Chapter 4

She started to cough hard unable to stop for almost a min. Her chest was burning. She closed her eyes and leaned back and fell asleep. Catherine was glad to see Sara sleeping. Too many doubles and not enough sleep- poor girl. Catherine drove at a steady pace glancing at Sara every time she coughed. Her cough sounded painful to Catherine. She reached over to check her temperature at a red light and found her feeling warmer than before.

30 mins later they arrived at Sara's condo. "We're here sleepyhead." Catherine whispered. She gathered some of her belongings and went around to Sara to help her out. Sara was already out of the car rushing to go inside. She couldn't get the key to unlock, ran and threw up in the bushes. She heaved two more times, wiped her mouth on her sleeve, and straightened up unsteadily.

"Easy, easy" Catherine called out grabbing Sara's frail body before she toppled over. Catherine took sara's keys, opened the door and guided Sara down the hall to her apartment. Once inside, Sara quickly grabbed the keys in the door. "Thanks for the ride home." Came out of Sara's mouth barely above a whisper. She began coughing really hard. As she inhaled between coughs, a wheezing noise was heard. Catherine lightly patted her on the back, guiding her to her bed. "I'm sure I'll feel better after I sleep." Sara said trying to reassure Catherine. "Just lock the bottom lock on your way out" Sara mumbled as she plopped on her bed.

Catherine stood in the hall looking over all the pictures- Sara as a young girl, her family, awards, and her and... Grissom?! "Catherine?" Sara tried to call out. Catherine peaked in the doorway, "Yes?" "You should really go back to work, I'm fine" Sara pleaded. "Really Sara you're fine? Hacking up your lungs, a fever, and then puking your guts out in the bushes. You're not fine." Catherine retorted. "Besides, I spoke to Grissom and he told me not to leave. He warned me you would say you're fine. Greggs coming to help them anyway."Catherine smiled.

"Alright" Sara replied letting out a breath in defeat. Grissom was way ahead of her. "He's worried about you." Catherine blurted out. "You never get sick and here you are sick again... Two times in 2 months. Whats up with you?" Catherine laid it out making Sara feel guilty. "I know, I don't know... My inconsistent sleep patterns maybe. I guess I am human after all." Sara smiled. "Where's your thermometer?"asked Catherine. Sara pointed to the bathroom, "in the medicine cabinet."

"I don't see it." Catherine said returning to Sara's room. "Oh, check the coffee table in the living room." Sara remembered that she used it last night. Catherine came back with the thermometer. "So, you knew you were sick? For how long?" she asked suspiciously. "Since monday." Sara answered honestly. "open up." Catherine stuck the thermometer in her mouth. After a min it beeped. Catherine yanked it out, "102.5. Let's see if we can bring it down a few degrees. What have you been taking? Tylenol?" Catherine asked after noticing the bottle on her night stand. "Yep."Sara whispered. "Here drink this for your cough." Catherine handed her a small cup of red liquid, and she drank it down. After swallowing the awful cherry flavor syrup Sara started to cough really hard. Once she started , the coughing continued for awhile. Her cough was dry, but every time she inhaled to take a breath, loud wheezing could be heard. Sara could feel the burning in her chest get worse as she coughed. She shifted her gaze to Catherin who just shook her head. "Your cough sounds bad. I hope the medicine will help some. Lindsay had a terrible cough that never went away and ended up with pneumonia. She missed almost a month of school." Catherine rambled off. She looked at Sara who was fast asleep. Her breathing sounded heavy and congested. Catherine set a box of Kleenex next to her on the bed and made her way to the living room.

She called Grissom. He asked her a million questions. How sweet he's so worried about her. "Gil, shhh... She's sick, not dying." Catherine interrupted his ranting. "Yeah, but I've never seen her like this... That cough." Grissom trailed off. "That cough... I gave her some medicine to quiet it enough for her to sleep. She has a fever, but the Tylenol will bring it down." Catherine tried to ease Grissom's worries.

"Thank you Catherine. I owe you." Grissom said in a more calm tone. "You will if I get sick... " Catherine said back half joking. "Hey Catherine, uh... How long... I mean what time will you be heading home? I can send Nick over when you go." Grissom stuttered out stumbling over his words. "Nick? I thought you were gonna take the night shift. Catherine probed." Huh?" Grissom asked caught off guard. "Oh come on Gil.. You think I'm that clueless?" Catherine asked annoyed. He let out a long sigh. "You got me..I will be taking the night shift. .It's complicated..with work...I'll let her fill you in when she's well."Grissom offered up. If there was anyone who understood Grissom, it was Catherine. Although his word choice lacked description, she understood what he meant. "Mixing work and pleasure can be tough, but not impossible. I think you two are cute together." Catherine added. "Well then, will you be able to stay with Sara until I'm off?" Grissom asked honestly. "10 right?asked Catherine "Yes." he replied. "I think I can manage." She said humorously.

"Thank you again Catherine." A smile spread across his face as he hung up.

Grissom ran tests to analyze topology on the female blonde victim. Something was missing. Why was one victim's blood found in the living room , but no body? His mind was preoccupied over his conversation with Catherine. How much he loved Sara. He wanted to be with her, to comfort her.