Disclaimer: See previous chapter

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update! I've had a huge mental block lately, but I think I've worked most of it out. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to review the first three chapters, as well as all of the lovely reviewers of my other stories. You guys rock, I hope you enjoy!

"Sara!" Nick yelled, leaning his head back against her couch, "We're going to be late if you don't hurry up."

He heard her mumble something unintelligible from the open doorway to the bathroom, and knowing her mood for the past several hours, he chose not to ask her to repeat it. Grissom had given her the next night off after she had fled the lab, and Nick knew that she was dreading going back and facing the team. He had offered to pick her up, being fairly certain that she would drag everything out to the last possible second and thinking that he could hurry her along. So far, he had failed miserably.

"Come on Sar, it's not going to be that bad. It was only us, and Sophia. Well, Greg kind of knows now too…but that's it. Grissom has already talked to Sophia, and you know everyone else is happy for you…"

Sara appeared in the doorway, toothbrush hanging from her mouth, and wearing a glare that could have killed. Nick rolled his eyes and watched her retreat back into the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later, wiping the corner of her mouth and sinking down onto the couch next to him.

"What is this about Sara? I know you don't want to go back…but I don't know why. Usually we have to drag you kicking and screaming from the lab. What do you think is going to happen?"

Sara sat next to him, silent, wrapping her arms around herself in a comforting gesture. When she didn't speak, Nick placed a hand on her knee and turned to face her.

"Nick, I'm still trying to adjust to this, and I know that everyone is supportive…but I'm just not ready to deal with everyone's questions right now…"

"What questions?"

This time Sara turned to face him. "Come on Nick, I know what the first question is going to be after the shock wears off. Catherine's already asked, it's only a matter of time."

Nick knew the question on his mind, the question on everyone's mind, and he had spent the past day trying not to ask it. They weren't trying to invade her privacy, but Sara's pregnancy had thrown all of them off kilter, and no obvious candidates jumped out.

"Well, did you answer her?"

Sara gave him a quizzical look; that was obviously not the reply she had expected. "Sort of…"

"Well, then you've already answered the question once. It will get easier. And it's not like any of us are going to demand it out of you. You'll answer it when you're ready. Now are you finally ready to go?"

Nick rose and offered her his hand. Sara rolled her eyes, but accepted. "You better not treat me as an invalid through this whole pregnancy, or so help me God…"

"Hey, I know better than to take my life into my own hands…I'll try to keep the hovering to a minimum if you promise to not give me a reason to have to."

The ride to the lab was mostly in silence, save the radio. Nick had finally turned into his parking space and killed the engine, when Sara reached out and placed a hand on his arm. He turned towards her with a questioning look and saw her downcast eyes.

"It's not Grissom's baby," she said softly.

"I know that." Nick clarified when he received an odd look. "I saw the look on his face, and it wasn't the look of a man finding out he was about to be a father."

Sara leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. Nick could see the look of frustration on her face. "It was…I mean, he is…"

Nick interrupted by reaching out and grasping her hand in his. "Sar, you don't have to do this right now…"

"No, you said it will get easier, right?" Nick nodded and squeezed her hand. "One of my old roommates from San Francisco came to visit, and we went to a bar for a couple drinks. We met some guys…and a lot of drinks later, she went home with one, and I…well you can guess…"

Nick wrapped an arm around her as a renegade tear made its way down her cheek. "I had been numb for so long…I just wanted to feel something again, and I thought we were careful." She sniffled and allowed herself to lean against him for a moment before pushing herself upright. Nick pulled her back into a half hug and kissed the top of her head. He knew that she had had a rough time since moving to Vegas, and she had never been able to let go of certain cases. Instead they just ate her up inside, and no matter how much Nick and Warrick had tried to get her to open up to them, they hadn't been able to get through the defenses she had armored herself with

"Things are gonna be okay Sar."

"I know…it's just going to take some time to adjust." She gave him a smile and pushed herself up again.

Nick knew he was probably going to catch hell for what he was about to ask, but there was something he couldn't quite let go of. As Sara started to exit the car, he reached over and pulled the door back. She turned to him with a confused look.

"Are you gonna tell him Sara?"

Nick swore that he saw her jaw drop. "Nick, he probably doesn't even remember me. This is my responsibility, and I'll get through it just fine."

"You don't think he would want to know? If it were me, I'd like to know…"

"But it's not you Nick. Listen, it's just easier this way. Now can we just go in?"

Sara exited the car quickly with Nick following behind her. He could see that she was nervous, and still slightly agitated from their discussion in the car. As they approached the break room, where they could see the rest of the team gathered, her shoulders tensed and she slowed her pace. He reached out to take her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, pleased that she accepted it without wrenching her hand away.

Greg turned to see Nick and Sara just as they reached the doorway and jumped up from the couch. He bounded to the door, wrapping Sara in an enormous hug. Nick watched in amusement as Sara rolled her eyes, but returned the hug with equal fervor. Once Greg relinquished his hold, Warrick stepped up next. Her cheeks reddened, but the smile radiating from her face was genuine. Nick glanced over at Grissom, hoping that this development wouldn't cause any problems with the normally tumultuous relationship shared between Sara and their supervisor. He was pleased to see a grin overtaking Grissom's normal stoic expression and allowed himself to pour a cup of coffee while the team assembled at the table.

Sara gave him a dirty look as he sat down next to her, eyeing his steaming mug of Greg's Blue Hawaiian. She sighed and then pasted a smile on her face as she took a sip of the herbal tea Catherine had set in front of her. Nick knew they were in for hell for the next few weeks; between the mood swings, the caffeine withdrawal, and Sara's sometimes less than sunny disposition, he hoped that they would all make it through unscathed.

Still, even that thought couldn't keep the grin off of his face, knowing in a few months there would be a new addition to the night shift family; one that he was sure would produce major changes.

What did you think? Let me know in a review!