Okay so, here's goes the second chapter. Updates probably won't always be this fast, I tend to go through phases. I'm picking up right where I left off. I own nothing.
Nick stood outside. He was trying so desperately to clear his mind when, Catherine walked up to him, startling him a bit. "Sara showed me the journal she found in your friend's room." Nick was trying so hard not to cry, but he felt the tears coming. He looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with her. "Are you okay?" Catherine asked. Nick nodded, not even trying to speak. "You should take the night off, let everything catch up. I know it's a lot." He nodded again. She could see the pain he was in, and just wanted to make it go away so badly, and she rubbed his back to try to comfort him. "It's okay. But I'm not going to take you off the case. I've come to realize, that ignoring your problems isn't going to make them go away. You need to face this so it CAN go away."
"Catherine..."
"Go home, take the night off, and come back tomorrow, ready for what's coming."
Nick walked away angry at what his boss had to say about it. He knew one day wouldn't make a difference. All he could do now, was hope they solved the case overnight, and already have forgotten about it by his next shift.
He arrived at his house with a twelve pack in hand. He sat on his couch and turned on the TV, and opened the first beer. He had intended to drink as many as he needed to, in order to drown out the memories.
After a few beers he started to feel a little better. After a few more he had a vivid flashback. He got really angry at this and violently, screamed out in rage, and threw the empty bottle at the wall, shattering the bottle completely. That made him feel better so, he did it again, this time throwing it at the ground. He kicked the coffee table beside him, hurting his toe, and he decided not to do that again. He fell onto the couch, and drank another beer before passing out.
A few hours later there was a knock at the door that startled him awake. He was still very drunk, and opened the door violently. "What?" he asked Catherine, annoyed that she was there.
"I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I was worried about you."
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine"
"You hiding something in there?" She said as she noticed he wouldn't open the door all the way.
"No."
She smelled the beer on his breath, and noticed he was drunk. "You been drinking?"
"What makes you say that?"
"I can smell it, and you're clearly drunk. It doesn't take a CSI to figure that out."
"Okay, well, none of this is any of your business anyway, is it?"
"You kinda made it my business when you called me at the crime scene, remember?"
"Yeah, well, I'm asking you to leave now. Thanks for checking on me, but I'm fine." He slammed the door on Catherine. He walked back over to the coffee table and picked up another bottle and threw it at the wall. Then he drank another beer wanting to pass out again, and not wake up until the case was solved.
Catherine was outside the door when she heard the glass shatter. She just wanted to be with him, and hold him, and tell him everything was going to be okay. But, she knew it wouldn't be, at least not until he could face the facts, and really confront what happen. It happen so long ago, it was hard for Catherine to understand why it still affected him so much. The thing is, these things never truly go away. The images, and memories will always be there replaying in his mind until he gets help, and learns how to deal with all of it. Catherine was ready to help Nick through this, but she didn't want to push him too much.
She left his house, but her mind never truly did. She was thinking of him all day, hoping he would be alright. Also, hoping he wouldn't come into work reeking of beer, as he did when she came over.
Nick passed out shortly after Catherine had left. When he woke up, it was almost time for him to be at work. He didn't want to go, but he dragged himself off the couch, and into the shower.
Catherine, Sara, and Greg were already at the lab working on the case when, Nick came in late. "Sorry I'm late, my alarm didn't go off."
"No, its fine." Catherine said, "Have Sara fill you in, Greg and I are going to follow up on a lead."
Catherine and Greg left the lab, and Sara asked Nick, "How are you feeling today? Catherine said she sent you home sick yesterday. Felling better?"
Nick couldn't believe this. Catherine actually cared, she lied for him so he wouldn't have to tell them what was actually going on. "I'm... yeah, better."
"Good. So, I should probably fill you in."
"Just tell me what I need to know. Where are we now?"
"Well, Catherine and Greg went to go pick up an abusive babysitter Jason had when he was eight. I found a journal on his bed, and in it he said he spotted her here in Vegas so, they're going to search her place now. We don't know for sure, but we're thinking he came here to confront her of what she did, and something went horribly wrong."
When Catherine and Greg got back, the babysitter came with them. Nick saw his old babysitter, she is now almost fifty! He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He suddenly needed air, he felt as if someone was choking him, and he rushed outside. Sara didn't know what was going on, and she followed him out. "Nick!" she yelled as she chased after him.
When Nick noticed her following, he pretended like he was just going to his car.
Inside the interrogation room, the babysitter sat nervously waiting for them to come in. Catherine, Greg, and Brass were standing behind the mirror discussing their strategy on how to approach this suspect. Sara followed Nick in, and Catherine said she and Nick would stay back while the others talked to her. So, the others entered the interrogation room.
"Catherine, I really don't think I should be on this case."
"I think you need to face your fears. I'll be with you, the whole time. It's not like she can hurt you again."
"I'm not afraid of her."
"Than what are you?"
"I dunno."
"Nick, let me help you."
"I don't need help. I'm fine."
"You call that fine? You walked out when you saw her enter the station. You walked out when we were discussing the evidence. Then you went home, and got drunk off your ass. Nicky, you need help. Let me help you."
"I don't need help."
Catherine turned her attention to the interrogation being a bit frustrated with him being so uncooperative. Nick was forced to pay attention, having nowhere else to go. He looked at the girl's face. It looked the same. After all these years, after all this time he still remembered that face. He had only seen her that one time before, but he will never forget that one time. His skin started to crawl as he thought of it again. It all becoming too real, his eyes filled up with tears. Catherine noticed and squeezed his shoulder, hoping one day she would be able to help.
Do you like it? No? Please review. Also, what do you picture the babysitter looking like? What do you think her name should be? I want to know what you guys think.
