Chapter 2

If it hadn't been for Warrick walking around the corner and calling his name, Nick would have passed out then and there. Warrick noticed the loss of color in Nick's face, "There's...Brass wants to talk to you man."

"Okay," he walked off not looking at Sara. Not so much as even a glance or wondering eye. Sara felt hurt. What did she think? Nick would embrace her in a hug congratulating her...yes. Maybe not. Warrick turned to Sara who looked upset, "You alright girl?"

"Dandy, I have evidence to examine." With that, she turned on her heels and walked away. Grissom came out of the lab, "Hey Warrick."

"Hey. What's going on with everyone?"

Grissom glared at him for a moment then spoke, "DNA confirms the one and only suspect. We're done."

He handed the papers of proof to Warrick as he trotted off. Warrick was dumbfounded, 'We're done...'

Nick was walking back to the evidence room where Sara was supposed to be. Brass wanted to talk to him about a possible suspect. He still couldn't believe Sara was even contemplating this move. He is not the one for her. How in the hell was he supposed to work with her now. This was not happening. Nick walked into the evidence room. He kept his hurt eyes on the evidence lying on the table. Sara looked at him. He wasn't about to look at her and show the dismay and the disappointment. She nodded to herself, "I love him, Nick."

Nick clenched his jaw when he heard the word 'love', "So, the way I see it...is Debbie was taking her trash out and the perp came up from the behind and strangled her."

"Nick..." Sara began.

Nick cut her off, "She didn't have any valuables."

"Nick." She tried again.

Nick shook his head, "I don't get that."

"Nick, I..."

Nick spoke louder as he interrupted her again, "I don't understand, Sara."

He looked at her with a mixture of hurt and anger. Sara stood down. That wasn't like her, but she couldn't help it. She felt guilty as if she had betrayed him. She huffed, there wasn't a need for that. Why should she feel guilty? She didn't do anything.

"I...just don't...understand," Nick said as he looked down at the evidence. He was going to have to get over this. He had a case to work, they had a case to work. Had. Funny, the word...had. A word stemmed from, 'have'. Past tense. Opposite of lack. He definitely thought he was capable of having a conversation with Sara, but now it seems he lacked the ability.

Sara nodded, "The Vic didn't have a boyfriend, according to her sister. She wasn't really sure though. Insurance policy, money left to the sister."

Nick nodded blankly, "I'm gonna go talk to Doc and see what he's found."

"Alright." She watched him leave.

Sara sat on her couch silently. It was quiet in her apartment. The silence was actually deafening. She never did fully understand that meaning until now when she realized she was alone. Usually Nick would come over and they would watch movies and talk. Now, there was no Nick. No movie. No talking. Just her. Brad had to work, so he wouldn't be coming over. She looked at her keys on the bar and then got up. She was going to talk to Nick.

Nick was watching the Discovery Channel. Well, he wasn't actually watching it, just pretending to do something so he can say he did. He took a sip of his beer as he heard a knock on his door. He got up lazily off his couch as he made his way to the door. He knew it was Greg. Whenever Greg got real ticked about something, he usually came to talk to Nick. Nick was the peacekeeper and sometimes he even felt like a psychiatrist at times. There was a couple of more knocks, "I'm coming...just a (he opened the door) minute."

It definitely wasn't Greg. The two figures stood silently starring at each other and then Nick backed up letting Sara walk in. Nick closed the door slowly as he took another sip of his beer, this was going to be a long night. Sara turned toward him as Nick leaned on the door.

"I...uhm, we missed our movie night." She kicked herself mentally, way to go, way to start a conversation.

"Yeah...I didn't know if Ben would be there or not."

"Brad," Nick barely even heard her. Sara stuck her hands in her pockets nervously, "Why are you upset with me? You always told me to follow my dream, Nick. No matter what it was."

"I also told you to follow your gut and make the right choices in those dreams." She looked down during the middle of his comment.

"I am." Nick nodded as he set his bottle on the counter as he walked toward her. Sara felt her body tense as he neared her. They were no more than a foot away when he stopped, "Look me in the eye and tell me that you're sure."

Sara was looking at his chest rise and fall. She was afraid to answer the question. It should have been a simple no or yes, but it turned out to be a life or death situation to her. She looked up as she nodded. She froze when she saw his eyes glazed over with tears.

Nick reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. As he drew back, Sara caught his hand with hers and brought it to her cheek as she closed her eyes. He was warm and she knew he was full of love. Nick inhaled slowly as he stepped closer and raised her chin gently. She opened her eyes as he cupped her face and kissed her softly. Nick realized she kissed him back and then deepened it. Sara kept her eyes shut as she pulled back and they both took in a haggard breath. He rested his forehead on hers closing his eyes.

Sara licked her lips quickly, what did she just do. Ruined everything. She opened her eyes and took a step back. Nick stuck his hands, which desperately wanted to be on her body, into his jean pockets. He looked down at the ground then at her, "Tell me you're sure."

Sara starred blankly at him and felt her heart drop. Had he kissed her just to confuse her? "I've gotta go."

"Sara...please, don't go. Stay." Nick touched her arm gently as she walked past him. She felt her body shiver as her stomach twirled.

"I have to get back...Brad is supposed to be calling me."

"Sara...please." She reached for the door handle and stopped in mid-air. He was begging. Asking her to stay. She closed her eyes as she turned around to face him. He stepped closer to her.

"Nick, I love Brad. I'm marrying him in a week. I'll be gone by next Sunday and you will find someone else."

Nick wanted to die. That was harsh. So harsh it killed his heart. He backed up and grabbed his beer. He wasn't going to show her how much it hurt, "Alright. I'll see you at work later."

Sara felt her anger fluster. That wasn't supposed to happen that way. She turned and opened the door slamming it behind her. Nick slumped on the couch, jerk. Bastard. Idiot. Stupid. Be a freaking man! There was something there...yes, without a doubt something. He closed his eyes, who was he kidding? He rubbed his head as he sighed, he was loosing it. He was having a hard time keeping it all together because now...Sara didn't love him.