DISCLAIMER: CSI and its characters are the property of Jerry Bruckheimer and CBS. No infringement intended.
SPOILERS: Reference to Episode #704 - Fannysmackin'
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Eavesdroppin'
By Ann
"I'm telling you; it was the hottest thing I'd every seen. If I hadn't been so focused on the suspect, I'd have gone into a stupor." Nick sat at the break room table, describing the events of Pig's arrest to Archie and Hodges.
"What's the latest `hottest' thing now, Nick?" Sara strode into the room, moving towards the coffeemaker. She'd only caught the tail end of the conversation and wondered who'd caught Nick's attention this week.
Nick stood and moved towards his colleague, his hands gesturing wildly. "Oh man, Sara. You should've seen it. It was hot."
Sara couldn't help but smile at her teammate's boyish enthusiasm. "Care to enlighten me on exactly who caught your eye."
"It's actually a combination of who and what," Hodges chimed in, wearing his obnoxious smirk.
"Yeah, whatever," Nick replied to the other man before turning back to Sara. "Sofia, with a shotgun, in the garage."
Sara chuckled. "What is this, a game of clue?"
"Sara, you should've seen her. She climbed from the car and racked that shotgun like a pro. Man, it was something."
"So you said, Nick." Sara smiled and turned, reaching for the coffeepot, and thankfully, the slight tremor in her hand went undetected by her colleagues. The new visual Nick had planted moved to the front of the other images Sara had tucked away involving the lovely detective.
"Why don't you ask her out, Nick?" Archie asked in an innocent tone. Hodges snickered, and Sara almost choked on her coffee.
"Yeah, Nick; why don't you?" Hodges taunted. "Scared she'll say no?"
Nick clamped down on his jaw. With a fake grin, he turned towards the slimy, little man. "I don't think it's a good idea to date a colleague, Hodges. I'm sure Sara feels the same way, don't you, Sara?"
"Huh?" Sara froze. How could she possibly agree with Nick when almost every waking moment had been filled with different scenarios of how she could approach the aforementioned `hot' detective to ask her on a date?
"I'd kind of like to know Sara's answer myself." Sofia stood in the doorway, leaning against the jamb as all eyes turned towards the eavesdropper.
Sara almost fumbled her coffee mug, Nick turned a nice shade of red, Archie sat with a goofy grin, and Hodges continued to smirk. A dropped pin could've been heard during the ensuing silence.
"So, what will it be, yes or no, Sara?" Sofia stepped into the room and tilted her head, waiting for the other woman to give her answer.
"Um, Sofia? Listen, I didn't mean what I said . . ." Nick began to apologize, but he was cut off by an amused Sofia.
"Oh, so you don't think I'm hot after all?"
"No! I mean, yes, I think you're hot, but, oh hell, you know what I mean."
Sofia chuckled. "Yeah, I do. I just couldn't resist." Turning towards Sara, she asked, "Anyone else think I'm hot?"
Archie immediately replied with a resounding `yes' while Hodges quickly turned and retreated. Realizing he'd spoken aloud, Archie ran to catch up with the trace specialist, leaving Nick and Sara alone with Sofia.
Nick opened his mouth to try to dig himself out of the huge hole he'd fallen into, but he stopped his words from escaping when he noticed that Sofia hadn't taken her eyes off Sara. Taking advantage of the detective's focus, he made his own plans for escape.
"Oh, hey, would you look at the time? I bet Wendy has my samples ready. I'll catch up with you two later."
The Texan hurried towards the door, glancing back over his shoulder at the two women. Neither Sara nor Sofia seemed to notice he'd left, but Nick didn't take the time to contemplate why he'd been ignored; he just counted his blessings and lengthened his strides as he headed away from the break room.
"So, Sara?" Sofia raised her eyebrow in anticipation of Sara's response.
"Um, yes."
Sofia grinned. "Yes, you think it's okay to date a colleague, or yes, you think I'm hot?"
"Um, yes." Sara repeated her reply.
"Tricky, Sara; very tricky. Why don't we discuss your answers over breakfast?"
"Er, well, I need to go see Greg later."
"I'll go with you, but I'm sure he needs his rest. We can go later in the day. So, what do you say? Breakfast at my place?"
Sara was torn. She desperately wanted to have breakfast with the beautiful detective, but she wasn't sure about sharing the meal at Sofia's apartment. She didn't want to appear too eager.
Sofia upped the ante. "I'll even let you rack my shotgun."
Sara looked up at the smirking detective and immediately made her decision.
"Pump action?"
"Is there any other kind?" Sofia asked, pleased that Sara had decided to play along.
Sara grinned. "Not as far as I'm concerned."
"So, are you interested?"
"I'd love to see your gun, Detective Curtis." Sara placed her mug into the sink and turned to face Sofia. "How about now?"
Sofia beamed. "That'd be great," she gestured towards the door, "after you."
With a nod of the head, Sara started towards the door. Just as the pair stepped into the hallway, Sara called back over her shoulder.
"So, how long is your barrel?"
Sofia laughed aloud and followed Sara down the corridor. Sara would find out soon enough that it wasn't the length of the barrel that was important, but rather, the shooter's aim that made all the difference.
The End