Title: The Price of Redemption
Chapter 9 … Starting Over

Sara's mind was a mix of torrid emotions. She kept seeing Nick tied to the bed and dying while Skyler held her back and laughed. She would awake from her light sleep, wipe the tears from her eyes and stare at Nick, telling herself that he really was safe now. This whole ordeal had taught her how precious life and love really were. She nearly lost him to an ugly grudge and cursed herself inside for holding a part of her back. What if I lost him and never got the chance to tell him how I really felt? Her mind raced with thoughts and as she gazed upon Nick's anguished expression she knew his mind was showing him images of his near death.

"I love you Nick," she whispered into the still night.

Sara finally let herself fall asleep in the uncomfortable chair by Nick's bedside when he finally fell asleep, breathing softly and no signs of anymore attacks, at least for now. Dr. Adams told her that once the worse was over the mild ones would be okay for him to handle without being tied down. While he was asleep Dr. Adams gently untied the ankle and wrist restraints and covered Nick with a warm blanket. Sara heard the commotion and woke up and watched Dr. Adams help Nick and then watched as Nick's body instinctively curled into a ball and Dr. Adams said he would know if it was hurting him. The IV drip and the catheter had come out a few hours earlier. Finally her eyes closed and she too was fast asleep as the sun started to slow tiny slivers of light.

Nick's mind continued to show him haunting images of his abduction with Skyler and attacks by Jimmy. He felt himself muttering angrily in his sleep but when he found he was no longer tied down but able to turn onto his side and curl himself, up he slept much better. A few hours later he slowly opened his tired baggy eyes to see Sara asleep in the chair in front of his bed and his friend standing by the window looking out.

"Jason?" Nick called out in a low, hoarse whisper.

Sara, however, heard his voice and was quick to wake herself out of her sleepy stupor. "Nick?" She said in a mild panic. She looked from Nick to Jason and back to Nick and knew everything was okay. "Well…" she said pushing herself up and rubbing her tired eyes. "I think I'm going to go and get some coffee," she said with a firm smile. She leaned forwards and gently kissed Nick on his bruised lips. "Nick I'm so glad you're okay," she said warmly.

"Thanks Sara," he managed softly. "I mean it…thanks for not giving up on me after what I said," he whispered in her ear.

"I'd never give up on us," she told him. "I know you'd do the same for me. I'm going to go downstairs and get some coffee and let you talk to Jason alone. Dr. Adams said your withdrawals will lessen but you'll still have them today. Then I'll be back and we can just talk…well for a bit."

"I'd like that," Nick said weakly. "And at least I can breathe on me own."

"You shouldn't be talking so much either," Sara said with a frown.

"I'm going to go back to sleep when Jason leaves," he said with a soft smile. "I promise."

Sara gently kissed the top of his forehead and then walked up to Jason. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I guess it's a good thing I have a thick head," he smirked. "But I'm okay."

"He needs to rest. Please don't get into an argument," Sara said in a soft but firm voice.

"I promise I'll only stay for five minutes," Jason said firmly. Sara hugged him and then looked once more at Nick. "Be back in a bit."

"Bye," Nick said hoarsely. He watched her leave and then turned his narrowed gaze at his friend. But he didn't say a word, only looked at him in frustration.

"You look tired," Jason mumbled.

"I am," Nick said back. "I'm sorry for what I said before…about you being a loser and selfish and…" Nick said looking away as he felt himself starting to choke up. "When I saw him hitting you…and then you go still…I was scared…and I'm sorry for what I said…you helped me when I needed it and…"

"Nick its okay," Jason said gently touching his heaving chest as Nick tried to tell him he was sorry. "Just rest your voice okay. It sounds really bad."

"Hurts too," Nick frowned as he wiped some water from his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," Jason said firmly. "But I'm glad you're alive and you're going to be okay."

"Yeah," Nick smiled.

"Why not sleep and I'm going to read," Jason said sitting down beside him and grabbing a magazine. Nick rolled onto his side and watched his friend until he was unable to keep his eyes open any longer. Jason looked up at Nick who had finally fallen back asleep and frowned heavily. I'm sorry I let you down Nick, he said inside. You risked everything for me and I still managed to screw things up. I have to make it up to you somehow, he said firmly. I have to show you what you did for me was not in vain. Somehow I have to show you that the trust you put in me over Skyler was worth it. I wonder what happened to Skyler, Jason asked himself?

"Hey Skyler you bastard!" Yelled the prison guard as he slammed his baton on the cell bars. "Get your ass out of bed you lazy…"

"I think he's ill today," came a voice from behind the prison guard.

"What do you mean?" The guard asked Mario Fetalucci.

"Well he looked kinda pale last night," the mob boss snided as he approached with two guards at each side. "But why not ask him yourself?" He asked with an evil grin.

The guard called for the cell door to be opened and slowly sauntered inside. "Skyler!" He yelled as he kicked his leg, Skyler's limp body on it's side, facing away from him. "I said…" he tried again as he reached out and yanked Skyler's body towards him. "Damn!" He cursed under his breath as he noticed a small dried blood trail from the side of his mouth.

"What the hell happened here?" The guard asked, turning to face Fetalucci.

"No idea," he lied with a dry smile. "I was working the whole time. And this time…" he said gesturing to the guards on his side. "I have witnesses."

"Right," the guard said with a heavy sigh as he pulled out his walkie-talkie. "Get me Jim Brass…" he started as he headed for the jail office.

Fetalucci stood outside his cell and smiled to himself. "And that as they say is that. Told him not to piss me off."

"Why are you smiling this early in the morning?" Grissom asked as Brass walked up to him.

"Why are you working so early in the morning?" Brass countered.

"Asked you first," Grissom challenged.

"Just got some good news. I guess justice does get served here once and a while."

"Skyler? You mean his hearing was already? He was just processed last night?" Grissom asked in disbelief.

"More like his sentence was passed," Brass said sitting down in front of him. "Well at least Nick and Jason and anyone else Skyler threatened won't have to worry anymore."

"What happened?"

"Not really sure," Brass said with a mock frown. "I asked his roommate but he said that he couldn't recall anything past a small warning."

"And who was his roommate?" Grissom asked with an arched brow.

"Mario Fetalucci," Brass replied triumphantly.

"Did Fetalucci know that Skyler tried to pin all these murders ultimately on him and actually killed a family member?"

"I think a little bird might have told him," Brass said proudly.

"And that little bird would be?" Grissom probed.

"You know I can't recall…"

"You sound like Fetalucci…" Grissom smirked.

"Well if anyone knows how to cover his ass it's always the mob boss himself."

"Organized crime," Grissom pondered softly as he leaned back in his chair and looked at Brass thoughtfully. "Who would have though that we would owe Nick's future safety to them?"

"Obviously not Skyler," Brass snided. "I'm just glad it's over."

"Yeah really over," Grissom said tossing him a manila folder.

"What's this?"

"Breakfast," Grissom snided. "The sooner we close this case the sooner we can start a fresh."

"Amen to that," Brass said softly. "Thank God this is all over for good. You think Nick's okay?" Brass quickly asked.

"He will be," Grissom replied. "He…wil…be…"

"Hey that was a short sleep," Jason said looking at Nick who quickly woke himself from another fitful nightmare. "What's up?" He asked noticing Nick's cross face.

"Why do you do it?" Nick asked softly as he awoke about half an hour later. "I mean you like feeling like this?" Nick asked as he finally turned his head and looked at his friend with an angry stare.

"Nick I…"

"You like being strapped down to a bed like a common criminal white you piss and crap all over yourself and while some stranger has to help you vomit?" Nick half yelled.

"Nick…" Jason tried again.

"You like having your brain feel like it's been kicked like a million times and your heart race so fast you have one heart attack after another?" Nick shouted. "Tell me Jason, because I'm having a hard time understanding why you like it!"

"Nick this yelling isn't going to help!"

"I don't care!" Nick said as he started to cough. "I'm allowed."

"You need to calm down," Jason tried.

"I am calm," Nick coughed again. "I…"

"If you had rash thinking, I'd be seeing the same calm guy I did in the past," Jason told him.

"I am ca…" Nick started before another coughing attack hit him and he had to stop, wiping the tears from his eyes once more.

"I'm leaving," Jason said standing up.

Nick quickly sat, felt the room start to spin and cursed the fact he sat up too fast. "Yeah run…" Nick said with a sarcastic laugh. "That's what you always do…what you're best at. Run from your problems."

Jason turned back to him in anger.

"Nick you don't…" Jason started.

"The only problem is, genius," Nick mocked. "Your problems come with you. You can't just get rid of them by drugging yourself out for a few hours!"

"You don't understand," Jason moaned as he neared his friend's hospital bed. "I was sick and…"

"You made yourself sick," Nick quickly countered. "You could have quit any time and you know it!"

"I needed help," Jason said looking down. "You never showed up when I needed you most. You made promises but you didn't keep them," Jason said looking back up in contempt.

"Don't do that," Nick said shaking his head. "Don't stand there and try to make me feel guilty for something that is not my fault!"

"Yeah like you would have asked for help if Sara hadn't forced you to go to rehab," Jason threw back at him.

Nick searched his brain for a comeback but knew his friends words to be true. He had hid the first two times from her and told himself he could handle it and didn't need help.

"See…" Jason stated.

"I was forced them Jason…big difference," Nick tried.

"Nick I don't want to argue with you," Jason said quickly as he noticed Nick starting to turn palid. "Are you okay?"

"I...I feel sick…" Nick said grabbing for another bag. He spewed up more water and bile and then thanked Jason when he took the bag.

"You are lashing out at me because you feel you have to get it out of your system."

"What out?" Nick asked.

"The fact that you are in here and being treated like a druggie when you aren't one," Jason told him.

"I..." Nick started and stopped.

"Look Nick I really don't want to argue. You want to blame me for getting involved? Okay that's fine," Jason said turning to leave. "But in the end it doesn't really matter. You experienced a part of my world. For better or worse you can never change that."

"I…" Nick started.

"For a few brief moments you were me…we were the same…you can't preach to me now…not anytime!" Jason spat as he finally disappeared from view.

Nick let his angry words hang in his head as Sara walked past Jason and up to Nick.

"Nice argument. Thought I said…"

"You heard that?" Nick asked softly.

"The whole world heard. What was it about?"

"About us both being pig-headed," Nick said with a smirk. "It was nothing."

"I hope so," Sara said with a heavy sigh as she gently touched his forehead. "You're warm again."

"I threw up when Jason was here," he sighed. "My body still aches and my stomach feels like a wrench is being turned inside it."

"Dr. Adams said that would probably be for most of the day. How are you feeling today?" She asked in concern.

"Very tired. Didn't sleep very well," he sighed as he turned himself onto his other side, facing her but in a more comfortable position. "At least I'm not strapped down anymore," he said with a soft wince.

"Nick it was to protect yourself," Sara said gently touching his hand.

"I know," Nick huffed. "Just hated that feeling. "God I never want to feel that again. Dr. Adams told me earlier that I would have the shakes today and a few more withdrawals. The vomiting will lessen as my stomach starts to heal again and my larynx will take some more time. But the shakes and sweats," he said looking down at his trembling hands. "Sara my hands…they um…"

"It's okay Nick," Sara said walking up to him and gently touching his shaking hands. "It's part of the process."

"My hands have never shaken like this before," he said not looking up.

"Nick you will get through this," Sara said firmly. "If anyone has the strength to do this, you do."

"Do you think it will affect my job?"

"No," Sara said firmly. "You will never let anything affect your job."

"Do you think it will affect us?" He asked looking down.

"We will never let anything affect us again."

Nick looked up at her and smiled faintly. "I love you Sara," he finally admitted. "I mean you stuck by me and…" he said looking away. "You said you loved me when I was at my worst. That is love. But I was surprised you said it."

"You don't think I love you?" Sara asked softly, forcing his gaze back to her.

"I didn't think you'd want to," Nick said sadly.

"Why? Just because I saw you at a time when you weren't your best?"

"Best?" Nick asked with a soft smirk. "Yeah hardly. But Jason was right," Nick said with a sad huff. "For better or worse I did get a taste of his life…of what he has been through and…"

"Nick you can't compare yourse…"

"I'm not," he said looking up quickly. "I just know how it feels to be without hope. I mean Sara…" he said taking her hand in his. "I prayed for death a few times," he said in a dead whisper. "I was so scared and…and now I know how that feels," he said looking back up at her with a teary expression. "I don't ever want to feel that again."

"Nick I will never let anything like that happen to you but…" she started and then pulled her hand away.

"But what Sara? What's wrong?"

"You didn't trust me at fi…" she started and then stopped. "You know you need your rest," she said forcing a fake smile and immediately brushing away a stray tear.

"You're right. I didn't trust you at first," Nick admitted shamefully. "I was a fool. I was too proud as I was in the past and…"

"Did you ever have a run in with Skyler like this before?"

"You mean forced drugs and stuff?" Nick asked softly.

"Yes."

"I…I tried them in college…I mean who doesn't right?" Nick said with a sigh. "But nothing like this…never like this. Sara I betrayed your trust. How could I ever expect you to give me love when I…when I didn't even…"

"Nick you are only human."

"Then you are forgiving what I did?" He asked with a deeply furrowed brow.

"Well I still feel the pain," she said looking away. "Nick I never would have turned you away. I never would have. I would have been at your side every step of the way and…and I guess it just hurts to think that you didn't trust me enough to see that."

"Sara I was such a fool," Nick said with whispered curse. "I was scared and ashamed and…and I didn't want you to see me like that. I didn't want to see me like that. I have always been good at handling things on my own but…but this was beyond me. Now I see that that was Jason's problem as well. It was beyond the scope of just one person. Whether he asked for help or not he sure needed it."

"Well you can help him now," Sara said with a soft smile.

"I really want to," he said taking her hand in his once again and holding it gently in his. He could feel his throat starting to strain and then he started to cough once more.

"Nick we can talk later. You have probably hurt your lungs enough for now and…" she started only to be quickly interrupted by his words.

"Sara I love you too…I pray I never forget to show that to you in every way I can."

Sara looked at him and smiled before she leaned in and tenderly kissed him on the lips. "I love you too Nick," she said as he eased himself back down into the pillows. "Close your eyes and rest," she said pulling the blanket up over his shoulders as she noticed a slight shiver cover his body. "I'll be here when you wake up."

"Promise?" Nick asked in as soft whisper.

"Will all my heart."

"Well I am glad that is over," Catherine said walking into Grissom's office later that day. "When did you get in?"

"Early," he said with an easy smile.

"Why? This case is over. Only a few details to wrap up," she said sitting down in front of him.

"Just wanted to make sure everything was taken care of. I have a feeling that Sara will be pretty distracted until Nick's back up to full working order. So I thought I would get a head start on the day."

"How are they?" Catherine asked in concern.

"Nick's resting…well as good as he can be and Sara is just staying with him. When she left Jason was with him…"

"I wonder how that will go," Catherine huffed.

"Oh I can just imagine," Grissom replied in sarcasm. "But I'm sure that in a few days when Nick is fully over his withdrawals that him and Jason will sit down and have true heart to heart. Nick can now understand what Jason went through and I think…in a sad way…that this will really help Jason."

"Funny how that works," Catherine sighed. "Always good comes from heartache."

"Very true."

"And speaking of heartache. When is Skyler's turn coming?"

"Oh you haven't heard?" Grissom asked with a growing smile.

"Heard what?" Catherine asked slowly.

"About Skyler? Well apparently he was so overcome with grief that he died in his sleep," Grissom proclaimed.

"How convenient," Catherine mused. "Any witnesses?"

"Did you expect any?"

"Not really," she said looking at the files on his desk. "Well I guess all the families of the dead can have some peace now. Especially those thought died of a self-induced drug overdose."

"This is one crime ring that is now forever broken," Grissom pondered.

"You think we got them all?"

"Well all the ones on top," Grissom replied. "I think without their leaders the few remaining bag men will probably try to pawn themselves onto other dealers."

"Now that's a scary thought," Catherine sighed.

"Well at least it'll give Brass something to do," Grissom teased.

"Oh and I'm sure he thanks you for that."

"Funny he said the same thing," Grissom retorted.

"I'll bet," Catherine smiled.

They sat for a few minutes and allowed the silence to start filling the room before the silence was broken once again.

"You free on Saturday?" Grissom asked suddenly.

"Actually no," Catherine replied in haste.

"Oh…okay," Grissom said with a quick shrug and a false smile.

"Lindsey has a fundraising event that I told her I would help her with. In fact why don't you join us?" Catherine asked with a warm smile.

"Sounds too family for me to be butting in…" Grissom started.

"You wouldn't…"

"Well if you insist…"

"I do…"

"Then I accept," Grissom finished. "What do we have to do?"

"Don't worry it's not like you'll be getting dunked or a pie in the face," she teased. "Just a bazaar of sorts."

"Sounds great," Grissom said as Greg came whistling past their office.

"Speaking of great," Greg said with a large grin.

"Why don't I trust that smile," Grissom said with a slight frown.

"Oh what's not to trust? Candace and I spent a great night together…course we were both so tired that we fell asleep before we had a chance to have se…"

"Greg…" Catherine stopped him.

"I said we didn't have time for se…"

"Greg…" Grissom moaned.

"So we did this morning," he said proudly.

"Greg!" Both Grissom and Catherine said at once.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "How's Nick?"

"He'll be fine," Grissom said with a deeper frown. "Don't you have something to do besides standing there grinning like that?"

"As a matter of fact I do," he said firmly. "I have to finish my work so I can get off early and go and visit my best friend."

"And who is letting you off early to do that?" Grissom questioned.

"Uh you…" Greg said tuning and dashing away.

Grissom and Catherine exchanged amused smiles and then went back to the files, their minds now at ease. Nick was okay and his chief nemesis and his cohorts were either dead or disappeared. They knew it would be a longer process for Nick to be back to completely 100 but he was more than just a member of the team; he was their friend and as long as he needed is what he would get.

Sara watched Nick sleep until he opened his eyes once again.

"I want us to start over…you know a fresh beginning," Nick announced.

"I don't want that," Sara said quickly.

"What?" Nick asked in concern. "Why not?"

"Nick I won't let you just push what happened away. I'm not ashamed of you because of it," she said softly. "You will get through this and I will be with you every step of the way. People understand. The case was made known to the rest of the team. They know you didn't take them willingly."

"But what if I have to see a shrink or something," Nick asked with a lazy yawn. He turned his gaze towards the setting sun and frowned.

"Then we will go together," Sara said firmly.

"Aren't you afraid?"

"Of what? Seeing you human?" Sara asked with a firm smile. "Nick I'm sure that if I were to face something as hard as you have that I would want you not to be ashamed to see me at my worst. You are now stronger because of it," she said in a reassuring tone. "I don't want a new start. I want to continue where we left off."

"But I was jerk then and…"

"Nick I too was bit to blame," she huffed. "I jumped to the wrong conclusions right from the start and…"

"I love you Sara," he said stopping her. "When you are ready I'll know…I was never going to force that."

"I know," she replied in torment. "I was scared and…and I guess I didn't trust either," she admitted in shame.

"Boy are we the pair," Nick said with a slight smile as Dr. Adams walked into the room.

"Hey Doc," Nick said with a slight cough.

"How's the throat?"

"The drops are working but it's still kinda sore," Nick admitted.

"Well hopefully the medication will help the vomiting to subside and that will calm the stomach and the throat. The burning sensation in your lungs should also ease in a few more hours. Then your body will try to dispel the rest of the toxins but after that they should lessen with each hour. In a few days they should be gone completely."

"When can I go home?" Nick asked softly.

"Tomorrow Nick. I just want to keep you a bit longer. Your heart sustained a lot of trauma and we still need to monitor some of the withdrawals. Don't worry you'll be home soon enough."

Sara waited as Dr. Adams administered a few more drops to Nick's throat and then added a new IV drip bag and then left the room; with orders to Nick to rest as much as he could.

"Home…" Nick huffed. "You know I have so many bad memories in the last few days that…"

"Well you could always stay with me," Sara admitted with a shy smile.

"You don't mind?"

"Only if you help me clean," she said sternly.

"Will you wear a maid's outfit if I do?" He teased, making her lightly laugh. "Man I missed that sound," he said with a sigh. "I missed us…just being with you Sara. Dinner, a night in…a night out…whatever…doing laundry," he smiled. "I don't ever want to miss any of that stuff again."

"You won't," Sara promised. "But first I need you to get better."

"Deal," he said gently pulling her close for a warm kiss. "I am never letting go now."

"Don't," she said seriously. "Don't ever let go."

Nick kissed her once more and then pulled back as he felt another slight withdrawal coming on. Sara insisted Nick rest for at least a few more hours while she called into the office and found out what had happened. Skyler was dead. She breathed a huge sigh of relief inside and knew that Nick would be more than happy at his demise. Josie, the false receptionist was arrested and the rest of Skyler's team was killed. She was not sorry for any of that.

She had seen Jason heading for Nick's room and knew they needed some time to work things out. An hour later when she headed back, Nick and Jason were lightly laughing and she heard Nick promise to take Jason to his meetings and be at his side when he applied for juvie re-instatement. Nick was right. He was now in a better position to help Jason through the rest of his treatments and perhaps even find him a part time job to help him become a better member of society.

Strange, she pondered that night as she watched Nick trying to sleep…strange how some good actually came out of such a horrible ordeal. Grissom and Catherine had finally cemented their budding relationship…Greg was talking about taking his relationship with Candace to the next stage and Nick talked about them volunteering together at a juvie drop in center to help kids like Jason get off the streets and get back to normal.

She did love him, more than anything. And now for the first time in her life she was determined to show him she wasn't afraid to love or be loved. She wasn't afraid of what would come next or the compromises she might have to make to be with the man she loved from the moment they met. He was worth it – their future was more than worth it. She knew that now and for the first time wasn't afraid to embrace it with all she had. They both deserved that. She watched Nick a few minutes more until her eyes got heavy and she fell asleep on the small bed beside his, her hand still clasped firmly in his, a smile on her lips as she drifted off into the comforting realm of future dreams. And oh she had many.

Nick opened his weary eyes and gazed at Sara in a loving way. He slightly frowned at how he had endured so much and thought he lost everything only to be able with her help pull himself through and come out the other side a complete winner. Skyler was dead. Sara was right – he wasn't sorry for that. Something inside told him he should be but he just couldn't help it. Skyler had ruined so many lives for his ugly greed that the world needed to be rid of his kind for good. He had made up with Jason and made a promise to help him through the rest of his treatments and even get himself a room at one of the juvie halls. He would help him in any way he could.

Then there was Sara. She had given so much to him in a way he could never express to her. He cursed himself inwardly for not having the words except thank you for all she did. She did save his life. She was the voice inside his head the whole time telling him to never give; to hold on just a few seconds more. And he did and he owed his life to her. He now had the chance to prove his love by showing her that waiting for her was worth more than a mere pleasurable night. He wanted her by his side until they breathed no more. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more. For the first time the thought that popped into his head was of how he would propose to Sara and what she would say instead of Skyler's ugly world trying to destroy his. For the first time in days he had peaceful dreams to take him into the darkness and this time they were more than welcomed. They were deserved.

The next day was spent with Greg and Candace and the rest of the team stopping by between sleeping breaks and the rest of the hours spent talking with Sara – getting to know each other right from the start. Nick was sorry it wasn't in a better setting but Sara was thankful it was a setting of any kind.

Finally it was time. Nick was going home.

"How are you?" Sara asked Nick as she helped him into the living room of her apartment.

"I still feel like I'm a burden in some way," he admitted in as sheepish tone.

"Nick please," she said with a slight roll of her eyes. "I told you in the truck like a million times…" she started in a teasing tone. "Now what do you want to do first?" She asked as they stood inches apart in her living room, the heat starting to emanate from the closeness of their bodies.

"I want to hold you very close and never let go," he said pulling her into his embrace.

"That's all?" She asked with a shy smile.

"Well that is…"

"Nick I…" Sara started.

"Sara only if you are ready. I…" Nick started.

"Make love to me Nick…show me how to love you so that I can love you back," Sara said leaning in even closer, her lips brushing his, causing little electric sparks to shoot down to his feet.

"Are you sure?" Nick asked with a happy smile.

"Never more so," Sara replied.

"Can't wait until the wedding night?" Nick blurted out.

"Wed…ding…night…?" Sara asked in shock.

"I uh…yeah," Nick said firmly. "It's coming you know."

"Good," Sara said with a playful smile. "But first…"

"But first…" he said pulling her towards the soft sofa and gently lowering her to the warm leather and then himself on top of her. "I love you Sara…" he whispered as he started to kiss her with a hungry desire.

"I love you too Nick," she responded in kind.

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. And tomorrow would come. The future was theirs to share together. But for now it would have to wait…

THE END!

Dear readers…Well I finally completed the story. For all the naysayers…like those that moaned stupidly that the chapters were too short – take a hike! Lol…to those that thought it was too dark – get a life! Lol…a talented writer is not pigeonholed into writing only one style. This was different but liked by others and that's what counts. To those that liked it this chappy was just to finish off a few loose ends. I hope you enjoyed it as this will be the last for a while. Ciao!