A/N: We're back! Here is a longer chapter to make up for the last one. Thanks everyone for being so super patient.


When Grissom was called into work later that evening he was not at all impressed. He had tried to convince the Sheriff that Catherine and Warrick were more than capable of working the high profile case but to no avail. The Sheriff wanted him there and so he had to go. Looking over at Sara, who hadn't woken to the ringing phone, he sighed. He tried to weigh the odds of leaving her at home alone.

Chances are nothing would happen. But he wasn't willing to take the risk. Slipping out of bed he dialed Nick, who he knew Sara would be completely comfortable with.

"Stokes." Nick answered his phone with a yawn.

"It's Grissom."

"Oh hey Griss." The younger man yawned again.

"Listen, I have to go to work and I don't want to leave Sara alone. Will you come by? Please? You can even sleep in the guest room. I just don't want her to be alone."

"Of course man. Be there in fifteen minutes."

"Thanks." Grissom flipped his phone closed and went into the bathroom for a quick shower. When he emerged wrapped in a towel he found Sara's upper body had shifted to his side of the bed, her face buried in his pillow, her legs still on her own side. It amused him that she could be such a bed hog at times but only when he wasn't trying to sleep in the bed too. Sitting on the edge he smoothed her hair behind her ear, unable to resist touching her.

She didn't even move; completely out for the count.

'Love you' he signed before fixing her pillows as best he could to minimize the sore back she would have when she woke up.

Closing the bedroom door on the way out he went downstairs and put on some coffee for himself, but also for Nick, who he knew would need it.

XXXX

By the time Sara had awoken, Nick was fast asleep on the couch downstairs.

Reaching the living room she saw the Texan who was cuddling a pillow. Stifling a laugh, she walked over to him. "Rise and shine Nicky!" She called.

Dropping the pillow, Nick bolted upright.

Sara laughed out loud. "Sorry, I couldn't resist!" She said through her chuckles.

Nick's confused face shifted into a smile. "Hey."

She grinned, sitting on the couch next to him. "So you got put on Sara watch huh?"

"My favorite duty." He stood up. "Hungry?"

"Starving."

"What would you like."

"Mmm," Sara looked up, trying to think of something. "Apple pie."

"Apple pie!" Nick teased as Sara nodded like a bobble head. "Okay then. Come m'lady." He helped her stand and they walked into the kitchen.

XXXX

"This is really really really good Nick." Sara said speaking between bites of apple pie.

"No kidding; you've only had two pieces." Nick chuckled as he cleaned up his baking mess. Sara was sitting on a stool at the breakfast bar happily chatting about baby things and her birthing plan, the latter of which being something Nick really didn't want to hear about but didn't have the heart to tell her. She was interrupted mid sentence when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." She told him moving off her stool, plate of pie still in hand.

"No, stay, eat. I got it." Nick helped her back onto her stool and left the kitchen to answer the door, towel drying his hands. "Hi, can I help you?" He asked a blonde woman standing on the porch.

"I would love it if you could. My car broke down and this was the only house where someone seemed to be home and I-"

Nick cut her off. "Sure, do you know what's wrong with it?"

"My battery died. I accidentally left the radio on."

"I have some cables in the back of my car. Just one sec." Nick went to the kitchen to tell Sara he would just be outside and then followed the woman to his car and opened the trunk.

He was aware of reaching for the cables and his head colliding against the hood of the car, then nothing.

XXXX

The blonde woman looked at the man lying unconscious on the ground for a moment before stepping around him and starting towards to front door. She could hear Sara talking to someone on the phone somewhere in the back of the house when she sauntered casually into the living room, taking time to inspect some photos on the wall positioned decoratively in obviously expensive wood frames. She dropped an envelope on the coffee table and was about to leave when a tail wagging Watson, who was blocking her path to the door, greeted her. Pushing him to the side she wandered out of the house, past the collapsed man in the driveway and to her car where she got in and drove away hearing Watson beginning to bark furiously in the house.

XXXX

"Watson, behave or mommy isn't going to give you any treats tonight." Sara scolded softly ending her call with her husband and going into the living room. "What are you barking at?"

Watson was sniffing curiously at the table and Sara crossed the room to see what had caught his interest. There was a plain envelope that she didn't recall putting there. Cautiously she picked it up and turned it over patting Watson's head without looking at him. The dog sat at her feet as she slid a hand written note out of the envelope.

With shaking hands she held her breath and unfolded the letter recognizing the writing instantly. Throwing a nervous glance around the room and read the letter quickly.


Sara,

I'm glad you had a good lunch today with your friends. The young one in particular seems very dedicated to protecting you. I have nothing really to say to you yet as there will be plenty of time for that later. I just wanted to show you that there is nothing anyone can do to stop me Sara, not even all the bodyguards in the world.

Point proven.

Mom


Sara furrowed her brow and looked around the room again. "Nick?" He didn't answer. Putting the letter down she took hold of Watson's collar, her senses on high alert. "Nick." Standing in the living room she listened intently for any sound in the house. It was silent except for Watson's heavy panting. Walking slowly and quietly toward the half open front door she pushed it the rest of the way trying to make as little noise as possible.

Her heart caught in her throat when she saw Nick's feet sticking out from behind the car. Grabbing the phone from the cradle in the living room she ran to his side as fast as she could and kneeled down beside him panic subsiding a little when she found his pulse. Pulling her hands back she dialed for an ambulance and took Nick's hand in hers.

"I need an ambulance at 16 Surrey Street. I have a man unconscious but breathing. Please hurry." Taking his hand gently in hers she watched his face, waiting.

XXXX

"Sara." Grissom said her name trying to her attention. She was standing outside an examination room at the hospital her arms clasped delicately on top of her belly. She turned to look at him slowly. "Are you okay?" He asked when he got to her side.

"I'm fine."

He didn't believe her. She turned back to look through the half closed blinds to Nick who was being examined by a Doctor. "Is he okay?"

"I think so. He has a bump on his head, but, I think he will be okay." The latter part of her statement was said in a whisper that he had to strain to hear. "He had some nausea, in the ambulance, so he probably as a concussion."

"What happened Sara?"

Her shoulders sagged slightly. "I don't know." She shook her head. "I was on the phone with you and when I came out he was just… on the ground."

"Laura?" He asked.

She nodded her head and finally turned to look at him. "She left another letter. She was in the house Grissom. She was in our house and I didn't even know..."

He watched her brown eyes widen as she spoke, brimming with unshed tears.
"Why don't we sit down?"

She shook her head. "Nick's…"

"Going to be a while. Come on." He urged gently taking her elbow and walking her a little down the hall to a couple of seats institutionally bolted to the floor. Sara lowered herself into one and Grissom sat beside her, leaning forward on his knees, his fingers steepled, head turned toward her. "Do you have the letter Sara?"

She shook her head negatively again. "I left it in the house."

"What did it say?"

She blinked furiously trying to stop the tears that had gathered in her eyes from falling. "That no one can protect me." Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. "I think she has been listening to us Gil. And I know she has been following us."

"What do you mean listening?"

She slumped back into her seat. "It could just be a coincidence but… she mentioned in the letter that not even our bodyguards can stop her… remember when I wanted to stay home that night? That we told Nick? I told you that you should hire a bodyguard…" Leaning her head back against the wall she closed her eyes.

"She's just trying to scare you Sara." Grissom took her hand lovingly in his.

"It's working."

"She won't let her get to you I promise."

"She's already getting to me Grissom. I told you I didn't want to involve the team. And you insisted and now look what happened."

"Nick's going to be okay Sara."

Her eyes flew open and she pulled her hand out of his to wave it around in exasperation. "He is in the hospital Grissom. That is not okay!"

Grissom put his hands up in surrender. "Okay. Okay. I'm sorry this happened. I will figure it out, okay? It's all going to be okay." Putting his hand on her shoulder Grissom drew her closer to him allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder.

Tucking her head under his chin Sara bit back tears and slammed her eyes shut again, desperately trying to believe him.


A/N: So? What do you think?

Remember to please submit a quick comment so we can send you a sneak peek for the next chapter.

Thanks!