"What's wrong?" Nick comes up behind me, placing a hand on my hip. I smile at his touch, but the plane entrance still stands before me.

"I'm scared shitless of flying." I reply. Nick breathes a laugh behind me, and he gives my hip a gentle squeeze.

"Hey, I said I have your back. Trust me on this one." He gives me a grin and I take another breath.

"Want me to go first?" he asks, and I nod vigorously. He smiles, and I stand aside to let him go first. He takes a step into the plane, and continues walking. I take one step in, and look around. He doubles back, and my darting eyes meet his.

"It's okay. C'mon Sar." He says. And, ever so gently, he takes my hand. I smile broadly, feeling his fingers caress mine and lightly pull me along. I walk close behind Nick, not wanting to have to break our hands. Suddenly he stops, and I crash right into him.

"Oh…sorry…" I say, blushing. He laughs lightly, and gallantly opens his arm to allow me into our seats.

"Aisle or window?" he inquires.

"Window please." I say. He nods, and I slip in. I sit in my seat, put my purse on the ground in front of me, and buckle my seat belt. I look for Nick, as he hasn't sat next to me yet. A smile spreads across his face as he helps a woman with a baby get into her seat and store her overhead baggage. He nods and says your welcome before turning back and sitting in his seat. After buckling his own seat belt, he looks at me.

"Hey, sorry about that, the lady needed some help..." he says, but I just shake my head and toss his concern.

"I'm fine. Nice to see our Boy Scout here do his daily good deed anyway." I tease, and Nick plays along, laughing with me.

"Sara? Can I ask you something?"

I turn to face him more, wondering what could be on his mind.

"Yeah. Sure."

"Umm…why did you come out here? I mean, this flying thing is scaring you out of your mind. And you're going to see people you've never met, while someone is in the hospital, you're taking time off from work, using up vacation time to go do something totally opposite a vacation…I mean, I guess I just can't believe you are doing this for me…you're amazing…" he trails off, and I smile affectionately at him.

"You're my best friend Nick. I know I'm scared of flying, and I know I'm going to a place I've never been to see people I've never seen, and I am completely aware that I am using vacation time, but it doesn't matter. You matter. Besides, when am I going to use my vacation time anyway?" I insist.

"Yeah," Nick teases, "who would you use it with?"

At this, I elbow him.

"Shut up Nick."

He shrugs, and beams at me.

"I'll go on vacation with you Sara…" he says in a slightly husky voice, and the thought send shivers down my spine. I just blush and look out the window. I let out a moan as we start to move, and gasp as we pull onto the runway.

"Hey…you okay? I promise nothing is going to happen." Nick says in a soothing voice. He slips a hand onto my lap, taking one of my hands, and lacing our fingers. I shut my eyes tightly and squeeze his hand as we take off. Feeling the ground move under me, and my ears pop, and the entire plane tilt, I whine a little.

"Shh…it's alright, we're just getting higher. Don't worry…" Nick whispers in my ear, and I take a deep breath, calming down. I bite my lip and finally open my eyes. Nick greets me with a smile, and I throw my head against my seat, taking a deep breath and rolling my eyes. I am frustrated at how vulnerable I am right now. Nick hasn't let go of my hand however, and the gentle caress of his thumb soothes me.

I look over at him again, and he smirks at me. For some unknown reason, I blush and look away. The feel of gentle fingers curling my hair behind my ear brings my eyes to meet his once again.

"Thanks…" I lock eyes with him, and suddenly I'm keenly aware of how close our lips are. I'm filled with a sense of nervousness, and I start to freak. My insecurities get the best of me, and I let go of his hand.

"Anytime." He replies with a small smile. My stomach sinks at the prospect of hurting him. I wonder, what does he think of me? What's going through his mind right now?

I am disappointed in myself, unsure of what I am going to do, and frustrated with the fact that I can't go anywhere and think alone. I have this flurry of emotion running through my head, and all I can think to do is sleep, or else face a possible breakdown. I lean my chair back as far as it will go, which isn't very far. I sigh as I rest my head against the back of my seat, and I can almost hear the little voice inside telling me to accept the fact that I wish I was in Nick's arms.

- Nick's Point Of View -

I watched Sara lean her seat back out of the corner of my eye. I know something stressful is going through her mind right now, and it has something to do with either what she wouldn't tell me at the airport, the fact that she's going to Texas and is flying, or it has to do with me.

She sighs, and my fears are confirmed.

I wonder how someone so beautiful can have no man in her life. I watch her fall asleep, and her innocent beauty pulls at my heart. A strand of hair falls onto her cheek, and it takes all the self control I have not to reach over and tuck it behind her ear.

Suddenly, her brow furrows a little, and her hands form into fists as she frowns. I know she is coming on this trip to support me, but from the distraught look on her face, I can't help but consider the fact that I might end up supporting her. I hear a faint whimper escape her throat, and my heart goes out to her. I lean my seat back equal with hers, and take her hand in mine. I close my eyes, and pray that when we wake, she won't be angry with me.

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The feel of movement beside me alerts me to consciousness. I don't open my eyes, but I'm awake. I feel Sara's hand still in mine, and it makes me wonder if maybe she was just shifting in her sleep. But I also feel her head on my shoulder, and her side pressed against mine. I smile. She is closer to me.

I open my eyes wide, and then squint, the sudden brightness blinding me momentarily. I blink a few times, and then look straight ahead, able to see clearly. I turn my head so I can see Sara, but my head comes in contact with hers. I stiffen, taking my head off hers, but she doesn't move. Ever so slowly, and even more gently, I place my head back on the top of hers. She hasn't made her presence known, but I recognize that she's also awake. An awkward silence reigns over us, and I know I have to speak first, seeing as how I got us into this.

"Sara?" I call quietly, letting the sweet smell of her shampoo sink into my memory.

"Yeah?" she says incredibly quietly that only I could hear.

"You alright? I was worried about you, when you were sleeping…" I try, not sure what to say. She sniffles under me, and her other hand comes to cover mine.

"I'm scared." She says, taking a deep breath.

"Of what?" I ask, giving her hand a tender squeeze. She laughs under me, the kind of laugh that people filled with despair laugh as they examine their situation.

"Of…everything. So many things it scares me." She admits. I know that if she's going to tell me any of those things, I had best not push her now, because she isn't going to say a word. So I just caress her hand and kiss the top of her head.

"Okay." I tell her. "I'm here. Always."

I'm not sure if that was the assurance she needed, but she smiles and shifts under me, surprising me by scooting closer and finding a better position on my shoulder.

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"Nick…wake up…c'mon…" I hear a soft, laughter filled voice. My eyes open, and I sit up straight suddenly.

"Whoa there cowboy!" Sara says with a smile. I smile back at her, and her gap-toothed grin soon turns to full-fledged blush.

"Hey Sar…" I say with a quizzical look on my face. Wasn't this the same Sara I had left to sleep, the one with a frown on her face and sadness in her heart? And here she was laughing with me, back to almost her former self?

"I see someone's feeling better after that nap…?" I ask and she bites her lip with a small nod and a not-so-large smile.

"Well, yea, everything said is true, and I'm still scared, but I decided that…I don't know. I really don't have a grip on everything that's flying through my mind right now. But when I get a chance to catch my breath and figure it out, you'll be the first to know." She ends, and I can't help but love the happy note she ends on. It leaves me feeling hopeful about what she may think about the changes happening between us.

"Good enough for me Sara." I say. She smiles.

"Thanks."

Author's Note/Opinion/Two Cents/Whatever –

Well….not too too much to say. Thanks to people that are sticking with this story etc… I totally appreciate it.

Um…PLEASE REVIEW!!

$-$ The Notorious Cat $-$