Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to CSI or it's affiliates. I am merely a fan whose would like to take already established characters into a story of my own rendering.

Note: Thanks as always to the reviews. They're much appreciated and helpful.So, this chapter is a bit more serious than the others, but bear with me. There's a point to evereything. Also, the crime will not become a major part of this story, although I may use it in my next case fic. We'll see.

Enjoy.

Releases

Chapter 6

Sara was not usually one to play with her hair in a toying manner, but while she sat in the A/V lab reviewing surveillance tapes of a murder at the Tangier's, Sara couldn't help but play with her hair and think of the coming weekend.

As luck would have it, only Nick and Sara had the night off to go camping. Nick, being the perfect gentleman, decided that they would just go for a hike and try to get a few pictures of some desert life.

Nick had been amused when Sara admitted the only time she went into the desert was to visit a crime scene. Although having grown up in Dallas, Nick had seen some of the Texas desert when visiting relatives. He'd also gone camping in the desert as a boy scout, so he knew a few animals and plants to find for Sara to photograph.

Not to mention his Plan B of getting "lost" and being forced to camp for the night. Hiding the camping gear under the seats of the Denali, Nick felt excited at the prospect of moving Operation: Sara forward in a not so innocent way. Nick's feelings were starting to get the better of him. It took all his willpower just to keep his hands off Sara the last time he was at her apartment.

Renting a James Bond movie was not a good idea of one is to stay celebrant through the whole showing.

Now Nick stood at the doorway of the A/V lab watching Sara twirl her hair into little ringlets. He smiled at the schoolgirl look she had on her face while trying to find a possible reflection of the shooter, who had managed to find all the blind spots of the casino cameras. He loved the way her face twichted in frustration. Perhaps this was a good time to interrupt.

"Hey."

Sara looked up and smiled for the first time in three hours. "Hey. Are we all set for tonight?"

"Yeah. My shrift's ending in about ten minutes. I'm going to get us some food and I'll pick you up when you get off and we'll head out."

Although still smiling, Sara's forehead screwed up in concern. "When are we going to sleep?"

"Well, I'll be able to get a quick cat nap before we leave and since the place I've got picked out is about four hours away, you'll have time to sleep while I drive."

"That's not a lot of sleep."

"It's probably more than you get on a normal day."

"Touche." Sara smiled. "OK, But please get some sleep before you pick me up."

Nick winked at her. "Sure. Enjoy those videos."

"Thanks." Sara said in a sarcastic way. She looked out the door for a second, then her gaze fell back on the pile of videos she had to watch. Smiling inwardly, she unpaused the VCR and began the tedious task of searching for something that might not be there.

As promised, Nick was waiting outside the crime lab when Sara walked out at the end of her shift. Without hesitation, she maneuvered her way into the Denali and greeted the driver with a smile. "You look rested."

Nick's semi-shy smile prevailed. "Yeah, I slept a little longer than planned. But I did get everything together and I got your stuff as well."

"Come again? I thought we were going hiking and birdwatching? And what things?" Sara's face revealed confusing and a twinge of fear.

Now Nick's face was full of laughter. "Well, on the slight off chance that we stay out too late, I thought we might camp after all. So I swung by your place and got some clothes for you. I'm providing everything else."

The fear rose up as a redding of her face. Nick had been in her apartment and in her drawers. "What did you get?"

"Well, I wanted to go for that little number you've got in your top drawer, but I just got what you needed. Change of clothes and other undergarments." Nick now saw the look of fear change to one of anger. "You gave me a key a while back remember? We all have keys to each other's apartments! I just want us to be prepared in the event that we can't come home tonight. I swear I'm not a pedophile!"

Still a little angry, Sara understood a little. He was just being the dependable, prepared CSI she knew him to be. "Next time ask me first." Was all she said. It was going to be a long day and it definetly wouldn't do to start off angry."

Nick nodded like a child who'd just been chastised. But to keep the mood warm and exciting, he quickly turned on the radio to a classic country station. Smiling, he started singing the words much to Sara's amusement as he pulled the Denali out of it's parking spot. Putting the SUV in the drive position, they were ready to leave.

Until Greg ran out in front of them waving his hands in the air like an air traffic controlman. Nick slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting him. He put them vehicle in the park position and jumped out, anger pouring over his face.

"Sanders! What the hell! I almost ran over you."

Sara maneuvered herself into the driver's seat and backed up the SUV and parked it in it's original spot. She then got out and joined the squabble.

"Sorry man, but Grissom said all hands on deck. I knew Sara had just left the building so I ran out to find her." Greg said holding his hands in front of him as to prevent harm. Then he straightened up a bit and looked at his two friends. "But then I see Sara with you so I decided to flag you down and kill two birds with one stone."

"Yeah and I almost killed you Greg."

"Why does Grissom need us Greg? We both have the day off." Sara hope that it would be something easy like paperwork that needed to be done ASAP.

No such luck.

"There's been a shooting at Desert Palms Mall. Not sure how many are dead yet. We don't even know a motive. But all shifts are on it. Now."

"We've got our kits in the back of the car so tell Gris we're heading over now." Nick said pointing his thumb behind him to where the SUV was parked.

"I got my kit right inside the door. We can call Grissom on the way."

Having wanted a minute to talk to Sara alone, Nick started to protest, but Sara just smiled at the younger CSI, "Go get it, I make space for you in the back."

Sara started to walk over to the Denali with Nick on her tail, "What are you doing. He's going to see that camping equipment and come to who knows how many conclusions."

"If we don't take him, he'll think we're sneaking around. Which is a lie right?"

Nick wanted to say something, but kept it to himself. This defiantly wasn't the way he'd planned to say it. "Yeah, I know. But how do we explain the gear?"

"We tell the truth. Besides, he knew about the trip but couldn't get off remember?"

"God, Sara, I just..." He started to pour his heart out but a finger to his lips stopped him.

Sara moved closer and smiled a little. She knew. The lessons, the movies, the popcorn, the possible camping trip. She knew. But she also knew this wasn't where she wanted to talk about it. "We'll talk later, OK?"

Defeated, Nick nodded and smiled. "OK, later it is."

Sara hopped back in the front passenger's seat while Nick helped Greg find a spot for his kit. They then joined Sara in the Denali, Nick in the driver's seat and Greg in the back center. Nick edged the SUV out of i's spot for the second time and headed out to the crime scene.

"Hey guys. I thought we canceled the camping trip. Why's all this stuff here." Greg asked while look around. "And what's with the duffle...oh man Sara! I didn't know you owned shorts this small!"

If looks could kill. Sara shot Nick a look that could have caused the Denali to become a crime scene. Nick looked sheepishly at Sara and mouthed "It's a hot day." Rolling her eyes, she turned around to face Greg. "Put my bag away."

"Fine." He put the bag where he'd found it, but he wasn't about to let the subject go. "So fess up. The two of you were going camping alone. What's the deal?"

"Actually, we were going hiking and going to do some photography." Nick said in a matter-of-fact tone. "If we got caught out there for whatever reason, we wanted to be prepared. Hence the camping gear."

"Yeah I don't but it." Greg was not convinced, but let it go. "So anyway, all we know from Brass is that it's possible that there might be as many as six shooters"

"Was there any motive we know of yet?" Sara asked, relieved that the other subject had been dropped. For now.

"Not sure. Brass was insistent we get out there quick. Warrick's on his way and Grissom and Catherine are meeting with Ecklie and the Sheriff first."

"Do we have a number?" Nick said looking at Greg in the rear view mirror.

"Twenty confirmed dead. Nine are children."

The SUV went silent for the rest of the ride, until they got to the crime scene itself. Nick and Greg got out the three kits. Having never been on this type of case before, Greg rushed to greet Warrick, who was talking to Brass and Vega. Sara walked to the back of the Denali where Nick was shutting the door to get her kit. She started to pick it up when Nick caught her hand. "We're going to talk right?"

"Of course." Sara's eyes were as sincere as her voice. Nick was satisfied, but still unsure if they were on the same page.

"I mean talk about everything."

Sara's face flushed a little. She looked away, regained her composure, then looked back at her counterpart. "We'll talk. About what needs to be talked about."

"OK."

The two CSI joined the others to as they braced themselves for what laid ahead.