A/N – Fingers crossed. I want these stories done by Christmas, or by the latest New Years!
Chapter 27"I was just finishing everything up at the crime scene. I thought it was the officer outside when this guy came in with a gun. Shot me in the shoulder – second shot missed. I fell back and hit my head and got knocked out. By the time I woke up, police and ambulance had already arrived." Warrick explained.
"Thank goodness he missed." Sara said quietly, still sitting in the chair, pale. Both men kept looking at her, though she insisted she was fine.
"There was something different about the crime scene though, that I noticed while they were wheeling me out." Nick nodded and explained.
"Grissom talked to us. Whoever shot you also cleaned up the crime scene for us. Luckily, I had already taken some of the evidence back to the lab." The doctor walked into the room, and asked Nick and Sara to leave while he finished bandaging Warrick up. He chuckled.
"I guess I won't be doing too much at work for the next few weeks. I should get shot more often!" They both smiled back, and Nick said,
"Don't worry buddy – we'll find something for you to do. I'm going to take Sara home so she can lie down, then I'll come get you, since you're an invalid and can't drive now." Sara tried to protest, but Nick gave her a look and she stayed quiet. They said their goodbyes and headed out the hospital doors.
"Really Nick – I'm fine. I'm sure Grissom need everyone on hand to help with this case, now that Warrick can't do anything and I want to talk to Catherine…" Nick took her hands and stared straight into her beautiful eyes.
"Sara – you look exhausted and pale. I want you to have a rest at home. You can call and I'll pick you up later. Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me your not tired?" She gave him a small smile.
"Why do you take such good care of me?" Nick just shrugged,
"Because I love you." The continued walking to Nicks car, as he pulled out his phone and dialed the lab,
"Grissom? Hi – I'm taking Sara home so she can rest and then I'll be in, alright?"
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"What did we find out from the evidence?" Greg asked curiously. The team was already 3 members short; Sara, who had passed out the moment Nick had tucked her into bed, Warrick, who was still being pieced back together at the hospital and Catherine as well, who had rushed to the hospital the moment she had found out about the shooting.
"Nick had brought in a hair sample as well as a few partials. The rest of the blood evidence and video tapes were taken when the thief returned." Grissom explained.
"So we know it's the same guy?" asked Nick. Grissom shrugged.
"I think that there's reason to believe the guy came back; unless it was an accomplice." They all turned around as they saw their two friends walk in. Everyone quickly greeted Warrick, whose arm was in a sling, followed closely by Catherine. She rolled her eyes and said,
"He wouldn't let me take him home." They all sat back down and went back to work on their mystery liquor store thief.
-+-+-
Sara woke up with a start, and took a minute to accommodate her eyes and place herself. She was still trying to get used to waking up at Nick's house. Well, her house now too. 'I couldn't have slept more than an hour,' she thought as she looked over to the clock. Still sleepy, but slightly hungry, she slid out of bed and headed to the kitchen to find some food before lying on the couch and watching a movie. 'Nick was right.' She smiled to herself, 'He knows me better than I do.' She vowed to make things up to him once she was back to normal; repay him for everything he's ever done to help her.
She had finally gotten comfortable on the couch, as relaxed as she could get without Nick there to cuddle with when she heard a knock on the door. Sighing, she retied her robe and dragged herself to the front entry. She threw open the door in surprise, but her smile quickly vanished as the man pushed his way through, gun in hand.
