Title: Love Bites

Pairing: Sara/Nick, Amelie/Speed, hints at Amelie/Grissom

Spoiler: Lost Son, Viva Las Vegas, Pilot, basically all CSI episodes up to season 4/5ish.

Summary: After Nick's older sister Amelie transferred from Las Vegas, he thought he'd never see her again. Then she became a victim in a serial killer's game. Now, the Las Vegas CSIs are racing against time to find the killer.

Disclaimer: I only own what you do not recognize. I.E: Amelie, Evan, and the victims and suspects. CSI Belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer and all of those smart people who created these fine CSI series.

My Original Note: ok, this is a flashback chapter. and then..well...you should hopefully understand it at the end. uh, thank you for everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it! Mucho love to you all. oh, the song used at the end is Aerosmith's 'Don't Wanna Miss A Thing'.

Chapter 8: Miami Haunts Her

"Don't wanna close my eyes

Don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, baby

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

'Cause I'd still miss you, baby

And I don't wanna miss a thing" -Aerosmith "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"

---Miami, 2004---

Amelia sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Today was not her day. Then again...during rape/murder cases, it was never her day. But today was worse. Today was Sunday. Sunday was never a good day. Amelia was never much of a religious person, she rarely went to church, but she did, in fact, believe in God. She just wished he'd do something about crime in the world today.

But no, it was something about this certain Sunday that she didn't like. 2 years. Though the last two years have been great...it's the first two year anniversary she had that she wants to forget.

Amelia dropped the file on her desk and sat down. All that was left was the stupid report. She hated writing the reports. She sighed and turned her computer on, waiting for it to boot up. As she waited Calleigh walked to her own desk and sat down with an audible sigh.

"I swear...the Feds are really pushing me over the edge." Calleigh grumbled as she leaned back in her chair. Amelia chuckled and typed her password into her computer.

"Tough case?" Amelia asked, waiting as her computer finally finished loading everything. Calleigh looked at her, obvious lack of sleep displayed.

"It was an easy case but the Feds have to make it difficult." Calleigh said angrily. Amelia smiled at her.

"Dennis, huh?" Amelia asked as Calleigh started her own computer up.

"Unfortunately. You know, I just do not know what his problem is. Speed and I were doing fine before this jerk wad had to burst in." Calleigh shook her head as Amelia chuckled.

"Calm down Calleigh. Don't let Dennis get to you. Ok?" Amelia said seriously. Calleigh looked at her and smiled.

"I'm ok. But...you might want to check on Speed. Dennis got him pretty riled up today." Calleigh told her. Amelia rolled her eyes and looked back at her screen and started typing.

"Speed is a big boy, he needs to learn to control his temper anyways. I don't know why you guys let the Feds get to you." Amelia said, half serious, half teasing. Calleigh looked back at her own computer.

"Oh yes, I forgot. Las Vegas is the land of idiotic, politically oriented sheriffs." Calleigh said.

"Yup." Amelia looked away from her computer as Eric and Speed walked towards Amelia and Calleigh's desks. Amelia looked back at her computer and minimized the screen she was typing on. She pulled up another screen and tried to focus on it as Eric and Speed stood in-between Amelia and Calleigh's desks.

"So you're going to ignore me?" Speed said, semi-angrily. Amelia pursed her lips and continued to type.

"Don't get testy Speed. I'm trying to finish this case, ok?" Amelia replied, not even looking up. Speed put his hand in front of the screen and Amelia sighed. She looked up at him. "What Speed?"

"Dinner?" He said. Amelia sighed inwardly, she had totally forgotten about dinner plans with Speed. She always had dinner plans with Speed, but this was their two year anniversary.

"I'm swamped Speed." She said. Speed crossed his arms, a sad look in his face. "Speed, don't. I'm sorry, but I can't right now, if I don't get this report done, H will rip me a new one. You know that." She told him. Speed sighed and rubbed his chin.

"Come on Mel. Two years. How many times do you think we'll be able to celebrate two years?" He asked. Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Hopefully only once and then next year, it'll be three and on...and on...and on." She smiled seductively at him and Speed sighed again. Amelia frowned as Horatio walked up to the group. He looked at Speed and then at Amelia.

"Why are you still here?" He asked. Amelia gave him a look.

"Because I have a report to finish." She told him.

"Isn't it two years?" He asked, looking between Speed and Amelia. They both nodded. "Then go. How many times do you get to celebrate two years?" He asked. Amelia groaned as Speed, Eric, and Calleigh laughed.

"If one more person says that, I'll scream." Just then Yelina walked up. She stood next to Horatio and looked at Speed and Amelia, who was now saving her work and shutting down her computer. Truth be told, she hadn't been doing the report. She closed the file and stood up, holding it in her hands.

"Isn't it your two year anniversary?" Yelina asked. Amelia screamed with her mouth shut, surprising everyone. She dropped the file on her desk, turned and pushed past Horatio and Yelina, heading for the locker room. She needed to be alone right now. She hated two year anniversaries. Before Speed, it only meant one thing: being knocked unconscious. She knew Speed wouldn't do that to her, but that didn't mean it made her feel safe. Besides...Evan was still out there.

Amelia pushed into the locker room angrily and headed to her locker. She threw open the door and pulled her jacket out. She didn't know why she was so mad when she knew she should be happy. She had Tim and she loved him. She knew she had forever with him and that made her happy. She just wished that she had met him before she had met Evan, then maybe things would be a little different.

The truth was that she had, in fact, been dreading this day for the last week or so. She was lucky to have Speed, and she knew that if she lost him, she would slowly die. Amelia had always been looking for someone like Speed, someone she knew she could love and he would love her back. But instead she got Evan, someone who only claimed to love her, but instead beat her when he didn't like what she said or what she wore. How did I hide it all those years? Amelia thought as she sat on the bench and slowly pulled her jacket on.

Amelia sighed and stared into her locker. Maybe... She thought as she stared at the picture of her with her family on the inside of her locker door. Maybe me and Tim should take a break and introduce him to my parents. Amelia frowned and shook her head. No, too fast. It's only been...two years. Amelia stood up and slammed her locker door shut. She needed to get away.

Old memories came fluttering back and Amelia tried to focus. Don't flip Mel, come on. Don't flip! She sat back down and put her head in her hands. Speed knew that Evan abused her, but he didn't know to what extent. He just knew it happened. Now that Amelia was out of that relationship to an extent, she couldn't figure out why she never told anyone, but now she knew. She was ashamed. Ashamed that a CSI like herself never had the balls to tell anyone. The only reason Speed knew was because he walked in on it.

Nobody else knew. Catherine just knew that Amelia had a hard marriage with Evan. Nobody else knew an inkling of it. Amelia had hidden the bruises and the broken bones, playing them off like they were accidents, surprised when everyone believed her. She was the poster child for an abusive relationship and nobody knew. She had been so stupid. So stupid to not tell anyone.

Amelia finally broke down and started crying into her hands. Nobody was here for her. She was all alone and she was a coward. She knew that if she told anybody how she felt they would hold her and tell she's not a coward when in truth, she is. She hid it when she couldn't have gotten him put away. She waited too long and now it's too late.

Her body wracked with sobs as she held herself in the dark locker room. Nobody was here to hold her. The tears dropped from her face to her jeans as the door opened.

"Amy?" A familiar voice said. Alexx. Amelia tried to stop the tears but the continued on coming. Alexx sat next to her and wrapped her arms around Amelia's slim body. Amelia cried into Alexx's chest as Alexx rubbed her back.

"Honey? What's wrong? What happened?" Alexx asked. Amelia couldn't say anything, she just shook her head. "Do you want me to get Speed?"

"I can't. I can't pretend anymore." Amelia managed to choke out between sobs. Alexx pulled her back and looked at Amelia.

"What's wrong?" She asked. Amelia wiped her face.

"14 years ago I met Evan. He has been abusing me until Tim saw him a few months after we started dating. He's followed me, but he hasn't touched me since." Amelia told her. It felt good to get it out. Alexx's face showed that of horror.

"Oh my god." Was all Alexx could say.

"Evan started beating me on our one year anniversary. It was always the worst on an anniversary. Our second was the worst." Amelia looked away as she thought back to that day. "I was stuck in a bed for months. It was horrible. He told everybody we were robbed and I walked in on the robbery." Amelia broke down again and Alexx pulled her to her. Alexx rubbed her back as she tried to calm her.

"Amy, it's ok. It's not your fault. Shh." As Alexx tried to console Amelia Speed, Eric, Calleigh, Horatio, and Yelina all walked in. Alexx looked up at them. "Funny time for you to show up." She said tensely. Speed pushed past everyone and kneeled in front of Amelia.

"Ames? What's wrong?" He asked gently. Amelia focused and tried to stop crying. Amelia pulled away from Alexx and looked at Speed.

"I'm a coward." She said simply. Speed looked at in her confusion.

"What? Baby? Why?" He asked. Amelia just shook her head and looked away. Speed looked to Alexx for answers. She stood up and shook her head.

"You gotta get her to talk to you. I'm sorry." She pushed everyone else out of the room. Speed looked back to Amelia.

"Mel, please. Talk to me. Why would you think you're a coward?" He asked. Amelia looked at him.

"Because I let Evan beat me for 13 years. Every year, on our anniversary, he would beat me until I was unconscious. After our two year anniversary...I was in a bed for months. Nobody even noticed." Amelia leaned into a surprised Speed and cried into his shoulder. Speed wrapped his arms around her and held her.

---Two Months Later---

Amelia followed Speed and Horatio into the jewelry store. She didn't know why she was here, but when H asked her to come, she said yes. Chalk that up to a just great answer. Amelia looked around while Horatio and Speed talked to the guy behind the counter. Amelia turned her back and looked at the case of jewelry next to the door.

She could hear Horatio talking, but she wasn't paying attention. I should have stayed at the lab. Amelia thought as she sighed. Me and my great ideas. Amelia heard a noise and started to turn around. A blinding pain shot through her body and she fell to her knees, her eyes squeezed shut. Her right hand shot up to her left shoulder and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her fingers were covered with blood.

"AMELIA!" She heard someone shout. But the pain was too much.

"What?" Then guns started to fire. Amelia leaned over her knees and stayed as close to the ground as she could. This isn't good, this can't be good. Not good at all. Amelia repeated over and over in her mind. Amelia sat back up and reached to pull her gun out but then Speed collapsed to the floor.

"Speed?" Amelia whispered, unsure of what she was seeing. She crawled over to his side as Horatio kneeled down, looking frantic. Amelia grabbed Speed's hand with her right hand. "Talk to me Speed, please. Don't." Tears rushed from Amelia's eyes as she realized what was going on. "Speed please. You can't leave me." Speed locked eyes with Amelia.

"I'm sorry." Was all he said. Amelia shook her head frantically.

"No! Speed no! Tim! Don't leave me, please." He muttered something and then closed his eyes. Amelia couldn't believe it. She broke down and laid her head on Speed's chest as she cried. "Tim, no!"

---"NO!" Amelia screamed as she sat up. Tears blinded her vision as she looked around. It was Tim and Amelia's apartment. "TIM!" Amelia screamed out, still having the side effects of the dream. It can't be real, Amelia told herself as she looked around. It just can't.

Tim rushed out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. He looked around and then stared at Amelia. He sat next to her on the bed and she grabbed onto him, sobbing into his bare chest.

"Mel? What's wrong?" He asked.

"I had a-a-a dream. And you died." She sobbed into his chest. Speed rubbed her back gently.

"Mel, it's ok. I'm not going to die on you, I promise." He told her. Amelia pulled away and looked up at him.

"How can you make a promise like that? In this kind of job, anything can happen." Amelia said. Speed smiled softly.

"Mel, I love you too much to give up with a fight. I won't leave you, ever. I promise."

---Lab---

"Ok, so Speed and Mel with me." Horatio ordered. Amelia looked up from the computer screen and nodded. The details of the dream had already left her mind, which was normal for REM sleep. All she could remember was that she was shot and Speed was killed. The rest had disappeared.

"Got it, H." Amelia stood up and followed Horatio and Speed out of the lab.

Amelia followed Speed and Horatio into the jewelry store. She didn't know why she was here, but when H told her to come, she did as she was told. Amelia looked around while Horatio and Speed talked to the guy behind the counter. Amelia turned her back and looked at the case next to the door. Something was familiar about this place, but she couldn't place it.

She could hear Horatio talking, but she wasn't paying attention. I should have stayed at the lab. Amelia thought as she sighed. Amelia heard a gunshot and started to turn around. A blinding pain shot through her body and she fell to her knees, her eyes squeezed shut. Her right hand shot up to her left shoulder and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her fingers were covered with blood.

"AMELIA!" She heard someone shout. But the pain was too much. Now she remembered. She shot up to her feet and pulled out her gun as Speed collapsed to the floor.

"Speed?" Amelia whispered, praying it was different this time. She walked over to his side and feel to her knees as Horatio kneeled down, looking frantic. Amelia grabbed Speed's hand with her right hand. "Talk to me Speed, please. Don't." Tears rushed from Amelia's eyes as she realized what was going on. "Speed please. You can't leave me. You promised." Speed locked eyes with Amelia.

"I'm sorry." Was all he said. Amelia shook her head.

"No! Speed no! Tim! Don't leave me, please." He muttered something and then closed his eyes. Amelia couldn't believe it. She broke down and laid her head on Speed's chest as she cried. "Tim, no!"

"Mel." Horatio said. Amelia shook her head, oblivious to the fact that Speed's blood was transferring to her face. "Mel, I'm sorry." Horatio said quietly. Amelia sat up and looked at Horatio, tears flowing freely down her face.

"It's not your fault H." Amelia kept her hold on Speed's hand, not wanting to let go. "It's not your fault." She said again, quietly. They sit there in silence, both looking at Speed. A few minutes' later people started pulling up to the store. Amelia suddenly remembered her shoulder and looked at it, her shoulder and arm was covered with blood. She felt woozy but didn't say anything. She looked back down at Speed.

Alexx walked in and felt her heart drop to her stomach. She rushed over to Amelia and kneeled down.

"Amelia. Is this your blood?" Alexx asked, looking over Amelia's arm. Amelia slowly turned her head to Alexx and nodded.

"Somebody shot me." Amelia said quietly. Alexx turned to Horatio but he was already gone. Alexx looked back at the door where Horatio was standing.

"We need an ambulance NOW!" He shouted. Alexx turned back to Amelia. Her eyelids were slowly starting to close.

"Amy, you need to stay awake." Alexx said, making Amelia look at her. Amelia frowned.

"Why? He's dead. And I will be soon." Amelia looked back at Speed's dead body and the tears began to fall once again. "I should have done something." She sobbed. The EMTs rushed into the store and headed over to Amelia. Alexx moved so they could get to her.

"Ma'am, where are you shot?" The first EMT asked. Amelia stared at him with a blank face.

"My, uh, my left shoulder." She told him. He pulled her shirt off her shoulder and realized that it was bad.

"We need to get you to the hospital now." He said urgently. Amelia didn't respond. She turned and looked back at Speed as Alexx looked him over. The second EMT came in with a gurney. The two EMTs helped Amelia onto the gurney and then pushed her out of the store.

---Amelia sat up and screamed as pain ripped through her body. Somebody gently grabbed her arm.

"Ames, it's ok. Shh, it's ok." He said. Amelia pushed back the tears as she recognized that voice. She turned to her left.

"Nick?" She said. How did Nick get here? She asked herself as she looked around. She was in a hospital room. "What's going on?" She asked, looking back at him.

"Somebody tried to kill you." He told her. Amelia stared at him in confusion.

"What? I don't understand...I...Wait."

---Amelia got out of her car and sighed. She had meant to go see Nick tonight, but...she heard there was a serial murder case and she knew they wouldn't need to worry about her. As Amelia shut her door she started to walk forward.

A sharp pain in her back made her stop.

"Aaahhh." Amelia screamed as she realized she had just been stabbed. It was the same as when Evan had stabbed her, the same spot and everything. The person pulled the knife out and Amelia spun around.

She had a second to register who it was. That rugged face, that stupid smile, they'd met. She held her arms up in front of her face as he reached his arm up. She thought he was going to hit her, but instead, he grabbed the back of her head and slammed her head into the window. Her arms stung as he pulled her out and then slammed her into the door. ---

"Did you see who did it?" Nick asked. Amelia nodded.

"I don't remember his name, but I've seen him before. I remember him from Miami." Amelia looked at the door as a doctor and somebody else walked in.

"Ms. Stokes, how are you feeling?" The doctor asked, walking to the right side of her bed. Amelia felt her head and pulled her hand away.

"Like I got the shit kicked out of me." She said. The doctor smiled.

"Ok. Ms. Stokes, I'm going to ask that you rest." Amelia held up her hands, cutting him off.

"Trust me, I've rested enough. Besides, I can't sleep. Nightmares." Amelia looked away from him and up at the ceiling.

"I understand that, it's common with someone who's just endured a trauma."

"Oh, no. Not 'just'. Try 'been'. The last month or so. Trouble just always seems to find me." Amelia tried to joke, but it didn't work. Nick frowned sadly.

"Mr. Stokes, Ms. Sidle, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He said. Amelia looked at the unknown woman and then it hit her. Sara Sidle. Amelia raised her eyebrows as Sara avoided her stare. What are you doing here?

"Doctor, we're investigating a serial murder, we need to ask my sister a few questions." Nick said, standing up. Amelia looked at Nick in surprise. Serial murders? Amelia sighed and lay back in her bed. Figures.

"Sir, please. She needs to rest." The doctor said.

"And she will, it's just a couple of questions." Nick replied. The doctor sighed and nodded.

"Make it quick." He left the room. Sara stayed over by the door, she knew Amelia had recognized her. Nick looked down at Amelia.

"It was because of me." Amelia said, tears running down her face. "It's always been because of me. The car bomb, the parole officer, this. It's all because of me." Amelia covered her face with her hands.

"What are you talking about Amelia?" Nick asked. Amelia moved her hands from her face.

"A couple of months after this guy got out of jail, he put a car bomb in Speed's car. We had dinner and then he was walking me to my door when it blew up. We were both in the hospital for weeks. He started following around the parole officer that was assigned to him. He believed that we had both, along with Calleigh, set him up. Which wasn't true, Calleigh and I followed the evidence and it all led to him." Amelia paused and wiped the tears from her face.

"And then this. He found out that most of my family was in Dallas, but that I had a brother who was also a CSI who lived in Vegas. He skipped town and came here."

"He had a reason for all of his victims." Sara said, finally speaking up. Amelia looked at her. "The first one, she hit his car and he had to pay for all the damages, even on her car. The second one, she wouldn't check him out at the grocery store where she worked, but then the next person that walked up, she did. The third one, she always parked in his parking space at the condo complex." She told her.

"So there's four?" Amelia asked. Sara shook her head.

"Well, technically six." Sara replied.

"Six?"

"Yeah. The first three, you, Calleigh, and then Anna Sjvivovich."

"Calleigh? Oh no! Is she ok?" Amelia asked. Sara nodded.

"Calleigh's fine. You, Calleigh, and Anna were the only ones who survived. The first three didn't make it." Sara walked closer to Amelia's bed. "Amelia...we think Evan might have had something to do with this." Sara said after a few silent seconds. Amelia looked at her.

"It's possible. I know that Evan worked at the Prison while this guy was there. What's his name?" Amelia asked. Nick cleared his throat.

"Alexander Washington."

"Washington? Hmmm. I don't remember that name, but I'd recognize his picture." Nick nodded and looked at Sara.

"Oh, Nick. I forgot. They don't think Anna's going to make it. Her injuries are too severe." Sara told him. Nick frowned and looked at Amelia.

"Get some sleep Ames." Was all Nick said. Amelia grabbed his hand.

"I can't sleep Nick and you know why. Not just because of this but because of everything. Do me a favor and catch this guy." Amelia let go of his hand. Nick started walking to the door. When he reached the door he stopped.

"I won't catch him for you. I'll catch if for the ones who have died." He opened the door and left. Sara turned to Amelia.

"Uh, I'm sorry Amelia. About everything. The doctor put this with your clothes, for evidence. But I don't think we'll get anything off of it." Sara walked over to Amelia and held out a ring. Amelia took it and put it on her middle finger of her right hand. Amelia looked up at Sara with tears in her eyes and a smile.

"Thank you." Sara smiled and left. Amelia lay back in her bed and closed her eyes. She'd just focus on the good times they had.

---Speed shut the door behind him and took off his jacket. He breathed in deep and smiled. Their apartment always smelled like her. She had that one scent that she always loved. Cucumber Melon. It was the only sort of smell she'd wear, not during work, but whenever they were home together or out at dinner. He felt in his pocket for the ring.

It was a special ring. He was going to propose to her. The ring was a small gold band with diamond stars in it. He always called her his shining star.

Speed hung his jacket up and then heard crying. He took a few steps forward and peered around the short wall that kept the living room and dining room hidden from the front door. Amelia was sitting on the couch, a pillow pulled against her chest, crying. Speed started walking over to her, concerned. He could hear the faint sound of a song.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing/ Watch you smile while you are sleeping/ While you're far away and dreaming/ I could spend my life in this sweet surrender/ I could stay lost in this moment forever/ Every moment spent with you/ Is a moment I treasure

"Mel?" He said, startling her. Amelia looked up at him and smiled.

"Hey Speed." She said. Speed sat next to her and then looked at the TV. She was watching Armageddon. Speed sighed and laughed. "What?" Amelia said, chuckling. Speed leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Here I was, thinking, you were upset about something." Speed said, leaning his head on her shoulder. Amelia smiled.

"I was, they killed Bruce Willis!" She said, trying to be serious. They both burst out laughing. After a few minutes they were finally able to stop and they collapsed against each other on the couch. Amelia leaned her head on Speed's shoulder and sighed.

Don't wanna close my eyes/ Don't wanna fall asleep/ 'Cause I'd miss you, baby/ And I don't wanna miss a thing/ 'Cause even when I dream of you/ The sweetest dream would never do/ I'd still miss you, baby/ And I don't wanna miss a thing

Speed hummed the song as they watched the credits roll by. Amelia just loved to listen to this song, which was one of the big reasons she watched the movie. It was a great movie, but the song made everything so much better, at least in Amelia's opinion.

"Laying close to you, Feeling your heart beating, And I'm wondering what you're dreaming , Wondering if it's me you're seeing , Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together, I just wanna stay with you, In this moment forever, forever and ever." Speed sang softly. Amelia smiled and leaned closer into Speed. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you Speed." Amelia whispered.

"I love you too Mel." He whispered back. They both wished they could stay like that for the rest of their lives.