A/N: This chapter overlaps with the season finale of Season 10. I have seriously watched this finale 3 times today as I did my best to overlap this chapter with it.

Love Is Your Color

Chapter 5: I'll Do My Best

The weeks seem to pass too quickly for Roxie. It seemed every week her mother was getting closer and closer to death. She was starting to dread her visits. It was really working on Roxie and Nick didn't like seeing her that way. Whenever she would have a visit he knew that Roxie was going to be emotionally drained. Today was one of those days. He and Roxie both had the night off and he wanted to plan something special for her. He'd invited Roxie over to his place.

Roxie checked herself out in the rearview mirror of her car. Her eyes were a tad puffy from crying after her visit with her mom. Today was particularly hard on Roxie. Her mom was having a harder and harder time with normal functions and it was hard on Roxie to watch her mom decline the way she did. Roxie got out of her car and walked up to Nick's house. Her pink skirt flew in the wind as she walked. She'd been a couple times at this point. She walked through his front gate and to the front door. She knocked on the door and it quickly opened. Nick gave her a grin as he pulled her into the house. He closed the door behind him and pulled her close for a kiss.

"How was it today?" he asked her.

"Hard." She answered as she looked around. Today the lights were all dim and there were candles lit. She smiled to herself. She loved that he seemed to try so hard to make her forget about her pain after visits with her mom.

"Like it?" he questioned as he pulled her to the couch.

"Yes. You didn't need to do this for me….Country Boy." Roxie said as she sat on the couch and saw the wine sitting on the coffee table.

"Of course I did... my Rainbow." He said as he pulled her onto his nap. Roxie giggled and looked down at his face. He placed a kiss on her lips. He ran his fingers through her wavy hair. The red in her hair had now been replaced with a shocking green. Personally he hated it on her, but if it made her happy he didn't mind.

"I want you to come with me next time." Roxie then said seriously. "I want you to meet my mom….before it's too late."

"Just let me know. I'm there. You know I'm here." He said truthfully. Roxie couldn't help, but smile. She didn't know what she deserved to have such a great guy in her life. She was really starting to believe her mother's destiny theory. Though she wasn't going to tell Nick about it. He might think she was crazy.

"What's for dinner?" Roxie asked.

"I ordered some Chinese. I know it's your favorite." Nick said as he held onto her.

"You know correctly and I'm starving." Roxie said. Nick let her go and she stood. She walked into the kitchen. She spotted the take-out containers right away. She pulled out a container and she saw the receipt. "And you ordered from Szechuan Kitchen. My favorite."

"Of course." He said as he came into the kitchen also. He pulled out a couple of plates from the cabinet.

"Thanks so much." Roxie said sweetly. Nick loved that he could make her smile with just the simple gesture of ordering Chinese food from her favorite place. She wasn't high maintenance like some girls. Roxie was a pretty easy girl to please.

The two of them sat on the couch after finishing dinner. Roxie was very full of her favorite foods from her favorite place. Nick held her as they lied on the couch watching TV. It was a good quiet night. Roxie smiled to herself before looking up at Nick who smiled down at her. He bent his head down and placed a kiss on her lips. Roxie then broke the kiss, but only for a second so she could turn to face him. She then plated her lips to his. Roxie knew what she felt for him inside. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She broke away and looked at him in his eyes. She was afraid to say it first.

"I love you." Nick then said. He hadn't expected to blurt it out, but he knew he was in love with her. From that first day he met her he knew there was something special inside of her. He could feel it radiating off of her whenever they were together. It had only become apparent to him recently that what he felt was love. He was in love with her.

"I…I love you too." Roxie said giving him a big smile. She quickly kissed him. She knew from that moment she wanted to do something she hadn't done with him… she wanted to connect with him in the most intimate way. Nick looked her in the eyes. He could feel his desire for her growing stronger and he knew she felt the same way.

They just starred at one another for a second. It was like they were having an entire conversation without saying a word. Roxie simply nodded. A nod was all it took. Nick picked Roxie up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. He lied her down on the bed. Roxie watched as he took off his t-shirt and lessened his belt before coming down to the bed with Roxie. Nick looked her in the eyes before pulling her back into a strong kiss. Roxie wrapped her arms around his neck. That kiss had suddenly changed everything because it wasn't like any other kiss they had shared before. Roxie realized she was holding her breath. She suddenly pulled away and took a breath. Nick looked down at her. He started to pull her skirt down. Roxie wiggled to make the process easier for him. Roxie took off her own shirt and lied there in her bra and panties. Nick took it all in. Roxie was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on and in this moment she was giving herself to him.

His fingers slid up her legs and to the elastic of her panties. He slipped his fingers under the elastic to remove them. Roxie couldn't help, but smile. She felt like she had waited for this moment for so long. She took her hands and pulled off his jeans along with his underwear. He once again kissed her reaching around to the hooks of her bra. She could feel him fighting with them. Suddenly release, he has won in the fight against the hooks. He slowly pulled her bra off. He looked down at her and ran a finger down her face. Everything about this single moment for the both of them was soft and romantic. Nick loved the way she looked in the dim light. Every curve of her body was absolutely perfect to him. He placed kisses down her neck over her chest to her stomach. He slowly kissed down her right leg and up her left leg. He wanted her to know that he didn't just enjoy her body, but he appreciated it. His lips then returned to hers. He felt Roxie spread her legs under him. He knew that she was waiting for that moment.

Roxie let out a gasp and a groan as he entered her. She then instantly closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. She held onto him as he moved slowly and passionately. Her mind went back to the conversation they had in the lab about how he preferred sex. This single moment was how he had described it, romantic and intimate. Roxie let out a moan as she gripped onto his skin. With each slow and deliberate movement Roxie was brought closer to the brink. She wanted to know what he was thinking in those moments. Roxie just thought about how she didn't want it to end. The connection they had forged in those moments was unbreakable.

"Nick…oh…" Roxie breathed in his ear. Nick smiled at hearing her say his name in that way. He couldn't think of enjoying being this way with anyone else. It was perfect the way it was. They were connected in a way that he had never been connected with another woman. Every sound she made enticed him more. He wanted and craved more of her. He needed her. He was complete with her and with her only. He could feel her body starting to shake and go slightly rigid. He knew she was there and he was coming up soon. He lifted his head and placed his lips on hers.

"Oh please." Roxie groaned. She took one hand and clenched the bed sheets while the other hand held on tight to him. "Yes!" she screamed out. At once her entire body stiffened and then relaxed into a puddle on the bed. Nick then lied next to her he pulled her close to his body. Roxie cuddled in closer. He placed a single kiss on her forehead.

The rising sun was shinning through the blinds. Both of them awoke to the sound of Nick's cell phone ringing. Roxie groaned and stretched as Nick blindly reached onto his bedside table to find his phone. Roxie lied there watching him as he spoke on the phone. It seemed pretty urgent. He jumped out of bed without a single word.

"What's up." She asked as she watched him quickly grab a clean pair of underwear from his drawer and put them on followed by his jeans that had been discarded on the floor.

"Apparently Nate Haskell has been in contact with Ray about Dr. Jekyll and he is being brought Vegas." He said as he grabbed a blue button up shirt from his drawer and put it on.

"Seriously?" Roxie questioned as she sat up covering her nakedness with the sheet. "They are bring the Dick and Jane Killer to Vegas?"

"It seems so. I've got to get to the lab." Nick said at once.

"I'm coming too!" Roxie said as she jumped out of bed and found all of her discarded clothes on the floor. She put on her underwear as quickly as she could. She nearly fell stepping into her panties.

"No way babe." Nick said at once. "Just stay here."

"Umm I'm not missing this. I know I'm not on the case and all, but I've got to be there." She said as she threw her shirt over her head and slipped into her skirt.

"Alright." He said in defeat. Roxie sure had a way with him. He just couldn't say no to her and he was pretty sure she knew it.

When the two of them arrived at the lab it seemed everyone was on edge. Nick made Roxie go to his office. Roxie sat in his office looking over one of the cases she was working on. Suddenly she saw Nick, Sara, and Greg walking together up the hall. Roxie put her folder down and stepped out of the office. Nick looked at her and made his way to her.

"What's up?" Roxie then asked.

"We got something. Heading to get all the evidence in Haskell's case." Nick said.

"I'm helping!" Roxie proclaimed at once. Nick shook is head and allowed her to tag along. Roxie went along with the three of them to the evidence storage to get all the boxes. Roxie carried a box behind everyone. When they made it back she sat her box down and started to get her gloves on.

"You can't help more." Nick said looking at her.

"But…" Roxie started feeling like a 5 year old who was being banished by the big kids.

"I'm sorry Rox, but you can't." Nick then said with sympathy on his face. He could tell how eager Roxie was to get in and help. He loved her tenacity, but right now he knew he couldn't get her involved.

"Alright then." Roxie said taking off her gloves and tossing them in the trash. She left the room and went back to his office to work on her case.

Roxie felt like she had been working forever and was getting hungry. She stood up and stretched. She hadn't seen Nick or anyone else since she helped get the evidence boxes. She slowly walked down the hall to the break room hoping no one had eaten the Chinese food she stored in the fridge a few days ago. As she walked she then spotted Nick walking in her direction. She gave him a small wave. He smiled at her as he approached her.

"Did you find anything?" Roxie asked.

"We did actually. Bow tie pasta with a spaghetti bow tie around it." Nick explained. Roxie just looked completely confused. "Now we are trying to figure out the exact restaurant since Haskell isn't being too helpful with that."

"Well I'm trying to get some food. I'm starving." Roxie said.

"Me too." Nick said.

"Well if nobody ate my food that I stored in the fridge you can share with me." Roxie said as she took him by the hand.

They walked into the empty break room together. It was obvious the break room was being used for the case. There were files all over the table. Roxie opened up the fridge and smiled when she saw her take-out boxes still there. She pulled them out and put them in the microwave. She leaned against the counter and watched Nick as he looked at the files on the table. She only wished he would let her help out a little bit. Nick then looked up to see Roxie watching him. He gave her a smile and walked towards her. He put his arms around her and kissed her gently.

"So you will never guess who else is hooking up?" Nick said.

"Who?" Roxie asked.

"Catherine and Vartann." Nick said.

"I can see that. They look cute together." Roxie said.

"Yeah." Nick said at the microwave started to beep. Roxie turned around and pulled the hot food from the microwave. She handed Nick a plastic fork.

The two of them sat down to eat, but only for a moment. Nick's phone beeped. He groaned as he looked at the phone. He took another bite of food before setting the take-out container on the table. Roxie watched him as he stood. She frowned knowing he had to get back to work.

"Well at least I managed a few bites." Nick said.

"Alright I'll see you later I guess." Roxie said. Nick simply nodded before leaving her alone.

Roxie sat alone eating her food. She closed her eyes for a moment. She only wished to be back in the night before. She thought of the way he touched her body and how everything was so romantic and personal. She sighed thinking about it. She remembered the single moment that he said I love you. Her heart skipped the same way it did in that moment. She smiled to herself as she sat there alone. He'd been amazing and she loved every second she was able to spend with him.

The clock seemed to click by slowly as Roxie continued to work on her cases. She sat at Nick's computer doing some searches for something that pertained to her case. She looked up to see Nick coming into the office. He looked simply exhausted. She frowned upon seeing him. He needed to rest.

Nick smiled at Roxie as he came into his office. The team had been working hard to solve the Jekyll case with a slew of difficult hints from Haskell. Now they were to find some random Italian restaurant where somehow all of the victims that seemed to have nothing in common had all eaten at. He tossed some folders on his desk.

"I could use your help now." Nick said to Roxie who them beamed excitedly. Roxie had been trying to be help on this case since the morning, but Nick kept shutting her out. She understood why, but she really wanted to help.

"Alright with what?" Roxie questioned.

"We need to go through Nate Haskell's financials. Trying to find anything to point us to a particular Italian restaurant." Nick said as he handed Roxie a file.

"Alright I'll get to work." She said sweetly to Nick. She was glad that she was being allowed in the loop.

An hour passed and Roxie was coming up with absolutely nothing. She sighed as she figured it was time to give up. She looked at Nick who also seemed to be hitting a dead end. Roxie yawned. She was getting tired. Nick looked up at her. He just looked at her for a moment. She was beautiful even when overworked and exhausted. He knew that he had to love her to see her beautiful in this way.

"I've got nothing here." Roxie then said.

"Same here." Nick said as he stood and walked over to her hair. He walked behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He rubbed her shoulders. Roxie closed her eyes and leaned back. It felt perfect in that moment. "You should go home… maybe rest a little."

"I think you're right." Roxie said as she stood from her chair. Nick pulled her close and kissed her lips. "Don't work too hard."

"I'll try not to." Nick said before giving her another kiss. "Wait you rode in with me. Let me give you my car." Nick pulled his car keys from his desk drawer and handed them to Roxie.

"See you later then." Roxie said hoping she would see him soon.

"Definitely." Nick responded.

Roxie went home. She instantly fell onto her couch and fell right asleep no problem. It has been a long day and it was nice to finally be home. She slept for a few hours before waking up on her couch. She looked at the clock and it was early evening. She checked her cell phone hoping to have something from Nick, but that wasn't the case. Roxie dragged herself into the shower and instantly she started to feel revived. Getting out of the shower she dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black and white stripped top. She knew for sure that Nick most likely hadn't eaten since the little bit he ate with her in the break room. Roxie grabbed her jacket and Nick's keys and headed off.

Pulling up to the lab with hot food for Nick she saw him walking outside with Ray. Roxie quickly got out of the car and jogged up to the two of them. Nick looked surprised to see her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Well I rested and realized you probably haven't eaten. I got you some food, but it looks like you are headed out." Roxie said. Nick smiled at his girlfriend. She really thought of everything.

"Thanks, but we got a lead and we're heading out. It seems Jekyll is working at a high end Italian restaurant. We've got a few we are going to check out." Nick explained.

"I'll come." Roxie said.

"Babe that isn't a good idea." Nick then said.

"I won't get in the way. I promise." Roxie said looking sweetly at Nick in the eyes. He sighed. This girl had him wrapped around her fingers and he loved every second of it. Nick simply nodded.

"Well let's get going." Ray then said.

Roxie sat in the back seat as they made their way to the first restaurant. They pulled up to a restaurant called Marchello's along with a patrol car. Roxie went to get out of the car with Nick and Ray. Nick quickly stepped in her way.

"Please stay in the car babe." Nick said. Roxie went to open her mouth in protest. "I let you come along, but you need to stay in the car. You aren't armed." Roxie simply nodded and got back into the backseat of the car.

That restaurant was obviously a bust when the men came back to the car. They then arrived at another place called Nona's Kitchen. It was also a bust and they went on to the next and last place. Tratoria DiMasa.

"Alright Rox…" Nick started.

"Stay in the car… I know Country Boy." Roxie said giving him a sweet smile. Nick smiled back at her. He really hoped this was the last stop of the night. He really just wanted to cuddle in bed with Roxie at this point. It has been a very long shift and he was tired.

Roxie sat alone in the car as she had been instructed. She sat humming when she heard what sounded like a gunshot. She quickly jumped from the car and ran into the restaurant. She could hear shouting. The voice she heard belongs to Nick. He was yelling to Officer Clark who had been accompanying them. She was fully in the restaurant and could see Ray with an older man who seemed to be in distress. She made her way over to them on the floor. Suddenly she saw a man appear with a shotgun. He and Nick began to fire at one another. It was the slowest split second of her life seeing Nick fall to the ground. Roxie wanted to run to his aid, but she knew it was dangerous. Her heart was beating quickly and she was struggling to get air. She sat on the floor behind a table. She peered around the table and looked at Nick on the ground with blood pooling around his body. She could only hope he wasn't dead.

There was a conversation happening between Ray and the man with the gun that she could only assume was Jekyll. She really wasn't focusing on what they were saying. She just wanted Nick to be ok. She was trying to formulate a plan in her mind, but nothing seemed safe. She knew that she would only get hurt in the process. She then saw Nick slightly move his head and his hand slowly inched to his gun. Nick knew their only chance was for him to be able to shoot this guy. He knew if he could communicate with Ray then they would be able to finish it. He tried his best to remain as still as possible as his hand inched to his gun. He heard a whimper come from behind a table. His eyes shot to see Roxie watching him. He wanted to let her know that everything was going to be ok. He could see the fear in Roxie's eyes. He only hoped that he could guarantee her safety. Even if he was to die he needed Roxie to live. He loved her too much to see anything happen to her.

Ray then went to stand and the man with the gun came out from his hiding spot. Roxie sat and watched trying to stay as quiet as possible. Suddenly Nick had his gun in his head and shot at Jekyll. Roxie gasped as Nick fell back to the ground. Roxie then rushed from where she was and over to Nick. He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. Roxie placed his head in her lap.

"Hey I've got you." Roxie said as she put her hands over his wounds and applied pressure. Tears were falling from her eyes, but she smiled down at him. Nick groaned in pain and Roxie continued to keep pressure on his wounds, he had already lost quite a bit of blood.

"Rainbow." He whispered up at her. Roxie looked down in his eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too Country Boy." She said with a sweet smiled down at him. "An ambulance is on the way." He simply nodded.

Roxie sat in the hospital waiting room. It had been a long night already, but she was happy. Nick was going to be ok and that is all she could want. Sadly though Officer Clark had died on the scene. Roxie looked around and she saw Catherine, Greg, and Sara enter. They all spotted her and walked over.

"How is he?" Catherine asked.

"He's good. The doctor said they would have him stitched up in no time and he could even go home tonight." Roxie said happily.

"That's great news." Sara said.

"What on earth were you doing there?" Catherine asked.

"I tagged along. I was sitting in the car when I heard the first shots and I ran in." Roxie explained.

"Thank God you're ok." Catherine said.

"I was going to walk over and visit someone. I think I have a little time to do that." Roxie said as she thought of her mom. She figured if she was here she would see if her mom was awake.

"Your mom right?" Greg asked. Roxie looked at him shocked.

"Yeah Nick told us. We hope she is doing alright." Sara said with a kind smile. Roxie nodded. She could understand why Nick considered them family because they really were a family.

"Thanks. I'll be back soon." Roxie said giving them all a wave before she made her way towards the Cancer Ward.

She'd spent over an hour with her mom who mostly just lied there and listened to the story of Roxie's night. Roxie figured by this time Nick would be patched up and ready. She made her way over to where she had been told he was. There he was sitting in the bed in a hospital gown. He smiled at her as she approached. Nick was glad to see her face. Roxie sat down on the edge of his bed and bent down to kiss him.

"Feeling alright?" she asked.

"Feeling alright." He answered. "So you went to see your mom?"

"Yeah. She said to tell you that she is glad you are ok." Roxie said happily. "You want to know something funny?"

"I could use some funny." Nick said.

"Well I don't know if it is funny, but… my mom said something a few weeks ago about you being my destiny… I thought she was crazy, but I'm starting to think she's right." Roxie said as she looked down at him. A huge smile spread across Nick's face. He took his good arm and held her hand.

"I think she might be right." He said to her. Roxie smiled and quickly kissed him. "Now I'm starving."

"Me too." Roxie said.

"I've got a plan." Nick said as he did his best to reach for his cell phone. Roxie quickly grabbed it and handed it to him. He dialed a number. "Hey Hodges. I need you guys to come bring me a pizza. I'm starving down here. Hurry up or I will surely kick your ass." He then hung up. Roxie burst into laughter.

"You are ridiculous." She said.

"I do my best." He answered. Roxie then lied down on his bed with him. She faced him and just simply smiled.

"I'm so glad you're ok." She said.

"Yeah." Nick answered as he thought of Officer Clark who sadly had to lose his life there in that restaurant.

"Don't scare me like that again." Roxie demanded.

"I'll do my best." Nick said in response. "I'll definitely do my best."