DISCLAIMER:Don't Own it. No Money Made... Just for fun and enjoyment.
A/N: The trap is closing.
REVIEWS: Thanks to all who have reviewed. Everyone's kind words have been a real boost as I've been struggling write the chapter I'm on right now. Hopefully it pays off for everyone :D
Chapter 38
It had been a long, trying and productive week for Sara Sidle. She had solved cases, survived the massive restructuring of her personal life, and she had finally made peace with herself and those around her. She was even getting along with Catherine, and that was an accomplishment for her. Sofia, well, that would have to wait for another life changing moment. I'm no saint.
Sara was looking forward to the weekend as she never had before. She desperately wanted a chance to unwind and get away from the strain of everything surrounding work this past week. For once in her life, Sara was glad to have two whole days off from work. She had already informed Dispatch, she was not to be bothered unless there was not another CSI already on duty before they even thought about trying to call her in.
Her plans were moving along perfectly, as they had finished up the case at the Palms, the Sheriff handled the final press briefing through the department spokesperson, and was doing his best to play the whole thing down as much as possible. She was actually going to get out of the lab a little early tonight. Once she left, she planned to do a little grocery shopping, and to stop by the bookstore to load up on some fluffy magazines to pass the time over the weekend, and not leave her apartment again until she had to arrive back at the lab Sunday night. It was before dawn on Friday morning, and she was going to have more than fourty-eight hours of freedom from anything to do with the lab and the thought actually held a thrill for Sara for a change.
Her thoughts of peace and tranquility were interrupted by the breathless arrival of Warrick into the locker room. "Sara! Thank god, I caught you."
"And just at that… I was getting ready to leave, why?" Sara stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder before closing her locker door with a slap.
"I have a HUGE favor to ask you." Sara visibly slumped, because she knew that Warrick had volunteered to take the Saturday night shift. "No, nothing like that, I'm still workin' Saturday night… What I need from you is one of those favors you always hate askin', but I'm in a serious bind, girl." Warrick was being cryptic and Sara was now intrigued. She knew that Warrick would do anything for her, and she knew the feeling was reciprocated as well.
"What do you need, Warrick?" She said with a resigned look playing across her face.
"So, my girl Tina accepted this invitation for a party tonight, but she got stuck working, and now she expects me to go alone. Anyway, it's like this dinner party thing, so they're expecting two people." Sara was in shock at his request, and she half wondered if she was being setup for a joke, but after the week she had, she knew Warrick could not be that cruel.
"Dinner party? I mean, come on, Warrick. Why don't you ask Catherine or somebody. I'm not really the dinner party type." Sara was trying the only thing she could think of to get out of the favor.
Warrick just shook his head, "Please, you think Tina wouldn't lose her grip if I took Cath? And I already tried to get Nicky to go, but he's got a date tonight, so he stood me up." Sara knew she was the only other person who could pull this off for him. She had thrown out the Catherine suggestion as a veiled joke. She and Nick both knew about Tina's feelings regarding Catherine, just as they both knew how Warrick felt about Tina's ex working in the ER with her: a touchy subject.
She shrugged her shoulder, "What do I have to do?"
"Aw, girl you just saved my skin!" He gave her a quick hug and explained the whole thing, "I'll pick you up at six, and it's fancy, so wear something nice? And I'm told there'll be some fine doctors there, so maybe we can get you a real date?" Warrick flashed a toothy grin, and gave her a wink.
"Ha ha… You're not getting off that easy, Mr. Brown." She started walking out the door, as she called back to him, "You owe me big time, buddy."
