Disclaimer: I don't own CSI. I am just a humble fan and writer.

A/N: A Nick/Sara ficlet (the first one with 2 parts). First part is a sort of date from Sara's POV (at least for the most part). Not really set in any particular time period, and not really canon. Hope you like it.

Ficlet 02 (ch.1): Riding Adventure

How anyone enjoyed this activity was beyond her.

Sara was on a huge horse galloping at a steady pace that still seemed too fast for her. She looked to her left, noticing how Nick made it look so easy.

Riding sucks.

She agreed to their little 'bet', mostly because she wanted to do something to cheer Nick up. He'd been so serious and somber lately. She couldn't pinpoint it. Perhaps his cases where affecting him or maybe it was something more. Naturally, when he mentioned how much he liked riding horses, she jumped at the chance to try it as long as he was there to help her.
Some help.
With a sigh, she tried to stop her horse. And once again, it ignored her, choosing to keep trotting.
"Nick! How do you stop it again?" she was growing tired of this.
With a chuckle he answered, "Just tug on the reins gently. And it's a she, Sara!"

After much pleading and tugging, she got the chestnut colored horse to stop. Nick was close behind her and helped Sara off her horse.
"I didn't know it would so difficult," Sara wiped her brow while staring up at the large beast. She couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.
"You don't need to be afraid of her, Sara. She's a sweet old girl," he stroked the dark mane of the horse and the horse didn't seem to mind.
He looked at the horse for a minute before stating, "Looks like a quarter horse. She's very calm and docile. But I guess she has a bit of a stubborn streak. Kind of like you."
Nick smiled at Sara, but she didn't smile back.

After a while, she said, "I guess you know a lot about horses."
Sara was trying to find out more about Nick. At the moment she figured it was because he was her friend. But a small voice inside her didn't think believe they were just friends.
"Yeah. Back where I grew up, we used to have a few horses. I learned to ride when I was still in preschool. I had a paint horse that I liked."
"He uhhhh… knew how to paint?" she felt silly for even asking such a question.
He laughed good naturedly, and explained, "Nah. That's what they're called. They have splotches of brown and white. Like someone painted them. He was such a gentle horse."
Sara saw a look in his eyes she hadn't seen in a long time. A sense of relaxed tranquility. Nick was happy and all the troubles and complaints she had before didn't seem to matter.
"I'm glad I went riding with you."
He turned to look at Sara, "Not ten minutes ago, you were saying it was difficult."
"Well... I'm glad I took a chance. I didn't want to miss this for the world." She turned away for fear he would see her flushed, pink cheeks.
He smiled at her once more and placed a hand on her shoulder. Sara almost gasped at how close they were. She quickly regained her composure and smiled to herself.
"How about next time we do something you want to do?"
She only needed to think about it for a second, "Anything? Are you free next week?"
He chuckled and agreed.
He took one last look around the green rolling pasture, knowing he wouldn't see it when they got back to the gray, concrete streets of Vegas. But then decided he wouldn't miss it as much as he thought. He looked towards Sara, who was already trying to climb onto the horse and he grinned.

He couldn't wait for next week.

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