Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own them...or I'd be cool and let us write the show. Though I'm pretty sure the writers read our books and take ideas for the show, because I've heard a line or two that's familiar and I'm pretty sure they got the idea for the season 7 finale from one of my books and a few others that I've read all meshed together...
And just so everyone knows, I do NOT own Coldstone Creamery. It's an ice cream shop, and it kicks ass...but it's not mine.
A/N: I love you all dearly and equally...but I'm dedicating this chapter to someone very special to me, my sister and (one of many) confidant; Paige. I love you and you've been patient waiting for this chapter (just like the rest of you, I know). But this is a thank-you, a love-reminder, and an apology...for getting the earings in the wrong color green. ;)
I just thought I'd let y'all know that the book is winding down. Maybe one or two more chapters after this...BUT FEAR NOT! Because we've got a second installment on the way. I'll have more details on that later; but for now, just enjoy the book. Let MootheQuackingCow, Paige, and I worry about that...
I figured we'd need a recap for the last chapter; because that was an awkward cliffhanger...Also, this chapter was beta-d by MootheQuackingCow. I had to send it to her in 2 parts. Lol, so give her the respected Props!
Recap:
A hand came up to her thigh and began scratching it in exactly the right spot. Overcome by sheer bliss and relief, it took Kris a moment to realize that the hand scratching her thigh wasn't her hand. Her hazel eyes shot open and went to an instant chocolate brown, glazing over as she gasped. Her eyes focused on the figure, then bulged in complete and utter shock at the tanned strawberry blonde in front of her.
"Catherine...?"
Chapter 17:
"There is a problem here with our society
The absence of my tears is my sobriety
I have a growing fear and you're not helping me
Am I the only one who realizes it's true?
Beat but I'm not broken
Guide me through with your hand
Lead with your words spoken
Show me how to listen"
-The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; Misery Loves Its Company
Las Vegas, Nevada
Desert Palms
ICU
Hospital Room
Thursday
January 19, 2005
2:19 p.m.
Kris stared at the friend that had been gone for more than a week in shock. "Catherine...what are you doing here? When'd you get back? Does anyone know you're here? Where's Lindsey?"
Catherine held up her hands and chuckled. "Whoa, calm down girl..." She picked up Kris' cup of water and brought it to the redhead's lips for a quick sip. "I'm here to see you. I heard about it on the news. I got back a few hours ago. The only people who know I'm here are the people on my plane, the nurses, and you. And Lindsey's asleep in the waiting room...poor thing is so jetlagged," Catherine chuckled and pushed a strand of Kris' hair from her face.
"So...you just flew out here?" Catherine nodded. "What'd your boss have to say?"
She shrugged and pulled up a chair to sit next to Kris. "Kris, I didn't fly almost 3,000 miles to talk about Horatio Cane."
"Is he hot?"
"No."
Kris waved her hand. "He's gone." Catherine couldn't help but chuckle. "So...what did you fly 3,000 miles to talk about?"
Catherine gave her a look and shook her head. "How are you?"
"I've been better," Kris said with a chuckle and a smile. Catherine smirked and laughed.
"I can't complain."
"Aw, now don't say that...get shot in the ass and we can have a grand ole' wine-fest."
Catherine shook her head. "Glad to see your humor is still in tact." Kris shrugged. "So..." Catherine shook her head. "What happened?"
Kris sighed. "How long you got?"
"As long as you need."
"Okay..."
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Catherine had been visiting with Kris for nearly two hours, in which time they had talked about just about anything possible. Lindsey had woken up and came in to see Kris and her mother. The three of them had been reminiscing for quite a while, before any of them had realized what time it was.
"Linds, why don't you go down to the vending machine and grab a couple of Hershey bars," Catherine suggested and handed her a few dollars. The little blonde nodded and went off to do so. Catherine turned back to Kris.
"Are you planning on telling the team you're here?"
Catherine sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm not sure...I hadn't really thought about it. I heard that you were hurt, I got on a plane, I came here..." She held out her hands with her palms up, then folded them in her lap. "You know the rest."
Kris tried to adjust herself, and then growled when she couldn't. "Catherine..." She tried to move slightly and winced at the pain. "Cath..." The cast she was laying in swung and she growled and sighed heavily. "Damnit! Just fucking tell them you're here because they'll be pissed to all ends if you don't!" Kris shouted in anger, not at Catherine, but at the swing/body cast she was set in.
Catherine pursed her lips to hold back the smirk, then reached in her purse and grabbed her travel-size soothing lotion. She stood up and hiked up Kris' hospital gown a bit, and began to apply the cream to the raw flesh. Kris whimpered in relief.
"Oh, God...relief."
Catherine sighed. "I should've called first."
"You wouldn't have come if you had," Kris pointed out, and Catherine fell silent for the first time since Kris had known her.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Desert Palms
Recovery Ward
Thursday
January 19, 2005
3:04 p.m.
"Hang on; I'll get him for you," Catherine called to Kris as she exited the room, in search for the doctor. She closed the door behind her and walked down the hallway, looking down for a brief second. But that second was just long enough to let her bump into a vending machine sized man. "Sorry," she apologized, and looked up to see the one person she's ultimately been avoiding.
Warrick's jaw hit the floor, and Catherine's was soon to follow. "Catherine?"
"Warrick?"
"What the Hell are you doing here?" he asked in astonishment, and she opened her mouth to answer, but adverted her eyes and caught sight of the rest of the team.
"Catherine?" Greg asked in amazement, and everyone else was soon to follow.
"When did you get here?"
"Are you here to see Kris?"
"Is Lindsey here?"
The questions flooded in, and Catherine held up her hands in a signal of time out. "I got here a few hours ago. Yes, I'm here to see Kris. And yes, Lindsey's here..." she answered. Everyone stood in awkward silence for a moment.
"Can everyone come in here so I can see the looks on your guys' faces and avoid the tension pelting through the air!?" Kris called from inside the room, having heard the commotion in the hallway. A few of them laughed and they all piled into the room. Greg went over to Kris and handed her the pack of M&Ms he knew she would be wanting. "Thanks, Greggo..." Everyone was still watching her, and she looked up and waved them away. "Oh, you all can go back to the Awkward-Introductions-Fest now."
Kris could be so blunt sometimes.
"How long are you staying for, Catherine?" Grissom asked and Catherine ran a hand threw her strawberry blonde locks and shrugged.
"I'm not sure. This was kind of a spur of the moment thing. I guess...until Kris gets better."
"Ya know, I spoke with the doctor, he said Kris may never recover," Greg piped up from next to Kris, feeding her the M&Ms since she was having trouble putting them in her mouth. Lindsey perked up from her spot next to Greg.
"Yeah! I think Kris needs us here...and you heard what the Doctor said..."
Catherine gave them a tired look. "Where are you staying? Do you and Lindsey need a place? I've got a spare room," Nick offered and Catherine shook her head.
"No, we'll probably stay at the Tangiers," Catherine replied. "But thank you for the offer."
Everyone settled into awkward silence once again. The only sound that was heard was Kris' munching on her treat. The door to the room opened, and Kris' doctor stepped in. He checked his clipboard, and then looked up at all the people in the room. He raised an accusatory brow at Kris; who shrugged. "Well, how are you feeling, Ms. Anderson?"
"Better..."
"The chocolate?"
"It's pretty much an anesthesia."
The doctor chuckled and nodded, then went towards her and grabbed the clipboard from the foot of her bed. He looked back at the group of awkward people watching him. "You can continue, I'll just be a moment," he informed them and moved up to check Kris' blood pressure.
"We uh...we should actually get going," Catherine stated and motioned for Lindsey. The young girl pouted, then sighed and went to her mother. Catherine went up and gave Kris a soft hug goodbye, trying to work around the doctor. Kris ruffled Lindsey's hair as she walked away sadly. They all said goodbye, and the two departed once again with the promise of stopping by tomorrow.
Everyone was silent once again before Greg rocked back on his heels and whistled. "Whoa...that was gauche."
Las Vegas, Nevada
Desert Palms
Monday
January 23, 2005
2:16 a.m.
"Now, remember Ms. Anderson; take it easy, no tough labor, no field work, and if at all possible stay with a friend. I don't want you falling and hurting yourself, then ending up back here," the nurse teased and Kris sighed and signed the papers.
"Is it completely necessary that I be babysat?" The nurse gave her a stern look and Kris rolled her eyes. "We'll take care of her," Grissom assured and the nurse nodded.
"Don't forget, you start your physical therapy to get your leg and muscles completely mobile again on Wednesday."
"Yeah, yeah..." Kris grumbled, not at all happy about the situation. "Ya know, it doesn't even hurt." Greg reached over and quickly poked her thigh, causing her to let out a scream of pain and slap him ferociously upside the back of his head. He almost fell clear over, and gawked at the force.
"Damn, Kris! I was just trying to help you prove your point!" he justified and cringed while rubbing his head.
"I suggest he stay away from her while she's on her medication, some side effects are a vicious temper," the nurse informed the group, and several gawked, worrying about the havoc that would ensue.
"We'll be sure to take that into consideration. Have a nice day," Catherine replied and began leading Kris away, the redhead hobbling slightly on her crutch, and damn pissed about it. "So...have you decided who you want to room with?" Catherine asked Kris, who rolled her eyes.
"I'm rooming with me, myself, and I."
"Kris-" Greg began.
"I don't need someone to take care of me; I'm fully capable of nursing myself back to health. It's not that bad anyway. 'Just a mere flesh wound'." She quoted Monty Python, trying to prove her point.
Sara shook her head. "Kris, you may be able to take care of yourself, but you don't need to. Lay back; think of yourself for once. Let someone cater to your every will," Sara said mock-dreamily and Catherine chuckled.
"No," Kris argued simply. "I don't need it. I'm just fine on my own."
"You're so damn stubborn. Just give in for once," Nick snapped, and she looked over at him; slightly startled. The demand had thrown her off her game. She copped out and blamed it on the medication. She used the crutch to help her walk and followed Nick's lead resentfully. Oh how she just wanted to beat him with her crutch. She paused momentarily to wonder if she could get away with the old 'it slipped' excuse.
She shook her head and continued following him, sighing heavily.
"Wow, Nick. Since you handled this so well, why don't you uh...handle this full-time?" Catherine suggested and Nick and Greg looked at her confused, while Grissom and Kris turned to her, panicked.
"Huh?" Nick asked.
"Why doesn't Kris just stay with you? Some of her stuff is still there anyway, right? And you've already got a furnished spare room she's accustomed to. So why not? It's not like it'd be forever." Catherine pointed out and Kris and Nick immediately shook their heads.
"No! No way!" They said in unison and Nick stormed off while...Kris hobbled away angrily.
Catherine turned to give Gil a tired look. He smirked and shrugged while smirking. She sighed and shook her head as they turned back to see Greg jog up to slow Kris down before she hurt herself. He offered her the donut seat and wheelchair he was wheeling and she shook her head in refusal.
Catherine chuckled. "She's so damn stubborn. That girl will be the death of us."
"I said no!" Kris yelled in the distance.
"If she doesn't kill herself first." Gil added.
"Kris, wait...you're gonna get hurt." Greg pleaded and ran after her.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Desert Palms Recover Center
(Muscle Therapy)
Dr. Simmons Office
Wednesday
January 25, 2005
11:16 a.m.
"Anderson, Kristina Michelle." The nurse in the Looney Tunes scrubs called in an upbeat and chipper voice. She turned her enormously large blue eyes up to scan the waiting room for the patient...even though Nick and Kris were the only ones there and they arrived together. "Oh!" She giggled. "There you are! Right this way." She said cheerfully with the biggest grin Kris had ever seen.
Kris shot Nick a pathetic and desperate look. "Get me outta here and I won't talk for a week."
Nick immediately went to object, but he paused for a moment to consider the options. He bit his lip, but ended up shaking his head. "No! No, no, you need therapy." Beat. "But for right now you're just going to work out your muscles." He joked and chuckled while Kris shot him a death glare.
Nick stood and offered her a hand. She rudely ignored him and went to do it on her own, but Nick narrowed his eyes and grabbed her hand and yanked her up; causing her to cry out in pain. She scowled at Nick and he smiled.
"Wouldn't it have just been easier to take my hand?"
She rolled her eyes and grabbed her crutch, contemplating once again to beat him with it, but resisted. He helped her slowly walk into the back hallway leading to the office and exercise center. "Why are you even doing this?" She asked and Nick sighed.
"I may not like you, but for an odd reason everyone decided to elect me to take care of you-"
"I don't need to-"
"And," He paused to give her a chance to shut up. "When someone asks me to do something, I push my emotions aside and do it."
She scowled again. "How sweet."
"Hmm. Sweet; not a word I'd use to describe you..."
She sighed tiredly. "I am so not looking forward to this."
"Aw, c'mon. This is the highlight of my week." Nick shot sarcastically and she actually chuckled a little. "Just, let's do this while trying to keep it civil in public."
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
"Alright, Kristina. Try to relax the muscle." Dr. Simmons requested and Kris grunted, trying to ignore the blinding pain.
"Ugh, I can't relax it when it's in pain and you're poking it!" She growled and raised her crutch a little, finding a new target. Nick brought a thumb up to scratch his lip while still keeping his arms folded over his black knit sweater; trying to mask a smile. He looked down and shook her head.
Greg was right; she actually was amusing when her rage wasn't directed at you.
"That's good, Kristina. Like that." The doctor coached and she grunted again, glad that she was making progress but not letting it show.
"Ooh! That's so good, Kristina! You're doing an amazing job! This is great!" The nurse bounced, annoyingly giddy. A light sheen of sweat was covering Kris' face and she sent a stressed look in Nick's direction. He quickly caught on and cleared his throat.
"Ah, Nurse..." She stopped her bouncing and looked over at him. He slowly shook his head and signaled for her to tone it down, much like he would a child. She visibly deflated and Kris almost giggled in excitement. Too bad I don't giggle...
"That's good, Kristina. Just extend your leg a little more and give me three more reps." The very attractive doctor requested from his crouched position down at her feet. Kris grunted and bit her lip to hold back a whimper. She wanted desperately to scream at him. She wanted to yell and throw something. She wanted to beat him with the damn crutch and bellow to him that it was impossible. She couldn't do this!! No! Quit thinking like that...you can do this... She bit her lip harder, tasting blood; this only fueled her more.
She grunted and extended her leg out a little more, feeling the pain shoot through her knee, thigh, butt, and hip. She pushed the thoughts of pain aside and let her head fall back to focus on a spot on the ceiling, repeating in her head that it didn't hurt. The pain disappeared from her mind. She slowly bobbed her leg up and down thirty times, and then cautiously lowered it back to the ground.
The nurse went back to bouncing and clapping in excitement, rendering another tired look in Nick's direction. He looked back at the nurse and repeated his earlier motions. She stopped, and then frowned at them both. Nick almost fell over in shock; that woman could frown?!
The doctor smiled and nodded. "You did good today, Kristina. You look promising." Kris gave a soft smile. Funny, you do too... "I'll see you Saturday, same time." He said with a smile and a nod as he left the room.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Coldstone Creamery
Wednesday
January 25, 2005
2:01 p.m.
Instead of heading home, Nick had made a detour for ice cream, his treat for Kris' civility during the session. She licked her Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream in the waffle cone bowl. "So...is this a peace offering?" Kris asked and Nick scoffed and looked over at her incredulously.
"Why do you do that? It's annoying as Hell you know. Can't you just take this for what it is instead of analyzing everything and suspecting the entire world of having ulterior motives?" Nick snapped and she looked at him blankly. It infuriated him.
She smirked and took another lick of her ice cream.
"It's a 'thank you'." He replied more calmly.
She nodded. "You're welcome." She replied patronizingly.
Nick chuckled in a sarcastic way. "Oooh...you are-..." He pursed his lips tightly and shook his head, looking down and laughing angrily. "Wow."
She laughed and used her spoon to dig out the chunk of mint ice cream. "Geez, calm down, Stokes. Don't get your panties in a bunch." She teased and Nick ignored her.
"You did really good today. Keep this up and it'll be better before you know it." Nick said, knowing a compliment and being nice would have more of an effect on her than a witty comeback.
She huffed and continued with her ice cream. Having nothing to say. "Thanks." She mumbled, unable to insult him now.
Nick finished his peanut butter ice cream and turned to her after wiping his hands. "You ready to head home?"
She nodded and threw the paper and her spoon away. She slowly stood, finally allowing some of Nick's help, and the two made their way to the Tahoe.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tangiers
Presidential Suite
Wednesday
January 25, 2005
2:15 p.m.
A knock on the door of the Hotel Suite pulled Catherine off the luxurious couch. She held Lindsey's sleeping head that had fallen on her lap for a moment, and then slid a pillow under it and kissed her forehead softly. The poor kid was so jetlagged, and had become accustomed to sleeping by Catherine's schedules since she hadn't been in school for nearly three months.
Catherine looked out the peephole and then slid the chain from the lock and turned the deadbolt. She opened the door and gave a tense smile. "Sam. Hello." She stepped aside and immediately let him in.
"Catherine," Sam Braun nodded and stepped in to look around. "How is my suite treating you?"
She gaped at him a little. "This is your suite...?" She chuckled nervously. "You're not the president."
Sam gave her a fond look. "No, but what's the harm in having two of the nicest suites, huh? Save one for yourself."
"Now that's just good construction." She remarked with a scoff. She stared off into space thinking; I feel like I've made a deal with the Devil. Oh, what would Gil think? Oh...wait a minute, he isn't my supervisor anymore. He doesn't get to think.
"...So what do you think, Muggs?"
"Huh?" Catherine turned to him; confused, she hadn't known he was talking.
He chuckled and leaned against the counter. "I figured...I asked you what you thought of the suite."
"It's nice..." She pointed to Lindsey. "She sure loves it."
"Muggs, I didn't really come here to make small talk."
"Oh, really?" She asked sarcastically.
"I was hurt when you left...I was more hurt that I had to here it through the grapevine from one of your former co-workers in my bar/Casino."
Kris...
"And then you show up unexpectedly and ask me for a favor." He sighed and shook his head. "I'm not gonna pretend that I've been the perfect father or grandfather," Catherine sighed and scratched her forehead. "But I am trying...now, I know letting you use my suite doesn't really qualify as being a father. But I'm here for you in your time of need. I'm willing to try to make amends for never being there. I've told you plenty of times I was sorry about that."
He took a step towards her and laid his hands on her shoulders.
"There isn't a time in this world I would turn you or my granddaughter away. I love you both, and I am trying here. I just need you to try as well..."
Catherine sighed, and closed her eyes. "It's not that simple, Sam. You know it's not." He out his hands in his pockets. "It'll take more than trying, and even then..." She sighed and shook her head. "We'll never be where a father and daughter should be."
"But do you want to try, Catherine? That's all I'm asking."
Catherine sighed again and looked back at Lindsey. "Sam..."
Las Vegas, Nevada
Stokes Residence
Living Room
Wednesday
January 25, 2005
Nick turned the next page of the magazine and sighed, trying to absorb the article. But he heard another thud come from the bathroom and he sighed. Kris had gone in to take a shower and she refused to use the aiding chair he had applied to the wall so she could wash herself and do what she needed to do without straining herself. She said she didn't need it, and it was for people who were helpless.
But that was the third time he heard what sounded like her slipping.
He sighed angrily and stood up from the couch, throwing his magazine down. He walked down the hall and banged on the door. "Damnit, Anderson! Unlock this door or I'm taking off the door knob!" He was not about to have her fall and break her neck. And if that implied him barging in on her when she was in the shower, making them both embarrassed, so be it.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Grandpa!" She snapped. "I'll be out in a minute."
"No, you'll be out now! And you better not be hurt or I'll kick your ass!" He threatened.
He heard her scoff and pictured her rolling her eyes. The door opened and she came out, her hair damp and brushed back as she synched her robe completely closed. She limped out and Nick handed her the crutch. "I don't need that."
"It's either this or the wheel chair." Nick replied and she sighed and snatched the crutch.
"You're such a pain in the ass...and trust me; I know 'pain in the ass'." She joked and Nick smirked and shook his head.
"Nice pun."
"Thank you." She grumbled and went into the kitchen. "I hate this fuckin crutch." She looked like she was about to throw it, but stopped and kept on walking. "What I really need is a nice Dirty Martini."
"No. No alcohol. And no cigarettes. You can drink and smoke when you're off your meds."
"Fuckin' meds."
"Doctor's orders."
"Fuckin' doctors."
Nick shook his head. "Nice profanity." She sighed and poured herself a bowl of cereal. "Here, go sit down and I'll do that for you."
"No. I am perfectly capable of making a bowl of cereal." She snapped angrily.
Nick rolled his eyes. "Come off it, Anderson and just go sit the fuck down!" He bellowed and she glared and stormed off (as best she could) into the living room.
Wow...I've yelled at her three times in two days and I'm still alive...this is a world record!
Las Vegas, Nevada
CSI Crime Lab
Ballistics
Thursday
January 26, 2005
7:12 p.m.
"I need you to run the gun through the database; see how many hits you get." Warrick instructed Bobbie Dawson.
He turned to look at the other man, confused. "I thought we already had the gunman."
"We do, but the gun he shot Kris with isn't his own. His gun is MIA, and he's unconscious. Even if he was awake; I doubt he'd be talking to us."
Bobbie chuckled and took the bullet he handed him. "Put Kris in the same room with him; I bet he'd tell you his life story."
Warrick chuckled. "Don't give me any ideas." He walked out of the lab and down the hall, mentally checking off the bullet from his 'to do' list. Trace... He thought and strode into the trace lab and nodded at Hodges. "Hey, Man. You processed the trace substance we collected from Kris' wounds?"
Hodges nodded. "Ran it through GCMS," He pulled the paper from a file on his counter. "It was actually a mixture of substances; petroleum jelly and a C12-C15 alkyl lactate."
Warrick furred his brow. "Okay..."
"Mix it with the aluminum starch octenylsuccinate you collected from the scene, and you have got yourself a cosmetic facial cream."
Warrick quirked a brow.
"Anti-aging."
"Wow...so it really has no tie to this case."
Hodges shrugged and pouted his bottom lip. "Probably not. There was a split trash bag at the scene, had a lot of cosmetics in it. Kris probably just fell and one of the bottles was there to break her fall."
Warrick quirked his brow. "How'd you know there was a bag at the scene?"
"Crime scene photos." He nodded. "Grissom was looking over them; asked for my help." self-satisfaction dripping from his words.
Warrick quirked a disbelieving brow and changed his stance. "Grissom asked for your help?"
Hodges nodded. "Yeah. He does that from time to time. It's how we bond."
Warrick stared at Hodges for a moment, and then turned and silently walked out of the lab.
A/N: Oh for the love of Pete, doncha just hate Hodges. He's such a smug ass hole...I think I really captured his smug asshole-ness in this scene...what do you think...?
And this has...well, sorta nothing to do with the book; but just so everyone knows I actually do have a silky terrier named D.D. (yeah, that wasn't coincidence; she's sitting on my lap right now) and she had a few puppies about...5 months ago. We kept three of them; Bo (he's mine), Wendy (she's everyone's and is just like her mother), and Muggs (he's fat and is technically my sister's, but he's such an attention whore...)
I told ya this, because in that scene when Sam called Catherine his pet name for her (Muggs) it made me laugh...this was pretty much pointless...and it wasted your time...and if you know me at all; you laughed. Oh! And Muggs likes his butt rubbed...he'll walk over to you in a 'U' shape with his butt sticking at you...so that you'll rub it...
So...leaving reviews is nice. Do it. Be nice.
-Futuremisscsi60