Disclaimer: I do not own any of the CSI characters used in this story.
Thanks to all reviewers, you know who you are and you are great. Thanks for
the reviews. It makes me want to write sooner and quicker.
In the break room, having relayed what Warrick and I had learned it was the
other pair's turn.
"Well we went to the publishing house and spoke with everyone possible.
Only one man admitted knowing anything about this club and that was the
director, Ralph Moore, middle aged Irish guy, seems to know a lot about the
publishing business and was rated in the times last year, in the top ten
publishers that any author would want" Nick looked down at his notes and
continued.
" He was clear and concise about his actions with Ms Keilty's, when he
realised what was going on he fired Ms. Keilty's friend who was a
copywriter named Marshall Segal, incidentally is in the interrogation room
with brass, Ms. Keilty's book was thrown out of the publishing list and
she was pretty angry it seems but not as angry as this Segal chap"
Catherine continued, "Apparently he was a brother of the school janitor,
which is how one might suppose he met this Ms. Keilty, who's first name is
Claire by the way, they were an item and he is the reason her book ever got
looked at"
"What was this book about anyhow, seeing as it seems to be the root of all
problem's?" my curiosity about books was well known.
"Some kind of expose on one of our high profile actor's and his wife, they
were into some sordid criminal dealings apparently, she was going to blow
the lid off their squeaky clean image" Nick replied.
"That's hardly literature now is it" I had a great distain for books of
that inclination.
"Each to there own, I suppose. But it is not my cup of tea either" it was
one of the few views that Catherine and I shared.
Brass entered "This Segal character is a nasty piece of work, has no
conviction's but was accused of rape a few times, and Grievous Bodily Harm
against an elderly lady, mean guy, I have a subpoena for his house, any
takers?"
"There all going" Grissom smiled. "Except me, I have something to take care
of" and with a quick glance at Catherine he left.
"And after this we are hitting your wardrobe aren't we Sara, something
slinky I believe?" Catherine asked.
"Slinky huh, is that for the Ball or for after it" Warrick whispered in my
ear.
Nick of course, was grinning ear to ear.
Turning red and making a face I left the room to the sound of Warrick's
guffaws
~~~~~~~~~~~
Processing the scene was not difficult, the idiot Segal hadn't hidden a
thing, rope, gloves, and a large wrench (with hair and blood on it) were in
his garage. This was looking too easy.
"I know we have to check DNA but this looks open and shut doesn't it, maybe
too much so" Nick looked thoughtful.
"Well we appear to have enough evidence to arrest, but I am thinking that
seeing as the crime scenes were so clean, this is just a little too messy
for the type of killer I thought we were dealing with" Grissom agreed with
Nick. "I am going to interview this Ralph Moore again before I have a talk
with Segal. But that's as much as we can do now guy's"
***********
The door bell rang incessantly, god didn't they know I worked nights.
I cocked an eye to look at the clock and read 2.45 pm.
"Open the door Sara, you cant avoid this! C'mon kid."
"Good morning, Catherine and thanks for the wake up call
"I got something for you. A beautiful gown, if you're ready to get back in
the saddle again."
I winced at Catherine's reminder that I had not gone out for at least two
months. My involvement with Hank, who used me to cheat on his girlfriend,
was still painful to remember. My trust is not given out easily and to be
betrayed like that, considering I though of my self as a good CSI was
brutal to my ego.
"I am up" I yelled struggling to adjust to the light while opening the
door.
"Hey its ages away Catherine, No need to panic yet"
"No its two day's away Sara, and I am panicked, there are so many nice
eligible men in the Police force these days and they are reliable, nice
guys who are probably not axe murderers" Catherine looked frustrated with
my lack of enthusiasm. "And not to mention you are going with one the
nicest, best looking, intelligent of the lot"
"You think so do you?"
"Yes I do, and so do you so don't even attempt to deny it" She then opened
the Bag she was carrying and took out a red dress.
"Red Catherine, Red! I am not going looking like a harlot, and where is the
rest of it," I pointed at the one strap that would hold it up. The dress
was obviously designer, Prada I would learn in a minute, long flowing
material with sequence sparingly dotted around the bottom. The top was
halter neck and fitted at the waist. The more I looked at it the more
beautiful I thought it was, and I also was becoming increasingly worried
that I would never pull that dress off"
"Nonsense, you have a lovely figure and you will look amazing, now try it
on, I have to get back to Lindsay, she's at a friends house".
Moments later trying to walk in the high read sandals she had also brought,
I walked out to show Catherine.
"Well you look just fabulous, you really do, I will fix your hair up in a
French knot and minimal makeup save for mascara and lipstick and you will
be practically Cinderella"
Catherine looked delighted.
If the truth be known I quite liked the way I looked and was quite excited
about it really. Nick in a suit, me in a dress, wine and dancing, it
sounded like so much fun. And fun I did need.
My cell rang at that minute, "Sidle" I spoke into the phone.
"Hey it's Nick, don't you have caller ID turned on, and you know how
important that is"
"I do, I was just distracted when I picked up the phone, anyway what's up?"
"Just wondering if you would like dinner tonight seeing as the case is
apparently closed and were both off?"
"Sure, I am not doing anything else, what time"
"Well I am delighted to take you away from your boredom" his voice sounded
disappointed but he carried on "about 7, I will pick you up, see you then"
Catherine had overheard our conversation; damn it for having a good cell
phone the connection was always way too good. Perks of CSI's could be a
drawback.
"We just may need to organise an outfit for tonight too, and I though
Warrick was seeing and hearing things, this is a turn up, a good one
nevertheless. Point me in the direction of your good clothes, nothing you
have ever worn to work"
"Look Catherine, I don't know what Warrick knows or has said but I
guarantee you its more that I do, I really don't know what's happening and
even though I don't know I think this is happening way too fast"
"Look Sara, take it as slow as you want. Nick is a great guy and when you
do figure out what is happening he will be there. I am sorry, I am only
teasing, I just care about the two of you a lot and I can't think of a
better man for you" Catherine looked at me in a motherly glow. One I was
not used too from her, the boys normally needing her motherliness, never
me.
After picking out an outfit for me for the second time, Catherine left with
the parting words "Don't do anything I wouldn't do"
"That leaves me with plenty of scope Catherine " we laughed as we said our
goodbyes.
Nervous I couldn't eat. It wasn't a date was it, why couldn't guys ever be
more specific when the asked you out. Women always seem to second-guess
motives behind everything. I mean is he feeling sorry for me or is he
interested in me. Now I knew in my heart that the later was more likely, I
think its easier believe the not so flattering stuff.
At quarter off 7 I heard a car pull up and then the doorbell ring.
Nervously, I patted my low-rise jeans and turned in the mirror for a rear
view, vain I know but who can help it faced with a date of such calibre.
My Blue v-neck top which was short enough to expose my stomach, looked ok
and not to overdone I thought as I went to open my door.
"Hey Sara, you look great" Nick didn't look too shabby himself in slacks
and a wine shirt which set off his tanned skin and dark eyes.
"Back at you Stokes"
"Can we settle on just calling me Nick tonight, this is dinner not work
related"
"Sorry Nick, yeah sure no shop talk or references" ok so sue me but I am
taking that comment as proof to myself that it's a date.
"Where are we eating"
"L'ecrivan, a great French restaurant, you will love it".
Over dinner the banter and chat was easy and there were no awkward
silences, our conversation topics ranged from family, hobbies to previous
relationships. It was a wonderful evening. We even discussed our most
embarrassing moments ever in every kind of situation.
Pulling the car up at my house, "Come in for coffee Nick?" I asked
unsurely.
"Sure, but I am making it, no offence"
"That's fine, I know my skills in the kitchen are limited, but I assure you
they are unlimited in the rest of the house"
"I am sure they are pet" Nick winked at me "Mine are good only in two
rooms"
Now I refuse to reply to that one, no more challenges from me. It could get
me in trouble, again.
The atmosphere had suddenly changed and we seemed awkward with each other.
Leaning against the Kitchen counter while Nick busied himself with the
coffeemaker, I was suddenly unsure of saying anything that wouldn't sound
stupid in my head.
Suddenly Nick turned around and face me and he didn't have a cup of coffee
in his had to give me.
"Sara, look can we cut the crap here, I like you very much and I know you
like me and the dancing around it is fun, am " frustrated sigh "but it's
not what I want anymore. I want to be with you, ...now that sounds bad,
...am, ....not in the biblical sense, I mean of course in the biblical
sense ..but ...not yet, ..if you don't want to and ......"
Nick was obviously loosing his braveness here so he just lean in and
stroked my cheek and simply said, "you know what I mean" and kissed me.
A slow rush of excitement rushed through my stomach and suddenly I felt
very light headed. I was kissing Nick.
Nick pulled away slowly "I have to go Sara",
"You don't have to go, I want you to stay nick, Please" I was enjoying this
too much to let him leave. Brazen aren't I.
"No, I should go, I will see you tomorrow" and with that he left,
Yeah he left all right, left me feeling like and idiot.
Well Nick Stokes could go to hell if he thought I was going to be left
standing like and idiot after putting myself out there. I knew I was being
stupid. He had put himself out there too but it didn't stop me cringing
with how he just left, after I had asked him to stay. Banging doors on the
way, I went to the drinks cabinet, took out a bottle of vodka and white
lemonade and retired to my bed. We will see who walks out on whom in
future.
Thanks to all reviewers, you know who you are and you are great. Thanks for
the reviews. It makes me want to write sooner and quicker.
In the break room, having relayed what Warrick and I had learned it was the
other pair's turn.
"Well we went to the publishing house and spoke with everyone possible.
Only one man admitted knowing anything about this club and that was the
director, Ralph Moore, middle aged Irish guy, seems to know a lot about the
publishing business and was rated in the times last year, in the top ten
publishers that any author would want" Nick looked down at his notes and
continued.
" He was clear and concise about his actions with Ms Keilty's, when he
realised what was going on he fired Ms. Keilty's friend who was a
copywriter named Marshall Segal, incidentally is in the interrogation room
with brass, Ms. Keilty's book was thrown out of the publishing list and
she was pretty angry it seems but not as angry as this Segal chap"
Catherine continued, "Apparently he was a brother of the school janitor,
which is how one might suppose he met this Ms. Keilty, who's first name is
Claire by the way, they were an item and he is the reason her book ever got
looked at"
"What was this book about anyhow, seeing as it seems to be the root of all
problem's?" my curiosity about books was well known.
"Some kind of expose on one of our high profile actor's and his wife, they
were into some sordid criminal dealings apparently, she was going to blow
the lid off their squeaky clean image" Nick replied.
"That's hardly literature now is it" I had a great distain for books of
that inclination.
"Each to there own, I suppose. But it is not my cup of tea either" it was
one of the few views that Catherine and I shared.
Brass entered "This Segal character is a nasty piece of work, has no
conviction's but was accused of rape a few times, and Grievous Bodily Harm
against an elderly lady, mean guy, I have a subpoena for his house, any
takers?"
"There all going" Grissom smiled. "Except me, I have something to take care
of" and with a quick glance at Catherine he left.
"And after this we are hitting your wardrobe aren't we Sara, something
slinky I believe?" Catherine asked.
"Slinky huh, is that for the Ball or for after it" Warrick whispered in my
ear.
Nick of course, was grinning ear to ear.
Turning red and making a face I left the room to the sound of Warrick's
guffaws
~~~~~~~~~~~
Processing the scene was not difficult, the idiot Segal hadn't hidden a
thing, rope, gloves, and a large wrench (with hair and blood on it) were in
his garage. This was looking too easy.
"I know we have to check DNA but this looks open and shut doesn't it, maybe
too much so" Nick looked thoughtful.
"Well we appear to have enough evidence to arrest, but I am thinking that
seeing as the crime scenes were so clean, this is just a little too messy
for the type of killer I thought we were dealing with" Grissom agreed with
Nick. "I am going to interview this Ralph Moore again before I have a talk
with Segal. But that's as much as we can do now guy's"
***********
The door bell rang incessantly, god didn't they know I worked nights.
I cocked an eye to look at the clock and read 2.45 pm.
"Open the door Sara, you cant avoid this! C'mon kid."
"Good morning, Catherine and thanks for the wake up call
"I got something for you. A beautiful gown, if you're ready to get back in
the saddle again."
I winced at Catherine's reminder that I had not gone out for at least two
months. My involvement with Hank, who used me to cheat on his girlfriend,
was still painful to remember. My trust is not given out easily and to be
betrayed like that, considering I though of my self as a good CSI was
brutal to my ego.
"I am up" I yelled struggling to adjust to the light while opening the
door.
"Hey its ages away Catherine, No need to panic yet"
"No its two day's away Sara, and I am panicked, there are so many nice
eligible men in the Police force these days and they are reliable, nice
guys who are probably not axe murderers" Catherine looked frustrated with
my lack of enthusiasm. "And not to mention you are going with one the
nicest, best looking, intelligent of the lot"
"You think so do you?"
"Yes I do, and so do you so don't even attempt to deny it" She then opened
the Bag she was carrying and took out a red dress.
"Red Catherine, Red! I am not going looking like a harlot, and where is the
rest of it," I pointed at the one strap that would hold it up. The dress
was obviously designer, Prada I would learn in a minute, long flowing
material with sequence sparingly dotted around the bottom. The top was
halter neck and fitted at the waist. The more I looked at it the more
beautiful I thought it was, and I also was becoming increasingly worried
that I would never pull that dress off"
"Nonsense, you have a lovely figure and you will look amazing, now try it
on, I have to get back to Lindsay, she's at a friends house".
Moments later trying to walk in the high read sandals she had also brought,
I walked out to show Catherine.
"Well you look just fabulous, you really do, I will fix your hair up in a
French knot and minimal makeup save for mascara and lipstick and you will
be practically Cinderella"
Catherine looked delighted.
If the truth be known I quite liked the way I looked and was quite excited
about it really. Nick in a suit, me in a dress, wine and dancing, it
sounded like so much fun. And fun I did need.
My cell rang at that minute, "Sidle" I spoke into the phone.
"Hey it's Nick, don't you have caller ID turned on, and you know how
important that is"
"I do, I was just distracted when I picked up the phone, anyway what's up?"
"Just wondering if you would like dinner tonight seeing as the case is
apparently closed and were both off?"
"Sure, I am not doing anything else, what time"
"Well I am delighted to take you away from your boredom" his voice sounded
disappointed but he carried on "about 7, I will pick you up, see you then"
Catherine had overheard our conversation; damn it for having a good cell
phone the connection was always way too good. Perks of CSI's could be a
drawback.
"We just may need to organise an outfit for tonight too, and I though
Warrick was seeing and hearing things, this is a turn up, a good one
nevertheless. Point me in the direction of your good clothes, nothing you
have ever worn to work"
"Look Catherine, I don't know what Warrick knows or has said but I
guarantee you its more that I do, I really don't know what's happening and
even though I don't know I think this is happening way too fast"
"Look Sara, take it as slow as you want. Nick is a great guy and when you
do figure out what is happening he will be there. I am sorry, I am only
teasing, I just care about the two of you a lot and I can't think of a
better man for you" Catherine looked at me in a motherly glow. One I was
not used too from her, the boys normally needing her motherliness, never
me.
After picking out an outfit for me for the second time, Catherine left with
the parting words "Don't do anything I wouldn't do"
"That leaves me with plenty of scope Catherine " we laughed as we said our
goodbyes.
Nervous I couldn't eat. It wasn't a date was it, why couldn't guys ever be
more specific when the asked you out. Women always seem to second-guess
motives behind everything. I mean is he feeling sorry for me or is he
interested in me. Now I knew in my heart that the later was more likely, I
think its easier believe the not so flattering stuff.
At quarter off 7 I heard a car pull up and then the doorbell ring.
Nervously, I patted my low-rise jeans and turned in the mirror for a rear
view, vain I know but who can help it faced with a date of such calibre.
My Blue v-neck top which was short enough to expose my stomach, looked ok
and not to overdone I thought as I went to open my door.
"Hey Sara, you look great" Nick didn't look too shabby himself in slacks
and a wine shirt which set off his tanned skin and dark eyes.
"Back at you Stokes"
"Can we settle on just calling me Nick tonight, this is dinner not work
related"
"Sorry Nick, yeah sure no shop talk or references" ok so sue me but I am
taking that comment as proof to myself that it's a date.
"Where are we eating"
"L'ecrivan, a great French restaurant, you will love it".
Over dinner the banter and chat was easy and there were no awkward
silences, our conversation topics ranged from family, hobbies to previous
relationships. It was a wonderful evening. We even discussed our most
embarrassing moments ever in every kind of situation.
Pulling the car up at my house, "Come in for coffee Nick?" I asked
unsurely.
"Sure, but I am making it, no offence"
"That's fine, I know my skills in the kitchen are limited, but I assure you
they are unlimited in the rest of the house"
"I am sure they are pet" Nick winked at me "Mine are good only in two
rooms"
Now I refuse to reply to that one, no more challenges from me. It could get
me in trouble, again.
The atmosphere had suddenly changed and we seemed awkward with each other.
Leaning against the Kitchen counter while Nick busied himself with the
coffeemaker, I was suddenly unsure of saying anything that wouldn't sound
stupid in my head.
Suddenly Nick turned around and face me and he didn't have a cup of coffee
in his had to give me.
"Sara, look can we cut the crap here, I like you very much and I know you
like me and the dancing around it is fun, am " frustrated sigh "but it's
not what I want anymore. I want to be with you, ...now that sounds bad,
...am, ....not in the biblical sense, I mean of course in the biblical
sense ..but ...not yet, ..if you don't want to and ......"
Nick was obviously loosing his braveness here so he just lean in and
stroked my cheek and simply said, "you know what I mean" and kissed me.
A slow rush of excitement rushed through my stomach and suddenly I felt
very light headed. I was kissing Nick.
Nick pulled away slowly "I have to go Sara",
"You don't have to go, I want you to stay nick, Please" I was enjoying this
too much to let him leave. Brazen aren't I.
"No, I should go, I will see you tomorrow" and with that he left,
Yeah he left all right, left me feeling like and idiot.
Well Nick Stokes could go to hell if he thought I was going to be left
standing like and idiot after putting myself out there. I knew I was being
stupid. He had put himself out there too but it didn't stop me cringing
with how he just left, after I had asked him to stay. Banging doors on the
way, I went to the drinks cabinet, took out a bottle of vodka and white
lemonade and retired to my bed. We will see who walks out on whom in
future.