A/N: Wow thanks so much for the reviews, it really means a lot to me. It's my first CSI story and I was really nervous about posting it.
Also, from now on in this story there's gonna be flashbacks and they'll be signaled by .
Anyways, on with the story..
"Perfect"
By GreggosQueen
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of the characters.
Chap. 2
Nick watched as Sara hurried out of the breakroom,
Well that was a disaster.
Then again Sara's behavior didn't really surprise him, she'd been avoiding him for weeks now. They hadn't worked a case together since the break-up, and everyone seemed to understand that it was just too hard for them to be around each other.
For Sara, being around Nick reminded her of the life they would never have together.
Being around Sara, Nick thought about the good and the bad of their relationship. He remembered a time when he and Sara were crazy about each other. Granted, it hadn't happened right away. Nick and Sara had been friends for two years before they even went on their first date. And then it had just happened because Nick had wanted free food, but had overestimated his running skills.
Sara and I used to jog together every morning and somehow she'd gotten me to make a bet with her.
Nick is bent over, with his hands on his knees and is breathing hard.
Sara jogs to him and playfully says, "Aw poor baby, did I wear you out?"
Nick stands up and says, "I'm fine, I was just giving you a head start."
'Riiight. You know cowboy, you really need to keep that hot body in shape."
"Sara are you flirting with me?"
Smiling, Sara says, "Maybe."
"Well stop it because I'm hungry, and I don't like being flirted with when I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry," she says with a laugh.
Nick readjusts his baseball hat and says, "Hey, I'm not hungry ALL the time!"
"Yes you are."
Nick just grins at Sara because he knows she's right.
She grins back and says, "Let's race to the park, the loser cooks the winner dinner."
"You're on."
And Sara kicked my ass. Of course, I said that I lost because of my hunger, but Sara didn't buy that for a second. The truth is, Sara is a much better runner than me, yet I'll never admit that to her.
Nick chuckled as he remembered that day. He'd made Sara dinner at his place, and it had changed their relationship forever.
Nick lets out a deep breath, fixes his shirt and checks his hair in the mirror.
Man, why am I so nervous? It's just Sara.
He looks around his apartment to see if everything is in place.
Okay everything seems to be in place. Ah, that swimsuit magazine should go in the drawer. Sara doesn't need to see that tonight.
Nick moves to put the magazine in the drawer, and the doorbell rings.
That must be Sara.
Nick looks at himself again in the mirror and answers the door.
Nick looks at Sara and for a second, he's breathless. She's wearing black pants and a red v-neck shirt, its so simple, yet so beautiful.
Nick stumbles, "You.. uh..you look good."
Sara grins and leans closer to Nick. "And you smell good."
"Stop flirting with me Sidle," Nick says with a chuckle as she enters the apartment.
She laughs and then notices him hiding something behind his back.
Amused, Sara asks, "Nick, is that for me?"
He then realizes he has the swimsuit magazine held behind his back.
Oh boy!
Nick doesn't know what to say, but tries to recover, "Uh, actually..its nothing really..."
Sara snatches it out of his hands and begins to laugh when she realizes what it is.
"Hmm.. A swimsuit magazine. You shouldn't have."
"Yeah well you know me" Nick says with a chuckle as he tries to take it out of her hands.
Sara is looking at the woman on the cover and says, "Those are so fake."
Amused, Nick asks, "How can you tell?"
"No woman's boobs are that perfect."
Nick glances at Sara's 'assets' and says, "Well..."
"Nick!" She says and punches him in the shoulder.
Nick is rubbing his shoulder while he says, "Ow, that hurt."
"Good."
Nick smirks at her and then notices the bottle of wine in her hands.
"I couldn't let you do all the work" Sara says as she hands the wine to him.
"Thanks" he says and then starts to walk into the kitchen.
"So what are you cooking for me tonight?"
"Hmm.. I thought we could order in, try that new Chinese place down the street."
"Nicholas Stokes! We are not ordering in. You owe me a home-cooked meal."
"Sara I don't cook. There's no food in my refrigerator."
She joins him in the kitchen and opens the refrigerator door, "You must have something we can eat."
"Oh my gosh, you weren't kidding. All you have is water, OJ, beer and bread."
Sara begins to go through his cupboards and says with a laugh, "Oh look, you have peanut butter too."
"Look I've got an idea, just go in the living room and make yourself comfortable."
Sara just gives Nick a look that clearly states that she thinks he's crazy.
"Go on now Sara, scoot."
"Alright, alright. I'm going.
Nick is left in the kitchen to ponder what exactly he's going to do.
What am I going to do? Okay I could run down and get Chinese and.. But Sara knows I have no food, she saw my refrigerator. Damn!
Nick lets out a heavy sigh.
Move over Martha Stewart, Nicky Stokes has to get creative.
The next thing that Sara sees is Nick coming out of the kitchen, carrying plates and wine glasses.
He lays them down on the table.
Sara smirks at him and says, "Peanut butter sandwiches, very creative."
"Yeah really. I might give Martha Stewart a run for her money, huh?" Nick adds with a chuckle.
Sara laughs and then says "Seriously though, good choice."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I lived on these when I was a kid."
"You did?"
Sara says with a blush, "Yeah, I was a very picky child"
"Well it seems nothing's changed." Nick says with a laugh and moves before she can smack him.
"Ha ha. You're so funny." Sara says sarcastically.
Nick pours their wine and Sara smiles at him and then takes a bite of her sandwich.
Nick notices that she has peanut butter on her lips and when she licks her lips, he almost loses it.
I'd love to lick that peanut...Whoa, what's wrong with me? This is Sara I'm thinking about. Co-worker Sara. Friend Sara. But she's so sexy. Stop it Nick!
"Nick, you okay?"
No I'm not okay, I'm lusting after my best friend. Does that sound like I'm okay to you?
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You're sure?"
No I'm not sure. Sara you're driving me crazy here. When all of a sudden, did I want my best friend? Ugh!
"Yeah, I'm sure. So.. What do you think of Greg's music?"
Confused, Sara asks, "Greg's music?"
I'm trying to change the subject Sara. Yeah Greg's music is a wacky subject to bring up, but I can't think right now, not when you're licking your lips like that..
"Yeah, who really cares about Greg's music anyways" Nick says.
"Are you sure you're okay? You're acting stranger than usual. I think you're been around Greg too much" Sara says, trying to lighten the mood.
Nick chuckles and says, "Yeah, that must be it."
"Hey Nick, you want to finish our food by the fireplace?"
Sara by the fire is a bad idea. Just say no!
"Sure."
After three or so glasses of wine and lots of talk, Nick and Sara are lid on their sides facing each other on Nick's Texas rug.
Sara says, "Today, I walked in on Warrick and Catherine kissing in the lockerroom."
"No kidding! I didn't know they were together."
"Me either. You know, Warrick looks like he's a good kisser."
"Well I wouldn't know anything about that, but I've been told I'm a pretty good kisser myself."
Nick, what are you doing? Stop talking right now.
"Really? Hm.. Maybe I should find that out for myself."
What! Does she want me to kiss her? Ugh stop thinking. Just go for it man.
Nick slowly leans closer to Sara and is about to capture her lips, but instead she moves her head and he gets a face full of hair.
"Not yet," Sara says and then she starts to laugh.
What a tease!
Nick grins and licks her neck. He's satisfied when he hears her take a sharp breath.
Take that!
Nick pulls away from her abruptly and says, "It's getting late, maybe we should call it a night."
Sara is stunned, but tries to cover it with a smile, "Yeah you're right."
He leans in to kiss her and Sara closes her eyes, but instead he kisses her cheek. Sara is shocked and doesn't even try to hide it on her face.
Two can play this game baby.
"Not yet" Nick says as he tries to hide his smirk.
Sara says, "Fine, I'll see you tomorrow."
"You can count on it."
Sara leaves Nick's apartment and as he closes the door, he begins to laugh.
So she wants to play? Well let's play.
Thinking of their first date always brought a smile to Nick's face.
Sara had smiled so much that night. I wish I could turn back time and make her happy.
To be continued...
Please read and review :)