"Wow!" Nick couldn't stop himself form admiring the scenery around him. The tall palm trees were hovering high above their heads, as the gentle breeze provided much welcome relief from the sun rays.

"It's hotter than in Vegas!" Sara complained.

"I like it here. More sun means less clothes." Nick felt the need to comment on Sara's statement.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Stokes, are you talking to me?" She tried to make her tone serious, but the humour in her voice was evident.

"Now, Sidle, why would you assume that? I was actually talking to our friend over here." Nick continued in the talk-show presenter tone, pointing at Grissom, who was listening to their conversation with increasing curiosity, but tried not to let it show. "I was just wondering whether Dr Grissom here would be interested in taking his clothes off, to make him more comfortable?"

Sara burst out laughing, and Nick suddenly realised what he'd said. He didn't mean it to come out like that, and he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He pulled his baseball cap tighter and looked at Grissom, with his best effort to try and save face.

"Gris... I didn't mean it like that, I'm so sorry!" He almost whined.

Slightly annoyed, he looked at Sara, who was still snorting with laughter.

"It's your fault, you know?" He muttered to her, embarrassed, pinching her in the arm, making her squeal.

Grissom continued walking and Nick was starting to worry that he might just have blown it this time. It was not a good idea to start his vacation, sorry, conference, by pissing off his former boss by making inappropriate comments. But Grissom didn't look affected at all, and Nick started to relax. He'd put it down to jetlag and too much sun.

The three of them made their way to the hotel and Sara gasped in amazement.

"Wow! This place is huge!"

She looked around the glass lobby, decorated with several palm trees on either side of her, with little fountain right in the middle, decorated with coral reef, looking so authentic that Sara couldn't tell whether it was real or not.

In the middle of the fountain was a turtle made of stone, from which the water was gushing all around it, making it look almost magical.

Sara stood there, enthralled, her mouth open, as she clearly enjoyed the look of the place that they were staying in. Walking up to her, Grissom shot her one of his wide grins.

"Green turtle." He said. "Chelonia mydas. There are quite a lot of those here, did you know that? I'm pretty sure that there is a place where you can hire a diving suit and have a closer look at them yourself."

Sara finally tore her look from the beautiful fountain, acknowledging Grissom's words. It came to her as no surprise that he knew that. Was there anything this man did not know? She shook her head lightly, allowing herself a little smile.

"Are you offering, Gris?"

"Only if you are." Came his reply, and once again, Sara found herself at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, Nick was already at the reception, waiting for Grissom and Sara to catch up with him. A tall, slender girl in her twenties stood behind the counter, her dark, long hair, tied loosely behind her back. She was wearing a blue linen skirt, with cream blouse and matching sandals. Her eyes were green and she was wearing a touch of make-up, barely visible though, and probably just enough for this kind of climate.

She smiled at Nick, who in turn, leaned over slightly, flashing her his Texan grin, from under the baseball cap.

"Can I help you, sir?"

"Well, I hope so. Caitlin." He added, reading her nameplate. He was going to say something else, when Sara materialised by his side, followed closely by Grissom. They both set their luggage on the floor, and it was Grissom's turn to talk to the young woman.

"Gil Grissom, Sara Sidle and Nick Stokes." He introduced himself, as well as Nick and Sara. "We're here for the entomology conference."

Beaming back at the three of them, Caitlin started to type on the computer, but not before stealing a glance at Nick, as he continued to watch her work.

"Certainly, sir," she said, after few seconds. "Have you got the invitation with you? And could I see some proof of ID, please?"

Grissom nodded, withdrawing his wallet, as Nick and Sara did the same. They passed it to the receptionist, waiting for her to complete the check-in.

Nick seemed lost in his own world, his eyes following Caitlin's fast fingers, as she continued to type away on her machine. He caught Sara's look, and shrugged. Sara rolled her eyes. Would her ever change?

"Gilbert Grissom!"

The voice was unfamiliar to Sara, as she turned around, startled, looking for the person calling out her supervisor's name. Nick followed, momentarily tearing his eyes from the pretty receptionist. Nothing could have prepared them for the sight, that had awaited them, though.

Several yards from the reception area, where they had been standing, was a woman. She was rather petite, although on the sole basis of listening to her voice, one would not make that assumption. She was wearing grey slacks and a cream, short-sleeved top. Her silvery hair were cut to just above the ears, revealing rather fashionable earrings and a necklace with long purple stone, most likely an amethyst. She was wearing glasses and had a name tag on a silver chain, around her neck, although it had been impossible to read it from this distance.

She was looking in their direction, but only one of their trio was smiling in recognition. The woman started walking towards them, just as Grissom left his post by Nick and Sara, meeting her halfway. They stood before each other, both eyeing the other, in an almost suspicious fashion.

The woman tapped on the floor with her shoe, as her hands found their place on her hips. She stared up at Grissom, who was at least ten inches taller than her. They both tried to maintain serious looks, studying each other with an almost unexpected curiosity, while Nick and Sara exchanged glances between each other.

"Well well, what do you know?" The petite woman said. "I asked for Las Vegas' finest, and who do I get?"

Grissom smirked.

"I guess that's why I got you as my welcome committee, then?"

The woman laughed and Grissom held his arms open, as she moved into his embrace.

"It's good to see you, Karen." He said, enjoying the warmth that she radiated of.

"You too, Gilbert, you too. Long time no see." She replied, patting him on the back, and ruffling his hair affectionately. Nick and Sara observed that scene, both of them too surprised to utter a word. Caitlin glanced up from her computer briefly, before returning to work.

"So you made it, then." Karen stated the obvious, letting Grissom out of her grasp. "I was beginning to worry."

"Awww, don't you trust me, Karen? I would have never passed up the opportunity of wining and dining the most sought-after member of ESA." Grissom grinned.

"Well, I should hope so!" Karen flashed him a smile. "Good thing I made the reservations, then, huh?"

"Woman after my own heart, Karen." Grissom replied with a smile.

"And you'd better not forget it!" She retorted, grinning.