Disclaimer: I don't own them, I didn't create them, and I don't profit from them, but as always, I'd buy if George and Jorja had time for coffee.

Author's Note: This isa work in progress, so you'll have to be patient for the updates...real life is a little crazy right now.

It was supposed to be a retreat of sorts, one of those outings in some 'natural setting' that was supposed to foster togetherness and help with bonding. In reality, it was a weekend filled with group 'team building' exercises and those strange quizzes that told you if you were a duck or a golden retriever. In short, Grissom thought that it was a waste of time.

The dayshift crew, being the largest of the three shifts of CSIs had attended the retreat the weekend before and now it was the turn of the swing and night shifts. That alone had built a bit of tension between Catherine and just about everyone else. The fact that her shift hadn't gotten their own weekend she took as another example of getting her toes stepped on. Grissom had taken it in stride and had just shrugged his shoulders. Despite the 'touchy feely' nature of the whole thing, the food was excellent and he was getting a chance to catch up on some sleep despite several open cases that were gnawing at him.

Sara was giving some serious consideration to taking up smoking just for an excuse to go outside every so often. The whole experience was grating on her nerves and at the moment, so was Greg. He had been dropping not so subtle hints that she could drop by his room later for a good time. Of course the fact that he was sharing that room with another rookie CSI that had just started working the swing shift just added to her irritation with him.

At the moment she was outside on a deck just outside the main meeting room they'd been in most of the day. It was fairly late and she was enjoying the blanket of darkness as she sat in a lounge chair and looked up at the stars, which she could rarely see in Vegas because of the lights from the Strip.

She was startled by the creak of a door opening onto the deck thinking that maybe Greg had managed to track her down, but she let out a sigh of relief when she realized that it was only Nick. A smile stole over her face as she watched him walk over and rest his forearms on the railing, seemingly unaware that she was there. "Nice night, huh?"

Nick jumped, obviously thinking that he had been alone. "Sara, you near about gave me a heart attack." He turned towards her voice and appeared to be breathing a bit heavily. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make her out sitting just a few feet from him.

"Sorry." She looked apologetic, but amused all at the same time.

"I suppose I shouldn't have assumed I'd be alone out here." He commented.

"Why are you out here? I would have thought you'd be sleeping by now." Sara replied.

"Might think you don't want my company." He smirked at her and took the chair next to her.

She smirked back. "I think you know me a little better than that. I just know that you looked pretty tired earlier."

Nick let out a sigh. "I am tired." He turned towards her and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. "But my room isn't exactly conducive for sleeping at the moment."

"Does Warrick snore or something?" She looked at him quizzically.

All of the rooms were pretty much the same and she knew that Nick could usually fall asleep just about anywhere; he'd done it a number of times in the middle of the break room.

Nick leaned a little closer and whispered. "No. But he's got a little company and I don't think she's leaving any time soon." He quirked an eyebrow at her as he settled himself back in his chair.

Sara's eyes widened. "Who?" She didn't realize that Warrick was seeing anyone, and she was sure she would have noticed if an extra person had shown up at the retreat lodge.

Nick didn't answer her question; he just simply arched both brows. "Have you seen your roommate lately?"

"What?" Sara looked at him quizzically for a moment before the pieces began to slide together. Her eyes widened. "No."

Nick nodded. "Yes."

Sara was sharing a room with Catherine, an idea that she was not overly thrilled about to say the least, but outside of the mandatory sessions, she hadn't seen her very much at all. "You're sure." She couldn't quite get her mind wrapped around Catherine and Warrick together.

"Very sure." Nick remarked. "In fact I'm so sure, that there's not a chance in hell I'm going back in that room tonight. I've resigned myself to sleeping out here." It was then that Sara noticed that he'd brought a blanket with him.

Sara looked at him intently. "How long has this been going on?" It seemed that splitting the nightshift up hadn't been bad for everyone.

"A while." Nick let out another sigh and leaned his head back on the chair. "I don't think that they know that I know." He let out a chuckle. "Well outside of what I walked in on anyway, I don't think they realize that I know they've been together for a while."

"Wow." Sara didn't know what else to say.

"It certainly makes work a little interesting." Nick commented with a chuckle.

"Wow." Sara just shook her head.

Nick snorted out a laugh. "Look, Sara, it's not really all that surprising. They've known each other for years and quite frankly it's about time someone around here did something with their feelings."

"Oh, Greg's doing plenty." Sara quipped. "Why do you think I'm hiding out here? He's been calling my room asking me if I want to come over and have a good time with him and what's his name."

"Greg just knows a good thing when he sees it, Sara." Nick was amused at how annoyed Sara seemed to be because of Greg's relentless flirting. "I also think that Matt is driving him a little nuts." Nick let out a yawn and glanced over at Sara. "Are you planning on staying out here for a while?"

"Yeah, why?" Sara looked at him a bit quizzically.

"Well I was kind of hoping I could talk you out of that chaise lounge." He gave her a hopeful smile.

She smirked. "I'll share if you share." She pointed at the blanket he was holding.

Nick quirked an eyebrow. "You think we're both gonna fit on that thing?" His comment was partially disbelief that she was even suggesting the idea and partially doubt that they'd both fit without some serious personal contact.

She deadpanned. "I think a linebacker could fit on this thing with room to spare and I don't think either of us fit that category."

Nick was giving serious consideration to her offer.

"Besides, it's getting a little chilly and I don't really want to go back to my room for an encore of Greg's phone calls." She had a furrowed brow and pouty lips.

Nick caved. "Alright, but don't get mad at me if things get awkward."

"Why would they get awkward?" Sara looked at him in challenge.

"I'm just saying." Nick raised his hands in surrender before settling himself on the chaise lounge next to her and spreading the blanket over them.

To his surprise, Sara immediately snuggled against him and rested her head against his shoulder. "You're warm."

"You're cold." Nick found that the only comfortable place to put his arms were around Sara because of how she'd positioned herself, and he found that he didn't mind it one bit as he inhaled the scent of her hair; she smelled faintly of lavender and something else he couldn't
quite identify.

Neither one of them said anything for a very long time; instead they were enjoying how quiet the night was and how beautiful the sky was. Neither one of them would probably admit that they were also enjoying their proximity to each other.

Sara let out a deeply contented sigh. "This is nice."

Nick let out a sleepy yawn. "Yeah, it is." He was half asleep and had a smile on his face as he felt Sara slid an arm across his waist and snuggle a little closer.

Sara could tell by the steady rise and fall of his chest that he was asleep and the gentle rhythm of his breathing lulled her to sleep as well.