A/N: So, I'm bored, and I have plenty of time since I'm on break, so I figured I'd update. :D I don't own anyone but Mia, Stewart,and Mikayla (who kinda starts coming into things right now). The rest belong to CBS and CSI. I hope ya'll enjoy the chapter, and please please please review.

Chapter 6: Meet Me, and Don't Hate Me

Nick leaned back against the support, sipping from his cup of coffee as he waited in the lounge of the airport. Several people walking by stopped to stare at him, few with nervous glances. He gave them a reassuring smile and a polite wave, knowing their curiosity in him stemmed from the LVPD jacket he was still wearing. He looked at the escalators, watching the people come down there as their planes landed. They greeted their loved ones with hugs, kisses, and occasional tears.

After a while, Mikayla made her way down the escalator. She found him as she rode down, giving him a smile and a wave. Nick smiled back, waving. She walked over to him, enveloping him in a big hug. She squeezed him tightly, and he kissed her gently on the top of the head. "Thank you so much, Uncle Nick," she said softly.

"No problem, sweetie," he replied. She let go of him after a while, and he took her bag from her.

"How's your friend?" she asked as they walked toward baggage. "The one that got kidnapped?"

"He's doin' okay. He got out of the hospital a few days ago."

"Already?"

"Yeah. He was lucky." She nodded, grabbing her bags off the belt. "This everything?"

"Yeah. Grandpa said he'll ship the rest out later." Nick nodded, carrying her bags for her and leading her to his truck. "Did you just get off work?"

"Yeah." She nodded, falling silent. She looked at the ground as she walked, and after a few minutes, he looked over at her. "You okay?" he asked, concerned.

"I don't know," she replied honestly.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"It's just… I feel bad. Mom's pissed off at me, Grandma and Grandpa are pissed at Mom, and it's all my fault. Mom doesn't want me… us. Grandma and Grandpa are willing to help, but Mom's mad at them and doesn't want them to. It just feels like no one out there wants me and that I got banished to Vegas." Nick sighed, frowning slightly.

"Honey, what's going on between your mom and your grandparents is somethin' they were fightin' about when I came along. It's not you, okay, sweetie?" She nodded. "You're not banished here, I asked you to come because I wanted you to come here. I thought it'd be best for you." She nodded again, and Nick gave her a small smile.

"What about school?" she asked as they began to drive.

"What about it?" he replied.

"After the baby's born, how will I go to school?"

"Sweetie, you know I work nights. I'll be home during the day."

"I need a job."

"Let's worry about one thing at a time, okay? First, let's get you home and get you set up in your room. We'll worry about the rest later."

"Oh, my God, a room. Where's the baby going to sleep?"

"Don't worry, I've got plenty of room. Again, though, one thing at a time." She sighed, nodding.

"This coming to Vegas thing was a bad idea. I can't do this, Uncle Nicky. I can't be a mother. I should've listened to my mother…"

"Hey, hey, honey, it's all going to be okay. You can do this, alright? I'll help you out anyway I can. Everything is gonna be just fine."

"I'm scared. I don't wanna screw this up."

"You'll be fine." She nodded as they rolled up to Nick's gate, and she gasped, taking in the sight of the house before her.

"Last time I was out here, your house was not this big, nor did it have a gate," she remarked.

"Yeah, I know," he said. "After the stalking and the kidnapping, I moved and went a little security crazy. Grandma and Grandpa helped me out." She nodded.

"I'm glad it turned out okay for you." He chuckled.

"Yeah, me too." He grabbed her things out after parking in the driveway, carrying them to the front door. They went inside, and he showed her to her room. He let her settle in while he took a nap, knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep much today after getting her settled and showing her around.

Mia sighed, rolling over in her empty bed as she failed miserably at her attempt to sleep. Greg had decided a few days ago that he needed some space, and had moved out. She got up, not having slept more than a few hours the previous night and knowing it would be barely enough to get her through the day. She took a long shower before ignoring her kitchen. Life wasn't the same without Greg, and neither was her desire for food. She picked up her keys, leaving early for work.

Nick walked into the break room, finding Mia sitting at the table, playing with a cup of coffee. "Hey," he said, getting her attention.

"Sir Chubs-A-Lot," she grunted. Nick sighed.

"I thought you'd gotten over that."

"You thought wrong. How's your niece?"

"Scared, nervous, and probably sleeping by now. How's Greg?"

"Dunno. Haven't talked to him." Nick arched his eyebrows.

"Really?" Mia sighed, shrugging as she tossed her hair aside.

"He won't answer when I call, he moved out, and he hates me."

"I don't think he hates you." She snorted.

"Right. He's just avoiding me because he's infatuated with me. That makes sense." She rolled her eyes as he frowned.

"Want me to…"

"No. Just leave it alone." He nodded silently as Warrick walked in.

"Hey guys," he said.

"Hey," Nick replied while Mia groaned in response. Warrick arched his eyebrows in Nick's direction, and Nick mouthed 'Greg' back to him. Warrick nodded as Mia sighed.

"Can't you just ask me yourself next time?" she grumbled, looking at Warrick. He glanced at Nick, who smiled.

"Sorry," Warrick replied with a chuckle. She shrugged, turning back to her cup of coffee as Warrick turned back to Nick. "Your niece get in?"

"Yeah, she's at home," Nick said.

"That's good. How's she doin'?"

"Scared, nervous, you know." Warrick nodded as he looked at Mia. He looked back to Nick, nodding toward her. Nick shrugged as Catherine walked in.

"Hey, guys," she said, pouring herself some coffee.

"Hey, Cath," Warrick greeted her as Nick smiled.

"Looks like tonight could be a rough one."

"Can't Las Vegas ever just go to bed early?" Nick asked, causing everyone to chuckle.

"Well, you know," Catherine said. "Hey, Mia, when does Greg come back?"

"You'd have to ask him," she replied curtly.

"You don't know?"

"No."

"How come?"

"Because, I'm not his fucking keeper, okay? I haven't fucking seen or heard from him since he fucking moved out."

"He moved out?" Mia sighed.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he fucking hates me. And I don't fucking blame him." Catherine looked at the boys with a soft frown.

"You didn't do anything to him."

"No, my fucking whack job father did. It's like Nick being with Kelly Gordon after what her fucking father did." Warrick and Catherine looked at Nick, who shrugged. "Except it's Greg, and it's me, and I am way more work for Greg than I'm worth."

"That's not true," Nick told her. She snorted.

"Yeah, right. Like you really fucking mean that, Tubby," she retorted.

"He'll come around," Warrick said. Mia shrugged.

"Whatever." Grissom walked in with Greg trailing behind him. Nick, Warrick, and Catherine rushed to welcome him back, while Mia remained at her spot at the table, staring at her coffee cup. Grissom watched her with mild curiosity, wondering why she hadn't moved. Greg smiled at the three older CSIs before looking over at Mia. She looked up, smiling sweetly at him. He returned her smile with a cold stare and a slight nod. Grissom arched his eyebrows, watching as the others in the room reacted to the transaction. Mia's face dropped emotion, growing into her normal, fixed stare. Catherine, Nick, and Warrick looked slightly confused, but not surprised at the greeting. Grissom looked around before clearing his throat.

"Nick, you and Mia have a 419 off-Strip," he began. "Catherine, you and Greg have a body of your own, with a possible domestic violence charge as well, in Henderson. Warrick's with me at Lake Mead." Everyone nodded, and Warrick and Grissom left. Catherine and Greg began to leave when Mia caught Greg's arm. Greg glared at her, and Nick and Catherine moved aside, making themselves scarce while still being around.

"So, this is how it's gonna be, huh?" Mia asked, her voice soft. Greg rolled his eyes.

"What did you expect?" he replied coldly. "That we'd be fine? Act like nothing happened?"

"I didn't do anything to you."

"Yet."

"I wouldn't. I love you." Greg snorted. "You have no reason to doubt me."

"Yeah, whatever you wanna think, so long as it helps you sleep at night."

"I'm not."

"I don't care."

"Why do you hate me?"

"Because I see you for what you really are." Catherine and Nick looked at one another, slightly shocked by Greg's words. "And I want nothing to do with that."

"Enough," Catherine said. "Let's go, Greg." She grabbed his arm, pulling him away. Nick walked over cautiously as he heard her sniffle back the tears that threatened to fall. He threw an arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle hug.

"You okay?" he asked her softly. She sniffled again, squaring her shoulders.

"Fine," she snapped, her voice colder than he'd ever heard it before. He nodded, letting go of her and walking away with the theory that the old Mia was coming back… and then some.

"So, what's the deal between you and Mia?" Catherine asked, looking over at Greg at the red light. He shifted in his seat, turning his head away from her.

"What are you talking about?" he replied as he stared out the window.

"I'm talking about you being an asshole to her when she didn't do a damn thing to you."

"It's none of your damn business, Catherine." She arched her eyebrows at his cold tone.

"Look, I know what you went through must have been terrible, but don't take it out on the ones that love you, okay?" Greg glared over at her as the light turned green and they moved forward.

"So, you wanna talk about it?" Nick asked, looking over at Mia.

"Suicide," she replied. He furrowed his brow before realization set in.

"I…wasn't talking about the vic, but alright."

"We should be. We're working. Or, at least I am. I don't know about you."

"Hey, I'm working."

"Fine, then less talk." He groaned, shaking his head.

"You're becomin' an ass again." She shrugged.

"Never stopped being one." She stood up from where she had crouched beside a blood pool. "No note, and no gun."

"No suicide?" She shrugged.

"Dunno. There's not always a note." He sighed.

"If she went to all the trouble to make herself look this good, don't you think she'd leave a note? It looks like it's all about attention, doesn't it?"

"I guess. So, what are you saying?" He shrugged.

"I'm just sayin'." She smirked.

"I agree." He arched his eyebrows. "I think she was murdered."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's too perfect, you know? I think she was jumped by someone she trusted as she got ready to go out. Forced to stay still while he shot her and made it look like she shot herself." Nick bit his lip pensively before snapping his fingers. Mia looked at him sharply.

"C'mere," he said, waving her over. She continued to stare at him. "I'm serious." She shrugged, shaking her head and obliging him. He positioned her with her back to him. "Now, I'm our mystery shooter, right? I wanna kill you, and you actually trust me."

"There's a stretch," she retorted, glancing at him over her shoulder.

"You said it, not me. Now, I'm gonna kill you, and I wanna make it look like a suicide, so I position the gun under your chin." He made a gun with his fingers, placing them under her chin. "Now, at my height with you, I'd have to worry that a through and through is gonna get me too."

"So, we're looking for someone shorter than our vic?" Mia looked back over her shoulder at Nick, who still had his arms around her with his hands under her chin.

"Yeah, I would say so."

"Boyfriend's shorter by three inches." He grinned, letting go of her.

"Let's get him, then." She grinned as she tossed her hair, oblivious of the danger that lurked ahead for her and Nick.