Disclaimer: I don't claim to own any of these characters (except for Sadie, of course), I just use them to my little heart's content :o)

A/N: Thanks to:

Drvvh: Thanks! I aim to please.

Sara Sidle Stokes: I'm continuing as fast as I can :o)

=):  Yup, that Nick sure is a sweetheart. And yes, Hank is evil.

cRaZyPiXiE: Soon! Soon! I'm planning for it.

Lynn: Very happy that you liked it! Even happier that you think it's getting better and better :o)

Stewey: Glad that you like both aspects of the story. If not this chapter, but maybe the next one, I want to have a mostly G/C chapter. There will be at least one, I promise :o)

Skyler: I'm writing them as fast as I can

adpi24: Glad you like it!

Corporal Cupcake: I am planning on having Nick take a swing at him some time really soon. It was Sara's turn this time.

MissyJane: Hank is definitely a jerk!! But he's so much fun to use when writing.

shondie: Nick is going to be taking a not so passive roll from now on… Thanks for pointing that out. I really hadn't noticed it. Glad you liked the knee to the groin ;o)

A Bloom: Thanks! I'm really happy you think it's good. :o)

You guys all rock!! When I came home from work tonight, I had had a long day and you guys totally made up for it when I found all the replies in my inbox!! You truly made my day and are TOTALLY AWESOME!!

Note: Eddie is alive and kicking in my story…

~~ Sara ~~

We were walking
Just the other day
It was so hot outside
You could fry an egg
Remember you were talking
I watched as sweat ran down your face
Reached up and caught it at your chin
Licked my fingertip


Sara sighed as she stepped out of the shower. She finally felt warm again, and somewhat relaxed. Almost relaxed enough to forget a little bit about what happened. Almost. But not quite. She threw on a pair of flannel pajama pants and an old Harvard tee. Slipping into warm socks, she walked into the kitchen area to see everything cleaned up.  She was a little surprised to come in to find everything clean as though nothing had happened.

"Sara?" The voice made her jump.

Sara turned around and smiled a little. She looked at him and a wide grin spread across her face. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. I…" she ran a shaky hand through her hair. She stepped toward him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much." She held on to him, not really wanting to let him go.

"No problem Sara… Really." Nick enjoyed the feel of her pressed against him. It was something that he knew he could get used to really soon.

"Well well, isn't this cozy?" A voice sneered from the entrance way.

"Hank!" Sara gasped. "What the hell are you doing here? I told you to get out and never come back!" She released her grip on Nick.

"Funny… I don't remember that." He said.

Nick turned around and walked over to Hank. "Sara asked you to leave, so I suggest you do just that." He said, his arms folded over his chest.

"I'm going to leave when I'm good and ready. I'm not leaving until Sara apologizes to me."

"Never." She scoffed.

Hank took one step, but Nick wasn't moving aside. "Do you really think that I'm going to let you hurt her again? That's twice now that you just can't seem to get the message. You're nothing but a bully." Nick stated calmly. Which surprised him, because the anger was really welling up inside of him.

Hank poked Nick in the chest, pushing him slightly. "Oh? I'm a bully?" He shoved Nick again.

"Don't make me hurt you." Nick said, trying to warn Hank off.

"Ha!" Hank stared over Nick's shoulder at Sara. "You're dating a wimp Sara! A wimp!"

Sara glared at him and started to walk toward them, but Nick was too fast. He swung without even thinking, his fist connecting with Hank's jaw. Hank went sprawling to the floor, blood seeping almost immediately from his nose. Nick stood over him, waiting for Hank to get up.

Sara stepped forward and pulled Nick away from him. "He's not worth getting blood on your shirt for." She looked down at him. "Isn't this the part where you scurry away with your tail between your legs?"

Hank got up slowly from the floor, eyeing the too of them. "This isn't over."

Sara laughed. "Oh I think it is." She slammed the door in his face and locked it after he walked out. She immediately turned to Nick. "How's your hand?"

"It will be fine." He said. "Doesn't even hurt."

Wasting time
Let the hours roll by
Doing nothing for the fun
Little taste of the good life
Whether right or wrong
Makes us want to stay, stay, stay
for awhile

Sara smiled and nodded. "Sure it doesn't." She took his arm and lead him over to the couch. "I think we both need to sit down and relax for a few moments."

Nick nodded and sat down with her. "I think you're right."

Sara smiled and put her head on his shoulder. "Thank you." She whispered, breaking the silence for a few moments.

Nick looked at her strangely. "What for?"

"For… everything." She wrapped her arms around him. "You know, you didn't correct him when he said that I was dating a wimp."

"Yes I did. I punched him. I'm not a wimp." Nick said, taking Sara's statement way out of context.

Sara laughed softly, which sounded like music to Nick, who was happy she was laughing again. "No silly. When he said that I was dating you. You didn't correct him."

"I didn't see any reason to." Nick said turning his head slightly to face hers. Do it! Do it! Lay one on her!! His mind was screaming at him. He almost found it hard to hear what she was saying.

"Why not?" Sara asked, a little confused.

"Because." Nick continued to fight his urge to kiss her.

"Because why?"

"Because this." He brought his hands up to frame her face. He leaned in slowly and kissed her softly on the lips.


~~ Grissom and Catherine ~~

They leaned over the table in the break room, discussing their latest case. Since the explosion in the lab, the work space was rather limited, so they often opted to do some paperwork in the break room instead of certain areas of the lab.

"So, what are we up to this weekend?" Catherine asked.

"Is Lindsay with us?"

"Yes."

"Well then, maybe a fun visit to the park, and then since they're announcing rain in the evening tomorrow, we can rent a movie or something." Grissom suggested.

Catherine smiled. She loved how Grissom found it easy to include her daughter. She never thought that she would find someone that could possibly do that besides Eddie. Even Eddie had problems with that. "You are amazing."  Catherine said, looking at him, her smile spread across her face.

"What?" Grissom asked, laughing. "What makes me so amazing?"

"Because you find an easy way to include Lindsay in almost everything we do."

"I love her like my own daughter Catherine. I couldn't imagine a weekend without her. Or you."

Catherine stood up and wrapped her arms around him. "Gil, you are the sweetest man around."

Grissom laughed. "Just don't let that get around."

~~ Nick and Sara ~~

Later on the sun began to fade
Then the clouds rolled over our heads
And it began to rain
Oh we were dancing mouths open
Splashing tongue taste
For a moment this good time would never end
You and me
You and me
Just wasting time
I was kissing you
You were kissing me love
From good day into a moonlight
Now a night so fine
Makes us wanna stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile

Sara wrapped her arms around Nick, deepening the kiss.  She came up for air momentarily to say, "this is crazy."

"Of… course… it … is …" Nick whispered in between kisses. "I'm… crazy… about… you…" He continued.

Sara pulled out of the kiss. "We can't be doing this right now." She said, pulling back. "I mean… it's not that I don't want to, because believe me I do… But I think we need to pull back and think this through. I mean, Nick, how can you be crazy about a science geek like myself?"

Nick shook his head and laughed. "You aren't a science geek. You're are a smart, independent woman whom I…"  Don't say that word yet… It would scare her off…

"Whom you what?"

"Uh…" You're caught now buddy…It's time to spill… But I can't…Oh this is not good… "Never mind… lost my train of thought." Good going Stokes. Good going…Lost your train of thought… Sure…

"Oh." Sara said, pulling away from him even more.

"Listen, Sara…" Nick started.

"No… Nick. Let's not analyze this right now. I need to get some rest. I'm tired."

"I'll go then." Nick said, beginning to stand.

"No." Sara said. It surprised her as much as Nick that she said it. "Stay. I want you to stay."

Wasting time
I shall miss these things
When it all rolls by
What a day
Wanna stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile
Hey love
Oh just groping you
Rolling in the mud
Stay a while
Come on love
Wanna stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile

A/N: Song: Stay, by  Dave Matthews. Album: Before These Crowded Streets

Honestly not quite sure how this song fits.. I mean, it sort of does, but doesn't… I dunno…

~Lisa

Good? Bad? I want to know what you think? Make my day (I have to go and argue my rights at a store tomorrow… grrrrrr arg!), so please make my day :o) R&R~