Author's note: Again, the Nick is coming! It will be here soon. Just a few more chapters….

Chapter 12 – Help!

Nick walked down the hall looking for Sara. He saw her talking to a guy in the front lobby. Who was this guy? He saw a small bouquet of lilies in her hand and figured it was the guy she had gone on a date with. He was about Nick's size and his hair was a few shades lighter then his. He took a breath then went to introduce himself.

"Hey, Sara. Who's your friend?"

"Oh, hi, Nick. This is Jeff. I told you about him."

"Yeah, yeah, hi Jeff," Nick tried to put on a smile while he stuck out his hand for Jeff to shake. He took it and shook it warmly with his own.

"I've heard about you Nick. Sara speaks fondly of you." Jeff tried to make conversation.

"Does she?" Nick asked, smiling and looking at Sara. Sara gave him the pursed lip smile he loved and she let out a little laugh.

"Yeah. Sometimes."

Nick put his arm around her and pulled her close. "Well, Jeff, I'm sorry to tell you this but I'm going to have to steal Sara away. We got some work to do."

Jeff looked at Sara. She nodded and smiled. "Ok, I'll call you later then, ok?" Jeff took a step forward but Nick turned with his arm still wrapped tightly around Sara.

"Bye Jeff," he said over his shoulder and walked away. He waited until he was down the hall then said, "That's the guy you're dating?"

"Yeah. Why you got a problem with him?" Sara asked only half heartedly.

"Maybe," he said looking back.

Sara stopped and Nick unwrapped his arm from around her. She gave him a suspicious look and gave him a little smile. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Nick said defensively.

Sara narrowed her eyes at him with that smile still on her face. She turned and started to walk away but turned back after a few steps and kept walking backwards, pointing at Nick. "I'm watching you." She smiled and turned back around.

SnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickers

For Their next date they went to a movie and a casual dinner. Sara was getting better at breathing through her little waves of dizziness. She wasn't sure if this was a good sign or not.

Once they had gone on a few dates Jeff called her one afternoon and asked if he could make dinner for her and Charlotte. Sara was a little reluctant but eventually she caved. He came over and started cooking up a storm. He refused any help from Sara, but Charlotte was allowed to help a little. He made chicken breast with a heavenly sauce accompanied by noodles and a Greek salad. Charlotte had a blast again with Jeff and Sara enjoyed watching them together. He knew how to make her laugh and he amazed her, once again, with the coin-from-the-ear trick.

Charlotte was reluctant to go to bed that night, but after 8:30 had come and gone, she was having problems staying awake. Sara went up and got her into bed and Jeff insisted that he tell her a story. By the time that was done it was past 9 and Sara and Jeff sat on the couch and talked. She felt like she could talk with him about anything and she missed that. She hadn't felt it in so long.

Eventually his arm crept its way across the back of the couch and onto Sara's shoulder. They were dangerously close but Sara was determined to keep him at a proper distance. This plan, however, was crumbling as fast as it had come. He slowly got close enough to kiss her. They had only kissed a few times but every time they did Sara felt the passion, and then the guilt. He was a fantastic kisser, but she couldn't do it without her brain screaming "ALEX!"

His kisses traveled down her chin and onto her neck. It felt so good, but Sara was still very tense. She wanted this to happen as much as she didn't and it was so hard to make the decision.

Sara's hand was entwined in his as he stood and led her upstairs. When they got to the bedroom door he didn't open it, but pressed her up against it and continued with kissing her neck.

"Jeff…" she whispered, trying to protest, but he took it the wrong way.

"Hmmm."

"No, No…Jeff, this isn't a good idea," she tried to stop him but again, her brain was having a civil war weather or not to push him off or urge him on.

Jeff pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. His hands were around her waist and she rested hers on his shoulders.

"What do you mean?" he asked his eyes full of passion.

"I…I don't think we should do this…" Sara couldn't look at him. He slipped one hand up to her face and caressed it with a thumb.

"Sara. I want this to happen." He gave her a deep kiss and she sighed into it. "Oh, God," she thought as he lifted her up and opened the door to go into the bedroom.

SnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickersSnickers

Sara lay in her bed with her covers underneath her arms. She hugged them like they were her life support and kept the end up at her face. She was staring straight ahead at the door but not really seeing it. Jeff was lying beside her. They both knew they had the night off so he knew he could stay over. He snored a little in his sleep and Sara listened and felt his chest rise and fall pressed against her back.

"I cannot believe you just did that," one side of her brain spat in disgust.

"Oh, come on. You know it was good," the other side protested.

Sara took a deep breath. Even though she had been lying here for a few hours, she knew she would never be able to sleep. Maybe never again. Her mind was racing with thoughts of Jeff and Alex. For some reason Charlotte popped into her head too. When Charlotte was first born, Sara would have given anything to give her a dad. But not just any dad. She wanted Alex. He would have been so great in Charlotte's life.

The thought brought tears to her eyes. She tried to fight them back but it was useless. A few squeezed their way out and across Sara's face onto the bedspread, running over her nose like a speed bump. She cried hot tears for a few minutes but was interrupted by the phone. She hadn't realized it was so quiet in the room and jumped when it rang beside her.

"Hello," she mumbled after taking a deep breath to even her voice.

"Sara!" Catherine's terrified whisper caught in Sara's ear.

"Catherine?" Sara tried to confirm.

"Shhhhhh," Catherine whispered desperately.

"What? Catherine what's wrong?" Sara sat up in bed and tried to figure out what was troubling her friend.

"Sara…speak very, very quietly. I need your help," Catherine's voice was shaking and Sara could tell she was crying.

Sara lowered her voice to a whisper. "What's wrong?" she asked again.

"I need you to get here…really quickly…I'm at my house. There….there's a guy here trying to break in. He's trying to kill me!"