A/N: Hey, two chapters in one day! That's a record for me! As usual, I own Johanna. That's it.
Previously: Even with the topic hanging over his head, the Texan smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
"Do you have a grill?" Johanna asked, rummaging through the refrigerator. She glanced at Nick, who shook his head. "That's okay, I brought one. It's in my bag. Can you grab it for me?"
Nick remembered she left the bag behind his couch, and soon he brought the George Foreman grill into the kitchen. "Does this little tray thing go with it?" he asked, holding it up.
Johanna nodded as she pulled out the egg carton and shut the refrigerator door. "Got a pot?" When Nick found it, she placed the eggs in it and nodded towards the sink tap. "Cover those with water, then set it to a boil, please." Once that was done and the timer set, the two set about creating a salad.
"In May, I was working a scene that ended up being staged," Nick said softly as he washed the lettuce. "Walter Gordon's daughter had been put in prison, and he took his revenge on the CSI team by kidnapping me from that scene." Johanna watched him from the table where she was grating cheese, but said nothing. "He buried me alive in a Plexiglas box, like a coffin. Left me with glow sticks, my gun, and a tape recorder with a message that I was going to die no matter what. I could choose: suffocate or use my gun. Gordon sent a ransom to the crime lab, but when the money was delivered, he killed himself. The team had an online link to watch me in the box. He wanted them to watch me die." The timer for the eggs went off, and Johanna went to shut off the burner and change the water, plugging in the grill on the way. Nick had filled two bowls with torn lettuce and was in the process of chopping tomatoes and the lone onion he had forgotten about.
"When anyone in the lab clicked on the link to watch me, it turned on a light in the box. For the light to come on, the fan that gave me air shut off. I finally shot out the light, which in turn compromised the framing of the box.
"I though I was going to die, so I made a recording saying goodbye." Swallowing hard, he continued, "Then the ants came. I was being eaten alive by them. But somehow, being eaten by ants was what saved me. Grissom figured out that I was buried in a nursery, 'cause apparently that type of ants is only found in nurseries here in Nevada. Add to that fact that Gordon's daughter worked at a nursery, and bingo, they found me. By that time I was hallucinating and about to put a bullet in my head. They found me just in time. But before they could get me out, the team discovered that there were explosives under the box. They buried me in dirt before yanking me out. They got me out alive. That's all I could ask for."
Nick realized there were tears in his eyes, tears that he couldn't control. This was the first time he had told someone his horror story. He didn't know how Johanna would react. Reaching for a napkin, he felt her arms wrap around him, and he realized he really needed that. Nick turned to her and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. A few tears fell, unchecked, tracing down his cheeks. Johanna reached up and wiped one away with her thumb before gently pressing a kiss to his lips. A rumble from Nick's stomach brought a chuckle from both of them. "I think I should get those steaks on the grill," Johanna said.
Nick nodded. "I'll finish the salads, then. Looks like you found the Ranch," he said as he wiped his eyes.
Within minutes the steaks were grilling and the salads were finished, topped with grated cheese and diced eggs. Johanna grabbed a couple beers and offered one to Nick. "To second chances," she said after she'd opened hers.
Nick smiled. "Second chances and people to talk to," he added, gazing into her eyes. Johanna blushed but held his gaze as they clinked bottles.
By the time dinner was over, the atmosphere had lightened considerably. Nick found he could laugh easier than he had in months. As they cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes, he couldn't help but be in a playful mood.
"Nick!" Johanna protested, laughing, as he flicked soap bubbles at her. She swatted him with the dishtowel she held before turning back to the plate she was attempting to dry. When he moved to wipe off the table, Johanna scooped up a handful of suds and waited until Nick started to turn back to the sink before blowing them in his direction. He didn't say anything, just captured her in his arms. Holding her with one arm, he spotted her nose with soap suds, causing her to giggle. Nick couldn't help himself; he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. When he pulled away, he noticed her eyes were the same sea green they had been in his fantasy.
"Stay with me tonight," he whispered. Johanna didn't say anything. Instead, she captured his lips in another kiss.
TBC...
Man, I liked the past two chapters! If you did too, review!