Monday–the last day that Nick and Jamey would spend together before going back to work the next evening for the grave yard shift. He rummaged through the cupboards looking for pancake mix as he waiting for the morning coffee to be ready.
They had slept late—considering that they had spent most of the night talking. Even though the topics that they had discussed—her son, his molestation as a child, both of their worst fears and nightmares–he felt confidant that he was breaking through that barrier. She'd disclosed more information to him in the last week alone than in the year and a half that they'd been friends. Even though she still wouldn't tell him how her boy had died, he knew that it was only a matter of time. He knew that she blamed herself for it, knew that she still dreamed about it, but he was going to save her–as was his cowboy way. He had always had a soft spot for women and children and he was the type of man who wanted to save everybody from the worst in themselves—and he would never change.
It was now lunch time and even though pancakes were traditionally a breakfast food he decided to make them anyway. He got the batter mixed, took out the eggs and butter, syrup and, as an afterthought, took out some pre-mixed whip cream and fresh strawberries to put on the side. Nick Stokes paid attention to everything he did and he always, always did things to the very best of his ability, and it showed in simple everyday things. His attention to detail and all that went along with it was part of what Jamey Kent loved about him the most.
As he was in the middle of cracking the eggs, the phone rang. "Damn." He muttered, dropping the egg in the batter. He wiped his hand on a dish cloth and grabbed the portable off of the wall.
"Hello?"
"Nick?" It was Greg.
"You got 'em." Nick answered in his easy drawl as he walked back to the counter and picked the egg shell out of the batter and tossed it in the garbage. "What's up Greggo?"
Foregoing the explanation, Greg simply asked. "Can I talk to Jamey?"
"I think she's in the shower...Just a sec. I'll see if I can get her for you."
"Thanks man."
"Uh...Greg?"
"Hmmm?"
"Is something wrong?"
Greg coughed. "Ahhh...why do you think something's wrong?"
"You just sound...I don't know...weird or something."
"Nope." He said quickly. "Ahhhh...but I really do need to talk to Jamey."
"Sure. Just a sec." Nick set the phone down and frowned. Greg seemed nervous. Something was up.
He walked down the hall and knocked on the bathroom door. "Jamey—" He waited to see if she'd answer. He heard the hair dryer start then stop.
"What? Are you calling me?"
"Phone's for you." He called.
"Just a sec!" He heard her moving around in the bathroom putting things away. A few seconds later she opened the door and let out a pile of steam with it and emerged, her dark hair wrapped in a towel, wearing nothing but his Dallas Cowboys t-shirt.
Have mercy.
"Who is it?"
"The lab." He answered, a slight smirk on his face. Just seeing her made his mouth go dry and he let her know it by reaching his arms around her waist and letting them cup her backside. "Stop." She giggled, and made a face at him.
He backed away, his hands up in the air. "Sorry darlin..but I cannot help the way you make me feel." He grinned as he backed up toward the kitchen.
"Randy."
His eyebrows shot up. "Did you just call me buy another man's name?"
"No...dork...randy means aroused...seriously, you need to read the dictionary."
He rolled his eyes. "Are you gonna take that call now?"
She grinned back. "Are you gonna finish making me breakfast?"
"You betcha, pretty lady."
She stifled a laugh and shook her head as she brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Jamey? It's Greg."
"Hi Greg."
"Um...Grissom wants you to come in."
"Now?" She sat down at the kitchen table and tucked her legs beneath her. Her surprised tone turned Nick around to watch her. She shrugged, indicating she knew nothing. "But we're not due back until tomorrow."
"I know. But he needs you to look at something." The spiky haired lab tec turned field agent sounded nervous.
"Is something wrong?"
Greg sighed. "Can you just come in? Like now?"
"I guess so." She answered. "Give me an hour."
"Thanks. See you then."
She hung up and looked at Nick in puzzlement. "He wants me to come in."
"You should have said no." Nick responded, pouring the batter onto the griddle.
"Feeling a little put out are we?" She teased, getting up from the table and wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. He leaned back a bit, his posture relaxing at her touch. He was put out. Very much so. And she understood why; It was the last day that they'd have together, last full day and he didn't want to share it.
Oh how she loved the smell of him, the very feel of him; She ran her hands up over his bare chest and down again to the waistband of his boxers. He almost shuddered. It was amazing to her the sexual pull that she had over him and he over her; If she was a magnet he was steel and there was no stopping that attraction. When his strong arms were wrapped around her was a security that she hadn't known for so long. She now realized how much she had shut herself off from the rest of the world; how closed she was. And it made some of that hurt dissipate when she was with him. Made her feel like a woman again and she hadn't felt like one for so long it was a wonder that she remembered at all.
"I just think that it could have waited until tomorrow, is all." He responded, setting the bowl down on the counter and turning so he could face her. She wound her arms around his neck and his hands gripped her hips and brown eyes clung to green. A connection, they both realized, that could not be ignored any longer.
"These last few days have been like magic, Jame." He sighed, looked up at the ceiling and shook his head slightly. "I'm not prone to confessions such as these." He said "But I'm almost afraid that once we leave here and go back to work that this will all have been a dream."
"Do you really think that we could go back to being friends after this?" She asked softly, her heart lacing with dread at even the thought of it. She had just begun to heal, to live, and it was all thanks to him—she had no intention of going back to friends. "I think that would be pretty hard and almost downright impossible." To illustrate her point she moved in closer, never taking her eyes off of his, and ground her hips against him. Pleased her when it was mere seconds before she felt the hardness beneath. "Do you think that is just gonna go away?"
He looked down at her, his eyes a wave of lust and emotion and his voice gravelly when he spoke. "Not in this lifetime, darlin." He said simply. He felt almost primal toward her; She was his and they belonged together, whether or not she was ready to hear it. The physical connection that they shared was more intense than any other he'd ever had, but the emotional one...that was something that had far surpassed his wildest imagination . The two combined made a pretty package, one that he intended to keep for the rest of his life.
And, as they ate their breakfast, both were quiet but content. Each thinking about the bond that they shared. He, wondering how long it would take for him to knock down her guard, and she, how long she could keep holding back.
It seemed to be a losing battle either way.