Here's my feeble attempt at humor. Hopefully you'll like it, and hopefully some of you will be able to "pick up" on some of the vague/not so vague references to other works…(Please don't get mad at me) Think TwoP and fanfic. And…go with the flow?
Read on!
"D'you think he knows we're coming?"
"Take a left."
"How could he?"
"'Nother left at the stop sign."
"Well, the man is a genius."
"No he's not Nicky."
He glanced out the window.
"Well—He's pretty damn close."
"Still—doesn't mean he's a psychic."
"True."
"Take a right."
Warrick glanced up at the rear view mirror.
"What right?"
Sara gazed out the back window.
"That right."
"What?"
"The one we just passed."
Warrick gave her a beleaguered look.
"Why didn't you warn me?"
"You said you knew where you were going."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did! You said—and I quote—'I'll drive, I kn'—why didn't you turn there?!"
"Because you were dis—."
"Sara, calm down," Nick tried to reason. "We'll turn around at the next intersection—Stop kicking my seat." He turned around to look at her.
She froze.
"Sorry," she murmured, leaning back in her seat, casting her eyes downward in what seemed like embarrassment.
"Yea Sar—what's the rush—Grissom will be there regardless," Catherine chimed in, biting her fingernail absently. "It's not like he's expecting anybody."
Sara mumbled something inaudible.
"What?"
"There's no rush," Sara shrugged it off, looking out the side window.
"Uh-huh."
Sara's head whipped around.
A little more quickly than she would have liked.
She gave her best impassive stare at the older woman.
"I only want to get there—because—I want to get out of this car because of the lack of leg room back here; which seems to be due to the person in the front seat—which so happens to be Nick here," she gave a swift kick to the seat in front of her for a gesture.
"Sara." he warned.
"—Leaning back to far," she finished, giving a tight lipped grin.
Catherine smiled.
"I'm sure," she replied slyly.
Sara frowned.
"If you have such a problem with it Sara, get in the back," Nick pointed out—totally missing what Catherine said.
"No—."
A cellphone rang. Sara didn't move.
Everyone else reached for their phones.
"It's not me," Nick said looking down at his phone.
"Nor I—."
"Dammit."
Nick and Sara looked over at Catherine. Warrick glanced up, eyeing her through the rear view mirror. She gave a wide eyed look before she opened her phone.
"Willows." She motioned for them to be quiet.
Sara and Nick exchanged looks. Nick raised his eyebrows in amusement. Sara made a face at him.
"I'm great Gil. Why are you calling? It's your night off."
Pause.
"Uh-huh."
Pause.
"O y-yea, Warrick and I are on our way to a um 419 out—out at Henderson," she shifted the cellphone to her other ear.
Warrick chuckled.
She, in turn, kicked his seat.
"O-o nothing. I think we a hit a squirrel or something."
Sara looked away, trying her best to repress a laugh.
"No, it sounded to small to be a person. And yes I'm sure."
Sara had almost bitten through her bottom lip trying to hold back the laughter.
Pause.
"Nick? He's a—he's out on a 420 with Brass."
'Solo,' Nick silently mouthed. Catherine glared at him. Sara nudged his seat as a warning.
"Yea—solo."
Nick beamed.
"Yea. He's fine—Sara?" Sara looked over nervously at the sound of her name. "I-I don't know where she is—probably getting her nails done or something."
'What!?' Sara mouthed at her. Nick put his hands over his mouth to restrain a laugh. Warrick seemed to snort.
At least that's what it sounded like.
"What? No-no I'm fine—it's just traffic is a little heavy and its getting to that time of night where it's hard to see the road—Warrick? He's on his phone—with—Greg." Nick gave Warrick an odd look.
Pause.
"What?"
Pause
"What? Can I call you when we get there? You're breaking up—Gil? You're breaking up—I'll call you when we get—" she turned off her phone.
"There." She sighed in relief.
"Nice. That was nice," Sara managed through her cackling.
"Yea Cath, that was good," Nick added. "Have ya ever thought about goin' out to Hollywood, cuz man—," He stopped once he saw the look on her face. He cleared his throat.
"Yea—it was good," he finished, looking away.
"Yea," Warrick muttered.
They became quiet for a moment.
"Hey—have we turned around yet?!" Sara broke the silence. Warrick didn't respond.
"Warrick!"
"There's been no place to turn around," he responded, sounding more than slightly agitated. Sara sighed angrily.
"Where are we..," she whispered to herself, ignoring the others as they told her to calm down. She peered out the window to get her bearing.
"O I know—There should be an intersection about a quarter of a mile up the road, with a Dunkin' Donuts, a CVS, a package store, and some kind of gourmet food shop named 'Pegasus'— O and a gas station. We can turn around there. Or get some gas, as it seems Warrick wants to take us on a tour of Las Vegas."
She leaned back in her seat.
All three of them were staring at her.
"What? No McDonald's?" Warrick asked dryly, returning his eyes to the road.
"No—that's at the next intersection. Anyways, how could you eat at that place; it's so disgusting. Did you know that the hamburg—."
"How do you know so much about this neighborhood?" Catherine looked slightly alarmed. Or maybe it was a look of amusement. Sara really couldn't tell.
"Yea Sar—that's a pretty detailed descript—."
"I-I worked a case out here a couple of months ago—and I have a good memory. Is that a crime?" Her palms became sweaty, as she went on the defensive.
Nick just shook his head.
"Depends."
"On what Catherine."
Cath didn't immediately respond. Sara shook her head in annoyance.
"Yea Cath—on what?" Nick's interest was piqued.
"O nothing," she answered vaguely, still eyeing Sara.
Nick didn't seem to like that answer.
"There's the intersection! Don't forget to turn around," Sara interrupted, directing Warrick. He, in turn, politely kept his mouth shut.
"Let's see how this thing U-e's," Nick added, with a hint of childlike enthusiasm, totally forgetting what he was just talking about.
"O hell no. I am not pulling a U-e with this vehicle," Warrick said, gripping the steering wheel.
"Aw c'mon man. It can handle it. They don't make 'em like they used to. This baby can corner on a dime."
Warrick gave him a Look.
"Ok—ok, maybe a half dollar—but still. It can handle it," Nick appealed.
"No-."
"C'mon man-."
"No-."
"Warrick man—."
"Warrick; make the damn U-e," Catherine snipped from the backseat.
They became quiet.
"Fine."
* * * * * * * *
"Shhhh."
"Here, hold this."
"How do I lock the doors?"
"Hold this too."
"Press the 'lock' button—I'm not carrying that."
"Here."
"I know that. Where's the damn button?"
"Wait-stop-why do I have to carry everything?"
"SHHH. It's next to the 'unlock' button."
"O quit your whinin' Nicky."
"Thanks."
"I'm not whining."
"Yes you are." The four of them froze.
A figure emerged from the shadows.
"Grissom…heeeey." The four of them eyed him carefully.
"Hey boss—we were just—."
"Gil—."
"Why are you here?" He sounded more confused than angry.
Pause.
Sara finally spoke first.
"Well—we were going to surprise you—and a—,"
"And obviously it worked," Catherine supplied, walking up to the older man. "Surprise."
He just looked at her like she was crazy.
Nick inched closer to Warrick, parcels still in hand.
"Told you he was a genius."
"Shut up."
"But I'm righ—."
"Can you close the door so I can lock it?" Warrick asked exasperated.
"Um, yea sure man," Nick backed away slowly, closing the door expertly with a swift hip movement.
"Niiice Nicky," Catherine chirped. He grinned.
"Wait til we go dancin' again," he replied mysteriously. She raised her eyebrows.
"Gah—not disco again," Warrick grumbled, picking up a box.
"What's wrong with disco?" Sara asked innocently.
"Yea—from what I remember you had a pretty good time," Catherine replied saucily.
Warrick didn't say anything.
Catherine smiled, turning to look at Grissom.
"And I know you did," she whispered as she started to walk by him. His lips pursed together, but his face strained to remain emotionless as he shifted his gaze to Sara. She caught his look, and gave a nervous shrug in response. He sighed.
"We—we should go upstairs," she said hoarsely.
"Yea." They stared at each other for a second longer.
"Yea." She started walking forward. He followed her with his eyes as she passed by. Warrick trailed closely behind her.
"Hey Griss." The older man nodded. Warrick continued to walk by him.
"Warrick?"
"Yea?" he asked turning around.
"Just one question—."
"What?"
"What's with the minivan?"
TBC…