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Chapter 4

When they returned to the crime lab about an hour later, they agreed to divide and conquer. Nick headed straight for Mandy to hand over the few fingerprints they had managed to find inside the house, whilst Cal and Sara went to see Doc Robbins in the morgue. When Nick had agreed to splitting up in the hopes of getting the best results he'd hoped that he would have been spending some time with Sara, the person he had been assigned to work the case with. It had initially bothered him but he liked to consider himself a professional so tried to push all thoughts of Sara and the other guy to the back of his mind. They were all on the same team and all wanted the same thing so nothing else should have mattered.

A short while later they regrouped to discuss any theories and leads they had come up with. As it turned out they had found a very strong lead. Running with Sara's idea that the latest victim had been the intended target Cal had struck lucky. The victims' grandson had been in and out of prison from a young age and had gang affiliations. Cal put two and two together and figured they should talk to him.

"Brass is tracking him down as we speak," Cal stated.

Just then Warrick poked his head round the door. "Um... sorry... sorry to interrupt but Nick, can you spare an hour or so?"

Nick raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking at him incredulously. What a time interrupt. "Uh... sorry, man, but we're kinda busy here..."

"No, Nick, if you're needed you should go," Cal insisted. "I'm sure Sara and I have it covered."

"Yeah, go on. We'll call you if we find out anything," Sara encouraged.

Nick grit his teeth. "Uh... yeah, sure. I'll give you a hand."

He could feel his blood practically start to boil inside him. Who did this guy think he was telling him what to do? But Nick took a deep breath and somehow managed to smile politely before following Warrick out the room.

They met up with Greg in the layout room across the hall, Nick still trying to diffuse his anger.

"Right, so, basically we've hit a dead end," Greg began explaining. "And we needed some fresh eyes on this. Grissom is heading to a meeting and Catherine, well, I think she's chasing up some leads on her case, at least I think that's what she yelled at me down the phone. They're obviously busy so then we thought of you..."

"Jee, thanks," Nick mocked enthusiasm as he narrowed his eyes at him.

Before Greg could say anything else Warrick stepped in. "So we were thinking that with your help we can maybe get somewhere, starting by re-examining the evidence."

Nick simply shrugged before reluctantly pulling on some latex gloves.

He knew he should have been focusing on the evidence that lay in front of him but that was so hard to do when all he was thinking about was Sara. Every so often he'd lift his head up to see her. The third time he did a scowl unconsciously took over his face. Right in front of him, in the middle of the entire lab and in front of the whole staff, Sara and Cal were flirting. Nick suddenly felt himself become very defensive and protective of Sara as he stared across the hall, completely neglecting his work. He had taken an instant disliking to this guy, Cal, from the moment he introduced himself. There was just something about him that didn't sit right with Nick. And he liked to think of himself as a fairly good judge of character.

Who did he think he was trampling all over him and his feelings, and the case too. Nick had been assigned to work the case with Sara, it was supposed to just be the two of them until this hot shot showed up. Sure the day shift had had some similar incidences but their shift had ended hours ago and it was time for the graveyard shift to take over, the proper scientists to take charge. The graveyard shift wasn't for the fainthearted; you had to have a tough stomach and thick skin to survive convicting the worst the city had to offer. And then this cocky piece of work shows up, doomed to fail at what proper CSIs do. Nick had never really liked other people invading his work but this guy was in a class of his own. And to make things even worse, he was all over Sara like a rash. Who does that? Who comes to help solve a crime and instead spends his whole time flirting like his life depends on it? Because of this guy Nick almost wished he hadn't come back to work yet. He scowled upon seeing Sara start to giggle, presumingly at something Cal had said that was obviously so hilariously funny. Nobody is ever that funny.

I saw her first, he thought. And now that douchebag is coming over here and stealing my thunder… nuh uh, not gonna happen.

Cal hadn't seen the way Sara would look at Nick. He could try his best, use all his foolproof pick up lines, but nothing would work on Sara. At least, Nick hoped not.

He had started to over-think things, read into everything she did. He often saw more there than actually existed, his mind often taking over and seeing things that just weren't there. Sara would smile at him, for example, and it was probably an innocent friendly smile to everyone else but to Nick it was a smile that said 'I like you too' or 'let's see where this goes' and his heart rate would hit the roof. Sure, it didn't happen all the time but it happened often enough to confuse him. Was he even imagining it? Was she actually looking at him affectionately? Or was it him just wishful thinking? He hated to admit it but it was properly the latter.

To Nick, it was obvious. He'd done everything but say it out loud, which was evidently the issue. His feelings were simple and clear. He liked Sara, a lot. And that wasn't about to change anytime soon. Hell, it hadn't since the day he first met her so why was it about to change now? It had almost become a part of him, his affection for her, and he wouldn't have changed that for anything. But were his feelings obvious to Sara? That was what mattered most of all. He had practically confessed his love for her on many occasions without ever saying a word. It was always in a look - a sideways glance when she was buried underneath a mountain of work, perhaps a subtle look back as he left for home - or in something he'd say, a polite comment or a simple gesture. It was really that simple. Yet did Sara ever notice? Just once, did she ever wonder if she was imagining things or did she ever get butterflies in her stomach when she spoke to him? But Nick didn't know if he wanted her to be aware of his feelings yet, if at all. He didn't know much of anything at that moment in time. Just when he would make up his mind another negative thought would cast doubt over everything and he'd be right back where he started.

But what if she actually felt the same way for him? What then? What did that mean for them?

Just then Sara looked up and caught his gaze. Nick tried his best to act natural and a huge smile took over her face. He smiled back as his heart practically melted inside his chest.

"You're staring again," Greg announced.

"I am not," Nick replied, too quickly and too defensively for Greg's liking whilst trying to find a spot of the wall to focus on.

"You don't even realise you're doing it, do you?" Warrick asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know, Nick, if I didn't know any better I would say you were jealous," Greg insisted, looking downwards to hide his obvious smile.

"Good thing you know better then, huh?"

"No, I don't think I do. I think you are jealous," Greg continued.

"Well, I think you're wrong," Nick countered.

"You couldn't be more jealous if you tried," added Warrick.

"Who asked you?" Nick exclaimed.

"Just admit it. You're jealous of him. You wish you had her all to yourself," Greg teased.

"Stop it, Greg," Nick insisted sternly.

"Don't worry, you're secret is safe with us. We know what's going on with you," Greg beamed with self-confidence.

"You do?" Nick gulped.

"Yeah," Greg insisted, making it sound as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I've known all along."

Warrick gave him a look.

"Okay, well, Warrick told me and then I knew. But it's been a while since then," he defended himself.

"We know the truth so don't even start denying it," Warrick insisted, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. We know you like her," Greg teased, waggling his eyebrows.

"I don't...," Nick tried to argue, in shock as to how or why they were having this conversation.

"Nick, you can't stop yourself from smiling every time someone even so much as says her name," Greg raised an eyebrow.

"I can so...," he insisted half-heartedly, rather similar to a small child.

"Sara," Greg announced, already smirking.

As predicted seconds later Nick's face lit up with his famous thousand watt smile and he continued to smile uncontrollably for the next few moments.

"Told you so," Greg teased.

"It's not just that, Greg, have you seen his face whenever she walks into a room? It's priceless," Warrick added. "She makes him go all mushy inside."

"Would you two stop it?" Nick snapped, blushing because he knew they were right.

"Aw, Greggo, I think Nicky's in denial," Warrick smirked.

"I am not," Nick insisted. "I know what I want I just..."

"Don't know how to tell her?" Warrick guessed, casting a sincere smile in his direction.

"Yeah, maybe...," Nick shrugged, lowering his head.

"Or are you just chicken?" Greg wondered, mischief in his eyes.

"What? You don't know what you're talking about...," Nick started.

"Sure I do. You have the hots for Sara but you're too scared to tell her," Greg replied, seeming very pleased with himself.

"That's not true," Nick shook his head.

"Which part?" Greg smirked.

"I'm not scared to tell her," Nick continued. "I just... I just don't know how to. How am I suppose to tell her that after all these years I've felt differently about her?"

"Seems like you did pretty well just then," Warrick answered.

"But that was to you guys, you don't count. Neither of you are Sara. You know the truth, she won't," he insisted, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"What? Why?" exclaimed Greg.

"Nick, you can't do this. You have to tell her," Warrick added.

"And ruin everything? I can't. She'll hate me," Nick sounded utterly dejected.

"She could never hate you," Warrick shook his head. "You just need to be honest with her and tell her how you really feel."

Nick was fighting and losing battle, both with himself and his friends. But he had every reason to be defensive about his feelings. It was different talking to Warrick and Greg about this sensitive subject; saying it out loud in front of them made it all the more real, which scared Nick even more. His dad was an outsider of sorts, and while he was obviously biased towards his son he could still be objective. Warrick and Greg could not.

"You are chicken, aren't you?" Greg smirked. "That's why you won't say anything, because you're scared."

"Well, yeah, I'm scared that she'll say no. Why else do you think I don't wanna say anything?" Nick questioned sarcastically.

"That's an excuse and you know it," Greg insisted. "It's just a matter of time before some lucky bugger comes along and snatches her up and then you'll be sorry. I for one have better things to do with my time than be your shoulder to cry on when she's with someone else."

"Come on, man. You know I hate to say it but Greg's right," Warrick jumped in. "We all know you'll regret it if you don't tell her the truth. If this was any other woman..."

"That's the point, Rick," Nick interrupted. "This isn't any other woman. This is Sara. And if I say anything she could turn me down, which of course she has a right to but it could ruin everything. It could make working together awkward and that's just not fair."

"Nick, she wouldn't turn you down," Warrick insisted, rolling his eyes as if it were the most obvious thing in the whole entire world. "There's been something there between you two for years now. One of you just has to make the first move."

"I'm just waiting for the right time, actually," Nick maintained.

"Somehow I don't believe you," Warrick raised an eyebrow.

"We are not having this conversation," Nick argued and tried to leave the room but Greg stopped him.

"Just admit it, Nick. You wouldn't ask her out if your life depended on it."

"Well, it doesn't so I'm not going to," Nick gave him a look. "Can we stop talking about this now?"

"I bet you a hundred bucks that you won't have told Sara about your feelings by this time next week," Greg announced, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What? Are you crazy? I'm not betting with you over this," Nick insisted.

"So are you admitting that you're too scared to ask her out? Is this you're way of giving up?" Greg raised a questioning eyebrow. "I never would have penned you as a quitter."

"No one's quitting anything," Nick stated, glaring at Greg. "A hundred bucks?"

"That's right," he nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "And you have to tell Sara that you're madly in love with her within a week else I win. Seems a fair deal to me."

"Nick, come on, man. You're not seriously thinking about betting on this are you? How old are you two? We're not in high school anymore. You can't do this, you can't treat Sara like this," Warrick interjected.

"Like what? We're not doing her any harm. What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?" Greg shrugged off his comments before addressing Nick again. "So what do you say lover boy, are you in?"

"I'm in."

Almost as he replied Nick's pager bleeped. It was Sara wanting to inform him on a potential new line of enquiry. Nick took the opportunity to leave the room.

"I'll catch up with you later so we can work this out," he insisted before he left.

Instantly Warrick's glaring eyes descended on Greg.

"What? Don't look at me like that," Greg frowned.

"Look at you like what?" Warrick shrugged, feigning innocence. "Like you're stupid?"

"What...?"

"Don't what me, Greg, you know what. What the hell do think you were doing betting with him over Sara?" Warrick asked, scowling.

"Relax, man. Everything will work out in the end," Greg maintained, looking pleased with himself.

"How exactly did you work that one out, genius?" Warrick continued to glare at him, not at all impressed with his antics.

"See, it's all part of my master plan," Greg grinned triumphantly. "I've got it all worked out. Operation-get-Nick-and-Sara-together-at-last."

"I want no part in this," Warrick insisted. "When this goes and backfires in your face, which it will, I just wanted to make that clear."

"Fine, but when I'm best man at their wedding...," he teased.

"Get a grip, Greg. It's going to take a lot more than some stupid bet to get them two together."

The end of shift couldn't have come soon enough for some of the night shift members. Though it wasn't really the end of their shift; it was closer to the end of the day shift by the time they could leave.

"Hello Miss Sidle," Greg looked up from his locker.

"Hi, Greg," Sara smiled weakly, trying to contain a yawn.

"Ready to go home?" Greg asked, already knowing the answer.

"More than ready."

A sudden thought came to Greg's mind and he spoke up before Sara had the chance to walk away. "Guess who I just saw walking out of here and looking dead on his feet? Cal."

"And?" Sara asked.

"And... I was wondering how your case had gone?" Greg asked, acting casual. "You know, professional curiosity."

"Yeah, right," she replied dryly, rolling her eyes. "But in case you are interested we solved it. The old woman was killed by her grandson who was addicted to painkillers, her painkillers, and she caught him stealing so threatened to go to the police to hopefully straighten him out once and for all but he killed her. So it had nothing to do with the other murders after all."

"Nice work," Greg commented. "But I bet you didn't mind working with Cal anyway."

"No, I suppose not," Sara admitted. "He's a professional. And hard working, and he's very good at what he does."

"Full of praise for him... he must be good," Greg smirked. "So do you think you'll see him again?"

"I doubt it. Why would I? We work different shifts," she answered honestly.

"What about after work?" Greg continued to smirk.

"What are you getting at, Greg?" she narrowed her eyes at him slightly.

"Just you two seemed to be getting on rather well...," he left his comments hanging in the air.

Sara cleared her throat slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Sure you do, Sara," Greg insisted playfully. "You and Cal were flirting like it was going out of fashion."

"What's your point? It was just innocent flirting," Sara protested. "I was being friendly. And I gave as good as I got. It was nothing."

"Did he see it that way?"

"Of course he did," Sara exclaimed. "It was just banter. Everyone likes to feel special every now and then, you know."

"So is that the same for you and Nick?" Greg wondered, finding a way to direct the conversation.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Greg," Sara stated, ignoring his question but failing to stop herself from smirking as she exited the room.

Thank you for reading. Things are going to get interesting in the next chapter. Please review.