72 Hours
Wednesday
Catherine squinted her eyes as the sunlight pierced her eyes. She covered her face as her head began to pound. Why did she agree to go out? She knew she was going useless for the majority of the day now. Just an hour... She thought as she chuckled. As the light continued to blind her she tried to roll over but turned right into a bare chest. She immediately opened her eyes as she kept her hand on his chest. Even though his face was turned the other way she recognized him.
It was not his beautiful brown hair. Or his cologne that he's worn for as long as they've known eachother. Or the faded scar on his chest. Or his ridiculous farmers tan. It was how comfortable she already felt. He began to stir and rolled over to face her.
"Mornin'," he said his voice still sleepy. She reached and pulled the sheet to cover herself. Nick smiled.
"I can't believe this happened." She chuckled, and Nick smiled. She realized that she was using his arm as a pillow. He reached for the sheet and Catherine pulled it back towards herself. Nick had a wide smile. He let his hand linger around hers. "Are you coming in today?"
"DB gave me an open invite. I worked a double before catching your case. I was suppose to be catching up on sleep..." He smiled moving closer to her. He kisses her cheek.
"Nicky," she giggled, as he began to kiss her neck. The kisses were so gentle but still incredibly passionate.
"What time do you gotta go in?" He asked with a breathless sexy drawl that made her heart skip a beat. Catherine smiled before pulling him into a kiss. He kissed her jaw before going back to her returning to her neck. Nick continued his kisses south as he peppered her chest and slowly and seductively kissed her stomach.
"Nicky..." She shuttered as she ran her hands through his hair.
"You want me to stop?" He said with a smirk. Before Catherine could answer she could hear footsteps.
"Lindsay is coming." She said in a panic. Nick threw himself out of the bed grabbing whatever clothes he could reach and ran into her bathroom. Just as he shut the bathroom door Lindsay came rushing in.
"Mom, are we going to..." She said but saw her mother's room in disarray. Her appearance disheveled. "What happened in here? I didn't hear you come home... What are you doing... Or who?" Lindsay asked as she looked around the room. She walked over to the bathroom and opened the door. Lindsay looked utterly shocked as she saw Nick adjusting his belt. The awkward silence that took over the room was suffocating.
"I uh, I'll a... I'll see you at the lab..." Nick said awkwardly as he grabbed his flannel and quickly left.
"What in the hell, mom?" Lindsay said surprised.
"Lindsay..." Catherine said as she put her robe on.
"Gross, mom. You realize that I'm partnered with Nick, right? He's my mentor and now..."
"Lindsay, stop! It's really none of your business. We had a lot to drink last night. I have to get ready or we will be late." Catherine said more agitated with her hangover headache then Lindsay. Catherine took some aspirin and jumped in the shower.
"Mom, we gotta go!" Lindsay said growing more annoyed. Catherine jumped out of the shower and quickly got dress in a button down and black skirt. Lindsay paced in the kitchen when she hears a knock at the door.
"Hey, Linds, is your mom around?" Vartann said nervously. Vartann was holding some flowers.
"Oh, no... I want nothing to do this. She should be out in a minute. Tell her I'm in the car." Lindsay said leaving. Catherine was putting her hair up in a bun as she grabbed her briefcase. She stopped dead in tracks as she Vartann walking inside.
"Lou..."
"Listen Catherine, I'm very sorry about the way I acted. I was outline and childish." Vartann said as he came and sat down on the couch next her.
"I appreciate you saying, Lou... I have to be honest. I am not looking for a relationship. I would love to just be friends." Catherine said, Vartann shook his head. He was disappointed.
"Look, I get it. I just wanted to say..." Vartann trailed off as he squinted his eyes. "...touch my beard..." He reached and grabbed the crumbled shirt. "I will touch your butt..." He read, Catherine's face turned red.
"Oh my..." She said continuing to blush.
"I... I, uh..." Vartann stuttered. He was unable to find words. He felt like an utter fool. Vartann was very excited to see Catherine and he had all these hopes and plans for them. That shirt, that stupid shirt he though was like a knife in the heart. Vartann storms out throwing away the flowers.
Nick finally made it home. Nick feeds his excited companion, and then let's him out in his yard. Nick takes a quick shower before he and Sam went to bed. Sam looked to be a vicious police dog but was now a retired lazy cuddle bug. Nick put his arm around Sam and fell quickly asleep.
However Nick's sweet dreams were quickly interrupted as his awaken by old wet shock. He jumps awake as his vision is blurred and his ears clogged. He could hear warped yelling and barking. He feels another cold splash and realizes it's nothing but cold water. Instinct took over as he pushed the person yelling back and reached for his nightstand where his service weapon laid ready.
"Damn it, Nick!" Nick heard a familiar voice. He stopped reaching for his weapon and wiped his eyes. He stands seeing Lauren just getting back on her feet.
"What are you doing here?!" He yelled trying to shake the water out of his ear. "How'd you get in here?!"
"Where were you last night?!" She yelled.
"Get out!" Nick yelled pointing but instead Lauren slapped him across the face hard knocking the remainder of the water free from his one ear. Nick tries to force Lauren out but instead she breaks free and begins throwing whatever she can at him or destroying whatever else.
"Go to hell!" She said throwing a couple picture frames at him. Nick is able to grab ahold of Lauren and drag her outside as they continue to argue. Lauren tries scratching Nick but he pushes her away off his porch. She falls to her knees and cries.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Nick said holding his new found bloody nose.
"I hate you!" She screamed picking up rocks throwing them at him. Nick tries dodging the rocks.
"Are you drunk?! Stop you're gonna break my windows!" Nick yelled as he came off the porch. Lauren staggered and he could tell that she was intoxicated. Nick looked around and saw all of his neighbors outside. Nick begins to hear sirens.
The embarrassment Nick felt was suffocating as coworkers people he saw everyday explained to him the domestic violence statues as they arrested Lauren despite his pleas. They gave Nick paperwork on how to file a temporary restraining order as Lauren shouted in detail all of there sexual encounters.
Unable to sleep he returns to the lab, but he quickly learns that everyone knows what has happened. He can hear whispers and laughs as he walks there the halls of the lab. He sneaks into the back of the briefing. He hears Morgan, Sara, and Catherine discussing some lab results. He feels Lindsay's glare it had an eerie similarity of her mother's. It gave him goosebumps.
"Where can I find some black latent powder?" Lindsay asked ever so awkwardly refusing to make eye contact with Nick.
"I can get you some. Are you..." Nick started but trailed off as Lindsay walked away.
Nick releases a deep sigh as he enters the near empty supply room. The lab was in the progress of switching there methods of resupply from a quartermaster to a Pyxis machine. The problem was the Pyxis was constantly breaking down or having to reboot in the middle of there shift. He hears Catherine come in the supply room, and lock the door behind her. Nick just looked around at the scarce supply room seeing if there was anything he needed.
"Are you alright? I heard about what happened this morning." She asked.
"I'm fine. I got a TRO against Lauren. I think she took my spare key when we were together and that how she go into my house."
"You weren't together?"
"We broke up like six months ago. She's still been calling and yelling at me. Which I guess was fine? I wasn't the best boyfriend... Not that it matters since she broke into my house. There's nothing is going on between us." He said crossing his arms resting against the small table in the room. Catherine nods and smiles as she hands him his t shirt.
"You left this at my house." Catherine said tossing him his shirt.
"Oh, thanks. I couldn't find it this morning..." Nick trailed off awkwardly. "I hope I didn't cause any awkwardness with you and Lindsay."
"Too soon to tell. She's pretty wrapped up in the case... Uh, Vartann found that." Catherine said uncomfortably.
"Why was he there?"
"He came to apologize about last night, i guess we fought last night. I don't really remember."
"You and him?"
"I told you it was nothing."
"Last night was..." Nick chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.
"Crazy." She said as she bit her lip. Nick's face lit up as he smiled.
"What... Wha... What should we..." Nick fell over his words as his eyes followed her. Nick found himself speechless as Catherine walked towards him and her fingertips lightly touched his chest.
"We don't have to decide now. I don't know, Nicky." Catherine said pulling her hand away as she had a moment of clarity. "Nicky, what are we doing? We've been friends for too long to mess it up for what a one night stand?!" Catherine argued as Nick stood there confused unable to form a thought.
"Cath..." Nick uttered only for Catherine to walk away to plant her hands on a nearby counter not facing him hoping to gather her thoughts together.
"Just give me a minute!" She said upset.
"We don't have to do anything, Catherine. You have been my best friend for twenty years I wouldn't trade that for the world and I'll be damned if we are just going to throw it away from one night. It doesn't have to happen again." Nick said trying to be comforting.
"We've said that before." Catherine nervously chuckled still looking away. Nick laughed too.
Years and years ago, Nick and Catherine had a brief fling that just never turned into anything, and it fizzled out. They remained friends. It was the strangest but strongest friendship either one of them have had.
"We will mean it this time?" Nick said trying to be reassuring as he chuckled.
"It's different now. Lindsay is an adult. For god sake you're mentoring her. I am out in LA. You are going to be running the lab in San Diego. There's a terrorist loose with what he thinks is a BioWeapon. We can't do all of this." She said putting a hand on his chest. Nick just continued to smile. As her hand made contact with him she had an overwhelming flashback from the night prior that was only worsen by his smile. Catherine couldn't help but let her hand linger. She slid her hand across his chest before moving it up to the back of his neck. She guided him to her face. She could feel his breath on her lips. She couldn't help but kiss him.
Nick was a great lay, she thought. She shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed. The man was just a walking sex. They've fooled around in the past and they remained friends why would this be any different. She justified. She wanted this. As much as she convinced herself that LA was great it isn't. Everything over there was just not Vegas. Not her. Not familiar. He coworkers sucked, and her sex life just never got going over there for her. It was rough.
Nick lifted Catherine up putting her on the nearby counter while they kissed. Nick held Catherine's face as he kissed her passionately. Catherine wrapped her arms around him pulling him close. Nick pushed up Catherine's skirt as Catherine fought to untuck his shirt. Nick helped as he pulled his shirt over his head. Nick began kissing her neck as he unbuttoned her shirt. Catherine began feeling his chest, and abs. Everything was just so much better then she remembered. Once her shirt was unbuttoned Nick pulled her close as he kissed her hard again. Catherine began unbuckling his pants, as Nick returned to kissing her neck and shoulder. Catherine was able to free him from his pants. Nick grabbed Catherine's face looking into her eyes.
They felt like dirty teenagers trying to get a quickie at the lab. The thrill kept them going. At any point getting caught. Yeah, sure, the door was locked but that would just prevent them from getting caught in the act. They work with observant crime scene investigators. They'd be busted the moment someone would knock on the door. Oh well, they said with a kiss.
Nick reached up Catherine's skirt and gently slid her underwear off. Nick kissed her again as he picked her up to position her a little better. As he placed her back on the counter she jumped a little.
"Cold." She whispered as she held on tight as she felt unbalanced. Nick held her lower back and her upper thigh. Catherine held onto the back of his neck. She pulled him close kissing his neck. Nick slowly entered her letting out a quiet groan. Catherine held on tighter.
"Oh god, Cath..." He said breathless as he continued to enter. She took all of him as Catherine wrapped her legs around him pulling him in. Nick slowly thrusted at first but then his strokes fastened. Catherine held onto his neck tight and used her other arm to gain leverage. Her waist began meeting his. She stifled her moans into his neck as he began to pound away. She felt herself losing control as she pulled him deeper. Catherine was unable to hold herself up as she tried to use before arm to hold herself up against the countertop. Nick took her hips with both hands.
"Nicky..." She moaned. Catherine let out a loud grunt as her body began moving against him. She pulled him close as she rode out her orgasm. His groan and grunts in her ear carried her along. Nick thrusted deeply a couple more times before falling into the crook of her neck. Catherine giggles as she kissed his ear and neck. Nick smiled as he held Catherine's face and kissed her once more. Catherine's phone buzzed across the mental counter.
"Do you gotta go?" Nick asked breathless.
"It's a tech in Quantico. She found some of Bourne's internet buddies, and it looks like his grandmother is back." She said as Nick helped her down. "Who do you wanna see?"
"I'll go see grandma..." Nick said adjusting his belt. "We should go before someone..."
"Yes, you're right... And Nicky?" She said as he unlocked the door.
"Yeah,"
"See you later." She said with a quick kiss. Nick smiled.
Nick leaves and just as he exits the supply room he gets a text from Lindsay telling him that she found the powder and is waiting in the garage. Nick looks up and sees Vartann talking with another detective. Nick walks towards Vartann so he could stop by his locker. Nick looks up seeing Vartann quickly walking towards him.
"Stokes," Lou said angrily.
"Lou, let's not do this." Nick pleaded as he tried to walk by as Vartann continued to block him.
"Tell me man to man." He asked as Nick began to grow annoyed that Vartann wouldn't move.
"You don't wanna have this conversation," Nick said annoyed. Nick pushed past him.
"You son of a..." Vartann said as he threw a haymaker at Nick. Nick ducked and pushed Vartann down. Vartann explodes off his feet trying to tackle Nick. Nick tries to just push Vartann away. He had no interest or intention of fighting. Luckily Greg and Crawford quickly separate the pair before a big crowd grew. Nick quickly went to his locker before meeting Lindsay in the parking garage.
Nick tries to make small talk with Lindsay but she continue to ignore him. He could tell she was aggravated with him. Nick was not mad at her for being mad at him. She was justified. This situation just became incredibly awkward. As they pulled ahead Crawford went ahead in the nursing home.
"Linds, wait up... Please." Nick said as she continued to walk away. Nick grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. She promptly pulled her arm away. "Lindsay, talk to me! Are you just going to ignore me for the rest of the case?"
"That's the plan. Do you think that this is okay?" She said annoyed with him. "I always thought you were a stand up guy despite what people said but you're not. Not that I'm surprised... But my mom, Nick? Are you serious?!" She yelled pushing him.
"Your ma and I had too much to drink, and we got a little carried away. I'm sorry that you saw what you saw and that now you feel that this is awkward..."
"Awkward? Are you serious? You slept with my mom."
"I didn't mean for it to happen. I don't intend to make your mom a one night stand. You and your mom mean the world to me. I'm not a bad guy." Nick argued.
"When we get back to the lab I will ask for a new mentor." She said.
"Lindsay..."
"Just stop." She said frustrated, as she walked away.
Nick looked up at the sky trying to get his thoughts together. Nick could feel himself getting incredibly angry. Nick looks in the parking lot and sees a vehicle matching the description that Bourne had.
"Aye, Crawford. Check this one." Nick said pointing to the vehicle. Crawford walks towards the vehicle as he runs the VIN number through dispatch and Nick looked around the vehicle looking for any clues on the driver. Lindsay looks around and sees a weary man with a backpack acting strangely.
"Jesse! Jesse Bourne!" Lindsay shouted and the man took off. Lindsay took off ran after as the man ran through the crowd into a nearby alley. Crawford followed as Nick assisted an elderly woman to a nearby by bench before following.
Nick joins the chase but quickly feels the muscle fatigue of being awake and active without a lot of sleep. Nick tries to keep up but is far behind Crawford with no sight of Bourne or Lindsay. Crawford is able to rush pass Lindsay as Bourne hops over a fence. Crawford jumps down and looks around.
It is very quiet. Crawford looks around but does not see Bourne or anything. He draws his weapon and turns the corner of the alleyway. Just as he turns the corner Bourne strikes Crawford in the chest with a piece of scrap mental. Crawford fell dropping his weapon as he tried to catch his breath. Lindsay continues to chase the suspect into an old worn down abandoned warehouse. Just as Lindsay got out of sight Crawford could hear Nick coming.
"Crawford! Are you okay?" Nick said breathless as he came to stop nearly falling on his jelly legs.
"Yeah... Go! He's in there!" Crawford said coughing as he tried to get his bearing. Nick pulls out his weapon as he tried to control his breathing. Nick turned down his portable as he cautiously turned the corner. He hears a struggle. He sees Lindsay's weapon slide across the ground. Nick rushed into the room against his better judgment. Nick holstered his weapon as he watches Bourne and Lindsay wrestle. Nick pushes Bourne away nearly falling as well. Nick gets back on his feet and sees a gun pointed at him.
"Jesse, my name is Nick. We can talk about this..." Nick said breathless as he move to stand in front of a very scared Lindsay. Lindsay was paralyzed by fear as she just watched with her hands up. Bourne stood there silent.
"You speak but no not what you say! Shut up!" Bourne rambled.
"Jesse, please we can..." Nick started but was interrupted by a gunshot. It felt like someone took a major league swing right into his chest. The noise alone made both their ears ring. The force of shot sent Nick crashing into Lindsay. Lindsay did her best to catch Nick. She looked up just as Bourne fled.
"Oh god... Oh god..." Lindsay panicked as Nick was gasping looking straight up at the ceiling. Lindsay's hands shook terribly as she grabbed her radio. "Charlie... 07 Lindsay. Officer down." She said with a shaky voice. Lindsay dropped the radio and attempted to hold pressure on the wound as remember her tactical life support class. As she pushed Nick groaned as if falling back in his body. Nick coughed violently as he attempted to catch his breath.
"Linds..." Nick said with a raspy voice.
"Oh god, Nick. I'm so sorry. I.. I..."
"Get off me. Get your weapon." Nick said and was met by a confused Lindsay. Lindsay pulled her hands away and saw that he wasn't bleeding. She reached and holstered her weapon as Nick attempted to sit up but was unsuccessful.
"What is it?" She asked still worried. Nick ripped his shirt revealing his soft armor vest that he was wearing underneath.
"Holy shit... I forgot how bad that hurt. Hurts..." Nick groaned. Lindsay untucked his shirt trying to look underneath the best. She couldn't get the best look but could already see a bruise forming.
"I called for help. Just relax." She said trying to keep him comfortable. Despite her pleas Nick struggled to stand. They hear the sirens grow louder.
"Who's down?!" Crawford yelled as he came running in.
"I took... One to the... Vest..." Nick said coughing. Nick held himself up against some wooden pallets. "I'm fine." Nick said holding his chest.
"Where's Bourne?" Lindsay asked as she worried watched Nick.
"He got away." Crawford said.
"Nick, why don't you sit?" Lindsay asked worried. She put a comforting hand on his back but he immediately moved away from her. "Nick..." She said as a series of gunshots broke out. Nick pushed Lindsay against the wall as they all took cover. The shots stopped.
"Situation?!" Crawford yelled.
"Code four." A uniform yelled back. The trio hurried out the best they could. They see Bourne laying face down in a pool of blood.
"Damn..." Crawford said looking down at the body. Lindsay fought back tears as her nerves were on fire. Nick wanted to comfort and scold her, knowing full well that this was her first close call. However he began to feel very lightheaded as his chest pains radiated across his whole body.
"Son of a..." Nick said as his steps became staggered as he made it to a nearby bench. "Crawford... Help me get the best off..." Nick said becoming pale and sweaty. Nick struggled to unbutton his shirt with shaky hands.
please review! Trying to put in some drama