Once again I do not own Nick, Grissom or anyone from CSI, I'm just borrowing them on a snowy night. Warning that there are a couple 'words' that may not be appropriate for everyone but hey, it's a story and they needed to be said. That said…please enjoy!

"What the hell" Warrick grabbed Catherine and dragged her down toward the deck, Nick doing the same with Sara whispered "Where'd it come from?" they looked around, Grissom and Greg were also crouched down "Anyone hurt?" Grissom asked his entire team but after a brief check they realized no one had been hit, it had been close but no one had taken a shot. "Maybe it's some asshole out shooting off for the New Year?" Rick could only surmise as both he and Nick holstered their weapons "You guys are carrying to a party?" Grissom looked a bit surprised. "You're not?" Catherine reluctantly pulled out of Rick's arms and started to stand up. "You too?" he looked at the red haired beauty "All the time" Sara turned to Nick "Thanks for coming to my rescue" she barely saw the wink in the darkness but that smile was hard to miss "Anytime Darlin" he drawled. Catherine lifted the hem of her dress and stuck her own gun back into the thigh holster she was wearing then caught all four men staring at her "Yes?" she stood upright and came face to face with Greg and Grissom. The younger CSI was the first to turn away "What I wouldn't give to be the one to frisk her" he covered his mouth and thought it came out as a mumble but everyone heard him clearly "You were saying Greg?" Sara figured she would play into with him. "Ugh, nothing…nothing" he looked at Grissom or Nick to rescue him but was met with snickers and shrugs.

"Maybe we should have a look around?" Nick remembered his conversation with Sara and was beginning to believe her feelings that something wasn't right. "Can't hurt" Warrick looked to his boss for confirmation "Catherine and Rick" they nodded and took off in the direction he'd motioned to with a slight tilt of his head "Nick you and Sara have a look around upstairs" he turned to Greg knowing that the younger man was waiting for his orders "You're with me, neither of us have weapons so we'll stay where we are" he felt the disappointment emanating from Greg "Sorry, but you don't qualify for weapons until you're CSI level 2 Greg, you know the rules" the younger man nodded. "Gil…Grissom" he hesitated, still not comfortable with calling him by his first name "Do you think it's anything?" he stood, hands shoved into the pocket of his rented tuxedo "Maybe Ricks' right?" he hoped "Greg, one shouldn't assume the first thing that comes to mind" he decided to try to lighten the mood "Take your hair for instance" he Greg shoot him a nervous look "On most days, one would safely assume that you do not own a comb" he held back the snicker he felt building as Greg's hand shot upward "Tonight however, one would assume it will take gale force winds to move a single strand out of place" Greg tried desperately to make sure none of his super gelled hair had moved "Relax Greg, your hair is fine" he turned toward the sound of approaching footstep. "All clear" Catherine and Rick returned first "How about upstairs?" Rick's eyes shot up to the deck above them. "Nick and Sara took that area, so far they haven't returned" but they quickly joined the group. "Nothing, Rick's first thought was probably on the money" Sara sighed nervously "I could use a drink" she caught the shocked look from Grissom "I am at a party Griss" she took Nick by the hand "I'm going inside, I've had enough excitement for awhile" Nick shrugged and followed her inside without and argument.

On shore, the radio activity increased "Which one of you assholes just shot off your weapon?" but the replies back confirmed that while they'd used the recent gunshot to decrease the distance from their motor crafts to the paddleboat, none would admit to it being them. "I'm telling you, this needs to go off without a hitch, we do have people to answer to" the leader hissed into the radio. They all did radio check then they sat in wait riding out the gentle wake of the paddleboats as it slowly glided thru the water. The closest man checked to see if anyone on deck was growing suspicious. From his vantage point he could make out five people out in the open huddled together but their whispered tones made it hard to hear what they were saying. Because of his proximity, he was unable to do more than flash his light once and hope no one because aware of it. He waited in the darkness and saw the band of people return to the ballroom heaved a sigh of relief and waited for further orders.

"I might have to agree with Warrick, it might have been nothing more than someone starting the New Year a bit early" Grissom checked his watch and realized they still had several hours before the start of another year. "Probably" Catherine agreed as she straightened her dress. "Let's just go back inside and enjoy ourselves" she walked ahead of him and made a bee line for the bar.

When they entered the ballroom, Nick was glad they were playing a slow song, one by Roberta Flack. Something about the first time ever seeing someone's face and he stopped Sara from making her way to the bar "How about a dance first?" he spun her toward himself and pulled her into an embrace as he maneuvered both of them toward the beautiful oak dance floor, Sara looked stunned but followed his lead as she felt her body pressed against him in all the right spots "Why Mr. Stokes, I didn't know you could dance?" she looked into is brown eyes and they reminded her of liquid pools of caramel "Miss Sidel, I'm just full of surprises" he spun her around twirling her first away from himself and then just as quickly spinning her back into his arms where for the first time, she felt safe and warm. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" again he felt her back away slightly "Ummm..No" she stammered "well, yeah you just did but..." she was rewarded by the mega watt smile that melted her inhibitions. Nick hummed along with the music "you look absolutely amazing tonight" he continued between humming to the song and talking to her "I've wanted to tell you that for a long time" he couldn't take his eyes off of her as Roberta began singing about the first time she ever kissed someone's mouth. "Ummm Nick" she looked over his shoulder and saw Grissom in conversation with Ecklie and the Mayor yet his eyes were glued to both her and Nick "Yes?" his words came out in a breathy sound causing her focus to return to his mouth. "I Ummm" she couldn't finish her sentence as Nick quickly dipped his head down and captured her lips with his own. He pulled back and sought permission to continue. "You were saying?" he smiled again before moving in for yet another kiss, this one more demanding as lips met, parted and allowed both tongues to mingle and meld in exploration. Across the dance floor, Grissom nearly chocked on his scotch and water as he watched his two CSI's.

"Gil?" Ecklie's look of concern for the choking Grissom was genuine "Are you okay?" he patted the older man on the back "Ugh…ye" choke "Yes" cough "I'll be fine, just went down the wrong" cough "down the wrong way". He bent over and caught his breath unbeknownst to the couple who were oblivious to everyone else but themselves. "Happens from time to time" he stood back up and swiped the back of his hand across his mouth then caught sight of Sara and Nick once again.

"Dam!" she heard Warrick mutter from his place beside her "What?" Catherine spun around, looked into his beautiful emerald green eyes, turned her head and followed his gaze. "Oh my God!" she shook her head "Did I just see what I think I saw?" Greg, never one to miss an opportunity laughed "Yup, Nick and Sara were sucking face" his voice carried a disappointed tone "lucky bastard" he shoved his hands back into his pants pockets "Always thought it would be me" he muttered to no one in particular not realizing that both Cath and Warrick had heard him. "You got it going on for Sara?" Rick and Catherine shared a wink and a laugh "Hey!" he sounded offended "It could have happened, it could have been good between us but now…" his thoughts hung in the air as he waved his hand an walked away.

"Nick" she whispered, head pressed against his "I think we have an audience" he opened his eyes and moved his head slightly "I don't are Sara, let them stare, they're just jealous because I'm dancing with the most beautiful woman in Vegas" he pressed his lips to her neck "Among other things" she chuckled slightly "I'm the lucky one tonight" she whispered pressing her fingers into the nape of his neck "I never thought" tears threatened to spill over "We came so close to losing you and I swore I'd never let another opportunity to tell you how I felt…" he shushed her with yet another kiss….

I apologize at the gap in my first chapters and this, started working in a new place and life changes have gotten in the way of me sitting down and letting the words spill from my head but since I have so many more ideas for even more stories…it was time to open up and let them flow…

As usual, enjoy and feel free to review…it makes the thought process that much smoother…..