Blue Fire

I apologize because I thought that this chapter was already in there. This helps for the following chapter that you may have already read. Sorry.

Sapphire

Catherine runs into the hospital her black tears running all the way to her neck. The sadness she had burned all the way to her heart. Greg stood and walked up to Catherine with a deeply saddened look.

"Cath..." he said his own eyes red. Catherine pulled him into a hug and squeezed him tight. "Cath, I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault, Greg. I wouldn't blame you." she said as tears still ran down her face. She and Greg both sat down.

"He wanted me to tell you that he is sorry and that he loves you. Then he said it is your smile, laugh, and strength." Greg said, Catherine's lip quivered and she cried into her hands.

"Nick and I argued because I was reading an article about the three things your spouse/lover does that you hate and the other gives you butterflies. Oh god..." Catherine said crying into her hands.

Two years earlier...

Catherine and Lindsay waited outside the airport both nervous as can be. Nick assured them that they were going to be fine, that a week in Texas can do wonders for the soul. Nick pulled up in a huge rental truck.

"You ladies looking for a ride?" he joked catching the eyebrow from both women.

"You better get our bags cowboy," Catherine instructed smiling. Nick smiled. He got out and put all the luggage in the bed of the truck.

"You nervous?" Nick asked, closing the door for Lindsay and Catherine as they hopped into the truck.

"Nervous?" Lindsay chuckled. "I'm going to be knee deep in hillbilly country, with a bunch of people I don't know. Oh I'm not nervous."

"Um Linds we prefer the term rednecks." Nick said smiling. "As long as you brought your jeans and boots its going be fun. We will ride four wheelers and ride some horses."

"I've never been on a horse before." Catherine said nervous. Nick almost broke his neck when he turned and looked at her.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, mom even I've been on a horse." Lindsay said just as shocked as Nick.

"It's alright darlin' I'll show you," Nick said.

"Nick, does your family talk like that too?" Lindsay asked, Nick was confused and just raised an eyebrow. "Aw shucks, darlin." she said mimicking a southern accent.

"Yes," Nick said chuckling. "There's definitely going to be more profound than mine though. They've been here their whole life."

"Great,"

"I just hope my brother doesn't come." Nick said slightly embarrassed.

"Why?"

"Matt, is such a..." Nick said gritting his teeth. "A tool. He's the best at everything and his life is so perfect. He's such a dick." Nick said, Catherine and Lindsay laughed. "I'm serious."

"Well, I have the best of Stokes'." Catherine said giving his hand a squeeze.

"He always trying to flirt with any woman I bring home. And he's married! He's such a tool. He just tries to one up anything you do. He's the only brother I ever fought with."

"What do you mean fought with?" Catherine asked as Nick pulled onto a dirt road.

"I was fifteen and we were having a bonfire and he pulled my pants down in front of everyone because he was embarrassed that his four wheeler broke down in front of everyone. So I punched him and we fought. We were both grounded for a week and had to muck the stalls for a month." Nick chuckled.

"What is mucking?" Lindsay asked.

"Something you are lucky you never have too." Nick chuckled again. Nick pulled into his childhood home which still served as his parents' home. Nick's mom, Jillian, was on the porch reading drinking some tea, she got up and smiled as they parked. There were other cars there as well Nick assumed his brothers and sisters were here. Nick hugged his mother.

"Hey ma," Nick said smiling.

"Hi Nicholas, did you guys make it in alright?"

"Yes ma," Nick said chuckling, as his mother kissed his cheek. "Ma, I'd like to introduce you to Catherine, and Catherine's daughter, Lindsay. Guys this is my ma, Jillian."

"Nicholas, I can introduce myself. Just call me Jill," she said introducing herself to Catherine and slightly pausing as she shook Lindsay's hand.

"Ma, is Cisco around?" Nick trying to bring his mother back to reality and peel her eyes off of Lindsay.

"What? No, there was an emergency hearing on one of the cases he's presiding in. Lauren and her husband on here and so are Johnny and Junior."

"Come I want you to meet my family?" Nick waved to them walking up onto his porch. Nick's nieces and nephews burst through the doors running down to him.

"Uncle Nicky!" they yelled swarming him. They all gave him hugs except one older girl who was thought she was too old for running and swarms hug.

"Who's she?" a little boy asked looking up at Catherine. He looked like a little Nick except he was missing his one front tooth. Nick walked over and put his arms around Catherine and Lindsay.

"This is my girlfriend Catherine, and her daughter Lindsay." Nick said.

"She's pretty," the little boy says smiling tilting his baseball hat at her.

"Who's this little flirt?" Catherine asks causing the boy to blush.

"That's Jackson. This is Anna." Nick said to the little girl in a flower dress that was wrapped around his leg just a second ago. "This is Laurel," he said motioning to the girl who was hiding behind Nick's brother. "This is Theo," Nick said motioning to a slightly older boy. "And the young lady up there who think she's too old to give her uncle a hug is Shannon." Nick said giving her a huge hug. "This is my brother Junior and his wife Luann, my sister Lauren and her husband Tyler, and this is my brother Johnny." Nick introduced as Catherine and Lindsay said hello, each person gave them either a hug or a handshake. Nick's sibling's didn't stare but did look a second too long at Lindsay.

"Why don't you guys go unpack and I'll make some sandwiches for lunch?" Jillian said. The kids ran in the yard throwing a football as Shannon texted on her. Nick brought Catherine and Lindsay downstairs to unpack. Lindsay hopped on the bed pushing the pillow under her head.

"I'm going take a nap." she says.

"I'll show you around," Nick said to Catherine. He brought her to the back and to show her the backyard. "My parents have about 2500 acres of land."

"Oh wow..." Catherine said feeling the breeze of the summer Texas air. Nick grabbed her hand bringing her in the stable. Catherine's face instantly twisted at the smell from inside, Nick laughed. "What are we doing here, Nick?"

"We are in Texas darlin'." Nick said dusting off an old saddle. "I'm going to teach you how to ride this horse." he said putting the saddle on the horse.

"Nick…" she said her eyes going wide.

"I'm not taking no for an answer. Come on." Nick said petting the horse. "This filly is Sapphire." Nick said take the horse in one hand and Catherine's hand in the other. Once they left the stable Nick tightened the saddle and pulled himself up.

"Nicky, I don't know if this is such a good idea." Catherine said genuinely nervous.

"Come on. It will be fine... I promise." Nick said reaching for Catherine.

Catherine cautiously hopped on holding Nick tight.

"Oh my..." she said having her eyes close tightly.

"You're fine, babe." Nick said rubbing her arms loosing the grip that she had on him. Catherine opened her eyes and saw Nick smiling. "You ready? We will go nice and slow."

Catherine had just called Nick's parents who were already on their way, and she called Lindsay who was coming. Catherine sat in the waiting room staring at the ground scared and worried beyond belief. She would give her phone the occasion peek easing her mind at the picture of background. Her background was a picture of Nick smiling goofy next to Sapphire. The memory of that disastrous trip fills her mind, and brings a smile to her face through the tears. Her heart ached the fear of losing Nick was too much. After everything that happened she couldn't lose him, not now.

"Stokes family," the doctor said. Catherine wiped her eyes and walked to the doctor.

"I'm his fiancée. How is he, doc?" she asked, terrified of what answer she'd get.

Again I apologize even though the suspense is gone. Please Review!