Disclaimer: Almost forgot this. I don't own CSI they belong to CBS or whoever else

Previously:

"So Doc what was our mummy's cause of death?" Nick asked standing next to the good doctor.

"Cause of death was stabbing." Robbins said showing Nick the stab marks on the bones.

"Any idea what made those marks." He asked looking up from the corpse.

"All I can say is that the object in question has something like alligator teeth." The doctor said shaking his head.

"Thanks Doc Robbins." Nick's flashed him a smile before going to find Grissom.

Chapter 6: Surprise Birthday's & Grandparents

And he found him in his office staring at a bust of some woman.

"Ah Nicky there you are meet Jen Cauley our concrete mummy." Grissom said looking up.

"So she is our vic. Are we going to go talk to her parents?" Nick asked from the doorway.

"Yes, cause of death?" Grissom asked grabbing his coat and heading to the car with Nick following.

"Stabbing. Though the stab wounds suggest an object with something like alligator teeth."

"Like a jagged knife?"

"Yeah that could be it."

The visit with the mother went fine and Nick and Grissom got the information that they were looking for. One thing stuck to them and that she was supposingly was at her boyfriend's house before she went missing.

Rest of the case flew by without the incident until the very end.

"Ms. Hendler? Do you and your husband go rock climbing often?" he asked looking at the picture of Mr. and Mrs. Hendler on a mountain top to turn to a gun pointed at his face.

"Yes. That's what I killed her with." She said, all that Nick had to go through his head was Auggie and how he just got her.

"Ms. Hendler you don't want to do this, we know you're guilt-ridden. We can help you." Nicky said as his voice quivered.

"NO! No one can help me. There was blood everywhere. No one else could see it. But I knew it was there, the dead body so heavy."

"Ms. Hendler, I'm a good listener. You gotta give me the gun." Nick begged tears forming in his eyes.

"I can't!" she yelled desperation on her face."I'm sorry."

"No wait."

"But you arrested my husband." She said interrupting him. Nick could see someone coming up behind her though he wasn't sure who it was.

"Wait!" He yelled at her holding up one hand in the signal to stop.

"Mrs. Hendler?" Grissom said having Mrs. Hendler turn around in surprise to be found at gun point. "Nick don't move. Please I don't want to fire my gun anymore than you do. For five years you've been washing the blood off your hands." Mrs. Hendler gave a tiny nod.

"Let's put down the gun." He instructed. Slowly he put his down she did the same. Grissom approached her and took the gun from her never leaving her gaze.

"You okay, Nick?" Grissom asked solemnly seeing Nick had his back to them. Nick turned to face him tears threatening to fall.

"Huh? Yeah." Nicky said in a shaky voice nodding his head.

"Come on." Gil said to Mrs. Hendler leading her out but not before throwing Nick a concerned glance. Sighing Nick ripped off his gloves, looking down thinking how close he came to being in a grave six feet under.

After a few minutes Nick got himself together to get in the passenger seat and Grissom drove them home.

Friday, August 17th, 2000, 6:30 a.m.

Just looking at Auggie pushed Nick over the edge. He scooped up his little girl and held her in his arms, not knowing that he woke her up. Little arms wrapped around his neck holding her to him.

"I'm sorry honey did I wake you up?" Nicky asked in a watery voice, he didn't even he was crying. She shrugged but didn't let go of him. He kissed the top of her head affectionately before heading out of Greg's lab, mindlessly wondering where he is.

Nick headed across the hall to Grissom's dark office. He flipped the switch near the door to find Mr. Jiggles in Grissom's seat with a sign that said 'Happy Birthday Nicky!' Nick gave a laugh seeing his co-workers; his family came out from behind Gil's selves.

"Happy Birthday Man! Now let's go eat!" Warrick said slapping him on the back and giving Auggie a kiss on the forehead.

"Amen!" was heard all around as they headed to the diner for breakfast.

Breakfast was a loud affair filled with laughter. Most of the time they were telling stories from previous cases laughing at one said or did to embarrass someone else. They just finished when Catherine handed Nick a card addressed to him and Auggie. Opening it he read out loud what it said for Auggie's sake.

"Nicky,

For your birthday you're not getting money, clothes or sports tickets to some game. Instead for the weekend you and Auggie are going to spend some time at Lake Tahoe in a Cabin relaxing. No frowning, you deserve it both of you; (Nick was frowning.). While you two are relaxing the team and I are going to be remodeling your house so it is safe for Auggie and she will also have a room instead of sleeping in your bed with you if I am right.

Happy Birthday Nicky!

Catherine & the Team"

Nick looked up at them in amazement and respect. "Thank you" as all he could say to sum up what he was feeling.

"There is no thanks necessary. Like it said Auggie and you deserve this. By the time you get home from your vacation the house will be finished." Warrick said with a smile.

"So Auggie what would you like to see in your room?" Cath asked giving the little girl a smile. Auggie looked thoughtful for a moment answering.

"Horses. Pretty horses." Nick gave a grin. Now that is what he expected to from someone from Texas.

"That's Nick's daughter." Jim said with a smirk. Auggie stuck her tongue out at him and he stuck his out back.

"Hey, play nice." Nick said watching the two make faces at each other.

"Alright, you two get out of here. I want you out of your house by noon and no later or you will be kicked out." Catherine said shoving them out the booth and towards the door.

"Typical woman." Nick mumbled to Auggie as they headed to his car, where he buckled his little girl into her car seat and headed to their house to collect a few things.

As suspected Nick and Auggie did have a fun weekend. They spent most of their time out on the lake since it is Nevada and it is like a hundred degree weather. In that time Nick started to teach Auggie to swim. She had fun with it and had fun slashing her new daddy with water.

Also what would a Texan be without horse riding? They took one of the trails by themselves; well Nick did since Auggie was just sitting up in front of him in the saddle. She really did enjoy the horses. When they got done with the trail Nick showed her how to groom the horse properly.

Though one thing Nick didn't enjoy was the phone he had to make to his mother stating that she had a new grandchild.

"What do you mean I have a new grandchild?" His mother yelled into the phone. Wincing he pulled the phone back slightly now glad that he decided to make this phone call outside. Not that it would matter though from all the activities that they have been doing Auggie has been sleeping like a rock.

"I mean what I said. I adopted a little girl who needed my help. I wasn't going to allow Auggie to be thrown from foster home to foster home for the next twelve years till she was eighteen." Nick retorted back though instantly regretting it. His mama was probably in shock and he didn't make things any better by being snappish.

"I'm sorry Poncho. We're just in shock that is all. You shouldn't spring this type of news on us all of a sudden. Our hearts aren't what they used to be you know." Nick's father said after gently taking the phone from his wife.

"It's alright Cisco. I'm a little tired that is all." Nick said rubbing his eyes.

"How old is this little girl, Abby, anyway?"

"Auggie, or August is her full name, is four."

"But are you sure about this, right?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? Yes I'm perfectly sure about this." Nick said exasperatedly and rolling his eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me. I'll be up by Tuesday so don't do anything drastic." His mother said sternly. Nicky looked at his phone in amazement wondering how she knew.

"Mama, you don't have to I have it under control." Nicky said hastily after a moment.

"Nonsense, I want to and that's final. So don't even think about arguing." Sometimes Nicky really forgot how much his mother knew him so well.

"Yes Mama. Love you."

"Love you too Poncho. Happy 30th Birthday Now get some sleep you've got a little one to look after now." Bill said softly

"Night Bye."

"Buh-Bye" was the last thing Nick heard before hanging up his cell phone.

A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I've been working on two sequels that I'll post sneak peeks of later on.