A/N - Ok Epilogue coming, I am debating doing the wedding scene or not, what do you guys think? I am not very happy with this chapter, so let me know what ya'll think... I am always open to rewrites!

Disclaimer - I own nada!

Nick walked into Grissom's house, just like he had done everyday after shift for the past 3 weeks.

Bruno met Nick at the door, knowing it was time for their walk. Nick clipped the leash onto the collar and they traveled out into the neighborhood, the sun starting to peak over the red rocks on the horizon.

"Well Bruno, Mama comes home today, we have a lot to do when we get back to the house, so we aren't going far today!" Nick told him as they rounded the block for the second time and headed back to the house.

Once inside, Nick went about his routine, filling the food bowl, and rinsing out the water dish and giving the happy dog fresh water. Grissom had come home a few times, to shower and get a change of clothes; he would even take Bruno for a little walk, fearing the dog might be confused with Nick coming over daily. But Nick and Bruno now had their own little routine and Nick was contemplating getting his own dog once things went back to normal, he found himself happier knowing someone was waiting for him after shift.

Bruno lifted his head from his bowl, and cocked his head to the side and trotted to the front door. Nick leaned over the kitchen table and peeked through the blinds. He saw two Denali's and a Taurus in the driveway.

"It's ok Bruno, that's my help!" Nick assured the dog with a rub on the head as he opened the front door.

Once by one, the team entered the house, each looking around with large eyes, taking in the house.

"Take us on the tour Nicky!" Catherine said happily, her face like a child's in a candy store with a $100 bill.

"Ok, well this is the living room; back here is the den..." He said as they filed through the house.

"The kitchen, oh! And this is Mr. Bruno!" Nick said bending down to scratch the dog's ears. Bruno peered around Nick, sniffed the air a bit, and headed around the group up the stairs.

"Ok, and now we follow Bruno..." Nick said, leading the team up the stairs. "This is the office, the bathroom, and the bedroom." The group crowded into the doorway, Bruno lay on the bed, not interested in the group of people staring in.

"Wow..." Is all Catherine could mutter as she peered around the dark blue bedroom...

"Not how I imagined it at all..." Greg added.

Brass and Warrick exchanged glances, not sure what the fuss was all about.

"Why don't we get to work?" Brass chimed in.

Catherine cleaned the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms, Greg was busy with the vacuum cleaner and his bottle of Windex, Brass and Warrick worked on building a ramp in the front yard, trying to get it as close to the cement stairs as possible, so Sara would have a smooth ride in and out of the house. Nick busied himself cleaning the kitchen, dusting shelves and watering Sara's plants.

Nick heard the familiar thump and clicking of Bruno's nails on the floors upstairs, but they were quicker this time. Bruno came barreling down the stairs and nearly crashed through the front window as he jumped up to see out.

Nick peeked through the blinds and saw Grissom getting out his car.

"They're here!!!! They're here!!" Nick yelled and Catherine and Greg came rushing around the corner, feverishly putting their cleaning supplies away.

They watched as Warrick and Brass helped get Sara into her wheelchair and headed for the house. Nick headed for the door and noticed a giant sign hung over the stairs, "Welcome Home Sara!" Was written in colorful bubble letters.

"Lindsey and I made it last night" Catherine said when she noticed him looking at it.

"That's great!" Nick smiled. He reached forward and grabbed Bruno's collar as the door opened and Sara was wheeled in.

"BRUNO!!!!!" Sara exclaimed and the dog dashed towards the chair, jumping up on Grissom, but reaching his head over to Sara.

Tears formed in her eyes as she looked up at Nick. "He looks fabulous Nick!! Thanks so much for taking care of him for us"

Seeing her gap toothed smile, Nick nearly lost it, he choked the tears back and simply nodded.

Grissom scanned his home. "Did you clean?" He questioned.

"Yeah, Greggo even helped!" Nick laughed.

Greg nodded and straightened his collar. "Sure did!"

"Oh!" Sara smiled as she saw the banner hanging before her

"Lindsey and I made it last night. Got some blue paint on my beige carpet, but it was worth it" Catherine smiled.

"Well you tell Lindsey thank you, and thank you too Catherine." Sara smiled as Catherine gave her a hug.

"Say, where are going to sleep?" Warrick questioned as he realized the bed was upstairs.

"Oh, a bed will be arriving in about an hour, we're going to set it up in the den and sleep down here for a while." Grissom told them.

"Ahh yes, then when I am better we will finally turn the office into a second bedroom." Sara smiled.

"Yeah because we have so many guests staying over." Grissom laughed.

"Hey man, I would have loved a bed some of the nights I fell asleep on that couch!" Nick chimed in.

"See??" Sara laughed.

After a few hours of rearranging furniture in the den, and too many slices of pizza, the team lined up at the door, ready to leave Sara and Grissom alone for the night.

Nick lingered behind, and gave Bruno a good tummy rub. Sara watched as her dog wriggled and wiggled under Nicks touch.

"Nick?"

"Yeah Sar?

"Thanks again, he looks really happy."

"It was my pleasure, really. He is a great dog. Doesn't like baths, but otherwise..."

Sara let out a good belly laugh. "Oh man, you should see ME try and give him a bath! I end up cleaner than he does!"

Nick laughed as he stood up.

"I did a little grocery shopping last night, not much, but I had to toss almost everything in the fridge, and figured you might want some food. And I watered all your plants for you, they're all blooming now." Nick smiled.

Sara reached out her arms and hugged her friends with all the strength she could muster up.

"Thank you Nick, Thank you" She whispered.

Nick wiped the tears from his eyes and reached out and shook Grissom's hand. "Welcome home guys, have a good night." He smiled and reached over and gave Bruno's head a good scratch and turned to leave.

"Nick?"

"Yeah Gris?"

"Don't be a stranger; I think Bruno will miss you"

"Sure thing" Nick smiled and shut the door behind him.

Once they were alone, Grissom carefully picked up Sara from her chair and put her into the bed. He helped her change into her pajamas, brought her a bottle of water and finally settled in next to her.

"We have really good friends." Sara sighed as she tried to get as comfortable as she could with 3 casts on her broken body.

"We really do." Grissom smiled as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. The team had always been somewhat close, but this was the first time he really thought of them as friends, and not just co-workers.

Bruno put his paws on the bed and stared at Sara. He sniffed at the cast on her legs, and looked up at her again.

"C'mon baby" She smiled, and the dog gently jumped on the bed and immediately wedged himself between Sara and Gil.

"Oh really??" Grissom laughed as the dog put his head on Sara's lap." I see how it's going to be!"

"He missed me" Sara smiled as she gently rubbed the dog's head.

Grissom looked at her and stood up and marched out of the room.

"What the hell was that about?" Sara asked the dog softly, and Bruno just sighed and closed his eyes.

"I bought you something" Grissom smiled as he came back into the den. He held out a black velvet box.

Tears welled up in Sara's eyes as she opened it. "Oh Gil." She choked as she stared at the sparkling diamond tucked inside the box.

"I realized I never bought you one, I'm sorry." He said as tears started forming in his eyes.

"I didn't need one Gil, you know that." She smiled as she slid it on her slender finger.

"I tried to find one as beautiful as you are... but I failed. I don't think one exists." He smiled as he softly kissed her lips.