Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. CBS does.
Author's Note: I initially posted this over at my livejournal. Just thought I'd share it here as well. All titles are from the song "Street Map" by Athlete.
Thanks to Heartagram Lala, BeTrAyEd DaUgHtErS, skynyrd, Baby24-Misery(who rocks beyond words lol), nickysbabygirl, Doggies45, CSI3Snickers, wraiths-angel, Jayme Beth, madpsychogirl, MollyMKS, and BoscoCruzCrazy. :D
Sara saw Nick arrive an hour late to their crime scene which was a few miles north from the lab. He went straight to Warrick who pointed him back to Sara. He looked tired, Sara noted as he walked towards her.
"Hey." She flashed him a smile before going to the gory details. "Blood trail starts from the backdoor, and zigzags a bit before ending up in the bathroom. Now the vic was found in the upstairs bedroom, with no trail connecting to here. So I'm thinking…"
"Yeah…" He cut her off. "I'll go upstairs."
"Okay..."
So he processed the upstairs bedroom while Sara stayed in the ground floor and Warrick got the outside. Once they're finished they loaded all packed evidence in the trunk and got in the car. Sara took the driver's seat and Warrick got in the back, which left Nick sitting up front.
"Hey Rick, how'd you know Gina anyways?" Sara had been driving for a while now when she remembered this tidbit that she had to ask.
"Nick told you about his date? I haven't even had the chance to hear 'bout it"
"He didn't... I met her." She blushed remembering just how that night went.
"When? Nick here already felt the need to introduce her to you?"
"I really had no choice." Nick, who'd been silent all along, suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"What's that?"
Sara glanced at Warrick through the rearview mirror. He looked confused as hell.
"Sara felt the need to bombard our date that's all."
She jerked her head towards Nick in surprise. "What!"
"Well it's true ain't it? It wasn't enough for you to be out with Grissom. Oh right, nobody else…
"I did no such thing! What are you talking about!"
"…nobody else gets to go out on dates in peace. You know sometimes you act like one selfish b.."
"Hold it! Nick what is wrong with you?" Warrick was looking at Nick incredulously.
Nick just shook his head and looked out the window.
Sara blinked and tried to swallow her tears. She really couldn't understand him. Just the other night his hands were all over her and now he's acting like he loathes her. She gripped the steering wheel tightly and tried to concentrate on driving. When they arrived at the lab's parking lot, she slammed on the break and jumped out of the car without looking back.
ooo
"Can I talk to you for a sec?" Warrick was frowning at Nick. They're in the evidence room laying out the things they collected on the table.
"Sure what's up?" Nick glanced up momentarily and put down the bloody carpet he'd been holding.
"I don't know what the hell's going on between you too, but dude did you really have to yell at her like that?"
Nick sighed. "It's complicated"
"Try me. You know I care about the two of you…"
"I know man." He wasn't ready to talk about this yet, but his behavior earlier indicates that he needed help. "Have you ever felt like you were losing somebody?"
"So this is about Griss huh?"
"How'd you know about that? Supposed to be a secret…"
"You kidding me? Word travels fast around here… and you also managed to squeeze it in earlier between all the bitching."
Nick winced. He still couldn't believe just how big an idiot he had been.
"You feel you're losing her and you yell at her. That's genius man." Warrick was shaking his head at him disapprovingly.
"You know I didn't mean it…" He actually wanted to hit Grissom but unfortunately the man wasn't there. So he stupidly took out his frustration on Sara instead.
"What is it exactly that you think you're losing?"
Nick paused for a while. What was there to lose anyways? "Everything."
Warrick sighed and leaned his back on the table beside him. "Didn't know you got it that bad…"
"Didn't know it myself."
"Look dude, if you're sure about this… how you're feeling…" Warrick was studying him intently.
"I am." He couldn't be surer of anything else.
"So what're you going to do about it?"
Nick hits realization and looked up as a smile formed on his lips.
Warrick saw it and chuckled. "Glad you've finally come to your senses." He picked the blood sample and walked to the door. "Got to bring this to Wendy. I'll be right back."
