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: As my beta said... This one is short and sweet, but the rest is coming. So, stay tuned while I set the stage. :D

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 33
20:00 – 2006.12.14
CSI Lab: Exterior Parking Lot

Nick walked away from his truck in the parking lot with his phone to his ear, nodding his head at the person on the other end of the line, even though they could not see him, out of habit more than anything else. "No, Mama, I'm serious… No, I've got my tickets and everything… Yeah, this Sunday… Ah, I think it's one in the afternoon… I'll email you and Dan the itinerary… Okay, I'll send it to the Judge, too… Yes, Ma'am… No, I promise, all the way through Christmas, honest… I know, I know… It just kinda came up. I had this buncha time that I had to use or I'd lose it, so I thought it might be nice to come home for the holiday… No, Grissom was cool about it. It's all good, Mama… No, I can't stay for New Year's… Well, 'cause then I'd miss Sara's weddin'… Yeah, finally… No, great guy, but you know him… You've still got it, Mama. Yeah, it's Grissom… Okay, look, I gotta get going so I can get everything ready for the trip… Love you, too… Bye bye."

Nick closed up his phone as he let out a heaving sigh. Conversations with his mother were always tiring, but when she was excited it was even worse. If nothing else, at least he knew this trip would make her happy, and there was nothing wrong with making your mother smile.

As he walked toward the lab with his vacation request in his back pocket, Nick looked at his watch and decided that he would give the professor one last call before finally giving up on the whole thing. He had been trying to reach the woman ever since Brass stopped by to see him with the request, but he got her voicemail at every number and on every try. It was obvious that she had no interest in hearing from anyone. And as he once again went straight to voicemail on her mobile number, Nick closed the phone with a click. Still frustrated with the experience, Nick paid no attention to where he was headed and ended up nearly knocking over David and his fiancé Sandi.

"Whoa… I'm really sorry." Nick held out a hand to steady David, who looked like he had just been hit by a Mack truck. "Man, Super Dave, I'm sorry 'bout that."

Sandi reached over to brush David off as Nick continued to apologize. She chuckled as she asked, "So, what's her name?"

Nick looked up in shock at her question, "Huh?"

Sandi bent down to retrieve his phone and handed it to him as she said, "Looked like you were on the phone and I figure with a guy like you, it must've been a girl to get you so distracted."

Nick blushed as David chuckled right alongside his fiancé. "Well, ah, not exactly… I was actually trying to get a hold of your boss."

"Ahhhhh." Sandi lowered her gaze a moment and then she and David shared a private look before she said. "Well, R.J.'s out at her cabin. We had a big storm come through and it tore up a bunch of our equipment, so she and Boone took off with a crew as soon as she got back from D.C., and there's no phone service out there."

"Man!" Nick shook his head at her response. "So, how d'you get in touch with her when she's out there?"

David laughed a little before he stopped himself, and then he said, "Get in the car and drive?"

"Awww, you've got to be kiddin' me?" When they both shrugged in what Nick found to be an unsettlingly similar gesture, he knew he was sunk. "Well, that does it then."

"What do you mean?" Sandi looked confused.

"Well, I can't wait for her to get back, be-"

She shrugged again and said, "Who said you had to?" Sandi started walking towards her car in visitor parking and motioned for Nick to follow her. She reached into the briefcase in the backseat and pulled a custom map with driving directions out of a folder. When she handed it to him she said, "Just make sure you get there no later than seven in the morning, otherwise she'll already be packing out for the site, and in no mood to talk."

As he looked at the map, Nick hung his head in defeat.