Thanks for the low down on G& J. Very disappointing to say the least. A will keep my fingers crossed. Please read and review. Thanks!

Chapter 6

Nick watched Sara from across the table as they ate the vegetarian lasagna Catherine had brought them for dinner. She had been fairly quiet since their friends had left over an hour ago. The news they had brought hadn't been very good. The suspect had covered his tracks very well. All they had recovered from the scene were some fibers from the ski mask. No traces of blood had been found other than Sara's. Little evidence had been found on the female victim. They're most promising lead had been a boot print found out in the yard where Nick had chased the perp. He could tell by Sara's face she was feeling very discouraged.

They finished dinner and Sara stood to clear their plates. "Let me help you," Nick offered. "I can do it," she replied. "I don't mind Sar," he said picking up the salad bowl. "Suit yourself," she snapped. He stood there for a moment before he set the salad back down on the table and left the kitchen.

She watched him stalk away and admonished herself for being such a bitch. She sighed setting the plates down and followed him. He was in the living room putting his stuff into a duffel bag. "Nick, I'm sorry," she said. He didn't answer her or look at her. "What are you doing?" she asked quietly. "I think I should leave." He folded his shirt and placed it in his bag. "Nick," she tried again, "I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just frustrated. I feel like I should be at the lab doing something. Not just sitting at home."

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "I know you're frustrated so am I. We'll be back to work in a couple of days. We'll find something. I know we will." He hesitated for a second before finishing, "I'm not leaving because of that." She met his eyes and knew the reason. "Nick, I don't know what to say to you. I'm confused right now." She stopped, throwing her arms up in the air exasperated. He watched her as she began to pace back and forth. She knew she needed to explain to him what she was feeling. He deserved to know, especially after she initiated their first kiss. He thought she was choosing Grissom over him but she wasn't.

She stopped and looked at him. "Grissom has been the center of my life for so long. Through the years he has led me along, always giving me small glimmers of hope to hold on too. A few months ago I heard him confess that he had feelings for me." She stopped turning away for a moment. Nick felt his stomach tie into a knot. She looked back at him and her big brown eyes were full of tears. "He said he couldn't risk his career. He couldn't risk his job for love or for the chance to be happy."

Nick's eyes widen in shock. What kind of fool was Grissom? Sara could have offered him a lifetime of love and joy and he chose his career! She held up her hand before he could speak. "It hurt more than I can say. It has taken me a long to get over it. But I decided that I needed to move on with my life and open the door to new possibilities," she stopped her eyes meeting his with a fixed stare, "or old ones." she finished. Her eyes shown with sincerity when she said, "You've always been there Nick, since the first time I met you."

He took a step closer to her, a surge of hope began to travel threw his body. She felt her heart begin to race as he moved closer to her. She looked down at her hands for a moment before meeting his eyes again. "You scare me Nick," she admitted. His eyes widen in surprise at her confession. "I have never been attracted to a man who is so completely different from me. Everything about us is contradictory. With Grissom I feel like I'm on solid ground and I can predict what the next move will be, it feels safe. But with you I feel like I'm on a boat in the middle of a raging storm. I can't get my bearings. And I definitely can't forecast what you're going to do. Are you in it for the thrill of it or are you going to ride out the storm with me?" She stopped and shook her head. "That sounded way too melodramatic," she grinned feeling foolish.

Nick grinned back at her. He stepped up close to her and put his hand against her cheek. "What would you say if I said I've wanted to sail around the world with you for a very long time but I was afraid you'd throw me overboard if I asked?" Her eyes widen slightly and she said, "You've wanted to ask me out? Since when?" "Since the first time I saw you," he answered. "Nick you could have any woman you want. What can you possibly see in me?"

"Sara,' he sighed. "I see you, all of you. You're beautiful, smart, caring, honest and sexy as hell. You're one of the most amazing women I've ever met and that blush of yours drives me wild." he said stroking her pink cheek. She looked into his eyes and whispered, "Nick I don't know how to do this." "I don't either but I want to do this right. I think you're worth the risk Sara." He let his words settle over her, watching as her eyes filled with tears. "But Sara you need to know right now, I will not be in Gil Grissom's shadow. You need to see me for who I am and like me for what I am. I want us to go out on dates. I want to be able to kiss you when I want too and where I want too. I want to walk down the street and let everyone know the beautiful woman on my arm is mine." He stopped his tirade and looked at her.

"Nick Stokes you will never be in Grissom's shadow, you out shine him any day." she said with fervor as clasped his handsome face in her hands and drew his mouth down to hers for a tender kiss. He pulled her closer wrapping his good arm around her. They kissed each other softly, enjoying the feel of the lips gliding together. Their tongues met in a quiet dance of bliss, as they savored the taste of each other. They pulled away slowly knowing they weren't physically able to do what they both really wanted and that was to ravish one other.

He ran his hands threw her silken hair and gently caressed her soft skin. "How long till we're both feeling 100%?" she breathed in his ear. "Too long," he chuckled. She leaned back and looked into his eyes with a playful grin on her face. "Ahh Mr. Stokes you should consider yourself very lucky because I happened to love foreplay." Nicks face broke out into a huge grin and the corner of his eyes crinkled. "You have my full attention now Miss Sidle. Exactly what would this foreplay include?" "Both of our hands are fully functioning right?" she grinned holding hers up and wiggling her fingers. "Oh I like the way you think Sar," Nick said as he leaned down to touch his lips to hers.

They stood there for a few more minutes enjoying the closeness they were feeling. Sara ran her hands threw his incredibly soft hair as Nick continued to stroke hers. They pulled away from one another reluctantly when they felt their bodies' becoming overheated. "Maybe we should watch a movie," Sara said running her fingers across her flushed cheeks. "Yeah good idea," Nick agreed rubbing the back of his neck trying to get his aroused body back under control.

They headed to the couch and sat down next to one another. Sara looked over at Nick as he looked at her. Their eyes flamed with the unreleased desire they still felt. "Maybe we shouldn't sit so close together," Sara said moving toward the opposite end of the couch. "You can't resist touching me can you Sar?" Nick said with a playful smirk. "Oh I can resist Cowboy, I was just worried about you." "Me! You don't need to worry. I am the king of resisting temptation." "Oh you think so Stokes?" Sara said sitting up and removing her zip-up sweatshirt. Nicks eyes traveled from her face down to her tank top, she wasn't wearing a bra.

Sara smiled in satisfaction when Nick's face flushed pink. "Now that's not playing fair Sara," Nick groaned meeting her amused eyes. "Who said anything about playing fair," Sara laughed as Nick began to slide towards her. He pulled her long legs up into his lap with his good arm. "I'd say your legs seem to be in wonderful working condition Sar," Nick grinned wickedly as he ran his hand along the underside of her calf. "Nick," she breathed heavily, as her eyes slowly closed. "If I recall correctly Miss Sidle, you said hands were okay." "Mmmm," she sighed as his hand found her other leg.

He watched her as her head fell back against the cushions, her eyes still closed. He glided his hand unhurriedly over her soft, smooth skin enjoying the heated sensation he felt underneath his fingertips. He shifted his focus from one leg to the other, slowly stroking her ankles, calves and her knees. As he made his made to the backs of her knees, Sara let out a throaty moan. His eyes flew to her passion filled ones. His body became rigid with desire in an instant. She looked utterly wanton lying there with her face flushed, her eyes glazed and her chest heaving.

Sara's eyes widen suddenly when underneath her leg she felt his obvious reaction to her moan. She pulled her legs out of his lap. "Maybe hands weren't such a good idea, Nick." she whispered. Nick ran his hands over his face and sighed heavily. "I feel like a horny teenager Sara. Christ I want. I want you now." His eyes flared with passion as he spoke. "God, I want you too, Nick." Sara huskily said.

He moved quickly, his hot, hungry mouth devouring hers. The sound of her whimper made him pull away. "I sorry Sara," he said realizing he had hurt her swollen lip. "It's okay," she whispered back. He leaned his head against hers and said, "I've waited years to be able to be this close to you. I guess I can handle waiting a few more days until I can have you completely." He felt her smile, as she ran her fingers threw his hair. "Nick?" she said quietly. "Mmm?" he said leaning back to see her smiling face. "I'm going to go get some ice. Why don't you see what's on the Discovery Channel." Sara said with a grin. "Sure," he said with a grin of his own.

Sara stood up and headed into the kitchen just as the phone rang. "Can you get that?" she called out. "Sure," Nick responded. "Sidle Residence," he said. No answer. "Hello" Nick said. Nothing. Nick listened until he heard the quiet click of the phone disconnecting. "Who is it?' Sara asked from the doorway. "Nobody there must've been a wrong number."

Just then Nick's cell rang. He raised his eyebrows at Sara. "Stokes," he answered. "Hey man what's up." Warrick he mouthed to Sara. She smiled as she held a bag of ice cubes against her lip. She watched as Nick's smile slipped from his face and his brow knotted up in concentration. She heard him growl, "Damn!" His eyes met hers as he flipped the phone shut. She knew something had happened and it definitely was not good.

Sorry to leave you guys hanging but a little suspense can't hurt. Just so you're forewarned it may be a few days till I post again. SORRY!