Ovarian Grievance

Pairing: Sara and Nick

Sara, Catherine and Lindsey go on a shopping spree. Jacqui joins them at the spa.

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

A/N2: I apologize for not updating sooner. I went away for a few days to Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ.

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.

Girls' Day Out

Lindsey dragged Catherine and Sara to The Body Shop. The teenager wanted to buy the latest fragrance the store had. She also wanted to let Sara get something for herself and Nick. Catherine wasn't too thrilled about being there, but that changed when she saw the fragrances that one could mix and match. She had always wanted something different for when she had her next date. After they made their purchases and paid for them, they left the store.

"She is indeed the sister of the Tasmanian Devil," Sara chuckled.

"We'd have a teenage tornado going around the mall," Catherine smirked. "Hey Lindsey, slow down and let Sara and I catch up!"

Catherine and Sara finally caught up with Lindsey and they continued to walk at a leisurely pace. They weren't sure where to go next, but the allure of a Starbucks within walking distance was too hard to resist.

"Catherine, Lindsey, it will be my treat," Sara smiled. "I have my Starbucks card."

"Is it yours or did Nick lend you his?" Catherine asked.

"It's mine," Sara replied. "I have the one with a Christmas theme. Nick's has a map and toucan on it."

"Let me guess," Lindsey couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Did Nick give you that a Christmas present?"

"Christmas of 2004, to be exact," Sara said as the two women and teenaged girl entered the coffee place.

"Welcome to Starbucks," a female barista beamed. "What can I get started for you ladies?"

"I'd like a tall hot mocha with whipped cream," Catherine said.

"What is your name?" the barista marked the cup.

"It's Catherine," Catherine responded.

"I'll have a tall green tea frappuccino," Lindsey added. "The name's Lindsey with an E, not with an A."

"They are with me," Sara smirked. "I'll have a tall chai with organic milk. My name is Sara without the H."

"Would you ladies care for a pastry or a cookie?" the barista asked.

"No, thank you," Lindsey, Sara and Catherine replied.

"Your drinks will be at the pick up counter," the barista grinned after Sara paid with her card.

They found a table and sat down waiting for their drinks. Catherine looked at Sara and noticed the younger woman had a puzzled look on her face.

"Sara, are you in pain?" Catherine asked with great concern. "Do we have to take you to Desert Palm Hospital? I'll call Nick and tell him to meet us there."

"Catherine, I am fine," Sara reassured her friend/colleague. "Nick's parents are coming three days before my surgery. I want to get them both a gift, but I haven't a clue on what to get them."

"You could get his mother a nice scarf or a book," Lindsey suggested. "For his dad, maybe you could get another book or some sort of gadget they sell at Sharper Image."

"I got a tall hot mocha with whip for Catherine, a tall green tea frappuccino for Lindsey and a tall hot chai for Sara!" the barista shouted.

"I'll get them," Lindsey volunteered. "You need to talk shop for a while."

"Ignore her second statement," Catherine chuckled. "I have my own idea on what you should get them."

"I'm open to any ideas," Sara sighed.

"You can still get one thing for his mother and one thing for his father," Catherine said. "It would also be a good idea to get them travel essays about California and Massachusetts. They know Texas, but I don't think they know much about the states that their future daughter-in-law was born, raised and went to college in."

"If I get them one book about California and one about Massachusetts," Sara's voice was conveying enthusiasm. "They could switch for the other. Thank you so much!"

"Here are your drinks," Lindsey smiled and sat down on her seat.

The three of them savored their drinks and paused to converse. Lindsey sipped her frappuccino so she wouldn't get that dreaded headache known as brain freeze. They talked about school and life outside of work. Sara asked Lindsey if she would like to be one of her bridesmaids at her wedding. The teenager happily agreed. There was joking about Ecklie and Hodges as well as some punk kid at Lindsey's school that she and her friends thought was a total loser. There wasn't any further mention about Sara's upcoming surgery while the three were drinking. When they finished, they threw out their cups, keeping only the sleeves for recycling. Catherine, Sara and Lindsey left Starbucks and started to walk around the mall.

"There's a Borders about a couple stores away," Catherine said.

"I want to get a Chocoholics Mystery novel," Lindsey beamed. "My friend Alexis told my about that series and she thought it's deliciously awesome."

Sara immediately thought about the travel essays about California and Massachusetts she wanted to get for Bill and Jillian Stokes. She also decided to get a book about birds for Nick.

"We shouldn't spend a lot of time there," Sara looked at her watch. "We still have about another hour and a half left until we have to meet Jacqui at that spa for pampering."

"I agree," Catherine smiled. "Let's go buy what we want and meet outside in about half an hour."

"Mom, why can't we spend an hour here?" Lindsey asked with a teenage style whine in her voice.

"Sara might want to get her future in-laws another present," Catherine calmly explained. "Also, you need to get a nice dress to wear for your friend Lisa's birthday party."

"Oh, I forgot about her birthday party," Lindsey looked slightly bewildered. "I should get a CD or a book for her."

The three split up to browse and select books and/or CDs. Sara found books on both California and Massachusetts that she thought both Bill and Jillian would love. She had also selected the newest book about birds for Nick. Lindsey had gotten a mystery novel for herself and a hard rock CD for Lisa. Catherine bought a CD for Warrick and a book on insects for Grissom as well as a romance novel for herself. The three of them made the line, but they weren't together. Sara was the first one to pay for her items, followed by Lindsey and finally Catherine. They met outside the store in less than half an hour.

"Nick's parents are going to love the books you picked out for them, Sara," Catherine beamed. "Who's the book about birds for?"

"That's for Nick," Sara grinned. "I wanted to get him something and he loves to look at birds."

"I bought Warrick a CD of his favorite artist and Grissom a book about his expertise – bugs," Catherine smirked. "I also bought myself a romance novel."

"Catherine, I've never thought of you as a fan of romance novels," Sara looked at Catherine in a funny way.

"I love reading mysteries," Catherine calmly defended herself. "Sometimes, I need an escape from anything related to our work."

"I know what you mean," Sara chuckled. "Nick sometimes reminds me not to read my forensics journals everyday. He would plop down a humor book or a picture book on cats in front of me. He tells me when we are at home not to think about work too much."

The two women laughed, but that was disrupted by the teenager loudly clearing her throat.

"I wanted to show you the book I bought for myself and the CD for Lisa," Lindsey said.

"Lisa will love that CD you picked out for her," Catherine smiled. "And you are going to read that book after you finished your homework."

Lindsey nodded and when her mother had her back turned, she rolled up her eyes. Sara noticed and gave Lindsey a look telling her that her mother means well. The teenager relented and behaved herself. They walked to a department store where Sara went one way and Catherine and Lindsey went another. Sara bought a purple, blue and fuchsia paisley print silk scarf for Jillian. When she saw a simple looking, yet elegant tie clip in a display case, she forgot about getting Bill something from Sharper Image and bought that for him instead. Meanwhile, Lindsey struggled to get a nice party dressed that she and her mother could agree upon. What seemed to be an eternity was actually 'an 11th hour' decision – Lindsey found a blue floral print dress that she and Catherine both thought was tasteful and appropriate. Catherine paid for the dress and she and Lindsey left to meet a slightly impatient Sara. The final store the visited was a card store where they bought gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons and cards for the presents.

Two Hours Later

Sara, Catherine, Lindsey and Jacqui had just finished a light vegetarian lunch at the spa's café. They were slowing sipping a tea made with calming herbs. This was the first part in a mini day spa package that Lindsey arranged.

"Thank you for inviting me to this spa get together," Jacqui said. "Sara, you are going to be fine. A daughter of a friend went through a similar experience four years ago and it was benign. She went on to have twins – a boy and a girl. Right now, she is expecting twin girls."

"Jacqui, I am still a little scared about the surgery," Sara sighed.

"It's okay to be a little afraid," Catherine added. "Nick will take care of you and so will his parents. I am pretty sure that Nick will spoil you rotten as he always does."

Catherine's statement about Nick spoiling Sara got a laugh from both Jacqui and Lindsey. Sara smirked and blushed at the same time. It wasn't until four aestheticians came to bring the bathrobe clad Jacqui, Sara, Catherine and Lindsey to separate areas of the spa for aromatheraputic baths and one hour long massages. The pampering ended with the four of them getting facials according to skin type. They each drank some water to prevent their muscles from getting sore.

Another hour later, they left to go to home, but not before Sara and Jacqui thanked Catherine and Lindsey for the spa day. Sara also thanked the Willows for the shopping spree and that she would see Catherine at tomorrow's shift.

Nick and Sara's Place

"Sara, you have no idea how much I wanted to get this book," Nick smiled when he saw what Sara got for him.

"Nicky, I am glad you like it," Sara smirked. "Do you want to see what I bought for your parents?"

"Sure," he beamed. "If you bought gift bags or boxes and wrapping paper, I'll help you package the gifts."

"I'll be right back," she said and returned with three shopping bags.

"Mom and dad will love reading about California and Massachusetts in these travel essays," he smiled. "She will love this beautiful scarf and he'll love the tie clip."

"I'm glad you approve," she winked at him. "Here are the gift bags and tissue paper. I have ribbons if you want to use them."

"Let's just put the gifts together," he grinned. "I forgot to ask you about the shopping spree and the afternoon in the spa."

"It was relaxing and fun," she beamed. "I should have these Girls' Day Outs more often."

"You really should," he agreed.

Nick and Sara put together the gift bags. They placed the travel essay about Massachusetts and the scarf in the pink strip gift bag. In the blue striped one, they put the California book and the tie clip. Sara put a few sheets of the tissue paper in each bag and fluffed them up a bit. Nick decided against putting some ribbons on the bags, but allowed Sara to tape the envelops containing the cards to the appropriate bag. Sara put the presents on the top shelf of the closet for safekeeping and to prevent the curious paws of Sphinx and Nefertiti from touching the gifts.

Another half hour later, Nick and Sara were lying in bed taking a nap.

TBC