A New Addition

Pairing: Nick and Sara

The team help Nick celebrate his 34th birthday at the Olive Garden.

Disclaimer: I don't own Nick, Sara or any other CSI character. I do own Nick and Sara's families and any other non-CSI character.

Happy Birthday, Nick!

Grissom was holding on to the pager the hostess gave him. Even though he made the reservations the day before, he still had to get the pager. He, Catherine and Lindsey were the first ones to arrive. Greg, Warrick and Nick were on a case with Brass. Sara was at the lab helping the guys process the evidence and filling out the paperwork.

"So when are the birthday boy, his wife and the rest of the gang coming?" Lindsey asked impatiently.

"Warrick called about fifteen minutes ago and said that they are still processing some evidence," Catherine said. "Don't worry, he, Brass, Greg and Sara will make sure they get themselves and Nick here on time."

As if on cue Brass and the younger CSIs arrived. Nick and Sara entered the restaurant holding hands and stealing a kiss.

"Grissom, are we late?" Greg asked.

"No, you are about five minutes early," Grissom smiled. "Catherine, Lindsey and I have been waiting for about twenty minutes. We arrived a little earlier than the time I reserved our table. Greg, do you mind holding this pager until the lights start to flash and it buzzes. I know you like vibrating things!"

"That's very funny, Grissom," Greg smiled. "I would like to take that thing off your hands."

"Now, Greggo that is a pager, not a woman," Nick said.

"That isn't cool, Stokes," Greg said.

"Guys, stop it," Sara said. "Nick, I don't care if it's your birthday today, stop messing with Greggo!"

"I'm sorry," Nick said.

"That's okay," Greg smiled.

Without warning, the pager started flashing, buzzing and vibrating. Greg immediately sprung into action.

"Grissom, guys, we are about to be seated," the youngest CSI said.

They followed him to the host station and he gave the hostess the pager. She grabbed eight menus and had them follow her to a table set up for eight people. Once they were seated, she gave them their menus.

"Charlotte will be your server today," the hostess said and left.

Within minutes, a young woman no more than 27 years of age approached their table.

"Hi, I'm Charlotte and I will be your server," she said. "Is there a special occasion that you want to celebrate?"

"Yes, this young man is turning 34 today," Brass said pointing at Nick.

"Okay, we'll have a special treat for him," Charlotte said. "I have here Turning Leaf Merlot. Would any of you care for a sample?"

"No, thank you," Nick politely declined. "Except for this preteen girl, we all have to go to work in a few hours. Also, my wife is pregnant. However, we would like to have two large bottles of San Pellegrino with eight glasses and lime wedges."

"I'll get the Pellegrino for you," she said.

They looked at the menus as the server went to get their drink order. Nick and Sara exchanged looks that said 'I know what you're going to get' and smiled at each other.

Charlotte returned with the two bottles of San Pellegrino, the eight glasses with some ice and a lime wedge in each. She poured the sparkling water into the glasses and gave one to each guest. She asked them if they were ready to order and everyone at the table said yes. Grissom ordered the appetizer two orders of the hot artichoke dip. He also ordered for his entrée spaghetti with meatballs. Catherine chose the chicken scampi. Lindsey ordered cheese ravioli with meat sauce. Brass ordered shrimp primavera. Warrick had chicken parmigiana. Nick ordered the lasagna classico. Sara asked for the ravioli di Portobello. Greg thought about ordering a chicken dish, but didn't want Sara to stick out like a sore thumb, he ordered eggplant parmigiana. They all decided to have salad with dressing on the side. Charlotte told them that she will get their appetizer order started.

Greg looked at Nick and Sara and he laughed.

"What's so funny, Greggo?" Sara asked.

"You and your husband are interesting characters," Greg said as Nick shot him a glare. "Sara, I mean you are a vegetarian and Nick is a meat eater. I can't believe total opposites could fall in love, get married and now there's a baby girl on the way. How do you do it?"

"We respect each other," Nick said. "I also allow myself to eat a vegetarian dinner twice a week. We also cook for each other and accommodate our tastes."

Sara softly chuckled. She didn't want to tell Greg of the compromise she and Nick made when they started dating. He would enjoy vegetarian twice a week and she wouldn't whine so much when he ate meat. She looked at Nick and he gave her a look saying that he didn't want to tell the newest CSI about it either.

When the hot artichoke dip arrived, they were looking at it and their mouths were watering. After Charlotte left them alone, they started to eat it. Nick and Sara linked arms and fed each other the pieces of bread that they dipped into the dip.

"Hey, Nick, Sara, there is a child at the table," Warrick said sharply.

"Warrick, I think Lindsey has seen this several times already," Catherine said. "She had seen it when Nick and Sara got married. So leave our favorite expectant couple alone. I think it's cute."

"Two years ago, Sara and I were dating," Nick said with a chuckle and a smile. "We went to Dallas so she could meet my family. I celebrated my 32nd birthday with them. When Sara and I had the cake, we linked arms and fed each other our pieces of the cake. My mom and oldest sister looked at us and wondered if we were being cute or practicing for a possible wedding day."

Nick's last comment got the entire party laughing, including Sara. Catherine and Grissom were looking at the younger couple and smiled at them. Everyone knew that Nick and Sara were deeply in love with each other. They have observed the sparkle in their eyes whenever they are together.

The basket of breadsticks and salad arrived with eight ramekins of dressing and parmesan cheese. The appetizer plates were taken away and replaced with ones for the breadsticks and salad. Everyone served themselves the salad and helped themselves to the soft breadsticks. Nick thought that Sara would take two breadsticks, but she only had one. They put the dressing in their salad or used it as a dipping sauce for the breadsticks. That course was eaten in silence. Charlotte came by to collect the salad plates and bowls.

"Can we have two more large bottles of San Pellegrino with more lime wedges?" Nick asked breaking the silence.

"Sure, I'll bring those out immediately," she said. "Your food will be ready in a few moments."

"Thank you," he said with a small smile.

A few moments later, Charlotte returned with the two bottles of Pellegrino. After Nick and Grissom gave everyone some of the water, they were making jokes about Conrad Ecklie. Catherine forbade Lindsey to make those jokes, but she was more than welcome to laugh at them. Nick wanted to tell some jokes about Hodges, but Sara told him that those jokes were boring and not everyone disliked him.

They were so distracted with Ecklie jokes, that they weren't aware of Charlotte bringing their main course. She had to clear her throat to get their attention and easily succeeded. As she asked who had what, she asked if they wanted any parmesan cheese and how much. She left after they were served.

"Nick, before you take a piece of my ravioli," Sara said. "I will cut a piece of one a give it to you."

"That's fair enough," Nick smiled. "Besides, I don't think I can't handle another attempt at getting jabbed in the hand by your fork."

"I would never actually do that," Sara chuckled as she gave him a piece of the ravioli di Portobello. "It's called an attempt and the closest my fork has come was an inch away from your hand."

"Thank you," Nick said after he received the piece of pasta.

"Would the lovebirds stop arguing over forks and pasta?" Warrick asked. "Just eat and talk! I won't have my goddaughter listen to her parents have an argument over such a ridiculous thing!"

"Warrick, we weren't arguing," Nick said giving his friend an incredulous look. "Sara gave me a little bit of her entrée on her own free will. If I had to steal a piece of it, she would threaten me with her fork."

"That's TMI, Nick," Warrick said shaking his head.

"What's TMI, Uncle Warrick?" Lindsey asked.

"It means 'too much information'," Warrick said.

Grissom, Brass and Greg were snorting at the conversation that went on. Catherine and Lindsey just stared in disbelief. A few moments later, things were slightly calmer. There were more conversations, but this time it was one that the entire party contributed something. Nick and Sara managed to sneak a kiss or two. Charlotte came by to collect the half full and empty plates.

"Anyone save room for desserts?" Nick asked unaware that there was a cake for his birthday that was to be shared by everyone at the table.

"Nick, we already have," Sara said. "Even Little Princess has demanded her mommy save room for an extra special treat. She would kick me again if I don't give her part of my treat."

Before Nick had a chance to respond, Charlotte returned with a few of her fellow servers and two double chocolate cakes that served about four each. She placed a candle on top of one of them put that one in front of Nick.

"Today is Nick's birthday," Charlotte said. "So we are going wish him a happy birthday."

Charlotte and her group were singing the Olive Garden celebration song. When they finished, Nick blew out the candle. There was applause coming from the entire restaurant. Nick cut the cakes into four even slices each and served himself and Sara first. Then he gave everyone else at the table their slice of cake.

"I can't believe that this is happening," Nick smiled. "You guys taking me out to lunch at the Olive Garden for my birthday. I want to thank whoever was behind this."

"That would be Catherine and I," Grissom said. "You might also want to thank your wife, she was the one who suggested we come here."

Nick looked at Sara, gave her a big grin and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you for giving Grissom and Catherine the idea of going to lunch here," Nick said to Sara.

"I thought about where we could take you," Sara said giving Grissom and Catherine a conspiratory wink that they immediately returned. "The Olive Garden was the first thing that came to that came to my mind and here we are."

"The cake is delicious," Warrick said.

"Yummy!" Lindsey smiled.

Charlotte came by to ask if they wanted coffee or tea. They politely said they didn't want any. She said she would return with the check.

As they finished with the cake, they talked about work, Little Princess and Lindsey's schoolwork. Charlotte came by with the check and gave it to Grissom. Nick, seeing the check, immediately started to take out his wallet from his pocket to fetch his credit card.

"Nick, it's my treat," Grissom said holding out his hand to stop the young CSI from pulling out his credit card. "You are the birthday boy! Please don't argue with me! Consider it a little gift!"

Nick happily relented and put his wallet back in his pocket. Grissom took out his wallet and placed his credit card in the holder. Charlotte returned and took the holder with the Grissom's credit card to be processed. A few moments later she returned with the holder, the card, a transaction slip and eight Andes mints. Grissom decided to give an additional tip to the mandatory 18 percent gratuity for parties of eight or more people. He signed it, took his copy and passed around the candies.

They went their separate ways for the rest of the afternoon before their shift started. Nick and Sara left the restaurant the same way they entered it – holding hands. They released their grip before going into the Tahoe. Nick pulled her into an embrace and they kissed.

"I love you, birthday boy," Sara said. "Little Princess also loves her daddy."

"I love you, too, Sara," Nick said as he placed a hand on Sara's tummy. "Daddy also loves you, too, Little Princess."

TBC