DISCLAIMER:Don't own anything associated with the show… I just like playing with the characters in it.

RATING: T – Teen (language and adult issues)

PAIRINGS: GSR & Yo!Bling pre-established in previous fics of this timeline.

SPOILERS: Sequel to "Displacement" and "Transitions"

SUMMARY: Everything is changing around Nick Stokes. Can he deal with it, and how it will affect him in the end?

A/N: Teething infants are not conducive to writing. :p Thankfully it was a short assignment and he is now tormenting my sister for the duration... Being the crazy aunt has its perks. :D This one is short, but necessary... I hope you enjoy it.

REVIEWS: Reviews are the way I know if people are enjoying the work or not. So, if you leave one, THANKS! And if not, I hope you found at least a little something to brighten your day, and thanks for taking the time to read.

Chapter 22

21:00 - 2006.12.10

CSI Lab: Break Room

The usual chatter from the Break Room was gone, and as Grissom and Catherine approached the room they knew that the team was still dealing with the impact of the news they had been dealt the night before. They both gave each other a saddened glance before they pushed through into the room. Each person looked up, but it was in Sara's gaze he found comfort, and he could only hope that Catherine had found hers as well.

When she took her seat with the others, Grissom began to speak, "Catherine is going to take young Greg to our newest body dump out on the I-15, which means-"

"More evaluations, I know… I'm really beginning to think it'll never end." Greg slumped back in his seat with the news of his assignment for the night.

Sara leaned over and gave him a quick pat on the back, "Don't worry, Greggo… Eventually you'll pass them all." She turned to Nick and asked, "What's this, round four or five?"

"Pool is set at seven." Nick winked at Sara as he caught on to the joke.

Warrick decided to join in on the fun, "Well, I took a beating on the jam pool, so I covered all the bases on this one. I took ten on the tries and ten months on the time."

Catherine could resist no longer, "Hey… What was the final on the jam pool?"

Without missing a beat Grissom chimed in, "Boysenberry… David really cleaned up on that one." There was a pause of silent shock before the guffaws kicked in. They were all still getting used to the new and improved Grissom. "Okay, before we get too far off on a tangent again… Warrick, you've got a home invasion and I'm stealing Sara from the desert DB case for you, since it should be wrapping up." He glanced over the top of his glasses at Nick, hoping to see acknowledgment of his hinting on the man's face, instead he found frustration. "Nick, you'll be finishing that one up solo, unless Sara gets done early with Warrick, okay?"

Nick only nodded tersely at his supervisor. They were still far off from closing the case, but it was obvious to him that Grissom felt otherwise.

With all the assignments handed out, Grissom dismissed his team and watched as they filed out of the room. He made a point of leaving himself a reminder to talk to Nick about the case during their next shift, if he had not yet closed the case. Sometimes, Grissom felt as though Nick had trouble knowing when to quit, but he feared it might have been his training which had created the flaw. In many ways, Grissom had the same problem, thankfully.

CSI GSR CSI GSR CSI GSR CSI GSR CSI GSR CSI GSR

Warrick was just closing up his locker when Nick came ambling into the room. They were alone for a change and he decided it was as good a time as any. "Hey, man… What happened to you last night?"

Nick looked up and found his friend's inquisitive stare firmly locked into place. He knew he was going to have to come up with something good to placate the man. "I ah, had some other plans, didn't figure anybody'd notice."

"Yeah right… Night like that, and you ducked out." Warrick shook his head as Nick started digging through his locker. "You just better be glad Sara's going out on a case tonight, otherwise she's likely to give you a what for."

Nick tried to shrug it off and asked, "What? It's not like she wasn't busy with everyone else."

"Buddy, you better check that attitude before you go talkin' to Sara. She was pretty ticked off when she went looking for you, and then you didn't answer your cell. You had all them women worked up last night." Warrick slapped the man on the back and added, "And if you want my advice, I suggest you steer clear of the morgue, big time."

"Great… Just what I needed tonight." Nick hung his head knowing he was going to catch hell he really was not in the mood for at that moment.

"Yeah, well, use the time to come up with a better story than, you had other plans…" Warrick began to walk out of the room and then he turned back to add, "Because that garbage won't hold with Catherine either."