DISCLAIMER : I don't own CSI nor it's characters. Everything belongs to the brains behind this wonderful show. Props go out to them. :D

AUTHOR'S NOTE : Set Post-Butterflied. Still unsure as to how this story is going to unfold and I like it that way. I could surprise the readers and myself. :D

The title may also change.

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CHAPTER VI

Lurie saw an angel, there she was, stepping out of the floor elevator. For a moment, Lurie's world stopped moving. Everything around him became a blur and all he could see was Debbie. He corrected himself mentally and forced himself to recognize her as Sara. Debbie was dead, this was his second chance. Sara now had his love. Debbie had cheated on him, he knew that Sara would not.

Lurie saw Sara walk out of the elevator with a blonde woman who was showing her a piece of paper from a folder she was carrying. Sara had been engrossed in that piece of paper that she missed Lurie's raised hand as he waived at her to grab her attention.

Lurie felt a flash of anger at being ignored but quickly forgave Sara because he knew that she was dedicated to her job. Instead of continuing his round, he walked away from it to follow Sara and her blonde friend with the intent of saying hello.

The past weeks have been hell for Lurie. Ever since the news of Debbie's death and his near arrest, the hospital staff have been giving him strange looks. And if that wasn't enough, his shift had been moved and now he worked nights, away from the friends he once had. Everything changed the day those damned CSI's came and started asking their questions. He loathed every single CSI ... except his Sara. She had done him no wrong and she was just perfect.

Lurie followed Sara and her friend; falling a couple of feet behind their tracks. He was still formulating what to say to her. "Should I ask if she liked the flowers?" Lurie asked himself. It had been a long time since he'd sent a woman flowers. Debbie wasn't one for foreplay. It was now or never for her. For Sara, it might be different. He still wasn't sure what to do or how to go about it.

As he was about to chuck his nervousness aside and finally talk to Sara, he saw somebody approach her and her friend. They quickly exchanged what looked like formalities before Sara's friend walked ahead to stand just outside of hearing range.

Stopping in his tracks, he stared at the guy who was now talking to his Sara. He recognized the man as one of the EMT's who worked at the hospital and had seen him around before. He didn't know what business he had with Sara and that didn't set well with him.

From where Lurie stood, it looked like their conversation wasn't going well. Sara's beautiful face was etched with a frown, her lips were in a tight line. The man was gesturing with his hands and looked like he was apologizing. For what, Lurie didn't know but wanted to find out.

As seconds passed, Lurie noticed Sara's expression getting more and more irritated. He no longer could hold the urge to stand next to her.

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Sara could not believe the shift that she was having. From the start of the shift, strange things have just kept happening. First there were those roses. Sure, they were beautiful, but she couldn't just pass it off as something somebody would randomly do. Disappointed as she were to find that it wasn't from anybody she knew, she was more hurt Grissom would just assume they were for Catherine.

Then there was Catherine trying to get her all riled up with the Grissom thing. She had to admit that she was grateful that Catherine at least tried to stand up to her back at the lab, but she really was in no mood to discuss her personal problems. She was just glad that Catherine had decided to let the topic go after her dismissing it back in the car.

And now, here she was trying her best not to slap the man standing in front of her. She was beyond incredulous that this creep would still think she'd want anything to do with him.

"What do you want Hank?" Sara said, her voice cold.

Hank stared at her, his eyes pleading for some understanding that she couldn't give him. "I ... I just wanted to see you. "He started, fumbling with the hem of his uniform. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"What makes you think I'd want to see you?" Sara answered back. "After what happened you still think we'd be what ... friends?"

"Look," Hank gestured with his hands, trying to convey his regret, "I know that I hurt you..."

"No Hank. You lied to me. You cheated on your girlfriend, and you cheated on me." Sara interrupted. "That was more than just hurting me. That was completely destroying any trust I had on you."

Hank went on with more apologies but Sara had already zoned out on him, remembering what had gotten them into this situation.

She was on the rebound; if you'd call that a rebound. She was trying to distract herself from work, but most importantly from Grissom. Hank had certainly displayed interest in her and for the first time in a very long time, she had allowed herself to open up to somebody else. Somebody who she could date.

And when she had finally started to trust him and let him into her life deeper, it all came crashing down.

She felt sick that she had called him endearing names and even acted like a woman involved around him only to find out what a farce he was.

Cheater! She almost lost it when she saw that picture of them in his girlfriend's apartment. She had never felt so betrayed before and she felt like hell.

Sure, she wasn't in love with him, but it surely felt terrible to be cheated on! And to be the other woman? The guy had some nerve coming up to me today and to hope I'd forgotten about the whole thing!

"... I just hope that at some point, you'd be able to forgive me and well..." Hanks voice filtered through her thoughts.

"Stop. I don't know what the hell you want from me Hank, but after that lousy thing you did, there is no way ... no way I'd want anything to do with you again."

Her words stopped Hank in whatever he was trying to convey. Sara stared at him coldy as he opened and closed his mouth, failing to come up with words.

"Sara? You're Sara Sidle right?" A voice broke between Hank and Sara that had her whip her head around to find out who it was from.

A tall figure in a doctor's coat smiled down at her still irritated face.

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A/N : Sorry this took a bit long in coming… work had me swamped these past few days. Thanks to all the reviewers … you guys totally rock!