Lover's Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
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Ch5: Changes

Nick slowly wakes up and sees Mandy's bare shoulder and her faded tattoo that lingered on her shoulder. Nick pulls her close kissing her shoulder, hugging her tight. Mandy rolled over to face him hugging him. He saw that she was wearing his tee shirt, as he was shirtless and in his boxers. He did feel a little hung over and now felt a little antsy but he felt somewhat at ease with Mandy in his arms. He looked over and saw Lily asleep, she had similar twitches as Nick just not as forceful.

"What did you wanna talk about?" Nick asked his face still a little sleepy. Mandy looked up at him as he scratched the back of his head. She couldn't help but touch him.

There had been a certain level of intimacy missing in their relationship, she wouldn't say the spark was gone but she would say it wasn't as strong as it once was. Now they would sneak in alone time usually whenever they could. In between naptimes, and shift changes. She could remember the days where they would just lay naked in bed all day kissing and loving each other for hours.

"I think I'm pregnant." Mandy said running her hand down his chest touching the quarter size scar before holding his side.

"What?" Nick asked looking at her with wide eyes.

"I think I am pregnant." She said looking at him. She saw him fighting a smile.

"What do you need me to, babe?" Nick asked putting his arm around her.

"Is there a pharmacy around here? I need you to get me… a pregnancy test." Mandy said unsure how to feel.

"Well…" Nick said peeking his head up to look at the clock. "I will run to the drug store and pick one up, why don't you wake her up so you can get ready for church."

"Okay…" Mandy said Nick smiled at her and kissed her forehead. Mandy giggled as Nick laid on top as he got off the bed. Nick jumped into court mode and got ready for church quickly in efforts to sneak out to the drug store without his mother seeing him. As Mandy gingerly woke Lily up.

"Wake up, baby. We have to go to church this morning." Mandy said as the sleepy toddler sat up.

The sleepy toddler ate cereal as Mandy brushed her hair. Mandy wore a yellow sun dress with a small sweater to cover her tattoos, she was still worried about being judged. She wasn't sure if those insecure feelings would ever go away even with all the reassurance she received from Nick and his family. Lily wore a white sundress with daisies on it and her cowgirl boots.

"Where's Nick?" Mama Stokes asked from the doorway.

"I think he went to the drug store." Mandy said trying not to act nervous but she didn't know what to say or do.

"What did he go there for?" Mama Stokes asked crossing her arms looking at Mandy confused. Mandy felt herself blush, she never has had a poker face. Just as her pause was getting awkward Mandy heard Tucker yelling for his mom.

"Aye… Mom… Mama…" he yelled from upstairs.

"Sorry, Mandy, I love your dresses though, excuse me." Mama Stokes said walking back upstairs. As she walked back upstairs, she saw Nick trying to sneak back in. "hello Nicholas, where have you been?" Mama Stokes asked, as Nick tried to hide something behind his back.

"Nowhere… mama. I just… I went to the drug store." Nick stuttered.

"Why are you acting like that? What have you got there?" Mama Stokes asked turning on her observatory skills.

"Nothing… it's something for Mandy… Lady stuff, ma." Nick said quietly as he awkwardly walked away, wanting nothing more than to end this conversation. "We are going to follow you out. You guys, almost ready?" Nick said making an awkward dash downstairs.

Nick and Mandy had decided to wait until after church to take the test. As they drove to church she saw Nick's demeanor change, however she couldn't read him. He assured her that everything was alright, but she knew better.

When they arrived at this traditional southern church with a large bell steeple, they paid a small tribute to Nick's father's grave. Nick crouched reading his father's headstone over and over again, this was the first time Nick really read it. He remembered being in such a funk at his funeral that the whole thing was a blur but now he read it with fresh eyes. First was his father's name, Roger Arthur Stokes, then his birth date and death date, and then a prayer that was all too familiar to Nick. As he read it he felt goose bumps just take over his skin as memories started to plague his mind.

"What does it say?" Mandy asked crouching beside him hugging him. Mama Stokes had brought Lily inside the church. Nick sighed as tried not to get choke up.

"Ah… As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and staff, they comfort me..." Nick said scratching his head.

"Come on, let's go inside. The service is about to start." Mandy said gently rubbing small circles on his back. Lily sat in between Mama Stokes and Mandy as Nick sat on the end. As the Pastor began his sermon , Nick felt like the walls began to close in and he felt his father's harsh stare upon his shoulder. Mandy saw Nick as he began scanning the room over and over and brought out into a feverish sweat.

"I… I gotta go… I need some air." Nick said stuttering as he left not waiting for anything.

"Jill, watch her for a second for me." Mandy said as she followed Nick out trying not cause a scene.

As she left the church she stood on the steps as she looked around for him. She couldn't help but notice what a nice day out it was, it could have been nicer but she wasn't upset. A change in pace was always nice. Then she saw him sitting in front of his father's headstone. Mandy joined him but didn't say a word and they sat in silence.

"I… when…" Nick said after a few minutes. He couldn't figure out what to say, his words were scrambled like his brother. Mandy didn't say a word just rested her head on his shoulder and rubbed his back. Nick touched his head as a tear ran down his face.

"Okay… it's okay…" she said hugging him, trying to soothe his achy nerves.

"When I was shot…" he said taking a deep breath. "I remember seeing the men fight and I went to grab Sara and that's when they got me… and her. I remember not feeling anything for a moment and watching my body fall…" Nick choked up as tears ran down his face, as Mandy felt her own eyes well up with tears as Nick stared at his father's headstone. "I remember seeing you upset, and then it was nothing… I thought I was dead. I woke up to Warrick shaking me awake. He told me… he told me…" Nick said breaking down. Mandy held him as he sobbed into her shoulder, she held him tight to let him now he was loved.

"What did he tell you?" Mandy asked wiping a tear from his face as one fall from her eye.

"He made me fight him to come back. We were in a room, and I had to get through the door to come back but he won't let me just walk through… so we fought. I ran through the door any chance I got and then I got through. I fell onto a tree and there was all these people watching but I couldn't see their faces. I was so scared that I was dead. That I'd never see you again, or meet Lily… I couldn't breathe. Then my dad came up to me… Warrick and My dad were on either side of me. They told me they met Lily, and then they said this prayer." Nick said motioning to his father's headstone. "Everything went black and when I opened my eyes… when I opened my eyes… I saw you." Nick said getting emotional again as he squeezed her hand. Mandy just hugged him, unsure what to say. She didn't know if any words she could say would bring him comfort.

"Thank you, for talking to me. I love you, Nick. Lily and I are so grateful that you pulled through and not a day goes by that I remember that." Mandy said smiling as Nick wiped a tear from her face.

"Even when I forget to take the trash out?" Nick chuckled trying to lighten up the situation.

"Especially when you forget to take the trash out." She laughed looking directly in his eyes. "I'm serious, though. I don't know, what I'd do without you."

"I love you, too. You and Lily are the best thing to ever happen to me." Nick said equally serious.

"Daddy!" Lily said as she ran to them. She stumbled and got some grass stains are her dress causing Mandy to cringe but Lily got back on her feet and ran to them. Lily ran to Nick grabbing his arm. "It's alright, daddy. Don't cry." Lily said wiping a lonely tear from his eye.

"Lily, I think daddy needs a hug." Mandy said as she wiped her own eyes smiling at her daughter.

"Here, daddy." Lily said giving Nick a tight hug.

"Thank you, baby girl." Nick said hugging her back. "Daddy needed that."

Nick has a break through, what did you think? What do you think now lies in store for Nick and Mandy? Even though Nick talked to Mandy, does it mean hes out of the woods? What did you think? Please Review!