Splash of Crazy
Disclaimer: Don't Own CSI.
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Finn pulled out a book as Nick put their carry-ons in the compartment above. Finn had been trying to read this book for a while but never had the free time and thought now was a good time as any time as any. Nick adjusted his hat as he sat down next to her. Nick peeked over her shoulder too look at her book.

"Whatcha reading?" Nick asked as he fixed his hat.

"I'm not sure. Morgan read it last week and told me it was a great book. I thought I'd give it a try." Finn said shrugging her shoulders. Nick nodded.

"Nice. I'm going to take a nap. Let me know how your book is." Nick said with a yawn. Nick adjusted his hat to cover his eyes. He adjusted his body so that he could rest comfortably. He couldn't help but hear her chuckle. He lifted his hat to look at her. "What's so funny?"

"Give you a mouth full of chew and a cowboy hat, and you'd look like a stereotypical redneck." Finn chuckled.

"Stuff is disgusting. It's called a Stetson." Nick corrected as he adjusted himself. Finn couldn't help but chuckle a little as she tried to read her book.

"G'night." Finn chuckled.

Finn scanned the passengers nearby every few minutes. She couldn't help but feel anxiety, as her brain ignored the book and drowned in its own thoughts. She knew that Nick was the cause of it. He was the first man that Finn had been with since the disaster of the Girls Night Out. She was embarrassed and still recovering.

"You're going to get us put on the no fly list if you can looking around like." Nick chuckled without looking up. "You alright?" Nick asked lifting his head.

"Yeah, sorry." Finn said nervously.

"No need to be sorry." Nick said smiling.

Finn tried to pay attention to her book but it was failing to live up to all the hype that Morgan had gave it. Frankly, Finn thought that the book was quite terrible and seeing Nick sound asleep next to her made her envious. She tried to give this book a chance but her eye lids quickly grew heavy.

"Finn…" she heard Nick say as she struggled to open her eyes. "Finn…" she hears again and she quickly realizes that she is nestled against Nick's arm. She immediately sprang up and pulled away.

"Sorry. Are we here?" Finn asked in a sleepy startle.

"Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Nick said smiling as he slowly stood up to stretch and get there carry-ons. Finn looked confused as she tried to wake up, knowing full well that she used Nick as a pillow and probably drooled on him. "The airport looks crowded, getting a cab is going to be hard." Nick said smiling as he handed her, her carryon.

Nick was right about the airport. It was very busy and crazy because of the convention. Not only was getting a cab hard but getting their luggage was also just as hard. LA was just as monstrous as Vegas at times and this was one of those times. However after they finally made it to the hotel, Finn was awestruck while Nick was suspicious.

"Here's your suite." The bell hop said trying to hand Nick the card but Nick didn't take it. Finn, however, happily took it and went in the room.

"This place is awesome. It's so big. The department is really paying for this. In Seattle we always got stuck in a small rink-a-dink room." Finn said exploring as Nick just put his bags down.

"The conference does this when they want one of us to speak at it." Nick said reading through the itinerary. When something caught his eye. "There's a bar downstairs." Nick said standing putting the itinerary down on the couch.

"What are you doing?" Finn asked as she moved her stuff to the one room, knowing that Nick's room would be nearby.

"Let's go for a drink." Nick invited. Finn gave him an apprehensive look.

"Ah…" Finn said.

"I don't mean… I… I am at a loss for words." Nick said blushing. "What could go wrong?" he said still red.

"I could think of a few." Finn said.

"We won't drink tequila," they both get a laugh out of that. "I don't plan on drinking like I did that night. Just something to help me relax. You got me nervous, Finlay?" Nick said quietly as he looked down at his boots. "Besides, the department is picking up the tab." Nick said as he went to the door. Finn followed.

They were really able to appreciate the beauty of the hotel. The awkward tension that they each bestowed on each other. This was only enhanced by the long walk to the bar. Finn followed Nick closely throughout the slightly crowded hotel lobby.

"Nicky!" they heard a man yell excited, the next thing Nick knew a man ran up and hugged him picking him up. Nick looked at Finn confused before the man put Nick down. Nick stared at the man before he remembered him.

"Buster?" Nick asked confused. His friend had certainly changed over the years.

"Yeah, man. How you been?" Buster asked his accent heavier than Nick's.

"I'm good, you?" Nick said the men chuckled as they shook hands. "You got fat." Nick teases as he pushes his friend. The men start to get rough with each other and Nick puts his friend in a headlock and ruffles his hair before pushing him away.

"Rocky is here." Buster said and Nick's face softened. As if on cue the older men joined the group.

"Nick? How's it been?" the older man, Rocky, asked.

"I'm good, sir." Nick said smiling nervously.

"You don't have to call me sir anymore. I left the 1-8 years ago. Only this dumb SOB is still with them." Rocky chuckled pointing to Buster.

"Hey now!" Buster exclaimed.

"Listen, we got to go. We will catch a whiskey later." The men said shaking hands one last time before leaving. Nick looked almost distant or drawn. Finn saw his face and demeanor totally change.

"Nick? Are you alright?" Finn asked and Nick immediately climbed back into his skin.

"Huh? I'm fine. You ready to get a drink?" Nick said.

"Who were they?"

"Just some old colleagues from Dallas." Nick said his attitude changing yet again.

"What's the 1-8?" Finn asked and Nick sighed.

"The unit, I was with." Nick answered just as vague as he did the first question, as he continued his way to the bar.

"Wha…" Finn started but Nick interrupted her, as he turned to face her quickly, startling Finn.

"I don't want to have this conversation and go down memory lane, okay?! I just want a drink." Nick said frustrated but he was bottling more of his anger then what he led on and Finn knew that. "It's been a long day, and I don't want to deal with this or that right now, okay?!" Nick said his hands shook and his neck veins out.

"I think I'm going…" Finn said and Nick looked apologetic briefly before leaving to the bar. "…back to our room." Finn says watching as Nick left.