A/N: Thank you so much for all of your kind comments and reviews. As I mentioned, I've never written for Warrick before; I just wanted to give it a try! Hopefully this chapter will be as enjoyable for all of you as the first one was.

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Disclaimer: I do not own any part of CSI or its characters. That honor goes to the good folks over at CBS.

Title: The Sun City Diner

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The Sun City Diner

The Sun City Diner occupied a very tiny piece of land, five miles from the main drag of Las Vegas Boulevard. Although the restaurant was by far one of the best places to eat in the entire city, it was considered a 'hole in the wall,' and tourists rarely visited the eatery; which is why it was one of Warrick's favorite places to frequent.

After climbing out of her car, and staring up at the façade of the building, Sara raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Warrick, are you sure that this place is… sanitary?" she hesitantly asked him.

"Of course I am, Sara," he smiled, walking over to her car and leaning against the side paneling. "You've really never eaten here before?" he asked her, completely surprised.

Sara slowly shook her head no, frowning at the dilapidated building standing in front of her. Truth be told, Warrick, it looks like it could be the location of a crime scene: the paint is chipping, the sign is broken, the door is rusty. I hope that the food here is safe to consume!

"I know that it doesn't look like much," Warrick carefully told her. "But I assure you, the food here is really pretty good. If you'd rather, though, we can still go somewhere else," he offered, glancing at the diner. But it's quiet here, girl. And I'd like to talk to you, without mobs of tourists interrupting us.

"No, this place is fine," Sara replied, mustering up a smile for him. Shutting her car door, she stood just beside Warrick, waiting for him to lead her inside. "If you say it's good, I'm sure it's good."

"It's not just good," Warrick flashed her another small smile. "It's damn good."

Sara chuckled, as they finally started to move toward the Sun City Diner. "Well when you put it like that," she grinned at him. "I'm sure it'll be perfectly fine."

Warrick nodded, holding the door open for her so that she could walk past him. As he followed her inside, he was instantly hit with the great smell of cooking food. Grease, mixed with the scent of cheese, meat, fries, onions, and tuna fish, instantly hit his nose, causing him to smile in anticipation of the meal that he was about to eat. Rubbing his hands together, he stood beside Sara, waiting for a hostess to come and show them where to sit.

Noticing the décor of the tiny restaurant, Sara's eyes widened with interest; the walls were covered in images of old downtown Las Vegas, giving the place a sort of vintage feel to it. "Excellent," she commented, as her gaze fell upon photos of some of Las Vegas's greatest actors, singers, politicians, and heroes. This place might actually have some potential, she thought to herself.

Catching a glimpse of Sara's appreciative expression, Warrick nodded his approval. "I like the photographs, too," he informed her, as Jennifer, their waitress, walked up to them. Smiling at the young woman, he quickly said, "Two, nonsmoking, please."

"Right this way, Sir, Ma'am," she nodded, grabbing two menus from the tray, and leading Warrick and Sara toward a fairly empty end of the establishment. "Our specials for today are grilled cheese with tomato soup, meatloaf, spaghetti with or without meatballs, and a tuna melt with French fries." Hot damn, you're good looking, she thought to herself, unobtrusively checking Warrick out.

"Thank you," Sara smiled at the other woman, accepting the menu from her, and narrowing her eyes. Are you checking him out? she wanted to asked the waitress. I think you are! she grinned, waiting for her to leave. Once she was gone, Sara cleared her throat, deciding to keep her observation to herself. "So… what's good here?" she asked him, instead.

"Well," Warrick mused. "Pretty much everything, actually," he grinned at her over the top of her menu. "But I have to get a barbecue bacon cheeseburger. Would you mind?"

Sara raised an eyebrow, expertly holding back her gag reflex. "Not at all, Warrick. That's fine," she assured him. Burnt cow on a bun, several slices of burnt pork, a slice of cheese, all smothered in barbecue sauce. Tasty. "I think I'm going to have the grilled cheese and tomato soup, though," she announced. "I'm feeling a little bit chilly, and I think that the soup will warm me up," she glanced down at her short-sleeved shirt, frowning. You knew that it was going to be cold today. Why didn't you plan ahead?

"I'm sorry, Sara," Warrick instantly replied, concern filling his eyes. "Would you rather just go home? We can grab food some other time!" he told her. Although… again, I really have nothing to go home to.

Sara shook her head no, raising her gaze to meet Warrick's. I really don't want to be home alone right now, so food is fine. "I'm okay, I promise you," she assured him, smiling up at the waitress when she arrived to take their orders.

"What can I get for you, Ma'am?" Jennifer asked, chewing on a piece of gum, and holding her order pad up in front of her face.

"I think I'll have the grilled cheese with tomato soup special," Sara informed her, sliding the menu to the very edge of the table.

"Anything to drink?"

"Just some water, please." I hope the glasses are clean, though, Sara thought to herself.

Jennifer nodded, before returning her attention to Warrick. "And for you?" Sweet cheeks.

"Uh…" Warrick frowned at the waitress. "I'll have the barbecue bacon cheeseburger," he told her, handing over the menu. "With a glass of coke to drink."

"Your orders will be up in a few minutes," Jennifer smiled at the two, before turning on her heels, and walking away.

Sara raised an eyebrow. "So, what's going on with you, Warrick?" she quietly asked her friend and colleague. Might as well just cut to the chase.

Warrick sighed, leaning back against the booth, his legs sprawled out in front of him, underneath the table. "Tina is upset with me," he admitted. "I think this could be the end, Sara."

"What makes you think that, Warrick?" she asked, staring down at the table. "I mean, couples fight, right? It can't be all that bad." My parents certainly fought. They fought all of the time, as a matter of fact.

Warrick shrugged. "This time it can be all that bad; she kicked me out, and then sent me my wedding band by way of certified mail."

This little piece of information made Sara stop in confusion. "What? Why?" she bombarded him with questions, before frowning, and forcing herself to slow down. "Wait a minute, I'm sorry, Warrick. That's really none of my business."

"It's okay," Warrick tried to smile. "I mean, damn, I really brought this one upon myself. I accused her of cheating on me," he again shrugged.

Sara looked up at Warrick, not entirely sure what to say. "And you were wrong?" she simply asked him.

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The Brown Residence, several months prior

"Honey, I'm home!" a very excited Warrick announced, stepping through the front door of the home that he shared with his wife, Tina. Clutching a dozen red roses in his hands, he carefully set his kit down in the front hallway, kicking off his shoes. "Tina?" he called out. "Baby, where are you?" I know that I'm home early, but Grissom let us all go a couple of hours ahead of schedule. Somethin' about a new incentive program, to make us value our jobs a little bit more. Works for me though, he grinned to himself, trying to wipe the smile off of his face.

Damn, it's cold in here! Warrick shivered, walking into the living room in order to check the thermostat. Seventy? C'mon, baby, you know the rules. Air conditioning is expensive. Seventy-four degrees is perfect, he frowned, changing the set temperature, and nodding in satisfaction as he heard the air conditioning unit definitively click off. "Tina?" he called out again, moving into the kitchen, and setting the flowers down on the counter.

Glancing over at the kitchen table, Warrick grinned. Baby, that's so nice of you! he thought to himself, taking in the table set for two; plates, napkins, silverware, and flowers. The only thing missing now is my beautiful wife, he mused, as he once again picked up the roses, clutching them tightly in his sweaty palm. Damn, Nicky, the flowers were a great idea. She'll love these; I know she will, he smiled, as he slowly continued his journey through the house. But I wonder what's going to be for breakfast? I could go for some bacon and eggs… that's for sure.

So where are you hiding, Tina? Quietly glancing up the stairs, Warrick frowned, before remembering that he was actually home a little bit early today. I betcha my baby is sleeping like a baby, he grinned to himself, before slowly starting to climb up the stairs. Well that's fine by me.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Warrick stiffened, as he heard noises coming from his bedroom. "Tina?" he softly called out, not wanting to frighten her any more than she was apparently already frightened. "It's just me, baby!" he announced himself a little bit more loudly. Damn! I shoulda called ahead or somethin'!

Resuming his trek down the hallway, Warrick stopped once more, after hearing something crash to the ground. "It's okay! I'm okay!" he heard his wife's voice call out, as the unmistakable sound of the shower water being shut off in the master bathroom filled his ears.

I talk to myself when no one is around, too, Warrick broke out into a grin. But at least now I know why you weren't answering me. You were just taking a shower! Closing the rest of the distance between himself and the bedroom, Warrick turned the knob, and flung the door wide open.

At that moment, a totally nude Tina, complete with water dripping from her body, stepped out of the confines of the master bathroom. "Well hot damn," Warrick teased her. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he commented, leaning against the doorframe.

"Warrick?" Tina froze, the smiling suddenly disappearing from her face. "Why are you home so early?" she asked him, her face turning ashen.

"Why am I home so early?" he repeated her question, feeling the temperature in the room drop another five degrees with the tone of her voice. But then Warrick caught movement out of the corner of his eye. What's that? Do we have a puppy that I don't know about? he asked himself, his brain trying to rationalize movement that should not be in his bedroom.

"You're… you're not supposed to be home for another two hours!" his wife protested.

Don't do it, Warrick. Don't turn your head. It will only confirm what you already suspect. But his head disobeyed his brain, as Warrick turned his gaze to take in the bed. "Who the hell are you?" he angrily hissed.

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The Sun City Diner

"And you were wrong?" Sara quietly repeated her question, concerned at the blankness in her friend's eyes.

Warrick slowly shook his head. "No. Damn it, I was right."

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TO BE CONTINUED 