The next few days passed in a blur of hard decisions for Catherine. One minute she had decided that she would tell Lou about the child they had conceived together and the next minute she was worrying over all the fears that had been preventing her from telling him. She just didn't know what to do. Their relationship was already strained, if he found out about this it would be shattered beyond repair.
Sara had broached the subject with her a couple of times when they were alone and Catherine had given her the same answer each time, she didn't know what she was going to do.
Today found her stood at the end of one of the white plastic topped tables pouring over evidence in hopes that they would find something and move the case forwards. Sara was stood to her right examining a picture of the latest victim while Nick was perched at the computer in the corner, quickly tapping away on the keys as he searched the database for any crimes similar to the current one. The room was quite as each member went about their assigned tasks, all focused on finding the sadistic bastard that was butchering young girls and leaving their mutilated bodies in various outdoor locations. The FBI had been working this case for months and suddenly the perp had upped and moved to Vegas, his next victim located in a trash filled alley behind a known homeless hangout. That been a nightmare to process. Looking at all the pictures of the scene now made Catherine glad that she didn't have to search through all that garbage anymore. She could remain relatively clean now and more often than not she could get away with not having to change her clothes during shift or wear those unflattering coveralls.
The overhead speaker crackled to life breaking Catherine's concentration when the receptionist asked for Catherine at the front desk, she had visitors. Wondering who could possibly be visiting her at the lab Catherine turned around and looked through the glass wall to where she could see Judy waving at her, she gestured to someone just outside of Catherine's line of vision.
Wrinkling her brow Catherine placed her glasses on the table and opened the door, she took a few steps down the corridor when a familiar brown haired child flew around the corner and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her towards Catherine.
"Mommy!" The child happily cried and wrapped her small arms around Catherine's legs, nuzzling her cheek against them and looking up at her mother with big eyes.
Stunned Catherine lifted Aimee into her arms and looked up to see her babysitter approach her with an apologetic look on her face.
"I'm sorry Ms. Willows. I know you said not to bring her here but my dad has been taken into hospital..." Catherine held her hand up to stop the girls babbling.
"Its fine Donna, your father needs you." Catherine knew they were drawing attention from the other rooms, she could feel the eyes watching her. This wasn't going to end well.
The girl thanked Catherine, kissed Aimee on the cheek and quickly left the building leaving Catherine holding her daughter in the middle of a busy lab. She sighed and scanned her daughter's delicate features.
"What are we going to do with you?" She mused and placed a kiss on Aimee's nose.
"Catherine, a word." His voice broached no argument.
Closing her eyes briefly Catherine took a steadying breath and turned to face Lou. His eyes fixed on the young girl in her arms. Catherine tightened her hold and turned her body slightly, wanting to shield the child from his inquisitive and furious gaze. She wanted to run away and forget all about the case take Aimee and go back to their home, where it was just the two of them and they were safe. But she didn't.
It was time to face the consequences of her actions. It was time to tell him the truth about what had happened 9 months after she had left three years ago.
She called Sara over, who had of course been watching the exchange from the doorway, and with a little coaxing and reassurance the little girl went with her to find some crayons and a colouring book. When Catherine turned ace Lou his eyes were dark and his arms crossed over his chest. She had seen this look only a few times and usually it was directed at the criminals he worked to put behind bars. Without another word he turned on his heel and walked briskly down the corridor towards the lesser used labs.
Hesitant, Catherine slowly followed him. She wasn't sure she wanted to be in a room alone with him right now, she could use the moral support of her friends. And maybe the buffer they would provide if tempers got too flared. But she knew this had to be done privately, just the two of them. If she brought a third person into the room it would surely piss Lou off even more.
She passed Nick on her way; he reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Want me to come with?"
As tempting as that was she declined. She'd got herself into this mess and it was only her that could get out of it, or explain it to Lou at least.
"No, I'll be okay. Thanks though." She attempted a smile that didn't do much except curl the corners of her lips and continued on her way.
Greg was walking through the labs on his way back from nailing the guy who had been conning old women into transferring their money to a secure bank account for 'safe keeping.' Only it wasn't safe, he had been using that money to buy himself all the latest gadgets. He was in need of coffee, lots and lots of coffee. He rubbed his eyes and sighed deeply, counting down the hours until shift was over and he could go home.
He reached the door to the break room, hand poised on the handle to open it and reach the holy land of coffee and biscuits, when loud voices made him stop. He peered around the empty corridors trying to locate the source of the ruckus. It was a male and female that much he could tell, but as to what they were arguing about he had no clue.
Through the glass wall he spotted Nick and Sara inside the break room with their backs to him and entered.
"Hoo boy, you heard that?" He asked, dropping his jacket into one of the plastic chairs by the door.
They were both focused on something on the floor in front of them when he entered. At Greg's voice Nick turned around and told him to close the door. Doing as he was told Greg closed the door and turned to face his friend who had moved from his seated position to stand next to Greg.
"Lou saw Aimee, they've been tearing into each other ever since."
Now Nick had moved Greg could see the little girl sat at Sara's feet. Her legs were crossed and she was bent almost double as she concentrated on colouring the turtle on the page in front of her. A curtain of dark waves fell over her face breaking her concentration; she put down her crayon and used both hands to push the hair back before going back to her masterpiece.
"Does she know?" Greg quietly asked the Texan.
"No, we're trying to keep her occupied but if they get any louder she's going to start noticing." He glanced out the glass windows towards the room Lou and Catherine had sealed themselves inside.
They all focused their attention back on Aimee and watched her in silence, all wondering what was going to happen now that Lou knew he had a daughter. She was so small and innocent; she didn't know anything of the mess she was tangled in the middle of. Her tongue poked out slightly as she tried to stay inside the lines just like her mommy had shown her. It was a good attempt, just one that failed more than it succeeded. She hummed along to some unknown tune and tilted her head to examine her work.
"She really is adorable." Greg commented with a smile.
Upon hearing the voice of Greg Sanders, Aimee looked up, pushed her hair back again and shuffled closer to Sara on her bottom and resumed colouring.
All occupants of the room jumped when a loud crash rang out from the direction of the warring parents.
Aimee wrapped her arms around Sara's legs. "Want Mommy." She cried softly and buried her face against the back of Sara's knee.
While Sara comforted the upset child Greg and Nick approached the room which held the ex-lovers. The sudden silence was far more terrifying than all the arguing had been, numerous scenarios ran through their heads. What had caused the crash? Had someone been hurt in a fit of rage?
Nick reached the door first and after a quick glance at Greg, who nodded at him to go ahead; he reached out and slowly turned the handle. Bracing for whatever lay beyond.
Before he had a chance to open the door it was yanked open from inside making Nick stumble slightly as he tried to steady his feet. Paying no attention to them Lou stormed past and out of the building, kicking a trashcan on the way out, leaving a large dent in it.
They watched him go before nervously entering the room, Greg nudging Nick in front of him. At first it seemed the room was empty, they scanned the room looking for their friend only to come up empty. The big table dominating the centre of the room had papers scattered all over it and prevented them from seeing anything below waist level on the other side. Nodding to each other the slowly rounded the table and found Catherine on her knees picking up shards of broken glass.
"Cath?" Nick gently placed his arm on her shoulder once again and knelt down beside her. His heart broke at the sight of her tears running down her cheeks.
"He hates me." She whispered and turned her attention back to the broken glass.
"No Cath, he doesn't hate you. He's just angry, give him time to cool down and try talking to him again."
Gently taking her hands away from the glass before she cut herself Nick helped her up and handed her a tissue to dry her eyes with.
"Where's Aimee?" Her eyes quickly travelled to the door, panicked that her daughter wasn't where she could see her.
"She's with Sara." Greg spoke up for the first time and gently led Catherine to where her daughter was curled up against Sara's chest.
Catherine quickly scooped her daughter up and inhaled her child's scent. Without much explanation she told them she was leaving and wouldn't be back again until next shift. Nobody tried to argue with her and watched with worried expressions as she carried her daughter out the same exit Lou had gone through only moments before.
They all hoped that the adults could sort this all out for the sake of Aimee.
