Ovarian Grievance

Pairing: Sara and Nick

Catherine invites Sara and Nick for pizza. Who else will show up? Expect little discussions about a crime, kittens, Nick's ordeal from last year, food (of course!) and relationships.

A/N: This is based loosely on what happened to me the past three months.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sara, Nick or any other CSI character. If I did own the show, the final scene from 'Way to Go' wouldn't exist. I only own my original characters and this story plot.

The Pizza Distraction

Catherine was standing in the waiting area of California Pizza Kitchen. She looked every few seconds to see if her lunch companions had arrived. It would be another two minutes until she saw Warrick walking towards the door and entered.

"Hey Catherine, I thought I was the first one here," Warrick smiled. "How long have you been waiting?"

"I was here about ten minutes," Catherine replied. "Looks like we have to wait for Nick and Sara."

"Did Sara meet with the surgeon?" he asked.

"No, she's going to meet with her this coming Thursday," she smiled. "She is kind of stressed out about it."

"I am sure that the doctor will take very good care of her," he said and he looked out the window to see Nick and Sara walking towards the door. "Catherine, I see them coming."

Nick opened the door and let Sara enter the restaurant first before he did. He saw Warrick and the two men did their famous handshake while Catherine and Sara laughed at them.

"Sara, how are you holding up?" Warrick asked.

"I am feeling a little better from the attack," Sara gave him a light smile. "I don't have much as pain as I did the other day."

"That's good to know," Warrick smiled. "Catherine, did you put your name down and the number of your party?"

"I did just before you arrived," Catherine replied. "We have a fifteen minute wait, but I have a feeling it will be sooner than that."

"I hope they seat us really soon," Nick protested. "I am starving!"

"Shut up, Nick," Sara chuckled. "You ate an entire stack of pancakes for breakfast after at our favorite diner shift ended."

"Hey, that doesn't mean I can't get hungry for pizza!" Nick whined.

"Willows, party of four, your table's ready," the hostess said as she took four menus. "Follow me, please."

The four CSIs followed the hostess to a table for four. Nick and Warrick each pulled out a chair for Sara and Catherine respectively. The two women took their seats and the men gently pushed the chairs slightly forward. Nick and Warrick sat themselves in the empty chairs. Almost instantly, they perused through the menu and agreed to share the Spinach and Artichoke Dip for an appetizer. Catherine ordered a Shrimp Scampi pizza. Warrick asked for a pizza with Roasted Garlic Chicken. It would be obvious that Nick would have his with Carne Asada. Sara decided upon the Wild Mushroom pizza on Honey Wheat crust. Catherine and Sara split a liter of San Pellegrino while Nick and Warrick each ordered an iced tea.

"Catherine, who do you think killed our victim?" Nick asked.

"I think his very young gold digging bimbo wife," Catherine said. "I think she has the makings of a black widow."

"No, it's has to be his two oldest children," Sara offered. "He cut them off without a cent and that's clearly a motive."

"I think it's his first wife," Warrick suggested. "She wanted to make him suffer for all that mental cruelty she endured while she was married to him and after the divorce."

"I doubt the first wife did it," Nick shook his head. "Vartann had her alibi checked and he confirmed that she wasn't anywhere near the crime scene. Her second husband and both stepdaughters were able to vouch for her."

Before anyone could get another opinion across, their waitress arrived with their beverages and told them that their appetizer will arrive in a few minutes.

"Why are we discussing the case?" Sara wanted to know after the waitress was out of earshot. "Shouldn't we talk about something completely different?"

"We don't want to you to get stressed out over your ovarian grievance," Nick responded in his concerned tone of voice. "Catherine invited us here to have fun and to eat good food. Of course, we don't have to discuss the case any further if you don't want to."

"Let's see what Hodges and the new DNA girl have to say," Sara sighed. "Still, I think it's either the oldest daughter and/or the oldest son. I respect your opinions, but let's wait until we know for sure. Nick and Warrick, don't even think about betting on this one."

"Sara, we hadn't bet on a case in nearly a year," Warrick said.

"Don't remind me!" Nick gasped. "That was before I was kidnapped and buried alive. Another thing, I don't think a coin toss doesn't qualify as a bet. I think the last time we bet on a case was before fucking Ecklie split the team."

"As much as I want to see two buddies have a friendly banter about betting on cases," Catherine smirked. "I don't think it would be a great idea to discuss anything case related at this time."

"Here is your Spinach and Artichoke Dip," the waitress said as she put the dish of the dip and chips in the middle of the table. "Enjoy."

"Thanks," the four CSIs said and their waitress disappeared.

"Sara, tell Catherine and Warrick about Sphinx and Nefertiti," Nick smiled after he had eaten a chip with the dip.

"Who are Sphinx and Nefertiti?" Warrick asked before he took his first chip and dipped it into the creamy dip.

"They are two kittens I gave Sara as Christmas presents," Nick beamed with pride. "Sphinx is a grey shorthair and Nefertiti is a longhair tortoiseshell. My brother and one of my sisters each had a cat that had kittens around the same time. I got Sphinx from my sister's cat and Nefertiti from my brother's. Sara and I went to Dallas to spend Christmas with my family and I surprised her with our little feline babies."

"Both kittens never cease to amaze us in how much trouble they get themselves into," Sara chuckled. "One time, Sphinx was asleep in our bed and Nefertiti wanted to lie on Nick's pillow. She already was on our bed when I saw her trying to get to the pillow. I thought she and Sphinx would have a kitten fight, but she leapt over her lazy companion and slept on the pillow."

"That was during our bedtime," Nick added. "By the time Sara and I were about to get to bed, Sphinx got off and went to who knows where. I almost crushed Nefertiti with my head. That tortoiseshell was lucky that she narrowly escaped. Other than their little shenanigans, they are sweet little kitties."

"You really can't get mad at them," Sara pointed out and got a look from Nick. "Well, even if you did, it wouldn't last long."

A few minutes after they finished their appetizers, the waitress took the dishes away and told them their pizzas were baking in the oven. It would be another few minutes when their food came and the aroma permeated their noses.

"If the smell of the food doesn't stimulate my appetite," Sara smirked. "I don't know what will."

"So that means you will kiss me after I finish eating my carne asada pizza," Nick chuckled and winced after Sara gave in a soft kick in the leg.

"No, but I will after will share a tiramisu," Sara smiled as she took her first bite of her pizza.

"I'll hold you to that, Sunshine," Nick beamed and cut a slice of his pizza.

"You know that you look so adorable together," Catherine observed after she swallowed a piece of the Shrimp Scampi pizza.

Warrick just smiled as he chewed on a bite of his pizza. He was glad that two of his friends were so much in love. He also knew that Nick would be good for Sara. They just complemented each other. When Nick was kidnapped, buried alive and his ordeal was on live feed, everyone in the Crime Lab was on edge. Warrick may have been a major guilt trip seeing the young man he considered a brother struggling in that box, but it was Sara that wasn't taking it really bad. He remembered seeing Nick's parents comfort Sara and vice versa and his heart broke for the three people.

"Warrick, are you staring into space?" Nick asked waving his hand in front of Warrick's face.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Warrick lied. "I was just thinking about last year."

"It looks like you are in outer space," Sara giggled. "Earth to Warrick, come in Warrick."

Leave it to a pizza distraction to keep Sara's mind off her predicament, Warrick thought.

"Sara, he's still here physically," Nick chuckled. "Mentally, that is another matter."

"You are so funny Nick," Warrick feigned being offended.

"Guys, grow up!" Catherine hissed.

"It's no wonder girls mature faster than boys," Sara whispered so only Catherine could hear her.

"What are talking about?" Warrick asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Bro," Nick chuckled. "I think I am going to have to tickle it out of Sara when we get home though."

"That is if she doesn't kill you first," Warrick lightly joked. "I wouldn't want to see Ecklie process the scene."

"I don't think she would do something like that," Nick countered.

"I just wanted to warn you in case she does," Warrick smiled.

They finished their pizzas and shared a few jokes about Ecklie and Hodges. Their waitress came by to take their empty plates and left to take them to be washed. She returned with their dessert order. Nick and Sara ordered a Tiramisu to share while Catherine and Warrick agreed to split a Chocolate Soufflé Cake a la mode. The waitress asked if they wanted coffee, but that was politely declined. Each couple offered to allow the other a small taste of their dessert. It would be another few minutes until she returned with their desserts.

"That chocolate soufflé cake is awesome," Nick smiled after savoring the small bite that Warrick and Catherine allowed him and Sara each to have. "Whenever Sara and I have this, we have it plain. Eating this with a little ice cream makes in a little richer and creamier."

"Warrick and I are happy that you and Sara enjoyed it," Catherine beamed. "By the way, your tiramisu was delicious."

"I have to eat my share of it before Nick eats it all up," Sara chuckled.

"You probably have to play tonsil hockey to get your share back if Nick devours the entire thing," Warrick teased.

"No, I would have ordered one to take home for her," Nick grinned. "Anyone, we are going to share a tiramisu and that's what we're going to do. I would never steal Sara's share of our tiramisu or any other dessert that we split."

As the desserts were being devoured, Warrick and Catherine just smirked at the other couple. They were amazed how crazy for Sara Nick was and Nick for Sara. Neither wanted to think about how close Sara was to losing Nick last year and the effects if he had died. Now, Sara's condition was in everyone's thoughts. What if the teratoma was a rare malignant one that they feared and Nick would have probably lost Sara forever? That was a thought none of them wanted to have and quickly blocked it out of their minds. Sara was going to be fine and no negative thinking was allowed ever.

When they finished, Catherine asked for the check. As soon as it came, Nick started to take out his wallet, but Catherine held out a hand to stop him. She invited him, Sara and Warrick, the lunch was her treat. Nick offered to give her cash for a tip, but she refused to take it. Catherine placed her credit card to be processed. The waitress took the card and bill. A few moments later, she returned with bill, card and transaction slip. Catherine added a generous tip, totaled the amount, signed the slip, put her credit card back in her purse and took her copy. The four CSIs got up from their chairs and started to leave the restaurant. The waitress approached them, they thanked her and Catherine gave her the restaurant's copy of the slip.

Once they left California Pizza Kitchen, they went to the nearest Starbucks for coffee or tea. This time, it was Nick's treat.

TBC