Disclaimers in Ch. 1
~*~
A year later, I'd grown up. For the past 5 months, I'd dreamt of Nick, and nothing but Nick. Nick coming back to me, his soft skin in my arms. And everyday I waited; waited to be swept off my feet. I wished Nick would rescue me. Like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Women". Rescue me, and we'll live together happily ever after. LIke the fairytales my parents used to read me. Rescue me, I would plead. He never rescued me.
I was rescued though; by one Adam Walker, from Houston. Adam Walker is handsome, successful, and he loved me. He would never leave me, like Nick abruptly did. I was happy. I am happy.
~*~
No one had heard from Sara for a couple months now. Grissom had been in contact with her quite frequently, but then a month turned into 2, and 2 turned into 3, and soon the connection was lost.
Grissom told us she had gotten her old job back in San Francisco, was dating again, and suggested I do the same. It took me a while to accept the fact that she was moving on. I wanted her to ache, come back to me, pleading for forgiveness. Why, I don't know. I would never, never want Sara to hurt herself...and I knew that Sara was just too proud to come back on bended knees.
Kristy was interesting, but there was absolutely no chemistry. Christa was attractive; but my heart just wasn't into her. I always knew I loved Sara; she was perfect. BUt, I never knew that I was in so deep, that my life could just, lock down. It's the scariest thing love can do to you.
~*~
"Marry me,"
I stared at the 2 karat diamond surrounded by sapphires.
"What?"
"Will you be my wife?"
"No," I answer pretty flatly. The look on his face says that I had said it aloud.
"I mean, no...I have no idea what to say!"
"Oh," he says, before nervously laughing. "How about yes?"
"How about I'll think about it?" asking him with all seriousness.
"Alright. Take all the time you need. How about you come to Houston with me, to meet my family?"
"Ok, fine. As long as you don't ask me to do the hokey pokey..."
~*~
"Hi mom, hi Dad,"
"Nicky, sweetie." My mom said. Her eyes were red from crying.
"Hey Nick. Thank Grissom for us, for letting you come down on such short notice,"
"Dad, he understood. Have you made all the arrangements? Can I help with anything?"
"Uhh, could you call the home in Houston, uhh...Deerspring Cemetary Home, that's the name...and confirm that the funeral will be held there tomorrow at 2?"
"Sure thing Dad. WHere's the phonebook?"
~*~
"So, this must be the famous Sara Sidle," Jack Walker said, giving Sara a big bear hug.
"Sorry," Adam said blushing.
"Welcome to Houston," Nancy Walker said.
"Thank you. It's sure, uhh, warm," Sara said casually.
They all laughed.
"Yes, it is." Nancy said.
"Dad, what were you telling me about a funeral we had to attend?" Adam asked.
"Oh, do you remember Sam and Eleanor Weston?" Jack asked, picking up Adam's duffle bag.
"Sure, I was friends with...was it Lorianne, Weston?"
"Yea, it was. Sam's father passed away, and we were invited,"
"But, I didn't even know their father. I barely know them..." Adam argued.
"Adam, it's only polite. Besides, I want to introduce them to my future daughter in law!" Jack said happily.
"Actually, I..." Sara said, trying to explain the fact that she hadn't accepted his proposal yet.
"We're looking forward to it," Adam answered quickly.
Sara shot her glare at Adam.
"Dad, why don't you and mom wait for the luggage? Sara and I are just going to talk for a bit,"
"Sure thing," they said, moving closer towards the carousel.
"You haven't told them yet?" Sara asked furious.
"Well, it never really came up. I told them I proposed, and before I could tell them what you said, they got excited and...well, they've already picked out a dress for you," Adam said, his cheeks blushing.
"WHAT?" Sara yelled.
"Can you not be so loud?" Adam said, shushing her when his parents looked over their shoulders at them.
"I can choose my own dress, you know..."
"I know, you can. But this is a tradition in my family..."
"What about my traditions, huh? My taste, my choices, what about me?" Sara complained.
"Ok, sweetie, calm down."
"Don't call me sweetie." Sara snapped.
Sara saw the hurt look on Adam's face and realized perhaps she'd been a little harsh.
"I'm sorry, it's just. The heat...and you know how marriage freaks me out. A whole lifetime of..."
"Committment. Yea, I know. I'm sorry. Maybe, the dress thing was just, too much..." Adam said.
"Hey, you love birds! Come on, let's go!" Nancy called, showing them that their luggage had been collected.
"Ready to go?"
"Ready as ever," Sara said.
~*~
SARA'S POV:
I should be happy right? I finally found a man who respected the fact that I am afraid of marriage. So, why aren't I happy? Maybe it's cause that man isn't Nick.
~*~
"My Grandma Rose was a pretty cool lady. She was smart, respected, kind. She lived a very full life. The only regret I had was that she wasn't able to see me marry." Nick said in front of a crowd of people.
A limosine drove by and screeched to a stop. THe crowd who had been attentively paying attention to Nick turned their heads to see what all the commotion was about.
A young man about Nick's age stepped out and held his hand out. Nick caught his breath.
"This can't be the Weston's funeral, Dad. It's already begun," Adam said.
Sara looked around the cemetary, her sunglasses on as usual.
"Come on, hon, we've got the funeral," He said, pulling her back inside. "We're awfully sorry to disturb your service," Adam called out when he saw everyone staring at him, before getting back into the limo with Sara.
~*~
NICK'S POV:
Well, there I had it. I had wished to see her, and sure enough, I did. My stomach was forming knots. And questions.
Who was that man? I knew Sara had 2 older brothers, but he had never met them. WHy were they in Houston?
"Nick?"
~*~
"Nick?"
Nick shook out of his mental thoughts and looked at his father.
"Are you okay?"
"Yea, it's just...I miss Grandma," he said.
~*~
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
~*~
SARA'S POV:
When we got back from the funeral, I took a nice hot shower. We were halfway across Houston where Adam lived, so we stayed in a nice hotel
It wasn't before I actually fell asleep that I realized I hadn't thought of Nick today. That was a real achievement, not thinking of Nick.
"Maybe I am falling for Adam?" Sara asked herself. It made sense; she was in love with Adam. So much in love with him, that she didn't want Nick back. It made perfect sense. If it made perfect sense, then why did it hurt so much?
~*~
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Love until your arms break, then he lets you down
~*~
NICK'S POV:
He had seen her. After a whole year, he had seen her. He still remembered the day at the airport, like it had only been yesterday.
Why hadn't he stayed? STayed and they could've been married already. It was on the top of Nick's top 10 regrets list.
Who was that man? Had Sara moved on that quickly? It'd only been a year, and she was already accompanying...unless she was there on business. With her partner in crime. BUt what if she was involved with her partner in crime, like she was with him.
"Too many questions, not enough answers," Nick told him and fell asleep, his heart full of questions, love, and ache for a gal named Sara.
~*~
It ain't right with love to share when you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone as much as I depended on you, you know
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Love until your arms break, then he lets you down
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
~*~
SARA'S POV:
"Ok, I'm going to say yes. I will be Mrs. Adam Walker," Sara said aloud.
~*~
NICK'S POV:
"I have to see her," Nick said, before jumping out of bed, grabbing his keys, and running out the door.
~*~
It ain't right with love to share when you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone as much as I depended on you
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
~ "Heartache" by Bonnie Tyler
~*~
~*~
A year later, I'd grown up. For the past 5 months, I'd dreamt of Nick, and nothing but Nick. Nick coming back to me, his soft skin in my arms. And everyday I waited; waited to be swept off my feet. I wished Nick would rescue me. Like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Women". Rescue me, and we'll live together happily ever after. LIke the fairytales my parents used to read me. Rescue me, I would plead. He never rescued me.
I was rescued though; by one Adam Walker, from Houston. Adam Walker is handsome, successful, and he loved me. He would never leave me, like Nick abruptly did. I was happy. I am happy.
~*~
No one had heard from Sara for a couple months now. Grissom had been in contact with her quite frequently, but then a month turned into 2, and 2 turned into 3, and soon the connection was lost.
Grissom told us she had gotten her old job back in San Francisco, was dating again, and suggested I do the same. It took me a while to accept the fact that she was moving on. I wanted her to ache, come back to me, pleading for forgiveness. Why, I don't know. I would never, never want Sara to hurt herself...and I knew that Sara was just too proud to come back on bended knees.
Kristy was interesting, but there was absolutely no chemistry. Christa was attractive; but my heart just wasn't into her. I always knew I loved Sara; she was perfect. BUt, I never knew that I was in so deep, that my life could just, lock down. It's the scariest thing love can do to you.
~*~
"Marry me,"
I stared at the 2 karat diamond surrounded by sapphires.
"What?"
"Will you be my wife?"
"No," I answer pretty flatly. The look on his face says that I had said it aloud.
"I mean, no...I have no idea what to say!"
"Oh," he says, before nervously laughing. "How about yes?"
"How about I'll think about it?" asking him with all seriousness.
"Alright. Take all the time you need. How about you come to Houston with me, to meet my family?"
"Ok, fine. As long as you don't ask me to do the hokey pokey..."
~*~
"Hi mom, hi Dad,"
"Nicky, sweetie." My mom said. Her eyes were red from crying.
"Hey Nick. Thank Grissom for us, for letting you come down on such short notice,"
"Dad, he understood. Have you made all the arrangements? Can I help with anything?"
"Uhh, could you call the home in Houston, uhh...Deerspring Cemetary Home, that's the name...and confirm that the funeral will be held there tomorrow at 2?"
"Sure thing Dad. WHere's the phonebook?"
~*~
"So, this must be the famous Sara Sidle," Jack Walker said, giving Sara a big bear hug.
"Sorry," Adam said blushing.
"Welcome to Houston," Nancy Walker said.
"Thank you. It's sure, uhh, warm," Sara said casually.
They all laughed.
"Yes, it is." Nancy said.
"Dad, what were you telling me about a funeral we had to attend?" Adam asked.
"Oh, do you remember Sam and Eleanor Weston?" Jack asked, picking up Adam's duffle bag.
"Sure, I was friends with...was it Lorianne, Weston?"
"Yea, it was. Sam's father passed away, and we were invited,"
"But, I didn't even know their father. I barely know them..." Adam argued.
"Adam, it's only polite. Besides, I want to introduce them to my future daughter in law!" Jack said happily.
"Actually, I..." Sara said, trying to explain the fact that she hadn't accepted his proposal yet.
"We're looking forward to it," Adam answered quickly.
Sara shot her glare at Adam.
"Dad, why don't you and mom wait for the luggage? Sara and I are just going to talk for a bit,"
"Sure thing," they said, moving closer towards the carousel.
"You haven't told them yet?" Sara asked furious.
"Well, it never really came up. I told them I proposed, and before I could tell them what you said, they got excited and...well, they've already picked out a dress for you," Adam said, his cheeks blushing.
"WHAT?" Sara yelled.
"Can you not be so loud?" Adam said, shushing her when his parents looked over their shoulders at them.
"I can choose my own dress, you know..."
"I know, you can. But this is a tradition in my family..."
"What about my traditions, huh? My taste, my choices, what about me?" Sara complained.
"Ok, sweetie, calm down."
"Don't call me sweetie." Sara snapped.
Sara saw the hurt look on Adam's face and realized perhaps she'd been a little harsh.
"I'm sorry, it's just. The heat...and you know how marriage freaks me out. A whole lifetime of..."
"Committment. Yea, I know. I'm sorry. Maybe, the dress thing was just, too much..." Adam said.
"Hey, you love birds! Come on, let's go!" Nancy called, showing them that their luggage had been collected.
"Ready to go?"
"Ready as ever," Sara said.
~*~
SARA'S POV:
I should be happy right? I finally found a man who respected the fact that I am afraid of marriage. So, why aren't I happy? Maybe it's cause that man isn't Nick.
~*~
"My Grandma Rose was a pretty cool lady. She was smart, respected, kind. She lived a very full life. The only regret I had was that she wasn't able to see me marry." Nick said in front of a crowd of people.
A limosine drove by and screeched to a stop. THe crowd who had been attentively paying attention to Nick turned their heads to see what all the commotion was about.
A young man about Nick's age stepped out and held his hand out. Nick caught his breath.
"This can't be the Weston's funeral, Dad. It's already begun," Adam said.
Sara looked around the cemetary, her sunglasses on as usual.
"Come on, hon, we've got the funeral," He said, pulling her back inside. "We're awfully sorry to disturb your service," Adam called out when he saw everyone staring at him, before getting back into the limo with Sara.
~*~
NICK'S POV:
Well, there I had it. I had wished to see her, and sure enough, I did. My stomach was forming knots. And questions.
Who was that man? I knew Sara had 2 older brothers, but he had never met them. WHy were they in Houston?
"Nick?"
~*~
"Nick?"
Nick shook out of his mental thoughts and looked at his father.
"Are you okay?"
"Yea, it's just...I miss Grandma," he said.
~*~
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
~*~
SARA'S POV:
When we got back from the funeral, I took a nice hot shower. We were halfway across Houston where Adam lived, so we stayed in a nice hotel
It wasn't before I actually fell asleep that I realized I hadn't thought of Nick today. That was a real achievement, not thinking of Nick.
"Maybe I am falling for Adam?" Sara asked herself. It made sense; she was in love with Adam. So much in love with him, that she didn't want Nick back. It made perfect sense. If it made perfect sense, then why did it hurt so much?
~*~
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Love until your arms break, then he lets you down
~*~
NICK'S POV:
He had seen her. After a whole year, he had seen her. He still remembered the day at the airport, like it had only been yesterday.
Why hadn't he stayed? STayed and they could've been married already. It was on the top of Nick's top 10 regrets list.
Who was that man? Had Sara moved on that quickly? It'd only been a year, and she was already accompanying...unless she was there on business. With her partner in crime. BUt what if she was involved with her partner in crime, like she was with him.
"Too many questions, not enough answers," Nick told him and fell asleep, his heart full of questions, love, and ache for a gal named Sara.
~*~
It ain't right with love to share when you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone as much as I depended on you, you know
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Love until your arms break, then he lets you down
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
~*~
SARA'S POV:
"Ok, I'm going to say yes. I will be Mrs. Adam Walker," Sara said aloud.
~*~
NICK'S POV:
"I have to see her," Nick said, before jumping out of bed, grabbing his keys, and running out the door.
~*~
It ain't right with love to share when you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone as much as I depended on you
It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late, hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown
~ "Heartache" by Bonnie Tyler
~*~