Disclaimer: CSI belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer.

And The Truth Shall Set You Free

By

MBInc

Chapter 1

Catherine sat in her car, driving around. Trying to focus her mind on traffic, she found her thoughts wandering off ever so often. She knew that what she was going to do wouldn't go by unnoticed –wouldn't pass without causing pain- but she also knew it had to be done.

Looking in her rear-view mirror she saw Lindsey –a worried look etched onto the young girl's face. As the little blonde turned her head from looking out of the window, and locked her eyes with her mother's, she spoke up

"Mom, do we have to?"

Catherine let out a soft sigh, they had gone over this a lot of times already. "Linds, you know why we have to."

"But I don't want to" the girl grumped, crossing her arms in front of her.

The sight that greeted Catherine in the rear-view mirror stirred up a lot of emotions. It made her think back of a few weeks ago.

"I want to stay here, with you" Lindsey said, sitting down on the couch in her mother's office.

"But I promised Uncle Grissom to work through these" Catherine said, pointing to a large pile of folders. "I'm sorry we won't be able to do something this afternoon, but this way we can spend the evening together."

Lindsey did nothing to mask her anger, her face showing Catherine exactly how she thought about it all. Letting out a big sigh she locked her eyes with Catherine's.

"Linds, grandma is already on her way." Catherine said, regretting the fact that her daughter had inherited her stubbornness. "She said she wanted to take you to the park" she added, hoping the prospect of an afternoon playing outside would get her daughter to change her mind.

"But I don't want to" the girl almost screamed, crossing her arms in front of her.

Just as Catherine was about to speak up to her daughter there was a knock on the door, and Sara came walking in.

"Sara? What are you doing here?" Catherine asked, but before the younger woman could answer she spoke up again "Don't tell me you're working overtime again"

"Ok," Sara started, a small smile creeping onto her lips "then I won't tell you"

"Hey Lindsey. What's with the grumpy look?" The brunette said as she noticed the angry face of the young Willows woman.

"I want to stay here, with mom, but she says I can't and that I have to go along with grandma."

Sara noticed the pile of paperwork on Catherine's desk. She also realized that the CSI HQ wasn't the place for a little girl to spend too much time. Seeing the frustrated looks on both of the Willows women's faces she decided to try and sort this out.

Sitting down next to the little blonde, Sara spoke up "Why don't you tag along with me?"

"Really?" Lindsey said, her face suddenly not showing any sign of anger, but before the brunette could answer, Catherine interrupted.

"Sara," Catherine started, "I don't want her wandering around the lab, that's why I asked my mom to watch her this afternoon."

"We'll have to go for some groceries first, but then we could make a dinner for your mother so that when she comes home you two can have a lovely evening together." Sara said, looking at Lindsey and ignoring Catherine's comment.

From that moment on, things had changed between Sara and Catherine. That night, when Catherine had arrived home, Lindsey and Sara had prepared a lovely dinner, and Catherine ended up asking Sara to stay for dinner as well.

After some persuading from Lindsey –who really knew how to work the puppy-dog-pout- Sara decided to stay, and the three of them sat down at the kitchen table.

"Hmm, this tastes great. You two have done an excellent job on this pasta." Catherine said before she took another bite.

"Sara taught me how to make my own pasta" Lindsey said, excitement noticeable in her voice. She seemed to have forgotten all about what had passed between her mother and herself that afternoon.

An astonished look came onto Catherine's face as she glanced over at Sara. "You made this yourself?"

"We made it together" Lindsey stated proudly.

Catherine locked eyes with Sara, and noticed a light blush creeping onto the brunette's face. "Well, you really know your way around in the kitchen. This is the best I've ever had"

Now Sara's face sported a bright red, and she only was able to mutter a "Thank you" as she averted Catherine's eyes.

Later that evening all three of them were seated on the couch of the living room, watching a movie Lindsey had picked out.

Catherine tried to focus on the screen –a donkey, a green ogre and a princess wandering through the fields, but her mind –and eyes- were preoccupied with Sara and Lindsey.

The strawberry blonde was marveled at how comfortable she felt with Sara there, spending time with her and Lindsey. At work, from the start, their relationship had been tense. They'd never really had a good bond, but after tonight Catherine was determined to change that. A smile crept onto her lips as she saw the easy interaction between her daughter and Sara.

After a few minutes of sneaking glances at the brunette and her daughter –who were discussing which of the characters was the funniest, Catherine focused on the movie again –not noticing that now Sara was watching her, a similar smile creeping onto her face.

Pulling the car into a vacant spot in front of a large apartment building, Catherine reached for an envelope that had been lying on the passenger's seat. She knew no one would be home, so she could deliver the letter, and leave unnoticed.

Catherine turned around, looked over her shoulder and spoke to her daughter. "This will only take a minute Linds. Stay in the car, I'll be right back."

After receiving a short nod from Lindsey –whose sad eyes locked with hers for a moment- Catherine opened the car door, and headed for the building. Her heart felt heavier with every step she took towards the entrance, just as the letter she held in her hand.

Walking up two flights of stairs, she reached her destination. Looking once more to the envelope she felt her heart being tornto pieces. Was this the right thing to do? Was she sure she wanted things to end this way?

Her mind told her this had to be done, but her heart kept screaming at her not to. A single tear found its way across her cheek as she kneeled down and shoved the envelope underneath the door.

Now there was no way back…