XXII - PRESENTS
"Sara is going to kill you!" Greg was shaking his head, laughing at the big box on his lap. "I can't believe you would just bet her this without talking to her first!"
Nick was a little defensive. "Why? I think she'll like it."
Greg rolled his eyes. "That's not the point, Nick. This is Sara we're talking about. Sara who hates surprises - Sara who can't even keep a cactus alive."
Nick sat in silence for a second, his knuckles tense around the steering wheel of his truck. He looked at Greg again, and then at the box - this time a little dubiously. "You really think she'll be upset?"
Greg shrugged. "She's your girlfriend man. You tell me."
Nick didn't respond, but then he smiled. "Want to come back to my place with me and help me give it to her?"
Greg shook his head. "I see through that ploy, Nick - and you can forget it. This was your idea, so you can just drop me off first, thank you very much. I'll see you at dinner tonight, and you can tell me all about it - that is, if you're still alive."
* * * * *
Sara was at Nick's place, flicking through the channels absently. She paused on Sesame Street, laughing as she watched Ernie explain to Bert why he had to wear a pot on his head instead of his cowboy hat. Sinking down into Nick's sofa, she picked up a t-shirt that was bunched in the corner and hugged it to herself. It smelled like Nick. Sara couldn't believe how stir crazy she felt sitting here in his place all by herself. She knew he was going to be home soon - it was already just after 11:00, and he had said he would meet her no later than 11:30, but Sara was restless. She was surprised to realize that she missed him, which was insane really. Since they had started seeing each other outside of work, they had spent every single day together. On the weekend, she was going to move in with him - despite the fact she still have to pay rent at her apartment for another full month.
She turned off the TV and wandered over to the stereo, putting on STYX again, singing along to "The Best of Times" at the top of her lungs as she looked through his book case. Finding an old photo album, she pulled it out. Inside of it were pictures of Nick and his family - naked baby photos of Nick on a fluffy blue blanket, several shots of Nick with his brothers and sisters, an old school photo of Nick with a huge grin on his face and two missing front teeth. She laughed at some of the clothes in the pictures, and smiled at a picture captioned: Joe decides to cut Nick's hair. In this picture, Nick stood with an older boy who was obviously his brother. The older boy was holding a pair of scissors and grinning and little Nick had several patches of skin showing through an otherwise serviceable bowl cut. Sara was still giggling at the pictures when Nick walked in.
"Found my photos, did you?" He walked over to her smiling, pulling her to him and giving her a kiss. "Did you like my naked Nick baby pics at the front? I had a bod, even then."
Sara laughed. "I guess you have to have a Texas-sized ego, considering where you're from and all." Closing the photo album, she put it down on the coffee table and kissed him back.
"How did it go with Greg?"
"Fine. He found a field kit he liked, and get this - it's translucent apple green." Nick rolled his eyes, and Sara laughed.
"Sounds perfect for Greg. What else did you do."
"I bought you a present."
Sara grinned. "Really? What? Where is it? Can I have it now?"
Nick laughed. "I can just imagine you at Christmas time. I'll go get it; I left it in the front hall." He paused, suddenly nervous. "I hope you'll like it, because I can't take it back."
"I always like presents." Sara reassured him. "Should I sit down?"
"Yeah, sit on the sofa. I'll be back in a second." Nick left the room, and Sara practically vaulted over the coffee table onto the sofa. When Nick returned carrying a large box, she started bouncing up and down.
"Is that it? Can I shake it? Should I guess?"
"No - don't shake it! You'll break it. Open the box very carefully." Nick sat beside Sara on the sofa, handing the box to her. "I hope you won't be mad at me."
Sara opened the box slowly as Nick had suggested, and almost dropped it in shock when a fuzzy little head popped out of the top, green eyes blinking at her. She stared at the tiny kitten in amazement, reaching out a tentative hand and stroking its soft fur with her finger.
"It's a kitten." She stated. She looked at Nick. "You bought me a kitten."
Nick squirmed. "I got her at the ASPCA. She was born there, and was the last in the litter to be adopted. Her mother was rescued from an abusive situation." He watched as Sara reached gently into the box, and lifted the tiny creature out. The kitten immediately started batting at Sara's hair. Sara smiled, before looking at Nick again.
"I thought you might like to have a pet - you did mention a couple of days ago you never had one growing up. And you've just - you've always reminded me of a cat, Sara." He smiled at her as he gently untangled one of the kitten's tiny paws from Sara's hair, stroking the captured tendrils between his thumb and forefinger. "You're independent and intelligent, but you have a playful side to you as well - just like a cat. You like your space, but when the right people are around you, you don't mind being social." Nick's tone turned teasing, as he waggled his eyebrows at her. "And, when I pet you in the right places, you purr."
Sara was looking at Nick, tears filling her eyes even as she giggled. She absently brushed her sleeve across her face, and looked at the kitten. "She's beautiful. She's the best present anyone ever gave me." She smiled at him again. "I can't believe you bought me a kitten. What's her name?"
Nick sighed in relief, "You can name her whatever you want her." He smiled as the kitten curled up on Sara's lap , promptly falling asleep. He reached out and stroked the tiny body, feeling its purr vibrating through his fingertips. "You really like her?"
Sara nodded. "I love her." She smiled at Nick. "I wish I could give you something."
"You've already given me everything I ever wanted, Sara." Nick leaned in a quickly kissed her. "Now that I know you like her, I can bring the rest of her stuff in from the truck. I'll set up the litter box in the laundry room, and put out some food for her."
Sara nodded at him absently as she gently stroked the kitten. Nick could hear her mumbling under her breath as he headed to the front door. "What are we going to name you? Fluffy? No, too girly. Geiger? No - that's just stupid. Latent Print Powder? That's a silly name for a cat."
* * * * *
Sara and Nick were the last to arrive for Greg's celebration dinner. Greg grinned when he saw them walking to the table, and quickly slid over to make room for them. "So, Nick - you're still here. I take it Sara liked her present."
Nick smiled. "Why do you think we're late? I couldn't drag her away."
Warrick laughed. "So, you like your kitten, Sara? Greg told us all about it. What did you name her?"
Sara grinned. "No name yet. I'm working on it - suggestions are welcome. Sorry we're late - you guys order yet?"
"Just the unlimited salad and bread, so far." Catherine replied dryly. "Greg also told us you're moving into Nick's place over the weekend. Need any help?"
Sara blushed, jabbing Greg with her elbow. "Greg's just a regular font of information, isn't he? But yeah, any help I can get I'll take. I've got a ton of stuff to relocate."
The waitress interrupted their conversation, quickly taking their orders, before hurrying to her next table. Sara looked at Grissom and smiled. "Haven't heard much from you tonight, Grissom. What's new?"
Grissom shrugged. "Nothing new under the sun." He smiled at Catherine. Under the table, she gave his knee a squeeze, grinning when he jumped. Sara giggled and winked at Catherine, who winked back.
They group fell into companionable conversation, at times teasing each other, as dinner arrived. After they had eaten, Grissom grabbed a small bag that had been sitting on the floor by his feet, handing it to Greg.
"I bought you a little gift, to commemorate your promotion. Take the top one first." Greg grinned as he opened the bag and removed a magnifying glass from the top of the bag. "It's to help you find clues." Grissom added, as everyone laughed.
"Wow - thanks Grissom. This is cool! I always wanted one of these." Greg turned it over in his hands, examining the glass, before handing it to Warrick to look at. He reached into the bag, and removed a second gift - a black t-shirt with a caricature of an armless man centered in the middle of the shirt. Surrounding him in big red letters, Greg read: 'I'd give my right hand to be ambidextrous'. He started laughing.
"This is awesome. I'm going to put it on when we get back to the lab!" He smiled at Grissom.
"I immediately thought of you when I saw that shirt. Welcome to the team - officially - Greg." Grissom looked at his watch. "I hate to rush you guys, but we're all supposed to meet Brass in 30 minutes. He managed to get a search warrant today for Rifle Ridge and confiscated a couple of guns. One of them matched the murder weapon. He wants us to meet him at a place called Orpheum - Killjoy is playing there tonight. He wants to bring Oscar in for official questioning."
______
"Sara is going to kill you!" Greg was shaking his head, laughing at the big box on his lap. "I can't believe you would just bet her this without talking to her first!"
Nick was a little defensive. "Why? I think she'll like it."
Greg rolled his eyes. "That's not the point, Nick. This is Sara we're talking about. Sara who hates surprises - Sara who can't even keep a cactus alive."
Nick sat in silence for a second, his knuckles tense around the steering wheel of his truck. He looked at Greg again, and then at the box - this time a little dubiously. "You really think she'll be upset?"
Greg shrugged. "She's your girlfriend man. You tell me."
Nick didn't respond, but then he smiled. "Want to come back to my place with me and help me give it to her?"
Greg shook his head. "I see through that ploy, Nick - and you can forget it. This was your idea, so you can just drop me off first, thank you very much. I'll see you at dinner tonight, and you can tell me all about it - that is, if you're still alive."
* * * * *
Sara was at Nick's place, flicking through the channels absently. She paused on Sesame Street, laughing as she watched Ernie explain to Bert why he had to wear a pot on his head instead of his cowboy hat. Sinking down into Nick's sofa, she picked up a t-shirt that was bunched in the corner and hugged it to herself. It smelled like Nick. Sara couldn't believe how stir crazy she felt sitting here in his place all by herself. She knew he was going to be home soon - it was already just after 11:00, and he had said he would meet her no later than 11:30, but Sara was restless. She was surprised to realize that she missed him, which was insane really. Since they had started seeing each other outside of work, they had spent every single day together. On the weekend, she was going to move in with him - despite the fact she still have to pay rent at her apartment for another full month.
She turned off the TV and wandered over to the stereo, putting on STYX again, singing along to "The Best of Times" at the top of her lungs as she looked through his book case. Finding an old photo album, she pulled it out. Inside of it were pictures of Nick and his family - naked baby photos of Nick on a fluffy blue blanket, several shots of Nick with his brothers and sisters, an old school photo of Nick with a huge grin on his face and two missing front teeth. She laughed at some of the clothes in the pictures, and smiled at a picture captioned: Joe decides to cut Nick's hair. In this picture, Nick stood with an older boy who was obviously his brother. The older boy was holding a pair of scissors and grinning and little Nick had several patches of skin showing through an otherwise serviceable bowl cut. Sara was still giggling at the pictures when Nick walked in.
"Found my photos, did you?" He walked over to her smiling, pulling her to him and giving her a kiss. "Did you like my naked Nick baby pics at the front? I had a bod, even then."
Sara laughed. "I guess you have to have a Texas-sized ego, considering where you're from and all." Closing the photo album, she put it down on the coffee table and kissed him back.
"How did it go with Greg?"
"Fine. He found a field kit he liked, and get this - it's translucent apple green." Nick rolled his eyes, and Sara laughed.
"Sounds perfect for Greg. What else did you do."
"I bought you a present."
Sara grinned. "Really? What? Where is it? Can I have it now?"
Nick laughed. "I can just imagine you at Christmas time. I'll go get it; I left it in the front hall." He paused, suddenly nervous. "I hope you'll like it, because I can't take it back."
"I always like presents." Sara reassured him. "Should I sit down?"
"Yeah, sit on the sofa. I'll be back in a second." Nick left the room, and Sara practically vaulted over the coffee table onto the sofa. When Nick returned carrying a large box, she started bouncing up and down.
"Is that it? Can I shake it? Should I guess?"
"No - don't shake it! You'll break it. Open the box very carefully." Nick sat beside Sara on the sofa, handing the box to her. "I hope you won't be mad at me."
Sara opened the box slowly as Nick had suggested, and almost dropped it in shock when a fuzzy little head popped out of the top, green eyes blinking at her. She stared at the tiny kitten in amazement, reaching out a tentative hand and stroking its soft fur with her finger.
"It's a kitten." She stated. She looked at Nick. "You bought me a kitten."
Nick squirmed. "I got her at the ASPCA. She was born there, and was the last in the litter to be adopted. Her mother was rescued from an abusive situation." He watched as Sara reached gently into the box, and lifted the tiny creature out. The kitten immediately started batting at Sara's hair. Sara smiled, before looking at Nick again.
"I thought you might like to have a pet - you did mention a couple of days ago you never had one growing up. And you've just - you've always reminded me of a cat, Sara." He smiled at her as he gently untangled one of the kitten's tiny paws from Sara's hair, stroking the captured tendrils between his thumb and forefinger. "You're independent and intelligent, but you have a playful side to you as well - just like a cat. You like your space, but when the right people are around you, you don't mind being social." Nick's tone turned teasing, as he waggled his eyebrows at her. "And, when I pet you in the right places, you purr."
Sara was looking at Nick, tears filling her eyes even as she giggled. She absently brushed her sleeve across her face, and looked at the kitten. "She's beautiful. She's the best present anyone ever gave me." She smiled at him again. "I can't believe you bought me a kitten. What's her name?"
Nick sighed in relief, "You can name her whatever you want her." He smiled as the kitten curled up on Sara's lap , promptly falling asleep. He reached out and stroked the tiny body, feeling its purr vibrating through his fingertips. "You really like her?"
Sara nodded. "I love her." She smiled at Nick. "I wish I could give you something."
"You've already given me everything I ever wanted, Sara." Nick leaned in a quickly kissed her. "Now that I know you like her, I can bring the rest of her stuff in from the truck. I'll set up the litter box in the laundry room, and put out some food for her."
Sara nodded at him absently as she gently stroked the kitten. Nick could hear her mumbling under her breath as he headed to the front door. "What are we going to name you? Fluffy? No, too girly. Geiger? No - that's just stupid. Latent Print Powder? That's a silly name for a cat."
* * * * *
Sara and Nick were the last to arrive for Greg's celebration dinner. Greg grinned when he saw them walking to the table, and quickly slid over to make room for them. "So, Nick - you're still here. I take it Sara liked her present."
Nick smiled. "Why do you think we're late? I couldn't drag her away."
Warrick laughed. "So, you like your kitten, Sara? Greg told us all about it. What did you name her?"
Sara grinned. "No name yet. I'm working on it - suggestions are welcome. Sorry we're late - you guys order yet?"
"Just the unlimited salad and bread, so far." Catherine replied dryly. "Greg also told us you're moving into Nick's place over the weekend. Need any help?"
Sara blushed, jabbing Greg with her elbow. "Greg's just a regular font of information, isn't he? But yeah, any help I can get I'll take. I've got a ton of stuff to relocate."
The waitress interrupted their conversation, quickly taking their orders, before hurrying to her next table. Sara looked at Grissom and smiled. "Haven't heard much from you tonight, Grissom. What's new?"
Grissom shrugged. "Nothing new under the sun." He smiled at Catherine. Under the table, she gave his knee a squeeze, grinning when he jumped. Sara giggled and winked at Catherine, who winked back.
They group fell into companionable conversation, at times teasing each other, as dinner arrived. After they had eaten, Grissom grabbed a small bag that had been sitting on the floor by his feet, handing it to Greg.
"I bought you a little gift, to commemorate your promotion. Take the top one first." Greg grinned as he opened the bag and removed a magnifying glass from the top of the bag. "It's to help you find clues." Grissom added, as everyone laughed.
"Wow - thanks Grissom. This is cool! I always wanted one of these." Greg turned it over in his hands, examining the glass, before handing it to Warrick to look at. He reached into the bag, and removed a second gift - a black t-shirt with a caricature of an armless man centered in the middle of the shirt. Surrounding him in big red letters, Greg read: 'I'd give my right hand to be ambidextrous'. He started laughing.
"This is awesome. I'm going to put it on when we get back to the lab!" He smiled at Grissom.
"I immediately thought of you when I saw that shirt. Welcome to the team - officially - Greg." Grissom looked at his watch. "I hate to rush you guys, but we're all supposed to meet Brass in 30 minutes. He managed to get a search warrant today for Rifle Ridge and confiscated a couple of guns. One of them matched the murder weapon. He wants us to meet him at a place called Orpheum - Killjoy is playing there tonight. He wants to bring Oscar in for official questioning."
______