Chapter 4
Sunday February 1st, 2009
Washington DC
Capital Karaoke
8:16 p.m. E.S.T
It had been a week and a half since the last time Vittoria had been sighted outside the NCIS building, a week and a half of searching, only to come up empty-handed time and time again. Over the week and a half Sara had gotten to know Jethro's team a little better and vice versa. Abby had taken to Sara quite quickly once she found out Sara was also in the field of forensics. With not even the smallest trace of Vittoria since that last sighting, Sara had decided to return to Vegas and allow Jethro to continue his search, with a promise to inform her the minute he found out even the smallest piece of information. It was her last night in town and Jethro had decided to take Sara out for the evening, inviting Abby along as well, which somehow led to the entire team tagging along, Tony being the reason they ended up in a karaoke bar of all places.
"So Sara, you sing?" asked Tony curiously.
"If you like nails on a chalkboard," Sara answered with a shrug.
"You don't sound like nails on a chalkboard," Jethro countered immediately. "You, Shannon and Tori use to do karaoke all the time..."
"That was a long time ago, Bastard," Sara pointed out quietly.
"Come on, please?" Abby begged. "You can pick, we'll even drag Ziva up to sing with us..."
"What?" Ziva sat up suddenly. "No, I don't sing..." she started to argue.
"Come on Z, if it will get Sara up on stage, isn't it worth it?"
"No."
"Bet she can't sing," Tony spoke up before Ziva turned and smacked him.
"Alright, that's it. Sara pick a song..."
Sara looked between Ziva and Abby, and the rest of the table before groaning, "I'm not going to get out of this, am I?"
"Nope," Abby grinned.
"Alright, alright..." Sara gave in.
"Good," Abby grabbed her arm and dragged her up from the booth, Ziva slipping out after her before they made their way towards the stage.
Sara, Abby and Ziva took up positions on the stage, Sara standing center stage, Abby and Ziva each standing to one side of her as Sara punched the song selection in and started the music.
"Love, love changes everything
Hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything
How you live and how you die."
"Love, love can make the summer fly
Or a night seem like a lifetime
Yes love, love changes everything
Now I tremble at your name
Nothing in the world will ever be the same."
"Love, love changes everything
Days are longer, words mean more
Love, love changes everything
Pain is deeper than before."
"Love will turn your world around
And that world will last forever
Yes love, love changes everything
Brings you glory, brings you shame
Nothing in the world will ever be the same," Sara sang
/-/Why did you have to pick this song, Sara,/-/ Vittoria thought sadly from where she sat at the back of the bar in the shadows as Abby stepped forward.
"I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me."
"Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing."
"I don't know what is going on
Can't work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me
I just can't believe my eyes
You look at me as though
You couldn't bear to lose me."
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing," Abby sang.
By this point Vittoria had had enough. She couldn't take it anymore and rose from her spot just as Ziva was stepping forward on stage. She didn't know what made her do it or why but she soon found herself turning and walking towards the stage.
"I don't…" Ziva began only to trail off when she heard a voice coming from the back of the room and an indistinct shape slowly making it's way forward towards the shape.
"I don't know how to love him.
What to do, how to move him.
I've been changed, yes really changed.
In these past few days, when I've seen myself,
I seem like someone else," Vittoria sang as she neared where the group had been sitting.
"Uh…Boss?"
"What, DiNozzo?" asked Jethro.
"It's her," Tony said indicating the woman who was singing and had stopped a few feet to the side of their booth. Jethro turned to face the woman he'd been chasing for weeks, hell years, if he was to be honest.
"I don't know how to take this.
I don't see why he moves me.
He's a man. He's just a man.
And I've had so many men before,
In very many ways,
He's just one more," Vittoria sang indicating Jethro sitting near her.
"Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love,
Let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this.
What's it all about?
Yet, if he said he loved me
I'd be lost. I'd be frightened
I couldn't cope, I couldn't cope," Vittoria continued as Sara joined in.
"Love, love changes everything
Days are longer, words mean more
Love, love changes everything
Pain is deeper than before," Sara sang at the same time as Abby's voice joined the other two.
"I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
whatever made you choose me," Abby sung. Soon all three were singing the different songs at the same time.
"Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love?
Let my feelings out?" With each line Vittoria sang, more and more pain and hurt could be heard entering her voice by those closest to her as the trio continued on to the astonishment of everyone gathered, friend and stranger alike until all three ended together with "Love will never never Let you be the same."
"Tori?" Jethro asked quickly getting to his feet and walking towards the woman who had just finished singing.
"Don't," Vittoria said stepping back as two unseen men stepped up beside her.
"Tori?" Sara asked softly from behind Jethro, glancing at the two men but ignoring them.
"Why are you here? Why did you have to come?" Vittoria asked quietly.
"To find you," Sara answered with a sad smile.
"I didn't want you to find me," Vittoria countered. "I never should have come here," she said starting to back away.
"Tori wait," Jethro said stepping towards Vittoria suddenly, only to have one of the men with Vittoria step between them and prevent Jethro from getting any closer.
"Let me come with you," Sara spoke up quickly.
"Why? Why are you doing this?" demanded Vittoria, tears quickly entering her voice.
"Ma'am, it would be best if we take this elsewhere," the agent not currently blocking Jethro said as he stepped up next to Vittoria. "We don't want to create a scene."
Vittoria nodded and allowed the agent at her elbow to escort her out of the bar.
"This way, Ma'am," the agent blocking Jethro said to Sara.
"Thank you," Sara nodded before looking over at Jethro. "Let it go for now, Jeth," she told him softly before following the agents out.
With a sigh Jethro nodded, letting the woman he'd been searching for once more walk away from him.
Once outside Sara found two cars parked close to each other, one with an agent in one of them. Remaining silent she approached Vittoria, but stopped a few feet away, not wanting to push the other woman more than she already was.
"If you're coming you better get in," Vittoria said as the agent opened the door and she climbed in.
Sara didn't waste a second, hopping into the car. "So..." she began once they were on the road.
"Ma'am, if you'll pardon the interruption," the agent in the driver's seat said.
"What is it David?" asked Vittoria, her gaze out the window as they made their way through Washington.
"We need a bit of background on your guest for security reasons, Ma'am," David said.
"She's harmless David," Vittoria said.
"I still need some information, Ma'am, I'm sorry. Falcon's orders," David said.
"What do you need to know?" Sara asked looking back at him.
"Full name, age, city of residence, profession to start," David said looking at Sara in the rear view mirror. We need to do at least a cursory background check in order to allow you access to the Vice Presidential Residence at Blair House, Ma'am."
"Sara Sidle-Grissom, thirty-seven, Las Vegas, Criminalist," Sara answered without missing a beat. "Which reminds me, I have pictures for you, we had no choice in the wedding, Sheriff found out so I had to cancel my plans of waiting to find you," Sara glanced back at Vittoria.
Vittoria remained quiet for a few minutes as the car slowly pulled into the drive at Blair House. "You were never supposed to find me," she said quietly before climbing out of the car when David opened the door for her.
"Tori, we both know I'd never stop looking for my best friend," Sara countered as she stepped out into the night air.
"Tori died two years ago," Vittoria said as she led Sara into the house.
"Pardon me, Ma'am. Mr. Kinsley apologizes but he'll be unable to join you this evening."
"Thank you James," Vittoria said dismissing the butler before leading Sara into what appeared to be the living room.
"Okay so, I can accept that Tori died...but see there's this woman running around who's known me forever and I've known forever. Sure we didn't tell each other everything but that doesn't change how I feel about her. And I'm kinda a little impatient on the having her back in my life front..." Sara answered as she sat down, watching Vittoria while she spoke.
"I'm not the woman you knew anymore Sara," Vittoria said quietly as she stood by the mantle looking at one of the photos there.
"You're still the girl I had all night study sessions with in high school, that I'd meet on breaks during college and talk to on the phone at least once a week for hours on end. You're the one who listened to me moan and groan over Gil for how many years? You dragged me back from being a complete workaholic, made me laugh when no one else could, would sit with me while I cried... I don't care what you did in college to afford your classes, I don't care what you've done since then, all I care about is that it's you.
"I didn't do what they said I did, Sara…what Nick accused me of. It was never like that. Not until…"
"I don't care," Sara countered softly. "And if it helps any...I never thought you did what they said. Whatever's happened since you left Vegas, I don't care about that either. As long as you haven't killed someone or something...but even then you're not getting rid of me, I'll visit you in prison if it came to that," she shrugged.
Vittoria snorted in disbelief.
"Okay Tori...well or whatever name you're using...would be handy to know huh?" Sara frowned before shrugging. "Okay, anyway, have I ever lied to you?"
"Aliana…Ali for short," Vittoria said, her gaze still on the picture on the mantle in front of her. "Why should you react any differently than anyone else? Nick told me he loved me and that he didn't care about my past and yet he very well could have killed me when he learned of what he believed my past to be."
"He what?" Sara asked flabbergasted.
"When my past came out on the stand the only thing I could think about was getting home and getting to Nick to try to explain things, make him understand that what he heard wasn't true because I knew how they'd spin the story. Highly respected psychiatrist nothing more than a high priced whore," Vittoria sneered. "When Nick first proposed I tried to tell him but he said it didn't matter, that all that mattered to him was the woman before him. I knew he'd take the truth hard. I just never expected him to lash out like he did."
"What did he do?" Sara asked slowly, wondering just how much it would take to convince Catherine to help her convince Warrick and Greg to beat Nick up for her so she wouldn't endanger the baby thus pissing Gil off...
"When I got home I went to kiss him and that's when it started. He brushed past me, refusing to let me touch him. I followed him into the living room hoping to get through to him. He was over by the windows so I walked over and laid my hands on his shoulders and leant into him lightly. Next thing I know he's calling me a whore and shoving me away from him. He pushed me so hard that I lost my balance and started stumbling backwards, my legs hitting the coffee table in the process tripping me further, which is when my head cracked against the end table. I could have died when I hit my head I cracked it so hard but he didn't care. He just stood there accusing me of lying to him and calling me a whore and then he told me to get out and he left."
"I'll kill him," Sara growled, fists clinched. "Okay no, I'll see if I can convince Cath to let me meet her dad and beg Sam to kill him...but still, I will see roasting Texan before the next moon."
"It was then that I knew that Vittoria Stark was truly dead. I had nothing left. They took my reputation, my job, my husband…there was nothing left," Vittoria said, wiping away an escaping tear.
"Oh Ali," Sara sighed as she rose and crossed to Vittoria's side, hesitantly placing a hand on her shoulder.
"What was I supposed to do? My life in Vegas was over. I did the only thing I could think of. I returned to the life I'd walked away from when I graduated medical school," Vittoria said.
Sara nodded before looking up at the mantle, seeing the picture of Vittoria, the VP, and a little girl. "You look like you've found some happiness though..."
"Robert had to fight me every step of the way for it," Vittoria said finally stepping away from the mantle and walking to the window. "He was the first…the first man I ever…Sex had never been a part of what I did. I was window dressing nothing more. It was always a part of the agreement with the men. Sex was not something that was considered a part of the deal. If they wanted it then…then it was to be agreed upon outside the bounds of the agreement, if they chose to pay for it that was their choice but my choice to agree to it or not. I always made sure my price was too high so that they wouldn't even consider me and turn their attention to one of the others. Robert was the first to match my price and make it well worth my time. After that, whenever he had the ability he was requesting my company. Things seemed to grow from there. But it wasn't until a couple months ago that I finally agreed to give up the life I'd built here when I started over to try building one with him. He managed to find what little was left of the girl I once was."
"I like him already," Sara smiled.
"He's the only one that knows everything."
"I'm glad you have someone you trust like that..."
"You're not supposed to be here Sara," Vittoria snapped suddenly spinning to face Sara for the first time since they'd returned to the house. "You're not supposed to be standing here telling me that everything is going to be all right and that you're happy for me. You're supposed to be in Vegas getting on with your life without me. You're not supposed to be here. Why did you have to show up here? I was doing fine until I saw you. I could deal with being in the same city as Jethro because I know how he feels about me. I could deal with watching him from afar, even though he will always have a part of me, but you? Why did you have to follow him out of the building that day Sara? Why? Please God, tell me why?" she cried desperately.
"Because you're my best friend, and I can't give you up," Sara answered softly. "And my child needs its Aunt Ali to be the nice one when Mom's being a pain in the ass and not letting him or her do anything fun... I can't give you up Ali..."
"Don't you get it? I gave you up. I left to protect you. You and Peter. I didn't want either of you to live with the shame of my past. I tried so hard…I was surviving. I was living day-by-day just trying to survive and I was managing. Yes, I was driving myself crazy watching a man I couldn't have but I never interfered in what he was doing. I never tried to step in and reclaim that part of me, of my life, until you showed up."
"You didn't have to protect Peter and I though," Sara countered gently. "We all have our demons Ali, we all have shame in our past."
"Peter worked so hard to put me through school. He nearly went bankrupt just putting me through college, I couldn't bare the thought of him trying to pay for medical school as well so I…and then when the truth came out I couldn't bare to face either one of you. I couldn't handle the thought of turning to you and having you react like Nick did, or worse. I couldn't bare the thought of you turning me away, so I ran," Vittoria said.
"Neither of us care," Sara argued softly. "Ali, we'd never turn on you. Nick... he didn't deserve you, he screwed up big time and he's stupid enough to not realize it. But me, Peter, Gil, even Catherine, Greg and Warrick...none of us care. We've all searched for you, Nick's lucky that Peter never got a hold of him, he gets enough flack from the night shift for being a jerk..."
"Sara, when I left, I became the one thing I swore I would never let myself become. I became what Nick believed me to be. How can you stand there and tell me that you accept that?"
"Because the only people I judge are abusive husbands and people who abuse kids," Sara answered with a slight shrug. "You're human Ali, so am I... \so is anyone else in the universe. We're only human, we make mistakes, we do things we regret, and we live with them and move on."
"I just…I thought…I thought you'd hate me," Vittoria said, her voice almost childlike as she fell to her knees.
Sara sunk down next to her and carefully pulled Vittoria into a hug, "Never Ali. You're my best friend, nothing could make me hate you."
"Ali?" Robert called as he entered the foyer and made his way towards the living room, only to find Vittoria on the floor in the arms of a strange woman he had never seen before. "My God Ali, what happened?" he asked as he rushed to where she and Sara were, kneeling down beside Vittoria.
"Uh, hello," Sara greeted with a slight wave. "You must be Robert, I'm Sara, and we're just having a bit of a heart to heart..."
"Hello. What happened?" he asked worriedly.
"She joined us at the karaoke bar, not quite sure why, joined in a group sing-a-long and I convinced her to bring me with her when she was leaving. Here we are and we've been hashing things out for a while..." Sara answered looking down at Vittoria, "That cover it Ali?"
Vittoria simply nodded, too overcome with tears to be able to speak.
"I think it's probably best if I put Ali to bed," Robert said as he took Vittoria from Sara and picked her up. "You're welcome to stay Ms. Sidle if you wish. I can have James show you to a room."
"Please," Sara agreed.
"Follow me then," Robert said as he led Sara out of the living room. "Walt would you please find James and let him know that Ms. Sidle will be requiring a room this evening."
"Yes sir," the agent replied before speaking into his mouthpiece.
"This way, Ms. Sidle," James said when he appeared a few minutes later.
Sara followed and was shown to a room, thanking him before watching him leave. Sitting on the bed she fished out her cell phone and called Jethro to let him know she was not going to be back tonight and she'd talk to him more later and to not even think of attempting to trace her cell phone, and she loved him. Then she placed a call to Gil to let him know what was going on.
Monday February 2nd, 2009
Washington DC
Blair House
9:26 a.m. E.S.T
"Robert what are you doing?" asked Vittoria groggily as she wiped sleep from her eyes.
"Ali," Robert began as he put down the sweater he was folding and walked over and sat down next to Vittoria. "I think you need to deal with what happened here last night between you and Ms. Sidle and I think to do that, you need to go back to where it all started. You need to go back to Las Vegas for a while."
"Robert…"
"Shh, Ali please," Robert said cutting her words off as he put his finger to her lips to silence her. "I'm not sending you away or anything and I'm not taking that ring back either so get those thoughts out of your head alright. You ran from your demons once, I don't want to see you run from them again. God has given you another chance with your friend; please don't walk away from it. Michelle and I will still be here when you get back. And besides you can't be gone too long as you do have a wedding to plan after all."
"You're sure about this?"
"More than sure Ali. Now why don't you get dressed and go have some breakfast with your friend before the two of you head back to Vegas. I've already put the call into my pilot, he'll be waiting for you the minute you arrive at the airport," Robert said.
"Alright. If you insist," Vittoria said as she threw the covers back and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"One more thing Ali," Robert said putting his hand over Vittoria's and stopping her.
"Yes?"
"I want you to take David and Ken with you. I want you safe, Ali," Robert continued before Vittoria could argue. "I'm sending you back to Las Vegas knowing the man that hurt you is there, I'm not about to risk him hurting you again. You're lucky I'm letting you off easy with only David and Ken to protect you. My heart is telling me to send half the detail with you but I know better than that. Promise me you'll do as they say, they're only trying to keep you safe."
"I will. I promise Robert," Vittoria said kissing him lightly before rising and making her way into the closet to get dressed. When she emerged a short while later, Robert had disappeared, leaving her a note saying he'd headed into the office and to have a good trip and that he expected her to call him later that night after they had arrived in Vegas just to let him know she'd arrived safely. Noticing the staff had taken over packing for her, Vittoria made her way down to the dining room, not sure about where Sara might be.
Fortunately, Sara had found the dining room and was there nursing a cup of tea, doing her best to avoid running for the bathroom as the smell of coffee wafted on the air.
"Bathroom's down the hall if you need it," Vittoria said walking in and pouring herself some juice before walking over to the table and sitting down, a servant placing a plate with half a grapefruit on it in front of her.
"I look that green?" Sara asked with a slight smile.
"No, but you referred to me as Aunt Ali last night and you look like you've put on weight. Put the two together and it doesn't take much for a former doctor to put the pieces together. How far along are you?" Vittoria asked as she slowly ate her grapefruit.
"About four months," Sara answered with a slight smile. "How are you this morning though?"
"I've been better," Vittoria said quietly. "So due date's in June then," she said as more of a comment then a question.
"Yeah, the fourteenth."
"I see," Vittoria said, a hint of sadness entering her voice.
"Think I can convince you to come to the baby shower and again after he or she is born?" Sara asked softly.
"I don't know if I'll be able to get away," Tori said, keeping her eyes on the grapefruit in front of her. "I'm getting married on the twentieth."
"That could be a bit of a time problem," Sara nodded before grinning. "Congratulations."
"Thank you, and to you as well. Do you have plans for today?"
"Nope, not a one," Sara shrugged. She had already canceled her flight, intending to stay a few more days at least.
"Will it take you long to pack?" Vittoria asked sipping her juice.
"Actually I had a flight today so was all packed. My stuff is just sorta...not here. Why?"
"Robert's insisting I go back to Vegas for a while to deal with my demons there after what happened here last night," Vittoria said. "He's already called the pilot, the plane will be ready for us whenever we're ready."
"Wow...well, then okay," Sara nodded. "You sure you're okay with it though?"
"I spent years being afraid of my past and when it came out I ran. I've been running ever since and I'm tired Sara. Robert knows everything. He knows how I put myself through school, he knows about my life in Vegas and how it led to my life here and what it forced me to do in this life. He doesn't want to see me destroyed by what happened in Vegas and he thinks this is the best way to handle it. What is it with Marines and their attack any situation head on approach?"
"I think it's drilled into their head in boot camp or something," Sara offered. "So, you got any plans for Vegas? I know a few people who would kill to see you...sadly your ex just doesn't die..."
"Well, since Robert sprang this on me this morning I have been having some thoughts on a little payback," Vittoria said.
"Now, that's a sound I like to hear, your mind being all evilly," Sara chuckled.
"Let's just say it's time someone was introduced to the Mistress of Winterfell," Vittoria smirked.
Sara merely raised an eyebrow before holding a hand up, "Cheer me up, fill me in from the other side of the door while I make friends with the resident porcelain God," she smiled slightly as she rose, then heading towards the bathroom Vittoria had pointed out.
"Let's just say that the Mistress of Winterfell is what Nick forced me to become and the way in which I met Robert," Vittoria said through the door.
"Okay..." Sara spoke a few minutes later. "And?"
"And I have just the outfit for it," Tori laughed.
"Something tells me a certain Texan should be very afraid," Sara chuckled when she came out. "Come on, I have a bag to get and you have plans to fill me in on. And I desperately need to get away from the smell of coffee..."
"Let me just run upstairs and grab the outfit, cause I know Robert nor the maids would have packed it since it's in a trunk at the back of the closet and we can grab David and Ken and then we can swing by and get your bags before we head to the airport," Vittoria said.
"Why don't I meet you at the airport instead?" Sara suggested, "My stuff is kinda at another Marine's we know..."
"Who at this time should technically be at work," Vittoria said. "Besides I have no intention of getting out of the car and David and Ken will keep him away from me if need be."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Plus I'm afraid that if you're not with me I might chicken out and not go through with this," Vittoria said.
"Okay then," Sara nodded. "You get the dress, I'll get my coat, then we'll hop over there, grab my stuff and be in the car on our way out of here, ASAP," Sara nodded.
"Be back in a few," Vittoria said before making her way up the stairs returning a few minutes later with her suitcase and carry on, Ken and David on her heels as they rejoined Sara and made their way out to the cars waiting out front, Ken and David climbing in the front of one car after helping Vittoria and Sara into the same car, another couple agents in the car behind them as they made their way from Blair House through Washington towards Jethro's house where they stopped just long enough for Sara to grab her things before they made their way to the private airport and boarded their plane bound for Las Vegas.
Once on the plane Sara grabbed a change of clothes and raided the restroom, while there making a call to Jethro's cell to let him know she was going back to Vegas and would e-mail. And another to catch Gil still at work to let him know she was on her way home. Done, she made her way back out to join Vittoria, getting all the details of her plan to get revenge on one Nicholas Stokes.
Monday February 2nd, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance Club
8:36 p.m. P.S.T
"Where's Nick?" Sara asked as she sat down and joined everyone from the night shift.
"He's at the bar at the moment," Catherine said. "Do you want to tell us why you had us bring him here?"
"You'll see," replied Sara.
"Meaning what, exactly?" pushed Catherine.
"Just watch," Sara said as she looked out across the dance floor towards where Nick was standing at the bar, just as a black haired woman walked up to him.
"Hey cowboy, wanna dance?" asked a voice from behind Nick, causing him to turn around and take in the woman standing behind him. She was tall, about 5'10' or 5'11" with her rather tall heels on, wearing a loose fitting black knee length skirt that had a split up the side that showed when she walked or when the skirt moved around her, and a tight fitting black camisole top that left nothing to the imagination as to what was underneath, under a black blouse that was tied at her waist. The side pieces of her long black hair were pulled back into a small ponytail on the top of her head, keeping them out of her face, while the rest of her hair hung loose down her back.
"Be my pleasure," Nick said as he held his hand out to the woman and led her out onto the dance floor just as a new song was starting.
You can dance-every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye,let him hold you tight
"Oh I love this song," she said as she began to sway to the music. "There's just something about a salsa that gets me all hot and bothered," she continued as she pulled Nick towards her and they began to dance.
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand neath the pale moon light
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Oh I know that the music's fine
Like sparklin' wine,go and have your fun
Laugh and sing,but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
As the song continued, she continued to dance closer and closer to Nick, their bodies never more than even half an inch apart from each other as she caressed his body with hers.
Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never never let you go
I love you oh so much
"Is she doing what I think she's doing?" asked Catherine in astonishment as they watched the couple on the dance floor. "It looks as if she's trying to get him off on the dance floor or something," she said as she watched the woman with Nick as she practically wrapped herself around him while continuing to dance to the song.
You can dance, go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he take you home, you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
"You want me, don't you," she whispered in Nick's ear as the end of the song neared, her leg wrapped around his so that his now hard cock was pressing into her through her skirt, which had fallen back to show off her upper thigh.
So darling, save the last dance for me
"Oh God, yes," Nick replied, a husky eagerness in his voice.
Save the last dance for me
"Then lets get out of here," she suggested grinding herself into Nick once more.
Save the last dance for me.
Her last movement was practically Nick's undoing as he growled low in his throat, took her by the wrist and practically dragged the woman out of the club, the woman throwing a look over her shoulder towards where Sara and the others were sitting before disappearing out the door behind Nick.
"You know her?" asked Greg curiously.
"Come on," Sara said getting up and making her way out of the building.
Shortly after exiting the building, the woman found herself in the alley behind the club, pushed up against the wall as Nick practically devoured her mouth, his hands sliding up under her skirt. It wasn't long before she felt one of his hands slide between her thighs while the other hand went to his pants, his lips never leaving hers. Using the wall as support, she threw all her weight into it as her knee suddenly swung up, right between Nick's legs, her aim true, causing Nick to cry out in agony and stumble back, giving her the opportunity to push him away from her and slap him as hard as she could before wiping her mouth off with the back of her hand.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" demanded Nick angrily from where he was crouched on the ground. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"Because you deserved it," the woman replied coldly. "You deserve to know what it's like to have someone turn on you in an instant."
"What are you talking about?" demanded Nick as he carefully got back to his feet and turned to face the woman, not seeing the rest of the Night Shift come out into the alley.
"Does the name Vittoria Stark mean anything to you, Nick Stokes?" the woman demanded. "You deserve to know what it's like for someone to turn on you because you did it to her. You didn't care that you could have killed her when you pushed her away from you and she stumbled and fell over the coffee table hitting her head in the process. You didn't care that maybe the truth of her past wasn't as horrible as the press made it sound. You turned on her when she needed you most. You claimed to love her for the woman she was. You told her, her past didn't matter and yet when she needed you, you threw her away like garbage."
"How the hell do you know all this?" demanded Nick angrily as he grabbed the woman by the arms up by her shoulders and forcefully shoved her back into the wall, her head connecting with the concrete. "Tori?" he snarled when he finally took a good look into a pair of very familiar green eyes. "So I was right about you, you really are a whore," he said, not seeing the two men approach from either side.
"I…" Vittoria began as she shook the stars from her eyes and forced the blackness back. "I never was one to begin with you hypocrite," she snarled in response. "And if I became one it's because you forced me into it you bastard. You know what, I'm glad I had that abortion after I left here because no child deserves to have you as it's father."
"Don't even think about it, Sir, and kindly remove your hands from Ms. Frey," David said stepping up and putting his arm between Nick and Vittoria.
"Uh, who are those guys?" asked Greg.
"Why don't you stay the hell out of this," countered Nick glaring at David.
"Sir, if you don't remove your hands from Ms. Frey immediately, I will remove them for you and arrest you for assault," David said, maintaining his position between them as Ken stepped up behind Nick and put his hand on Nick's shoulder, indicating for him to step back.
"Do as they say Nick," Vittoria said. "Trust me, they're the last people you want to mess with."
Taking a quick look around him and noticing the earpiece and gun the man in front of him was wearing, he removed his hands from Vittoria's arms and stepped back.
"Are you hurt at all Ms. Frey?" David asked turning to look at Vittoria.
"I hit my head on the wall when he pushed me…pushed me into it," Vittoria said as she went to straighten up from where she was still leaning on the wall. "I'll…I'll be…" Vittoria never finished her words as the world went black around her. Thankfully David was standing close enough that he was able to catch her the minute she started to fall, preventing her from hitting the ground as Ken pulled Nick further away from the scene.
Twenty minutes later found the group gathered in Sara and Gil's house, much to the confusion of the other CSIs when Sara, Ken, and David all insisted that Vittoria not be taken to a hospital. Much to Sara's annoyance, Nick was there, refusing to leave now that the statements involving Vittoria's abortion had sunk into his brain, while she was still unconscious he turned to pestering Sara for answers until she had lunged at him only to have Gil grab her just in time. She hadn't known about the abortion herself and simply couldn't deal with Nick's questions when she had her own.
As for the others, they were sitting around the living room alternating between giving Nick the evil eye for his treatment of Vittoria, even if she did lead him on out there on the dance floor, and looking at Sara for answers as to what was going on, other than Gil who was a bit too occupied with keeping his normally extremely emotional wife from having a complete breakdown.
Catherine herself remained quiet until after Doc Robbins showed up at Sara's request to look at Vittoria, since going to the hospital was out of the question. Once he had headed upstairs accompanied by David, Ken already up with Vittoria, she turned to the others. Nick, Warrick and Greg were arguing quietly over in a corner, the two taking it upon themselves to get Nick to leave Sara alone, as well as taking the minutes to confront him about the revelation regarding just how things ended that night that Vittoria left Vegas. Sara was on the couch thanks to Gil who was holding her in place for the most part, though she was still glaring over at Nick as Gil tried to calm her down. Frowning she decided in that moment enough was enough. It had been almost two years of this tension and anger...they simply couldn't continue like this. "Shut up!" she snapped suddenly to the minds of those in the room as the five turned to look at her shocked. "You know I'm sick and tired of this thing. I'm pissed as hell at Nick too but we can't go on with this not talking except when trying to beat the crap out of him deal. So that's it, enough is enough. Tomorrow morning, everyone will be at my house. We are going to sit down and hash this all out, once and for all. And don't even think of trying to get out of it I'll recruit the night shift techs and even Doc and David to hog tie you, threaten you at gunpoint or whatever the hell it takes to get you there. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," Greg spoke up first, a slight wobble to his voice. He had forgotten how scary she could be at times.
"Sara," Al called into the quiet when he made his way back downstairs.
Sara looked at Catherine before rising and heading towards him, "Is she okay?" she whispered when she reached Al's side.
"She'll be fine. From what I can tell, she's suffered a medium grade concussion. She'll need to be watched overnight and someone will have to wake her every hour and if anything's wrong, like she's having trouble remembering things or her vision is blurred or her speech is slurred she'll need to be taken to the hospital immediately. Is there a reason why she's not presently in a hospital?" Al asked.
"It's best if it's not found out she's here in Vegas," Sara sighed softly. "Tori's a bit well known in the media, we don't want to deal with a media circus while she's here..."
"Well, as long as she seems normal when you wake her then she shouldn't need to be hospitalized. She'll probably have a serious headache come morning but other than that, she should be fine," Al said.
"Thanks Doc," Sara nodded before looking over at the others then at Gil.
"I'll see you all at work tonight," Gil spoke up as he rose, indicating the others should leave. When Nick started to protest Warrick and Greg each grabbed an arm and pulled him out, Catherine and Al on their heels. When they were gone he turned around to find Sara gone, and Ken and David coming back downstairs. Nodding towards them he made his way towards the bedroom to get ready for work.
"Hey you," Sara greeted softly when she entered the bedroom to find Vittoria watching her.
"Hey," Vittoria replied quietly.
"How you feeling?"
"Like I've had someone hit me in the head with a sledge hammer actually," Vittoria replied. "Afraid to go to sleep in case…"
"Then I'll just have to keep you awake...then again if you want we could call Peter to come keep you awake..." Sara offered.
"Oh God, Peter," Vittoria said dropping her head into her hands.
"Breathe. Breathing's a good thing," Sara instructed softly.
"I don't think I can face him yet," Vittoria said quietly, a note of fear in her voice.
"Then you don't have to," Sara shrugged. "He's worried about you, misses you, but he'd understand you not being ready to see him yet. He's not going anywhere...unfortunately though we are..." she trailed off with a sigh.
"Next to you, his reaction is the one I fear the most," Vittoria said. "Where are we going?"
"Catherine's kinda ordered us all to her place in the morning to hash things out. She's threatening to sic all of night shift on us in order to get us there..."
"Guess my stunt made more of an impact than I figured," Vittoria said as she gently laid her head back against the headboard of the bed.
"Not really, I've kinda been expecting this to blow up again for a while. You just gave Catherine the push to crack."
"Sorry. If I'd known, I never would have let Robert talk me into coming back here…"
"Don't be sorry, but I agree had we known, I would have joined you in the nope lets stay in DC club. You don't need to be dealing with this."
"Sara, I'm the cause of all this," Vittoria countered. "First with my leaving and now with my return."
"No, the reporter is the cause of it all, she's the one that made your past sound worse than it was which resulted in Nick's actions which resulted in you leaving."
"But if I'd been honest with everyone from the start none of this would have happened," Vittoria argued.
"And if it wasn't such a stigma, then you wouldn't have had a problem with telling us for fear of rejection. But," Sara began before Vittoria could try another argument. "You need some rest, I'll wake you up in an hour or so okay?"
"Okay," Vittoria said quietly as she carefully lay down in the bed, making sure to lie on her side so the back of her head wasn't resting on the pillow.