A/N: Heyyyyyyy. So I should be updating my chapter fics, but I've been wanting to get an angsty one out. So cliché – it's a damsel in distress one again. I wish George Eads would come sweep me off my feet. sigh This will be a two-shot, I think, so please enjoy and review!

"I'm sorry, Sara. There's nothing else we can do!" Gil tried to explain to the headstrong CSI calmly, but his voice showed his frustration. "We can't help everybody."

"And I'm just supposed to accept that?" She practically yelled back, dropping the case file on his desk angrily. Sara turned around and fled from her boss's office, in tears. She didn't notice Nick Stokes to the right of the door as she ran off to the left, out to the parking lot.

Gil sighed and leaned back in his chair. There was just no winning with Sara Sidle. She threw her life and emotions into her cases, something he hardly ever did, every single time. He had to admire her heart, but she let her job beat her into the ground. Gil had explained to her time and time again that the court system lagged behind and it took time to protect beaten women and their children. Today, they had just found the dead body of a mother, and the children were found at a nearby motel with the ex-husband. Sara had reacted less than professionally. Gil knew her history, though, and understood where she was coming from.

Nick Stokes walked in rather timidly, having seen the tail end of their interaction. Sara Sidle was a pistol, he knew, letting her emotions toy with her job. He'd been accused of such things before too. It was something that just came naturally; an instinct. And instincts don't go away.

"Tough case?" He asked his boss, who had his face buried in one of his hands.

"That's an understatement. Sara always gets a little too involved." Gil said, looking up at the young CSI, offering a 'that's how it is' smile.

"Warrick and I just wrapped our case. Do you mind if I take a fifteen minute break?"

"By all means." Gil told him. He could use a bit of a break too, having dealt with Sara's emotions all day.

Nick nodded and proceeded out of his office and down the hallway to the break room.

CSI CSI CSI CSI CSI CSI CSI

Sara Sidle got into her Denali and locked the doors. She always parked far away from the entrance off to a corner, because this sort of things happened occasionally. Dammit. She'd let her emotions get way too involved again. Sara hated that it happened, but she really couldn't control it. Every case that involved an abused woman or children sent her off the deep end, and it had cost her. She'd been suspended before and committed countless acts of insubordination. Sara decided she needed to calm down before she snapped at someone. She switched on the ignition and reached for the radio, finding a song that fit her mood.

I will not make the same mistakes that you did

I will not let myself cause my heart so much misery

I will not break away from you, I fell so hard

I've learned the hard way to never let it get that far

Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you I've learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt

Because of you I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you, I am afraid

I lose my way and it's not too long before you point it out

I cannot cry because I know that's weakness in your eyes

I'm forced to fake a smile, a laugh, every day of my life

My heart can't possibly break when it wasn't even whole to start with

Sara let herself cry, her hair falling in front of her face in a curtain that hid her from the world. She was so damn tired - Physically exhausted, and emotionally haywire from it all. She was tired of pouring herself into her work and seemingly getting nothing back. What did it matter when crap like this always happened? Cases like this always took her back – back to a childhood she would rather forget. She let herself cry some more as the song continued.

Nick Stokes left the break room when he didn't find Sara there, and went searching. From what he could tell, she was pretty distraught from this case. He couldn't just leave her like Grissom could when she was so upset. Nick and Sara had been good friends for years, and he now knew how to read her like a book. When she ran, she usually went to her car and cried. He usually tried to give her some space while she calmed down, but decided that approach wouldn't work today. Exiting the building, he found her Denali in its usual spot – the back right corner of the lot, away from everything else.

As he neared the car, he could hear the music up loud. Kelly Clarkson. It was bad if she was listening to Kelly. His heart broke when he saw her form crouched up, her shoulders heaving slightly as tears racked her body. Nick sighed and stopped for a moment, wondering if he should really interrupt her. He went with his gut instinct and walked slowly to her door, then tapping on the window.

The sound visibly startled Sara, and she looked to see what it was. Sara was mortified to see that Nick had come to check on her. Well, maybe not mortified, but a little embarrassed. She quickly tried to cover up the fact that she'd been crying, wiping at her eyes and straightening her hair. Sara knew this wouldn't do the trick with Nick. The man could always see right through her. Sara rolled down the window to come face to face with a concerned Texan.

"What are you doing, Nick?" She asked defensively.

Nick put an arm on her door when the window was rolled all the way down. He just studied Sara for a moment, letting her know he wasn't buying the 'don't disturb me, I'm fine' mentality she so often took. Sara sighed, looking down at her lap, where her hands were nervously fidgeting with each other. Nick reached out and grasped her chin gently, turning her face again to him.

"You've been crying." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"So sue me. I got a little emotional." She moved her head to free herself from Nick's hand and he allowed her.

"Sar, don't be ashamed." He told her "We're all not robots like Grissom. There's the human element involved. We can't help but get attached sometimes."

Sara stayed silent, not knowing what he wanted her to say. She kept her eyes straight ahead, not wanting to see the caring nature of his eyes. It would probably send her back into tears.

"This case is different though." He proclaimed. "You're more upset than usual."

"Nick, I…" She stopped and stared at him like he was a teacher making her explain something she didn't want to. Nick could sense she really wasn't comfortable, so he started to walk around the front of the Denali to the other door. Sara unlocked it and let him in, a little reluctantly. Sara cared for him a lot, but sometimes she wished he would just leave her alone when she got emotional. Damn his chivalry. Sara buried her face in her left hand as he let out a deep sigh. She was surprised when Nick immediately took her hand in his and shook it a little.

"Sar…"

"What?"

"Talk to me. Why's this case got you all worked up?"

Sara had long since told him about her childhood. He knew the answer, but he also knew it helped to get it out. She needed to get out what she was thinking, but Sara didn't like to do that. Keeping it bottled up meant that no one else would be bothered with it. She could own it and take some burden off the rest of the world and the people around her.

When she didn't answer, he decided to be more direct.

"Did it bring back some memories?" He was leaning over, trying to look her in the eye, but she wouldn't. Sara hated for anyone to see her broken. She'd known Nick for years, but something inside her still made her hold back and not trust him fully. Because of you, mom, she thought. And because of you, dad.

Finally, Sara nodded slowly. Yeah, it brought back some memories, to say the least. Now he'd probably want her to talk about them. She hated how he wouldn't let her get away with anything.

Instead of probing, Nick just waited in silence while he allowed Sara to compose herself. She knew what he was going to ask next, and wanted her to take a positive step for herself. After a minute or so, she finally started.

"It's just not fair, you know?" She started crying again a little, putting a hand to her mouth. "Those kids don't have a mom any more, Nick. And they have a horrible father. They're going to be put into the damn system. I've been through it, I know how much it hurts."

Nick rubbed her knuckles in support, watching her face intently the entire time. He waited patiently for her to continue.

"What kind of fucking system won't protect women and kids when they need it, then basically repossess the kids into a freaking pure lottery hell. There aren't enough good families out there. It's so lonely, Nick. Being shuffled around like that."

Sara was seething again, taking in painful, quick breaths as she struggled to control herself again.

"I know it's hard to watch, Sara." He told her. "I don't know what it's like to be in foster care, but I know you went through an ordeal. Watching kids have to go into that situation must be…unbearable for you.

Sara laughed humorlessly, finally looking him in the eye for the first time.

"It's like watching myself go through hell again."

Nick paused for a few moments, pondering what to say.

"Sara, I know you know this. But you really need to get out more. You're letting work get to you too much."

"I'm not a very social person."

"I'm not saying go out and party, because I know you're not like that. Would you wanna come to my place after shift? We can just hang out and watch a movie, order bad Chinese." He smiled, hoping she would take.

Sara thought for a few moments. She guess that wouldn't be too bad, but he was probably just trying to get her to share more of her emotions with him. Real smooth, Nicky.

"Um….okay?"

"Was that a question?"

"No…I mean yes." She shook her head at her stupidity. "I'd like that."

"Great." Nick looked at his watch. "Grissom's probably looking for me. We've got about four hours left. You wanna follow me after work?"

"Yeah, that sounds fine." Sara told him, trying not to sound a little bit excited. It wasn't the best circumstances to be asked on a semi-date with Nick Stokes, but it would do. Wait, she shouldn't be calling this a date, he was just trying to be a good friend. Or was he?

Nick let his look linger a little bit too long, sending shivers up Sara's spine under his gaze. Sara had been to his apartment a handful of times, just as friends, hanging out watching sports. He didn't know why he felt a twinge of excitement, but he did. Nick mentally kicked himself, reminding himself she was coming over so he could make her feel better. He could think of some more ways to make her feel better….dammit, stop, Nick!

"So I'll meet you in the break room at end of shift." Nick finally snapped out of it. Sara turned off the car and they both got out. The sun would be coming up soon, and soon shift would be over. They walked back into CSI Las Vegas together, Sara feeling a little better thanks to Nick. Both kept stealing glances at each other, and finally they both turned their heads at the same time by mistake, catching each other's longful gazes. Quickly, they snapped their heads forward again, smirking slightly. Four more hours.