Title: You Hold Me Together

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of the characters along with it. Please don't sue me! I'm a poor college student.

Ch.3 – Picking Pieces

Nick walked into the lab with a solemn look on his face. His morning hadn't been that great…Sara. He huffed, this wasn't the way he had planned it. In fact, it wasn't even close. He entered the lab to find Greg humming happily to himself as he looked through the microscope. Greg looked up and smiled, "Hey Nick how goes it?"

Greg regretted his greeting to Nick considering the look on his face. He looked like death run over. Nick nodded, "Yeah, you got those fibers done yet?

"Yes. And here you are." Nick nodded as he glanced over it leaving. Greg raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, "Your welcome." He mumbled.

Warrick entered the locker room and grinned as he saw a figure bent slightly with her foot on the bench tying her shoe. Catherine looked up at him and smiled, "Hey good-lookin."

He winked at her as he opened his locker, "How's Lindsey?"

"She's better. She still has a little cough and I'm a little drained, but I'm fine."

He glanced up and let his eyes roam up the down her body. He gave a small smirk, "I can see that."

She held back a smile as she clipped her name tag on before beginning to walk out. She turned back around and gave a curious grin, "So, whatcha got cookin'?"

Warrick closed his locker and leaned on casually putting his hands into his jean pockets, "Um…I'm thinking breakfast at my place probably around 8."

Catherine just grinned. She winked as she turned to leave running into Sara. "Hey Sara."

"Hey Cath. Warrick can I talk to you for a sec?" Sara looked a little upset. Warrick stood up straighter, "Sure. I'll catch you in a minute Cath."

Catherine walked away thinking, you better. He looked back at Sara, "What's up?"

"Has Nick said anything to you?"

Warrick began to open his mouth and stopped. She followed his eyes to the doorway...Nick was standing there. Warrick glanced in between the two. Before Warrick got a chance to retreat, Nick did it for him.

"I…um…I remember what I needed was in my car…sorry to interrupt."

He back up quickly and left. Practically made a dash. He shook his head, 'what I needed was in my car' that was great. Probably sounded like an idiot.

Sara looked down at her shoes and Warrick eyed her, "Sara?"

"Did he say anything?"

Warrick sighed, "If it's about Brad…everyone knows Sar."

She looked up shocked, "What?"

"Yeah...spilled over from homicide that untameable Brad and scientific Sara are getting hitched at the Grand Little Wedding chapel Saturday."

She swallowed hard. She felt sick. She told Brad she didn't want a lot of attention. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he wasn't the one. He didn't respect her wishes not as he did. Not like Nick. Nick knew her. She looked up at Warrick as he continued, "I haven't talked to him yet Sara. Just so you know. I promise that I'm not hiding anything."

"Thanks Warrick." He smiled softly as he rubbed her arm, "Anytime girl."

He started to leave then turned, "Sara."

She turned to face him wiping her eyes, "Yeah."

"He cares Sara."

Sara nodded faintly as he Warrick went off in search of Catherine.

Nick sat in his Tahoe eating a quick dinner. A super-cheeseburger from the restaurant down the street. He took a bite out of it as he turned the radio station again for the third time. All there was on tonight was sappy love songs. Nick didn't want to think about love right now. Just his food. There was a knock on the passenger door. He looked up and then back down. He sat there for a second not moving finally he unlocked the door. As she got in as he put his cheeseburger back in the wrapper and placed it aside.

"That's looks good."

"Thought you didn't like meat…" he gave a small smile as he looked at the steering wheel. She was trying. He would let her.

"I meant the ketchup on your shirt."

He looked down and huffed, "And they just keep comin'."

She picked up a napkin and tried to clean red off his light blue shirt. He watched her face carefully. She looked up and realized how close they were. She sucked in a breath. She wanted to move but she couldn't. Nick starred into her eyes. Don't. Don't. He kept telling himself, no. And then it was too late. He began to move in to kiss her, he was surprised to see her moving toward him too. They jerked back when pounded erupted on the passenger window. Brad stood there furious. Sara opened the door and Brad almost jerked her out of the Tahoe. Nick looked down at the steering wheel trying to ignore him.

"You…" Nick looked at Brad with a stern expression on his face, "Get out."

"Get out?"

Brad nodded. He had a red tint on his face to show his anger, "You heard me! Get out!"

Nick shook his head as he smirked a little, "Alright..."

Brad was in front of the car arguing with Sara. She was trying desperately to get Brad to come back inside with her. She didn't want this. She didn't want them to fight. Brad shoved her off him almost making her fall backwards. Nick was furious by this sight, but stood there quietly knowing he get his chance. Brad barely stood even with Nick's height. "I knew you were gonna be a problem…so you know let's settle this 'right' now!"

"That so?" Nick crossed his arms and starred at him hard. Brad stepped closer, "So why don't you just back off. She...Is...Mine."

"Sara is no one's toy, Bradley."

Sara then appeared between them, "Brad…"

He yelled as he pushed her away, "Shut up."

"Hey, don't you ever touch her like that!"

Brad turned back to him, "You should mind your own business and keep your hands off my woman!"

Brad fell backwards to the ground before he even knew what happened. Nick had punched him. He held his nose, "You broke my nose! Bastard!"

Nick shook his hand for the feeling to come back. He had hit him hard, "She's not yours."

"What the hell is going on out here?" Nick looked at Grissom. Grissom looked down at Brad who still had his hand to his face. There was blood all over his shirt. He whined a little then called out to Sara. She hesitated then shook her head, "Help yourself."

Nick looked at the crowd watching them. He looked back at Grissom, "Your office?"

He nodded. Nick glanced at Sara as he passed her. Grissom pointed to Brad who was still on the ground as he looked at Warrick, "Get him cleaned up."

Warrick nodded although he didn't really want to. Catherine put her arm around Sara, "Come on hun…let's go inside okay."

Sara nodded as she and Catherine walked into the building together. Sara could see Nick and Grissom walking ahead of them. She wanted to smile, Nick had stood up for her. He didn't have to but he did. Nick turned just before he walked into Grissom's office and stared at Sara. She tried not to make any facial expressions that would show him what she was feeling. Nick gave a small comforting smile before finally walking into his office and closing the door. Sara felt tears coming to her eyes. She bit her lip trying to hold them back, she couldn't loose it, not now. Not now, after everything she'd seen and come through. She inhaled deeply as she felt the tears subside and then huffed knowing she would have to talk to Nick.