As a true Morganders fan at heart, I of course had to do a Valentine's Day themed story about them, but to mix things up a bit, I decided to try and throw in a little bit of Nick and Finn as well. There's no real spoilers in this story, but I do mention something from the CSI Christmas episode (14x12).
Hope you guys will like it, feel free to let me know in a review! :)
Chapter 1
With an excited look in her eyes, Morgan looked up at Greg. "But that means…"
"He's our killer!" he finished the sentence for her. A huge smile appeared on her face. "I knew it!"
From the back of the room Nick watched Morgan get out her cellphone.
"I'll call Brass and have him pick our guy up," she said to Greg. She then turned around and looked at Nick. "If that's okay with you, of course…"
"Oh, yeah, yeah, sure," he nodded, forgetting for a moment he was working on the case with them as well. "I'm, eh, just gonna get some coffee."
"Sure," Morgan said, already dialing Brass's number. Greg just watched her touch the buttons on her phone, still smiling. Nick passed them and left the room, starting for the breakroom. On his way over, he ran into Sara, who gave him a nod as a way of saying 'hi'.
"You busy?" Nick asked her.
"No, I'm just waiting for some results."
"Good." Nick grabbed her arm and pulled her along to the breakroom, ignoring her 'Hey!' as a protest. He pointed to a chair next to Finn, who was filling out some paperwork, and sat down on the opposite side of her.
"Would you mind telling me why you're kidnapping me?" Sara asked in a demanding tone. Finn raised her eyebrows. "He's kidnapping you? Wow, that sounds exciting!"
Nick gave her a fake smile before looking at Sara. "I'm not kidnapping you, I need to talk to you. You know what day it is? Or better: what day tomorrow is?"
"Yeah, it's Valentine's Day tomorrow, the most romantic day of the year!" Sara said, rolling her eyes. "What's your point, Cupid?"
"And we both know a couple that's perfect for each other, but still haven't told each other how they feel," Nick continued. Sara leaned forward. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"
She looked from Nick to Finn and back. "Apparently you had a lot of fun together at the Christmas Party, from what I've heard."
Happily, she noticed a small blush on both Nick and Finn's cheeks before Nick shook his head. "I'm talking about Greg and Morgan!"
"Oh…" The amused smile still hadn't left Sara's face, something which annoyed Nick slightly. He looked at Finn. "Don't you agree that they should finally speak up?"
"Well, as far as I know, Greg's had a crush on Morgan since the day I started working here and from what I've heard, long before that," Finn slowly said. "And she definitely likes him as well, so yeah, they should finally speak up, yeah."
"They do indeed make a really cute couple," Sara agreed, dropping the possibility of Nick and Finn being the couple he had meant.
"They're perfect for each other!" Nick said. "They finish each other's sentences, they make each other smile… They just need a little push, that's all."
"I assume you have a plan?" Finn mentioned. Nick started smiling. "Oh, yeah! Do you guys know this new restaurant that just opened across the Tangiers hotel? I know a guy who works there, he can get us a reservation for tomorrow. I go talk to Greg, get him to come along and you talk to Morgan and get her to come along. Just don't let them find out I asked Greg and you asked Morgan. Then once they're at the restaurant, we'll make up some excuse and leave the two of them alone. That's gotta be the push they need!"
He smiled at Sara, the one he had been looking at the entire time he had been talking.
"Two questions, Mr. Valentine," she said. "One: what if they don't start talking once they're alone? They're always so shy around each other when it comes to the way they feel!"
"It's a romantic restaurant!" Nick protested. "Candles, music, wine… They've just gotta talk!"
"Alright, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt with your 'romantic' answer," Sara said with a small grin. "Question two: why were you looking at me the entire time? If it meant I was supposed to be the one to go on this fake double date with you, then I'm sorry, but I already have plans for tomorrow."
"You have plans tomorrow?" Finn said with a mischievous smile. "Oh, la, la!"
Sara grinned at her. "Don't make a big deal about it, okay? It's just a guy I've been out with twice before, that's all. He's nice, friendly, not bad looking… but it hasn't led to anything yet, alright? We haven't even kissed yet!"
"Maybe tomorrow?" Finn suggested, the smile still on her face. Sara couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I kinda hope so…"
She and Finn both giggled for a moment, looking very much like two teenage girls. Next to Finn Nick cleared his throat. "Can we get back to the plan, please?"
"Well, if I can't go with you, why don't you take Finn?" Sara suggested. "I'm sure she'll be happy to go with you! Help you out with your plan and all…"
Again, she happily noticed the small blush on both their cheeks.
"Yeah, sure, that's cool," Nick nodded. He looked at Finn. "If you wanna help, of course. I don't know if you had plans yet for tomorrow…"
"No, I'll help you out," Finn said with a small smile. "I'll talk to Morgan, you talk to Greg."
"Great! I'll call my friend to get us the reservation and then I'll go talk to Greg," Nick decided. "Thanks, Finn!"
"Sure, no problem!"
He left the breakroom, not noticing Finn followed him with his eyes or Sara hiding a very amused smile behind her hands.
After calling his friend at the restaurant, Nick went to find Greg. The younger CSI was still in the same room, putting the evidence they had found during their case in a box.
"Hey, Greg, what I wanted to ask you: you got any plans for tomorrow yet?" he just asked without any introduction. Greg looked up from the box. "No, I guess not, why?"
"Perfect!" Nick called out. "How about you go out to dinner with me?"
Greg gave him a funny look. "Eh, Nick, you're real nice and everything, but, eh, I'm not exactly into men…"
"No! I…" Nick sighed. "Wait, let me start over. I made plans with a girl tomorrow night. We're going out to dinner to this new restaurant across the Tangiers hotel, you know it? Anyway, it was supposed to be a double date – we'd go together and she'd bring a friend and that friend's boyfriend, but it turns out her friend misunderstood. She's coming, but she doesn't have a boyfriend."
"So you wanna take me along for some blind date," Greg understood. He shook his head. "I don't know, Nick, blind dates aren't really my thing. Just let your girl tell her friend she misunderstood and go alone with your girl. I'll find some other way to get through tomorrow!"
He started leaving with the box, but Nick quickly stopped him. Greg had to say 'yes' or his whole plan would fall apart!
"Come on, Greg, it's just one dinner!" he said. "Who knows, you might end up really liking this girl and then you'll thank me for taking you along!"
Greg raised his eyebrows. "Will I?"
Nick rolled his eyes. "Okay, you probably won't, but… just give it a chance, okay? What do you have to lose anyway? Spending an entire evening alone? Just come along… please?"
"Look, if it means that much to you, I'll think about it," Greg decided.
"But…"
"I'll think about it!" Greg repeated. "I'll let you know before the end of shift!"
With the box in his arms he left the room. Frustrated, Nick clenched his fists. Why wouldn't Greg say 'yes' right away? It was just one dinner, why make such a big deal about it? Or was it because he was so into Morgan he didn't want to go out with another girl? Nick groaned for a moment. Of course! Why didn't he think about that before? He hesitated. Now what? Tell Greg or make a back-up plan? He noticed a one-dollar bill lying on the table in a plastic evidence bag. Of course! As back-up plan he could always offer to pay Greg's entire dinner and all of his drinks. It wasn't the best back-up plan, he admitted, but at least he had a back-up plan.
On the other side of the building, Finn had been looking for Morgan for a while. She finally noticed the younger woman coming out of a hallway.
"Hey!" she greeted her colleague. "Talking to your Dad?"
"Oh, no, Brass and I were talking to a suspect," Morgan quickly said. Finn frowned for a second. She was sure the hallway Morgan had just come out led to Conrad Ecklie's office… She shook her head. It didn't matter anyway!
"Look, I need to talk to you," she said, starting to walk back to the lab. "I was supposed to go on this date tomorrow with this really cute guy, but he can't go unless he finds a date for his friend. Long story, don't ask! Anyway, I was thinking… maybe you'd like to come along!"
"On a date? With a guy I don't know?" Morgan repeated.
"Yeah, it'll be fun!" Finn said, trying to sound as excited as possible. "We're gonna go to this new restaurant across the Tangiers hotel, the one that opened a few weeks ago. It's supposed to be great!"
"Well, let me know if it really is then!" Morgan said, turning a corner. Finn quickly grabbed her arm. "Morgan, please! I've seen a picture of this guy, I think you're really gonna like him! Just give him a chance, okay?"
Morgan hesitated. "I don't know, Finn…"
"Please? It's just a dinner! If you don't like him, you can always fake a call from Russell after the starter and leave me alone with two hot, adorable guys…" Finn stared dreamily into the distance. Morgan smirked. "Like you'd mind!"
Finn grinned at her. "No, but I'll be more fun with you along. Come on, Morgan, please! At least say you'll think about it!"
"Okay, I'll think about it," Morgan promised as they reached the evidence storage room. "I'll let you know before the end of shift."
She entered the storage room, a smile almost immediately appearing on her face. "Hey, Greg!"
Finn stopped and watched them for a moment. Morgan smiled at Greg. "Good news: I confronted him with the evidence and he confessed to everything!"
"Alright!"
They high-fived, which made Finn smile. Yeah, they were definitely perfect for each other. Now she just had to hope Morgan would say 'yes'!
At the end of shift, Nick met up with Greg in the locker room.
"And?" he immediately asked. Greg looked at him and sighed. "Okay, if it means that much to you, I'll go along tomorrow! Even if it's just to check out the girl you're taking!"
"You won't regret it," Nick promised him. "I'll text you the details, okay? See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow!" Greg repeated. Nick happily left the breakroom, passing reception on his way out, where Finn and Morgan were talking.
"You promised you'd let me know before the end of shift!" Finn reminded Morgan.
"I know, I didn't forget!" Morgan said, handing over a sheet of paper to the girl behind the reception desk. She started to make her way over to the locker room. Finn quickly followed her.
"Okay, so I'm not gonna lie about it: I don't like blind dates, but just so you won't end up with two guys all alone on Valentine's Day, I'll come with you!" Morgan said with a sigh. Finn grinned at her. "You're too good to me!"
Laughing, they entered the locker room.
"Look, I'll text you, okay?" Finn quickly said before Greg could suspect something. She changed the subject: "So have you guys heard Hodges accidently turned Henry's coffee green?"
Before Greg or Morgan could respond, Conrad Ecklie entered the locker room.
"Oh, hi, Dad!" Morgan greeted him. "Did you happen to hear from the car shop?"
"Yes, I did, but I'm afraid it's not good news," Conrad said to her. Morgan's face dropped. "What is it?"
"You won't be able to pick up your car until tomorrow," her father told her.
"What happened to your car?" Finn curiously asked as Morgan groaned.
"Oh, it broke down in the parking lot this morning," Morgan explained. "I called a mechanic and they took it, which means I can't drive home now. Dad, can you give me a ride?"
"Sorry, honey, I have a meeting in thirty minutes," her father said.
"I can give you a ride home," Greg suggested. Morgan started smiling. "Really? Oh, that'd be great! Thanks, Greg, you're the best!"
Smiling and chatting, they left the locker room together. Finn couldn't help but smile until she noticed Conrad was looking at her.
"Are you happy my daughter's car broke down?" he asked.
"No, of course not!" she quickly called out. "I just, eh… Well, you see…"
"You're just happy Greg is the one giving her a ride home?" Conrad suggested. Finn finally relaxed and smiled again. "Yeah, I am."
Conrad smiled back at her. "Me too."
"So, you'd be okay if they started dating?" Finn carefully asked. "I mean, I know she's your daughter, but I just meant it like: they're working together…"
"Well, ever since Grissom and Sara went behind my back with their relationship, I kinda changed my opinion on people dating and working together," Conrad confessed. "As long as work and their private life can remain separated from each other, I'm okay with people dating and working together."
Almost automatically Finn started smiling. "Good to know."
She left the locker room, not realizing Conrad was wondering if she had still been thinking about Greg and Morgan when she said those three words or maybe about herself.