Author: Joyce

Title: The Consequences of Flirting

Disclaimer: Do you people even read these things? No, they are not mine.

Note: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You people are so kind. I really enjoyed writing this chapter because, for once, I felt like Nick was talking to me while I wrote him. I hope you guys feel that too and that you enjoy this chapter. By the way, loving the reviews!

These crazy feelings

The radio was blasting away while Nick stood in the kitchen, singing along to the song loudly. Nick hated silence, had hated it with a passion ever since he had spend those horrible, silent, hours in that coffin. These days, his house was filled with noise but somehow he never managed to erase the silence within him. He couldn't shake the images, no matter how hard he tried. He could never get rid of the feelings of fear that were constantly surrounding him, waiting for him to break down and give into his emotions. He couldn't do that Nick knew with certainty, he was a CSI and he was fine now. He had to be.

Persistent knocking on his door was heard over the sound coming from he radio and he turned it of, approaching the door with care. Another thing that he had lost, his faith in people, his trust in life. When he opened the door he was relieved to see Sara there. She had an agitated look on her face and she didn't wait for him to greet her, she just stormed in and started talking.

"Warrick has lost his mind," she told him in a matter of fact kind of way and he raised his eyebrows in confusion but that didn't stop her tirade. "He's flirting with me and suddenly single and he's telling me that he's mine and he's crazy." She stopped to catch her breath before she added. "Crazy I tell ye."

"Right," Nick drawled slowly. "Crazy, huh?"

"Yes!" Sara exclaimed, nodding hard to emphasize her point. "Crazy!"

He shook his head, hiding the grin that wanted to break out.

"It sounds like you're crazy about him," he told her and he stepped back, waiting for the outburst he knew was coming his way.

"I am not!" she yelled. "He's my friend and my co-worker and I'm not crazy about him." There was a short pause before she continued in a whisper. "I'm not."

"Ok," Nick said while shrugging, heading into the kitchen. "You want a drink?" he asked her and she just nodded. "I'm really not," she said again and when she heard his laughter coming from the kitchen she rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch.

"I'm not crazy about him," she said to herself as he walked back into the living room and his response was to laugh even harder.

"You're right, Sar," he eventually told her. "It sounds like you're just crazy."

She glared at him and he took a seat next to her.

"You want to talk about it?" he wanted to know, real concern in his voice this time and she was silent for a while.

"Have you ever had the urge to grab one of your co-workers and ravish them?" she eventually asked and he raised his eyebrows. "No, have you?" he replied and when she blushed he had the answer he needed.

"Rick, you dog!" he said with a grin on his face that told her he was proud of his friend and she slapped his knee.

"Stop that," she demanded and he tried his very best to stop it, failing miserably.

"What is the problem here?" he asked her after a while. "He get's jealous when I sent you flowers, he tells you he's yours and you want to ravish him. Am I missing something here? Go to him, ravish him, make him yours, have a good time."

"I'd like that," she admitted with a far away look in her eyes. "Believe me, I'd very much like that."

This time Nick composed himself just in time, giving Warrick a silent high five in his mind.

"But," she continued. "It's not that simple, I will not be the rebound girl."

He shook his head yet again, not believing what he was hearing.

"Are you kidding me with this?" he questioned her. "You really think Rick would use one of his best friends as a rebound girl? Girl, you really are crazy."

"I think I might be," she said, burying her head in her hands. "What the hell is that man doing to me?"

"Nothing you're not doing to him in return," he advised her and she looked at him. "Huh?" was her intelligent reply and Nick sighed, talking to her like he did sometimes when he was at a convention and had to give a lecture to freshmen.

"He feels the same way about you," he said slowly. "He may act all confident but believe me, on the inside, he's not. You have power over him too, you know, and you can make him just as crazy as he's made you."

"I can?" she asked him with a sparkle in her eyes that made Nick feel very sorry for Warrick.

"You can," he just confirmed. "But if you tell Warrick I told you this I may have to kill you."

She grinned and nodded before she hugged him.

"This is our secret," he heard her mumble and he smiled before he closed his eyes. Enjoying her presence, savoring the fact that she was one of the few things that still made sense in his life.

"Go get him," he mumbled back and she pulled back with a somewhat scared expression on her face.

"Now?" was all she said and he nodded before he added; "Make him crazy."

Determination crossed her features and again Nick was afraid for his friend. He watched her stood up with a smile on her face that he knew was just for him.

"Thank you," she told him sincerely. "I owe you one."

"Don't mention it," he said, walking her to the door. "And I mean that, don't mention it. Ever."

"I won't," she promised him again, giving him one last grin before he closed the door. He immediately walked to his radio, letting the music fill the room to mask his own inner silence.


The next day Warrick entered the break room while humming a song, feeling very content about himself. His job was going well, his friends were all safe and sound and he was starting to break her down. He could feel it. His humming was cut short when the door opened and Cath walked in, looking at him suspiciously.

"You look happy," she told him and he just nodded.

"I am," he simply said, not elaborating any further on the subject and a uncomfortable silence filled the room.

"I'm glad you are," Cath said, surprising him. "I really am."

He gave her a smile, still somewhat hesitant.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

Again the conversation stopped, neither knowing what to say until he decided to take a chance.

"I miss you, you know that. I miss us working together and your friendship, I just..." he paused, looking at her to see her reaction before he continued. "I just miss you."

"I miss you too," she said, no hesitation in her voice. "And I'm sorry for reacting like I did when I found out about you and Tina. I always thought..." She shook her head. "That doesn't matter anymore, I was wrong."

He just nodded and she gave him a smile before she grabbed her lunch.

"Friends?" she asked him before she left the room and he gave her a smile in return. "I'd like that," he admitted, watching her walk away.

Humming again he grabbed his lunch before he entered the locker room, surprised to find a note taped on his locker. Reaching for it he smiled when he recognized the familiar handwriting.

'Warrick,

Tonight we are going to play this game my way. We both have the night off so I invite you to come to my place and prove to me that you really are mine. Do you think you have the guts for that?

Sara'

"What the hell?" Warrick muttered, somewhat scared before he read the note again, a smile slowly forming on his face.

"The game is on," he then told himself. "And I'm going to win, Sidle."

Tbc..