Title: Of Ratios and Solitaire
By: weirdbagel
Rating: PG
Pairing: Nick/David
Warnings: FLUFF
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like to use them for my own sick pleasure...
Summary: Just a random fluffy fic that popped into my head before bed... I still don't think I write good Nick/David fics but I'll leave that up to you guys...

"Damn..." David flipped over ten cards into their required piles, observing carefully for anything usable. He picked up the Two of Hearts and paired it (temporarily) with the Three of Clubs, then moved the pair to the newly revealed Four of Clubs.

"Enjoying your break, Hodges?" Nick watched the tech as he poured himself some coffee.

David glanced up at him as if he hadn't noticed Nick were there. He had of course. David seemed to be pleasantly aware of Nick's every breath no matter where he was. "Enthralled." He replied dully, taking an unneeded pause before returning to his game.

"What is it?" Nick asked, leaning over him to see the cards splayed over the communal coffee table.

David took a deep breath, trying to ignore the hot tingle that tickled across his back in response to Nick's innocent closeness. "Spider." He cleared his throat, moving the Queen of Spades to match her King.

"Solitaire?" Nick rounded the small sofa, sitting down a cushion closer than needed, at least in David's opinion. "You know you can play that on the computer now-a-days, right?"

"Well," David shifted, not daring to let his eyes leave the tableau. "The computer's never the same as hands-on..."

"Speaking from experience?" Nick laughed. Of course he laughed, that's what guys like Nick did. God-forbid if David really were gay, because then he'd have to apologize. (He'd been down that road before.)

"What if I am?" David followed nonchalantly, attaching a 5-through-Ace to a seven-six same-suit.

Nick didn't reply. David looked up at him, hoping he seemed more expectant than worried. They sat like that for a beat, David looking at Nick, and Nick suddenly interested in his coffee. David bit the inside of his lip and went back to his game, sighing in a hope to ease the awkward tension in the air.

"What's your ratio?" Nick finally spoke up, setting his coffee cup down outside the tableau.

"What?" David asked, glancing back to him from the Eight of Hearts in his hand.

"Your ratio." Nick smiled, leaning back and sliding his arm up on the back of the sofa casually. "Computer to Hands-on."

David nearly dropped the card. "My-" He fidgeted, suddenly very, very intent on matching that eight to something. (Maybe his concentration would explain the hot flush tinting his cheeks.)

"That bad?" Nick laughed. Of course Nick laughed, because if it weren't directed at him, David would have laughed too.

"Shut up..." David grumbled, scooting angrily away. "Since when has my life been so important to you Stokes?"

Nick shrugged, but didn't respond, instead reaching for a clump of cards that David had been meaning to match. David frowned and set his eight down to protect his building.

"Do you mind?!" David growled, grabbing Nick's hands to stop him.

Nick shook his head. "No..." He grinned and pulled David in, catching his lips with his own as the collection of cards fluttered to the floor.

David could hear his heartbeat thudding in his ears; could feel it bursting through his throat; feel it tearing through his chest. He was kissing Nick. Nick was kissing him. If he dropped dead right now, he'd die happy.

"Do you?" Nick asked. David shook his head and leaned back in, only to be interrupted by a fairly startled-looking Catherine.

"Um... Nick?" She called for the CSI.

"Yeah?" Nick responded, giving David an embarrassed look that almost matched his own.

"Could I... see you in the hallway please?" Catherine asked, holding the folder in her hands over her mouth to hide her huge grin. David could tell she was trying not to laugh. Of course she wanted to laugh, walking in on two coworkers kissing was hilarious.

"Sure." Nick replied, slowly getting up from the couch and following her out, pausing momentarily to glance back at David.

David watched as Nick left, then sighed heavily once the door clicked closed. His heart was still shuddering violently in his tense chest. He took a deep breath to ease it, his eyes trailing to the cards scattered across the floor. Great... just great.

He was never going to think of solitaire the same way again...