NOTE: I had said this chapter would jump 1 month in time, but that won't be happening until 32. There was just too much to wrap up and set up and when I wrote the original 31 I kept feeling like I needed to see certain things happen. I wanted to see everyone the next morning, I hope you do too or this chapter will stink! LOL
Laws of Motion – Book 3
Written by: Ms. Maggs/Edited by: KJT
Chapter 31
Thursday - October 6, 2005
Summerlin Hospital
9:34 am
"The nurse said you could eat whatever you want," Drew announced when he bounded into his brother's hospital room. "I got breakfast burritos."
"That's not what I want," Nick wheezed.
"Who cares," Drew winked as he slapped a burrito on his brother's table, "it's what I want."
"I'm the one who almost died last night."
"Stop whinin', you're ruinin' my love buzz "After popping open a container of Salsa the big brother demonstrated affection by smacking his little brother upside the head, "Since when aren't breakfast burritos your favorite, Squirt?"
"They are, but the salsa's gonna burn my raw throat."
"Oh." Feeling bad, Drew jumped up from the edge of the bed. "Sorry, I didn't think about that. How about a muffin or…"
"It smells good, I'll eat it without the salsa."
"Way to suck it up!" Returning to his spot on the bed, Drew grinned, "So, I checked in with Marta on the way the way to the burrito place."
"Detect any post-cherry regret?"
"Not an ounce!" Drew declared after swallowing his first bite. "That girl is sharin' cloud nine with me! Not to toot my own horn, but…"
"You toot it well, so why not, right?"
"Do you want details or not?"
Nick took a big bite of burrito so he'd shut up.
"Marta was my twenty-third virgin and I combined everything I had learned from the previous twenty-two into the perfect experience. That girl went from gasping for air to shouting my name and lovin' every minute in between. I'm serious, it was perfect, which is appropriate, because she's perfect."
"Not to sound skeptical, but you talked just like this when you called and told me about Lissa Lexington, the girl of your dreams, and look how that turned out."
"I was young and stupid then, I'm old and jaded now. The ideal woman in my mind has drastically changed. I need a woman who won't use me, stomp on my shredded heart, and use her body for blackmail."
"So Marta's safe."
"And Carrie's not?" Drew wiped his hands with a napkin. "You avoided relationships all these years because you're terrified of rejection. When you finally committed to someone she's a needy recluse who fears men. Hell, that girl shakes in her shoes if I have my shirt off in the same room as her. Sorry, they don't come any safer than that, Nicky. Face it…we're both screwed up from our upbringing and need women who we're sure won't hurt us. Don't deny me my safe woman while you enjoy yours."
"Safety is just one of many reasons I love Carrie."
"Well safety is only one of many reasons I'm crazy about Marta. She's gonna be good for me, you'll see, and I'm gonna treat her right and make each and every one of her dreams come true. You just watch."
Lowering his voice to a whisper Nick asked the burning question on his mind, "How was it makin' love to a big girl after a lifetime of silicone skinny girls?"
"I knew you were dyin' to ask that." Drew's grin filled the room. "I thought it would be a turn off, but I couldn't stop grabbin' all that extra flesh. It's gonna be nice not worryin' about snappin' the twig beneath me." Cracking up he shared, "I finally get why that rapper dude was so damn excited that his baby had back. Remember that song? Back is good…reeeeeal good. Hell, it was good when we were takin' it slow the first time, I can't wait until we pick up the pace down the road. I'm already fantasizin' about that!"
"Bro…"
Closing his eyes, Drew dreamily said, "I want to grab those big hips of hers from behind and go to town! Oh yeah, I want to…"
"Bro!" Nick grabbed his brother. "Mama's here."
"Sure, I'll get you more salsa, Nicky." Drew ruffled his little brother's hair. "Oh, mornin', Mama. Look at how well I'm takin' care of the sickie."
The Vartanns
10:15 am
"Nurse Becca reporting for duty!"
Walking out of the bathroom, with a towel around his hips, Tony was greeted by the sight of his wife lounging on their bed in the skimpiest nurse's uniform imaginable.
"Time to begin your physical therapy, Detective."
"Where did you get that?!" He laughed hard enough to make his sore shoulder throb.
"Are you kidding? It's Vegas, they sell naughty-wear at supermarkets. This outfit was marked down for being defective." Rolling onto her stomach, so the nurse's dress rode up, she explained, "The manufacturer forgot to include the matching panties…oops."
"Just when I thought it wasn't possible to be more grateful for surviving that explosion." Tony eased his sore and lacerated body onto the bed next to his lovably naughty wife. "I don't think I'll be able to do much during this first post-injury session, Nurse Becca."
"Don't worry," she assured while straddling him. "All you have to do is lie back while I work your muscles."
"All this and I get to keep my badge."
"And I'm willing to have your baby." Bringing her mouth to her husband's Becca whispered, "When I couldn't sleep last night I thought about it. How about we try the in vitro on our six month anniversary?"
"Really?"
"I even researched on the Internet what I have to do. There's some hormones involved and stuff. I'm gonna call later and make a doctor's appointment to get checked out and make sure I don't have any issues…aside from the mental ones," she chuckled. "But I know they're already getting better with your help."
"I love you, Honey." Tony met his wife's mouth with a tender kiss.
"Mmm…" Becca licked her lips and purred, "Looks like someone's ready for some TLC."
Crime Lab – Break Room
10:48 am
"I need some quality time with my wife," Gil announced while trapping Sara against the fridge with his arms.
"This is…so very unlike you." Sara glanced around and while there was no one else in the room, people were strolling by the open door. "A PDA at the lab?"
"I'm not touching you."
"You're trapping me," she grinned. "It's very dominant behavior and it's making me flustered. It reminds me of the time I had you pin me down against that bloody sheet working the Lyford murder."
"Flustered was good then, and it's good now."
"What is with you?!" she laughed.
"Nick was sixty seconds from dying last night. It could have been you or me in that house." Moving a hand to Sara's face, he whispered, "Back to my original thought…I need some quality time with my wife. Check your schedule and submit a vacation request. Life's too short and we have a cabin in Tahoe that misses us."
"Okay," Sara quietly replied while getting lost in her husband's blue eyes.
"The Lyford case was two years ago." Gil winked. "I really need to fluster you more often."
Questioned Documents
11:06 am
Surprising his wife, Greg plopped on the edge of her new desk and leaned in to read her ID badge, "Hello, Tawny. My name's Greg Sanders; I'm a CSI here at the lab, so you'll be seeing me from time to time. Welcome to LVPD."
"Hello, CSI Sanders."
"Greg, just call me Greg."
"Greg," she giggled. "How may I help you today?"
"You could have lunch with me. That would help me out a lot." He tapped his watch. "QD shuts down from twelve to one for lunch, everyone knows that. There's a nice sandwich shop around the corner, or if you'd prefer Mexican, there's a taco shop close by."
"Are you hitting on me on my first day at the lab?"
Sliding closer he soulfully said, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
Batting her eyes, Tawny giggled, "I do now."
"Choose your destiny…sandwiches or tacos."
"Tacos sound great. I'll meet you in the lobby at noon."
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship, don't you?"
"I really do." Tawny shooed him away. "You have to leave now. I don't want to get fired on my first day."
When Greg saw Linda, his wife's boss, he loudly said, "Where did you find this office clerk?! She's fantastic! I have complete faith that my questionable documents are in very good hands with her around."
"Beat it, Sanders," Linda joked. "Your better half is mine until five o'clock Monday through Friday."
"Except from twelve to one!" From the doorway Greg winked, "Noon in the lobby, I'll be counting the minutes."
Summerlin Hospital
11:22 pm
"I didn't think Mama would ever leave," Drew grumbled when he returned to his brother's bedside.
"Where were you?'
"Buyin' Marta a present." From his pocket he pulled a Tiffany blue box.
"Here we go," Nick rolled his eyes. "How much did you spend? Ten grand like the one you bought for Tawny? It's way too soon for bling, Bro."
"It's not bling, it's sentimental! And it only cost two hundred and fifty dollars, way under the 'make her feel like a 'ho after sleeping with me' range." Drew flipped open the lid to reveal an 1837 Lock Bracelet. "I'm gonna say…this is for unlocking my heart."
"Then shouldn't it be a key bracelet instead?"
"No! It shouldn't be a key bracelet instead!" Drew stared at the bracelet. "Dammit! You're right, it should be a key bracelet." He snapped the box shut in disappointment.
"Wait!" Nick snatched the box. "You just need to change your line, not the present." Presenting the bracelet he said, "I know it's only been twenty four hours, but…you already have a lock on my heart."
"Ooh, that's good." Drew reclaimed the gift. "That's real good, Young Skywalker."
"You gave me a solid foundation, Obi Wan, but now the student is teachin' the Master a thing or two about romance."
"Indeed you are. I'm sure I'll see cats and dogs dancin' in the street when I leave."
"Before you go, check this out, Bro. Mama dropped off my laptop and the hospital has WiFi." He turned the computer so Drew could see the screen. "This is for you, 'Sir-Mixin'-It-Up-with-the-Curvaceous-Nanny'. I really hope you and Marta live happily ever after. Turn up the volume and click the link. It's freakin' perfect…Cosmo girl Lissa is in the video and they reference Tawny's plastic parts! I was laughin' so hard the nurse flew in her to see why my heart rate was up!"
"What the…" Drew covered his mouth to stifle the howling. "The 'Baby Got Back' music video! I can't believe you!"
Sheriff's Office
11:41 am
"I can't believe it myself," Jim told his boss. "But the husband confessed to rigging the explosive to kill his wife. Mike Rodgers is a bonafide hero."
"Do you know what the bonafide hero's lawyer has already called requesting?"
"The key to the city?"
"He wants the commendation rushed through and for Stokes to give the Medal of Honor to Rodgers at the LVPD Formal."
"Did he specify where he's to put the medal? Because it really wouldn't be too bad if Nick could shove it up that bastard's ass."
"My guess is that won't fly."
"A guy can dream." Jim slouched in his chair. "I can't wait to be the bearer of that bad news."
The Blakes
11:50 am
"Good news!" Wendy informed her husband on the phone. "I'm so glad you called! I just hung up with the social worker. Celine and her mother are reconciling. They were in each other's arms crying when she called. Now if I could just get a phone call from Gil saying that they're charging Mike with attempted murder…"
"Wen…"
"I know that tone." She gripped the phone tighter.
"I just hung up with Gil. The husband confessed to rigging the house with explosives, and he was charged this morning."
"Mike didn't do it."
"No."
"He really ran into that house to save Nick without knowing whether or not it would blow?"
"I'm sorry, Honey."
Wendy watched her little girl on the floor playing and replied, "Back to being scared to death he'll hurt my kids."
"Wen…"
"My sister's killer, saved your sister's fiancé." She started to shake. "I really can't get my head around that, Paul. How is Carrie handling it?"
"I talked to her an hour ago and maybe it's because she's focused on her appointment at the fertility doctor today, but…she really didn't seem to care."
"She didn't care?!"
"Don't take it personally, she hasn't even been to the hospital to see Nick. Sorry, Honey…I gotta go."
Crime Lab – Layout Room
11:55 am
"I hafta bolt!" Greg informed Jas while peeling off his gloves. "I have a date with the new girl in QD. Her name is Tawny and she's totally gorgeous and sweet."
"Your personal life is so weird."
"Normal is way overrated." Tossing his gloves in the trash, Greg excitedly shared, "Did I mention that I'm getting a little brother?"
"Your divorced fifty-eight year old dad got someone pregnant?"
"No!" Greg burst out laughing at the idea. "Not that he couldn't, because Sanders men are exceptionally virile as proven by my ability to impregnate my wife with twins on the first try. No, my dad is adopting Daniel because that poor guy's family is getting creepy and scaring him to death. His uncle is actually petitioning for him to be committed and lobotomized because he thinks the gayness is due to brain dysfunction. In Nevada you can adopt someone eighteen or older as long as they give consent and as long as it's not for nefarious reasons. Once my dad legally adopts him, he's Daniel's next of kin and it's case closed on his family having any rights to his brain. He'll also get to be on my dad's insurance, which solves another problem."
"And I thought my uncle was being a jerk about me dating an American." She mocked his Bombay accent, "'You have really lost your mind, Jasminder. I knew when you cut your hair, you were going crazy. First you want to spend time with dead bodies and now you're dating an American man'. I guess I should be grateful he's only trying to set me up with Indian guys instead of arranging for a lobotomy."
The Vartanns
12:14 pm
"You have to be crazy for showing up here," Becca snapped at Amy. "Why would I let you into my home when you've been nothing but a bitch to us? You called Tony's entire family and told them I had an abortion in college!"
"I'm sorry about that! Come on, I just want to see Tony and know that he's okay."
"He's fine. Buh-bye"
"Tell him I'm taking his advice!"
The door almost shut, Becca reopened it. "What advice? When did you talk to Tony?"
"He called me yesterday, urging me to go the doctor." Smiling, she said, "He didn't tell you he called me? He even offered to drive me if I was scared."
"Of course he told me," Becca lied.
"Then why did you just say 'when did you talk to Tony'?'" Amy snickered, "Seems like your husband is keeping secrets from you."
"No, he isn't!" Tony's booming voice filled the room. "Her husband was caught up in an explosion last night and it really wasn't the most important thing on his mind for the last twelve hours. He was planning on telling her later." Looping his arm around Becca's waist he snipped, "Stop trying to stir trouble, Amy. The whole reason I want you to get help and get better is so you'll get your own life and leave us alone."
"What he said," Becca added, before kissing her husband's bandaged cheek. "I'll be in the kitchen making you lunch, Honey."
Once they were alone, Amy stepped into the house and placed her palm on Tony's cheek. "Mike told me how bad it was. You could have died. We can't let any more time pass, Baby. Life's too short. We belong together."
"You belong in a Psych ward," he coolly replied while swatting away his ex-wife's hand. "The sooner the better."
Her blood boiling, Amy glanced around the well-appointed room. "Of course you want her, look at this place. A fucking Ferrari, a half-million dollar home…you're pathetic. How does it work? Does she snap her fingers and you drop your pants?"
"Go to hell."
Drew's House
12:47 pm
"I think I've died and gone to heaven!" Marta exclaimed while Drew linked the bracelet around her wrist. "You didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to do it," Drew whispered, making sure the housekeeper didn't hear. "Last night was incredible."
"It sure was," the lovestruck girl replied. "Even though I can't walk today, making love was totally worth it."
"Really? Because I thought I..."
"It's okay, really. I sat on an ice pack for an hour and took a couple of Advil." Concern filling her voice she asked, "Is it normal for the whole area to swell up and turn bright red? There's some bleeding too, but I've read that…"
"My God, I really thought I was bein' gentle."
"I kept saying it hurt, but you were a little caught up and…"
"You were?!" His heart raced. "Sweetheart, I swear I didn't hear…"
"Gotcha back!" Covering her mouth, she cracked up. "That was for your 'three bite marks' joke last night!"
"You had me goin'! You…c'mere." Laughing, he grabbed her hand and tugged her into the pantry, locking the door. "You deserve to be spanked for that, but I'm gonna kiss you instead."
"Now I'm really glad I joked with you if kissing is the punishment." Thrilled the happiness wasn't over after one perfect night, she fell into his arms and lost herself in the kiss.
"Mmm…"
"Mmm indeed."
"Nanny Marta!"
"Matt was expecting me with Play Dough," she sighed in Drew's arms. "Be right there, Buddy! Your daddy is helping me get something off the top shelf! Why don't you wait for me at the picnic table outside?"
"Yes, Ma'am! I'll play fetch with T-Rex until you get there."
"He's nuts about that dog," Marta sweetly informed the man clinging to her like white on rice.
"Insanity runs in the family, because his daddy's nuts about his new girlfriend." After a parting kiss, he winked, "Enjoy the bracelet, I'll see you at family movie night."
"See you there."
Crime Lab – Parking Lot
12:54 pm
"Have any plans for tonight?" Greg asked his lunch date. "Because I have some friends coming into town and I'd love for you to meet them."
"Do you always come on this strong with women?"
"No, confidence with a lady is actually quite new for me. It's about twelve hours old actually." Stopping in the lot, Greg dropped the act. "Last night when I saw Drew well up and be a needy little boy with his mommy, I realized he's just as screwed up as me. A few minutes later I tackled him, completely shattering the myth that he was bigger and better than me. Suddenly the chip on my shoulder vanished and by the time I walked out of that hospital, I felt like a new man."
"But in reality, you're still the same guy I've loved all along."
The ring of his cell phone snapped Greg out of the dreamy moment. "Could be Grissom." He grabbed the phone from his pocket. "Sanders."
"Son…"
"Hey, Dad."
"You said the name of the stock Drew signed over was ComWright, correct?"
"Yeah, why?
"This morning they were awarded a huge government contract that was supposed to go to another company. ComWright's stock is through the roof."
BPAC
1:06 pm
"Did you catch the market close for ComWright?" Drew asked Ron on the speaker phone.
"Why?" he chuckled. "Did they have a good day?"
"I sure as hell did." Reclining in his chair, the elated businessman said, "Thanks for our little talk. ComWright wasn't the only option I pursued yesterday. I sealed the deal with Marta as well. I'm more excited about that today than the millions."
"That's a very good sign," the fellow millionaire laughed. "True love is priceless and good women are hard to come by."
Nick and Carrie's
1:47 pm
"Darlin'?!" Nick's voice echoed in the empty living room. "She must not be back from the doctor yet," he remarked to his mother who had driven him home.
"Come on." Jillian tossed her keys on the entry table. "Let's get you set up on the couch because the doctor said to rest at home for several hours and see how you do."
"Okay."
"I bought you a surprise yesterday, but then you had to go and almost get exploded, so I couldn't give it to you." Walking ahead of him to the family room, she said, "I was so pissed off at your brother yesterday, I wanted to do something special for you. Now of course, I feel so horrible about Andrew, I have to do somethin' special for him as well. "
When Nick reached the couch he saw a huge box tied with red and blue ribbon. "What's this?"
"Open it." She lovingly watched her baby boy lift the lid. "I bought everything they had at the shop."
"This is why you called with the Spiderman questions?!" he exclaimed upon seeing stacks of old issues. "This is more than I sold to finish off the down payment on my car."
"I wanted you to have them to share with your children when the time comes."
Gateway Park
2:04 pm
Sitting on a bench, Carrie watched moms and toddlers frolicking around the playground as tears steadily streamed from her eyes.
As the minutes ticked, the doctor's words grew louder in her head. Words like 'damage from the abuse', 'I'm sorry, but I really don't think you'll be able to sustain a pregnancy', 'the best odds I'm willing to give you are twenty percent'. Although his opinion contradicted that of the ER doctor and the other fertility specialist she had seen, it was the one occupying her mind and breaking her heart.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" an elderly African American gentleman asked in concern.
"Huh?"
"You're crying and look very distressed." With a tremoring hand, he extended a handkerchief.
"I just got some really bad news." She accepted the white linen cloth.
"The thing about bad news is…it's always at its worst when you get it. After a little time and perspective, it usually doesn't seem quite as grim." After tipping his fedora the man smiled, "You hang in there, Honey, things will get better. It's always darkest before the dawn."
"Thank you," she politely replied as she watched the stranger wobble away at a snail's pace, tapping his cane to the pavement. "Bye."
When Carrie opened her eyes a few seconds after blowing her nose, the kind old man was no longer in sight. "How…" She stood up to scan the area that was open for a mile in every direction. "That's so odd, he couldn't have made it more than ten yards the way he was walking." Turning her head, she continued her search, but instead of spotting the old man, she saw Mike Rodgers walking towards her grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Fancy meeting you here! What a coincidence."
Clutching the handkerchief she barked, "I don't think it's coincidence at all!"
"What's with the tears?"
"My life is none of your business."
"I beg to differ." He stopped with five feet between them. "Without me, your fiancé would be in the morgue today…in a hundred burnt pieces. You owe me a thank you."
"Is that why you're following me? To demand a thank you?"
"I'm not following you." He smirked. "So, what did the fertility doctor say that has you crying? Nevermind, I can guess. Family means everything to Nicky, and you just lost his first child. Did your abuse have anything to do with you losing the baby? That would suck. It would be like that animal was still abusing you from the grave. You're such a good person, Carrie, that's not fair. Trust me, I know what it's like to be a good person and have shitty things happen to you. I empathize."
"I don't want your feigned empathy," she snarled.
"I still want a thank you."
"Thank you…in advance, for doing us all a favor and falling off a cliff."
"Tsk tsk." Mike shook his head. "Such a terrible thing for a nice girl like you to say. One day in the future, you'll need my help again." Turning away he started walking. "When you ask me for help I'll think back to this moment and you can be sure I'll withhold my generosity."
Lady Heather's Dominion
4:10 pm
"Thank you, Lady Heather!" Macie Thomas squealed, "Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity!"
"An opportunity that's contingent on passing a medical and psychological examination." Heather extended a business card to the clean cut girl straight off the bus from Podunk, Idaho. "Call Dr. Harlow ASAP."
"I'm on it, Ma'am!"
The Dominatrix curtly instructed, "Yes, Lady Heather is the appropriate reply."
"Yes, Lady Heather." Macie flitted out the door and down the stairs, anxious to make a different phone call…to her cousin Val.
Crime Lab
4:15 pm
"Nick Stokes's office, this is Val."
"Could I speak to CSI Stokes, please?"
"Who may I say is calling?"
"This is Belinda Connelly returning his call. He left me a message saying he had important information for me."
"Mr. Stokes will be out of the office until Saturday. I could put you through to his voice mail though."
"Thank you."
As soon as Val transferred the call, her cell phone rang. "This is Val."
"I'll be cracking a whip in no time!" Aubrey, aka Macie Thomas, informed her cousin. "I just have to pass the medical stuff. That should only take a few days."
"Excellent news."
Dennis and Marge Vartann's Home – Sun Lakes, Arizona
5:07 pm
"That's wonderful news, Anthony," Marge sweetly replied to her son, while her husband listened quietly on the extension. "I'm very happy to hear that Becca is as excited about starting a family as you. I'm sure the in-vitro will work like a charm."
"Yeah, I just feel bad that it's harder on her. She's the one who has to take hormones and suffer."
Dennis chuckled, "Trust me…a woman full of extra hormones will be harder on you, Son."
As his parents bickered, Tony said, "In other news, Becca just sent you an email. We finalized the Disney plans. It's set for the weekend of November 11th. That was the first time Reg could get off because of the time he's taking for the baby. Becca went all out. You know how Reggie loves Pirates of the Caribbean? She booked him in the Pirates suite at the Disneyland Hotel. She got Matt's family a three bedroom suite, and you guys have a deluxe room with a spa package for you mom." He chuckled, "We'll be in The Princess Diaries suite, which sounds really queer, but the wife seems really psyched about it, so I am too."
"You sound so happy, Anthony," Marge dabbed her eyes with a tissue. "Even though I may not agree with everything Becca has done in her past, you let her know I love her for making you happy again."
"Will do, Ma, and one more little thing. Since there's no way of hiding it, because you'll see the scars…yesterday I was in a house that exploded. I flew out a plate glass window and crashed on the front lawn."
"How much air time, Son?" Dennis asked, recalling his own flight out a window once. "I went a good twenty five yards when…" Then he saw his wife shooting daggers and shut up.
"How bad are you hurt, Honey?"
"I'm fine Ma, just some cuts and a sprained arm. It was only fifteen yards, Pop, so you still hold the family record."
"He also holds the family record for being shot," Marge grumbled, "Let him keep that one too."
Crime Lab – Grissom's Office
5:55 pm
"Nick's letting me take the time off," Sara announced while breezing into her husband's office. "He also said he feels great except for a burning throat and some wheezing."
"That's a relief." When his wife rounded his desk, Gil lowered his glasses. "What are you doing?"
"Flustering you." She leaned on the edge of his desk, popped open a button on her blouse and cracked a grin. "Wanna take a dinner break?"
"Where to?"
"The back of my Denali." Lowering her voice to a throaty whisper, Sara offered, "We can take it to get drive thru and then park it somewhere private. People can't see in the tinted windows and I promise to rock your world."
"If we get the drive thru first, the food will get cold."
"What?!" She bristled, "You're not supposed to be thinking about the food when I offer to get fresh with you in the back of my truck!"
"Knock knock." Hodges waved. "This seems like a bad time with your wife throwing herself at you, but you wanted to see me, Master."
"You didn't hear anything," Sara cautioned her co-worker on her way out. "Nada."
"Women." Hodges sighed, "It's like they only want us for stud sometimes. Guys like us…we need to be appreciated for our minds just as much as our bodies."
"Don't ever lump me in the same category with you ever again." Grissom held out his palm, "Now give me the report and go."
Drew's House
6:04 pm
"Thanks for bringin' the sickie over, Carrie." Drew held open the door for his company. The movie's set up in the family room and Marta is buttering the popcorn as we speak. Pick whatever you want to drink."
"Awesome," Nick squeezed Carrie's hand. "What would you like to drink, Darlin'?"
"A glass of wine would be great. White, Pinot Grigio, anything."
Kissing her cheek, Nick said, "You go in and join the family while I get that for you."
"Uncle Nicky!" Cassie raced through the house with her arms wide.
"Hey, there, Cowgirl!" Picking her up, he swung her around. "I missed you today. It sure was nice havin' you over at my house."
Watching her future husband dote on a child, tore at Carrie's heart. "I'm going to hit the restroom before the movie."
"I'll grab your wine and meet you there." Nick plunked his niece on his shoulders. "What did you do in school today, Sweetheart?"
Carrie hurried to the bathroom, making it there as the first tear fell.
The Rodgers Home
6:09 pm
"It's beautiful," Marlene's eyes filled with tears of joy as she held the Tiffany Hearts Outline Bracelet her husband had just presented.
"Yesterday, as I felt the heat of the explosion nearly consume me as I protected Nick's lifeless body, I realized…I almost didn't make it home to you." Lifting her chin with his fingertips, Mike warmed his wife with his loving gaze. "I know this was a marriage of convenience, Marlene, but every day I feel like we're growing closer to the real thing."
"How much did the bracelet cost?"
"Two thousand." You materialistic bitch.
"Whoa."
Tenderly kissing his wife, Mike murmured, "You're worth every penny."
Drew's House
6:12 pm
"I'm worth a few million more today, Mama." Drew handed her a champagne glass. "ComWright was still soarin' at market close."
Jillian patted the couch. "Sit next to me, Money Bags. It's never too late to make up for lost time." Since everyone else was in the kitchen getting drinks, she handed her eldest son an envelope. "I got Nicky comic books to show him how much I love him, this is for you."
Curious, Drew hurried to open the legal envelope and when he did, he found his mother's custody contract torn into bits. "Huh?"
"You're a good father, it won't be necessary."
"Thank you." Tossing the envelope on the coffee table, he hugged her.
"I want to sit on Uncle Nicky's lap!" Cassie yelled while tearing into the room with a big bowl of hot buttered corn. "Over here, Uncle Nicky! In the big chair!"
"I want Grandma's lap!" Matt shouted as he ran for the couch.
Drew patted the spot next to him. "There's a nice place right here, Nanny Marta."
"Oh, okay." Nonchalantly she sat next to her secret lover and desperately tried not to look smitten with him.
"Back!" Carrie announced as she walked into the room. She was immediately greeted by Claire saying 'uppie'.
"She loves you, Darlin'," Nick commented while chomping popcorn. "She was askin' for you the whole time we were in the kitchen."
Snuggling the little girl, Carrie took a seat on the love seat and bit back her tears. Mike was right…family meant everything to Nick, and this moment at his brother's house was one he was desperate to duplicate with his own children.
"Here we go." Drew pressed play and placed the remote between him and Marta, taking great care to brush her hand with his along the way.
When Jillian saw the two lovestruck fools grinning next to her, she couldn't help but smile. Crazy as it was, they looked blissfully happy.
Sara's Denali
6:41 pm
"Look at you," Sara laughed at her husband. "You have the stupidest grin on your face."
"You let me eat fried food and then you serviced me like a professional in the back of a County vehicle. That's as close to Nirvana as a guy can get on a Thursday." Struggling to regulate his breathing, Gil asked, "What did I do to deserve that?"
"Nothing," Sara mischievously commented while relaxing in the back seat. "I had a pregnancy craving for ketchup and eating it out of the packet would have been gross."
"I really should have gotten you pregnant a lot sooner."
The Sanders Home
6:54 pm
"Tawny, holding this little sweetheart makes me wish our girls would be here next week." Sitting on the couch, Greg snuggled ten month old Addison and joked with his college friend, Nathan, "I never thought you'd end up with a kid this cute."
Laughing at his roommate, who was just as hilarious now as he was at Stanford, Nathan said, "I told you, we used Nelson's sperm with the surrogate this time. We're using mine next month when we go for number two with the surrogate."
"Doh!" Greg whispered in the little girl's ear. "Hopefully you'll get a brother, because Daddy Number One over there has really big ears."
Tawny held out her hands, "My turn! I need practice too." When the little girl giggled in her arms, she beamed. "She likes me."
"What's not to like?" The sight of her holding a little girl, painted a clear picture of his future and Greg loved what he saw. "Unlike me, she's a natural."
"I don't know, Hoj." Nathan set down his glass of Merlot. "You looked pretty comfortable to me."
"You did," Tawny confirmed. "A world of difference from when you held Robbie's baby a couple of months ago."
"I do better with the ten month old variety."
Daniel laughed from his position in the corner of the room. "You talk about kids like they're creatures."
"He speaks!" Greg teased. "Of course you're comfortable around kids, you were raised Mormon in Utah. I was raised by self-absorbed nudists in California. No one in our neighborhood had more than the obligatory one child."
"Do you want kids, Daniel?" Nathan asked.
"Honestly, I didn't think it was a possibility until I met you and your…"
"Partner," Greg finished, knowing Daniel was still struggling with the vocabulary. "Polio vaccines, electricity, babies with two daddies…all brought to you by Geeky scientists. The world wouldn't be the same without us."
Carrying a platter of BBQ chicken in from the patio, Nelson exclaimed, "Hoj, your father is a master griller. I'm bringing that recipe back to the fire station and the guys are gonna flip."
"I'll take that." Tawny returned the little girl to Nathan and grabbed the platter. "Give me two minutes to get the sides off the stove and I'll ring the dinner bell."
"Thanks." Nelson took a seat with the rest of his family and grabbed the beer he had left on the table. "Thanks for inviting us for dinner while we're out here for Nathan's conference. I prefer home cooked food and Addison isn't as comfortable in restaurants."
Greg nudged Daniel and pointed to the dads sharing a daughter on the couch. "See, I told you. You can still have a happy family without a mommy in the picture."
Drew's House
8:13 pm
Bored out his mind on family movie night, four year old Matt pleaded, "Daddy, can I go to bed instead of watchin' this movie?"
"Sure thing, Son. What about you, Cass? Are you likin' it, or are you bored too?"
"I'm lovin' it," the little girl dreamily replied. "I wanna see if the Nanny and the Daddy fall in love. Do you think they will?"
Stealthily placing his hand over Marta's, Drew confidently answered, "Yes, Honey I believe eventually there will be a happy ending to this story."
Author's Notes:
That was a wrap up and set up chappie. I hope you got some warm fuzzies although I know there was a little angst tucked in there. I really could see the characters very clearly in this one (Hodges with Grissom, Greg with Tawny in QD and Jim in the Sheriff's office in particular), so I hope you did too.
This was for Dedicated Nick fans – remember his line to the idiot detective demanding an apology from him? "I'm sorry…you feel that way." Carrie's reply to Mike demanding a thank you was a little homage to how perfect a couple they are LOL! "Thank you…in advance, for doing us all a favor and falling off a cliff."
Next Chapter: Wednesday late. Time marches on…the next one jumps ahead a month and to quote Grissom in that chapter "A lot can happen in a month."
Thanks KJT for editing 31 and then editing a new 31 when the original 31 became 32! LOL
And I thank everyone for taking the time to read!
Maggs