"Mae," Grissom said as he burst into the DNA and trace lab. His face had a weary and rushed look on it, as everyone on the shift was working on a kidnapping case of a nine year old girl. Following behind him was Warrick who looked strained from working and hurried for hours. "I sent you swab of a liquid that I found on that shirt?"

I swiveled around quickly in my chair and grabbed the manila folder that held the results to the test that I just completed.

As I handed it to Grissom I read aloud the information. "Swab on the shirt came back to human sweat," I said, then handed him a separate sheet. "So I ran it through DNA and found seven alleles in common with the girl."

Grissom slowly lifted his head and confusion swept across his face. "Are you sure?"

"I triple checked," I told him.

He nodded and briskly walked from the room and down the hall. Warrick, however, stayed behind and walked over to my side, watching my movements as I started a DNA analysis on other case that was put aside. I didn't even have to look at him to know he was smiling at me.

"Can I help you Warrick?" I asked slyly.

"You and Nicky huh?" he questioned and nudged my shoulder slightly. I couldn't help but catch his infectious smile.

Nick and I had been dating for the past month and kept it quiet for the most part around work. We didn't flaunt it around but if anyone asked then we would answer truthfully. Many hadn't even known for awhile because they were already used to seeing us leave together. The good part about it was that people didn't behave differently knowing that Nick and I were dating. Well. Everyone except Hodges, who had to tell me he didn't like the idea any chance he could get. And considering we worked in the labs right next to each other, that was a lot of chances.

Nick and I tried to see each other as much as we could, but to be honest, it wasn't as much as I would have liked. Sure, we saw each other at work but that was our work place. I couldn't kiss him or hug him or really show any sign of affection. Nick was always so consumed in his work and not by force, it was just that some of the cases he dealt with just took up all the possible free time he had.

But we still managed to make it work and I had at least three days a week that was spent solely with him and I cherished every minute of it. Our relationship had evolved and I felt a connection that I hadn't with anyone before. Nick was just so different, so charming, something I'd never experienced before. We talked about everything – minus a couple of small details.

When Nick had asked about my past, I told him everything that I could. That I lived in Italy, my parents death, and living with my nonna. Those were things that I could talk about. But I couldn't tell him anything beyond that because I still didn't even believe them even if I witnessed them or was told. I didn't want to let him know the secrets that only people intertwined in my family knew.

"Mae?" Warrick's voice filled my head and I snapped back into reality. I hadn't realized that I had been thinking so much and forgot that Warrick was beside me.

I shook my head slightly and tried to focus. "Sorry sorry," I said. "I was thinking about something."

"Ahh or maybe someone?" he asked.

I smiled up at him, got out of my chair, and gently pushed him out of my lab. "Very funny Warrick."

I pushed open the large glass doors that lead to the outside as I exited work. I hadn't seen Nick at all as I worked throughout the day and it was around eight o'clock as I left, so I figured my ride home was not going to show. Already the light had left the sky and the only light to guide my way across the parking lot and to the bus stop was the dim light coming from the light posts.

I sighed and felt my eye lids droop from such an exhausting day at work. I couldn't help it as my eyes finally shut and my legs continued the walk in a robotic manner, the sounds of my heels clicking against the granite to let me know I was still walking. Not only was I physically tired, my mind was filled with fatigue as well.

"Mae!"

I yelped in surprise and almost tripped as I stopped abruptly. My eyes shot open and then I heard the screech of a car tires across the ground. My heart was thrown against my chest as I saw a car driving sporadicly throughout the parking lot. Someone grabbed my arm and flung me towards a stationary car and the swiveling car rushed by me.

And all I could think was, Wow, was that guy drunk? He was doing forty in a parking lot, for god's sake.

"Are you okay?"

Oh that's right. Someone grabbed me. I picked my head out of their chest and looked up to see Nick standing there. I groaned and wanted to hide my face again. Did he always have to save me? Was I really that accident prone? Of course, it is me we're talking about.

"Yeah I'm fine," I said, although slightly shaken that something horrible would have erupted if Nick wasn't there. I let out a breathe of air and tried to relax. Nick ran his hands up and down my arms to try and comfort me.

"You sure?" he asked again, looking down at me with a worried expression.

"Yeah yeah," I said. "Jeez, you have a knack for showing up at the right time, you know that?"

He smiled and I returned it. Then he leaned down to give me a quick kiss on the lips. Then he moved his arm around my waist as we steered our direction to his car.

When we got inside, I shut the door and put on my seatbelt. Nick started the ignition and backed the car out of the it's parking space. "Want to come back to my place?" he asked.

My eyes had managed to close again but I re-opened them when he started to talk. I stretched and yawned before I said, "Sure."

He laughed and placed his hand on mine. "You're going to fall asleep before we even get there."

I smiled and rubbed my eyes awake. "No no, go. I left my sweater at your house anyway. Might as well go by and get it."

When we reached his place, I felt like a zombie as I picked up my body and walked inside his living room. I put my bag on the coffee table and followed Nick as he wandered into the kitchen to make us some coffee.

I jumped on the counter as I watched him grab various ingredients and other objects. I looked at him and saw no sign of exhaustion in his face. "I can't believe you're not tired."

"I'm just used to it I suppose," he said and then he made his way over to me. He laid a kiss on my cheek then reached behind me to grab two mugs. "You, I can tell, are not though."

"I will eventually." I got up and walked out of the kitchen, leaving him alone, as I walked back into the living room and plopped on the couch.

I laid down fully, letting my head nestle against one of its pillows and allowing my body to sink into it. I smelled the scent of Nick's aftershave and felt at ease as I closed my eyes. Then, unwillingly, I fell into a deep sleep.