A/n: You didn't think I was gonna forget about this story did you? Well, here is the next chapter. I still son't own CSI. If I did, Warrick wouldn't have died, and Sara wouldn't have dumped Grissom. Now, then, to the story!

"Hey Nick, there's someone at the front desk asking for you." Greg's voice cut through Nick's thoughts and brought him back to reality. Ever since Halloween, he found himself getting distracted by things in the corner of his vision. He stood up and focused on Greg Sanders.

"Who is it?" he asked. Greg shrugged, and Nick could swear he saw a flash of something in the younger man's eyes.

"No idea, but she is really hot. Black hair, glasses, and violet eyes. I have never seen natural violet eyes." It was the eyes that sparked recognition in Nick. He was halfway to the front desk before Greg finished his thought. Verity looked much different than she had on Halloween night. She sat in a chair, back ramrod straight against the wall. Her hair was down, brushed out into gentle waves and curls, upon which sat a black fedora with white pinstripes. She wore a black blazer over a midnight blue V-neck sweater. A black pinstriped skirt came down to two inches above her knee, showcasing her toned legs. Finishing off the look was a pair of black pumps. She glanced up as Nick appeared and stood, the plastic visitors badge swinging from the lapel of her blazer.

"Verity, what are you doing here?" he asked. She smiled welcomingly.

"Well, I was here to identify a body, but I also needed to talk to you. Can we take a walk?" she asked. Nick nodded and led her out the door of the lab. The pair walked down the sidewalk past the officers and lab personnel. Once they had moved out of earshot, Nick faced her.

"Okay, before you start, will you please tell me what the hell is happening to me? The last week I swear I'm seeing things that shouldn't be there. And yesterday I nearly had a heart attack because I thought I saw my buddy Warrick standing in the Garage." He said. Verity wrinkled her nose.

"What does your friend have to do with anything?" she asked.

"Warrick was murdered a few weeks ago. If I really saw him, it would have been a ghost." Nick replied.

"Black guy, mid-thirties, short curly hair, green eyes?" Verity asked, glancing across the street. Nick stared down at her, his eyes hardening.

"How did you-?"

"He is a ghost. He's across the street, at that park." She gestured vaguely across the road. Nick's face paled as he realized what Verity was telling him.

"What's going on?" he demanded.

"Nick, I'm sorry, but you took off before I could explain anything. Short version, all humans have the ability to see our world, but the Veil keeps them from it. Think of it like a horse with blinders on. They only see what they are supposed to see. Then one day the blinders come off, and you realize that there is a lot more to the world than you thought. That's what's happening to you. I'm really sorry, I should have prepared you. That's also what I needed to talk to you about. I have to go to New Orleans tomorrow, and your presence has been requested." She said, pulling a thick envelope from her bag. Nick took the invitation from her and opened it. The thick vellum opened to reveal a golden feather laying above the neat handwriting.

Mr. stokes,

I understand that this last week must have been unsettling for you, but I would like to try and help ease your transition. I would like you to accompany Verity to my home in New Orleans where I will explain everything. Your flight has already been booked, all that you need to do is take a few days off work and get to the airport. I look forward to meeting you in person.

Sincerely,

Kaileena Kayson

Nick looked up at Verity with a raised eyebrow. She gave him a cheeky grin.

"Flight leaves at eleven. I'll meet you at the terminal." She said, heading down the street.

"What airline?" he called.

"Private jet. Kai's loaded." She called back over her shoulder. Nick shook his head and headed for the lab again. Hi feet found their way to Grissom's office, and for a moment, Nick just observed his supervisor. Nick remembered how the older man had been before Sara had left, and the difference now was shocking. His eyes were sunken, and he looked like he hadn't had a decent night's sleep in weeks. For a moment, Nick felt a sense of pure sorrow fall over the room, and he could almost see the older man's heart before him, broken. The moment was broken when Grissom looked up at him.

"Nick?" he asked. Nick shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"Sorry, Gris, I kinda spaced for a second. Listen, I know it's really short notice, but I have a personal thing, and I need to take a few days off."

"That's so strange. I just got off the phone with accounting. They were screaming at me because half the team has over three months of vacation time on the books. Why don't you take a full week. That way, accounting will leave me alone about you at least." Grissom said.

"Thanks. Hey, are you doing okay?" Nick asked suddenly.

"Fine, why?" the response was so fast Nick realized it must have become automatic for him.

"You look like you haven't been sleeping. Maybe you should take some vacation too. Recharge the old batteries." Nick suggested. Grissom smiled slightly at the younger CSI.

"See you in a week, Nick." Grissom said, turning to his paperwork. Nick nodded and headed out the door. After a few moments, a ping notified Grissom to a new email. Clicking on the icon, he smiled at the message from his little cousin. After a few minutes of thought, he picked up the phone and called Catherine.

"Catherine, it's Grissom. I'm thinking about taking a trip. Can you handle the lab while I'm in Seattle?"

A/N: Okay, before ya'll start screaming at me, I promise that the next chapter will have more explanations and I will not leave poor Warrick in limbo forever. However, I am now holdeing this story ransom. Three reviews, and the next chapter will be posted. Preatty please!