Hi! Sorry for the wait, I've recently realised I was way behind on work, so I didn't let myself do this until I caught up :-s Anyway, this is a bit of a filler, sorry :-( I feel like an awful writer.
Read. Enjoy. Review (even if I'm a shitty writer)
Chapter Eighteen # Together #
Nick carried a dozing Kristy into Sara's house.
"Just let me make up the spare bed." Sara slipped past him and Eli went straight for the kitchen.
"I can do that." Nick insisted.
"No, it's fine, Nick." Sara said. "Sit down."
Nick nodded his thanks and sat on the sofa.
"Da...ddy?" Kristy frowned, swimming to consciousness.
"I'm here, baby girl."
"Where...where we?"
"We're at Sara's house."
"Oh..." Kristy struggled to sit up in her dad's arms and pushed his nose softly, running her little fingers over his face. "Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Why you no hab a gilfend?"
"Why don't I have a girlfriend? What makes you ask that?"
"Well, people say dat dey are sad wibout love. An' I don' wan' you to be sad."
Nick smiled at the little girl's thoughtfulness. "I'm not sad, baby girl! I have lots of people I love. Starting with you."
"Yeah, bu' you nee a gilfend!"
"Why?"
"Coz you do." Kristy said firmly.
"Okay, I'll have a look sometime." Nick rolled his eyes.
"Good." Kristy nodded. "Daddy, why is the sky blue?"
Nick paused for a minute. "Because... That's the colour god wanted the ceiling."
"Oh...Sara said it was coz da blue ligh' from da sun dat gets scattered froo da gases in da sky dat makes it look blue."
Nick laughed and shook his head. "It's that too."
"Daddy? Why awe my eyes blue an' green?"
Knowing better than to make something up again, Nick smiled. "Because it's in your DNA. That means it's who you are, and its special, just for you."
"Oh. Why don' I look like you? Coz Eli looks lie his daddy, an' Uban and Lola look lie Uncie Greg. Madi an' de ofers look lie Aunie MJ bu' I don' weally look lie you."
Nick swallowed. "Because you look like your mommy."
"But Uban and Lola look lie dere mommy and Uncie Greg."
"Well, you just look like your mommy."
Kristy frowned. "Bu' I don' wanna look lie mommy, I wanna look lie you. I don' know mommy, but I love you."
Nick smiled, and kissed her on the top of head. "I love you, too."
"I love you more." Kristy sighed.
Nick laughed. "No, you don't."
"Uncle Nick, look at this!" Eli grinned, carrying a tarantula. "This is Stevie."
"Oooh!" Kristy squealed. "Pider! Daddy me hold! Me hold!"
Eli gently lowered the spider into Kristy's outstretched hand.
"Don't squeeze your hand, you might hurt him." Eli instructed.
"Otay!" Kristy nodded, giggling slightly. "It tickles!"
"Uh huh." Eli grinned.
Sara came back into the room and grimaced. "Eli, put Stevie away please!"
"Sara-"
"Now." Sara insisted.
"Fine." Eli rolled his eyes, taking the spider off of his little cousin to put it back in Grissom's Spider Room.
"Sara, do you want me to take the couch?" Nick offered.
"Nah, Kristy can sleep in my bed with me." Eli offered. "Then Nick can sleep in the spare bed. I gotta really big bed."
Kristy yawned. "Yeah, I seep wib Eli."
Eli picked her up, struggling slightly, but as he was rather tall and she rather small for her age it wasn't too hard.
"Okay." Sara relented. "But no talking, you have to actually sleep."
"Otay Aunie Sara." Kristy yawned again.
When Nick woke up the next morning he remembered where he was instantly. He climbed out of bed and shook his head slightly, rubbing his hands over his face. He combed his fingers through his hair and stuck a piece of gum in his mouth to try and wake up more, getting dressed before walking into the living room.
Kristy and Eli were sitting on the floor in their pyjamas. Eli was quietly re-explaining the rules of snap to Kristy, who seemed to be gradually getting it.
"Hey guys." Nick grinned quietly.
"Hey daddy. 'Nap!"
"Yeah, that's right!" Eli praised, causing Kristy to laugh.
"Daddy, I got it dis time!"
"No way! Well done, baby girl!"
She grinned at her dad and Sara looked up from behind the kitchen island. "Ah, Nick, you're up."
"That I am."
"I am making egg, tomato, bacon and sausage, you want some?"
"That'd be great." Nick frowned. "I thought you were a vegeta-"
"I am." Sara interrupted with a smile. "If you wanna use the shower in the guest bathroom, feel free, there're towels and stuff in there."
"Thanks, Sara." Nick smiled, before pausing. "You know, I can't remember the last time I actually saw you with a ponytail."
"Shut up, Nicky." Sara teased. "Now go, before I set the children on you."
Nick obeyed and came out fifteen minutes later feeling a lot better.
"Okay, that smells good." Nick admitted.
"And it is ready. Eli, Kristy, breakfast!" Sara called, and the two kids hurtled up to the table.
After breakfast Eli and Kristy went back to play snap and the doorbell rang. Sara went to answer the door as Nick started to wash up.
Sara opened the door. "Hi Laura."
"Hey Sara." Her next door neighbour said breathlessly. "I'm really sorry but uh, Casey and Poppy were arguing and they've fallen down the stairs and I think her Casey's arm's broken and I need to get them to hospital, is there any way you could -"
"Watch Jamie? No problem, Laura." Sara smiled sympathetically. "I hope she's okay."
"Thank you." Laura said, gently pushing her son into the house and running her hand through her hair.
"Do you want me to call an ambulance, or..."
"No, thank you, I can drive her, but she and Poppy are joined at the hip and I just don't want Jamie to be involved in all of the hospital drama. Harry's at another job interview. I'll pick him up as soon as I can."
"It's not a problem, but uh, I may have to run into work later, if I do, is it okay if I take him with me?"
"Sure, sure." Laura shook her head. "I gotta go. Thank you so, so much."
"It's no problem. Call me when you can." She turned to Jamie as the door closed and started to sign. 'Eli is in the other room with his cousin, Kristy'.
Jamie nodded with a cute smile, his sandy blonde hair framing his face like a halo. 'Can I join them?'
Sara nodded happily, quickly explaining her position to Nick. "Aw, man. Poor kid."
"Hi Jamie!" Eli said in faint surprise, speaking aloud as he signed for Kristy's benefit. "What are you doing here?"
Kristy watched in awe as the two boys' hands fluttered around as Jamie explained everything to Eli, and Eli introduced them.
"Daddy, Damie talks wib his hands!" Kristy cried in awe. "Coz he can't hear!"
"I know." Nick nodded.
"Sara, can we go to the park please?" Eli asked. "Me, Jamie an' Kristy?"
"Nah uh, you're not going anywhere on your own without Jamie's older sisters, you know that."
"Sara-"
"No, Eli, it's too dangerous." Sara insisted.
"You want me to take 'em?" Nick asked, drying his hands on the dishcloth.
Sara pursed her lips.
"Aunie Sara come too, peese!" Kristy begged, blinking her eyes.
"Okay, let's go." Sara grinned, reaching for her coat and whistling to the dog.
Five minutes later Sara and Nick walked through the park, Hank lolling by their side and Eli and Jamie racing ahead, Kristy moving her little legs as fast as they could to keep up.
Suddenly she tripped and fell and started spluttering as if she was about to cry. Instantly Eli turned and backtracked, crouching down next to her.
"Uh oh! Kristy, are you okay?"
"I...gotta...owie!" she said, starting to cry as she turned over to look at her bloody knee. Even as Nick started to jog over Eli put a hand on Kristy's shoulder, giving her a big hug.
"Damn...it's okay, Kristy, you're gonna be okay, it looks worse than it is."
"How you know?" Kristy sobbed.
"'cause I get cuts a lot playing with Jamie." Eli insisted.
Jamie sat down next to Kristy and moved his hands quickly, looking at Eli who was quick to translate.
"He says that he's got something to make you feel better."
Jamie passed Kristy a little packet.
"What this?"
Jamie motioned to open it, and she did, revealing a chocolate band-aid.
"For me?" Kristy asked, pointing at herself in slight confusion.
Jamie nodded, pointing at her and then miming eating.
"Fank you." She beamed, eating the chocolate, and Nick smiled, finally reaching them, and signing one of the few phrases he knew, 'thank you', to Jamie, who smiled and nodded.
"You okay, Kris?"
"Uh huh, daddy. We go pay now!" she grinned, scrambling to her feet.
The three children scampered up to the nearby playground and immediately began playing. Nick and Sara sat down on the bench.
"Nick?"
"Yeah?"
"What's under your jacket?"
Nick shifted slightly, lowering his voice. "My service pistol, my wallet, my badge."
Sara nodded slowly. "Mine're in my bag. Is this a bad idea? Coming out in the open..."
"Maybe. I don't know."
"I'm scared, Nick. As in really scared."
"Yeah...yeah me too." Nick nodded.
Another woman and her son walked up, and Eli instantly stiffened.
"What's up with that?" Nick asked Sara, edging closer to the edge of the bench.
"School bully." Sara replied. "Kyle Hampton, his mom. Hi, Susannah."
"Hi Sara." The woman flung her platinum blonde hair over her shoulder with over the top friendliness. "Lovely day... who's your friend?"
"I'm Nick Stokes." Nick smiled politely.
"Nick Stokes... I'm Susannah Hampton." She smiled flirtatiously.
Sara rolled her eyes.
"Look at that, the deaf dummy and the idiot orphan got another little friend." Kyle jeered.
Eli groaned. Kyle was the worst bully he could possibly imagine. "Go away, Kyle."
"Eli, who dat?" Kristy asked innocently, taking a drink from her little plastic juice cup and frowning when she found it almost empty.
"Just a stupid boy from school." Eli muttered, pushing Kristy round on the roundabout.
"Who's the little ugly girl?"
"He no nice." Kristy remarked, recoiling slightly.
Kyle sighed. "What's your name?"
"Kristina." Kristy replied curtly. "Eli, we go pay on swings now, I no wanna talk da him."
"Sure." Eli nodded, signing quickly to Jamie who was fast to nod.
"Wimp!" Kyle taunted.
Eli took a large shuddering breath and let it out, trying to let out his anger with it. "C'mon, Kriss, Jamie."
Kyle sat on the roundabout and started flicking small stones at the other three children.
"Ow!" Kristy complained.
"Stop it!" Eli frowned, looking at Sara who was nodding at something as Susannah giggled, putting a hand on Nick's shoulder.
"Or what?"
"I'll tell my daddy!" Kristy insisted.
"Running to daddy?" Kyle laughed.
"She's allowed to, she's only three." Eli defended Kristy.
Checking that the adults were otherwise engaged, Kyle chucked a pair of larger rocks, one at Jamie and one at Eli.
Both boys cried out in pain.
"Dats it!" Kristy cried angrily, drawing the adult's attention, jumping off the swing. She hurtled her cup three meters across the park with uncanny aim, hitting Kyle right on the head.
"Hey!" He roared, charging towards her and shoving her to the floor, kicking her as hard as he could.
Kristy screamed as loud as she could in fear and pain.
"DADDY, DADDY HELP ME!"
Even as the three adults started to run over, Eli charged Kyle, knocking him away from Kristy. "Leave – her – ALONE!"
Jamie joined Eli in knocking the other boy away, and Nick arrived in time to pull them all away.
"Okay, guys, break it up, break it up." Nick said angrily. "What's goin' on?"
"Daddy, it hurts!" Kristy shrieked, tears coursing down her face.
"Okay, sweetie, it's okay." Nick soothed, stroking her hair and picking her up gently.
"Are you kidding me? Don't pick her up, smack her!" Kyle's mom yelled. "She just assaulted my kid!"
Nick's eyes bulged and Kristy's crying increased. "Excuse me?"
"Your child is obviously disobedient and violent, you need to control her!" Susannah didn't seem like the same lady she'd been before. Nick couldn't believe the sudden change...
"Your son taunted and threw rocks at-"
"Oh yeah, blame it on the boy-"
"He's twice her size; he could have really hurt her." Nick argued, getting severely pissed off.
"So?"
"So? So she's three years old. And he's been bullying Jamie and Eli physically and verbally for months." Nick cried.
"According to who?"
"Their teachers." Sara responded, putting a hand on both Eli and Jamie's shoulders and drawing them towards her.
"Look, I'm gonna sue-"
"For what?"
"Assault."
"Good luck with that. You have no legal claim." Sara nodded.
"Well then I'll call the damn police!"
"We are the police." Nick responded, showing her the badge. "Come on guys, we're going."
Kristy sobbed into her dad's shoulder, grasping his hair. "Daddy, hurts."
"Where does it hurt, baby girl?" Nick asked.
"My legs an' my bottom an' my elbows an' my arms an' my tummy." She cried.
"Okay, we'll patch you up as soon as we get back to Sara's." Nick comforted.
Back at the house, Eli started to vent.
"I - hate - HIM!" He yelled, kicking the sofa.
"Eli!" Sara warned. "You have a punching bag for a reason."
"He's so stupid!" Eli cried. "He hurts Jamie and me and now he hurts Kristy too!"
"Daddy, I no like Kyle." Kristy agreed tearfully as her father started to clean her grazes.
Jamie tugged Sara's sleeve gently and signed. "I'm sorry."
"Jamie, it's not your fault." Sara signed back.
Jamie just shrugged.
Nick sighed. "Well, I don't know about you, Sar, but I sure hope that that's all the drama we get today."
CSIVCSIVCSIV
"Daddy! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" Loeila gushed, racing through Greg's apartment.
"Whaty, whaty, whaty whaty?" Greg replied, concentrating as he flipped a pancake and slipped it onto the rising stack.
"Weuban!"
"What about Weuban?" Greg asked.
"Daddy." Loeila put her hands on her hips, making the watching Catherine smile. "Don' may fun ob me cos I dus can' say my 'W' for Weuben sound."
"What?" Catherine gasped in mock horror. "Greg. Behave."
"Sorry Cath." Greg grinned.
"...we're goin' ona beah hunt, we're gonna catch a big one..." Reuben read to his granddad, perched on the man's lap.
Mark felt as if he was watching the whole scene. The small, warm body of his grandson kept him in the present, but he couldn't help but fear it was all a dream.
Shortly after the free-for-all that Greg called breakfast the doorbell rang.
Reuben cringed in Catherine's arms. "Daddy, please don' answer it for da man adain. I no like him."
"I think I know who it is." Greg smiled, peeping through the peephole and opening the door for his mother.
"Where...where is he?" Elise Sanders asked shakily.
"In the living room." Greg stood aside, watching as his mother made her way into the living room.
Mark stood up the moment he saw his wife with an unreadable expression. Guilt. Pain. Regret. Relief. Adoration. Love.
In a matter of seconds they were in each other's arms, clutching each other tightly.
Greg smiled giddily, swinging Reuben onto his hip. It was almost too good to be true. If you left out the whole 'targeted by terrorists' bit.
"Granma's here!" Loeila declared. "Me hug, me hug, me hug!"
"Okay, Lola." Elise smiled, hugging the excitable little girl.
"Happy days!" Reuben sang as the doorbell rang again. "I see, I see!"
Catherine nudged Alyssa into the hall and she watched as Reuben pulled across a tall seat and dragged it in front of the door, looking through the peephole.
"Itsa Morgan!" he declared with joy. "Aunie Caferin, open da door!"
"Hey everyone." Morgan sighed as she entered Greg's. "I'm exhausted."
"You can seep in my bed." Loeila offered innocently, curling up next to Morgan on the sofa, a little toy hedgehog in her hands.
"That's okay, I'm just gonna stay awake a little longer." Morgan smiled, kissing the top of Loeila's head. "Lols?"
"Yeah?"
"Got something for you?"
"What?"
Morgan passed Loeila a little teddy bear.
"You foun' Obby!" Lola squealed with delight.
"You left him there the other day when we all went to the zoo." Morgan teased, tickling Loeila slightly. "Silly billy."
"My name no Billy, my name Loeila." The child replied with a prompt smirk.
Greg watched the exchange from the doorway and sighed internally. Three years ago, he'd thought he could have had a chance with Morgan. But being a single dad, even with the incredible support network he had was tough.
Inviting Morgan on over half of the family outings was his answer, but it still felt like there was something so close that he wanted so back and couldn't touch.
He would have thought that the re-appearance of Lisa, or Alyssa, would complicate things, but surprisingly it only made his feelings for Morgan stronger.
He had feelings for Alyssa, sure. Pity, for one. Mainly he saw her as an ex, one with whom the relationship was never serious, and one that he no longer had romantic feelings for.
He would let her see her children. He wouldn't deny her that.
But God. He wanted someone else to be their mom. The woman who had spent the past three years helping him change diapers, fill bottles and sing them to sleep.
Jesus Christ...Greg thought as an epiphany hit him.
An epiphany that potentially brought with it a world of problems.
I've fallen in love with Morgan Brody.
I know. Shit chapter, shit title. I'm sorry. I only like the last line but I HAD to update. Please, please, for my sanity's sake, review.
Constructive criticism is appreciated!