"So he's standing there staring off towards the front of the store, looking at God knows what and he didn't even see it coming." Nick was having a hard time holding back his laughter as he relayed the story to Sara about something that had happened on his shift.

Sara snorted out a laugh. "Goldfish?" The image being produced in her mind was priceless.

"Not just one goldfish, several hundred goldfish; down his shirt, in the pockets of his pants, I think he even found a couple in his shoes." Nick was snickering. "I'm not sure Greg will ever want to work with Warrick and I again just to get a little more overtime."

Sara quirked an eyebrow at Nick. "And this is how you solved your case?"

He smirked at her. "The poison the killer used on our vic, he put into the feeder fish tank of his pet shop. Unfortunately for him, the poison killed most of the fish in the tank and acted as a solvent on the sealant that held the fish tank together and when it gave way, Sanders had the unfortunate pleasure of being directly in front of it. I think he was still standing there with the side panel of plexi-glass resting on his shoulders well after the water and the fish had all rushed out."

"He could have been hurt." It occurred to Sara that if the glass had broken instead of just separating in a single panel the outcome might not have been as humorous. "Don't aquariums have a frame to stabilize the glass panels?"

"I suppose that's true if you purchase one, but apparently our killer thinks he's a handyman, he made the tank himself." Nick snorted out another laugh as the image of Greg's expression flitted through his mind. "Seriously, Sara, you should have seen Sanders…" Nick imitated the shocked look on Greg's face by widening his eyes and then opening and closing his mouth, much like a fish would.

Sara let out a giggle and then reached over and took Nick's hand, lacing her fingers with his. "I'm glad you came over." She smiled at him, feeling a flurry of butterflies in her stomach as she watched his face light up.

"I'm glad I came over too." His smile widened into a grin and then he leaned down and softly kissed her. He let out a soft chuckle as he pulled away. "Although, I had another offer that was rather tempting."

Sara feigned a scowl. "Who was more tempting?"

"Grissom." Nick tried to keep a straight face. "He thought I might be interested in helping to establish the entomological timeline for the body from your case."

Sara let out a soft groan. "He didn't." She made a mental note to kill Greg the next time she saw him for bringing up the subject with Grissom.

"He did." Nick smiled. "But I told him that while I was very interested, I had a previous engagement, and not even the enticement of beetle larvae could keep me away."

"Well, when you put it like that." Sara smirked. "Thanks." There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Nick laughed. "Trust me, Sara, there is no danger of me ever having the kind of love affair with bugs that Grissom does."

Sara wrinkled her nose. "And to think I thought I could compete with that." It was ironic really. Grissom was an utterly fascinating man, but in many ways his own fascination with insects was really a substitution for personal relationships in his life. Sara felt a sense of sadness for him on what he was missing out on.

Nick nudged her gently with his elbow. "No one can compete with that." He knew that she no longer had romantic feelings for Grissom, but sometimes he felt a pang of sadness for the time that she'd spent focusing on him, thinking that there was something wrong with her, when in reality, that was just the way Grissom was wired.

Sara furrowed her brow. "Let's not talk about Grissom." She had made up her mind before she'd invited Nick over as to how she wanted the night to end; only she wasn't exactly sure how to let him know that. She felt a flurry of butterflies in her stomach as she considered the implications of what she wanted to do.

"Ok." Nick smiled at her. In spite of the grueling shift he'd worked and how tired he felt, he really wanted to spend some quality time with Sara. "I have no problem not talking about Grissom."

Sara giggled. "Good, because I'd hate to think you were thinking about him when you were kissing me."

Nick had an odd expression on his face. "Darlin', I don't think there's ever gonna be a danger of that happenin'." His drawl was decidedly more pronounced than normal.

Sara arched a single brow at him as she leaned up to kiss him, mumbling against his lips. "Good."

It was several minutes later when the two finally pulled away from each other and it was because Nick had to stifle a yawn in the middle of a kiss.

Sara smirked at him. "It's nice to know you find my company so exciting…" She knew that he was tired and that he probably should have gone home rather than come over to spend time with her. He had to work again tomorrow and didn't have the advantage of having a night off.

"It's not that." Nick looked at her apologetically and yawned again. "I'm sorry, Sara." He was silently cursing himself for running out of steam. He furrowed his brow as he realized he probably should head home before he was too tired to drive.

"Don't be." She smiled at him as an idea formed in her mind. She leaned in and softly kissed him, taking his hand as she stood up from where they were sitting on the couch. "Maybe we should take this into the bedroom."

Nick wasn't sure he was hearing her correctly as he stood up. "Uh…it's not that I don't want to, it's just that I don't think I'm…"

Sara pressed her finger to his lips and looked into his eyes. "You're tired." A nervous smile flitted across her face. "I'm tired…I really didn't get a lot of sleep after I got off shift because I was looking forward to seeing you."

There was something about the way she was looking at him that made Nick realize that this wasn't going to be the kind of night he'd need a cold shower for after he got home. "You were?"

Sara nodded. "Yeah, I was." She smiled as she felt him squeeze her hand. "Why don't we get some sleep and…"

Nick leaned over and kissed her. "This wasn't exactly how I had envisioned getting to sleep with you."

Sara smiled at him softly. "Oh, and exactly how did you envision this event?" She began to lead him down the hall towards her bedroom.

Nick couldn't help but grin at her. "Well for starters, there was a whole lot less clothing involved." He found the slight blush in her cheeks endearing as they walked into her bedroom.

Sara pulled the comforter on her bed back and glanced over at Nick with a smile. "We might still have time for that." In truth, she was hoping that they'd have time for that and she'd prepared for it.

As her words registered in his mind, Nick briefly debated whether he should keep his jeans on or strip down to his boxers and t-shirt until he watched Sara shimmy out of her jeans and slip under the covers clad in a t-shirt and some very sexy underwear. His jeans quickly joined hers on the floor and he slipped under the covers next to her, smiling as she snuggled up next to him. "Are you sure about this, Sar?" His voice was a husky whisper.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Her smile was evident in her voice. "Now get some sleep, I want you well rested."

Nick chuckled at the amusement in her tone and it was then than he noticed the box of condoms sitting on her nightstand. "Yes ma'am."