Disclaimer: You know.

A/N: Thanks for all the response. Now, on with the program!

Nick had a rough night. The cases weren't too bad, but it seemed like as soon as he was finishing logging evidence for one, he was getting called to another. Right now he was in the midst of three cases: one with Warrick, one with Catherine and one on his own. Each of them had other cases as well. All hell had broken lose in Vegas during swing shift. Catherine had paged the dayshift guy on call.

He finally had a moment to breath, so he walked into the break room. All he wanted was a diet Pepsi and a snack. When he looked up from his pack of crackers, he thought he saw Sara's lean figure waltz into the locker room. He looked at his watch. She still had three hours before her shift began. He wondered how bad the dreams had gotten after he left. He took his drink and crackers and followed her.

"So, bucking the overtime rule today?" he asked. She turned and smiled at him. She didn't look too tired. In fact, she looked great.

"Nicky, you look … stressed," she said. She frowned at what he had in his hands. "Did you not bring some lunch?" she asked. Nick smiled. That was normally his line.

"We've been slammed tonight. This is the first chance I've had for any kind of break," he admitted. He sat on the bench in front of her locker. "So, couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"Not well. I finally just got up. I stopped at that little coffee shop and got lunch," she said.

"Let me guess, roasted veggie pita with Gruyere," he said. He took a swig from his drink.

"Close. Regular veggie pita with Havarti dill. Anyway, Ozzie was there too. He must live near you. So we discussed our game plan for the night. I'm checking on my evidence from the scene and processing her clothes." Sara's casual mention of the new detective brought Nick's nightmare back to him. His shook his head. He had seen enough tonight without bringing his nightmares into it.

"Hey, if you need anything, let me know," he said, standing and draining the last of the soft drink. He leaned up against the locker next to hers. "Promise me you won't let this get under your skin," he said softly. The look he was giving her was deadly serious.

"You know I can't promise what I can't control," she said. "Beside, you look like you could do with that talk yourself." She cocked her head sympathetically and brought her hand up to his face. "I guess you're working a double," she said.

"Yeah. If your shift is anything like mine has been, you probably will be too," Nick sighed. The thought of working a double made him feel bone weary. The thought of working a double as rough as this had been without getting to hold onto Sara made him want to cry. Sara rubbed his cheek gently.

"Maybe we can meet for supper or breakfast, or whatever at the end of my shift," she offered. That garnered her a nod of the head from Nick. She leaned up and whispered in his ear, "Maybe I can lay the seat down in the Denali." That got the smile she was hoping for. She let go of him and turned back to her locker.

Nick almost asked her about the camping trip at that moment, but he held back. He couldn't help but feel like taking a weekend trip together might be crossing a line that Sara didn't want to cross. They walked out of the locker room together. They split up, Sara towards DNA and Nick towards the A/V lab. Nick turned at the corner of the hallway.

"I'll call you," he said, before disappearing around the other side.

"You always do," Sara thought. It put a small smile on her face. She was still smiling when she saw Mia in the DNA lab.

"Sara, you're here a bit early," Mia said, but she smiled. Mia and Sara had a comfortable working relationship. Sara felt like given time and a few drinks, she and Mia would probably be friends.

"I could say the same of you. You pulling a double?" Sara asked.

"Yeah, Lawson on swing is in Malibu, of all places. Can you imagine how red he is going to be?" Mia snarked. Sara laughed and noticed Hodges walking by the window out of the corner of her eye.

"What's Hodges doing here?" Sara asked. Hodges looked over at that moment and waved, looking at Mia the whole time.

"Who knows with David. You wouldn't believe how many times a night he walks by that window. Sometimes I think he just stands for a minute to make sure I see him, you know?" The pretty tech just shook her head as if she couldn't believe that Hodges was sitting at her window all the time. Sara decided not to comment on the fact that David Hodges, AKA the Nose, AKA the Brown Nose, had a well-known crush on Mia.

"So, have you gotten anything on my case?" Sara asked hopefully.

"I have profiles on your vic and the boyfriend. The boyfriend's data hasn't been run through the database yet. Get me something to compare them to, and I'll do what I can. It's been really slammed tonight though," Mia said.

"So I've heard. Thanks Mia," Sara said. As she left out the door, Mia called back to her.

"You bringing that new detective by again sometime?" the tech asked. Sara snorted laughter and rolled her eyes.

"We'll see," she said. Had she not realizedhow good looking Ozzie really was? Mia was impervious even to Warrick's charms. If she noticed Ozzie, that was saying something.

Sara started the database search for any DNA matching Todd McCall's. While she waited, she began processing Anna Gilead's clothes. She found semen and blood stains. The blood was probably Anna's, but the semen definitely wasn't. She swabbed both and took the samples to Mia.

The database had an interesting revelation. Todd McCall's DNA matched with an unknown serial rapist in Reno.

"Gotcha," Sara said, a big smile widening across her face. She looked up to see Grissom standing in the doorway. "Hey Gris," Sara said. She felt the smile fall from her face. Grissom was looking at her with grim eyes.

"You're here early," he said. It sounded like an accusation.

"So are you," she returned. "Sounds like swing's having a tough night," she said, trying to make conversation. Gris didn't bite.

"How's the rape case?" he asked, coming in to look at the printout Sara had.

"I just got a break," she said, the smile returning.

"Good," Grissom said. He started out the door, then paused and looked back at her. "You're good?" he asked. Something in her face must have answered the question, because he gave her a nod, and walked out. Sara felt herself blowing out a breath of air she had been holding. "Pecker neck," she said under her breath. It was a saying she had picked up from Nick, and she wouldn't have said it in front of anyone but him.

"I hope you're not talking about me," a voice said from the door. She spun around to see Ozzie. He was really good looking. She felt herself blush at having been heard using Nick's not-quite-cuss words.

"Ozzie, I was just about to page you. I've got some very interesting DNA to show you," Sara said. She was smiling again. "I think we've got the boyfriend." Just then her pager went off. She and Ozzie walked through the lab hallways to Jacqui in print analysis.

"We've got a lot to talk about," Ozzie said. His normal smiling nature seemed a little subdued. Sara figured the hospital visit must not have gone well.

"Anna?" she asked. "Is she..."

"She's alive. They were able to wean her from the respirator during the day. She was able to whisper a couple of things, then she went hysterical and they had to sedate her," Ozzie said. For the first time, she thought he had what she considered a normal homicide detective look: haunted and a touch world-weary. It wasn't Brass caliber, but it was closer than Sara would have thought when she had breakfast with him earlier. By this point they had reached Jacqui, who gave Ozzie a very appreciative once over before turning to Sara.

"Sara, found an interesting print from the back door in your case," Jacqui said. Then she turned to Ozzie. "Good to see you again." Ozzie nodded and flashed a white smile Jacqui's way.

"The print is linked to a series of rapes in Reno. Subject is unknown," Jacqui continued.

"It didn't match the print of Todd McCall? He was the boyfriend of the vic," Sara asked.

"No," Jacqui said. "They aren't the same. His prints were on the back door as well. I haven't finished all the prints from the bedroom, but it looks like most are the McCall fellow and the vic. I'll let you know if I get anything different," she said.

Ozzie and Sara walked away, Ozzie trailing Sara because of his unfamiliarity with the lab. Sara's brain was burning. Todd McCall's DNA matched the Reno rapes, but his fingerprints didn't. Yet a fingerprint from her rape case and Reno's did match.

"Two guys?" Sara said aloud. She looked back at Ozzie's grim face.

"We need to get Todd McCall in the box," he said. "I'll make a call. Then we need to go over his statement."

Nick was in Trace with Hodges when Sara and the new detective walked by. Sara had the look she got when she was on fire with evidence. She would be in full-blown CSI mode right now.

He was finally able to get a good look at Detective Perrin. He immediately knew the type. He had seen a hundred sorority girls fall for guys like Ozzie when he was in college. It was all smiles and charm for a while, but once the panties came off, the guy was through. Nick wanted to run and get between Sara and the guy. There was no way he was going to … what? Nick shook his head at himself. He wasn't Sara's protector. He wasn't her boyfriend. Besides, from the look on Sara's face, she was thinking all business. Nick turned his attention back to Hodges.

"That's the new detective, isn't it?" Hodges asked. Nick just nodded his head, looking in the microscope at the paint chips he had pulled from the sight of a drive-by. "You know, I heard Mia and Judy talking about him yesterday. I don't see where he's that handsome," Hodges said, the slightest bit defensively. Nick had to hide a smile. "He's probably gay," Hodges snarked.

"That's what everybody says about you," Nick said, but then added, "I don't believe it though." Then he walked out. It was always fun to keep Hodges off balance. Nick felt a little guilty about being mean to the lab tech, but sometimes he couldn't help himself. It was a side he kept hidden when he could. It was a side that seemed to lash out more since his burial.

He almost ran into Catherine coming out of Trace.

"I was looking for you," she said breathlessly. "Brass is ready to interview the suspect in that drive-by. You want to sit in? I've got to head out to the Tangiers on another case."

"Sure. I'll go right over," Nick said amiably. In the back of his mind, he thought he could pump Brass for information on the new detective.

The interrogation ended with the suspect in cuffs. Nick was glad this case was over for now. He and Brass waited on the suspect to be taken out, then walked down to Jim's office.

"How's it going Nicky?" Brass asked. "I haven't gotten to talk to you in a while."

"Good. Crazy today, but overall, I'm doing better everyday," Nick said. He didn't know why, but he felt he could be a little more candid with Jim. With everyone else, he would have stopped at "good". "Heard you got a new detective? From LA? What's his deal?" Nicky tried to sound disinterested, but Brass's look told him that he had failed.

"LA had a little shake up a few months ago. A friend of mine got in the middle of a political mess. Ozzie was one of her guys, and he decided he wasn't sticking around if she wasn't. We had an opening here, so he joined us. He's a damn good detective," Brass said.

"A ladies' man?" Nick asked, still trying to sound innocuous. Still failing. Brass narrowed his eyes.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Sara, would it, Nicky?" Jim asked.

"No," Nick said, scowling. "Just heard the lab talk. You know how gossip is in that place." Brass wasn't buying, but he didn't call Nick on it. "Maybe we should set him up with Catherine. She could use a decent boyfriend," Nick said. Brass laughed. Nick said his goodbyes and left. He hated the look in Brass's eyes when he had mentioned Sara. Brass suspected Nicky was jealous of the detective.

Was he? Did he have any right to be? So far, the guy hadn't done anything. They were just working a case. Nick still didn't like him, and the fact that he knew it was illogical and emotional only made it worse. For the first time in a long time, Nick felt like he needed some advice on women. There was no one here he could talk to about Sara. He knew he shouldn't be this possessive of her. She wasn't his; she was her own person.

It didn't make it any easier when he saw them together in the hallway. They were going into another interrogation room. He almost turned and went the other way. He could feel a deep anger working it's way through him. He had always had a temper that lashed out unexpectedly, and right after the burial, it had been extremely hard to control. He felt almost out of control now.

"Nick!" He heard Sara's voice. He took a deep breath and turned, pushing the anger down, down, down.

"Sara. You get a break in your case?" he asked. He was doing a better job of covering his emotions than he had with Brass. That or Sara was too worked up over the case to notice. He turned and took a good look at Det. Oscar Perrin. "Hi. I'm Nick Stokes, CSI," he said, sticking his hand out to the taller man. Sara was right; he did look like an aged surfer.

The detective gave Nick a wide smile and shook his hand vigorously. He had a hell of a grip. Nick tried not to let his macho side get into a "who's got the firmer grip" contest, but he did it anyway. Giving himself over to observation, Nick could see why the girl's were all talking about Perrin. He had a sort of Robert Redford meets Harrison Ford vibe. But he dressed like he was still stuck on Don Johnson in Miami Vice.

"Oscar Perrin," the detective said. "So, you work with Sara? Is she an evidence hound all of the time?" he asked. Nick definitely did not like the look he was giving her. She was oblivious.

Or was she? Nick detected a hint of blush at her cheeks, and the little hollow of her throat. It was a blush he had gotten to know very well, and loved to cause. It was his blush, dammit! Nick forced a smile. Sara was now given him a peculiar look.

"Yeah, you don't want to get between Sara and a case. She's a barracuda," Nick said. That hadn't come out exactly as he meant it,and now Sara was giving him a nuclear grade stare. He saw Perrin giving him an odd look, and he knew he was coming off asan arrogant jerk. "Um, Sar, you need a ride back to the lab?" he offered, hoping to appease her.

"No. That's all right. I'm not sure how long we'll be. Besides, I'm sure you have work to do," she said. Her tone was hostile. Even Ozzie the dreamboat had noticed it.

"Yeah. Maybe I'll catch you later," he offered. "Breakfast at 8?" he asked. He had toned the testosterone way down now.

"Maybe. Greg will call you," she said. Ouch. That was not a good sign.

"Good to meet you detective," Nick said. He was very nice this time. He felt it was probably too late. He turned to leave, a sinking feeling in his stomach telling him that he might be going without Sara's touch for more than today. He wanted to punch something or someone. Mainly himself, though punching Ozzie would have been very satifying.

Ozzie had noticed the tension between Sara and Nick. He was used to guys reacting to him defensively, but this had been a little different than usual. The guy seemed like a prick.

"Friend of yours?" he asked Sara. He had his hand on the door to the room.

"Sometimes," she said. She was biting her lower lip. Then she seemed to snap some part of her brain to attention. "Let's get this guy," she said. He could see her steel herself.

"Let's," he said, opening the door and letting her go in first.

A/N: So that chapter wasn't too bad, right? Let me know in a review.

All Snickers Fans: I like Ozzie. So there. Now you have to see where it goes, and we've got a few more chapters.

Anushka: Good luck with finals. I hope this chapter doesn't drive you to drink or anything. Now if finals drive you to drink, that's different.

DarkDreamer56- I'm glad you find my plot original. I just hope to keep it interesting.

Mayme: Save that trophy until the end. Let's see if I really deserve it.