Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I'm glad some of you seemed to enjoy the little twists I throw into my stories every so often.

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"That's Monica" Nick repeated again.

"You know her?" Brass asked, catching his breath.

"She was carrying his baby" Sara said in a small voice, not taking her eyes off of Monica's lifeless body.

"Oh God! The baby!" Nick began breathing heavy and fast. He felt like someone had shoved a rag down his throat. He couldn't swallow.

"Nick! Nick, breathe!" Sara guided him out of the apartment and down the hall a ways. She put both hands on his shoulders, as he leaned over to put his head in between his knees.

"Tell me I'm dreaming" Nick said in a small voice. "Please Sara? Tell me I'm going to wake up"

She didn't know what to say. She simply took his shaking body in her arms, and held him tightly. "Nick… I-I don't know what to say."

"The baby? My baby? Is she gone?" Nick asked in a panic.

"She?" Sara asked, confused.

Nick's gaze dropped to the floor – finding his shoes very interesting. "She told me yesterday that I was having a girl. My own baby girl."

"Nick, I-"

"She has to be alive! Monica was almost eight months pregnant. She could have made it. She's a strong baby! I know she had to make it! Please! Sara, please…" Nick headed back towards Monica's apartment, Sara following behind.

"Brass!" Nick shouted. "Monica… She was pregnant…. Umm… The baby?"

The homicide didn't say anything. It was times like these when he really hated his job.

"No" Nick whispered. "No! God, no! My baby! She has to be alive! David, check again. Please!" He bent down next to David who was still finishing up with Monica's body.

"I'm sorry, Nick. Monica has been dead for almost ten hours. There's no way…"

"David, check again."

"We'll take her to the hospital and have the doctors do a C-Section-"

"Thank you, David." Nick said standing back up again.

"Please, don't get your hopes up, Nick." David stood up as well and headed out of the apartment with Monica's body.

Nick turned to Sara, tears in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his body and pulled him against her and a small effort to keep him calm. She knew he'd soon lose all control of his emotions. She needed to get him out of there. He needed to be at home right now, not in the middle of a crime scene.

"Come on. Let me take you home. They'll call us when they find anything out." Sara whispered into his ear.

Warrick walked up to the two and placed a hand on Sara's shoulder. "Grissom is going to come and help me with this. Why don't you two head on home."

Nick pulled away from Sara. "I should go to the hospital."

"No, Nick. I'm taking you home" Sara said sternly. She turned around and gave Warrick a quick hug and peck on the cheek. "Thank you."

"Don't worry about it, Sar. Just get him out of here." Warrick said warmly. He patted Nick on the back before heading into the bedroom to look for any evidence.

Sara turned back to Nick and took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. They walked silently out of the apartment, down the stairs and to Nick's Tahoe. Without speaking he handed her his car keys and went to get into the passenger side of the car.

~~$~@~$~~

There's a song that's inside of my soul.
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again.
I'm awake in
the infinite cold, but you sing to me over and over and over again.

~~$~@~$~~

Sara led Nick into the house that they now shared. Sara still owned her apartment, but that was only because they hadn't had enough time to get everything out of it. She led him to the couch, and turned to walk away, but Nick grabbed her hand and prevented her from moving. "Sara" he said in a small voice.

She sat down next to him, and immediately wrapped her arms around his body, pulling him as close to her as he could get.

Nick buried his face in her neck. He held onto her as if letting go would mean falling to his death. Sara ran her hand up and down his back, rocking him slightly. She could feel his tears on her skin as he began to sob once more.

~~$~@~$~~

So I lay my head back down,
and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours.
I know now you're my
only hope.

~~$~@~$~~

An hour later, they were lying in bed, Nick still clinging to Sara. He had stopped crying a little while earlier, and had fallen into a restless sleep. Sara was still awake. She was afraid that if she fell asleep she wouldn't be there when he needed her. She could feel his steady breath on her neck and it pained her to see someone so strong brought down to this level of pain. Every part of her body ached for him. She looked down at his peaceful face and noticed one simple tear fall from his closed eyelids, and slowly roll down his cheek. She leaned in and kissed it away, hoping not to wake him, but almost wishing she would so she could talk to him; see how he was feeling.

He stirred slightly, and slowly opened his eyes. They were blood shot and red-rimmed. Sara could feel her heart breaking at that very moment.

"Hey" she whispered.

"Hi" Nick said in response.

~~$~@~$~~

Sing to me the song of the stars.
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again.
When it feels like my dreams are
so far, sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again.

~~$~@~$~~

"How are you feeling?" Sara asked.

Nick smiled. "I don't know"

"It's going to be okay, Nick."

He didn't say anything, just stared into her deep brown eyes, the pain in his heart, he could see on her face. He cupped her cheek with his hand, and leaned in to brush his lips against hers.

~~$~@~$~~

So I lay my head back down,
and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours.
I know now you're my
only hope.

~~$~@~$~~

"Nick" Sara said breathlessly after she pulled away.

"I love you" he said, stopping her from saying anything else.

Sara smiled a small smile. She pressed her lips firmly against his, kissing him hungrily. Nick leaned back on the couch, pulling her on top of him, not breaking the kiss.

Nick slid his tongue along Sara's bottom lip. She opened her mouth, welcoming his tongue to dance seductively with her own.

Sara pulled back slightly and gazed down into his eyes.

Nick stared up at the woman in his arms; her lips were slightly swollen from their passionate and hungry kisses. He brushed the hair out of her face, and tucked it behind her ears, letting his fingers linger on her cheeks.

"I love you" she whispered in a husky voice.

~~$~@~$~~

I give you my destiny.
I'm giving you all of me.
I want your symphony.
Singing in all that I am.
At the top of my lungs,
I'm giving it back

~~$~@~$~~

Sara laid her head on Nick's chest, her arms wrapping around his neck. Nick placed one hand on Sara's back, while the other drew lazy circles on her arm.

"Nick?" Sara whispered.

"Yeah, Sar?"

"No matter what happens, I'm here. I'll always be here. To love you and hold you. I'm here." She lifted her head and kisses his neck before laying her head back down on his chest.

Nick didn't respond with words. He simply wrapped both arms around her body, and kissed the top of her head. Then he found her left hand with his right one. He twirled her engagement ring with his fingers and then brought her hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly. He then let their joined hands rest on his chest.

"Forever" Sara whispered. "I'll be here forever"

~~$~@~$~~

So I lay my head back down,
and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours.
I pray to be only yours.
I know now you're my
only hope

~~$~@~$~~

      TBC

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Well, let me know what you think. The fate of Nick's child will be determined in the next chapter. Hit that purple button and let me know what you think!