Friends: New & Old
Chapter 3 - Dinner and Talk
6:01p.m. Saturday May 11
The Hotel
"Sara?" Nick asked as he knocked on the door between their rooms. "Sara?" He repeated knocking louder.
"Mmm . . ." Sara mumbled, trying to wake up.
"Sara can I come in?" Nick asked.
"Sure." She replied, sitting up in bed and stretching..
Nick opened the door and walked in Sara's room. "Glad to see you are finally awake." He told her coming to sit on the end of her bed.
"How long did I sleep?" Then she looked down and saw what she was wearing, 'Why am I in my regular clothes and in bed?' She thought.
"I don't know. I came in here about three. The door was open so I went to shut it and you were asleep in that chair over there." Nick answered pointing to the chair she had been working in. "I just picked you up and put you on the bed. I thought it might be more comfortable."
Sara could feel the red coming to her face as she thought about Nick picking her up 'tucking' her in. "Oh, thanks."
"No problem. OK, I have already talked with Sydney. You don't have to get dress up but 'just looking nice' is the term she used, I figured you are both women and would know how fancy that is. Anyway you might want to get up and get dressed. I'll be back later." He stood up to leave then turned back around to face her and said, "It'll take about fifteen minutes to get there if I don't get lost, so I want to leave about six forty-five. OK?"
"Yeah fine I'll be done by then. I want to take a shower too." She said getting up and heading to the bathroom.
"OK, fine." Nick replied as he left her room and closed the door behind him.
7:01p.m. Saturday May 11, 2002
Pasados
"Looks old. Are those cracks in the walls?" Sara commented as she and Nick pulled up to the old and worn out looking, restaurant.
"I think that's the way it is supposed to look, Sara," Nick replied.
"Why?"
"To give off the appearance of actually being in a Mexican restaurant in Mexico."
"Who in their right mind would want to go to Mexico?"
"Sara, I realize you have never been in Texas before and you don't understand how, and why, we do the things we do, but come on give Texas a chance. It's really not that bad."
"I'm sorry, you're right. Come on they are probably waiting. Anyway I can not wait to hear all about your childhood," Sara told him as she got out of the car and headed up to the front door of the restaurant.
'Oh man! What have I gotten myself into?' Nick questioned as he quickly got out of the car and locked it and ran to catch up with Sara. As he caught up with her he found her with a waitress asking about Sydney.
"Right this way ma'am," The waitress told Sara as she walked off toward the back of the restaurant. Sara and followed her till they saw Sydney and Gage, at a table set for four, talking.
"Sydney," Nick said trying to get her attention.
Sydney head shot straight up, and she stood up as she saw Nick, "Oh, Nicholas, good you're here."
"Have I ever broken a promise to you?" He asked as he walked closer to the table with Sara right beside him.
"Anyway, Nicholas, Sara, you remember Gage?" Sydney asked as she motioned in Gage's direction.
"Yes, of course," Nick replied as he shook Gage's hand. Then he kissed Sydney's cheek and pulled out her chair for her sit down in.
"Thanks Nicholas." He just nodded then pulled out a chair for Sara.
"Yeah thanks, Nicky." Sara told him. 'Where is my kiss?' Sara thought. 'Wait what am I saying? This is Nick we are talking about.'
The waitress walked over toward the table, "Are you ready to order?" They all placed their orders and the waitress walked off.
"So, Sydney," Sara began, "What was Nick like as a kid? I mean if I don't get something on him before I leave, Warrick will kill me."
"Oh come on Sara. I thought we would get at least our meal before we would get into all that." Nick told her.
"Nicky you know it had to be asked. So why not get it over with now?" Nick just smirked at her, and Sara did the same back. "Sydney?"
"I would be extremely happy to tell you. But first, who is War . . . ?" Sydney asked.
"Warrick?" Sara supplied, to which Sydney nodded yes. "We work with him. Along with Catherine and Grissom, and now Greg. Warrick is also a close friend of ours." Sara answered.
"Oh. OK, now what shall I tell you about Nicholas?" Sydney began, "Well, believe it or not he was pretty shy when he was really young, up until about age seven. Then all of a sudden he became a daredevil and bold and way too outspoken. This is where he always seemed to get trouble. I remember his dad having the hardest time trying to figure out something, anything, that he could do to punish Nicholas. Less then two years later he just gave up and went right to the whole 'If we can't stop him, let's teach him different' approach. Basically he started teaching Nicholas and his brother to learn 'how to be a Texas gentlemen'. Nicholas' brother hated it about as much as Nicholas did. I don't know how much they actually learned, but those days after his 'lessons' he would come over to my house and the look on his face was priceless." Sydney concluded.
"We always wondered where he got his Texas charm." Sara spoke somewhat softly.
"Texas Charm?" Sydney asked.
"That is the term those at the lab use, I have no idea where it came from or why they say that," Nick said raising his hands as if in protest.
"Yeah right," Sara commented.
The waitress came back with their food and they began to eat. A couple of minutes later Sara spoke up again, "I am sorry but I have been dying to ask you this Sydney. Why do you call Nick, Nicholas?"
Sydney let out a small laugh then told Sara, "I really don't remember why exactly, but when I was little I started calling everyone by their full first name. I thought a person should go by the name their parents gave them. I realized not everyone thought that so I didn't really care if no one else did this to others as long as they called me 'Sydney'."
"Oh, how interesting." Sara replied.
"Yeah, she wouldn't hesitate to kick a person's butt if they called her absolutely anything but Sydney." Nick said.
"Like I said that was a long time ago, when I was a kid," Sydney replied.
"So I take you don't care anymore?" Nick asked.
"Oh, I care, but from some people I don't mind." Sydney told him.
"Like who? Does big, bad Miss Texas Ranger have a boyfriend?" Nick teased her.
"NO! Now cool it Stokes, you know what I am capable of." Sydney replied.
"OK, OK, I surrender." Nick told her trying very hard to keep from laughing. Several minutes passed as they continued to eat. "Gage you have been awfully quiet. I haven't heard from Sydney in seven years. So tell me, is she still the rough and tough show no emotions Sydney I used to know?" Nick asked. He saw Gage glance over at Sydney she avoided his eye.
"Well, like she said before she still is really tough and strong. I don't know about showing no emotions. Sure she tries not to let things affect her, but it's better that way in our line of work. You have care, but you can't let it affect you." Gage said.
'I know the feeling but it's not that easy.' Sara thought.
"Nick if you really want to know then you would have to talk to Alex. They are pretty close." Gage told Nick.
"Would this be DA Alex Cahill-Walker?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, do you know her?" Sydney asked.
"Not really, but I know Walker," Nick said. When he got the confused looks from Sydney and Gage, he continued, "When I first became a cop then decided to switch to a CSI, Walker was my mentor. Sydney, when I called you to find out more about tonight, Walker answered. We got caught up. I had no idea that you worked with him."
"Yeah we do. Wow! How interesting. Nicholas, is your mom still a public defender?" Sydney asked.
"Yeah, I am surprised that you don't know that. I mean she's still in Dallas so I am shocked with all the 'bad guys' you bring in, you haven't had to testify in one of her cases." Nick said.
"I am sure Nick's mom is really smart, she probably knew she couldn't defend any one Sydney brought in. She only brings them in if they're guilty. Then there's conflict of interest." Gage replied.
"Yeah." Sydney said.
They finished off their meal and the waitress came back and took their plates and came back to offer dessert. "How many sophapias will it be tonight?" She asked.
"I would love one, thank you," Gage told her.
"Me too," Sydney said.
"Me three," Nick said. Then he continued, "Sara?"
"What is it?" Sara asked.
"She'll have one also," Nick told the waitress and she left.
"Nick?" Sara asked.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"What is a sofa . . . ?" Sara began.
"Sophapia?" He supplied. She nodded her head yes. "It is really good. I promise. You'll love it."
Within a few moments the waitress came back and gave them each a fresh, fluffy sophapia. "Enjoy!" she said.
"Thanks," Nick said as he grabbed the container of honey on the table and began to work on 'doctoring up' Sara's sophapia.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Patience," He told her as he finished hers and began on his. When he finished he handed the honey to Sydney. "Now Sara just eat it."
"It's not going to poison me?" Sara asked and Nick shock his head no. "There is no meat in it?"
"Sara just eat it. And I would never do either of those things to you." Nick said with a smile.
Sara took a small bite out of the sophapia and then a bigger one. "WOW! This really is good," She told them. The other three just laughed.
After the four of them had finished with dessert, the girls went to the restroom and the waitress came back with the bill. Gage took it and got is billfold out of his back pocket. "I'll take care of it," Nick said.
"No that's OK, we invited you." Gage replied.
"Then at least tell me how much for mine and Sara's meal," Nick told him.
"Fine," Gage said as he gave him the total. They gathered up the rest of their things and headed to the front and they each paid the bill. The girls came back out of the restroom and met the boys outside by the vehicles.
Nick gave Sydney a big hug, then asked her, "Do you have anytime off before Thursday?"
"Tomorrow, and every weekday night unless something comes up. Why?" Sydney said.
"Well tomorrow Sara and I have plans. On Monday night we are going over to my parents' house. Dad's in Austin so it'll just be the three of us. She is cooking one of her famous home-cooked meals. Anyway I was wondering if you wanted to come along." Nick explained.
"Are you sure? I mean I know you probably haven't seen your mom in a while." Sydney asked.
"Of course I'm sure," Nick said.
"OK, then. I haven't seen your mom since . . ." Sydney started.
"I know, so how early can you get off?" Nick said, not wanting to get into the past right now.
"How early are you leaving?" She asked.
"I thought around three, but you can meet us at the house later." He told her.
"I am sure I can get off at three. Monday all I have to do is a lot of paperwork. I am fast at that anyway. Gage will cover for me, won't you?" She asked turning toward Gage who was behind her.
"Sure," Gage replied.
"Great," Sydney said turning back to face Nick and giving him one last hug, "Can you pick me up at the courthouse on Monday? I don't think I can get to your parents' home without getting lost. I haven't been there in forever."
"Absolutely," He told her, "Bye!"
"Bye!" Sydney replied.
"Bye!" Gage said.
"Good bye!" Sara told them.
Sara and Nick got in the SUV and Sydney and Gage got in her car and everyone drove off.
11:47p.m. Saturday May 11
The Hotel
"Home again," Nick said as he opened the door to Sara's room.
"Thanks," Sara said entering her room and plopping herself on the couch, kicking off her shoes. It had been a long night. After they left the restaurant Nick had taken Sara all over the city showing her different things.
"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?"
"Honestly? Yeah."
"See I told you it wouldn't be that bad," He said sitting down in a chair facing here.
"Yeah, anyway,"
"So, what do you think of Sydney?"
"She's nice."
"Yeah, my sixth sister."
"Oh gosh!" Sara said as she got a look at the clock, "It's nearly midnight."
"You look comfortable," He commented.
"I am exhausted."
"Well you can sleep till ten in the morning if you like."
"I think I would like."
"Well I will see you in the morning then. 'Night Sara."
"Wait, Nick?"
"Yeah?"
"I really had a good time tonight."
"I'm glad and so did I."
"Night Sara. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night Nick."
Nick walked out of her room and into his. He leaned back against the joining room door and whispered to himself, "Good night Sara." He went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
10:38p.m. Sunday May 12
The Hotel
"Nick?" Sara asked through the door, knocking very loudly for about the fifth time.
"Just a minute!" He yelled. He quickly got out of the shower and the bathroom and threw a towel around his waist. "Yeah?" He said opening the door.
Sara's face got beet red as she just stood there looking at him, donned in nothing but a towel, with his hair dripping wet. "Oh . . . Nick . . . I am . . . sorry . . . I mean . . . I didn't . . . realize . . ."
"It's OK," He told her. "What did you need?"
"I was . . . just wondering . . ." Sara began fumbling over her words at the site of Nick.
"Yeah?"
"I was just wondering what time we are leaving. I am ready anytime you are and my speech is already written."
"Wow! You are better than I am. I just can't seem to finish that stupid speech. I know what I want to say, but I can't put it into words that someone else, not an experienced CSI, would understand."
"I could help you, if you wanted."
"Oh I would love that, thanks. Come on in," Nick said opening the door a little wider and showing her in. Once she was in and seated on a couch he closed the door. "Here's my paper," He said handing her his speech that he had written so far. "Tell me what I can do to make it better," He told her handing her his out line then leaving, "I'll be right back."
"OK," She said as she watched him leave the room.
Several minutes passed and Nick came back into the room fully clothed. "SO?" He asked. making Sara jump up out of the chair she was sitting in spinning around to face him.
She held her hand to her heart, "Sheesh Nick. Give me a heart attack why don't you?"
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you jump."
"It's OK."
"So, what do you think?"
"I wrote down some ideas you might want to think about."
"Thanks, Sara"
"Yeah no problem."
"So for my original question?"
"Oh yeah. Sorry. I thought we would leave in about an hour. That would give me enough time to finish this speech. Have you eaten anything? My room service cart is right there. It's not much but you are welcome to it," He said pointing to the cart by the bed.
"Thanks but I have already eaten. I better go back to my room now and let you finished up," Sara said getting up and leaving.
"Sara, wait!" Nick said stopping her in her place. "Why don't you stay. I mean . . . I work better with an audience. You could stay in here and keep me company. That's is if you want."
'Heck yeah I want!' She thought. "OK," She said as she went into her room.
'Oh man, where is she going now?' He thought, but then he saw her come back in the room with a book in hand. "What's that?"
"What does it look like?" She asked sitting down on his couch getting comfortable. "It's a book," She said somewhat sarcastically.
"I thought I left all your books in Vegas."
"You left all my forensic related books there. This one was in my other bag. It's a fiction novel."
"Well I am shocked to say the least. I never thought that Sara Sidle would just read for fun, without trying to learn anything."
"I am full of surprises."
"That you are."
They sat like that for the next hour. Sara reading and Nick writing. Occasionally they would steal glances at one another when the other was not looking. When they went down to the meeting room where the seminar was being held they each consecutively gave their speeches. Both did an excellent job and everyone was impressed. Sara wasn't too nervous, and what nerves she had were quickly calmed by Nick. After they finished Nick took her to see more of Dallas. She loved every minute of it and couldn't wait till tomorrow for another day of Texas, with Nick.
To Be Continued . . .