DOUBLE DECOY

Epilogue: Celebrated Returns
Rating: PG
A/N: Thanks again, guys, for taking the time to read (and wait for the rest of) this fic! It really means a lot to me.

---------------------

"She's back!" Warrick called, wearing a grin as he eyed the brunette from his spot at the breakroom table.

Sara smiled, tossing a wave at the co-workers gathered in the breakroom... Catherine perched on the couch with a magazine in her lap while Warrick and Greg played cards at the table. Each stood up in turn to give her a hug, welcoming her back to work after her brief leave of absence following the accident. She accepted the hugs warmly... even from Catherine, who, at times had posed a threat in her eyes when she'd had feelings for Grissom. Now that she was head over heels in love with Nick, however, she was happy that the senior CSIs shared such a special companionship... and she hugged Catherine tight for a moment before releasing her, a Texan accent drawing her attention back to the doorway. "Aw, so they all get love and not me?"

Sara raised her eyebrow at him. "Should we bring up the kind of love you received this morning?" she teased, giggling upon hearing the exclamations of mock disgust and surprise from her co-workers.

The commotion faded as Grissom made his way into the room, smiling a greeting at Nick before his eyes settled on Sara, and, in a rare display, he reached out for a hug, murmuring, "Good to have you back," into her hair.

She smiled brightly when he pulled away, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, beginning to grow wary of everyone's eyes still on her. She turned to Nick, exchanging with him a glance, and he smiled knowingly, stepping fully into the room and placing a hand on her waist, kissing her hair. "Alright you guys," he drawled, "Enough with all the attention. Sara gets a little nervous in the spotlight."

She glared facetiously. "Thank you, Nick."

"Well," Catherine sighed, "Looks like we've got some celebrating to do!"

"Yeah," Warrick chimed in. "Gris is finally back to work after his suspension, and Sara's back from leave."

A Cheshire grin peeked out on the strawberry-blonde's plump lips, and she nodded toward Sara and Nick's clasped hands. "I was talking about the rock on her finger."

Surprised exclamations leaped out of Warrick and Greg, who both stood to take in the sight of a diamond ring on Sara's finger... while Grissom and Catherine shared a look and a smile. With a twinkle in the supervisor's eye, he turned to smile at the couple. "So you guys have been busy the past week, huh?"

Nick grinned. "You could say that." He held up a hand as everyone opened their mouths to begin the barrage of questioning, and Sara smiled at this. "Okay, just to answer all the questions in one shot..." He turned to Catherine, smirking. "Yes, we're engaged..." He turned to Warrick and Greg. "No, she's not pregnant..." And he finally turned to Grissom. "And yes, I'll take good care of her."

Grissom grinned. "You know us too well, Nicky."

Catherine clapped her hands together, gesturing to the door. "Well! Now that shift's technically over for the rest of the morning and afternoon, what say we head out and do some celebrating? Breakfast! Grissom's treat!" She threw him a wicked grin.

He glared facetiously, though a smirk burst forth in a matter of moments. "Thanks, Cath."

"Sounds good to us," Sara agreed with a smile, the rest of the gang joining in.

With that, the team headed out for breakfast, Nick placing a gentle kiss to Sara's ring before they shared a smile, turning off the lights in the breakroom as they went.

---------------

FINIS

Totally corny ending, but... ah well! I had fun writing it, and I hope you had fun reading it!!