Pain and New Hope
Pairing: It's mostly about Nick, but it will be a Snickers story at the end.
Spoiler: Stalker and Fur and Loathing
Nick and Sara have been dating for five months. They're working together on a case of a body found in the refrigerator. Nick takes Sara out to see the fountains of the Bellagio and gives her a very special gift!
A/N: This chapter takes place early in the 4th season. Nick made a full recovery from his injuries suffered at the hands of Nigel Crane and occasionally has a solo. His house was repaired, he moved back in and he installed a security system that extended to his attic. Sara dumped Hank after learning he was using her. (Hank wasn't mention in this story since he wasn't the focus.) Then there was the lab explosion that injured Greg and Sara. Then there was the incident with Grissom.
A/N2: Could someone explain to me what In N Out's 'Double, Double, Animal Style' is? I have seen the 'Fur and Loathing' episode several times and I still don't understand what it is. Also, I don't go to fast food places anymore (I think I was in my mid twenties when I last went to one). Okay, I go to Starbucks on a regular basis, but I don't think it counts. Now back to the regularly scheduled chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI characters or extras
New Hope
About 18 months later
Sara and I had a very interesting case involving a body found in a refrigerator. Catherine would have loved the part about frozen blood spatter since blood spatter, frozen or not, is her specialty. We had to deal with some idiot who used house paint to paint a car and a guy with a single blood drop on his pant leg that came to the police station to talk to us. My lovely vegetarian girlfriend Sara made a bet with me involving the famous 'Double, Double, Animal Style'. Mr. Blood Drop in the Pant Leg, a good guy, was accused of setting up his cousin by the cousin.
Speaking of our lovely friend Catherine, she's on a bizarre case with Grissom and Warrick. It started off with a DB in a raccoon costume and a woman who was killed in a car accident, but it got stranger. It just so happened that there was a Plushies and Furries Convention taking place in Vegas. Poor Grissom attended a rather outlandish workshop meanwhile Catherine was talking to a bunch of freaks in animal costumes. Who would have thought Sexy Kitty was actually a middle age balding lawyer? When Sara and I learned about fur piles, yiffing and scritching, we were glad to be assigned the case of the doofus and his well meaning cousin. If Grissom gave us the Plushies and Furries case, he would had us both committed for laughing too much at the scenario. I wouldn't wish that case on anyone, not even Ecklie.
Shift was almost over and Grissom gave Sara and me the night off. We told him that Catherine needed it more than we did after dealing with the freaks dressed up like animals, from across the country, possibly the world. He relented, but still gave us the night off. He said he was going to pull three people from Ecklie's shift or from Swing.
"Hey Sara, do you want to go to the Olive Garden with me tonight?" I asked. "Then, we are going to look at the fountains of the Bellagio."
"Nicky, this is happiest that I have ever seen you," Sara observed. "It has been about 18 months since the Nigel Crane incident and it looks like you've moved on."
I put my finger over Sara's lips. As much as I wanted to be reminded of moving on, I didn't want to be reminded of the person who made my life a living hell for a few weeks. I was just glad he is spending the rest of his delusional life in prison with no possibility of parole. I was also grateful that Grissom forced me to speak to a counselor after I returned to work. She helped me deal with the nightmares and fears. Now, I was more focused on my work and Sara, the love of my life. Hell, I wanted to wake up everyday seeing her next to me in bed. I wanted to have a few beautiful kids with her.
"Nick, I would love to go with you to the Olive Garden," Sara said. "I can't wait to see the fountains and the dancing water."
"I'll pick you up at 5:30," I told her. "Remember to wear something nice and casual, not grungy."
"I love you, Nick," Sara said.
"I love you, too, Sara," I said pulling her into an embrace and peppering her with kisses as she did with me.
"Come on, break it up," Warrick protested. "I think there's been enough love making tonight. I am recovering from the trauma of hearing about a fur pile."
Sara and I released ourselves and looked at him. We shook our heads and laughed at him.
"I think I got the hint," Warrick chuckled. "I'll see you crazy lovebirds in two days."
After he left, Sara and I resumed embracing and kissing. We heard somebody clearing his throat and I knew who it was.
"Please, don't do this in front of the kid," Greg joked.
"Greggo, what did I say about my privacy!" I hissed.
"I better leave you alone," he said. "See you in two days."
Greg left immediately after I hissed at him. I felt bad because he thought I was serious. I was just playing with the kid and he left to go home. Yes, I am very guarded about my privacy, but I can't always be serious about it. I should make a note to myself to apologize to Greggo and tell him that I was just kidding with him.
"Sara, let's go home and get some sleep before Catherine comes and disrupts a sweet moment," I told her. "You look like you could use a couple hours of sleep. Remember, I am coming to get you at 5:30. Until then, sleep well."
"I will, you should sleep, too," Sara smiled. "Go home and I'll see you later!"
We had one more embrace and kiss before we made our separate ways. When I arrived home, I picked up my mail which was mostly bills. As I entered my house, I locked the door and dropped off my keys at the table. I notice my voicemail was flashing telling me that I have at least one message. I starting playing the messages and checking my caller ID.
"Nick, this is your mom." the voice said. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. Did you get the tickets for you and Sara to come for Thanksgiving? I am looking forward to finally meeting her and so is the rest of the family. If you get this message, please give me a call. You know you can always leave a message. I love you. Bye!"
I ignored the other calls because I was too sleepy to pay any attention. I had a simple breakfast of cereal, milk and fruit juice. I went to brush my teeth and changed into an old t-shirt and a pair of boxers. Once I was in bed, I fell asleep dreaming about my plans tonight with Sara.
About eight hours later, I woke up smiling and refreshed. When I got up, I took a quick shower. After I dried off, I shaved and got dressed with jeans and a Dallas Cowboys t-shirt. It was only temporary until 4:30, when I needed to dress up a little better for my date with Sara. I wouldn't say it's formal wear, but business casual was more like it. I heated up some leftover pepper steak and pork fried rice for lunch. I ate it with some iced tea to wash it down.
An hour later, I went out and did some light jogging around my block. When I returned home, I checked my email. Melissa, my prom date, wrote to ask how I was doing, asked about Sara, she wished me luck for tonight and told me she was expecting her fourth child. I just hope she isn't catching up to my parents who had seven kids. One of my fraternity brothers sent me the funniest jokes. One of my sisters sent me an email checking on me and telling me to say hello to Sara for her. I turned off my computer, sat on my couch and turned on the TV to watch something on the Discovery Channel.
4:30 rolled around and I changed into a pair of navy blue chinos and a light blue button down shirt. I put on a beige jacket and a black pair of shoes. I put on some aftershave that Sara loved. I looked at the clock and saw it was only 4:45 and I still had some time since I wasn't planning on leaving my house until 5:00. I went to my linen closet to pick up a small blue velvet box that I was hiding from Sara and put in my pants pocket. I spent that time sitting on my couch doing nothing.
When I saw that it was 5:00, I left my house and locked the door. I got into my Tahoe and drove off to Sara's. I wonder if I was going to get to her place early, on time or late. I hope I wouldn't be late or I would have to deal with the Wrath of Sara. I arrived at her complex with only five minutes to spare. I parked near her apartment and got out of the Tahoe. When I got to her door and rang the doorbell. She opened the door wearing a purples sleeveless dress with a matching midriff jacket, a pair of black low heel pumps and she had her hair in a bun.
"Wow, you look gorgeous, Sara!" I said.
"Thank you," she smiled. "You don't look bad yourself."
"Thanks," I said. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, let's get going," she said. "I am looking forward to what you have planned for me, Cowboy!"
About 45 minutes later, we were at the Olive Garden waiting to be seated. After we were seating and received menus, we knew exactly what we wanted. I had the chicken scampi, Sara had the manicotti and we both decided to have salad. We had San Pellegrino to drink. As the courses were served, Sara and I talked a little bit about our case of the doofus cousins and the one involving those Plushies and Furries. We also joked and laughed. I was careful of what to discuss not wanting to spoil the sweet surprise I had in store for her. We agreed to share a tiramisu, but we got our own cappuccinos. When the check arrived, I paid it with my credit card.
An hour later, we were looking at the fountains of the Bellagio. I had her in an embrace and we kissed not caring about who was staring at us. There could have been couples like us embracing and kissing while admiring the beauty of the fountains. I wonder how many guys came here to propose to their girlfriends. It seemed to be the most beautiful place to do it in Las Vegas.
"This is so enchanting," Sara smiled. "They are starting the water dance."
"It is a wonder indeed," I said. "I remember the year after I moved to Vegas, one of my sisters came to visit me with her family. I took them here to see the water dancing. The looks on my nieces and nephews' faces were priceless. They had never seen water do that before in their lives. Their teachers had to contact her mother to confirm they were telling the truth."
"This really makes any adult or kid feel like a kid in the candy store," Sara chuckled.
I gently released her from our embrace and she gave me a worried look. I got down on one knee and took out the tiny blue velvet box from my pants pocket. Her worried look changed into one of happy anticipation.
"Sara, we have been flirting with each other for four years now," I said. "You took me into your place after the Nigel Crane incident and nursed me back to health."
"Nick, you kind of invited yourself to my place," Sara corrected me. "Nevertheless, I am just very happy that I took great care of you."
"Can you let me finish?" I asked and she nodded. "Then there were the incidents that involved you with Hank and Grissom. I helped you through those. I know that we only dated for five months, but there is a question I have been wanting and needing to ask you."
I could see that Sara had tears streaming down her face like she anticipated what I was going to do and say next.
"Sara Isabel Sidle, will you marry me?" I asked as I opened the box to show a princess cut diamond engagement ring.
"Yes, Nicholas Daniel Stokes, I will marry you!" she said with tears coming down strong.
I placed the ring on her finger and she stared at it for a few moments. I wanted to surprise her with the tickets to Dallas to meet my family, but this moment couldn't be disrupted. I pulled her into an embrace and we kissed passionately while watching the water dancing. It felt like we were the only ones there. We really didn't want this lovely moment to end. What started out with pain became new hope.
THE END