About half an hour later the team boarded the helicopter that was to take them to a hotel Grissom had booked on the Gold coast.
(At hotel)
"Hello how may I help you?" said the service desk clerk.
"Hi we have a booking, under Grissom," Sara approached the desk to check in
"I'm sorry but the party for Grissom is only 2 people."
"What?! But he told us that he had booked a room," exclaimed Nick, his voice rising dangerously
"I'm sorry but if you would like me to make you a separate booking…" said the clerk her voice faded into nothing at the looks on their faces
"Yes thanks 4 rooms please." Nick requested, trying desperately to keep his voice level
"Oh sorry but we only have 2 rooms left. Each containing 1 double bed."
"Come on now this is getting ridicules," Nick thought to himself. To others he said "well we may as well take the rooms… I'll go with Sara and you two can go together."
"What about me Uncle Nick?" Lindsey piped up
"You can come with us Lindsey," Sara replied
"Oh I just love the fact that you just nominated yourself to go with Sara Nick, very suave.," remarked Warrick
"Well I don't exactly want to share a double bed with you, and I don't really know her." Nick said, desperately trying to cover his tracks.
"Well what makes you think that I know her any better?'
"Ahem." By the sound of the cough it appeared that Kathleen was feeling rejected and a little disheartened
"Well sorry, but you know what I mean." Warrick said, not liking to upset Kathleen.
"Come on boys. It will just be better if Nick and me go together and look after Lindsey and that's my final word on the matter," Sara stated, once again trying to regain control over the situation. She turned back to the clerk, "yes WE will take the rooms thank you. And can we please have a spare bed for Lindsey?"
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At the Las Vegas airport Catherine, Grissom and Greg were waiting for their flight. Greg was finding hard not to laugh as he watched Grissom fuss over Catherine.
"Is there anything you need?"
"Yes"
"What is it?"
"For you to stop acting weird and get me a glass of water"
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After arranging their hotel room to their liking the team met once again in the lobby
"Okay. So now we're in Australia, what is there to do?" Warrick questioned Kathleen
"Oh I know," Nick suggested, looking excited, "how about croc hunting?"
The only response was rolling of eyes for Warrick, Sara and Kathleen, as well as a sarcastic, "Crickey!" from Lindsey
"God you're an idiot Nick," Kathleen commented, "We may not be able to croc hunting but we can go to the beach."
"Oh yes", came Lindsey's enthusiastic reply, "Can we Sara, please?"
"You know I'd love to take you Lindsey but we didn't pack swim suits."
"That's ok I've got board shorts," Nick interrupted
"Yeah so do I," Warrick interjected
"Well that's ok for you guys, but that still doesn't solve our problem," Sara said gesturing to herself, Kathleen and Lindsey.
"Sara. Follow me for a moment," Kathleen said, grabbing Sara's arm and leading her to the front of the hotel, "Look out that door and tell me what you see"
"Shops", Sara replied tiredly, "But…"
"Yes exactly, shops. The places where we go shopping" Kathleen said slowly as if she was talking to a small child. At once Sara bristled.
"I know what you do at shops, Kathleen," Sara responded icily
"Oh I'm not sure if you should go shopping," Nick said in a worried tone, " what if you get lost?" In the background Warrick was nodding his head furiously
Kathleen grabbed Nick and Warrick by their arms and dragged them out of earshot of Sara and Lindsey. They began whispering and Sara distinctly heard the words, string bikini before the group broke apart.
"What was that about?" Sara questioned them
"Oh nothing for you to worry your pretty head about," Nick replied,
"Just an incentive to let us go shopping," Kathleen also replied, winking at Nick and Warrick
"Thank you. You may go." Warrick added waving a hand dismissively at Sara, Kathleen and Lindsey
"Thank you for your permission," Kathleen replied her voice dripping with sarcasm.
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Mean while at the Las Vegas airport….
'Flight 675 to Brisbane, Australia boarding now. Flight 675 to Brisbane, Australia boarding now'
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Now the decision was made to let the girls go shopping the guys were facing a very tough decision.
"So what can we do while the girls are out?" Nick asked Warrick
"Oh I know. We go to the nearest bar and get a giant Australian beer."
"Great idea. Do you now where the nearest bar is?"
"Nope. Wouldn't have a clue but there are bars every where and if we can't find one we'll just ask the locals."
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At the shopping centre Kathleen had dragged Sara over to the rack of string bikinis before crying out in triumph
"This is the one Sara. Go on try it on."
Sara looked at the bikini as if it was going to eat her.
"Go on. You want to impress Nick. I know you do". Kathleen insisted
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The flight to Australia was uneventful for Catherine, Grissom and Greg. Apart from triggering the metal detectors at the domestic terminal in Brisbane. On the connecting flight to the Gold Coast, Greg was glued to the window, watching the sand and surf move below them. This however made him subject to Catherine's temper tantrum about him hogging the window and caused him to sopping with her orange juice and move of grumbling to the bathroom.
'This is the last time', he vowed to himself, ' that I go on a plane with Catherine'.
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"I wonder what the girls are doing, right now?" Nick said deep in thought over the top of a large XXXX Gold, beer.
"Talking about me of course," Warrick responded over the top of an equally large beer
"In your dreams Warrick. But seriously, what's with you and Kathleen? She seems to be all over you."
"There's nothing between us," Warrick replied, at once defensive, " But even if there was, nothing would develop. Relationships between friends never work. Right?"
"I'm not sure about that," Nick said eager to have his opinion heard, "Look at Sara and Hank. They were friends first."
"Yeah and look how it ended", Warrick said once again looking disheartened
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At the shops the girls were making their purchases. Kathleen had convinced Sara to by the black bikini, and had found a multi coloured striped one for herself. Lindsey however had scoured the shelves until she had found matching ones for her and her mum. While they were queuing Sara glanced at her watch.
"Lindsey. Your mum's plane should be arriving soon. Do you want to get a cab over to the airport and pick her up?"
"Yeah and I can show her my new swim suit!"
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(About an hour later. Grissom, Catherine and Greg have arrived at the Gold Coast. Lindsey and Warrick were there to meet them. In the elevator)
Sara and Nick were very preoccupied when the elevator bell rang signalling the lift had stopped. The door opened to reveal none other than Greg.
"Greg!" Sara exclaimed in surprise as the elevator began moving upwards, "What are you doing here? I thought you were working"
"No, I took my leave early to come to Australia with Catherine and Grissom and see my snookums" Greg explained, trying desperately to keep a straight face
"What?" Nick asked as the lift stoped at his and Sara's floor
"You coming Greg?" Sara called over her shoulder as she made her way down the corridor.
"No I'm going up to see Kathleen first." As Nick made his way out of the elevator Greg called after him, "Oh and by the way Nick ma-man that lipstick is a really great shade on you, but a word of advice. Next time use a mirror!"
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Ok people. The next chapter will be the last one. Please review (do I have to beg?!)