THE BET
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI-if I did, my characters would rule the show!
Rating: T
Nick makes a bet with Mandy. Who wins?
Nick Stokes was a meat and potatoes man through and through.
"You wouldn't last as a vegetarian!" Mandy teased him one day as they sat in the breakr oom. The lab tech was devouring some vegetarian chilli she had made while Nick was reading the paper groaning about the misfortunes of McCain and Palin.
"Wouldn't even try it. I'm a member of PETA!" He declared.
Mandy eyed him, "Aren't they pro vegetarian?"
"OH not those guys!" Nick smirked. "I'm a member of a People Eating Tasting Animals."
Greg, who was sitting at the table with Nick, laughed while Mandy groaned.
"Well I've been trying vegetarianism for about a month and I love it!" she said. "You wouldn't last an 1/2 hour."
Nick raised an eyebrow, "Is that a dare?"
Mandy's brown eyes gleamed. "You bet dude!"
"You're on!"
"A week is good." Mandy said. "I'll put the word out so everyone can keep an eye on you for me."
"And If I win. What's my prize?" Nick asked.
"Bottle of Jack Daniels and mine?" Mandy challenged.
"Same."
"Cool."
Mandy pulled a piece of her pop tart off and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly aware of Nick's intense gaze. They'd been flirting with each other since he started singing Oh Mandy and now their flirting had gone another level.
But first the bet.
It was the longest week in Nick's life. His co-workers laughed as he scanned the menus for optional meals. Veggie burgers tasted like cardboard; he was eating more carb foods than usual and his enemy peanut butter and he had made a truce-temporarily as his body protested the change in habit. His moods went from cranky to viscous and only the sweet taste of caramal apples seemed to help and he snacked on chips with dill weed dip regularly.
At start of his shift, he tore through the drive through and ordered his favourite meal and the whif of red meat had his body screaming in relief.
As he walked through the halls, he scarfed down the juiciest beef burger.
"Hey!"
Nick turned on stopped as Mandy walked towards him, "We're not done yet."
"What do you mean?" Nick asked confused.
"We've got 30 minutes left on the bet!" She showed him her watch. "We made the bet this time seven days ago at approximately this time." She glared angrily.
"Oh God!" Nick groaned. "I'll pick up the Jack Danials after my shift."
He hadn't noticed she had one arm behind her back. Mandy smiled and brought out the brown bag and let him peek into it.
"But I lost." Nick protested. "A bet's a bet."
Mandy leaned over and whispered huskily. "Who cares! This is a peace treaty and besides you did win. I had a burger earlier today."
The Texan grinned mischevioiusly and ran a tongue over his lips and then leaned and whispered into her ear. "After work. My place?" He whispered in a bedroom voice.
"Where else?" She tucked the bottle back under her lab coat and sashayed off.