Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, just an idea, but trust me you can't get anything from that! Leave me to live in fiction

Summary: Sara's been going to a country bar to find her release, without anyone knowing. Now, it's Nick's birthday, and the group decided to take him there. Of course, Sara's not that crazy about the idea…Why? She's been known to sing a few songs there and she wants to keep that for herself. Of course, the stars are not on her side…

Chapter 1 – Something special

It was Friday night in Vegas. Sara was just entering the lab feeling very giddy. Her life was finally looking good to her. She had a job she loved and good friends. More that some people could say they have. And was seeing the guy she liked every night. Not the way she wanted to of course, but she just liked seeing his face on a regular base. And every night he made her smile more and more. Even with just small things like squeezing her arm for comfort, or calling her sweetheart. Sure, that was probably programmed in his genetic sequence, but nevertheless, she couldn't help but smile and blush every time he did that. Even if front of their colleagues. Luckily, they are all working bees, and they are always more concentrated on the case, than anything else.

The lab was filled with known faces, but she continued to walk fast until she reached her destination. She had a job to do.

Greg Sanders was at his post reading some magazine. Apparently the big rush didn't reach him yet.

"Greg! Just the man I wanted to see!" – Sara called from the door scaring him. Greg dropped the magazine on the floor trying to catch a breath.

"Geez, Sara! Trying to give me a heart attack?"

Sara smiled at him, leaning down to pick his magazine from the floor.

"Oh, good, I was thinking you were reading something dirty."

Greg leaned a little bit forward smirking trying to pull out a seductive line.

"Oh, I don't have to read something dirty to…ahm…be dirty." – he mentally cursed himself for his failure. Sara was trying hard not to burst into laughter. She didn't want to hurt his feelings and she needed a favor from him as well.

"OK…anyway, I need a favor. And, no, it's not a dirty one." – she quickly added when she saw a smirk reaching his face.

He raised his hands in surrender.

"Shoot, what's the favor?"

Sara smiled a little, feeling kind of embarrassed. It wasn't a big favor, but she was afraid Greg will see right through her.

"Well, you know that tomorrow is Nick's birthday right?"

"It's his birthday? Really? – Greg felt bad, because he didn't even remember it. And no one mentioned it to him.

"Yeah, so I was thinking we should take him out somewhere. And considering that I have no idea what would be the best place, I need help."

Greg though for a few seconds, naming some of the clubs in his head.

"Well, we could always find the best club in the town and go there."

"Yeah, you see, I was thinking about something more special than an ordinary club. Something more Nick-like."

Greg looked at her suspiciously seeing the redness in her face as she figured out she was showing more concern about this than she should be.

"Special, ha?"

"Well, yes. I mean, this is Vegas. Everything here is becoming ordinary." – she hoped Greg will leave this be. She had no plans to justify herself later to Nick, just because Greg felt the need to share something with his friend.

"Well, I don't know than. Have you talked to Warrick? He is big on the Vegas night scene."

Sara bit her lip. She was thinking to ask Warrick for help first, but the incident last week told her otherwise.

Flashback

Sara was sitting in the locker rooms, getting ready to go home. As she was putting things in her bag, she pulled out a discman from her locker. A CD Nick once borrowed her was inside. It was a mix of his favorite country songs, and when she questioned his taste in music, he told her to at least try it first before making judgment. The thing is, she LOVED the CD. She listened to it all the time. Of course, not in front of anybody. So, she placed earphones on her ears and turned up the volume. The case she worked on was a tough one for her; a woman committed suicide, because she had cancer and didn't want to be a burden to her husband. She found the track she was looking for and hit play button. The first sounds of the song "Wish you were here", by Mark Wills started to play. And she sang along. To her, it was the saddest song there, and she wondered why exactly Nick put it there. She didn't even notice Warrick entering the room, watching her. She didn't know exactly how much time passed by when he finally decided to announce his presence. She turned around to look into his smiling eyes.

"Warrick! How long have you been here?"

He laughed at her seeing how flustered she looked.

"Well, long enough to hear that Nick is rubbing on you." – he meant that as a joke, but seeing her face getting more red, he realized he hit a nerve.

"Funny, really funny." – she turned off her discman, and placed it in her bag. – "I'm leaving now."

"So, what does Nick say about this?"

Sara turned around to face him.

"Nick doesn't know. And you won't tell him, understood?"

Warrick just nodded his head.

"As you wish…"

End flashback

Sara didn't believe him, but the days went by, and Nick didn't do anything to show her that he knows something. She figured out Warrick probably forgot. Nevertheless, she didn't want to remind him of anything.

"Sara?" – Greg tried to get her attention since she dozed off.

"Yeah?" – she looked confused for a moment, but regained composure.
"I asked why didn't you ask Warrick first."

"Right, Warrick. I will ask him. You were just first on my way." – she smiled again trying to change the conversation in her advance. Luckily, that was easy with Greg. Only, the stars decided to play with her that night. Warrick was just passing by when he saw Sara and Greg in the lab.

"Hey, guys, what's up?"

Sara froze in spot.

"Oh, nothing, man, we're just talking about Nick's birthday. Did you know it was his birthday tomorrow? I had no idea…"

Warrick's glare changed from Greg to Sara as his lips curved into a smile. She was trying to look anywhere else but at him.

"Yeah, I knew. I actually remembered this morning while going through my calendar on my computer. So, Sara, you remembered, too?"

Before Sara had any chance to response, Greg was all over it.

"Not only did she remember, she even came here so we can figure out what to do for his birthday. Aren't we lucky to have a friend like Sara?"

Sara smiled feeling like something is buzzing in her ears.

"This is bad…this is very, very bad." – she thought. – "Earth, just swallow me now!"

On the other hand, Warrick played his part perfectly. He nodded showing how he agrees with Greg.

"So, did you come up with something?" – he asked.

"Well, I suggested we go clubbing, but Sara feels we need something special."

Warrick still held his mask on, although he was having trouble to keep his smirk down.

"Greg, just shut up…" – she thought.

"Special, ha? Yeah, I agree with that. How about we take him in some country bar? How about that place, on the west side of the town. What's it called…"Wild barn" or something." – he wanted to add something to the mix, but he never expected Sara to jump like something bit her.

"No, no, we can't go there!"

"Warrick, that's a brilliant idea!" – Greg shouted but than stopped hearing Sara. – "Why not? It's perfect."

"It's too far away."

"No, it's not. It's barely 30 minutes from here."

Sara had absolutely no response. Other that the real truth…

When Nick told her to get out once in a while, and everyone else made jokes about her way of life, she decided to change it, to get out more. A friend of hers took her to the "Wild barn", and although she started to enjoy country music, she was still uncomfortable with places full of people enjoying themselves. After only a couple of minutes, she relaxed. She actually enjoyed herself there.

One time she was even talked into singing by her friend. True, she had a drink or two, but she wanted to do it. So, that became her ritual. She went there once a week, and sang a few songs with a local band. Of course, no one from work knew about that, and she had the plan of keeping it that way. So, this suggestion made by Warrick didn't help.

"That's it, than! We're going there!" – Greg exclaimed. – "It's going to be great! I've never been to a country bar before. Not too big on that kind of music, but I have a feeling this is going to be good!"

"Yeah." – Sara smiled forcefully.

AN – Well, this is just a beginning. What do you think? Does it has perspective? Let me know!