A/N: This will probably be a two-shot if people seem to enjoy this first part. I love Nick rescuing the damsel in distress, hope you don't mind. Please let me know what you think in a review! Thanks!

The team had just arrived back at the CSI headquarters after a really long and emotion-laden shift. All week, they'd been working on an amber alert case – a case that had met disappointment after disappointment. It involved an angry, abusive father in a vicious custody battle who ended up taking his daughter and son as they slept. The team had only just tonight found the kids – both in critical condition after they'd been abandoned out by Lake Mead. The kids, who were only four and six years old, had been found freezing and hungry near the shore. In moving the kids out and getting them to the hospital, many of the team members had ended up in the water at least partially. They were cold and wet and ready to go home, and they could at last rest easy now that the two kids had been found.

"Alright guys, all of you need to head home now." Gil Grissom told his team members. "That's an order. That means you too, Sara." He told the young CSI in particular. Everyone couldn't help but notice Sara's emotional involvement in the case. They could tell she was no doubt having flashbacks to her own childhood, or what little they knew about it. Both the children had visible bruising on their tiny, fragile bodies that made Sara want to murder the father herself. But then she kept thinking back to her own childhood – her own mother had murdered her father because of his continual abuse and she'd been traumatized ever since. No matter what he did, Sara knew those kids loved him. They loved him for the father he could be. It was always that could that made Sara keep loving her own father. He could be so loving and caring and gentle at times. These were the times she savored and held close to her heart. But other times, you couldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. The anger no one could control – not Sara, not her brother, and not her mother – that would take over his mind and make him do things Sara knew he didn't want to do. Until that night where her mother's did take control in the most painful way.

"Sara." A comforting male voice snapped Sara out of her thoughts. She was currently sitting in the break room, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a cup of coffee in her hands. Sara realized she had no idea how the blanket had gotten there, where the coffee came from, and even how she'd ended up sitting down. She looked up to see sympathetic-looking Nick Stokes kneeling down in front of her. "Sara. Sweetheart, we need to get you home." He urged his friend, his eyes pleading with her. Nick knew it had been a tough night for them all, but an especially hard one for Sara.

"N---no." She immediately protested. "We've got work to do so we can put that bastard behind bars, Nick…."

"Sara, stop." He told her firmly, taking hold of one of her hands. "Day shift will take care of that. You've been working for almost thirty hours. You need to rest."

Sara bit her lip to keep from crying from the emotion of it all – the long, horrible day and the fact Nick was trying to make her do something she didn't want to do. Breaking down in the CSI break room was something she was not prepared to do and Nick quickly read what she was thinking. She took in a deep, harsh breath. The look in her eyes broke his heart. She was trying so hard to keep it together, but he could easily see she was an emotional wreck, on the tip of losing it. She was that scared little girl that she once was long ago.

"Come on, Sar, I'll take you home." He offered, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. She was deadweight because she didn't want to stand up so it took all his strength. It was the least he could do for her. After his life-shattering experience almost a year ago, Sara had been there for him always. She had actually lived with him for a couple of months, staying with him while he had nightmares, holding him and being the main light in his life. They were best friends and there was no one he'd let her go through this alone. As she was finally standing, she let her weight fall onto him and he wrapped his arms around her. Sara started crying again from the emotion of it all and Nick just held her, gently stroking her back. "Sssshhhhh…It's okay, sweetheart." Nick's heart broke again for her as they stood in the middle of the breakroom as Sara let out quiet sobs. He realized this wasn't the place for Sara when she was so emotionally distraught, so he suggested again that he should take her home.

Sara reluctantly accepted, still convinced they needed her at work, but realizing she was a wreck. Both still wet and trembling, they made their way out to his Denali. Nick didn't even bother with the fact their wet bodies would mess up the seats – they just needed to get home and get warm. He decided back at the lab that he wouldn't be leaving Sara alone tonight. He'd sleep on the couch at her place or something, but he needed to make sure she was okay.

Most of the trip to Sara's was silent. Sara merely stared blankly ahead at the road, still processing what had gone in. The week had been an emotional rollercoaster for her – a mix of bad memories and pure disgust at what this father had done to his children. Nick kept stealing glances over at her – trying to keep tabs on her emotional status. The poor girl didn't know what to think. Finally, he reached over and took her hand in his, kissing the back in reassurance. Sara felt her skin tingle where he'd kissed her. She absentmindedly looked down at their clasped hands, her eyes still blank but still so angry. He would sell his soul to take her pain away right then.

They finally reached her apartment and Nick quickly got out, dashing around to her door. Sara had already opened the door and was swinging her legs out when he got there.

"Nick, I am capable of getting out of a car by myself." She finally said. Nick knew she hated being thought of as broken or vulnerable, so he humored her, allowing her to step out by herself. He stood by with his hands out, ready to help if she needed it. Sara couldn't help but smile at his good old-fashioned Texas chivalry. He did take her hand in his again as they walked up the steps to her door.

"Thanks for bringing me back, Nick. You probably oughta…"

"Uh-uh. Nice try Sara." He told her, flashing her a small smile. "There's no way I'm leaving you alone tonight. You can hate me all you want, but I'm seeing that you take care of yourself."

Sara rolled her eyes as she unlocked her door. The guy was adorable, wanting to help the 'damsel in distress', as she was sure he was thinking. It was nice to feel protected, but right now she was feeling like a little kid. She threw her keys down on the kitchen cabinet as they walked in. Sara was glad she'd decided to clean her apartment yesterday, though it was just a little cluttered from living. Nick kept his eye on Sara as she moved about.

"Do you want the shower first?" Sara asked, doubting he would let her do that.

"Sara," He said in a no-nonsense tone, "You need to get in the shower right now. Don't worry about me."

Sara looked back at him and saw such love and concern in his face that it was almost too much.

"There's still some of Hank's old clothes in my dresser if you want to get out of those." Sara suggested.

Nick shivered a little. The idea of wearing her ex-boyfriend's clothes wasn't exactly appealing, but he was freezing. "Okay, thanks. Now go warm up and I'll be here when you're through."

Sara grabbed a change of clothes from her bedroom and headed into the shower that was attached to it. Peeling off her clothes, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked so defeated – her eyes were tired with bags underneath, her lips painted a light blue from the cold, her body tensed from the same element. Her eyes looked so empty as she stared at herself. She sighed and finally got into the shower, letting the warm water rejuvenate her body and calm her nerves.

Back in Sara's room, Nick rummaged through the drawer where she said Hank's old clothes were. He came across a pack of unopened boxers and a plain gray t-shirt and decided they would do. (A/N: Sorry, I didn't like the idea of Nick wearing someone else's boxers – that's just nasty) He grabbed a towel from her linen closet and dried himself off a little more before changing into the comfortable, warm clothes. As he changed, he heard the water running in the bathroom and cursed himself for thinking about Sara naked in there. Nick would never do anything when she was in this state – neither of them were thinking straight. He knew he had feelings for her and he suspected she secretly had feelings for him. That would be for another time. The right time, whenever that was. Nick decided to head back to the living room where he turned on the TV and caught the tail end of "24."

Sara emerged from the bathroom feeling a little better, but the emotions of the night had really exhausted her. All she wanted to do was go to bed and sleep for days. She came out dressed in a pair of soft cotton pj bottoms and a white tank top, toweling drying her hair. Sara sat down on her bed and grabbed her favorite Nivea lotion that always soothed her body. She was just finishing off one arm when Nick knocked at the door, with a cup of tea in his hand.

"Hey there." He walked over to her bed and set the mug on her bedside table. "I thought you still might need something warm." Nick offered her a small smile. Sara recognized Hank's old t-shirt and the boxers from the pack she bought 'just in case'. She quickly pushed thoughts out of her mind about how well he filled out that t-shirt and those strong, muscular legs. She knew he worked out, but DAMN!

As Nick set down the mug, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful Sara looked clad in just some pj bottoms and a tank top. She looked so delicate but sexy at the same time. At work, she always had to cover up tank tops with at least some sort of jacket, so it had always left a lot to Nick's imagination.

"Thanks." She told him. Nick noticed that her voice seemed a little stronger now, which he was thankful for, but she still looked defeated. Sara reached back at her shoulder to rub some lotion on, struggling to reach what she felt was a dry patch.

"Here, let me help you with that." Nick suggested, hoping he wasn't crossing the line. They were friends and he knew he wouldn't let it go too far. He didn't leave any room for her to protest as he moved to sit behind her, one leg tucked up beneath him. Nick gently placed his hands at her sides to scoot her forward a little bit and she again felt a tingling at his contact.

"Nick, it's okay. You don't have to." She weakly protested, both knowing she really didn't mean it.

"Ssshhhh….it's okay." Nick assured her as he reached for the lotion sitting on he bedside table. He worked some lotion onto his hands and then gently started applying the lotion to her shoulders. Sara's head rolled forward to give him more access as she felt his hands work at her tired skin, slowly become more insistent. Sara allowed a soft moan to escape from her throat.

Nick had dreamt about being able to touch Sara like this for years. It wasn't a sexual touch, but a gentle, loving, caring touch. He watched her shoulders slowly beginning to slump forward in response to his touch, and he was happy he was able to help her in some way. When she moaned, however, it ignited a passion within him. How he would love to make her moan some more. He quickly pushed the thought back again, reminding himself that she was in a fragile state.

When Nick thought her shoulders were adequately moisturized and her muscles were unloosened, he made his next move, hoping she wouldn't protest. Nick reached for more lotion and then pushed her tank top up in the back a little bit. Sara gasped as she felt the air hit her skin, but then she felt Nick's warm hands again. She momentarily questioned whether this was okay, but then realized she didn't care as he worked at her skin insistently. The way his hands were moving across her lower back made her forget about everything that had gone on today. Nick moved his hands skillfully over her back, applying the lotion lovingly.

"That feels good." She croaked out finally, her head still lolled over. Nick took in a deep breath, inhaling her scent.

"Good." He told her, and she could swear his voice was a little huskier than usual. Nick leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder, not wanting to excite her, but to sooth her. But the kiss had the opposite effect, once again igniting fire on Sara's skin. She felt a tingling deep inside her belly. What that man could to with his hands and his mouth…she'd have dreams about it tonight, she was sure. Nick's hands were working higher now and her tank top was soon getting in the way.

"Lie down, sweetheart." He instructed her, stopping his hands and resting one on her bare right hip, rubbing gently. Sara didn't think she'd be able to move, the way he was touching her, but she finally managed. Nick helped her lie face down in the middle of her bed, and she put her arms underneath the pillow, resting her head there. He slowly scooted himself down the bed a little bit and then settled into a pretzel position next to her bottom. Nick gently pushed her tank top up all the way until it rested on her shoulder blades. He reached again for more lotion and smoothly ran his hands over her bare back, relishing in the sight of her perfect, silky skin.

She breathed in and out deeply as she felt his large, strong, but gentle hands work over her bare back. Sara heard herself occasionally whimper at the calming effect Nick was having over her. Man, this guy was a pro! His long, gentle, steady strokes were slowly putting her to sleep. Sara wondered to herself what else he was talented at with those hands.

After several long, blissful minutes, Nick decided he should stop, otherwise he might not be able to control himself. Again, he dropped a gentle kiss to her shoulder and pulled her tanktop back down, finishing but rubbing her back a few times soothingly over the fabric. Nick pulled back the covers on one side and helped Sara move underneath them, tucking her in when she was snuggled up safely.

"Thank you, Nick." She whispered, her eyes closed.

"My pleasure, sweetheart." Nick whispered back, and he leaned down to press another kiss, this time to her temple. "Have a good sleep." Nick got up reluctantly and made his way to the bedroom door. He let out a huge sigh from all the emotion and feelings that had been stirred up in the room. Nick knew he wanted her so bad, and if he wasn't mistaken, she wanted him too. He pondered the situation as he made up the pull-out bed on Sara's living room couch where he would spend the night. Tomorrow, he decided, they would need to have a long talk. Thoughts of Sara filled his mind as he slowly drifted off into a much-needed sleep.

TBC if you like…