Chapter 3- One Way
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Nick walked into the locker room and Sara was sitting on the bench starring inside her locker. He sat down beside her. She didn't even look at him. They were both quiet for a few minutes then Sara croaked out, "Me."
He looked at her, "What?"
She looked down and she fiddled with her ID, "You're leaving because of me."
"I'm not leaving...," he began as she interrupted.
"So, it's because of me."
"No…that's not what I said."
"But you just said…," she started and Nick took her hand. She looked up at him shocked. She didn't expect the 'spark' or the 'butterflies' in her stomach.
"If you would listen to me for like two minutes…," he laughed softly. "Just like you to assume."
"Yeah. Well, Tom says that I'm too wishy washy."
"Because he doesn't 'know' you Sara."
"And…and you do…," Sara said as she looked down at her hand engulfed in his. She swallowed lightly.
Nick dipped his head to get her attention, "I know that I'm not leaving…I'm not leaving you…"
"Sara?"
Nick let go of her hand as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. It was Tom. Nick sighed heavily as he rubbed his face, 'What am I doing?'
Sara stared at Nick and then stood up and began digging in her locker as Tom walked around the corner.
"Sara? Hey Nick, what's goin' on man?"
Nick stood up and shook his hand that Tom held out as if he demanded it. Nick noticed his firm grip was tighter than usual. Nick nodded, "Good. Actually I was about to go to work. Just ran into Sara and thought I'd say hey."
Tom nodded as he looked at Sara who was busily rummaging through her locker trying to avoid both men for various reasons. Nick sighed slightly as he looked at his watch casually, "Guess I need to git'. Talk to ya later Tom. Sara."
"Yeah." She mumbled as she was putting her name tag on. She looked up at Tom who was smiling at her, "What?"
"We need to talk."
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Catherine was standing in the evidence room with her arms folded looking over evidence. Warrick came in and automatically smiled, "Looking lovely."
She smiled as she glanced at him, "Not to bad yourself."
He walked past her and squeezed her butt firmly then stood beside her and starred at the evidence. She gave a little laugh, "I don't believe that was yours."
He leaned down next to her ear, "I consider it 'all' mine."
He kissed her neck and headed for the door, "I'm going to check on prints."
"Hate to see ya leave, love to watch you go though…," she said as he walked through the door. He turned around quickly and winked at her as he disappeared around the corner.
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Nick was standing in the video lab checking over a security surveillance video when two then arms slipped around his neck. He knew who it was, but then felt a pan of guilt hit him when he wished it was someone else. Kelly kissed his cheek, "Hey honey."
"Hey."
She frowned, "What's wrong now?"
"Nothin'. What are you doin' here?" Kelly almost looked hurt. She withdrew her embrace, "Can't I come and visit my fiancé?"
Nick looked up at her and was about to say something when Greg knocked on the open door, "Excuse me…sorry to interrupt."
Kelly placed her had possessively on Nick's shoulder as she smiled at Greg. Nick chewed his gum faster as Greg gave his explanation, "Ric asked for these blood results and he isn't anywhere to be found, so I thought you might be able to use them."
Nick stood up quickly and Kelly's hand immediately fell, " 'preciate it."
Greg gave a nod as he handed the papers to Nick. He glanced at Kelly, the blonde bombshell. She gave a grand smile, the same smile that had won her County Beauty Queen and the Homecoming Queen in High School.
"Thanks Greg," Nick said flatly. Greg looked back at Nick and gave a final nod, "Later."
Kelly looked up at Nick, "Jealous honey?"
Nick sighed as he sat back down, "Nope, don't have a reason to be."
She crossed her arms and smiled slightly trying to hide that it had stung her ego, "Did you talk to Conrad?"
"I talked to Grissom." Nick said as he continued the surveillance tape. Kelly shook her head, "You need to talk to Conrad…he gets things done a whole lot faster honey."
"Well, I talked to Grissom who is talking to Ecklie."
Kelly combed her fingers through her long blonde hair, "I'll tell Conrad you'll be by honey."
Nick paused the video feed and turned around sharply, "I can take care of my own affairs…dear."
Her face hardened and she nodded, "Fine. I'll see you when you get off. We're meeting my parents for an early lunch at Rimmels'. Oh, please take a shower before coming. Bye honey."
She kissed his cheek and then proceeded to the exit. Nick closed his eyes and popped his neck. Tension, with Kelly…there was always an immense amount of tension. "Nick."
"What?" He shouted out annoyed. He opened his eyes and Warrick didn't looked pleased.
"I'm sorry man…I've just had a bad day."
Ric nodded, "Well, being engaged to the devil will do that to you."
"What?"
"It's all over the lab man. Ecklie's niece and Stokes are getting' hitched."
Nick shook his head, "No…that's no.."
"Hey Nicky, congrats man!" Bobby shouted as he walked by. Ric leaned out into the hall and smirked as he saw Bobby telling Mia something then pointed in their direction.
"Good news spreads fast."
Nick gave him a look. "Come on, we have a group meeting."
Ric watched the people in the hall laughing, probably about Nick and the latest gossip. Nick had kept it quiet since the whole, 'sleeping with the hooker thing'. Nick handed the blood results to Warrick as they made their way down the hall together.
"What's this?"
"Blood results…Greg dropped them off just before spreading the 'happy' news across the lab."
Ric chuckled, "So is Kelly's dress coming with a tail and pitch fork?"
Nick and Ric were the last one into the meeting room. Grissom looked up at the two men, he now had come to understand the reason Nick wanted to switch to dayshift. He knew they were at couple but they didn't make a good one or at least he didn't think so. Grissom, however, was angry that Nick had gotten Sara into this situation and then just decided to leave.
Nick glanced at Sara who was starring at the table. She probably knew about the 'engagement'.
"Congratulations Nick," Sara said as she forced a smile on her face.
Yep, she knew. Catherine nodded slightly, "Ecklie's niece…that's a big leap…I mean the marriage and all."
Nick shifted his eyes to Sara. He noticed the change in her temperament. He smiled inside, 'Alright, then let's try it this way."
"Thanks…I know it's a big step. I just feel like it's time to settle down." Warrick's head popped up from the file he was reading. In fact, everyone's did. They figured it was another one of Greg's stupid tricks.
Catherine looked at Warrick and he shrugged at her. Sara was furious. She stood up and walked out of the room. Nick started to get up and go after her when Ecklie entered the room. He sat down a file in front of Nick, "Just needs to be signed."
He swallowed as he looked down at the file. Everyone starred at Nick. They all knew what was inside that file. His eyes shifted to the short distance between him and the door then on the hall, which Sara had disappeared down. Nick sighed silently as he slowly picked up the pen that Ecklie just placed on the table and then opened the file folder.
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Hope ya'll enjoyed this one! Thanks to all the comments and suggestions. Reviews ALWAYS welcome.Chapter 4 soon to come,Andrea
