(First of all, I am feeling slightly (really!) unsure about this chapter, so I hope that you all enjoy it. Second of all, thank you to everyone who has continued to read and/or review my very first Swarrick fic ever. I appreciate your support and encouragement throughout the writing of this entire thing, and trust me, your comments continuously made my day! That being said, I believe that it is time for Dinner and a Movie to receive a finis, rather than a TO BE CONTINUED sign at the end. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed reading this story, as much as I enjoyed writing it!)
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Disclaimer: I do not own any part of CSI or its characters. That honor goes to the good folks over at CBS.
Title: The Date
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Warrick’s Apartment
“I’m sorry that it’s so small,” Warrick apologized to Sara for the umpteenth time, as he opened the front door for her, allowing her to walk past him and into his place.
“But it does have coziness potential,” she reminded him, glancing around the tiny living room, and noticing the sparse furniture.
“It does?” Warrick asked, setting his keys and wallet down on the table by the front door.
“Well…it might,” she teased him, flashing him a small smile. “It all depends.”
“On what?” Warrick queried, as he swaggered into the kitchen, opening up the refrigerator to see what he could make for dinner.
“Well, do you have a couch?” she asked, following him into the kitchen.
“Of course,” Warrick confirmed.
“And a blanket?” she continued.
“I like where this is going,” Warrick grinned at her.
“So if we have a couch, and a blanket, and the two of us,” Sara mused. “I’m pretty sure that your apartment could be classified as cozy. Don’t you concur?”
Warrick chuckled, an amused twinkle in his eye. “I think that my apartment is cozy, then,” he told her, before turning around again to face the refrigerator. “So what are you in the mood for, Girl?”
Other than you? “What do you have?” she asked.
Other than me? “Pasta, breakfast foods, uh,” he scanned the contents of his refrigerator. “That would be about it; pasta and breakfast foods. Unless you want to have something delivered? Pizza? Chinese?”
Sara slowly shook her head from side to side, before smiling at him. “No one has ever made me breakfast before, so can we have something along those lines?”
“Breakfast it is. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable?” Warrick suggested, nodding his head toward the couch.
Sara again shook her head no, instead, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “I want to watch you cook, if that’s okay with you?”
Warrick chuckled. “Sure, whatever you want, Sara,” he told her, grabbing a box of pancake mix, a measuring cup, eggs, and butter, and turning the burner on so that it had the chance to warm up.
Sara raised an eyebrow in amusement, staring at Warrick. “You, uh, measure everything out?” she teasingly asked him.
“Why, you don’t?”
“I just eyeball it,” Sara admitted. “But measuring is good, too,” she smiled.
“So, why don’t you come show me how it’s done, then, Rachel Ray?” Warrick grinned at her, turning around to face her.
“You’re doing just fine on your own,” Sara smirked. “I think I’ll just stay right here.”
“Nope, not anymore,” Warrick told her, walking over to the table, and holding his hand out to her. “Up and at ‘em. You are officially helping me with breakfast,” he smiled, when she finally took his proffered hand. Immediately pulling her to him, and wrapping his arms tightly around her body, he raised an eyebrow. “Oops,” he commented. “Damn, Girl, you tripped.”
“I did, did I?” Sara laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist, and looking up at him, as her face slowly turned red.
“I do believe that that is why you landed in my arms,” Warrick seriously informed her.
“Well, then I suppose it’s a good thing that you were here to catch me,” she replied with a smile, licking her lips in anticipation of what she thought was about to happen.
“Yes, it is definitely a good thing,” Warrick murmured, as he closed his eyes, and leaned toward her.
Before he had a chance to press his lips to hers, however, an alarm suddenly filled the air, forcing Sara to jump in surprise, and causing her to scream in shock. “What the hell is that?” she yelled at Warrick.
Warrick, equally as surprised, immediately released Sara, his eyes darting around the kitchen, looking for the offending noise. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, briskly running to the stove. “I forgot to turn it off,” he frowned. Of all of the stupid, ill-timed, things to do; we were SO close!
Sara, her arms held across her chest, just chuckled, as she watched him. “Alright, Iron Chef,” she teased him. “Why don’t you go ahead and make the pancakes, and I’ll… pick out a movie?” she suggested, already walking toward his living room. “I don’t suppose that you have any romantic comedies lying around here?”
Warrick grinned, as he cleaned out the now semi-burned pan, starting to mix and pour the necessary ingredients into another bowl. “Afraid not,” he admitted. “But you should still be able to find something that you’ll enjoy. The videos are in the cabinet under the television set, so help yourself.”
Sara simply nodded, as she knelt down next to his television, and started thumbing through his movies. Superman; hmm, you can be my Superman, she chuckled to herself, setting the video aside. Gladiator? Yeah, you can be my gladiator, too. X-Men, Total Recall, Searching for Bobby Fischer. “Searching for Bobby Fischer?” she asked aloud, a little bit surprised. “Really?”
“I like chess,” Warrick reminded her. “And that kid is amazing,” he shrugged, flipping the pancakes. “Is that the movie that you’d like to see?”
“If you don’t mind,” Sara replied, picking the DVD up in her hands, and setting it down on the coffee table. Slowly walking into the kitchen, she leaned against the wall, watching Warrick cook. “How’s it going?”
“Almost done,” he grinned. “Want to flip some of the pancakes?”
“Sure,” Sara smiled, walking toward him, and taking the spatula out of his hands. Staring at the pan, she watched the oil sizzle.
Behind her, Warrick cleared his throat, before stepping closer to her, and hesitantly wrapping his arms around her body.
“What are you doing…?” Sara murmured, once again feeling her heart start to pound in her chest.
“I’m… holding you?” he cautiously replied, taking another step closer to her, and holding her more securely and comfortably in his arms.
“But this doesn’t count as the before-mentioned holding, right?” Sara bit her lip, still staring at the pan. “Because… I mean,” she paused. “It wouldn’t exactly be fair to me, unless I was able to hold you, as well,” she pointed out.
Warrick chuckled, his lip just next to her ear. “Right; I’m still going to hold you later on, too, and then you can hold me, as well. But remember, I’m selfish; I might not want to let go of you,” he warned, closing his eyes for a moment, and trying his hardest not to kiss her right then and there. Drawing on his self-control, Warrick reluctantly released Sara from his hold, moving toward one of the cabinets, and pulling down several plates and dishes.
Trembling at the slight contact, and then at the sudden lack of it, Sara took a deep breath, in the hopes of steadying her nerves. “That’s alright, because I’m pretty selfish, too,” she swallowed, flipping the remaining pancake, and shutting off the burner. More so than you can imagine. Carrying the plate of pancakes over to the table, Sara set them down, glancing over at Warrick. “Ready to eat?”
“You bet,” he smiled at her. Because after we eat, I get to hold you again, and the kiss you, and then hold you some more.
Good, because I’m going to eat fast, she told herself. Because after we eat, I want you to hold me, and then kiss me, and the maybe even hold me some more.
“How do you like the pancakes, Girl?” Warrick asked, after they had been eating for five or so minutes.
“They’re good,” Sara admitted. “Maybe there’s something to be said about that whole measuring thing.”
Warrick just chuckled, as he took another large forkful of his dinner. I have to finish these soon. I want to hold her! “Well,” he hesitated. “You could always make me some pancakes the next time that we have pancakes together, and then we can compare notes.”
Sara smiled, as she shoveled another forkful of pancakes into her mouth. “That sounds like a good idea,” she told him. Next time? That means that there is going to be another date! “But unfortunately,” she sighed, pushing her plate away. “I’m full.”
“Me, too, actually,” Warrick agreed, as he quickly stood up, and grabbed Sara’s plate for her. Carrying both of their dishes to the sink, he glanced over his shoulder at her. “You can get settled on the couch, though, if you’d like,” he smiled, as he headed back toward the table to get their silverware and glasses. Depositing them into the sink, he grinned, as he watched her leave the kitchen.
Sara just nodded, as she meandered into the living room, sitting down at one end of the couch. Sighing, she swung both of her legs up onto the cushions, a contented expression on her face.
“Here you go,” Warrick suddenly said from behind her, gently setting a blanket down on top of her prone body. “I believe you said that we needed a blanket, in order to create a cozy environment?”
“Yes, I did,” Sara chuckled, as she placed it over herself. “Hurry back, though, okay? I believe that you were also a part of the coziness equation.”
Warrick nodded, as he grabbed the DVD off of the coffee table, and stuck it into the machine. “I’ll clean up the rest later,” he grinned at her, walking back over to the couch, and lifting her feet up. Throwing himself down, and setting her feet down in his lap, he hit the play button, trying to make himself more comfortable.
Sara, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow at Warrick. “Weren’t you going to hold me or something?” she quizzed him.
“Or something,” Warrick replied, picking up one of her feet, and gently pressing his fingers into her skin.
Sara gave another contented sigh, as she half-closed her eyes. “What are you doing?” she softly asked him.
“Just relax, Girl,” Warrick calmly told her, as he continued to massage her foot, gently pulling her sock down, so that she could feel the warmth emanating from his hands.
“And what are you doing now?” she continued, taking a deep breath. “God, that feels so good,” she admitted, licking her lips.
“Shh, Sara.” Closing his eyes, Warrick dug his thumbs into the soles of her foot, before sliding his hands up to her toes, and gently rolling each individual toe in between two of his fingers.
Sara let out a soft moan, as she slid further down on the couch, looking up at Warrick though half-closed eyes. “Don’t stop,” she mumbled, feeling herself relax at his touch. Please, just don’t stop!
“I won’t,” Warrick promised. “Although your other foot is probably feeling a little bit left out, Girl.” Your skin is so soft and smooth, Sara.
“Uh-huh, it is,” Sara whispered, pulling her one foot out of Warrick’s grasp, and immediately lifting the other one up off of his lap.
Warrick just chuckled, as he gently grasped the foot in his hands, once again softly rubbing it. “How’s that feel, Sara?” he quietly asked.
“Mmfg,” she sighed, licking her lips. Please don’t stop; really, please don’t stop. That feels so good; your hands are so warm! God…
That good, huh? Well, damn, Girl, we should have done this a long time ago, then. Grasping her foot a little bit more tightly, Warrick slid both hands up toward her toes, once again gently rolling them between his fingers. Do you like that, though?
Sara’s expression immediately changed, as she closed her eyes, and tried to hold back another moan. So relaxed right now; I can’t… so relaxed. “Love you,” she mumbled, before her eyes snapped open. “I mean, I, uh,” she swallowed in nervousness. Shit! Did I just really just say that out loud? What a way to ruin the mood!
Warrick stared at Sara, as if trying to read her expression. Do you really love me? Or are you just so relaxed, that it slipped out of your mouth by accident? I know that I love you, and I’ve told you that my love for you is a part of the reason that I had a hard time getting along with Tina, but… he swallowed.
“It’s true,” Sara cautiously whispered. “I really think that I love you,” she told him, the nerves once again settling in, as her face turned a deep shade of red.
Smiling, Warrick very careful set her foot back down in his lap, before lifting both of them up in the air, and crawling out from underneath them. “Well, that’s good,” he quietly admitted. “Because I love you, too.”
“Now what are you doing?” Sara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Warrick ignored her, as he gently set her legs back down on the cushions, moving toward her head, and sitting down beside her.
“Warrick? What are you doing?” Sara repeated her question. Are you finally going to kiss me? she wondered, her heart starting to race, and her face flushing even more.
“Shh,” Warrick mumbled, gently placing two fingers over her lips in order to silence her, and leaning toward her. Lightly brushing his left hand against her cheek, he continued to lean toward her, until his chest was just barely touching hers. “Is this okay?” he quietly asked, searching deep into her eyes for the answer.
“Uh-huh,” Sara whispered, sliding further down on the couch, so that she was lying flat on her back. Licking her lips in anticipation, she smiled up at him, waiting for him to finally give her their first kiss together.
Warrick smiled back, before closing his eyes, and softly pressing his lips to hers. I’m really… we’re really… I can’t believe that I’m kissing you!
Sara slowly wrapped an arm around Warrick’s back, drawing him closer to her, as she tried to deepen the kiss. I just want to feel you against me, Warrick. Please! I want you to kiss me harder!
Lightly tracing her bottom lip with his tongue, Warrick sighed in contentment, as Sara opened her mouth for him. This is… so unreal. Damn, this is so unreal! He thought to himself, feeling his heart rate quicken.
“Hi,” Sara finally whispered, gently pushing Warrick away from herself, so that they could both take a moment to breathe.
“Hi,” Warrick returned her whisper, as he lightly brushed the back of his hand against her cheek, his elbow resting on her chest.
“You’re supposed to hold me,” Sara quietly pointed out. “… Can you?” And then I want you to kiss me some more.
Warrick nodded, as he very carefully got to his feet, sitting down at the other end of the couch. Holding his arms out to Sara, he was about to tell her that he was ready for her to come toward him, when he realized that she was already sitting up, and crawling toward his lap. “Hi, there,” he again chuckled, raising an eyebrow as she crawled into his lap, turning to face him.
“Hold me?” Sara softly requested, as she threw a leg on either side of his lap, firmly pressing herself against him.
Warrick tightly wrapped his arms around Sara’s body, drawing her closer to himself, before kissing her again. After a moment, he smiled. “Your face is all flushed,” he observed.
Sara nodded. “I feel very flustered right now,” she hesitantly admitted, feeling her heart still pounding inside of her chest.
“Because of me?” Warrick cautiously asked, once again pulling her closer, and gently rubbing her back.
“Uh-huh. I’ve never felt this comfortable with someone before, Warrick. I’ve never felt this safe, or this happy, or this—”
“Loved?” Warrick supplied for her. “Because damn, Girl, if you didn’t already know it, I love you,” he informed her, his voice barely audible over the sound of their own breathing.
“I love you, too,” Sara smiled at him, leaning forward for another kiss. “And I don’t want you to ever stop doing this.”
“Never?” Warrick asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Never-ever,” she confirmed, once again pressing her lips to his.
Sliding his hands down to her hips, Warrick smiled, as he deepened the kiss. Gripping her more tightly, he carefully stood up, his heart thumping, as he continued to kiss her.
What are you doing? Sara wanted to know. But she didn’t have to wonder for very long, as Warrick carried her to his bedroom, slowly closing the behind them. “Love you,” she repeated, before the door had a chance to fully thunk shut.
“Love you, too,” came Warrick’s sincere and truthful reply.
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Finis
