A/N: 'Bout time I got back to this! My writing mojo is flowing again, so here's another installment! Again, thanks to all who have taken the time to review. I always do appreciate feedback! =D Enjoy and review!

Disclaimer: While I do own Rina, I do not own the world in which she lives or the characters she interacts with, nor do I claim any rights to or affiliations with those things. Everything belongs to their proper owner, which is not me.

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Rina squished the sand between her toes, smiling to herself as the light from the fire danced across her face. The water in front of her, the cliffs at her back... the place was just as beautiful as she remembered it. God, it felt like a lifetime ago that she was last on this shore. Why had she not come back there yet? It had been over three months since moving in, and considering all the amazing memories tied up here, it shocked her that she hadn't paid the cove a visit.

Although, come to think of it, maybe all those memories were exactly what had kept her away. Not that they were bad... They just reminded her of what she could never have again, she supposed. She'd certainly never get that heady giddiness back. That joy that seemed endless, fueled by kisses that tasted of Corona and lime, too-loud music, and good friends.

"You know, it's not smart for a pretty young thing like you to be wandering around at Lake Mead all by yourself at this hour." That familiar Texas drawl sounded behind her, the twang of his voice wrapping around her like a security blanket.

She chuckled slightly, keeping her gaze frontward across the water. "I'm Ranger trained, even if I don't officially have the title. I think I'll be fine. Besides the wackos are all in for the morning by now."

"Might want to let Grissom know about that Wacko Curfew. If that's true, I can't possibly see why we even have a grave shift to begin with." His hearty laugh sounded closer now as his tone turned serious. "But really Rina, you shouldn't be hanging around here alone." Nick gave her a slightly concerned look as he plopped down on the blanket beside her. She rolled her eyes.

He frowned, but much to her relief, dropped the subject. "So what exactly are you doing out here all by yourself, Peanut?"

This time it was a genuine laugh that escaped her lips as she gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. "I could ask the same thing of you, Atlas." Their old pet names had made a slight comeback as of late. Only when they were alone, though. The day one of them slipped in the lab was the day Rina had to deck him. Because, of course, it would be him that slipped. Rina didn't slip. Ever.

Nick laughed, falling over onto his elbow from the push of her fist. "I come here sometimes after shift. When I need to think. Or when I'm bored. The sunrises are mind blowing."

"I remember that."

"Beer?" he offered forth a brown bottle from the six-pack he had been carrying as he righted himself.

Rina let one hand escape from her sweater sleeve to take it, popping it open with her keyring. "You know, Nicky, drinking alone is a sure sign of alcoholism," she raised an eyebrow, half joking, half serious.

"I had a feeling I'd have company tonight." He reached over and brushed his thumb across her chin, sending shivers down her spine. "So what exactly is it that brings you to my thinkin' spot?"

She felt a little weird as his statement reminded her that he had been living in Vegas for some time. Long enough to have an association with this spot that she didn't share. That fact sat funny in her stomach for some reason, and she couldn't meet his eyes. So she focused on the darkness of the water. "I felt like I needed some good memories."

"I know the feeling."

"Remember the post rehearsal party party?"

Nick leaned back onto his elbows, looking up towards the sky with a smile. "How could I forget? You prancing around here in that little cloth thing-"

She interrupted, slightly indignant. "Sarong. It's a bathing suit cover-up. Perfectly legitimate beach clothing."

He snorted. "Cover-up? Well, it wasn't a very good one, because it certainly didn't cover much."

"And? So what? I was twenty-one with a flawless body, and on a beach." She took a swig of her beer and drew her knees up to her chest, desperately wishing she could still pull off the bikini/sarong look. A sigh escaped. "Long gone are those days."

"I really doubt that, Peanut." He sent a skeptical look her way and she drew her knees closer to her chest. "And besides, don't go getting all defensive. I never said I didn't like it."

Her lips lifted into a smirk, "I'll say you didn't. Kept me within two feet of you all night. Kept trying to get me to put on a sweatshirt."

"Hey now, you were armed with a bottle of Jack, all for yourself, and those other guys were animals!" He shrugged, clearly trying to look nonchalant over the fact that she had just called him out, and failing at it. "I was just making sure they didn't take advantage of you. Besides, you were going to freeze to death in that thing."

Rina took another swig of beer as she attempted to hide the smile that spread across her face. A shadow of that heady giddiness threatened to return, and she welcomed the feeling. She secretly loved it when he got protective. Always had, even after only knowing him a week. "Always the gentleman, Nicky."

"That's how my momma raised me."

They fell into a comfortable silence as they finished their beer, both lost in memories of bonfires past. Rina looked over at him, sprawled out across the blanket in his jeans and the worn A&M sweatshirt she had spent so much time in herself. Images of that summer after college flashed across her mind and a sad smile spread across her face. Well, better friends than nothing. As she put down her empty bottle and flopped onto her back, she reminded herself that it was sheer luck as it was that they had reconnected. She should just be thankful for that.

Seconds later he joined her in her star gazing, sprawling out the rest of the way and putting his hands behind his head.

She suddenly felt the urge to curl up under his arm like old times.

But no. Couldn't happen. That was inappropriate now. She tried to distract herself by looking for constellations. Gemini, Andromeda, Orion, Taurus...

"Hey," her voice was barely a whisper over the murmuring of the water and the pops and crackles of the fire. Nick looked over at her as she pointed up. "There are your kids."

"My kids?"

"The Pleiades." She was met with silence from him, so she elaborated. "Atlas's daughters with Pleione. There are seven of them, but we can only see six."

Nick let out a laugh and pulled her to him, settling his arm around her in exactly the way she had tried to avoid earlier. "Even with all that Jack in you, you still spouted all sorts of Greek star stuff. Glad to see you haven't lost that."

"I just couldn't get over the amount of stars. Not used to skies that clear in the Northeast. Too many cities. Too many lights." Rina settled her head onto his chest, her mind chanting at her that she shouldn't be doing this. Colleagues don't cuddle. But... they had a history, right? They were close friends in addition to colleagues. And it just felt so... normal. As she relaxed into him, throwing an arm across his chest, she noticed the sky ever so slightly lightening on the horizon.

They laid there for about half an hour, watching the sky gradually change from black to blue to orange, arms wrapped around each other. Rina suddenly remembered what a good pillow his chest made as she fought to keep her eyes open.

As the first hints of the sun started to appear, Nick broke the silence. The sound was so quiet that it registered more to Rina as a rattle in his chest than spoken word.

"I missed you."

The words echoed through her, warming her to the core, and she realized that this was going to be a lot harder than she had ever thought.

But tonight was not the time to worry about it. So instead, she just hugged him tighter and closed her eyes, whispering back.

"I missed you too."

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Please let me know what you think in a review!