Part 7
"Wow…I think I know who Sara's guy is" Warrick blurted out, his moth full of cake.
"What?" Catherine asked, as she sat with Lindsay on her lap holding her daughter close.
"Sara's guy…" Warrick explained.
"It's
nick" Grissom finished as he looked to where Warrick was
pointing.
"What, NICK?" Catherine also looked over, in shock
her jaw dropped. Out of all the people that she had thought it may
have been Nick had never come to mind. Greg, sure … he was always
trying to get with Sara but not Nick. They were all looking over to
where Nick and Sara were sharing a passion filled kiss.
"Now way!" Warrick was just as shocked, "And they kept if from us"
"What the hells going on in that place?" Catherine asked.
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He lent back and looked into her eyes, knowing he had the dopiest smirk – but he didn't care. "So you think they noticed hun?" He asked.
Sara looked over his shoulder; she had to admit she did fear their response. She could see them all, they looked as if they'd been slapped around the face – "I'd say so…" She sat back again looking into his eyes, "I love you, and I just want you to know that. Before anything else happens…right now, what we have here is the perfect I've been looking for." She explained, "I'm sorry if…if I mess up what we have, and I tend to do that a lot. Mess things up I mean. ..and…"
"Your rambling." He explained,
"I can't help it…" She sighed, "I've never felt like this"
"I love you Sar…" He said moving his hand to her waist and moving in to kiss her again, as his lips met with hers he murmured, "no matter what happens from now…I'll never stop loving you" His smile grew as he took his hat off and put it on her head pulling it down over her eyes, she tilted her head back so she could see under the rim. They kissed, and when they pulled back this time she growled, "You wanted to tell them, so you deal with them now" Sara knew that the team weren't going to let the two of them date, and not get a laugh from it.
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"Do it…kiss me" Sara mumbled, imitating herself, over and over under her breath as she walked down the corridors of LVPD crime lab, "What the hell was I thinking?" She asked no one – she was dragging her feet behind her buying herself as much time as possible to try and prepare herself from the onslaught she knew she would walk into; the guys had pulled them apart back at Catherine's – and Nick been less helpful. She loved him, she knew she did but she was scared of loving openly, in front of everyone.
Usually she'd be the first to roll up at work and be sitting in the break room but tonight she'd left it late, not wanting to be questioned. As she turned about to enter the locker room she was stopped by the familiar voice, "Sidle, what have you gone and done?" he shouted.
Sara shook her head and continued only for him to follow her in, "Greg" She greeted.
"Don't Greg me…you've broke my heart"
"Oh so you know…"
"The whole lab knows - it's not how I should have hared it Sara…through the lab techs" He growled.
"the whole lab huh?" Inside Sara silently died, she hated knowing that she was the topic of convocation that was on the lips of most of the lab.
"Yeah…so, it's true…you hooking up with the Texan?" Greg questioned.
"Yeah…it's true Greg…sorry"
Greg moved forward so he was now stood directly in front of her, "Are you happy?" he asked
"Very" She nodded, with her gapped tooth smile.
"Well then how can I stay mad at you…" He reached forward and hugged her, "I'm happy for you too. I just don't see what he's got I don't."
Sara laughed, "Well don't tell nick but…you are just too good for me. Nick was back up" she joked offering the younger CSI a warm smile and another hug, Happy that he was been supportive in his own way. Sara did have a soft spot for him but nothing that extended friends – and he knew it, this was the game they played.
"I knew that" He explained, "And maybe I am too good for you" he winked, he turned and left, offering from the doorway, "I'm happy, and if Nicky ever does ANYTHING to upset you I'll sort it"
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"You know she's got us all looking out for her right?"
Nick looked up from his magazine to see Catherine stood glaring at him, "Hey to you to" he shot
"Nick, you hurt Sara – I hurt you"
"Y'all think I'm going to hurt her?" He asked, Warrick had said much the same thing, "What if she hurt me? Huh?" he asked.
"You would be able to sort yourself out…look I'm just saying…" She began to pour herself some coffee, "She cares for you…so be careful. We all know Sara. And we all know that she takes a long time to open up…"
Nick stood up, he walked over to where Catherine was at the counter, "I'm not going to hurt her, I…" he stopped a moment and looked to the floor, "I love her, so…you don't have to worry"
Catherine turned and looked at her younger CSI co worker, she was shock, "Nicky, love?"
"Yeah…love"
"Wow, hell…this is big." Catherine had a smile creep upon her face, "Real big" She reached forward and hugged her friend, her motherly tone kicking in – really she was a mother to the younger CSI's including Greg. "I'm happy for you" She explained.
"Thanks" Nick smiled,
"You know though…you could have told up. Sure, we had a go at mine earlier and Warrick practically beat you up for taking his girl…" Both smiled at the memory, Warrick had been over to where the two where at the castle in no time and pulled Nick away before the two play wrestled.
"Hey she's my Girl…you know that"
"Yeah I do…" Catherine nodded, "and play her you'll be a dead man." She shot.
"You know what, if I do anything in the slightest to hurt her, or upset her I give you my permission to kick me in the head – how does that sound?
"Sounds like you deserve a shot at making her happy" Catherine winked, and slapped his arm.
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Sara lingered in the break room, unsure if she was ready to start been the CSI again. Things had been great today – and for a while she had even forgot about the abuse case the other night but now – she was going to be heading back into the field and she was going to have to look at these scenes where the monsters kill and walk away – Sara felt like one of these monsters, deep down there was something in her that was ready to kill the other night and it scared her.
"Are you sitting in here all night Girl?"
Sara looked up to Warrick who was walking into the room, "Hey Rick" She managed as she slammed her locker, "no, I'm coming"
"Good to hear it… but can I have a word first?" He moved and sat on the bench next to Sara,
"Sure…" Sara turned to him.
"I just…I mean, I want to say that despite the way I was messing around this afternoon and taking shots at you two, teasing you both…I want you to know I am really happy for you. And that, you know you're like a sister to me so…if he does anything…I sort him" Warrick wasn't one for soft mushy speeches and Sara knew when he was doing something like this then he meant it.
Sara smiled softly, as she lent forward and hugged Warrick, she wasn't usually one for much physical contact but the team were been extra sentimental today and it would be impossible not to hug him – "Thanks Rick…means a lot. To know someone has my back"
"Yeah…well you got Me, Cath and Greg so…you got a lot of someone's" He winked.
This was more of a family than Sara had ever had – and this was the first time in her life she ever felt that she truly belonged somewhere.
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"Okay guys…" Grissom walked into the break room to hand out assignments, he looked around to see only two CSI's sat at the table, "Where is everyone?"
"We're here" Sara explained as herself and Warrick slipped into the room –
"Nice of you to join us" Catherine joked, then looked back to Gil – "So you got anything interesting for us?"
"Not much – must be a slow week for murderers" Grissom mumbled, "Sara – B&E solo. Here's the address – looks to be an inside job" he held the paper out to her and she took it. "Keep posted" then he looked to the other two "Rick your with me on a DB, north off the strip" he explained as he passed him the Slip, "And Cath join Nick on the case" he explained –
"Solo?" Grissom looked to the direction of the seemingly confused voice
"Yeah…you deserve it Sar" he explained. Sara looked his way and the two looked to be saying something with their eyes, a silent conversation that had the rest of them confused, then Grissom spoke – "any trouble just pick up the phone…"
Sara shrugged her shoulders, "Fine, I'll…see you guys later" without looking up she left the room, leaving a fairly concerned team.
Grissom looked to Nick, "Word?" He asked
Nick nodded, and the other's left – "I'll be in the Tahoe" Warrick explained
"I'll meet you in Lay out Nicky" Catherine shut the door as she left.
Nick looked to Gil, "I just want to ask you something" he explained
"Ask away" Nick replied
"Can you…try and talk to Sara about seeing the lab psychiatrist? She won't listen to me but…she might if you…just suggested it"
"What? Gris…"
"I know, this is unprofessional but…I'm worried about her… just, try and convince her – have a shot" without another word he offered a nod of his head and left the room.
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"Officer?" Sara asked as she ducked under the tape.
The officer offered his hand, "Stephens" he replied.
"CSI Sara Sidle" She explained taking his hand, "So what's happened?"
"B&E, inside job by the looks – no forced entry from what I can see – cleared the scene it's all yours" he explained, "It's odd though… only one case was cleared in the jewelry store. I mean a hell of a lot of trouble for one case"
"Where's the manager?" Sara asked
"He's on his way…"
"Thank you…I'll be in there then"
"I'll be here if you need me" she nodded her head and continued through to the scene.
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Many hours later, Catherine and Nick finally closed the case. Happy of this they headed towards the break room. "So you going to tell me what has you so pissed?" Catherine asked as they walked down the corridor.
"Nothing…I just …lot on my mind" he explained.
"I'd say you need to relax…are we all heading to the bar tonight"
"Someone Say bar?" Warrick asked as he walked out of the lab he was in to join the pair, "we going and it's on Sara"
"What?" Catherine asked.
"I'll get us some free beer of the Brunette don't worry" he laughed.
Nick just rolled his eyes, and Catherine had to smile.
All three turned into the break room to See Sara lent on the counter speaking into her mobile, "I can't release the scene, no…" she was angry they could all see that, "This is an ongoing investigation Sir…meaning until I close it your business stays shut. Well talk to your insurance about that…I'm CSI, I couldn't care less about you losing out on business, and LVPD will not refund or compensate you" She spat, "Fine, call my Supervisor, Mr. Gill Grissom… and my badge number's 544 877" Sara growled, before she cut off her phone and pushed it back into her holster. The team was pretty sure that he hadn't asked for the badge number but she'd reeled it off anyway.
She pushed her hand through her hair, "Sar?" Nick asked
"Insurance" Sara looked as though a light bulb went off in her head, she ignored the presence of the team, and she grabbed her folder and left the room quickly.Leaving a confused and very concerned Nick - who looked to the rest of the team - those who looked equally confused and worried.
tbc...