Friends: New & Old

Chapter 7 - The Ranches

6:54a.m. Sunday May 19

Sydney's House

Nick pulled up to Sydney's driveway after Gage. Nick had followed Gage over there to pick up Sara. He was going to make good on his promise to go back to his parents' house and take the ride by the river, although, Sara didn't know that yet. He got out of the car and headed to the door. Gage had already gotten there and evidently had rung the doorbell. Sydney came to the door and invited Gage and Nick in. Gage gave her a kiss and Nick followed, only on the check.

"Sara and Catherine will be out soon. Why don't you two take their stuff and out it in the vehicles," Sydney told them.

Gage nodded his head and picked up a couple of suitcases and headed out toward his car. Nick stayed behind and asked Sydney, "Are you happy?" A big smile came to her face and she slowly nodded her head up and down. "Good. I love you Sydney, and if you ever need anything at all, please don't hesitate to call. I don't want our friendship to suffer like it did these past several years."

"I won't, and I don't want our friendship to suffer either. Although, you now know that I will be calling you every week."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Sydney smiled and replied, "I love you, too."

Just then Gage walked back in Sydney's house. "What's this?" He asked.

Nick and Sydney laughed and she responded, "Don't worry, I love you, too."

Then Catherine walked in the room caring her carry-on. "Hey Nicky."

"Hi," Nick replied.

"Some night, huh?" Catherine asked.

"One of the best in my entire life," Nick told her.

"I bet. Sara will be out in a couple minutes," Catherine smirked.

"Thanks Cath," Nick said as she went into the kitchen were Sydney and Gage had gone in a little while ago and were eating breakfast. Nick sat down on the couch to wait for Sara. Several minutes later Sara emerged from the hallway. She was only in jeans and a tee-shirt but Nick thought she looked beautiful. "It's about time. I thought you weren't coming out."

Sara walked up to Nick and placed a light kiss on his lips. "You can't get rid of me that easily. Besides we had a date right?"

"Kind of," Nick told Sara.

"Kind of?" She questioned.

"Well, yeah. Our first real date will be very special. I want to pick you up at your door with flowers for you and you in a beautiful dress and take you to a nice restaurant. This is just a fulfilling a promise."

"Nick you know that you do not have to do all that, right? I'm excited about today but as long as I am with you, that is all I need."

"We'll talk about real dates later, OK? Are you ready?"

"Yeah, but I want to eat first."

"No need. I have breakfast waiting."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Sara asked. Nick just shook his head and guided Sara out of the house and toward the car, but not before shouting to Sydney and Catherine and Gage that they would see them that afternoon.

7:22a.m. Sunday May 19

Stokes' Ranch

Nick and Sara shortly arrived at Nick's parents' ranch. When Nick pulled up, he quickly rushed around to Sara's side to open her door for her. "Nick, I have been letting you do this type of stuff for me. In all honesty, I love it and even I like to be treated like a lady just like every other female; but when we get back to Vegas and when we are in front of the others . . .," Sara started.

"Why, Sara?" Nick questioned. "I like treating you right."

"I know, but I have a reputation to uphold and if you value certain parts of your anatomy . . ."

"I get it," Nick replied holding his hands up in surrender. "I'll agree on one condition."

"What?" Sara asked skeptically.

"Whenever we're away from the lab and the gang, I get to treat you right."

"Deal."

"Good," Nick replied. "For now," Nick muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing," Nick responded. 'One day I will get you to change your mind, if it's the last thing I do,' Nick thought determined. By this time, Nick and Sara had reached the barn and Nick had begun to get the saddles ready. "Anyway, which horse would you like to ride?"

"It doesn't matter to me."

"Well Sara, look around. Take your pick."

"Like I said Nick, I don't care. You're the expert in this area, you pick me out one."

"How about Apache? He's my second favorite horse. He is not the most gentle of the horses but he's fun."

"As long as you think that a beginner like me could handle him."

Nick walked over to the white horse and saddled him up. "Sara you may have only learned to ride a few days ago, but you catch on fast and you're defiantly aren't a beginner. Well, except for your mounts and dismounts."

Sara went over to him and punched him, albeit not hard. Nick smiled and helped her mount the horse somewhat smoothly. Nick then went over to Tornado and saddled him. Nick took the horse's reigns and told Sara to follow him. He quickly went to the house to tell his mom he had arrived and then he went to the vehicle to grab the food. In no time at all, they were on their way to the river. Once they got there, Nick wasted no time and immediately set up breakfast. They ate and talked about the past week.

Suddenly Sara got really quite. "Sara, what's wrong?" A concerned Nick asked.

"I need to tell you something, but I don't know how to say it and I don't want to ruin our day. This has been so fun."

"Hey, Sar, don't worry about it," Nick began. He moved closer and took her hands in his and continued, "You don't have to say anything. Although, you know you can tell me anything right?"

"I know. It's just . . . I mean . . . Well, you see . . ."

"Sara."

"No Nick, I need to say this. OK, here goes nothing. As you may or may not have realized. Well, OK, I know you know that I use to have a . . . thing . . . for Grissom. I am over him and have been since he turned me down. I realized I felt more than friendly feelings toward you that summer when we started spending more time together. The thought occurred to me last night; I had you right under my nose for several years. I am an idiot; we could have had this a long time ago if I had only just woke up. Heck, we flirted non-stop all those years," Sara concluded.

"Are you done yet?" When Nick received a nod he continued, "For one thing, you are not an idiot. You are one of the smartest people I have ever met. Secondly, I was the real idiot. I didn't do one thing right, until last night, anyway. Third, I don't care about Grissom. Although, I'm defiantly glad you're over him," Nick said slightly chuckling.

"Me too," Sara replied leaning over to give Nick a kiss.

"Well, as long as we are talking about this subject, I have something to tell you."

"What?"

"It's about my reputation at the lab."

"I don't care Nick."

"But I do. Yeah I've been on a lot of dates with different women. However, they didn't end like Greg says they did. He strikes out most the time with women and tries to live vicariously through the stories he makes up about me. I take relationships very seriously, especially one with you. Sara, I care about you a great deal and I would never to do anything to hurt you. That's why I want to be able to treat you right. I know how other men have treated you and I don't like it one bit. You are gorgeous, smart, and funny in your own little way. Sara, you deserve respect and an honest relationship."

"You know, if someone would have told me last week that everything this week that happened, was going to happen, I would not have believed them. But, I'm glad it did. Nick, I know the rumors in the lab are not true, but I wouldn't care even if they were. Nicky, I know how you feel about the before mentioned topics, and it's sweet and I care a lot about you too. That is the main reason why I didn't act upon my feelings toward you. I did not want to ruin the friendship we have. You are my best friend. You know, a friend in college once told me that the best relationships are those that start out as friends."

"I believe that. My parents knew each other for years before they even went out on a first date," Nick concluded.

They spent the next several hours talking (now that the serious stuff was out of the way), laughing, and, of course, making-out. Around noon they packed everything up and headed back to the ranch. When they got back, Nick went to the house and told his mom he was back. Then he went to the barn where Sara was waiting for him. Together they un-saddled the horses and brushed them down.

As they were walking toward the house, Nick spotted an unfamiliar vehicle in the front yard. "I wonder who's here." Nick questioned.

"How am I supposed to know?" Sara asked.

Nick just replied, "Let's go smarty." To which Sara just laughed. When they entered the house, they went strait to the kitchen. "Mom, who's truck's out front?" Nick greeted his mom.

Mrs. Stokes got a smiled on her face and just replied, "Turn around."

Nick did and was pleasantly shocked to see his dad standing in the kitchen doorway. "Dad! What are you doing here?" Nick asked going up to his father to give him a hug.

Benjamin Stokes returned the hug full-heartedly and replied, "The governor sent us all home for the next two weeks to be with our families. Then he wants us back in Austin for the trial, even though we aren't going to be hearing it."

"Which trial?" Nick questioned.

"The same case you just solved."

"Oh, I should've known that he was going to be prosecuted back in Austin. Let's just hope that if you do end up having to hear the case, there won't be conflict of interest."

"Yes. Now son, introduce me to this lovely young lady," Ben told Nick looking at Sara.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. Dad, this is Sara Sidle. Sara, this is my father, Benjamin Stokes."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Stokes," Sara said, shaking Ben's hand.

"You too, Sara, and please call me Ben. You work with Nick?" Ben responded.

"Yes Sir."

"Also," Nick began, "Mom, I was planning on telling you later but now seems as good as time as any." Nick moved closer to Sara and took her hand. "As of last night, Sara and I are dating. It seems like you were right Mom."

"Of course I was," Mrs. Stokes joked with her son. Both of the elder Stokes congratulated the new couple. Mrs. Stokes told Nick and Sara to 'go wash up' and her husband to set the table. "Dinner is served," She said putting a platter of food on the table as Nick and Sara walked into the dinning room. Mrs. Stokes went back to the Kitchen to get more food.

Nick pulled a chair out for Sara and she responded, "Thank you." Nick merely smiled.

Ben caught the interaction between the two. "Well, Nick, it's good to see that those manners I taught you didn't go to waste," Indicating Nick's actions.

"Oh, no Sir. Nick has always been the gentleman, to me and Catherine, ever since I first meet him several years ago," Sara told Ben.

"Good to hear," Ben responded noticing Nick was becoming slightly embarrassed. Mrs. Stokes came back into dinning room and Ben held a chair out for her to sit, then he sat down at the other end of the table from her.

They said the blessing then began to eat. "It is very good, Mrs. Stokes," Sara complimented.

"Thank you, Dear," Mrs. Stokes replied.

"Why don't you have some pork chops Sara? They're really good," Mr. Stokes commented.

'Oh, great,' Nick thought and shot Sara an apologetic look.

Mrs. Stokes gave her husband a glare that said 'don't go there'. To which he replied with one of his own saying 'what?'. Mrs. Stokes knew that Sara was a vegetarian from their other visit last Monday and Ben was about to find out.

"Actually Sir . . . um . . . well," Sara tried to begin.

"Dad, Sara's a vegetarian," Nick helped.

"What? You've got to be kidding me!" Ben said. "Nick, you, dating a vegetarian?"

"Yeah," Nick simply stated.

"I can't believe it!" Ben exclaimed.

"Honey," Mrs. Stokes warned.

"That's OK," Sara said weakly.

"Let me just ask you one question Sara," Ben stated. When Sara nodded her head, he continued. "How can you sit here and watch us eat, if you are a vegetarian?"

"Oh, I do not mind at all. See, I became a vegetarian after my boss and I did an experiment. We watched a pig decompose. After that incident, I have not been able to stomach meat. So as long as I do not have to eat it or see the meat raw, I do not mind watching others eat it," Sara explained.

Ben became quiet then responded, "So, you are not one of those that are all about animal rights?"

"No, Sir. I respect people's decisions about why and if there are vegetarian or not. Frankly though, I could care less. It's just eating habits."

"I see. Well, in that case, I apologize Sara, and you too Nick," Ben said sincerely.

They nodded their heads and the rest of the meal was eaten with minimal talk. When everyone was done, Mrs. Stokes stood up and began to clear the table. Sara picked up her dishes and followed Mrs. Stokes into the kitchen. When she reached the kitchen Mrs. Stokes told her, "Thank you, but you don't need to help me."

Sara responded, "I know, I want to."

Mrs. Stokes nodded her head and Sara began to leave to go get more dishes from the dining room. "Sara," Mrs. Stokes called out. Sara stopped in the door way and turned and walked back. "Ben didn't mean what he said. OK, he did, but not the way it sounded."

Sara smiled and replied, "I know. I knew something was bound to happen when I found out I was coming to Texas. Nick always talks about what good meat there is in Texas and how good of a cook you are. But like I said, I don't really care what people think of me."

"That's a good way to look at life."

"Thank you," Sara said going back to the dining room.

When Sara arrived in the dining room, Nick looked at his watch and said, "Sara, we're going to be late if we don't leave now. Walker's place is on the other side of town."

"OK," She replied. They said their goodbyes and got in the vehicle and left for the party.

Nick's Vehicle en route to the Walker Ranch

"Sar, I'm really sorry about my dad," Nick told her.

"I know. It doesn't matter," Sara replied.

"So we're good?" He asked hopefully.

Sara nodded her head but then realized that he was watching the road and couldn't see her. She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and whispered, "Yeah."

Nick smiled, said, "Great," and continued to drive to the Walker's.

3:21p.m. Sunday May 19

Walker Ranch

"We're here," Nick said as they came up the driveway. When they stopped he looked around and noticed no one was there. He quickly hurried over to Sara's side and just as she was about to open her door, he opened it for her. Sara was about to say something when Nick cut her off saying, "No one's watching." Sara did not reply, just kissed him and started toward the others that were in front of the house. Nick shook his head and hurried to catch up with her.

They walked over to the house and went in the open door. "Knock, knock," Nick said as he and Sara came into the living room.

"In here," came Sydney's reply from the kitchen.

"Hey everyone," Nick said as he walked into the kitchen leading Sara by his hand on the small of her back.

"Hi Nicholas," Sydney said. She made introductions and then told Nick that the guys were outside grilling.

The rest of the party went off smoothly. Everyone got to know each other better, great food was eaten, and with Alex's help Angela opened her presents which. It shortly became a little after five o'clock and Gil, Catherine, Warrick, Nick, Sara, and Greg had to catch a plane at six. They said their goodbyes and with Sydney and Gage following, they went to the airport.

5:55p.m. Sunday May 19

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

"This is the final boarding call for flight 207 to Las Vegas. Repeat: final boarding call for flight 207 to Las Vegas," Came the announcement over the intercom. Gil, Catherine, Warrick, and Greg immediately said goodbye to Sydney and Gage and headed over to the gate.

"Nice to meet to you Sydney," Sara said and hugged her. She turned to Gage and said, "You too, Gage." He nodded his head and she turned to Nick.

"Go ahead, I'll see you on the plane," Nick told her. Sara nodded her head and turned to walk away. Nick grabbed her arm and spun her around giving her a kiss. She grinned really big then went to catch up with the others that were about to get on the plane. Nick smiled and turned around to Sydney. By this time Gage had backed up and was watching but was out of hearing range. 'Gage must trust me now,' Nick thought smiling. He turned his attention to Sydney. "It was really, really good to see you again."

"I feel the same way," Sydney replied. "You'll still always be my other little brother."

"And you'll always be my sixth sister," Nick replied. "Oh, Sydney, by way I told Gage about Jeremey. I don't want you to be mad but it was the only way to convince him of our relationship and that I wasn't in love with you,"

"I understand," Sydney said starting to tear up.

"It's okay if he sees you cry. You know that right?"

"Yeah."

"OK, well I better go."

"OK."

"I'll call you later this week."

"You better," She replied smiling.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They hugged and Nick ran off to make the flight yelling over his shoulder, "Bye."

Sydney whispered, "Bye," and went over to where Gage was waiting.

Back on the plane Nick found Sara and sat down next to her. "Everything okay?" Sara asked.

"Perfect," He replied leaning over, he took her hand and gave her a kiss. "Everything is just perfect."

The End