VII - GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER

An irritating beeping noise, muffled but there, eventually woke Nick up. In his sleep, he had shifted around, and was now lying on top of Sara, fully facing her. His head was pressed against her chest, and he could hear the even rhythm of her heartbeat beneath his ear. One arm hung off the edge of her sofa, the other stretched up along the back of it, his hand resting on the pillow behind her. He could feel her soft hair against his fingers, and gently - almost against his will, he rubbed his thumb against the soft skin of her cheek.

Pushing himself up by bracing his dangling arm against the floor, he lifted his head and studied her curiously. She had obviously fallen asleep while taking care of him, because, under normal circumstances, Nick didn't think he would ever be waking up like this. He could feel the sleepy weight of her legs tangled with his own. Her arms were draped over his back, one hand dangerously close to the waistband of his jeans. His t-shirt had risen up as he slept, and Nick was intensely aware of Sara's warm hand firmly pressed against the skin just above the small of his back.

Without warning, that same warm hand began gently rubbing him. Sara was waking up.

"Nicky?" she murmured sleepily. "You awake?"

"Yes. Are you?"

Sara's eyes fluttered open, and she blinked into Nick's strong face, smiling gently. "Sleep well?" 'God, she's beautiful!' Nick thought to himself, before swallowing thickly. "Uh, yeah. Did you?"

Her hand continued rubbing his lower back, her eyes still sleep-warmed and heavy-lidded. Her other hand reached up, and her fingers started sliding through the hair at the back of his head. "Yeah." she sighed. Nick lowered his head back to her chest, and reveled in the feeling of her hands in his hair and on his back. He shut his eyes, and let himself drift for a few silent moments. So far, this entire morning had the feeling of a slow- moving dream, and Nick didn't want to do anything that would break the spell.

He had been in love with Sara for what seemed like forever. Although she had only joined them just less than two years prior, Nick could honestly not remember what it had been like without her. He enjoyed teasing her, seeing her flustered look when he flirted with her. He had tried to show her in little ways he was interested in pursuing a relationship with her, but she had never really treated him as anything more then a big brother.

He knew he didn't have the best reputation around the lab - Warrick and Greg helped fan the fire by teasing him about this girl or that, and he people thought he was a lady-killer. In actuality, he wasn't. He was a true gentleman to the core - charming with the ladies, well-mannered and chivalrous. He knew if he really wanted to, he could have his pick of pretty woman, but none had really peeked his interest since Sara had come to Las Vegas.

And now, Sara knew his secret. The realization that she did wasn't daunting, as he had often imagined it would be if he ever told her. Instead, he felt strangely liberated by the fact of her knowledge.

He suddenly realized that Sara's hands had stopped moving, and her muscles had tensed. 'The gig is up,' he thought to himself. 'She must be really awake now.'

Sighing softly, he slowly pushed himself off her, gently twisting out of her legs, and sliding to the floor. He looked at her sheepishly, and smiled when she quickly looked away, and just as quickly darted her eyes back to his. She was blushing.

"You feeling better?"

"Yeah. Thanks for letting me stay here today. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you - literally." He looked at his watch. "We've got about 1 ½ hours before shift starts. I wonder if they found Timmy's mom yet."

"Don't even think about it right now. " Sara gingerly pushed herself up, stretching like a cat as she sat. Nick could here hear her back popping, and winced at the sound.

"I'm sorry - I guess I was too heavy for you."

Sara blushed again. "Uhm, no - really, don't worry about it. It was all good. My back always does that when I wake up." She glanced covertly at Nick to see if he was buying it, before continuing. "Listen, I think I have some frozen TV dinners I could heat up for us. Why don't you go have a shower, and I'll cook"

"I got a better idea - why don't you have a shower first, and I'll cook. I can make some spaghetti - saw some diced tomatoes and paste in your cupboard this morning, and you have some peppers and onions in your fridge. It wouldn't take me long to whip up a nice sauce. Than, while everything's simmering, I'll shower."

"Homemade spaghetti sauce?" Sara squeaked. "I won't say no to that!"

*****

Ten minutes later, as the scent of tomatoes and oregano wafted through the small kitchen, Nick went to take his shower. Sara had stepped into the kitchen moments before, her hair still wet, wearing a black t-shirt and her black jeans.

"Okay - I found a new toothbrush in the bathroom, and if you don't mind shaving with Lady Gillette and using Freesia-scented shaving gel, you're all set. Except I don't think I have anything in your size.let's see - nope. Nothing in brawny." Sara judged him appraisingly, before grinning. "You could wear the tea-towel, if you want."

"Hardy-hardy-har, Sara. Cute. I'll manage with what I got."

He was still grinning from the exchange as he stepped out of the shower, and started shaving. Sara had turned on her stereo, and Nick could hear Bono's distinctive voice.

~You're dangerous, cause your honest, you're dangerous, you don't know what you want, well you left my heart empty as a vacant lot, for any spirit to haunt .~

Wrapping a big towel firmly around his waist, Nick stepped out into the hallway. "Sara? I just remembered I have a fresh change of clothes in the gym bag in the back of my truck. If I gave you my keys, would you go and grab it for me?"

Sara popped around the corner at his voice. "Sure will - where are the keys." Her voice trailed off and she quickly glanced away from the sight of him in a towel. "Too much skin for me, Nicky." She joked, even as her skin turned a deep red. "I'm not used to having a man around here."

Nick handed her the truck keys he had retrieved from the pocket of his jacket, purposely letting his thumb brush the inside of her wrist. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that."

Nick stared intently at Sara, watching her reaction to his words. She looked up at him and smiled with more hesitation than he had ever seen from her before. Her eyes had a speculative gleam in them. "I refuse to flirt with you while you stand half-naked in my hall, dripping on my carpet. Besides, you promised me spaghetti. I'm going to get your clothes."

~Who's gonna ride your wild horses? Whose gonna drown in your blue sea? Who's gonna taste your salt-water kisses? Whose gonna fall at the foot of thee?~

Nick was whistling in the kitchen, stirring the sauce, when he heard Sara return. Turning to smile at her, he froze in his tracks when he met the piercing blue eyes of Grissom instead of Sara's brown. Nick reflexively clutched the towel around his waist, and felt a slow blush heat his body. 'Oh-oh,' he thought to himself, 'this cannot be good.'

"Guess who's coming for dinner?" Sara chirped, as she followed Grissom into the kitchen and handed Nick his gym bag. She winked at Nick, before turning and smiling at Grissom. "See Gris, I told you he was here."

"Yes, I see that." Grissom responded sarcastically.

"Hi Gris." Nick muttered. "Thanks Sara - I guess I'll go get dressed."

*****

As Nick beat a hasty retreat from the kitchen, Grissom turned to Sara, eyebrows raised. "I trust you made him feel better." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them and he regretted them immediately when Sara blanched before flushing an angry red.

"Just what are you insinuating, Grissom?" she whispered heatedly.

Grissom had the grace to look embarrassed. "Nothing, Sara. Forget I said that. You're private time is your private time, none of my business."

"You've got that right." She stalked angrily to the cupboard and pulled out three plates. "I can't believe I invited you to dinner, after that remark." She slammed the plates on the table, chipping one with the sudden violent motion. "Damn - that's your plate. I hope you eat glass."

"Sara-" Grissom stepped forward, and put his hands on her shoulders gently. "I said I was sorry. Sometimes, I say things without thinking."

"You never say things without thinking!" Sara's rebuke was swift and vehement. "Every word you say is carefully thought out - so if that was calculated to hurt me and make me feel cheap, congratulations - it worked."

Grissom could feel the beginnings of a migraine coming on, and inwardly groaned. He squeezed Sara's shoulders a little harder, his tone harder than it had been just moments before. "That wasn't my intent, and you know it! I was just shocked to see Nick here."

"Bullshit. I told you this morning I was going to try to talk to him. You came by to see what I found out." Her voice was still furious. "For your information, I'm not telling you anything. If Nick decides he wants you to know something, he'll tell you himself. Now -" she looked pointedly at his hands, "let go of me so I can finish setting the table."

Just then, Nick sauntered into the kitchen. His eyes narrowed as he took in the tense scene. Sara looked like she was chewing bullets, and Grissom had the pained expression he usually wore when he was getting a headache. When he spotted Nick, he quickly dropped his hands to his sides, and stepped out of Sara's way.

"Everything all right in here?" Nick asked, not really expecting a response. "Yes? Okay, then. Let me dish up this sauce and strain the spaghetti. We've got 40 minutes before we have to go to work. What are you doing here, Grissom?"

"I came to talk to Sara. I tried calling you earlier to see how you were doing, and when I got no reply at your house or from the page I sent, I thought I'd come here." Grissom walked over to Sara's cutlery drawer, removing the appropriate number of pieces, before walking to the table. Nick frowned at the familiarity with which Grissom moved around the kitchen, helping Sara set the table. He had obviously done this before. Nick was irritated to realize he was jealous.

"My beeper? I don't remember hearing it.no, wait a minute. I know where it is." He placed the spaghetti and sauce on the table and stalked into the living room. Grissom followed and watched Nick as he moved towards the sofa, getting down on his knees and digging between the cushions until he found what he was looking for. Quickly scanning the message indicator, he muttered, "Sure enough. Here you are. Sorry about that Grissom, must have slid down there when we fell asleep."

He furtively glanced at Grissom to see if the barb had hit its mark, and was pleased to see Grissom's lips tighten at his words.

Before Grissom could reply, Sara's voice called rather testily from the kitchen, "If you guys want anything to eat, I suggest you get in here and sit down. I'm already on my second plate."

Nick shot Grissom a look that clearly said *Back off!*

"Coming Mom!" in as normal a voice as he could muster.

"Shut-up Nicky!" Sara responded cheerfully. "I can't eat and laugh at the same time!"

Grissom stood in the living room inspecting the sofa morosely, before following Nick into the kitchen to join Sara.