As he flipped the final pancake, Nick turned off the stove and went to get Sara. She was still asleep, so he opened the door quietly and padded over to sit on the couch next to her.

"Sara…" he whispered softly, stroking her neck and pushing damp hair out of her face. After a moment, her eyes opened slowly and she held his gaze.

Sara stared into Nick's eyes, just looking at him quietly, feeling her breath hit his fingers and bounce back up onto her face, and felt something strange happen,

In the silence, as Nick sat above her, his fingers playing in her hair, their eyes firmly locked, something passed between the two of them. It radiated in the air in between them, floating in front of their faces.

They each caught a quick glimpse of the other's heart – they both began to entertain the idea that maybe, just maybe, the person they were each sitting next to, the person whom they were desperately in love with, returned their feelings…

"Good mornin' darlin'…" Sara could hear Nick's accent thicken as she'd never heard it before, "I made you some pancakes."

"It's morning! God I've been asleep for...15 hours! I hope you slept well…I'm sorry you should have woken me up…" she exclaimed, and Nick smiled.

"It was fine, I know you need your sleep." He said sweetly, evoking a shy smile from Sara.

"Did you sleep okay though?" she asked in an attempt to take the attention away from herself. Nick's smile faltered a bit, and he searched for an answer longer then usual.

"Of course! I was sleeping in the bed of a gorgeous woman, how could I get bad sleep?" Nick recovered, and Sara smiled at his complement, but… Sara furrowed her brow, feeling as if something was wrong but she couldn't place her finger on it.

"Now," said Nick, distracting her attention yet again, "Your pancakes are getting cold in the other room. How many would you like?"

Sara smiled regardless of her past thoughts, sat upright with the help of Nick, and told him she wanted three pancakes. He nodded, and after he kissed the top of her head and gave her a little wink, he left the room.

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"Nick, you are amazing…those pancakes….UGH wow they were…SO GOOD!" Sara placed her plate on the coffee table and flopped back down on the couch. Nick beamed at her as he finished of his own stack of pancakes and set his plate on the table next to hers.

"Here," he said, handing her the television remote and standing up, "find something to watch while I clean up, 'kay?"

Sara opened her mouth to protest; after all, he had just made her breakfast. But she knew Nick better than to argue – there was no way he was going to let her clean up if he hadn't even let her get off the couch to eat at the table.

So she followed his order and turned on the television as he came and went, taking syrup, plates, silverware, and glasses. Fifteen minutes later, he sat down gently on the couch, and Sara patted the cushion next to her, motioning for him to move closer.

He did, and Sara settled her head on his shoulder.

"Nothing is on…" Sara said, her voice trailing off at the feeling of Nick wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He chuckled slowly, taking the remote from her hand and beginning to flip through the channels himself. He wasn't aware that Sara was looking at him until he felt her fingertips on his face. He turned to look at her; she had her brow furrowed, and looked concerned.

"Are you sure you got good sleep last night?" she asked, her eyes questioning him. He looked back towards the TV.

"Yeah Sar, I already told you." He said, refusing to meet her eye. Sara's hand slid down to rest on his upper chest.

"Nick…" Sara said in a gentle tone, making Nick look back to her. Her eyes were telling him that she knew and understood, and she gave him a look that could only be described as tender compassion.

Nick bit his cheek and looked away, and Sara let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"Why don't you go lay down now, and-" Sara stopped talking when Nick whirled his head around to meet her eye, and though he remained silent, Sara could read the look in his eye.

"Just – lay down, okay? You don't have to sleep if you don't want to Nicky but…please? For me?" she pleaded, and he let out a deep breath. It breezed upon Sara's cheeks as she waited for an answer, and he finally nodded.

"Yeah…alright." He relented, recognizing that he did in fact need sleep. He started to get up, but he stopped and looked back at Sara for a moment, their eyes connecting. He looked at her, her expression full of worry, her lips formed into a pout, her cheeks tinted rose with a faint blush. He looked at her and threaded his hand through her hair, and kissed her.

Sara's eyebrows shot up and she squeezed her eyes shut as Nick tasted her lips for the very first time. His hand slipped further behind her head, pulling her closer, and she moaned softly. She had just begun to kiss him back when Nick pulled away.

It was deathly silent for a moment before Sara spoke.

"Nick I…" she managed, breaking them both out of the daydream they were both convinced they had just had.

"I uh…I better go take that nap." Nick rushed to stand up, obviously ashamed of what he had just done, but Sara caughtthe tail endof his shirt before he could walk away.

"Nick wait..." She pleaded, pulling Nick back down onto the couch and locking eyes with him.

"I'm sorry Sara, that was stupid of m-" he began to explain in desperation, looking away, but Sara cut him off.

"No it wasn't." she said simply and Nick's head snapped up. He looked at her as if she was crazy.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"I mean..." She whispered as she lent over and kissed him. Nick stifled only part of the groan that caught in his throat as Sara scooted closer to him, never allowing their lips to separate. Several minutes later, when they broke apart slowly, Nick's lips hovering over Sara's, he grinned and whispered.

"I'm pretty sure now would be a good time for me to go sleep." Nick laughed softly, and Sara understood. He got up, looking over his shoulder to give her one last wink. She smiled as she sat on the couch, watching him make his way down the hall and into her bedroom, right where she'd always wanted him…

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Sara laughed softly at the crazy antics of the American people as she watched America 's Funniest Home Videos. Nick was still asleep in her bedroom, and she was glad, he had seemed like he needed it.

"The things people do…"she thought, laughing once again as a cat fell into a toilet.

Suddenly, Sara froze. She thought she had heard something. It was Nick, she thought, and she put the television on mute.

Something was wrong.

Sara got up, forgetting her ankle until it was too late. She slammed it into the hardwood floor and cried out. She grabbed for it, frustrated at the tears of pain she couldn't hold back.

But Nick…

She had to get to Nick. She stood slowly this time, almost stumbling, but catching herself at the last second. She hopped on one foot, deserting her crutches, leaning against the wall for support as she yelled his name.

"Nick! Nick! NICK!" she called as she made her way slowly down the hall. He hadn't answered her yet, and her fear continued to grow.

"Please don't let him freeze up like he did before, please…" she prayed, tears of anguish and pain rolling down her cheeks.

"NICK!" she screamed as she reached the bedroom doorway, and creaked it open. Nick was still lying on the bed, but she yelled his name again, and he sat up.

"Sara…oh my God…" he said, and she broke down and sobbed.

"Nick…oh…Nicky…" she heaved in air, crying in relief. He got up and came over to her, picking her up wordlessly and carrying her over to the bed.

"Sar…what are you doin'…oh my God you've hurt yourself again…" he asked quietly as he set her down, but she just took fistfuls of his shirt and pulled him into a tight hug. He held her as she sobbed for a few moments before collecting herself and looking into his eyes.

"I was so worried…Something was wrong…what's wrong Nick?" she asked, and he looked away, ashamed. She guided his gaze back to hers gently, and he spoke softly.

"I can't sleep. Pieces and parts of what happened are coming back to me…in flashes…like a nightmare that I actually lived, and…and I just get so scared it'll happen again that…I won't let my eyes close." He said slowly, his eyes avoiding Sara's even though his face was angled toward her, humiliated of his weakness in front of her. So he was caught completely off guard when her lips found his, sliding over them tenderly. He kissed her back, hard, trying to prove to her his manliness in a way. But she put her hand on his chest to stop him and pulled away, and he felt as alone as ever.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her hand resting at his neck, caressing the sensitive spot behind his ear. He leaned into her touch, eager to show his love for her.

"I…I don't know. I didn't want you worrying about me…or doubting me."

"Doubting you?"

"Doubting my ability to take care of you."

At this, Sara took Nick in her arms and held him, his face buried in her neck, his arms wrapped around her. She held him and whispered in his ear.

"You've been taking care of me for 4 years Nicky. My turn."