"What did you say? You have no idea what she did to me!" Nick screams at Mandy.
"Yeah, well why don't you tell me what the mean lady did to poor little weak Nick then, come on, tell me your sob story!" Mandy yells back at him, dying a little inside with every harsh word that is flowing out of her mouth.
"She held me down! She fondled me! She raped me and then she sodomized me! I tried to push her off! I did! But she was bigger and stronger than me! I begged her to stop! I tried to hit her! But she had my arms pinned down! I couldn't do anything! She said she'd kill my family if I told! What was I suppose to do? What was I suppose to do Mandy? I couldn't let her hurt my family!" Nick had been screaming and pacing the kitchen during his tirade. When he finally got it all out he sank to the floor. All of his energy spent.
Mandy knelt beside him and rocked him as he sobbed. "I'm sorry Nick. I'm so, so sorry. I'm here for you. I've got you. Let it out honey. Let it all out." Mandy sobbed along with him. Hating herself for putting him through this. But all the while knowing it had to be done.
A few hours later Nick woke groggily in Mandy's arms. Still sprawled out on the kitchen floor. It took him several minutes to remember what had happened. He bristled when he remembered what Mandy had said.
The subtle movement woke Mandy. "Hi Cowboy. Feeling any better?" She asked him quietly.
Nick remained stared at her in disbelief. "Nick, please know, I didn't mean any of those terrible things I said." Mandy begged.
Nick looked up at Mandy finally. A hurt look on his face.
"Nick, the only way to get you to let it out was to get that Texas blood of yours boiling. I couldn't think of any other way. I am sorry for saying those things. But…"
Nick placed his hand on Mandy's mouth to silence her. "You can stop apologizing now. I understand, and I'm not mad at you. Just a little surprised. I never thought you could have a mean streak." Nick smiled weakly at her.
Mandy swatted his hand away playfully. "It was done out of friendship so it doesn't count."
Mandy and Nick helped each other up off of the floor. Nick started a fresh pot of coffee while Mandy emptied their cups into the sink again.
"I think I need to find better places to sleep. My back is killing me." Nick moaned as he stretched his back out while waiting for the coffee.
"Well, we still have a few hours to kill before shift starts. Why don't you try your bed?" Mandy suggested.
"That's where I started out. Didn't work out to well now did it?" Nick complained.
"Well, that was before you had me here. I have been told I have good energy and can keep bad dreams away." Mandy shrugged.
"And how do you do that?" Nick queried.
"Well, if you can be a gentleman. I cuddle with you. Can you be a gentleman?" Mandy inquired.
"To tired and sore to be anything but Mandy Dandy." Nick yawned.
"Ok dude, but you better behave. I don't fish off the company pier, and if I've heard correctly, neither do you." Mandy stood and took Nicks hand.
Nick followed her sleepily into the bedroom and once again was asleep almost instantly.
**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**
Alison was watching her monitor again. How sweet, she thought. He has a little friend staying with him. Well she better not get any ideas. He's mine and I don't share."
Alison went to the locked door off of her bedroom. Looking over the contraption taking up most of the space. She checked the cabinet on the far wall to make sure she had all of the same "toys" to play with Nick when he came home to her. She was satisfied that she would be able to bring him home by weeks end. Maybe sooner. She just needed to get him alone. But if not, that could work out just as well.
**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NIC**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK
Nick and Mandy woke to the alarm three hours later. Nick was happy to let Mandy know that she had indeed kept the nightmares at bay.
"What, you thought I would lie about something like that?" Mandy asked in mock surprise.
"No, I guess you wouldn't. So to make it up to you I'll let you have the shower first. I think I have some girly soap and shampoo left over from when one of my sisters visited last year. It's in the linen closet I think."
"How chivalrous of you! Will you open my car door for me too?" Mandy teased, seeing the familiar glint in Nicks eye.
"Don't push it dudet!" Nick threw a pillow at her as she took off for the bathroom.
From the bathroom Nick heard Mandy call his name. He went to the door. "You okay in there?"
"Yeah, but, dude your pants are vibrating." Mandy giggled.
"Oh, yeah. Must be my cell. Can you pass them out to me?" And like magic Mandy's hand, jeans in tow, reached out through the door. "Thanks."
Nick fished his phone out and answered without checking the caller ID. "Stokes."
"Hello Nicky. I hope you enjoyed your little sleepover with Mandy. We will be together soon my love." The voice dripped like honey.
"How did you get this number? Answer me damn it! How did you get this number?" Nick yelled at the phone.
"I am a smart girl Nicky. Remember, I kept you quiet for thirty years." With a viscous laugh she hung up.
Nick stood in the hallway staring at his phone. And he was still standing in the hallway staring at it when Mandy opened the bathroom door fifteen minutes later. "Nick, my God, what's wrong?" Frightened by his pale features Mandy shook him slightly.
Nick blinked a couple of times then looked at Mandy. "She has my number. And now I know she's watching me." He responded flatly. "And she knows you're here."
It was Mandy who blanched now.
**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**
"I'm telling you Cath, she's watching me! She called my cell; she knew that Mandy was there. In fact I'm a little concerned that she know who my friends are. She must have been watching all night." Nick was emphatically filling Catherine in on his morning.
"Well, that pretty much settles it then. I want you with Brass or Greg at all times." Catherine put a hand in the air to halt Nick's protest. "I know you don't want to Nick. But I refuse to lose you. I am very bad at eulogies."
Catherine couldn't have gotten her point across better if she had slapped him. Warrick's face flashed suddenly into Nicks mind causing him to flinch.
"I'm sorry Nick, but I can't do that again." Catherine gave Nick a hug before reaching for her phone to let Brass and Greg know what had happened.
Nick mimed to Catherine that he was going for coffee. She nodded and waved him out. Nick headed for the locker room instead though. He was actually pretty stressed out by the thought of being stalked again. "Damn it!" Nick punched his locker and immediately regretted it as pain flared through his hand. He shook it out trying to make the pain go away with little success. He sat down hard leaving out a heavy sigh.
"I take it the locker pissed you off again." Mandy quipped, leaning on the threshold.
Nick jumped, nearly falling off the bench. "Don't do that Mandy!" Nick stood up and started out of the room.
Mandy took a hold of his arm as he passed. "I didn't realize I had snuck up on you Nick. I'm sorry." She looked at him, concerned.
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hollered at ya like that. It's just… I need to end this Mandy. And I don't have a clue where to start." Nick sat back down running his hands over his hair.
"Yes you do Nick." Nick looked at her puzzled. "You have to put what happened to you into context with what we have now." Nick placed her hands on both of Nick's shoulders and gave a friendly squeeze.
"I would have to tell what happened. I… I don't think I can do that." Nick whispered tears in his eyes.
