Author's note: Yeah, I know, I'm not good at updating, and I don't really have an excuse seeing as we don't have school for, like, a week, and I finally have my own laptop, thanks to my awesome sister, so…I apologize. Oh and yeah, we're nearing the end.

Disclaimer: CSI, is not, and will never be mine.

Repairing Bridges

Vincent walked briskly to his room, his footsteps loud in the candlelit hallway leading to the stairs that would lead him to his sanctuary—to his room. On the hallway's walls were lit candles, casting a shadow behind Vincent as he walked with purpose, his footsteps harsh against the floor. He could vaguely hear the scraping of chairs against the floor as Sara, Gil, and Jacqueline left the dining table. Once he had entered his room, he quickly lit a few candles and sat down on the bed, his and Sara's conversation in his head. He buried his head in his hands and thought of all he had done wrong.

He faced his window, looking outside at the gorgeous moon and the numerous stars. His door creaked, and without looking, he knew who it was.

"Is it time for us to talk with them?" Sara asked.

Vincent sighed and faced her. "It is. Where are they?"

"In my room."

"You can talk with Gil, and can you kindly tell Jacqueline to come here? After you're done with Gil, and after I'm done with Jacqueline, please send Gil to my room. I also need to speak with him."

"Alright," Sara said, standing up. She went towards the door, but then she stopped.

"I'm glad you're finally trying to make things right."

She opened the door, and without facing him, whispered.

"Good luck."

When the door finally closed, and when he heard her footsteps grow fainter, he whispered back.

"I'm sorry."

A few minutes later found Vincent sitting on his bed, looking solemnly at the stars outside his window, and trying to remember when the last time was when he did something right.

The door creaked, and footsteps were heard. He sighed, and Jacqueline sat down on the bed. For a few moments, all that could be heard were their heavy breathing, and the hoot of an owl somewhere, until Jacqueline spoke.

"Sara told me you needed to speak with me," she whispered. "She excused herself, Gil, and I, a while ago at dinner."

Jacqueline was seated behind Vincent, and neither of them looked at the other's direction. They were simply too afraid to face each other.

Vincent cleared his throat. "Just…just know that I never meant to hurt you," he whispered, afraid to speak loudly in the room. Somehow, they both felt the need to be as quiet as possible while being able to communicate with one another. It was as if without the stillness of the room, they would lose their courage to say the things they wanted to say.

"I know."

"I loved you," Vincent started. "I loved you, but I just didn't know it yet."

"I know."

"I'm sorry that I…somehow pulled you into this mess. I loved you, and I shouldn't have done that."

Jacqueline laughed humorlessly. "Loved? Past tense?" she whispered, her voice cracking a bit.

"No," he said, rubbing his hand on his face. "No. Not past tense, I still love you."

"Good to know," she whispered, "I guess."

The moonlight was so beautiful, and only then did Vincent realized that when he looked at the window at just the right angle, he could see a reflection of Jacqueline.

And when he saw her, he was saddened to see that she was crying.

"I…I'm not sure what to say. I don't know what even caused me to start this whole mess," he said. Then he laughed quietly. "No, that's a lie. I know exactly what caused me to do this. Jealousy. Pain. Maybe there are others, maybe there aren't, but I do know that I'm sorry."

A pause. Then, she spoke.

"I know."

The candles flickered slightly in her room, casting shadows on the wall. Sara was seated beside Gil, and Gil had her hand in his, his thumb caressing the back of her hand tenderly.

"We need to talk. About this…mess."

Gil nodded.

"Vincent and I talked about it all. He told me that he never meant to hurt us."

"I know. He would never do that in his right mind," Gil said. "It was just jealousy taking over him, I think."

"You thought right."

A tense pause. After a few moments, Gil couldn't stand the silence anymore, and asked what was in his mind.

"Do you really love him?" Gil asked, his voice quiet, his heart thumping in his chest, nervous of the answer.

"No. I couldn't. I already loved you."

"Do you still love me?" Gil asked, looking at her. She avoided looking at him, and Gil gently reached her chin with his finger and made her look at him. "Hey," he said gently, "look at me."

"I do. I love you. But I've done so much wrong that I doubt you still love me."

"I still love you. Never doubt that. I will always love you, no matter what."

Sara felt a tear escape her eye and slowly slid down her cheek.

"I…thank you."

"You are always," Gil whispered, wiping her tear, "Always, welcome."

"So," Sara said, sniffling, "we should…I mean…I should probably start talking."

Gil nodded.

"So…it started that day, when we were in that pagoda. When we were in your special place…"

Sara told Gil all about how the Queen didn't really call for her, how Vincent threatened Gil, how she should marry Vincent, how she was angered when Gil said that the priest was a fake because she thought that because her and Vincent's wedding was a sham, Gil would be hurt.

She told him all, and at the end of it all, Sara felt as if the boulder she didn't even know she was carrying was taken off her shoulders. She felt freer, and relieved.

She had told him the truth, and bridges were finally being rebuilt.

A golden chandelier was in the middle of the room, ready to be put near the ceiling. The hardwood floors were shining after they were waxed, and the spacious room was freshly cleaned. Near the balcony was a raised platform, where an orchestra was tuning their instruments.

"So, did I do great with the designing?"

Vincent turned around and saw a widely smiling Jacqueline in her dark violet ball gown, looking every much the princess she was. He smiled, getting her hand and kissing the back of it.

"Yes, of course. Mother would be so delighted."

The violins started playing, and then the harp, then the piano, then all the instruments started playing, practicing what they were supposed to be playing later that night.

"So…would you mind if I asked you to dance with me?" Vincent asked, smiling softly.

"Of course not! I'm shocked that you even asked that," Jacqueline said, smiling.

They danced to the wonderful sounds of the violins, to the delightful lullaby the piano was making, to the beautiful harmony the harp had, to the overall spectacular tone the orchestra was making.

"It started with...just, wow," Vincent sighed, "I think it started when you and Gil started dating? I don't even know what happened to me, what made me do what I did," he admitted. "What I do know is that, looking back, I think it all started when you dated Gil. You were my best friend, and I guess, subconsciously, I liked you, and I suppose I got jealous of Gil without even knowing it. Do you get my point?"

"I guess so."

"Maybe, on some level, I loved you. It just wasn't enough for me to notice, and I just let you go. When Sara came here, I was…I don't know…attracted to her. Looking back, I realize that I only liked her because you two were alike in so many ways. You and Sara were both funny in a way only a few people would understand, you two were both very smart, both attractive, both humble, both headstrong, and others. Now, I realize that I didn't really like her; I liked what she was like. I liked her personality, not because of her, but because you had them. When she came here, and started to show an interest to Gil, I suppose I got angry, maybe because again, I was losing a girl to Gil. I lost you to Gil, and I lost Sara to Gil, and I just…lost it. I became selfish, thinking about the many times when Gil got what he wanted, how it was never me who was the favorite. I thought about how Gil was always the best, the brightest, the perfect son."

Vincent swallowed nervously, sneaking a glance at Jacqueline. She had her head bowed down, her hands clasped on her lap.

"I threatened Sara into marrying me," he said clearly, not wanting to say it again, "I threatened her, saying that I would kill Gil if she didn't agree. What kind of man does that?"

"Humans," said Jacqueline, turning to face Vincent, her hand immediately seeking out his, "humans have faults. You're human, and you have a right to at least make a mistake once, Vince."

Vincent stood up and started pacing the floor, his fingers running through his hair. "What kind of man does that kind of mistake, Jacque? Tell me, what kind of man threatens a girl into marrying him? What kind of sick twisted man would threaten a girl, saying that he would kill his own brother? What kind of brother would kill his own brother without mercy for a girl he forced into marrying him? Tell me, Jacque, tell me. What kind of man does that? I realize that we are all entitled to making mistakes every now and then, but what kind of man does what I did?" he asked, his voice getting louder with every question he asked.

He sat back down on the bed, and turned to face Jacqueline. He had streaks of tears on his cheeks, and his eyes were brimming with unshed tears.

"Tell me, would you honestly still tolerate me, much less love me, regardless of what I have done?" he asked, his eyes staring at the floor. "Tell me, would you even stand being in the same room as me after all I have done?"

"Yes," she whispered, "a million times yes."

As Gil exited Sara's bedroom, he mulled things over. Was he really ready to forgive Vincent, after all he had done?

He walked towards Vincent's bedroom, and knocked three times on the wood. After a few seconds, the door opened, and Vincent looked at him, an uneasy smile on his face. Without a word, Gil smiled uneasily and went inside, Vincent closing the door behind him.

"I think we need to talk," said Gil, sitting down on the bed. "It's time for us to solve these problems, and forgive each other."

Vincent smiled. "That's what I intend to do, Gil."