A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews!! As to when I'll update... well if I keep getting so many reviews I'll have no choice, will I? Hahaha. Seriously, as far as regular life will allow, I'll write. Hopefully, the muse keeps speaking to me because I also don't want to force this.
This one's short, but it's something to whet your appetite.
CSI-330, xo
When Catherine followed Sara into the living room, she found Lindsey stretched out on the couch with her head pillowed on Sara's lap, watching previews.
"I told her to wait Catherine!" Sara exclaimed with false alarm.
"It's alright, it's alright… I was just slaving away, making popcorn I was HOPING we could all enjoy this together…" Catherine grinned.
Lindsey smiled and reached out for the bowl, making all three laugh. Catherine lifted Lindsey's feet and slid onto the couch.
"And how come I get this end?" Catherine asked, tickling Lindsey's feet.
"Because Sara's a guest," Lindsey said through a mouthful of popcorn.
The three settled in to watch a movie, munching popcorn, enjoying the comfortable intimacy. When Catherine looked over, she saw Sara lightly stroking Lindsey's hair and Lindsey's eyes drooping. A small smile played around Sara's lips. Catherine quickly turned her eyes back to the TV. Sara looked the most… relaxed, that Catherine had ever seen her. Sara looked over at Catherine and smiled again. Pointing at Lindsey, Catherine grinned and eased herself off of the couch to kneel in front of her daughter.
"Lindsey," she said, rubbing her daughter's back, "I have to be the bad guy now, but get to bed. You have dance at 10:30 tomorrow. I'm driving you before work. Brush your teeth please."
Lindsey grumbled and sat up, turning to give Sara a hug. Catherine watched Sara catch her daughter's slender back and hold on tightly for a moment. Lindsey rolled off of Sara and kissed her mom.
"Be up in a minute," Catherine said as Lindsey climbed the stairs.
Turning back to Sara, Catherine stood and offered her hand.
"Thanks Sidle," Catherine smiled again, "For caring about my daughter."
"I should be thanking you, Cat… this was fun," Sara smiled and stretched.As she opened the front door, Catherine caught her elbow.
"And I meant it, I'd like us to be friend to. I'd like... to talk and do stuff that doesn't involve a movie about anybody 'totally cute'."
Sara laughed, "Goodnight Cath, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
The next day, Catherine drove Lindsey to dance class. She watched her daughter run into the studio and grinned. She couldn't remember the last time that she and Lindsey had gotten on so well. True, the romanced bonding had ended that morning, with Lindsey answering most of her questions with a series of grunts… but with a fifteen-year-old she figured she wouldn't push it. With about four hours left until she had to be at the lab, Catherine was at a loss. Cleaning, shopping and errands had been crammed into the previous few days. She sincerely doubted that she was relaxed enough to read or sleep. Resting her head against the steering wheel for a moment, she let the emotions of the past few days wash over her. She was close to putting them behind her… but something didn't quite feel finished. Within five minutes, she raised her head, put the car in gear and headed for the cemetery.
As she parked on the roadway leading to Eddie's grave, Catherine sighed. "Eddie, I didn't love you anymore… I hate what you put me through. But our daughter is my life… and she will always be our daughter. One last time, then I'll just clock in at the lab."
As Catherine walked between the rows of graves toward Eddie's, she spied a figure already standing over his plot. She froze, confusion and shock trumping any sadness or grief as she quickened her steps to confront the figure.
"Sara, what the hell are you doing here?"