72 Hours
Thursday
Catherine comes home after dropping the girls off at school. She's exhausted. As she comes through the door she sees Nick and Lindsay eating breakfast together, while talking about the case. Nick stands pouring Catherine a cup coffee.
"Thank you." She said graciously.
"How'd the girls do?" He asked resting against the counter.
"They are fine. I have to go down to the lab later help Sara finish processing. What do you guys have planned today?" Catherine asked sipping her coffee.
"I have to meet with Ecklie in a little while." Nick said shrugging his shoulders. "I was going to give Lindsay a ride."
"Okay, I have to take a nap and then I'll see you at the lab." She said touching his chest leaving.
"Let me get dressed, kid, and then we will go." He said leaving in the opposite direction. Lindsay nodded. She prepared a mental checklist in her head and the first thing on the list was calling her mechanic finding out the service of her own car.
Nick and Lindsay arrived at the lab and immediately separated to carry out their business. Nick slowly walked towards Ecklie's office. He was trying desperately to figure out the cause of this meeting. Perhaps, Ecklie heard about Nick's mini meltdown. Nick groaned he would be damned if he had to go back to therapy for that. Before Nick knew any better he was standing outside Ecklie's office.
"Come on in, Stokes." Ecklie called out and Nick went int trying to figure out if he was upset about this encounter.
"Hey Ecklie," Nick said as he shook hands and sat down. Nick felt a little anxious. He's never had the best luck in this office.
"How are you feeling?" Ecklie asked smiling.
"I'm alright. Just a couple broken ribs." Nick said flatly. "What's going on, Ecklie?"
"Nick, there's something I've been waiting to talk to you about. Undersheriff Lennon is retiring. It's sudden... Bill's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer so he wants to be home and take care of her."
"That's too bad." Nick said genuinely saddened by the news, and then very confused on why Ecklie was telling him.
"I know that Nolan offered you the job out in San Diego..."
"What are you saying, Conrad?"
"I want you to be my undersheriff. I want to groom you for this job." Ecklie said pointing at his desk.
"Me? Wh... Why?"
"You are a champion of the people. The victims and the victims' families that you help have nothing but glowing things to say about you. The people of Clark county love you. You were a patrolman before being a CSI you could appeal to everyone who works here. I plan on retiring soon. I don't want this department to fall again to corruption, and in order to do that I need someone I trust leading them." Ecklie said and Nick sat back shocked.
"I... I... Don't know what to say." Nick said shocked.
"Think about it. Let me know." Ecklie said. They shook hands and Nick left.
Catherine joined Morgan assisting her in her evidence documentation. The pair made small talk while still diligently working. Catherine tried to stay focus but her thoughts began to overwhelm her.
"I'm staying." She said stopping everything she was doing. Morgan looked up at her.
"Staying? Here? You are coming back!" Morgan said excited running over to give her hug. "Oh yay! Have you told DB?" She saw Catherine's blank expression on her face. "Have you told anyone?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Everything seems to be coming together. My daughter is here. My casino is here. The girls are here. You are all here. I'm happy. I really am... I'm having the best sex of my life." Catherine said rubbing her face.
"That sounds great. Again, what's wrong?"
"I don't know. I... Have you ever felt like you jumped into something to fast? A relationship?"
"What do you mean?"
"Timing has always been something that has destroyed us. Finally we get together and the timing couldn't be worse. We'd never make a long distance thing work. We are too physical. He's got some big career moves up ahead..."
"And you are worried that he will leave you?"
"No, I don't want him to turn down this great opportunity to stay here for the possibility of a relationship that probably won't work out anyway."
"Cut yourself some slack."
"I can't. I know us." Catherine said rubbing her face.
"Well, maybe... End it. If it gets you this stressed out thinking about it maybe it's not good then."
"I think you're right." Catherine said sitting down pretending to smile.
"I can finish this stuff..."
"No, it's fine. I'll stay." Catherine said resuming her work. "What's the latest lab gossip?" Catherine asked smiling hoping to deflect any further conversation about herself.
"I haven't had anyone to share gossip with since you left. Nick and Greg can never keep up. Sara doesn't care for it. Finn liked it, but was either the center of the rumors, or was distracted by them..."
"The center of it?" Catherine asked. She had never met Finn but heard a lot of things about her. She was sure they'd get along and be friends.
"She was intense, a fire bird. She did what she wanted and didn't who saw or what they thought." Morgan said reminiscing pleasure memories between the two. "At the holiday party her and Nick were doing shots of tequila."
"Oh yeah," Catherine said still focusing on her work.
"You want some juicy gossip? Rumor was that Ecklie caught them in the garage... Finn denied it."
"Denied it?" Catherine asked her attention now peaked.
"She said it wasn't Ecklie she wouldn't say who it was." Morgan said smiling.
"They were together?"
"Not together. Casually having sex was how she put it. Nick did have a girlfriend. You should've seen it when Lauren came here she slapped him right in the face in the bull pen... Nick didn't tell you." Morgan said surprised.
"No, he didn't." Catherine said slightly annoyed. She sent out a text asking him to meet her in the bunk room. Nick quickly texted back. Catherine found herself angry with Nick. She was finding a lot more out being home then he ever led on. She wouldn't be surprised if they haven't talked but they spoke to eachother regularly. She did not know Nick and Lauren broke up, she didn't know why, she didn't know he was sleeping with Finn. He didn't even tell her that Finn had died.
Catherine sat on the bottom bunk in the empty room awaiting Nick. She had a terrible knot in her stomach. Nick gave the door a subtle knock before coming in. He looked so happy, and so relaxed.
"I was just about to text you..." Nick said seeing her on the bed. "Want me to lock the door?" He said with a smirk.
"Nicky, we need to talk." She said. Nick realized that this was important and she did not look as happy to see him as he was for her.
"What's up?" He said as he remained standing.
"Nicky, we can't do this anymore..." She said bluntly and Nick just stood there confused. "I have a lot going on, and you have some big decisions... I don't want either of us to make a rash decision..."
"Like this one?" Nick said upset crossing his arms.
"Stop. This isn't a relationship. This is just some sex. I need more."
"Wha... What about last night? I told you... Cath, we are good together."
"Are we?"
"Is this about Lauren? I told you..."
"Tell me about Lauren. Why again did you break up?" Catherine said with a hint of attitude.
"Are you serious? I told you I wasn't a good boyfriend while her and I were together. I stepped out. I cheated. Is that what you wanna hear? I slept with Finn? I did. Once in this very room I think." Nick said in his annoyed tone. Catherine rubbing her face as she stood up.
"I can't believe I thought you had changed..." She yelled pointing her finger at him.
"You've been jumping my bones since you landed." Nick said with a smile. "Don't act innocent, and don't go blaming me."
"You are right. It is my fault. My fault for thinking that my best friend had changed and was ready for a relationship when you can't even tell me what's going on with you."
"I'm the problem?!"
"Stop! I don't want to fight... Just go to San Diego." She said pushing past Nick leaving.
"What the fuck just happened..." Nick said under his breath. Nick tried to follow her out but saw a crowd of people. Nick rubbed his face and went outside.
Nick's hands shook as he tried to light a cigarette. Nick sat down on a nearby bench and got lost in his thoughts. Two great job opportunities were now at his feet. Each with there own pros and cons. He couldn't decide. The pay was about the same, but it was never about the money. Before he knew it Lindsay was standing in front of him.
"You home?" She asked waving a hand in his face.
"What's up, kid?" Nick asked.
"You know those are going to kill you one day? What's wrong?" She said but Nick didn't give her a chuckle, a smile... Nothing.
"Nothing. I'm fine." Nick said finishing his cigarette. "I got an offer to be undersheriff. That's what he wanted to talk to me about..." Nick said rubbing the back of his head.
"That's great!" She cheered as she gave him a hug. "Why do you look so bum? We must go celebrate. Have you told anyone? What did my mom say?" She shot off but Nick remained quiet. "Did you tell my mom?"
"I didn't tell her, but it doesn't matter."
"What are you talking about she'd..."
"She told me to go to San Diego." Nick said still disappointed.
"Nick..."
"Stop..." Nick said still upset. "I have to go get Sam." Nick leaving. Lindsay was left just as confused as Nick was earlier.
Lindsay immediately went to the lab searching all over for her mother. Lindsay searches what she thinks is every room. She hears whispers and rumors about a huge fight that Nick and Catherine had had but no one knew what about. Lindsay found her mother sitting in the locker room with reddened eyes.
"Mom..." Lindsay said running over and hugging her.
"I'm fine..." Catherine said wiping her eyes.
"What happened? I just saw Nick and..." Lindsay said and Catherine scoffed at his name.
"Nothing happened. Nothing's going to happen."
"Is this because of the job offer?"
"He should just go to San Diego."
"He really didn't tell you. Ecklie asked him to be his undersheriff." Lindsay said and Catherine gave her nervous chuckle before she started crying again. "Mom..."
"This is exactly what I'm talking about. I don't want him to make a decision based on us, because there is no us."
"Shouldn't you let him decide that, instead of killing yourself about it?"
"No, because I know he will chose to stay."
"So, what's wrong?"
"He'd grow to resent me. He'd always wonder what could've happened if he'd left. I can't be the reason he stays." Catherine says wiping her eyes.
"Mom..." Lindsay said heartbroken for her mother. "Maybe, now isn't the best time for a relationship anyway. You have a lot going on with the girls, with the casino, and getting settled into the lab."
After a couple of minutes they both left the lockerroom and tried to just continue everyday lab business. With a little motivation to not hang their heads. Catherine realized everything that had happened would eventually would be okay. Her and Nick had overcome worse she thought, and hoped. Catherine wiped her eyes and marched into the lab like she owned it. That was until she turned the corner and saw Nick.
Nick felt his heart skip a beat as they passed eachother in the hallway. Nick remained ever so determined to complete his goal. After a phone call with his mother and a small pep talk from Greg. Nick knocked quietly knocked on Ecklie's door as he took a deep breath.
"Come on in, Nick." Ecklie said waving him in. "I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"Me either. Some things have changed. I am honored that you asked me to fill such a role..."
"Stokes, I get it. Nolan's offer is pretty great. No one would be mad that you took it. It's..."
"Ecklie, I want the job. I'll be your undersheriff. This is were my friends are. This is where my home is. I like what you are trying to do, and I want to be apart of that." Nick said interrupting Ecklie. Ecklie smiling pleasantly surprised by Nick's choice and his passion.
Please Review! Sorry for the long wait I had an unexpected injury that required surgery. I am working on a quasi sequel. Let me know what you think. Thank you, and much love!