I know this has been done before but I thought I would give it a try so please tell me what you think. Now I have only been watching the show for a couple weeks so if some of my facts aren't right I'm sorry (I understand it really does make a difference) so if I something really wrong feel free to tell me, but it is my story so something things might get fudged just to fit the plot. If there are any typos again I'm sorry I do proof read but I have a tendency to miss a few. I hope you enjoy reading!

Chapter One: The Invitation

Nick Stokes stumbled into his one bedroom apartment just as the clock struck 3. After working a double shift and then going to the diner with Warrick and Greg he was so tired he barley registered the mail that was getting crumpled under his boots. Seven hours later he was woken up by the shrill of a loud ringing. Groping for the offending item he rolled onto his back checking the call I.D.

"Stokes," he mumbled into the speaker.

"Hey, it's me," Sara Sidle said, noting the sleep that laced Nick's voice, "did I wake you up?"

"Kinda," he replied rubbing at his tired eyes, "but I needed to get up anyway," he stated, cutting off her apologies.

"Oh I'm sorry I was just wondering if I could get a ride to the lab. My car is refusing to start," she explained.

Nick threw his legs over the side of the bed letting out a groan as his body protested the movement. "Yeah that's fine. Pick you up in an hour?" he asked rolling his head side to side, trying to get out the kinks to no avail.

"Ok, I'll be ready," Sara let out a sigh of relief.

The pair exchanged goodbyes before hanging up. Setting the phone down next to him Nick let out another groan as he got up to take a shower and get ready for work.

50 minutes later he was pulling up outside Sara's small, stucco house.

"Hey," Sara smiled as she slid into the passenger's seat.

"Hey," Nick smiled back, cranking the car.

"Thanks for giving me a lift. I don't know why it's not starting, I just got the oil changed a week ago and they said everything was fine."

"If you want I can give it a look when I drop you off," he offered.

"That would be great, thanks," Sara smiled again.

"No Problem."

The car ride was relatively quiet after that. Nick hummed along to a country song that was playing on the radio and Sara began to make a mental check list of all the paperwork she still needed to complete. Pulling up to the lab Nick killed the engine and looked over at Sara.

"Earth to Sara," he sang waving his hand in front of her face.

Blinking rapidly she shook her head clearing her thoughts. "Sorry I was just thinking about how I had to finish the reports on the Anderson Case and Wesley Greene Murder."

"Oh yeah how did that one turn out for ya?" Nick asked referring to the case Sara had worked with Greg last week.

Getting out of the car the pair walked into the lab. "Turns out it was the girlfriend's brother. He spotted Greene at a bar feeling up a waitress and cornered him in the alley, asked why he was hitting on some girl while his pregnant sister was at home wondering where her boyfriend was. By that time Greene had had quite a few beers and just kept putting his foot in his mouth, after a particularly sexist comment the brother just grabbed the metal pole by the door and started swinging." Sara recounted shrugging her shoulders.

"Whew, that sounds like quite a fiasco." Nick whistled while pouring him and Sara a cup of coffee.

Nodding her head Sara silently agreed, even though it was not an especially gruesome case it still was unfortunate a life was lost. "God I hope this is Greg's Blue Hawaiian. I really need something stronger then muddy water," she whispered. Her taste buds were rewarded with the heavenly jolt of good caffeine. Just then Catherine walked in with Warrick discussing their latest case.

"Hey guys," Nick nodded bringing the mug up to his lips.

"Hey man," Warrick replied, "did you catch the highlights on the Lakers' game last night?"

"Nah, I was so tired I went straight to bed."

"So how's your case going Nicky?" Catherine asked stirring sugar into her own cup of coffee.

"I'm at a dead end right now Cath," Nick sighed. He had been assigned a break-in at a jewelry store off the strip but so far he had no leads. The perps were smart and left no print, hair, or any other traces behind.

"Well I'm sure you'll figure it out," she reassured him with a pat on the shoulder.

Grissom appeared in the door way looking at a slip in his hand. "Ok everyone, time for assignments." Looking at the pieces of paper he read off the cases. "Nick I want you to keep on with the jewelry store robbery. Warrick you and Greg have a DB at the Bellagio. Cath you're with me on a body out in Henderson and Sara finish up that paperwork and have it to me by the end of shift." He looked up as everyone nodded in unison.

"Hey, anyone seen Greg?" Warrick asked.

"Right here," he shouted walking through the door with wet hair and his shirt roughly tucked into his jeans."Sorry I over slept," he smiled sheepishly.

With a growl in frustration Grissom repeated his assignment to him. "Ok everyone get to work."

With that everyone went in different directions.

After shift that night Nick dropped Sara off at her place and checked her car realizing that her battery was dead causing her starter motor to not work.

"Thanks for looking at it," Sara sighed running her hand through her short brown hair.

"No problem. Do you need a ride to work tomorrow?" Nick asked shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah, if you don't mind."

"It's nothing. I'll pick you up same time?" he asked climbing into his Denali.

"Sounds good," Sara nodded her head watching Nick get into his car.

Once he got back to his place Nick headed straight for the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water. With water in hand he walked over to the kitchen table and grabbed the mail off the table top: Bill, bill, bill, fancy looking envelope. He sat down the rest of the stack and studied the large ivory envelope in his hand; the return address said it was from his parents in Dallas. Quickly he tore into the paper to find out its contents. He pulled out a fancy invitation of some sort, lifting the parchment paper he squinted at the elegant font and read

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM STOKES

REQUEST THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THEIR DAUGHTER

RACHEL ELISE

TO

PATRICK TYLER CAMPBELL

SATURDAY THE THRITHY-FIRST OF MARCH

TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE

FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING

Nick read and reread the invitation before leaning back in his seat and letting out deep huff. He didn't even know his youngest sister was seeing anyone much less engaged! Suddenly it felt like it had been much longer than two years since he had been home. Quickly getting up Nick walked back to the fridge and exchanged his water for a beer.

A/N Please review!