No One Said It Would Be Easy

Chapter 6 – You Say "It's just a question of eliminating obstacles"

Disclaimers in chapter one and five

Spoilers: Anything through chapter four.

A/N: Thank you for the outpouring of reviews!!! They make me want to quit school and write all the time, but that wouldn't be good for my budget. No homework tonight so I though I would update again.

Saturday

Las Vegas

"Griss you have to be kidding!" said Sara her eyes wide.

"Sorry," he said kind of waving his hands in defeat. "He asked to come over and I didn't have a reason to say no."

"He asked to come over?"

"Yeah he said he wanted me to look at something from an old case he dug up."

"Lovely Griss. Just lovely."

"Well better sooner then later right Sara?" Cath asked putting in her two cents. Sara sighed and then shrugged at her two friends. Cath was right, she needed to talk to him and since Matt was asleep it was the perfect opportunity.

"Did you tell him I was here?"

"No, I thought it would be better if I didn't."

"Why? Would he run away if he knew I was here?"

"No, no nothing like that. He just would be a gentleman and want it cleared through you before he came over you know that."

"Yeah, you're right." Sara looked down at herself and sighed. She was in sweats and a ripped t-shirt. She definitely needed to change. "I'm going to change. Don't say anything to him if he gets here before I come out ok?"

"You got it," replied Cath with a smile. Sara walked into her room. Matt was sound asleep on half of the bed. He had kicked off the blankets and the sheet was around his little waist so Sara straightened his blankets then sat softly next to him stroking his curly hair.

"Oh, Matty," she said softly. "What is he going to say? Do you think he'll be mad?" He only response was a soft sigh from her sleeping son, so she stood back up and pulled some clothes out of her suitcase. She dressed casually so as not to have Nick suspect anything. She wore a pair of slightly wore jeans and a nice knit top. She left her feet bare because she was more comfortable with her toes to the air. Finally she decided to freshen up. As she finished running a brush through her hair she saw lights enter the drive her breath caught in her throat and steadied her hands on the sink. Forcing the nausea back down, she pulled her hair into a pony tail and headed for the living area.

As she walked toward the living room she heard muffled voices, first Grissom's low rumble then Catherine's high reply. Finally she heard Nick's soft baritone asking a question about a case. Catherine answered again her voice a little closer now. Sara finally took the plunge and walked into the living room. Nick didn't notice the extra presence because his back was to her looking at a case on the coffee table. He was sitting in the chair she had vacated. Her lone glass of wine sitting next to his file, she wondered if he had asked about the extra glass. She looked up at Catherine who was walking in from the kitchen. Cath gave her a reassuring smile and wink and walked to the couch.

"You know Nick you actually took our guest's chair."

"Your guest? I didn't know you had anyone here," he replied turning to look toward Sara.

"Hi Nick," she said softly.

"Sara! Oh...wow...um....I ah didn't know you were coming to town." His eyes were wide with surprise. She wasn't sure if he was happy to see her or not.

"Yeah it was kind of a spur of the moment thing. Griss was the only one who knew I was on my way."

"Wow, it's really great to see you," he said and stood pulling her into a hug. "What has it been like three and a half years?"

"Yeah about that," she replied taking a seat across from him in another chair.

"I didn't mean to take your seat. I didn't know anyone was sitting here."

"Hey don't worry about it Nick, it's just a chair."

"So where have you been?" he asked lightly looking back at the file in front of him.

"I run the San Francisco lab." This startled him and he looked up at her surprised.

"You do? Wow, that's a major step Sara. When did you start there?"

"Um almost three years ago." He looked at her curiously wondering where the lost months had gone.

"Where were you before that?"

"Well here, but I think you mean those few months?" at his nod she continued. "Well I was finding a home, trying to set up a life for myself. I had some issues I had to deal with before I could start at work."

"Oh," he replied, but still curious as to what she had been up to.

"How have you been?"

"Fairly busy with work. You know how it is. Nothing too new going on, just work like normal. Did Griss tell you that Greg is a CSI 2?"

"Yeah he told me that. I also heard that you and Cath are tied for lead CSI?"
"Yup we are," he replied with a smirk to Cath, who they suddenly both realized was gone, as was Grissom. "Huh I wonder where they went."

"Actually I think they probably gave us some time alone. I came back because I need to talk to you Nicky."

"You need to talk to me? You could have called I live at the same place."

"I know, but this is something that needs to be done face to face."

"Face to face? Sara we haven't been face to face for over three years! You left Sara, without a word!" Sara sighed and looked at her hands; she knew he would be mad.

"I know, but I had to."

"Why? Why did you have to leave with barely two words to your best friend," Nick was yelling by now and they didn't heard a door down the hallway creak open. "Do you know how badly you hurt me? And then to find out that Grissom knew where you were and couldn't tell anyone?"

"He said you were very upset. I'm sorry Nick, but..."

"Mommy?" They both whirled to the direction of the voice. Sara walked over to Matt and bent to his level.

"Hey baby, are we too loud?"

"Uh huh."

"I'm sorry. I'm just talking to Nick, see him standing there?" Matty nodded but wrapped his arms around Sara's neck.

"Can I have water?" he asked quietly as if he were sharing a secret with his mom.

"Sure baby." She hauled him to her hip and carried him to the kitchen. Grissom had picked up some children's cups so she filled one half full and let him drink. Matt wiped his mouth on his sleeve then slowly walked toward Nick who watched the entire interaction.

"Why are you yelling at mommy?" Nick bent down to Matt's level to reply.

"We were just having a disagreement and got a little loud." Matt cocked his head at Nick, who still was a stranger to him. Cath appeared at the living room entrance.

"Matty, want to come read a story with me?"

"Yup!" he said running to Cath's outstretched hand.

"Cath he should really be in bed."

"I know. We'll read until you fall asleep ok buddy."

"Zat ok Mommy?"

"That's fine baby, but kiss me goodnight," he ran up and placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek then ran back to Cath who took him down the hallway. Sara sat back in her seat after a moment Nick did the same. He finally looked up at her.

"So that was the issue you had to deal with when you go to San Francisco huh?"

"Yup."

"Kind of a big issue."

"Yup."