Title: One Eye Open
Spoiler: CSI up to season 3
Summary: It's been a year since Nick had a stalker. Nick's scary brush with death comes back in a terrifying manner when he finds out that his stalker has kidnapped his sister. Nick and the Las Vegas Crime Lab race against the clock to find Nick's sister before it's too late.
Disclaimer: I only own what you do not recognize. CSI Belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer and all of those smart people who created these fine CSI series.
My Note: This story is not connected to my Amelia Stokes series. This was a request from a reader and I'm happy to fulfill it! In this story, we're going to pretend that Nick is not the youngest in his family, but rather the second youngest.
Chapter 1: Remember
A long year had passed. A year of looking over his shoulder. A year of looking up and wondering if anyone was in his attic.
This year had been a long one.
It had been a year he was likely never to forget. It all started with that one guy.
Nigel Crane.
He had his trial and they put him away. 25-life they said.
"It's over," they said.
They had no idea. None of them knew what it was like. None of them knew what he was feeling.
It wasn't over. It would never be over.
Nigel might have been put behind bars, but that didn't stop the nightmares. That didn't stop Nick's obsession with checking for holes and cameras. It didn't stop the shiver that would run up his spine when it felt like someone was watching him.
He still remembered the horror when he found out that Nigel had watched him sleep and had stolen his clothes.
That kind of feeling doesn't go away quickly.
As the year anniversary of his near-death experience came up quickly, he had a happy distraction. His younger sister Donna was coming to Las Vegas to visit. Only 15 months younger than Nick, he and Donna had been close as kids. Hell, they were still close even as adults. She was a teacher back in Texas and wasn't often able to get away to visit him. Still, when she able to visit, it was nice.
Nick hadn't actually told his family about the stalker. He hadn't wanted to upset or worry them. He hoped he would be able to keep it from Donna, but she could always tell when something was bothering him. She knew him very well.
Nick checked his watch for what was probably the 30th time in the last hour. Donna was flying in from Killeen, Texas, where she lived. Usually she drove up, but for some reason she had chosen to fly this time. Her flight was supposed to have landed half an hour ago, but he still hadn't gotten a call from her.
"Hey man, are you late for something?" Warrick asked, coming up in front of Nick.
Nick chuckled and shook his head. "Nah. My sister is coming to visit and her flight was supposed to get in about 30 minutes ago. Just waiting for her call."
"Oh Donna? Doesn't she usually drive?" Warrick asked. "Weird for her to fly."
"No kidding. Donna hates flying. I guess she just didn't want the two day drive. Anyways, we should get back to the case before Grissom or Catherine catch us off topic," Nick said, smiling.
Even as he worked, he kept his sister in the back of his mind. Hopefully nothing had gone wrong, but Nick couldn't help but worry. With the various things he had been through and seen in his years as a CSI, he had developed a bad habit of immediately suspecting the worst.
"Hey Nicky," Catherine said as she walked up behind him in the conference room.
Nick turned and acknowledged her, "hey Cath, what's up? I was just finishing up my report on the Gonzalez case."
Catherine smiled with a wicked gleam in her eye. Nick could tell she had something juicy to say. "Well thank you for that, but I'm here to tell you that a particularly attractive woman is at the front desk asking for you. What did she say her name was?" Catherine pretended to think. "Oh yes, Donna!"
Nick gave her a sharp look, but smiled. "Do you mind if she comes back?" he asked.
"Of course Donna can. I think we all can vouch for her. Just be sure to finish your report before you head home!" Catherine told him.
Nick nodded and headed past her quickly. He couldn't wait to see his sister.
Donna Stokes hated flying. Being so high up with no control was terrifying for her. As much as she hated driving from East Texas to West Texas and beyond, she much preferred that over flying.
Her decision to fly to Las Vegas this time instead of drive was a tough one. But she had been dealing with some issues that left her scared and unconfident in driving across multiple state lines alone. In this one instance, she would much rather deal with the fear of flying than spend the entire drive from Texas to Nevada scared out of her mind.
But she made it, though her flight ended up being late. Still, she arrived at McCarran Airport, got her bags, and grabbed a cap to take her to the Crime Lab where Nick worked.
She had been here several times in the years Nicky had worked in Las Vegas. She found everyone her brother worked with to be so interesting. Her personal favorite was Grissom, though he often came across as unapproachable, but Nick had assured her that it was just Grissom's way. It didn't bother Donna at all. A fellow teacher at her school had a form of Autism and could be short with people, though not intentionally. Once you got to know her, Donna found she was actually a very sweet and kind woman.
They were perfect examples of not judging a book by their cover. You could never know a person until you actually talked to them.
Donna had just entered the lobby of the crime lab when she spotted Catherine Willows. The older woman smiled brightly at Donna and walked over.
"You're Nick's sister, right?" Catherine asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, I'm Donna. The youngest," Donna replied. She held out her hand and Catherine took it, shaking it gently.
"I thought Nicky was the youngest?" Catherine asked.
"Only for about fifteen months and then there I was. For a long time our family considered us one entity because we were so similar. Didn't last long though," Donna said with a smile.
"I'll let Nick know you're here, if you'd like," Catherine offered.
Donna smiled and nodded. "Thank you. That would be great." She waited while Catherine went to find Nick. Donna took a seat and thought back to the past month.
As soon as she and Nick had settled on a date for her to visit, things got weird in Texas. Donna started receiving weird phone calls and she always felt like someone was watching her. It was the oddest feeling and it unnerved her. She had hoped that coming to Las Vegas for help her paranoia.
The flight hadn't helped, but now that she was surrounded by cops and crime specialists, she was starting to feel less agitated.
"Donna!" Nick called out to her.
Donna stood up and rushed to her brother, hugging him tightly. "Hello big brother!"
They pulled away, both smiling from ear to ear. "You should have called me from the airport, I would have picked you up," Nick said.
Donna shrugged. "Taking a cab is not a big deal. Besides Nick, you're working. I can take a cab to your apartment. No worries," she told him, smiling.
"No way, I'm almost done with my reports and then we can go home. Gris said you can stay in the lounge while I finish up. Come on," he said.
Donna nodded. "Ok fine. I won't get in the way," she promised.
Nick chuckled, picked up her bags, and led the way back into the lab. Donna gazed around as they walked, taking in the lab around her. People were engrossed in their work, typing and testing and writing. It was so interesting to Donna, though she had no gift for science at all.
She taught high school history. She loved history, though it was full of white people fucking over everyone else. Still, she loved learning about how cultures came around and how countries were built.
"Here you go," Nick said as they walked into the lounge. "Just get comfortable and I'll finish up my work as quick as I can."
Donna sat on the couch and nodded. "Take your time. Don't rush," she warned him.
Nick smirked and shook his head. "Yeah, yeah."
Nick left his sister alone. Donna pulled her copy of Game of Thrones out of her purse and began to read. She sat there for a while before a knock on the door frame jarred her from her reading. Donna was startled and jumped up from the couch, dropping her book in the process.
She clutched at her chest, but sighed in relief when she saw Gil Grissom standing in the door way. She smiled. "Hello Dr. Grissom," Donna greeted him. He smiled warmly at her.
"Hello Ms. Stokes, welcome back to Vegas. How long are you staying?" he asked.
"Just a week. I don't want to bother Nick too much," she replied.
"Somehow, I don't think it would be a bother to your brother," Grissom said with a small smile. He watched for a moment and then looked away. "I didn't mean to startle you, by the way."
Donna shook her head. "No, it's not you. I've just been jumpy lately. It'll pass." Donna swallowed nervously. "It'll pass," she repeated quieter.
Grissom watched her carefully, but smiled and nodded. "You're quite welcome here, Donna. Family is family."
"Thank you, Dr. Grissom."
"Please, just call me Gil."
"Gil it is then, if you'll call me Donna," she told him.
Grissom nodded in response. "Nick should be done soon," he said before leaving.
Donna sat back down and sighed, picking up her book from the floor. She really needed to calm down.
A few minutes later, Nick came to get her. They headed back to his apartment where Nick gave her his bedroom, as he always did. She always told him she was fine with the couch, but he never listened.
"You moved?" Donna asked as she realized this was not the same apartment from her last visit. Nick didn't respond. Donna turned and saw him staring up at the ceiling, fear in his eyes. "Nicky?"
Nick looked at her, his eyes wide. He cleared his throat. "Oh, uh. I just, you know, wanted a new place."
Donna watched her brother sadly. It seemed she wasn't the only one dealing with paranoia, but, Donna reasoned, Nick worked for law enforcement and dealt with death every day. That couldn't be easy.
Seeing Nick's reaction, Donna began to hope that not only would this week help her, but also Nick. Maybe they could heal together.
First, she would have to find out what he was healing from.
