Exactly two hours later Nick was sitting on Sara's couch with his feet propped up on her coffee table. He had run into Brass in the hallway at the hospital. Brass had agreed to take them home. He was feeling extremely bad about what had happened to his friends so he was more then willing to offer his assistance. Luckily for Nick, Brass had an extra button-up shirt for him to wear since his shirt was now evidence. Brass also had found a tee shirt for Sara in his car as her shirt was also at the lab being processed. When Sara was finally discharged, they headed to Nick's to get his stuff and when Brass dropped them off it was almost 5 o'clock in the morning.
Sara handed Nick a glass of ice water and plopped down beside him on the couch. "Hell of a night." Nick grinned at her. "You can say that again." Sara grinned back. When he finished his water, he took his glass and placed it on the coffee table. Sara leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. 'Tired?" he asked. "Exhausted for once in my life." She answered without opening her eyes. "Sara?" he said softly. "Mmm?" she said opening one eye. " Are you really all right?" he asked.
Sara opened both eyes and turned her head to meet his concerned eyes. "I think I will be." She said quietly with a sad smile. He reached over and took her hand in his. "I'm here if you want to talk. I don't want you to shut me out. Okay?" He held her gaze, his eyes telling her how serious he was. "I'm not very good at opening up Nick. I'll try though. I am glad you're here." She squeezed his hand to reiterate her sincerity. He gave her one of his handsome Nick Stokes grins and leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. The traumatic events of the night finally caught up with them both and they fell into an exhausted sleep on the couch.
Nick woke to the sound of a whimper. He opened his eyes slowly not sure of where he was. He snuggled into the warmth that was pressed against the front of his body. He went to move and a hot flash of pain shot threw his shoulder. He groaned. He then realized that he was lying on his good shoulder on Sara's couch and she was spooned in against him. His slinged arm was resting on her hip. He heard her whimper again and quietly moan, "No please, no. Stop." Nick held his breath and his heart broke just a little at the sound of her words. "Sara," he said quietly, "Sara wake up darlin'"
Her eyes fluttered at the sound of his voice. "Nick?" she murmured sleepily, turning her head slowly toward his voice. "Yes it's me." "Why are you in my bed?' she asked opening one eye. He chuckled and said, "I'm not." Both Sara's eyes flew open and she asked, "Why am I in your bed then?" Nick started to laugh and said, "We're on your couch. We fell asleep early this morning remember." Her eyes clouded for a minute and then she nodded her head. She went to move and let out a small gasp.
Nick immediately pulled himself up and asked worriedly, "Are you okay?' "Yeah. My ribs are just a little tender, along with the rest of my body. He must of hit me harder then I thought." Sara watched as Nick's eyes flared with anger. "Bastard" he hissed.
Sara sat up slowly and met his eyes "Nick, I'm okay. You were the one shot." "Speaking of which I should call Warrick and see if they found a hit on any of the bullets they found." Nick said as he swung his feet to the floor. "Nick," she said hesitantly, " He shot you with my gun." "What?" he said looking at her. "He knocked my gun out of my hand. He must have found it after," she said sheepishly.
Nick looked at her for a moment and then started laughing. "Nick!" she said exasperated, "This is serious!" "I would have loved to have seen you're face. You must have been pissed. I bet that guy didn't know what hit him after that, the wrath of Hurricane Sara." Nick chuckled. Sara couldn't help but smile. "Yeah I was pissed off. If I hadn't of tripped over that damn lamp I would have whooped his butt." "Whooped his butt huh?" "You bet," she laughed. "Well you took the news better then Grissom did. I had to listen to a lecture on maintaining control of one's gun at all times." Sara sighed. Nick laughed again and patted her knee. "That's just how he is Sara." "I just wish he was a little more understanding. He was angry that I fought that guy. But there was nothing I could do. I had to try and apprehend the suspect." Sara said heatedly. "Sara you had to defend yourself. That bastard tried to rape you." Nick retorted.
Sara suddenly stood up and walked away. "Shit," Nick said to himself as he pushed himself off the couch to follow her. He found her in the kitchen standing in front of the sink. "Sara, I'm sorry." Nick said quietly. When she didn't respond, he walked over to her and gently turned her around. Silent tears were slowly rolling down her beautiful face. He reached out and slowly caressed her cheek. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes. "I hate myself for feeling so helpless. I promised myself I would never feel that way again." Her eyes flew open when she realized what she had said. Nick's eyes widened at her confession but he did not say a word. He just continued to gently stroke her cheek.
She held his gaze and slowly said, " I was nineteen years old and a sophomore in college when it happened. I was on my way back from the library. It was after midnight and very dark. I never saw his face. It happened so fast. I never told anyone." She turned her head away from his caress, ashamed. He reached out and touched her face again turning it back toward his. His beautiful brown eyes were full of tears. "I'm so sorry baby, so sorry," he whispered pulling her close to him. He felt her begin to cry and then the sobs came. She clung to the front of his shirt and cried her heart out as he held her as best as he could with one arm. He felt his own tears roll slowly down his face.
After awhile her tears became quiet hiccups. "I'm sorry," she said self-consciously leaning back to look up at him. She was taken back when she saw the tear tracks on his cheek. He had cried with her. She felt a tender warmth spread through her. No one had ever cried for her before. He looked down at her with his big brown eyes and said, "It's okay. I'm just glad you told me. It explains a lot of things." She looked at him questioningly. "Cases involving abused women seem to affect you more then the rest of us," he said gently. She reached up and touched his cheek and then surprised him with a quick kiss on his lips. "Thank you for listening and being here with me." He stood there to stunned to speak, the heat of her kiss lingered on his lips as well as the taste of her sweetness.
She watched as a spark of desire flamed to live in his eyes. She felt her body ignite with arousal and had to take a step back away from him. Embarrassed by her actions she mumbled, "I need to go clean up. I can just imagine how awful I look." "Your beautiful Sara. No bruises could ever deter that fact." He said seriously. "Nick," she sighed. They stared at each other a moment both very aware of the smoldering heat that had been ignited between them. Unable to hold his hungry gaze, she muttered, "I have to use the bathroom," and fled as fast as she could. She leaned against the closed bathroom door trying to get her raging hormones back under control. What was she going to do? She wanted Nick Stokes and much to her surprise it seemed he wanted her too.
Nick groaned and leaned against the counter. His not to subtle look of 'I want you naked and underneath me now' had scared her off. God he was a fool. After everything she had been through, know wonder she ran and locked herself in the bathroom. He would just have to back off and offer her his friendship. Maybe sometime in the future she would want to go out on a date. He was not giving up because he had definitely seen a spark of desire in her eyes and that little bit of knowledge gave him hope. He couldn't help but smile.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review. I still have quite a few more chapters. Thanks!