Final Chap. Enjoy it.

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Chapter Eleven/Epilogue: Christmas

Everyone made sure that they had Christmas day off, though it was something they normally did anyway. But this time, they spent the day together, at Grissom and Sara's place, as it was the only one big enough to hold twelve people, without being TOO crowded. Summer was happy to play the little hostess, toting around the tiny kitten her parents had permitted her to keep, after, she claimed anyway, it had shown up in the yard. Its name? Grasshopper (The only one Summer even considered, much to Grissom's amusement.) The name only made Sara even more certain that Summer was going to be an Entomoligist.

By that point, Nick and Susan were married, and happily so. It, as they had wanted, had been a small ceremony, thought not too small. Since neither had any family near enough to make it, their friends had made up for it, by making sure that they showed up. Grissom had actually gotten them something... A book, no less. But what really made it amusing was his use of crime scene tape as a bow. Typical. Lindsay had been a bridesmaid, as had Beth, and Summer the flower girl (an honor she still bragged about). It had been quite the occaision.

Even Brass wasn't able to keep from enjoying Christmas day. The happiness was contagious, he'd told Greg, who was acting as goofy as the kid was. Although, he wasn't too bad off to begin with. He, like the others had recovered for the most part. Besides, who could stay unhappy when you worked with a crazy a bunch as Las Vegas CSI nightshift? He talked, and joked with everyone, and told Sofia that the next time someone came in, trying to file charges for a broken fingernail, she got to handle it. (That had been a tiresome night, that was for sure). She had only laughed, and told him that was a once-in-a-lifetime case. To which he'd responded. "This is Vegas, Sofia... It'll happen again."

Lindsay got the chance to scold her parents for over doing things, when she saw all of the gifts for her. They only told her that she deserved a little spoiling. She didn't agree ( well, okay, she did, a little...) She sat on the floor, with Greg and Beth, laughing at something Susan had said. She nearly had a heart attack when the kitten, Grasshopper, lept on her head... Everyone else got a good laugh out of it. Personally, she was beginning to think the cat was evil. He had done nothing but attack her fingers, feet, and hair all day... When he wasn't trying to escape Summer, anyway, who knew if he got loose he'd cause problems. Grissom had leaned down from the couch once, to tell her that she wasn't the only one the cat was constantly after, it seemed only his young mistress escaped his claws and teeth.

Beth had felt kind of akward at first, as she didn't know everyone as well as say, Susan did, nor was she as comfortable getting to know people as Lindsay was. But she warmed up to them after an hour or so, and joined in the joking and laughing. She sat on the floor, around the tree, with Greg and Lindsay, laughing at the attention Lindsay was getting from the cat, and at Brass and Sofia's banter. Things were alot better, now, when she was with people she knew she could trust. While in their company anyway, she didn't jump at every little shadow. She accepted a glass of eggnog from Sara, and nodded in thanks, as did everyone else, whom already had theirs. What was Christmas without eggnog? She said as much, and got a reply from Warrick.

"No Christmas at all!" he added, "It wouldn't be Christmas without some good music, either." He was referring to the music that Greg had brought; several Trans Siberian Orchestra CDs.

"Or presents!" Summer chimed in, "Right?"

"Right you are, Sweetie," said Catherine, with a grin. "Wouldn't be Christmas without the presents."

"Or a cat in a stocking," said Sofia, pointing to the moving blue velvet stocking on the floor, with the silver tail, and rear end sticking out of it.

The kitten was trying to get to the bottom of it, and was only succeeding in skidding across the hardwood floor. Giggling, Summer grabbed the stocking, sending the cat straight to the bottom. She hung it on the arm of a chair, much to Grasshopper's dismay, as he now couldn't scoot it across the floor, nor could he get out, without leaping, which he eventually did.

When the time for present opening rolled around, no one was displeased. Gifts had been chosen carefully, to make sure that the ones they were for would appreciate them. It was Susan though, that had the biggest surprise of them all. Once everyone was done oogling over their gifts she raised her glass of eggnog, and got everyone's attention. She shoved herself out of her chair, and waited to speak, until she was steady on her feet again.

"Well, I figured t'day is as good a day as any t' say this. Thought i' might be a nice Christmas surprise for Nicky. Come, ooohhhh, say Agust-ish, or there-abouts, Nick here is gonna have someone to call him 'daddy'... I'm pregnant."

Nick, whom had tipped back his glass of eggnog to finish it all off in one go, suddenly emitted a sound that bore a strange resemblance to a cat hacking up a hairball, and the eggnog came spewing back into the glass, (some of it, Brass was pretty sure, by way of his nose). He coughed for a moment, as Beth pounded on his back, while everyone else chuckled over it.

"Ya okay there, Hon," said Susan, with a gleeful smile, "Lookin' a little blue..."

"Cuz I can't breathe," Nick said, once he had stopped coughing. Then he smiled, grabbed Susan and pulled her down onto his chair with him, "Next time you want to give us great news, wait till I'm not drinking anything."

"Wait till he's eating next time," Sara chimed in, "What I did to Griss... Granted I didn't know he was eating at the time but, it was still funny."

"Maybe for you," Both Grissom and Nick said. Nick continued with, "I have no desire to choke and die, before my kids're born, thanks." He looked down at Summer, Lindsay, and Greg, who looked as if they were about to explode, "Go ahead, laugh." They happily obliged.

"Well, here's to the soon-to-be parents," said Sofia, raising her glass, "congratulations!"

"Just you wait, Nicky," said Grissom, "You're going to lose any and all sleep once the baby's born." He glanced towards Summer, "And then there's the monsters under the bed, and in the closet to get rid of." The cat, whom Summer had recently grabbed hold of, suddenly landed on his head. Summer put on her most innocent look, and said, "It was an accident."

Rubbing his head, Grissom only sighed, while Sara said, "Accident my ass, Kid," she smirked, "Nice shot, though."

"Don't encourage her," said Catherine.

"Thank you, Catherine," said Grissom.

Nick was laughing, "I think I'll take my chances Griss, thanks."

Brass was the one to look at his watch, "Getting kind of late guys."

Sofia nodded, "Yeah, it is. So who else is working tomorrow night?"

Hands all around went up. Greg sighed, "Alright... Suppose we better scat then... Funny, been sitting around all day, and I'm still more tired than I am after a night of work."

"That's what happens when you get so used to working," said Susan, "When you finally get a day off, and get to relax, your brain tries to shut down, making you think your tired."

"Save us the science lesson, Honey," said Nick, "That's what Grissom's for." This comment earned him a slightly scathing look from his boss, which he purposefully ignored.

"I don't care what it is," said Beth with yawn, "I'm ready to pass out."

"Join the club," Warrick and Catherine chorused. Lindsay got to her feet, along with Greg, and Beth, and stretched, popping several bones in the process.

As everyone said goodnight, and left, group by group, the hosts realized how tired they were as well. Maybe it was time for bed after all. It had certainly been a good Christmas day, seemed nothing had gone wrong...

Never mind... Grissom thought, as the sound of shattering glass, splashing water, and a pitiful yowl came from the kitchen, clean up time... Or maybe I'll let Sara... she's the one who let the kid keep that monster...

END

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And, there shall be a sequel to this! Here's a preview of the first chap:

EYE SEE YOU CHAP ONE PREVIEW

Chapter One: Murders

Horatio Caine sat at his desk pondering just what the hell was going on. Four murders in as many days, all done in the same fashion. They had a serial killer on their hands, that much was for sure. He leaned back in his chair, and thought of what might be the pattern for the guy. He hadn't really had time to think on it, with a murder occuring every day.

Victim one: Jacklynne Myles. Female. Fourteen years old. Gun shot wound to the chest. Eyes glued open.

Victim two: Edward "Eddie" Clark. Fourteen years old. Gun shot Wound to the chest. Eyes glued open.

Victim three: Marie Dibbins. Fourteen years old. Gun shot wound to the chest. Eyes glued open.

Victim four: Mike Dibbins. Fourteen years old. Marie's Twin. Gun shot wound to the chest. Eyes glued open.

So, their guy went for fourteen year olds, boy or girl. There had been evidence of sexual assault on the girls, and just plain beatings on the boys. There had been an odd substance in and around their eyes, that somehow still hadn't been run. But then, the lab was kind of backed up nowadays, with so many cases... Their eyes! That was it! Every one of the teens had green eyes. Maybe that was a coincidence, but Horatio doubted it. So... their killer went after teenagers, with green eyes. Assaulted the girls, beat the boys, rubbed whatever it was in their eyes, shot them, then glued the eyes open... But why? Why the eyes?

That was something whoever had done this would tell him himself.

Yes, the Las Vegas crew shall be in it... Horatio and Calliegh will be joining them.

Look for "Eye See You", soon.