Moving On
Disclaimer: Don't own it, don't profit from it, but don't you dare steal it!
Chapter 8
"What do you mean I can't go to your work? Are you embarrassed of me, Sara?" Nick asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Yeah, I am, but that has nothing to do with this," Sara joked, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to bring you and at least show you the lab. I just didn't want to go in on one of my few days off."
"I'd like to meet your other co-workers too," Nick said, "you know, size up the folks you left us for."
"I didn't leave Vegas because I like them better, if that's what you're getting at," Sara crossed her arms, "I was just tired of being in Las Vegas. I didn't want to burn out. And now I feel energized."
"Yeah, I'm just glad to see you happy. I don't really know what was going on with you before you left, but I knew you were unhappy," Nick told her.
Sara heaved a sigh, "Like I said, I was heading for burn out."
Nick nodded, though he knew there was more to it than she let on. She had the feeling Grissom had at least some small part in what had bothered her. Everyone knew that Grissom and Sara had always had something between them, in fact it seemed they were the only ones who didn't acknowledge it. Then, of course there had been Sara's blow-up leading to her week-long suspension. Nick decided not to press the issue because he didn't want to ruin her newfound happiness.
"So, are you coming with me or not?" Sara headed for the door.
"I'm the one who wanted to come along, right?" Nick flashed her a smile, "of course I'm coming."
"Let's get going then," Sara held the door open, ushering him outside.
"Lucy, this is my friend Nick from the Vegas lab," Sara introduced her two friends after explaining she was only here to give him a tour.
"Hello," Nick shook her hand.
"Hi," Lucy smiled.
"I have to go put a couple things in my locker, are you two okay for a minute?" Sara asked.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Lucy assured her, "so you're from Texas originally?"
"Yes I am," Nick grinned, "how about yourself?"
"I'm a Colorado native," Lucy explained, "born and raised. Guess I just never felt the need to move away. Of course, I went to college out of state. I was just drawn back here. What made you decide to go to Las Vegas?"
"I felt the need to get away from home," Nick told her, "no real reason. I just felt I stayed in Texas plenty long enough. I suppose it was partially because I had a big family and there was constant pressure on me to be like my parents. I wanted to get out and be my own man."
"I was an only child, so my parents never really even wanted me to leave. You have no idea how thrilled they are that I came back here after college. Speaking of Texas, I went there one time. The humidity where we were was so bad I practically had an afro," Lucy laughed.
Nick smirked, "I can't see you with an afro."
"Oh it was great, I'm sure my friends have plenty of pictures for blackmail, but I've never seen any of them," Lucy shook her head.
"From what I've seen of Colorado, it seems like a very nice place to live. Sara tells me that if I'm lucky, she'll take me to the mountains before I have to leave," Nick said.
"You should definitely go, it's beautiful up there," Lucy told him.
"I will if I get the chance," Nick said.
"Did you two get along?" Sara teased.
"No, I was about ready to run from here screaming," Lucy joked.
"Am I really that bad?" Nick chuckled.
"Maybe I exaggerated a little bit, but I better get back to what I was doing before I was interrupted by your handsome friend," Lucy winked before leaving Sara and Nick alone again.
"I leave you alone for a few minutes and you're flirting with my co-workers," Sara shook her head.
"Are you jealous?" Nick raised an eyebrow, "because I could flirt with you too."
"Nicky, Nicky," Sara laughed, "let's go see who else we can find, okay?"
"If all the women are as pretty as her, I may be asking for a transfer too," Nick laughed too.
"No no, because if one of you comes, before I know it, you guys are all going to be here and it's going to be Vegas all over only in a different city," Sara told him.
"You know you'd love it if I came here," Nick teased.
"I like you, but not that much, I'm sorry," Sara laughed at the hurt look on her friend's face.
"Ouch, Sara," Nick sniffled, "that one hurt."
"You're such a girl," Sara laughed even harder.
"Sara! You're not in here picking on a victim's family, are you?" Fred Mayer joined the conversation.
"I would never," Sara sobered up, "Fred, this is my friend Nick. Nick this is my supervisor Fred Mayer."
The two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
"I didn't know I was getting such a dedicated CSI, coming in on your day off," Fred joked.
"It was his idea," Sara pointed at Nick accusingly, "he wanted to spy on how other labs work."
"Well, you're certainly welcome to look around, if anything, you guys will be pointing out ways to improve us, you both come from one of the best labs in the country," Fred laughed, "it's nice to meet one of Sara's friends, but I've got assignments to get to."
Sara showed Nick around the lab introducing him to various co-workers and explaining some of the different ways they did things. When they were finished, they decided to go out to eat.
A/N: Just keep it in your mind that this story has a long way to go. I think the next chapter will serve as a filler before some action starts ;)