Chapter Six:
Hidden Side
Nick would barely talk to her in the two weeks following. He swore it was because it was because he was sick-he must have caught Greg's turkey pox.
After about a week of tips and her $9 an hour paycheck she bought an apartment-one close enough to walk to Greg's, but far enough away for Nick to stop complaining about her always being there-and started saving for the car she had her eye on. A used but very nice Jetta, which was about the only thing she could afford. She didn't mind though, what was the difference if she had a new one or a crappy one as long as it worked?
The first day she moved in she bought some paint and made them stay and paint her room a nice shade of light purple. Nick scrunched his face at the color, "That's such a girly color."
She looked at him and laughed, "Last time I checked I was a girl." She rolled her eyes.
They had a bit too much fun with the paint and after a half-hour they were covered more than the walls. Nick again started to complain, "Don't tell me I have to go outside looking like this."
Almost as if it were scripted Lydia walked into the apartment and shouted Norah's name. She walked into the bedroom where they were. She was wearing overalls and a tank top. She started laughing at the lavender-colored guys. "Sorry, I'm late, but it seems like you need the help," she said, looking at the walls, which where only about 20% painted and laughed.
"This is Lydia, everyone," Norah announced. "We work together at the casino. And this is my Uncle Nick, Warrick, and you know Greg," she pointed at each guy respectively.
The guys said, "Hi," and Lydia was hysterical. She couldn't even choke out a salutation. Norah was also laughing, wishing she had a camera. The guys, however, didn't find it funny. All three stood there glaring at the two girls with their paint-covered arms folded over their chests. This just cracked the two up more.
"Okay, okay. Sorry." Norah stopped laughing first.
The five of them started to paint again, Nick and Lydia talking to each other more than anyone else. Norah was busy painting and humming some song, Greg was standing behind Warrick spreading more paint in his hair, Warrick hitting Greg and telling him to stop.
Warrick nudged Norah, "Look at them."
Greg looked over, too. "Nick and Lydia sitting in a tree," he whispered.
Warrick rolled his eyes.
"They're just talking.jeez." Norah reasoned and turned back to the wall.
Greg and Warrick shrugged it off and they also brought their attentions back to what they had been doing before.
When they were finally done they stood in the middle of the room making sure there weren't any missed spots or air bubbles. They smiled at their work and went out into the living room to let it dry.
"Thanks for the help, guys." Norah said afterward. They all left and the guys promised they'd meet back in two days when the paint was dry to bring in Norah's furniture.
-------
The third day of owning her own house Warrick, Nick, and Greg, as promised, came in and helped carry the new furniture she bought into her house-a bed and an old nightstand Warrick had kept from his grandmother. It was made from a light-colored wood. It had a drawer and had a rose carved in it. Norah thought it was pretty and thanked Warrick profusely. He was only too happy to help, though; it was only in his house to collect dust.
Greg looked at the two things that were sitting in the hall outside her apartment. "This is it?"
She nodded. She couldn't afford much after buying the apartment but promised herself she'd buy herself a couch in two weeks.
After everything was moved in they all rested a bit in Norah's room. Norah leaned against the headboard looking at Warrick, who sat on the edge of her bed, she could have swore she could see traces of purple still in his hair. Nick sat on opposite side of the bed as Warrick, Greg stood at the end of the bed.
"It's.roomy," Greg said looking around the room.
Norah shrugged. "I can get more."
Greg opened the closet door. Norah watched him, "Oh crap! I need to buy hangers."
"I'll give you some," Nick offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
She smiled and thanked him. She was excited about living on her own, even though she had in Hollywood it was going to be different in Vegas. She stood up on her bed and jumped off.
The apartment had a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room in addition to the bedroom. The kitchen didn't have room for a table but there was an island she assumed was used as something of a breakfast nook by the former owners. She made a note of buying stools for it, even though she didn't plan on eating there. She assumed she would eat on her couch like she did at her old apartment, which didn't have a table and was quite empty also.
She walked through the house and mentally made a list of things she wanted to buy for the apartment.
Warrick got up and told her he was going to head out because he had to work the next shift, which started in about an hour, and he still wanted to get home and take a shower. He gave Nick a look and Nick decided he needed to leave too. Norah shook her head and smiled, finally noticing the conspiracy.
"Don't you have to go, too?" She asked smiling.
"I took the night off.I thought I'd throw you a housewarming party," Greg smirked.
"Oh really?" She asked while he kissed her neck. "Well the bed has to get broken in sometime."
He let out something of a small grunt as he moved up her neck with his lips and took off her purple spaghetti strap tank top. She took off his gray T- shirt and kissed his chest. She pulled him on top of her onto the bed, which was naked except for a blue fleece blanket Norah brought from California. She unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off his body and he started to do the same to hers when they heard a knock on the door. Norah opened her eyes, "No one's home!"
"I'll get it," Greg told her. She smiled and closed her eyes again, not bothering to move anymore than she had to, she was too tired.
The men said they'd help but by the time the bed got halfway in they had started to argue about who was cuter. Norah got sick of hearing them after 5 minutes so she rolled her eyes, grit her teeth and started to push the bed all the way into the room. When they were done she had already brought in the nightstand too.
Greg got up and walked over the hardwood floor to the door. He opened it a crack to see who it was. "Oh, hi Lydia." He avoided stepping too far into the range of view crack the door made.
Lydia noticed his bare chest, "Oh man! I am so sorry!" She said slapping her forehead. "I'm so sorry for interrupting you. I always do this." She then stopped. "Whoa! Whoa! Nick isn't in there is he? Because he told me to meet him here and." Her face twisted with disgust.
Greg shook his head, "No.he's not here."
"Oh..." She frowned. "Leave it to a guy I really like to blow me off," She forced a smile.
Greg sighed. He felt bad for her. "Do you want to come in? You'll just have to wait a second," he told her looking down at his boxers, the only thing that he had on.
She smiled graciously. "Thanks, I appreciate this."
"Don't mention it," Greg said closing the door and walking back into Norah's bedroom. "It's Lydia."
"Why is she here?" Norah asked.
"Apparently, Nick told her to meet him here," Greg filled her in.
She groaned as she sat up and proceeded to put on her clothes as fast as they had been peeled off. "Talk about ruining the mood," she mumbled. She shut the door on Greg who was still getting dressed when she was finished. She walked the same path as Greg had just walked only a moment ago. She opened the door to reveal Lydia who was standing there talking to Nick, who was enthusiastically listening and laughing. She let out another groan.
"Oh, sorry about that, Nor, I forgot to tell you Lydia and I were going out for dinner and I thought it would be easier going from here," He smiled like it wasn't a big deal.
"I thought you had to work," she said raising her eyebrows at him.
"Greg made us make up excuses so.you know," he said raising his just as she did.
Norah's eyes narrowed and then shut all the way. "Well it's not gonna happen now.you know." She said almost shouting.
Lydia frowned, "I'm really sorry, Norah."
"It's not your fault," she said after gathering herself. She started to close the door when Nick spoke up.
"Why don't you and Greg come with us," he suggested.
Norah looked back at her bedroom door. "I'll ask Greg. Come in." She started to mumble again as she walked down the hall to her room, "Not like we're going to be doing anything now anyway." She opened her door and looked back at Lydia and Nick who were now in her living room. "Do you want to go to dinner with them?" She asked unenthusiastically.
"I guess...If you want," a full-dressed Greg said as he stood up.
She shrugged. "Might as well," she said looking him up and down. "Your shirt's on inside out." She smiled.
His face reddened a bit as he took it off and turned it right side out. "Thanks," he said with his head in his shirt as he pulled it on again.
-------
"It's going to be about an hour away, sir." The waitress told Nick. He looked over at Norah and Lydia who were sitting on either side of Greg on a cushioned bench in the waiting area of the restaurant. They were talking back and forth over a slouching Greg, who looked rather annoyed. He probably would have joined in on the conversation if it weren't for the fact that they were talking about high-heels at the moment. Nick walked over to the trio and sat next to Lydia. "Another hour." He frowned. "Why don't we go do something and come back? Maybe get some coffee," he suggested not knowing what he'd just done.
Greg covered his ears, "Noooooo!"
Nick looked at him in confusion as Lydia started to explain to Nick why she didn't like coffee. Norah started to laugh uncontrollably.
Surprisingly, Nick listened unlike Greg at Starbucks. But, Nick had a lot of experience with talkative people, and his telephone bills can prove that. At least 31 calls a month from France when Norah was in college.
Norah yawned after number 51 of Lydia's list. She laid her head on Greg's shoulder and before long she had fallen asleep.
Nick and Lydia-Lydia mostly-kept talking Greg was more or less making a bald spot on Norah's heads. He had rubbed it for a good ten minutes after she fell asleep until he had really started to regret coming.
After just about forever, a waitress came over to the four of them. Greg woke Norah up as the waitress tapped Nick on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir. Your table's ready. Sorry about the wait." She smiled at Nick adding a twist of a lock of the hair.
Lydia picked up some vibes from the potential-model she didn't like. She wanted to show her not to move in on her territory. "Great!" She gave her a plastic smile and grabbed Nick by the collar of his shirt and kissed him square on the mouth.
When she pulled away the waitress turned away with a huff and a flip of her light brown hair.
Nick blinked and took a couple of deep breaths with a grin on his face.
Norah was hiding a giggle in Greg's shoulder as Greg himself tried to hide his smile from the jealous girl and surprised man to his right. Norah took his hand and pulled him after the waitress to their table. Lydia followed only a few seconds behind. Nick finally got himself together and walked over to the already seated trio. He still had the smile on his face.
Lydia tucked a strand of blonde, shoulder-length hair behind her ear and hid a smile behind a mauve menu.
Another waitress came over, she smiled and introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Erika and I'll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with some drinks?"
Greg ordered a Sprite, Norah and Lydia Diet Cokes, and Nick ordered a regular Coke. The waitress nodded and left the four alone.
They got into a conversation about how short her skirt was when Nick's pager went off, "It's Sara."
Lydia looked at Greg and Norah for answers as Nick left to find a pay phone.
"It's a lady Nick works with," Norah told her. "Don't worry, it' nothing I'm sure. Just something about their case."
"Case?"
"Yeah, they work at the crime lab," Norah reminded Lydia.
"Oh yeah," she smiled.
Nick stood against the wall next to the pay phone. He watched the other three talk through some green planets the restaurant had on the divider which rested between the waiting area and the dining area. "Sara, I'm busy."
"Let me guess, you're with Norah."
"No," he lied. "Look, not everyone is dedicated to work as you, they actually have lives!"
She glared at what she was hearing. "Why the hell are you getting paid? You never work!" Sara shouted. Nick held the phone a half-a-foot away from his face until she was finished. "Do you damn job!"
"Fine, met me at the park in five. We're going to the locker room," Nick gave in. "Good-bye." He slammed the phone onto it's base, which made everyone in the waiting area look at him. He walked back to the table.
Norah and Greg could tell it was bad.
"I have to go. I'm sorry guys," he said mostly to Lydia.
Lydia said good-bye as Greg and Norah watched Nick walk out with his head hung.
The waitress brought the drinks and the three asked for their bill. Greg told them he's pick up the tab.
Norah stopped dead in her tracks while they walked out of the building. "How are we getting home?"
Lydia groaned. Greg frowned too.
-------
"Thanks Warrick," Greg said while getting into the Tahoe, which already held the two girls he had come with and Catherine.
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't let Grissom fine out," Warrick warned.
The abandoned, but hopeful, trio had been waiting for an hour until they figured out Nick wasn't coming back for them.
Warrick proceeded to take each one home, starting with Lydia and ending with Norah.
As Norah ran though the rain to get to her apartment Catherine shook her head. "You need to learn how to say no."
"I know," Warrick said watching Norah through the windshield as she smiled and waved. Could he still have feelings for Norah? He shook the idea out of his head and left his emotions behind as he drove back to the lab.
-------
After Sara gave Nick about a thousand dirty looks down the hall as he tried to strike up a conversation, they proceeded into the locker room. Sara showed the coach the warrant and he pointed out Jerry Donahue's locker.
After looking under about a million different mismatched sweaty socks and three different baseball jerseys they found Jerry's shoes. "Score," Nick smiled.
"Take those back to the lab and check them with the ones we found on the diamond," she ordered Nick.
Nick nodded. "Did our victim die from the broken ribs?"
"Yeah."
Nick nodded again and left Sara in the locker room by herself.
Sara wondered if he was really going to do what she told him to do. She became infuriated. She was sick of Nick not doing what he was supposed to. This just wasn't like him. He's usually hard working. She searched the locker even farther. She found everything from wrappers from hamburger joints to marijuana joints. Nothing very useful to the case though. She sighed and left to meet Nick back at the lab.
-------
Norah sat in the dark and re-evaluated her life. That's all she could do. She didn't even have a lamp in her apartment. She listened to the rain knock at her window. She probably would have called Nick or Greg or Lydia or Warrick except she didn't have a phone and her cell had been turned off because of the whole move. She made a note of getting a new one-with a better server.
She had a half-hour till she had to be at work. She argued with herself on whether or not to go. She felt like, for lake of better words, crap.
After about ten minutes of an inner-battle she decided to get up. She quickly changed from her flannel pajama bottoms and a T-shirt to her work uniform-a white top and jeans. She loved how casual the casino was. She picked up her jacket from on top of one of her suitcases and slipped it on. She walked toward the door of her bedroom and picked up her blue nametag with the words "CHIPS" and "NORAH" scrolled across it. She slipped it in her pocket and walked out the front door.
She loved the rain. She loved how it made the street shine and made the lights of the city reflect off of buildings. It made her think of spring and new life and flowers. She smiled at how corny it sounded. She hung a left on the sidewalk and opened the door of the casino for a man and followed him in.
She didn't see Lydia as she walked in and toward the back room. She punched in and grabbed the blue apron all the cocktail waitresses were required to wear. She poked the pin of the nametag through the apron and out again. She latched it and went to work. After ten minutes she noticed that she hadn't seen Lydia at all. She hoped she was okay.
After another ten minutes she watched Lydia walk into the casino. She looked happy and healthy so she said hi and went about her work.
Five minutes past and she had to get a drink for table 15 from the bar, she saw Lydia already there getting a rum and Coke from the new bartender, Eric. He was about 30 with the attention span of a fly. He would go from making a drink for Christine to making a drink for Alexis and never finish Christine's order. Everyone complained about him but the manager-Mr. Andrews-won't give up on him.
Norah was leaning against the bar daydreaming when Lydia started shouting at Eric. Norah had no clue what the yelling was about, Lydia actually having a different emotion other than happy and really happy was what distracted Norah from finding out.
When Lydia was finished she gave a smile to Norah. Norah laughed and looked at Eric who she thought might cry. Norah was relieved to see Lydia was normal and not some alien from Planet Glad.
Nick would barely talk to her in the two weeks following. He swore it was because it was because he was sick-he must have caught Greg's turkey pox.
After about a week of tips and her $9 an hour paycheck she bought an apartment-one close enough to walk to Greg's, but far enough away for Nick to stop complaining about her always being there-and started saving for the car she had her eye on. A used but very nice Jetta, which was about the only thing she could afford. She didn't mind though, what was the difference if she had a new one or a crappy one as long as it worked?
The first day she moved in she bought some paint and made them stay and paint her room a nice shade of light purple. Nick scrunched his face at the color, "That's such a girly color."
She looked at him and laughed, "Last time I checked I was a girl." She rolled her eyes.
They had a bit too much fun with the paint and after a half-hour they were covered more than the walls. Nick again started to complain, "Don't tell me I have to go outside looking like this."
Almost as if it were scripted Lydia walked into the apartment and shouted Norah's name. She walked into the bedroom where they were. She was wearing overalls and a tank top. She started laughing at the lavender-colored guys. "Sorry, I'm late, but it seems like you need the help," she said, looking at the walls, which where only about 20% painted and laughed.
"This is Lydia, everyone," Norah announced. "We work together at the casino. And this is my Uncle Nick, Warrick, and you know Greg," she pointed at each guy respectively.
The guys said, "Hi," and Lydia was hysterical. She couldn't even choke out a salutation. Norah was also laughing, wishing she had a camera. The guys, however, didn't find it funny. All three stood there glaring at the two girls with their paint-covered arms folded over their chests. This just cracked the two up more.
"Okay, okay. Sorry." Norah stopped laughing first.
The five of them started to paint again, Nick and Lydia talking to each other more than anyone else. Norah was busy painting and humming some song, Greg was standing behind Warrick spreading more paint in his hair, Warrick hitting Greg and telling him to stop.
Warrick nudged Norah, "Look at them."
Greg looked over, too. "Nick and Lydia sitting in a tree," he whispered.
Warrick rolled his eyes.
"They're just talking.jeez." Norah reasoned and turned back to the wall.
Greg and Warrick shrugged it off and they also brought their attentions back to what they had been doing before.
When they were finally done they stood in the middle of the room making sure there weren't any missed spots or air bubbles. They smiled at their work and went out into the living room to let it dry.
"Thanks for the help, guys." Norah said afterward. They all left and the guys promised they'd meet back in two days when the paint was dry to bring in Norah's furniture.
-------
The third day of owning her own house Warrick, Nick, and Greg, as promised, came in and helped carry the new furniture she bought into her house-a bed and an old nightstand Warrick had kept from his grandmother. It was made from a light-colored wood. It had a drawer and had a rose carved in it. Norah thought it was pretty and thanked Warrick profusely. He was only too happy to help, though; it was only in his house to collect dust.
Greg looked at the two things that were sitting in the hall outside her apartment. "This is it?"
She nodded. She couldn't afford much after buying the apartment but promised herself she'd buy herself a couch in two weeks.
After everything was moved in they all rested a bit in Norah's room. Norah leaned against the headboard looking at Warrick, who sat on the edge of her bed, she could have swore she could see traces of purple still in his hair. Nick sat on opposite side of the bed as Warrick, Greg stood at the end of the bed.
"It's.roomy," Greg said looking around the room.
Norah shrugged. "I can get more."
Greg opened the closet door. Norah watched him, "Oh crap! I need to buy hangers."
"I'll give you some," Nick offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
She smiled and thanked him. She was excited about living on her own, even though she had in Hollywood it was going to be different in Vegas. She stood up on her bed and jumped off.
The apartment had a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room in addition to the bedroom. The kitchen didn't have room for a table but there was an island she assumed was used as something of a breakfast nook by the former owners. She made a note of buying stools for it, even though she didn't plan on eating there. She assumed she would eat on her couch like she did at her old apartment, which didn't have a table and was quite empty also.
She walked through the house and mentally made a list of things she wanted to buy for the apartment.
Warrick got up and told her he was going to head out because he had to work the next shift, which started in about an hour, and he still wanted to get home and take a shower. He gave Nick a look and Nick decided he needed to leave too. Norah shook her head and smiled, finally noticing the conspiracy.
"Don't you have to go, too?" She asked smiling.
"I took the night off.I thought I'd throw you a housewarming party," Greg smirked.
"Oh really?" She asked while he kissed her neck. "Well the bed has to get broken in sometime."
He let out something of a small grunt as he moved up her neck with his lips and took off her purple spaghetti strap tank top. She took off his gray T- shirt and kissed his chest. She pulled him on top of her onto the bed, which was naked except for a blue fleece blanket Norah brought from California. She unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off his body and he started to do the same to hers when they heard a knock on the door. Norah opened her eyes, "No one's home!"
"I'll get it," Greg told her. She smiled and closed her eyes again, not bothering to move anymore than she had to, she was too tired.
The men said they'd help but by the time the bed got halfway in they had started to argue about who was cuter. Norah got sick of hearing them after 5 minutes so she rolled her eyes, grit her teeth and started to push the bed all the way into the room. When they were done she had already brought in the nightstand too.
Greg got up and walked over the hardwood floor to the door. He opened it a crack to see who it was. "Oh, hi Lydia." He avoided stepping too far into the range of view crack the door made.
Lydia noticed his bare chest, "Oh man! I am so sorry!" She said slapping her forehead. "I'm so sorry for interrupting you. I always do this." She then stopped. "Whoa! Whoa! Nick isn't in there is he? Because he told me to meet him here and." Her face twisted with disgust.
Greg shook his head, "No.he's not here."
"Oh..." She frowned. "Leave it to a guy I really like to blow me off," She forced a smile.
Greg sighed. He felt bad for her. "Do you want to come in? You'll just have to wait a second," he told her looking down at his boxers, the only thing that he had on.
She smiled graciously. "Thanks, I appreciate this."
"Don't mention it," Greg said closing the door and walking back into Norah's bedroom. "It's Lydia."
"Why is she here?" Norah asked.
"Apparently, Nick told her to meet him here," Greg filled her in.
She groaned as she sat up and proceeded to put on her clothes as fast as they had been peeled off. "Talk about ruining the mood," she mumbled. She shut the door on Greg who was still getting dressed when she was finished. She walked the same path as Greg had just walked only a moment ago. She opened the door to reveal Lydia who was standing there talking to Nick, who was enthusiastically listening and laughing. She let out another groan.
"Oh, sorry about that, Nor, I forgot to tell you Lydia and I were going out for dinner and I thought it would be easier going from here," He smiled like it wasn't a big deal.
"I thought you had to work," she said raising her eyebrows at him.
"Greg made us make up excuses so.you know," he said raising his just as she did.
Norah's eyes narrowed and then shut all the way. "Well it's not gonna happen now.you know." She said almost shouting.
Lydia frowned, "I'm really sorry, Norah."
"It's not your fault," she said after gathering herself. She started to close the door when Nick spoke up.
"Why don't you and Greg come with us," he suggested.
Norah looked back at her bedroom door. "I'll ask Greg. Come in." She started to mumble again as she walked down the hall to her room, "Not like we're going to be doing anything now anyway." She opened her door and looked back at Lydia and Nick who were now in her living room. "Do you want to go to dinner with them?" She asked unenthusiastically.
"I guess...If you want," a full-dressed Greg said as he stood up.
She shrugged. "Might as well," she said looking him up and down. "Your shirt's on inside out." She smiled.
His face reddened a bit as he took it off and turned it right side out. "Thanks," he said with his head in his shirt as he pulled it on again.
-------
"It's going to be about an hour away, sir." The waitress told Nick. He looked over at Norah and Lydia who were sitting on either side of Greg on a cushioned bench in the waiting area of the restaurant. They were talking back and forth over a slouching Greg, who looked rather annoyed. He probably would have joined in on the conversation if it weren't for the fact that they were talking about high-heels at the moment. Nick walked over to the trio and sat next to Lydia. "Another hour." He frowned. "Why don't we go do something and come back? Maybe get some coffee," he suggested not knowing what he'd just done.
Greg covered his ears, "Noooooo!"
Nick looked at him in confusion as Lydia started to explain to Nick why she didn't like coffee. Norah started to laugh uncontrollably.
Surprisingly, Nick listened unlike Greg at Starbucks. But, Nick had a lot of experience with talkative people, and his telephone bills can prove that. At least 31 calls a month from France when Norah was in college.
Norah yawned after number 51 of Lydia's list. She laid her head on Greg's shoulder and before long she had fallen asleep.
Nick and Lydia-Lydia mostly-kept talking Greg was more or less making a bald spot on Norah's heads. He had rubbed it for a good ten minutes after she fell asleep until he had really started to regret coming.
After just about forever, a waitress came over to the four of them. Greg woke Norah up as the waitress tapped Nick on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir. Your table's ready. Sorry about the wait." She smiled at Nick adding a twist of a lock of the hair.
Lydia picked up some vibes from the potential-model she didn't like. She wanted to show her not to move in on her territory. "Great!" She gave her a plastic smile and grabbed Nick by the collar of his shirt and kissed him square on the mouth.
When she pulled away the waitress turned away with a huff and a flip of her light brown hair.
Nick blinked and took a couple of deep breaths with a grin on his face.
Norah was hiding a giggle in Greg's shoulder as Greg himself tried to hide his smile from the jealous girl and surprised man to his right. Norah took his hand and pulled him after the waitress to their table. Lydia followed only a few seconds behind. Nick finally got himself together and walked over to the already seated trio. He still had the smile on his face.
Lydia tucked a strand of blonde, shoulder-length hair behind her ear and hid a smile behind a mauve menu.
Another waitress came over, she smiled and introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Erika and I'll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with some drinks?"
Greg ordered a Sprite, Norah and Lydia Diet Cokes, and Nick ordered a regular Coke. The waitress nodded and left the four alone.
They got into a conversation about how short her skirt was when Nick's pager went off, "It's Sara."
Lydia looked at Greg and Norah for answers as Nick left to find a pay phone.
"It's a lady Nick works with," Norah told her. "Don't worry, it' nothing I'm sure. Just something about their case."
"Case?"
"Yeah, they work at the crime lab," Norah reminded Lydia.
"Oh yeah," she smiled.
Nick stood against the wall next to the pay phone. He watched the other three talk through some green planets the restaurant had on the divider which rested between the waiting area and the dining area. "Sara, I'm busy."
"Let me guess, you're with Norah."
"No," he lied. "Look, not everyone is dedicated to work as you, they actually have lives!"
She glared at what she was hearing. "Why the hell are you getting paid? You never work!" Sara shouted. Nick held the phone a half-a-foot away from his face until she was finished. "Do you damn job!"
"Fine, met me at the park in five. We're going to the locker room," Nick gave in. "Good-bye." He slammed the phone onto it's base, which made everyone in the waiting area look at him. He walked back to the table.
Norah and Greg could tell it was bad.
"I have to go. I'm sorry guys," he said mostly to Lydia.
Lydia said good-bye as Greg and Norah watched Nick walk out with his head hung.
The waitress brought the drinks and the three asked for their bill. Greg told them he's pick up the tab.
Norah stopped dead in her tracks while they walked out of the building. "How are we getting home?"
Lydia groaned. Greg frowned too.
-------
"Thanks Warrick," Greg said while getting into the Tahoe, which already held the two girls he had come with and Catherine.
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't let Grissom fine out," Warrick warned.
The abandoned, but hopeful, trio had been waiting for an hour until they figured out Nick wasn't coming back for them.
Warrick proceeded to take each one home, starting with Lydia and ending with Norah.
As Norah ran though the rain to get to her apartment Catherine shook her head. "You need to learn how to say no."
"I know," Warrick said watching Norah through the windshield as she smiled and waved. Could he still have feelings for Norah? He shook the idea out of his head and left his emotions behind as he drove back to the lab.
-------
After Sara gave Nick about a thousand dirty looks down the hall as he tried to strike up a conversation, they proceeded into the locker room. Sara showed the coach the warrant and he pointed out Jerry Donahue's locker.
After looking under about a million different mismatched sweaty socks and three different baseball jerseys they found Jerry's shoes. "Score," Nick smiled.
"Take those back to the lab and check them with the ones we found on the diamond," she ordered Nick.
Nick nodded. "Did our victim die from the broken ribs?"
"Yeah."
Nick nodded again and left Sara in the locker room by herself.
Sara wondered if he was really going to do what she told him to do. She became infuriated. She was sick of Nick not doing what he was supposed to. This just wasn't like him. He's usually hard working. She searched the locker even farther. She found everything from wrappers from hamburger joints to marijuana joints. Nothing very useful to the case though. She sighed and left to meet Nick back at the lab.
-------
Norah sat in the dark and re-evaluated her life. That's all she could do. She didn't even have a lamp in her apartment. She listened to the rain knock at her window. She probably would have called Nick or Greg or Lydia or Warrick except she didn't have a phone and her cell had been turned off because of the whole move. She made a note of getting a new one-with a better server.
She had a half-hour till she had to be at work. She argued with herself on whether or not to go. She felt like, for lake of better words, crap.
After about ten minutes of an inner-battle she decided to get up. She quickly changed from her flannel pajama bottoms and a T-shirt to her work uniform-a white top and jeans. She loved how casual the casino was. She picked up her jacket from on top of one of her suitcases and slipped it on. She walked toward the door of her bedroom and picked up her blue nametag with the words "CHIPS" and "NORAH" scrolled across it. She slipped it in her pocket and walked out the front door.
She loved the rain. She loved how it made the street shine and made the lights of the city reflect off of buildings. It made her think of spring and new life and flowers. She smiled at how corny it sounded. She hung a left on the sidewalk and opened the door of the casino for a man and followed him in.
She didn't see Lydia as she walked in and toward the back room. She punched in and grabbed the blue apron all the cocktail waitresses were required to wear. She poked the pin of the nametag through the apron and out again. She latched it and went to work. After ten minutes she noticed that she hadn't seen Lydia at all. She hoped she was okay.
After another ten minutes she watched Lydia walk into the casino. She looked happy and healthy so she said hi and went about her work.
Five minutes past and she had to get a drink for table 15 from the bar, she saw Lydia already there getting a rum and Coke from the new bartender, Eric. He was about 30 with the attention span of a fly. He would go from making a drink for Christine to making a drink for Alexis and never finish Christine's order. Everyone complained about him but the manager-Mr. Andrews-won't give up on him.
Norah was leaning against the bar daydreaming when Lydia started shouting at Eric. Norah had no clue what the yelling was about, Lydia actually having a different emotion other than happy and really happy was what distracted Norah from finding out.
When Lydia was finished she gave a smile to Norah. Norah laughed and looked at Eric who she thought might cry. Norah was relieved to see Lydia was normal and not some alien from Planet Glad.