Nick Meets the Sidles

Pairing: Sara and Nick (Snickers)

Nick and Sara have dinner with her parents. Michael wants to know Nick's intentions with Sara.

A/N: I apologize for not updating this story soon enough. When I started writing this chapter, my muse had either temporarily disappeared or she was hibernating.

Disclaimer: I don't own any CSI characters, only my original characters. I wouldn't mind owning Nick though!

Dinner and an Interrogation

"Nick, are you nervous?" Sara asked.

"We are going to your parents' house for dinner," Nick shrugged as he buttoned up his shirt. "I don't know if they'll find other ways to stereotype Texans or people from large families."

"Let's create a way to deal with their stupidity," Sara smiled. "I have an idea. You can counter anything by telling the truth or just change the subject. We could discuss some of our less disgusting cases."

"Sara, I don't think we should talk about that decomp in the duffle bag," Nick whined as he put on some aftershave.

"Nick, I wouldn't dream of talking about Liquid Man at the dinner table," Sara said. "I don't like grossing people out with that tale!"

"Grossing them out is the last thing we'd want to do," Nick said. "I believe in preserving an appetite at the table regardless of whose it is."

"Nick, we have to get going or else my kinky or perverted minded parents will think we're doing some hanky-panky," Sara said looking at the clock on the night table.

He just rolled up his eyes in frustration as they left their room. He loved Sara dearly, but being around her parents wasn't something he enjoyed. He only knew them for a few days and he disliked them intensely.

"Just because your parents probably did it before they were married doesn't mean we have to," Nick smirked.

"We are not them," Sara smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. "They were free loving hippies, but we're a cautious couple from the Generation X era."

In less than fifteen minutes, they were at her parents' house. Sara rang the doorbell and they waited a minute for her parents to open the door. Her father was the one that opened up and let them in.

"Sara, Nick how are you enjoying San Francisco?" Michael said. "I heard you went to see a Giants game the other day. Who did they play against? Did they win? Did Barry hit a homerun?"

"Dad, stop throwing so many questions at us!" Sara protested. "First, Nick and I are enjoying San Francisco. We did see the Giants game. They hosted and beat the Cincinnati Reds. Yes, Barry did homer."

"That's good to know," Michael smirked. "At least we don't have to worry about them facing the Houston Astros or the Texas Rangers while you are here, Nick."

"I would have been laughed out of the baseball park if that had happened," Nick said keeping his cool in check. "You have a smart daughter who knows better than that."

Michael smiled although he knew while Sara was growing up, he wanted her to act like her peers. He wanted her to look cute and catch a boy. At least he was happy she got Nick.

"Nick, would it be okay that we have a vegetarian dinner tonight?" Alexandra asked. "You know that Sara is a vegetarian."

"Mrs. Sidle, I may eat meat," Nick calmly pointed out. "However, I enjoy vegetarian meals twice a week."

"Okay, that settles it," Alexandra said. "Why don't you go to the yoga studio or the meditation room? Dinner won't be ready for another hour. The two of you sure could use it, you're both tense."

"Sure," Sara huffed.

"Just don't do anything that would get you into trouble," Michael said.

"We won't!" Nick rolled his eyes.

They went up to the yoga studio that used to be Sara's bedroom. Instead of relaxing, they wanted to sit on the floor and vent.

"I still don't get your parents, Sara," Nick groaned.

"I know," Sara sighed. "Nick, we don't have to talk about them."

He smiled and winked at her.

"Actually, I don't want to talk now," Nick smiled. "Let's just sit in silence and do nothing."

The nothingness really didn't last long. Sara practically pounced on Nick and he had her in an embrace. They were peppering each other with kisses. One moment later, they were lying on the floor laughing.

"Is this how kinky we will get in this place?" Sara grinned. "I don't want to give my parents the satisfaction."

"Let's take it a notch higher when we get back to the room," Nick beamed and winced when Sara gave him a swat in the arm. "Sara, please stop swatting me!"

"We'll have to see about that later," she smirked.

She got up and grabbed two yoga mats and laid them on the floor an inch apart. Nick sat on one and Sara was on the other. They were facing each other starting embracing and kissing all over again. If Michael and/or Alexandra barged in, neither Nick nor Sara would notice or cared. At some point, they gently released each other.

"Wow! That was totally awesome!" Sara said.

"Sara and Nick, it's time for dinner!" Alexandra shouted. "I'll give you a few minutes to stop that love making!"

Both Nick and Sara couldn't contain the urge to laugh anymore. They were each lying on a yoga mat hysterical with laughter. Alexandra wouldn't believe them if they told her that they were just talking, kissing and laughing. Nick was the first to get up, extended a hand that Sara took and helped her up. They left the room and went downstairs looking like cats that got the parakeets.

"Okay, we want to know the details," Alexandra said.

"Mom, there's nothing to discuss," Sara smiled.

"We were just laughing and joking," Nick beamed.

"You just have to tell us some good jokes," Michael said.

They were seated and helped themselves to a salad made with locally grown produce and strawberries. Alexandra made the balsamic vinaigrette and the candied pecans herself. The warmed locally made goat cheese added a tang to the salad.

"This is wonderful," Nick said after taking the first bite.

"I am glad you liked it," Alexandra smiled. "I like to experiment with meals for the bed and breakfast. This is my test kitchen."

The rest of dinner went on without any major incident. Michael and Alexandra brought Sara up to date with the goings on with the bed and breakfast and how her brother and his family are doing. Sara told her parents a little bit about her work in terms that the two former hippies, who were clueless about forensics, could understand. Nick talked about his upbringing in Dallas, his parents, brother, five sisters and their families. Michael and Alexandra were amazed at Nick's mother who juggled a career as a public defender and raised seven children. The meal ended with chocolate pots de crème and coffee.

Alexandra did the dishes while Sara went out to look at the bay and to take in the ocean air. Nick was invited to join Michael in the living room. Nick sat on the couch and Michael sat on a large bean bag.

"So Nick, I wanted to talk to you about my daughter," Michael initiated the conversation.

"What do you want to discuss about her with me?" Nick asked nervously.

"First, I want to know what your intentions are with her," Michael said.

"Mr. Sidle, I can reassure you that my intentions with Sara are good," Nick responded while attempting not to crack under pressure. "I would never do anything to hurt her."

"She is a beautiful and smart woman," Michael added. "While she was a teenager, she didn't get many dates. Not even the science nerds would give her a second glance."

"They didn't know what they were missing," Nick agreed.

"I also don't want her to get hurt," Michael sighed. "Are you familiar with a Las Vegas Paramedic named Hank Peddigrew?"

It was the mention of Sara's duplicitous ex-boyfriend that caused Nick to cringe and freeze. When he learned about the son of a bitch from Catherine, he wanted to beat the shit out of him.

"Yeah, I know him and he is a total asshole," Nick shook his head. "He had a girlfriend and cheated on her with Sara. There was a case that Sara was investigating with two of our colleagues. It involved an elderly woman dying of cancer who drove her rental car into a busy restaurant. Hank and his real girlfriend were eating there, but they both suffered some minor injuries. Sara was at the girlfriend's house asking a few questions and she saw a recent photo of this woman and Hank. She confronted him and told him she never wanted to see him again."

"That's why I wanted to know your intentions," Michael emphasized. "She didn't deserve that creep. I think you are good for her and to her. Just don't take advantage of her."

"I would never take advantage of Sara," Nick reassured Michael. "I love her so much. She deserves to be treated with the utmost respect."

"That's what I wanted to know," Michael smiled. "Take good care of my daughter."

"I will," Nick smirked.

Sara joined her father and Nick in the living room. Alexandra entered carrying a tray with four snifters each filled about quarter of the way with brandy. They sat down and slowly drank the cordial and talked a little while longer.

An hour later, Nick and Sara were back in their room at the bed and breakfast. They were slightly tired from being at Sara's parents' place.

"Nick, what do you think of my parents?" Sara asked.

"I think they are both weird," Nick sighed. "They thought we were having sex in your old bedroom."

"I told you they are strange," she chuckled.

"While your mother was doing the dishes and you were out getting a view of the ocean," he said. "I had a talk with your father about my relationship with you."

"What did he have to say?" she asked looking at him with a confused expression on her face.

"He asked what my intentions are with you," he calmly responded. "I told him that they are good and I would never take advantage of you. I felt like I was being put through an inquisition or interrogation. Now, I know how our suspects feel when they are in the interrogation room."

"Aw, I can imagine," she sympathized with him. "I don't get why he had to put you through something like that."

"There's the matter about that bastard Hank," he was uncomfortable mentioning the man that broke Sara's heart.

"What about that fucking asshole?" she asked. "Why did my dad even mention him?"

"I think he knows about that shithead," he replied. "How did he know about Hank? Did you take him to Tamales Bay?"

"Nick, I swear I never took Hank here to meet my parents," she was slightly defensive in her response. "I did talk about him whenever I called or visited them. After I found out the son of a bitch was using me, I talked to my dad. This normally nonviolent guy wanted to go to Vegas to find Hank and kill him."

"Now he knows how Warrick and I feel," he chuckled. "Sara, we are both a little tired. Tomorrow, we are meeting your colleagues from the San Francisco Police Department. Why don't we get some sleep?"

"That's a good idea," she yawned.

Less than half an hour later, they were asleep in each others arms.

TBC