Chapter 5

Sunday May 16th, 2010
CSI Trace Lab
2:31 a.m.

"Hey Stokes, you all right?" asked Liz in concern when she looked up from her microscope to find Nick even more tense than he had when they had been at the crime scene a few hours earlier.

"I'm fine," Nick answered evenly.

"That's crap and you know it," snapped Liz. "You've been tense all night. If you can't handle working this case then maybe you should just go home."

"Don't pretend to know what I'm thinking Ms. Fabrey," Nick snapped back as he turned to look at her. "I can handle this case just fine. I am handling this case just fine."

"You could have fooled me," replied Liz going back to her microscope. "And I don't pretend to know anything about you Mr. Stokes. You just seem to be taking this a little too personally in my opinion."

"I'm not," Nick growled before turning back to the clothing he was going over. A few minutes later he pulled off his gloves with a snap as he cursed.

"Problem?"

"There's nothing here," Nick growled. "Damn it, this guy is going to get away again."

"You caught the original and his accomplice, we'll catch they're copycat," commented Liz with a shrug. "We just have to wait for him to screw up..."

"Well he's not screwing up fast enough," Nick huffed as he leaned against a wall and pinched the bridge of his nose. "She was too pretty," he sighed as he closed his eyes.

"Excuse me?" asked Liz in complete confusion. "What does being too pretty have to do with anything?"

"Nothing, she's too pretty to be another victim on the table. Too much like Carrie," he continued to himself.

"Carrie?" asked Liz. "Carrie Michaels? The last victim before this one? Mr. Stokes, what is going on here? No matter what you say this case is getting to you whether you admit that to yourself of not is up to you but if you let it affect you the way that you have then you're of no use to us here and are only impeding our investigation."

"Yeah well, it would get to you too. But I'm not going to let it stop me from helping solve this and catch that bastard."

"You may not let it stop you but I can guarantee you I will stop you if I think you're incapable of separating yourself from your emotions where this case is concerned," Liz told him coldly. "And don't think I won't just because you outrank me. This is a Vegas case and Vegas CSI has jurisdiction so if I think you can't handle it I will let Warrick know and he will remove you from the case."

"He already knows," Nick countered softly as he looked off towards the door. "They knew, and they let me come anyway, so you need to back off Ms. Fabrey. Regardless of whose jurisdiction this is, I'm not going to leave this case."

"Fine, whatever," sighed Liz in disgust as she rechecked her microscope.

"What did you say?" Nick asked hearing her mumble.

"I was just saying how typical it is. I don't know what I was thinking picking this as a career since even here in Vegas, where I thought it was different, it's just the same as everywhere else. 'The Boys Club'. Where someone like me has to work her tail off at two jobs just to make ends meet while someone like you, who is obviously connected to this case in someway, is given free rein to do as he pleases," snapped Liz.

"What are you talking about?" Nick asked confused. "Look, I'm not sure what is going on in your lovely head, but the only reason I'm here is because of Carrie." he continued before pausing and continuing softer. "She is...was...my sister."

"I...Mr. Stokes, I'm sorry, I had no idea," Liz apologized. "I just thought...thought that it was because...it doesn't matter, I was out of line and I'm sorry. I finally found a home here in Vegas and I guess I just figured that with them bringing you, Dr. Grissom and Ms. Willows in that I wouldn't be needed here anymore. I always knew that my life here was just too good to be true and that the day would come when the other shoe would drop. I guess I was right. I just figured it would have happened before now. Excuse me Mr. Stokes," Liz finished quietly as she quickly made her way from the lab.

"Ms. Fabrey…Liz wait," Nick called out starting after her only to run into Greg in the hall.

"Everything okay Nick?"

"Yeah Greg, everything's fine," replied Nick. "Listen have you seen Sara and Warrick around?"

"Yeah. They're both in Sara's office," Greg told him.

"Thanks Greg," commented Nick before walking off down the hall in search of Sara and Warrick.

"Hey guys?" Nick asked sticking his head in Sara's office after knocking on the door. "What's up with Liz?"

Sara looked up at him from where she was laying on her couch. "What do you mean?" she asked concerned as Warrick rose from the chair behind her desk.

"We were working in the trace lab. Got into a bit of an argument. I told her that Carrie was my sister, she apologized for what she said, made a comment about the other shoe finally dropping and then she left," explained Nick.

Sara sighed and closed her eyes. "Shit."

"I'm missing something here, aren't I?" asked Nick curiously

"Yeah," Warrick agreed softly. "I'll go after her, when I get back I want you to go home," he added and Sara rolled her eyes.

"Go, get her, I'll explain to Nick, and yes then I'll go home," she smiled at him before he left. "Pull up a chair Nicky, I'd get up, but my meds haven't kicked in yet."

"God, you are so stupid girl. You should have known better than to let yourself get attached to anything," mumbled Liz through the tears that were starting as she was stuffing things from her locker into her bag. "Father was right," she said shaking her head and wiping her eyes. "I'll never amount to anything. I mean why would they want a ditz like me when they have their 'team' back."

"Never did like to see a pretty girl cry."

"Thanks," mumbled Liz as she took the handkerchief Warrick was holding out to her and wiping her eyes. "I'll be out of your way in a few minutes."

"Stop it Beth," Warrick ordered lightly as he sunk down to sit next to her, facing towards her while she was facing the lockers. "Girl...please don't cry. You know I hate seeing people cry. And you're right up there on the list of people I can't bear to see cry, with Sara and Linds."

"Why do you care?"

"I care because you're one of my girls. Because you're a part of our family Beth girl," Warrick countered softly. "Honey... you're one of us, nothing changes that."

"Why would you still want me around when you have your 'team' back together?"

"Liz," Warrick began as he lifted her chin so she'd look at him. "They aren't a part of our team anymore. You are. And you're more than that. You're Sar's best friend. They can't replace you."

"You promise?" asked Liz nervously.

"Girl...I wouldn't lie to you," Warrick answered with a smile. "Besides, I need someone around here to keep Sara sane while she's planning the wedding, and seeing as you are her maid of honor, I think that falls to you," he teased lightly.

"Thank you," commented Liz as she leant over and hugged Warrick.

"Your welcome girl," Warrick smiled. "So what brought all this on?" he asked still concerned, as he leaned back.

"It's not important, it's silly really," replied Liz shaking her head.

"Girl... talk to me. We can't make things right if we don't know what happened," he prodded gently.

"Mr. Stokes and I were talking in the Trace Lab and I guess it was just knowing that they let him come work on a case that he's tied to on a personal level, it made me flash back to my time in New Orleans. Where it was them against me and no matter what I did, it wasn't good enough because I wasn't one of the guys. Add to that the fact that Ms. Willows can't stand the sight of me..." Liz trailed off with a shrug.

"Oh Honey, I'm sorry," Warrick whispered. "Honey...Texas was the one that made the decision to have Nick on this case; we have to abide by that. And we would have told you guys, but felt it wasn't Sar's or my place, you know? But believe me, no matter what, it will never be you against the world with us. As for Cath...it's not just you...She's...I think Cath is realizing she made one hell of a mistake five years ago and is having trouble accepting the after effects. Sara just finished telling me about what happened last night, and it's definitely not just you. She's angry at anyone and everyone I think."

"I guess I'm just not used to people actually wanting me around who are willing to stand up for me. It's still hard for me to accept the fact that I've finally found a place that I can consider home with people I consider family. I only really had Calleigh for so many years it's just hard for me to get used to having so many people care," explained Liz.

"I know girl. But remember next time you start panicking. Sara would hunt you down and drag your ass back here if you disappeared on us," he teased lightly before becoming serious. "You got us girl, we're not leaving you. Promise."

"Thanks," commented Liz.

"Your welcome. So, are you ready to go catch this guy so Catherine and them can return home all the faster and our lives can be argument and stress free once more?" he asked with a smile.

"More than you know," agreed Liz.

"Good. Well I'm going to go make sure Sara went home like I ordered her too," he began as he rose from the bench before offering her a hand.

"Sara go home? In what century?" teased Liz as she accepted Warrick's hand and rose to her feet.

"I know," Warrick laughed. "But this time she better listen. Damn pills aren't helping..." he sighed.

"Pills?" Liz asked in concern as they made their way out into the hall and in the direction of Sara's office.

"The pain pills," he answered softly. "Her back is acting up again," he continued.

"Again?" sighed Liz. "Poor Sara."

"Yeah, she went and saw her doctor yesterday between meetings, so hopefully they'll figure out what the hell is going on," he agreed as they stopped outside the Trace lab. "I'll drop you off here then milady," he smiled.

"Thanks," replied Liz. "Tell Sara I'll stop by and see her after shift."

Back in Sara's office, Nick had pulled a chair over and was sitting next to her as she shifted slightly on the couch before grimacing. "So, what exactly was the argument about?" she asked after a moment.

"Like I said, we were working in the trace lab together and I got a little frustrated when the evidence wasn't telling me anything useful. Liz accused me of letting this case get too personal. She also told me in no uncertain terms that she would have no qualms about going to either you or Warrick if she felt I couldn't handle it regardless of the fact that I out rank her. She apologized for her comments when I told her that the Texas Ranger Carrie Michaels was my sister and that's why I was taking things a little more personal than everyone else. After that is when she started going on about how now that Grissom, Catherine and I are back she's not needed anymore and that's when she walked out of the lab and I came to find the two of you," explained Nick.

Sara sighed softly once more. "We, that is Rick and I, had been wondering when you'd feel was the right time to tell everyone about Carrie...and I am so sorry for your loss Nick," she began looking over at him with a sad smile.

"Thanks," replied Nick, running his hand through his hair. "I didn't intend to tell her, it's just…she kind of left me no choice. I can't afford to be taken off this case Sara. My family and the Rangers need closure on this."

"I know Nicky," Sara smiled softly. "As for what happened...Liz has a few trust issues. Sort of a requirement almost in this lab nowadays..." she sighed. "Thank you Conrad Ecklie..." she continued before shaking her head. "All of her life she's been seen only as the blonde bimbo and not recognized for her actual accomplishments or intelligence. Calliegh from Miami went to college with her, and sent her our way a few years ago, asked Warrick to talk with her. She was planning on leaving the job after how things were at her last position. Rick of course saw right through her outside appearances and convinced her to come to Vegas. Since then...it's taken a lot to get her to trust us. She's a part of our family here, but there are times I know she's just waiting for one of us to tell her we've been playing her all along. My guess is hearing that you are related to Carrie and that you're still on the case regardless reminded her of when it was her against the world at her last job..."

"She did make reference to 'The Boy's Club' and how she had to work two jobs to make ends meet," commented Nick. "I've also seen how protective she is of you."

"She's very protective of me. They all are Nick," Sara answered as she looked away. "You remember how I was when you left...if you can imagine, I got even worse after you finally did leave. Rick was the one who was able to bring me back from rock bottom, since then, the others have been extra protective around me," she explained not looking at him before shrugging. "No big though, just a part of life. And yeah, her last post, it was 'The Boy's Club'."

"From what I've seen of Liz here in the lab and that one day at breakfast, she's definitely more than what she lets people believe. It's nice to know that she's found a home here," commented Nick. "And I'm sorry for leaving the way that I did Sara. I'm sure Warrick's told you what Catherine was like after Grissom left. What you probably don't know since not even Warrick knows is that Catherine and I had a huge blowout on a case about a month after Grissom left. That was it for me. I went to see Ecklie after shift and handed in my resignation that day. I was on a flight to Dallas a few days later."

Sara nodded in understanding. "I remember what Cath was like after you left...I can imagine you had a blowout...Ecklie certainly succeeded in leaving a disaster in his wake..." she mused before smiling. "Ahh...lovely medication haze...but anyway," she continued looking back at him. "I've heard some from Warrick about what things were like, so I can understand Nick, really."

"I thought you were going home," Warrick's voice drew their attention to the doorway.

"Yeah well, you and Liz talk too fast," Sara answered as she looked over at him.

"Well it doesn't take long to tell her that you'll hunt her down and drag her back here kicking and screaming if she disappears because she thinks she doesn't belong here," he shrugged before smiling. "The rest of the conversation took a bit, but overall," he shrugged once more. "How are things in here?"

"Good, we were just getting a few things out of the way," Sara answered. "And the meds kicked in...so I'm on cloud nine."

"Which means I need to drive you home," Warrick smiled.

"Yes you do," Sara smiled at him and Nick was surprised to see the smile they once thought was reserved only for Grissom. Guess not anymore. Rising he said his 'see you laters' and left the room and made his way back to Trace.

"Liz?" Nick asked softly as he stood in the doorway.

"Mr. Stokes," Liz greeted just as quietly, not quite sure how to act around him after the episode earlier.

"I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier," he began as he entered the room and closed the door. "This case...is important to my family and to the Rangers. I'm sorry if I over-reacted."

"I understand now why you did," commented Liz quietly. "I'm sorry too. I had no right to talk to you the way that I did and I shouldn't have acted the way that I did. I have issues in regards to my job that I have difficulty letting go of."

"That's understandable. We all have issues. I'm sorry that my actions touched on one of yours."

"It didn't..." Liz began before seeing the disbelieving look from Nick. "Alright, it did...a little. I just find it hard to accept that I've found a home here and when I feel threatened my first instinct is to protect myself and I do that by running."

"That's understandable like I said," Nick nodded before smiling lightly. "But it sounds to me like you've found a home here... if threats of dragging you back are any indication," he teased lightly. You belong here you know...it's obvious to all of us."

"It is?" asked Liz in disbelief.

"Yes. You laugh with the others, you're protective of Sara, you have that whole breakfast thing going, and it was no stretch to see that you and Sara moved in sync without a word when you were ducking under arms while cooking. It would appear to me that this is where you belong Ms. Fabrey, with the members of this team. You're lucky; they are some of the best people I've ever had the chance to work with. I made the mistake of leaving and never looking back, I should have looked back. Take it from one who knows, you'll never find something like what you have here again," he added softly before making his way over to the clothing once more.

"Thank you," replied Liz quietly before turning her attention back to her microscope.