A/N: Hello my lovely people. I thank you for reading. Sadly this would be the last chapter in this fic. Living vicariously through fictional characters has been a blast.

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI nor do I profit financially from it. But I do have Season 2 on DVD, Season 1 on a taped off the TV commercial free on three videos and a season of Miami... somewhere... around here...

Nervously he waited. Not knowing what he was going to say frightened him beyond belief. He knew why he had to tell her. He loved her. Plain and simple. He wanted her to know she made him happy, gave him piece of mind. He wanted to make it with her and her alone. He was sure of success this time. Along his path in life he had always taken note of what made a victory stand apart from a failure. Heart. It was that uncomplicated. You needed to believe in what you were doing with all your heart.

Someone was coming up the hall. He readied himself.

It was Nick. "Hey," he eyed Warrick suspiciously. "What's up? You look nervous."

"I do?"

"Yeah," Nick chuckled. "You do."

"Damn." Rick began to fiddle with the buttons on his shirt. Now was as good as a time as any to change into a fresh one. Nick noticed the lack of glistening gold on his finger.

"Rick?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened to your ring man?"

He had to give it to him, Nick was observant. The ring hadn't been off for more than a few minutes and Nick hadn't been in the locker room more than a few seconds. It was no wonder he'd made rank before him so long ago. "It's in my pocket."

"Why?"

Warrick really wanted Sara to be the first to know. "Because I'm not married anymore."

"Weren't you married at the start of shift? Or am I imagining that?"

Catherine had walked in at the tail end of his question. "Imagining what Nicky?"

"The absence of bling on my man's finger over here."

"Really?" Catherine eyed Warrick's hands.

He really didn't want to be in this room right now. This was the time when his years of gambling would pay off. He needed to keep his cool. "It just didn't work out."

"That sucks." Was Nick's sympathetic response.

"You mean something other than your gaming skills Nick?" Greg chimed in as he came around the corner from the showers clad in a towel.

"Geez Greg, put your clothes on before you get out of the showers." It was Sara. She made her way past Warrick to her locker. "It's a co-ed locker room."

"Aw, don't tell me you can't handle hotness ala Sanders." He said as he ripped off his towel.

That prompted a collective, "NO!"

Greg stood there clad in his boxers laughing at the rest of the team protecting their eyes. "Come on, give me more credit than that. You didn't think I would go au natural in public?"

"Yes," came from Catherine and Nick simultaneously.

Greg made his way over to his locker and started dressing. If Warrick was nervous before he was scared now. Obviously this would be the wrong time to talk. Thankfully Nick made the suggestion to go out for breakfast which hurried everyone to get out the door.

"You two comin'?" Nick asked the two left behind.

Warrick looked up from his sitting position. "I might."

"Maybe," Sara answered, still standing in front of her open locker.

"Alright. Hey Rick."

"Yeah."

"Sorry 'bout you and Tina man."

Way to go Nick, Warrick thought to himself. "Thanks." Was all he said. Now was a good a time as any he figured, letting his gaze rest upon her. Fearful as he was, he decided to let a few moments pass to make sure they were alone. She had made no reaction to the news but that was just like her. Maintaining that steely exterior must be exhausting.

He was doing it again. Watching her.

"Stop," she said with her back still to him.

"What?"

"You're staring."

Taking advantage of their solitude, he stood directly behind her. "I mean to," he leaned into her while wrapping an arm around her waist. She'd missed his touch for so long it was hard for her to not recline back into him.

"You're still married," came her uneven reply.

"It's just a technicality. We were over after we started. I was stupid. Sara, being married made me realise one thing," he paused. They stood there for awhile, his breath in her hair. His nerves were getting the best of him. Still he waited for her to face him.

He had paused, she knew, for effect. He wanted her to turn around and look at him. She couldn't at the moment. Her head was reeling. He wasn't with Tina anymore. But it was still too soon. She hadn't come to terms with his union, and now it was over. Was she the cause of it? Finally, steeling herself, she turned in his embrace to look him in the eye. Meeting his gaze she noticed something in him that was never there before. Some purpose she had yet to identify. She saw the fight in his eyes, his determination. Was it for her?

"What did you realise?"

"It's you I need." Looking deep into her eyes, he let those words sink in. He hoped she'd see his resolve. "I didn't fight hard enough for you before and I'm not gonna let that happen again. We can make it work, Sara. I know we can. Everyday I spend without you makes me realise how lost I am. You're the one that brings me home."

Sara didn't expect to see tears in his eyes as he spoke those words. She moved to wipe his tears away. He made her appreciate she was the reason for his failure. But it was a good reason, he couldn't live without her and she felt the same. At this final understanding she smiled and brought his lips to hers in a kiss of promise, a kiss of hope. Before it could escalate any further she pulled away.

"You're still married," she joked at him this time.

He protested with a groan placing his forehead on hers.

"Besides, what would Grams say if you had two women on the go at once?"

"Ouch," he mocked as he placed a hand over his heart. "You sure do know how to hurt a man Miss Sidle."

"You still wanna get breakfast?"

"Yeah, I'm starving. You go first." He released his hold on her to grab his bag.

She turned and grabbed her bag out of her locker. After closing it she turned back to him.

"Rick?"

"Yeah?"

"I was lost without you too."

Swiftly and urgently he began to kiss her, the way he'd wanted to seconds earlier. She was caught off guard at first, with thoughts of their surroundings and what if someone saw. Then she thought, screw it. She was with the man she wanted, needed. She was with the one for her and gave in to him.

AAAAAND, SCENE!