I am so sorry for the lack of updates, really, really sorry, but I just haven't been writing much of anything lately. So here is an official plea: If anyone has seen my muse, could you please tell her to come back home. I am not mad for her leaving without telling, I am just worried and would like her to come home, so I can see that she is ok.
Thank you so much for still being with me on this story even though I'm not updating as regularly as I would like. Also thanks for the reviews, they are muchly appreciated. It helps with the direction of the story to know what you think of all the things I put our poor girls through. Finally a big, big thank you to Jess, who is just the best beta in the world!
Chapter Nine
Sleeping In My Car
It felt like she had been driving around for hours but looking at her watch she realized it had only been about thirty minutes since she had left Catherine's place. She vaguely registered the tears running silently down her cheeks and wiped them off with an irritated grunt. She couldn't believe that such a stupid unimportant bet could ruin her relationship with Catherine.
"Was that all it was? Just the bet?" The little voice in her head asked her. She pulled the car over to a stop at the curb, hiding her head in her hands trying to get her emotions under control. Looking up she realized just where she was – across the street from Veronica's house. She put her head back down on her hands, not quite having the courage to seek out her friend.
If she was still her friend.
Feeling incredibly tired she stopped the car and put the keys in her pocket before she closed her eyes, just wanting to forget for a second or two. She felt her body relax more and soon she drifted off to sleep.
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Catherine watched silently as Sara drove away from the house. She wasn't sure what she was saying to Sara, all she knew was that she couldn't go on like this. She was in love with the brunette, but she needed stability as well. With a sigh she went back inside. She picked up the purse she had thrown on the couch and placed it on the kitchen counter. Looking around she decided against starting to clean the house and opted for a little sleep instead. She had been home during the Adams case, but she hadn't gotten much sleep. She had been too worried. Worried about the little girl, worried about her own little girl and worried about Sara. This morning however, she knew that her body was tired enough to fall asleep instead of letting her thoughts keep her awake.
Laying her head down on the pillow, she slowly reached her hand out and placed it on the spot Sara had occupied over three days ago. Her last thought before falling asleep was - how can we make this work?
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Veronica looked out the window for the fourth time in fifteen minutes. She had noticed a car pulling up and it was parked too far away for her to see the driver properly, but he or she hadn't moved the whole time she'd watching. She didn't really sense something out of the ordinary or threatening about the car, but then again she hadn't felt that walking into her bedroom when she was taken by Dunne and Burns, so she decided to go wake up her wife.
"Hon," she shook her wife gently. "Kim, wake up."
"What?" The blonde opened her eyes slowly. "Is it noon already?" She asked with a yawn.
"No." Veronica shook her head and brushed the hair out of her wife's face. "There's been a car parked across the street for the last 20 minutes." She explained. "I thought you'd like to take a look at it and the driver."
"What?" Kimberly got out of bed quickly and picked up a box from under the bed. Pushing in a combination she opened it and pulled out a gun.
"I know you're a cop and know how to handle those," the doctor wrinkled her face and pointed at the gun, "but I really hate having one in the house. I've seen what they can do."
"This is so not the time for that discussion, V." Kimberly said walking towards the door. "Did you call the police?"
"No." Veronica got up and followed her downstairs. "I thought I'd let you check it out first."
"Ok." Kimberly grabbed her cell on the kitchen counter and went outside.
"So what's the plan?" Veronica asked, following her outside.
"V!" The detective turned and looked at the redhead. "Stay in the house!"
"No." Veronica shook her head. "It's probably just someone talking on the phone or something." She whispered. "And I'm guessing you knocking on the window with that," she pointed at the gun, "will scare the shit out of him. I'll need to be the polite little wife explaining the situation." She gave the taller woman a gentle push forward.
"Can't you do what I tell you to for once in your life?" Kimberly muttered.
"No, that would make things too easy for you." Veronica smiled at her.
Quietly they walked up to the car and peered inside. Not being able to see the face of the person inside Kimberly walked to the front of the car, looking through the window.
"V, is that…?" She looked over at her wife.
"Sara." Veronica nodded and opened the door carefully.
"What is she doing out here?" Kimberly asked. "Why didn't she just come inside?"
"We had a little fight." The redhead gently pushed Sara's hair away from her face. "Sass?" She nudged her gently. "Sass, wake up, hon."
"A fight about what?" Kimberly moved to her wife's side in case Sara fell out. "What could be so bad that she wouldn't just come inside?"
"Let's just say if you think I'm complicated, then you're lucky you didn't marry Sass." Veronica smiled at her. "Sara." She said louder, shaking the brunette a little harder. "Wake up."
"Huh?" Sara looked up at her. "Foxy?" She said sleepily.
"Hi." Veronica smiled, pulling on Sara's hand to get her out of the car. "Where are your keys?" She asked the confused brunette.
"What am I doing here?" Sara asked, taking her keys from her pocket and handing them over to the doctor.
"I was hoping you could tell me that." Veronica smiled. "When was the last time you slept, Sass?"
"I don't know." Sara shook her head and caught a glimpse of the gun in Kim's hand. "What's going on?" She asked, suddenly fully awake.
"You." Kimberly said. "We didn't know it was you." She elaborated her statement.
"I'm sorry." Sara shook her head. "I should go." She turned to get back into the car.
"Drive in your condition?" Veronica stopped her and locked the car. "I don't think so. We have a spare bed with your name on it, come on." She walked back towards the house.
"Yeah, you look like you need sleep." Kim put a hand on her shoulder, dragging her along with her. "And you better forget about arguing with her, it never works." She said with a smile and led her into the house.
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Having spent the day sleeping and thinking about her relationship with Sara, Catherine was relieved to get back to the lab. After putting her jacket and purse in her locker she headed to the break room. There she went straight for the coffee, nodding her hello to Nick and Warrick.
"Hey, Cath…" Nick looked over at her. "About this morning…"
"I already talked to Sara, Nick." Catherine dismissed him. "She explained."
"Ok." Nick relaxed a little.
"You guys had a fight?" Warrick looked up from the paper he was reading.
"Yeah." Catherine nodded with a sigh.
"So where is she now?" Warrick asked. "You wear her out making up?" He teased.
"She's not here?" Catherine asked, ignoring the teasing.
"Who's not here?" Grissom asked, entering the room followed by Greg.
"Sara." Nick answered.
"Someone called in sick for her." Grissom handed out the assignment slips in his hand.
"Who?" Catherine asked.
"Dr. Christiansen." Gil looked over his glasses at her and handed her a slip.
"What about the Adams case?" Nick asked.
"The PD is still on it, but there's nothing more we can do." Grissom answered with a frown. "How far are you on the B&E from yesterday?"
"I'm gonna pick up the results now."
"Ok." Grissom nodded. "Let's get to work then." He turned and left the room and the rest of them got up to start work as well.
"Gil!" Catherine caught up with him. "What do you mean Veronica called in sick for Sara?"
"She called and said Sara wasn't feeling well and that she wasn't coming in tonight." Grissom answered.
"Yes, Gil." Catherine said exasperated. "But why didn't Sara call in herself?"
"Apparently she was sleeping." Grissom put on his jacket and picked up his kit. "We should get going."
"Are we working together tonight?" Catherine asked, momentarily forgetting about Sara being sick.
"No." Grissom looked back at her. "But we should still get going." He turned back and stood beside her. "This relationship between the two of you can't get in the way of your work, Catherine."
"I know, Gil." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm just worried. I'll call her and then get going." She pulled out her phone.
"Call her from the car." Grissom walked away again and out the door.
The blonde huffed, before quickly picking up her kit and jacket and rushing to the car. As soon as she was out on the street in the car she dialled Sara's number.
"Sara Sidle's phone." A female voice answered.
"Who is this?" Catherine asked.
"Veronica. Who is this?" Veronica asked back.
"Catherine."
"Oh… Hi."
"Hi. Why are you answering Sara's phone?" Catherine asked curiously.
"She's sleeping and I'd like to keep it that way." Veronica answered carefully.
"Grissom said she was sick?"
"Uhm…" Veronica hesitated. "I might have told a little white lie there." She admitted. "Are you guys swamped? Cause I'll wake her up if you…"
"No." Catherine interrupted her. "No, I was just worried. So she's not sick?"
"I'm not really sure." Veronica paused. "She's been sleeping since this morning. I've never seen her sleep that long, so she could be coming down with something."
"She's been working the last 72 hours with very little sleep – on the Adams case." Catherine told her.
"Oh." Veronica shook her head. "That's probably the explanation... Catherine…?" She stopped.
"Yes?" Catherine prompted her to continue.
"Just tell me if this is none of my business, but did you two have a fight or something?"
"It's more or something." Catherine sighed. "It's just been rough lately." She didn't really know why she was telling her this, but she assumed that Sara had already told her some of their problems.
"Ok." You could practically hear the wheels turning in the redhead's head. "That explains what she was doing outside my house this morning. I wasn't expecting her to come back this soon."
"This soon?" Catherine pulled up to her scene, but stayed in the car. "What do you mean?"
"She didn't tell you we had a fight?" Veronica didn't sound surprised. "I know which buttons to push and I pushed them. It's in the past, or at least it is to me, but Sass has a tendency to hold on to stuff for way too long."
"Could you get her to call me when she wakes up?" Catherine asked. "I have to get back to work right now." She explained, opening the door.
"Yeah, sure." Veronica nodded on the other end. "I'll make sure she calls you… Catherine?" She stopped again, wondering if she should say what she was thinking or not.
"Yes?" The blonde shut the door again.
"It's just… She's worth it, you know, when she pulls her head out of her ass, she's really worth it. I just thought I'd tell you. I know she's not easy, but she's trying. She wants to be with you, you just have to… I don't know… Teach her… Have a little patience with her."
"I don't know if I can afford that patience." Catherine sighed, looking out at the police officers at the scene.
"Because of Lindsey." It was more a statement than a question. "Just give her a little more time, Catherine. Just a little." She said softly. "Anyways, I'll let you get to work and I'll have her call you when she wakes up."
"Thanks." Catherine smiled sadly. "Bye."
"Bye."
Catherine sat for another couple of seconds in the car getting her thoughts under control. Finally, slipping on her work face, she stepped out and started working the scene.
