Holidays at the Stokes Place
Pairing: Nick and Sara (Of course! I would have it any other way)
Nick takes Sara to his favorite park. He is reunited with his childhood friend.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Sara, Nick or any other mentioned character on CSI. If I did own Sara and Nick, they would have been hooked up and hitched already! (Writers of the show: take notice!) However, I do own Nick's family and his childhood friend Jason Watson and his family.
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Reunion
The next day Nick took Sara out to IHOP for breakfast. It was their first breakfast alone since arriving at Dallas. Since Nick woke up before Sara did, he told his parents that he wanted to have breakfast with just his wife. He was surprised that they agreed to it. Nick and Sara were sitting in a booth looking at the menu. Their waitress brought them a pot of coffee.
"I am torn between the French crepes and making my own omelet," Sara said. "What are you planning to order?"
"Definitely not the chocolate chip pancakes," Nick said. "I don't want to insult my mom. I guess I am going to have the International Passport Breakfast with the French crepes. I'll give you a small piece of my crepes. "
"Well, in that case, I will have the omelet with mushroom, onions, green pepper and cheddar cheese," Sara said. "I want it with hash browns."
Nick couldn't help but smile. He thought about his and Sara's dietary preferences. She is a vegetarian and he isn't. Their friends and families still couldn't believe that these total opposites could be happy together and married. Nick was even willing to have a vegetarian dinner twice a week.
"Can I take your order?" their waitress asked.
"You sure can," Sara said. "I would like an omelet with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and cheddar cheese. Could I have hash browns on the side?"
"Sure, ma'am, that can be done," she replied, then turning to Nick. "What would you like to order, sir?"
"I would like the International Passport Breakfast," Nick said. "I would like my eggs scrambled and the French crepes."
"I will bring out the food as soon as possible," she said. "Are you good with your coffee?"
"We're good," Nick said with a grin and the waitress left.
"So, what do you have planned for us today?" Sara asked.
"I want to take you to a place that was very special to me when I was growing up," Nick said. "I don't want to reveal too much, it is a surprise."
"I can't wait to see it," Sara said and took a sip of her coffee.
When their breakfasts arrived, they started eating. Sara was amazed that Nick could eat so much and hardly gain weight. She had known him for a little over four years and watching him just gives her pleasure. He gave her a small piece of the crepe as he promised with a somewhat generous helping of the lemon butter. It was made more lemony when Nick squeezed some lemon slices over the crepes. She gave him a small amount of her hash browns. He didn't originally ask for them, but since he gave her some of his food, she reciprocated.
Once they were finished, Sara asked for the check, left the waitress a nice tip and paid with her credit card. Nick didn't want her to pay, but she insisted that he didn't always have to pay for their dining. He relented and gently reminded her that he will pay for their lunch.
After exiting the restaurant, Nick and Sara walked a few blocks to a bus stop. He fished around in pockets for change and cash to cover their bus fare and transfers. When a bus stopped, they allowed people who were getting off out first before going in. There were enough empty seats so they could sit together.
"Do we have to ride this bus all the way or we have to transfer?" Sara asked.
"We have to transfer to another bus," Nick said. "Don't worry, it's only one transfer and we'll be there before you know it."
"Nick, you have lived in Dallas until you were like 25 or 26 and you still remember how to get around the area," Sara observed.
"I never forgot," Nick smiled. "It also helps to have the internet handy. For your information, I was 26 when I left for Vegas."
Nick gave Sara the cue to get off when the bus arrived at their desired stop. They didn't have to wait long for the next bus. They gave the driver their transfers and found seats.
"Maybe we should go to Boston in the summer," Nick suggested. "I would like to know if you could still recall how you went to and from places during your college days."
"If Grissom let's us," Sara said. "We can find out for sure!"
Nick once again gave his wife the signal that they had to get off. They walked for another two blocks before they saw one of the most beautiful sites. Nick took Sara's hand and they walked over there.
"So, is this the surprise you had for me?" Sara asked.
"Yup, and it is one of the best ones" Nick said as they walked. "This is my favorite park. I went there whenever I wanted to be alone or I had a very stressful test in school. When I was in college, I would come here during Thanksgiving break to study since the house tend to get noisy. It brought me a sense of connection to nature."
"Wow, this is a gorgeous place," Sara said. "It looks so serene and peaceful."
"During my senior year in high school we had the class picnic here," Nick beamed. "My class was the last class allowed to have one here."
"Why is that?" Sara said.
"There were these two guys that all of my friends hate with a passion," Nick said. "These fucking creeps love to cause trouble. The class picnic was no exception. They brought along toilet paper and shaving cream. Meanwhile everyone else was waiting patiently for the food to be ready, they were putting toilet paper all over the statues and shaving cream on the benches."
"Why would they do that to a beautiful place like this?" Sara asked in shock. "What happened when they were found out?"
"Sara, those guys were assholes who never appreciated something so serene and good," Nick said shrugging his shoulders. "You asked me what happened to them. A parks employee caught them and had them arrested. We were lucky they allowed us to continue with our festivities, but afterwards no more class picnics in the park."
"Some people just don't get it," Sara said. "I am glad I'm married to a guy that does."
"Thank you, Sara," Nick said. "I will always appreciate that remark."
There was a man in his early to mid 30s who was walking briskly, but stopped to look at Nick. He wondered where he knew him from.
"Hey, Lugnut!" the man shouted.
"Squirrel Boy!" Nick said and they did some bizarre handshake. "Has it been two years since we last saw each other!"
"You missed the 15th year high school reunion," Squirrel Boy said.
"I know," Nick said. "There was a case we were investigating and that my boss didn't let me go. You missed my wedding!"
"The twin girls, Sydney and Nicole, just couldn't wait to be born," he explained. "Haley was eight months along and those babies were too big to stay in the womb. I am sorry."
Sara cleared her throat as to tell Nick that she was being ignored.
"Oh, where are my manners?" Nick asked. "Jason Watson, this is my wife Sara Sidle-Stokes. Sara this is one of my childhood buddies Jason Watson. His nickname is Squirrel Boy. Don't ask me how he got that name, he doesn't know either."
"Nice to meet you!" Sara said debating whether to ask Jason if he was the one who flipped the bird in that picture she saw the other day.
"I am pleased to finally meet the girl who took my buddy off Dallas' most eligible bachelors list," Jason said shaking her hand. "Maybe they have just about the same list in the Vegas area."
"Jason, you're making her blush now," Nick said.
"When did you arrive in Dallas?" Jason asked. "When are you heading back to Vegas?"
"We got here the day before Christmas Eve," Sara said. "And we are leaving Dallas on January 4."
"I am inviting you to my place for dinner before you leave," Jason said. "We could talk about old times and how you met each other. Where are you staying?"
"With my parents," Nick said. "They still have the same phone number."
"I know," Jason said. "I also have your cell phone number, but I don't have Sara's."
"Let me give you my card and it has my cell on it," Sara said.
"Thank you!" Jason said checking his watch. "Nick it is great that we nearly bump into each other. Sara is sweet that I finally got to meet you. I have to get going. It is my lunch hour and the boss will kill me if I don't get back to work on time. Tonight, I will talk to Haley and see when she wants us to invite you. I will call you either tonight or tomorrow night!"
"We look forward to hearing from you soon," Nick said.
Jason and Nick shook hands again, only this time it was more professional handshake. Sara also shook her hand with Jason. After Jason left, Nick and Sara went to a bench and sat there for a few moments in silence. Nick was looking at the clouds.
"Lugnut?" Sara asked breaking the silence. "How did you ever get that nickname? You don't even look like a lugnut!"
"I truly don't know," Nick said. "I guess a bunch of my friends and I were hanging out somewhere and we started giving each other these crazy names. Every one of them is a pure mystery to each other."
"Well, I think Cowboy suits you best," Sara smiled.
"Thanks," Nick said with a grin.
"Nick, could I ask you something?" Sara asked calmly.
"Sara, you could ask me anything you want," Nick said giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"The other day while you were in the shower," Sara said. "I was looking at some pictures hanging in the hallway. I noticed the one of your high school graduation with your friends. There was one guy who flipped the bird. Was that Jason?"
"Yes, he didn't know my dad would take the photo," Nick said with a slight chuckle. "That dude is so lucky that my family has a sense of humor or else he would have the shit beaten out of him."
"At least I know who was the smart ass in your circle of friends," Sara said with a small smile.
A half hour later, they decided to walk around the park for about an hour. They stopped to drink some water or Nick wanted to take a picture. They left the park and went to an Indian restaurant for lunch. It was Nick's treat. They went to Ben and Jerry's afterward. This time Nick had the Dublin mudslide and Sara had her favorite chocolate chip cookie dough. Nick looked at his watch and told Sara that they should head back to 'Stokes Manor'. This time, Nick called a cab service for a ride. Another hour later, they were back at his parents' home helping Cynthia with a simple dinner.
TBC
