Title: The Better Part of Valor
By: gnr_lab_rat
Pairing: Gil/Nick
Rating: R
Summary: Sara pays Gil an unexpected visit, and she gets the answers she's been looking for—they're just not the ones she wanted.

***

Grissom had left immediately after their shift was over, something he rarely ever did. Sara was curious and more than that she was determined. Determined that this time she would make Gil Grissom see just how good they could be together. She had laid off on her attempts at convincing him to date her, to give them a chance, but she knew they would be perfect for one another and knew that if Gil could just see that they could be so happy.

She pulled into his driveway, reaching across and grabbing the folder off the passenger seat of her Tahoe. She thought she should at least have an excuse for showing up—she doubted that Gil would appreciate her just coming out and saying she wasn't about to give up on them. He was a man that needed to be handled carefully.

Walking towards the town house Grissom had lived in for years, the town house she'd only gotten to see the inside of, two...maybe three times since coming to work at the Vegas lab, she could easily see herself spending her down time here. Cooking for Gil or maybe he would surprise her with his culinary talents and cook for her. The picture in her head was a very comfortable one—that in and of itself told her she was right about trying to pursue her relationship with Gil.

Knocking on the door she waited anxiously for him to open it, butterflies dancing wildly in her stomach, her heart hammering in her chest as she rehearsed what she would say.

When the door finally opened she was greeted with a rather cranky, disheveled Gil Grissom. She was surprised...Gil Grissom was the last person she would ever expect to see in this state.

"Sara, what are you doing here?" Grissom asked a little testily, running a hand through his silver hair as he gave a quick glance over his shoulder.

Sara took a step forward and around Grissom, walking into the house. "I wanted to talk to you about the Williams case." She gave a glance around Grissom's house, noticing that for the most part everything looked like it was in its proper place—except Grissom. "Are you alright, Gil?"

"Sara, this really isn't a good time."

"I'm sorry to disturb you at home, but I really wanted to ask you about this..." She waved the folder in her hand as if it were reason enough to follow the man from the lab to his house during his first 6 consecutive hours off in 4 days.

"Sara, the Williams case has been closed. Anything you have to ask about it can wait until our shift starts tomorrow night. This is the first chance I've had to even set foot in my house in four days. I was just about to grab a shower, so if you'll..."

"Are you sure you're alright, Gil? You look a little...flushed." Sara reached out a hand placing the back of it against Grissom's forehead checking for fever.

Pulling away Grissom sighed. "Sara, I'm fine. It's been a long four days and I'd really just like some time to relax...alone."

"Gil...I-well the William's case isn't really the reason I'm here. I wanted to talk to you about..."

Whatever Sara was about to say was cut off abruptly as the bathroom door opened and a very naked man walked out. Towel over head, roughly drying his hair, the naked form called out, "Gil? I hope you have a good reason for not joining me in the shower." There was amusement behind the voice...and arousal—arousal that was very apparent looking at the sculpted body walking towards them.

"Nick?" Sara squeaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The towel was lowered, revealing a very shocked and suddenly very red Nick Stokes. Dropping the towel quickly he wrapped it around his waste shooting a look at Grissom before looking back at their equally as shocked visitor.

Opening and closing his mouth, Nick decided the better part of valor would be to retreat from this particular battle, turning on his heel and quickly making for the bedroom, leaving Gil alone with a ghostly pale Sara Sidle.

Nick knew he'd pay for it later, the 'don't-you-dare-leave-me-alone-to-explain-this' look on Grissom's face quite clear as Nick gave him a 'sorry-I-need-to-find-some-pants-' look. And really, Nick did need his pants. He couldn't very well stand there in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist while Sara...Sara stood there gawking at him.

Besides, it was Grissom's own fault. He'd never wanted to hurt Sara but he never managed to make her understand he wasn't interested and never would be either. Nick had told him when they started dating and he'd caught her once again flirting with Grissom at the lab that he should say something, anything to give her a clue. But Grissom, being Grissom, couldn't bring himself to tell her off, and didn't think she had a right to know about them. Nick couldn't really disagree on either point. She didn't deserve to be told off, and it was none of her damn business who Gil or Nick slept with, but still—if Gil had just told her something maybe his freaking co-worker wouldn't have seen him in the buff and...oh god.

Nick covered his face with his hands he couldn't believe he'd walked out naked and hard, for cryin' out loud! He was never, ever walking around Gil's house naked again!

In the living room, Gil silently cursed Nick for leaving him alone to explain everything to Sara. He really didn't want to do this right now. He'd planned to spend the night taking a shower and then crawling into bed with Nick. With them working opposite shifts the time they got together was precious and he really didn't want to be wasting any of it trying to calm down an obviously upset Sara.

He took a breath, calming himself and trying to breathe in inspiration, needing desperately for someone to just tell him what to say to the woman in front of him to make it okay, to make her be okay with this and most importantly to make her go away.

Sara stopped him, raising a shaky hand, her face coloring as she looked anywhere but at Grissom. "I'm sorry I disturbed you...I'll talk to you tomorrow. Um—I'm...I'm glad you're happy, Grissom." With a small smile she turned on her heel and quickly walked back to her Tahoe.

Grissom watched her speed away, knowing she wasn't okay, but hoping she would be eventually. Closing the door he sighed, glancing at the closed bedroom door. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he walked purposefully towards the door.

Oh he was going to enjoy making Nick pay for leaving him high and dry.

Turning the doorknob he broke into a full grin—somehow he knew Nick wouldn't mind the payback at all.

***