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Chapter Two

"Make yourself at home." Sara said, speaking for the first time since they had left the lab, as she unlocked the door and motioned Nick inside.

"Thanks." He entered and glanced around the small apartment.

"Can I get you something?" She asked softly, setting her keys and purse down on the kitchen counter. "I'm not sure if there's anything actually edible in the fridge…"

"I'm fine, Sara. Don't worry about me- just take care of yourself."

Sara looked at him and tried to smile, but it faded almost as quickly as it appeared.

"Why don't you go change?" Nick nodded toward her bloodstained pants. "That'd be a start, right?"

"I guess…" She looked down at her clothes and sighed softly. "Then what?"

"I don't know. Just take it one step at a time."

"Alright." She nodded, wandering off into her bedroom.

Standing near the kitchen, Nick surveyed the apartment curiously. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but it seemed to fit Sara- small, but warm and personal. He had no doubt that she could take refuge in the presence of her books and treasured items. Crossing into the livingroom area, he found his attention drawn to the bookshelves near the desk.

Most of the books were textbooks and mystery novels, including the entomology book Sara had once mentioned Grissom giving her, but, despite the assortment, he found nothing that grabbed his interest. Continuing his exploration, he moved his attention to the desk itself- immediately focusing on a picture frame on the desk.

Picking it up, Nick studied the photo carefully. It was a black and white print of Sara and Greg in front of one of the large fountains downtown. Sara was walking up on the ledge, one hand brushing the water while the other held onto Greg's hand as he walked along the ground below her. Both were laughing, their eyes focused on each other rather then the camera.

Nick broke his gaze from the picture as the door to Sara's room opened and she slowly came out, having changed into gray pajama pants and a black t-shirt. He gave her a small smile as he put the picture back on the desk.

"I was admiring the photo. It's pretty."

Sara nodded, wandering over to his side to look at the photo as well. "I have a friend in the building who's a photographer. Greg and I ran into her one day as we were coming in and she asked us if we wanted to model for her."

"You obviously said yes."

"She gave me that photo, saying it was her favorite."

"You both look happy in it." He gave her a sad smile.

"We were." She looked away from the photo and down at the floor.

"Sara…?"

"Every time I think I'm finally at a point where I can be truly happy, the universe does something to royally screw me over."

"Honestly, Sar, I think the universe has more important things to do than screw over a Vegas CSI." Nick gave her a good-natured grin.

"Well, someone's out to get me." She muttered.

"Did you ever consider that you've just had a string of really bad luck? It has to come to an end at some point. It'll get better."

"I hope so, Nick. I really hope so." Sara looked over at him sadly.

"Try and get some sleep." He offered with a sigh. "You'll feel better."

She said nothing- simply nodding dully and wandering back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her halfway.

Crossing the darkened room to her bed, Sara crawled under the cool sheets and closed her eyes. Wishing Greg was safe and there with her, she finally drifted off into a restless sleep.

To be continued...