Summary: Four months after Nick and Sara found each other, a life-altering, career-changing opportunity presents itself at the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Will this chance bring the Graveyard shift closer together, or tear them apart?
Author's Note: What will happen in this chapter?!? I'm the writer and I don't even know! lol anyway yeah Conflict #1: the promotion ~~~ that pain in the royal patootie will be cleared up in either this chapter or next chapter, so keep your eyes out for it. PLUS: This story is not over when conflict #1 ends - we still have to have Sara's sis pay a visit, and Christine's wedding and DUH there may be a couple of surprises! (Well, maybe only one - I have not decided) Plus I've pondered killing off one of the characters - I won't tell you who, but I'm still thinkin it over. ANYWAY time for me to shutup and for you guys to get your story. Please allow me to introduce Celine Dion (feat. Barbara Streisand), and Keith Urban
Disclaimer: No, I do not own CSI stuff. I do own Anisha, Maile, Dylan, All of Nick's family, Haylie and her family, and all the other characters you don't realize, k?
Rating: PG-13
Request: Read and review!
Music Credits: Tell Him By: Celine Dion feat. Barbara Streisand, Somebody Like You By: Keith Urban, Pretty Baby By: Vanessa Carlton
P.S. Okay, this is the chapter that is worrying me the most – I don't want this to seem too Soap-Opera-ish, ya know? So if it is, I apologize and please don't flame me too badly *tear* I'm trying the hardest I can to do this really well! *Pouts* don't be too mean!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Nick drove home that night, several things were running through his mind. One was worry - he and his girlfriend were trying to get the same promotion. It was like something out of a lame movie. But no matter how lame he thought it was, it still worried him. He didn't want to lose Sara just for a promotion. The thought of losing Sara for any reason was enough to make him sick to his stomach. He loved her too much.
The one thing that killed him was the fact that she hadn't reciprocated the feeling yet. Nick knew how careful she was about saying those type of things - from what Nick knew and heard, she'd seemed to have gone from one dead relationship to the next, and he didn't want her to feel pressured to tell him anything she wasn't ready to tell him. However, he loved her, and he had started telling her every time they said goodbye. Nick's philosophy was to tell someone you love that you love them, because if they die tomorrow, they'll never have to ask themselves if you loved them or not.
In order to stop his thoughts for a few precious minutes, he flipped on the radio, only to find something that made him think even more.
*There's a new wind blowin' like I've never know, I'm breathin' deeper than I've ever done, and it sure feels good to finally feel the way I do. I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you. I'm lettin' go of all my lonely yesterdays, I've forgiven myself for the mistakes I've made, and there's just one thing, the only thing I wanna do. I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you. Yeah I wanna feel the sunshine, shinin' down on me and you. When you put your arms around me, you let me know there's nothin' in this world I can't do. I used to run in circles goin' no where fast, take one step forward and two steps back. I couldn't walk a straight line, even if I wanted to. I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you. Woah here we go now baby... yeah wanna love you baby.*
"Great," Nick muttered, "Just what I need."
But the lyrics to the song made a lot of sense. He felt awesome to finally feel the way he did. And he was lonely before he met Sara. Sure, he'd had his frat-boy womanizer days, but as those days had ended, he was getting tired of meaningless relationships. And when Sara hugged him, or kissed him or made love to him, he felt like the most powerful man in the world.
Before Sara, he'd hidden from his mistakes and continued to make them. He never learned from them like he should have. After she came into the picture, the road of his life finally seemed smooth, rather than rugged and difficult. Nick listened again as the musical break ended and the lyrics began once more.
*Yeah I wanna feel the sunshine shinin' down on me and you. When you put your arms around me well baby there ain't nothin' in this world I can't do. Sometimes it's hard for me to understand, when you're teaching me to be a better man. Don't wanna take this life for granted like I used to do. No more. I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you. I'm ready to love somebody, love somebody like you. Oh yea. I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you, yeah. Hey, wanna love you baby.*
Little did Nick know that Sara happened to be listening to that exact station as she drove to Catherine's house. The song pretty much opened her eyes as well. She wasn't ready to let something like a promotion get in between herself and Nick. She loved him.
She just didn't think she could tell him. They'd only been together four months. He still could turn around and walk away from her, and she didn't think she could handle that if she admitted she had completely fallen for him. But then again, he hadn't left yet. He didn't act like he had that intention either. Besides, if there was any problems, others would be able to notice, and so far no one had. Plus, he constantly told her he loved her. It made her heart soar every time he did, but if she gave him her heart, he could hurt her.
*I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you. I wanna feel the sunshine shinin' down on me and you. When you put your arms around me, well baby there ain't nothin in this world I can't do... I wanna love somebody, love somebody like you. I'm ready to love somebody, love somebody like you. Oh yeah. I wanna love somebody love somebody*
(^ A/N: Isn't that just the funniest damn thing that this song is sung by a country boy? LOL he sounds country too! *rolls on the floor laughing at the irony of it all* Anyway, on with the drama...)
Sara couldn't remember any other time in her life when she felt the way she did when she was around Nick. Whether he hugged her, kissed her or made love to her, he made her feel alive. Like she could conquer anyone and anything. It was something she'd never experienced before, and she wasn't ready to lose it. To lose him. The thought made her want to go home, lock the door, and cry herself to death. But that wasn't happening. She didn't want to waste any more time. She remembered a quote she'd heard from a class in college.
"To waste time is to throw a chance you need out the window."
Sara quickly decided she was not going to throw her chance with Nick out the window. She decided to do it while she still had the courage. She pulled out her cell phone and hit #3, Nick's number on her speed dial. Her breath was shaky as the phone rang.
"Stokes," The deep Texan voice she loved asked over the line.
"It's me," she said.
"Hey, what's up? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," she said, "I... well I just wanted to tell you that if you want to go for the promotion, I want you to. I don't want it that badly."
"Sara, don't lie," Nick told her, "You want it just as badly."
"Nick," she said as she stopped at a red light and took a very deep, shaky breath, "I'm not ready to lose you for it."
Sara knew she had said it too low for him to understand, so while he said, "What? Sorry I didn't hear that," she tried to gather what courage she could to repeat herself.
"Nick, I'm not ready to lose you for a promotion," she replied, her voice coming back to normal again. As she began driving again, there was a silence over the line.
*I'm scared. So afraid to show I care. Will he think me weak if I tremble when I speak? Ooh what if there's another one he's thinking of? Maybe he's in love – I'd feel like a fool. Life can be so cruel. I don't know what to do*
"Didja hear me that time?" Sara asked, hoping she wouldn't have to repeat herself again.
(A/N: I was tempted to write this:
"Did you here me then? GOOD!" Sara said, hoping she wouldn't have to repeat herself.
HOWEVER, I held back the temptation and stayed serious :-P hahaha anyway, sorry for interrupting again… on with the story…)
"Yeah," Nick replied as he too took a deep breath and sighed, "And I'm not ready to lose you for it either."
*I've been there with my heart out in my hand. But what you must understand – you can't let the chance to love him pass you by. Tell him, tell him that the Sun and Moon rise in his eyes. Reach out to him. Whisper tender words so soft and sweet – hold him close to feel his heart beat. Love can be the gift you give yourself.*
Sara thought she could fly to Catherine's. Having him say that gave her the biggest adrenaline rush (and also the biggest ego-trip) ever. He wasn't going to give her up for his career, like most men would. Sara cringed at the other way this could have
"You're not?" Sara asked, "You're ready to stay? Nick that's not fair to you."
"Well it wouldn't be fair to you either. If I got the promotion and I left you behind, how would that be fair?"
Sara let out a long breath, "It wouldn't, but Nick I know you've wanted this forever. You deserve it."
"So do you," Nick objected.
*Touch him with the gentleness you feel inside (I feel it) Your love can't be denied – the truth will set you free. You have what's meant to be; all in time you'll see. Ooh I love him (then show him) Of that much I can be sure (hold him close to you) I don't think I could endure if I let him walk away when I have so much to say.*
"Nicky," Sara said, "I don't truly want to leave the team. I love Catherine, Griss, Greg and Warrick. I know you do too, but I want you to go for the promotion."
She heard Nick sigh, "Sara," he replied, "I don't want you to give up a chance to advance because of me."
*Tell him, tell him that the Sun and Moon rise in his eyes. Reach out to him. Whisper tender words so soft and sweet – hold him close to feel his heart beat. Love can be the gift you give yourself.
Love is a light that surely glows in the hearts of those who know. It's a steady flame that grows. Feed the fire with all the passion you can show. Tonight love will assume it's place. Make a mark time cannot erase. Blind faith will lead love where it has to go…*
"Nick," she insisted gently, "You're worth giving it up for."
There was another silence as Nick got the brunt of the message she was trying to give. She couldn't say it, but he knew what she meant.
"I love you, Sara."
*Tell him. Tell him that the Sun and Moon rise in his eyes. Reach out to him. And whisper tender words so soft and sweet – hold him close to feel his heart beat. Love can be the gift you give yourself…*
Sara gathered the very last bit of her courage to get the next words out. Her fear nearly consummed her, but she was decided to do like Griss had said and let go. It was time to move on with her life.
"I love you too, Nick. I love you so much," Sara replied, using every fiber of control within her being to keep from crying.
*Tell him. Tell him that the Sun and Moon rise in his eyes. Reach out to him. Whisper tender words so soft and sweet – hold him close to feel his heart beat. Love can be the gift you give yourself…
Never let him go.*
"You do?" Nick asked, clearly not expecting what he got, "Sara, why didn't you ever tell me?"
"I was scared," she replied, her voice shaking slightly, as she tried to drive, deciding to go home and call Catherine to explain why she wouldn't make it over,"I was scared that if I told you, and you left...I couldn't handle that, Nick. I've had it done to me too many times."
"Sara, I love you more than I have ever loved anyone else. You have no idea how much it hurt to tell you that and have you push me away."
"I know, Nicky, I know," she said as she pulled onto her street, "I'm so sorry. I just couldn't handle falling in love with you if you were going to leave me."
Nick let out a long breath as he pulled into his driveway and stopped his car.
This is intense, he thought to himself.
"Sara, why would I leave you?"
Sara pulled into her apartment building parking lot and turned off the engine. She took a deep breath, very proud of herself for not bursting into tears at that moment.
Just take it slow, she thought to herself.
"If I didn't satisfy you, or if you got bored. Nick, I don't know why men leave, they just do."
"Not all men leave, Sara," Nick told her, "Look at my parents - look at Griss and Catherine. All of them are married, and my dad and Griss haven't left."
"I know, Nick," Sara said, "But I always seemed to fall in love with the men who left."
Nick would have given his soul to be at her side at that moment. All he wanted to do was hold her and tell her he would never leave her. He ached to comfort her, but tried as best he could to reassure her.
"Sara," he said, his voice soft and comforting, "I love you. I've loved you since the first time I saw you, and I knew if I had to wait forever to tell you, I would. I'm never going to leave you, okay? I'll be here. I promise."
It was these words that released the river of emotions within the normally calm and collected Sara Sidle. Before she could stop them, the tears flowed down her cheeks, and she felt like a great weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. She hated, yet loved this moment. She didn't want to appear weak, but all the worry and pressure about Nick was finally disappearing. She tried to keep from crying into the phone, but Nick could hear her break down. The sounds of her distress nearly broke his heart.
"Sara, please don't cry," he pleaded.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice remarkably clear for someone who was crying, "I'm sorry for everything, Nick. I should have told you a long time ago that I love you. I know it hurt you, and I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing, Sara," Nick told her, "I understand, and if that is what I had to go through to be with you, then it was worth it."
Sara smiled to herself as her voice softly replied, "The feeling is reciprocated."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Aww, how sweet! Now they both know they love each other – seriously tho, you can find a guy who can change your entire frame of mind, and as far as I am concerned (considering I am the author and I am all-powerful) Nick is that man for Sara. Don't like it? SAY IT WITH ME: Deal. Or. Don't. Read. So simple it scares me!
Next Chapter: Twenty-two hours until the PROMOTION DEADLINE. Can the team be spared of separation? Don't worry – we're not even close to being done with Volume II – stay tuned for the next episode of… oh screw it this isn't a soap opera! lol