Sara Meets The Stokes

Pairing: Nick and Sara

Nick takes Sara to the Dallas Botanical Garden. Unlike the trip on his birthday, it would be something different.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI characters. I only own Nick's family.

Another Day in the Botanical Garden

"Sara, would you like to go to a lecture before we see the flowers?" Nick asked as he looked at the day's schedule of events. "There is one on Gardening Feng Shui that is being given today. I know that back in Vegas, neither of us have a garden in our backyard, but the class would be interesting."

"Sure, I would love to go," Sara smiled and she gave Nick a soft peck on the cheek.

Nick went to admissions and requested admission for two adults. He asked if there was still space available for the lecture. The cashier smiled and told him there was still available space. He paid for admission and the class with his credit card and met Sara at the entranceway.

"We better hurry," Nick said almost panting. "The lecture begins in ten minutes and the lecture building is that way."

Once they were in the garden they walked in a fast pace. When they got to building, Nick gave a garden employee the tickets. The employee gave Nick the stubs and directed him and Sara to the room. They arrived with a minute to spare. There were still two seats available and they took them.

The lecture was very interesting and both Nick and Sara learned a lot about applying Feng Shui principals to gardening. They both asked interesting questions about Feng Shui gardening in a desert climate like the one they live in. The lecturer said that it could be applied in gardens of any climate, even ones in the deserts. Sara wanted to ask another question, but she forgot all about it.

Five minutes after the lecture ended, Nick and Sara were in the outdoors again. They walked around for a while in silence. Nick found an empty bench and Sara followed him there. They sat on the bench and looked at the bed of flowers facing them.

"Sara, what did you actually think of the talk?" Nick asked.

"I enjoyed it," Sara said. "It really opened my eyes since I thought Feng Shui was used to give residences and offices a balance. I never thought it could be applied to gardening. What do you think?"

"It's okay," Nick said. "I enjoyed it, but I was a little confused about making a desert garden in the principles of Feng Shui."

"I was thinking about decorating my apartment using the Feng Shui methods," Sara smiled.

"Sara, your apartment is fine as is," Nick chuckled. "I doubt it needs to be redecorated. If you want to do something different with it, that's fine with me."

"Nicky, you are so cute," Sara smirked.

"You are, too," Nick chuckled. "Let's look at the flowers and trees."

"I want to check out the herb gardens first," Sara said.

"I thought you loved the one at Stokes Manor," Nick whined.

"I do," she said. "The botanical garden has a more extensive collection of them. They also have medicinal herbs. Besides, I have always wanted to see if chocolate mint smelled like mint chip ice cream."

Nick smiled and chuckled. He couldn't stay pissed at his girlfriend for very long, even if he feigned it.

"Looking at chocolate mint it is," he smirked. "Just don't eat any of them! We don't need to be thrown out and banned for life."

"Or we'd probably deal with the wrath of your parents," Sara chirped.

Nick didn't say anything as they got up from the bench and made their way towards the area of the herbs. The herbs were strategically placed sporadically through the beds with a tag right next to it. Each tag has the English name as well as its Latin name and origin.

They looked at the various culinary and medicinal herbs. Nick took pictures of each herb, but only one photo per plant.

"Nick, this is Echinacea," Sara said pointing at one of the purple flowers. "It has centuries of medicinal use."

"I've heard plenty about that herb," Nick said. "They claim it is good for colds and flu. Personally, I am not sure what to think about the claims."

"Five years ago, I was still living in San Francisco," Sara said. "I came down with a very bad cold and a friend of mine gave a few boxes of Echinacea tea. I drank three cups of that stuff a day and felt better."

"I don't believe it," Nick chuckled. "You get sick?"

"I am human," Sara protested. "I have gotten sick before, but not since I came to Vegas."

"I am not saying you are human or not," Nick said. "I just couldn't believe you get sick."

Sara was tempted to respond, but didn't want to.

"Let's just look at the rest of the herbs," Sara said. "I still want to smell that chocolate mint! I want to look at the flowers afterwards"

They looked at the chocolate mint plant. Sara squat down to smell it, but was disappointed that it didn't smell anything like mint chip ice cream. She didn't really see it as a total loss, it still had a delicious smell.

When they finished admiring, smelling and photographing the herb garden, they walked toward a map of the garden.

"Where do you want to go next?" Nick asked.

"I want to check out the roses," Sara beamed. "We look at another flower of your choosing before we leave the garden and go to that place your mom suggested for lunch."

"Sara, I have to talk to you about that," Nick said.

"We're not going there?" she was in disbelief. "I was looking forward to eating there."

"Sara, just hear me out," he insisted. "We are going there tonight for dinner. I made the reservations last night for 8:00 tonight. It's kind of fancy, so wear something formal. I know you packed a beautiful dress."

"Nick, what about lunch?" Sara said.

"We are having it in the garden," Nick grinned. "I checked the menu when I visited my parents a few months ago. You can eat there since they have vegetarian options."

Sara laughed, but that stopped when Nick pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. When he gently released her, they proceeded to where the roses where located. Sara was amazed over the variety of roses that existed. Nick couldn't take pictures of all them so he picked a few to photograph. The aroma of the roses permeated their noses and reminded Sara of her perfume.

Nick picked out the lantana as the next flower that he and Sara will look at. They strolled leisurely over to the area where the lantanas were situated. Sara looked in awe of the clusters of tiny flowers that looked more like bigger flowers. Some of them were a solitary color and others were multicolored. That was nature's little trick, a big flower out of little ones. Nick took two pictures of one lantana, one was a close up and the other was taken at a slight distance. He did it to show their colleagues the tricky flower.

Now it was time for them to go have some lunch. They walked toward the place where they could sit down and have something to eat and drink. Nick had a grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomatoes, potato chips and mint iced tea. Sara a roasted vegetable and fresh mozzarella wrap with mineral water and a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette. They agreed that they wouldn't have any dessert until tonight. They even resisted the tempting two pound chocolate chip cookie that begged to be bought and eaten.

"Sara, that's not fair!" Nick whined. "That is the third potato chip you swiped off me. Keep it up and I may have to steal some of your salad."

"No way you are taking my salad," Sara chuckled as Nick took his fork and grabbed a small amount of her salad. "Nick, stop it!"

"We are even now!" he smiled. "Let's stop arguing over a petty matter."

"That's fine with me," Sara said. "What did you think of the herbs and flowers we had seen?"

"They are all beautiful," Nick smirked. "I also learned something interesting about Echinacea and it benefits. What about you?"

"I knew that there is a variety of roses," Sara said. "But I never knew there was a huge assortment of them. The herbs were awesome, but I was upset that the chocolate mint smelled nothing like mint chip ice cream. It still had a wonderful aroma. I love those beautifully deceptive lantanas."

"Are you still harping about the chocolate mint plant?" Nick asked with a slight chuckle.

"No, not really," Sara smiled. "I was just commenting about it."

"What you said about the lantanas," Nick said. "They are deceptively beautiful! I think I will play a prank on Greggo and Hodges."

"Nick, leave Greg alone," she insisted. "Hodges is so annoying and major ass kisser."

"I'll spare our Greggo," Nick capitulated. "However, I want to teach that wannabe Grissom's pet a little lesson."

"Can I be in on it?" Sara asked like a little girl begging for a present. "Can I? Oh please! Please! Please! Please!"

"Of course, you can!" Nick smirked. "I am going to give him the photo of the lantana I took from a distance for him to see and when he out of his lab kissing Grissom's ass, I will switch to the one I took up close. That poor miserable wretch will be confused."

"Nicky, that's mean," Sara whined and then with great enthusiasm said. "I love it! That ass kisser won't know what hit him. I love you, Nick!"

"I love you, too, Sara," Nick smiled.

They finished their lunch and cleared off the table. Nick took the bottles for recycling while Sara threw out the garbage. When they left the café, they decided to look at two more flowers, begonias and zinnias and they would call it a day. Sara also convinced Nick to go with her to the gift shop before the left for Stokes Manor.

Sara wanted to take pictures of the begonias and zinnia to give Nick a break from being the couple's photographer. He gladly gave her the camera and she went to work almost immediately. Knowing that they had one more roll of film left after the one that was in use, she had to take pictures sparing. She wanted a photo of Nick in the Garden, just like he took one of her. Maybe some passerby would want to take one of the couple posing together, but nobody was available. Nick gave her a reassuring look that told her not to worry about it. When they were satisfied with looking and photographing at the two flowers they wanted to see, they were on their way to the gift shop.

"Why did you want to go there?" Nick asked.

"I just want to see what they have," Sara said. "I just might buy a few gifts for our colleagues."

"I think Hell just froze over," Nick chuckled and winced when Sara swatted him in the arm. "Sara Margaret Sidle going shopping and enjoying it? I have to tell Catherine and Grissom this!"

"I go shopping for food, clothing and other necessities and wants," she was on the defensive. "Stokes, if you want to become a father in the future, you will keep silent."

"Fine, you win," Nick said. "I won't say a word about since I don't want to put my reproductive organs at risk."

Sara smiled at him as they entered the shop. They looked around for awhile to check out what was there. They bought a children's book about flowers for Lindsey, a plant guidebook for Grissom, a pair of pink rose earrings for Catherine, coffee mugs for Warrick and Greg, a bookmark for Brass and a souvenir baseball cap for Dr. Robbins. Sara paid with her credit card after nearly getting into an argument with Nick since he wanted to pay. The mugs were wrapped in extra tissue paper after Nick told the cashier that he and Sara have to travel by plane to Vegas in two days. The gifts were placed in two bags and Nick and Sara carried on each.

"I had a wonderful time, today," Sara grinned. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, I did," Nick beamed. "However, I am looking forward to tonight with you and you alone!"

Sara giggled. She also was looking forward to dinner out with Nick. She stared at him as he was on his cell phone calling for a ride to Stokes Manor. When the car came to pick them up, Nick let Sara go inside first and he went soon after. He gave the driver the address of the destination. On the way to Stoke Manor, both Nick and Sara fell asleep. The driver woke them up when they arrived there. Nick paid the driver and gave him generous tip. When they entered the house, they put the bags near Sara's suitcase. They went to their rooms and took a two hour refreshing nap before getting ready for tonight.

TBC