Fanfiction | CSI & Heroes | Family Affair
Title: Family Affair
Author: frickangel
Fandoms: CSI/Heroes
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Sanders family takes care of each other; no matter what.
Characters: Niki Sanders, Micah Sanders (Heroes), and Greg Sanders (CSI).
Pairings: None.
Timeline: Post-Fannysmackin’ for CSI, and somewhere in between ‘Better Halves’ for Heroes.
A/N: I’ve been going through the ‘Heroes’ eps over and over again, and geez, Niki’s one busy woman. Couldn’t find a break anywhere for her during the series to use; so for now, we’ll just play pretend that she somehow had time during the period D.L. came back and before the big Jessica-escape.
This could possibly be more than one-shot; with Greg taking a bigger step into the world of ‘Heroes’.
Warning: Un-beta’d. Didn't know if sarisynn was a Heroes fan--didn't want to bother her. :)
Disclaimer: Don’t own, don’t know and don’t I wish.
Chapter One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six
----
If there was one thing she hated the most it was going to a hospital.
Then again, the only other thing she loathed more was going to a hospital to visit someone she cared deeply for. Getting an early morning call, with a stranger’s voice gravely telling you how sorry he was to inform her of an accident-an accident that this person couldn’t divulge in detail over the scratchy phone line.
Her mind made a mental checklist of people she knew and the first thing that sliced straight into her mind was her mother; but then the stranger was calling from the Las Vegas crime lab meaning it was the only other person who gave a damn about her.
The rest of the message was a messy blur; memory of it was coming only in short bursts though she recalled telling her son to get dressed as quickly as he could. Her estranged husband had looked on in contemplative silence knowing full well that if she got this worked up about something, then it was important as hell to her. Before slamming the front door behind her and shaking the foundations of their rickety house, she had stumbled through a careless explanation to him and then practically flew over the speed limit.
Now here she was, manoeuvring through the hospital’s twisted corridors at break neck speed, barely able to check on her son who was struggling to keep up with her.
“I’m looking for Greg Hojem Sanders,” she stuttered in a strong commanding voice, seeking to get the attention of the staff. There was only so much she could do before pounding her fist on the reception table while the Asian woman dressed in nurse’s scrubs, raised her eyebrow. “He was brought in here earlier, you know the CSI and he’s-”
“And you are?”
“Niki…” she shook her head, loosing the battle to calm her nerves as the nurse waited for a last name. "Sanders-Nicole Sanders; I’m on his emergency contact list."
There wasn’t a response from her this time, only a nod as she bent forward to check her terminal, typing in something and scanning the monitor; her face was bathed in an eerie glow as she did so, giving a cold chill that seeped into Niki’s bones. She took this fearful moment to hug her son closer, feeling the warmth of his tiny body against her cold. It was more of a comforting gesture to herself than to Micah.
“Down the hall,” the nurse finally answered pointing towards the left, “room 329-”
That was all she needed to know as Niki dashed down, practically dragging Micah along with her as she carelessly read the room numbers one by one. Her shoes clicked roughly against the polished floor as she braked right in front of the hunted room, her fingers trembling as she pushed the door which allowed her to step in.
To step into a world she hadn’t prepared herself for.
Her hand flew to cover her mouth, trying to hide her sudden gasp yet biting down on her tongue to avoid exclaiming anything else. The other free hand was used to hold Micah tightly, trying to bury his face in her clothes, and forbidding him to see Greg like this. What was she thinking? Bringing her young child to see her cousin this battered and bruised.
It was still and quiet-uncomfortably quiet-leaving Niki to over-scrutinise the surroundings. From the silent machines that circled the patient, the disinfectant that hung pungent in the air, to the fact that there were too many bandages on his face for her to be completely sure of his identity. If it wasn’t for the light brown curls that peeked from the wad of cloth around his forehead, she would’ve denied he was the Greg Sanders she knew.
“Hey, buddy,” the unrecognisable voice croaked, seemingly coming from the broken body of Greg’s.
Micah appeared unfazed by the violence that had befallen his family as he worked free from Niki’s grasp and ran to Greg’s bedside. “Greg!” the smile broke through as wide as when Micah saw his father this morning; the only other man in his life to bring him joy.
She braved a few steps forward, taking in the extent of his injuries. The voice from the phone was vague on the details; either that or her addled brain wasn’t listening enough. All she knew was that CSI Greg Sanders had been seriously injured while on duty last night, and that was enough to send her into a panic attack. Pile that on with the fact that her fugitive husband was hiding in her home.
And then there was her.
“So, is your mom gonna just stand and stare at me?”
“She does that a lot lately,” Micah shrugged but was grinning at the same time.
Forcing a smile, she pushed herself forward, taking a place on the unoccupied bedside, “Just admiring your new look, Greg.”
Hilarious, Niki; worse joke of the year.
“Yeah, I heard black and blue are in this season.”
Lips pressed into a thin line, she collapsed into the empty chair right next to her and frowned, “Not funny anymore, Greg. The phone call I got nearly gave me a heart attack. I don’t know if I can take anymore of these surprises and with everything that’s been coming down-”
What little barrier she had up against emotional distress was beginning to splinter and break through, and her cousin was bearing the brunt of it. Bottom line was, she was losing it right there and right then. Her hands covered her face while she tried to hold her tears back; she was not going to cry in front of him.
“Mom?” she found Micah already at her side, gently touching her arm and eyebrows furrowed in worry.
“I’m fine, baby,” she sniffed and plastered another smile. “You know what?” she unzipped her purse and pulled out a few dollar notes, crumpling the greens into a ball before it was bestowed upon her son. “I think I saw a few vending machines out there. Buy yourself a soda and whatever else-finish it outside. We wouldn’t want a mess in Greg’s room do we?”
“But…”
“Once you’re done you can come back in, okay?” Her hands were already urging Micah towards the exit and he took it as a sign that hadn’t needed any words to explain. With one look back at them, he was out the door and slowly marching back towards the main hall.
“What…” her voice was still shaky, something which startled her and she was beginning to hate herself for giving in into the roller-coaster ride of emotions. Clearing her throat and her mind, she focused on Greg and asked the question he must’ve heard a million times by now, “What happened?”
He probably would’ve shrugged if it wasn’t for his injuries and Niki could imagine him do just that. “On a way to a crime scene, helped some guy but I ended up getting the beat up.”
Her hand reached out to touch his arm, but it froze mid-way thinking about the wounds he was suffering through. Any touch of reassurance could end up causing more pain than comfort; instead, she moved her fingers to his hair and gingerly pushed a few stray strands from his swollen eyes. “You’re not a superhero, Greg. You can’t go saving every soul in trouble.”
The pause hung thickly in the air, building the unease as it prolonged. “I couldn’t just watch him die, Niki,” he finally replied though softer.
That was Greg’s problem and he probably inherited it from his father. Ever since Hal had walked out of their lives, after her sister died, Greg’s family had made it their mission to come to their rescue, blaming themselves for Hal’s betrayal. The young Greg had become Niki’s sole companion during that dark time and closer to her than anyone else, taking over her departed sister’s role as a guide. When he moved to Las Vegas, so did she, along with D.L. and Micah.
The Sanders family takes care of each other. Now it was her turn to return the favour.
“Is he still alive?” Niki attempted to justify his act, hoping it wasn’t in vain.
“So I’ve heard.”
“Did your mom freak?”
“I’d be worried if she hadn’t.”
“You didn’t tell her about switching jobs, didn’t you?” She frowned at the memory, remembering that Greg had once told her to keep it a secret. “You do realise the first person she’ll kill is me. She’ll know that I knew about this.”
“How are you coping?” he shifted his position a little and she saw him wince. Getting to her feet, she tugged and pulled at his covers, adjusting the pillows a little, practically mothering him more than she should.
“Don’t change the subject,” she reprimanded him.
“I’m not,” he stated and was looking at her through the swollen eyelids. “You got enough cash?”
Greg knew she was tight on money since D.L. was arrested, but the only thing she kept from him was her internet… arrangements. “We’re doing fine.”
“You’ve seen D.L. yet?”
She knew he meant if she had visited him in jail, but the literal question itself was too accurate, “No.” And the lies just kept piling on. It wasn’t like she could tell Greg, a staff for the LVPD that her fugitive husband-wanted for brutally murdering three people and stealing two million dollars in cold hard cash-was hiding in her living room. For now, the truth was that she hadn’t seen him, hadn’t allowed him into her house, and hadn’t talked to him.
Settling back into her seat, she sighed and looked at Greg. Oh how she wished she could tell him everything, but somethings were meant to be kept a secret.
Even Jessica.
For moment, Niki thought Greg had fallen asleep, his eyes seemed closed and his breathing was even and calm. She still could stay awhile; make sure he had everything, maybe even bump into a couple of his colleagues she had met once or twice. What were their names again: Sara and Nick?
“You’re hiding something aren’t you?
As if her nerves weren’t already a wreck, causing her to jump at the sudden question. “You’re being paranoid.”
“You know as well as I do that you can never keep secrets from me.”
Jessica.
“You’ve got a hero complex, Sanders.”
His fingers were wrapped around her open palm, surprising Niki with the strength he had even after the beating. “What’s wrong?”
Tell him about Jessica and maybe he could help.
It felt as though she would just scream out about Lindermen’s men in her trunk, the bloodied and torn flesh she buried; the favour she carried out for Lindermen that she couldn’t recall; the memory lapses. “Greg, I-”
“You guys done talking about things I’m not supposed to be listening to?”
They both turned to the door at Micah’s voice; the boy’s lips were pressed to the can of Pepsi in his hands as he eyed the older two with a raised eyebrow.
A part of Niki was disappointed that she had missed her chance to unburden her soul yet another side-hopefully not Jessica’s-was glad for the interruption. “Yeah, all done,” she grinned at him. “Which also means it’s time for us to go.”
“But I barely talked to Greg! Is this how we deal with problematic kids my age, sending them out for a can of soda?” For someone as young as him, Micah sure knew how to put up a verbal fight. Niki was proud and annoyed all at the same time. Was that even possible?
“We have a special guest at home remember?”
It was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey; cheese on a mousetrap, whatever one would call it, but it was working. “Right,” her son’s face lit up at the mention of this mysterious person, something which probably won’t put Greg’s mind any more at ease.
“Abandoning me for someone else; should I be worried?” Greg asked, his voice already growing faint. It was a wise idea to make a move after all, this was tiring him out more than he’d admit.
“Nah,” Micah replied simply, “We’d definitely be back, won’t we?” the last part of the question was directed at Niki as the child looked up at her expectantly.
“Definitely,” she smiled back at her son and then at Greg. “Who else would be able to come up with those big words for Scrabble?”
“I still say you were cheating,” he made of fun of Greg as Niki collected herself and held Micah by the arm.
“I’ll see you around, Greg,” she walked out the room as Micah and Greg exchanged waves of farewell. Somehow deep within, she felt the small storm transform itself into a cool breeze, but there was still another one brewing in the distance-a much bigger one.
Hitting the elevator’s call button, summoning the contraption to them, Niki chanced a glance into the reflective surface of the lift’s doors. Maybe if she stared at it hard enough, all she’ll see is her own boring reflection.
It stared back at her motionless like she was, it blinked as she had and-
Her image shimmered away as the doors parted. Micah tugged at his mother’s sleeve and urged her in.
If she wasn’t so preoccupied with appeasing her son and giving more fake smiles of confidence, then maybe she wouldn’t have missed her reflection that remained unmoving even as she stepped away.
Then maybe she would’ve seen Jessica eyeing them both and grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Just maybe.
---
TBC...
Author: frickangel
Fandoms: CSI/Heroes
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Sanders family takes care of each other; no matter what.
Characters: Niki Sanders, Micah Sanders (Heroes), and Greg Sanders (CSI).
Pairings: None.
Timeline: Post-Fannysmackin’ for CSI, and somewhere in between ‘Better Halves’ for Heroes.
A/N: I’ve been going through the ‘Heroes’ eps over and over again, and geez, Niki’s one busy woman. Couldn’t find a break anywhere for her during the series to use; so for now, we’ll just play pretend that she somehow had time during the period D.L. came back and before the big Jessica-escape.
This could possibly be more than one-shot; with Greg taking a bigger step into the world of ‘Heroes’.
Warning: Un-beta’d. Didn't know if sarisynn was a Heroes fan--didn't want to bother her. :)
Disclaimer: Don’t own, don’t know and don’t I wish.
Chapter One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six
----
If there was one thing she hated the most it was going to a hospital.
Then again, the only other thing she loathed more was going to a hospital to visit someone she cared deeply for. Getting an early morning call, with a stranger’s voice gravely telling you how sorry he was to inform her of an accident-an accident that this person couldn’t divulge in detail over the scratchy phone line.
Her mind made a mental checklist of people she knew and the first thing that sliced straight into her mind was her mother; but then the stranger was calling from the Las Vegas crime lab meaning it was the only other person who gave a damn about her.
The rest of the message was a messy blur; memory of it was coming only in short bursts though she recalled telling her son to get dressed as quickly as he could. Her estranged husband had looked on in contemplative silence knowing full well that if she got this worked up about something, then it was important as hell to her. Before slamming the front door behind her and shaking the foundations of their rickety house, she had stumbled through a careless explanation to him and then practically flew over the speed limit.
Now here she was, manoeuvring through the hospital’s twisted corridors at break neck speed, barely able to check on her son who was struggling to keep up with her.
“I’m looking for Greg Hojem Sanders,” she stuttered in a strong commanding voice, seeking to get the attention of the staff. There was only so much she could do before pounding her fist on the reception table while the Asian woman dressed in nurse’s scrubs, raised her eyebrow. “He was brought in here earlier, you know the CSI and he’s-”
“And you are?”
“Niki…” she shook her head, loosing the battle to calm her nerves as the nurse waited for a last name. "Sanders-Nicole Sanders; I’m on his emergency contact list."
There wasn’t a response from her this time, only a nod as she bent forward to check her terminal, typing in something and scanning the monitor; her face was bathed in an eerie glow as she did so, giving a cold chill that seeped into Niki’s bones. She took this fearful moment to hug her son closer, feeling the warmth of his tiny body against her cold. It was more of a comforting gesture to herself than to Micah.
“Down the hall,” the nurse finally answered pointing towards the left, “room 329-”
That was all she needed to know as Niki dashed down, practically dragging Micah along with her as she carelessly read the room numbers one by one. Her shoes clicked roughly against the polished floor as she braked right in front of the hunted room, her fingers trembling as she pushed the door which allowed her to step in.
To step into a world she hadn’t prepared herself for.
Her hand flew to cover her mouth, trying to hide her sudden gasp yet biting down on her tongue to avoid exclaiming anything else. The other free hand was used to hold Micah tightly, trying to bury his face in her clothes, and forbidding him to see Greg like this. What was she thinking? Bringing her young child to see her cousin this battered and bruised.
It was still and quiet-uncomfortably quiet-leaving Niki to over-scrutinise the surroundings. From the silent machines that circled the patient, the disinfectant that hung pungent in the air, to the fact that there were too many bandages on his face for her to be completely sure of his identity. If it wasn’t for the light brown curls that peeked from the wad of cloth around his forehead, she would’ve denied he was the Greg Sanders she knew.
“Hey, buddy,” the unrecognisable voice croaked, seemingly coming from the broken body of Greg’s.
Micah appeared unfazed by the violence that had befallen his family as he worked free from Niki’s grasp and ran to Greg’s bedside. “Greg!” the smile broke through as wide as when Micah saw his father this morning; the only other man in his life to bring him joy.
She braved a few steps forward, taking in the extent of his injuries. The voice from the phone was vague on the details; either that or her addled brain wasn’t listening enough. All she knew was that CSI Greg Sanders had been seriously injured while on duty last night, and that was enough to send her into a panic attack. Pile that on with the fact that her fugitive husband was hiding in her home.
And then there was her.
“So, is your mom gonna just stand and stare at me?”
“She does that a lot lately,” Micah shrugged but was grinning at the same time.
Forcing a smile, she pushed herself forward, taking a place on the unoccupied bedside, “Just admiring your new look, Greg.”
Hilarious, Niki; worse joke of the year.
“Yeah, I heard black and blue are in this season.”
Lips pressed into a thin line, she collapsed into the empty chair right next to her and frowned, “Not funny anymore, Greg. The phone call I got nearly gave me a heart attack. I don’t know if I can take anymore of these surprises and with everything that’s been coming down-”
What little barrier she had up against emotional distress was beginning to splinter and break through, and her cousin was bearing the brunt of it. Bottom line was, she was losing it right there and right then. Her hands covered her face while she tried to hold her tears back; she was not going to cry in front of him.
“Mom?” she found Micah already at her side, gently touching her arm and eyebrows furrowed in worry.
“I’m fine, baby,” she sniffed and plastered another smile. “You know what?” she unzipped her purse and pulled out a few dollar notes, crumpling the greens into a ball before it was bestowed upon her son. “I think I saw a few vending machines out there. Buy yourself a soda and whatever else-finish it outside. We wouldn’t want a mess in Greg’s room do we?”
“But…”
“Once you’re done you can come back in, okay?” Her hands were already urging Micah towards the exit and he took it as a sign that hadn’t needed any words to explain. With one look back at them, he was out the door and slowly marching back towards the main hall.
“What…” her voice was still shaky, something which startled her and she was beginning to hate herself for giving in into the roller-coaster ride of emotions. Clearing her throat and her mind, she focused on Greg and asked the question he must’ve heard a million times by now, “What happened?”
He probably would’ve shrugged if it wasn’t for his injuries and Niki could imagine him do just that. “On a way to a crime scene, helped some guy but I ended up getting the beat up.”
Her hand reached out to touch his arm, but it froze mid-way thinking about the wounds he was suffering through. Any touch of reassurance could end up causing more pain than comfort; instead, she moved her fingers to his hair and gingerly pushed a few stray strands from his swollen eyes. “You’re not a superhero, Greg. You can’t go saving every soul in trouble.”
The pause hung thickly in the air, building the unease as it prolonged. “I couldn’t just watch him die, Niki,” he finally replied though softer.
That was Greg’s problem and he probably inherited it from his father. Ever since Hal had walked out of their lives, after her sister died, Greg’s family had made it their mission to come to their rescue, blaming themselves for Hal’s betrayal. The young Greg had become Niki’s sole companion during that dark time and closer to her than anyone else, taking over her departed sister’s role as a guide. When he moved to Las Vegas, so did she, along with D.L. and Micah.
The Sanders family takes care of each other. Now it was her turn to return the favour.
“Is he still alive?” Niki attempted to justify his act, hoping it wasn’t in vain.
“So I’ve heard.”
“Did your mom freak?”
“I’d be worried if she hadn’t.”
“You didn’t tell her about switching jobs, didn’t you?” She frowned at the memory, remembering that Greg had once told her to keep it a secret. “You do realise the first person she’ll kill is me. She’ll know that I knew about this.”
“How are you coping?” he shifted his position a little and she saw him wince. Getting to her feet, she tugged and pulled at his covers, adjusting the pillows a little, practically mothering him more than she should.
“Don’t change the subject,” she reprimanded him.
“I’m not,” he stated and was looking at her through the swollen eyelids. “You got enough cash?”
Greg knew she was tight on money since D.L. was arrested, but the only thing she kept from him was her internet… arrangements. “We’re doing fine.”
“You’ve seen D.L. yet?”
She knew he meant if she had visited him in jail, but the literal question itself was too accurate, “No.” And the lies just kept piling on. It wasn’t like she could tell Greg, a staff for the LVPD that her fugitive husband-wanted for brutally murdering three people and stealing two million dollars in cold hard cash-was hiding in her living room. For now, the truth was that she hadn’t seen him, hadn’t allowed him into her house, and hadn’t talked to him.
Settling back into her seat, she sighed and looked at Greg. Oh how she wished she could tell him everything, but somethings were meant to be kept a secret.
Even Jessica.
For moment, Niki thought Greg had fallen asleep, his eyes seemed closed and his breathing was even and calm. She still could stay awhile; make sure he had everything, maybe even bump into a couple of his colleagues she had met once or twice. What were their names again: Sara and Nick?
“You’re hiding something aren’t you?
As if her nerves weren’t already a wreck, causing her to jump at the sudden question. “You’re being paranoid.”
“You know as well as I do that you can never keep secrets from me.”
Jessica.
“You’ve got a hero complex, Sanders.”
His fingers were wrapped around her open palm, surprising Niki with the strength he had even after the beating. “What’s wrong?”
Tell him about Jessica and maybe he could help.
It felt as though she would just scream out about Lindermen’s men in her trunk, the bloodied and torn flesh she buried; the favour she carried out for Lindermen that she couldn’t recall; the memory lapses. “Greg, I-”
“You guys done talking about things I’m not supposed to be listening to?”
They both turned to the door at Micah’s voice; the boy’s lips were pressed to the can of Pepsi in his hands as he eyed the older two with a raised eyebrow.
A part of Niki was disappointed that she had missed her chance to unburden her soul yet another side-hopefully not Jessica’s-was glad for the interruption. “Yeah, all done,” she grinned at him. “Which also means it’s time for us to go.”
“But I barely talked to Greg! Is this how we deal with problematic kids my age, sending them out for a can of soda?” For someone as young as him, Micah sure knew how to put up a verbal fight. Niki was proud and annoyed all at the same time. Was that even possible?
“We have a special guest at home remember?”
It was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey; cheese on a mousetrap, whatever one would call it, but it was working. “Right,” her son’s face lit up at the mention of this mysterious person, something which probably won’t put Greg’s mind any more at ease.
“Abandoning me for someone else; should I be worried?” Greg asked, his voice already growing faint. It was a wise idea to make a move after all, this was tiring him out more than he’d admit.
“Nah,” Micah replied simply, “We’d definitely be back, won’t we?” the last part of the question was directed at Niki as the child looked up at her expectantly.
“Definitely,” she smiled back at her son and then at Greg. “Who else would be able to come up with those big words for Scrabble?”
“I still say you were cheating,” he made of fun of Greg as Niki collected herself and held Micah by the arm.
“I’ll see you around, Greg,” she walked out the room as Micah and Greg exchanged waves of farewell. Somehow deep within, she felt the small storm transform itself into a cool breeze, but there was still another one brewing in the distance-a much bigger one.
Hitting the elevator’s call button, summoning the contraption to them, Niki chanced a glance into the reflective surface of the lift’s doors. Maybe if she stared at it hard enough, all she’ll see is her own boring reflection.
It stared back at her motionless like she was, it blinked as she had and-
Her image shimmered away as the doors parted. Micah tugged at his mother’s sleeve and urged her in.
If she wasn’t so preoccupied with appeasing her son and giving more fake smiles of confidence, then maybe she wouldn’t have missed her reflection that remained unmoving even as she stepped away.
Then maybe she would’ve seen Jessica eyeing them both and grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Just maybe.
---
TBC...