Part 9
"Ms. Sidle, I have a delivery for you. I just need your signature right
here." The messenger handed her the clip board and showed her where to
sign." There you go." "Sara what did you get?" Asked Natalie, her next-door
neighbors 4-year-old daughter. " I don't know." " Maybe you should open
it." Natalie replied. She was all ready to see what Sara got when her mom
called her and told her it was time for dinner. " Tell me what you got
later K?" " I will. Enjoy your dinner." Sara went inside and opened the
card that was taped on to. It read, " Wear what you find inside, and be
ready by 6:30 pm on the dot. A driver will pick you up. Don't question
anything, just be dressed and ready." Sara set the card aside and opened
the box. She found the dress she tried on earlier that day, black matching
shoes, and a small jewelers box. She set the dress and shoes aside and
opened the box. Inside she found a gold chain with a key charm. It was so
delicate. Sara looked at the clock and realized she had only 90 minutes to
get ready. She grabbed what she needed and headed for the shower. " Boy, we
must have done something good to have the restaurant all to ourselves."
Catherine said as she, Warrick, Greg, Grissom, and Jim walked in. " I
wanted to thank you all for coming. I wanted you all here for this. We have
a few minutes before the guest of honor arrives. " Man Nick you are paid
too much if you can afford this place." Warrick told him. " Someone very
close owns it and is letting me use it." Nick couldn't tell him that his
grandmother owned it. " That is cool." " While we wait why don't you get a
drink from the bar." Nick told them. They all went on talking when Greg
stopped mid sentence and was looking at the vision at the top of the
stairs. Nick and the others followed his line of vision and Nick felt his
heart skip a beat or two. Greg walked up to her and took both her hands in
his and leaned in and said, " You look absolutely breathtaking." " Greg why
am I wearing the dress that you bought for Katrina?" " It will all be
explained. Let's get this party started. He tucked one of her arms in his
and led her to the table where she saw Nick. Once at the table, Nick,
Warrick, Gil and Jim got up as he helped her to her chair. " Sara you look
fabulous." Catherine told her. " You don't look bad yourself. " Hi Sara.
Catherine's right you do look fabulous." " Thank you. " " Lets eat." Nick
motioned for the staff to start serving dinner. As they served the
appetizers the band started playing background music. During the main
course and dessert they talked about cases, Nicks visit home, Cat's
daughter Lindsay, and why they were here. Once the meal was finished the
band picked things up a little bit. " Sara would you like to dance?" " Sure
Greg. Lead on." Greg led her to the dance floor and started dancing. " Come
on Nick, dance with me." Catherine grabbed his hand and led him to the
floor where they too danced. After a few songs the band played some group
songs and they all had to participate. When they played a slow song Gil
grabbed Sara before Nick could so he asked Lindsay, whom her father in the
middle of dessert dropped off. After a few minutes Warrick cut in to dance
with her. Nick went over to the table to where Catherine was sitting. " She
loves you too you know." " I know but is she going to tell me? " " I think
that if s he heard you say it first it would make it easier for her. You
know how us girls are. We don't want to be the first to say it because you
guys freak out. You would think that with sisters I would know at least
that much." He got up and kissed her on the cheek and headed to where
Grissom and Sara were dancing. " Mind if I cut in?" " Not at all. He is all
yours." " Very funny Sara. I think that he would like to dance with you."
Grissom told her. " You two have fun." "Sara you look absolutely stunning."
" Thanks. Greg bought the dress. He tricked me into trying them on under
false pretenses." " Actually, I bought the dress and the shoes, the
necklace also. Wait hold on. " He tugged her closer so she couldn't escape.
" I wanted to tell you something and I don't want you to run away. I love
you. I love you so much that when you said you wanted to forget that day,
it cut like a knife. I can't breathe when you walk into a room. My love for
you is so overwhelming. You have my heart Sara, my whole heart. You hold
the key." As he said this he lifted the necklace and let it slide to the
end where the charm was. " I don't know if you feel the same but I had to
tell you. You know that I went home to Texas right?" " Yes." Was all that
she could get out. " Well while I was there I talked to a very wise women.
She helped me see what I needed to do. She gave me something that I would
like you to hold onto." He got done on one knee without breaking. "Sara Ann
Sidle, would you honor me in being my wife?" Sara looked at the ring in the
box and then over to Catherine who was crying and then back to the ring.
Sara lowered down to his level that best she could in her dress. " I was
wrong for the things I said that day. I thought that you wanted to forget
that day happened. Then at your house I realized that you didn't but it was
too late. You left before I could tell you how sorry I was. I love you too
Nick. I always have. I would love to be your wife." Nick stood up and took
her with him and spun around. They were oblivious to the rest of the group
around them.
" What day are they talking about?" Warrick asked Greg. " The last case
that they worked on together. I can't give you the details so don't even
bother asking." Greg told him as Nick came up. " Thanks Greg I couldn't
have done this without your help. I owe you big time, anything you need
just let me know. Warrick, sorry I kept you out of the loop but Greg here
had more time. You were out on a case and I didn't think that you would
have the time." " No problem, congrats man." Nick looked across the room
and saw his future bride showing Catherine the ring he just gave her. "
Sara it is just beautiful. I told you that he loved you. You will both be
happy." " Did you know this ring has been in his family for generations?
His mother gave it back to his grandmother when his dad bought her a simple
band. She said, ' something this beautiful needs to be on a hand to be
seen. Not kept in a box and worn on special occasions.' Nick told me that
she doesn't really wear the one his dad bought for her because she didn't
want to lose it while birthing calves. Nick's grandmother also has a soft
spot for him because he it the youngest of six kids and is the only boy.
She had all brothers so she knew what it was like to be the odd man out." "
You are just glowing. I am happy for the both of you." Grissom said as he
came up behind her. He was about to say something else when pagers and cell
phones went off at once. " Grissom. We will be there within the hour." He
hung up the phone and turned to the group. "Sorry to cut this celebration
short but there has been a multiple homicide and I need all of you. Meet at
the lobby of the MGM Grand in 45 minutes. Nick, Sara I really am sorry but
I need you also, you to Greg. I will need you to transfer any evidence back
to the lab and get started on the processing, 45 minutes people." With that
coats were gathered and put on. " Your with me Sara." Nick said as he
helped her with her wrap. "Are you going to have to transfer? " She asked
as they got to the car. " No, Grissom said he would be a hypocrite if he
did seeing as how he and Catherine are dating." " They are? She never said
a word." He leaned towards her and gently kissed her lips. He slowly took
control of her mouth and ran his tongue along her lips until she parted
them and allowed him entrance." You know I didn't even kiss you when you
said you would marry me?" " Sorry about that. Things just happened fast. I
love you." " I love you." They continued to make out until they got to her
place and then on the way to his.
