. "Wow." was all she could manage. "If I get that from just lookin at him…" she shook her head, "he must be one Hell of a kisser." She chuckled at her joke and went into her bedroom for a few hours of sleep.

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Stokes Residence

Friday

8:23 a.m.

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Nick jolted awake from the sound of a woman's scream. He sat upright and threw the blankets off of him. He heard panting and another scream coming from somewhere in his apartment. He walked into the living room and saw that the television was still on. A young blonde was running from Freddie Crougar in terror. He sighed and turned off the television. His phone rang and he looked over at it; deciding finally to let the machine pick it up. Scanning calls was a beautiful thing.

"Hey you've reached Nick Stokes. Sorry I can't come to the phone right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to ya'll as soon as I can."

"Nicholas Ryan Stokes pick up this phone now. I know you're there. You better pray to high heavens you ain't scannin my phone call. I'll whoop you a good one." Mrs. Stokes warned in a thick Southern accent. Nick moaned and walked towards his bedroom. If he was going to talk to his mother for the first time in months he was going to do it in more than just his boxers. He threw on jeans and a maroon T shirt that fit him nicely and walked back out to his mother's squalling voice.

"Hello mother." Nick sing-songed mock happily.

"Nicholas Ryan Stokes! Why, it lives!"

"Aw ma, don't middle-name me."

"Well serves you right. You haven't called, or wrote, or dropped by in forever."

"Mom, I've been working. And it's not like I can just take some time off and fly out to Texas to see ya'll. I work twenty four seven and I haven't had time to shop for food nevertheless see ya'll."

"Well I heard that's changed. You have a week off don't you?"

"What, you callin in to the station now to check up on me."

"Yes. It's the only way to know you're still breathin. I talk to them more than I talk to you. You've been so edgy since that Nigel Crane character. The one who stalked you and tried to kill you. Do you remember him?"

Nick winced and rolled his eyes. "No mom, forgot all about him." He drawled, his response dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, anyway, you've been edgy. You should move out of that grungy little apartment and get a better place."

"I already did mom. I live on the strip."

"Well that's wonderful. Now when are you going to come and visit us?"

Nick sighed. What he really wanted to say was 'I'm not' but he couldn't say that to her. After all, she was his mother. "I don't know mom. I'm kinda busy."

"Doing what? When? Where? And to whom? And good God tell me ya'll are using protection."

"Eeeeww! Ma! I ain't tellin you about my sex life! And besides, that wasn't what I was talking about."

"Well I can only assume. You know, with my baby boy as such a playboy and with him never calling me I can only assume…"

"Mom, I haven't become part of some S&M cult or something. You know that stuff grosses me out. Just relax okay."

"Well than why are you so busy?"

"I…I've been helping a friend."

"What friend?"

"A new friend."

"And their name would be…" Jillian Stokes asked and Nick was silent. She sighed. "What's her name Nicholas?" Nick still stayed silent. "Nick, speak soon or so help me-"

"Her name is Anna. Alright? Anna. Now I need to go. Bye."

"Bye."

They hung up and Nick moaned, throwing himself back against the couch. He closed his eyes for a few minuets, then opened them to stare at the clock. It was 8: 36. Regan should be in school by now and Anna said he could come over whenever. He didn't want to risk waking her up, but for the strangest reason, he felt that if he didn't see her soon, he might go nuts. He snatched his car keys and walked to the door. Before his hand hit the knob his stomach rumbled and he caught a whiff of his odor.

"Guess going to Anna's has to wait." He threw his keys down and ran to his room. He tossed her drawers open, pulled out a pair of swim trunks, a green t shirt, his sandals and a pair of loose fitting pants. He grabbed his clothes and set them by the bathroom door. He closed the door behind him, peeled off his current clothes and jumped into the shower.

Ten minuets later he turned off the water, wrapped the towel around his waist, and applied shaving cream to his face. He began to shave around the cuts and bruises he had sustained last night. His phone began to ring and Nick let the machine get it.

"Nick, its Brass. Listen I got some info on this Josh guy. He seems like a real bad egg. I've got Sanders and Rick still workin the Belagio case and they're tryin to get Josh. We've got the other three gun men, I think Josh was leader of the pack, and they ain't rollin over on ol' Josh Boy. Any way, I want you to give me a call. I've got some matters to discuss with you, Anna, and Regan. I'll pretend like I don't know about Josh, and Anna's condition but you should try to convince her to file a report. I need to go. Call me back when you get this or drop by the station. Bye."

Nick sighed and gripped the counter while looking at his feet. His mind wandered with horrible thoughts of what he'd like to do to Josh if he ever got his hands on him. He sighed and dragged his gaze back up to his reflection. Nick finished shaving and wiped the cream off his face.

Once he had dressed, he grabbed an on-the-go cereal bar and left his apartment. He walked out into the morning sun and saw his neighbor taking out her trash. She was an older woman who lived alone. She glanced over and waved to Nick. He smiled and waved back before jumping in his Tahoe and driving off.

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Delmarco Residence

9:48 a.m.

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Nick pulled into her driveway and looked at her lake side house. It only had one story but it was very spacious. It had 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a huge living room with bay windows and a sliding door leading to the patio. A black marble counter and an island kitchen. The window above her sink looked out on the patio, the dinning area was connected to the sitting room and double doors closed off the area.

Behind the back set of double doors was Anna's suite-size bedroom with a large walk in closet, master bathroom and separate sliding door to the patio. Across the hall from Anna's room was a second guest room. Then in between the two was a third guest room, a bathroom, and closet.

The dining room had a sliding door that also connected to the patio. The patio itself was extremely commodious. It had several sets of lawn furniture and a large empty space probably used for parties. Outside of the screened in area was a lawn with a swing set and large garden off to the side. The gate around it circled all the way up the sides of the house. And out the gate was the reserved pubic lake space.

Nick gazed at it all in shock. He had been here all of yesterday but hadn't really noticed it all. "Nick?" Anna tapped on the window of his Tahoe. He jumped and she smirked. He rolled down his window and she leaned on it. "Did ya fall asleep or somethin?"

He chuckled. "No. I was just amazed at how big your house is. I didn't really look at it yesterday. It's gorgeous."

"Thanks." She backed away from his car door as he opened it to get out. "Regan woke up this morning and you're the first person she asked about." She teased as they turned to walk up to her front door. Nick blushed and chuckled.

"Oh…sorry. Didn't mean for her to talk about me all the time. Bet that gets annoying."

"Naw…I think it's cute. She's really captivated by you. I'm afraid she's fallen victim to the Nick Stokes Texan charm. I assume you are from Texas."

Nick laughed, "Yes, I'm from Texas."

"Which part?"

"Dallas." Nick informed her and she nodded. He glanced over at her. She was wearing a long sleeve light purple cotton shirt, light blue bleach washed jean shorts, and a sea shell ankle bracelet and matching necklace. Her hair was scooped up on top of her head into a high pony tail and the ties of her bathing suit stuck out of the shirt.

"That's cool. I always wanted to visit Texas. It seems like such a great place." She looked over at him and noticed he was staring at her. "What?" She asked.

"Huh?"

"You were starin and you looked like you wanted to say somethin."

"Oh…no." Nick lied and she shook her head.

"Well, I have no idea what you want to do till Regan gets home."

"What do you normally do when she's at school?"

"Sit around and wait for her to get back."

"Awww."

"I know, it's really pathetic."

"Yeah, it is." Nick joked and Anna swatted his arm. "Oww!"

"Oh! I'm sorry. Does it still hurt from last night?"

Nick laughed. "No." She swatted his arm again.

"Well…" She switched subjects. "We could go swimming or try to get some fishing in before Regan gets back. Of course we'll fish when she gets here, but that child has the attention span of a gnat. One minuet she's doing great, and the next she's bored with it and wants to do something else."

Nick laughed. "Sounds like me as a kid."

Anna laughed. "So, what do you want to do?"

"Let's go swimming. I haven't been in a while and I want to try it."

"How long is a while?"

"Couple years."

"Damn! Well let's hope you remember how. Otherwise I'll have to jump in and save your ass."

"Well my ass thanks you."

"I haven't saved you yet." Anna joked and smirked. "I'll race ya to the lake."

"You're on." They dashed off towards the back of the house. They were neck in neck till Nick looked over at how fast she was going. She smiled and ran faster, speeding ahead of him towards the docks. She ran to the sand and Nick came up close behind her. She stopped short and turned around. Nick tried to stop himself but he accidentally crashed into her and they both fell in the sand. Nick landed on top of her, pinning her to the ground. Nick looked at her to see if she was okay. She cracked a smile and they burst out laughing.

They settled down and Nick paused. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "You?"

He nodded back and leaned up to look at the water. "Wow." Anna rocked her head back to look at the ocean upside down.

"It's gorgeous."

Nick looked at her as she laid flat again. She looked over to her left at the docks and saw a seagull flying. She smiled and Nick was captivated. "Yeah…you are." he replied. She looked over at him and blushed. Anna pursed her lips to keep from laughing and looked up at him.

"You ain't to bad yourself Stokes. And you haven't even seen me in a bikini yet."

"But I've seen you in a towel." Nick joked and she chuckled.

"True." Nick stood up and helped her up as well. She smiled and walked towards the docks with Nick close behind her.

"Nothin like a morning swim."

"Well, midday anyway."

Nick scoffed, "I thought I was the technical, analytical, anal one."

"You have no idea how technical, analytical, and anal I can be." Anna reminded him. "Remember, you've only known me for a few days. Three I think."

"God, has it only been three days?"

"Yep."

"Most eventful three days of my life…damn you're a little Drama Queen." Nick joked and Anna shoved him. They made it half way down the dock when she stopped. Nick looked back at her. "What? Oh, I'm sorry for the 'Drama Queen' joke. I know it's not your fault you-"

She peeled off her shirt and jeans to reveal her white string bikini. She stood there for a minuet and a smile broke out across her face. She began to run the dock and jumped off the end. Nick heard her splash and he ran to the end of the dock to see her floating in the water. "Come on!" She motioned for him to jump in the water also.

"No thanks. I'll just slide in."

"Baby!" She mocked.

"I rate your jump a '9'. Luckily you had the element of surprise."

"Come on! You afraid you can't beat my '9'?"

He smiled and peeled off his shirt and pants, kicked off his shoes and began to back up. He ran full force down the dock and jumped at the end.

He landed a yard or so farther than Anna did. "Show off!" She teased and swam towards him. When she got close enough he reached out for her arm and pulled her towards him.

"What's my score?"

"Umm…" She swam around him in a small circle and analyzed his sculpted body.

Nick laughed when he realized what she was doing. "I meant for my jump. I already know my hotness score is a 20, on a scale of '1 to10'." He boasted and she shoved him.

"You get a '7'."

"'7'!"

"Yeah, '7'. I don't like people who show off and brag." She joked.

He laughed. "Who am I showin off for? You? Come on, don't flatter yourself Delmarco. What do you think you're gorgeous or somethin?" Nick teased. She smirked and ducked him under by pushing on his head. Nick grabbed her leg and pulled her under with him. She laughed under water and swam back to the top. Nick surfaced slowly after her and she laughed and swam out away from the docks. Nick followed closely behind and tried several times to grab her foot. He finally did and yanked her back to him. She kicked and laughed and tried to get away. Nick laughed as she tried to turn to face him while he still held her foot.

"Nick let go!" She giggled. "Come on Nick! Let go!" Suddenly, he released her foot. She turned around to find him…but saw nothing but distances of water. She turned to look behind her. He wasn't there either. "Nick?" She frowned and looked around her frantically. "Nick? Nick come on this isn't funny! Nick." She dove under water to try and find him. "Nick!" She yelled and heard a laugh in the distance. She turned towards the docks to see Nick sitting on the docks laughing and waving.

"Hi Anna!" He taunted and she glared.

"You jackass!" She yelled and swam back to the dock. She placed her hands on the dock and pulled herself up. She ignored him and straightened her bikini bottom so that it was covering all of her generous size butt.

"Have a good swim?" Nick asked smugly. She ignored him. "Oh, you're gonna ignore me now?" She still didn't answer. She only sat and stared at the waters below. "Where's your sense of humor?"

"Nick! I thought something happened to you. You told me you hadn't swam in a long time. I thought…I thought something happened to you." She repeated and sighed. Nick sighed to and nodded his head. She stared at the injuries on his face, but snapped out of her trance when he began to talk."

"I'm sorry. I was…I wouldn't normally do that. I'm just tryin to loosen up and not be my regular self."

Anna smirked, "Well," she paused. "That's great just, try to do it without scarin me to death."

"Awww. You'd have been really sad if somethin would have happened to me? Huh?"

"Well yeah." Anna said as if it was so obvious. She saw Nick's blush and smile and she retracted her statement. "I mean, Regan would be without her precious Nick and then where would we be?" She joked. Nick nodded and laughed. She looked over at his face and saw his laugh lines in the corners of his mouth and eyes, and when he turned to face her, she saw the mole on his right cheek. Nick noticed her conceler had washed off and you could see her black eye. Nick flinched slightly but recovered quickly. The thought of her not filing a report came back into his mind. She distracted his thoughts by smiling shyly, and Nick returned it. His gaze locked with hers. She broke away before it got too intense. "You like doin that huh?"

"What?" Nick asked confused.

"That intense stare thingy that you do. You do it a lot."

"What? I'm lost."

"Come on. That stare you do. It's like impossible to look away from."

Nick chuckled. "What ever." He shook his head and looked back out on the lake.

Anna sighed and turned around. She laid back and stretched out underneath the sun's rays. Nick looked back and surveyed her sculpted and toned body. Her abs were well built, yet feminine, her arms were athletic and strong, and her legs were the best he'd seen in a while, including the women on his television. "What you lookin at Tex?" Anna asked. Nick looked up at her and chuckled when he saw her eyes were closed.

Nick lay back next to her. "Nothin."

"Oh, so I'm nothin now?" Anna teased.

Nick chuckled and turned his head to look at her. "What were your parents like?"

"Whoa, nice change of subject."

"What were they like?"

Anna was silent for a moment. She brought her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun and she turned to look at him. She stared a moment then shrugged. "They were…there."

"There? How specific thank you. I feel like I really know you."

"What?" She sat up and Nick copied her position.

"What were they like? Were they strict? Nice? Mean? What?"

"I don't know. I don't like talking about them." She lay back down and Nick watched her.

"Okay. So, you're almost 23, Regan just turned 7, which makes you 16 years apart."

"Well I'm glad to see they teach you to count before you get to be a CSI."

"Ha ha. So…how did ya'll end up 16 years apart? That's quiet a gap."

"I don't know. So…"

"I don't know. I'm just talkin." Nick stated and Anna rolled her eyes.

"You should visit your mother."

"No."

"Ouch! Burn! Geez, I think I just heard your mother scream in pain." She joked.

"I don't want to have to deal with all the baggage."

"Baggage?"

"The family issues mostly. Why haven't I settled down yet? Why aren't there grand babies? Why don't I have a better job? Why don't I live closer? Why don't I call? It's just too much."

"Well, it seems like the problem doesn't lie with your mother. Yeah, it sounds like she can nag, sure you aren't Greek?" She joked and Nick smiled. "But she's still your mother. You should talk to her and don't let everybody else stand in the way."

"So…"

"I don't know. I'm just talkin." She mocked and Nick shook his head.

"Well what about you and your mother?"

"I don't like to talk about it." She repeated.

"So you can dish it but you can't take it. Nu-uh. What's the deal with ya'll."

"Nick," She began and turned to face him. She folded her legs and brought her hands up to gesture. "I don't like to talk about my parents okay? It's a tender subject and I'm not going to change my mind so just leave it alone." She turned back around and faced the water. She sighed and stood up. "Come on. It's about 10:00 or so. Wanna grab somethin to eat?"

"It isn't lunch."

"Yeah, but I heard your stomach grumbling. I'm guessin you only had a breakfast bar for breakfast huh?"

"Yeah." Nick admitted and she chuckled and helped Nick stand up. They walked down the docks, gathering their clothes as they went. Nick sighed.

"What?"

"Nothin."

"You miss work." Anna stated and turned to look at Nick.

"How'd you know?"

"I feel the same way. Is your job hard?"

"Only if you don't know what you're doin. It's kinda fun sometimes. You learn a lot. Like human behavior, basic instincts, lots of science, motivation, people's way of life, things like that. It's rewarding too. You meet a lot of real ass holes, please forgive my language, but you meet some real great people too. And sometimes, those same nice people try to do somethin right when they're caught in a bad situation, and they pay the price. Once, there were these two brothers. They were close; the younger brother would do anything for his older brother. And the older brother had an anger issue. He killed two people and got the younger brother to cover it up for him and take the rap."

"Whoa."

"The older brother stood in front of the younger as he got his stuff and left the prison…rubbed it in his face…the younger brother killed himself."

"Oh my God."

"Yeah…the love of a sibling."

"Wow." was all Anna could manage.

"My first week as a CSI 3," Nick began. "A triple homicide…mother, brother, father…a teenage girl had her boyfriend murder her family. She was arrested and Grissom had her in the interrogation room and he asked her why she had them murdered…she said that was the last night her father was going to touch her little sister. He had been molesting the teenager's younger sister and she had enough. Grissom asked why she had the mother and brother murdered…she said, because they wouldn't protect her. And then her father went after her daughter…the father molested her and got her pregnant."

Anna stopped short and froze. She looked like she was going to be sick. She shook her head and Nick looked over at her. Nick winced. "Sorry." He apologized. "I didn't mean to get gory on you."

She shook her head and began walking again. "It-I…it-it just..." She stuttered and sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry." Nick walked slower and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You said that."

"Its cause I'm really sorry."

"I know you are. Just…don't say anything like that around Regan."

"I know."

"I don't get how you do it. Day after day, seeing what you see, doing what you do. That's gotta kinda mess ya up huh?"

"Oh yeah. Kind of hard to fall asleep sometimes. Victim's faces and screams haunt you for a good long time if the case is intense enough. Sara has the worst. She gets so attached to victims. She empathizes and she tears herself apart. She doesn't know when to ask for help and works too much. She tries to live up to the standards of one person while trying to do what's right. She never visits home and doesn't worry about herself enough. But she's one of the best friends you'll ever know."

Anna chuckled, "Sound like anyone you know?" She teased and shoved him slightly. Nick shook his head.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know. I'm just talkin."

"No fair, you can't use that twice."

Anna chuckled. "Mere technicality. I can use it all I want."

Nick shook his head as they climbed down the steps and began to walk in the sand. Nick looked over at her and smiled. "You know, now that I've seen you in your bikini, I'm gonna have to up your rating of beautiful to total knock out."

She laughed and blushed. "I was thinking the same thing about you Tex. But I'm gotta say, I like the term 'beautiful' better. It sounds nicer."

"I was thinking the same thing. But I just thought I should let you know your updated rating."

"Why thank you sir. How thoughtful." She mimicked in her best Southern Belle voice and batted her eye lashes. "That's just ever so attentive of you."

Nick laughed. "Not bad, not bad."

She laughed. "Thank you." They walked in silence for a few moments.

"How many languages do you speak?" Nick asked her.

"Um…5."

"Whoa!"

"Yeah, English, obviously, Roman, Italian, Greek, and Spanish, cause I lived in Mexico."

"Wow. I can only speak Spanish and English."

"You speak Spanish! Let me hear some?" She asked excitedly.

Nick moaned. "No, I'm rusty."

"Aww! Come on! I'll speak it with you. We can have a conversation." She bargained.

"No." He objected. "I can't speak it very well nevertheless hold a conversation."

"Please?"

Nick shook his head. "No."

Anna sighed. "Fine." Nick looked over at her and bent down to grab her legs. He flipped her over his shoulder and began to walk. "Ahhh! Nick! What are you doing? Put me down!" She squealed, struggled, and laughed trying to pry herself from his grip.

"No." He began to jog towards her house.

"Nick!" She screamed and Nick only laughed. "Put me down! You're gonna drop me."

"No I'm not. Trust me."

"No."

"Ouch. Nice burn."

"Thanks. Now put me down!"

"No." He mimicked her and chuckled. As he came up to the gate he opened it and walked into the yard.

"Okay. Were at my house. Now put me down."

"Nope."

She sighed. "Are you ever gonna put me down?"

"Eventually."

She sighed again and propped her head up by resting her head on her fist and her elbow on his back. "Fine." She saw them turn the corner and go past her back door. The continued to walk and passed the rounding to enter through the side door. He opened the gate and walked out. Soon they passed the entrance of the front door. "Where are you taking me?" He didn't answer. Instead, he opened the passenger door and sat her in the seat. She let out her breath and watched him jog to the driver's side and sit down. "Where are you going?" She repeated.

"You'll see." He started the car and began to back up.

She sighed and sat back. Anna closed her eyes and with the gentle hum of the car, she fell asleep.


A/N: Once again, sorry for the long wait on the chapters. I'll try to update sooner. And I'll try to make the next chapter longer.

Chella