Part 3

"Hey Nick… what is it I can do for you?" Sara had eventually found the Texan in the end lab that she usually took up. He was lent over a pile of papers and crime scene photos.

"Hey … Sara" He turned to face her, and instantly noticed that something was up, "What's happened? You okay?"

"yeah…" Sara smiled, though it was a fake smile and the pain was so visible "I'm fine. You shouldn't worry about me" She stepped into the lab, "I've left your sister with the guys in the break room" She explained, "And I know that you're wanting to go to see her so why don't you head off?"

"I know I really do but…I've come to a dead end. Something just doesn't fit but I don't know what…" Sara eyed the papers that were scattered across the lay out table.

"So you want me to take a look?" Sara asked knowingly.

"If you could" Nick nodded, with a pleading tone "It's just…if we get it sorted before shift we'd be able to get Brass to drag someone in so we can get it moving" Sara nodded in understanding. It was true, if they had it sorted before shift rolled around then things would move a lot faster.

"Okay… pack them up I'll take them home and work on them"

"Oh, Thank you Sara…you're the best… I owe you big" He lunged forward and pulled her into a hug lifting her from the floor and spinning her around.

"Hey cowboy…" Sara smirked, "You know I never get sick of hearing that."

He laughed, "Well the notes I have so far are in my pad – not much but…"

"Nick… I get it…its fine!" Sara assured.

A few minuets later the files were sorted, Sara reached out to take them – but was stopped by Nick – "Hey the least I can do is carry them for you" he took them. Sara rolled her eyes.

"Always the charmer" She mumbled as she lent on the desk. She hung back, "Hey Nick… can I ask you something?"

"Sure…"

"Do you know anything about…Catherine's new date?" She said it as though she shouldn't be asking, she couldn't even keep eye contact with him.

He moved forward, "She's dating?" He asked softly.

Sara nodded, "Err…yeah…"

"Oh god, I'm sorry Sara" He offered his hand on her arm. She just smiled softly, though it was a sad smile.

"It's okay…just…thought that…you know"

He nodded. "No, sorry…I've hared nothing…"

Sara just shook it off, "It's fine, pretend I said nothing"

Nick offered a soft, smile of understanding. "Well, if you need to talk … just give me a call"

"Thanks. Come on … your sisters waiting and more than likely has had to talk to Greg so maybe you should save her."

Nick smiled and nodded, "Come on then…lets get going."

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"Nicky…"

"Hey Jess" Nick walked in and pulled his little sister into a hug. "How was the flight?" he was so happy the rest of the team could see that. There was a sparkle in his eyes that always showed up when he talked about family or Texas.

"It was good… there was a delay but…what did you expect" She stepped back from him, "Wow, you've shaved your head" she asked – she was equally as happy to see him.

Nick laughed and ran his hand over his head, "yeah… you like"

"Actually, not too bad…"

"Yeah, he only did it cause he's going gray" Warrick offered from where he was lent against the counter. His arms crossed in front of his chest.

Sara stood back and watched as Nick and Jess greeted each other, "I hope she looked after you?" Nick asked Jess referring to the brunette.

"Yeah, she did…thank you Sara" Jess offered.

"No trouble… oh and Rick…Bobby wants you to pay off his tab."

"Me?" Warrick asked.

"Yeah you…you lost" Sara shot. She then looked back to Jess, "Well, now that you're here with Nick I'm going to head off and look over these files. Share you house nice Nick" She winked.

"Well thank you for doing that…" Nick offered.

"Hey, don't mention it…just remember…"

"Yeah…I owe you one! I got it…"

Sara held up the files, "Hey, you owe me more than one!"

Nick laughed. Warrick cut in, "If there's someone you don't want to owe a favor to it's Sara. The next two decomps she gets are yours Nicky."

"You speaking from experience?" Nick asked.

"I'm sorry to say yes!" Warrick nodded. "I'm heading off… I'll catch you all tonight. And it's nice to meet you Jess…you can finish the story about Nicky boy here some other time"

Jess smiled and shook Warrick's hand, "Will do…nice to meet you to!"

"Hey, I'll walk out with you" Sara spoke, not wanting to be left in the awkwardness of what was Catherine's presence. "Have a nice…" She looked at her watch, "Very few hours before shift guys…" She looked to the folders in hand, "I know I will" and with that she left walking along with Warrick.

"So… do you really want to go home and sit in your apartment and read them files all on your own or do you want to go down to the bar with me, we'll grab a beer and I can look over them with you" He asked her as the two made it to the main doors that led to the parking lot.

Sara thought a moment and looked down at the files, "How about we forget the files altogether?" She asked. "The beer sounds great"

"That's what I like to hear…meet you at the bar down on 5th?"

She nodded her head – "Sounds good… I just have to unload Jess's bags and transfer them to Nick's Denali and I'll meet you there."

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"Two beers" He ordered, leaning against the bar her realized that the phone in his pocket was ringing. He took it out and looked at the flashing name – he sighed, and then answered. "Hey honey… yeah… I know…look I'll be back later…" He sighed, "Where am i? I'm…I'm having a beer…look Sara's had a bad day… yeah… fine" He cut the phone of with a growl. The bartender pushed it across the bar.

"Trouble with the misses?"

"Always is" He explained, "Thanks" he handed the cash over, "keep the change"

"Thanks"

And with that he turned and headed back to the brunette who was sat in a booth. It was no secret that when Sara had first arrived in Vegas he and her hadn't got on – but why would they. She showed up to investigate him, he turned defensive. Now however nearing five years on Sara and he had formed a great friendship – hell, he was a brother to her and he played that roll without another thought as did all the guys in nightshift. Greg, Nick and himself – to be honest they were all a large family. That's why Sara and Catherine's break up had effected them all – they'd tried to be supportive to them both but…Sara had drawn the short end of the stick… she'd had her heart crushed. He knew that his own friendship with Catherine meant he had to stay loyal to her and supportive of her decision but, Sara didn't deserve what she got. Getting her out here, and to have a drink was a step up from the last few weeks. She'd closed off a lot – gone back to her old self… a self that no one wanted to see back.

He got to the table, "One beer for a beautiful lady" he smiled.

"I'm all favored out, so what ever you're after ask one of the guys" Sara shot, taking the beer but smiling, "thank you"

"No trouble…" He sat in front of her, "Do, you plan on grabbing any sleep before shift?" he asked.

"Plan on, drinking this, then heading home and reviewing the files before I show up at work for another long shift." She explained. She took a swig from the beer bottle and then began to peel of the label. She looked up to Warrick – "If I ask you something, will you be straight with me?" she asked.

Warrick nodded his head, "Yeah…"

"Are you guys all feeling sorry for me?" She asked, "Is that why you're all treating me like this?"

"Like what?" He asked.

She looked down to the bottle and then back up, "Don't answer my question with a question" She said, and then she looked to her hands again. "Since you guys found out you've been walking around me like I might break." She looked up, "I'm okay, you know" She said, "I mean, yeah it hurts but…I'll be okay. I always am…god knows I've had my heart broken enough times. I'll get through it"

"I know you will" Warrick explained, "I just, I want you to know that I'm not taking sides. You mean as much to me as Catherine does" He explained.

"Hey…" Sara lent forward, "Catherine has officially messed up my head but…I'll fix that…somehow but I messed her up just as much, I'm as much to blame for the end of what we had. I just, I need you to make sure she'll be okay."

"You know I will…. But, I'm watching out for you to Sara." He explained.

She looked into his eyes, "Thank you Rick" she was thankful. "Everything's okay"

"It will be" He nodded.

The two of them talked for a further half hour, about cases, about Warrick's marriage and about Nick's little sister showing up. "It'll be good for him" Warrick explained, "You know having a little family around – I know he missed that"

Sara nodded her head; "Yeah…" she took another mouth full of beer, "I mean, you saw his face light up"

Warrick nodded, "Yeah I did"

"Well, I got a few good stories out of her…" Sara laughed.

Warrick also joined in, "Well, we just need to get some photos to photo copy and stick around the lab and it'll be worth it"

Sara nodded, "I'll see what I can do"

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TBC...