Part 7

After what seemed like hours of looking into the microscope, Nick stretched the tired muscles in his neck. He'd only agreed to do the lab work on the off chance he might meet up with Willow again. As he was a higher level than Warrick he could easily pull rank and make him do the grunt work.

A small smile quirked his lips as he thought about the redheaded rookie that had recently joined their team.  He hadn't really gotten to know her as well as he'd like to, but he expected that to change. They were a cohesive team now and he hoped he and the others were easing any awkward feelings that Willow might have.

As if his thoughts had come to life, Nick watched Willow as she walked through the lab's double doors and gave him a cheery wave before turning toward Greg.

Greg was lightly pounding out a rhythm on the desk as he waited for the computer to spit out the results that Sara needed for her case.  Lazily humming a tune he didn't notice Willow until she lightly cleared her throat to get his attention. "Hey, beautiful. Finally ready to dump the old man and spend time with me?"

Nick grinned and shook his head at Greg's lame attempt of flirtation with Willow and the grin broadened to a huge smile as he saw that Grissom had entered through the other doors behind Greg.

"Actually the OLD MAN wanted to spend time with you."

Greg closed his eyes and grimaced.  Why did Gris always catch him and make him feel like he was two years old?

Willow smiled sympathetically at Greg and handed him her evidence bags for study before turning her attention to Nick.

"Hi." Nick greeted her with a smile. "How's the spontaneous aging case coming along?"

"Oh I had a run of the mill gunshot wound this time."

Nick wrinkled his brow in confusion, "I thought Grissom said that you had an identical case before you left earlier."

Willow grinned at him, "GRISSOM did have an identical case but mine, however, was the second victim which was the gunshot wound."

"So, only one of the victims had the aging? Signs of a struggle with the gunshot victim?"

"No signs of forced entry. According to the officer one of the windows had been open but when we arrived on the scene the window was closed. I'm not sure if that was the entry point or not, I did take some pictures and samples around the window and surrounding area. 'Never rule anything out no matter how improbable'."

"Sounds like something Grissom would say." Nick glanced around the lab and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Gil and Greg were still deep in discussion. He didn't need any witnesses to his potential failure.  "I'm finished here, want to grab a bite to eat?"

"Sure, let me just get cleaned up." Willow smiled over her shoulder as she made her way back to the women's locker room.  She wondered if it was normal to always get together after shift and eat or if they were just doing it to make her feel more welcome.

Either way it was nice.

"Ready to eat?" Willow asked as she met Nick in the hallway.

"Always."

"So are the others meeting us there?"

"Just us."

Willow's heart jumped into her throat at Nick's words. Was this a date? She looked over at him through her lashes. Nah, get a grip, Rosenberg. This was a co-worker just being nice to the new guy. The others were probably busy and he got stuck with the short end of the straw to be nice to the rookie.

"Umm, we don't have to eat if you don't want to. I mean I'm sure you've got other plans and I won't mind, honest.  You guys have made me feel welcome already."

Nick stopped beside his car and placed his hand softly on Willow's elbow. "Willow, I didn't ask the others if they wanted to come. This isn't a be nice to rookie breakfast, this is me wanting to get to know you better."

Her eyes widened and her face flushed a light pink. All that came out was a squeak of "Oh." Willow cleared her throat, took a calming breath and began again, "So, where are we eating? Same place as yesterday?"

"Nope, thought I'd take you someplace different."

~~~~

"This is great." Willow looked out of the bank of windows that gave an expansive view of the desert in the early morning light.

"I'm glad you like it. So, how what made you want to get into Criminalistics?"

Willow relaxed, this she could handle. No questions about her life outside of work.

"Someone very close to me was killed and when the Crime Scene Investigators came I was captivated by everything they did. I wanted others to have closure like I had. I decided I wanted to be the one that found the answers for the victim's family and friends. What about you?"

"My parents are lawyers. Dad's on the Texas Supreme court now and mom's still a public defender. It was sort of expected of all of us to go into law enforcement of some kind.  I'd always been a science geek so Criminalistics was a great way to compromise. Do something I love and still remain within tradition."

"How'd you come to Las Vegas from Texas?"

Nick gave her a lopsided smile, "I wanted to make it on my own. When I was at Rice, we played UNLV and I fell in love with Vegas. What about you? Why Vegas?"

Willow smiled at the reaction she would have gotten if she told him the truth. "Honest? I'd heard Grissom give a lecture at UCLA and when an opportunity to come to Vegas came up I jumped at the chance. Of course my best friend getting accepted into the Homicide division here didn't hurt."

"Who's your friend?"

"Buffy Summers."

"Buffy? You're friends with Buffy?" A wide smile split Nick's face.

Willow sighed, another one falls under the charming spell of Buffy. "You know Buffy?"

"Not officially but Warrick hasn't shut up about her since she appeared at his crime scene this morning."

Willow began to ask Nick about Warrick's meeting with Buffy when the sound of a beeper interrupted.

They both looked down at their waists to see which beeper was buzzing.

"It's me." Willow said with a sigh. "Sorry, I'll be right back."

Nick watched as Willow wound her way through the tables, into the lobby of the restaurant and out the front door. He turned back around to the windows to see if he could glimpse Willow. He found if he shifted his weight to the left and craned his neck a bit he could just see the outer edge of the parking lot where Willow stood.

Willow's back was to him but he read her body language. Whatever the news was, it wasn't good. Her shoulders had slumped a bit like a weight had been put on them and she nervously twisted a lock of hair as she talked.

He quickly sat back when he saw Willow close her cell phone and start back toward the lobby.

Nick stood at Willow's entrance, "Everything okay?"

"I'm so sorry, but I have to go."

"That's all right. Where do you want me to drop you?"

CRAP! The fates were conspiring against her. First, her first case was turning out to be Hellmouth worthy. Second, Giles friend Ben had just shown up and third, Xander had driven her to work so now she had to rely on Nick.

"A friend's house if you don't mind."

"Nope, let's go."

A/N: Next part is the anticipated Science meets Supernatural.  :)