Sara told Nick she would be right back when they reached her apartment and for him to stay in the Denali.
Nick agreed and sat waiting patiently for her to return. When she did she was carrying a larger than average shoe box, she got back into the Denali and set the box on her lap.
"We can go now." She told him.
"Back to my place?" Nick asked. Sara nodded.
When they arrived Nick locked up the car while Sara let herself in and set the dusty box on the coffee table and sat down on the couch staring at it.
Nick could tell she didn't want to talk right now, so he went and made them both a drink.
"Thanks." Sara said when he handed it to her and sat down beside her.
"You're welcome." Nick replied and remained silent waiting for Sara to say something. Even if he wasn't a CSI Nick's curiosity would have still had him wanting to know what was in the box, but he knew he had to wait for Sara to want to show him.
Sara leant her head against his shoulder and curled up her legs. Nick kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry." Sara said after a while.
"Sorry for what?"
"Making you leave work."
"Sar' there's nowhere else I'd be right now." Nick assured her.
"You want to know what's in the box don't you?"
"Not unless you want me to."
"I haven't opened it since I moved here, it's been sitting in the back of my closet."
"Explains the dust."
"Ask me."
"Ask what?" The look she gave him gave him a hint. "What's in the box?"
"My childhood." Sara replied.
"Childhood?"
"After my father died, one of the cops and a woman from child protective services was nice enough to take us back to the house so we could get some things. I had a trash bag of clothes and that box. It's got photographs and things from my room."
"It's a nice thing to have."
"I had to leave all my books behind and my cat."
"You had a cat?" Nick questioned.
"Copernicus." Sara replied. "Dad hated him. I never got to see him again."
"That's tough."
"Every time I got moved from foster home to foster home, I had a trash bag of clothes and that box."
"Strong box." He paused. "Are you going to open it?"
"I don't know."
"You can leave it there until you decide or we can put it in a closet here until you're ready." Nick stroked her hair.
"Can we leave it there for now?" Sara asked.
"Of course." He paused. "Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
"Me either, how about we go and get some sleep?"
"I need to take a shower first." Sara said.
"I'll just lock the door. So go ahead."
"Thank you for everything Nick."
"I love you nothing is going to change that." Nick assured her.
"I love you too."
When Sara left the room, Nick looked at the box wondering what little pieces of Sara's past were contained within. Until she was ready to deal with it he was more than willing to let the box remain in its present location.
Nick locked the front door and went and checked the lock on the back door and the door to the attic were secure after the incident with his stalker the attic door always had a lock on it so he would know if anyone had tampered with it.
He heard the water stop as he finished getting ready for bed and set the alarm clock so he would be awake in time to meet Catherine.
Sara yawned as she entered the bedroom.
"I don't know why I'm so tired; I only got up about 11 hours ago." Sara said.
"A long shift." Nick replied.
Sara climbed into the bed and curled up next to him.
"Goodnight." She said.
"Wake me up if you need anything or want to talk."
"Okay."
"Sweet dreams." He kissed her and then they settled down to sleep.
TBC
