See first chapter for authorship, disclaimers, etc.
Sorry if the case is a little weak. Its just an excuse to play with the characters. I've been threatened with a mariachi band if I don't continue quickly, so on with the show…
Chapter 2:
On the drive back to the lab, all three were silent. Warrick and Sara were both trying to think about the case, but their minds kept switching back to the picture. Grissom was also contemplating the picture, and what it meant for his two passengers. His good humor had started to return as his hearing cleared up, and he had to say (to himself – at that point, Warrick and Sara probably wouldn't have appreciated it) that he liked the idea of his two protégés together. He resolved to indulge himself in a little matchmaking, should the opportunity present itself.
Back at the lab, the three went their separate ways. Sara started to deconstruct the furnace, and soon found an obstruction that prevented carbon monoxide from escaping quickly. Eventually, the furnace had malfunctioned and shut off, but not before the 8 people succumbed to the colorless, odorless gas. Warrick checked in with the coroners about the autopsies, then went to work on some of the other evidence. A PDA one of the victims left by his bed soon revealed a suicide note. By the time Grissom came to tell them when the eight had died, Sara and Warrick could tell him how and why.
Warrick headed down the hall to the locker room. It was time to call it a day. Nick called to him "Hey, Warrick. Wait up." and jogged down the hall to catch up.
"Hey man," Warrick greeted his friend. "How'd your case go?"
"Open and shut. The best kind. You?"
As they entered the locker room, Warrick filled Nick in on the case.
"By the way, nice picture of you and Sara in the paper yesterday."
"Thanks" Warrick mumbled, half-dreading, half-wanting the conversation that followed.
"Boy that was quite some look you were giving her. And quite some look she was giving you. Intense…" Nick trailed off. "Is there something going on between the two of you?"
"No, man! No way!" Warrick protested "But…do I really look at her like that?"
"Like a starving man looking at a steak, my friend." Nick said, with some satisfaction. "I've seen you look at her like that before, but it was so brief, I thought I was imagining things. Now" Nick said, holding up the newspaper "I have photographic evidence. So, what are you going to do?"
"Do? Nothing."
"Nothing! Warrick, come on, man! You clearly are interested in her. She obviously is interested in you. Why-"
"Obviously?" Warrick protested "There's nothing obvious about it. She hates me. Think about why she came here. Think about our whole three year history. Think" he held up his hand when Nick tried to speak "about whatever it is she has with Grissom."
"I don't think she has anything with Grissom except a deep and abiding respect. And besides, none of that matters. Look at this picture and tell me any of that matters."
"It would never work." Warrick said softly "It would affect our performance It-"
"First of all, I have no problem with it affecting your work. More room for me! But seriously, its not going to affect either of y'all's work. The way you two work together is scary already, I can't imagine what will happen if y'all are dating."
"I don't know, man."
"Just think about it, OK? Just think about it."
In the woman's locker room, the conversation was following a remarkably similar path, even if the two women were not as close as Nick and Warrick.
"Quite some picture of you and Warrick in the paper today. Whew! Talk about a smoldering look." Catherine exclaimed as she sat down outside her locker.
Sara was facing away from Catherine as she parroted Grissom's earlier words "Thanks. The sheriff will be pleased."
"The sheriff!" Catherine turned to face the younger woman "Who cares about the sheriff!?! You and Warrick should be pleased. It's a great picture! How long has this been going on?"
"How long has what been going on? There's nothing 'going on' between me and Warrick"
"That's not what this picture says. Look at the way you look at each other. There is definitely something to this."
"No, Catherine, really, there's not. I didn't even know I looked at him like that. I'm sure it was just a fluke, a strange angle or something. Besides, Warrick hates me."
"No fluke here, Sara. I've seen you look at him like this before. And him at you, just never at the same time. He doesn't hate you."
"Of course he hates me. I've investigated him twice! The whole reason I came here in the first place was to investigate him. We clash over cases all the time."
"This look," Catherine held up the paper "Is not hate. And rarely have I seen you two clash on an investigation-"
"You weren't here for the forgery case."
"You guys work really well together processing scenes."
"Professionalism."
"No, Sara." Catherine leaned in to emphasize her point. "Not professionalism. Or at least, not just that. You two have some sort of connection. The way you both think at a crime scene complement each other."
"Cath-" Sara was getting uncomfortable with the conversation "There is nothing there. Please just drop it."
"Ok, I'll drop it for now, but don't think you're getting out of it, my dear."
Warrick and Sara both headed home that day lost in thought, somewhat troubled by the day's events. Their coworkers had the same events on their mind, but were much more intrigued—maybe even pleased—by the happenings.
FINIS
A/N part 2: And another part done! I know what I'm gonna do for the 3rd part, but would take suggestions for the 4th. I feel like I lost Sara's character a bit at the end, but I've been threatened with a mariachi band, so I thought I'd better post it anyway, since I'll be away from my computer for Thanksgiving. Since that is the case, please, no bands, mariachi or otherwise, till at least the middle of next week.