Chapter 10

Nick awoke, but didn't move. He was a little uncomfortable lying in the box, but he didn't want to open his eyes. He just wanted to sleep until someone found him. Just then he felt someone move on his leg. He was so surprised he opened his eyes quickly and lifted his head. He felt a sharp pain in his neck and stopped.

He slowly opened his eyes again and looked down to see a brunette sleeping on his leg. There was hair covering her face, but he could tell it was Sara. He looked around. He wasn't in the box anymore! He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them slowly, hoping what he saw was true. He was so relived that he felt tears come to his eyes. He looked down and Sara again and noticed she was holding his hand rather limply. He looked at her smiling so much it hurt as he reached over and touched the hand in his. He rubbed gently, but Sara woke up anyway.

Dazed at first she tried to remember where she was. She looked at Nick and remembered. She rubbed her eyes with her free hand and smiled while lifting slowly.

"I promised myself I was only going to rest my eyes," Sara said, trying to stop the already coming tears from coming.

Nick didn't say anything, just smiled at her. Sara looked down at their hands and quickly took hers away. "Oh…sorry," she whispered. Nick rose a little off the bed and took her hand back. He couldn't stop smiling at her, but he knew if he tried to talk he would start crying. He watched Sara do just that.

She smiled at him weakly and then hung her head and started to cry. She tried to talk but it was coming out in short, quiet gasps. "I…I was s-so scared," she managed, still not looking at him. He leaned forward and used one finger to brush a strand of hair away from her face. Finally Nick spoke, "Me too."

Sara paused and looked at him. She sniffed and watched as Nick's eyes started to well up with tears. He looked down while Sara took her hand out of Nick's and knelt on the bed beside Nick's leg. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug just as he collapsed into tears. They both cried and hugged as Sara planted soft kisses on the top of his head.

"I didn't think I would ever see you again," Nick said softly into her shoulder, between sobs. Sara pulled him away a little and looked at him. She had never been good at comforting people, so she said the first thing that came to her mind, "Well it's ok now. I'm here. Its ok…" she whispered this and they cried some more.

Sara liked being so close to him, but pretty soon they had to pull away. They both wiped their tears away and looked at each other. Nick saw his mom come up behind Sara, smiling very wide. Sara looked at what Nick was looking at and saw his mom coming up behind her, reaching out for a hug from her son. His dad came next and they both hugged him as Sara silently slipped off the bed and out the door to give them some time with their son.

About 20 minutes later Sara came back into the room, knocking softly as she opened it, so she wouldn't be intruding. She held a tray of coffees for her and Nick's parents. Nick was sitting up in his bed and was talking to his mom who was sitting in the chair Sara had slept in, holding Nick's hand. His dad was on the other side of the bed, standing and smiling down at his son.

Sara smiled at all of them, who looked up as she came in. She looked down at her hand. "I, um, brought some coffee," Sara said nervously. Nick's dad came over to her and took one for himself and his wife, "Thank you so much," he said, "I needed one of these." He gave her a smile and she could tell where Nick got his prize winning one.

Nick was speaking behind him. "Oh, mom and dad, this is Sara, we, um, work together."

"Yes, yes, we met her already," Nick's mom said in her kind Texas voice, "nice girl." She said to Nick. "It's very nice to meet you," Nick's dad came over to shake Sara's hand. She smiled at both of them and walked up to the foot of Nick's bed. "How are you doing?" she asked him.

"Great," Nick said smiling. He looked at her a moment, "You didn't get me one?" She sat there confused a moment, then she realized he was talking about the coffee.

"No," she said smiling, "you don't get any until you are out of here." Nick feigned hurt surprise and she just smiled wider.