A/N: Howdy, readers. I'm back from the big MI. It was pretty awesome. Got to spend some time with my dad, so it was all good. I'm sure you didn't miss my dorky ass too much. I had a little trouble cranking this one out, so please let me know what you think. Not too much action till the end – just a lot of family bonding, which is always fun to write. Please let me know what you think in a review!

"I'm not mad, Nick." Sara tried to assure her husband as she put the plates in the dishwasher that night. "I just wish you hadn't introduced the idea to her before you talked to me."

Nick glanced over his shoulder to make sure the kids weren't listening in, like they sometimes did. Bailey had run to Sara that day when she got home from work, and told her mother all about what her father suggested. Sara was a little annoyed that Nick would get her hopes up so much when they hadn't even agreed to the approach as a team. Sometimes Nick seemed to forget that they needed to make decisions together, and jumped to them himself.

"Sweetheart, you didn't see how upset she was at school. I had to let her know that there was help on the way." Nick whispered, though Bailey was supposedly up in her room doing homework.

"I know, Nick." Sara clinked the silver wear into the holders apathetically, "But we never even decided we were going to do this, and we can't really back out now. And I don't know if we can afford all the doctor's visits and medication…"

"Sar." Nick walked around the washer and took his wife's hands in his. She reluctantly let him, knowing he was probably going to successfully make things all better between them again. If not, she could always hold it against him in bed that night and get some action her way. They'd been worrying at length for a while now about their finances, with Mally in college and Mari's birth coming a little sooner than expected. "I really think this will help her out. And she feels so much better now she knows her behavior can be helped."

"But we don't know how much it will help, Nick. What will it change? Will she be reserved now, and not the same kid? I have so many questions, Nick, and I wish you hadn't…"

Nick brought Sara into a hug right there in the kitchen. He could tell her reaction was out of fear right now, just as he was feeling the same things. They didn't know what to do, but they had to do something. They couldn't just stand by and watch their little girl suffer.

"I know, baby. I'm sorry, but I just had to do something." Nick kissed her forehead and stroked her back gently, wondering if he had done the right thing. He felt in his heart, though, that if he was trying to help Bailey, he couldn't go wrong. "Why don't we go talk to the doctor tomorrow together. Just you and me, and Bails can come another time, after we've made a decision."

Sara looked at her husband and nodded, smiling slightly. Everything would be okay.

"Besides, we can always just start giving her vitamins and tell her it's Ritalin." Nick joked. Sara giggled, but punched him in the chest once. Nick leaned in and they shared a slow, sensual kiss, and finished with another hug. "And Mally's still not back. Where is that booger?"

It was almost 7:30, and Mally had been visiting with high school friends all day. Nick had finally allowed her to get a cell phone when she went to college, though he wished he hadn't a few times after getting the bill. He didn't understand why they hadn't gotten a call from her yet.

"Why don't you call her, and I'll give Mari her bath."

"Alright. She's probably already naked, so you won't even have to fight her."

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Mally finally had to pull away for air in the back seat of Jason's car after a heavy make out session. Instead of meeting with her high school friends like she'd told her parents, Mally had instead driven halfway to her boyfriend's house, and was somewhere in Southern California. They'd spent the day together, and were having trouble saying goodbye again. Jason's hand was resting inside Mally's thigh under her skirt, and it felt good. It felt good to be wanted in this way, but in her heart she knew nothing could happen. But it was hard to say no.

"Jason…I have to go. My parents will be worried." Mally whispered to Jason. His hand came back to life, causing Mally to close her eyes to find the strength to leave.

"Why don't you stay? You can call and say you're staying at a friend's."

"I can't lie to them." Mally felt awful enough deceiving them for the day, and couldn't take much more of the awful feeling. She'd worked hard to gain their trust back after sneaking out to a party years ago They trusted her again, and she didn't want to ruin that.

"You've been doing it all day." Jason kissed her tenderly, trying to convince her.

"I know. And that's about all I'll be able to get away with around them. Jason, you forget they investigate crimes for a living. I never got away with anything."

"Quit worrying so much." Jason stroked under her skirt again and dove for her mouth. Mally finally found the strength to push him away.

"Sorry, Jason. I. I really have to go. But I'll see you in, like, five days. It's not that long." She tried to point out as she straightened her clothes and her hair.

"Fine."

They both climbed back into the front seats.

"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" Mally suggested, reaching for the handle.

"Alright."

Mally finally opened the door to the car and fumbled with her own keys. She unlocked the door and climbed in to begin her journey back to Las Vegas. But first, she'd need to call home and explain herself.

She hoped that Sara would answer the phone, but she got no such luck, when her phone actually rang. It was home, and she could be sure it was her dad.

"Dad?" She answered, trying to sound as carefree as possible, but cringed.

"Mally Elyse Stokes, where are you and why haven't you called?" Her father's concerned, but forgiving voice questioned her. Nick knew she was twenty years old and practically a grown woman, but he of course still worried about her because she was his daughter. He made every effort to give her space and let her live her own life, but she still managed to worry him often.

"I'm still out with my friends, dad." Mally lied, hating herself for it.

"Where are you?" Nick questioned.

"I, uh…I'm at…the Burger King downtown." Mally looked around and hoped he bought her story. She'd paused though, and he probably picked up on that.

"Why isn't there any noise?"

Mally rolled her eyes. He was ever the investigator.

"Dad, are you interrogating me?"
"No. I just haven't heard from you all day. When are you coming home? The kids miss you."

"I'll be home in a couple of hours."

"A couple hours? Mal, they'll be in bed by then. Why don't you just come home real quick and say goodnight. Bailey had a rough day and she wants to see you."

"Dad, I can't." She wished he would just stop.

Nick knew that Mally wasn't where she said she was. She had to think up an answer, and he could tell she wasn't in a crowded place. If she had been in high school, he would have busted her on it, but alas, she was a college girl now. He didn't want to push her away by holding on too tight. But he liked to believe that his daughter would be honest with him. He hoped she respected him enough to do that.

"Alright, sweetheart. Come tell mom and me you're back when you get home, okay? No matter what time it is."

"I will."

"Kay. I love you."

"I love you too."

Nick shut off the phone and sensed another body close to him in the kitchen. He turned to see Bailey with tears in her eyes once again. She was clinging on to her math notebook, seemingly frustrated with the work she had to do. Nick let out a sympathetic noise and picked her up, though she was definitely getting heavy. He kissed her face as she pawed at her eyes and took her to the kitchen table. Nick sat down and held Bailey in his lap.

"Baby, why are you crying?" He asked Bailey gently.

"I don't know…"

"What do you have there?" He nodded at the notebook that was clenched under her left arm.

"My math homework." She sniffled, taking in short, labored breaths.

"Oh yeah?" He kissed her temple and patted her side. "Let's take a look at this. Were you having a little trouble?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah. Well, subtraction can be a little tricky, but luckily, your daddy knows what he's doing."

Nick put a silly look on his face, hoping to loosen Bailey up, and it helped a little. She seemed to stop crying, anyway.

"Alright. Number one. Twenty minus six."

Nick wrote the problem on a separate piece of paper. Bailey watched curiously as her dad drew twenty stars on the paper. He asked her to help him count as he drew, which she quietly joined in on.

"…eighteen…nineteen…twenty." They finished together.

"Good. So, we have twenty stars, right?"

"Yep."

"And what does the problem say?"

"Twenty minus six."

"Right. So what do we have to do to these twenty stars?"

"Minus six of 'em."

"Good!" Nick handed his daughter the pencil. "Why don't you cross out six of those stars."

Nick watched carefully as Bailey confidently crossed out six of those stars. Then, she knew what to do. She went back and counted how many stars were left."

"Fourteen." She reported.

"Way to go, baby. You got it."

Nick helped Bailey through two more problems, and she seemed to have it, as long as she drew pictures. She seemed to calm down and sat happily in Nick's lap doing the rest of her twenty problems. Nick breathed a sigh of relief and pride as his daughter finished.

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"No want cwoves!" Mari protested, wrapped up in her oversized towel. The little girl would not give in so easily, and stood looking cross but very unintimidating in her tiny form. Sara tried not to laugh as the two year old threw off her towel with as much attitude as her body could muster up.

"Mari, we've talked about this before. You can't sleep naked, because you might get cold in the night, and then you'll scream for daddy and me, and we won't be happy. Is that what you want?"

"No cwoves!" She repeated, crossing her arms and pouting her lip.

"Mari, you have twenty minutes until bedtime. You can stay naked until then, but when it's time for bed, you have to put your pj's on. Deal?"

The little girl contemplated her mother's offer, eyeing her conspiratorially. She finally agreed and ran out of the bathroom gleefully.

Aidan's bedroom door was open and he saw his baby sister run past buck-naked, screeching happily. He shook his head and tried to get back to his homework. Being surrounded by girls could be tough sometimes. Aidan loved his sisters, but sometimes the estrogen clouds that hung all over the house could be suffocating. Someone knocked at his door.

"How you doing, Aid?" Sara asked her son, walking in and sitting on the bed next to him.

"Okay, mom. I'm almost done. Then, can I go play outside?" He asked hopefully. The rule in the Stokes household was that homework was to be done immediately after dinner. If it was still light outside, they could go play in the backyard. Aidan was a very bright boy, and usually finished his work within twenty minutes.

"Of course, baby. What are you working on?"

"Subtraction."

"Yeah? Do you need any help?"

"No. I got it." Aidan answered. He stopped his work and stared down at his paper for a few seconds. "Mom, why is Bailey having so much trouble?"

Sara readjusted her sitting posture, and Aidan figured out that this wasn't just some kiddy concern he had about his sister. His mom and dad were worried too, and that meant it was serious.

"Well, Aidan, we're going to take your sister to a special doctor, because she is having a lot of trouble concentrating in school, isn't she?"

Aidan nodded. "Some of the kids make fun of her and call her Crazy Bailey."

"They do? And how does that make you feel?"

"Not good. I feel really bad. So I tell them to quit it."

"That's good." Sara kissed his head and smiled proudly at her son. "You're such a good brother. You do a good job."

Aidan didn't feel like he did a good job. The other boys didn't really listen to him when he defended his sister. Aidan knew he wasn't all that intimidating. People didn't listen to what he had to say no matter how loud he yelled. He just wanted them to leave his sister alone. Though he was only a few minutes older, Aidan was the big brother, and he took his job seriously.

Mari picked this inopportune time to come streaking through Aidan's bedroom, singing gleefully at the top of her lungs. She ran into her mother's lap, having no thought that her nakedness may not be comfortable to others.

"Mari, what have I told you about screaming in the house?" Sara asked her daughter gently as the little girl wrapped her mother's arms around her.

"Not ta."

"That's right. Screaming hurts people's ears."

"Momma, where Mawwy?" The toddler asked, her chocolate eyes wide and temporarily concerned.

"She's out with her friends, baby. She'll be back later, after you go to bed." Sara reported sadly, stroking Mari's hair gently. Aidan, embarrassed, went back to his homework. Crazy girls.

"No Mawwy tonight?" She gazed up at her mother, pouting.

"Nope. But now it's time for your bath, little girl."

"No baf!" She whined as her mother picked her up, carrying her baby-style out of the room. Nick was coming up the stairs behind Bailey, who finally looked at ease for the night. Nick winked at his wife and rolled his eyes at his little daughter. She'd come streaking downstairs a few minutes before.

"Mari, I hope you're being good for momma." Nick thought out loud, knowing it would have its desired effect on the two year old. Mari immediately stopped squirming and smiled at her daddy.

"Daddy!" She reached her arms out to him. Nick chuckled and took the toddler, tucking her under his arm. He set her down in the bathroom and turned back to Bailey and Sara while Mari tugged on his fingers.

"Bails, I be there in a few minutes, okay? Why don't you let mom start reading with you?"

Bailey nodded, but didn't say a word, grasping her mother's hand. At times, she was calm as could be like she was right now. Nick could tell she felt at ease these times. This is when she must feel comfortable in her own body. When she didn't feel like jumping out of her own skin.

"Okay. Sar, I'm just gonna run her bath, and I'll be right there."

"Alright." Sara said a little shortly, catching Nick's attention.

"Or do you want me to wash her?"

"No, baby, that's fine. My mind…was just wandering."

"Yeah." Nick nodded. They were both thinking about so many things these days – Bailey's issues; Aidan's confidence; Mari's bodily functions; and tonight, Mally's safety. She still wasn't back, and Nick knew she must be off doing something they didn't approve of. "I'll be right there, baby."

Sara followed Bailey into her bedroom, which was any little girl's dream. The room was decorated cozily in white and soft yellow, complete with a snuggly bay window. Mari's crib was in the right corner, with Bailey's bed in the left, the bay window sitting between. Bailey climbed right into her shabby chic quilted covers and reached for the book that rested on her oak nightstand. She scooted over so her mother could join her under the covers. Bailey liked being read to, but she didn't really like reading. It took to much concentrating and her body didn't usually cooperate with that kind of commitment. Bailey was an average reader, not nearly as good as she could be, and she knew it.

"What have you and daddy been reading?" Sara asked her daughter gently as they snuggled in under the covers. She relished in the way that Bailey cuddled in close to her, hooking her little arm in with her own, and resting her head there. Her little hand, with tarnished, chipped purple nail polish ran over the cover of the book. It was called Your Turly, Shirley.

"It's about a girl and she's in the third grade. She gets her letters mixed up and doesn't do that good at school. Kinda like me."

Sara thought about what her daughter had just said, and how she pictured herself in her seven year old mind. She must be so scared and so down on herself, wondering what was wrong with her impressionable mind. Right then, Sara understood what Nick was talking about earlier – seeing that look of defeat in Bailey's eye – that look that showed she was lost and didn't know what to do. She needed to be boosted, or the confidence that was weakened now may never be recovered. Sara couldn't let that happen to her little girl.

"Is that what you think, sweetheart? That you're no good at school?"

"I'm not, momma. I'm stupid because the monster inside me won't let me do my work!" Bailey started crying a little. Nick was about to come in to trade off girls, but stopped momentarily. He listened to what they were saying and the emotional temperature of the room. They were having a moment, and Sara was understanding. He knew she was seeing that look in Bailey's eyes that broke his heart every time. Nick closed his eyes and turned back to the bathroom. He would give Mari her bath, and then he and Sara would have a talk in bed that night.

"The monster? What's the monster?"

"The monster's inside me, and if I don't run and jump for a while, he gets real mad. And he makes me do stuff I don't wanna." Bailey explained her feelings away the only way she knew how. There was something going on inside her that she didn't understand or now how to control. It was like some terrible monster inside her.

"Oh, sweetheart." Sara kissed her daughter's head. "I'm so sorry you feel like that. But daddy and I are going to get you some help with that monster, okay? We're gonna go talk to the doctor tomorrow, and see if we can do something about it."

"Read to me, momma." Bailey requested, wanting this emotion to be over with. She really didn't like to talk about it, because it just reminded her of how crazy she was. Sara could hear Mari playing happily in the tub and her husband's gentle voice talking to her. She smirked down at her daughter sympathetically and was glad to offer her daughter a little distraction.

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Nick and Sara lay in bed that night under the covers facing each other. Nick gently stroked his wife's face with his fingers and leaned into kiss her tenderly, taking in her beautiful eyes. Sometimes he still couldn't believe she loved him; that she married him and carried three of his children. She was so breathtakingly beautiful and smelled heavenly, even after a long day at work.

"I want to go to the doctor tomorrow. About Bailey." Sara whispered, placing her hand on his bare chest. Sometimes she had trouble thinking around Nick; even after seven years of marriage. That sculpted chest somehow always managed to wow her.

"I think that's a good idea. I'll talk to Grissom to get some time off."

"Does she ever talk to you about a monster?" Sara wondered. Bailey had never mentioned a monster to her before, and thought it was telling that was how she'd described her feelings.

"Hmmm?"
"Bailey said she felt like there's a monster inside her, that makes her act up."

"That's interesting." Nick commented, raising his eyebrows and twisting his lips a little. He often wondered what went through her mind, and hoped they get into it more after seeing the doctor. Nick admitted he was pretty clueless about ADHD, and what behaviors could be explained by it, and how much of it was just a little girl being mischievous.

The phone rang and interrupted their conversation.

"Hello?" Nick answered. His face dropped and his entire body changed as someone else talked on the other end, and Sara could immediately tell something was wrong. "Is she okay? Where is she?" He asked quickly.

"WHAT HAPPENED?" He yelled into the phone, standing up. Sara ran her hand up and down his chest, trying to calm him down, but knew it was no use. "I'll be right there." He slammed the phone down.

"Nick, what's going on?" Sara threw off the covers as Nick shrugged his shirt on and found his jeans and shoes.

"Mally was in an accident."