A/N: Thanks to Sara Sidle Stokes, Franny, PassionatePapist, MissyJane, ljae, Angelic Little Devil, pdhtgal, J gard, Emily, nadia, Nat, elise, candaceFABULOUS, bloodredcherry, cRaZyPiXiE, Pam, A Bloom, oOoOo, diamondlilymay, adpi24, spikes_storm, and shadowcat for reviewing this story so far. If you have reviewed and I didn't mention you its probably because ff.net wasn't showing me your review. But thanks anyway!
Shift was nearing its end, and Sara was more than ready to be at home by herself, where no one could bother her. She headed into the locker room, the last stop before the parking lot. Luckily the room was empty. She quickly gathered her duffle bag, and jacket from her locker. But just as she was shutting her locker, and locking it back up, she heard the door open. She knew who was with her without even turning around to look.
Cutting through the darkest night are my two headlights
Try to keep it clear, but I'm losing it here
To the twilight
There's a dead end to my left
There's a burning bush to my right
You aren't in sight
You aren't in sight
"So when's the big day?" She asked him.
"Saturday."
"Oh, that soon, huh?"
"Yeah. I figured the sooner the better."
"Good thinking."
"Will you come?"
Do you want me
Like I want you
Or am I standing still
Beneath a darkened sky
Or am I standing still
With the scenery flying by
Or am I standing still
Out of the corner of my eye
Was that you passing me by
"I don't know, Nick." Sara turned to face him. He looked tired, and sad. She wondered if he looked this way because of the case he just finished, or because of something else.
"Please, Sara?" He still hadn't moved from the door. He looked tired, and sad. She wondered if he looked this way because of the case he just finished, or because of something else.
"Why?"
"Because you're my best friend. I need you there," he pleaded.
Sara laughed as she put her jacket on, and threw he bag over her shoulder. "You don't need me, Nick."
"Sara…"
"No, Nick. Don't even start. You do not need me." She tried to pass him, but he grabbed her arm, and pulled her in front of him so they were standing face to face.
"Nick! Let go! You're hurting me!" Sara tried to break free, but he was too strong.
"Am I? Because you know what? You're killing me!"
Mothers on the stoop
Boys in souped-up coupes
On this hot summer night
Between fight and fight
Is the blind man's sight
And a choice that's right
I roll the window down
Feel like I'm gonna drown in this strange town
Feel broken down
Feel broken down
"Nick, I-"
"No Sara. I need you no matter what happens. But I guess our friendship meant nothing to you." Nick let go of her arm, and walked over to his locker.
"Meant?"
"Get away from me, Sara!"
"Fine!" Sara walked out of the locker room, slamming the door behind her.
Do you need me
Like I need you?
Or am I standing still
Beneath a darkened sky
Or am I standing still
With the scenery flying by
Or am I standing still
Out of the corner of my eye
Was that you passing me by
Sweet sorrow – He's gone tomorrow
Sweet sorrow – He's gone tomorrow
Sara stormed down the hallway. She was so lost in thought that she almost ran Warrick over.
"Whoa Sara. You ok?" He asked placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I will be."
"Come here." Warrick pulled her into a hug, and Sara finally felt her body starting to relax a little. She wrapped her arms around his back, and buried her face in his chest.
Warrick ran a hand through her hair and down her back in an attempt to calm his friend down. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt.
Sara pulled back, and looked up into Warrick's caring green eyes. "Thanks."
He wiped a tear from her cheek. "Want me to talk to him?"
"What good would that do?" Sara asked wiping the remaining tears from her face.
Warrick winked. "I have my ways."
Sara let out a small giggle. "I don't know…."
Warrick pilled her back into a hug. "It's not over until the fat lady sings, Sara. And I don't see any fat ladies, do you?"
"No, but-"
"Hey. No buts. Now let me go work my magic." He leaned down, kissed her on the forehead, gave her one more smile, and then headed into the locker room.
"Hey man," Warrick said to Nick as he walked into the locker room. Nick was still sitting on the bench in the middle of the room.
"Hey."
"When's the big day?" Warrick asked.
"Saturday."
"You nervous?"
"Terrified."
"What's her name?"
"Monica."
"Do you love her?"
"No."
Warrick wasn't the least bit surprised by his answer. "Then why are you going to marry her?"
Nick took a deep breath then looked up at his friend. "She's pregnant."
"That doesn't mean you have to marry her, though. Especially if you don't even love her."
Nick stood up, and opened his locker. "She said she'd have an abortion. This is the only thing I can do to make sure that doesn't happen.
"Why don't you talk to her? I mean, there must be some other way…."
"There isn't" Nick interrupted him. "And I can learn to love her. I'm not getting any younger. And it's not like there's someone else…"
"There isn't?"
"No."
"Then why are you so upset? And what does Sara have to do with all of this?" Warrick asked.
"Sara?"
Warrick nodded.
"Sara has nothing to do with this…" Nick whispered.
"And that's the problem, right?"
"She said that our kiss meant nothing, and that I should just go do whatever it took to change Monica's mind, even marry her." Nick closed his locker.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa… What kiss?" Warrick was intrigued now.
"Last night… Sara came over to yell at me for the way I had been acting… I told her all about Monica. She left, but I followed her home, and I guess I scared her. She's the one who hit me…"
"Sara? Did that?" Warrick was shocked.
"Yeah, but she was real sorry. She invited me in, and fixed me up, kinda… I kissed her. And it wasn't just one of those 'friendly' kisses either. I think she got mad, and I felt bad… So I left. But before I did, I asked her if she… felt anything. She said no."
"Oh come on! She was lying, and you know it!" Warrick shouted.
"I know that! But there's nothing I can do. She told me to go and do whatever it took to get Monica to change her mind!" Nick pounded his locker with his fist.
"Nick, do you always do what you're told?" Warrick asked calmly.
He got no response.
"Look, man. Saturday is a few more days away. Think about what you're doing." With that, Warrick patted Nick on the back, and left him in the locker room by himself.
TBC
The song used in this chapter is "Standing Still" by Jewel.
I've been told that this chapter wasn't as good as the others and didn't seem to "flow" as well. But let me know what y'all think!