Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Rating: T, just to be safe.

Spoilers: I guess you could say Nesting Dolls.

A/N: Sorry this is so short but I'm going away tomorrow and I wanted to get something up because I'll be gone for awhile. I hope everyone enjoys it and sticks with me until the end (whenever that may be)! Feedback is always welcome.

Oh and all mistakes are mine. I apologize in advance.


"Of course, Nick, come on up."

The truth was, Sara did not want any company. She needed to be alone. This case had stirred up memories that she had worked very hard to keep in the deep recesses of her mind and she wasn't sure how she was going to deal with them. But she had interrupted his break and he had been kind enough to drive her home. Sara turned towards the stairs and inwardly cringed as she thought about how she had completely broke down in front of him. The more she thought of it, as they both walked up to her apartment, the more embarrassed and humiliated she felt. As they entered her apartment, Sara went directly to the kitchen and started the coffee. She figured the faster it was prepared, the faster Nick could get back to work and he wouldn't be there to ask her any questions. She stood at the counter waiting, not so patiently, for the coffee when she saw Nick moving out of the corner of her eye. He had hung up her jacket and was bringing her bag into the kitchen. He set it on the counter beside the refrigerator. Her brow furrowed slightly as she stirred their coffee. That's where she always put it, but she wasn't quite sure how he knew that. She shook her head a little and watched as he went and stood at the window. Sara made her way towards him with his coffee, which he accepted gratefully and then she took a seat on her couch. Nick followed suit. With his elbows on his knees, he held the coffee mug in both hands and took a drink. She set hers on the table, not really interested.

Neither of them had said anything. Sara turned to look at Nick. He had leaned back and was examining his coffee, which was resting in his lap. He had a thoughtful look upon his face. Sara returned her focus to her hands. Nick really was a great friend. Anyone else would have pushed her to tell them what was going on with her. Instead, he was sitting there, slowly sipping his coffee. She closed her eyes and wondered if it was time to tell someone. Everyone seems to think that if you talk about something, then it will get easier; that it won't be such a burden if you have someone that you can talk to about it. She gave her head a quick shake. No, she couldn't do that to Nick. He had his own demons that he was undoubtedly still dealing with. Sara didn't want to add an extra weight to his shoulders. He didn't need to be worrying about her and if she did tell him, that is exactly what he would do.

She didn't like to think about what he had gone through not too long ago. If she thought about it too much, she would remember just how close they came to losing him. She would remember how her breath had caught in her throat when Warrick's stopwatch began beeping. That was only an estimation. For all they knew, he could have run out of air long before they found him. But, that wasn't the case, he was here now and that was what she had to focus on.

As the silence between them continued, she began to go over the case that had ignited all these memories in the first place. The scene had too many similarities. If she hadn't had such a rough couple of weeks, this scene might not have bothered her so much. She probably would have had a rough night in the sleep department but she wouldn't have been so upset. But the last three cases had been domestic abuse and the one before that had been a brutal rape.

She had arrived at the house and the moment she saw that little girl with the dark hair and big scared eyes, her stomach dropped. As Brass filled her in on the details of the case, Sara couldn't tear her eyes away from her as she stared out from the police car window. Suddenly, the sullen child started screaming and beating her tiny hands against the glass. Sara turned her attention to the front door of the house as an officer led a woman out toward an awaiting ambulance. She was covered in blood but didn't appear to be injured. It was then that Sara noticed the hand cuffs and the vacant, detached look on the woman's face.

The air was thick and the smell of iron consumed her as she entered the bedroom. She saw the victim lying beside the bed. Beneath him was creamed coloured carpet soaked in blood. The walls displayed patterns of cast off. The mirror was smashed and a lamp lay broken beside the victim. She was alone in the room for a few minutes. The only sound was the blood pounding in her ears. She was looking at the man lying dead in a pool of his own blood yet the only image she could see was of that little girl in the car outside. She heard Grissom approach from behind yet said nothing as he set his case down beside hers. Sara had left the lab before Grissom. She knew that he wouldn't want her on this case. Without acknowledging him, she lifted the camera and began taking pictures. She knelt down to get a close up of the knife wounds in the victim's chest. As she raised the camera up to her eye, she struggled to keep it steady. About fifteen seconds past and she could still not get a clear shot. She lowered the camera and took a deep breath then tried again. It didn't work. She felt a gloved hand cover hers while the other took hold of her camera. She looked up into Grissom's eyes as he silently took away the camera. She stood up to protest but Grissom spoke before her.

"Sara, you need to go home."

Sara clenched her jaw tight. "Grissom, I can handle this case." Even as she said the words, she didn't believe them.

Grissom's voice was calm and even. "Sara, you haven't been home in two days, you cannot work this case or any other case until you get some rest."

Saramoved to take her camera back and Grissom took hold of her wrist. "Please Sara, don't do this to yourself. You haven't slept, you've barely eaten and you definitely don't need this case right now."

"How would you know what I need? Are you saying I can't handle this case? Is that what you're saying to me Grissom?"

Grissom closed his eyes as Sara tried to take her camera again, only succeeding in grabbing the strap.

"Grissom, I need to work this case", she pleaded.

He spoke softly. "What you need, is some sleep, Sara"

Her grip on the camera strap loosened until her hand fell to her side. It was clear that she was going to lose this battle and a small part of her realized that Grissom was right. Without another word she picked up her kit and walked out of the house. The police car was gone now and she thought about how nothing in that little girl's life was ever going to be the same again. This night has changed her forever. No matter how much support she receives or how much therapy she goes through, there will always be something different. If she's lucky, she'll learn how to cope with all the fear, anger and sadness. Hopefully this night won't stop her from trusting someone or from feeling safe.

Hopefully this night won't prevent her from having a loving relationship.

Hopefully she won't let this night define who she is.

As she turned the ignition of the Denali, Sara realized she still held those same hopes for herself.