Nick found Sara pacing in the break room. Warrick and Catherine hadn't arrived yet and she couldn't keep still. Despite her agitated state, Nick calmly walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. In the warmth of his embrace, Sara relaxed. Angry tears formed in her eyes, "Why, Nicky? Why? The sick bastard. What would have happened if I was home?"

Nick rubbed her back and held her tightly, "Shh, Sara. You can't play 'what if'. You weren't there. You're going to be ok. I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere. Sara, I know this isn't easy, but I know you're gonna be ok."

"I just feel so violated." Sara stated pulling away from him to look him in the eye.

Nick looked into her eyes, his hands resting on her shoulders, and spoke softly, "I know, Sara. I know."

With a serious expression on her face, Sara spoke hesitantly, "Nick, how did you, I mean, when Nigel Crane, I mean. Crap." She turned her face away for a moment before beginning again, "You didn't move."

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "No, I didn't. But I'm not going to lie to you, Sara, there were times I was scared as hell. I had nightmares. Once in a while I still do. But you take it one day at a time. Sar, you can stay with me as long as you need to."

"Thanks, Nick." Sara snaked her arms around his waist and hugged him. Nick put his arms protectively around her back and rested his cheek on her head. Sara pulled away, trying to put a smile on her face, "We better not do that here, we'll cause a scandal."

Nick chuckled, "I think it might be a little late for that after our first date."

Sara chuckled at the irony of it, "Yeah, bring me home to a crime scene and then take me home to stay with you indefinitely. Some first date."

Grissom walked into the break room studying the two younger CSIs. He noted their more relaxed demeanor and unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, "Catherine and Warrick here yet?"

Nick shook his head, "Haven't seen them yet, Gris."

"Sara, I know you want to be on this case. I shouldn't let you, but if you can promise 'eyes no hands', I'll consent. Nick, you too. If it gets too much, your both out." Grissom cautioned.

"Thanks, Gris." Sara replied, "I'll be fine. I need to know how this bastard got in."

"I take it you told her, Grissom." Catherine queried as she and Warrick walked into the break room.

Grissom turned to her and nodded, "Eyes. No hands."

Catherine walked over to Sara, "Let me know if you need anything, Sara."

"I'm fine." Sara replied trying to deflect any sentiment from the rest of the group.

Grissom convened the briefing. He brought everyone up to speed on what the ballistics analysis had shown them, as well as what Brass had uncovered. The next task at hand was to comb through Sara's apartment and make sure there weren't any hidden cameras or listening devices. The previous shift, they had just concentrated on collecting evidence related to the vic they found in Sara's living room. The team took a divide and conquer approach. Catherine and Warrick took Sara's apartment and Grissom took Keith McCormick's apartment. Nick stayed with Sara as they walked through both scenes. In her apartment, she pointed out things that were out of place. Fortunately, there was no evidence of hidden cameras or listening devices in her apartment. Apparently, Keith McCormick wasn't as savvy as Nigel Crane had been. In the other apartment, Grissom had Sara look at the disturbing display of photos of her in various scenarios, coming and going from her apartment, in the field at crime scenes, in the grocery store parking lot. None of the photos showed her inside her apartment, but there was evidence that Keith McCormick had been in her apartment on more than one occasion. Things that Sara had simply thought she had misplaced were set up in a sort of shrine in his bedroom. The color seemed to drain from her face as she took it all in.

Nick took her hand, "Hey, Sar. Let's take a break. Ok."

She nodded numbly and followed him out of the apartment and into the parking lot. They walked over to his Tahoe and leaned against it. Sara looked over at him and asked in a pleading voice, "Nick, can we get out of here for a little while?"

Nick nodded, "Let me just let Grissom know." He pulled out his cell phone rather than go back into the apartment and leave Sara alone, "Hey, Grissom, Sara and I are going to go and pick up some coffee. Yeah, I think so to. We'll be back in a little while. Ok. Thanks."

Nick grinned at her, "What do you think? Krispy Kreme or Starbucks?"

Sara cocked her head and smirked, "Nick Stokes, even in Vegas, Starbucks is closed by now."

Nick chuckled, "Ok, Krispy Kreme it is." He opened the passenger door for Sara and then walked around to the other side and climbed behind the wheel. They threaded their way through the residential streets toward the Krispy Kreme donut shop near Sara's apartment. They pulled into the parking lot rather than going through the drive through. Nick turned off the ignition and looked over at Sara, "You doing ok?"

Sara nodded and a slight smile played at her lips, "Yeah, I'm ok." She turned to look at him and a faint flush of color crept into her cheeks, "Nick?"

"Yeah, Sar?" He replied, a curious expression on his face.

The corners of her mouth turned up as she spoke, "I really want to kiss you right now."

A lopsided grin formed on Nick's face as he took off his seatbelt. Sara unfastened hers as well and moved toward the center of the seat. They reached for each other hungrily. Lips touching, tongues tasting, fingers caressing. They broke apart after a few moments, grinning and a little short of breath. Wordlessly, they exited the SUV and headed into the donut shop hand in hand to get coffee and donuts for the rest of the team.