Chapter 10 – Sara's POV

The case shook us both to the core. Not only was the victim sexually assaulted pre and post-mortem, she also holds a frightening resemblance to Catherine's daughter, so all animosity between me and Catherine was put aside so we could be completely focused on catching the bastard that did this. Although Catherine is putting up a strong front, I can see the pain written all over her face. Although the case has effected me, it's got to Catherine a hell of a lot more. To make it worse, there's an overwhelming lack of evidence. No girl matching our vics description has been reported missing in this area either, so she remains a Jane Doe.

I can't understand how someone could care so little about their child. We don't know her age exactly, but she can't be any older than thirteen. So for now, we have nothing.

I'd pull a double shift, but I'm exhausted so I make my way to the locker room. Catherine is sat on the bench, her head in her hands. I ignore her. She's made it pretty clear she doesn't want to talk to me. Still, it hurts seeing her so broken. Her shoulders begin to shake and she sobs quietly. I don't think she knows I'm in here.

Oh, screw this. I can't just sit by and let her go through this alone. Nothing needs to be said. I sit next to her and the bench and wrap an arm round her shoulders, pulling her closer to me. She buries her head in my shoulder and cries even harder. We just sit here, her crying, me holding her tightly, stroking her hair lightly. Nick comes in to collect his things from his locker and gives me a questioning look. I just shake my head at him so he gets his stuff then goes. Eventually Catherine's sobs lessen slightly so I gather up the courage to speak.

"Cath, I'm taking you home. Please don't argue with me, I just want to take care of you."

To my surprise, she doesn't protest so I gather my things and lead her out to the car.

"My place or yours?" I ask as I start the engine.

"Yours."

I nod silently as I pull away from the lab.

I let us in and sit Catherine down on the couch. I then go and make us both some coffee. I pass her the mug and sit at the opposite end of the couch, not wanting to crowd her. I'm so tired, I gulp my coffee down, while she sips at hers. We sit in silence, and eventually she gives me a faint smile.

"Thanks."

"What for?"

She motions to me to come and sit closer to her, which I do.

"Just...for being here I guess. Every time I see a case like this, every time someone hurts another innocent child, I lose some more of my faith in humanity. There's so many dangers in the world already, what hope do we have when humans create more? It gets to the point where I'm afraid to let Lindsey go out with her friends. I've just seen too much of what people are capable of, and it terrifies me. It doesn't just terrify me, it sickens and angers me. If it weren't for the fact that I'm helping to put the bastards who do things like that away, I'd leave this job and never look back."

She starts to cry again. I pull her onto my lap and hug her to me and she wraps her arms round me, crying into my neck. Tears prick the corners of my eyes. She's right – what hope do we have when humans are becoming the biggest danger themselves?

Then I think of my co-workers and all the people I've met who've helped the victims of all these crimes. As long as there are people like that in the world, there is still hope.

I can't help but smile when I wake up. Catherine is cuddled into me, one arm round my waist. She looks so peaceful that I can't bear to wake her. I lift myself up slightly and check the clock. We've got another four hours before we have to be at work.

This morning, Catherine was so exhausted, I had to carry her to bed. It was completely innocent, I didn't even kiss her. She just needed comfort, so I held her till we both fell asleep. I'm so happy she allowed me to comfort her. In fact, I feel honoured. I'm just scared that she'll go back to blanking me once she wakes up.

"Sara?"

Oh. She's awake.

I smile down at her. She looks really cute when she's sleepy.

"Morning."

To my delight, she pulls me down and holds me tightly so my face is buried in her neck.

"Thank you baby," she whispers in my ear.

I shiver slightly at the feel of her breath against my skin.

"There's no need for thanks," I whisper back.

She pulls away slightly so she can look at me. Our faces are inches apart, and suddenly, there's butterflies in my stomach.

We haven't talked about what this means. Hell, we haven't talked at all in weeks. But I'd gladly take three weeks of her blanking me again if I could have another moment like this.

She reaches up and brushes a stray hair from my cheek.

"You're so beautiful, you know that?"

She thinks I'M beautiful?

"Compared to you? I think not."

She laughs gently.

"Learn to take a compliment Sidle."

"I'll learn to take compliments if you'll allow me to comfort you more often."

My tone is teasing, but I can tell she knows I mean it.

"I'll allow you to comfort me if you let down your guard and open up to me."

I realise at this exact moment that I'd go to end of the universe for this women if she asked me to. I smile teasingly.

"Well, I'll let down my guard if you let me kiss you."

She laughs.

"You're asking a bit much aren't you Sidle?"

"I-"
She cuts me off by pressing a finger against my lips.

"Sara, just shut up and kiss me."

I don't hesitate.

Catherine's POV

Actions speak louder than words. In that one kiss I feel everything that she feels for me. And it feels good. I've been so stupid. How could I have ever doubted this beautiful, amazing person's feelings for me? Why did I waste so much time being angry?

I don't know how long the kiss lasts, but for me it's not long enough.

Our eyes meet and I beam at her. I can't remember when I felt so happy.

There's no need for words, but Sara speaks anyway.

"Where do we go from here?"

"Well, tell me where you want us to go."

"I..I want.." This is a big thing for her, I know how difficult she finds it to let people in. Then her troubled expression clears, she smiles, and it's like the sun coming out on a rainy day.

"I want to cuddle up to you every night and protect you from the evils of the world. I want to wake up with you every morning, because however bad the rest of the day is, if your face is the first thing I see in the morning and I can remember waking up next to you, things won't seem so bad. I want to take you out and show you off. I want to kiss you till we're both breathless. But most of all, I want to be with you because you give me hope and make everything seem so much more worthwhile."

I'm speechless. She's pretty much voiced everything I feel for her.

I pout.

"I was going to say that."

"Which part?"

"All of it."

She kisses me gently.

"Anything you say is important because it's you that's saying it."

"Sara?"

"Yeah."

"I don't just want you to be there for me, I need you to be. I need you to be there at night to make me feel safe, I need to wake with you every morning. I need to be around you because you make me feel cared for, wanted and safe."

She pulls me closer.

"Well you've got me."

Give me feedback, and I'll love you forever. And no, this isn't the last chapter. There's quite a bit more to go before the end...hope you enjoyed this chapter though :)