Hanging by a Moment
Chapter Ten
Everything Old Is New Again… a.k.a How Far We've Come.
My breath staggering in pain as I lift my head feeling the blood trickling slowly down my right temple my lost memories finding a new alcove. As I look forward to the woman and child standing a little in front of me the dark starlight eyes, sending me free falling the love in them cascading.
Her gentle feature's mesmerizing me, as the palm of my hand touches the cool tile below feeling my every heart beat as my brown eyes turn. For a moment directly to Catherine and Grissom before switching back and I sit at the exact same height as the five year old whose brown eyes are fixed on mines.
As I hear a clear click of a trigger. Ecklie finding my own gaze in that moment and it has come down to this. With it happening in front of all the individuals I care most about my life hanging by a moment in time: -
With there being no comeback my brown eyes shifting to the woman I love with all my heart and soul….
…As my warm eyes drift now, shifting past Sara and the boy at her foot looking Conrad Ecklie in the eye. As the gun takes aim for my own heart and I am unable to stop him as I feel the taste of blood in my mouth from the ricocheted shot.
My gaze falling to the ring on the middle finger of my right hand what belonged to my grandfather before me as I look with love to the boy before me. As I feel each passing moment the strands of my life merging to one whole.
As my brown eyes close my head falling back the strands of my brown hair touching the old scar on my left temple. Thinking of only one individual the woman who I love whose heart and soul is one with mines as my brown eyes open.
The image before me different from before as my head turns. Time slowing as the gun stays aimed on me my cry merging with the sound of a bullet….
As my brown eyes soften love like no other enveloping them with Sara standing directly before me in this long corridor - cutting of the view of Ecklie. As my cry hammers to a new pitch my hand lifting of the cold tilled floor to reach for hers.
Rising as I do so my touch finding hers at that moment as my hand slowly and delicately circles the smaller one. Feeling it respond our hands now entwined to one. As the head turns the dark starlight eyes merging with mines as my own the hand tightens its grip as I fall back losing my inconsistent balance along with it.
Sara's weight shifting along with mines my other hand wrapping protectively round the slender waist as the dark eyes continue to look into mine. My brown eyes getting lost their as I feel the brunt force hitting the tiled floor beneath me. The body next to mines hanging on protectively as I hold her closer my back reflexively relaxing on the tiled floor beneath
Our thoughts one in that moment as a tear runs slowly down those gentle features my left hand rising to caress that cheek pushing a brunette braid of hair back as my hand stays put. The smaller one linking back through mines as a stray thought now penetrates.
That neither of us have been shot nor even marked by a bullet. With it only being the easy weight of the lithe body lying protectively on mines that is holding any sway. As my next thought is stopped mid-way. The moment coming as one as our lips meet, a new force passing through my body.
Love like no other anchoring itself there as I melt into it, Sara pulling away first leaving only yearning as I bite my lower lip. Her other hand remaining where it had been as mines moves to meet hers.
As the strong gentle hand interlinks back through my own the brown intense pools soaring to deeper depths as my free hand comes to its earlier resting place. To the beating heart and the checked shirt grabbed open upon our falling to reveal the chest below as my head burrows deeper into that shoulder blade.
The shirt looking even worse for-ware now as my head lifts the handsome features shifting a lopsided grin this way, the Texan accent drifting soft across to me and the fact, which has not escaped him:
"I guess I'm a little late for work?"
With the brown depths shining the set features producing a golden smile with all around us for a moment depleting my heart giving way with that look as our lips meet tenderly. Love cascading as I slowly and carefully withdraw not want the moment to end as I reply coyly:
"A change of shirt would not go to badly either partner."
My next words getting stopped my smile broadening as I fall into the kiss, my eyes closing as it finds new depths with Nick without warning pulling away fresh fear now penetrating those pools our thoughts now merging completely in a different angle.
Hanging by a moment in that thought as both our eyes move in tandem Sara's weight shifting a little: -
To give me a better view, one that even upside down shows bloodshed. Ecklie lying face down in a pool of blood some feet from us the gun still in his hand as I register who stands directly behind him at the open door.
Warrick Brown his weapon still, smouldering with the speed of that one shot. As he stands now leaning heavily on the doorframe our gaze meeting in old friendship and recognition Warrick now carefully, holstering his weapon as he without a word nods to us both. Something from way back remaining in his eyes even though I have no further clue to what it is.
With Warrick reading my thoughts as his voice drifts across to us both:
"I believe I owed you one big time Nick Stokes."
As like Sara I watch him lean over the dead body of Ecklie a shudder running through me Warrick seeing it too as he finishes his statement:
"That was way too close a shave old friend and you actually recognise me now Nicky."
The words causing a minor groan on my part the woman beside me digging me in the ribs while at it. With what happened a little before coming out onto this corridor seeming to now be under in-permeable ice.
Confusion again rattling my thoughts as I regain focus, remembering now seeing Greg, Warrick and Grissom earlier in this same corridor with it feeling now too distant a memory. As Sara's touch now tightens my thoughts completely changing sphere, as a smaller figure now cuts into view.
The dark eyes once more sparkling. The look touching my soul as I hear her voice calling to him Sara's touch remaining on my shoulder as I sit up beside her. The brunette now standing her spirit entrenching me as I gently place my hand to the one on my shoulder with getting up remaining to risky.
My balance not what, it should be. As I stubbornly relent feeling the blood running from my temple. As I look to the boy who stands directly before me Sara by his side. With him not coming any closer his brown eyes resting on me. As Sara moves forward kissing my forehead as our hands link.
Love surging through me as I become aware of Grissom and Catherine further down the corridor. Greg's still body causing, me to wince further Sara returning to my side, the little boy who is my son remaining where he is. His gaze for now on Warrick as Sara Sidle dark eyes give me a look her touch coming to the open wound on my right temple.
The blood trickling intermediately from it the dark starlight gaze shining with tenderness and love as I am now thrown one entirely different type of comment. Her lips tucking into that smile as she does so:
"Does attracting the wrong sort of trouble come with your name Stokes and your son, has the same magnetism too."
Sara's delicate features moving to the boy who is now watching us both with the independent woman beside me queuing, my next question…as my dark eyes slowly rise moving from the little boy who is so much like his father. To the warm brown eyes of Nick. The words coming with ease:
"He's five years old Nicky."
The handsome set features coming back this way our hands interlinking once more. As my attention returns to the deep fresh graze on the right temple and the vulnerable look in those brown eyes before me.
Grissom and Catherine now almost reaching this part of the corridor, which swarms now completely with CSI's Warrick keeping the numbers at the other side at bay. The emergency services already having been called as I focus on the strong vulnerable man before me.
His brown warm eyes measuring my own take for take his gaze swinging to his son. Before moving back to me, the gentle hand reaching to slowly caress my own cheek as I smile whispering something in his ear at that moment as I now rise kissing his forehead.
Sara's touch leaving mines my features turning into a lopsided grin to the comment whispered in my ear with her dark eyes for a moment on Gil and Catherine. Before coming back my way her voice reaching out to the little boy.
As the brunette for now leaves my own view heading back into that all-important room. My memories now becoming completely whole as I turn to look at the five year old before me. His serious gaze struck only on me.
My smile reaching out to him the five year old now giving the exact same smile back with him now sitting directly across from me our brown eyes once more meeting comically as my right hand reaches to the scar on my left temple.
With the boy across from me, mimicking my every action. As I slowly move my right hand to the fresh wound. Flinching as I touch it the brown warm eyes directly across from me, sending a concerned glance with his right hand staying put. Completely mirroring my own as our eyes meet in instinctive, understanding as he now stands up.
Running quickly over to me before again coming to a quick halt his hand reaching out to mines in a comical handshake of sorts. As I now bring his little form closer to me hugging him before he steps back his tone warm:
"Our name's the same daddy?"
My brown eyes looking directly into his as I nod getting used to what this little boy has just added to it as I kiss his forehead receiving one back. His features turning serious again:
"You are not leaving again are you?"
With someone else now finishing that statement, a voice that makes us both turn our heads even from where I sit and it is Gil Grissom:
"No Nicky he's staying put and we still need some other pieces of this puzzle Stokes."
The latter half directed specifically at me as I manage a lopsided grin seeing Catherine beside Grissom, as my features also turn serious. Gil picking up on my gaze the young Nicky Stokes moving to the side as the steal features of my once boss greet me fully.
His hand reaching out to me as I see the concern and emotion on his greying features his tone now soft:
"Nicky."
With it being the first time he's ever fully called me by that name as our eyes meet, my gaze quickly leaving his as I feel my nervousness return slightly Gil, not letting it pass though as he comes straight to the point in typical form:
"I see you've acquainted yourself with your son. He takes way too much after you Nicky not that I am complaining any."
As I now grasp the hand fully managing to my feet this time, as I lean heavily for a moment on Gil our eyes meeting again as I mutter a comment:
"Exactly how long have you been married to Catherine Gil?"
This causing a wide smile from Grissom as I get a side ways glance:
"So you approve Nick and I think you can figure that one out for yourself plus how is the head?"
With the comment being something different from what I remember of him as he picks up on it:
"Both Brass and Greg were right about going on a hunch Nick."
This causing my head to rise, fully the look in Grissom's eyes confirming something and his words as I smile despite the look I am now receiving from him as a young voice causes us both to look:
"They've been married almost six years dad."
The dead pan tone giving the tinniest hint of humour the young features developing a golden smile as I look back Gil's way:
"I think he got that from Sara Grissom."
As I break into a grin at the look from my once boss as my features return to serious:
"Greg Grissom?"
With Gil hitting me with one of those steal glares again ignoring the former question the glint in the eyes showing the pain of the loss though:
"How's about getting that wound attended too first Nicky?"
The hall now depleted of its many numbers Greg's body and that of Ecklie's now covered as someone else replies to that comment:
"Already done Gil."
Her full smile brining my own back into play Sara's hand extending to mines as she now delicately touches the wound. Causing me to flinch once more her tone light in response:
"The paramedic's want to get you checked out at the hospital too but your son and me want to show you something first isn't that right?"
The dark eyes shifting their gaze to the five year old who is standing between us his smile deepening to his mother's word's. As I give her a puzzled look with Sara now covering the wound neatly as my next words tumble out way to fast:
"I guess your son gives you plenty of practice at this sort of thing."
Sara's eye leveling with my own as Catherine within earshot sends a smile my way the brunette giving me a glare:
"You could say that Stokes isn't that right Nicky?'
The boy beside, her giving a side ways nod to me his resemblance to his mother forging through as his hands comes to mines. Sara taking his other free hand linking the three of us to one as Warrick, Grissom and Catherine send a smile.
Nicky Stokes choosing this moment to forge the path ploughing ahead holding our hands tight forcing . My eye levels with Sara's starlight gaze and she knows where he is heading. As my own bearings try and remember.
The hall widening and opening as I partially remember being on this part of it with Catherine as we turn again. CSI's dipping out our path Sara sending me that smile again as my heart quickens to it sending me free falling.
As I realize we are at the main entrance and reception to this all, important building with it not being the way I had come in earlier with Catherine. As I now carefully lift the boy his smile widening the brown eyes mischievous Sara's hand coming to mine as we walk out into the cool October night.
The stars in the heavens above twinkling respectively as my gaze like my son's travels to one place. What can be seen clearly in this fall evening the Rocky Mountains there outline stretching both ways in the far distance.
Beyond the sparkling lights of Las Vegas itself as I turn to Sara the look sending me to the heaven's and that I am indeed home. Letting our son down at that his gaze again magnetically going to those peeks in the distance.
As I gently touch Sara's lips protectively love entwining us, embracing her fully for a moment as I look once more into those dark starlight eyes, my heart somersaulting at the look I am now receiving….
With the brown soft eyes like that of his son returning to the mountains in the far distance the strong gentle hand realizing leaving only yearning once more as my head burrows protectively into Nick's shoulder our gaze mingling on those Rocky Mountains.
The strong gentle hand encompassing my own as I slowly release from that alcove, the brown eyes flickering to new depths, as our gaze merges to one. Our son's small hand reaching up to combine with his father's, the touch coming to my own surrendering myself at that moment to them both.
My free hand now coming up to the disheveled shirt first, the brown depths of those warm eyes now soaring free Nick gracefully bringing us closer. The boy at our foot hugging us both close as I continue to gaze into those brown pools seeing the blood beginning to run from the fresh wound at the temple with the cold air having hit it.
The handsome features re-aligning to a lop-sided grin appearing feeling the protection and safety that only comes from his touch. As I lift our son his brown eyes now in complete alignment with his father's as Nick ever so gently touches my own cheek intimately sending a tremor through every atom of my body.
His son picking up on it with that smile of his the handsome profile now turning serious as I voice something off old and what I had whispered in his ear earlier:
"You complete me Nicky Stokes."
The boy between us taking in the look shared between as he voices what is written in Nick's eyes:
"I guess mum is talking about both of us dad."
His five year old humorous smile playing off us both at that moment, the handsome feature of his father - teasing me while at it. As I reach out touching the covered fresh wound and the pain off all that has happened, the jumbled memories he can only be at this moment trying to piece together as his son.
Who has taken this now silence, as an opportunity to tell Nick all about the labs and what this man across from me is unable to hide at this moment…. though Ecklie has not taken his life the mental scars and physical damage done is something, which will be with him all his life, as that strong gentle hand once more takes my own.
The touch alone cascading through every sphere of my body as that, smile of his returns the boy beside him giving his father that lopsided grin as I look between the two most important individuals in my life.
First to the boy who now rests for a moment in his father's arms before the young Nicky Stokes jumps down to his feet. Agility and at break neck speed in the way he always has done, his father showing awe and pride - to the boy he barely yet knows who is his own son our blood and DNA merged to one.
As Nick glances back this way the warm brown pools enveloping my own gaze, love like no other shining there - my concerned loving glance. Noting the blood trickling from the covered untreated wound as I am swept under, by the magnetic vulnerable innocent gaze.
The intensity in those brown pools growing as the strong arms wraps ever so gently round my waist protectively pulling me closer. My head coming to rest at the chest feeling the sure constant heart beat as the five year old looks between us once more.
His serious features going heaven wards as he now comically covers his eyes for a moment before the hand falls giving instead a huge smile. The brown eyes understanding this moment between his parents as I turn back to the person whose arms I am now in.
Noting that he is about to speak as my own hand gently lifts to his lips, surrendering instead only to the safety, warmth and love of his protective touch as the brown eyes go into free fall, the pools completely enveloping my own.
Seeing that heart and soul of his coming through the pools cascading to new depths love vast and endless shining there, as our lips once more meet nothing need spoken between us as I fall into it the kiss deepening in magnitude.
Raw emotions taking over as we ever so slowly disengage yearning like no other taking its place and the fact I am going to need to let him leave my sight once more for a little while at least. Paramedics sent by Gil and Catherine nearing us with his son wondering if he can follow him.
As the strong hand, which encompasses my own smaller one slowly and gently lets go as I shake my head to the young Nicky Stokes, that he has to stay put for now, with his father taking me by surprise at that moment.
With him lingering a moment more brushing the strand of brunette hair, which has fallen forward back into place as the hand slowly traces my cheek the gesture so small yet significant the intimacy of it taking my breath away.
Our thoughts, heart and soul one as the handsome features return to that serious look love like no other shining free in those brown pools….with more than a year having passed since that day, of days as my dark eyes stay focused on the energetic figure who stands a few feet away from me at this moment.
With thanksgiving now being a day past Nicky Stokes looking out the window at this moment the brown warm eyes unaware I have come back through as I look between the two individuals in this cozy living area.
One sound asleep dead to the world on the couch beside the wooden carved coffee table the left arm falling limply off the couch barely reaching the coffee table and what sits on top of it. The fountain pen Catherine had given Nick gleaming at that moment in the fading light on the coffee table.
As my gaze falls tenderly and lovingly back to the six year old who has remained sound, exhausted by his exploits and his father. Baseball the latter they had been doing on this November day with it being the mountains as a family the day had been spent and where they went often in these months.
The time flying in at those Rocky Mountains, which could be seen rising in the far distance from the window Nick was currently looking out off. The bond between father and son only growing in these, months from that first emotional meeting, the important years Nick had missed being made up for now.
With the young Nicky Stokes growing in confidence and character, with the shadow that had furrowed his small number of years gone. His father returned to him as my gaze slides back to Nick.
His posture strong and vibrant with the jumbled memories remaining the bad days becoming less his recovery more than amicable given the circumstances with Ecklie's part in it. Only being partly explained, Ewan Scott Carnachan helping on that front…
As her thoughts shifted to the news that she was about to give him, before he went on shift. There love which had never faded finding only new depths in these months as she smiled mischievously with her being able to share it with him this time round and unlike then. She was uncertain whether it was a boy or girl.
The not knowing adding to her own surprise of finding out as her dark eyes slid to the mantelpiece and the recent new picture there, her finger gently touching the wedding band as her dark eyes. Fell to their son and as her right hand fell to just below her stomach, feeling the new life there as she slowly crossed to the six year old.
Kissing the sleeping boy's forehead Nick's gaze still on those mountains as she gently moved away from their son. Her dark eyes falling once more to the carved coffee table and the fountain pen given from Catherine to Nick in Dallas.
As her thoughts turned inwards starting to sing instinctively the words filling this family room as she stood for a moment tenderly, taking in the man in front of her and his son as she started to sing one specific song her hand falling back to where it had been. Her dark eyes staying put on the strong vulnerable man before her:
'This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me.
I roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me.'
His brown soft eyes closed for a moment. Taking in the words to that one song Sara was singing his heart beating faster his thoughts turning inwards. To how far they had come Sara being forever his constant.
With their entrenched love only entwining deeper still the tousled memories not completely repairing as his thoughts shifted sphere. To Ecklie with Ewan Scott Carnachen at least giving them what he knew with it being little but enough to give closure, the unexplained reason's to why being better left in that dark place.
Plus though Gil had been somewhat against it. Ewan Carnachen had been spared jail his sentence decreased and that one way or other. He had saved his life long ago back in Montana, with how he had ended up getting to Montana way back then still a mystery.
As his thoughts refocused to the present and his family to the boy who was at this moment gently waking from his sleep to the sound of his mother's singing - their son -with the boy who was his anchoring, loving, and helping him to reconnect with Las Vegas and his CSI work.
The charismatic six year old, sharing ample characteristics with his mother as well and it had been a steep learning curve for them both. Gregg's loss something he felt sharply even now with him finding his feet again as a CSI Catherine, Grissom, Warrick and his now wife giving him the necessary help and understanding when things got tough.
As he thought to what else had changed with those that he had worked with in the heartlands of America making contact. Plus helping him join the dots to what else lapsed as he made another connection.
To something he could remember clearly now and to the effect of not recognizing them had. With his family in Dallas, his sister's and one brother their and that the long ago past, with the brother he had played second fiddle to growing up no longer being the case.
With Ryan having made the point of coming to see him and his family here in Las Vegas and they had made amends, there father Tom Stokes coming up for discussion as well and they were both his blood line.
As his brown soft eyes went now to his own son his thoughts temporarily returning to his one big brother and that with Sara they had when they could. Went back to his roots and Dallas, Nicky getting to spend a lot more time with his older cousins there.
While he and Sara had re-forged links with his family - links which Sara had in her own way maintained, his sisters, Neve the closest in age to him and more importantly Ryan. With them recovering from those lost years. Nicky helping a long way with it Ryan having a close unique bond with his youngest nephew one that as brother's they had never once shared.
Yet heartened him know as his son's hand found his at that moment with him visiting Jim Brass, the retired cop more than happy to see him and that like Brass. Grissom was now handing the graveyard shift over to Warrick, Catherine taking full rain over the day shift.
As his brown eyes closed a delicate hand linking through his free hand, the touch alone sending him soaring, as the last words of that precious song, came to an end his brown soft eyes striking out to those Rocky Mountains in the far distance and Las Vegas.
The Crime Lab's where he was heading later out there too as his gaze swung back to Sara those dark starlight eyes that would forever draw him, his hand gently moving from hers to gently move a dark braid of hair which had fallen forward. There son's hand now re-linking through Sara and his seeing the deep love for them both as he lifted him, pulling Sara closer to him at the same moment his gaze seeing the first star sparkle in the dusk light.
With the sky and mountains glistening to an aurora of colour in the fading light his brown eyes falling on Sara drinking that look in for, it unbound him leaving him only free falling….
Epilogue
Life is but a moment;
We are but grains of sand, adrift under the stars…
Time the only continuum; and sometimes what was once
Thought lost is returned…
A stranger to us, as we are to it, unfamiliar and desolate
Changed beyond recognition - a stranger to us still…
Yet it is bound to us.
As we are to the stars; for it is the bond which encircles us…
…and if that bond is strong enough, that what was once lost,
Shall be made whole….
For we hang by a moment by it all our lives –
For it is eternal, aligning us with our spirit and evil cannot taint it.
As it runs in all our blood - it unites us as one - no matter age, race or culture. It lives on in our children and resides in our heart.
Encircling our soul so we may help others.
It is pure unique linking us to this earth and in its simplest form it is called love…
HERE ENDITH THE STORY…..