A/N: Well folks, after about a million years, finally a chapter. I am happy to say that this story is now finished. Thank GOD. There is a good reason that I haven't updated in a million years though. You see, I could not for the life of me figure how to end this thing. Put them together and it turns out cheesy. Not put them together and go against what I want! Oh the horror. Hopefully this turns out all right, but don't be afraid to tell me if it disappoints you!

--Emily—

Disclaimer:

Rope: ten dollars

Gun: two hundred dollars

Knife: fifty dollars

Blowtorch: Seventy-five dollars

Lawyer: five hundred dollars

Owning CSI by using all of the above items: 845$, but you'd get to see Nick topless and Nick and Sara hook up, so in the end…

Priceless

But until I can get 845 dollars to buy all that stuff, I don't own it.

Sara spent the next day reflecting on her situation. At some point in the afternoon, Nick called her. She answered with a harsh hello.

"Sara, I think we need to talk…"

"Nick, what now." She replied.

"Please, Sara, forgive me. I love you…" She snorted in disgust. How dare he come to her, begging for her.

"I don't want to hear it." She said, her voice cold. There was a pause.

"I know. I just had to give it one last try. I'm leaving next week. I got a job in Texas. I just wanted to know if I could see the kids once more." For a moment Sara was silent. She hadn't expected that.

"When do you want to come over?" She hoped her voice held no indication of the surprise she felt.

"Sunday. Will that work? I leave Monday, so it cant be any later." Sunday, that was only two days away.

"Yeah, sure. What time?"

"Noon if that's okay with you."

"Of course. Bye." She hung up before he could say anything and collapsed on the couch. She found herself short of breath as she tried to digest all that she had just been told. She knew that eventually either she or Nick would most likely leave Vegas, but she hadn't thought that it would happen so soon. She didn't know what she was feeling. She knew she should probably been happy, but the emotion was not present. A tear slipped down her cheek as she sat in silence. She finally got up about two hours later, when Catherine dropped off her children.

"Hey Sara." Greeted the older woman. Sara forced a smile.

"Hey. How were they?" She asked, motioning towards her children.

"You know how kids are. Hey, what's the matter?" It hadn't taken Catherine long to notice something wrong with Sara. Sara motioned for her to come in and to sit down.

"Nicks leaving."

"Vegas?" Sara nodded. "How are you feeling about it?" Sara shrugged.

"To be honest, I don't really know. Its just so confusing." Catherine looked at her with sympathy.

"Well, if he's leaving, it would probably be a good idea to figure out what you feel." Said Catherine wisely. She glanced at the clock. "I best be getting home now to see Lindsey. Remember to think about it." She said, rising from the couch. She let herself out, leaving Sara sitting alone.

Sunday seemed to come faster than ever, and Sara dreaded the final meeting. But, as dreaded thing seem to do, it came very quickly, and before she knew it, it was Sunday at noon. And as he had said, Nick was right on time.

He spent a good hour and a half with his children, trying to explain to them why daddy was leaving. Finally, he looked at Sara.

"Sara, can I talk to you in private?"

"Fine." He followed her into the small kitchen.

"Sara, please know that I still love you, and I always will. Its not to late." He gently cupped her face in his hands. Sara resisted the urge to fall into his familiar embrace.

"We cant. It's too late. We both know that this would never work out." She whispered softly. Tears were shamelessly falling from his eyes, and it took her a moment to realize that tears also fell down her cheeks. He turned from her, slowly walking away. She followed him out the door, and as he was walking out to his car, she called out.

"Nick!" He turned and looked at her. She blushed.

"Um, have a good trip." He nodded and as he drove off, she scolded herself for being such a coward. She still loved him, so why couldn't she have told him?

Life slowly moved on after this. Sara even started dating after about five months. Catherine had encouraged her to go out with a friend of hers. She claimed it would be good for Sara. Reluctantly, Sara agreed. It was with a man named Jason, an old friend of Catherine's. To Sara's surprise, she ended up having a good time and before she knew it, they were officially dating. After a few weeks, he met her kids. They got along well, to Sara's relief. But still, no matter how much fun she had with Jason, nothing could fill the hole in her heart.

It took her almost six months to realize why. It was one night after a date with Jason. They had been together almost three months and were at a relatively expensive restaurant. After eating, they had gone on a walk in the beautiful gardens that the place was famous for. Taking her hand, he looked her in the eyes.

"Sara, we have had a lot of fun together lately."

"Yeah, we have." She agreed with a smile. He looked down nervously.

"I think things are getting really serious though. I really feel a connection and all…" This was where Sara stopped him.

"Jason, are you trying to break up with me?" He looked at her, flabbergasted.

"No! No, Sara, what I am trying to say is that I love you." Her face reflected shock, then confusion. His heart fell; this was not what he had been hoping for.

"Wow. I huh, don't know what to say." He nodded.

"You don't have to say anything." Sara could see the disappointment on his face.

"Maybe I should just go home. I need to get back to the kids…" He quickly agreed. Twenty minutes later, they were parked in front of her home. As she got out, he called to her.

"Think about what I said." She nodded and he drove off.

The next day, Jason was surprised to hear someone knocking on his apartment door. He opened it to find Sara nervously standing there. He smiled weakly as Sara entered his apartment. Her response to his declaration of love had been less than what he had wanted, and he suspected that her presence had something to do with that.

"I'm so sorry…it's just…" she started. He stopped her.

"Don't. You don't love me, you still love him. Go, go tell him Sara." She met his gaze.

"I'm sorry it couldn't work." He shrugged.

"So am I. But I wish you the best of luck with him." She hugged him quickly before walking out. She called Catherine quickly, to let her know that she was going to Texas and if Catherine could watch the kids. Catherine agreed, knowing what she was up to.

Nick rubbed his face as he sipped a cup of coffee slowly. Sleep had not been coming easily for him since Sara left him, and he found himself trying to avoid it. He was surprised when there was a knock at his door. He slowly walked over to open it. His eyes widened as he laid eyes on Sara.

"Sara…"

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?" She cringed. He realized how harsh it sounded and quickly added, "I'm glad to see you."

"I was seeing someone." His face fell. "But I'm not now. But it made me realize some things." He met her eyes. "The kids need you, Nick. I need you." Her eyes were sincere, her face pained. He knew how difficult it was for her to admit that she needed him, how hard it must have been for her to come to him and tell him how much she loved him.

"It's not going to be easy." She nodded.

"You broke my trust Nick. It's going to be a long time before I can fully trust you again. But love isn't easy."

"I screwed up badly, and it's going be really hard to get back to the way things were in the beginning. But I am willing to try again." She smiled at him.

"So am I." And thus they began the long road to recovery. Whether that road would end with heartbreak or triumph, they didn't know. But despite the uncertainty of the outcome, they were willing to try to go down that road, together.

--END--

A/N: Well, that was the best I could do. It was still cheesy, but it could have been worse. Right? Well, let me know what you think in a review. Constructive criticism is, as always, welcomed!