Author: Joyce
Title: Better Memories
Disclaimer: No, they are still not mine. Go figure.
Note: As always, thank you guys for the kind reviews. A special thanks to Jade and Cecile who inspire me to keep on writing w/s stories! Thank you, girls!
Complications
Warrick walked out of her hospital room, eyeing the chair he had lived in for the last two weeks. He then looked back into her room to wave at her and he saw her wave back. A genuine smile on her face when she did. He heard her ask him "You'll be back, right?" He had been a bit surprised by her behavior. She had been comfortable with him and he had felt at ease with her too. Something that was rare for him. Normally Sara Sidle had him walking on eggshells. She was never aware of it and he wouldn't admit it but he always felt like he had something to prove to her. In the back of his mind she always reminded him of the person he had been when she came to town. He had been reckless, cocky, addicted to gambling and he hadn't even cared until it got a young woman killed. He would always remember her looking at him in that casino, not hiding her contempt for him. In that moment he finally saw himself the way other people must see him too and he turned his life around. But every time he was around Sara a little voice inside his head began to doubt his change. It wasn't enough, it would never be enough. Today the voice had been gone, replaced by the need to help her. Maybe this marked a new beginning for the both of them. He looked at her one last time, seeing her talking to her doctor and decided that it was time to head home, get some real sleep. He would be back after his shift, ready to battle both of their problems.
Sara didn't realize it but she was never a person who was happy doing nothing. Which is why she was bored out of her mind now. Her doctor had told her that she could go home in two days, if all her tests came back positive. He had said that being in the real world again would probably trigger more memories and she looked forward to that. She had a feeling she was solving a big puzzle and a part of her secretly loved that. At least she knew why she had become a CSI she mused. Right now though two more days in this hospital felt like an eternity. She was saved from her boredom by a visitor. A young, handsome guy with a sweet warm smile. It couldn't top Warrick's but she felt immediate sympathy for the guy.
"Hi Sara," he said.
She smiled back.
"Hi."
He was silent, obviously not knowing how to handle this. She came to the rescue.
"You're going to have to help me. There is some recognition here but your name is a mystery. You are?"
He was shaken out of his trance.
"I'm Nick. Nick Stokes. We work together."
She laughed.
"I lucked out in the colleagues department didn't I? You guys all look pretty fine."
She found it adorable that he actually blushed.
"You obviously haven't met Greg yet," he said.
She shook her head.
"Nope, just Warrick and our boss."
He raised his eyebrows.
"You think Griss is fine?"
She thought about it.
"No, but have you seen Warrick?"
He winked at her, a bit surprised by the topic of their conversation. Sara Sidle finding Warrick attractive without even thinking about Grissom was a bit weird to him.
"Hey, I shower with the man. I've seen plenty."
He was silent while he realized what he just said, blushing yet again. Meanwhile she just laughed, already liking this guy.
"You're going to have to tell me what you saw someday," she said still grinning.
"Yes," he said. Quickly changing the subject since talking about a naked Warrick was starting to creep him out. "So, how you're feeling?"
She motioned to the chair next to her bed, indicating that it was ok for him to sit down.
"I'm feeling fine, psychically. It's just hard not knowing anything. It's like I'm here but then again I'm not."
He nodded.
"I can't imagine what that must feel like, Sara. I just hope you'll be back to your old self soon."
"Thanks Nicky," she said. The nickname escaping her lips before she knew it and a smile lit up her face when she realized that she always called him Nicky. Her smile was matched by Nick's who came to the same conclusion.
"Little by little you're going to be fine I think," he said.
"I hope so," she whispered. Before she asked him, "Tell me about yourself?"
The next half hour was spend with them talking about his past in Texas and her asking questions about her job.
"So, what's Warrick's background?" she finally asked. The question on her mind since Nick had walked in here.
He hesitated.
"Don't you think you should ask him that?"
She grinned.
"I don't want every detail. Just the basics."
He shrugged, still finding her fascination with Warrick strange.
"He's a Vegas native and he was raised by his grandmother since his mother died when he was young. He never left this city and he's a damn good CSI. He follows his instincts, which are usually correct. He has a bit of a temper sometimes but he's a good guy and a terrific friend."
She nodded, listening with interest and he had a feeling that this new Sara could cause some surprises.
"Does that satisfy your need for Warrick information?" he asked.
Warrick choose that moment to walk into the room, hearing Nick's last sentence. His grin was playful.
"Already checking up on me, Sidle?"
She blushed a little, which Nick found very satisfying. Especially after she had made him blush several times today.
"I just wanted to know some stuff," she said. "It's nothing special."
"Sure," he said laughing, winking at her and he was taken aback by the fact that she blushed even more. Sara never blushed and certainly never because of something he did.
Nick watched the interaction between the two, inwardly smiling. Looking at his watch he realized it was time for him to go home and get some sleep if he wanted to be fit for his next shift.
"Guys, I gotta book. I need my beauty sleep."
Warrick smirked.
"You know it's not possible to sleep for a year, Stokes."
Nick narrowed his eyes.
"You wanna start something 'Rick. Cause you know you won't win. You just know it."
Warrick laughed, loud.
"Who you kidding? You, my friend, have never won from me."
Nick pretended to think about it.
"Let's see, who was it that got promoted to CSI level three first. Was that..well yes, that was me!"
Warrick knew he was beaten but seeing the amused expression on Sara's face while listening to their bantering more then made up for it.
"Get lost, Stokes."
Nick winked at Warrick before he turned to the female in the room.
"Bye Sara, you promise to take care of yourself."
"I will," she said. "And thanks for stopping by, Nicky. It was fun."
"That it was," he said. Leaving the room but not before adding. "You kids have fun and Warrick, behave yourself."
Warrick shook his head, watching his friend disappear in the hallway.
"So," Sara asked. "Are you guys always like this?"
He grinned.
"Nah, we're way worse normally. But he's a good guy though, a terrific friend."
She watched the font expression on his face, the same one Nick had when he had talked about Warrick.
"You know, that's what he said about you too."
Warrick smiled and sat down on the chair Nick had occupied. Noticing that Sara looked better today, more rested and she was beginning to get some color back. Meanwhile Sara took in his appearance. He looked absolutely stunning today and she wondered how her memory managed to forget a guy like this.
"You look better, Sidle."
She nodded.
"I feel better too and if I'm lucky they'll release me in two days."
He impulsively reached over to grab her hand, squeezing it enthusiastically.
"That's great, Sara."
"Yeah, it is," she said, hesitating before asking. "Can I ask you something?"
He let go of her hand. Settling back in his chair.
"Sure you can, what do you wanna know?"
She tucked some hair behind her ear, buying some time.
"Did we ever have a fight? Because I remembered something. You were walking away from me, angry. And you had just told me that next time I should ask you instead of going around behind your back."
Warrick sighed.
"Leave it to you to remember the bad things first, Sidle."
She was intrigued now.
"So there was something bad?"
He really wished she hadn't brought this up but he realised that he had no choice but to tell her.
"You really want to know?"
"Yes," she said. "I really want to know."
She saw that he had trouble with her request but he started talking anyway, his expression unreadable.
"I had a gambling problem. I used to bet all the time, even during work hours. This one time I left a rookie at a crime scene to place a bet and she got killed. And that is where you came in. You flew in from San Francisco to investigate the case, to investigate me. Eventually you found prove that I had gambled while on the job and you advised Grissom to fire me. Which he refused."
She interrupted, another memory slowly coming to her.
"Because you are his favorite," she whispered.
He shrugged.
"I don't think I'm his favorite, he just likes it that I don't kiss his butt all the time. Griss appreciates it when you make your own decisions."
She had to laugh at that and then motioned for him to continue his story.
"Anyway, we had a strained working relationship after that. Mainly because you couldn't believe that I was still there. A couple of months later I was seen in a casino during work hours and you were asked to investigate me again."
And suddenly she remembered, the scene in the hallway and the kid that been looking for him. The shame she had felt once he told what really happened.
"You went to the casino to collect a debt, so you could pay that kid's bail money," she said.
A huge smile appeared on his face.
"You remember."
She bounced up and down in her bed.
"Yes, I did. I remember!"
He leaned forward, caught up in her enthusiasm.
"Do you remember more?"
She shook her head.
"Nope, that's it. But this is great, it's means that slowly I'll get my life back."
He grinned.
"Could you remember something less painful next time?"
She was serious in an instant.
"That was unpleasant but it wasn't a bad memory. You were young and did some stupid things but I came to an conclusion to soon without talking to you. I have a hunch that we've come a long way since then."
His hand reached up to brush some hair out of her face and he couldn't explain to himself why he did that. He just knew that the urge had been too strong.
"Yes," he said. "We've come a long way."
Sara felt his hand on her cheek and in her hair and felt herself blushing yet again. She instinctively knew that the old Sara had never reacted to him like she did now but she couldn't help herself. She was definitely attracted to him.
Warrick pulled back just in time, before he did something fundamentally stupid like kissing her. He had a feeling that she probably wouldn't mind but she would once she got her memory back and he couldn't take advantage of her in this stage. He laughed nervously and stood up.
"I gotta go. Another shift in seven hours. I'll be back tomorrow, ok? You make sure you rest."
Before Sara could respond he had squeezed her hand affectionately as a goodbye and was out of the door. Obviously afraid of the feelings that were lingering between them. She stayed behind in a confused state of mind, having trouble connecting her old memory of him with these new strong feelings she felt now every time she saw him.
Meanwhile, out in the hallway of her room Warrick was wondering if he could manage helping her without losing his heart to her. He had to try because he knew that once her memory would return Grissom would be back in her heart and he would be left with a broken one. Helping her had suddenly become very complicated.
Tbc...