Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to CSI or it's affiliates. I am merely a fan whose would like to take already established characters into a story of my own rendering.
Heed
Chapter 3 Heed the Desire
At first, Sara was stunned. Nick, who was so insistent that he never have any relationship with a coworker, was not embracing her and kissing her. Why me? Why now? I thought he might take up bungee jumping or something, not this. What do I do now? Sara's mind was racing with thoughts. She couldn't bare kissing him back without something more.
With that resolve, she gently pushed Nick back, causing him to release his lips from hers. Nick, still holding her somewhat, looked confused. "I thought you wanted me to go for what I was thinking inside that I should do?"
"I didn't realize you were thinking of kissing me." Sara said looking away so he couldn't see the redding of her cheeks.
But he did.
Nick let go of his hold of Sara and stepped away. "I'm not sure when it happened, Sara. Here I was, just making CSI level III and Warrick about to get fired because Grissom was bringing in some bitch to make sure that happened." He looked at Sara who's embarrassed look turned to disdain for why she originally came to Vegas.
Nick continued, "I was ready to hate you and give you a hard time." Nick turned his back on Sara. "But then I saw you. You were beautiful and nice and objective. You didn't want to intrude. It was just an assignment."
Sara's face started to go back to it's original shade, but she couldn't see Nick's face soften. His pause made her want to say something, but he started again.
"I liked you from the first moment we spoke. It was just an infatuation, I know. I had no idea how long you'd be here. Besides, I was too busy working on my own case to take too much notice and allow my feelings to deepen. Then you stayed. I was so impressed at how well you worked that I almost forgot how much you disliked Warrick. I thought of asking you out before you left town. But then Grissom said you were staying."
Nick turned to face Sara and moved closer to her. He needed her to read his eyes. Sara didn't protest or move away from her position. But she did want to say something before this got out of hand. "Nick, you don't..."
Nick stopped her with a hand over her lips, touching them lightly. "Please let me finish?"
Sara's small nod was all the confirmation Nick needed to conclude, "I was confused. Here was this hot, smart, fiery woman that I wanted to get to know better on an intimate level, but not she was going to be my coworker. I've dated coworkers before and when you break up, it's bad on everyone. So I just allowed myself the pleasure of occasionally working with you and flirting with you. I watched you obsess over Grissom and Hank. I tried to be a comfort without getting too close. I tried to keep you level so you would know when a and where it's ok to have personal in with professional."
Nick's eyes got slightly misty. "But then I was buried alive. You and the team found me. You visited me every day, just like when I'd been attacked by...that man..."
Sara knew he was talking about his stalker, Nigel Crane. She flinched with Nick at the thought of his painful past. "You've always been there for me like a good friend ought to be. I've tried to be there for you as well."
Nick was rambling now. It was time to put the cards on the table. He took a deep breath, then cupped Sara's delicate chin into his massive hand and smiled. "You know, I've tried not to like you. I've tried not to flirt with you. I've even tried to cheer for you and Grissom, but it won't do. Sara, please. I've had a thing for you since you came here to Vegas. I don't know how it'll work, but I'm willing to try. We can be professional at work. We have been so far. We can take it slow. Whatever you want."
"Why now Nick?" Sara asked. Her voice cracked a little, but she made no attempt to move from him this time. "Why me?"
"Because you're there. You've always been there. Every time I needed someone there, it was always you."
Sara's body started to tremble. "Nick, I've thought of you before, but I was always so stuck on Grissom. But I'm no good for him, or for you. I'm broken, Nick. I've seen the dark side of love. We both have."
Nick chuckled lightly. "Is that all? Honey, we're both broken."
There was no longer room for argument or discussion. Nick lifted Sara's head towards his and lightly touched her lips with his own. Sara did not protest this time as she responded to his kiss.
After only a few hours together, both their cell phones started to ring. Sara was the first to untangle herself from the legs, arms and sheets that made up the two CSIs and a bed. She reached over to her long forgotten jeans and found her cell phone still clipped on the side. Picking it up after the seventh ring, she finally answered.
Nick just laid still in his original position, amused.
"Sidle." Sara groaned into the phone. She was laying with her legs and hips still on the bed, while her upper body was hanging off towards the floor. It wasn't a comfortable position as the blood was starting to rush towards her head. But most calls on her cell phone only took a few seconds.
"Did I wake you?" Came Grissom's voice on the other side.
Sara just sighed into the cell. "Well you did say for us to get some rest."
Nick snickered lightly, but was quickly kicked in the shoulder. There was a silence on the other end. Sara prayed that Grissom hadn't heard Nick. "Well, be that as it may, I'm trying to get everyone here in about thirty minutes for a meeting. Can you make it?"
"Sure. I'll be there."
"Good. Hopefully Catherine's gotten a hold of Nick and Greg."
"I'm sure she did." Sara responded, kicking Nick again while she ended the call.
"No, that was just my neighbor's dog I'm watching. Kinda feisty." Nick said to his cell phone. He turned and gave Sara a coy smile. "OK, Cath. See ya in half an hour." Closing his phone, Nick gathered Sara in his arms and kissed her gently. "So are going to kiss and tell or is this our little secret?"
"Hmm. Let's keep it a secret for now. Besides, we still have a lot to talk about." Sara responded while placing her head on his chest.
Nick stroked her back lightly, enjoying the sensation of his rough hands on her soft skin. "Like what?"
"Like where this is going, Nick." Sara didn't move her head.
"Sara, I've waited a long time for someone who understood me and what I do. I want to explore every part of you and us."
"We have to stay professional at work. Break it to them slowly."
"They're CSIs. They might just figure this one out."
"Let's just wait and see, ok?" Sara looked up at Nick's smiling face. His chiseled features were a pleasant mixture of seriousness and playfulness. Nick was a man who worked hard and played hard. Sara considered her own features. She had frown lines and worry lines all over her face. But he made her smile like no one had in a long time. It was such a good feeling to hold him as more than a friend. It was time she started living her life for herself. Not just to appease her demons.
Nick saw her thinking hard and laughed. "Sara! These are our friends. They're not going to send us to jail for sleeping with each other, or dating for that matter."
Sara laughed too. "Well, all the girls in the lab might be kinda sad. Every intern we have just waits for you to even look in their direction."
"So? Interns come and go. Greg's the one who's going to be broken hearted." Nick replied, poking Sara in the belly.
The two laughed heartily at the thought of a brokenhearted Greg as they worked their way into some clothes. Nick went out to his Denali and brought back his extra set of jeans and a button down shirt. Sara dug in he closet to find whatever was comfortable. Once dressed, they enjoy a quick sandwich, gathered their cells phones, keys, and wallets and headed towards work.