Nick felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness in the ambulance and then again in the ER. In his sub-conscious he heard the doctors shouting that Sara had flatlined and they had trouble getting her back. He immediately felt his heart start to race dangerously high and panic to set upon him, further hindering his recovery process.

'Sara!' Nick's mind called out in desperation as he listened to Dr. Adams frantic voice yelling 'clear'.

'Nick?' Came the soft distant voice of the woman he loved.

'I thought I lost you,' Nick said in a panic.

'I'm sorry Nick. But I have to go now,' Sara said softly, her voice quickly dissipating.

'Sara you can't go! I need you!' Nick begged.

'You'll be just fine on your own,' her voice said in a soothing tone.

'Sara I love you. I always have and always will. I never doubted you I was scared. Scared you wouldn't love me.'

'I love you Nick, always remember that,' her voice now whispered.

'Sara if you go so do I,' Nick insisted.

'That isn't fair,' Sara's voice warned.

'Leaving me to spend the rest of my life alone isn't either,' Nick's voice warned back.

Silence…

'Sara?' Nick's inner voice cried out in horror. 'Sara no….'

"Once more…" Dr. Adams voice called out in a mad shout.

Nothing…

"Damn you Sidle…fight!" Dr. Adams yelled as he got the charger ready again. "Cle…" he started only to be happily rewarded with the faint but steady beat of her heart. "Don't do that again," he said down to the sleeping face of the patient before him. "I'm getting to old for this."

Grissom watched Catherine as she slowly paced the hospital waiting room. She glanced nervously at Grissom then to Brass and then finally to Greg. Warrick was on his was to Dallas to put an end to the 'Children of Eden' once and for all.

"Catherine please come and sit down," Grissom said softly.

"I can't," she said with a frown. "Pacing helps me worry better."

"Sex does for me," Greg piped up, hoping to lighten the mood. It worked as all looked at him with a frown but then laughed when he did. "Sorry I couldn't resist."

"Well it's a good thing you didn't ask for volunteers," Catherine said dryly to which he just laughed again and Grissom rolled his eyes and offered up a huff.

"And it's a good thing I didn't ask for your opinion," Grissom said sarcastically.

"Shesh already," Greg laughed.

"Calhoun is going to go over Eve's place until we get there. But I do want it in tact when…" Grissom started as they both watched Dr. Adams finally leave the ER and walk up to them with a weary expression on his face.

"I'd say happy to see you all again but," he said in sarcasm.

"How are they?" Grissom asked as he got up and stood beside Catherine, Greg and Brass behind them.

"Alive for now," he said with a sigh. "Sara's gunshot wound was the worst. It punctured the appendix, broke a rib and opened up a small tear in the wall of the stomach and put a lot of stress on the heart. Now we were able to get most of the toxins from the appendix and stomach out but she has lost a lot of blood and did flatline a few times. They weren't long enough to cut oxygen to the brain to cause damage but she'll be in intensive care for the night just to be sure she doesn't flatline again. I have her on ringers lactate to help produce red blood cells faster and some other medication to take swelling down and keep infection at bay. So we'll just have to wait. She is in a mild comatose state but nothing that we are worried about right now. I think It's mostly due to the heavy sedation and all the stress and strain her body has had to endure.

Nick was in rough shape as well. He had a puncture to the lower gastrointestinal area which caused some toxins to burn the top of the liver but we were able to clear them out as well. He had a small puncture in his lower left lung and a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. A broken nose, a fractured wrist, a laceration on the top of his head and multiple cuts and bruises. But he is going to be fine, just will need a lot of rest. In fact both of them will need a lot of rest to fully recuperate."

"Not a problem there," Grissom said with a heavy sigh. "Can we see either of them?"

"Well Sara is being moved to intensive care and Nick will be taken to the critical ward. If in the next day or so all goes well we'll be able to move them into a private room together. Sorry but tonight they just both need to rest. Besides with the heavy sedation neither one will be awake for very long."

"Thanks for everything Dr. Adams," Grissom said firmly. "Can we come back tomorrow?"

"Of course," Dr. Adams said warmly. "You're all lucky they're both strong people."

"Yeah we know," Grissom said firmly.

"Oh yeah and your friend Meeks," Dr. Adams said before he turned to leave. "Just came out of his coma. You can see him tomorrow as well."

"Perfect," Grissom said as they all watched Dr. Adams turn and rush back into the ER. "Well," he said turning back to Catherine and the rest. "Nothing more we can do right now I guess."

"Want to go back to Eve's?" Catherine asked softly.

"Sure," Grissom said, looking directly at her.

"Well if you'll all excuse me," Brass said turning to leave.

"Where are you going?" Catherine asked suspiciously.

"I uh…I have paperwork…"

"He has a date," Greg said proudly.

"I told you not to tell anyone," Brass hissed.

"A date?" Grissom asked incredulously. "You actually had time to plan your social life during all of this?"

"You should try it sometime," Brass said with a wink as he turned to leave.

"Unbelievable," Grissom said looking at Catherine with a smirk. "Well shall we?" He said gesturing to the door for them to leave.

Greg just watched them leave with a smile on his face, just before his pager went off. He looked at the number and then felt his smile grow wider. "Baby I'm on my way."

Nick felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness as he started to come out of the anesthesia a few hours later. His mind was so groggy and stuffy from all the drugs and medication he was on and breathing was very shallowed and difficult. Hi slowly opened his watery blurry eyes and tried to make the room come into focus. As he was coming out of his drugged stupor he started to feel strange things around him and immediately started to panic. He felt his chest starting to heave and his breathing started to labor.

"Nick?" Dr. Adams asked as he rushed into his room to see what was wrong.

"Doc…" Nick's voice trailed off in a panic. "Doc…help me…" he cried out weakly.

"Nick…shhh…it's okay," Dr. Adams said gently touching his forehead to help him calm down.

Nick finally stopped his mild thrashing and looked up at Dr. Adams and allowed his breathing to return to normal. "Doc…Sara…is she…I mean I heard you shouting and her…Doc is she…I have to see her and…"

"Nick I'm sorry but…"

"I want to see her now!" Nick yelled.

"Nick please calm down," Dr. Adams said firmly. "I don't want to give you another sedative but I will if you don't calm down," he said in a forceful tone.

"Doc is she alive?" Nick begged.

"Sara is alive," Dr. Adams said in a calming tone. "She is in intensive care right now but I'm confident she'll pull through and be back on the road to recovery in no time."

"Intensive…care…" Nick said in a weak tone as he looked away. "Sara…" his voice trailed off into the dark room. He quickly turned back to Dr. Adams, however, with a heavy frown and a panicked look. "Dr. Adams I was…well I mean Adam he…"

"Nick you are just fine," Dr. Adams said in a soft tone. "Whatever you experienced wasn't half as bad as the time before. You are going to be fine."

"Adam…he didn't…well he didn't touch me and…it was different he just…he just looked Doc…that was it…nothing more…I was scared and unable to fight back but…"

"I know Nick," Dr. Adams said gently brushing tears from his eyes. "Everything is going to be fine for you now."

"I wish I could believe that," Nick said closing his eyes.

"Tell yourself you will and you will," Dr. Adams said with a kind smile. "Now please rest. Your body has been through a lot and really needs to rest."

"Thanks Doc," Nick said opening his eyes once more. "Thanks for saving both of us."

"You did that Nick," Dr. Adams said with a slight frown. "Before you ever made it to the ER."

Nick watched Dr. Adams turn and quietly leave the room and then turned his eyes back to the window and looked out into the Las Vegas night. He was alive…Sara was alive…they were both alive together and their nemesis's were dead. Nothing could stop them from being together now. "Not even my own insecurities will stop us this time," Nick said firmly. "I'll make sure of that."

He rested his head back on the pillow and tried to ignore the slight throbbing he was feeling in his bandaged arm from the gunshot wound. "Sara saved my life," he whispered as he started to fall back asleep. "She promised me she would and she did," he said with a large smile. "How could I ever doubt her again?"

Sara's mind drifted in and out of a painful sub-conscious state as she fought to keep her body and mind alive.

"Something's wrong," Dr. Adams mumbled to himself. "She's just not responding to treatment," he told the young intern beside him. "Her vitals aren't getting any stronger."

"So what do we do?" The young medic asked in concern.

"Nothing we can do but wait and maybe pray," Dr. Adams said looking at him with a heavy sigh. "I'll be back in an hour to see how she is doing," he said gently patting the young woman on the back and walking away. The young woman turned and looked down at Sara with a mournful expression. "Isn't there someone you love that it's worth hanging on for?" She asked softly before she too turned around and left the room.

Sara's eyes fluttered for a bit but she never fully gained consciousness, the heavy amount of sedatives and medication still taking their toll on her weak system. The lactate solution was doing it's best to pump life-saving nutrients into her body to help her build her blood back up but as Dr. Adams said it was her that had to fight to live.

'I'm too tired to hold on any longer,' Sara's mind mumbled in a weak state.

'I have nothing to live for,' Sara cried inside.

'He doesn't trust me. You can't have love without trust, remember?' Sara lamented.

'I don't have the strength anymore,' Sara whispered as she slid further into the murky darkness of death. 'Nick!' She tried one last time. 'I love you.'

"Sara!" Nick said in a panic as he was quickly woken from his sleep. He brushed some sweaty hair off his forehead and looked around the dark quiet room. He felt panic filling his body as he remembered Sara's anguished cry in his mind. "I have to get to Sara," he said in agony as he slowly sat up. Nick closed his eyes and let the room stop spinning for reached for the IV's and started pulling.

"Have…to get…to Sara…" he said weakly as he finally managed to get himself free of all the tubing and push his legs to the edge of the bed and let him touch the floor. He once again waited until the room stopped spinning before he stood up and allowed his wobbly legs to firm up a bit. Once he was sure he was able to walk he slowly ambled towards the door and waited for everyone to leave. After a few minutes the night nurse finally went back to her station at the end of the hall and Nick headed for the exit doors. The ICU was just one floor below he kept telling himself as he gripped the stair rail and started to slowly descend. Once there he waited again for the small black circles to dissipate before he gently pulled the door open and peered around the corner and down the hall. He spied the ICU and slowly made his way towards. Once at the doorway to Sara's room he stopped and allowed himself to catch his breath. But as he turned and looked inside at her his heart nearly stopped completely.

"Sara?" He asked faintly as he looked at the pale creature before him on the bed, hooked up to monitors and tubing. He immediately felt his eyes water as he slowly walked towards her bed. He looked up at the monitors and saw her vitals were very low. "Sara…" Nick said as he bent down and tenderly kissed her cheek. There was some warmth but not much and he feared she wouldn't last the night. He quickly sat himself down and took one of her hands in his and firmly held onto it.

"Sara you have to come back to me," Nick started in a low tone.

'Nick?' Sara's mind asked weakly. But when she heard silence in return she concluded that it was just her mind toying with his voice one final time.

"Sara you have to live," Nick started again. "Tonight…oh god tonight I almost lost you…Sara I can't lose you," he said in a strained voice.

'Nick,' Sara's mind said softly. 'He is here.'

"Sara I have to tell you how sorry I am for ever doubting you," Nick said bringing his lips to her hand and kissing it. "I made the biggest mistake of my life when I said I didn't trust or believe you could love me. But I know now I was wrong…I was wrong Sara," Nick said with a slight hoarse cough. "I'm not afraid anymore," he said leaning in close, as tears started to escape the corners of his eyes and run down his cheeks. "Sara I'm not afraid of love," he said with a weak smile.

'Nick…' Sara's voice said softly. 'How long will you love me?' She wondered in silence.

"Sara what you did for me…I mean you almost gave up your life and…I know now," Nick said lightly nodding his head. "I know now Sara…" he said again in a firmer tone, "and I'm not afraid."

'He can't love me,' Sara insisted.

'Because he just can't,' she told herself.

"Sara when I saw you talking to Hank and then the things he said…I was afraid Sara…afraid that I would never be able to be better than that…that I couldn't offer you things other men could…but…but Sara I was wrong," Nick said as he felt his heart start to strain from beating so fast. "Sara I was wrong…I do trust you…I have your love…you showed me the greatest expression of love…that of wanting to give up your life…how could I not trust you now? Sara…Sara please open your eyes," Nick said in a soft sob. "Please don't leave me like this…it was you…you gave me the will to fight the last fight…you gave me the strength to want to fight them…it was you Sara…please…oh god please come back to me Sara," he said as he softly hung his head and rested it on his hand holding hers.

'Yes,' Sara replied.

"Sara…I need you," Nick continued in a soft low voice. He felt the strain on his lungs and the burning pain in his shoulder and chest and the rest of his body but he refused to give in or leave until her vitals at least raised a bit, until he at least knew she would be able to fight her way back to him.

"Sara it's hard for me to explain what you mean to me," Nick said softly. "I love you so much and…and I guess I was so afraid…I mean I have been with a lot of women but…but I never valued any as much as I value and cherish you. I know I didn't make that clear," Nick said hanging his head, letting a few salty tears splatter onto her lifeless hand. "Sara I'm sorry," he said slowly looking up once again. "Please Sara…please come back to me. Let me show you how sorry I was and that I need you in my life. Without you…Sara I'll die without you."

'Did he say he'd die without me?' Sara's mind asked herself.

"Sara you have to hear me…hear my voice…you have to fight okay…fight and come back to me…come back to the love we can have…Sara please…please let me show you how much I love you and need you." Nick leaned a bit back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. Fatigue was starting to claim him once again but he still refused to leave until he saw a sign that she had at least heard his words and would try to fight her way back to him. He watched the low monitor signals and immediately felt his sorrow deepening.

"Sara please try to fight this," Nick begged in sorrow. "You wouldn't let me run away remember? You said you would always be there for me and you proved that," Nick said in anguish, tears still escaping the corners of his eyes and mixing in with his bruises on his cheeks. "I'm here to prove to you that I am not leaving you…I'm not Sara…you hear me…now fight damn you!" Nick cursed in a heavier tone. "You never gave up in your life…you never backed down or gave in…please don't do it now. Don't let her take you from me," Nick begged once more. "Please Sara…please come back to me."

'I…' Sara's mind started in frustration. 'I want to live,' she said numbly. 'I want to live and…I love him…Nick…' her voice trailed off in her mind.

Nick leaned back in his chair and continued to hold her hand while tears silently moved slowly down his face. He would stare at the monitor's for a few seconds before casting his tormented gaze downwards and look at her placid expression. "Sara…" he whispered sadly. He could feel himself fighting heavy drowsiness as he fought to keep his eyes open. "Sara I love you," he tried once more. "Please come back to me."

"Sara…" Nick started only have hear one of the monitors start to beep. "Sara?" He asked softly as he felt his heart start to beat more rapidly. He leaned in close in hopes of having her open her eyes and look at him. "Sara that's it," Nick urged gently as he slightly coughed. "You can do it Sara…come back to me…to us…"

'I'm coming Nick,' Sara's mind said firmly. 'I love you too.'

"Sara I…" Nick started only to have the other monitor start to beep as well. "What on earth?" He asked as he leaned in close. Finally he noticed a few small tears escape the corners of her eyes and run down the sides of her face and bury themselves in the soft folds of the pillow she was laying on. "Does this mean you're back?" Nick asked in happy delight.

"Yes it does…thanks to you," Dr. Adams said with a frown as he hurried into Sara's room with a chart in his hand. He looked at Nick who only returned a sheepish smile and knew he had no right to be mad at the young man before him for trying to save the life of the woman he loved for which in fact he just did. He walked up to Sara and looked down and noticed the tears and smiled. "Welcome back Sara," he whispered kindly. He gently patted Nick on the shoulder and looked down at him with a smile as well. "Don't ever doubt love Nick…it has a power beyond anything we can comprehend."

"I believe that now," Nick whispered as he looked back at Sara.

Dr. Adams looked at the monitor's as Sara's vitals started to rise and immediately felt a small lump starting to develop in his throat. "She will be just fine Nick," he said firmly.

"Can I stay with her?" Nick asked softly.

"Nick she needs her rest now and so do you so…"

"Doc I…"

"But if you'd like I can bring a bed in here and you can sleep beside her," Dr. Adams finished quickly.

"You don't even have to ask," Nick smiled firmly. "I just want to stay beside her."

"That can be arranged," Dr. Adams told him as he turned and left the room.

"Hey Doc," Nick said turning to him as he left. "Did you um…did you hear anything I said while…"

Dr. Adams said nothing only offered a large smile and left the room.

Nick turned back to Sara and let out a large sigh of relief. "I love you Sara…and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that," he said softly as he stood up and bent over her and gently kissed her lips. When he stood slowly back up he noticed a faint smile on her lips and matched that with one of his own. "I knew you could do it," Nick firmly told her. Nick just stood and watched Sara sleep, holding her hand, until Dr. Adams came back into the room with an orderly pushing a bed. After it was pushed right up against Sara's, Nick climbed back into his own bed with the help of Dr. Adams and lay down his weary body once more. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was amazed at the lack of willpower he had to actually stay awake.

"Sleep Nick," Dr. Adams said softly. "You've earned it."

Nick smiled at Dr. Adams as he left the room and then turned back to Sara. "See you in the morning," he whispered as he pulled the blanket over himself. He left his right hand out so that it could snake it's way into her bed and firmly hold her left hand in his for the night. "I'm never letting go," were the last words Nick whispered before the darkness of sleep finally consumed him for the night.

"Now that was fun," Catherine said dryly as they both slowly walked back to the truck that was still parked behind Eve's place.

"Well I think it was important," Grissom replied.

"I still get the creeps looking into that small room where the boys were kept," Catherine said softly. "It will probably haunt me for a long time."

"Well now that it's all over why don't you take a break," Grissom suggested. "Spend some time with Lindsey and just relax. I think you've earned it."

Catherine looked at him with a kind smile. "Thanks but I'll be okay. But you could ask me to dinner tomorrow. That might help a bit," she teased, making him slightly flush.

"Dinner," Grissom said weakly. "I think that can be arranged," he said firmly. "Eat in or take out?"

"Touché," Catherine smiled as it was here turn to slightly blush. "Do you think Warrick will be okay?"

"Yeah Brass is flying to Dallas tomorrow to join him and together along with the Dallas PD they will finally bring an end to The Children of Eden," Grissom said with a heavy sigh.

"I wonder what will happen to all those people?" Catherine mumbled as they slowly got into the truck.

"Well the only ones that committed murder were Adam Norse and Eve Sutherland," Grissom said with a frown as he watched the other CSI team carrying out the boxed evidence to be taken back to the lab. "The others will just have to live with the guilt that they were all accessories to murder. They'll probably get minor charges and none will get their money back. Unless they have shady pasts or prior convictions"

"What a mark to live with," Catherine said looking out the window. "No wonder Meeks wanted out. I'm glad you didn't send us to Dallas," Catherine said turning back to him.

"Why not?" Grissom asked with a frown.

"Because for me to walk into a group of people about to sacrifice a child and pretend to be calm while I'm arresting them just wouldn't happen," she firmly stated.

"What happened to self control?" Grissom mused.

"What happened to the rights of the innocent child about to be murdered for no good reason?" Catherine retorted. "Sorry I just wish they were all going to jail for being so stupid."

"Who knows what the PD will find on them. Perhaps they will all get their justice in the end."

"Evil never wins?" Catherine questioned.

"Never," Grissom smiled softly. "Come on let's go home. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day."

Nick's mind was a mix of terrible nightmares and distorted images. He kept seeing himself bound and gagged, helpless before Adam and Eve, only this time Sara was standing over him shaking her head. Next he saw the boys beside him and finally he had to helplessly watch as Sara was killed by Eve. He woke up several times in a cold sweat and a mad panic. Each time he frantically checked the room and then Sara beside him to make sure that everything was okay. Upon seeing that it was he would take her hand back in his and then lay down, checking the monitor to make sure her vitals were still strong and then close his eyes and try once more.

Sara's mind too was a mix of nightmarish images of her death at Eve's hands and Nick's torment at both. She saw him naked and helpless while he begged for them to stop touching him. Her heart would race at top speeds but her mind never fully broke the sleep bond and she never fully awoke from the trance she was in. She would see Hank laughing at Nick's helpless state and then watched as she tried to help him but he was taken away by Eve, never seen again. Her eyes slightly fluttered and tiny beads of sweat started to form on her forehead but still she never awoke, her body just too fatigued from all the strain it was forced to endure. Finally it would quiet back down as she felt Nick's strong warm hand take hers once again and hold it, reassuring her that he was alive and well and they were indeed together. By the time she opened her eyes it was finally morning.

Sara slowly opened her blurry eyes, amazed at how weak and tired she still felt. She slowly turned her head over to Nick and watched him as he still slept, her hand still safely in his. A weak smile played across her face as she watched his brow crease and then go back to normal. Although his face was bruised the expression of peace and innocence he now wore was something she wished was truly real for him, that was had peace and was innocent.

"Nick," she whispered in a weak hoarse throat. "I love you."

"I love you too," Nick answered numbly as he finally opened his eyes and slowly looked her direction. "Can't sleep," he mumbled softly.

"Yeah," Sara said in a lazy voice.

"How are you?"

"Tired," she replied with a strained swallow. "Very…tired…"

"And you will be for some time," Dr. Adams said walking into their room. "Good morning you too. Sleep well?"

"No," both said at the same time.

"Well I'm not surprised," Dr. Adams said with a smile as he walked up to Sara's bed and looked at her monitors. "You are a fighter Sara," he said looking down at her with a kind smile. "And that's a good thing."

"I had…some help," she said weakly as she looked over at Nick who simply smiled back.

"Yes I know," Dr. Adams said with a slight frown. "And that's a good thing too."

"What happens today Doc?" Nick asked.

"Well today you both are going to get as much rest as you can," Dr. Adams said firmly. "Sara you'll be moved to another ward, but one with constant monitoring just to make sure you don't have a relapse. I'm going to take a blood sample right away to make sure the ringers is helping to produce more blood but the catheter will still have to stay in as I don't want you to even think about walking around. The nutrient IV will remain for both as your stomachs were both damaged a bit and need to heal. But I want limited visitors, especially for you Sara. Just because you're awake right now doesn't mean you're automatically out of the woods. Tomorrow I'll take some x-rays for both and then we'll go from there. Sara your stay will be longer than Nick's but I have a feeling I won't be rid of him until you walk out of here," he said with a slight wink at Nick.

"You got that right," Nick said firmly.

"Well Sara you said you felt tired, I want you to sleep all day if you can. The body needs rest as it tries to build up your blood and excitement will only defeat that purpose. Nick I know you love Sara and probably want to share your life story with her but please…just let it wait. If she doesn't heal properly there could be serious consequences."

"Okay Doc," Nick said with a frown, now worried that Sara still wasn't completely free from danger. "Is she going to live?" Nick asked softly.

"I'm quite certain," Dr. Adams said with a smile. "Don't even think about that. Just concentrate on getting better and everything will be fine. Now I have a few things to do but I'll be back to take the blood test. Oh Sara I'm going to be sending one of my female nurses around to see you later today if you have a good day and she'll give you a spot bath and change the catheter and stuff like that. Nick if you're able you can walk to the bathroom and get a male nurse to help you take a shower downst…"

"No that's okay," Nick said quickly, as nasty images of himself naked before Adam Norse zoomed into his mind.

"I understand," Dr. Adams said softly. "Well you can get one to wait outside for you if you'd like or I can do it. But I don't want you do that kind of activity alone and it's important to keep the body clean, especially in a place like this. If you were to pass out or something it could be bad."

"Okay," Nick said with a heavy sigh of resignation.

"Alright then I'll be back later," Dr. Adams said as he turned and left the room.

Both Nick and Sara waited for him to leave before turning to the other with a large smile.

"Sara I love you so much," Nick said in haste. "I just can't say it enough to make you believe me."

"I know you do Nick," Sara said softly. "And I do believe you."

"I never doubted you," Nick continued. "It was me I doubted. I was afraid that…" he started only to have her squeeze his hand and make him stop.

"Shhh Nick," Sara said quickly. "Don't talk about that now. Let's just concentrate on the future. Our future."

"Sounds nice," Nick said with a broad smile. Nick studied the tired expression on Sara's face and frowned. "You look tired."

"I am," she said weakly. "I need sleep."

"Okay," he said taking her hand once more and kissing it. "Let's sleep."

Sara offered a little laugh at his silly expression but gratefully closed her eyes and was immediately taken back into the world of sleep.

Nick watched her as he wasn't as tired. He smiled as he watched a slight smile play across her lips, hoping she was thinking of him and their possible future together. "I love you," he whispered making her smile grow even more. Nick felt a certain warmth cover him as he too closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep that in truth he needed just as badly. By the time Dr. Adams came back for the blood test both were sleeping soundly. He did the blood extraction quietly and then quickly left.

"Morning," Catherine said walking into Grissom's office.

"Sleep well?" Grissom asked with a slight smile.

"Actually I did," she said sitting down in front of him. "You?"

"Not to bad," he said putting his file down. "So Kylie Norse's hearing is in a few days," he said with a heavy sigh.

"I just wish there was something we could do to give her a real home with someone who would love and care for her," Catherine said with a sigh.

"Feel like adopting?" Grissom teased.

"If I could afford it I probably would," Catherine sighed.

"Well I got a call from Dr. Adams this morning. Seems like Sara is going to be just fine."

"That's a relief," Catherine smiled faintly. "And Nick?"

"Nick is going to be just fine as well since it was Nick who left his room and went to see Sara in her's."

"What? Really?" Catherine asked as her smile started to get a little wider. "Wait a minute, wasn't he hooked up to IV's and all that?" Catherine asked with a quick frown.

"Yes he was," Grissom said firmly. "That's our Nick."

"Great," Catherine mumbled in sarcasm. "Can we go see them?"

"Sure," Grissom said standing up. "Want to visit Meeks as well?"

"Sure," Catherine mocked as she stood up.

"Nervous?" Warrick asked as he and Brass headed for the area the supposed meeting of the Children of Eden was taking place. Brass had talked to Andrew Meeks in the morning to confirm the location and now they were going to set up and just wait.

"Nervous? Hell no," Brass said with a sigh. "I live to crash parties with a bunch if mindless zombies, dressed up as monks who sacrifice children."

"Funny," Warrick said dryly.

"Here we go," Brass said as they finally came to their intended destination.

A few hours later Nick slowly opened his eyes and looked over at Sara who was still asleep. He let out a long heavy sigh and turned his head and looked out the window into the late morning sun. He felt a smile creep across his face and for the first time in weeks he actually felt at peace.

"Nice feeling isn't it?" Sara's soft voice asked Nick as he continued to stare out the window.

"Yes it is," Nick said with a smile. He let his gaze linger on the deep blue of the sky before turning back to her soft smiling face. "It sure is…and all thanks to you."

"Nick I almost got us both killed," Sara lamented.

"Sara you…well it was the thought of almost losing you that helped me fight them for the first time…I mean really fight them," Nick said with a heavy frown. His eyes shifted back and forth as he just stared into her peaceful expression. "The times before…I mean when I was kidnapped before," he said softly as he looked away from her gaze, not wanting her to see his watery gaze.

"Nick it's okay," Sara said gently squeezing his hand. "You don't have to be sad anymore…they're dead."

"Don't you see," Nick said turning back to her. "Sara I could have stopped this long ago," he said in a sad weak voice. "I didn't fight back until it was almost too late."

"But you did fight back," Sara insisted. "That's what counts the most."

"It was you," Nick told her firmly. "Sara when I saw Eve shoot you and then…oh man I mean when I first saw you there I knew…I knew something bad would happen and I would be responsible."

"But you aren…"

"I just couldn't let that happen. But why didn't I fight back like that before?"

"Nick you were drugged," Sara told him. "Were you drugged this time?"

"No," Nick answered softly.

"See," Sara said firmly. "Nick you can't blame yourself for what happened in the past. Just like you can't blame yourself for what Eve did to you. Be happy you were able to help stop her in the end and that she is gone."

"You saved my life," Nick said looking up as a soft tear escaped one corner of his eye and ran down his cheek.

"I said I would," Sara said gently lifting her hand and brushing it away. "Nick we are safe and together, that's all that matters."

"She said I was just a number…just a chance because I happened to look like the man who molested her for eight years," Nick said in a pained voice.

"Eight years?" Sara asked in disbelief. "Wow no wonder she had so much hatred in her. I would have wanted revenge as well."

"Yeah well she got it when she murdered her father," Nick said with a frown.

"And was never caught?" Sara wondered.

"Maybe she was still a juvenile and plead insanity or something," Nick suggested. "I'm not sure…all I know is those other boys didn't deserve to die because of how they looked. They were innocent…innocent Sara…just like me."

"I know Nick," Sara said softly as she brought his hand to her mouth and tenderly kissed it. "But you're free now. All of you are free. And the families…Danny's family and Wilson's family and the rest…they're free. Isn't that what counts the most?"

Nick looked at her for a few seconds and then felt his frown easing away, replaced by a warm loving smile.

"What?" Sara asked suspiciously.

"You amaze me sometimes. Do you know that?" Nick asked softly making Sara smile even more. "You do. I love you so much Sara it's just hard sometimes for me to even believe it. But I do…I do believe it Sara…I'm not afraid anymore."

"Me either," she said in a soft whisper, a slight dryness in her throat.

"You okay?" Nick asked in concern.

"Yeah just a bit tired again," she smiled. "I need more blood in me."

"And it's coming," Dr. Adams said walking into their room. "The blood test shows your red blood cell count is rising at a regular rate for this kind of solution. But when you feel tired you should sleep."

"Okay," Sara said with a smile.

Dr. Adams checked a few more things and then left the room once again.

"Well I guess you need some sleep," Nick said with a slight yawn.

"And you?"

"Me?" Nick yawned again. "I'm…in my…prime," he laughed.

"Uh…huh…" Sara teased.

"Okay already I'll sleep too," he said nestling back in the bed, his bandaged arm still above the covers as he flipped onto his side careful of his wounded shoulder. "Sorry my body is a bit sore. The stab wound through the chest is starting to take its toll on everything."

"Ouch," Sara said softly. "Nick I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"For not getting there sooner," Sara said with a pained look.

"Hey better late than never," Nick said with a frown. "But let's sleep okay?"

"Okay," she smiled softly.

Nick watched her close her eyes and then felt a warm happiness settle upon him once again as he too closed his eyes and drifted back into a light sleep.

Grissom and Catherine entered Meeks room and looked at the janitor sitting up in his bed reading the paper.

"Morning," Meeks said with a smile as he set the paper down and looked at Grissom and Catherine.

"How are you feeling?" Grissom asked in concern.

"Like I was the main attraction at the Rodeo," he said with a sigh. "But I'm alive…that's what counts right?"

"Right," Catherine said firmly.

"So I heard that Adam and Eve finally met their maker," Meeks said in sarcasm.

"Yeah although not the one they hoped for," Grissom mused. "Thanks for helping Brass with the location for tonight's gathering. He and another member of our team are in Dallas right now."

"Hey anything to put those crazies out of business," Meeks said leaning back in his bed.

"So what happens now?" Catherine asked.

"Well now all my findings and evidence that I gathered will join yours and I'll go back home to Dallas and…and I guess that will be that," he said with a heavy sigh. He stared out the window in sorrow as he thought about his dead son. "I failed Joey," he finally mentioned.

"If you said nothing then you would have failed him," Grissom reminded him. "But you helped bring his killers to justice. That is not failure."

"I don't have my son back," Meeks said looking at Grissom with a mournful expression.

"No but there is a little girl who is a victim of all this…an innocent child with no home or family that could really use one."

"What? Who?" Meeks asked.

"Catherine?" Grissom questioned making her look at him quickly.

"She can't just become an award of the state Gil," Catherine pleaded. "She needs to be loved…she probably doesn't even know what it is."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Kylie Norse," Catherine stated.

"Adam had a daughter?" Meeks asked in amazement.

"She is eight and has autism and is in a hospital right now. But apparently she has moved from hospital to hospital in whatever state they happened to land and murder in."

"And you want me to what? Adopt her?" Meeks asked softly.

"Only if you want to," Catherine said softly. "She has no one."

"Catherine we can't," Grissom reminded her.

"Why not?" Catherine countered. "She really does have no one."

"It's not our call," Grissom told her.

"D-do you think I'd have a chance?" Meeks asked softly.

"Is that what you want?" Grissom asked directly.

"Grissom you don't understand," Meeks told him plainly. "Eve…she murdered my son…my only child…and now…I mean granted she is the child of the man who helped murder my son but she is innocent. Should she be punished because of that?"

Grissom heard his plea and knew he had a valid point.

"Better than going to some cold hospital or group home," Catherine softly added. Catherine looked back at Meeks with a soft smile. "I'm sorry to just throw this at you right now," she said with a heavy sigh. "It's just that…"

"That someone has to feel responsible because her parents don't?" Meeks asked.

"Something like that," Catherine smiled. "Will you at least think about it?"

"I will…and seriously," Meeks said with a kind smile. "She does deserve a chance. What um…what will you tell her about her father?"

"That he died trying to save her," Grissom said softly, even to the surprise of Catherine. "She doesn't need to live the rest of her life labeled with the horrible truth."

Catherine just looked at him with a smile of admiration.

"Right?" Grissom asked, hating the mounting silence.

"Very right," Catherine said warmly. "I think you're learning."

"Hey you're to blame…"

"What?" Catherine asked in shock.

"Yeah you put this silly idea of happy endings into my head and now…" he said with a smile almost forgetting they had an audience.

"So um when do I have to let you know?" Meeks asked them.

"A few days," Grissom told him. "It's a big decision and we don't want to rush you."

"Thanks," he said with a warm smile. "Just thinking about it makes me happy."

After chatting a bit more about the case itself both Grissom and Catherine turned and headed for Nick and Sara's room to see how they were doing.

"I think they are still asleep," Catherine mumbled as they stood in the doorway of their room.

"Sara is," Nick whispered.

"How are you feeling?" Grissom whispered as they softly walked up to his side of the bed.

"Tired," Nick sighed. "Sara has been sleeping on and off and Dr. Adams says she needs more to build more blood."

"Right. Then we'll see you tomorrow," Grissom said patting Nick's arm.

"Glad you are both okay," Catherine smiled warmly.

Nick watched them leave and then turned back to Sara who was slightly stirring. "Grissom…Catherine…" she mumbled without fully waking up.

"Just left," Nick whispered. "Go back to sleep."

"Okay," Sara mumbled once more and then drifted back into sleep. Nick watched her for a few more minutes and then fell into a deep sleep himself. By the time he next woke up it was already dark and the hospital floor was quiet.

Nick had raised his bed slightly and was reading the newspaper when Sara finally woke. "Hey," Nick said softly as he put the paper down and looked over at her.

"Did I sleep this long?" Sara asked in surprise.

"Yes you did," Nick said firmly. "But you needed it. Dr. Adams said he'd be back to take another blood test in a few hours."

"Shesh how can I build more when he keeps taking it?" Sara asked sarcastically making him laugh.

"Well I have to get up and go to the bathroom," Nick said slowly. "But when I get back want me to read to you?"

"Sounds wonderful," Sara said in a lazy voice. "Really wonderful."

"Great," Nick said with a large smile as he stopped the IV like Dr. Adams showed him, unhooked the bag and slowly headed for the bathroom. He found it hard with one his shoulder bandaged and in a sling but somehow he managed. After he was done he headed to the mirror and stared at his battered appearance. The bruises on his face, especially where he broke his nose were now dark bluish red and the small cuts were starting to heal. His chest still hurt from the stab wound as he tried to straighten up and his entire frame felt like it was going to snap in half at any second.

"But I'm alive," he reminded himself. "That's all that really matters." He was about to run the water when he heard Hank's voice from outside. What on earth?

Hank walked into the room and saw Sara lying on her bed staring out the window. "Hey," he said softly as he approached her.

Sara looked up in surprise as Hank neared her. "Hi Hank," she said rather formally.

"How are you feeling?" Hank asked in concern.

"I'm alive," Sara told him. "That's all that counts."

"I was really worried," Hank said with a frown.

"Yeah? Why?"

"Why? Because for one thing I heard you tried to sacrifice yourself for that no good playboy Stokes and for another thing…"

"No good? Playboy?" Sara asked with a frown, strictly reminding herself not to get worked up because he wasn't worth it. "Nick is not…"

"Sara please don't be so naïve," Hank snided.

"Hank like I told you every time before I love Nick and I don't care what you think."

"Sara I'm only thinking of y…"

"Of yourself!" She snapped.

"Can't you see it Sara? He doesn't love you. He's a playboy…a womanizer a…"

"Sounds like you," Sara countered.

"That hurt," Hank stated flatly.

"What did you expect?" Sara retorted. "Now please leave before I call the doctor."

"Sara just tel…"

"I think she asked you to leave," Nick said firmly as he left the bathroom and walked up to them, unable to listen to Sara in her weakened condition.

"Well isn't this a cozy picture," Hank laughed at Nick.

"You know you are such an ass to be coming here and upsetting Sara in her condition," Nick said walking closer. "But I can expect that from someone like you."

"You know Stokes if you weren't in such a feeble condition I'd really show you who's the best man around here," Hank taunted.

"Yeah I'm sure what Sara wants is a big bully like you," Nick snided.

"Better than a run-around playboy like you," Hank snided back both of them a few feet from each other.

"Please stop," Sara said weakly. "Hank just go."

Nick looked back up at Hank with a smile. "Try to listen this time," he smiled.

"Just tell me one thing: what does this loser has that I don't?" Hank challenged Sara.

"Me," she said proudly. "And that's the one thing you'll never have."

Hank looked at Sara in disbelief and shock and then at Nick who wore a smile of pride and happiness. "Ah you both deserve each other!" Hank spat as he turned and stormed angrily out of the room.

"Damn," Nick cursed as Hank left. "I really wanted to kick his ass."

Sara just laughed lightly as Nick slowly walked back to the bed and sat down, nestling himself into the covers once again. "You don't need to prove yourself to me in that way Nick," Sara said softly. "There are other ways…better ways," she said with a wink making him slightly blush.

"I see," Nick said weakly. "Well I want you to just relax and I'll read…" he said picking up the newspaper. "Something not depressing. How about the sports page?" He asked sheepishly.

"Nick you could read me the classifieds for all I care. I just care that we are together," Sara said warmly.

Nick brought his legs up and rested the paper on it and held it with one hand. The other again snakes its way into Sara's bed and held her hand while he read to her.

Sara just lay and listened to Nick as a peaceful calm washed over her, covering her with happiness. She watched his facial expressions as she read to him and smiled the entire time, her heart beating steadily, her mind filled with love.

The rest of the night was much the same with them just resting, lightly talking and Nick reading to Sara while she just listened and rested, her blood continuing to build and both their bodies continuing to heal.

Nick got the call from Grissom that Warrick and Brass had arrested the members of the Children of Eden and saved the little child that was to be their next victim. Eve's apartment had been fully logged as well as the remnants of the vehicle at the accident scene. They found the abandoned van beside the building that Adam and Eve used to transport the dead bodies of the boys along with DNA traces from not only Danny Meyer and Wilson Monroe but that of Nick Stokes. Eve's past came to bore with minor reports and complaints about her molestation. They finally found the report about the murder of her father and how it looked like a random killing and not that of his enraged and angered daughter. The story that led up to them forming the Children of Eden was catalogued and put into a file, only a few actually brave enough to read it's chilling contents.

The evidence against the Adam Norse and Eve Sutherland still continued to grow even after Nick and Sara both fell asleep for the night including the money they had collected and hospital visits that Eve had made to Kylie. Greg had worked overtime with Grissom and Catherine to help catalogue everything and Andrew Meeks had called Catherine and told her that he wanted to adopt Kylie Norse and would be able to pay for her treatments at a nice hospital in Dallas that she could attend during the day and live with him the rest of the time. Meeks got his old job back with the Dallas PD and only minor charges were pending with his involvement with the Children of Eden.

The next morning as Sara and Nick awoke the past weeks horrible events had already started to fade into a distant unpleasant memory. They spent most of the day and the rest of the days to come, just talking to one another and really getting to know one another all over again. Sara told Nick about her life before CSI the things liked and didn't and her fears of relationships. Nick told Sara all about his past and what troubled him and she helped him with future ideas, helped him to see that he was really loved and that she wasn't going anyplace. He talked about his stays with Eve and his last stay with Adam and the terror he felt. Finally they talked about the last confrontation and the accident itself. A few hours later Nick was helped downstairs to the showers while Sara was given a spot bath in her bed and the catheter changed. Dr. Adams had suggested to Nick to talk to a counselor about what happened to him and with Sara's promise to be at his side for each visit he reluctantly agreed.

Large bouquets of flowers were sent to them and the whole CSI team including Brass and Greg and Al stopped by and visited them during different times of the day. Dr. Adams said both were improving better than expected and said their strong love for life and each other was the responsible force behind that healing power. They even received visits not only from the Danny's and Wilson's parents but Tommy's as well and a few of the other teachers. Sara felt herself crying when she listened to Danny's mom hugging and crying to Nick that she was thankful her son's murderer was dead. In fact Brass said he was now able to contact the rest of the parents and tell them the real killer and that both were dead and they were all just as thankful as Danny's.

Finally by the end of the week it was time for them both to go home, although both would be on leave for the next few weeks, it was deemed better than staying in the hospital.

"Well that was a long week," Catherine sighed as her and Grissom drove back to the lab after dropping Nick and Sara off at his place.

"Think they'll be okay with just Nick looking after them?" Grissom asked in concern.

"Yes," Catherine said firmly. "You know now that this case is over and it is the weekend," Catherine said softly.

"Yes?" Grissom asked with a small smile.

"I was going to take Lindsey to the park tomorrow and wondered if you'd like to come. Just spend some time with us?"

"Are you sure?" Grissom asked in surprise.

"Never been more sure," Catherine smiled.

"Then I'd love to," Grissom told her.

"Perfect," Catherine said.

"But first," Grissom said turning the truck in a direction opposite the lab. "Let me take you to dinner. I owe you one remember?" He teased.

"You don't owe me anyth…" Catherine started.

"Then let's just say I want to," he said firmly. "If that's okay?"

"Then I'd love to," she echoed his words from earlier.

"Perfect," he teased. "Happy endings?"

"Always," Catherine said firmly.

"Man what a week," Nick said as he headed into the bedroom where Sara was just laying on his bed relaxing.

"Nick are you sure I'm not just a burden here for yo…"

"Sara please don't say that again," Nick said softly. "I want to help you and take care of you. Let me?"

"Okay," she said unable to say no to his smile.

"How about a nice hot bubble bath?" He asked with a smile.

"Only if you'll join me," she winked.

"Love to," he said blushing. Nick rushed out of the room making Sara laugh and smile at his antics. While he poured the bath Sara just rested on the bed and looked at a picture of herself on his dresser. "I love you Nick," she whispered softly as she listened to the water running in the other room. A few minutes later Nick had returned and extended his hand to help her up. Sara gently stood up and then stood facing him, neither one of them moving.

"Sara I need to say something to you," Nick said softly, his heart rate starting to rise.

Sara looked in anticipation at his expression and felt her own heart rate starting to rise as well. "Okay," she said softly.

Nick felt his heart start to pound in his ears but he knew if he didn't do this now he might never. He took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes and smiled. "Sara I love you. All my life I have been searching for peace and happiness…for the one person who would make me forget all the terrible things I have faced in my past and give me strength and courage to face the ones in the future. Someone who would be there for me no matter what the cost, even willing to give up their precious life to save my meager one. Someone who I could trust and love with all my very being and hopefully earn their trust and love in return. I met that someone Sara and it's you. I have never felt more complete in my entire life and I know it can only get stronger. Let me love you Sara. Let me prove to you how much you mean to me and how much I need you. Let me show you how wonderful life can be if we share it together. Sara Sidle," Nick said with a soft pause, brushing away a happy tear on her face before he dropped to one knee. He whipped out a small black velvet box and held up to her smiling face. "Will you marry me? Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Sara looked at him for a minute; unable to utter the one word she longed to say. "Yes," she whispered numbly, her heart racing at top speed and her eyes still watering from his beautiful and heartfelt words. "I love you Nick and I so want to marry you," she said in a small voice that she finally found.

Nick slowly stood back up and placed the ring on her slightly trembling finger. He leaned in and tenderly but passionately kissed her on the lips, wrapping his arms around her, careful not to press to hard. After a few brief but passionate minutes Nick slowly led them to the now steamy bathroom. He had lit a few candles and had soft music playing, the bubbles rising from his modest size bathtub.

"This is for you," he said softly as he stood her in front of him and started to slowly unbutton his shirt, exposing his well defined chest for her hungry gaze. He started to unzip his jeans and then slowly climb out of them leaving on his boxers on his slightly bronzed body.

"Wow," Sara breathed as she continued to devour the perfect being before her. Nick smiled under her warm comment and then stared in anticipation as she reached for her shirt. She was a little hesitant because of the ugly scar her mid-section now bore thanks to the bullet and surgery she sustained at Eve's evil hands.

"Sara I don't care about the scar," Nick said softly. "You are beautiful no matter what. Please?" He begged weakly.

Sara slightly smiled and with nervous hands started to slowly lift her shift over her head leaving only her black lace bra as coverage over her breasts. She next slowly slid her jeans down her legs until she stood in just her underwear before his devouring eyes.

"You are…perfect," Nick whispered happily making her smile broaden even more. Nick leaned in close, wrapped his arms around her and slowly undid the clasp on her bra. "Let me make love to you," he whispered in her ear, sending little shivers down her spine to her feet.

Sara looked at him with a broad smile and kissed him long and hard on the lips. "Let me make love to you back."

Nick forgot all about the warm scented bubble bath waiting for them as he lifted Sara into his strong arms and carried her to the bed and gently lay her down on top of it. He lowered himself down on top of her and started to kiss her warm and inviting body. He smiled as he felt her respond in kind and for the first time in weeks the thoughts of Eve and her ugliness, his past and the present scars he still bore had faded. For the next few hours nothing else in the world would matter to them. As he started to make love to his wife to be a peaceful calm washed over them both. Embracing them in its endless arms. Wrapping them in serenity. And watching over them with a careful eye making sure they got the love they both needed and deserved. The long hard battle had been fought and won, it was now time to enjoy the much-deserved reward. And tomorrow would come. The future was theirs to share together. But for now it would have to wait…

**Dear readers…kind of a sappy ending but then I like sappy endings. Hope you all enjoyed this story and will continue to support my other Nick/Sara stories. Be sure to check out 'All I Wanna Do' featuring just Nick and Sara. Review if you'd like me to write more stories like this! Thank you everyone. You all rock!**
PS. There is a nasty rumor spreading around that a sequel to 'Liquid Death' might be coming. If you like that lemme know!
And as always support for my original fiction is more than appreciated: