Author's Note: Ok, so some of you are skeptical about the blatant flirting between Nick and Sara. Ok, so maybe you should do a little episode research. I have. In the first season, Sara was bordering on obnoxious the way she flirted with Nick (and he ate it up, but never did anything about it). There was an episode where she walked in on him and Warrick changing in the locker room and made a comment to Nick as he stood there with no shirt on about how fine his body was. She also made comment about his clothing choice, which as soon as she walked out of the room, he changed. In another first season episode, she made a comment to Nick in front of the entire team, which caused him to respond, and I quote, "stop flirting with me." Of course, he seemed to be enjoying it. There has been an undercurrent of flirting between the two of them since day one. Lot's of touching, especially during the first season. There seems to be a protectiveness growing in Nick for Sara in third season. Did anyone catch in "Playing With Fire" that Nick had talked to Grissom about Sara trying to bust a suspect. He didn't even witness it, Brass did. That isn't the only time that Nick's name is brought up specifically with regards to concern for Sara. Am I the only one who caught the looks on Nick's face during "Last Laugh"? If a guy looked at me the way he kept looking at Sara, yowza. Look for the subtle clues, they end up being huge in the long run. My personal opinion is that he's feeling something a little stronger than brotherly feelings for her. (Not to say that Sara, or the writers will make it so). So, watch your episodes (I have all CSI episodes either on DVD or VHS) and then get back to me.

Ok, so here I am taking liberties with Nick and Sara.

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Nick pulled into the parking lot of Sara's apartment complex. It was about 2am and things were fairly quiet. Nick and Sara walked to her front door hand in hand. As they approached the door, Sara stopped in her tracks. The front door was ajar. They both knew that she had locked it when they had left and they looked at each other momentarily. Nick pulled at Sara's hand, urging her back to the Tahoe, "Sara, let's go back to the Tahoe and call PD. Neither of us is armed."

She nodded and they made their way back to the Tahoe. Sara pulled out her cell phone and punched in 9-1-1.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"This is Sara Sidle from the Crime Lab, there's been a break in at my apartment. I came home and the door was open. No, I haven't gone inside the apartment. No, I'm not alone. Yeah, I'll wait in my vehicle. Thanks. Yeah, here's the address." Sara gave the operator her address and hung up.

"You ok, Sar?" Nick asked with a concerned look on his face.

"Yeah, it just feels weird though to have someone in my apartment when I'm not there, you know." She looked at Nick and reached over and squeezed his hand, "Of course you know. I'm sorry, Nicky."

"No problem, Sara." Nick replied.

Flashing lights broke through the darkness. The officers had kept the sirens off in case there was still someone inside Sara's apartment. Nick and Sara got out of the Tahoe to speak with the officers.

"Nick. Sara." Officer Randy Jones and his partner Bill Spencer, got out of the police cruiser.

"Hey, Randy. Bill. I was just dropping Sara off and her door was open." Nick explained.

"We didn't go inside," Sara added, concern etched on her face.

Randy grinned, "Wouldn't expect any less from you CSIs. I'm sure it's just a burglary. There's been several in this neighborhood in the last couple of days. Bill and I'll check it out."

"Thanks, man." Nick replied placing his hand on Sara's shoulder and giving it a squeeze as the two officers entered Sara's apartment. A few moments later, Randy and Bill exited radios in hand. Their faces were set with serious expressions.

Randy walked up to Nick and Sara, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Sara, but it looks like our perp is still in there, and he's not breathing."

Nick and Sara shared a shocked expression, "Call Brass."

"Already done. I'm sure he'll pull your team in on this one too." Randy walked away from Nick and Sara.

"I could have been in there, Nick." Sara looked up at Nick, a bit of fear in her eyes.

"But you weren't in there, Sara." Nick pulled her into a bear hug and leaned back against the Tahoe.

A siren and several pairs of flashing lights broke through the night. Sara pulled out of Nick's embrace. Brass stepped out of his Taurus and walked over to Nick and Sara. "Officer Jones says you called 9-1-1 to report a break in and when they entered the apartment to check out the scene they found a db."

Nick nodded, "I was dropping Sara off, and we noticed the door was ajar. She locked it before we left around 6:00."

"Yeah, Brass, we didn't go in, neither of us is armed." Sara added looking over at the homicide detective.

"Ok." Brass responded, "I'm going to need to know where you were earlier this evening, and exactly what happened when you returned."

Nick noticed Grissom, Warrick, and Catherine getting out of a Tahoe and making their way toward them. He shot Sara a glance.

Brass gave them both a grizzled smile, "Why don't you just start at the beginning."

Nick looked at Brass and gestured behind him, "Might as well wait for the rest of the group to join us."

Brass turned to see the other three CSIs approaching, "Ok."

Grissom, Warrick, and Catherine joined the trio. Grissom spoke, "What's going on?"

Brass turned toward him, "I was just about to get to that. Nicky wanted to wait for the whole group."

Everyone's attention turned to Nick and Sara. The pair exchange a glance and then Sara began to speak, "Nick was dropping me off about 2am. He walked me to the door, but it was ajar. When we left here about 6:00, I locked the door. We didn't go into the apartment, we went back to Nick's Tahoe and called 9-1-1." She spoke succinctly and looked at each of them directly in the eye.

The group looked at Nick for confirmation, "I saw Sara lock the door before we left. From a few feet away, it looked like forced entry."

Grissom looked over at Catherine and Warrick, "Warrick, you and I are inside on the db. Catherine, I want you to stay here with Brass and get a statement from Nick and Sara."

Warrick nodded and headed back to the Tahoe to retrieve his kit. Grissom followed.

Catherine crossed her arms and cocked her head as she looked at Nick and Sara, "So, where were you for the last 8 hours?"

Brass just stood their stoically.

Nick looked over at Sara before responding to Catherine, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "On a date."

Sara also tried to suppress a grin.

Catherine raised an eyebrow, "A date. The two of you?"

Sara nodded, "First date."

"Pardon me for being skeptical, but you don't looked dressed for a date." Catherine had a quizzical expression as she looked at how Nick and Sara were dressed.

"We were star gazing, Cath." Nick responded.

A sly grin spread over Catherine's face, "Oh, is that what they're calling it now, Nicky?"

Sara blushed.

"Ok, so you were on a date. Anyone see you there?" Catherine observed Nick and Sara squirming, "Ok, so that was the point, to be alone. No witnesses then."

"Catherine, you're enjoying this far too much," Nick commented.

Brass let out a laugh.

Catherine grinned and winked at Nick, "Oh, yeah. Besides, I think I win the pool we had going to see how long it would take you two to get together."

A shocked expression crossed Sara's face, "There was a pool?!? Just how many people were in on this?"

Brass responded, "Uh, let's see, me, Catherine, Warrick, Greg, Archie, Jackie, Al, and I think Bobby. Grissom doesn't see the point in gambling, so he didn't throw anything in."

Nick chuckled as he looked over at Sara. She looked at him, trying to retain her indignant stand, but started grinning instead. Nick looked over at Catherine, "So what does the winner get?"

Catherine looked over at Brass with a quizzical expression, "What would you say, Brass, about $3500."

"What!" Nick and Sara exclaimed. Sara crossed her arms in front of her, "Just how long has this wager been going on?"

"Since you were hired, Sara." Catherine responded with a sly grin.

"You didn't know anything about this, Nick Stokes?" Sara exclaimed.

"Nope." Nick held his hands up.

Brass cleared his throat, "Not that I want to ruin your first date and all, but we have an investigation going on here. You know how it works, you called it in, you're the first suspects."

Nick nodded, feeling quite subdued, memories of Kristy Hopkin's murder came to mind. He had confidence in the night shift CSIs to uncover the truth.

Sara's face turned all business, "Ok, Cath, go ahead."

Catherine retrieved her kit and took DNA samples from both Nick and Sara. She tested each of their hands for GSR, and took photographs of their hands, as well as their shoes. "I hate to do this, but I'm going to need your clothes." She handed each of them a pair of coveralls and had each of them deposit their clothes in an evidence bag.

Catherine looked at Sara when she had finished, "Sara, you know your apartment is a crime scene, you can't stay here. What are you going to do?"

"She can stay with me, I have an extra room." Nick offered.

Sara looked at Nick with a slightly embarrassed grin, "Thanks, Nicky."

Brass raised his eyebrows and commented, "Ok, if we have any more questions, we'll contact you at Nicky's."

Catherine wore a slightly bemused grin, "Ok, Sara, I'll let you know when we've cleared the scene and I can come by and get you some extra clothes. I assume you've got some at work."

Sara nodded.

"Ok, I'll stop by Nick's at the end of shift with them then." Catherine offered.

"Thanks, Cath." Sara replied.

"We'll see you later, Cath." Nick replied, taking Sara by the hand and leading her to his Tahoe.