Lover's Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
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Ch4: Trial and Error

Nick's family loved Mandy and they loved how social she was being with them in their little meet and greet. However Mandy wasn't trying to be social, between chasing Lily around and looking for Nick she had to be social. Mandy didn't want to embarrass Nick, but she was growing agitated that he just left her without a word.

"Excuse me, Miss Stokes? Can you watch Lily for a second; I'm just going to go check on Nick?" Mandy asked feeling somewhat defeated.

"Mandy, please call me Jill. Is Nick alright?" Mama Stokes asked.

"Yeah." Mandy lied, Mama Stokes saw through her lie but gave her a reassuring smile and walked away to get Lily. Mandy quietly and discreetly left to go downstairs and saw Nick picking up Lily's toys.

"Hey…" Nick said turning to see her at the bottom of the stairway as he knelt in front of Lily's toy chest. He looked away from her and sighed knowing he was in trouble.

"What are you doing?" Mandy asked as Nick stood up to face her.

"I'm just picking up a few things…" Nick said awkwardly as he tossed Lily's blanket on the couch.

"While your family is upstairs? Don't you think it can wait?" Mandy asked but Nick ignored her and walked away. Mandy chased after him and grabbed his arm to make him face her. "Don't walk away from me, what's wrong?"

"Nothing…" Nick said pulling his arm away.

"Nick, are we really going to do this?" Mandy said annoyed as she crossed her arms.

"Do what?!" Nick said getting annoyed and frustrated.

"Don't raise your voice at me!" she said poking his chest. "You left me up there by myself, I have to introduce myself. What the hell, Nick?"

"I'm not doing this." Nick said walking away. Mandy groaned with frustration and shook her head.

As much as Mandy wanted to chase him and try to pry his brain for answers but she already knew he had shut down. The only thing that would happen if she chased him down would just be them arguing more or her rather arguing with a silent Nick. She hated how stubborn he was; because she knew once he shut down that she would have to wait for him to come around to talk again. But whatever is wrong with him he would hold it close to his well guarded heart. After three years he was still very hesitant in letting her in. Mandy sighed as she felt like tears were going to spew through her eyes; she turned and headed back upstairs.

Nick growled upset as he scratched the back of his head. In all honesty Nick didn't know why he felt like this and he didn't want to take it out on Mandy but she was there. She was always there for him. Nick shook his head knowing he screwed up. She just wanted to help him and he blew her off as he wrestled with his own thoughts. Nick couldn't hold his tears back as he felt one escape and quickly wiped it away.

"After all the arguments you saw with your father and me. Why don't you talk to Mandy let her help you?" Mama Stokes said slightly startling Nick. He didn't know that she was there or how long she had been there.

"Mama, don't… please…" Nick said trying to gain his composure as he brushed his mother off.

"No, you're going to listen to me…" she said with a little extra maternal tone in her voice. "Your father use to let his demons eat away him just like how you're doing. Lily and Mandy love you too much. You are letting these demons eat away at you…" she said and Nick turned again to walk. "I know, that you haven't talked about the shooting and if you don't talk to someone, whether it's me, Mandy, or someone else, these demons will be louder than us and before you know it we won't be able to help you." Mama Stokes warned as she hugged her son briefly before going back upstairs.

Nick watched his mother walk away as her words started to sink in. Nick just thought that if he worked and focused through the shooting that everything would be alright and he thought that everything was alright.

Later on… Nick and Mandy sat next to each other as Tucker and his wife, Melanie, teased each other and set up the bowling scoreboard. Tucker put his name as Boomhower, Melanie's name was Laney, and Tucker put Nick's name as Poncho.

"What's you wanna… what's you name… Mandy, man?" Tucker rambled looking at Mandy as he smiled. He did resemble Nick, well all the Stokes children resembled each other. Mandy felt embarrassed because she didn't understand what he had said.

"What do you want him to put for your name?" Nick said sensing Mandy's discomfort.

"Umm… Mandy Dandy." She said looking down at Nick seeing him smile a little. Tucker rambled and Nick nodded.

It was incredibly awkward between the pair. They were still slightly annoyed and angry with each other but still trying to have a good time. The tension between Nick and Mandy only increased seeing the love and joy between Tucker and Melanie. Every time Tucker looked at Melanie, Mandy could see his heart swell with love. She envied that.

"Beer… brother, pitcher, man?" Tucker asked, and Nick released a deep sigh as Mandy returned to the table after finishing her turn. Nick knew that Mandy wouldn't be pleased if he started to drink especially given her fight. Alcohol wouldn't make the situation any better, but Nick could sure use a drink Tucker looked at Nick holding the empty glass. Nick made a face and motioned for him to pour a cup. Mandy only got further agitated with him.

By the time they got back home both Nick and Tucker were both drunk. However this wasn't the drunken Nick, Mandy was expecting. He wasn't angry or a deep thinking man like he had been in previous times but rather funny and not a pain to be around.

"It looks like you boys had some fun." Mama Stokes said looking at her drunken sons as she put her book down. Nick just laughed and fell down as Tucker sat in a recliner tired.

"How's Lily?" Mandy asked looking at Nick as he laid on the carpet drunk laughing and smiling.

"She's good. She's asleep. I have a baby monitor down there, but she was out like a light." Mama Stokes said as Melanie struggled to pull Tucker up to standing so she could bring him upstairs for bed.

"Good night, guys. I had a goodtime, Mandy." Melanie said practically dragging Tucker upstairs.

"Oh Mandy, well, you came and you gave without taking. But I sent you away oh Mandy…" Nick sang as he staggered to his feet. Mandy couldn't help but chuckle a little listening to him as did Mama Stokes. Nick engulfed Mandy into a big thirsty hug. "I'm sorry I'm so stupid… I really love you." Nick slurred holding her close.

"I know, Nicky." Mandy said holding him close, but she was almost certain that he would literally fall without her. Nick looked at her as he bit his lip, and grabbed her bottom. "Nick!" Mandy said blushed trying to push him a way a little but couldn't.

"Mama, I need you to go away. I wanna do stuff to Mandy." Nick said looking at Mandy with lustful eyes.

"Nick…" Mandy said blushing. Nick kissed her shoulder holding her close.

"I'm going to go to bed. Nicholas, we have church in the morning so rest up… good night."

"Gnight, mama." Nick said watching as his mother left and once she was out of sight Nick pushed Mandy on to the couch kissing her. "I hope you know I love you more than anything."

A different drunk Nick? Mama Stokes is sharing her wisdom. What did you think? What do you think so far? The next chapter Nick may have a break through. Better late than never, what do you think he will tell Manyd, if anything? Please Review!