Splash of Crazy
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Finn follows Nick through the crowd seeing him go through a door. She continued only to lose him in an indoor garden exhibit, that the door had led them too. Finn took in the scenery it was quite peaceful and beautiful but she couldn't admire it too long because she needed to talk to Nick. She scanned the area in a similar way she did on the plane and she was able to spot him and follow him once more.

Finn thought it was slightly ironic that Nick chose to storm off in such a peaceful area when it was evident that he was dealing with something that was weighing heavily on his mind and soul. This place could act as a sanctuary for the stubborn Texan if he let it. Nick was unsure if he could trust Finn with the weight that was on his shoulders. It's hard to put your guard down when it's been up for so long.

"I thought this was an exit," Nick chuckled as he stared at a water fountain, looking at Finn only for a moment. "I guess, that's karma for being such a jerk to you. I'm sorry." Nick said sincere.

"Nick, I don't want you to think I…" Finn started but Nick interrupted her.

"I'm not mad at you. Hell, I woulda done the same thing." Nick said looking at the fountain. A strange silence took over the pair. Finn was unsure what to say or if she should say anything. She could see the gears in Nick's head turning. He looked like he wanted to talk to her but something was stopping him. Something he didn't know or could control.

"You don't have to tell me." Finn said touching his arm. Nick gave her a nervous smile. Just as Finn went to turn and walk away Nick grabbed her hand.

"I joined up with Dallas PD right out of college. Green as can be. I served as a uniform cop for about five years, and then I tried out with the 1-8. I rolled with them like two and a half years and then I became a CSI and came out here." Nick confessed. It may not have been a real confession but to Nick it certainly felt like one. All while still holding Finn's hand.

"Why did you leave?" Finn asked.

"I couldn't stay…" Nick said letting go of Finn's hand. He nervously ran his hands through his hair and taking a deep breath. "Remember when you asked me why I haven't settled down yet?"

"Yes." Finn said nodding.

"I tried, too." Nick said with a defeated looking on his face. "Her name was Olivia. I met her right after I got with the 1-8. We dated for two years." Nick turns and smiles at Finn once again before looking away yet again.

"It was awesome. I had a great job. A great girl. She had a heart of gold, and she put up with me, and she wanted to do so much, help so many. I didn't appreciate it, or her… every night with the 1-8, we'd go out drinking and get into bar fights, we were the toughest SOBs. Doing real man stuff, and Olivia hated it. She hated the 1-8. She wanted me to get out and I didn't want to…" Nick said as he sat down on the fountain as he looked around.

"What happened?" Finn asked.

"One night we got into a terrible fight. I was too drunk to remember what we were fighting about. The only thing I remember is her crying and then her slapping me and then leaving. I passed out on the couch… The next morning, Rocky and a few uniform officers were at my door… I thought I was getting arrested. I thought I hurt her."

"Why were they there?"

"Olivia was headed to her mother's house. A drunk blew through a red light and crashed into her. She died before she got to the hospital…" Nick said pausing as if taking a brief moment of silence. "After her death, I spiraled out of control a little. Rocky, that other guy, he was our commander and was able to talk some sense into my thick skull. I needed to get out of the 1-8. He transferred me out to CSI, but I was still in muck. I needed to get out of Dallas. Rocky wrote me a great recommendation letter to Vegas, and here I am." Nick said shrugging his shoulders as he stood up slowly.

"I'm sorry." Finn said unsure what to say. "Why didn't you say something? I don't mean just now, I never would've guessed you for SWAT…"

"Good. No one at the lab knows. I didn't want to be known as a SWAT guy who couldn't make it because I was damn good at my job, just as I am now. I'm sorry for giving you a hard time, but I thought if you knew my past you would think differently of me." Nick said giving his shoulders another defeated shrug.

"Nick, we all have stuff." Finn said touching his arm.

"I guess. Anytime I tell someone I feel like everything goes wrong… it usually goes wrong regardless." Nick said smiling. "Lauren called me damaged goods… among other things."

"Forget her. You're a great guy." Finn said still touching his arm.

That's all it took for their awkward sexual tension to show its ugly head again. Nick closed the gap putting a hand on Finn's waist, and pulled her close. Finn kept her one hand on his arm and used her other to hold the front of his shirt. They kissed briefly, but the moments their lips touched they felt the fire that they had for each other on New Years' was back. Finn pulled away and held Nick at bay, before she walked away.

"Finn!" Nick called as he followed Finn back out to the mixer.

"Finn!" she heard from someone else say from within the hall.

"Mike?" Finn said confused as her ex-husband, Captain Mike Robinson with Seattle PD, picked her up in an excited hug. Finn felt her stomach dropped as she looked at Nick.

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