All Sara could think about was the screaming. She stared at the picture on her desk, glad that it, at least, couldn't tell her off. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she quickly hid the picture inside her drawer. "Sara, get your butt out here!"
Sara winced. The voice she loved more than any other was the one screaming at her. "I can't believe you didn't show up at the courtroom yesterday! You are seriously compromising this case and everything that CSI stands for!" The screaming went on, but Sara ignored the words, choosing instead to concentrate on the voice she loved. Her mind went to the picture hidden in her desk. She wanted to pull it out, but she knew Catherine would kill her if she saw it; she didn't like reminders of her past. "Sara!"
Sara was pulled out of her daze to find Catherine staring at her. "Are you alright?" She sounded concerned. "Yeah." Sara tried to sound neutral, but some of the turmoil inside slipped out. "I'm fine." Of course, she wasn't fine. In addition to being lovesick for the one person in the lab that wasn't constantly flirting with her, she was being hurt by the same person. Catherine gave her a skeptical look that nearly made Sara want to confess. "Look, I'm just tired. I'll be fine."
Catherine looked like she wanted to say something else, but Grissom walked in. "Time to clean out your desks!" Catherine rolled her eyes. Sara, thinking he was joking, told Grissom to get lost. Unfortunately for Sara, Grissom wasn't joking. Evidently, she was the only one not to have cleaned her desk, "Why the do I need to clean out my desk?" she inquired politely of Grissom. "I don't know, but it makes the story work." Grissom replied wisely. Grumbling, Sara got to work. Grissom walked out, satisfied that Sara had gotten to work. She saved the top drawer for last, but Catherine wasn't leaving. She acted like she was taking a break, but she knew she couldn't do that forever. Finally, Catherine asked, "Ok, I know you're hiding something in there. Spill." Sara shook her head. Then she walked out.
Finally, Catherine made up her mind, and went looking for Sara. She was crying in the locker room. Catherine hesitantly put her hand on Sara's shoulder. Sara slowly turned around. "You want to know why I wasn't in court yesterday, right?" Catherine was shocked. "I just wanted to make sure you're ok." Sara was touched. "I hate these domestic abuse cases." She grumbled. "So don't we all, Sara." Sara decided it was time to tell Catherine why they affected her so much. "It's amazing the things we remember. I don't even remember the girl's name, but I was gripping her hand like it was a lifeline. My parents had the most dramatic fights. I thought it was how everyone lived. When my mother killed my father, I found out that it wasn't." Catherine was horrified. She didn't even know what to say, a first for her.
Later that day, Sara found a note on her desk, written in a neat, efficient handwriting.
My dearest Sara,
I wish I could tell you this face to face, but I'm not brave enough. Ever since I met you I have been in love with you. Even when I am nasty to you, you trust me. I don't deserve your trust; you're to good for me. Your smile lights up the room, and your eyes are like bottomless pools. You are beautiful, kind, intelligent, and witty. And brave. You are the bravest person I know.
Love,
The signature had been erased. Sara had no idea who it was, but it came with a locket that looked vaguely familiar. She opened it up. Inside was her picture.
When Catherine got to work the next day, she found a bunch of roses on her desk. Grissom smiled at her. "Did you send them?" Grissom shook his head. "I think it might have been Sara." Catherine tried to make sense of it. "Sara is in love with me. Sara Sidle, who everyone knows is in love with Grissom is in love with me." She was so confused. She went back to Sara's desk. "What were you hiding in the drawer?" With a shaking hand, Sara pulled out the picture. "Well. That explains a lot". "Excuse me? Like what?" Sara asked, then cursed herself for sounding rude. "Oh, maybe how you stare at me every chance you get." Sara blushed. "Sara blushing, that is something I never thought I'd see in this lifetime." Sara just blushed harder. Catherine crossed the room, then sat down next to Sara. Sara had just opened her mouth to utter some halfhearted explanation, when Catherine kissed her. Grissom walked by, but they didn't care. The two were in their own world. "I need you." Whispered Catherine. "Promise you won't leave." "I promise."