Chapter Three: Home Life Work Life

After pulling two doubles in a row, Nick figured it was best that he be home, before Susan figured out how to commit the perfect murder. When he got home, he instantly heard the screams of the twins, though thankfully, they were screams of laughter, not just plain screams. Susan came into the living room, child on each hip. Both were getting a kick out of something they were holding, which was the reason for their laughter.

"Well, hiya Stranger," she said, "Was beginnin' t' wonder of ya'd taken up permanent residence in that lab of your's."

"Nah," Nick replied, approaching her, and giving her a kiss, "It's just been a difficult couple of cases is all. Still gotta solve it, but we'll get there eventually." When he tried to step away from his wife, he found that Jaina had grabbed hold of his shirt, and wasn't letting go.

"Uh-oh," said Susan, "she's kicked in t' 'Daddy's girl' mode. Ya best take 'er. Otherwise we'll never hear th' end of i'."

With an overly-dramatic fake sigh, Nick took the girl, at which point, Ryne also decided that he wanted his father to take him. Laughing, Susan handed her young son to her husband. Another sigh from Nick, this one of resignation. "What're ya'll rugrats doin' up this late anyway?"

"They wouldn' go t' sleep," said Susan, "They never do when you're away from home for too long... I, however, sleep jus' fine." She added a smirk, just to antagonate him.

"Well, at least I know who really loves me," Nick retorted. Susan stuck her tongue out at him. "Stick it out again, and it's mine," Nick growled playfully. "I'll hold ya t' that threat, Nicolas Brandon Stokes," she replied, and did it again. Nick caught her in a kiss before she was able to pull her tongue back in her mouth. Careful of the children, she kissed him back.

At least Nick would be able to forget the case for one night.

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Elizabeth Robin Markay hid behind the door of her apartment. She'd heard Greg saying hello to one of the neighbors. He never missed a chance to play a prank on her, so tonight was her night to get back at him. Partially for all the pranks, partially for not being home the past couple of days. The door opened, concealing her. On came the over head light. There was the clank of his keys as he tossed them on the table. The door shut, and Beth pounced, leaping on to his back, with a yell of "Gotcha!"

Greg would have jumped a mile into the air, if he didn't have a hundred and fourteen pounds of long legs and arms latched on to him from behind. So instead, he peeled his girlfriend off of him, saying "Man can't even come into his own home without getting assaulted... What's this city coming to?"

"If you don't know the answer to that by now, Greggory," said Beth, "Then you're just as addle-brained as everyone says."

"Everyone huh?" He asked, "I ain't heard you call me that."

"Exactly, you ain't heard it... So, how were the double-shifts?"

"Not to great...I suppose you know about the four kids that were killed? Make it five."

"I'm gonna have to start locking every lock on that door..." Beth muttered, before saying in a normal volume, "You solve it yet?"

"No, not yet, but none of Grave Yard were awake enough to even try, and I think our guests were having a little trouble adjusting to working at night."

"Guests?"

"Yeah, couple CSIs from Miami came to help out. Wonder if they're enjoying Vegas."

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"Summer Alexandra Nicole!"

Summer heard her name being shouted, and trudged out of her room, into the kitchen, fairly sure of who was calling her. Her father came to get her, her mother just called for her. "Yeah, Mama?" she said, stopping in the kitchen doorway.

"I've been calling you for ten minutes," said Sara idly, "take your bugs to your room, please... You're as bad as your father, sometimes..."

"I heard that," said Grissom from the living room, "And I keep mine at the lab, thanks."

"Aw come on Mama, " Summer teased, "It's just a spider and a scorpion... Right Daddy?"

"Both of which are venomous," Sara reminded her, approaching her, and tucking her daughter's smoky brown curls behind her ear, "You can keep them here ONLY if they're in your room. I don't like them, and you know it."

"Yes Mama," Summer sighed. She went to the counter, where the glass containers that held the stars of her science paper sat, and took them. She went to the living room to say good night to Grissom. "Night, Daddy."

"good night, honey."

"Hey, can I go to the lab again tomorrow? Pllllleeeeeeasssse?"

"Does the word 'school' ring a bell?" Grissom asked, not looking up from his book. "Or how about the rule of no children allowed, unless on special circumstances?"

"Not for the rest of the week," Summer replied, "Teacher conferences or something, so I'm free... And I'd be good, I promise. You know I hate staying alone..." She did her best puppydog pout.

"Aw, Griss, look at that face," Sara laughed. "Ecklie knows better than to bother you anyway..." "Alright," Grissom sighed. Summer let out a squeal that sounded like thank you, hugged and kissed her father, and did the same to her mother, then went back to her room.
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Warrick and Catherine had house guests. As they were the only ones with the room to spare, Horatio and Calleigh were staying with them. Easier than getting two separate hotel rooms that they wouldn't be spending much time in anyway. Calleigh took Lindsay's room, while Horatio would be staying in the guest room. Working all night had taken it's toll on Calleigh, as she was already sound asleep, and, as could be seen from the open door, sprawled out over the bed, still fully clothed. Catherine was already asleep as well. Warrick had drank too much coffee at the lab, and knew it would be a while before he wound down enough to sleep. Horatio just seemed to be too deep in thought to notice he was tired.

"What do you think of this case, mr. Brown?" he asked out of the blue.

"Warrick, please," Warrick corrected, "And I think whoever we're dealing with has serious mental issues."

"Alright then, Warrick," Horatio said, "I'm wondering what is so important about the eyes... Wether it's a message, or just something he does."

"You always this intent on a case? I don't want to sound like I don't care, but I generally try to forget a case for a while, when I'm off work. Give my mind a break."

"I'm afraid so. Even more, since about a year ago. My wife, Marisol, was murdered, not even a day after we were married. Still haven't caught the one who hired the shooter, so, I work extra hard on every other case I get, " he said it so clamly, "When victims, or the families of victims tell me I don't know what it's like to lose everything, I have to tell them that yes, as a matter of fact I do."

Warrick wasn't quite sure what to say. There had been only the barest amount of greif in the man's voice, as if he were holding the rest it. It reminded him greatly of Grissom, actually, though Grissom wouldn't have gone so far as to tell anyone. Finally, Warrick settled on, "Sorry about your wife... I understand working harder on every case. If something were to happen to Catherine, I, well, if I did catch the guy I'd probably be locked up for murder, but if I didn't, I'd make sure I got every other murderer I could."

"I wouldn't expect any less from any good husband," said Horatio, "But back to the case, I think there's a reason for it... For the eyes..."

Warrick had to agree with him.

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The next night, they were back to work, with another murder. Grissom, Horatio, and Catherine took this one. Meanwhile, Nick and Sara were pestering Hodges for results on the blood, and prints they'd found, while Greg went after Bobby, for the bullets, and Warrick and Calleigh went to pay a visit to Doc Robbins.

"What're we looking at, Doc?" Calleigh asked, when she saw the murdered girls, Valerie and Mylie.

"You're looking at very strange rape cases, Miss Duquesne," the coroner replied. "I was going to send rape kits to DNA, and I found splinters of wood, instead of semen. Bits off chipped off paint, too. And unluckily for these young ladies, they were raped before they were killed."

"How can anyone be that sick?" Warrick wondered aloud, shaking his head.

"You've been a CSI long enough to know the answer to that, Warrick," said the Doc. "But I thought I'd let you know that you won't be getting any DNA from the rapes. Also, I noticed an odd pattern in the bruising, on all four vics that I missed before..." He pointed towards the girls' arms, and legs, "It looks like they were beaten with something that was wide, and tapered. But what's strange is the voids," he pointed out voids in the bruising, shaped like a heart. "Whatever it was has a void in that shape in the center of it."

"Thanks Doc," both CSIs said, and turned to leave.

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"You know, all this pacing isn't going to make me get done any faster," Hodges complained.

"It would be done already, if you hadn't been to 'busy' to do it last night," Sara said. She was in no mood to deal with Hodges' rudeness.

"I was backed up from Dayshift," he whined. He started to add something else, but Nick raised a hand to stop him. He wisely shut his mouth. "I'm gonna go grab something to drink, Sara. If I'm lucky, you'll know what the results are on that DNA before I get back." He left the lab before Sara could reply, and headed for the break room. He went to grab a soda from the fridge, and happened to look towards the table. There was Summer, looking like her dog (or evil monster of a cat, more like) had just died.

"What's wrong Kiddo? Ain't you supposed to be doing schoolwork?"

"Finished it, I did it all last night, 'cause I couldn't sleep?"

"Nightmares?" When she shook her head, he raised a skeptical eyebrow. She gave in, and nodded, "Just don't tell my parents... I've had enough of the 'he can't hurt you now' talks, thanks... I just hate not being able to sleep without remembering those two days, and without hearing Ellie screaming, before you guys got there... It pisses me off, that even when the guy who did it is in prison, he still scares me... still gives me nightmares..."

Normally he might have chastised her for her language, but this time he let it slide, "They'll stop eventually, Kid... Even your aunt Susan wakes up sometimes, screamin'...Though I wonder if that's not from raising twins..." He heard Sara call him right then, and waved goodbye to the girl, and headed for the lab.

"DNA, and prints are unknown," said Hodges, "however, I can tell you your perp is female, and you've got your two easiest ways to eliminate suspects."

"whoah, hold on a minute," Sara said, "Did you say female? Okay... How did a woman rape those two girls?"

"Easy," said Calleigh, entering the lab, "According to your coroner, they were raped with a painted, wooden object. Left splinters, appearently. And the rape was before they died..."

Sara couldn't help but wince, hearing that.

"Okay..." said Nick, "so we know how, when, and where... now we need who, and why... I think it's time I went to talk to Valerie Sandon's sister."

"I'll go with you," Calleigh volunteered.

"Hey, Sara, " said Warrick, suddenly appearing next to Calleigh, "Want to come with me, to talk to the other vics' parents again?"

"Why not."

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"Well, Greg," said Bobby, "your murder weapon was a nine milimeter handgun, which is about all I can tell you right now."

Greg sighed in disappointment, "That's what I figured... Thanks anyway, Bobby." He left ballistics, and headed for DNA, hoping to catch Sara or Nick. Unfortuntely, they were just leaving. "Okay... I'll go talk to Emily Brooks and her parents with Brass then," he muttered, and went to find the captain.

Brass, however, found him, "Hey, Greg, Gil back yet?"

"Not yet... Hey, I need you to come with me. No one's talked to Micheal's friend, Emily, or her parents yet."

"Why not, seems everyone else is leaving..."

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