Disclaimer: Do not own CSI or any characters from the show... I only wish that I did.

A/N: Wow! I just cannot believe how many reviews i've gotten for this story! It's amazing! I want to thank everyone who's read and reviewed my story. And a really BIG thank you goes out to nickysbabygirl, who urged me to post this chapter! Thanks!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

" Oh my God! "

Nick was shocked by the horrible condition that Sara was in. Her face was bruised, cuts and scratches lined both her face and hands. Nick was shattered by the horrible sight before him. As he walked torwards the bed, he felt tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Nick sat down in the chair next to Sara's bed, he reached over and gently took Sara's small hand in his own large one. " Her hands are really cold " Nick thought to himself.

Warrick slowly followed Nick into the room, and he too was taken aback by the terrible condition that his friend was in. Warrick noticed the large bruises and scratches that covered Sara's body. He also noticed how extremely thin Sara was. Sara had always been a little bit thin, but now, she was much too thin, she looked as though she hadn't eaten in weeks. Sara looked really weak and tired too, she didn't look like she'd slept in a really long time.

Warrick quietly sat down beside Nick, he looked at the man beside him, and couldn't help but notice how tired he looked, as well. Nick didn't look like he'd been getting much sleep either.

Nick looked down at Sara's hand which he held, then back at Sara.

" Sar... Sara, it's me... it's Nick and... and Warrick is here too. I... I don't know if you can hear me Sara, but we're here... and we'll... we'll be right here when you wake up, alright. I'm not going anywhere, " Nick spoke softly, still holding Sara's hand.

Sara didn't move, she just lay there very still.

" The doctor said it could be a while before she wakes up, " Warrick said.

" I know, " Nick said. " I just... I want her to know that we're here... that she's not alone, "

Warrick nodded. " You should really try to get some sleep, man. You look like hell, "

Nick laughed bitterly. " Thanks alot, "

Warrick frowned. " You know damn well what I mean, Nick. I mean that you should catch some shut eye, Sara won't be awake for a while, and i'll wake you right away if she wakes up before you do, "

" No way, i'm staying right here, " Nick protested.

" Nick... " Warrick started.

" No! " Nick replied before his friend even got the words out of his mouth. " I am staying here with Sara... I left her alone once before, and look what happened! I'm not going anywhere... what if something went wrong? "

" Then I would call a doctor, " said Warrick.

" I'm not tired anyway, Rick, " Nick said. " Why don't you go out in the waiting room and get some sleep, "

" I slept on the plane, man. When was the last time you slept? " Warrick asked.

Nick didn't answer his friend's question, instead, he just put his head down. Nick knew it was pointless to argue, for he knew that Warrick was only trying to be a good friend... he was only concerned about Nick. Truth be told, Nick hadn't slept much at all lately... actually, he hadn't slept much since the night Sara went missing.

" Nick? " Warrick said.

" Listen man, I know i'm going to need some rest, and i'll get it too... but not until Sara wakes up... I need to be here when she wakes up, " Nick explained.

Warrick thought about what Nick had said for a moment, it made sense, for deep down he knew that he wouldn't be able to go take a nap while one of his friends was lying there in a hospital bed.

The room was silent for a little while. Both Nick and Warrick were thinking about Sara... they knew that she had been through a lot over the past two years, they would probably never know just how much she'd been through. Nick knew just how much a horrific event could do, and he knew that what happened to Sara has changed her... he just hoped that they would be able to get her through all this.

A couple hours later, Nick and Warrick were still right by Sara's beside, waiting for her to wake up. Nick was nervously switching through the tv channels with the little remote that was on the corner of the hospital bed. Nick didn't really want to watch tv... especially at that moment, but switching through the channels gave him something else to focus his attention on.

Warrick could see that Nick was really nervous, and he was too.

" She's gonna be okay, " Warrick said.

" You think so? " Nick asked seriously.

" Yeah, I do, " Warrick replied. " Sara's a really strong person, she's one of the strongest people I know... it'll take time, but she will have the whole team to help her through this... she'll be okay, "

" I sure hope you're right, " Nick said.

Nick suddenly felt his hand moving, he turned to look at Sara... she was starting to stir. Her eyes fluttered open.

" She's waking up! "

TBC.

---------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Sorry about the cliffhanger... I just couldn't help myself. Like it? Hate it? Please let me know. Reviews make my day!