"Are you sure you want me to go? I don't want to be the awkward third wheel," she inquired, the hot, gusty wind whipping her hair around.
"Yes!" Julie insisted, practically pushing Sara down the sidewalk as they meandered around The Strip on a warm Saturday night looking for random dance clubs or bars to hang out at.
"It wouldn't be fun without you," Morgan insisted as Greg gave his silent approval by tipping his hat at Sara.
Sara smiled, grateful for her friends including her in tonight's activities, even though Grissom was unable to be here tonight as he was currently working on another shark protection project this time in Florida.
"So should we eat dinner first or go dancing?" Nick asked consulting his phone for good places to stop.
"Dancing!" the girl's collectively chanted eager to go crazy and let loose the stress from various aspects of the work week.
It didn't take more than another minute of searching before they had found an acceptable dance club and eagerly bounced inside. The bass music was cranked up so loud they could feel their hearts pounding in their ears. It was an energizing feeling for Julie who immediately grabbed Morgan and Sara, charged out onto the crowded dance floor and jumped right into the current song, keeping up with the pace of the other dancers with ease. Greg and Nick found a small table for them to return to when they needed breaks which were few and far between whenever they went out like this.
Julie's energy was boundless as she danced with her two best friends, surrounded by other party goers looking for a good time. Dancing was such a freeing activity. She could move to different beats and never miss a step. She could be loud, laughing so hard her stomach hurt. She could feel the vibrations from the speakers at these clubs pound in her chest. It was an exhilarating realm of emotions, all happy, that swept her away into a different world that did not include homicide or violence.
Dancing for Nick, however, was a completely different experience. He loved Julie's energy and happiness when she was on the dance floor, but he longed to dance with her too. It was easy for both of them to dance wildly together in a big group at a club, but he wanted something more. They had not slow danced together in ages, probably since their wedding over a year ago. It wasn't from his lack of trying either. Corralling her for even a short song was difficult. As soon as the music switched tempos and the couples on the dance floor found each other, beginning the slower paced, rhythmic revolving on the spot, she fled to the bar or their table to recuperate and scoff at those enchanted by the false lure of slow dancing. Little did she know, her scoffs and annoyed looks were like tiny knives to his heart. He had been raised to be a gentlemen and slow dancing with women was part of that. He respected Julie's energy and independence of course, but he secretly hoped he could change her mind and persuade her to slow dance with him tonight.
So after several loud, high energy songs in a row, the DJ switched tempos. The crowd split into their pairings and as usual, Julie, Sara and Morgan returned to the table out of breath but still energized.
"I love this place," Julie remarked her usual sentiment "but I hate that"
She nodded to the couples paired off and slow dancing now to some jazzy song she did not recognize nor care to hear.
Greg looked at Nick who had been discussing his plight with him only moments ago, debating how to best approach Julie with this seemingly simple but difficult request.
"Come on," he finally worked up the nerve to say, reaching for Julie's hand.
"What?" she asked plainly.
"Let's dance," he said simply.
"To that nonsense?" Julie scoffed "come on Nicky, you know I hate slow songs."
"But I like them," he reminded her "please, just one dance."
He was looking at her with a hopeful gaze and she couldn't say no to that. She did take for granted the fact that he let her dance mostly with Sara and Morgan in groups and, as a couple; they probably should be slow dancing more. She owed him big time and now it was time to pay up.
So she hopped off the bar stool, allowed him to take her hand and guide her out to the dance floor, feeling a mixture of nerves and a lack of confidence at keeping a slow pace going. Truth be told, before Nick, she had only ever slow danced at her second wedding to Mike in Seattle but it was one song to please the crowd and his parents. After that, it never happened again. She tried to remember slow dancing at high school events but, like her current group dynamic with Sara and Morgan, she had always danced to the upbeat songs with her friends. If anyone tried to interfere with that, she resisted. But Nick was so sweet and so good to her, if slow dancing made him happy, she would tough it out for him.
When they found an empty space on the dance floor, she glanced back helplessly at their table where Sara, Morgan and Greg were watching with encouraging smiles.
"Don't worry about them," Nick assured her, grabbing her waist with both hands and pulling her close to him, making her gasp in surprise.
His hold on her was strong but gentle, as they started to move at a slow pace to the music. She could feel her mind drifting to faster songs and quicker movements but in the moment she had to focus on staying in tune with this song. She felt awkward, not really sure where to look or what to say while they swayed on the spot. Nick seemed to handle the moment with ease which only irritated her further. Why was it so easy for him and not for her, she wondered, wracking her brain for any memories of slow dancing besides the ones she had recalled.
While lost in thought, she felt pressure on her back where he had rested his hand. She expected him to move it after a few seconds but was surprised when he lingered, continuing to put pressure in different spots up and down her back. That repeated contact made her shiver and move a little bit closer to him as they swayed. It was a comforting feeling now, she realized, as they moved back and forth on the dance floor, almost like a hug that she hoped would never cease. She started to relax, feeling her muscles shift from tense to practically calm. Instinctively, she laid her head on his chest now, feeling his chin come to rest on top of her head, his hand still on her back, those shivers traveling all the way up her spine, and across her shoulders until she couldn't help but squirm comfortably with them. When he shifted his hand to her side, squeezing lightly, she felt her heart drop into her stomach as if she had just been on a rollercoaster. That sensation lingered, throwing her into a deeper state of relaxation. She no longer cared who was watching or what song was on; she could only focusing on Nick and what slow dancing was doing to her.
Time stood still even though they were moving. All her worry and stress vanished as Nick held her, rocking continuously to the music. If anyone tried to separate them now, they would be at her mercy. She closed her eyes and let herself go, melting into his embrace and every affectionate touch he had surprised her with tonight. She fully understood now why dancers were artists and why he had insisted on dancing with her. He could take charge and relieve her stress with the simplest gestures and affections.
"See?" he whispered in her ear now, speaking for the first time since they began dancing, making her shiver again "told you not to worry"
She nodded against his chest, too relaxed to move or speak. The song ended but she didn't want to leave the dance floor. The DJ had announced a break in the set and the couples around them started to maneuver back to their friends and tables so she and Nick had no choice but to return to Greg, Sara and Morgan. For Julie, it felt as if she had been asleep but at ease the entire time. She felt slightly dazed as Nick walked with her back to their table. The rest of their night passed in a fog of chatter and a few more drinks. Julie was still lost in thought about their dance, wondering how something so simple could make her feel so alive.
Back at home, while Nick went into the kitchen, Julie slipped out of her high heels, ambled over to the stereo in the living room and messed with the dials until she found a radio station that was playing a slow, jazzy song. Just the beginning notes of the song reminded her of the club tonight and made her stomach tingle the way it had when Nick was holding her. She turned around to see Nick watching her from the entryway, leaning against the wall, looking smug. She mirrored his smug look as she sashayed over to him, wanting what they had just a few short hours ago.
"Lets dance," she whispered when she reached him, grinning, loving when he silently wrapped his arms around her again, foreheads touching for a moment, the tingling in her stomach intensifying.
And they began again, in their dimly lit living room, swaying absentmindedly across the floor. She could move much easier without the high heels, feeling ten feet tall just by allowing herself to let go and dance in a way she never thought possible. From the moment she looked at him, as they crossed the room to embrace, she felt on top of the world. He could tell he had won her over and changed her mind about slow dancing. To him, there was nothing more beautiful than seeing her happy and at ease. With all the pain they endured in their pasts, they deserved the love they had with each other right now. Any opportunity to show each other that there was love in the world and plenty to give; they would not pass that up. And if that meant slow dancing in their living room at midnight, hearts ablaze with passion, then so be it.