- Sara's Point Of View -

As I watch Nick leave the room to answer a phone call, I sigh.

He is so damn cute! I'm smiling like a sixteen year old. Damn! I know I should try to stop, but I also know from past experiences that the more I try to stop a smile that Nick put on my face, the larger it grows.

The only remedy? Work.

I sit down and look once again at the piece of evidence in front of me. Nick keeps piercing through my mind, so I wonder how much I'll actually get done…Okay, so, we have a piece of cloth, possibly used as a last minute condom. Or, as Nick puts it, extra pleasure. But, I could have been used as a rape tool, possibly to harm the victim. I should have thought of that earlier…but Nick interrupted me.

I feel a smile grow on my face.

Nick.

OKAY! Okay! I'm going to find Nick. I need to be around him. He always makes me so happy.

But, what excuse to use when I find him?

Ah ha! I'll ask if his phone call was from his latest squeeze. I love it when we get in tease fights.

I stand up, exit the room, and take off my latex gloves. I walk briskly down the hallway, but stop suddenly when a full view of Nick's back penetrated through one doorway. He's still on the phone. The good half of me doesn't want to interrupt, and the bad half of me wants to eavesdrop. So I compensate.

I stand outside, not interrupting, but I can hear every word.

"Oh God…"

"How's everyone taking it?"

"Is she holding up?"

"I guess I better come down there. My boss'll be sure to let me off, with such a big thing going on."

"This is such a shock."

"Okay, I'll call you when I know more about when I'll be there."

"By babe. I love ya. See you later."

And with that, Nick hung up with a sigh.

I can't believe him.

He has a girlfriend.

And I didn't know.

So all this flirting between us means nothing to him?

I let out a soft breath, and it makes a gentle 'oh' sound. Nick whips around.

"Sara…umm hi."

Yeah. He has a girlfriend. And he didn't want me to know. Why else would he act so nervous?

"Who was that Nick." I don't even ask. I state it. I demand it.

"Sara…you don't understand…" he pleads, but I don't give him the satisfaction of letting him see me relent.

"No. No, I think I understand quite clearly." I retort, trying to keep the hurt from my voice.

"No. Sara. You do not understand. That was my sister." He says, reaching for my arm. Relief washes over me.

"One of my other sisters was in a car crash." He says. My jaw drops, and this immense feeling of sympathy washes over me.

"Nick…I'm so sorry…" I say, stepping forward as he pulled me into a hug.

"Me too…" he says. I rub his back gently, and he breathes in and out.

"Is she okay?" I ask into his shoulder. He nods, and releases me.

"Yeah, by the time I get down there, she should be able to sit up and talk and everything. No permanent stuff or anything, you know, no brain or muscle damage."

Whoa whoa whoa. He's thinking he can make it down there alone?

"Nick! You can't go down alone! All the way to Texas and back? C'mon, going through that is stressful, I know it is." He smiles at weakly at my concern, but I continue.

"Let me go with you."

He looks up at me with a look that is supposed to tell me I'm not thinking clearly.

"Sara…come on now, you're not making this any easier…" he starts.

"No Nick. I'm serious. Let me be the person that…I don't know, figures out where we are. Or finds a place for dinner. Or a hotel. Now, tell me you couldn't use my help."

"Now, I didn't say that…" he tries to convince me to stop.

"Nick." I say, lacing one hand with his, "You are my best friend. And you are in need. Let me help."

He takes a deep breath, and looks away. I give him a second to think, and give his hand a little squeeze. He looks back at me, and I bite my lip. At this, he laughs and pulls me towards the door.

"C'mon, let's see what Grissom has to say…" he says with a smile. I jump in excitement and follow him, releasing his hand.

"Thanks Nick."

"Thank you Sara."

We share a warm smile, and I push him playfully away from me. He pushes back a little, and we continue like that until we reach Grissom's office. We almost pass it, but I stop him and lead him inside.

"Grissom?" I call, and he looks over at me from the rim of his paper.

"Hey guys, what can you tell me?" he asks, apparently expecting some new break in the case. I glance at Nick, and he shakes his head, signaling me to answer. I take a breath and look back to Grissom.

"Two things. Nick is going to Texas, and I am going with him." I say simply.

Grissom does not respond immediately. He looks at me, then at Nick, then from me to Nick. Apparently, Nick does not think this is a good thing.

"Oh, come on Gris…it's not like Sara and I don't have enough overtime…and I really need someone to go with me…" he pleads. Grissom frowns.

"I am fully aware of how much overtime both you and Sara have put in, and I haven't said no. Can you specify the reason?" he asks. Nick throws me a glance; I send him a sympathetic smile.

"My sister was in a car crash. I'm going down there to see her, and I really just need someone around to help with stuff. Sara volunteered." He asked, getting anxious.

I looked at Grissom. He looked at Nick. Nick looked at me.

"Okay. Go ahead." Grissom said.

What?

Yes?

He said YES?

"Excuse me?" I ask in disbelief, "We can go?"

Grissom smiles at me.

"Yeah. I'll get someone from days to cover."

I look at Nick, and he looks at me. I want to just scream out of joy and jump in his arms. He smiles at me and shakes his head as if to say that I'm crazy.

"Thanks Gris." He says, and Grissom nods his head solemnly.

I let out a squeak, send a smile to Grissom, motion towards the door to Nick, and we head out.

Once outside, and away from Grissom's hearing range, I turn and look at Nick.

"I'm so excited! I haven't been anywhere in what seems like forever…And I'm glad I'm going with you. I would have been worried sick." I say truthfully. He smiles, and caresses the side of my arm.

"I'm glad you are coming with me." He says. I smile and feel my cheeks get warm.

Okay. I'm officially blushing.

DAMN!!!

"I'm going to go home now. I have to look up flights. I'll call you when I find something, deal?" He asks curling hair behind my ear. I nod, and he squeezes my arm.

"Bye then." he says, looking into my eyes.

"Bye…" I answer. He lets go of my arm, and walks off, looking back and throwing me a little wave as he leaves the building. I smile and hug myself, walking towards the locker room to claim my coat.

I have a trip to pack for.