Strange Bedfellows

Chapter Three-Decision Time

Disclaimers: Yada, Yada, Yada

A month had gone by and the team had been busy helping Nicky heal, and dealing with the criminal element in Las Vegas. An element that was unusually busy as the temperature began to rise in the scorching heat of the Vegas summer. Personally, Warrick did not know how people could stand to commit crimes in this weather, as his preferred activity was to hit at home listening to music and enjoy the bliss of central air conditioning.

He had arrived at Nick's to have breakfast with him after pulling a double and a bit. Then he would go home and rest before going to Sara's so they could have their talk. He was genuinely curious as to what Sara would say. He was pretty sure of his decision, but really needed to talk to someone about it. He was hoping that someone could be Nick.

He was surprised when Nick was not answering his door. He had gotten worried until he heard laughter and saw him and Sara sprinting towards his door. Warrick shook his head and wondered what kind of damn fool you would have to be to run in this heat. It looked like Sara and Nick were racing, and when Sara had gotten a little ahead, Nick swooped by and swung Sara over his shoulder. Carrying her caveman style, she beat on his back and was caught between laughter and yelling as he brought her to his lawn and deposited her. Warrick felt a strange flash as he watched the two of them. He smiled briefly as he recognized that flash as jealousy.

Sara was reading Nick the riot act, laughing all the while, as Warrick walked up to the pair. As Sara recognized Warrick's presence, she began to turn pink, but Warrick could not tell if that was from heat or his presence.

Nick slapped his buddy on the back, and began to ask about breakfast plans. Warrick took that opportunity to admire Sara in her jogging bra and matching shorts. Sara turned even pinker, and at that point, Warrick was sure it wasn't heat. Nick being the gentleman went inside to get a drink of water, and Warrick took advantage of Nick's absence to confirm plans.

"7:00 still good?" Warrick asked her with a lazy smile that belied his inner tension.

"Fine. Why don't you bring take-out to my place and we can talk."

Warrick nodded his agreement, and promised to bring Thai. After five years of working together, he could order Sara's favorite meal without a second thought.

Nick came out and gave Sara a bottled water, which she drank carefully. She couldn't tell if it was the heat or Warrick, but she could feel the flush spread across her cheeks. Nick had apparently noticed too, which was why he brought out the drinks. Nick invited Sara to breakfast, but she made some excuse about work and saying goodbye, began to job towards home.

Nick and Warrick went inside and Nick excused himself to shower. When he returned, he was cleaned and freshly dressed. Warrick had been at Nick's many times before and felt comfortable starting breakfast, so there was soon bacon going, and Nick got batter ready for the waffle iron.

Warrick looked at his friend. He needed to talk to someone, and Nick seemed like a good choice. Nick was like his brother, and knew Sara as well as anyone could know her, and might help him figure out what was in her heart.

Warrick cleared his throat, "Nick, I…am glad you are doing better."

Nick smiled, noticing that Warrick still looked like a man with something to say. "War, whatever's on your mind, spill it my brother."

Warrick stood, trying to form the words. All of a sudden, Nick grinned. "I get it buddy, you have woman troubles and you decided to speak to the master!"

Warrick laughed. Before he got entangled with Sara, he would have considered himself to be the master. He started again.

"Nick, it's kind of complicated. After we left the hospital that night…we were all feeling, I don't know, scared, invincible, lonely, and I went home and…."

Nick crowed, "You slept with Catherine! I knew it, Hodges owes me $20. Tell me buddy, is she as bossy in the bedroom as she is at work?"

Warrick shook his head, "No Nick not Catherine…) He did not even want to think of Catherine's reaction to the concept of him and Sara sleeping together.

Nick looked perplexed, "OK not Catherine, Mia?"

Warrick shook his head and Nick looked as confused as the time Grissom gave him the silk riddle. Nick continued. "Buddy, was it someone from work, because I am running out of women, I mean, Sofia, Jacqui, Judy…Sara?"

At the sight of Warrick's slightly guilty face, Nick got his answer. Warrick was surprised to find himself shoved against the wall by Nick.

"Jesus Warrick, Sara! How could you? She is not some bimwhore that you pick up at bar and bring home to screw!"

Warrick got himself out of Nick's grip. "It wasn't like that man…" He then proceeded to explain the sex, the sleeping and the agreement to Nick.

Nick nodded. "Sorry about the shoving, bro. It's just that Sara…"

Warrick clapped him on the shoulder. "It's ok. I probably would have done the same thing if you told me that you had been to bed with her too." Warrick continued, "Anyway, we are getting together tonight to decide if we want to be friends or more, and I want more."

Nick smiled at Warrick. "What about Sara?"

"I don't know man. You know how skittish she can be about the whole dating thing. I'm just nervous about the whole thing. I tried not to want more, but I would start thinking about that night together every time I saw her. I would take another woman out, and watch her order a salad with dressing and steamed fish and then not eat it, and think how if I was out with Sara, she would eat her dinner and then steal the non-meat parts of mine. The last straw came when I took out Maya. The woman looked like she could body double for Halle Berry, and she was intelligent, but then when I tried to tell her about work, she called my job 'oogie', and all I could think about was how I would have had so much more fun with Sara."

Nick laughed. "Seriously, she used the word 'oogie'?"

Warrick nodded.

Nick smiled at Warrick and piled his plate with waffles and bacon. "Good luck tonight man. Although I don't think you'll need it"

Warrick accepted his plate. "And what makes you so sure? I mean we didn't start on the best footing, there's the whole Grissom thing, and she practically bolted out of my bed that day."

Nick looked at Warrick, the man had it bad, and Nick was going to enjoy the fun. "Look bro, your bad start was over five years ago, so I think she's over that. The bolting out of bed thing was probably her not wanting to think she expected anything so YOU wouldn't be uncomfortable, and as for Grissom, I think she is long over, whatever that is."

"What's the evidence of that?" Warrick was really curious how Nick came to that conclusion.

"If Sara wanted to be with Grissom, she would not have gone to bed with you, no matter what happened. She would have dropped you off and used that whole survival sex impulse to sleep with Grissom. You know, you should bring her flowers tonight."

"Yeah, that would be a good idea. Thanks Nick."

Nicky and Warrick gave each other a shoulder clapping one armed man hug. "In all seriousness, it would be great if something positive came out of that whole disaster. Now let's eat so I can kick your ass at Grand Theft Auto."

It was ten minutes until seven and Sara was standing at her closet in her favorite pair of Capri's searching for a shirt that was attractive, but not suggestive. Part of her could still not believe that she ended up in bed with Warrick, and while she wouldn't mind a repeat, she did not want to look like she was asking for one. Sara shook her head at the thought of asking Warrick for a repeat. She had thought about their night together several times over the past month, and while part of her liked the idea of dating Warrick, a larger part of her thought it would never happen. She knew that she was not the type of woman that Warrick dated, and had they not had such an emotionally wringing night, they may have never ended up in that bed.

Sara was snapped out of her train of thought by the sound of the doorbell. Sighing, she threw on a purple crinkly top and walked to the door to greet Warrick.

When she opened the door, she noticed that Warrick was in a pressed pair of Khakis and a sage green polo shirt that brought out the green and gold in his incredible eyes. In one hand he held a fragrant bag of food from Thai me up, which despite the cutesy name, had the best Thai in town, and an equally fragrant bouquet of tulips in various shades of purple. Sara smiled. Maybe this would be a better night than she thought.

Warrick appreciatively took in Sara's casual appearance. He liked the fact that after everything, that she was still comfortable around him. She leaned over, kissed him chastely on the mouth, and thanked him for the flowers.

After a few moments of small talk about Nick, the lab and running, they realized they were starving. Sara put out plates and a pitcher of cinnamon-honey iced tea. They enjoyed their meal and each other's company. They knew that they would eventually have to have the talk they got together for, but slightly fearful of the other's answer, avoided it.

Finally, they were out of food, and moved to Sara's couch. They sat facing each other. When Sara demurely crossed her legs at the ankle, Warrick laughed. Sara laughed too. They both looked at each other and neither could start. With a wicked grin, Sara suggested they do paper, rock, scissors to decide who would start. Warrick won that, so Sara went first.

"Warrick, I've done a lot of thinking over the past month. I even went on a blind date with a pediatrician that David set me up with…" Warrick began to scowl, feeling that this wasn't going to go well. A doctor…how the hell could he compete with that? David was definitely on his shit list now. Sara continued, "Anyway he was nice, and we had fun…but…"

Warrick looked at Sara, "But, what?"

Sara looked frightened, but continued on, "But he wasn't you…" Sara tried to continue but the words failed her. She started to speak, but was fearful of the rejection. Giving up, Sara reached over and kissed Warrick. He returned her kiss and his felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders and heart. Sara looked at him. "Warrick, I want you." Warrick sat next to Sara running his hand against her arm. "Warrick, it's your turn to talk."

Warrick laughed. Life with Sara was never going to be boring. He could feel that. He looked at Sara, kissed her gently on the mouth and told her that she was what he wanted too. After that they spent several moments kissing.

This time however, Warrick stopped before the kissing progressed into something more passionate. Sara looked at him with mild confusion as he broke away and moved a little away from her.

"So Sara, when is your next night off.?"

"Thursday."

Warrick nodded, "Good, I'll pick you up after my shift. We can go for a late dinner if you would like." Warrick got up to go.

"Warrick, you can stay." Sara said, blushing at her boldness.

"No, Sara I can't. If I stay things will go too far. I don't sleep with a lady on the 1st date."

Sara smiled. "So which date, do you sleep with a lady on?"

Warrick laughed and kissed her, "That is for me to know and you to find out." Warrick held his arms open and Sara walked into them. They kissed and held each other for a while.

"See you at work tomorrow, Sara."

Sara smiled and closed the door behind Warrick. She then did a little happy dance. Today had been a good day.

TBC

A/N: Well the Warshippers have spoken. I hope you like. I probably have another two or three more chapters to go if you all want.

Also, I know that there are communities for the Warrick/Sara thing. If anyone wants to archive this, its fine by me, just let me know.