A/N: I apologize for the delay in updating; I was going to do it sooner but I've been busy writing letters to CBS and TPTB. I hate to use this fic as a podium, but I encourage you to do the same. We need George, Jorja, Nick and Sara! Save CSI!

Sara stood at the break room counter pouring herself some coffee when she heard the footsteps of someone walking in.

"Hi," a cheerful voice whispered right behind her ear.

Sara turned around to see a grinning Nick. "Hi," she smiled as she offered him the cup of coffee she had just poured.

"Thanks." Nick took the coffee gratefully. "You okay?" his smile turned to a frown as he gave her a concerned look. Despite her smile, she looked a little weary.

"Yeah, just tired. I'm still trying to recuperate from that double the other night," she explained as she poured another cup of coffee.

"Speaking of the other night," Nick started, referring to their cancelled date.

"I really am sorry," Sara apologized.

"I told you, you don't have to apologize. It wasn't your fault."

"Yeah, I guess," she said as she took a sip of her coffee. "So what are you doing tomorrow?" Sara's expression brightened as she looked at him expectantly.

A big grin spread across Nick's face. "Tomorrow?" He thought for a second before his smile quickly disappeared. "Damn. Warrick and some guys were going to come over and watch the fight, the one that's tonight at Caesar's. They're replaying it tomorrow afternoon on pay-per-view. But I could just tell them something came up."

"No, that's okay, we can just go some other day. I don't want you to cancel your plans just because of me," Sara insisted.

"Why not? I think you're worth it." Nick flashed a flirty smile.

Sara felt her cheeks getting warm. "What about Wednesday?"

Nick's smile broadened. "Wednesday's good."

"Then Wednesday it is," she grinned.

"What's on Wednesday?" Catherine asked as she walked in.

Sara instantly dropped the grin from her face. "Nothing," she answered as both she and Nick took a step back from each other when they realized how close to one another they were standing.

Catherine didn't seem to notice her coworkers' behavior. "Nothing except my first day off in almost three weeks," she said in an exasperated tone. "Did you save any coffee for me?"

Before Catherine could get an answer, Grissom entered the break room. "Highway robbery," was all he said as he held out an assignment slip to Catherine.

Catherine cocked an eyebrow as she took the piece of paper.

"At a gas station along I-15. Two attendants were shot, one killed, registers were cleaned out," Grissom elaborated. He glanced around the room at his team. "Where's Warrick?"

"Right here," Warrick answered as he walked briskly in, knowing he was late.

Grissom didn't waste his breath on any kind of lecture. "You, me and Catherine," he told Warrick. "I'll meet you guys there."

Warrick grabbed the assignment slip from Catherine and skimmed over it. "We're on it." He made a move in the direction of the door.

"Coffee first," Catherine said as she grabbed Warrick's arm, propelling him in the opposite direction towards the coffee machine. He obediently began to pour a cup for himself and for her.

"You two are looking for a dog," Grissom turned to Nick and Sara.

"Huh?" Nick was sure Grissom hadn't said what he thought he said.

"A missing Pomeranian," Grissom added.

"We're looking for a lost dog?" Nick asked for clarification with a baffled expression on his face.

"Are you serious?" Sara looked at Grissom, not believing what she was hearing.

"It's Judge Drew's dog. Well actually his wife's I think. She claims someone broke into their house and stole their dog. They requested CSIs," Grissom explained.

Nick and Sara looked at each other and then at Grissom.

"Detective O'Riley is waiting for you at the judge's house," Grissom said, his tone indicating there would be no more discussion on the matter. He turned to Catherine and Warrick, who he heard snickering behind him. "And Brass is waiting for you at the gas station." He gave the two a pointed stare.

"Right." Warrick put on a straight face as Catherine pushed him in the direction of the door.

"Good luck guys," Catherine said to Nick and Sara as she walked past them.

Sara responded with a glare.

Nick rolled his eyes at Sara's attitude and grabbed her by the arm. "Let's go."

"I can't believe this." Sara sat angrily in the passenger seat with her arms crossed.

"Hey, we have to treat this like any other 406," Nick admonished, keeping his tone level.

"How do they know the dog didn't just run away?" Sara challenged.

"Well if we get there and find no signs of a break in, we'll assume that and then we can close the case early."

"Why can't we just assume that now?"

"If you're that eager to spend some alone time with me, just say so," Nick teased.

Sara punched him playfully on the arm as she tried to restrain her smile. She turned to look out the window when she found she couldn't.

They arrived at the judge's house, and Sara had to swallow her pride when she realized that she was wrong and that there was clearly evidence of a break in. But the case quickly turned interesting when the home received a blackmailing phone call filled with threats of harming the missing Pomeranian, and Sara's anger quickly dissolved as she gave the case her full attention.

"You know, I can still cancel my plans this afternoon," Nick said to Sara as they stood in the locker room, grabbing their things to head home.

"If you're that eager to spend some alone time with me, just say so." Sara gave him a playful smirk.

"Hey, we still on for this afternoon?" Warrick asked as he walked in.

Nick looked at Sara, giving her one last chance to change her mind, but she remained silent. "Yeah," Nick answered.

"You coming?" Warrick asked Sara as he opened his locker.

"Boxing? Uh, pass," Sara replied. While she did look at the sport with a little more respect after that case they'd had a while back, it didn't mean she'd ever find it entertaining to watch.

Warrick shrugged as he slammed his locker shut and slung his jacket over his shoulder. "Suit yourself."

"Four o'clock," Nick reminded Warrick.

"Yeah. See ya," Warrick said with a wave of his hand as he walked out.

Nick and Sara put on their jackets and walked out to the parking lot together.

Nick turned to Sara when they reached her vehicle. "I guess I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah," Sara smiled. "Have a good afternoon."

"You know you can come," he offered. He hadn't even thought to ask until Warrick had asked her if she was coming. He knew she'd decline but he held a small glimmer of hope that she'd say yes. Even though they wouldn't be alone, at least he'd get to see her.

"No, it's okay. Boxing's not really my thing." It would have been nice to spend some time with Nick, even if they weren't alone, but she didn't want to intrude. Besides, boxing really wasn't her thing.

"Okay." Nick tried not to sound too disappointed.

"You guys have fun," she said.

"Thanks." He gave her a smile before walking off.

After an excruciatingly long day that actually seemed like two, Wednesday finally came, and as Sara showered and got ready for dinner with Nick, she unexpectedly started to feel nervous. Nick had suggested Italian food, explaining to her that he knew Italian was Sara's favorite, which it was. Sara had never been to the restaurant before, mainly because whenever she ate out it was usually with coworkers or friends, and the restaurant was too fancy a place to go to for a casual meal.

And because it was a nice place, it meant she would definitely have to wear a dress. The number of dresses in her wardrobe was scant, which didn't give her much of a choice but also made it easier to decide. Although she didn't see why it mattered that much what she wore, since she wasn't really trying to impress Nick. Right? He already knew her so it wasn't like she could make a good first impression with some killer dress. Still, she liked Nick and wanted to look nice, if nothing else just to show her appreciation for taking her out to dinner.

She had narrowed it down to two dresses when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw it was Nick. "Hey."

"Hey." His greeting didn't have the same cheerfulness that Sara's had. "You're not going to believe this, but Grissom just called me."

"What? Why?" She asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Dayshift is swamped and a double homicide was just called in. He wants me and Warrick to work it with him."

"Why didn't he call me?" Sara was usually the first one Grissom called, because he knew she was always available and would always say yes.

"I don't know. But it looks like we're going to have to postpone. Again. Sorry."

"Yeah." Sara's disappointment was evident in her tone. "Well I guess I'll see you around the lab tonight."

"Yeah. I'll see ya."

Sara hung up and sat down on the edge of her bed. She hadn't realized how much she was looking forward to dinner with Nick until he had called to say he couldn't make it. The first time they had to postpone she was a little disappointed, but this time she was even more so. She'd come to the conclusion that she did have certain expectations of this particular dinner with Nick. She wanted to treat it like a real date, and she was eager to see what was to come of the evening.

She sighed as she stood up, grabbed the two dresses she'd laid out on the bed, and hung them back up in the closet.