Disclaimer: Usual blah blah blah

A/N: Okay, you guys are good for a girl's ego!! Thanks for all the replies!!!! Now, there are still quite a few chapters left to go with this story.  I won't end it without wrapping it all up. I promise J

You Can Still Be Free Chapter 4

~~Nick's House~~

Sara sat on the couch, across from Nick, feeling more alone then she ever had before. He wouldn't touch her, wouldn't say anything. It's like he was in his own world, in which it seemed she had no part. Guilt crept into ever pore of her being. If I hadn't have dated and broken things off with Bill, Nick wouldn't be feeling this way right now. It's all my fault. She looked at him with a pained expression. Don't you see what you're doing to me? Shutting me out hurts. It really does.

Nick stared back at her, his own thoughts circulating in his brain. He was having a hard time placing all of them in the right order. I hope she doesn't think this is her fault. I was the one behind the weapon. I was the one who fired their weapon. "Sara…" He whispered softly, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, Nick?"

Ouch. That one hurts. Not yes, love, but yes Nick. Okay… she's angry about something. "Listen… I don't know where to begin."

"Maybe you should let me say something first. It wasn't your fault. It was Bill's fault. He had a problem, and it over took ever fiber of his being. I don't want this to weigh on your mind. There will be an investigation, but we both know that it was self defense. Cripes Nick, he shot me in the arm before you had the chance to let off one shot. You did what you had to do. Now, I know that it would only be normal for you to believe that you were wrong, and I know it will take some time before you get over this, but you have to see that it wasn't your fault!"

Nick sighed. Standing up he crossed over to where Sara was sitting, and sat beside her. "What did I do to deserve you, Sara Sidle?"

Sara smiled, turning to face him. She put her hand on the side of his face, cupping his cheek. "You were you."

I can feel the magic floating through the air

Being with you gets me that way

I watch the sunlight dance across your face and I've

Never been this swept away

Nick pulled her into a fierce hug, tears slowly slipping from underneath his lashes. "I was so scared, Sara. I didn't know what he was going to do… I'm just glad his aim was off… I don't know if I would have stopped him in time…" His voice faltered a little as he spoke. "I don't what I would have done if he hadn't missed."

Sara smiled at him. "Hush. It didn't happen. I'm okay, you're okay… There is nothing to worry about now."

~~Grissom's Place~~

Catherine leaned back into Gil's arms. She sighed, enjoying the peaceful moment that they were finally able to share. "Gil?"

"Yeah?" He answered casually.

"I wonder if Nick and Sara will be in at work tonight."

"I don't think so." Gil stated.

"How do you know?" Catherine asked, wondering how he had managed to get Sara to take some time off.

"I told them not to come in for the rest of the week at least. They aren't in any shape to be doing anything."

All my thoughts seem to settle on the breeze

When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms

The whole world just fades away

The only thing I hear

Is the beating of your heart

Catherine smiled, and turned to give him a kiss. "You're nothing but a big softie."

Gil laughed a little. "Just don't let anyone know, okay?"

~~Nick's Place~~

Nick lay awake, Sara sleeping peacefully with her head on his chest. He played absent-mindedly with her hair, trying to find some method of relaxation. Sleep eluded him. When he closed his eyes he could see the look in Bill's eyes when Nick had pulled the trigger. It haunted him. Every thought he had was some how linked to the events of the previous night. Sometimes people were unable to sleep because their world was haunting them. Nick didn't want to fall asleep. He was afraid he was going to dream something he didn't want to see.

'Cause I can feel you breathe

It's washing over me

Suddenly I'm melting into you

There's nothing left to prove

Baby all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch

The slow and steady rush

Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be

I can feel you breathe

Just breathe

"Can't sleep Nick?" Sara whispered, looking up at him through heavy-lidded eyes.

"No." He whispered.

She squeezed him tight and held him. "It's going to be okay Nick. I'll help you through this. You will be able to move on."

Nick shrugged, fighting the tears that had sprung into his eyes. "God, Sara… Sometimes it just feels so hopeless. Like no matter what I do, it's three steps forward, two steps back. I can't get past this. I don't know if I will be able to get past the fact that I killed someone."

Sara sat up in bed and turned to look him straight in the eye. "Listen to me Nick." When he didn't look at her, she turned his face toward hers. "Everything you did was all to the book. You warned him that you had a weapon and that if he advanced you would fire." Looking down at her hands, she continued. "So, if you really want to look at it it's all my fault. If I hadn't been seeing Bill, or if I had never broken it off with him, then you wouldn't be in this mess. The only reason why you fired your weapon was because Bill fired his at me. If I hadn't involved you in this whole mess, you…" Tears formed in her eyes and her voice lodged in her throat.

In a way I know my heart is waking up

As all the wall come tumbling down

I'm closer than I've ever felt before

And I know

And you know

There's no need for words right now

Nick leaned forward slightly, sitting up. Putting a finger over her lip to silence her, he then pulled her into his arms. She put her head on his chest as he held her. "Sara… This isn't your fault."

Sara hiccupped and shook her head. "Bill was my ex boyfriend. He beat you up and took a shot at me and then you were forced to fire your weapon at him."

Nick stroked her hair and sighed. "Sara this isn't your fault."

'Cause I can feel you breathe

It's washing over me

Suddenly I'm melting into you

There's nothing left to prove

Baby all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch

The slow and steady rush

Baby, isn't that the way love's supposed to be

I can feel you breathe

Just breathe

"No more than it is yours." She said, proving her point. She squeezed him tighter. "I love you Nick Stokes."

Smiling a little, he kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, Sara Sidle." This is the one. She's the one. I want to spend the rest of my life with this woman. Nick smiled as that thought crossed his mind. He felt at home with Sara. So much more than he ever had with anyone else.  His heart swelled at the idea of asking Sara to marry him. Soon. Very soon. He thought to himself, relaxing for the first time in a couple of days. 

Nick fell asleep with the woman he loved in his arms.

~~Grissom's House~~

Catherine looked at the kit sitting on the top of the counter in the washroom.  She stared at the stick and waited. She closed her eyes as the timer let out a sound, letting her know that the waiting time had ended. She opened her eyes and peered at it. "I knew it!" Catherine exclaimed. She was excited, but unsure of what Grissom's reaction was going to be when she told him he was going to be a father.

Caught up in the touch

The slow and steady rush

Baby, isn't that the love's supposed to be

I can feel you breathe

Just breathe

I can feel the magic floating through the air

Being with you gets me that way

A/N: I didn't think I was going to end the chapter like this, but this is what came out of my brain. J

Song: Breathe by Faith Hill; Album: Breathe