Joy and Sorrow
Chapter Three
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Please see authors notes in chapter one
Pairings: N/S with a slight G/S, the G/S is for conflict purposes only.
Remember time changes. Because this story takes place in December, daylight savings has ended, so Chicago and Dallas are 2 hours ahead of Las Vegas. Not that this will be very crucial, it's just more for the readers to be aware of.
Nick had managed to get on a direct flight from Dallas to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, leaving at 2:10pm. As he sat in first class about an hour into his three hour flight
his mind began to drift to his daughter.
His daughter.
A daughter that he hadn't known about until around 11:30 this morning, has cancer.
It certainly was a life changing moment if not anything else. Eventually his mind began to drift to him and Sara. After over three years of working together and having a close friendship, he finally asked her out. Their first date was at The Venetian. He took her to one of the many restaurants located within the hotel. They talked about anything and everything, opening up to each other in a way they hadn't before. Two months later they came to Texas to celebrate Thanksgiving with Nick's family. His family was thrilled that Nick was dating someone, especially someone who seemed extremely important to him. Finally his mind wondered to New Years Eve, the first time they slept together.
"Okay we're here" Nick stated
"Where is here? I've been blindfolded the entire drive" Sara said frustrated at her predicament
"Well Sara it was a surprise and it couldn't have been a surprise if you saw everything"
"Ha ha, Nicholas"
'Nicolas, man she's pissed at me' Nick thought to himself. He parked the car and reached over to Sara, turned her body so that he could remove her blindfold. Once he did the scowl that was on Sara's face disappeared into an array of shock, dismay and then happiness.
"Oh my god Nick, it's beautiful"
Nick had taken her to a cabin within the Arizona Kaibab National Forest. The forest surrounded The Grand Canyon. At the time, Arizona's northern half of the state received a tremendous snow storm, which was actually quite uncommon. The ground was covered with snow, which glistened from the trees and decorated the cabin.
Sara opened her door and hopped out of the Denali, Nick quickly followingt. He opened the passenger door and grabbed their luggage, following Sara to the door of the cabin. He reached into his pockets and pulled out the keys, opening the door and holding it for Sara.
The cabin was even more beautiful inside than outside. There was a brown couch in the middle of the living room, directly in front of the fireplace. The couch had a hand quilted throw on the top. Nick laid their luggage down at the door and shut it, allowing the cold air to stay outside. He and Sara began to explore the cabin. To the rear of the cabin was a tiny, but practical kitchen. To the left of the kitchen was the door that led to the bedroom. The bedroom was enormous, A king size bed sat in the middle of the room, with small end tables on each side. Directly in front of the bed sat a rectangular dresser, which was home to a TV, VCR and DVD player. The window, on the right side of the room showed the incredible view of the snow covered forest.
"Nick this place is amazing, how did you find it?" Sara asked
"Catherine suggested it. I guess before she and Eddie divorced they took Lindsey up here a few times"
Sara walked over to Nick and embraced him, "it's beautiful Nick, and I love it."
"I'm glad"
They held each other, enjoying the warmth each others body gave to the other. Nick finally pulled apart when he noticed Sara was shivering.
"Why don't you grab a blanket and warm yourself up while I attempt to start a fire"
"Wait a minute; the handsome and incredible Nick Stokes doesn't know how to start a fire?" Sara teased
Nick swatted her on the ass and left the room, leaving her laughing.
For dinner Nick made pasta and garlic bread. They were now sitting in front of the fire drinking some wine and enjoying each others company. Before Nick knew what happened, Sara got up from the couch, pulled him up with her and led him into the bedroom. They began kissing each other and slowly made love to one another. Later on as Nick held Sara tightly she whispered the three words he had been longing to hear:
"I love you"
Nick pulled her body closer to his and whispered back, "I love you too, Sara"
"We are beginning our descent into the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your seats and tray tables are in their upright and locked position. Thank you"
"Sir, sir" a voice clouded through Nick's mind
"Huh, what?" Nick said, not quite awake. He looked up to see the smiling face of one of the flight attendants assigned to first class over him
"Please put your seat in the upright position, we are making our descent"
"Uh, okay" Nick replied and did as he was told. He looked down at his watch and realized he had slept over half the flight. He shook his head, he had been dreaming about Sara and their declarations of love for one another; no matter how hard he tried he couldn't shake that out of his memory.
Nick managed to keep his mind off of Sara for the remainder of the flight. Once off the plane he followed traffic to the baggage claim. After about fifteen minutes he was able to retrieve his bags, he then headed over to Thrifty rent a car. He had booked a car over the phone while he was waiting at the Dallas airport. He quickly gave the bored sales representative his name and id, which they in turn eagerly took his credit card and handed him the keys to a mid-size car. The woman gave him directions to Northwestern Memorial Hospital along with a map and Nick was on his way.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Room 602 6:15pm
"Mommy, I'm hungry" Hannah whined to Sara
Sara got up from her chair and walked over to her purse, "Do you want me to run down to the cafeteria and get you something baby"
"Yeah, can I have a cheeseburger and some chocolate ice cream?"
"Sure baby, do you think you'll be okay by yourself while I run down there?"
"Yes mommy, I'll be fine"
"Okay, I'll be right back"
Sara grabbed her purse and walked out of the room, letting Hannah's nurse, Alice, know that she was going to get some food for the two of them. Alice promised she would run down in a couple of minutes and check on Hannah. Sara thanked her and headed towards the elevator, pushing the down button. The left elevator dinged and she walked closer to it. The elevator door opened and Sara came face to face with Nick.
"Nick" Sara said surprised
"Sara"
"You got here quick."
"After we hung up I called the airlines and booked the first flight here."
"I know this might sound odd, coming from me, after all that we have been through, but I'm glad you're here."
"Where were you heading Sara?" Nick asked, still standing in the elevator
"Oh, Hannah's hungry, so I was going to run down to the cafeteria to get her some food. Why don't you come with me?"
"Sure" Nick said continuing to hold the door of the elevator open. Sara walked into the elevator and reached around Nick and pressed the "L2" button.
"She wants a cheeseburger and chocolate ice cream" Sara said breaking the silence "I think your predisposition to wanting hamburgers and steak is genetic because lord knows I don't eat the stuff"
"Has she always eaten hamburgers and steak?" Nick quickly asked
"Yeah. I remember the first time she wanted one. I about died that my daughter wanted one. But then I thought about you" Sara paused as the elevator stopped and the doors opened "and I couldn't turn her down"
They walked over to the grill and Sara ordered a cheeseburger for her daughter. She then turned to Nick, "do you want anything to eat?"
"Can I also get a cheeseburger?"
"Sure" the grill person responded
As they waited, in silence, Nick kept looking Sara up and down. She looked thinner and there were bags under her eyes.
"Sara have you ate today?" Nick asked the concern evident in his voice.
Sara shook her head, "no"
Nick nodded and left Sara. She got a bewildered look on her face and returned to facing the cook, waiting for the food. A couple of minutes later Sara put both Hannah's and Nick's cheeseburgers on her tray. She turned around and saw Nick walking back over to her with a tray of his own. As he got closer she saw that he had gotten some spaghetti and garlic bread, he also picked up two small bowls of chocolate ice cream.
"Nick, why do I have a cheeseburger for you, when you have spaghetti now?" Sara asked slightly confused
"The spaghetti is for you" Nick stated and walked over to the open refrigerated area. He grabbed milk for Hannah and two ice teas, one for him and Sara. Sara just stood, shocked, in place, watching him. He turned and looked at her.
"Come on Sara, let's get this food back"
Sara nodded and followed Nick to the cashier. She began pulling money out of her wallet to pay for her and Hannah's food, when Nick touched her hand, indicating to put her money away. Sara pulled her hand back, surprised, and put her money back into her wallet. She followed Nick over to the condiments where she grabbed napkins. Nick was grabbing ketchup and mayonnaise packets when he looked over and gave Sara a questioning look, Sara immediately knew what he was asking.
"She likes ketchup and mayonnaise, just like you" Sara replied, whispering the last part. She was beginning to realize that Hannah had many of her fathers eating habits, which astonished Sara considering Hannah had never met her father.
Nick grabbed another mayonnaise and ketchup packet. He then began walking towards the elevator, Sara following closely behind. They rode in silence up to the sixth floor and continued in silence to Hannah's room.
"Hey Sara" Alice called out as they approached the nurses station
"Hello Alice, was Hannah good for you?"
"Yeah, she's a perfect little angel." Alice paused and noticed Nick
"Alice, this is Nick, Nick this is Alice, she is Hannah's nurse right now"
"Nice to meet you Alice"
"You too Nick" Alice supplied, completely smitten by the Texan
"Well we better get Hannah's food back to her, thanks for keeping on eye on her Alice" Sara replied, somewhat uneasy by the looks Alice was giving Nick. For the first time in five years, jealousy over Nick ran rampant through her veins.
Sara started up walking towards Hannah's room, Nick this time following closely behind.
"Hannah" Sara stated as she and Nick walked in the room "I'm back"
"Mommy" Hannah replied ecstatically "Who's that?" she asked pointing to Nick
"This is my good friend Nick. What do you say?"
"Hello Nick" Hannah stated very politely, reaching her arm out to shake his hand
Nick laid the tray of food down on the table in the corner of the room and went to Hannah's bed and took her tiny hand into his, "Hello Hannah, it's nice to meet you"
"You talk funny"
Nick chuckled at her comment
"Hannah!!!" Sara exclaimed "Be nice"
"Sara, it's okay" Nick replied, still amused with his daughters comment "Well, I'm from Texas"
"Really. My daddy lives in Texas. Mommy says that he works for the Dallas Police Department and that my daddy's family all lives in Dallas too"
Nick turned towards Sara and gave her a surprised look; he never expected Sara, let alone Hannah, to know about his life since he left Las Vegas. Sara gave him a look that distinctly said "we'll talk about it later" and Nick nodded. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize that Hannah was still talking to him until she asked him a question.
"So do you?" Hannah finished
Nick shook his head, "I'm sorry Hannah, what was the question?"
Hannah smiled, "Do you know my daddy?"