DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE CSI FRANCHISE OR ANY CHARACTERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. NOR THE SONG LYRICS USED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY CHAPTERS

A/N: ANOTHER PAST CHAPTER

CHECK OUT MY PROFILE! A PICTURE OF MY KELLAN AND KALLISON (KALLISON ON THE LEFT). JUST WAITING FOR THE SITE TO CHANGE THE AVATAR PIC.....


Carrying On

"You'd think that I'd learn my lesson by now
You'd think that I'd somehow figure out
That if you strike that match
You've found a field of flames
You'd think that I'd learn the cost of love
And paid that price long enough
But still I drive myself right through the pain
Well it turns out
I haven't learned a thing

Oh yeah

Sometimes I think I'm better off
To turn out the lights and close up shop
Didn't give up the longing, believing
And belonging
Just hold down my head and take the loss."
-Learn My Lesson, Daughtry


Hey babe. Just checking to see if you're alright. Wanted to let you know that I love you and I miss you and can't wait to see you.

A soft smile curved Sam's lips as she checked the text message that had come in to her cell phone mere moments before. Nick had escorted her to the employee break room and after pouring himself a coffee and preparing her a tea -two bags left in the mug so it steeped as strong and flavourful as possible and a small carton of milk on the side- announced he needed to run to the locker room and grab something out of his belongings. No sooner had he rushed out the door, her cell, tucked into her purse rang noisily. The sounds of Soulja Boy's 'Kiss Me Through the Phone' filling the room.

The simple yet sweet and totally unexpected message did wonders to begin the defrost of the chill Catherine Willows' behaviour earlier in the public washroom had cast upon her. It warmed her inside at the realization that a text message could have such a positive effect on her. And she reminded herself that it wasn't the text or the contents of it, it was the sender. Someone who'd come into her life and transformed it when she'd ruled out ever being happy again. A best friend who had become so much more and who had taught her what real love and acceptance was about.

Are u drunk? The only time u go all mushy and lover boy on me is when u r hammered, she typed, then hit the send button. Her cell in her left hand, she leaned forward to use her right to dip the tea bags repeatedly in and out of the boiling water in her mug. Her cell phone went off once again and she glanced down at the message.

Totally sober. Is there something wrong with a guy going all sappy once in a while? With wanting to tell his girl how much he loves her?

The small smile turned into a broader one, and composing her reply in her head, tapped at the keys feverishly.

There is when the person sending the message is a six foot two hard ass homicide detective whose idea of romance is a night in with a 2-4, pizza and wings and a Rangers game. So put down the bottle of JD and step away slowly and no one will get hurt.

Satisfied with her response, she set her phone down on the table once again and picked up the container of milk and poured a generous amount into her tea. Nearly laughing out loud when she received a response in record time.

I'm slightly offended that you think the only time I'm capable of being sappy and sweet is when I'm polluted. So tell ya what, I'll stay completely sober all night and I'll show you just what I'm capable of.

Smirking, she hurriedly typed back, watching out of the corner of her eye as Nick wandered back into the lunchroom, a manila envelope clutched tightly in his hand.

I said romantic and cheesy, not perverted and kinky. But if u get me polluted enough and if u r a good boy, u'll be able to enjoy uninhibited Sam. Right now, I gtg. Talk soon. Luv me.

Sending the message off, she turned her phone onto silent and tucked it back into her purse.

"Boyfriend?" Nick asked, as he pulled out the chair across from her and took a seat.

Sam nodded, and picking up her mug took a small sip. "He's hanging out at the hotel watching orange league baseball."

Nick arched an eyebrow, clearly perplexed.

"Citrus League," Sam tried again.

"It's the Grapefruit League," Nick corrected, an amused grin on his face.

"Whatever," she waved it off. "He's a hockey fanatic. Rangers this, Rangers that. He lives and bleeds the Rangers."

"No wonder he loves ya so much," Nick mused. "Found himself possibly the only woman on the planet that loves hockey as much as he does."

"It makes for some amusing nights that's for sure. Especially since I'm all New Jersey or all Pittsburgh and he rides my ass constantly about it."

Nick coughed noisily and smirked.

"I meant figuratively, not physically," Sam scolded, and directed a kick at his shin under the table.

"Sure you did..." he chuckled. "You know, it's always the quiet, tiny ones you have to worry about. The ones who seem so sweet and innocent until the night you come home and they're wearing a black leather body suit and cracking a whip against the floor and calling you slave and demanding you call them mistress."

Sam's eyes widened. "Just what kind of girls live in Las Vegas? And what kind of dates have you been going on?"

Nick gave a mischievious smile.

"Are there dirty women here corrupting you?" Sam teased. "Are some evil, evil women doing bad things to you? To my Nicky?"

"No..." he said and sipped his coffee. "And trust me, those are not the type of women that I go for."

"And that is not the type of woman I am. And even if I was, I'd never get away with it. Don is not...well he's just not into that kind of thing. He's the dominate one. And you know? That's fine with me. 'Cause he's totally hot. And the plus side? Free access to handcuffs."

Nick nearly spit out his mouthful of coffee. "Way too much information," he managed, as he coughed and sputtered noisily.

Sam gave an innocent, cherubic smile and sipped at her tea.


"This is for you," Nick laid the manila envelope on the table top and pushed it towards her. "It's an extra one that I've been keeping in my locker and I probably should have sent it to you sooner, but I just...I guess I either just never got around to it or didn't have the heart to part with it. Pathetic excuses, I know. Seeing as it's been nearly two years now, but..."

Setting her mug down, Sam picked up the envelope and opened it. Reaching inside, she pulled out a simple, thin cream coloured booklet. The front bore a sepia photograph of a smiling and carefree Warrick and his name and dates of birth, and death, written in raised gold lettering. A lump of emotion forming in her throat and tears burning her eyes as her thumb grazed over each letter and her gaze lingered on her friend's face.

"I really should have sent it to you after the funeral," Nick said apologetically. "I knew you probably would have really liked to have it. Like I said, I don't know why I held onto it for so long seein' as I got my own copy at home. I guess it just..." he sighed. "I guess having it in my locker made me feel close to him while I was at work. Like he was watching over me."

Sam nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry, Sunshine. I really should have mailed it to you."

"Better late than never," she reasoned, clearing her throat noisily, and picking her mug up in one of her trembling hands, took a swig of her drink in a vain attempt to wash the emotion away. "I wish I could have been there. But I'd just moved to New York City and I was still trying to carve a niche for myself in the lab and I was worried if that if I asked for time off when I'd just started..."

"Hey...it's okay," Nick assured her. "I completely understand. And Warrick would have understood too. You were just starting to make a new life for yourself. There were a lot of changes happening around you. And to get news like that....it was a shock and you were already dealing with leaving Zack and finding yourself in the big city. No big deal."

"The lab and the precinct we work in conjuncture with sent flowers. And a donation to the little fund you set up for Warrick's son," she said, a fingernail tracing the name on the front of the programme. "I never told anyone that I knew him personally. Not right away at least. I don't know why I didn't. I guess I was worried what people would think about me if they knew....well if they knew about how things went down after the conference."

"What's there to be ashamed about?" Nick asked. "Nothing happened between you and guys. You were friends. With the possiblity of something more coming out of it."

"Warrick was too good of a person for someone like me," Sam told him. "Or at least the way I was then. I was looking so hard for an escape that I was willing to use him to get away. And it's not that I wasn't into him in that way. Because I was. I was just....confused. Confused and scared and even more afraid of taking a chance of leaving Zack to come here. And Warrick...Warrick understood that. He knew that I needed someone to ride in on his white horse and rescue me and he was willing to try and be that person. But I...I never took him up on that."

"You know what I think?" Nick inquired. "I think you and Warrick were both looking for some sort of escape from your lives. You were both at a crossroads and needed someone to save you. And I think that you were both two totally fractured people looking for a chance to be whole again. Who knows if things ever would have went farther between you two. Maybe it would have been great for a while and you would have helped each other get back on track and that would have been that."

"Maybe..." Sam sighed.

"Maybe once you both helped each other you would have both realized that being together was either a complete waste of time or the best thing to happen to both of you," Nick continued. "Who knows, right? Things happen for a reason, Sunshine. I have to believe that. You weren't meant to be here in Vegas. Simple as. Had you meant to be here, you would have found your way, right?"

She gave a small nod.

"Your life took a completely different path," Nick told her. "You ended up in New York City. And judging by the way you were smiling earlier when you were telling me about your homicide detective and the way you were grinning away when I came here, you obviously made the right choice."

"I did," she said confidently. "I've met someone that accepts me for me. He takes me as I am. Baggage and dirty secrets and all. And he's an amazing man, Nick. He's so smart and so funny. He has this way of making me laugh even when it seems like there's nothing to laugh about. And his smile...he's got this smile that just makes me melt. Things aren't perfect. And I don't expect them to be. But he came into my life at a time when I needed someone the most. And when I think about him not being in my life anymore...." she sighed and took a sip of her drink. "I don't even want to think about it."

"Sounds like you met your knight in shining armour," Nick said with a soft smile.

Sam shook her head. "Knight in slightly tarnished armour," she laughed. "That's what he says all the time. I like to call him my knight in a Kevlar vest waving a pump action shot gun and raining shit down on the baddies."

Nick grinned.

"We have our issues but I wouldn't give him up for anything in the world," Sam declared. "There's things we're working on and things we will probably never fully get a grip on. But we're happy. I have no doubt in my mind that he loves me."

"But..." Nick looked at her skeptically. "I know you Sunshine. There's a but wanting to sneak it's way in."

"But at the same time there's a part of me that wonders if things would have ended differently for Warrick had I come here. Not that I think I could have single handily saved him or anything. I mean, no one can solve the world's problems, right? But if I had have come here, maybe he wouldn't have been so...so screwed up."

"That's a bunch of bullshit," Nick scolded her. "There was nothing you could have done. At all. And if anyone should feel responsible for what happened to Warrick, it should be me. If we're going to play the blame game, let's take a look at me. He was my best friend. I loved him like a brother. Yet I obviously didn't do enough, did I? I obviously didn't go that extra mile for him. 'Cause if I had have, he'd still be alive. He'd still be here. If I had have tried harder to get him off the pills or if I'd dragged his ass to get some help..."

Sam shook her head. "You couldn't have...."

"If I'd just walked out that diner door with him instead of hanging around to chat up some waitress and get her phone number, he'd still be around. If I'd left with him and made sure he got home okay, Warrick would still be alive."

"Or both you and Warrick would be dead," Sam said. "McKeen would have shot both of you that night. And don't sit there and tell me he wouldn't have."

Nick ignored her. "And I think if I'd really loved Warrick like I say I do? I would have put a bullet in that sorry SOB's forehead when I caught up to him."

"And toss your entire life away?" she asked.

"Warrick deserved it. Warrick deserved that justice. To see that bastard rot in hell."

"Warrick wouldn't have wanted you to wind up in jail because of McKeen," Sam argued. "Warrick wouldn't have wanted you to throw your entire future away avenging him? Justice was served when McKeen went away for the rest of his pitiful existence. And Warrick would be telling you all of this himself, if he could."

"McKeen doesn't deserve to draw air into his lungs," Nick spat. "He doesn't deserve to take up space on this earth. Think about what you would do if it had have been your brother he'd done that to. Or your boyfriend. Think about it. Think about it and tell me what you'd want to do."

"I'd want to kill them," Sam admitted in a quiet voice.

"Exactly!" Nick exclaimed.

"But wanting it and doing it are two totally different thinks. Me wishing them dead and pulling the trigger myself...those are complete opposite ends of the spectrum. And no matter how bad I'd hurt and no matter how bad I would grieve, I know that neither Adam or Don would want me to toss my life away for them. They'd get that. And Warrick gets that Nick. He didn't expect you to kill McKeen for him. So why are you expecting that of yourself?"

"Because Warrick deserved that. Eye for an eye, right?"

"I'm not getting into a bible quoting contest with a southern boy whose momma taught Sunday school for forty years and who read the Great Book to you ever since you were a baby," Sam teased, giving a small laugh in hopes of lightening the mood.

"I just wish I could go back and do things differently," Nick sighed. "I wish I could go back to that night in the diner. I wish I could just insist that we were going out for a couple of beers and get up and walk out the door with him. I wish I could go back and actually shoot McKeen. 'Cause I wanted to. Badly. Believe me. I wanted to. And I can't stop thinking what if..."

"Stop!" Sam snapped. "Just stop! This isn't doing you any good Nick! Going on and on like this isn't going to solve anything! Constantly questioning yourself and wondering what if isn't...it isn't going to bring Warrick back! He's dead! And I know you love him and I know you miss him! But he wouldn't want you to do this to yourself! He'd want you to let him go and get on with your life! He'd want you to remember him but not obsess over him. He'd want you to think about how he lived rather than how he died! Don't you see what you're doing to yourself? Torturing yourself isn't going to bring Warrick back, Nick! Just let him....just let him rest in peace!"

Nick blinked. Taken back by her outburst.

"Talking like this..." her voice softened. "Talking like this isn't helping you. And I know my words probably seem shallow and I've never lost anyone that close to me before so you have the right to tell me that I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you're not doing yourself any good. How can you start healing when you can't even let yourself try to go on?"

Nick didn't respond. He ran his hands along the sides of his coffee cup and stared into the steaming black liquid.

Sam sighed heavily, and leaning back in her chair, flipped through the programme from Warrick's funeral. It was only six pages in total, but there were pictures of her friend inside, including some shots of him with the various members of the Vegas team. Along with copies of the eulogies that were presented. Those she would save to read until later. Knowing that she'd dissolve into tears the moment she got to Grissom's.

Turning the last page, a small photograph tumbled out of the booklet and landed in her lap.

"That's Eli," Nick told her, as she picked up the picture and studied it. "Or at least what Eli looked like when his father died."

"He's beautiful," Sam smiled down at the photo of the baby. "Looks just his daddy."

Nick nodded in agreement.

"Has anyone seen him since?" she asked, as she tucked the picture back into the pages of the programme. Closing it, she sat it on the table beside her purse.

"Warrick's ex Tina moved out of state," Nick replied. "Lives in Atlanta now. With her new husband. Her divorce attorney."

Sam snorted and shook her head. Then gave a polite smile to the lab tech that slipped into the break room. A rather attractive young woman with shoulder length dark hair and stylish glasses, her blue lab coat unbuttoned, revealing a pair of black dress slacks and a figure hugging yellow top who returned Sam's smile with one of her own before making her way to the sink and snagging a mug from the drain board before moving over to the coffee maker.


"Can we talk about something else?" Sam asked Nick. "Something a little happier? I come here all the way from New York to see you and we have to dwell on this stuff?"

"What do you want to talk about?" he inquired.

"I don't know. Let's talk about you. Let's talk about your life. More specifically about your love life."

"You mean my lack there of one?" he laughed.

"Come on, Nicky, You're a great looking guy. You're sweet, you're funny, you're smart. You're an awesome catch. What about that girl you told me about? The one that works here?"

His eyes widened and he shook his head frantically as he made a zippering motion over his lips.

"What was her name again? Melody? Melissa? Mindy? No...Mandy! That's it! What about this Mandy you told me about? You ever get up the guts to tell her how badly you're jonesin' for her?"

The lab tech across the room gave a loud gasp and there was a horrendous clatter as her full mug slipped from her hands and shattered on the tiles. Sending coffee splattering and fragments of porcelain scattering in several different directions.

"Jesus...." Nick breathed, and placing his elbows on the table top, put his face in his hands.

"Oh my God!" Sam cried, and pushing her chair away from the table, rushed over to the lab tech who was flushed crimson with embarrassment as she tried frantically to use paper towel to clean up the legs of her pants and the mess of coffee on the floor and on the cupboards. "Are you okay?" she asked. "You didn't get burned, did you?"

"I'm fine," the tech assured her. "I just...I just got startled. That's all. God....I am such a tool."

"It's no big deal," Sam said. "As long as you didn't get burned. That's the important thing. You should see the mess I made once in the lunch room back home in New York City. I was in the fridge getting a snack on my break and my boyfriend came up behind me and dropped an ice cube down the back of my shirt. I squealed, jumped, and dropped an entire glass jar of apple sauce on the floor."

The tech smiled. "Glad to know I'm not the only klutzy one," she said.

"Hardly. I could trip over my own feet. Forget my head if it wasn't attached, too. You guys have cleaners here? Someone you can call to come and clean this up?"

"We use the techs with less seniority for stuff like that," the other woman said. "I'll run and grab Henry. He's been on my shit list lately for some shitty test results he gave me. You're from New York City?"

"Brooklyn. Born and raised. Then I moved to Phoenix when I was sixteen and I found myself back in the Big Apple for work. I'm a CSI. Just like Nicky."

"Nicky?" the tech grinned.

"We've been friends for a while," Sam explained and offered a hand. "I'm Samantha. Samantha Ross."

"And I'm Mandy," the girl said as she shook the other woman's hand. "Mandy Webster."

"Mandy?" Sam's eyes widened. "As in...."

"The girl Nick is apparently jonesin' for," the tech finished. "I'm going to run and grab Henry. It was nice meeting you."

"You too," Sam said, then watched as the other woman walked through the break room and headed for the door.

Mandy stopped in the doorway, doubled back and standing behind Nick, laid her hands on his shoulders as she leaned in close, until her lips were against his ear. "See you later, Nicky," she whispered, then gave a hearty chuckle as she patted his shoulders and hurried from the room.

"Oh....snap....." Sam said, and flashed Nick a sheepish grin.

He shook his head. "One day I will get you for that," he declared.


"So I guess you have no choice now," Sam commented, as she and Nick stepped out of the front door of the crime lab and into the bright Vegas sunshine. Her sunglasses perched upon her face and her arm looped through his as he escorted outside to wait for Jess' return.

"What do you mean?" Nick asked.

"Well now that Mandy knows you've got the hots for you, she'll be expecting you to ask her out. And it's not like you can back out from doing it either. Or take too long to do it."

He sighed heavily and glared down at her. "I know....what I don't know how is someone so damn tiny can reek so much havoc."

"It's a gift," Sam declared, then giggled as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Nicky. I certainly didn't mean to embarrass you like that. I had no idea that that was Mandy. And I also had no idea that you were such a pussy when it came to the female persuasion. How was I to know you had no cajones when it comes to asking girls out?"

"You are just digging yourself a bigger hole there Sunshine," he said, then gave her a playful wink.

"You will definitely have to keep me in the loop," Sam told him. "About you and Mandy. She's awful cute. And feisty. You'll have your hands full with that one."

"You know me, I'm always up for a little excitement and a whole lot of challenge."

"I want a wedding invitation. And I want to be the godmother for your first born," she said, as they took a left at the end of the front walk and headed for the visitors parking lot.

"Okay...now you're just jumping a little too far ahead there, Ross."

"What can I say? I can't stop thinking all romantic, happily ever after. I think it's about time we both had that, don't you? A forever and always type thing?"

"We do..." Nick nodded. "And I think...." he squinted into the sun. "I think your forever and always is waiting for you. Tall guy? Built like a brick shit house? Wears a Mets cap? No one wears a Mets cap around these parts unless you're a tourist."

Sam looked in the same direction as her friend. A wide, brilliant, little girl beam quickly taking up residence on her face as she waved to the familiar face in a ball cap, olive green cargo shorts, a white golf shirt that fit tight across the chest and biceps, and hideous Adidas sandals, leaning against the front passenger door of the rental car.

"That's him!" Excitement bubbled in her voice and on her face.

"Well?" Nick untangled his arm from hers. "What are you waiting for? Go on. I'll catch up and then you can do the introductions."

"I can't go running down the sidewalk," she laughed. "What's that old saying? Act your age? Not your shoe size?"

"Oh who cares," Nick said. "Regress to a six year old for a minute and run off and go see your homicide detective. I won't laugh at ya. Or maybe I will."

She frowned.

"I promise you I won't make fun of you," Nick vowed. "Go on....give you guys some time alone."

Sam smiled, then stood on her tiptoes to peck his cheek before tearing off down the sidewalk.

He grinned, watching as she went. Her hair swaying from side to side as it shimmered in the sunlight and the heels of her shoes clicking on the cement. He noticed the broad grin that took over her boyfriend's face as he reached up to turn his baseball cap backwards, his eyes sparkling in both amusement and obvious love and pride as Sam raced towards him. Nick slowed his steps, giving them a moment to themselves as the burly detective picked up his tiny girlfriend up clear off the pavement and wrapped her in a huge bear hug. Her legs dangling for a second before she unabashedly curled them around his waist and buried her face in the space between his neck and shoulder as she whispered something in his ear and then pressed a long, deep kiss to his lips.

"Nick!" Sam called to them after she was placed firmly on the ground once again. "Come here!" she yelled, and waved him over.

"I think the whole Vegas PD saw that," he teased, as he took brisk steps to close the distance between him and the happy couple.

"Well as long as they didn't see my undies, it's all good!" Sam exclaimed.

"You mean you're actually wearing them?" Flack teased, dropping a kiss on the top of her head, then chuckling as she shoved him away playfully.

"Nicky, this is Donald Flack Junior," Sam introduced the two men. "Flack to his friends. Donnie to little old moi. Donnie, this is Nick Stokes. My Nicky."

"Nice to finally meet you," Flack said and offered a hand. "Sam's talked a lot about her buddies here in Vegas."

"And he's snooped in my email a couple of times," Sam added. "Don't worry, Nicky. I erased the dirty ones before he could read those."

Nick laughed and shook Flack's hand warmly. "Nice to meet you too," he said. "Sunshine's told me a lot about you as well. Especially in the last hour."

"I bet your ears were just ringing baby," she giggled, and curling her arm around Flack's waist, laid her head against his side.

"You guys enjoying Vegas so far?" Nick asked. "Hear you're staying at the Bellagio. Nice."

"Place is pretty wild," Flack said. "Took a walk around this afternoon and got lost on my way back to the room. You need a map just to find your way around the place. Nice to get away though. From all the craziness back home."

"Yeah..." Nick nodded in understanding. "I'm sure NYC is a crazy place. It's on my list of cities to visit. Hell, it's on my list of cities to transfer to if I ever get tired of it here. And believe me, the way things are going here? That time will come sooner rather than later."

"Nick was best friend's with Warrick," Sam said,

Flack gave a small nod. "I'm sorry," sincerity laced his voice. "What happened to your friend...that was harsh. It's just a good thing that the bastard who did it is gonna rot for the rest of his life."

"Thanks...and you're right. It is a good thing," Nick cleared his throat. "Well...I better get back inside. Actually earn my keep. It was great seeing you Sunshine. Give me a call and maybe we can go out for lunch or something before you leave."

"I'd like that," Sam said with a smile.

"Again, nice meeting you," Nick held his hand out.

"Likewise," Flack shook the hand offered to him.

Nick pressed a small kiss to Sam's cheek before turning on his heel and heading back towards the lab. "You know...." he suddenly turned and addressed Flack. "You got yourself a hell of a girl there. Hope you appreciate that. And her."

"Sometimes I don't," he admitted. "But I'm working on it."

"Good," Nick said, then turned once again and journeyed down the sidewalk.


Once her friend had disappeared into the crime lab, Sam turned to face Flack, and laying her hands on his sides, stared up at him expectantly.

"Yes?" he asked, a grin tugging at his lips. "Can I help you?"

"I'm waiting," she replied.

"For?"

"For you to say something about Nick."

"Seems like a really nice guy. And looks like he could bust open guys' heads squeezin' them between his biceps and forearms."

"But...." she tapped her foot impatiently.

"But what?" he chuckled and circled her waist with his arms. "What are you...."

"You don't have anything to say?"

"Yeah....I do...." he said, and kissed her softly, placed his lips against his forehead before pulling back and smiling down at her. "Hi."

She beamed up at him. "Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?" she asked. "Because this....this is not you. You usually flip out about me being with another guy."

"What's there to flip out about, babe?" he released one arm from around her waist and brought his hand up to brush a piece of hair behind her ear. "He's a friend of yours. You're allowed to have guy friends, you know."

Her eyes widened behind her sunglasses. "Okay....you're starting to scare me, Donnie. I thought I told you to to step away from the JD."

"I have not been drinking," he said with a laugh. "I am totally sober. But we're supposed to be turning over new leaves here, right? I'm supposed to be working on some stuff? And part of that was my insane jealousy and possessive? Well here I am. Getting a grip on it and realizing that you're with me and you're not going anywhere. So why should it bother me that you're friends with a guy?"

"Whoa...this is just totally surreal. I can not believe we're having this conversation. Was it a full moon last night? Is it Friday the Thirteen? Have you been smoking some illegal substance? What..."

He silenced her with a long, soft kiss. "This is me making an effort," he told her.

"Yeah?" she ran a hand up his chest to toy with the buttons on his golf shirt. "Well you're doing a damn fine job."

"Not done yet," he told her, and placing a hand on the small of her back, turned her towards the car and tapped his finger against the back passenger window. Where the was a blanket and two plastic bags full of groceries and plastic cutlery, cups and paper plates.

"Oh my...." she breathed. "Are those really Oreos I see and there? And....and cherry flavoured Koolaid Jammers?"

"Two of your favs, right? Picked up a few other things you like. Thought we could find a park somewhere, just hang out for a bit. Before we have to get back to the hotel to get ready for the rehearsal. Just spend some quiet time together. I know how you were talking earlier about how we don't seem to do much out of the bedroom, so I thought I'd show you how wrong you are about that."

"Donald Flack Junior," she sighed dreamily. "You sure do have your moments."

"So what do you say? You feeling up to some quiet time? Just me and you? You know, we can just hang out together. Talk. Eat."

She giggled. "I love how you tossed eat in there."

"I'm a growing boy," he said, and rubbed his stomach. "Gotta make sure the tank is full at all times. What do you think, babe? Sound good?"

"I think...." she twisted the front of his shirt in her hands and yanked him down towards her and into a sensuous kiss. "...that it sounds absolutely perfect."


So the muse is making a slow and steady return. I want to extend a huge thanks to all of you who are reading and reviewing. And to those who are even just lurking! I appreciate all of the support!

Special thanks to:

hope4sall

CSINYMinute

Afrozenheart412

soccer-bitch

ParaCaerOuVoar

wolfeylady

Delko's Girl 88

monoxide lullaby

Forest Angel

xSamiliciousx