Sin.

It's a negative word, you look up synonyms and you find offence, wrong, transgression.

In a society like ours you are supposed to refrain from sinning, but how many people actually do? And if we are supposed to refrain, why are there so many industries that cater for sinners? Vegas is a prime example of this, Sin City, that's what they call it.

But is a sin really so bad? Or is all this just superstition cultivated by years of 'tradition', well that is the question.

There are seven 'deadly sins', we've all heard them. Envy. Gluttony. Greed. Lust. Pride. Sloth. Wrath. Have you committed one of them? Probably.

Have I? Well that's really my business and not yours. But what the hell. Yeah, I'm guilty, who isn't? I know the people I work with sure as hell aren't innocent, but they don't care, and I sure don't. There was this one time, where we all…transgressed…but we had a hell of a time. Let me tell you the story of the seven 'deadly' sins, and how they changed my life. Ironically, for the better, at least in my opinion, which is the only one which really matters.

But I digress, read the story for yourselves, and then answer me this—is sinning so wrong if it gives you everything you've ever wanted?

Chapter 1: Wrath

Catherine's POV

I walked along the corridors, trying to find Sara; come to think of it she was probably in the garage, working on the car. She loves tinkering. I found her on her slide board, her overalls covering up her work clothes. Her legs are so long, and so goddamn sexy. If she wasn't a co-worker, well I'd be flirting like hell, but as it is—she is a co-worker, and I hate repercussions…they are always messy. And she's straight and has a thing for Grissom. And she hates me. So many reasons but I still can't get her out of my head. I'm pathetic.

"Sara" I called out.

"Yeah?" she enquired, not even coming out from underneath the car. I guess I'm not important enough to warrant that. I'm mean to her, I know that, but it still hurts when she's mean back. And it hurts when she ignores me, and when she's flirting with someone else, and when Greg's flirting with her. Hell, whenever Sara's around it seems I'm hurting, or having incredibly inappropriate thoughts—like now.

"Do you think you can cover for me for a few hours, I need to—do something" I was going to tell her, I was, but it's my life and she doesn't really need to know. Especially as it's not shift anymore, we're just working a case together. And I find that if I start opening up to her I just can't stop, so it's best not to open up at all. Safest option for all.

"Sure, Gris just got a new bug in from Mexico though—so I don't think he'd notice if we all put on sequined body suits and started doing the Macarena" she replied

I smirked, trying to picture her in a sequined body suit doing the Macarena, though she does have a point. See, I told you so, inappropriate thoughts. I should stop doing that.

I know I should say something, to express my eternal gratitude, but I don't really trust my voice so I just settle for "thanks."

She slides out from under the car, not something I was expecting and looks at me, as though she's studying some amazing scientific discovery, I hate it when she does that.

"What, you got a hot date or something?" she asked, as I was about to turn toward the door.

What the hell? Is that what she thinks of me? That I would leave in the middle of a case for a date? Nice to know she has such a high opinion, I can feel the rage burning up inside me, it's not so much because of what she insinuated—though that bloody well pissed me off too—but what it would mean.

I've had a thing for her ever since she started here. At first I thought I would be betraying Warrick if I felt something for her, she was investigating him after all. So I pushed my feelings, and her, away. Now she hates me and I know I'm to blame—but still, if I had a date it would mean that I was, yet again, trying to fill the hole I want her to fill. And I swore I'd stop doing that—again. I've sworn that so many times I've lost count, but every time I have a difficult case, or we have a bad fight, I end up breaking that promise. I can't help it, I have a high sex drive, I need sex.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, rounding on her, she hadn't said it angrily but I could tell her resentment was running high.

"What did it sound like?" she asked me, keeping her tone neutral, I hate it when she does that. She's too damn good at hiding her emotions, just like Gil, and I like to be able to read people, know what they are thinking. It annoys me more when she does it because of what I feel for her, but she can never know that.

"Sara, I'd never leave in the middle of a case for that" I protested. "Just because I turn to a person when I'm feeling low, it does not give you any right to judge me. You turn to the bottle after all" I know that was a low shot—but, as usual, my tongue runs away from me.

Sara chuckled bitterly, "Typical Catherine, hypocritical as always. You ask not to be judged and then you turn around and do exactly that."

That hurt, cause it's true. That is exactly what I just did. "You wanna know why I have to leave Sara? I have to go and pick my daughter up from the hospital, my mother has been admitted with breathing difficulties and she was babysitting. Lindsey had to call the ambulance. I'm not just going to leave her at the hospital. So excuse me for having a life, just because you don't, don't begrudge others" I could see that she was looking sorry for what she had said, but that last comment made her face harden, why did I have to push it too far? Why do I always push it too far?

"Just because I'm not so—open, does not mean I don't have a life" she retorted.

Did she just imply that I'm a slut? Again? Nice to know.

"No, but the hours you spend at the lab do. But of course you're just here because Grissom is, you know you're pathetic. He may like you Sara, but you know he'll never do anything about it." Again, low, but I'm furious now, and I am still managing not to slap her so that's got to be a positive. With Eddie I got used to using my fists and sometimes it takes a lot of effort not to resort to that.

"I'm pathetic? At least I don't flirt with every man in sight,"

Ouch. Ok, now I'm mad. At least she said it out right this time, and I don't have to try and guess what she means.

"Just because I am comfortable in my own skin, that doesn't give you the right to judge me. At least I don't try and pretend I am what I'm not, now if you'll excuse me, my daughter needs me" I turn my back and stalk out, not looking back to see if she's staring after me

After picking Lindsey up from the hospital, establishing my mother will be absolutely fine and it's just a side effect of the medication that she's been taking—and that they are pretty sure she's exaggerating, typical—I took Lindsey home, making her get a few more hours sleep before school. I stayed up, unable to sleep, my mind was still on my fight with Sara. I guess I'm going to have to talk to her tonight, its Warrick's stag night. I could always say my mum is sick and I have to look after her, but Warrick is one of my best friends and I want to be there for him. It's a last send off—again, we had one after he got married the first time—and it means a lot to him so I've got to go. Maybe Sara won't come, if she doesn't I won't be the only one kicking her arse.

After taking Lindsey to school I headed to the mall to get something to wear for tonight and after a coffee I went home and cleaned up a little before I went to bed, setting the alarm for when to pick Lindsey up.

When I got to school I was still tired, and I think Lindsey could sense I was still thinking about my fight with Sara cause she made herself scarce, I think she went down to the mall to meet up with some friends. I swear she would live there if I let her.

Sara's POV

Catherine can be so frustrating at times, I could have sworn I saw a hint of a smile on her lips after I slid out from under that car. She had just asked me to cover for her and he didn't offer me any explanation at all, and all I got was 'thanks', it would have been nice to get an 'I owe you one' or 'you're the best Sara', just something to know it is appreciated. But as usual she's a distant as ever. Why does she hate me so much?

Stupidly I asked her if she had a date, it wasn't actually meant to come out of my mouth. Then we had a blazing row, and I basically called her a slut—no, I did call her a slut, stupid tongue.

Aggressively I started working on the car. I don't care what Catherine said, the bottle is better than nothing. And just cause I'm not so open about it doesn't mean I don't turn to a warm body now and then. But not Grissom, never him. Yuk. Not—my—type! I like them leggy, confident, stubborn as hell, blonde hair and blue eyes wouldn't hurt either. Hell, who am I kidding? I like Catherine.

"Hey Sara, shift was over ages ago, you heading home?" I can tell it's Greg from his voice so I slide out from under the car.

"In a while" I nodded, wiping some sweat of my forehead.

"Ok, well don't forget drinks tonight, you gotta be there else Warrick will hurt you"

"Yeah I know, I'll be there" I grinned, Warrick and Tina had been going through a rough patch and they had decided to renew their vows, the works this time. Tonight the whole night shift had time off for his bachelor party, it appears Ecklie has some heart after all. And the wedding is tomorrow.

"You'd better be, I plan on getting you totally trashed, Nick and Warrick are becoming boring in their old age and I'll be surprised if Grissom drinks anything more than lemonade all night." Greg grinned at me and I smiled back.

"You missed Catherine" I pointed out.

"Yeah well—she's Catherine, the untouchable" he shrugged, I knew what he meant. Catherine Willows is the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and while she is never short of someone to keep her warm, those who like her for more than her looks are nowhere near her league. That and I don't have a chance because she's straight.

After five hours sleep, the most I've managed in a long time I had something to eat before I headed down the gym. Half an hour with the punching bag and I felt better, an hour in the pool fifteen minutes in the sauna and a cold shower before I stopped at a café for some lunch. I headed home and changed before I headed to the mall. I wanted to make this a special occasion and while I have a few outfits appropriate for it, I felt like a little retail therapy.

Wandering through the mall I do some window shopping before I heard a voice behind me. "Sara, wait up" I turned around to see Lindsey running towards me.

"Hey Lindsey, what's wrong?" I asked, catching her and folding her into a big hug.

"Mum was in a mood when I got home so I told her I was going shopping with some friends, I called up Megan and Tessa and we were hanging out…but then we had a fight…and I slapped Tess. She was being mean about dad" Lindsey's crying now so I take her into a coffee shop and find a semi-concealed booth. I ordered a milkshake for her and a latté for myself and we just sit for a while as she calms down.

When the waiter came back with out orders I let Lindsey go so she could sit up and sip her drink. "You didn't have to do that y'know" she murmured.

"I wanted to" I maintained.

"What happened this time?" she asked me.

"Huh?" now I'm lost, what is she talking about.

"I know you and mum had a fight, what was it about, was it about her coming to pick me up?"

I sighed, she's too damn smart for her own good. "Yeah, she asked me to cover for her but she didn't tell me why. We ended up shouting at each other as per usual…I said some things I shouldn't have and she stormed off. I'll have to apologise tonight."

"That's right, you have Warrick's buck's night hey? What are you wearing?" Lindsey changes the topic seamlessly, seeing that I am uncomfortable talking about a fight I had with her mother. God I love this kid.

"Actually that's what I'm doing here, shopping for the first time in three months" I grinned, she looked totally gobsmacked, I know for a fact that Lindsey is here two or three times a week at least. She wouldn't know what it's like to wear the same outfit more than once if Catherine didn't insist on an allowance.

"Can I help?" she asked me, her face lighting up. I can sense that she doesn't really want to go home yet and I don't blame her. With the mood I've put Catherine in she must be seething.

"Sure" I agreed, well at least now I had someone to bounce ideas off, even if it was a fourteen year old girl. Lindsey's very mature for her age, most of the time, and sometimes I like being immature. As evident by today, Lindsey helped me pick out an outfit alright, for tonight and another one for tomorrow. And then we decided to mock all the ridiculous things they had in the stores. We went from shop to shop, trying things on and cacking ourselves laughing. I gave her a make over in the make-up department and she gave me one. And we tried walking in ridiculously high heels, and it's embarrassing cause she's better than me, and we had a bubble-gum bubble-blowing competition, I won that.

Eventually she said she had to get home so I gave her a lift. I parked a couple of houses down as per her instructions and she asked me to call her mum to distract her while she sneaked into the house. I had bought her a couple of things and I didn't know how Catherine would react so I agreed. It's better than getting in trouble for buying Lindsey stuff, Catherine is like a tiger when it comes to protecting Lindsey.

"Hello Catherine, it's Sara, listen I was wondering if you wanted a lift to the bar tonight?" I offered, trying to be nice.

"Sara?" she asked, as I watched Lindsey running toward her house, bags in hand.

"Yeah, I did say that, who did you think it was—the tooth fairy?" I asked.

"Well I thought that might be more likely" she joked and I smiled wryly.

"Point taken, I'm sorry for what I said earlier, it was out of line"

"Are you sorry cause it was out of line or because you're actually sorry?" she asked, ok, this is one of the weirdest conversations I've had recently, what's that supposed to mean.

"Can I plead the fifth?" I asked, still not sure what to make of that question.

Catherine sighed, "Ok, I'll let you off this time Sidle, but only cause I think Lindsey just got home. I'm sorry for what I said before too, now I gotta go. And about that lift—see you at seven?"

"See you at seven" I agreed, I hung up, hoping I had given Lindsey enough time, then I put my car into gear. I had just under two hours to get home and have a shower, get dressed and get back to Catherine's. And I did have to have a shower because of all the make up Lindsey had put on me, I think she was trying to make me look like a freak, not that I blame her, I was a little excessive as well. Hopefully she doesn't get into trouble with Catherine over that.

It's seven o'clock and I'm standing on Catherine's doorstep. I am wearing the outfit that Lindsey picked out for me, which is a purple top, it's like a tank but it two silver buckles on the main straps, making it a little more formal. I'm wearing a silver necklace and a silver belt to go with it and black leather pants with black boots. Catherine opens the door looking stunning in tight jeans with a gold chain belt and a pale pink top. It's a little more conservative that I thought she'd usually go for, with off the shoulder sleeves and a comparatively high neckline, compared to mine which is a bit worrying. It still looks stunning though. She smiled at me and does a little twirl.

"Modest enough for you?" she asked, oh, so she's making a point is she?

"I guess, out there enough for you?" I asked, glancing down at my own outfit.

"We'll have to see won't we?" she asks me and heads for the car. This is going to be a long night. And I have a feeling she's not going to let this drop. Ahh, if only I were wise enough to fear her wrath.