Nick/Greg
They did not see this acomin’ …
G
Yep. I own them. And you seriously believe that? *roflol*

Ch 8

As per Hodges’ plan, he and Sara met at a diner at the edge of Vegas.

“Okay, I left Nick just like you told me to,” said Sara sitting down.

“Good.” said Hodges offering her a menu. “And I left Greg exactly as planed. Want to start with coffee?”

“Yeah, coffee’s great,” she answered. “This had better work or we’re toast,” grumbled Sara.

“It will work,” said Hodges.

“You trying to convince me or yourself?” asked Sara.

Hodges ignored that and said, “Order whatever you want. I’m paying.”

“Yes, you are,” said Sara.

Sara was surprised. Not only had she survived a meal with Hodges, she had enjoyed it. Not that she would ever admit that to anyone, least of all him. She climbed in her car and headed for work.

Neither Sara or Hodges listened to the radio on the way in to work, so they didn’t know about the storm or the flash flood warnings where they had left their friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the locker room Warrick said, “So, you taken to dating Hodges?”

“What?!” Sara looked at him like he had grown antlers.

“I mean come on. Hodges?” he laughed and tossed his shirt in his locker.

“What are you talking about?” She had a suspicion and it was making her mad. Did Hodges drag her into ‘The Plan’ just so he could tell everyone they were dating?!

“Marty said you and Hodges were all cozy at a diner over on Hipbath St…” he said putting on a clean shirt.

Sara slammed her locker shut and stormed out. Warrick called after her, “Tell your boyfriend ‘hello’ for me.” Sara could hear him laughing from the hall. She growled in frustration. She really hated being laughed at.

~~~~~~

Hodges was busy in Trace, but most of his mind was on Sara. He had enjoyed spending time with her. Granted, he had to threaten and cajole her to get her there, but he was pleased. He would never admit it, but he liked Sara. She was smart and beautiful. What was there not to like? He knew he would never get to really date her. She plain didn’t like him. But he would remember that meal for the rest of his days. He knew Sara wasn’t gonna tell anyone and he wasn’t gonna tell anyone. It was like he could pretend it was a secret date at their secret place. Okay, that was way past sappy and Hodges just didn’t do sappy. He focused all his thoughts back on work. For all of 5 seconds….

Before Sara could reach Trace, Grissom caught her in the hall. “Sara, good. I need you to check out a possible kidnapping at Circus, Circus.” he said handing her a slip of paper. “Catherine is waiting in the parking lot for you.”

She took the paper and turned around. Her anger could wait, a child kidnapped couldn’t.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Hodges was in the break room near the end of shift getting coffee when Sara stalked in. Catherine had also heard about her ‘date’ with Hodges. She smirked at Sara all night. On top of that, no one was kidnapped. The 5 year old twins had left their hotel room while their parents were drinking and gambling in the casino. One of the parents had went by the room to check on them. and found they were gone. The kids had spent several hours playing in the hotel before anyone even knew they were ‘missing’. Sara was glad they were okay, but furious at the parents for not watching them better.

Hodges looked up as Sara walked in. “Rough night?” he asked over the top of his coffee cup.

“Yeah, you could say that.” Sara was practically shaking she was so mad. “Who did you tell that we were dating?! Cause, buddy, it sure was news to me!” Sara almost screamed.

“Huh? What?” said Hodges totally confused. He lowered the cup. Everyone in the lab stopped what they were doing and watched thru the glass walls.

“Everybody knows!” said Sara waving her arms around wildly.

“Knows what, Sara?” said Hodges pretending to be calm. He felt a rock hit the pit of his stomach. If she reacted this way when she thought he had said they were dating, he could see she would never actually want to date him. Actually everyone in the lab could see what she thought of dating him. He swallowed hard.

“They know we ate at Coffee Café together! And *I* didn’t tell them, so you did!” she was shaking her finger at him as she yelled. She had started looking around like she was hunting something to throw at him.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Hodges was starting to get mad. It was how he dealt with pain. “But even if I had, it *is* true, so why get your panties in a knot about it?”

Grissom stepped into the break room and said, “Sara. This is no place to deal with personal problems.”

“This isn’t a personal problem!” growled Sara.

“Oh, it’s about a case?” said Grissom mildly amused.

“No, but…”

“Then deal with it on your own time. You are disturbing the entire lab.”

“But…” exclaimed Sara still mad.

“Go home Sara. Now.” he said quietly, but firmly.

Sara stormed out.

Grissom looked at Hodges. “I’ll uh, I’ll just get back to work,” said Hodges creeping past Grissom for the door.

“You do that,” said Grissom with mock seriousness. “And settle down your girlfriend after work. I want this fight over with before next shift.”

Hodges didn‘t know what to say to that. “Uh, yeah, right.” He hurried back to Trace while trying to ignore the stares from everyone in the lab. Sheese it felt like they had called in extra people to just watch that scene.

Sara had went to the locker room. She slammed the door of her locker open. She was taking things out and shoving them in her bag.

“Sara, calm down,” said Warrick from behind her. “It’s not like the end of the world.”

Sara turned on him. “You! You did this!”

Warrick held his hands up in a surrendering pose and said, “Whoa, now Girl. I didn’t do nuttin’ but tell you what I heard.”

Sara started to point out that he did do something to her, but then realized he actually hadn’t. This wasn’t Warrick’s fault, or Cath’s or Grissom’s. It was Hodges’ fault. And he was gonna pay!

“You’re right.” said Sara. She took her bag and started for the door.

Warrick put his hand on her shoulder, “It’s okay if you are dating Hodges. I can’t imagine why you would want to, but really. It‘s okay.”

“I. Am. Not. Dating. Hodges.”

“Oh, okay then. That’s cool too.” said Warrick with a shrug. “Whatever.”

Sara turned on her heel and left.