Post ep for Grave Danger.

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI in any way

You'll Always Have Me

TickTockNelly

Some people could pretend that it never happened. That Nick Stokes was alright, but everybody knew that he wasn't. After the ordeal, Nick had left. He had gone to live in Dallas with his family, and they weren't sure if he was coming back. When he did talk to them he seemed distant, like he wasn't sure what to say, but they all knew that no matter what they would be there for him. And so would she.

Sara Sidle got off the airplane at Dallas/Fort Worth International airport with a smile on her face. She had taken two weeks vacation and was intent on seeing Nicky. She was going stir crazy missing him.

Outside the airport were about five cabs waiting for people to take them. She got into one of them and smiled at the middle-aged cabby. "Hi," She said, "You wouldn't happen to know where the Stokes Ranch is, would you? I don't have the address."

"Well of course I know where the Stokes Ranch is," the cabby said with a thick accent. "Everyone in this here city knows where the Stokes Ranch is. Are you from Las Vegas to see our hero Nicholas?"

"Yeah, actually I am," Sara said as he started driving. "How does everyone know about that?"

"Well, seeing as Nicholas is the son of His Honorable Judge Bill Stokes, they aired what happened on our news stations, too. Most here think that he is a hero for surviving, me included. He's a trooper, he is."

Sara smiled. "That he is,"

Next thing she knew, he was pulling up into what had to be a ranch with 100 acres of land at least. The grass was green as could be, there were horses running around the large pen to the left, and stables to the right, and the house was beige with blue trim. It looked like such a perfect home.

The cabby dropped her off and she paid him and said goodbye. She walked up the stairs and took a warm glance at the table and chairs set out on the patio. Leaning on one chair was the acoustic guitar that Sara recognized as Nick's from his house in Las Vegas. With a deep breath Sara knocked on the door.

Barely a minute later, had the door opened to reveal the kind motherly face of Jillian Stokes.

"Miss Sidle," she said shocked, "Come in, please."

Sara entered the house, amazed by how clean and kept it looked. Mrs. Stokes led Sara into the sitting room and they sat down.

"I'm sorry to intrude," Sara said once they were both seated, "But I had to see Nick. I mean, after all this, I just, I'm having trouble believing that he's alright."

"I understand," Mrs. Stokes said, "Nick is outside, it's sort of a therapy for him to be with the horses, it always has been. I'm sure that he'll be very happy to see you. How long do you think that you can stay for? We have a room that you can sleep in as long as you like, just let me know."

"Oh, Mrs. Stokes," Sara said, "I couldn't ask to stay here," she said, "I'll stay in a hotel, I don't want to be a bother."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Stokes persisted, "You will stay here."

"Okay," Sara said with a smile. She turned to go outside when Mrs. Stokes said to her.

"Sara, Nick, I don't know how to explain it, but he looks and acts as if he's lost his soul, his will to live. I hope that you can help him because nothing that I do seems to have helped any."

Sara saw Nick sitting in the horse pen watching the horses, and saw the look of complete shock when he noticed her there. He walked towards her and she noticed the pink scars that were still on his face and arms, and the gigantic bags under his eyes.

"Sara," he said when he got to her. He didn't know what else to say.

Sara wrapped her arms around her friend and cried, and so did he. They cried together at the friendship that they had almost lost, and the love for each other that had almost gone unknown.

THE END