Chapter 6

It took a few hours before all the boxes and items were unloaded into Nick's living room.

"Someday we maybe able to see the floor again." Mandy remarked after their helpers left.

He pulled her into a hug, "this can wait till later. Lets go get dinner."

"Our first date?" she asked him.

"I think it's about time. Although it seems a little backwards, we are moving in before we have even gone out on a single date"

"Yeah. Oh well who said it has to be conventional."

They changed their clothes and drove to a nice a restaurant in the Palms. They hoped it would be a quiet and uneventful evening. Which it was, they enjoyed a nice bottle of wine, and avoided talking about the last few days events. She wanted to move on from it as quickly as possible, and Nick respected that. After dinner they took a walk down the strip, enjoying the weather and the pleasure of each other's company.

When they got home, they were welcomed by their overload of stuff, so they got to work. He unpacked her stuff, and she decided where to put it. They were able to fit most of her stuff in his place; everything else was put into the garage for storage. Lucky for them, due to Nick's job, he hadn't accumulated a lot of stuff.

"Now it is starting to feel like home," Nick said as he put his feet up and started watching the black and white film Mandy had put on. He wrapped the Texas blanket around her when she had shivered a little from the cold air-conditioning.

"I'm glad you kept this, thanks," he said to her.

"No problem dude, I like it. It's nice and 'nunffee"

"Nunffee? Is that even a word?" Nick asked skeptically.

"Who cares," she said giving him a slight push. He wrapped her arm around her and pulled her close. "Mandy, are you really OK? You can talk to me."

"I really am. I think everything that has happened afterwards has made it easier. You have made it so easy for me"

"OK, but honestly I'm here for you" he kissed her and settled in to watch the movie. He found her asleep again very soon after. The usual ritual started up again at his house, he led her to bed and she fell back asleep. He wasn't sleepy, and went to check that the doors were locked and the lights were turned off. He found his laptop and settled himself in bed. He first emailed his real estate agent about selling Mandy's condo, and then he started looking at house currently for sale. Just for fun, he looked at houses near by. A few listing showed up, including a 3-bedroom house with a large backyard. He bookmarked for later, and began doing some work.

He finished up his work and snuggled under the covers pulling Mandy close to him. He tried to fall asleep but his thoughts got in the way. He couldn't calm his nerves and his squirming caused her to wake up.

"Nick? Are you alright?" she asked him sitting up.

"I can't sleep."

"I can see that" she said brushing his hair away from his eyes. She began to rub his shoulders softly, "I'm OK Nick, really."

"I know it just brought back memories, of everything. I've watched other people lose to people like Brad. I could have been one of those people. I could have lost you, and I just found you. I am not ready to lose you. I'm not ready to give this up"

"Our jobs suck." Mandy said as she continued to massage him hoping to calm him down, "But I'm fine. Look at me. I'm still here."

"I love you" Nick told her, looking at her seriously. He hoped it wasn't too soon, but he felt it. Something he couldn't remember ever feeling for real. He had put his heart on a shelf a long time ago. Living in the city of sin, it was easy to do that. He was able to find a warm body when he needed it. He didn't need to find a real mate, just someone to sleep with. He had his friends and work to fulfill him otherwise.

"I love you too Nick" she replied. She probably loved him since the first time she saw him 10 years ago when she moved to Las Vegas. But now she loved the real him, not the fantasy that she had built up over the years.

He smiled at her before pulling her into a long kiss. This loving making session was different than most. He took his time. Not the usual hurried tumble in the sheets, but he just wanted to enjoy every moment. After they finished he curled up holding her close, and was luckily able to fall asleep.

The next four days were a nice change for the two of them. They were able to have a somewhat normal relationship and life. Dinner, movies, shopping. They bought a new couch, and put her place on the market. Nick handled everything, he went to her place with the agent and even had a cleaning crew there. He got the last of her stuff moved into his place without her aide. She was on the other hand organizing as much as she could. Their place was starting to resemble a real home. The bachelor pad was losing its hold, the "couple" pad was replacing it quickly.

She had made dinner on their last night before this shifts started again.

"My favorite!" Nick said as she made fried chicken and mashed potatoes. It was probably the least healthy meal that she had ever made, but he loved it.

"You know the way to my heart!" Nick said happily eating his food and drinking a beer.

"Its not too hard to get there, apparently some fried chicken and beer"

"It's more than that!" he said to her as he finished up his dinner, "and I now have a leg up on Warrick for getting prints."

"I see how it is Mr Stokes. This is a ruse."

"This would be one hell of a ruse" Nick said standing up to clear the table.

"Well if it is, keep up the good work" Mandy told him helping him clean up.

"I really wish we had a few more days off" Nick told her. He really enjoyed the time they spent together. Being able to be normal. No dead bodies, no lab politics, no worries at all.

"So how is it going to be tomorrow, I mean everyone knows about us right? Even Ecklie?" Mandy asked as she helped Nick clean up.

"Yeah I think so. I don't think it has to be any different. We work in different areas, plus, now Henry and Archie can't hit on you"

"They don't hit on me" Mandy said shaking her head.

"Are you blind! I heard them complain about your secret boyfriend"

"You are lying!"

"Seriously, Catherine and I heard them other day in the break room"

"And your telling me this now?"

"What do you mean?" Nick asked confused.

"Well if I had known that Henry was interested..." Mandy said nudging Nick, "I might be washing dishes in a Star Trek-like land on the east side"

He shook his head at her before scooping her up and carrying her into the bedroom.

"You are such the comedian" he told her before having his way with her.

The next few months were the best few months for both of them in a long time. No drama. They were building a routine at work along with at home. Nick kept that house bookmarked just in case, he was hoping in a few months it would still be on the market. He would plant the seed of moving into a real home. Somewhere where they could raise a family and build a life together.