A/N: Usual disclaimer. Not altogether a whole lot to say about this chappie…um…song is An Innocent Man by Billy Joel. Oh, and I love how all I have to do is hint about the end of Sandle and I get four indignant reviews! Tee-hee. I love all you guys, though, and thanks for reviewing. That's about it…enjoy!

Chapter 17- An Innocent Man

Sara sat in the break room staring sullenly at the wall. She glanced aimlessly at the clock and sighed. Only ten more minutes til shift started.

A knock sounded at the door and Nick came in, forehead creased in concern. "Hey, are you ok?" he asked. Sara sighed again and shrugged dismissively. Nick frowned, but shrugged as well. "Alright, well…"

Sara stood abruptly. "Did you need anything else?" she asked, stony-faced.

"Yeah, this just came for you." He handed her a package. Long and slim, it had no paper or return address, only the words "Sara Sidle" written on it in green ink.

She carefully opened the box and was surprised by its contents. The only thing in it was a long-stem red rose with a small card attached.

"Oo, Sara!" laughed Nick. "What's the card say?"

She lifted it up and read it aloud.

"Sara-- Look in your desk."

Sharing a glance with Nick, Sara rushed to her desk and stared in amazement. Hundreds of rose petals were scattered over it and a CD was nestled in the middle. She picked it up and read the writing on it.

"Sara-- Just listen."

Thoroughly confused, Sara went to go find Archie. "Hey, Archie, can you play this for me?" she asked, holding up the CD.

"Sure," said Archie with a shrug. "Pop it in."

She did and waited while he cued it up. It was a song she vaguely recognized.

"Some people stay far away from the door
If there's a chance of it opening up
They hear a voice in the hall outside
And hope that it just passes by

Some people live with the fear of a touch
And the anger of having been a fool
They will not listen to anyone
So nobody tells them a lie

I know you're only protecting yourself
I know you're thinking of somebody else
Someone who hurt you
But I'm not above
Making up for the love
You've been denying you could ever feel
I'm not above doing anything
To restore your faith if I can

Some people see through the eyes of the old
Before they ever get a look at the young
I'm only willing to hear you cry
Because I am an innocent man

I am an innocent man
Oh yes I am

Some people say they will never believe
Another promise they hear in the dark
Because they only remember too well
They heard somebody tell them before

Some people sleep all alone every night
Instead of taking a lover to bed
Some people find that it's easier to hate
Than to wait anymore

I know you don't want to hear what I say
I know you're gonna keep turning away
But I've been there and if I can survive
I can keep you alive
I'm not above going through it again
I'm not above being cool for a while
If you're cruel to me I'll understand

Some people run from a possible fight
Some people figure they can never win
And although this is a fight I can lose
The accused is an innocent man

I am an innocent man
Oh yes I am
An innocent man

You know you only hurt yourself out of spite
I guess you'd rather be a martyr tonight
That's your decision
But I'm not below
Anybody I know
If there's a chance of resurrecting a love
I'm not above going back to the start
To find out where the heartache began

Some people hope for a miracle cure
Some people just accept the world as it is
But I'm not willing to lay down and die
Because I am an innocent man

I am an innocent man
Oh yes I am
An innocent man"

Sara sat in shock as the song ended. She knew, of course, whom it was from, and it amazed her that he'd care so much. Tears welled in her eyes and she set her jaw determinedly. She knew what to do.