Part 1

"You know you're breaking somebody's heart by having a night off and not gathering around a crime scene." Sofia grinned. She and Sara had a night off and were out on the Strip. They had dinner in the Bellagio and went over to the Mirage to have a few drinks.

"First of all, I don't gather around the crime scene, I work there. Second I have a night off once a week, that's nothing unusual and third stop making suggestions about Lieutenant Clark and me."

"He sent you a text when we had dinner."

"Did I answer? No, I enjoyed our dinner."

"He misses you."

"If you go on like this you'll miss me too."

"Being bitchy about a man means I'm right." Sofia grinned widely. She had taken a big interested in the relationship between Sara and her new colleague, Ryan Clark. Clark had joined the Las Vegas force two months ago and it had been obvious to Sofia, that he had more than a soft spot for Sara. Sofia herself had been interested in the lieutenant, he was in his early thirties, around six foot four tall and sporty. Probably all women around him had at least one eye on him but it seemed, he had both of his eyes only on Sara. As soon as Sofia had found that out, she had backed off and hoped her friend would do something about that. Or more, Sara would do something for this obvious interested. So far the investigator seemed not to be too interested in the man. Another reason why Sofia wanted this night with her best friend, she wanted to find out, what Sara really thought of lieutenant Clark.

"Don't fight with me, you'll lose."

"Come on Sara, he's cute…"

"He is, he knows it and men who know they're cute, they use that to get every woman they want and not only one."

"Usually you're right, I agree, but he has never been interested in anybody. Believe me, I had my eyes on him, he doesn't seem to be after every woman that crosses his way."

"If you have your eyes on him, than get him for yourself."

"He's not interested in me, he wants you."

"Sofia…"

"No, Sara, serious. As soon as you're around his attention is with you. He has more than a soft spot for you and if you wouldn't be so damn stubborn you'd admit I'm right."

"You're smug."

"And?"

"Nothing."

"He's cute, he'd understand the hours you work, he works nights too, it would be perfect."

"If something appears to be perfect there's always a catch 22."

"Sara, it has been over two years that you and Grissom split, even he moved on. Why are you trying to avoid a new relationship with an obviously great cop? Don't tell me it's because he's only a cop and you want a CSI."

"From a supervisor to a lieutenant, isn't that going backwards?" Sara smirked and got the evil eyes. "Sorry, lieutenant Curtis."

"Not funny."

"Sofia, he's too young."

"Excuse me? He's five years younger than you, how many years are you younger than Grissom? Why is it alright when the man is twenty years older but wrong when the woman is five years older?"

"Gil isn't twenty years older."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes I got your point. Nothing is wrong with his age…"

"But?"

"No but."

"You'll give him a chance?"

"I might consider an invitation to dinner when he ask the next time."

"Woman." Sofia rolled her eyes. "Get out of the medieval times and be a modern woman, ask the man yourself. You're not one of these high school girls, giggling behind a boy's back and waiting for his attention. Ask him out, if he says no – which I really doubt – he has to make up for that and you've got the power."

"I could invite him to breakfast tomorrow morning. Knowing us we won't get into bed before shift's over."

"Sounds good to me. Let's get a cocktail, I can see a cute guy over there mixing them."

"You see cute guys all the time."

"My eyes are really good." Sofia took Sara's hand and pulled her with her to the bar, right in front of the cute man. She guessed him in his late thirties, long brown hair pulled back to a pony tail and green eyes.

"Hey Ladies, what can I do for you?"

"What can you offer?" Sofia rose an eyebrow.

He smiled. "Sex on the beach."

"The beach is too far away."

"Swimming pool?"

"Sounds better. Can we have a sunrise with that?"

"Sure." He smiled and started to mix their cocktails.

"You're flirting like a college girl."

"I know, I'll feel guilty later. He's cute and he has some humor."

"Sex on the beach."

"I could think about that with him…don't listen to me, I'm single too long."

"Am I supposed to remind you, you want a real relationship? Not only sex."

"I know."

"And that there's still a rich guy in this town who wants you."

"Keane? He hasn't bothered me in four months. I think he understood that he has no chance to get me. There were enough other women by his side, I saw them in the newspaper, he's fine without me." And Sofia couldn't find words that describe how happy she was about that. No more flowers, no more visits, nothing of Keane.

"They're nothing than a cheap replacement."

"Some of them looked cheap, some looked very expensive."

"None looked as good as you."

"Thanks."

"A swimming pool and a tequila sunrise. Who gets which?"

"I take the pool." Sofia said.

"Right, it's closer than the ocean and the sunrise."

"Yes." She found the pin with his name. "You're new, aren't you Marco?"

"Yeah, started last week."

"Your accent tells me something south…south east…South Carolina?"

"Georgia."

"Close."

"Your accent tells me Las Vegas through and through."

"Right."

"A girl of Sin City. Interesting."

"Is it?"

"Yes, it seemed like you don't meet a lot of women on the Strip that are actually from Las Vegas."

"Too many tourists."

"But you're here."

"We are. Sometimes it's fun to watch tourists and the lights on the Strip."

"They were the reason why I came here. I love watching them. I'd invite you to a cocktail on the Stratosphere Tower but I don't invite women I don't know the name of."

"Not? Well, I can pay for my cocktails myself. Maybe I tell you my name later."

"Ouch. Alright, I got the hint and leave you alone until you need another cocktail." He smiled at Sara and walked to another customer.

"You're quite flirty, lieutenant." Sara was amused.

"Am I? Maybe."

"What's the difference between him and Keane?"

"I haven't seen him with hundred other women in newspapers, I'm not investigating a murder case with a prostitute as his ex girlfriend."

"He's a bartender, he likes flirting, he won't be very different. Or do you think he goes home alone every night and cuddles his pillow?"

"I haven't done anything, haven't given him my name, I'm almost as bad as you are. A few more weeks like this and I can't apply as a nun – together with you."

"Will you stop it?"

"No."

"Thought so." Sara took a big sip of her cocktail. Sofia wouldn't stop until Sara had met Ryan for breakfast or dinner, that was clear. And after that she would annoy he longer until she got a really good reason why Sara didn't want to date Clark. Sara knew, it was impossible to find a really good reason for Sofia why Sara didn't want to date.