A/N: Isabell89, you asked for it a few chapters back, so here you go. ;) Enjoy chapter 19, everyone. And because I'm a sap and like you all so much, I decided to give you a second one today. You can thank me later. :)
Headliner
Chapter 19
As it turned out, Catherine was a very trustworthy person.
Sara sashayed into the crime lab the next night and went right to Grissom's office. He stood up as she entered. "Hello, Grissom. Do you have an assignment for me?"
He motioned to a chair. "In a minute Sara, would you please have a seat?"
Sara took a seat and crossed her left leg over her right. "What can I do for you, Grissom?"
"It has come to my attention that my behavior is causing problems. I'd like to apologize for anything that I've done in the past few months that upset you. It's unacceptable. Your personal life is your business and it's not my place to be judgemental."
Sara wrinkled her brows. "Thanks, I think."
"Now how about that case? Nick's with Catherine and you're with me. We've got a murder on Industrial Road. You want to drive, or should I?"
Grissom's change of heart seemed to be completely genuine, as he even offered to buy her breakfast when it came time.
Nick and Sara sat on the couch in his living room. While Sara lived there as well, she still thought of it as his place. The news flashed on the television screen and they watched to see what sort of turmoil the world was in today. Alexis stood in the kitchen making lunch. She stirred the potatoes and yammered on the phone to Courtney. Nick faced Sara, "She's so your daughter."
"What's that supposed to mean, Mr. Stokes? I seem to remember you cooking and singing at the same time."
"So? She's known you longer, so it must be from you."
"Oh, sure. Hey, you want another beer?" she asked.
"You bet, although I don't think we should get completely wasted. We do have work tonight. And there's that kid of ours who probably wouldn't like having to clean our drool."
"Our drool? You may drool, but I sir, do not. Now be nice to me or you can get that beer for yourself." She returned a few moments later and set the bottles on coasters that sat on the table. Lexi brought over plates of spaghetti for them, still on the phone. She took her own lunch and went to her room, leaving Sara and Nick to their food.
"You know, Sara, I like you," Nick said through a mouthful of pasta.
"That's good, Nick. I would hate to live with someone who doesn't like me," she laughed.
"No, I don't think you understand. I've liked you for years. Practically since I've known you. You're cute."
Sara raised a brow and glanced at the table. His bottle of beer was nearly empty. "Nick, how many beers make you tipsy?"
"I don't actually know. Why?"
"You're rambling."
"No, I'm just telling you what I think. You're a nice person and I like you a lot. Probably more than Greg does."
"Greg flirts with everyone. If you think he likes me, then he loves Catherine."
"Oh, I bet he does, but that's beside the point. I really, really like you, Sara. I think we should move in together."
"Now I know you're drunk. We already live together, Nick. You, me, and Lexi all live in this house."
"Oh yeah. How about we take it up to the next step?" he said and turned to face her square on.
"And what would that be?" she asked.
She barely got the question out before he moved in and kissed her. A moment later, he pulled back, clearly embarrassed. Apparently, that's all it took to sober him up. Sara stared at her fork. "Here, I'll get that," he said and picked up her plate.
She sat silent, now staring at the coffee table. She remembered Brass telling her once that there were more problems than answers in the bottom of a bottle. How right he was. She stood up and walked over to the kitchen. Her eyes remained on the floor as she said, "I'm going to get a couple more hours of sleep before we have to be to work." She went to her room and shut the door.
Nick turned the faucet on and watched as the water washed away the red sauce from the plates. He shut it off and peered down the hallway to Sara's door. What had he done? If things weren't complicated already with the two of them living together trying to raise a kid, he had certainly made it so. He felt that he had clearly overstepped his boundaries. Would she stay around much longer? And if she left, would she take Alexis with her? So much for not getting too wasted.
Sara stared at the ceiling, picturing shapes in the textured wall, much like one would do with clouds. She knew there was no chance of getting any more sleep, but she had needed an excuse to get out of that room and think. When she first moved in with Nick, she had considered something like this happening. It was one of the reasons she was so hesitant to make the move. She didn't want their living together to jeopardize their friendship. Moreover, she didn't want it to jeopardize their careers. She couldn't, however, hold Nick in blame for what had happened. First of all, he was drunk. Men would do anything when intoxicated. And secondly, hadn't she herself grown fonder of him over the past few weeks? Nick had always been a good friend to her, but she felt that with the addition of a child, the exact makeup of their relationship was bound to change. After what had just gone on in the living room, she knew it had already started.
Nick and Sara took separate cars to work that night and avoided each other the entire time. Grissom was oblivious as usual, and Warrick was too caught up in his own relationship problems to notice a thing. Greg and Catherine both saw that something was up. Sara wasn't her usual self and it bothered Greg. Catherine viewed the bigger picture. She noticed the tension between Nick and Sara and guessed that they had either had a fight or some other sort of embarrassing moment.
Catherine watched as Nick made his way to the locker room looking rather sullen. She pulled off her glasses and followed him. She was going to get to the bottom of this.
A/N2: I would appreciate your words of wisdom.
