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Chapter 2
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Thursday September 22nd, 2005
Boston, Massachusetts
Medical Examiner's Office
1:45 p.m. (EST)
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"I still can't believe you and Nigel are going to tie the knot," Jordan laughed as the elevator doors opened, letting her, Lily, and Sara back into the lobby of the place they all considered a second home.
"And just what is so hard to believe about that?" Sara countered.
"Really now, we've been talking about this all lunch," Lily agreed.
"What are you going to do about Vegas?"
"Go back, give my formal resignation in November, come back here," Sara shrugged. "Trust me guys, I already have this figured out. At this point, nothing can go wrong."
"Famous last words," Garret's voice drew their attention.
"Good God Gar… you look like hell!" Jordan's rather blunt comment adequately described his appearance better than anything else could.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked immediately.
"You better get upstairs Sara, Nigel needs to talk to you," he answered softly. A moment later she disappeared, and the two women left turned on their boss.
"What is going on?" Jordan demanded.
"We need scotch, I need scotch and you two may want some…" he answered before turning and heading towards his office, sharing a glance, Lily and Jordan followed after him.
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Skidding to a halt Sara bumped into Bug quite literally, the man who was Nigel's best friend having been standing in front of Nigel and Sara's office, Sara looked up at him concerned. "Bug?"
"He's in there," Bug explained as they both gained their footing. "I don't know what happened, but he was in talking with Dr. Macy then I saw him stalk down the hallway to disappear in here. He won't open the door."
"I'll find out what's going on. I suspect Jor and Lil have corned Garret in his office no doubt, if you want to find out now instead of waiting. Or at the very least yell at Gar."
"Sounds good to me," Bug shook his head. "Good luck Sara."
She watched him go, before turning her attention back to the door and the man on the other side. "Nige?" she called softly while knocking. "Please let me in Nige," she waited in silence a few minutes before hearing the lock click. Opening the door she slipped inside before closing and locking it behind her. "What's wrong babe?" she whispered as she knelt next to the chair he was sitting in with his arms propped on his keyboard, his head hanging down between them.
"Dr. Macy called me into his office a little ago…" he began after a moment. "They're shipping me back."
"INS?" she asked surprised. "Nige… didn't you get your green card after I left?"
"No…" he began turning his head enough to look at her.
"Nigel Eames Townsend are you out of your mind!" Sara yelled as she stood. "You mean to tell me you've been here on a six-month visa for fourteen years!"
"Love…" he began as he raised his head to watch her pace.
"Nige, I can understand it slipping your mind for a few months, heck maybe even a few years, but this has been over a decade…" Sara sighed as she stopped and turned to look at him. "What happens now?" she whispered.
"Macy told me he asked INS that. Once I'm back in England I can apply and hopefully be back here within six-months…"
"Okay…" Sara nodded before crossing the room back to him, sinking to the floor once more she reached up to hold onto his arm closest to her. "Then we'll go. But so help me, you pull a stunt like this again and I'll beat the crap out of you."
"Figure that's a given," Nigel smiled. "Wait a minute…" he began with a frown. "We?"
"Well you aren't going back to England without me Nigel Townsend. And you better not be thinking otherwise," Sara snapped lightly.
"Love, you have to be back in Vegas in two months…"
"So, I'll spend two months with you, and if you don't have your papers by the time I'm due back in Vegas, I'll head back there, give them my notice and take care of that and meet you back here for the holidays."
"What if I don't have my papers then either love?"
"Then I'll just have Boston be a pit stop on my way back to you so I can pick up Christmas gifts and maybe find a way to stuff the gang in a few suitcases and bring them with me for the holidays," Sara shrugged.
"You're daft you know that love?"
"Nigel, I'm marrying you Mr. Eyeliner wearing, vampire believing, paranormal encyclopedia, one of a kind, genuine original odd duck. I have to be insane to understand you," Sara smiled.
"You know I'd give up some of that stuff if you wanted a more down to earth guy…"
"Nigel, we've been over this. I love you just the way you are, eccentricities and all. Besides, it comes in handy having a guy who knows how to apply eyeliner. And it's not like I haven't done the scene too, you're the one who introduced me to it back when it was still in it's heyday as it were. Besides, you wouldn't be my Nigel without the eyeliner and everything," Sara argued, an argument they'd had a number of times. "Last time we do this alright?"
"Alright love," Nigel agreed with a smile before reaching over with his free arm to brush a curl behind her ear.
"So when do we leave?" Sara asked after a moment.
"I need to call my Aunt Bea and see if the flat above her shop is empty, at least to see if we can use it until we find a temporary residence. I have to be out of the country by a week from Sunday. They gave me that long to arrange for my ticket and take care of things here. Dr. Macy already said he was arranging for my leave of absence."
"Alright then, I'll finish the work on the case, you go ahead and head home. I'll join you at your place after shift and see Garret about arranging for the two remaining months of my employment to be placed in temporary suspension until we return," Sara nodded. "Don't worry babe, everything is going to be fine."
"I hope so…"
"I know so," Sara countered gently before rising with him and wrapping her arms around him. "Go on babe, I'll see you in a few hours. I love you."
"Love you too sweetheart," Nigel smiled before leaving the room.
Sighing, Sara collapsed into the chair he had just vacated. She would seriously have to kick his butt later… but for now, she picked up the phone and dialed Garret's pager, asking him to bring the others down to her and Nigel's office. She had no doubts they were with him.
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Saturday October 1st, 2005
Boston, Massachusetts
The Pogue
11:15 p.m. (EST)
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"Alright then, so we're all here to enjoy dinner together, and be given one last chance to yell at our dearly insane Brit," Jordan began as she lifted her glass.
"Here here," Bug agreed sending a look Nigel's way, the taller man somehow managing to sink down further into the booth next to Sara.
"Alright, alright, I think he's had enough yelling. Besides, I think I covered all of us the moment I found out," Sara laughed.
"Ehh, true," Jordan shrugged. "Alright then, to enjoying dinner together, and that Nigel's papers get approved faster than he can jump to a paranormal explanation for interesting and immediately unexplainable cases."
"Now there is something to toast to," Sara smiled as she lifted her own glass, the only one not having alcohol. Though the group as a whole was use to it by now, she had broken her plan to not drink anymore after a particularly difficult case, well she had tried one beer and promptly found herself in the bathroom having confession with the porcelain god. Since then… she'd stuck with soda and ice tea.
"Cheers!" Nigel agreed. An hour later, they were entering Nigel's apartment, which his roommate would be using until they returned, at which time the man planned to move in with his own girlfriend. Sara's place had been packed up and taken care of; her things now there at the place they would call home, considering Nigel actually owned the entire apartment and wasn't just renting it. After a quick shower, they were sliding into bed, one last time before being away for who knew how long.
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Sunday October 2nd, 2005
London, England
Bea's Teas
8:21 p.m. (GMT)
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"Nigel!"
Looking up, Sara laughed at the sight of her fiancé being hugged by a woman even smaller then her, then that same woman proceeding to step back, hand on one hip as she waved her finger waving while scolded him.
Turning her attention from the sight across the room, Sara looked around the store owned by Nigel's aunt. Beatrice Otis, Aunt Bea for short had quite the lucrative business, or so it appeared. After a six-hour flight, they had found themselves in London and waiting for Nigel's cousin to arrive. When she had first seen Arthur Otis, she had seen the family link between them immediately. He had the same figure as Nigel, tall and thin, though he was a good five inches shorter than her own Brit. Where Nigel had black hair and hazel eyes though, Arthur's red-blonde hair was kept short, and his green eyes simply sparkled with amusement as he smacked the back of Nigel's head. James as he quickly told Sara to call him, spent the entire drive to his mother's telling them about the family and filling Nigel in on all the things he'd missed out on. Reaching back to smack Nigel a time or two for good measure as well since she was in front with James.
Beatrice was Nigel's mother's sister, and had married a Londoner, Arthur senior, hence the reason James preferred to use his middle name. Sara learned that for a few years the two had lived in San Francisco, which was where Angelina was born, same year as Sara herself. Not long after Angie was born, the family had come back to London, where Arthur worked as a constable, eventually making it to Assistant Commissioner before his death fifteen-years-earlier. Seven months later James and Angie's little sister was born, Anne Marie. Anne Marie was fourteen now, and hoping to attend Oxford. When she wasn't studying like mad, she was working at her mother's store. Bea had opened Bea's Teas when Angie was only eight, so all of the children had grown up with the store. Today Angie was the official manager, while James' wife Elizabeth worked there as well.
Beatrice was the woman currently giving Nigel a piece of her mind, a quite tiny woman compared to many, especially when placed next to her nephew, Bea was five-two in height. Her once naturally black hair was helped to remain so today, she insisted that until her youngest child was at least finished with her G.C.S.Es, then she was going to keep her hair the color she was born with. And she wasn't going to let the fact she had three grandchildren convince her otherwise. Her blue eyes had been passed to Angelina, though little else had. Angie was five-six with her father's hair, her mother's eyes. She was a slim woman, willowy even, and was on her mother's case constantly about everything from how they needed to raise prices to her mother's weight. Beatrice just took it all in stride and would remind her that she wasn't perfect herself, and to go get the mothering out of her system with her own children. "Leave my mothering to my mum. And I don't care if she's been dead twenty years."
Angie had married an Irish man, Charles Umney. Charles was a barrister there in town, and they had two children, Marian and Charles junior. Charlie was nine now, the spitting image of his father, Angie had thanked God when she saw at least one of her children got the green eyes she had initially fallen in love with her husband over. He could usually be found begging to be rescued from his sister. Marian was six, having her mother's eyes and her father's red hair. Becca as she preferred to be called was usually found at the shop when not in classes or at home. Her main goal in life was to drive her brother batty, and she excelled at it.
James had been born ten years after one sister, and ten years before the other. He followed his father into law enforcement, currently a Police Constable. He had married his childhood sweetheart three-years-earlier, Elizabeth McAuliffe. Eliza was rather quiet, but she adored her adopted family, her own family had abandoned her as a child. They had a son, Arthur Otis the third, or Artie as they called him. Artie was two now, with his mother's auburn hair and father and grandfather's green eyes. Eliza's own eyes were a light shade of brown, five-eight; she tended to be self-conscious of her appearance when away from the family. They were use to her needing to be reassured that they loved her and she was perfect just as she was many days when she arrived home from her Medical Biochemistry studies at Brunel University. James had warned them both not to be surprised if she did that, and Sara had glanced at Nigel, immediately making a promise to herself that she was going to get to know the woman and simply be her friend.
"And this must be Sara," Bea's voice drew Sara's attention from where she had been staring at a shelf of teapots to find the woman now standing in front of her, Nigel a few feet behind with a sheepish expression.
"Hello," Sara began after a beat.
"Oh stuff this bloody hello business," Bea exclaimed before Sara found herself hugged by the woman. "You manage to bring my cheeky nitwit of a nephew home, you just went past the hello point to the point of being family. The fact Nigel intends to marry you just makes him smarter in my eyes," Bea continued as she stepped back. "Oh Nigel, she's lovely… now to get some meat on her."
"Meant to warn you she was a bit daft," Nigel chuckled as he wrapped an arm around Sara's shoulder while they watched the woman walk off, giving orders to the other members of the family of how they were going to put said meat on Sara's bones.
"Nigel!" Sara laughed as she smacked his arm.
"What? She's use to me," he shrugged before pulling slightly to get her moving, then leading her on a tour of the shop, then up to the flat they would be calling home for the next few weeks until her return to Vegas, or their return to Boston, whichever came first.
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Wednesday October 26th, 2005
London, England
Swan Star Pub
4:31 p.m. (GMT)
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The next three weeks just flew by for Sara and Nigel. They visited everything from Picadilly Circus to the Tower of London, from Big Ben to touring Parliament and Westminister Abbey. Every museum in town was hit, and they met 'everyone' at the Swan Star.
The Swan Star was the Pub down the street from Bea's Teas, and the second home for every member of the Otis family. The Swan Star was owned and run by Andrew MacWhitter, more commonly known as Mac. A few of the other well known regulars included Timothy, a fifty-something Cockney, who seemed to believe that Sara and all the other women in the Pub were his to hit on. She had quickly learned to take it all in stride and that he was just teasing, really it was just part of Ol' Timothy's charm. Then there was Abigail, she and Mac had been married once, divorced nearly fifteen years before. She kept his name, more as a way to annoy him, and even had a sewing shop next door to Bea's Teas. Each night she'd be back at the Swan Star, and she and Mac would sit and bicker back and forth, always ending the night by Mac stating he was going to 'divorce your bleeding arse', and Abby would just turn, look at him and say 'You already have you daft plonker!'. Those at the tables deemed the Otis tables would just look at each other and shake their heads. It was all part of the charm of the Swan Star.
So, on the night of Nigel's thirty-ninth birthday, the family had left him to work the store saying they were taking Sara over to Abby's. When Abby had learned Sara didn't know how to sew…. Well you would have thought the world had stopped spinning for a moment. And she had been on Sara for weeks to learn how. Sewing, Crochet, Knitting, Quilting, they were plotting teaching it all to her. So surprisingly, he never even thought twice about the fact they were heading over there for the afternoon, course it did help that Sara put up one hell of an argument over the whole matter…
As soon as they were at Abby's, they'd left and headed towards the Swan Star through the back. The next few hours were spent decorating for the surprise party they had planned for Nigel, and so at four-thirty Sara was making her way back to the shop to bring Nigel to the Pub.
"And I'm agreeing to closing up the shop when Bea has told me to take care of it because why?" Nigel asked as she moved around the room turning off lights for him.
"Because I managed to convince Bea to close the shop up early for the same reason I'm going to convince you to just do it," Sara countered with a smirk.
"Which is?" he countered as he grabbed her wrist and spun her around so she found herself leaning against his chest, his arms around her waist, as he leaned back against the counter.
"It's your birthday; I want to have a quiet night with you. And I won't try and weasel my way out of that appointment I have tomorrow with Angie's doctor," Sara shrugged lightly.
"Well, let's go then," Nigel nodded and Sara smiled, she knew that promise of the appointment would work. He, and the rest of his insane family, had been on her case since they arrived in London to go see a doctor – she'd been exceedingly tired, so much so it would be abnormal for someone with normal sleeping patterns. With her normal sleeping habits being that she slept for about three hours each night, her sleeping as of late was a bit disconcerting to say the least. Lately she had been sleeping closer to ten hours straight, only to wake and for someone to usually find her sound asleep standing up even. The more interesting times had been when she was holding a cup of tea and fell asleep, or the time she fell asleep in the bathroom… But at the same time, Sara despised doctors. A throw back to her childhood perhaps and all the time spent in the emergency room… "You coming love?"
Looking up she smiled before taking the hand he offered, then leaning more into his side as they walked up the street. She had just been completely getting use to weather in Boston, dropping another ten degrees of weather in the time it took to fly six hours threw her system - that had been use to the desert heat - even more.
"Now you know I love you?" Sara asked with a smile as he opened the door and she slipped into the Pub in front of him.
"Of course…"
"Surprise!"
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Thursday October 27th, 2005
London, England
Townsend/Sidle Flat
11:31 p.m. (GMT)
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The party was perfect; Nigel had given her a look for not telling him, before shaking his head. Abby and Mac got into a memorable argument, more so than their regular nights; and the others in the Pub had simply raised a glass and gave a toast as Abby made her exit with a slam of the door behind her. After that, a round of drinks had been on the house to celebrate the 'leaving of the shrew'. Ol' Timothy had asked once again why she wouldn't move in and be his roommate, to which she, now having learned just what the differences between British slang and American slang meant, told him she already had a roommate, and neither of them was looking for a flat mate. Ol' Timothy's laugh had been a familiar sound and only made the night more memorable.
Eventually they had all left the Swan, splitting up and heading towards their various homes, she and Nigel making their way back to the flat above Bea's Teas. When they'd entered their 'living room', she'd been given the chance to tease him about being out and about for once without all his spikes. Nigel, god love him, could very easily be classified a Goth through and through. Besides the eyeliner, which she adored on him for some reason, his regular clothing ensemble usually included the necklaces and bracelets, a cross that he always wore, and a couple bracelets on each wrist, one per wrist having spikes, matching a spike collar. He'd taken it all in stride, before turning and grabbing her around the waist; picking her up before crossing to the bed and mock-dropping her. He then had proceeded to tickle her until she begged for forgiveness. Well that and promised to give him the present she had for him.
Sara had been doing her usual hunting online, and returned to her old catalog ways in some degree, though she didn't go near the clothing catalogs. Instead she had been receiving the catalogs from The Noble Collection, a long standing subscription thanks to Nigel himself. And when she'd seen the hourglass she knew it was the perfect gift for her eccentric fiancé. It was called The Guardians of Time Mystical Hourglass, and was crafted from silver and gold, with winged gargoyles. And midnight black sand. He'd laughed when he heard her explanation, with this, he better not forget to do any of those important things again, like apply for anything having to do with INS. Finally though, they both decided the need for sleep was more than the need for further tickling revenges about her statements.
That morning they had breakfast and she enjoying the wonderful Cream Teas she'd become addicted to. Nigel had gone to see if there was anything new on his case, plans to work the counter and books that night. Sara in turn went downstairs to spend some time with Bea and Angie, before Angie drove her to her appointment.
After her appointment, she spent the rest of the day in a bit of a haze, waving off Angie and Bea's questions and concerns, then Eliza and Anne Marie's as well. Eventually she had escaped next door to Abby's, giving in to the woman's lessons. Finally as she started to doze off again as had become so common, she said goodbye, taking her crochet beginnings with her and used the back stairs to take a nap. Hours later she woke to footsteps on the stairs.
Sara heard the door opened and took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she had to tell him. She heard Nigel take off his shoes by the door, then make his way towards the bathroom. She heard the toilet flush, and water running. The slight clink on the table told her he had taken off his bracelets. She listened as he padded across the floor, his feet bare based on the hisses, cold floors, they were always cold at night. Glancing up from the pillows, she watched as he rounded the bed to lean down and kiss her forehead, before he noticed her eyes were watching him from the light of the moon out the window.
"Evening love, figured you'd be asleep."
"Can't sleep, how was work?" she countered as she moved over slightly to let him sit down.
"Ehh; same as always. Got the books complete for Angelina."
"That's good," she nodded.
"How was your appointment today?" Nigel countered as he traced patterns on the blanket covering her legs.
"Interesting…" Sara began before sighing. "Why don't you turn the light on and I'll sit up." Nigel nodded before rising, and turning the lamp on. Returning to the bed he sat down at the foot of the bed as she sat up against the pillows. She smiled when he brought his legs up to sit cross-legged, his left leg hanging out in mid-air off the bed. "Cold feet?" she teased softly.
"Bloody cold floors. We need some rugs in here if we're going to be here much longer," he countered shaking his head. "So, your appointment? Did they know why you've been so tired lately?"
"Yeah…" she began as she pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. "I'm pregnant," she whispered, not looking at him.
"Really?" he asked before grinning. "Sara that's wonderful!" he continued happily.
"Don't get too excited yet," Sara began quickly, finally looking up at him and seeing the now confused expression on his face. "Remember how I told you why I left Vegas?"
"Bloody idiot of a boss finally did something about the sexual tension between you, seemed to have taken the risk, only to leave the next morning and later say it was a mistake. You left to get away, I'll be honest, part of me is thankful for the bugger, otherwise you wouldn't have come to Boston and I wouldn't have seen you again and now be here engaged to you."
Sara chuckled as she shook her head. "You are one of a kind Nige."
"Thank you, so where is this all going love?" he asked concerned.
"You know how I have a tendency to skip periods?" she asked after a moment.
"Yes…" he replied and she looked up to catch the haunted look in his eyes. She knew what he was thinking about, her pregnancy scare after her rape. Reaching out she squeezed his hand until the look left his eyes and he smiled to let her know he was okay.
"Remember that flu I had two months ago for two weeks?" she continued softly.
"Yes… Sara, are you going with this where I think you're going with this?"
"I'm twenty-four weeks pregnant," she answered finally. "This baby isn't yours…" she whispered before looking across the room. "Nigel, I'd understand if you don't want to marry me now, but I can't give up this baby. I may not have known about him or her, but that doesn't mean I can have an abortion or even give it up for adoption. I grew up without my parents, I can't do that to my child…" she rambled on slightly.
"Sara Lynn!" he interrupted as he reached out and turned her head to look at him, brushing his thumb against her cheek softly. "Sweetheart, I don't care." He began before seeing the confusion in her eyes. "I don't care that this child may be Dr. Grissom's. This child is yours, and that is more important to me than anything else. I love you Sara, and I will love this child as much as I would if he or she bore my blood. I'd never leave you love, especially not because of this," he promised before reaching his thumb up to brush away the tear that had slipped down her cheek.
"God I love you Nigel Townsend."
"I love you too Sara Lynn Sidle," Nigel countered gently. "Get some sleep sweetheart, we'll talk in the morning."
"Okay," Sara nodded as he helped her lay back down before climbing into the bed behind her. "Night…"
"Goodnight love."
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Friday October 28th, 2005
London, England
Bea's Teas
11:35 a.m. (GMT)
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"Well?" Bea asked the moment Nigel opened the door so Sara could enter after her follow-up exam.
"Well, we're going to be here for a few more months," Sara shrugged slightly as she slipped out of her jacket.
"And that means what exactly?" Angie spoke up from where she was helping Mrs. Autenberry wrap her purchases.
"Come on dearie, we're all desperate to know," Mrs. Autenberry spoke up.
Sara glanced back at Nigel, giving him a look that stopped him mid-chuckle before looking back at the women gathered around the store. "You three are insatiable when it comes to answers."
"We're British, we like to know these things," Mrs. Autenberry countered as she turned to look at the much younger woman.
"Well, first off it's a girl, and I'm due the end of February," Sara began as Nigel produced the ultrasound. "Second, because of my rather… unique… medical condition, I can't fly until after the baby is born, at least. So, we're going to be here four months at least."
"Well congratulations, both of you," Mrs. Autenberry smiled as she gathered her bags and made her way towards the door. "Now how about making an honest bloke out of this one dearie," she added before disappearing through the door, the tickling of the bell over the door the only sound for a moment.
"Always thought I was supposed to make an honest woman out of you…" Nigel frowned before shrugging. "Either way."
"Was that a proposal?" Angie asked as she leaned forward on the counter.
"About as eloquent as the first one he gave me," Sara shrugged.
"I didn't see you complaining the first time, I believe you actually were the one telling me you would be surprised if it had been any other way!" Nigel argued while wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Something tells me we don't want to know Angie girl," Bea shook her head. "Well I'm going to go share the news with Abby, who is expecting you tomorrow morning after breakfast to continue your lessons, something tells me she now plans to keep you all day long seeing as there is a goal for all of these lessons now, so better enjoy a few hours together while you can. Oh and enjoy waking up your friends in Boston," Bea added over her shoulder before disappearing out the front door as well, headed next door.
"Hmm that is a good point… I say we wake Bug first," Nigel grinned and Sara just shook her head.
"See you later Angie."
"Cheers," Angie called after them as Nigel propelled her through to the back room and up the stairs.
"I have a theory," Sara began when she was comfortably seated at the table, and watching Nigel as he moved around their 'kitchen' making a pot of tea. She shook her head when the strawberry jam and clotted cream appeared on the table before he was back at the stove slipping a few scones in the oven to heat them up. "How about we call and wake Bug, three-way Jor, have her three-way Garret and Bug can three-way Lily. Then we have the entire gang and can tell them all at once."
"Evil sounding plot to me love," Nigel grinned before turning his attention back to the tea.
Shaking her head once more, Sara reached over and pulled the phone towards her before dialing Bug's number on speaker. "'llooo" came the half-asleep answer to the sixth ring.
"Morning Buggles," Nigel called with a grin as he took the teapot off the stove.
"Nigel? Do you realize what time it is?" Bug asked and they heard him sit up, no doubt rubbing at his face to wake up.
"Well, it's heading towards noon here, that would make it heading towards seven there," Sara answered as Nigel pulled the scones from the oven.
"And you're calling me at this time in the morning just to discuss time change between there and here?"
"Nope, actually we are going to put you on three-way and call Jordan, then need you to put us on three-way and call Lily, and we'll have Jor do the same with Garret," Sara explained before smiling up at Nigel when he placed the scones on the table and then the teapot.
"Well, I guess if you're going to wake Jordan, this must be important," Bug sighed over the line. "Wait, you two haven't decided to elope or anything have you?"
"No," Sara laughed, "Hang on we're going to three-way Jordan."
"Yeah, sure… I need coffee."
"I bet he does," Nigel smirked while Sara put him on hold and dialed Jordan's number.
"Thanks," Sara smiled, taking the cup of tea he'd made just as she liked it.
"This better be life or death."
"Well in a way it is life, definitely no death."
"Well it could be a matter of death…"
"What the hell are you talking about Nige?" Jordan demanded.
"Ignore him Jor, he's loosing his mind," Sara chuckled. "Hang on we're going to switch to three-way."
"When did he have his mind?" Jordan asked a moment later.
"So they brought you into this insanity too did they?"
"What have those two been smoking Bug?" Jordan asked with a yawn.
"Nothing!" Sara argued as she spread jam on her scone before stealing the bowl of clotted cream from Nigel as he went to stick his knife in it.
"We need you two to make a call on three-way so we have one big conference call," Nigel continued after sticking his tongue out at Sara. "We figured we'd give you the joy of calling Dr. Macy."
"Oh with pleasure," Jordan's evil cackling drifted away when they were put on hold.
"I think I better call Lil while there's a chance," Bug spoke up before disappearing as well.
"It's going better than I imagined it might," Sara mused.
"That makes two of us," Nigel smiled. "So, to possible continue a conversation from downstairs… I know we hadn't set a date or anything like that… why don't we have the wedding here in London?"
"Well I suppose it is a bit to late to avoid the whole weight gain before the wedding excuse… as long as I'm not in my last month, I really don't care if we do it before or after… though it might be nice to get it done sooner rather than later. We're going to be busy as hell after February…"
"Why are you going to be busy as hell after February? And why did Jordan wake me up after a double last night?" Garret's voice drew their attention back to the phone.
"What he said," Lily agreed.
"Well, we have a bit of news," Sara began glancing at Nigel.
"That relates to life and death how exactly?" Jordan asked after another yawn.
"I'm not going to ask."
"Smart idea Gar," Lily giggled "So, what's going on you two?"
"Well, we have news, we won't be back until March at the earliest," Sara began as she grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a message for Nigel.
"Why?" four yelled questions, or exclamations as the case applied, echoed in the room.
"I'm not allowed to fly for a minimum of another sixteen weeks."
"Ok, why sixteen weeks?" Bug asked.
"Because I'm twenty-four weeks pregnant of course," Sara smirked
"AHHH!" Lily's shriek was the first thing they heard followed by Jordan's own yell of happiness.
"Ok, now that both of you have gotten that out of your systems," Garret began "Congratulations Sara, Nigel."
"Thanks Dr. M."
"What he said," Sara laughed before glancing down at his response to her note. "And on that note, we want to ask the boss if it might be possible to let his three best MEs and Grief Counselor have a few days off at Christmas time."
"Three?" Garret echoed. "Sara, last I checked on this phone call, there is only Jordan and Bug here in Boston who are working, Nigel is there…"
"And here I'm thinking the Chief Medical Examiner himself is one of the best MEs Boston has…" Sara shrugged.
"Alright, you got me," Garret chuckled. "So what exactly are you asking for me to give Bug, Jordan, Lily, and myself time off for?"
"Nothing major, a little Christmas fun, a six-hour trip packed in like sardines with a few hundred other people… seeing the sights in London, meeting the crazy natives… wearing a tux and dress accordingly… possibly either standing with, bearing witness to, or giving away the bride…" Sara shrugged, then reaching over to smack Nigel as he was trying to not make any noise while choking on a sip of tea he had intended to take, only to get about half the cup for his efforts when she started.
"Oh My GOD!" Lily cried once more.
"Is she jumping around her room looking for someone to hug I wonder…" Jordan mused
"Probably," Garret agreed. "And I think I can arrange something… after all getting to spend six hours stuffed like sardines is so much more fun than work."
"Oh and actually seeing Nigel get married isn't?" Jordan countered.
"No, that's worth it too," Garret conceded. "But I need sleep, as I'm sure everyone else does. So I'm going to hang up at the very least. Congratulations to both of you, and I'll check on the whole vacation thing as soon as I get into the office."
"Bye Dr. M."
"Bye Garret," Sara agreed before they heard the click indicating he was gone.
"He's right, we need sleep. E-mail me and I'll drag Jordan into helping plan."
"Deal Lil," Sara smiled. "Better run for it Jor."
"I heard that," Lily teased. "Bye you two. And see you two later."
"Congratulations Nigel, Sara," Bug continued before he hung up as well.
"So exactly who is going to be doing what in this wedding of yours?" Jordan asked after a moment.
"I haven't thought that far, I'm still reeling over the fact I'm pregnant and trying to figure out if I'm going to inform the father," Sara answered honestly.
"Hmm, can I tell the idiot back in Vegas?" Jordan asked, and Sara was suddenly thankful at least one person besides her and Nigel knew the entire story of what happened in Vegas. Then again so did Lily so that would make it two people…
"Go for it," Nigel spoke up keeping her from getting lost in her thoughts.
"Ooo, I heard that smack. You got Nigel good didn't you Sar?" Jordan teased.
"See if I get you any more clotted cream," Nigel complained before grinning and giving her a wink.
"No, no killing Griss," Sara began knowing Jordan was thinking about it and plotting it even as she plotted simply telling the man. "I'll let you know what I decide though. Need to sit and think and get this bloody nincompoop's honest opinion and all that fun. But we should let you get some sleep too Jor, talk to you later alright?"
"Fair enough, night you two."
"You don't have to decide today you know that love," Nigel began a few moments after the call was disconnected.
"I know," Sara sighed softly. "You know, right now I'm not going to worry about it. I'm engaged, have a wedding to plan, and just found out I'm going to be a mother in only a few months. I'm going to just enjoy this whole happy moment deal going on."
"Good," Nigel grinned. "So, we have a wedding in less than two months… any idea on how we want to do this?"
"Well, as much as I love you, we're not going to do something gothic," Sara teased as she rose to get her laptop.
"Damn, and here I was looking forward to freaking out Buggles."
"Insane man," Sara giggled as she powered up. "Hmm, let's see google or jeeves?"
"Jeeves."
Ok then… …wedding guide…" Sara began. "Who knew there were so sites for weddings," she continued shaking her head.
"I'll get munchies."
"Weird man, we're looking for information, not going to the movies," Sara called as he moved around their kitchen, while she looked at a few sites.
"Knock knock," Bea announced as she knocked on their door an hour later.
"Come on in…" Sara called as they looked at another site.
"Wanted to see if you wanted to join us for afternoon tea today," Bea explained as she walked into the flat and over to join them. "Ahh, we're planning a wedding? Does that mean you've picked a date?"
"Christmas Eve," Nigel answered.
"Oh lovely," Bea clapped her hands together. "How goes the planning?"
"Confusing," Sara chuckled. "These sites show how to plan but nothing in more detail I know there's something about colors and flowers and I'm just completely confused."
"Oh honey, don't worry. That's what having us around is for," Bea smiled. "Come on, Angie and Eliza are downstairs, and Abby is coming over. We'll help with the basics."
"Thanks you," Sara smiled with relief as they shut the laptop down.
"Your welcome," Bea smiled before they made their way downstairs.
Review Responses:
JLE - Thank you love, I know that's something my sister and I do, we never do short chapters for some reason :-) me a bit confused though honey... you can just see Nige and Jor together? did you mean Nige and Sara?
Devisun - Thank you :-) this is so cool the founder of my yahoo group is readin my story :-D
Ttlover - Hey honey, TY! I know I was a bit surprised when that arose as well, but it's so cool. We're not going to see the LV gang for another chapter or two, but we will see them when Sara sees them again :-)
Iethena - TY sweetheart, wow, that is the coolest thing hearing mine is the first good x-over you have found... just... Wow :-) TY for that :-) I know I can see them just being the best of friends :-) and I know the feeling I'm a GSR to the end, but I'm a Sara lover even more so I have fun pairing her with people that I'm sure she would be good together :-) I have every intention of giving them a happy ending ;-) but it's not going to be easy getting there -evil laughter-
As for Jor/Woody... it's more strictly a Sara/Nig story though we will have a few other couples. But not Jor/Woody in the long run. (personally I think he's put her through too much crap in the last few months and I at least would be like ok... can I trust him to stay around I mean sure he says he will but... yeah. that and this was written before the lastest developments in CJ so... I'm sorta ignoring anything in the show after the episode that had the alien abduction case that got dear Nigel's attention lol)
Angie B - Thank you darlin' :-) updates are going to be every Thursday so you can kinda count down to next chapter if you want :-)
charmed1818 - Thank you so much :-) I'm glad you like the story :-)
Please please review, I'll give you a cookie :-D