Chapter 1:

Sara sat on the couch in her living room. She had the day of, but she didn't like it. The whole afternoon she cleaned her apartment, it was habitable again. Everything was clean and she couldn't think of something else to do. In a few a hours the CSI nightshift would start, she hated not being able of going to the lab.

She took the entomological book that she got from Grissom out of her bookcase, she looked at it and put it into a box next to the couch. The plant followed the same way. Sara started to cry, it was hard to bring away all of Grissom's things, but it was harder to keep them. Grissom didn't care for her, she couldn't do it anymore.

There was a knock on the door, who would come by at this time? Sara stood up and walked slowly to the door. She opened it and saw Nick stand in the doorway.

'Come in.' She turned around and Nick closed the door behind him.

'What are you doing here?' She looked at him.

'I wanted to visit you.' Nick looked into her bloodshot eyes. She had been crying. 'What's wrong Sara?'

'I'm fine.'

Nick grabbed her arm en pulled her to him. 'You've cried Sar... then you're not fine.'

When Sara started to cry again, Nick pulled her into his arms and hold her tightly. When she relaxed he released her and cupped her face. He wiped away her tears with his thumbs. She looked at him with a small smile. Carefully Nick moved one of his hands to her waist. She leaned closer to him. He bent his head a little and brushed his lips softly against hers. She pulled away.

'Nick... what are you doing?' Sara didn't understand what he was doing, but she liked it. She just needed someone who could love her.

His cheeks flushed and he looked at his feet. 'I... I'm sorry Sara.'

He turned around and walked towards the door.

'Nick wait...'

He stopped and Sara grabbed his arm. 'Please wait.'

She walked around him so she could see his face. He was confused. Softly she put her arms around his neck en kissed him intensely.

The sound of a ringing cell phone broke off their kiss. Nick picked it from his belt. 'Stokes.' 'I'll be there in a few.' Nick closed his cell.

'I have to go. Wanna grab some breakfast at the end of shift?'

She nodded. 'I'd love that.'

Grissom was on his way to the crime scene when he called Nick. He was meeting him at the scene. Nick said he would be there in a few.

He parked his car, and walked towards Brass.

'What happened?'

'Thirteen year old girl was stabbed in her chest when she walked the dog. The neighbours heard the dog bark and looked out of the window, the girl was lying on the street.'

'Didn't they hear her scream?'

'She's got a blunt force trauma on the back of her head. The killer may have hit her first.'

Grissom walked towards the body. He kneeled down and put on some latex gloves. There were no signs of struggle, the killer surprised her. He took her wallet out of her pocket. Her name was Amy Enderson. She lived across the street. There were no lights on.

David laid the body on the bran card. Grissom watched until the coroner's car was out of sight. He hated working on cases where children were killed.

Nick still hadn't arrived, Grissom tried to call him again. He didn't answer his phone. Grissom was a little irritated, he needed someone to help him, Catherine and Warrick were on their way to another crime and Sara had a day off. He decided to call her.

'Sidle.'

'Hey Sara. I need you to help me at a crime scene. Nick said he would be here, but he still isn't.'

'Have you called him? He left my house about an hour ago.'

'I already tried, can you come over?'

'All right, were are you?'

'1258 Applegate Road.'

'I'll be right there.'

She hung up. Why didn't Nick answer his cell phone? He normally did. Maybe he had taken the wrong way. No, then he would have answered his phone. What if something worse happened and he couldn't answer is phone? She pushed the thought away, everything was probably okay.

She dressed for work and locked apartment. She drove of to the crime scene when she was called.

'Sidle.'

'It's O'Riley, can you come over to Desert Palm?'

'I'm on my way to Grissom. But why?'

'I'll tell you when you get here. Call Grissom.'

'Okay, see you in a few.'

Sara drove the other way. Why did O'Riley want her to come? She called Grissom and told him what O'Riley had told her. Grissom understand and decided to call Greg, he needed to be trained too.

When Sara arrived at the hospital she saw O'Riley stand at the entrance. She got out of her car and walked towards him.

'What's going on?'

'Nick got a car accident.'

Sara covered her mouth with her hand. How did that happen?

'How is he?'

'He's... in coma. The nurses told me that he asked for you before he went out of conscience.'

Sara ran inside to the first nurse she could find. She wanted to know if she could visit him. The nurse agreed, just for a few minutes she told her. She explained were to go.

When Sara opened the door she saw Nick lying on the bed. He had his eyes closed and he was pale. She softly touched his face and tears ran over her cheeks. Why did this happen? Why after what had happened a few hours before?

'Nick...' She swallowed. 'Why did this happen to you? Everything seemed okay when I saw you. Was it my fault?'

A nurse walked into the room. Sara stood up.

'Are you Sara?'

'Yes, that's me.'

'Mr. Stokes asked for you. He said he loved you and that we had to call you.'

'When did he say that?'

'On the way to the hospital.'

'Thank you. Can I stay for a few more minutes?'

'Sure.'

The nurse left the room and closed the door behind her.

Sara sat down again en hold Nick's hand.

'I love you too Nick. And I'm thankful for what happened between us. Please wake up soon. I need you now and I want you.'

She started to cry, she thought everything was going to be okay and then this happened. Why couldn't her life be normal?