Terribly sorry for the huge delay of this chapter, I'm having real life issues to cope with, I've hard times behind me, so I couldn't update the story earlier. Sorry again and thanks for your patience. I hope you'll enjoy this part too. :)
CHAINED TO YOU --- CHAPTER 9
Opening up her eyes slowly, the realization about not being at home hits Sara immediately. Her thoughts clearing up, she remembers that she had to spend the night at Nick due those damn handcuffs. Now I wish I didn't start this silly game, she fumes in mind.
Feeling the warmth of her colleague's body tightly next to hers, their sides pressed to each other is definitely something she isn't used to, but according to the pleasant sensation that fills her body, she easily could do that.
His presence and closeness is so reassuring, I've got the feeling like no one could do any harm to me now.
The smell of his worn clothes and the mixed scent of sweat, aftershave, shampoo and fertilizer is something that usually wouldn't affect her, but on Nick, they create a special, distinct, and incredibly sexy and exciting scent.
Come on, Sara, wake up! He'll never be interested in you in that way. He might be flirting with you, but he doesn't mean any of those words serious.
Noticing that she has snuggled up to Nick while sleeping, Sara's cheeks infuse with a rosy colour in embarrassment. Though this position does appeal to her indeed, she wonders if she should move away from him or give in these calm minutes and pretend that she's not awake yet. However lingering the recent one is, the sore muscles in her limbs are screaming for some stretching, so Sara can't do anything but obey the persuasion of the slightly numb body parts.
Lifting her head off of Nick's shoulder, Sara rubs her neck with the free right hand, while stretching her legs like a sleepy kitten.
"Hey," a quiet, soft voice calls from behind her.
"Hey," she replies with a puzzled smile and immediately starts to apologize, "Uh.. Nick, I'm sorry for this-"
"No need for excuses," he chuckles lightly, while stretching too and easing the muscles in his neck, "that was bound to happen. Being chained to each other, I can't expect you sleeping in the other room after all."
"Well, if you approach it from that point, yeah, you're right."
Grinning, he squirms on the couch, bringing his limp muscles to life.
"What a night..." he mutters, "My poor muscles..."
"Complaining? You've not done anything restraining at all," she notes innocently.
"You're offering something more exhausting, hmmm?" Nick smirks, staring suggestively down at her.
"Yeah," Sara returns the teasing tone, "For example getting rid of these," she points at the cuffs.
Nick snorts with a laugh.
"Sidle, you're strange, ya know?" he quivers a brow, "You tie me up first, seemingly amused about it, then want to break away with the same vehemence. Being part of the game isn't as entertaining, huh?"
"Shut up, Stokes!" she sulks, "You deserved that little punishment."
"I did? For?"
"You know why," she utters stubbornly.
"Don't have a clue," he counters, enjoying their flirty bickering.
"Your problem," she shrugs and stands up.
"Hey, hey, you think I give up so easily?" he grins and pulls her back by the cuffs, throwing her out of balance, so in the next moment Sara finds herself falling into Nick's lap.
He hasn't planned it this way, but doesn't mind this other turn of the events.
"I always knew I would sweep Sara Sidle off of her legs someday," the CSI's grin broadens, his eyes brightening with a playful, mischievious light.
Feeling the heat rising in her cheeks, Sara could swear she has never blushed so deep yet.
Damn, Nick! Why do you have to be so extremely handsome?
"Very funny," she grumbles, endeavouring to climb off of the seemingly amused man under her. But Nick wraps his free arm around her, hindering her coworker to escape.
"Let me go!" Sara whines with a frown, writhing on him.
"Not until you tell me why you put this thing on me," he smirks with resolution.
"You're blackmailing me, that's not fair."
He chuckles.
"Why, chaining me up like this without my agreement is?"
She pouts, "yeah, it is."
She is so cute when she plays the stubborn, little girl, Nick thinks, staring at her. Her eyes changing shade of colours and those full, wine-red lips are firmly pressed together. She is beautiful even when she frowns. Hey, Nick, the inner voice calls for attention, since when do you consider her as beautiful? Puzzled, he has to admit that he always thought her being pretty, but only the recent time they were spending so close together has awaken him to her real beauty.
He is put out of his reverie by the ringing tone of his cell-phone from somewhere distant. In the pocket of my jacket, he frowns.
As there's no other way to pick up the ringing monster than standing up and walking to the location of his darkblue forensic windbreaker, which means releasing Sara and suspensing the "interrogation", Nick sighs with dislike, "Seems you've gotten away with it this time," he takes off his hand from her back and is about to emerge from the couch, "but that doesn't mean we've finished this discussion!" he sends her a quizzically warning look, and pulling her with him carefully, is heading towards the impatient sound of his mobile.
Though she is the one who has wanted to get out of his hold some moments earlier yet, Sara feels disappointment and immediately misses the closeness as following him absentmindly in about two steps distance.
"Stokes," he answers the phone.
"Nick, I've already thought you never pick up," the familiar voice called from the other end ofthe line.
„Uh…" he rolls his eyes, and manages an uneasy smile, „hey, Griss, it's nice to hear your voice too."
Glancing at Sara, he can catch a glimpse of some strange light in her eyes. She's still under his affect, he thinks bitterly. Though she hasn't replied his earlier question about their boss and her, but after all, her answer can't be negative. Nick feels her body stiffen beside him and he takes a hardly noticable sigh.
Nick Stokes, don't fool yourself, she'll never be your girl.
Nick almost drops the phone realizing what direction his thoughts are just getting.His eyes widen and he can barely hear Grissom's words; they're like coming from under the deepest point of the ocean. Never will be my girl? How did I end up here?
Not hearing a thing from Grissom's lines, only seeing the sudden wave of shock sweeping through Nick's face, concern appears in Sara 's eyes and biting her lip, she fixes her gaze on Nick, dreading of the fact that something terrible has happened to Grissom.
And she couldn't bear that. Not now…
TBC