Disclaimer: Don't own any of the CSI characters. One part belongs to 'Kill Bill' and I don't own 'Balamory'. Or anything else you may recognise. However Lucy and Grace are my characters.
Authors Note: This chapter wasn't originally going to be up for a while but I thought since you have all been so great I stayed up till the early hours of the morning so I could get it typed up and posted. Please review as I have said before they make my day. Thanks.
Daddy Please Wake Up!
"Sara, come on you've been here all day, you need to go and get some sleep," said Grissom looking at his colleague.
"I can't Grissom what if he wakes up and no one's here," said Sara looking at her boss. She had tear-stained eyes and looked exhausted.
"Sara, the doctor said he wouldn't wake up for a while please go home and get some rest."
Meanwhile Catherine had picked up Lynsey and they were sitting in a room with Grace.
"I want mummy and daddy," said Grace nearly in tears.
"We can go and see daddy if you want," said Catherine trying to lighten the mood.
"Mummy can I come?" asked Lynsey looking at her mum.
"Sure sweetie."
"Catherine, can we go now?" asked Grace already out of her bed and at the door.
"Come on then," said Catherine holding out her hand.
Grace took hold of Catherine's left hand and Lynsey held her mum's right hand; they walked down the corridor and stopped outside Nick's room.
"Is this where daddy is?" asked Grace looking up at Catherine.
Catherine knelt down till she was at the same height as Grace.
"Listen sweetie, daddy's not going to talk to you because he's sleeping but he can still hear you, so you can talk to him as much as you like ok."
"Ok Catherine," said Grace pushing the door.
Catherine pushed the top of the door to help her. As the door opened Sara turned to see who it was.
"Sara," said Lynsey, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm just keeping Nick company, you must be Grace," said Sara turning her attention to the smaller of the two girls.
"Yes," said Grace walking over to her dad, she climbed up onto the chair, which was opposite Sara, and held her dad's hand.
Sara stood up and walked over to where Catherine and Lynsey were still stood.
"Hey, if you guys are gonna be here for a while I'll go and grab a coffee, you want one?"
"No thanks Sara I just had one," said Catherine watching Grace sitting with Nick.
"Daddy, Catherine says that you is sleeping, will you wake up?" said Grace looking at her dad, "it's not fair cause no one will let me see mummy and I want her and you to be awake."
Catherine and Lynsey came over and sat where Sara had been sitting.
"Don't want you here," said Grace not taking her eyes off Nick.
"What do you mean Grace?" asked Catherine.
"Don't want you here, go away!" yelled Grace jumping off the seat and crouching in the corner of the room.
"Ok, come on Lynsey, lets go and wait outside," said Catherine standing up and going outside with Lynsey.
After Catherine and Lynsey left Grace stood up and went back over to Nick and climbed back onto the chair.
"Daddy please wake up," pleaded the little girl.
Catherine and Lynsey were sat outside on the chairs when Sara came back.
"What are you two doing sitting out here?"
"Grace was a bit upset told us to leave," said Catherine putting her head on her hand.
"Do you want me to try and talk to her?" asked Sara seeing how tense Catherine was with the whole situation.
"You could try."
Sara nodded her head and opened the door, Grace's head shot round at the sound of the squeaky door.
"So I know you're Grace, do you know who I am?" asked Sara sitting opposite Grace.
Grace shook her head she didn't really know any of her dad's friends but they had all been really nice to her.
"Ok, well I'm Sara and I work with your daddy, do you mind if I sit here with you?" asked Sara looking closely at the little girl, she shook her head again.
The two sat in silence for a while and Grace still held Nick's big hand in her tiny little one.
"Do you think my daddy will ever wake up?" asked Grace looking at Sara.
"Of course he will wake up sweetie," said Sara her heart breaking for the little girl.
"Do you want daddy to wake up?"
"Yes of course, we all want your daddy to wake up, why are you asking sweetie?"
"Cause you the only one who really tried to talk to me and listen to me, so I want to talk to you," said Grace still looking at Sara.
"Sweetie everyone cares about you and your dad."
"I know, daddy always tells me stories of work and who he worked with, I like you the best."
"That's nice of daddy to tell you those stories," said Sara smiling slightly to herself.
Grace got down off her chair and walked round to Sara's side and climbed up onto her lap.
"Will you tell me a story cause I'm tired and daddy tell me stories before I go to sleep," said Grace looking up at Sara.
"Of course, well, once upon a time…" Sara continued with her story and soon enough Grace was fast asleep on her lap. Outside Catherine had been watching the interaction between Sara and the little girl. There was one time when Sara would never want to look after children but after a case they had things changed for her. Catherine was pulled out of her trance by Grissom who was looking at her puzzled.
"What were you thinking about?" asked Grissom sitting next to her.
"Just Sara and how she just comforted Grace," said Catherine stroking her daughter's hair, who was lying asleep across three chairs.
"Where's Warrick?" asked Catherine looking at Grissom who seemed shocked at what Catherine had told him about Sara.
"Warrick is finishing some paperwork he'll be here soon."
"So why are you sitting out here and Sara is in there?"
"Grace didn't want me or Lynsey in there, she kicked us out but she didn't seem to kick Sara out," said Catherine looking at the floor.
The next morning Sara awoke with a tiny sleeping form in her arms, Catherine, Grissom, Warrick and Lynsey were all in the room.
"How long you guys been here?" whispered Sara.
"Not long, we just thought we could take over from you," said Warrick.
"That's ok I'm fine I don't mind staying here," said Sara looking down at Grace.
"Sara you're exhausted," said Catherine.
"Yeah but it's worth it, Grace asked me last night if Nick would wake up and if I wanted him to wake up, I can't go home now I want to stay with her," said Sara very determined. Just then the little bundle in Sara's arms began to stir.
"Good morning Grace," said Sara smiling at her.
"Is daddy awake?" asked Grace with hope in her voice.
"Not yet sweetie," said Sara, "why don't you go and see Lynsey while I talk to everyone.
"No I want to stay here with you," said Grace snuggling back into Sara.
Everyone stayed by Nick's bedside and eventually Grace left Sara's side and went to play with Lynsey on the floor with her dolls. Grace stood up and walked back over to Sara and her dad.
"Is daddy awake yet Sara?"
"Not yet but I'll tell you what why don't we go and get you washed and changed and I'll get washed and changed too, then we'll come back and see daddy, ok?" suggested Sara looking at Grace.
Grace thought about what Sara was saying, "Ok, as long as we coming back."
"Of course," said Sara standing up with Grace on her hip, "say bye to everyone."
"See ya later everyone," said Grace, "look after my daddy."
"See you later sweetie, we'll take good care of him," said Catherine.
"See you later," said Warrick and Grissom.
"Bye Grace," said Lynsey.
Grace just smiled as she and Sara headed out to get washed and changed. Grace wore a little denim dress with a light pink top underneath with white tights and black sandals. Sara just wore a pair of jeans and a blue top.
"So Grace, do you want to get something to eat before we go back and see daddy?" asked Sara.
"Ok," said Grace holding Sara's hand.
"How does McDonalds sound?"
"Ok, can I have a happy meal and give daddy the toy it might help him wake up," said Grace looking up at Sara.
"Of course, come on."
Sara picked up the little girl and placed her in the front seat of her SUV. The drive to McDonalds was silent and Sara watched the little girl out the corner of her eye.
"So what happy meal would you like?" asked Sara taking the little girl out of the front seat and placing her on her hip.
"Chicken nuggets please," said Grace smiling.
"Ok sweetie."
Sara ordered their meals and they went and sat at a table. They ate their meals in silence as Sara kept her eyes on Grace.
"I finished, thank you Sara."
"Shall we go back and see daddy then?"
"Yay!" called Grace jumping off the seat with her toy.
The door opened just as Grace was nearing it, a man stepped in wearing a black top and trousers, Grace stopped and stood behind Sara.
"It's ok Grace," said Sara looking at the little girl behind her.
"I'm sorry," said the man just noticing that he nearly knocked Sara over.
"That's ok," said Sara picking up Grace and heading out to her SUV.
Sara drove back to the hospital and took hold of the little girl's hand as they walked through the very quiet corridors. As they reached Nick's room doctors and nurses seemed to be running in and out of his room.
"Daddy!" called Grace breaking free of Sara's grip.
""Grace!" yelled Sara rushing after the little girl.
"I'm sorry miss but you can't go in there," said one of the nurses stopping Sara.
"I know but listen, Mr Stokes' little girl just ran in there."
"Sara, oh god what's going on?" asked Catherine panicking. The others were all standing behind her.
"Mr Stokes has stopped breathing we're doing all we can," said the nurse.
"Nurse we need you in here now!" called one of the doctors from inside Nick's room. The nurse rushed into the room, Sara and the others were close behind.
"Nurse we need this child out of the room," said the doctor holding two paddles.
"Leave my daddy alone!" shouted the little girl standing as close as she could to Nick.
"Grace they're not hurting daddy they are trying to help him," said Catherine trying to coax her out of the room so the doctors could save Nick.
Grace stayed put she couldn't trust anyone but her mum and dad and she didn't want to leave her dad now.
"Grace sweetie, you need to let the doctors help daddy, do you want him to wake up?" asked Sara speaking softly.
Grace looked up at her knowing what she wanted the answer to be.
"Come on Grace, we'll wait outside and when the doctors have helped daddy we'll come back in and see him ok," said Sara holding out her hand.
Grace moved away from the bed and over to Sara, Sara took her hand and they went outside. The doctors went back to work and soon Nick's breathing started. Eventually Grace was let back in the room and she stayed close to her dad and Sara.
"Daddy why you still not waking up?" asked Grace taking hold of her dad's hand. Just then Nick's finger twitched in Grace's hand.
"Sara! Daddy just moved," shouted Grace excited.
"Grace hunny are you sure it was daddy that moved and not you," said Sara trying not to crush the little girls hopes.
"No look," said Grace holding out her hand for Sara.
Sara let Grace take her hand and place it in Nick's. His fingers twitched.
"Oh god," said Sara, "Nick can you hear me?" His fingers twitched again.
Just then Nick's eyes began to flutter open very slowly.
"Daddy!" shouted the little girl again climbing onto the corner of the bed.
"Nick?" asked Sara quietly, "you're awake, I'll get the others." She hurried out the door.
"Hey…Gracie…where's…mummy?" asked Nick slowly.
"I don't know daddy, she never came to visit only your friends did," said Grace as a sad look spread across her face.
"It's…ok…baby…I'll find out…where mummy is," said Nick slowly.
"Ok daddy."
Just then the door opened and everyone came in.
"Nick!" called Lynsey running to Nick's bedside.
"Hey…Lynsey…everyone."
"Hi Nick," Grissom, Warrick and Catherine said at the same time.
"You guys where's Lucy?" asked Nick cuddling his daughter the best that he could with wires attached to him.
"Honey why don't you rest we'll talk later," said Catherine.
"Where's Lucy?"
"Grace, Lynsey, why don't we go and get a drink?" suggested Sara who had just walked into the room with a doctor and nurse.
"Ok," said Lynsey taking hold of Sara's hand.
"I want to stay with daddy," said Grace holding onto Nick.
"Listen baby, go with Sara for me and then she'll bring you back to me ok."
"You won't go back to sleep, will you?" asked Grace looking at her dad.
"Of course I won't go back to sleep," said Nick.
Grace kissed Nick she jumped off the bed and ran to Sara. Sara took both of the girls to the soda machine while the others spoke to Nick.
"Nicky we're so sorry, but Lucy passed away," said Catherine holding her brother's hand.
"She…she what?" asked Nick completely shocked his face went pale.
"The guy shot at Grace but Lucy took the bullet instead, I'm so sorry," said Catherine.
"Does Grace know?" asked Nick worried about his little girl.
"No we thought you should tell her," said Grissom seeing Catherine almost in tears.
Just then the squeaky door opened and in walked Grace with Sara and Lynsey behind her.
"You guys can I spend some time alone with Grace?" asked Nick as Grace climbed up onto the bed.
"Sure we'll see you later," said Catherine, "come on Lynsey."
"Bye Nick, bye Grace," said Lynsey taking hold of Catherine's hand.
"See you Nick," said Grissom.
"Bye man," said Warrick.
"Bye Grace, see you later Nick," said Sara as they all headed to the door.
"No wait I want Sara to stay," said Grace looking at her dad then to Sara.
"Sweetie your dad don't want me to stay," said Sara.
"Daddy can Sara stay?"
"Yeah if you want her to and she doesn't mind," said Nick looking at her.
"I guess I'm staying then."
"Yay!" cheered the little girl jumping off the bed and running to Sara. She lifted the little girl into her arms and carried her back over to Nick. Everyone else had headed home to get some sleep.
"Sweetie I need to tell you something," said Nick, Grace sat on Sara's lap looking at her dad, "well baby mummy has gone to heaven."
"What with Daisy?" asked Grace.
"Yes sweetie with Daisy, see mummy saved you in that basement, the mean nasty man shot her."
"I wondered what the red colour was, it was like yours but mummy had it instead," said Grace looking at her dad, "but daddy why didn't Daisy leak out red?"
"Because Daisy was a fish sweetie and they don't bleed," said Nick.
"Ok…" she paused taking it all in, "so mummy died."
"Yes sweetie."
Grace had been sitting on Sara's lap but now she was lying next to Nick and was crying with him.
Sara who had been watching Nick with Grace wanted to tell him that she cared for Nick and his little girl and that she would help him with whatever he needed. But she couldn't, she couldn't tell Nick that lately she had feelings for him that went way beyond the bounds of friendship his girlfriend had just been killed and she didn't want it to seem that she was trying to take Lucy's place. Sara hadn't realised that she had started to cry.
"Hey, you need a hug too?" asked Nick looking at Sara.
"Oh no I'm ok," said Sara trying to dry her eyes.
Grace climbed away from Nick and back onto Sara's lap.
"Everyone needs a hug," said Grace squeezing Sara. Nick smiled as he saw how comfortable Sara looked with Grace.
Nick spent the next couple of weeks in hospital with Grace by his side and Sara as Grace wouldn't let her leave.
"Thanks for driving us home," said Nick climbing out of Sara's SUV.
"No problem, hey let me get Grace you're still a bit weak," said Sara taking the sleeping girl from her back seat.
They all headed up the path and Nick opened his front door. Sara put Grace carefully on the sofa as Nick headed into the kitchen. Sara looked at the little girl, she had lost her mum and nearly her dad, Sara thought about how her life had changed since she had moved to Vegas. She was pulled from her train of thought when she heard a crash.
"Nick!" she called as she rushed into the kitchen. Nick was sitting on the floor with his head in his hands, "are you ok?" asked Sara moving closer to him.
"I can't do it I can't stay here I thought I could but it just reminds me too much of what I've lost," said Nick starting to pick up the bits of glass from the floor.
"Nick leave that I'll do it, go put some clothes in a bag for you and Grace and you can come and stay with me."
"Are you sure, I mean I don't want to impose on you," said Nick looking at her.
"I wouldn't have said if I didn't want you to," said Sara, "now go pack and I'll clean up."
Nick stood up and pulled Sara into a tight embrace.
"What was that for?" asked Sara as Nick let her go but was still holding her arms.
"For being you, a good friend."
Nick dipped his head and his lips connected with Sara's, Sara pulled back and looked up at him.
"Nick this is not what you want you're just upset," said Sara wishing she could stand and kiss the gorgeous Nick Stokes forever.
"How do you know this is not what I want?" asked Nick look at her.
"Because…you just lost Lucy," said Sara looking back at Nick.
"Sara I'm so sorry I didn't mean…" Nick trailed off looking at the floor.
Sara took hold of Nick's face and turned it towards herself.
"You did nothing wrong you hear me, you're just upset and confused."
"Thanks Sara."
"Now go get some stuff and I'll clean up."
Nick left the kitchen and headed to his room to pack some clothes after he did that he went into his little girl's room and packed some of her things.
"God what was I thinking kissing Sara?" asked Nick quietly to himself.
Nick came out carrying two bags.
"You ready?" asked Sara coming out of the kitchen.
"Yeah, thanks again."
"Look Nick it's fine and about before I'm sorry," said Sara picking up a bag.
"No listen I'm sor…" Nick never got a chance to finish his sentence as Grace came running over to him.
"Daddy why have you got bags?"
"Well we are going to stay with Sara for a while."
"Yay!" cheered Grace, "lets go."
Sara and Nick let out a chuckle as they left and climbed into Sara's SUV.
"Sara are you going to be my new mummy?" asked Grace from the backseat.
Sara glanced at Nick as he glanced at her, "baby Sara is just daddy's friend," said Nick trying to change the subject.
Once they were at Sara's house she showed them around and showed Nick where her spare room was.
"So what do you want for dinner?" asked Sara looking at Nick who was sitting on her sofa surfing through the TV channels, feeling perfectly at home. He stopped it on Balamory for Grace and she stood in front of the TV dancing.
"She's cute," said Sara watching Grace as Nick stood next to her,
"I know."
Sara ordered dinner and half an hour later they were sat round the dinner table tucking into their pizza.
"Can we watch Nemo daddy?" asked Grace as Sara and Nick were cleaning everything away.
"You'll have to ask Sara, it's her TV," said Nick smiling at Grace.
"Sara can I please watch Nemo with you and daddy?"
"Of course we can sweetheart."
Sara and Nick sat on the couch with Grace between them she soon fell asleep and Nick carried her into the room where they were staying, Sara went with him to help him get Grace changed. After that they tucked Grace in and went back into the lounge. Nick placed his arm round Sara and gave her hip a squeeze.
"What was that for?"
"Sara you've been a great friend, Grace told me that you spent all day every day at the hospital with me," said Nick turning Sara to face himself.
"Well I didn't want you to wake up alone," said Sara smiling slightly.
Nick and Sara stayed on the couch watching the TV during the course of the film, which they were watching both let sleep overtake them.
When Sara woke up the next morning she was lying on her couch in Nick's arms. As Sara tried to get up she slipped on the leather of her couch and her elbow landed in Nick's gut.
"Ouch!" moaned Nick as his eyes shot open.
"I'm so sorry," said Sara looking at him, "I was trying not to wake you."
"Well you didn't do a very god job," said Nick laughing a little.
"Daddy! Daddy! Where are you?" called Grace running into the lounge crying.
Nick picked up Grace and held her, "it's ok baby I'm right here."
"I'm going to take a shower," said Sara walking out of the lounge and into her bathroom.
Grace and Nick were sitting on the couch. Grace was looking around and as she remembered where she was and smiled.
"Daddy can we watch cartoons?" asked Grace looking up at Nick.
"Ok but only till Sara says you have to turn it off," said Nick giving Grace the remote.
"Ok daddy."
Grace sat on the couch with the remote in her hand finding the cartoon channels. Nick collected Sara's post from her mailbox and made a pot of coffee.
"Hey Sara, do you want some coffee?" called Nick from Sara's kitchen.
"Yeah thanks," said Sara walking out of her room with black jog pants and a red tank top on.
"Here you go," said Nick handing her the coffee cup.
"Thanks but you better not do this every morning I could get used to it," laughed Sara, "wow it's amazing how much Grace is like you."
Grace was standing in the middle of the room dancing to a song on the TV; once the song ended she changed the channel until she found something she liked.
"Hey I do not do that," said Nick smiling.
"No you don't dance but you do change the channel as quick as that."
Nick chuckled and went and sat on the couch with his coffee, Sara came and joined him.
"Sara do you want to change the TV now?" asked Grace.
"No sweetie why do you ask?"
"Well daddy said I can only watch TV until you say so."
"Well while you and daddy are staying here, you can watch as much TV as you want," said Sara smiling, "you don't have to ask."
Grace went back to watching the TV and dancing in the middle of the room. Sara's home phone began to ring she stood up and headed over to the counter where her phone sat.
"Hello Sara Sidle speaking."
"Hey Sara it's Catherine, I've just called Nick at home but there's no answer, I'm worried about him."
"Cath it's ok he's here with me, just about to take a shower, Grace is ok too she's watching TV," said Sara watching Nick walk into the bathroom and then turning her attention to the little girl.
"Why are they staying at yours?" asked Catherine.
"They're staying with me for a while, Nick didn't like being at home, so I offered my spare room," said Sara smiling at Catherine's overprotective side.
"Well I need to go get Lynsey from her friends so I'll see you at work," said Catherine.
"Ok see you at work Cath," said Sara hanging up.
Sara went back into the living room where Grace was still dancing to the music on the TV; she sat on the sofa and looked at the TV. As Grace twirled around she saw Sara sitting on the couch, she walked over and sat next to her.
"Sara can we watch a film?" asked Grace looking up at her.
"Of course, what films did you bring?"
"My favourite's," said Grace smiling.
"Well why don't you go and pick one and we'll watch it," said Sara smiling back.
"Ok."
Grace jumped off the sofa and ran into the room, which her and Nick shared. Sara smiled she still couldn't believe Nick was a dad.
"Sara I chose one," said Grace running back in with a DVD in her hand.
"Ok let's put it on."
Nick came out of the bathroom wearing jeans and a blue shirt.
"What's going on in here?" he asked as he sat on the sofa.
"We're going to watch a film," said Sara smiling.
"Yeah daddy we're going to watch Mulan," said Grace jumping on Nick.
"Well can daddy stay and watch it with you and Sara?"
"Yeah, you know what daddy this is what me and mummy watched when she let me stay at home from playgroup," said Grace looking up at her dad.
"I know baby, when I got in you and mummy were sleeping and the film had finished."
"Yeah mummy and me never saw it all but I already seen it so it didn't matter," said Grace still smiling at the memory of her mum.
The three of them sat on the sofa watching Mulan. Grace sat in between Nick and Sara singing along to the songs. Nick smiled at his daughter and stole a quick glance at Sara who had a serious expression on her face, he reminded himself to ask her about it later.
Once the film had finished Grace started to get fidgety.
"What's wrong baby?" Nick asked looking at Grace.
"I bored now," she said looking at him, "what can we do?"
"Well I don't know, what do you want to do?"
Grace looked at Sara, "what is there to do around your house?"
"Well Grace there's a park just down the road."
"Really?" Grace asked excited she turned to face Nick, "can we go please daddy?"
"Yeah go put your shoes on and we can go," he said smiling.
"Yay!" she shouted jumping off the sofa and running into the spare room to get her shoes. She came back out with them in her hands and headed over to Nick who put them on for her.
"Sara can you come too?" Grace asked smiling sweetly at Sara who was still sitting on the sofa, watching the interaction between father and daughter.
"If you want me to," she replied smiling at Grace. Grace nodded and Sara smiled at her.
"Grace let daddy and Sara put their shoes on and then we can go ok?"
"Ok," she said sitting on the arm chair and looking at the TV.
Nick and Sara put their shoes on and they were all ready to leave. Grace held Nick's hand as they left Sara's house. Sara locked the door behind them and placed her keys in her jacket pocket.
"Can I hold your hand?" Grace asked Sara as they walked to the end of her driveway.
"Of course you can," Sara said smiling.
Grace smiled back at her and let go of Nick's hand, she skipped towards and took Sara's hand in hers. They continued walking towards the park and when Grace saw the climbing frame her eyes lit up, this didn't go unnoticed by Nick who knew his daughter was like a monkey when it came to things that she could climb.
"Daddy I want to go on the climbing frame!" yelled Grace letting go of Sara's hand and running towards the multi-coloured climbing frame.
"Gracie don't run off!" yelled Nick, he looked at Sara, "excuse me but I've got to go after her."
"Go ahead," Sara said gesturing with her right hand to go after Grace.
Nick smiled and sprinted after Grace who was nearing the climbing frame. Sara laughed at him and headed over to sit on a swing.
Nick was at the climbing frame helping Grace use the monkey bars; she didn't have quite enough strength to hold herself up. Nick glanced around and saw Sara spaced out sitting on a swing, "hey Gracie I'm going to talk to Sara, stay where I can see you, ok?"
"Ok daddy," said Grace climbing over some bars.
Nick smiled at her, she really was like her mum, he brushed the thought aside and walked over to Sara.
"Hey Sar," he said taking a seat on the swing next to her.
"Oh, hey," she said looking up at him.
"You ok?" he asked, "you seemed like you were spaced out."
"Yeah I was just thinking," she replied looking back to her shoes.
"Thinking about what?"
"Life, well my life," she said smiling at him.
"You wanna talk about it?" he asked glancing over at Grace who had the biggest smile on her face as she was climbing up a ladder and then slid down the slide, she kept running round and repeating the process.
"No I don't really want to talk about it, its not that important anyway," she said also looking over at Grace.
Before Nick could answer two boys came running over.
"Could we go on the swings?" one asked.
Sara and Nick both looked at them, "ok," they both said standing up and walking over to Grace.
"Daddy, Sara watch me," she said from the top of the slide.
"We are baby," Nick said looking at his daughter who at this moment looked very happy.
Once Grace had slid down the slide a couple more times she headed over to Nick and Sara who were now sitting on a bench in comfortable silence.
"Hey baby," Nick greeted his little girl.
"Daddy can we go home now?" she asked holding out her arms waiting for Nick to pick her up.
Nick stood up lifting Grace on the way and Sara stood next to him.
"Come on then, you can have a shoulder carry," Nick said lifting Grace higher so she could sit on his shoulders.
"Yay! Shoulder ride," she said excited.
The three of them walked back to Sara's house, she took her keys from her jacket pocket and unlocked the door. Once they were in she placed the keys on the side table while Nick was lifting Grace from his shoulders.
"Daddy I hungry after playing for so long," Grace said looking up at Nick now that she was on the floor.
"Ok, well daddy will make some sandwiches."
"Nick it's ok I can do that," said Sara heading into the kitchen.
"You sure?" he asked following her.
"Yeah what do you and Grace want in it?" she asked buttering six slices of bread, two each for all three of them.
"Let me just ask her, Gracie can you come here please?"
Grace came running into the kitchen, "yes daddy."
"What would you like in your sandwich?" Nick asked.
"Um…could I please have peanut butter and jelly?" she asked looking at Sara.
"Of course I have lots of that it's my favourite," said Sara smiling at the little girl.
"Really? It's my favourite too, but not my daddy's because he doesn't like peanut butter," said Grace, Sara smiled at her.
"Here you go," Sara said handing Grace a plate with her peanut butter and jelly sandwich on.
"Thank you," she said taking her plate to the dining room table.
"So what would you like Nick?" Sara asked while putting peanut butter and jelly in her own sandwich.
"Do you have corned beef and pickle?" he asked, probably knowing that as she was a vegetarian the answer would be no.
"Surprisingly, yes," she said heading to the fridge and taking out the corned beef and then to a cupboard for the pickle.
"Thanks," he said smiling.
Sara smiled back at him, her gaze lasting longer than it should have, before she put all the fillings and bread back in the right cupboards.
"Thank you Sara," Grace said walking back into the kitchen and handing Sara the plate.
"You're welcome, feel free to watch the TV if you want."
Grace smiled and ran into the living room jumping on the sofa before picking up the remote control and flicking through the channels.
Sara was tidying up the kitchen as Nick stood in the doorway eating his sandwich, she could feel his eyes following her around the room.
"Ok why do you keep staring at me?" she asked still tidying and not even turning to face him.
"Because Miss Sidle you are a saint," he said placing his plate in the washing up bowl, before putting on the rubber gloves and starting the washing up.
"Why am I a saint?" she asked turning to start the washing up but finding Nick had already started, "well aren't you domesticated," she joked.
Nick turned to face her, "well can't let you do everything, oh and you're a saint because not many people would have taken us both in."
Sara smiled picking up a tea towel, "anytime Nick."
While Nick washed up Sara dried and then put it away, they looked like a couple that had been together for years.
Later that evening Grace decided she wanted to watch another one of her favourite films, so here they were the three of them sitting on the sofa watching Beauty and the Beast. The phone started ringing and Sara answered.
"Oh hey Grissom, yeah just a second he's right here." She handed the phone to Nick who stood up and walked into the kitchen to talk to his boss.
Back in the living room Grace had snuggled right up close to Sara's side, she had her eyes closed and the film had barely started.
Sara moved carefully as not to wake the sleeping child, before carefully picking her up and taking her into her spare room. By this time Nick had finished his conversation with Grissom and had seen Sara carrying Grace so he followed and watched as Sara changed the little girl into her pyjama's before tucking her in.
"Jesus Christ!" she whispered as she jumped back slightly after seeing nick standing in the doorway.
"Sorry Sar, you just looked really sweet tucking her in."
She blushed at his comment before heading out of the room and back to the living room.
"Night baby," Nick whispered as he moved to kiss his daughter on the head before following Sara's actions and heading into the living room.
Sara was curled up on the sofa with a beer in her hand watching something on the TV, truth was she didn't know what she was watching, Nick's words repeating in her head, she wasn't trying to replace his girlfriend or her mum she just wanted to help them out. But why did she feel like she was becoming the wife and mother?
"What you watchin'" asked Nick as he sat on the sofa with a beer, that he had taken from the fridge, in his hand.
"Um…not really sure, you can see what else is on," she replied looking at him and offering him the remote.
"Ok, we'll see what movies are on," he smiled taking the control and turning the TV onto the first movie channel.
Sara kept her eyes on the TV; Nick really wasn't paying attention to what was on he was watching Sara, he never realised how beautiful she really was, but then he'd never seen her outside of work so much. She was sitting on the sofa in black track bottoms and a red tank top with her brown hair resting on her shoulders she looked extremely relaxed.
"Uh Nick you went straight past all the movies," Sara said looking at him and laughing.
Nick laughed and handed her the remote, "maybe you should do it."
Sara smiled and reached for the remote as she did her hand came into contact with Nick's and she looked nervously from their hands to his face. They both had a desirable urge to kiss the other but both held back on their feelings.
"It's getting late I'm going to go to bed," Sara said suddenly jumping up from the sofa and taking her empty bottle to the kitchen.
"Yeah I better go to bed…my bed too," Nick said also putting his empty bottle in the kitchen.
They both headed down the hallway, Sara made sure all the lights were off and also made sure the TV was off.
"Sara wait," Nick, said taking Sara's arm before she could retreat into her bedroom.
"I hope things aren't going to be weird between us," he said.
"Why would things be weird Nick?" she asked looking at the floor.
"Well on the sofa, I don't know if you felt it but I did."
"Yes Nick I felt it, but it's not right you just lost your girlfriend and your daughter just lost her mother," Sara said placing her free hand on her forehead.
"I know and I love Lucy I do but don't you think I should move on with my life. I can't feel the sadness forever."
"Nick I agree but you really want to move on so soon?
"Sara if there was anyone who I'd want to move on with it would be you and Grace adores you as much as I do," Nick said taking both her hands in his.
Sara smiled, "well I adore Grace too."
"What not me?" he asked acting hurt.
"Always Nicky."
Nick smiled and leaned closer to Sara catching her lips in a soft kiss before she placed her hands on the back of his head making the kiss deeper.