Disclaimer: I don't own CSI, CBS and the producers do.
Previously on Who I Am:
"Yeah, I'll see you in a few." Nick said before hanging up the phone and moving back to the bedroom. Auggie was still asleep which gave Nick an opportunity to grab a pair of semi decent sweats with a Marines Corps hoodie in case she got cold or something.
The father set the clothing in a small backpack near the door before heading towards the living room. Waking a four year old is not something he would do willing unless he had to. That is why he is leaving the waking to Warrick. He grinned at that thought though he knew that Warrick wouldn't be that happy. Nick was pulled out of his thoughts by someone calling his name.
Chapter 10: Arguments and the wild, wild west
"Nick, Nicky?" Warrick called standing off to the side of his friend knowing that the Texan has a tendency to lash out when he is called out from zoning.
"Yeah?" Nick asked just turning his head to look at his friend. Warrick took notice to the lack of reaction but simply ignored it.
"Where's the squirt?" He asked holding out his hand to help Nick up from the couch. Nick rolled his eyes but took the hand anyways.
"Sleeping, do you want the car seat or do you want to take my car?" Nick asked answering Warrick's question with another question. Warrick rolled his eyes and moved the door to get the car seat. Nick gave a sigh knowing that his friend did that on purpose so that it was himself to wake Auggie up.
Nick moved into the four year olds room with care. He moved to the bed and started to wake the bed head by tickling her. At first Auggie just squirmed, then there was giggles, and finally full out laughter. Auggie turned on her side to look at Nicky, sticking her tongue out at him before she hopped off the bed and running down the hall. She got to the living room before she ran into what she thought was a brick wall but turned out to be Warrick's legs.
"Hey Squirt! What you running from?" Warrick asked scooping up the little girl and placing her on his hip.
"Uncle 'Rick!" Auggie exclaimed throwing her arms around the tall man's neck. Warrick gave a laugh and moved off the side as Nick came plowing through. The black man gently swung Auggie around till she could see his back and that was it.
"Is looking for a little girl to tickle you haven't seen one have you?" Nick asked almost in a pirate type of voice.
"I'm afraid I haven't seen one man, did you check down the hall?" Warrick asked feinting innocence, though he could feel the little girl against his back shaking from suppressed giggles.
"Aye, are you sure because I'm pretty sure there is one behind your back!" Nick exclaimed reaching around Warrick and snatched Auggie from him and bringing her into his arms. He tickled her mercilessly for a few minutes before stopping.
"You're going out with Uncle Warrick for a few hours okay? I want you to be a good girl for him." Nick told her bring her close for a hug before releasing her.
"Okay Papa, love you." Auggie said sweetly from Warrick's arms. Nick gave her an eye crinkling smile as she smiled at him.
"Love you too. Have fun." Nick was able to get in before they were out the door and down the road.
It had taken Nick an hour to get in contact with his mother and convince her to come over to the house so they can talk. By the time she got over there Nick had thought of what she had tried to do more thoroughly and the more he did the more infuriated he got.
"What did you think you were doing?" Nick yelled as soon as she closed the front door and was situated on the couch.
"I have no idea what you are talking about Nicky." Carol stated calmly as she watched her fuming son pace his living room floor before her.
"The hell you do! A Leroy Jethro Gibbs called me today asking me about Auggie." He spat at her, fire coming from his eyes as he watched his mother, getting angrier by how calm she was.
"Maybe he read it in the paper or something Nicky. What makes you think that I had anything to do with this?" She asked her calm mask firmly in place.
"Let me inform you of something. The adoption, Auggie's adoption, was a closed adoption. Only a certain number of people know about the adoption. It also helped that he mentioned you by name mother. If you're going to lie Mother get your facts straight and do it well." Nick told her sneering when he used the word Mother something that was out of character for Nicky. Nick had the satisfaction of watching the color drain from Carol's face when he informed her of that little fact.
"Nicky let me explain…" Carol started to say but got interrupted by her still furious son.
"No I don't want any of your bullshit mother. I want you back in Texas by the end of the week and I don't want you to contact me for at least two months, at least. If Cisco wants to talk to me he can call me on my private line. Now get out." Nick informed her as, he being the southern gentleman that he is opened the door to her showing her the way out.
"Nicolas." Carol began again getting up from the couch but got interrupted again by her son.
"Out, now." Nick said pointing her to the door and Carol made a hasty exit with a second glance at her son before she disappeared in the evening. Nick gave a heavy sigh as he settled into the couch, though he knew his evening wasn't over yet since he still had to call Agent Gibbs back and explain what happened to his friends. Nick grabbed the phone and began to prepare for the long hours ahead of him before he was able to call it a night with his daughter.
Meanwhile Auggie was having a blast over a Grissom's with the team. Grissom had allowed Hank to stay out so Auggie could play with him while the adults talked about a case they are currently working on and the new CSI that is supposed to be coming the first of September when Auggie starts school. Quietly Greg snuck up behind the unsuspecting four year old planning to pick her up by her feet but the said four year old pulled a quick one on him and attacked his legs bring him down to her level. He glared at her as she climbed on top of him with a smile on her face though an evil smirk began to come on his face as he got up from the floor bringing her with him holding onto her feet.
"Brown." Warrick answered, keeping an eye on Greg and Auggie to make sure that nothing happened to the four year old.
"This is Mike Franks, I was told to call this number to talk to August McCarty." A deep scratchy voice said on the other line. Warrick's brows furrowed remembering that Nick said something about someone calling to talk to Auggie.
"Yeah, one minute." Warrick said setting the phone down on Grissom's dining room table and headed over to the pair.
"Alright, alright, break it up." Warrick told them as he took Auggie from Greg and brought her over to the table, handing her the phone.
"Awww, but we were having fun." Greg whined reclaiming his seat at the table, a pout upon his face. The others smirked at his face but continued on talking.
"Yeah but I think the Squirt will like this call more." Warrick told him as Auggie put the phone to her ear and smiling at the familiar voice at the other end. Her Uncle Mike might be big and gruff on the outside but on the inside he was a big teddy bear.
"Uncle Mike!" Auggie exclaimed bouncing in place on Warrick's lap. She was actually bouncing so much that Warrick had to place his arm around her waist to make sure that she didn't fall off his lap and hurt herself, something Nick wouldn't thank him for happening.
"Hey little miss, glad to hear your voice. How are you?" Mike asked, relief was evident in his voice as soon as he heard the four year olds voice. It was hard enough that John and Amy were killed but he didn't know what Probie would have done if Auggie was killed with them.
"Good! Papa got me all ready for school!" Auggie told him excitedly, making Warrick tighten his hold on her more. Warrick rolled his eyes at the others as the snickered at him situation. Auggie didn't even noticed she was so excited about.
Auggie and Mike talked for about half an hour before they said good bye but that was not before he promised her that he would come up and visit her real soon. The four year old took that promise to heart. Quietly Auggie handed the phone back to her godfather before sliding off his lap and curling up on the couch with her blanket. The kid was out like a light with in the minute. The team smiled at her tenderly and lowered their voices so they wouldn't wake the little tike up. Life was just perfect for them.
Thursday, September 6th, 2000
The last week had been a scramble to get Auggie all set up for when she started school and for when he started work the same day. That Monday Auggie and Lindsay met for the first time and they seemed to get along alright and it made Nick more comfortable that Auggie would have someone looking out for her. Sandra, Catherine's sister agreed to let Auggie stay over there on the nights he worked till he got out and would be waiting for her at seven o' clock that night for Auggie to spend the night and send her off to school that morning if he didn't pick her up after work.
"Remember, I will be here when the bus drops you off and Lindsay will be in the same building if you need her, okay?" Nick asked, kneeling in front of the four year old making sure she had her lunch, her shoes were tied, and her name was on all of the appropriate things.
"Okay, love you Papa." Auggie told him as the bus pulled in front of the drive. Nick pulled Auggie close and kissed her forehead before watching her get on the bus with a last wave. As soon as the bus was down the street he got into his SUV and followed the bus all the way to the school before turning around and heading over to Warrick's to pass the time.
"Hey man, what are you doing here?" Warrick asked groggily as he opened his door to see Nick on the other side.
"Auggie just went to school this morning and I'm kind of freaking out since I don't know if she is okay of not." Nick told his best friend as he took a seat on Warrick's sofa.
"She's fine man. Use this time to get things done that you can't do when Auggie is around. Look the school will call you if anything is wrong with the Squirt." Warrick advised him as he sat down and placed a hand on Nick's shoulder.
"You're right, thanks man." Nick said nodding his head slightly, when something came to Nick's mind. "You coming over for Auggie's birthday tomorrow?" he asked cocking his head to the side as he looked at his best friend and brother.
"Yeah, what time tomorrow?" Warrick asked, reclining his feet on the coffee table and turning the tv to the football game on.
"Around three but if you could arrive a little earlier to help Auggie get off the bus that would be great." Nick explained hastily as the quarterback on one of the teams got tackled making Nick wince a little.
"Sure where are you going to be?" Warrick asked with a sideways glance before turning back to the game to catch who scored as the whistle went off.
"Let's just say that we will be getting a guard dog in the near future." Nick said cryptically as he got up and made his way to the door, there some shopping he do before a certain four year old came home from school. Warrick just shook his head as he watched Nick go and do whatever he needed to do.
Nick spent most of the day going to shops getting the things he needed for the party since he knew he would be sleeping for most of the day tomorrow. Though he did make a stop to the Rite Aid near his house so he could get a few pictures developed of Auggie to give to the team, Doc Robbins and Brass if they wanted one.
A/n: Can't believe that I have so many of these things. I'm sorry it's taken so long. I'll try to update more often.