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space-helen · 10 months ago

Text

Grade

Words: 1499

Pairing: All platonic (?) Nick Stokes x Reader, Greg Sanders x Reader, David Hodges x Reader

A/N: This was written back in October (sorry) but enjoy!

Request: Okay so this may be totally very random but idk either- the idea just popped into my head but my writer ass is too filled up with school to have motivation to write so- but like onto the idea.

So like, reader is maybe like, a student/works part time at the lab? And theyre everyones favourite as they can get along with everyone (even hodges though he would be the last to admit it-) but their grades are slipping majorly and no one knows as they keep up the 'im fine' mask before diverting the topic, like how that person is.

But one day maybe they get a grade or something in a subject they really studied for and its very bad or something else happens and someone just finds them in a very random spot and its all fluff :(?

Sorry if this was long and you dont have to write this if you dont want to, I just think your writing is awesome so :)

-🧽/Anon

______________________

You nervously checked your phone again before shoving it back in your pocket. God, you hated waiting for results. It seemed like you'd been on a losing streak recently. No matter how hard you were studying your grades were consistently low. You knew some of your classmates thought it was because of your job in the crime lab but you wouldn't give it up for the world.

"How's it going?" Hodges spoke from the other side of the room.

"Everything's fine." You forced a smile "the tests are running."

"Perfect." He returned his attention back to the work in front of him "You can go for a break if you want. Go grab a coffee, just be back to get the results."

"Thanks. Want me to make you one?"

The man waved you off and gave you a smile "I'll be ok but thank you." Standing up you made sure everything was safe before leaving the room.

Getting into the break room you poured yourself a drink before looking at the snacks on offer today before turning and taking a seat at the table.

"How's it going?" Greg sat across from you at the table, a drink of his own in his hand.

"I'm ok, pretty quiet morning so far."

He laughed "today does seem slower, huh?" He took a sip of his drink as you did yours "have you had the test results back?"

"Yours should be done soon, Hodges told me to take a break while they were-"

"Not those." He interrupted "your grade for the-"

"Oh, they haven't come back yet."

"Are you nervous?"

You shook your head and took another sip of your drink, feeling the hot liquid slightly scold your mouth and throat. "I studied hard, it should be fine like always."

"I respect your positivity so much" he smiled as he checked his phone and then downed the last part of his drink, you weren't sure how he did it really, you knew you wouldn't be able to with the coffee at this temperature. "I have to run but let me know when you get the grade back." As he stood he placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder and gave it a light squeeze "good luck."

You gave him a smile and thanked him but before you knew it he was gone. Enjoying the rest of the silence you flipped through one of the newspapers left on the table before eventually finishing your coffee and cleaning your mug. Walking back down the corridor towards your workstation you felt a notification come in on your phone. Seeing it was your results you opened it immediately but instantly regretted it, another failed test. Diving for the nearest door you opened flung it open and threw yourself through into it. As you stared at your phone screen you could feel tears coming to your eyes quickly as your chest began to feel tighter. This couldn't be happening, not again.

Nick had seen your odd behaviour as he turned the corner. Speeding up his pace he knocked lightly on the storage cupboard door "Y/N is everything ok?" he listened carefully for a response but instead heard your quiet sobs through the door. Opening it carefully he slid inside and his heart felt sorry for you as soon as your tear filled eyes met his.

"Come here." His whispered opening his arms. You closed the small distance and were soon in his arms, allowing him to hug you. "What happened?"

"The test." You sobbed "I just got my grade back" another sob "I failed."

"It's ok. It's ok." The man placed his one hand on your hair to comfort you more as he brought you into his chest.

As he did Greg came to the door and opened it carefully, seeing the two of you he gave Nick a questioning look and mouthed the words 'what's up?'

'Grades' Nick mouthed back and Greg nodded his head. Leaning against the door frame he looked at you sympathetically, knowing how difficult it could be.

"I know it's silly." You pulled away from Nick and wiped your face. "But I worked so hard and it's just like I'm running in circles. Maybe I'm just not good enough."

"Don't say that." Nick said calmly

"Y/N you're literally incredible. Probably the most promising I've seen around here in forever. You're so clever and definitely have what it takes." It was Greg speaking now.

Looking at the man with tears in your eyes you swallowed a sob "It really doesn't feel like it right now."

Nick placed his hand on your shoulder lightly. "You should have said something if you're struggling with grades. We could have helped you out."

"I didn't want you to all think I was stupid."

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Greg teased lightly "We're all in awe at how much you have going on and we'd never think you were stupid."

"Man, you teach me something new most days." Nick added in, moving his hand from your shoulder to your back, gesturing forward with his other hand "let's move from the closet though, it's cramped in here and there's better places to cry in the lab."

Nodding you allowed the men to walk you to somewhere more appropriate, the two of them giving warning glances to anyone staring or small shakes of their head in a 'drop it' fashion to those who looked like they were going to interfere.

Sitting down at your desk, Hodges handed you your results as the two men stood next to you, clearly puzzled by everyone's expressions he had to fill the silence "what's going on-"

"I failed" You cut him off.

The man's jaw was slack "What? How? Wasn't this exam in your main field of expertise? We work on it most days."

You nodded and rested your elbows on the table and your chin on your hands as your eyes skimmed the results he'd handed you "yep."

"You have to ask for a remark."

"Leave it." Nick spoke as he pulled up a stool next to you.

You sighed if Nick and Greg knew, David should probably know too since you worked with him everyday and you were actually quite close to the man. "I've been pretty consistent with my failing grades this semester." You didn't raise your eyes from the piece of paper.

"There has to be some form of favouritism going on." The man shook his head "you've never once made an error in this lab-"

Greg interrupted the man "I don't think this is helping right now."

"No it's fine." You looked up at the men "What's done is done. I can try and redeem myself in the next one but if I fail that too I'll probably have to kiss the lab goodbye."

Hodges grumbled "I'll help you. Whatever you need I'll help."

"Can't we just show them the work you do here? Would that help your grade?" Nick questioned.

You shrugged "we could try, but they'd probably just tell me I've got too much going on. Just like how my friends say it."

"They don't sound very much like friends then do they." Greg scoffed "we're here for you though Y/N, like Hodges said, anything you need." Greg's phone buzzed and he was quickly excusing himself.

You looked back down at the results and slid them in front of Nick as you talked him through them as I'd nothing had happened, the man thanked you and gave you a warm smile before leaving.

"What do you have for me next?" You asked Hodges.

"You can help me prep these samples?"

You smiled and began to cross the room to him when your phone began to ring. Answering the call without looking, you were surprised to hear your University lecturer on the other end..

Locking your phone you slid it into your pocket and took a step back inside your lab space. "You'll never guess what" Hodges gestured for you to continue speaking "There was apparently an error in the system and everyone was given a failing grade. I passed. I’m a little annoyed it happened but-"

"I knew it had to be a mistake.” Hodges quickly added a smile beaming on his face.

"I don't know what my exact grade was but at least it wasn't a fail. She said that although my past grades weren't great the ones they really take into consideration is this one and the next two we get."

He smiled even more "good because I have no clue what I'd do in here without you now"

"Thank you, I really love the opportunity I have to work with you, I've learnt so much-"

He held up his hand "As much as I love to hear it from other people I don't want to hear it from you." He joked "go and tell Nick and Greg."

You nodded "I'll be right back"

"There's no rush, enjoy the news"

Tag List: (open, send an ask or let me know if you want to be added)

CSI: @perasperaadastrawriting

#csi x reader #csi vegas x reader #nick stokes x reader #greg sanders x reader #david hodges x reader

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fandomgirlz01 · 6 months ago

Text

This Can’t Be The End Pt. 4

Nick Stokes X Reader

Imagine on my fandom Instagram?: No

Prompt or Request or Requested Prompt?: No

Style of Writing: Series

Rating: PG-13 ~ For fluff and cuteness, but more adult commentary or even some triggering content.

Edited: Yes

Word count: 5,812

Post Date & Time: August 4th 2024 at 11: 44 PM

Ko-fi

Masterlist

Warnings here

Listen to the story be read out loud here {coming soon}.

Summary: Based off of S5 Es24 & 25 When Nick gets kidnapped, the reader is forced to fear the worst for her husband as she and the team work the case with hopes of bringing him home safe.

Y/n’s Pov:

My eyes shoot open and I immediately sit up. I frown when I see where I am, not fully remembering how I got here. Thinking over where I remember being last, I deduce that Warrick must have brought me in here after I fell asleep.

“Did you hear they thought they found Nick only for it to actually be a dog?” Isadora, one of the other team members, asks as she leans into another from her team.

“No. What kind of dog was it?” Marcela questions in an interested tone as they keep talking like they don’t know I’m here.

“It was a Dalmatian. I hear Warrick's going over the box now,” Isadora continues on and I just listen as carefully as I can.

“Did the dog survive?” Marcela asks and Isadora shakes her head.

“Awe, that's sad. Poor dog. People are so cruel nowadays,” Marcela croons and Isadora nods.

“Yeah. Apparently Warrick lost it,” Marcela comments as she takes a sip of her drink and Isadora shrugs.

“I mean, can you blame him? That’s his team member out there,” Isadora comments back.

“Yeah, his sexy team mate,” Marcela adds on with a bounce of her eyebrows and I roll my eyes.

“Marcela, dear. He’s married,” Isadora tells her with a raised eyebrow and small chuckle of amusement.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t like him from afar,” Marcela comments with a shrug and Isadora laughs.

“I’m pretty sure it means that you can’t, but what about Warrick? He’s pretty hot too,” Isadora asks and Marcela waves her off.

“He's married too, remember? Not to mention he’s got a temper. Guys with tempers aren’t always good to have around,” Marcela explains and I roll my eyes again.

Finally I can’t take it anymore, not wanting to hear people gossip about how hot my husband or brother figure is when Nick’s out there somewhere, fighting to come home to me. I push myself up off the couch and hear gasps, making me turn to look at the two women before me. They each give me sorrowful yet horrified looks.

“Oh my gosh. Y/n, we are so sorry. We didn’t know you were there,” Isadora apologizes and I shrug ‘as if that makes it better that you were just gossiping about me… and the people who matter most to me,’ I think as I hold back a roll of my eyes.

“It’s fine, really. Uhh, I’m going to find Warrick. Do you know what lab he’s in?” I ask, starting to fidget as an uncomfortable feeling washes over me.

“Oh, yeah. I think I heard he’s in lab 345,” Isadora answers me and I nod.

“Thanks. I’ll, uhh, see you girls around,” I reply as I give them a small wave before turning and leaving in search of Warrick.

For the millionth time in the last few days I find myself walking down all the many hallways again. I walk past every lab as I look for the one that Warrick supposedly is in. I pass each lab and look at each number of labs before coming to a stop in front of 345.

When I come to a stop I see Warrick inside working on a big clear plexiglass box. With a sigh, I open the door and walk in as he continues to work. I watch him for a few minutes as he picks a few parts up and inspects them.

After a few minutes, I walk over to him and hug him from behind. He tenses for a moment before turning around and hugging me back.

“What’s up, mamas?” he asks and I blink back a few tears.

“I overheard a few of the others talking about what happened while I was asleep. They told me where you were and I came to find you,” I tell him and he sighs, nodding.

“I swear I came to tell you after it happened, but you finally looked semi-peaceful. You needed the sleep,” he explains and I nod my understanding.

“Don’t worry, B, I get it. Really. I do,” I promise him and he lets out a puff of air.

“Good. I thought you were going to be mad at me,” he comments and I purse my lips.

“Now doesn’t really feel like the time for anger,” I whisper out and he chuckles.

“Only you. Y/n. Only you. You get angry once, then never again even when you’re going through something bad,” he replies in astonishment and I shrug.

“Mind if I keep you company while you finish this up? It’s a lot better than hearing all the gossip about my husband,” I try to playfully joke, but it comes out sounding more half-hearted than anything and he sighs.

“You want me to go tell em’ what for?” he asks and I pause.

“As nice as that sounds… I’d rather you be here working on trying to find Nicky,” I reply and he smiles softly as I sit down.

“In that case, hang out here all you want, mamas,” he agrees and I give him a soft thankful smile before he turns around to get back to work.

He picks over what seems to be the fan that would supply the air once again before taking it apart. He puts down the tube that was connected to it before picking up his flashlight and looking down the opening of the fan itself. Then he takes the tube off of where it’s connected to the box and looks through the hole that was left from removing it.

“So I, ahh… heard you lost it out there,” I speak up as he moves around the box.

“Uhh, yeah. You weren’t supposed to know that…” he tells me as he takes the grate off the other side of the hole.

“It’s ok, you know? It’s ok you lost it,” I sympathize with him as he continues to look over the area of the box.

“No. It’s not ok. It took time off from finding Nick. I should’ve kept my head level,” he plays it off and I shake my head.

“Rick. He’s like family to you just as much as he is family to me. It’s understandable that you'd lose it. I mean, I lost it on you earlier,” I again sympathize with him and he sighs as he continues to work on the box.

“You didn’t exactly lose it, mamas. You got a little angry, there’s a difference,” he dismisses me again and I roll my eyes.

“I bit your head off. There really isn’t a difference,” I pointedly tell him as I cross my arms and he nods.

“Ok. Ok. You win,” he reluctantly agrees as he now grabs a battery and starts using the wires connected to the box, trying to see how they hook up.

Once he has it hooked up, the light turns on as well as the fan. He looks over it as the meter he has connected to it counts up higher and higher. He picks up the fan and looks at it before looking at the meter.

“Damn it,” he mutters as he puts the fan down with a sigh.

“What?” I ask him and he pauses.

“I think we need to find Catherine,” he says and I jump as he walks over to the phone.

He stands there with the phone to his ear and he waits for her to answer. When she does, he talks to her for a moment before looking over at me and moving the speaker from his mouth.

“Catherine wants you to go to the computer lab. Says Grissom needs you,” he tells me and I sigh before standing up.

“I’m on my way,” I tell him as I pass him and he goes back to talking to her.

Third Person Pov:

Gil, Archie and Sarah sit in the computer lab watching Nick, who now pulls out a recorder and holds it up to mouth to talk into it. Gil, who knows how to read lips, now decides to read Nick’s as he talks.

“My name is Nick Stokes. If anyone… finds this tape, turn it in to the Las Vegas… PD. There should be a reward…” he starts and Gil watches with sad eyes as he sits up a bit more.

“Mom. Sisko… y/n….” Gil reads Nick’s lips and decides to start writing what Nick is saying.

“Hey Sara, would you call Catherine and have her send y/n here?” he asks her as he keeps his eyes focused on what Nick is saying.

“Yeah. Ok,” Sara agrees as she picks up the phone and calls Catherine.

“…well, this is a lousy way to say goodbye, but it’s all I got,” Nick continues on and Grissom keeps his eyes trained on the screen as he writes.

“I love you. You raised me right… and I’m going to miss you,” Nick says into the recorder, getting choked up with every word.

“Y/n. I’m so sorry I can’t be with you, sweetheart, and our future child. I love you most and I’ll miss you the most too. P… promise me you’ll go on that trip I promised you, even if I’m not there to take it with you. Promise me you’ll find someone to look after you…” Nick goes on saying his goodbyes, only getting more choked up and stuttering every few minutes.

As he goes on, Grissom’s eyes widen at the mention of a child, but he quickly plays it off.

“As for the rest of you guys. I know you did the best you could to find me and get me home to my beautiful wife,” he continues on as Grissom continues to read his lips.

“Grissom…” he starts and that’s when Grissom stops writing it down, focusing on what he’s saying to him.

“No, you never did, Nick,” Grissom sighs as he replies to Nick out loud.

He continues to watch as Nick cries, but soon he starts to freak out. Grissom watches carefully as confusion washes over him.

“He’s going into convolutions. He’s losing it!” Sara comments just as y/n walks in.

Y/n walks over to Grissom, who spares her a quick look before watching alongside her as Nick seems to be thrashing around. Y/n lets out a breath as she closes her eyes, not being able to watch it anymore.

“What’s going on?!” Sara voices her exact thoughts as they continue to watch.

“Wha…?” Grissom goes to ask, but pauses when he sees it.

“Wait a minute…” he says in realization as he picks up his mouse to zoom in on Nick.

“Ants…” Grissom confirms what he zooms in on, making y/n open her eyes.

“My God, he’s being eaten alive,” Grissom observes as they all watch the ants in the box with him.

Together they all watch in sadness as he withers around, just trying anything to get the ants away and not succeeding. He pulls a glove out of his pocket and uses it to stuff up his nose.

“That’s it, Nicky… stay still… they won’t bite. As much,” Grissom proudly says before looking up at y/n.

“I have something for you,” he tells the girl and she arches an eyebrow.

He folds up the paper and hands it to her, making more confusion wash over her. He smiles softly and reassuringly at her.

“These ants could help us find him, but in the meantime, I think you should hear what he had to say to you,” Grissom tells her as he sets a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“T…Thanks,” she whispers out as she takes the paper before turning to leave and head back to Warrick.

“Oh and y/n. Congratulations,” he replies, making her turn around and look at him.

He gives her a small knowing smile and she can’t help but to just smile back. She gives him a small ‘thank you,’ in response with a nod before fully turning and walking back to where she’d left Warrick.

Y/n’s Pov:

I start back to the lab Warrick is in before making a split second decision to go into the locker room instead. I quickly look around just to make sure I’m alone and when I find that I am I sigh as I take a seat on the bench. I hold the paper Grissom gave me and I go to open it, but pause.

I take a deep breath before trying to open it again, but again I fail. Tears of frustration make their way to my face and I sigh as I try to hold them back. With one last puff of air, I open the paper to read over it.

“My name is Nick Stokes. If anyone… finds this tape, turn it in to the Las Vegas… PD. There should be a reward…” is the first line I read and a gasp leaves my lips.

“Mom. Sisko… y/n….” Is the next line and a tear falls as I suck in a breath.

I quickly close the paper for a moment as more and more tears build up. I take a moment to let my tears fall before reopening the paper and continuing on with sniffles.

“…well, this is a lousy way to say goodbye, but it’s all I got,” I read and a choked sound leaves my throat as I put my other hand over my mouth.

“I love you. You raised me right… and I’m going to miss you,” more tears fall as my lip starts to tremble and I take another pause before starting to read again.

“Y/n. I’m so sorry I can’t be with you, sweetheart, and our future child. I love you most and I’ll miss you the most too. P… promise me you’ll go on that trip I promised you even if I’m not there to take it with you. Promise me you’ll find someone to look after you…” by the end I’m fully sobbing as I hold the paper close to my chest.

I sit there for a good few minutes before sobering up and wiping at my face. I sigh softly before getting up from the bench and standing in front of my locker. I pause a moment as I look at Nick’s locker that Grissom so nicely assigned right next to mine on our first day.

I quickly shake my head and bite my lip before opening my locker. I set the note lightly on the shelf and stand frozen for a moment before closing it. With a very heavy breath, I open Nick’s locker.

It’s then I let out another very harsh breath when I see the sonogram he has tucked under his jeans:

I read the top where Nick had nicely written out: baby Stokes 9 weeks with a small smiley face. I quickly slide it back under and close the locker. With another heavy sigh, I walk over to the sink and wash my face with cold water.

“He’ll be home. He will be,” I whisper down to my stomach before standing straight again.

I look myself over and sigh once more before walking out of the locker room. I walk back to where I had left Warrick and find Greg, Catherine, and Hodges in the room with him.

“This has got to be a prototype. It was probably built to test how long he could keep somebody alive inside,” Catherine observes out loud as she walks around the box with her flashlight.

“Hi, mamas. You doing ok?” Warrick asks me when he sees me come up next to him.

I keep quiet with my arms wrapping themselves around my stomach and I shake my head. Warrick finally catches sight of my eyes and sighs before pulling me into his side.

“Now, what are those?” Hodges questions as he bends down and points to something underneath the box, making Greg, who’s under it, pause to look at him.

“I don’t know,” Greg replies and Hodges seems to understand that it was a stupid question as he stands up.

“All right,” Warrick speaks up, getting all of our attention as he straightens up a bit, keeping me in a side hug.

“Based on this battery and what’s running off of it,” Warrick starts to explain, but pauses for a moment as if thinking over how to explain it better while glancing at me as he hesitates.

“And the fact that we kept the damn light on for as long as we did,” he continues to explain, pausing again as he takes in a big breath.

“I figure Nick’s got another 90 minutes left in there,” he concludes and I take in a harsh breath as reality slowly starts to set in even more.

It goes quiet for a moment, but Warrick lifts his arm with his watch and pulls it up past my face to set it with the hand he has around my neck still. He pulls it away and I see the watch says 1:30 on it.

“So this is it… I’m going to lose my husband…” I whisper out before sinking to the floor, but Warrick quickly grabs hold of me, slowing me down so I don’t hurt myself.

“No, no. We’re going to find him, mamas. I promised. When do I not keep my promises?” Warrick asks, but I don’t reply as I shake my head in denial and a million thoughts fly through my head.

“Y/n. Hey. Y/n. It’s going to be okay!” Catherine shouts a bit and it’s only then I realize I’m having a panic attack.

“Damn, she’s having a panic attack. Greg, go get some water, Hodges, go inform Grissom,” Catherine commands before she bends down in front of me.

Both Greg and Hodges nod, eyes wide with worry before rushing out. Warrick now sits with my back against his side as I try to breathe.

“Ok. Y/n. Honey, breath with me,” she commands me softly as she shows me how to breathe.

“Ok. In… and out… just like that,” she couches me and my breath starts to slow down, but still not where it should be.

“Ok. I’m going to have you do the five senses, ok?” she asks me softly and I nod at her.

“Ok. What do you feel?” she questions and she holds up her hand for me.

“I… I… I feel your hand a…a..and Warrick behind m…m…me,” I stutter out and she nods with a small smile.

“Good. Good. Now what do you see?” she asks and I look around.

“I see that evil b…b…box,” I tell her and she nods.

“Ok… bad place to ask that. Let’s just move on. What do you hear?” she asks and I shake my head, closing my eyes.

“I h…hear you and Warrick,” I tell her and she nods encouragingly when I reopen my eyes.

“Ok. Now taste,” she inquires and my eyebrows knit together.

“Umm, nothing. I haven’t eaten anything for a while,” I tell her in confusion and she just smiles at me.

“Panic attack averted. Here, drink this,” she comments as she holds a water out to me and it’s only then I realize Greg had come back.

“Thank you guys,” I tell them and they all smile softly at me.

“Anytime y-” Catherine starts, but she gets cut off when Hodges comes rushing back in.

Nick’s Pov:

♪ It was Christmas in Las Vegas,

when the locals take the town ♪

♪ Theresa hit a streak And laid her waitress apron down She’d been playing penny poker over at the old gold spike she’s won at Texas hold ‘em So she switched to let it ride ♪

I sing softly to myself to try and keep calm. Thinking of the lyrics rather than the situation I’m in and how much y/n must be scared.

The singing doesn’t get my mind off of things for long and soon I find myself thinking of just getting home again. I think about just wanting to sit and watch a movie from the red box with y/n again. I’m soon pulled from my thoughts though when there’s a shifting sound.

I grab another one of the glow sticks and pop it, making it come to life as the creaking noise gets louder.

“Hey! I’m, in here!” I yell out as I hit the plexiglass in hopes that I’m being saved.

“Hey!�� I continue to yell, my voice cracking as I keep hitting the plexiglass.

♪ It was Christmas in Las Vegas,

when the locals take the town ♪

♪ Theresa hit a streak And laid her waitress apron down… ♪

I start to sing as loudly as I can again, but my breath slowly fails and my head falls back down as I realize nobody’s here. It’s only a few minutes later when a loud crack sound starts and I see the plexiglass start to crack slowly up the sides of the box. I keep the glow stick low as I breathe hard while watching it crack more and more.

“Stop… no, no,” I whisper out as I put my hand up to the plexiglass.

“Oh, my God,” I whisper out in fear the more it cracks with no signs of stopping. Soon dirt starts to break those and my feet are under a mountain of it.

Third Person Pov:

Once the ant crawls farther into view Grissom hits the print button and as soon as the picture of the screen prints he’s ripping it off the printer. Gil quickly rushes to his office and looks through all the books he has. Soon he’s pulling one from the shelf and flips through it till it lands on the page he’s looking for.

He pauses when he thinks he’s found it before picking up the screen shot to look at the ant again.

“Solenopsis invicta,” Grissom says out loud to himself as he confirms what kind of ant it is.

Y/n’s Pov:

“Grissom’s got something. He wants us all in evidence meeting room 4 now,” he rushes out as he stands against the door frame, panting for air.

“We’re on our way. Warrick, you got her?” Catherine asks as she looks behind me.

“Yeah. Yeah. Go. We’ll meet you guys there,” he promises and she nods before reaching out for me.

I grab her hand and she gives mine a firm squeeze. She gives a tight lipped smile before getting up and heading out of the lab. Greg bends down and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“Hang in there, y/n. Nick’s coming home,” he tells me as he squeezes my shoulder before getting up to follow Hodges and Catherine.

Warrick sits with me for a moment as I continue to just calm down. Once my breathing is fully back to normal, Warrick gets up.

“Ok. Slowly. Slowly,” Warrick tells me as he helps me up alongside him.

“Thank you, B…” I say when we’re both standing and I squeeze his forearm as I give him a light smile.

“Anytime, mamas. You know that,” he tells me as he smiles back at me.

I sigh and hold a hand to my head as I start to feel a little tired. Warrick chuckles lightly, making me look up at him in confusion.

“Tired?” he asks me and I huff at his obvious jokeful tone.

“I’m beat, but I’m not sleeping till Nick’s right next to me,” I answer his question and he smiles, shaking his head.

“I wouldn’t have guessed or suggested anything else, mamas,” he tells me as he holds his hands up in surrender, making me finally laugh for the first time since all of this happened.

“Oh please, you so would have,” I comment with a roll of my eyes and he chuckles.

“Maybe I would have, maybe not. Come on. Let’s go find your husband,” he tells me and I smile up at him as he wraps an arm around my shoulder.

Together we walk to meet up with everyone else in evidence room 4. They all rush around getting stuff ready and just Warrick and I walk in, Grissom rushes in. Warrick and I stand off to the side as he keeps his arm around me.

“They’re fire ants, very rare in Nevada. They don’t like our soil. The only places you find them around Vegas are in plant and tree nurseries,” Grissom announces as he walks around the table to where Catherine is sitting at a computer.

Warrick lets go of me before making me sit in the chair Catherine just abandoned. He starts to look at a stack of papers Catherine just printed and crosses off places not in the search grid.

“There’s 11 nurseries in the greater Las Vegas area!” Catherine adds on what she found from a quick search.

“Okay, I’ve got the webcam trace down to here,” Archie speaks next as he circles the area he narrowed it down to on the map and Warrick starts crossing things off his list.

“And the data from the black box in Walter Gordon’s truck gave us a 23-mile travel radius,” Greg adds on as he too circles his findings on the map, making the circles overlap ever so slightly.

“Okay, I’ve got two nurseries within the overlap area. Here! And here!” Warrick announces as he walks up to the table and draws two x’s over the spots.

“Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Kelly Gordon, the daughter, worked with plants,” Sara explains and we all look at her.

“Hold on. Hold on,” Sara says before she rushes out of the room, making us all wait about a minute before she comes running back in with a file in her hand.

“Hey guys, Nick is here,” she says as she points to the x on the left that Warrick had drawn.

“Well, pack up everyone, let’s go! I’ll call the owner and talk to him on the way,” Grissom exclaims and I jump up as everyone starts rushing out of the room.

“Hey. Maybe you should stay here,” Warrick tells me and I immediately shake my head.

“If you think for one minute that I’m sitting back here while you all go find my husband, you're dead wrong, B,” I reply and he sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Mama, we don’t know what-” he starts but gets cut off.

“Let her come, Warrick. She’s allowed to,” Grissom interrupts with a soft smile my way.

“What! But-” Warrick starts, but stops when Grissom just nods at him.

“Ok… fine. At least wear your vest? Just in case,” Warrick tells me and I nod at him.

“If it’ll make you feel better for me too, I will. I’ll meet you at your car,” I promise him with a firm nod before rushing off to the locker room.

Once in the locker room, I come to stop in front of my locker and quickly open it. I grab my vest out before slamming it shut once again. I quickly strap my vest around me before rushing back out of the locker room and down the many, many hallways.

I rush out into the parking garage and I stop to watch as Grissom and Sara drive past me with their cars' emergency lights on. Once they pass, I run over to Warrick's car and hop into the passenger side. He quickly turns his lights on before pulling out of the parking space.

Soon before I know it, we’re pulling up on location and I see that almost half our police fleet are here, making relief wash over me as sirens blare all around me. Grissom’s car is just in front of us and I hold on as Warrick takes the turn into the nursery drive. We follow Grissom all the way up the drive and come to a stop next to his car.

Grissom gets out of his car and I yank my seatbelt off to follow after him. He meets up with the owner at the front of his car just as I come up beside him.

“You said on the phone you had a fire ant mound. Where is it?” he asks as he and the owner get close to one another.

“People usually prefer to stay away from it,” the owner comments as he turns and starts to lead us all over to it. We all stop pointing our flashlights at the mound as Grissom stops and looks at it for a moment.

“All right, look. Fan out. Look for loose soil. Anything that might’ve been dug up recently,” Grissom commands and we all rush off.

We all fan out like he said, officers all going in different directions. I stick by Warrick as we walk briskly while searching the ground with our lights. Everyone looks for a few minutes, but nothing seems remotely the littlest bit off.

“Hey! I’m picking up the webcam transmitter!” We hear Catherine yell out and I look at Warrick.

“She’s got something! Move, move!” An officer yells out and I smile.

“We found him, B… we really found him,” I excitedly say and Warrick smiles, nodding.

“Come on, mama. We’re close,” he agrees with a smile as we both pick up and start to jog to where Catherine is.

Soon we come up behind her and she slows down to look around. We slow down too and help in looking around with our lights. She turns to her left and continues walking until she almost trips over something, making her turn back.

She turns around and shines her light on what she tripped on, only to find a tube sticking out of the ground. She pauses a moment before turning and walking a little further only to find another tube. Her monitor picks up in its beeping and I look at Warrick as she bends down to the ground.

She drops her light and the monitor before she starts to dig around frantically with her hands. She finds what seems to be a clear bag of sorts and she rips off her glove, making it fall back to the floor.

“This is it!! I found it!!” she screams out as she scrambles to pick the bag back up and open it.

“It’s here! I found it! This is it!” she screams out again as she looks over the remote.

“Nick!” she shouts into the pipe as everyone else races over to us.

“Nick… we’re here. We’re all here! Hang on! Nicky!” she shouts into the pipe as officers run over with shovels and Warrick takes one.

They all start to shovel at the ground and Catherine wraps an arm around me as she holds her flashlight up with the other. We all watch with bated breath as they continue to pull dirt from the earth.

Nick’s Pov:

“Nicky!” I think I hear Catherine, but decide it’s just my mind playing tricks on me for the millionth time.

I feel more and more of the ants biting at me and I groan as my heart starts to pound harder. I close my eyes, but open them when there’s a click sound. It’s then I see Doc Robbins and David looking down at me before he sighs and shakes his head in sorrow.

“It’s a damn shame they didn’t get to him sooner,” Robbins says as he continues to look down at me.

“I sure will miss him,” David comments and it’s quiet for a moment.

“You know, David, I’ve seen fire ant bites in my time, but never anything like this,” Robbins tells David as he lifts my hand to inspect it.

“Do you think he suffered?” David asks as he cocks his head to the side.

“Do I think he suffered?” Doc Robbins parrots before pausing.

“Yes. Definitely,” he finishes and I try to yell, but nothing will come out.

I close my eyes before opening them again to the sound of laughter. I watch as they still stand over me, laughing.

“All right, on three,” Robbins says before pausing.

“Uno…” David starts off. “Dos…” Robbins jumps in. Tres!” They both yell out and all of a sudden Bob Newworth starts to play.

“All right. Would you care to do the ‘y’ incision?” Robbins asks David and there's an audible shing sound.

“Well ‘y’ not?” David asks as he takes the meat cleaver that passed over me and all I can do is watch.

There’s a few audible crack sounds and a lot of slouchy sounds before Doc Robbins is getting out a chainsaw. He puts the chainsaw down before looking back at me. There’s another crack as he rips my ribs from my body only to toss them aside.

“He won’t be needing this anymore,” he comments as he passes my liver to David.

“Nice!” he says as he pulls more from my body and my eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“A lung,” Doc Robbins says as he passes that over me to David as well.

Then all of a sudden my father stands over me across from Doc Robbins. He clasps his hands and gives a deadpan look.

“So Doc… how did my son die? Anaphylactic shock?” he asks Doc Robbins, who chuckles.

“No, no, he didn’t live long enough for that. COD was asphyxiation,” Doc Robbins answers in a very cheerful tone.

“Oh!” My dad says in almost awe and I just watch on in confusion.

“When the blood oxygen drops to less than 16% and the CO2 builds up there’s a rapid loss of consciousness. Death within minutes. With no disfiguring physical findings,” Doc Robbins explains in a cheery tone.

“He’ll look great at the funeral,” my father comments with no hint of sadness in his voice. “Oh. Yes,” Robbins agrees.

“His mother will appreciate that as well as his wife,” my father comments again and Robbins gives a small “good” In response.

Robbins then reaches into my open chest and rips my heart out. He holds it up and it sounds like it’s still beating.

“Your son had a good heart,” Robbins says before slapping it down into my fathers hand.

Suddenly my eyes fly open and find I’m still in the box with ants still crawling all over me. I let out the smallest puff of air as I fight the feeling of the ants biting me. I close my eyes again and try to think of something, anything more pleasant. My mind wanders and I see an image of me at a counter holding a little girl:

“I love you Daddy,” she whispers into my ear as she lays her head against my shoulder and I lay mine against hers. My eyes fly open once more and more tears fall as my lip trembles my fight to get out renewed.

To Be Continued…