A/N: So after immersing myself in GSR fics the last few weeks, I sit down to write and what comes out? Snickers. I have to admit, I love Sara and Nick together, and this first chapter just sort of flowed out. This is all that I have written at the moment, but I intend on continuing it this weekend, so stay with me. I have an idea where the story will go :)
ps- I did LOVE the reviews I got on my GSR story, so I think I'll head back to that ship next. Just waiting for a little inspiration to strike.
Review, if you'd like! xx
It was a deep, deep sleep. Usually, when I fell asleep in the break room, it was one of those half-sleep naps, where you're still vaguely aware of where you are and what is going on beyond your closed eyelids. But the caseload lately was getting to me, and I found myself knocked out in one of the break room's squashy brown couches. And I was dreaming.
I would later recall it as the most vivid dream I would ever have. But its simplicity confused me. All I saw, all I dreamt, was a pair of eyes. A pair of dark, deep, chocolate-colored eyes that had a certain vivacity behind them. But even as I dreamt them, I dream-wondered whose they were. They weren't Kristy's, whose eyes had been cloudless-sky-blue. My ex-girlfriend's were green. They didn't even belong to one of my sisters, all of whom had hazel. I found myself feeling confused, as I desperately wanted to place where those brown eyes came from. Because looking at them, so vividly pictured in my mind, drew me so deep into them I didn't want to stop looking. They were kind, yet sad, and it seemed like there were hours upon hours of story behind them. I wanted to hear those stories. I wanted to own those eyes.
Nick.
I concentrated harder, looking at every fleck in the color, sinking deeper into their rich brownness. Still nothing.
Nick.
The eyes were shaking. No, I was shaking. I opened my eyes groggily, pulled reluctantly away from the dream.
"Nick!"
It was Sara's voice, and probably Sara's hands, that were urging me to awake. I groaned, but turned toward her, only to be shocked at what I found.
Deep, dark, chocolate-brown eyes. Those eyes. Her eyes.
The back of my mind alerted me that I was staring, but I couldn't stop. It was like I was seeing her for the very first time.
I was aware that she was watching me curiously, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips puckered slightly in the way that her lips sometimes do, an expression of both intrigue and surprise etched on her face. Unlike my gaping face, her expression passed quickly.
"We're, um, in the conference room," she said. "Grissom's handing out assignments."
"Right," I replied, finally tearing my gaze away from her eyes and burying my head in my fingers. "Assignments."
"Yeah… so you should probably… move," Sara said evenly when I didn't move an inch, a tone of curiosity still in her voice. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, fine," I said, waving her off. "Tired."
"I hear ya," she said, flashing me a smile as I grunted and groaned my way off the couch.
We made our way to the conference room together, but in silence. I was still contemplating that damned dream. Why, why, was I dreaming of her eyes? Sara's eyes. My co-worker's eyes. Instinct automatically jumped to the most obvious reason.
But I don't have feelings for her, I assured myself. Sure, I liked her. I had from the moment she joined our team, which was more than Warrick and Catherine could say. I was even slowly growing to love her, but like a sister.
With these thoughts swirling around in my head, we joined the rest of the team, Sara sitting on the arm of Warrick's chair and me leaning against a bookshelf.
"Glad you could join us, sleepyhead," Grissom said in my direction, his head cocking slightly. I knew he was joking, but my grin back at him was still sheepish.
"Busy shift," he continued. "Warrick, B&E in Henderson, all yours."
He handed a half sheet of paper to Warrick, who stretched from the couch to receive it.
"Suspicious circs," he mumbled to himself. He smiled at Sara, winked at Catherine and nodded towards me. "I'm off."
"Catherine, 419 near Lake Mead," Grissom said. "I've got paperwork to do, but I'll meet you out there when I'm finished."
"Great," Catherine said distractedly, her eyes running over her own sheet of paper. "See you guys later."
"What about us?" Sara asked.
"Also a 419," Grissom responded, handing the details to Sara. "In McDermitt."
"McDermitt?" Sara repeated. "That's at least a nine-hour drive."
"That's why Nicky's going with you," Grissom said coolly. "Company."
I think Sara winked at me, but my eyes were on the paper in her hands.
"But McDermitt is way outside our jurisdiction, enlighten me as to why we're responding to the call?"
"Sheet explains it all," Grissom said, already heaving a stack of files and papers into his hands. "Guy's an ex-con, has ties in Vegas, including a smash and grab and a couple of break-ins from over the last few years. Vegas case, Vegas CSIs."
For a second, he looked confused as to why we weren't more enthusiastic.
"I booked you a hotel," he said, handing me another paper. "Whole trip's on company dime. As long as you don't eat five-star."
I didn't think there probably was any five-star joints in McDermitt, Nevada, but I didn't say so. Grissom was already out the door with a jovial, have fun.
"Well, you and me, cowboy," Sara said, nudging my shoulder playfully with hers. We teased and touched each other all the time at work, but for some reason, this action sent a quick shudder down my spine.
"I'll run home, get my stuff together," Sara was saying, obviously and thankfully oblivious to my reaction to her touch. "Meet you back here in a half hour?"
"Nah, I'll come pick you up."
Her eyes narrowed for a split second.
"Okay," she said slowly. "I'll let you drive just this once. But I am not listening to country music for nine hours."
She left the conference room, her last two words hanging in the air around me. Nine hours. Nine hours with the one person on the team I had hoped to briefly avoid, just until I could sort these thoughts out. Nine hours with those eyes.
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