Writing on a Blank Slate
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
Rating: M for later content (please note that this is a precautionary measure: I don't plan on getting too carried away!)
Author's note: Wow! Thank you so much for the great reviews! It's so encouraging to hear that people are enjoying this fic squashes head back down to normal size Special thanks to those who have been posting multiple reviews - it's good to know people are reading past the first chapter. Noa: as you can see, they are indeed coming toCanada, but please don't expect too much detail. I've never been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit your country, and I'd hate to get the details wrong, so please forgive me if I'm a little vague.
Chapter 7: "We're in Canada!"/"This is awkward."
They crossed the border into Canada a few days later. Sara was at the wheel for this momentous event and, once through the border checkpoint, she pulled over at a layby and got out.
"We're in Canada," she said, looking around as though she couldn't quite believe it.
"Yeah," Nick agreed.
Suddenly she spun to face him with a whoop.
"We're in Canada!" she yelled.
"Yeah!" he yelled back, sweeping her into a bear-hug.
He half-expected her to pull away, but instead she hugged him back and the growing attraction that he had been feeling for her ever since they had left Las Vegas overwhelmed him. He kissed her.
At the feeling of Nick's lips on hers Sara froze. But only for a moment. Then she kissed him back with every bit as much enthusiasm as he was showing for her.
Their lips locked together for what seemed like an eternity, hungrytongues probing, initial passion giving way to slower, more exploratory kisses. At last they drew apart, both breathless and grinning like idiots.
Nick tried to speak first but could only manage an inarticulate "Unhhhhh."
"So. Umm," Sara replied. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Well, this is awkward."
"Is it?" Nick asked.
She bit her lip, suddenly unsure of herself. This was Nick, someone she had known for five years and, much as she liked him as a friend and might have liked to have him in her life as more than that, she was only too aware of his reputation as a lady's man. The last thing she needed at the start of her new life was to get her heart trampled on and lose a friendship in the process.
"Well, yeah," she said, trying to find the words to express her confusion. "I mean, here we are, cut off from our normal lives, no-one else around, no rules. Nothing to stop us fromruining our friendship completely."
"Who said anything about ruining it?" Nick reached out and took her hand. She refused to meet his eye, and he sighed. "This is because of my reputation, isn't it? You're afraid I'm just gonna use you and abandon you, right?"
She didn't say anything, but she did nod her head, eyes fixed firmly on her shoes. He sighed again, frustrated.
"Sara, I wouldn't do that to you. I promise. You mean way too much to me." She still didn't look up, and he realized that she thought this was just a line. "You're my best friend, Sar," he reminded her gently. "The only reason I left Las Vegas is because I realized I didn't want to be there without you."
He rubbed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "And yeah, okay, I haven't exactly been Mr. Perfect with girls in the past, but that is the past Sara. I promise." He gave a wry smile. "You know, I can't even remember the last time I went on a date."
She did look up then, just a quick, surprised glance before she went back to examining her shoes, but it was enough to encourage him.
"Give me a chance Sara. Please?"
They were both silent for a moment and then, to his dismay, her shoulders shook and a teardrop fell onto his hand.
"Oh, Sara," he whispered gently, cupping her chin with his hand and raising her face to meet his gaze. He used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks. She just looked at him, her face a picture of misery, before lowering her gaze again.
"I can't face getting hurt again, Nick," she told him. "First Grissom, then Hank… I can't go through that again."
"You won't have to," he replied softly. "I'm not gonna do that to you Sara." He ran his palms back down her arms to her hands and clasped them gently. "I love you too much to do that."
At that, her head snapped back up, her gaze meeting his squarely for the first time.
"What did you say?"
Nick swallowed, aware that he had just broken one of the cardinal rules of relationships: no matter how in love you are, never, ever admit it on the first date. And this wasn't even a date. It was, however, the truth. Of that much he was certain. He loved her. Maybe he always had, ever since the day she arrived in Las Vegas. He'd just been too stupid to see it until she'd announced that she was leaving.
Sara's heart was beating so hard that she was certain Nick would hear it. He loved her? That didn't make sense. They were friends, nothing more. She wasn't his type. And yet… and yet, she remembered the expression onhis face when she had said that she was leaving Las Vegas, and his determination to come with her, even though it meant walking away from his home and his job and everyoneand everythingthat had made up his life in Las Vegas.
"I said I love you, Sara," his voice broke into her thoughts. "I don't know, maybe I always have.So please, give me a chance to prove it?"
His eyes were puppy-dog eyes, wide and on the verge of tears. Nick was always the one to wear his heart on his sleeve, and she couldn't say no when he was looking at her like that. She swallowed nervously, then nodded, her gaze still fixed on his.
"Okay."
An incredible grin broke over his face, and she realized that she was grinning too. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
"You won't regret it Sara. I promise."
He held her for a long moment, then moved back slightly, searching her face. She couldn't stop herself from smiling at him, and he leaned in and kissed her once more. Then he turned, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and looking out at the view before them.
"So, Canada huh? Doesn't look so different from home."
She grinned at him. "So let's drive to where it does."