DISCLAIMER: I don't own them. None of this is mine. This font? Not mine.
Please don't sue me, k?
A/N: Spoilers? Yup! Mostly from Season 4's "Butterflied."
CH.6:
Lurie dressed in a nice pair of khaki Dockers, a button-up shirt, and a dark navy blazer. Casual/nice, as he used to be told by his nurses. He studied himself in the mirror, not altogether displeased with the image. He allowed himself to imagine what Sara would be wearing, and how she would be getting into this outfit possibly at this very moment. He closed his eyes for the briefest of time before thrusting them open. Not yet. He wouldn't allow any of that yet. Sara wasn't some tramp like Debbie that he could quickly bed, and then fall prey to. Sara was different. She would take some time, and coercion. Trust had to be laid down.
"She's not some over-sexed slut!" Lurie growled the words as he adjusted his cuffs. He checked his watch. It was just about time to go. He spotted his doctor's bag tucked neatly to the side of his shoes in the entryway closet, and sighed. He had no desire to take it with him tonight. With Sara there would be no petty competitions to worry about. He grinned as he wiped a bit of dust off of the bag before grabbing his shoes from beside it.
Sara raced around her apartment cleaning, putting away items that might give a less than stellar first impression, and finding her outfit. She used to wear more skirts back in San Francisco on her off hours. Not in Vegas. She had spent an hour digging out the skirt she wanted. The last time she'd worn it had been for the failed undercover operation she'd participated in for the FBI. That seemed like ages ago. Before that night it had been her lucky shirt. Now it was simply her favorite. Luck is damned. She hoped Vincent didn't intend to get 'lucky' tonight. She really liked him, but she hoped he understood she wanted to take things slow. He seemed like he was on the same page though. Sara laughed at herself. This was their first date, and she's already worried about sex! For all she knew he might not even want to keep seeing her. Sara tried to keep her hopes down to earth to avoid the usual slap of disappointment where she and dating was concerned. Somewhere deep in Sara's mind where her cautious common sense lay, she realized she probably should let somebody know she was going out tonight incase something happened, or they got in a wreck. She flipped open her phone, and called Nick.
"Stokes!"
"Hey, Nick. I know you're going to make fun, but I just wanted somebody to know I was going out tonight."
"Bragging, Sara? That's so unlike you." He chuckled.
"For safety reasons, Nicky! I just wanted somebody to know I was going out just in case." She groaned. Maybe she should have called Warrick.
"That's cool. I'll call ya tomorrow to see how it went. Have a good time, Sar. I mean it."
Sara smiled at Nick's sincerity.
"I will. Thanks Nick. Talk to you tomorrow."
She hung up the phone, and touched up her makeup. She glanced in the mirror, hoping not to find anything glaringly bad. As she was popping a breath mint into her mouth, she heard a firm knock on her door, and smiled broadly.
"Hi!" She swung the door open, and took in the sight of him. He looked very nice. She was suddenly very glad she'd chosen the skirt versus dress pants. "Where to?"
Lurie stepped over the threshold into her apartment, taking it all in. He made a mental note of everything he saw. Part of 'The Art of War', his favorite book. Always know your surroundings.
"This is a nice place." He smiled down at her.
She beamed.
"Thanks. It's kind of small, but when I first moved here I hadn't planned on staying."
Sara found herself giving more of her personal details. She didn't usually like to divulge such things, but Vincent drew it out of her. He wanted to know everything about her. It was flattering to her ego, as well as coming across as being sensitive. What Sara didn't realize was that the more Lurie knew, the more power he held over her. The more he knew, the more he could foster her trust in him. Only in him. He knew enough already to know that Sara didn't confide in many people. Outside of work, she didn't seem to have anyone. Perfect. Vincent Lurie didn't like competition.
"You look lovely." Lurie gazed at her approvingly.
"So do you." Sara smiled.
"Ready for dinner?" Lurie held the door open for her as they left the apartment.
Sara almost laughed out loud when she saw that he too drove a Mercedes. Vincent could be Grissom's long lost socially acceptable brother. She wished she could quit comparing the two men. Why did Grissom have to always pop into her head?
Lurie chose a nice restaurant in the Rampart. Sara had heard of it, but had never been there. She refrained from noting that three people had been killed there in the last four years. It didn't seem like proper dinner conversation for a first date. She realized this was the first time since college that she'd dated someone who didn't work in or around law enforcement. They chatted freely as they waited for their order. Lurie was fascinated to learn that Sara was a vegetarian. He would have to make certain that she got plenty of protein. His mind wandered again, and he forced the lurid thoughts from his brain. Control was everything. He must be, and remain in control at all times.
When the food arrived, they ate in relative silence, and Sara was amazed at the fact that it didn't feel awkward. After dinner, they walked along the strip like a coupe of tourists.
"I don't often get to see this side of Vegas from anywhere but behind crime scene tape. This is nice."
"I rarely come uptown myself. I'm not much for crowds." He noted the roving tourists around them. "But it's not so bad tonight." He smiled at her, winning a bright smile in return. How easy it was to win. He sighed at the thought of future pleasures. The evening went so smoothly, he could hardly believe it, right down to the chaste kiss at her doorstep as he dropped her off.
Over the next week, Lurie took Sara too many nice restaurants, clubs, and concerts. He pampered her despite her firm concern that he was spending too much on her. After eight days, he finally asked if she'd like to have dinner at his house. She agreed without hesitation, much to his delight and satisfaction. Debbie had never been in his home. She had always demanded they meet at her home. Sara would be welcomed into his. He spent the entire afternoon cooking an elaborate vegetarian meal. Candles were lit around the dining room, and his bed was fresh, and turned down. Lurie had no doubts. He had laid the foundation firmly. He had left her wanting more with every encounter.
If Sara had been an observer rather than a participant, she would have heeded countless red flags and warning signs by this time. But the human heart is weak, and can be easily played when left neglected for so long. Lurie was a master of the art of war, and Sara was his conquest.
Sara took her time getting ready. She wanted to look perfect for Vincent. She felt her heart racing in her chest. How could she have only met him less than two weeks ago? They had spent nearly every night together. She couldn't believe he wasn't sick of her by now. She'd seen more of Las Vegas in the past week than she had in the previous four years combined. He assured her that if she needed to see a friend, or had other plans he wouldn't mind, but she never had other plans. Sara sighed contentedly as she grabbed her car keys. This was the first time he wasn't picking her up. She hoped she would get the directions right. She grabbed her cell phone, and hit the second speed dial.
"Stokes."
"Hey, Nick. Just checking in." She had grown accustomed to calling Nick before each new date. He didn't mind. It pleased him that she trusted him that way. She was one of his best friends in Vegas.
"This is the night, huh?" He grinned into the phone. "When are we gonna get to meet Prince Charming?"
"Soon. That would be nice. Maybe we could all get together for drinks next week. I'll be back full time at the end of the week you know?" Sara couldn't wait. As much as Vincent had made her time off blissful, she missed her work terribly.
"Well, we've missed you. Have fun. Don't let me hear you were dancing naked on some bar top."
"Haha. Funny. Actually, we're having dinner at his place."
"Whoa. Big move, Sar. Have a nice time."
Sara hummed quietly as she locked her apartment up, and walked to her car.
A/N: Spoilers? Yup! Mostly from Season 4's "Butterflied."
CH.6:
Lurie dressed in a nice pair of khaki Dockers, a button-up shirt, and a dark navy blazer. Casual/nice, as he used to be told by his nurses. He studied himself in the mirror, not altogether displeased with the image. He allowed himself to imagine what Sara would be wearing, and how she would be getting into this outfit possibly at this very moment. He closed his eyes for the briefest of time before thrusting them open. Not yet. He wouldn't allow any of that yet. Sara wasn't some tramp like Debbie that he could quickly bed, and then fall prey to. Sara was different. She would take some time, and coercion. Trust had to be laid down.
"She's not some over-sexed slut!" Lurie growled the words as he adjusted his cuffs. He checked his watch. It was just about time to go. He spotted his doctor's bag tucked neatly to the side of his shoes in the entryway closet, and sighed. He had no desire to take it with him tonight. With Sara there would be no petty competitions to worry about. He grinned as he wiped a bit of dust off of the bag before grabbing his shoes from beside it.
Sara raced around her apartment cleaning, putting away items that might give a less than stellar first impression, and finding her outfit. She used to wear more skirts back in San Francisco on her off hours. Not in Vegas. She had spent an hour digging out the skirt she wanted. The last time she'd worn it had been for the failed undercover operation she'd participated in for the FBI. That seemed like ages ago. Before that night it had been her lucky shirt. Now it was simply her favorite. Luck is damned. She hoped Vincent didn't intend to get 'lucky' tonight. She really liked him, but she hoped he understood she wanted to take things slow. He seemed like he was on the same page though. Sara laughed at herself. This was their first date, and she's already worried about sex! For all she knew he might not even want to keep seeing her. Sara tried to keep her hopes down to earth to avoid the usual slap of disappointment where she and dating was concerned. Somewhere deep in Sara's mind where her cautious common sense lay, she realized she probably should let somebody know she was going out tonight incase something happened, or they got in a wreck. She flipped open her phone, and called Nick.
"Stokes!"
"Hey, Nick. I know you're going to make fun, but I just wanted somebody to know I was going out tonight."
"Bragging, Sara? That's so unlike you." He chuckled.
"For safety reasons, Nicky! I just wanted somebody to know I was going out just in case." She groaned. Maybe she should have called Warrick.
"That's cool. I'll call ya tomorrow to see how it went. Have a good time, Sar. I mean it."
Sara smiled at Nick's sincerity.
"I will. Thanks Nick. Talk to you tomorrow."
She hung up the phone, and touched up her makeup. She glanced in the mirror, hoping not to find anything glaringly bad. As she was popping a breath mint into her mouth, she heard a firm knock on her door, and smiled broadly.
"Hi!" She swung the door open, and took in the sight of him. He looked very nice. She was suddenly very glad she'd chosen the skirt versus dress pants. "Where to?"
Lurie stepped over the threshold into her apartment, taking it all in. He made a mental note of everything he saw. Part of 'The Art of War', his favorite book. Always know your surroundings.
"This is a nice place." He smiled down at her.
She beamed.
"Thanks. It's kind of small, but when I first moved here I hadn't planned on staying."
Sara found herself giving more of her personal details. She didn't usually like to divulge such things, but Vincent drew it out of her. He wanted to know everything about her. It was flattering to her ego, as well as coming across as being sensitive. What Sara didn't realize was that the more Lurie knew, the more power he held over her. The more he knew, the more he could foster her trust in him. Only in him. He knew enough already to know that Sara didn't confide in many people. Outside of work, she didn't seem to have anyone. Perfect. Vincent Lurie didn't like competition.
"You look lovely." Lurie gazed at her approvingly.
"So do you." Sara smiled.
"Ready for dinner?" Lurie held the door open for her as they left the apartment.
Sara almost laughed out loud when she saw that he too drove a Mercedes. Vincent could be Grissom's long lost socially acceptable brother. She wished she could quit comparing the two men. Why did Grissom have to always pop into her head?
Lurie chose a nice restaurant in the Rampart. Sara had heard of it, but had never been there. She refrained from noting that three people had been killed there in the last four years. It didn't seem like proper dinner conversation for a first date. She realized this was the first time since college that she'd dated someone who didn't work in or around law enforcement. They chatted freely as they waited for their order. Lurie was fascinated to learn that Sara was a vegetarian. He would have to make certain that she got plenty of protein. His mind wandered again, and he forced the lurid thoughts from his brain. Control was everything. He must be, and remain in control at all times.
When the food arrived, they ate in relative silence, and Sara was amazed at the fact that it didn't feel awkward. After dinner, they walked along the strip like a coupe of tourists.
"I don't often get to see this side of Vegas from anywhere but behind crime scene tape. This is nice."
"I rarely come uptown myself. I'm not much for crowds." He noted the roving tourists around them. "But it's not so bad tonight." He smiled at her, winning a bright smile in return. How easy it was to win. He sighed at the thought of future pleasures. The evening went so smoothly, he could hardly believe it, right down to the chaste kiss at her doorstep as he dropped her off.
Over the next week, Lurie took Sara too many nice restaurants, clubs, and concerts. He pampered her despite her firm concern that he was spending too much on her. After eight days, he finally asked if she'd like to have dinner at his house. She agreed without hesitation, much to his delight and satisfaction. Debbie had never been in his home. She had always demanded they meet at her home. Sara would be welcomed into his. He spent the entire afternoon cooking an elaborate vegetarian meal. Candles were lit around the dining room, and his bed was fresh, and turned down. Lurie had no doubts. He had laid the foundation firmly. He had left her wanting more with every encounter.
If Sara had been an observer rather than a participant, she would have heeded countless red flags and warning signs by this time. But the human heart is weak, and can be easily played when left neglected for so long. Lurie was a master of the art of war, and Sara was his conquest.
Sara took her time getting ready. She wanted to look perfect for Vincent. She felt her heart racing in her chest. How could she have only met him less than two weeks ago? They had spent nearly every night together. She couldn't believe he wasn't sick of her by now. She'd seen more of Las Vegas in the past week than she had in the previous four years combined. He assured her that if she needed to see a friend, or had other plans he wouldn't mind, but she never had other plans. Sara sighed contentedly as she grabbed her car keys. This was the first time he wasn't picking her up. She hoped she would get the directions right. She grabbed her cell phone, and hit the second speed dial.
"Stokes."
"Hey, Nick. Just checking in." She had grown accustomed to calling Nick before each new date. He didn't mind. It pleased him that she trusted him that way. She was one of his best friends in Vegas.
"This is the night, huh?" He grinned into the phone. "When are we gonna get to meet Prince Charming?"
"Soon. That would be nice. Maybe we could all get together for drinks next week. I'll be back full time at the end of the week you know?" Sara couldn't wait. As much as Vincent had made her time off blissful, she missed her work terribly.
"Well, we've missed you. Have fun. Don't let me hear you were dancing naked on some bar top."
"Haha. Funny. Actually, we're having dinner at his place."
"Whoa. Big move, Sar. Have a nice time."
Sara hummed quietly as she locked her apartment up, and walked to her car.