Friends: New & Old
Chapter 6 - The Third Degree And The Performance
9:11p.m. Thursday May 16
Sydney's House
As soon as the three women arrived at Sydney's, Sara declared she was going to take a shower. That left Sydney and Catherine to talk. They started talking about trivial things, then Sydney started talking about a more important matter. "Catherine, I have a question for you."
"What is it?" Catherine asked curious.
"Nicholas. You see him all the time. You see him around Sara and other women. Right?"
"Yeah, of course. I am afraid though I still have no clue what you are asking me."
"Does Nicholas flirt with every woman he sees?"
Catherine let out a small laugh then replied, "No, not really. We just credit it to his 'Texas charm'."
"I heard about that. Anyway, what I really want to know is do you know if Sara likes Nicholas? I mean as more than a friend."
"Oh, yeah!" Catherine said laughing. "Sara and I are not the best of friends, so she does not tell me much. I know however that there is something going on with them that neither one of them are willing to admit."
"Thanks, I was just wondering. He admitted Monday that he really liked and cared for Sara."
"I think she feels the same why. I am not really surprised about the admission though."
"What admission?" Sara asked emerging from the bathroom.
"Nothing," Catherine said a little too quickly then called for and practically ran to the bathroom.
"Was it something I said?" Sara asked teasingly as she sat down in the seat Catherine had just recently vacated.
"Yes and no," Sydney responded.
Sara was confused but decided to let it pass. "Anyway . . ."
"Anyway, do you like Nicholas?" Sydney calmly asked.
'YES! Oh gosh yes!' Sara's mind screamed but she replied, "Of course I like him, he is one of my best friends."
"I mean other than that way, as more than 'just' friends?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I'm just curious."
"What gave you that idea?"
"Oh, just the way you look at him and act around him. I saw the two of you early tonight working together. I have only seen two people working like that together twice before in my life."
"Whatever. You can change the subject now."
They did and had a very interesting topic, about other things before turning in for the night.
9:17p.m. Thursday May 16
Gage's House
Meanwhile, when the guys got to Gage's Grissom and Greg and Warrick took the three bathrooms. 'Great, just great! Now I am stuck here alone with Gage.' Nick thought. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence he asked, "Mind if I watch a little TV?"
"Actually I do," Gage replied firmly.
"OK then."
"Look what is your problem?" Gage said harshly.
"I don't have a problem, you do," Nick replied in the same manner.
"You ARE the problem."
"What did I ever do to you?"
Under his breath Gage replied, "You showed up."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing!"
"Yes something. You have had a vendetta against me since that day at the airport."
"Then maybe you should just go home."
"I plan on it. As soon as we solve this case. Gage, I don't know what I did but please tell me. I don't want to fight for Sydney's sake at least."
"I knew it."
"Knew what?" Nick asked.
"You have a thing for Syd."
"What?!"
"You - have - a - thing - for - Syd - ney," Gage repeated slowly as if he were talking to a child.
"Now I know you've gone crazy."
"Excuse me?"
"Has Sydney ever told you about her brother?"
"She doesn't have a brother," Gage scoffed.
"I've know Sydney since I was little and Jeremey was my best friend."
"Syd never said anything about him," Gage replied quietly but not quite a whisper.
"You are not to tell Sydney I told you this. Got it?"
"I'm a Texas Ranger. You can't tell me what to do."
"Gage you acting like a child. Got it?" Nick asked again more firmly.
"Got it."
"Now, Jeremey died in a crash when we were 14, and Sydney was driving. Her dad moved their family after his death down to Houston. Sydney has always been my sixth sister. I love her, but only like a sister. I can't stand to see her hurt. So if you have a problem with me, fine. However, don't let Sydney know. You seem to be a very special person in her life and if you do hurt her, I may not be able to hurt you, but I certainly can kill you. Remember that I do crime scenes for a living and I can make it look like an accident," Nick concluded and took a deep breath to calm down.
Gage was speechless to say the least. "Well," was all he could manage.
"Yes."
"Nick I think I have to apologize to you."
"Forgiven." They sat in silence for a moment more then Nick spoke up again, "Why do you care if I had a thing for Sydney anyway?"
"Well . . ."
"Oh my word."
"What?"
"You are in love with Sydney."
"Well . . . um . . . uh . . . actually . . . I . . . uh . . ."
"Unbelievable!" Nick exclaimed raising his hands and getting up as Warrick walked in to the room.
"What is unbelievable?" Warrick asked.
"Gage is in love with Sydney," Nick replied.
"Really?" Warrick questioned. Nick just nodded his head and left the room laughing. "So really?"
"Well . . . I . . . um . . . I . . . uh . . .," Gage stuttered.
"I guess I will take that as a yes. Although this is quite ironic."
"What is?"
"Did he give you a hard time?"
"Kind of."
"Well you may be in denial but so is he."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, with Sara."
"Interesting."
"You know I think we ought to do something about this"
"Whoa. What are you talking about?" Gage replied confused.
"I will explain it all when Nick gets out of the shower."
"Fine. I wonder where Grissom and Greg are."
"Oh I saw them already out like a light," Warrick told him. They continued to talk small talk until Nick came back into the room. "Feeling better?" He asked Nick.
"Yep," Nick replied.
"Good. Now the three of us need to have a talk," Warrick said mischievously.
"What about?" Nick asked cautiously.
"About Sydney and Sara."
"NO!" Nick and Gage exclaimed at the same time.
"Sit down, shut-up, and listen," Warrick commanded. When neither Nick nor Gage said anything, he continued, "Now here is what is going to happen," Warrick said as he began to unravel his plan. After much convincing they finally agreed to Warrick's plan.
Friday the crews went back to work and worked very hard. After all they had a crazy killer to catch. After spending nearly twenty hours in the lab and at the crime scene that they had to be practically kicked out of the lab so that they could get some rest. Saturday began much the same way. Finally at about three in the afternoon they were going over things once more and they had a new breakthrough. They found their murder and the Rangers caught him without too much resistance. Alex also was able to assure the governor that he would not get out of proper punishment just because he was crazy. Together the Rangers, the investigators, and Alex and Erica decided to go out to celebrate. They decided on one of Gage's favorite bars that happened to be having a 'karaoke open mic night' that night, for the comedy. Or so said Warrick, Nick, and Gage.
7:29p.m. Saturday May 18
The Bar
"Nice choice," Sydney said scoffed.
"No comments till the end of the night," Gage replied. They made their way to a table and ordered. Everyone was having a good time, even Sydney.
After about a half an hour later Warrick stood up from the table. "Sydney, Sara, follow me please," Warrick said as he offered the two ladies each an arm.
"Warrick?" Sara asked warningly.
"Please."
"What's going on?" Sydney questioned.
"Ladies, please, just come with me," Warrick pleaded. Sydney and Sara reluctantly followed him. Warrick escorted the two women to two individual rooms in the back. There was only a couch and a TV in each room. Warrick told them each to turn on the TV and wait. When they turned on the TV they saw the stage in the main room of the bar with the host for the night talking.
Back outside in the main room, Nick and Gage were both nervously standing by the stage. Then the host introduced the next two people to sing. Nick and Gage walked up on the stage. Sara and Sydney were shocked and speechless. Grissom, Greg, Catherine, Walker, Trivette, Alex, and Erica were confused. Warrick just smiled stupidly.
"Ladies and gentleman I'm Nick and this is Gage," Nick began pointing toward Gage. "We're going to sing a song by Tim Rushlow that we mean with all our hearts. Sara this is for you."
"Sydney, this is for you," Gage added.
Then they began, :
"This might come as quite a shock,
But I've given it a lot of thought.
This thing that's come between us can't be ignored.
I've taken all I can;
This is where it's gotta end.
'Cause I can't be your friend anymore.
An' I can't be accused,
Of not bein' there for you.
How many nights have you shown up at my door?
I hope you understand,
That this wasn't in my plans,
But I can't be your friend anymore.
An' it's killin' me to know you,
Without havin' a chance to hold you.
An' all I wanna do is show you,
How I really feel inside.
You can run to me,
You can laugh at me,
Or you can walk right out that door.
So, baby, now it's up to you:
Do I win or do I lose?
Will my heart fly or lie broken on the floor.
Well, take me as I am,
'Cause I wanna be your man.
But I can't be your friend anymore.
An' it's killin' me to know you,
Without havin' a chance to hold you.
An' all I wanna do is show you,
How I really feel inside.
You can run to me,
You can laugh at me,
Or you can walk right out that door.
But I can't be just friends anymore.
We can't be just friends anymore."
By the end of the song, Warrick was cheering loudly with the rest of the customers at the bar. Grissom, Greg, Catherine, Walker, Trivette, Alex, and Erica were still in shock and the women's jaws were on the floor. Sara and Sydney were still sitting in their private rooms completely speechless. Nick and Gage had huge smiles on their faces and took a bow before leaving to go see Sara and Sydney respectively.
Sara's Private Room
"Knock, knock," Nick said as he opened the door. "Can I come in?" Sara still could not speak and only nodded her head slowly. Nick came in closing the door behind him and turned off the TV that was still on. "Sara, are you OK?" He asked hesitantly.
"Nick," Sara whispered.
"What is it, Sara?" Nick asked and sat on the couch next to Sara.
"Nick," She whispered again.
"Yes," He implored.
"Nick," She whispered again.
"Sara I just want to say that I really care a great deal about you and I couldn't in good conscious go another day without telling you that. I know we . . ."
"Nick," Sara interrupted.
". . . are close friends and I don't want to ruin that relationship. Still, if there is any chance that there can be something more, I'd like to . . ."
"Nick," She said.
". . . play it out and see what comes of it. I don't know what will happen about work, but we work great together so they can't split us up. I can keep personal . . ."
"Nick," She repeated a little louder.
". . . feelings out of the work environment and I know you can. Now, I don't expect you answer right away. Please, just think it over and . . ."
"NICK!" Sara practically yelled.
Nick for the first time since his ramblings looked up at Sara's face. She had a huge grin on her face like she was keeping a big secret. He nervously replied, "Yes?"
"I understand everything that you are saying. I just don't know . . ."
"Sara, you don't have to answer tonight. Please just think about it. I don't think I can handle rejection from you tonight."
"Nick, I was not finished."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. Just listen. I just do not know how we can do this. Nick, I really care about you also, I just I don't know. I mean I really want to see this through. I just don't know, but you know what? To heck with playing it safe. I have done it before and then it was too late," Sara concluded.
"So what does this mean for us?"
Sara didn't answer and instead just leaned over and kissed him softly but enough to get the point across. "Is your question answered?" She asked with a big smiled plastered on her face.
"Oh yeah," He chuckled and kissed her again, this time with more passion. When the need for air became too strong, they broke apart, each looking like the Cheshire cat. "I would love to continue do this, but I bet Warrick is dying out there."
"Warrick?" Sara questioned leaning back away from Nick.
"Yeah, we've got to thank him. This whole night was his idea. Between him and Sydney and Gage, they helped me figure out that I needed to do something, and something fast."
"Really? Well Sydney was drilling me last night about you, but I do not think she had any idea about tonight."
"Oh really? She didn't know about tonight. Heck, Gage and I just found out about it last night."
"Nick, I have a question for you but I do not want you to take it the wrong way."
"I'm listening."
"If I had said 'no', what would have happened?"
"Well I would have said that I still care for you and that I don't think we could ever be as close as we have been in the past. However, I still would've respected your decision. Although, I think I would have royally screwed up our friendship."
"Yeah. Nick, what if things do not work out?"
"Don't worry, they will."
"But what if . . .," Sara started but was stopped when Nick's finger was placed on her lips.
"We will cross that bridge IF we ever come to it."
A smiled came across Sara's face. "What about work?"
"What about it? Warrick and I researched it last night and I have to admit that I have been looking into it for a while now."
"Really?"
"Yes, and there is nothing against us being together."
Sara smiled and said, "OK. Do you think we should go on out now?"
"Yeah let's go," Nick replied taking Sara's hand, giving her a quick kiss, pulling her off the couch, and leading her out of the room.
Nick and Sara walked back into the main part of the bar. Warrick was the first to see them and their conjoined hands. He jumped up from his seat and went over to Nick and Sara. Nick was the first to speak, "Thanks man."
"No problem," Warrick replied, patted him on the back, and continued, "but you know if you hurt her, I will kill you."
"There is no chance of that," Nick responded giving Sara a kiss. They walked over to the table.
"So it's true?" Greg asked.
"Is what true?" Sara responded.
"You and Nick?" Sara nodded and Greg continued, "Fine, but promise me when you two are finished next week, I will be the first to know." By now Greg was smiling.
"Greg . . .," Nick said warningly.
"Not going to happen, but I will keep that in mind anyway," Sara told him.
Sydney and Gage shortly came out of Sydney's private room and they too were holding hands. For the rest of the night everyone relaxed and had a great time. When everyone split up to go to their respective homes, Nick pulled Sara aside and told her to be ready by seven o'clock the next morning when he came to pick her up at Sydney's. He had a surprised for her before the party that afternoon. It was Angela's, Walker's daughter, first birthday and the Walker's had invited Nick, Sara, and the others to the small party before their flight back to Las Vegas left at six Sunday evening.
To be continued . . .