"Have you guys been here all this time?" Nick asked as he and Sara entered the break room together, Sara immediately reaching for the coffee and pouring one for herself and Nick.
"Anyone else?" She interjected. Everyone politely declined.
"Yeah, we must be in a parallel universe because it's really quiet," Warrick replied, chewing his pen and focusing on yet another clue on the crossword puzzle. Sara turned, walking over to Nick and handing him the coffee and then turning her attention back to Warrick.
"You're still doing that?" She questioned, taking a sip of her coffee and sitting down next to him with Nick following shortly after. Warrick nodded.
"We're kinda stuck," he replied.
"Here," she took the newspaper and slid it towards her until she could see what they were stuck on, "I used to do crosswords all the time with Grissom." She don't know why she told them that but it was true. She looked down at the five clues left in the large crossword, she wouldn't tell them to their face but they'd actually done a pretty good job in filling the rest of the spaces out.
"Look guys it's quiet here, you can go home if you want to. Keep your phones on though," D.B ran out of the room catching up with Brass who had just passed by. Warrick, Greg and Nick also stood.
"Sara, I'll bring your phone when we're next in," Warrick looked down at her where she was still sitting at the table.
"Uh-huh, no rush," She was still looking down at the crossword, already filling out one of the answers. Warrick smiled at how engrossed she was in it, it was clear Grissom was rubbing off on her.
"Well, I'll see you guys later," Greg walked out mentioning something about a female on days that he had to see.
Nick walked to the door following Warrick, "You not leaving, Sar'?" She shook her head.
"No, I think I'm gonna stay here and finish this," She replied, yet again looking down at the crossword, "You guys go ahead."
Warrick led the way with Nick behind him when Nick abruptly stopped, turning to look at Sara. It was clear she was sad and using the crossword as a diversion. Warrick noticed he'd stopped and looked at him shaking his head. Nick opened his mouth but Warrick stopped him, interrupting him quietly, "It's fine…I know. I'll see you both later. Oh, and Nick?" This time he spoke in a quieter voice so Sara couldn't hear, "You're playing a dangerous game. Be careful." With that, he left leaving Nick to ponder his words. Turning, he sat back down in his previous seat next to Sara.
"You're still here," She deadpanned only stopping for a second to look at him before she filled out another answer.
"I felt bad leaving you," He looked down and saw she only had two answers left, "Damn, you have had practise. How often do you and Griss' do these?"
Sara ignored the question and turned to face him, "Why are you really here, Nick?" Nick was thrown by the question, he himself didn't even know why he'd stayed he just knew he couldn't let Sara spend the rest of the night alone.
"I don't know," He sighed, "I just hate seeing you alone, Sar'."
She turned back to the puzzle, picked up the pen and mumbled, "I've been alone for years, Nick. Nothing's changed." She began to fill in another answer.
"You miss him, don't you?" He watched at she immediately stopped writing, pondering his question. Once she'd recovered herself, she began to write the answer again, ignoring his question. Nick sighed, he was losing patience, "Talk to me, Sar'." Yet again, she acted like he wasn't even there and Nick lost it. He placed his hand over hers to stop her writing and the pen fell, "Sara!" She froze and looked at him, Nick could swear there were tears in her eyes but she blinked them away.
"Nicky, please," she begged, "Just leave it, will you?" His hand was still on hers and it didn't go unnoticed by Sara who, despite the fact she was married, didn't want him to move it. It was like he heard her say she was married and he moved his hand, leaning it on the table beside him. Sara picked up the pen once again, figuring out the final answer.
He sighed, standing up to leave the room when he heard her small voice say, "Don't leave me." Nick closed his eyes momentarily, knowing he should have just left the room but leaving Sara was another issue. You're playing a dangerous game. Warrick's words echoed in his mind but he didn't listen. Instead, he turned and held his hand out for her to take. She looked at his open hand for a couple of seconds before she reached out and took it. She smiled sadly up at him, "Well, I finished it…" She whispered, triumphantly. Nick laughed softly and wrapped his arms round her.
She was surprised but returned the gesture, enjoying the warmth that spread through her body as he held her.
"Sorry, I forg—" Warrick walked into the room just as they sprung apart. He coughed, "I forgot my jacket…" He threw Nick a look as he picked his jacket up and left, leaving them to ponder what just happened. Sara swallowed and looked at anywhere in the room but Nick.
"Sorry, Sar', I just—" Sara cut him off.
"It's fine. Forget about it." She smiled and grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair where she was sitting. She left the crossword there for the others to find it in the morning, still proud she managed to finish it.
"Want a ride home?" He asked, not wanting to leave her just yet.
"Uh, yeah, if it's not too much trouble," She slipped her jacket on and flashed him one her smiles.
He shook his head, "Nope. No trouble at all." He smiled back as they both made their way to Nick's car. The walk to the car was silent, Sara because she didn't have anything to say and Nick because he was trying to bite his tongue and not ask her about Grissom and how she was feeling.
They'd made their way to the car with Sara getting in the passenger's seat and Nick next to her in the driver's. Sara immediately pressed the 'ON' button on the radio knowing Bon Jovi would be playing and smiled sheepishly when she saw Nick watching her. He grinned and began to make his way to Sara's apartment. He'd made the drive to Sara's hundreds of times, so he didn't notice when he took the wrong turning and ended up on the highway on the way to Carson City.
Yet again, Sara and he sang along to the music, louder now thanks to Sara turning up the volume once again. Even though they were just singing in Nick's car, she was having fun; the most fun she'd had a while. That was until she realised…
"Uh…Nick?" The music was too loud and he didn't hear her. She turned it down, looking at Nick when he threw her a look, "Where are we?"
He bit his lip, "I was hoping you wouldn't notice…" She looked out the windows from all angles and then turned back to Nick again.
"We're lost, aren't we?"
"I made a wrong turning and then tried to get back to yours but I…uh…" She glared at him.
"You don't know where we are, do you?" Nick was silent before he replied quietly.
"No, I don't…" She threw her hands up frustrated. Brace yourself, Nick, "What the hell, Nick?! Where are we?"
"Um…last time I checked we were on the way to Carson City," He'd driven around Vegas more times that he could count and he didn't understand how he'd managed to get him and Sara lost. It could have been the singing, or maybe it was because it was Sara he was with, he wasn't sure. All he knew is she was annoyed and tired, probably.
"Pull over, Nick," He didn't argue and pulled over. He saw Sara get out and run back from where they'd just driven from. He too got out, wondering what she was doing.
"Sara! Where the hell are you going?" Oh. He noticed that she had ran to look at a road sign that they'd passed. She didn't realised they were lost at the time so she didn't think to check it. Just then, it started to rain and in Nevada, when it rained, it poured.
"Sara! Hurry up!" He saw her start to run back to the car once she noticed it was raining. She stumbled when her foot got stuck in some mud she'd stepped in on her way back. He was about to go over to her when she recovered and started running over to the car, Nick refusing to get in until she was safely here.
As she got closer, he walked over to her, "Are you okay?" It was pitch black and Nick wondered how he was going to get back and drive Sara home.
She nodded, "Yes, yes but I'm getting wet here so can you let me get in the car?!" He quickly moved, opening the door for her and then ran to the other side to get in himself. When they both got in, Sara looked at Nick. Her eyes didn't stay on his face for long when she noticed that his white shirt was clinging to his body from the rain. His body was well defined and she couldn't help but stare.
Nick was putting on his seatbelt when he noticed Sara staring at him, he didn't stop her though. He was liking the attention. They were silent for a while before Nick spoke, swallowing to make his voice work, "See something you like, Sar'?" He repeated her words from earlier.
"Yes," There was no hesitation in her voice and she answered immediately, regretting it once the small word left her mouth. He was shocked by her admission, which had left him lost for words, and couldn't help himself when he returned the action and looked at her body. He could have kicked himself for looking when he saw her nipples peeping through her black top, the water from her hair dripping down on her chest to meet where his eyes were before.
The car was silent, both people thinking a lot but saying nothing. He noticed that Sara didn't cover her body and watched as her eyes took a long glance from his face to his chest and then to his…he swallowed suddenly feeling very exposed in front of the woman before him. She wanted to touch him, that much she couldn't deny to herself, and she felt awful. You're married, Sara! Stop! But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pull her eyes away from the man before her.
She licked her lips as her eyes moved back up to his face, she found it difficult to look him in the eyes. She couldn't take it anymore, she quickly opened the car door and ran outside. He was shaken out of his thoughts when he saw her getting out, "What the—Sar' it's raining!"
She ignored him and just stood in the rain, her arms folded covering herself this time. She noticed that he also got out and walked over to her but before he could say anything she cut him off, "I can't…I can't stay in that car with you, Nick!" He took a step back like she'd just slapped him, "I just…It's weird, okay? You're…" She gestured to his body, at a loss for words, "…I'm married and—"
Before she could finish what she was saying, he interrupted her with a scoff, "Married? Are you kidding me?" The rain was pouring harder than before but Sara didn't care, she was trying to make a point, "You could've fooled me!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that married people spend time with their husbands! Married people are usually somewhat happy!" His anger was rising, "Married people don't wanna fuck their best friends!"
She was silent for a moment, letting Nick's words sink in. She laughed it off, not very convincingly, "Oh, please! Don't flatter yourself!" With that, she opened the car door looking for Nick's phone while Nick carried on talking.
"If Grissom loved you that much, he would be here for you like a husband should be!" He couldn't help himself, the damage was done so he carried on, to try to make her listen to him, "What the hell are you doing?" Sara had the phone to her ear.
"Hey, Warrick, can you trace Nick's cell and pick me up, please?" He heard her ask, "No, he's here. Please, just pick me up. Yes, I know it's raining but…Warrick, I'm begging you." She sounded desperate and Nick didn't know whether he wanted to hold her or shout at her.
She clicked off the phone, "Really, Sar'? Are you that in denial that you can't even be in a car with me for an hour?" At that, she walked closer to him, throwing the cell phone back in the car and closing the door.
"You wanna know why I don't wanna stay in that car with you?" She gestured to the car before she carried on. He nodded, "Because I don't trust myself, Nicky!" She swallowed, finally admitting it to both herself and Nick. His eyes softened and he took a few steps closer, seeing her beginning to shiver. He reached his arms out about to hug her when she moved away, "Don't!" Tears were forming in her eyes at the sadness in his, "Please, just don't…"
"Sara, he doesn't deserve you…" He spoke quietly and although she struggled to hear him over the rain, she could make the rest out from reading his lips.
She walked forward pointing a finger at him, "You have NO right to say that! Grissom loves me!"
He laughed, "It's a pity you don't love him then, isn't it?" At that, she lost it and pushed him, his back hitting the car with a thud.
"Fuck you!"
"Sara!" She turned to find Warrick standing there. Apparently both of them had been too busy arguing to see Warrick's car pull up behind Nick's, "What the hell's going on?" Lucky for Sara, Warrick couldn't see her tears because of the rain.
"Nothing. Just take me home, Warrick," She sniffed and Walked over to Warrick's car, getting in and letting the tears fall.
Warrick watched her and could see her crying from the light shining on her in the car. He turned his attention back to Nick, who was already getting into the driver's seat of his own car. Warrick stopped the car door from closing and spoke to Nick, "What did you say to her, man?"
Nick shook his head, "I'm sure she'll tell you. Now, if you don't mind…" Warrick frowned and moved so Nick could close the door. He ran into his own car and closed the door behind him, turning his attention to Sara.
"Sara, are you okay?" She sniffed again and nodded.
"I'm fine. Will you take me home?" Warrick didn't press the matter and smiled at her, nodding. When he looked up, he noticed Nick's car had already left. Must've been some argument…
