"So there are seven ways to reach first base?" Sara looked at Nick quizzically, not sure if she really believed him.

"There sure are." He grinned at her as he drove them towards the baseball park.

I still can't believe she agreed to go out with me. I don't care what Warrick comes up with to pay me back for giving Sara his ticket, it was worth it.

"Seven?" Sara was doubtful, she knew of only two.

"Yes, seven." Nick chortled out. He could tell that Sara wasn't sure if he was pulling her leg or telling her the truth.

"Ok, name them." Sara smirked, crossing her arms over her chest in challenge.

"Ok." He smirked back. "First you've got your hit."

She looks so damn cute when she smirks like that. What I wouldn't do to be able to kiss it right off of her face. Hey, that makes eight ways to get to first base. Ok, easy now, Nick, we're only about fifteen minutes into this date; try focusing on something other than her lips. Ok, so maybe not her chest either. The eyes, yes, those brown eyes…I could get lost in those eyes.

Sara arched a brow at him. "Easy one."

"And then you've got your base on balls." Nick hoped that he could actually remember all seven legal ways to reach first base.

"Huh?" Sara looked a little confused.

"A walk…four called balls is a base on balls." Nick explained.

"Oh." Sara smiled, a little embarrassed that she hadn't known that a base on balls was a walk.

Nick chuckled softly; Sara's lack of knowledge about baseball was endearing. "A batter can also reach base on an error."

"Uh, huh." Sara was trying not to focus on how muscular his arms looked when he gripped the steering wheel.

Is she checking me out? Uh, huh, she is. Damn, I think I'm smiling so much my cheeks are starting to hurt. Keep it low key, Stokes, you want her to say 'yes' to a second date.

"And I'm sure you're aware if you get hit by a pitch you automatically get to go to first base." Nick continued.

"Ok, that's four." Sara was keeping track, hoping that he thought that the smile on her face was due to their conversation rather than the fact that she was admiring the way his entire face crinkled up when he smiled.

"The next one is a little more complicated." Nick hoped he sounded intelligent; Sara was a brilliant woman and he wanted her to think he was smart. "When first base is open or there are two outs, and the batter is able to make it to the bag before being forced, if the ball is dropped or passed on the third strike it's called a pass ball."

Sara wasn't sure she completely understood it so she just nodded like she knew what he was talking about. "Interesting."

She didn't have a clue what I was talking about, but she doesn't want me to know that. Damn she's adorable. I wonder if she'll let me kiss her sometime tonight. Focus, Nick. No not on her lips, on the road. Good thing I looked up just then, I might have missed the light turning red.

"The next one is what's called a fielder's choice." Nick continued, hoping that his voice sounded normal. "That's when a fielder chooses to make the out at another base rather than at first."

Ok, this one did make sense to Sara. "That's six." She arched a brow in challenge to see if Nick could name another.

Nick smirked at her. "And the seventh is when there is interference by the catcher, a fielder or an umpire." He looked triumphant and winked at her.

And I'd sure like to tell her about the eighth way, but I think I'd rather just show her…maybe later. Well we are on a date, I'm sure I could at least hold her hand, maybe put my arm around her shoulder…then maybe a long kiss goodnight…or maybe I won't have to say goodnight. Whoa, Stokes! Do not go there. This is Sara, you need to take it nice and slow, buddy; half the lab would have your hide.

"So there are only seven ways?" Sara queried him curiously. She was trying to not look too obvious as she studied his profile.

Nick swallowed hard and nearly blurted out what had been on his mind, but caught his tongue at the last minute. "Well, those are the only seven legal ways. Before the rules were changed you could actually steal first base from second."

"Why would you want to go backwards?" Sara had a perplexed expression on her face. "Isn't the point of baseball to get to home?"

Nick nodded. "Yes, it is. But let's say you've got a guy on second base, and another on third and then the batter hits a single; it's an easy set up for a double play and your runner from third doesn't score. But if your runner on second moves to first and the batter hits a single, it's much harder to get a double play, and then your man on third scores. Someone actually did that once, the guy is in the record books as being the only player to steal all four bases, and so they changed the rule."

That was quick thinking to come up with that one. Baseball stats come in really handy sometimes. Ok we're at the ballpark; now if we can just find a parking spot.

As if reading his mind, Sara pointed. "Oh, there's a spot."

Nick had a mild panic attack for a moment as he steered the SUV into the parking spot.

I didn't say that out loud did I? No. I'm sure I was just thinking it. Still, she's always had an uncanny way of being able to complete my sentences.

As Nick turned off the ignition, Sara felt a flurry of butterflies in her stomach. "So who are the Rangers playing today?" She reasoned that it was a simple question that should get Nick talking and detract from the fact that her mouth was suddenly feeling dry.

"Uh, the Seattle Mariners." He smirked. "They haven't had much of a really good team since 1995, but they do have Ichiro."

Sara quirked a brow. "Ichiro? What is that?"

Nick chortled out a laugh. "He is a pretty damn good baseball player from Japan." He winked at her and then gestured towards the ballpark. "Let's go see some baseball."

"Ok." Sara laughed at how excited Nick was to see a baseball game, but there was a part of her that secretly hoped that he was excited because he was on a date with her. She'd not had the greatest of luck with men, especially since she'd moved to Vegas and she didn't want to get her hopes up too high that Nick would want to go out with her again.

Nick opened his door and rounded the SUV in an attempt to open Sara's door for her, but she was out before he had the chance, so he grinned at her and quickly gathered her hand in his.

Ok, I'm holding her hand and from the smile on her face I'd say that she likes it. Looking good, Stokes. Oops, damn, that's gonna leave a mark. Just smile and act natural; she doesn't need to know that my shoulder hurts like hell from running into that sign. Just keep walking, shake it off, you can amputate it in the morning. Focus, man. Ask her a question or something.

"Uh, so how did your case end up? I mean the one with the ink blots." Nick smirked at her, trying to quell the nerves in his stomach that were generated by the feel of her hand in his.

Sara smirked back. "Uh, fine. We had quite a few suspects at first. Those undeveloped rolls of film had more pictures of him with other lady friends in similar situations."

Nick wasn't sure whether to laugh or to be disgusted at this guy and so he pursed his lips together. "Busy guy."

"Yeah, I think we counted about sixteen or seventeen different women…and one guy. He actually confessed." Sara informed him with a smile that had nothing to do with what they were talking about and everything to do with the fact that Nick's thumb was caressing the back of her hand.

"You've got to like it when they make it that easy." Nick smiled back, reluctantly letting go of her hand to get the tickets out.

Is it my imagination or did she look disappointed when I let go of her hand? I guess I'll just have to grab hold of it again. Damn I want to kiss her.

Nick handed the tickets to the ticket taker and then took Sara's hand again as they made their way through the turnstile. As he glanced over at her she had a grin that matched his on her face. "Having a good time?"

"Yeah, I am." She was trying hard to pay attention to where she was walking rather than to keep looking at his lips, but more than a few times on the ride over to the ballpark she had wondered what it would be like to kiss Nick Stokes.

"I'm glad." As they headed towards their seats, they passed a concession stand and Nick gestured towards it. "You want anything?"

Sara hesitated for a moment. "Uh, do you?"

Nick chuckled softly. "Today is on me, this is a date, remember?" To emphasize his point he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Sara couldn't hide the faint blush that crept into her cheeks, and she wasn't sure she wanted to either.

"Ok, so what do you want?" Nick began to propel them towards the concessionaire.

I kissed her…ok, so it was just on her cheek, but I'm just testing the waters and things seem to be nice and warm. Maybe I should get her a Rangers T-shirt, I could buy myself one too and we could match…or maybe she'd think that was too cheesy. Well, I'll at least buy her one; I might just make her a baseball fan yet.

"Maybe some peanuts." Sara decided.

"Ok." Nick grinned at her and then as they got to the front of the line he placed their order. "Uh, we need some peanuts, some cracker jacks, a hot dog, two iced teas, one of those orders of nachos with no meat, and how about a Rangers T-shirt in a…" He glanced at Sara for a second. "…small."

Sara's eyes widened at him in disbelief. "Nick!"

"I just want you to have something to remember the game by." He reasoned, trying to swallow his smile.

"Well then I'm going to buy you one." She insisted, reaching for her purse.

Nick turned his attention back to the man behind the counter. "And throw in one just like it in a large…and don't even think about taking her money, it's all on me."

Sara looked flustered for a moment and then felt her cheeks getting warm as she realized she was blushing. She really wasn't used to someone being so excited about being with her; at least it had been a good long while since anyone had and it felt good.

She was trying to keep her smile at bay when Nick turned to face her while he waited for the man behind the counter to get their order together. "Remember, Sara, it's a date." He winked at her. "And I'm trying to impress you."