Disclaimer: CSI is not mine...and so on

Author's Note: This is the final stretch! I'm seeing maybe one or two more chapters. If you guys would like a sequel, let me know and I'll be glad to oblige! I've got some ideas floating around. : )

If you find this chapter somewhat corny...forgive me, hehe. I was listening to country music, Rascal Flatts to be exact.You wouldn't believe the effect that kind of music has on my writing.


Nick and Sara walked in a few feet. Sara spotted the blood immediately and grabbed Nick's arm.

"There, you see that blood spatter?"

"Yeah, looks like its leading into the restrooms."

"Let's take a look." Nick disappeared into the men's room, Sara into the Ladies', just as expected.

Nick set down his kit and pulled on some gloves. He could see a dark shape hanging from the stall. Could be a body. He stepped over to it and noticed a bright orange Post-It sticking to the surface. He picked up a pair of tweezers and plucked the note off, his eyes bulged when he read what was on it.

Nick,

Guess who? Nick man, it's about time you made a move on Sara. Today would probably be the best day, since we've set up a date for you guys and all... This is your suit, you better put it on right now. And under the sink there's a bouquet of roses for Sara. This is not a joke, change now. Good luck Nick!

Love,

Warrick, Catherine, Greg, and Grissom

P.S. In case you're curious, we set up EVERYTHING. We'll explain later.

Nick shook his head, he was obviously hallucinating. But when he opened his eyes, the note was still in his hand and the suit was still hanging in from of him. Feeling crazy, he began pulling off his shirt, switching it with the crisp white one in the bag.


Sara walked slowly into the bathroom and noticed a dark shape hanging from the stall door. She approached it and pulled her gloved out of her kit. She slipped them on and then noticed something orange on the surface of the shape. So the killer left a note on the body. She thought. She grabbed the note and read it. Sara almost got a heart attack when she was done.

Sara,

You're very shocked right now. I know, but you have to pull yourself together. This is a dress, not a corpse. You are going to put it on, and put on the earrings taped under the sink. Your shoes are at the bottom of the bag. We've set up a date for you and Nick, it's time to face your feelings Sara, you can do it Honey. Let go, put on the dress and stop analyzing everything .

Love,

Catherine, Greg, Warrick, and Grissom

Sara stood there, completely immobilized. Not knowing exactly what she was doing, she pulled the dress out of the bag. Red silk, and absolutely gorgeous. I may be crazy. She told herself, but I'm going to take a chance.


Both emerged from the bathrooms at nearly the same time. They gaped at each other. Nick had never looked so debonair, so utterly handsome and charming. The charcoal suit set of his eyes and broad shoulders. He clutched a huge bouquet of roses. Sara could barely breath.

Nick could swear he heard his jaw hit the floor. Sara looked like something out of one of his dreams. Her dress accentuated her slim figure and the shiny red heels made her legs look a mile long. Sleek gold earrings glimmered in at her ears and her hair was pulled up with a glittering gold clip. She smiled shyly. Nick paused enough to stop staring and realized he still had the roses in his grasp. He thrust them stiffly at Sara.

"Here, these are for you." Sara took them and smiled. Nick was still somewhat speechless, but as he watched the smile spread across her features he couldn't help but blurt out, "You look so gorgeous." Sara nervously fingered the strap of her dress.

"Really?"

"Never seen anyone look more beautiful."

At that moment, the timer clicked on. Thousands of Christmas lights glinted from the walls and illuminated the small table set for two at the center of the restaurant.

"I'm going to have a talk with the gang...this is just..." Sara trailed off breathlessly. Nick pulled her toward him a bit and asked softly.

"Are you angry...or happy? Because I think this is probably the best idea they've ever had."

"Nick...I- I'm really, really happy!" They were lost in each other's gaze. Slowly, their lips drew closer. They both sighed as they met in the middle. One perfect kiss, with all of their emotions poured into it. They had certainly waited a long time. Sara wrapped her hand around Nick's neck. Nick cupped her face in his hands and focused on her amazingly responsive lips. Never had he imagined kissing Sara would be like this. When they finally resurfaced, their heads snapped up at the sound of applause breaking out from the kitchen. The entire kitchen staff with Catherine, Greg, Warrick, and Grissom standing out front had emerged from the inner recesses of the kitchen. Greg whooped and Catherine actually looked tearful with unabashed joy. Warrick beamed and Grissom just looked uncomfortable, but in a happy way. Sara blushed to match her dress and looked at the floor. Nick just wrapped a possessive arm around her and smiled his widest. Catherine walked to Nick and Sara. Unexpectedly, she hugged them both fiercely.

"Took you guys long enough!" She cried. "We'll leave you alone now...we can talk later, after your date." The gang filed out. Greg gave both Sara and Nick a big hug. Holding Sara a bit longer he whispered,

"If he hurts you I'll kick his ass." He waggled his eyebrows and whistled appreciatively. "And you look so hot in that dress." With that, Greg proceeded out the door. Sara laughed and blushed once again. Warrick winked at both of them and whispered something in Nick's ear. Nick flushed and nodded. Somehow, Grissom had managed to sneak out unnoticed.

Sara and Nick turned toward the table. Nick pulled out Sara's chair and they settled themselves comfortably. There was an excellent bottle of Port waiting on the table. Nick poured Sara and glass and then filled his own. "To new beginnings..." He started.

"And our old friends." Sara finished grinning. Nick reached over and grasped Sara's hand.

"Sara." He began nervously. "These past days have been the best of my life, because I've gotten the chance to spend time with a beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman. I've felt this way for a long time, and I've tried to deny it, but...I think I'm falling in love with you." He looked straight into her eyes with desperation. Please tell me you feel the same way. His expression pleaded. Sara gazed at him. She felt such tenderness and love for him that it was as if she was overflowing with it. In reply, she reached out and cupped his face.

"Nick, I haven't had an easy life. I have so many demons that haunt me and insecurities about everything. Over the last few days I've realized that I need to face my problems and to make a choice about how my life is going to be from now on. I want you Nick. I want to be with you, and burn fish with you, and talk with you, and everything in between. In the space of a few days you've given me more love and attention than I've gotten my whole life. And the fact that you want a stressed out, workaholic, vegetarian CSI with a bad temper to have a relationship with you...it means the world to me. I've already fallen for you."

Sara finished her pseudo-speech with a tremor in her voice. Nick's eyes were wet with tears. He leaned over and kissed her with all the emotion and love he couldn't convey in speech. For the first time in her entire life, Sara was truly happy.


Catherine and the crew were back at CSI, half-heartedly sorting through case files. Each one was secretly thinking about Sara and Nick. What they had hoped to be just a simple date had suddenly turned into much more. They had underestimated the depth of Sara and Nick's feelings for each other. When they saw finally saw them kiss, with all the emotion emanating from them, they realized that they were in love, and each felt extreme satisfaction that they had played a part in their relationship. Catherine smiled unconsciously and wondered how the date was going. Undoubtedly they had a lot of things to say to each other.

Greg sat in the lab. For once there was no raucous music blaring from his oversized speakers. He sat on his rolling chair in deep contemplation, a satisfied smile on his face. Never before had he witnessed a scene quite as romantic as Sara and Nick's first kiss. He had expected to feel somewhat jealous, but somehow all he felt happiness for both of them. Will I ever experience this kind of feeling? He wondered. Smiling, he pulled out his bag of Blue Hawaiian from a secret compartment in the cushion of his chair. This calls for some celebration, break out the caffeine.

Warrick picked through his box of evidence bags without really looking at them. He had a great dopey smile on his face, his man Nick and his best girl Sara had finally gotten together. A match made in heaven. He couldn't wait for them to tell him, and the gang, all about it. He mused, even Grissom was beaming. I've gotta thank Reggie...I'll send him a fruit basket or something.

Grissom was hunkered in his office "doing paperwork". He had his glasses off and leaned back in his chair. He thought about Sara and Nick, together. It was obvious that he'd missed his chance with Sara, but that was the past. He knew he would never had made Sara even a fraction as happy as Nick made her. He wished them the best of luck, really. They looked so right with each other. With a world weary sigh he stood up and walked out of his office, he needed some coffee.


TBC...Possibly only one more chapter, I have to see how this all plays out. Send me requests for a sequel (ideas for the sequel are welcome as well)! Thanks to all the reviewers, all that positive feedback has been wonderfully motivating!