I feel sappy so... thanks to my girl, my inspiration...


Sara turned over for the umpteenth time, squinting at the red digits on the VCR. She'd been laying awake on the couch for almost an hour and a half. It felt like she'd been there for days.

She threw an arm over her eyes, trying to block out the sunlight filtering through the living room blinds. She had soon realised after laying down just why the drapes in Catherine's room were so thick, working graveyard shift meant sleeping through the sunlight hours. In the suburbs there were no tall buildings to keep the Vegas sun from shining directly in to the room, not like the ground floor hotel rooms on and around the strip, which often seemed dingy with the lights off.

Sara knew though that the sunlight, assaulting her eyes, was not the only reason she could not sleep, neither was the uncomfortable, too-short-by-miles couch. If that had been the problem she could easily have gone to her own apartment.

Although Sara was now living with Catherine, she'd kept her place as somewhere to store her things and, more importantly, to keep their relationship secret; Greg often insisted on coming over to watch movies and drink a few beers, especially after a tough case. She knew she could insist on going to his apartment instead, but frankly it was a sty. Some things just didn't change.

The brunette admitted silently to herself though that, that place just was not home anymore. This was her home now; this was where she belonged, where she felt safe and loved. This was where Catherine was.

And so she had to admit to herself that the reason she could not sleep was not the sun or the couch, it was simply that Catherine was too far away. She needed feel her warmth beside her, hear her rhythmic breathing, see her angelic, peaceful features as she slept.

--

Catherine blinked away haze of sleep; her foggy mind trying to determine what had woken her. The room was quiet and dark. She turned to look at the clock. It had been two hours since she'd sent Sara from their bedroom and fallen asleep.

With a mental shrug she began rearranging the sheet covering her. In the darkness a shadowy figure at the end of the bed caught her eye. Almost falling out of bed she scrambled to turn the bedside light on.

As the room flooded with light, the blonde CSI relaxed, the figure at the end of her bed becoming a very familiar female form.

"Sara? What are you doing?" Catherine's voice was low as she noted the brunette's features. She looked like a sad little puppy dog, lost and unsure of what to do.

"I was… I couldn't sleep… without you… I…" Her voice trailed off, embarrassment colouring her cheeks her eyes tipping downwards. Catherine's brow furrowed as the younger woman self-consciously picked at her t-shirt.

"I was watching you sleep." Sara continued when the other woman remained silent. Catherine felt a warm rush of affection, but didn't get a chance to speak.

"I guess I'll go back to the couch." The brunette rose, puppy-dog eyes back in full force, shoulders hunched as she turned to leave. The other woman felt a wave of guilt hit her like a punch in the stomach.

"Sara… stay?" Catherine patted the mattress beside her. One look at those dark eyes and she could not stay mad any longer; she'd over-reacted when she had made the other woman leave their bed. She knew how hard Sara found sleeping at the best of times and regretted making it any worse.

"Really?" Sara's eyes lit up when the blonde simply nodded. Grinning she crawled in beside her.

Rolling over, away from Sara, Catherine turned out the light and closed her eyes. She almost immediately felt the brunette edging closer, then an arm around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Don't think just because I let you back in you're forgiven." Her tone was soft. She wasn't mad anymore, but she was stubborn and there was no way she was going letting her girlfriend think she'd won.

"I know." Sara's whisper tickled her ear. "But I really am sorry baby, I didn't think… You know I was just joking right?"

"I know… I don't snore, thank you." Catherine stated indignantly.

"You do a little…" Sara's fingers slowly moved across her stomach in soothing circles. "Like a pussy cat."

"Cat's don't snore… they purr." The blonde argued, pouting into the darkness.

"Nuh uh… but I know how to make you purr too…" Her lips brushed over her ear.

"Sara, I meant what I said… a week, if you're lucky." She heard a frustrated sigh as the brunette's head plopped down onto her arm.

"I know, I know!" Catherine was pleased to hear the hint of frustration in her lover's voice. She placed her hand on top of the agile fingers massaging her soft skin, squeezing gently.

"Night." The brunette yawned, kissing the soft blonde hair in front of her lovingly.

"Night baby." Catherine released her hand, allowing it to resume its lazy stroking. Tucking her hands under head she closed her eyes.


I lied, the good stuff is in the NEXT chapter ;)