"Hey!" Sara answered merrily to the phone and walked to the side of the coffee shop to get more privacy. "This is a nice surprise…" It certainly was. Grissom has neither called nor contacted her in any way ever since he went away for the sabbatical. He had explained to her that he might not be able to, so she expected that he truly wouldn't.

"Is it a bad time?" She could imagine his eyes squinting and his lips pursing as he asked the question.

She glanced through the glass door of the shop and saw Nick still ordering at the counter. "No… Nick and I are just taking out some coffee then we're heading to the lab." Normally, they'd sit a while and finish the drinks in there, but today they were running late so they're went for the take out option. "What's up? How's the ah… academics?"

"Interesting," came his short reply. "I thought you liked tea?"

Sara thought about the last time she drank tea, which happened to be months ago. She realized that the only time she took tea was whenever Grissom served her some. As for coffee, she'd take that any time of the day. "Depends on my mood, really." She leaned against the wall near one of the kiosks and smiled up at Nick as he walked through the door. "Grissom," she mouthed to him and pointed at the phone. He checked the time on his watch and then nodded to her letting her know they could stay a bit. "So… any particular reason why you're calling me?" She turned back to the phone smiling.

"I just wanted to let you know I'd be back soon, and that I'd really want to talk to you afterwards."

"Sure…" He didn't have to say he missed her; she knew he does. She missed him as well but she wasn't going to say it in front of Nick. Actually, they're not really the vocal type of couple so she wasn't going to say it even if she was alone. "I guess I'll see you then…" She waited a bit for him to say something else. "…bye." It wasn't much; they only spent like two minutes talking while he's been away for weeks, but she was okay with it. She taught herself to not expect much to save herself the disappointment, and so far the strategy is working fine with her.

She looked across at Nick and smiled. Yes, she's doing just fine.

ooo

Nick watched her saunter towards him and couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked with the new curls and how her smile always lights up her entire face. He'd seen her almost everyday for the past six years but every time he looks at her he still discovers something new, either about her or himself. Like this moment for instance, he just realized that he'd give anything to be the actual reason for that smile, and not the phone call that came miles away.

"How's Grissom?" He pushed against the wall and handed her drink. The question he'd rather ask was, "How are you doing without Grissom?"

"He sounded fine…" Sara took a sip from her drink and then smiled in approval. "You didn't forget the cinnamon. Thank you!" she said a little too enthusiastically.

Nick laughed a bit and raised his cup to her. "No problem… besides, you'd have my head if I forgot about it." Just like she'd have his head if he forgot salt for her fries, or that she hated pineapple on her pizza.

They stopped by her car and Sara leaned against the door, turning around to glare at him no less. "Nah… I wouldn't wanna be stuck with all your cases..."

"I get it… now you're just stuck with me." Resting his side on the car as well, he took a look around before turning to her. The moon was up, and like the graveyard shifters that they were, they were having coffee in the middle of the night. "Wanna be stuck with me tomorrow night, same time same place?"

She laughed, and he could swear there was a bit of blush on her cheeks. "Yeah I'd like that." She took another sip and then looked at him thoughtfully. "You know what would be better? Food… along with the coffee."

"Are you asking me out?" He grinned cockily and then leaned closer, teasing her to see how she would react, and because it's fun seeing her blush. At least he was having some effect on her.

She rolled her eyes acting coolly, but her cheeks betrayed her by turning even redder. "Whatever, Stokes. You're the one calling me all the time."

"Aha… I only called twice, and if I remember correctly you were the one who called me earlier. Geez Sidle, you're on a roll," he said smiling, enjoying the whole encounter nonetheless. A moment of silence passed by with them gazing at each other, both wondering what the other exactly meant. He could sense that she was starting to get uncomfortable so he decided to back down. "Alright, we meet two hours earlier and I'm picking you up." Not giving her chance to protest, he stepped back and went to the direction of his truck. It happened so fast even he didn't have time to process completely. After years of stalling he finally managed to ask her out.

ooo

Sara glanced at the door expecting Nick to knock on it any minute. She stared at it for a couple more seconds, and when the knock didn't come she turned away and busied herself by fixing the magazines scattered on the kitchen counter. The more she waited the more anxious she became. She told herself that she has eaten with him a million times before, and this shouldn't be any different. It certainly didn't feel like any other meal; it's more of like a date if she was honest to herself, which was preposterous since they were just friends and she has a boyfriend. "…who is miles away right now," she muttered to herself.

She wore one of her dressier blouses, and then topped it with a jacket so it wouldn't seem like she's trying too hard. If he dressed down and acted like it was plain dinner and nothing else, then she could just zip the jacket up and no one would have to see the slight cleavage revealed by the low neckline. She groaned, realizing how crazy she was acting. He's just a friend, simple as that.

Wearing a skirt would be totally out of the question.

Finally, the doorbell rang. Going to the door she took a deep breath and then opened it white. "That's a dress shirt… dark blue pinstripe…" her voice trails off as her mind processed the devil she was seeing. This is turning out to more of a date than a non-date. Getting her wits about, she closed the door behind her and then cleared her throat. "It's kinda hot out…" Taking her jacket off, she avoided his eyes but could sense him checking her out.

"Yeah it is…" His voice was thick, as if he too could feel the tension in the air. Rushing before her he reached for the car's door handle, but unfortunately his foot slipped sending him toppling on face forward on the car's body. "Ow!"

Sara kept a straight face for a brief second and then doubled over laughing out loud, not able to keep it in. "Are you… are you okay?" she asked sincerely, but betrayed herself when another fit of giggles came over her.

"Aside from making a fool out of myself… I'm perfectly fine." Nick watched her laugh her ass off and couldn't help but laugh as well. "You're taking too much enjoyment out of this."

Sara managed to compose herself, straightened up and rested her back against the car facing him. "Sorry," she said, sporting a huge smile on her face. He was smiling as well and for while they just looked at each other, grinning like fools. Then both of their smiles faded, and Sara held her breath as he leaned just a tad bit closer.

She had closed her eyes just before she felt his lips brush against hers. It was unexpected, but also not so much. His hand cradled the side of her neck and she opened her mouth kissing him back. It must have only been a few seconds but it felt like time stilled for just a moment. They pulled back at the same instant; both realizing that what was happening wasn't supposed to be happening, at all.

It was she who found her voice first. "I forgot… I have this thing I gotta do… tonight." Slipping past him she strode back to her front door, eager to get away from everything. Getting in she closed the door behind her quietly, not certain whether she wanted him to knock on the door this time.

Again, thanks so much to those who have been reading and reviewing:)