I wasn't expecting for Horatio to tell me I was going to Vegas to work with their CSI team while our psychologist attended a seminar…I wasn't expecting to be warmly welcomed…I wasn't expecting all the drama I found myself caught up in…I wasn't expecting to fall in love…but it happened.

I was in my SUV headed towards the Miami crime lab one morning when my phone buzzed. I flipped it open and answered, "McGregor."

"Good morning, Sierra," Horatio greeted me.

"Morning, H. What's up?"

"Where are you?"

"About half-way to the lab. Why?"

"I need you to go home and pack enough clothes to last you about a month. You're going to Vegas."

"Um…sir?"

"You heard me. It is work related, so pack appropriately."

"Hold on, Horatio! What's going on? Why am I going to Vegas?"

"Our psychologist is attending a seminar and the Vegas night shift CSI's are one short. Gil Grissom has gone on a sabbatical. I called and told them I'd send an officer."

"Why me?"

"Because I trust you to represent us well."

"Calliegh can do that!"

"Sierra, don't argue. Have you turned around yet?"

"Yes."

"Go home. Get your stuff. Your plane leaves Ft. Lauderdale at 1pm."

"I guess I should say thank you."

"You're welcome. Call me and tell me how it goes."

"Sure. Bye, Horatio."

"Goodbye, Sierra."

I clicked my phone shut and chuckled to myself. I was going to Vegas.

Ok, skip ahead a few hours, then lose about three

We landed in Las Vegas around 2:35pm local time. The psychologist had arranged to be transported to her seminar and she told me that someone was supposed to meet me. I looked around the terminal and finally saw a man holding a sign with my name on it. The psychologist bid me farewell and good luck. I returned the well wishes and then started towards my greeter.

He was tall. I estimated between 6'1" and 6'4". He had close cut, brown curly hair and amazing blue eyes. He seemed very awkward just standing there looking for me. I finally got to him and held out a hand. "Hi. Sierra McGregor." He took my hand and gave it a firm shake.

"Michael Keppler. Welcome to Las Vegas…not that I have much room to talk. I just got here myself last week."

"Where from?"

"Baltimore, Philadelphia before that, and Trenton before that."

"Fellow east coaster! Very cool. So, you work in the crime lab here I assume."

"Yeah. They hired me for dayshift, but when the Grissom guy left, I got moved to nights."

"Oh? That's who I thought I was supposed to be making up for."

He shrugged. "I'm just glad I'm not the only newbie on the team."

I smiled up at him. "Same here." An awkward silence followed in which I kicked the toe of my boot against the carpet and he just kind of tapped a beat on the paper he had been holding.

"So…" he started, "should we go get your stuff?"

"Yeah, probably." We started towards baggage claim.

"Hey, do you have somewhere to stay?"

"I was told a Sara would be boarding me up."

"Oh yeah. Sara's a nice girl." He yawned and I suddenly realized that this was his 2:45am.

"My god, they sent you after me when you should be sleeping?"

"I volunteered. You seemed worth the late bed time."

"That is a compliment, right?"

"Yes," he answered with a small laugh. It was a very pleasant small laugh and I found myself marveling over it all the rest of the way to baggage claim. I got my bags and started towards the doors, but Michael called, "No way!"

"What?" I asked quickly, afraid I'd done something wrong.

"You are not carrying those bags. Give them here." He took them from me and marched off. I was just a little shocked and I barely heard myself say thanks before realizing I hadn't followed him and running to catch up.

I followed him to his car and quietly observed him. He had on a suit. It was a nice one that was just starting to show a night's wear. His tie was a wee bit crooked and his collar appeared to have either coffee, tea, or syrup making a deeper and deeper stain with every minute that passed. I wasn't used to seeing CSIs in suits and I was a little worried that maybe this was how they functioned here.

I slid in the passenger side of his SUV and waited a little self-consciously as he put my stuff in the trunk and came around to his side. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and jumped in. As he started the car, he said, "I'm supposed to take you back to the lab. Sara already went home, so you can hang out there if you want. Catch a few winks."

"My sleeping schedule is so screwed for the next few days."

"Yes it is. I'm only just now getting used to it myself. You have a few difficult days ahead of you. But, don't worry. The guys here are really pretty nice."

I nodded, but said nothing.

During the drive, I kept looking at him out of the corner of my eye. He drove with one hand on the wheel, nonchalant and calm. He looked very tired, and I felt guilty for keeping him from sleeping. The suit thing kept bugging me, so I finally asked, "Um, do you guys where suits around here? I didn't bring any. We're a little more lax in Miami."

He did a little chuckle/snort thing that was amazingly cute and answered, "No, that's just me. Everyone here is a little perturbed by it too. Don't feel awkward."

I sighed in relief and answered, "Good. I was getting worried."

He looked over at me and smiled. "Don't do that. You'll be fine." We pulled into the lab's parking lot and he stopped by the door. "I'd offer to let you hang out at my place, but I wouldn't be great company. Sleeping people usually aren't…but I do have a TV."

"Can I please? What the hell am I supposed to do in the lab?"

"You're right. Come on." He put the vehicle back in gear and U-turned back to the road. We got to his apartment building and got out. "Just leave your stuff in the trunk unless you need it."

"Do you have WiFi?"

"Yeah, actually. I was surprised."

I chuckled and got my laptop out of my suitcase, then I followed him up to his apartment. He unlocked the door, then held it open for me. I smiled in thanks and walked past him through the door. I accidentally brushed against him as I went by and I hurried on before anything could be said. I had no idea why I felt so self-conscious around this guy. I wasn't usually like this, but there was something about him that totally threw me off guard. I placed myself on his couch and kicked off my shoes. He started shedding his suit and said, "I'm going to bed. I get up at about 5. I usually leave at 6. You clock in at 6:30 too right?"

"Yes. I'll be ready to go when you are. Do you mind if I get a shower?"

"Not at all. Make yourself at home. There's some soda in the fridge and if you get hungry…I wish you good luck finding food."

I smiled up at him. "Thanks, Michael."

"Oh, geez. Call me Mike. Please."

"Sorry, Mike. Sleep well."

"Thanks. See you in a bit." He went off to his room, and I watched him go. He had an almost strut to his gait, but it wasn't cocky. It was just a natural thing…and I thought it was cute. Then I realized what I was thinking and shook my head.

"No, Sierra," I whispered to myself. "You've known him for a total of an hour and a half. Nothing he does is cute."

Dear goodness, was I ever wrong.