Diclaimer: Same as always, don't own CSI or the characters from the show.

A/N: Sorry it has taken me this long to update. I've had a terrible case or writer's block. Anyways thanks to everyone who read and reviewed my story so far. Hope ya'll like this chapter.


Before long, Nick and Warrick had reached the hospital. Now, Nick was following behind Warrick, as they walked down the long hallways of the hospital. Nick didn't like being in hospitals, in fact, he hated them. He had been in too many of them over the years, and almost everytime he was there because of some trouble that he'd found himself in, usuallydue to his job.

At times, Nick wondered if his job was even worth it, after all the things he'd been through because of it. However, he always would come up with the same answer... yes, his job was worth it - because of all the people he helped - all the criminals that he had helped put behind bars - all the families that found peace in knowing what happened to their loved ones and that the criminals would pay for their crimes. That's what made the job worth it to Nick.

Nick was willing to risk his own life for his job, and he knew that Sara was too, for she knew the risks of the job, just as well as he did. That didn't make him feel any better about what happened, though. In Nick's mind, what happened to Sara was his fault, and his fault alone. Nick knew that he shouldn't have let Sara go off alone that night, he should have known better,and no one was going to change his mind about that... not Warrick, Grissom, Catherine, Greg, or anyone else. In Nick's mind, it was his fault.

Nick snapped back to reality, when he heard Warrick asking if he could speak to a doctor about Sara. That's when he realised just how close to seeing Sara again he actually was. Nick's hands began to shake, he was breathing faster, his heart was pounding uncontrolably. Nick silently prayed that this wasn't just another one of his dreams, he prayed that he wouldn't get to Sara's room, and then wake up, only to find that it was all a dream.

Warrick turned around to look at his friend, that's when he noticed that Nick was shaking, his breathing was heavey.

" Hey Nick, you alright man? " Warrick asked.

Nick nodded. " Yeah, i'm fine, " he said, in a not so convincing tone.

" A little nervous, huh? " Warrick asked.

" Yeah, " Nick replied.

" Are you the people here about Ms. Sidle? " a doctor asked, as she walked up to the CSI's, startling them a bit, as they didn't see her walk up.

" Yes, " Nick quickly replied.

" And your name's are? " the doctor asked.

" Nick Stokes, "

" Warrick Brown, "

" I'm Doctor Bentley, " the doctor said, shaking the two men's hands.

" How is she... Sara Sidle, I mean, " Nick asked.

" Well, your friend has been through a lot, but she is stable, " the doctor replied.

" We were told that she was in pretty bad condition when she was brought in? " Warrick asked.

" Yes, Sara has been through a lot, there is an old gunshot wound to the head... lucky for her, it was just a graze. Sara also shows obvious signs of abuse. She has many cuts and bruises, as well as scars from older wounds. Sara's back is the worst... it appears that someone took a leather belt or strap to her back, " the doctor explained.

Nick's heart broke a little more witheach word the doctor said. In Nick's mind, every horrible thing that had happened to Sara... it was his fault.

" What about... was there any signs of... of... sexual assault? " Nick asked.

" The tests came back negetive... however that does not mean that Sara wasn't sexually assaulted... frankly given the time that your friend has been missing, I don't doubt that she was... at one time or another. You will have to ask Sara to be sure, " Doctor Bentley said.

Those were the words that Nick had been dreading, the words he really didn't want to hear, but he knew all along that Sara had probably been abused that way. Still he wasn't willing to believe anything for sure, not until he asked Sara.

" Can we see Sara, now? " Warrick asked.

" Yes, but we have been keeping Miss Sidle sedated, she wouldn't allow anyone to come near her when she arrived, and we thought that she might react better to people that she knows, " Doc Bentley explained.

" I understand... when will she be awake? " Nick asked, his voice was shakey.

" She should wake up within the next couple hours, you're welcome to go sit with her until she does, " the doctor replied.

" Could you take us to her room? " Warrick asked.

" Sure, please follow me, "


Nick and Warrick followed close behind the doctor. Neither of them could hardly believe that this was really happening... that Sara was really alive. After walking for what seemed an eternity, the doctor stopped outside of a hospital room.

" You're friend is in there, " Doctor Bentley said, pointing torwards the door.

" Thank you, " Warrick thanked the doctor.

" No problem, " she replied. " Call me when she wakes up, "

" Will do, " Warrick said.

With that, the doctor headed off to check on her other patients, and Nick and Warrick entered the room.

Nick's heart was beating a million times a minute, as he walked into the room.There in the bed before him was Sara Sidle... a person who, up until just the day before, was thought to be dead.

The room was dark, the shades were all pulled down. Nick slowly walked up to the bed, it was only when he got closer to Sara, that he could see the full extent of her injuries.

" Oh my God! "

TBC.