Sara opened the door and smiled.
Nick was holding a cup of vegetable soup, his other arm behind his back, and when she took the cup, his arm stretched out a huge bouquet of flowers.
Nick peeked his head out from behind them.
"Feelin' better yet?"
Sara nodded. She was blushing, this time.
She took the flowers and Nick came inside, kissing her on the cheek as he walked by.
She closed the door, still smelling the flowers, but stopped when she noticed Nick looking at her from head to foot and then back.
"What?"
"Just seein' if you were dressed for a trip."
"A trip?"
Nick nodded.
"A trip to where?"
"It's a surprise."
Sara raised an eyebrow.
"When?"
"Right now."
"Right now?"
He nodded again.
"I'm not ready."
Nick walked to her, took the bouquet from her and sat it down on the counter, took the cup of soup, opened it, and put it into the microwave. He pushed the timer and hit start and then kissed her.
"I'll wait."
"You're serious?"
He looked at her and smiled.
Sara took her sunglasses off and looked around.
"Nick?"
He closed the hatch. "Yeah?"
"There are horses here."
He laughed. "Yeah."
"I've never ridden a horse." She walked to him. "Ever."
He put a duffle bag over his shoulder and took her hand.
"It's easy. C'mon."
Sara pulled her hair into a ponytail and stood in front of the air conditioner. The place looked like something she'd seen out of a western a long time ago, complete with bullhorns adorning the wood-planked walls.
"Billy's got two horses ready to go for ya."
Nick thanked the man and walked back to Sara, and she stared at him.
He walked in the place Nick Stokes, Las Vegas CSI, and came out Hillbilly Bob, Cowboy Extraordinaire.
She grinned, eyed his cowboy boots, chaps, and ten-gallon hat, and Nick put his arms out.
"Whattaya think?"
Sara sniggered.
"Yee-haw."
"Hey Nick, long time."
Nick shook the man's hand.
"Billy, this is Sara Sidle."
Sara nodded.
"Ma'am."
"So you'll be ridin' Storm, Nick, and the little lady gets Star."
Sara glanced away and grinned. Little lady.
"Now he's real gentle. Even a baby could ride him."
Nick thanked the man and handed Sara a pair of riding gloves and then climbed over the fence. He picked up the saddle and put it on Storm.
"So this was the surprise?" Sara asked, pulling the gloves on.
Nick tightened the girth straps and glanced at her, squinting in the sunlight.
"You'll like it, I promise."
He held his hand out and Sara took it and climbed over the fence. Nick put his hands on her waist and helped her down. He put the saddle on Star and showed Sara how to fasten the buckles. She knelt down and began fastening them and Star neighed, and Sara jumped back.
Nick laughed and patted the horse.
He double checked the straps and buckles and held the reigns.
"Okay, now get on."
Sara looked at him.
"Put your foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up using the pommel."
"The what?"
"The little knob on the saddle."
"Oh."
She put her foot in the stirrup and tried pulling herself up and Star took a step and Sara hopped back down and scoffed. She glanced at Nick.
"Swing your leg over the saddle once you're up high enough."
"When I get high enough he moves."
Nick laughed and walked to her. He crossed his arms and Sara tried again.
When she pulled herself up Nick put his hands on her bottom and pushed her up the rest of the way. She swung her leg over the horse and landed in the saddle, smirking at him.
"You're pitiful."
Nick shrugged and handed her the reigns.
"Keep him at a slow walk for now."
He climbed atop Storm with ease and Sara watched him as he tugged on the reigns and the horse turned around.
"Give him a little nudge."
Sara tugged on the reigns and Star stood still.
"Come on. Go. Go, horse!"
Nick chuckled and rested his gloved hands over the pommel, watching her.
"Go Star!"
She sighed and looked at Nick.
"Use the stirrups. Give him a little nudge with the heel of your foot."
Sara nudged the horse and Star took off trotting, and she tightened her grip on the reigns.
Nick laughed and nudged Storm, who trotted up to Star.
Sara's knuckles were white and her hands were already sweating.
Nick leaned over the side of the horse and plucked a piece of dried oat grass and put it in his mouth.
He chewed on it and eyed Sara.
"You haven't seen a naked lady riding bareback have ya?" he said, tipping his cowboy hat up, and Sara laughed.
They kept the horses at a steady walk the whole ride.
Nick had pointed out almost everything to her.
"I love it out here. You can't smell the city."
Sara sighed. "Yeah, the air is good."
She shifted in the saddle.
"Let's head back. I wanna take you out on Storm here and show you what it's really like to ride before your butt goes numb."
Billy met them at the fence and Sara hopped off Star and handed him the reigns.
Sara rubbed her bottom and Nick laughed and took her hand. He pulled her up onto his saddle with him.
"I'm gonna show her how the cowboys ride," he grinned, and Billy laughed.
He nudged Storm and held the reigns and the animal broke into a gallop, knocking Sara back against Nick's chest. He moved his head out of Sara's falling ponytail to see as Storm galloped for all he was worth.
"H'ya!" Nick called, flicking the reigns, and Sara's fingers dug into his chap covered thighs. She yelled, "Yee-haw!" and Nick laughed. He held the reigns with one hand and wrapped his free arm around Sara's waist, taking the opportunity to hold her tight against him, and Sara closed her eyes.
She felt the wind all around her and listened to Storm's hooves pounding into the ground as he galloped, the vibrations coursing from the animal to she and Nick, and she opened her eyes.
She felt free.
It was dusk when they got back to the corral.
Sara sat down easy into the passenger seat and Nick chuckled.
"Sore now?"
Sara nodded and took a breath.
"Aren't you?"
Nick pulled out of the ranch. "Used to it." He paused. "I have buns of steel."
Sara laughed.
Nick chewed his French fry and took a sip of soda when his cell rang. He wiped his hands off and answered.
"Stokes."
Sara looked at him.
"Uh-huh."
He sighed.
"Yeah, gimme about half an hour?" He paused. "I'm right outside city limits."
He nodded and slapped the phone shut, took out his wallet.
"That was Grissom. He wants everyone in early."
Sara frowned and her cell phone rang.
"I'm on my way." She answered quickly and closed the phone, and Nick looked at her.
"You still mad at him?"
Sara scoffed.
She stood up. "I have to go get changed."
Nick checked his watch.
Greg ran into the locker room carrying boxes of Thera Flu and Kleenexes.
"Hey Sara. Still sick?"
She shook her head and smiled. "No, Dr. Sanders, but thank you."
Greg smiled.
"You know what they say about taking two and calling me in the morning…"
Nick looked at him.
"Nevermind."
Greg walked out of the locker room and Sara shook her head. "Who else knows?"
"Probably everyone."
Sara closed her locker and turned to leave.
"Hey Sar, hang on a sec."
She turned around and Nick pulled the strand of oat grass from her hair.
They walked down the hall together and Nick noticed that Sara was walking easy.
"Y'okay?"
"My ass still hurts."
Nick chuckled. "Yeah, it will for a day or so."
Warrick joined them.
"What was that about your ass, Sara?"
She glared at him and he laughed.
"Hey."
The group turned.
"Everyone in my office, now."