A/N: Well, hello! Its about that time again! Its update time! Not much to say this time around except that I hope you like it. Oh, and a big thank you to everyone who reviewed- you are, as always, wonderful and too kind. So, without further ado, I give you…Chapter 4!

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Settling back against the pillows, the brunette took a deep breath, "Umm…Well, you remember Hank, right?"

"Oh, god, Hank's the father?" Catherine really hoped not.

Sara shook her head, "As far as I'm concerned, this baby has no father- but he isn't the guy who got me pregnant. No, but about two weeks after things were over with Hank, I ran into this guy I had known in college, Brian Masterson. We were never friends exactly, but we had mutual friends. We have nothing in common- he is a financial executive for some kind of packaging company." Sara wrinkled her nose and Catherine smiled at the cute expression.

"Anyway, he spotted me on the strip, coming off a case, and we started talking. Then he asked me out for drinks. Usually, I would have said no, but I was trying to shake the Hank thing off, so I agreed. I wish I could say we got drunk, but we didn't. He was in town for some business weekend thing. He's recently divorced, very good looking- blonde, tall, big blue eyes. I wasn't really interested in anything coming out of his mouth, but I doubt he was much impressed with my life either. And then things progressed to dinner and then we went back to his hotel room." Sara shrugged, "He was here for three days, I saw him everyday. He asked if he could call me when he was next in Vegas, but I told him no. The whole casual affair thing really isn't my style. He wasn't that upset, we exchanged cards in case I changed my mind. But he's never called."

She looked up at Catherine for the first time since she had started telling the story, "And that's it. A month later, I felt amazingly ill, went to my doctor and she told me I was pregnant."

Catherine watched her facial expression, "And you were…happy about that?"

Sara shook her head, "I was in total shock. I wasn't feeling much either way, I just couldn't believe it. I tried not to think about it. It didn't even sink in until I got my sonogram about a month after that. And then I just cried for about five hours. Not because I was sad or anything, I don't know, everything just sort of overflowed."

"So, how do you feel now?"

Sara smiled, a hand instinctively moving to cover her stomach, "Now, I feel…great. I mean, I have no idea how I'm going to do this and I'm scared shitless, but…I don't know. A baby. I can't really get over it- there is a little person inside of me."

The older woman had to smile; it was the same awe she had felt with Lindsey, "Pretty great, huh?"

"I know that I'm not good with kids, Catherine. And there are so many things that have to change- my apartment for one, there is no room for a baby in there. And lots of other things have to change, I have to change. But I don't care. I really want this baby."

Sara was glowing and Catherine knew exactly how she felt.

"Sara, that's great, and I'm really happy for you."

"You are?" She seemed surprised.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Catherine gave her a quizzical look.

"Uhh…I don't know, I just figured, well, I'm not married…"

"So? Neither am I."

"But you were when you had Lindsey."

Catherine shrugged, "Not when she was conceived. Besides, I would have kept her and loved her just the same if I hadn't been. Sara, children deserve love and attention, it doesn't really matter where it comes from. Being a single mom is hard, but I certainly don't judge you for it. There are plenty of people who are married who make terrible parents. And by the look on your face when you talk about your baby, I know that you'll do just great."

Seeing the pleased look on Sara's face, she continued, "And anyway, its not like you'll be alone. You've got lots of people to help you. Warrick, Nick, Greg, hell even Grissom- they are all very willing uncles for Lindsey, and they will be the exact same way for your baby."

There was a hopeful look in Sara's eyes, "You think so?"

Catherine nodded, "I know so. Not to mention, you've got me and Lindsey."

"Lindsey?"

"Of course. Do you know how excited she'll be when she finds out about this? She is going to hang on to you until the day you give birth and then she will spend every waking moment watching over this baby. You have no idea." Catherine laughed.

She had a beautiful laugh and Sara couldn't help but smile. "So…wow. This is really going to be okay with everyone?"

"Of course. I mean, Grissom will be in shock for a while, but he'll be fine. And the boys? Ten bucks says Greg tries to get you to name the baby after him within the first half hour- even if it's a girl."

Sara brightened. She had been so afraid that no one would understand why she wanted this baby. And here, the woman she had been most

afraid of telling was sitting and telling her everything would be alright and that she wouldn't go through this alone. It was all a little too much for her hormones and her eyes began to fill again. A warm arm encased her shoulders.

"Shit!" she muttered, though she did lean into the embrace, "Sorry, this has sort of been happening a lot recently…"

"Oh, hush" came the dismissive reply, she felt a hand run soft circles over back, "Don't worry." Catherine chuckled, "It only gets worse before it gets better."

After several minutes, Catherine pulled back and smiled, "Better?" she asked.

Sara nodded, "Thanks. For all of this."

Catherine shook her head, "Don't thank me yet, you're going to need a lot more help before the day is through."

Sara gave her a questioning look.

"You've been shot and you're five months pregnant. Sara, there is no way you're going to be able to get out of this hospital on your own."

"I can take-"

Catherine held up a hand. "Save it. You can take care of yourself, I have no doubt. But if you want to be a mom, you'll have to start realizing that you aren't just living for yourself anymore and that even if you can do it all, you don't have to. Will you just take the help that is offered to you?"

Catherine's tone left no room for argument, and Sara could only nod resignedly.

"Good." Catherine did some quick thinking, "So, the doctor said that after you recover from the blood loss, you're free to go. That will probably be sometime tonight. Since you can't drive, I'm taking you home, and since I am now in a position to physically stop you if I have to; you're coming home with me."

Sara started to protest.

"Not for long, Sara. Just a few days. And then you can move back to your place until we find a better place for you and the baby. I've asked for the shift off in order to get you situated, so don't even bother fighting me. You're on leave for at least a week, so you can stay with me until you go back to work. Besides, the closer you are to me the easier it will be to work on the baby dilemma."

"What dilemma? There is no dilemma." Sara's voice was defensive, as was the arm across her belly.

"Ha. There are about forty-five. Look, Sara. I may have been married when I was pregnant with Lindsey, but Eddie didn't exactly help out. He was never even home, and when he was it was to get fed and laid before he went back out to do whatever the hell it was he did when he was supposed to be supporting his family. But I had my friends and my sisters and believe me, there is a lot of stuff I didn't think of- and never would have, that they did. You don't have to be married Sara, but you can't be pregnant on your own. Besides being dangerous, it's also just stupid. Especially when I am offering to be here every step of the way. I want to be there for you, so will you just save us both a little time and quit pretending that you don't want my help?"

Sara looked stunned, "Okay."

"Besides, it's more fun to be pregnant when you get to share it with somebody. And I arrived just in time for the good part."

"The good part?"

"Yeah, any day now you're going to start to show and then you'll get to feel the baby kick, and by the next ultra-sound, you'll be able to tell if the baby is a boy or girl. The fun stuff. Name picking, crib shopping, foot massages…" She saw Sara's arched eyebrow.

"Trust me, your feet are going to hurt like hell. And when they do, you won't be able reach them. I expect full reciprocation. But believe me, being pregnant is a lot of fun once you're passed the morning sickness and all of that."

"I never really thought about it." Sara said honestly.

"Really? Well, it is." She saw the once more doubtful expression on Sara's face, and sighed, "Sara, I know that we've never really gotten close, but I do actually like you. I always have; we just seem to clash on a lot of things, but I swear I don't do it on purpose. And I really want to be friends with you. I think we could be really good friends. And I'm really excited for you to have this baby- and I really want to help. I think it will be great. So, what do you say? Will you let me do this with you? I promise to back off whenever you want."

Typical Sara actually took a minute to weigh the pros and cons of the proposition. Catherine made a face. If she had to wait much longer she was going to rescind the offer.

"Sara…" she tapped her foot.

"Yes. Okay. That would be…that would be really great, Catherine. Thank you."

"Really?"

"Did you want me to say 'no'?"

"No. I just really didn't think you'd say 'yes'."

"Well…I did."

"Well, good."

"Now what?"

Catherine looked at her watch. "Now I go and get some rest. Then I pick Lindsey up from school and we come to take you to your place so we can pack you a bag. Then we go home and eat. If that works for you, that is."

"I don't suppose I could actually fight you on it even if I wanted to."

"Not really."

"In that case," she smiled briefly, "it works for me."

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Does it seem like its going too slow? I just noticed that its taken me four chapters to get through the first day. But I promise that things start picking up in the next few chapters and it will not disappoint those who are waiting for the lovey-dovey, mushy-gushy stuff. You just have to hang in there a little longer!

And where would we be if I didn't hit you up for reviews, right? I'd be a like a completely different person! So, here it is, please please please review! I love to hear your comments and suggestions or your favorite parts- it really keeps me going and writing- which means faster updates for you! So go forth! Review!