A/N: So, here's chapter two. I promised myself that I would have this posted by tonight, so here it is! Don't own 'em. As I typed this, I was listening to Norah Jones' Don't Know Why. Oh God. Listen to that song. It's beautiful. Granted, I also have Gwen Stefani's 'Rich Girl' and Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 stuck in my head, so whatever. But still, it's a gorgeous song!

Chapter Two

Nick and Sara hadn't waited a day. Nick had insisted on taking Sara to Tiffany's and buying a diamond ring set in a simple white gold band. They then purchased matching wedding bands and a marriage license.

Now they stood in front of a minister, Sara in a simple white dress and Nick in a suit. "Do you –" The minister glanced at Nick.

"Nick Stokes." Nick supplied.

"Take this woman –"

"Sara Sidle."

"To be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Nick smiled softly. "I do."

"And do you, Sara Sidle, take this man, Nick Stokes, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

-

As they strolled down the Strip, Sara leaned on Nick's shoulder. "I don't want to go to work tonight." She glanced at the Caesar's Palace. "I don't want to hear about murder and crime on the happiest night of my life."

"So call in sick." Nick shrugged. "You have enough sick days and plenty of OT on the books."

Sara pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She dialed Grissom's office. He was there, just as Sara knew he would be. "Hey Griss." She croaked, trying to sound as sick as possible. "I can't come in tonight. I'm sick."

Grissom sighed. "Okay. I'll call Nick and see if he can come in tonight."

"No!" Sara blurted out. "He's taking care of me." She winced. "Uh, I'm a total mess. Can't get out of bed. I've already thrown up on him three times today."

"Alright." Grissom was trying to be understanding. "I'll get somebody from Days or Swing to cover."

"Thanks." Sara said softly.

"Get well. Bye Sara."

Sara hung up. "Hey, Sar. Let's get the honeymoon suite." Nick pointed excitedly to the Caesar's Palace.

Sara grinned. "Kay."

Twenty minutes later they were checked into Caesar's Palace. "Sara." Nick took one of her hands in his. "I got you a gift. I was going to give it to you if you moved in with me. I guess it seems we'll be moving in together now that we're married." Nick handed her a pink Victoria's Secret bag.

Inside was a revealing black lace gown. "Nick!" Sara couldn't resist a laugh. "How'd you get this over here?"

"Warrick." Nick blushed.

"You sly fox." Sara teased. "So Mr. Stokes, how are you liking married life?"

"I'm enjoying it very much, Mrs. Stokes." Nick picked Sara up and gently set her down on the bed. "I'm enjoying it very much."

-

Grissom wandered into the locker room, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Warrick." He stopped next to the younger CSI. "What do you know about Nick and Sara?"

"What do you mean?" Warrick asked carefully.

"They're both out tonight and I'm ninety eight percent sure that something is going on between the two of them. You're Nick's best friend. What's going on?"
Warrick sighed. He and Nick were tight and though he and Sara had gotten off to a rocky start, she was practically his little sister. But Grissom was the man who'd never doubted him. He'd give him a chance even after most people would have fired his ass. "They got married." He said quietly. "They've been going out for almost three weeks. They got married tonight."

"A honeymoon then." Grissom nodded. "Thanks Warrick." He turned to go.

"Hey, Griss…" Warrick called.

"Yeah?"

"Nick and Sara aren't in trouble, are they?"

"Has their relationship interfered with work?"

"No." Warrick closed his locker.

"Then no. They're not in trouble." Grissom left.

-

Interruption: the Grissom-Sara parts of this story were really annoying for me to write. They were almost my kryptonite. Please don't stone me for my horrifying transgression.

The next night Grissom watched Nick and Sara unclasp their hands and slip the something in to Sara's purse. Grissom noted that Sara's ring finger was bare, as was Nick's. Grissom assumed that the rings were in Sara's purse. Nick and Sara ducked out of Grissom's field of vision and then reappeared. They strolled along, talking like old friends, flirting lightly like they always did. They didn't act like lovey-dovey newlyweds. Sara was happy, though. That was what Grissom had wanted. Mostly. He had wanted to wake up next to Sara, open mail addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Gil Grissom, and make her breakfast. Now Nick would be the one to do those things. He'd figured it out and it was too late, just as Sara had promised it would be.

"Nick, Sara. My office please." Grissom's blue eyes were dark and swirling.

Nick and Sara sat in the chairs in front of Grissom's desk. "Grissom –"

"You're not in trouble." Grissom interrupted. "I know you got married yesterday. I also know you've been dating for a little under a month. It hasn't affected your work, so I have no reason to separate you. But since you are in a romantic relationship, you are automatically on probation. If there is any incidence where your relationship interferes with work by calling evidence into question or anything of the like, I will have to split you up."

Sara nodded. "We understand."

"Good. I'm handing out assignments in five minutes. Don't be late."

-

Sara opened her purse. Grissom and Warrick knew about Sara's marriage. Greg and Jaqui at least knew about the budding relationship. Only Cath was clueless. "Should we tell her?" Nick asked Sara.

"Everybody else knows." Sara shrugged.

"Greg doesn't know."

"I'm pretty sure Greg knows." Sara turned pink.

"And how would he know, Mrs. Stokes?" Nick teased.

"The closet by the DNA lab? 'Not soundproof,' as Greg so kindly put it."

"It's not my fault." Nick grinned.

"Shut up." Sara laughed. "So are we gonna tell or not?"

"How about we both wear our wedding band and see if they figure it out."

"Okay." Sara handed Nick the jewelry box that contained his wedding band. She slipped on her engagement ring and wedding band.

-

Catherine lounged at the table in the CSI break room. She contemplated Warrick. Warrick. They were getting married in four months, but they hadn't yet told anyone. It shouldn't have been a hard decision. Lindsey loved Warrick. There were no work conflictions. Deep in her heart, though she knew she didn't want to admit it, she knew why she hadn't told anyone.

She didn't love Warrick.

They were great friends and Warrick was a perfect dad for Lindsey. But she loved someone else. Her heart belonged to Grissom. He was a recluse, yes, but he was always there for her. He'd protected her from Eddie, taken care of Lindsey like she was his own, and he'd given Cath a job. How could she not love him? And how could she tell Warrick?

"Cath!" Nick called. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Cath smiled. "Did you need something?"

"Um, yeah." He returned her smile. "We're working on a case together. Floater at Lake Mead."

"Sounds like a plan." Cath picked up her purse., "Let's get going."

"I'm driving." Nick jangled the keys.

-

"So Nicky, can I ask you a question?" Catherine heaved a sigh.

"Sure. What's up?"

"You know about me and Warrick, don't you?"

"How'd you know?" Nick grinned sheepishly.

"Lindsay told you. She admitted it to me."

"Well, yeah. I do know. Why do you ask?" He tossed her a sidelong glance.

"I have to ask you something and you can't tell anyone, okay?"

"Sure. Cath, what's going on?"

"I can't marry Warrick." Catherine said softly.

"What?" Nick's head whipped sideways. "What do you mean you 'can't marry Warrick?'"

"I can't. I don't love him. I…I love…" Catherine could barely bring herself to say it. "I love Grissom."

Nick pulled the car over. "You love Grissom." Nick repeated, shaking his head. "Oh man. You have to tell Warrick, Cath."

"How can I? I can't bear to hurt him like this. He's always been there for me."

"Cath, you have to tell him. You can't marry him if you don't love him."

"I know." Catherine stared out past the windshield. Nick reached over to start the engine and get them to the crime scene when Catherine noticed a small flash of gold on his ring finger. "Nicky." Catherine squinted. "Am I going blind, or is that a ring on your finger?" She pried his hand off the wheel. "Is that a wedding ring?"

Nick held up his right hand for inspection. "Yes it is."

"Wha-" Catherine sputtered. "How do you – when did you get married? And to whom?"

"I'll let you figure that one out." Nick smiled slyly. "But back to you and Warrick. So what are you going to tell him?"

"I don't see any way to tell him except that I don't love him."

"You gotta do it soon. You can't lead him on."

"I know." Catherine looked miserable. "Hey, we're here." She pointed out the window. "Let's go."

-

Warrick stirred his coffee and sighed. Catherine seemed so distant lately. He wasn't sure that she even wanted to marry him anymore. "Hey girl." He waved to Sara. "Let me see the ring." Sara obediently held out her hand for Warrick's inspection. Warrick whistled. "Boy that's an impressive rock."

"I know." Sara smiled. "I can't believe I'm married. To Nick!"

"You two have been in love since he first set eyes on you. Don't even deny it."

"It's true." Sara admitted good-naturedly. Catherine came in. "I gotta go find Nick." Sara tossed off a knowing grin.

"Hey." Catherine looked at her feet.

"Hey." Warrick returned. He didn't move in to kiss her, as he once would have. "How was your day?"

"It was good." Catherine thought of something. "Hey, did you know that Nick's married?"

"Yeah." Warrick shrugged.

"To who?"

Warrick shrugged again. "You're supposed to figure it out." He turned more serious. "Cath, there's something we have to discuss."

"Yeah?" Catherine started to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"You don't want to marry me any more, do you?"

Cath stopped pouring the coffee. She took in a deep breath. "I can't marry you. It's not fair to you."
"You love Grissom, don't you?"

"I don't know. I think I do, but it wouldn't be fair of me to marry you if I don't love you. You should be free to find somebody who can promise you what I can't."

Warrick sighed. "I understand. I'm glad you were honest with me."

"I'm sorry this will come between us." Catherine truly looked apologetic.

"Hey, at the beginning of all this, we promised that no matter what we'd always be friends first. Now it's come time for that."

"Yeah." Catherine nodded. "Even if you hate me, please, for Lindsey, don't lose touch with her. She loves you. I don't think she could handle that."

"I'd never hurt Lindsey." Warrick promised. "And I'd never hate you." He paused. "So this is it, then? The end of us?"

"The end of us." Catherine confirmed semi-tearfully.