I'm back! Thank you amazing people for my reviews as always :-) I'm really sorry for the delay – blame major writers block. I knew what I wanted to say but not how to say it. I really hope this chapter's okay.

I'm aiming for 300 reviews. Ambitious, yes. But when I started writing on this site I didn't expect any. I'm not the type of gal with self confidence to spare, lol (not that I'm a complete nervous wreck because I'm not :P) so this is something I feel I can do and I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.

Another risk (for me, anyway) and another quickie before bed so here we go.

Chapter Thirty Two # Healing Subconsciously #

He was alone. Two weeks had passed since their escape from the manor. Ryan had left the day before. He'd been the last to be released from hospital, apart from Nick. Nick stared at the nine empty beds.

When he woke up the first time, Nick had found himself in a sectioned off ward with ten beds. His parents had explained that the doctors had agreed that is may benefit the teens psychologically to be placed in the same room, so there they were. Each one of his friends, escaped from the nightmare.

But it didn't all end. Not the pain...

God.

Sometimes he would wake up in the night, certain his throat was being slit all over again. For the first three days he couldn't talk. He couldn't swallow, he could barely breathe. They had to send the much needed nutrition through a tube through his nose and they gave him a whiteboard, which he couldn't even use on day one. He was initially too weak to hold the pen. That was embarrassing.

Catherine had been the first to be released. The doctors feared chances of a miscarriage, but after four days with no ill signs they let her leave. Physically Morgan should have been next, but she was so traumatised psychologically that they had kept her in for another three days, when Greg, Morgan and Archie all left. Tony, Tali and Warrick were discharged two days after that, then Sara three days later. The day after that - yesterday - Ryan was allowed to go home, the bullet wound in his abdomen healing nicely.

So it was just Nick. Alone, in the large lifeless room. The doctors hadn't put anyone else in there yet. The door opened and Nick was surprised. It was six am.

A small, lithe figure crept into the room and carefully made its way to the bed.

"Hey Greg." Nick said quietly, not able to conjure much volume into his voice. It still hurt to talk, though he wouldn't admit it.

"Damn, I tried not to wake you!" The younger boy sounded disappointed.

"It's okay." Nick smiled. "I was already awake."

"Okay." Greg smiled and took a seat next to the bed as Nick sat up. "I...uh...I just wanted to come see you before anyone else got here. I wanted to talk."

"Okay. What's up?"

Greg shrugged as if he was extremely uncomfortable. "I guess... The main thing I wanna say is I'm sorry."

Nick blinked and his eyebrows furrowed. "What the hell do you have to be sorry for?"

"Lots of things." He said honestly. "Like when you got freaked when Maria Johnson turned up I completely just ignored the fact that you were acting all weird and-"

"Greg-"

"-and then you got mugged and your face got hurt and when you said to drop it I did and I didn't even think about if you were okay and-"

"Greg!"

"And I realised that if I'd been so blind that I didn't notice Morgan I could've missed something with you and-"

"G, stop, man! Please, stop." The younger boy looked near to tears. It struck Nick then that Greg hadn't cried since they escaped. Not that anyone had seen. "This really isn't about me at all, is it?"

"No! I am... Nick, I am sorry-"

"You have nothing to apologise for, nothing, okay? I've actually wanted to talk to you for a while now." He fixed Greg with a stare and continued. "You carried me out of a burning building after being tortured. But why didn't you just leave me?"

It was Greg's turn to look shocked.

"We were separated from the others by a burning beam... You could've run. You wouldn't have burnt your arms or your back." Greg's hands subconsciously touched the raw skin of the first and second degree burns on his arms. "Why didn't you run?"

Greg looked at Nick as thought the answer was obvious. "Because you're my friend. Because it was the right thing to do, I couldn't just...I wouldn't just leave you there. So what you're twice my size? It was a split second decision and somewhere in my brain I knew that if I let you die I wouldn't have ever forgiven myself." Greg sniffed angrily. "If I ran... Well. I've never felt like I have a big brother before." He admitted.

Nick smiled almost sadly. "Thanks. I've never had a little brother, either. Thank you for saving me. I don't think I've ever said thank you and meant it so much."

Greg tried to smile. "You're very welcome."

"What's up, G? What else is bothering you?" Nick pushed him lightly. Greg wouldn't meet his eyes. "I should've noticed."

Nick didn't need to ask. "Morgan."

Greg nodded, unable to speak.

"We all should've, Greg." Nick admitted, guilt eating at him. Greg nodded and Nick could see the tears Greg had been fighting for weeks pushing to escape his eyes.

"But I...after Katie... I should've noticed, I shouldn't have let her hurt like that..."

"Greg..." Nick's face was pained as Greg started crying. Nick reached out and pulled him in for a hug. Greg sobbed bitterly as Nick tried to comfort him. "This isn't your fault."

Greg leaned into Nick's friendly embrace. "I should have recognised the signs, I watched my cousin die, and I couldn't even recognise the signs for Mor- for Mor..."

"What signs, Greg? She didn't leave any for any of us to pick up on. Greg... This is not your fault. There was nothing you could do. And what's important is that we know now and we help her get through, okay?" Nick tried to comfort Greg as best he could. His throat was starting to ache again.

Greg nodded into Nick's chest before shaking his head. "I don't know how to do this... I can't help her because I don't know how!"

"You'll figure it out, we'll figure it out." Nick murmured.

A few minutes later Greg sobered up. He sniffed and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Nick."

"If you apologise once more I will slap you." Nick teased as Greg pulled out of the friendly hug.

"Okay, okay..." Greg half grinned.

"And besides man, you needed to let it out. I get it. It's cool." Nick grinned back, his voice going slightly hoarse as he spoke so much.

"Damn, what the hell am I doing to your voice?" Greg's eyes widened.

"Greg. My mom, my dad, Rosa and each of the six siblings who have been in Vegas have been babying me for the past two weeks. I don't need that from you as well." Nick said firmly, if gruffly.

"Okay. So-"

"Uh!" Nick held up his hand.

Greg sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine. S. O. R. R. Y."

"Smart ass." Nick laughed and Greg snorted.

"That's me." He paused and looked down at his hands. "So what should I do? For Morgan?"

"I don't know man." Nick shook his head. "You're not going anywhere, that's a start. That was something that she admitted to needing."

"Mrs. Sanders?"

"Yeah?"

"Please don't take Greg back to San Gabriel." Morgan whispered.

Elise sighed. "Morgan-"

"Please! I need him here."

"Yes, I know an-"

"And when I say need I mean it, I need him! He can't go anywhere-"

"Morgan! I wasn't going to make him."

"You weren't?" Greg and Morgan asked in sync.

"No. I saw how much your friends mean to you. Just please, please make this the last hospital visit."

"I'll try, Mom." Greg grinned, pulling Morgan closer.

"I think what she needs is just for us to be here. To look out for her, to tell her that she's beautiful."

"But what if it doesn't work? I mean, I thought I was doing that before. What if...Nick, what if her kidneys fail or what if she-"

"Stop it, Greg. Just stop." Nick winced. "We'll help her; we'll help her, Greg. We'll all get through this together."

Greg took another deep breath. "Okay...okay."

"So did you see the game last night?"

Greg laughed. "Oh, man, we totally kicked your Texas asses!"

An hour or so later Greg stood up. "I gotta go or I'll be late for school."

"Okay, man. Have fun."

"Sure." Greg rolled his eyes. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah. Oh, and Greg?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't beat yourself up over this, okay man?"

Greg grinned as he left.

For Nick the day dragged on, and on, and on. He read for a while but soon grew restless so he turned on the TV. After growing increasingly irritated with the crappy daytime TV he pulled out a notepad and paper and began writing.

A couple of hours later Rosa arrived, and most of the others turned up after school. His parents had visited every other day but they both had to be in court until late that evening, well after visiting times. However Nick was glad just to see his friends, and he was happy to see a little more colour in Morgan's cheeks.

Just before they all left ten minutes before visiting hours ended Tali turned to Nick. "Oh yeah, Sara was gonna come but at the last minute she asked me to tell you that she's sorry and she'll see you tomorrow."

"I guess she just doesn't like me anymore." Nick sighed melodramatically.

"Well, she left school with Catherine, they wouldn't tell me where they were going..." Greg pouted.

"Really?" Nick raised an eyebrow.

"Yep. See you later!"

"Bye, Nick!" They all called, leaving the room.

"Bye!" he returned. "Hey, Morgan, would you wait a second?"

"Okay."

The others left and Nick smiled wanly at Morgan. "How're you holding up?"

"I'm better." She nodded, smiling slightly.

"Good. Is your mom still taking it well?"

Morgan nodded again. "Yeah, she's been great. She was...a little shocked but she's being really supportive."

"That's great." Nick beamed. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

She smiled and nodded. "Thanks. Are you? Okay, I mean?"

"Yeah, I'm good. I'll be glad to be out of here though." He grinned at her. "Hey, Morgan? You know we all love you, right?"

She nodded.

"Well even if you don't believe me, we do."

She laughed. "Okay."

The door opened and Nick froze as Maria Johnson walked in. He swallowed.

"Hi, Nick. I'm sorry if I'm disturbing something, I just wanted to check that you're okay. I mean you haven't come back to school yet so I thought I'd pay you a quick visit before visiting hours ended." She smiled sympathetically. "How're you feeling?"

"Fine." Nick said through tight lips.

Maria reached out and stroked Morgan's hair. Automatically she flinched and Nick grabbed her wrist and dragged her away.

"Nick, I'm sorry about what happened all those years ago. I really am sorry."

"Please don't touch her." Nick insisted. "We've been through a lot."

"I'm sorry, how thoughtless of me." Maria put a hand on her forehead. "I'm so sorry. Anyway, here you go." She passed him a card. "I'll leave you now."

"Nick?" Morgan whispered. "What did she actually do to you?"

"Nothing." Nick said, teeth clenched.

"Nick?"

"What?"

"Thank you. For dragging me away. She was kinda freaking me out."

Nick's face softened. "No problem. She kinda freaks me out too."

Morgan laughed humourlessly. "I can tell."

"How're you getting home?"

"I'm actually going to my dad's."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's waiting outside."

"You better go then." He smiled. She grinned and left, waving as she left.

It was about eight o'clock when Nick tried to fall asleep. The sooner morning came the sooner he could go home.

He let his eyelids close.

The door opened and a man walked in. He leaned over and shook Nick's shoulders firmly, a hand clamped over his mouth.

Nick burst into consciousness, trying to scream when he saw Jason Johnson leering over him.

"Shut up, Nicky boy, or I swear to god I'll stick this knife in your side." The man hissed.

Nick could feel a blade sticking into his side and whimpered.

"Are you gonna behave?"

Nick was quick to nod.

"Then let's have some fun!"

"No! NOOOO!"

"Nick? Nick, wake up!" Someone shook his shoulders and Nick sat up in bed, staring wildly around the room.

"Where is he? Where is he?" he cried.

Alison, the nurse that had looked after them for the past few days, smoothed the blankets. "It's okay, you were dreaming. Just dreaming. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"No...no...I'm okay. Sorry." Nick grinned sheepishly, though his heart was still pounding.

As the nurse checked everything and left, Nick couldn't close his eyes.

He and his friends had barely just escaped from a horrific nightmare. He was in a frickin' hospital, for God's sake.

Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

CSIVCSIVCSIV

"Thanks so much for this, Catherine." Sara said gratefully as they entered Catherine's bedroom.

"Not a problem. I've done this a couple of times before."

"Oh yeah, just a couple." Sara laughed, before stopping. "I honestly couldn't have less idea of what to do. I mean, when I asked him what to wear he said 'well, I'd say pretty smart'."

Catherine laughed at Sara's impression of Tony.

"But what even is 'pretty smart'?"

"Well, there's normal boy 'pretty smart' and there's Tony DiNozzo 'pretty smart'. Tony DiNozzo 'pretty smart' really is pretty smart." Catherine explained and Sara ran her hands through her hair.

"I have a cast! I can't do 'pretty smart', (a) I don't know how and (b) I don't think I own anything that classifies as 'pretty smart'!"

"I don't know if that's true or not, but I know that I have, so. Let me see...what might fit you..." Catherine opened one of her large wardrobes and started pawing through dresses.

Sara's mouth dropped open. "How many clothes do you own?"

"What?" Catherine asked absently. "Oh. You know how Sam Braun's like a massive family friend? Well, sometimes he gets one of his casino workers to take me shopping. It's great."

"I'll say..." Sara was almost speechless.

Finally Catherine picked out a deep purple halter neck dress and held it up. "What do ya think?"

"It's gorgeous! I can't wear that!"

"Why not?"

"Um, it's yours and it looks expensive and I haven't worn a dress in months..."

Catherine rolled her eyes. "Just put it on."

A few minutes later Sara emerged from Catherine's small en suite bathroom.

"Okay, it does look pretty good." She admitted, hesitantly.

"Shoes. I have a perfect pair." Catherine grinned, pulling open a drawer and pulling out a pair of small purple sandals with one and a half inch heels. Relatively small but –

"Cast, Catherine."

Catherine rolled her eyes. "Do a 'Twilight'. One nice shoe one sneaker or something."

Sara stared at her. "I'll hobble."

"You hobble anyway."

"I'll fall."

"He'll catch you, it'll be romantic."

"Embarrassing!" Sara frowned.

Catherine straightened and pouted. "Sara. Either you do this my way..."

"Or?" Sara raised an eyebrow.

"Or I force you to do it my way." She smiled sweetly.

Sara rolled her eyes and took the shoes. "That'd be right." She pulled out her small bag which she had swapped her school bag for at home on the way to Catherine's house and pulled out her make-up purse, disappearing again into the bathroom to put on her make-up.

"Now hair." Catherine looked at Sara. "Put it in a ponytail."

"What?"

"You asked for my help, I'm going the whole way." Catherine insisted.

Sara sighed and obeyed Catherine, pulling her hair back into a ponytail that bobbed down just below her shoulders. Catherine pulled out a box of hairpins and started twisting sections of Sara's hair and pulling it around.

"Ow!"

Catherine dug some pins into Sara's head and within five minutes she sprayed Catherine's hair with hairspray briefly before standing back to admire her work. "Done. Not too flashy, not too normal..."

Sara used the mirror Catherine held up to look at the curls pinned in place on the back of her head. Catherine was right. Sophisticated but not too flashy.

"Am I overdressed?"

"No. You are going on a date with Tony DiNozzo."

Sara bit her lip in the mirror.

"Hey. It's okay to be nervous. You must've been on dates before."

"No." Sara shrugged. "I don't really get asked."

"Really?" Catherine frowned.

"Yeah..." Sara laughed softly.

"Well then, I hope this is a good first date." Catherine smiled, handing Sara her bag and crutches and glancing out the window. "He's here, it's time." She passed Sara a small deep purple cardigan.

"Thanks Catherine."

"Hey, Sara? Normally, if it was someone else here, I'd tell you what he likes, what he doesn't... But in this case, he likes you. So just be yourself. And relax."

"Thanks." Sara grinned, limping outside to where Tony was getting out of a pretty sports car. He jogged up and took her bag, slinging it over his shoulder before opening the door for her with a smile.

She thanked him and slid in and he slid her crutches across the backseat.

"Hey."

"Hey." Sara returned with a smile.

"You look amazing..." Tony stared at Sara.

"Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself." She grinned, staring at his dark chinos and smart top. "Where're we going?"

"It's a surprise." Tony winked, pulling out of Catherine's driveway.

"You know, I honestly feel more like I'm in some Bond movie than a high school date." Sara laughed as Tony stepped on the gas.

He grinned at her. "I'm gonna take that as a compliment."

"Good." She smiled.

They smiled at each other. A few minutes later Tony pulled up outside a posh Italian restaurant.

"Wow..." Sara's mouth popped open. "This is...wow..."

Tony parked and opened the door, offering his arm to Sara. She took his arm and hobbled out of the car. He grabbed her crutches and she took them gratefully.

"Thank you." She smiled as he took her bag. "Suits you."

"Why thank you very much!" he smiled.

He held open the door for her and she felt butterflies in her stomach as she entered.

The guy on the door smirked at them. "Okay, kids, McDonalds is round the corner."

Sara pursed her lips, feeling herself going red. She turned to Tony who stiffened. "My name is Anthony DiNozzo Junior, and I have a reservation for six o'clock."

Door-guy, as Sara had dubbed him, blanched and straightened himself. "Yes sir. I am very sorry about my insolence, Mr. DiNozzo, that was out of order. Please, follow me."

Sara stared at Tony with wide eyes as Door-guy walked along. Tony motioned for Sara to follow him, which she did. Door-guy led them to a small candlelit table and pulled out Sara's chair for her.

"Very sorry, ma'am. Can I get you some drinks on the house?"

"I'll have a lemonade, please." Sara smiled sweetly and Tony grinned.

"Me too."

"Of course, right away." The man bowed stiffly and walked away.

"Wow..." Sara gasped.

"My dad comes here a lot." Tony shrugged.

Sara glanced at the menu. Her mouth popped open once again.

"Is something wrong?" Tony frowned.

"Do you always take girls somewhere like this on the first date? I don't think I've ever been to a place this expensive in my life!"

"If you're uncomfortable we can go someplace else..." Tony shuffled around on his seat.

"No, I'm just a little surprised." Sara half-laughed. "Please don't tell me this is all a joke."

"It's not." Tony said sincerely.

"Do you always take girls to a place like this on a first date?"

"No." Tony shook his head.

"Then why me?" Sara asked, intrigued. "What makes me so special?"

He cocked his head as if to look at her better. "A lot of things."

She copied the movement. "Like what?"

"You're clever. You're beautiful. You're funny. And there's something about you." He smiled and she smiled back.

Door-man came back with two long glasses of lemonade and placed them down on the table.

"Can I take your orders?"

"Uh... I'll have a medium pepperoni pizza. Sara, what do you want?"

"May I have the vegetarian lasagne please?" Sara smiled at door-guy who stiffly returned the smile.

"Of course. Anything else?"

"No thank you." Sara smiled.

"For you Mr. DiNozzo?"

"You heard the lady."

The man left and Tony looked back at Sara.

For hours they talked about films and trivia. Tony told her about the things he wanted to do, the places he wanted to go and she reciprocated. They made their way through mains and dessert, until at half past seven Tony asked for the bill.

"I promised your old man that I'd get you home by eight." He explained regretfully, placing some money onto the small silver plate and standing up.

"Thank you." Sara smiled. As they walked out to the car Sara shivered. Catherine's flimsy cardigan wasn't much to keep the cold away. Tony instantly put his jacket around her shoulders.

"Thank you." She said again, more softly this time.

He smiled. "Don't...mention...it..."

"What's wrong?" Sara frowned at Tony's breathlessness.

"Nothing." He reached up almost hesitantly and tucked a loose curl behind Sara's ear.

She felt like the butterflies in her stomach had all taken ecstasy as his arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her out of the support of her crutches and effectively into his arms.

Slowly, hesitantly, gently, Tony leaned in and kissed Sara.

She stopped moving. Her heart stopped breathing until her heart took over. She kissed him back, slowly, gently.

After a minute they pulled away, and Sara's heart still felt strange in her chest.

God, what a first kiss.

They stared into each other's eyes for a moment.

"We should go." Sara whispered, breaking the spell.

"Yeah." Tony whispered back. He opened the passenger door and helped her into his car, once again putting the crutches along the back seat. He cruised back to Sara's house and they didn't talk much. There was a companionable silence, though it was fraught with nerves from both sides.

Finally, Tony turned down Sara's road. He drove her up to her house and stopped.

"Thanks, Tony. I had a great time tonight." She smiled.

"I had a great time too. And you're very welcome." Tony smiled back. "Uh, Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you wanna...well do you maybe wanna go out with me? Please?"

Trying to hide her surprise she smiled. "Okay. That'd be cool."

"Great." Tony grinned. "I'll help you to the door."

He did so and when Sara knocked on the door she turned. "Thanks, Tony." She kissed him on the cheek, pulling away just as the door opened.

"Well, you got her home on time. I knew there was a reason I liked you, son. You look great, Sar." Her dad smiled.

"Thanks." They said at the same time.

"Goodnight Tony." Sara smiled, looking over her shoulder as she walked away from the door and raced upstairs to her room. She thought that as a teenage girl she should have an overwhelming urge to call her BFF, but she didn't. She just wanted to keep the moment special.

Wow.

As she stared up at the ceiling she sighed softly.

She had no idea. No idea that perching in the tree outside her window, hidden in shadows, was the figure of Jason Johnson was peering through her window.

Maria was right. They would start with her.

As soon as the cast was off.

Soon.

PS – my chapter names are crazy. This is a song by Volbeat and doesn't really cover it but I needed a quick name and I can always change it later :P

PPS – I hope the Tony/Sara thing was okay – my brain freaks out at writing romance, I love it but it scares me so I hope I did okay.

PPPS – did I?