Hey! Wow So I can't believe how many reviews this story has gotten! I never expected it to be so popular!! lol Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! Here another chapter, and you know the drill by now, read and then review! ;)

Thanks again to my beta - Addy, don't know how many times I can say it but I'll say it again, thank you so much!!! Lol

Enjoy

Chapter 5 - "Tip Of The Iceberg" My Immortal by Evanescence

Sara found herself standing in the locker room. Although the tears had stopped, the aching in her heart was worse then ever. Her mind was still trying to grasp what had just happened. It felt so surreal. And yet, from the pain coursing through her body, she knew everything was real, because a dream couldn't hurt this much.

She fumbled with her locker, trying to get it open, but she couldn't focus. She was trying so hard to forget what had just happened but the image of Grissom with another woman kept plaguing her every thought. Sara could almost hear him saying her name "Please, Sara. Please.". It was not until the third time that she realized someone was saying her name. It just wasn't who she thought it was.

Sara turned to meet the worried gaze of Warrick as he stood in the doorway. "Sara? What's wrong?"

'Shit.' She thought, knowing there would still be evidence of her tears and that he wouldn't stop until he knew what was wrong. She knew it was a long shot, but she had to try. Anything to keep from revealing the truth. "Um I'm fine, just have a really bad headache is all."

He didn't buy it. "Sar, come on, it's me! You know you can tell me anything." Warrick said, moving closer to her.

Sara could feel her eyes burning with tears again. Why did he have to be so damn caring? She closed her eyes and swallowed hard, willing herself to keep her emotions in, but nothing got past Warrick. He saw the small tear that escaped.

"Sara, come here. Sit down." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her to sit on the bench behind her.

That was it. The tip of the ice berg. 'Here come the freakin' water works.' She thought sarcastically as she felt more tears rolling down her face. Warrick sat with her in silence for a few moments, just letting her cry.. He kept his arm wrapped tightly around her. It made her feel safe; like nothing could touch her. But the problem was that all of her pain was coming from the inside, and no matter how close he held her, he could never make that pain go away.

"I'm sorry." She said, wiping away a few more tears with the back of her hand.

"It's okay, Sar."

"I didn't know I had this many tears in me." She said, making her lame attempt at a joke.

Warrick, being the guy that he was, smiled and chuckled a little. "So...What's going on?"

"Look, Warrick, I'm not....I'm not sure if I can tell you right now. It's just-" Sara closed her eyes again trying desperately to keep her emotions in check. "It's just that if I did, I don't think I could take it. You know?"

Warrick looked at her sympathetically. "If you're not ready to tell me, then you're not ready. But, I'm here when you want to talk alright? Day or night...I'm worried about you, girl."

"I know you are, and knowing that means the world to me. I'm just...I just need some time." Sara said, sighing tiredly.

"You got all the time in the world then." He said, grinning.

Sara returned the smile sadly. Although she was very grateful for having a friend like Warrick, no matter how sweet or encouraging he could be, right now she couldn't be anywhere close to happy.

"So um, do you know where Nick is? I have a question for him." Sara asked, trying to move the spotlight off of herself.

"I think he might still be on a case. You could probably try his cell." Warrick was dying to know what was going on with Sara and why she wanted to talk to Nick. But he knew her well enough to know that if she didn't want to talk, then she wasn't going to.

"Yeah, I'll do that." Sara said, getting up a little awkwardly since Warrick's arms where still around her. She walked over to the door and looked at Warrick noticing the slightly hurt look on his face. "Hey Warrick?"

"Yeah?" He said looking at her.

"Thanks, for being here for me and all. It really does mean a lot to me. You know that, right?"

Warrick smiled at her, "I know Sara."

She smiled back and then turned down the hallway. Now that she was out of Warrick's warm embrace she felt the insecurity returning. She felt awkward and out of place walking down the hall, like suddenly she didn't belong. She hated that he had made her feel like this. The lab was her home. And now it was only a reminder of him and what he had done.

Noticing Nick and Catherine walking towards her, she felt relief flow through her. Their familiar faces could not have come at a better time. But upon seeing Nick's smiling and happy face, Sara was suddenly reminded of her own inner turmoil. She smiled slightly but it quickly faded back to the hard, empty look of sorrow.

"Hey um Cath, I was wondering if I could have the rest of the night off? I'm-I'm just not feeling that good." Sara said. It wasn't a total lie, she really wasn't feeling well, but it just didn't have anything to do with her health so much as her emotional state.

"It's fine by me, but why aren't you asking Grissom?"

At the mention of his name Sara felt the blood drain from her face and as her heart skipped a beat. She quickly glanced away from Catherine, hoping she wouldn't notice Sara's sudden change in demeanor.

"He uh- he just said to check with you." Sara said, swallowing hard.

Catherine gave Nick a look and he nodded in agreement. Something was definitely going on. "Okay, well um go ahead. If you want I can give you a ride."

"No! No, that's okay. Really. I'm just gonna grab my stuff from the locker room and head home. Thanks though. For the offer, and everything." The last thing Sara wanted now was to hear 20 questions from Catherine- the lab's very own 'gossip girl'- the whole way home.

"Alright. I hope you feel better." Catherine said, giving the younger CSI a warm smile.

Sara smiled back half-heartedly. "Nick, can I uh, talk to you. Alone?"

"Yeah sure. I'll catch up with you in a bit, Cath." Nick said as he followed Sara down the hall.

He was now seriously concerned about Sara. She was acting strange and for Sara, the girl who works on her nights off and gladly pulls doubles, to take a sick day without being really sick, that meant that something was definitely going on.

Sara led the way to the locker room, praying that no one else would be in there. Her heart was beating twice as fast as she tried to think of the best way to explain the events that had happened between herself and Grissom. She didn't want to admit that he had cheated to herself, let alone another person. Sara couldn't figure out if it made it worse that she'd be telling one of her closest and dearest friends, or if it was better.

When they arrived at the locker room, Sara let out a sigh of relief, finding that it was empty.

"What's up Sar?"

She took a deep breathe. Should she just spit it out in one sentence, like ripping off a band-aid? Or should she tell it to him slowly, like-well like telling it to him slowly?

"Sara, you're shaking."

Sara was slightly startled by his voice penetrating her thoughts. She followed his gaze and found her hands were indeed shaking. "Oh." Sara said softly. "I guess I am."

"Here, come on, sit down." He placed around her should, much like Warrick had earlier that evening, and sat down next to her on the bench. "You know what; I'm taking you home right now."

"Nick, no." Sara said, relaxing into his touch. "I'm fine, just give me a minute. Please."

Nick, although unhappy about it, sat their silently waiting for her to talk.

Sitting there with him felt so nice. She felt protected. She felt calm. She felt loved. No way was she going to ruin it now by telling him what was so heavily weighted on her heart.

Sara smiled at him sadly. "You know, I um- I'll talk to you about it later. Right now I think I need to get home and get some rest, okay?"

He looked into her eyes but could see no emotion. Just a blank and cold stare. "Alright. Call me if you need anything okay? I mean it. If you want chicken noodle soup and crackers, I'll be there before you can say 'crime scene'." Nick said, with a big Texas smile.

"I might just take you up on that, cowboy."

His smile grew upon hearing the old Sara again. The one he loved so much.

"You better go help Cath with that evidence before you get your head chopped off."

"Yeah. Feel better okay?"

"Already am." Sara said, trying her hardest to smile genuinely.

Once Nick was out the door Sara felt the cloud of sadness return. Why couldn't she just tell him? That's what friends were for right? To help you through the troubles in life. To be a shoulder to cry on. To tell you it would all work out.

But Sara knew; this was one thing that would not work out.

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