Disclaimer: This piece is a sequel to my first story "To fall below adversity" so I suggest if you haven't already, to read that one first. Further warning, this is also going to be angsty and somewhat dark and depressing story at times; like my first one. I don't own CSI or anything relating to them, I'm just borrowing them to satisfy my stupid brain. Any references to real life events; anything I may have read, seen or heard are completely unintentional and coincidental. I gain nothing from this other than to finally get this idea to stop repeating in my head. So please don't sue me or threaten to kill me. If this offends you in any way or it just plain sucks, I apologize that you've wasted several minutes of your life you'll never get back. Just pretend you never saw this, know for future reference to avoid it at all costs should you ever see the title again, and go on with your life. Any and all mistakes are mine. Also, any names, places or references are purely fictional! I have taken liberties to make this interesting and keep it flowing, so not everything is going to be 100% realistic and true to life.

A/N: Hello all, here is another one for you. I'm finally getting a little more time to write, so I'm going to take advantage and see how much I can get done. I'm sorry this has taken so long…I really hope I'll be able to complete this story soon. Thanks again for sticking with me as always…and if you can spare me a second, please let me know what you think. Take care everyone!

Despite her many protests, Sara was forced to spend two whole days in what was in her opinion, a pointless step down unit before being discharged home. It wasn't like she had to attend any rehab like before...what she thought was a huge gaping wound on her chest from being shot, was actually a small precise incision they had used to extract the fragment. The worst part of everything was they wouldn't let her see Catherine...even after several very heated...kinda ugly protests. She's convinced it was a form of punishment or torture... and said as much to Jim and Gil.

Poor Jim and Gil. They had to endure the brunt of her fear and frustration. The whole team had once again bonded together to help Sara through this new devastation that threatened their extended family. Not only does she get frequent updates on Catherine's condition from the guys, but the nursing staff also keeps Sara informed as well. The nursing team has voiced their displeasure that Sara and Catherine are being kept apart; especially since Catherine had been weaned off the ventilator and although not fully coherent, is awake and doing well.

The only people that seemed to genuinely care for her wellbeing were the guys and the nurses. She doesn't know why, but the social workers and psychiatrists seemed to despise her.

While they held her there, several people had come in and grilled her about Catherine's mental status and their home life. As both Sara and Catherine are each other's power of attorney for medical decision making, Sara had been asked questions from the various interdisciplinary team members while Catherine had been unconscious.

Joanne Smith is a heavy set, middle aged woman who had been one of the main social workers in this department for far too long. She has been overworked for years and has reached her breaking point with depressing cases. The amount of pain and suffering that unsuspecting people face every day is now weighing heavy on her soul. Yesterday's case involved abusive neglect of a baby and Joanne can't help but feel disgusted with humanity. Now she has had to read Catherine and Sara's long painful history and she thinks she is just going to explode from pure frustration.

Storming into Sara's room, Joanne tosses the large file onto the bedside table in front of a bewildered Sara, who had just been quietly sitting and reading the latest forensics magazine Greg had brought her. Without pleasantries or formal introductions, Joanne coldly tells Sara that Catherine is going to be placed in a mandatory rehab program as soon as she is cleared medically.

Not allowing Sara to respond to this revelation, Joanne continues in a cold detached tone.

"So I read here that you suffer from brain damage following an accident last year...have you been deemed mentally competent?"

Physically flinching at the harsh words, Sara adjusts herself in her seat to sit up straight before addressing the unwelcome visitor.

"I'm sorry, and you are...?"

Without looking up or taking a breath to pause, the irate woman continues her verbal assault.

"Joanne from social work. So did you always display attention-seeking, victim syndrome traits with Catherine before, or did this start after the death of her only child?"

"...w-wait...w-what...?"

"I see. The doctors did mention in their notes from when Catherine was injured in the car accident that they thought given your brain damage, you weren't capable to look after Catherine alone...perhaps not even capable to look after yourself unsupervised...that Catherine was your primary caregiver."

Finally looking up at Sara and her devastated expression, Joanne mercilessly pushes the knife deeper into Sara's soul.

"I'm sorry, am I speaking too fast for you? I see that you stopped going to your SLP sessions...I should have waited for your friends to be present so they could explain all of this to you slowly. I don't have time for this. This is why we have forbid you from seeing Catherine until after she's fully recovered...probably should have done that long before...maybe then she wouldn't have tried to escape through suicide."

Feeling her heart jump into her throat and her soul crumbling within her, Sara forces herself to retain a calm exterior. She is not going to give this woman the satisfaction of seeing her break down. Without making eye contact, Sara picks at her nails and wills the nervous stutter she feels building up not to surface.

"W-was there a question in t-there s-somewhere?"

"You know what, there is no point. But you should know that Catherine is finally going to receive the proper focus and attention that she deserves. After the program is completed, it will be up to her if she wants to involve you in her life again. You may not contact her in any way until she is released from the program...is that understood Miss Sidle?"

"Y-yes."

"Then we are done here."

As abruptly as she had entered, she had left; leaving a shocked and devastated Sara in her wake.

She had thought trying to read would help distract her from her feelings of hopeless and despair, but that was long gone now. Throwing the magazine on the table next to her, Sara gets up from her seat and begins to pace in the small room.

An overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia begins to envelop her and she fights the urge to run out of the room and out of the hospital completely. She had just essentially been told that Catherine's suicide attempt had been her fault...that she had sucked the life out of her love...that she was damaged beyond repair. The worst part of it all was that Sara wasn't sure that all of that was far from the mark. Maybe this all was her fault.

The rest of the night sleep eluded Sara as she replayed all of the possible scenarios in her head...starting with the shooting in the warehouse, to Catherine's attempting to take her own life. Sara always had a self-depreciating view of herself, but now without Catherine's positive influence, herself destructive nature had free reign of her psyche.

When the doctor enters followed by a nurse to discharge her from the hospital, Sara doesn't bother to ask questions or inquire any further into what the social worker had discussed with her last night...she just doesn't see the point...she now believes what the harsh woman had said was indeed justified and true. Quickly signing all the paperwork for her discharge Sara is given a pamphlet on her new seizure medications and regiments before being guided down to the hospital's cafeteria to wait for Jim to pick her up. While she silently stews in her own misery, a gentle tap on her shoulder nearly sends her flying off her chair.

The concerned nurse she now considers friend wordlessly pulls up a seat next to her and despite the fact she isn't in the mood to talk, she can't deny Elizabeth a polite hello. Since word travels fast in the hospital, Elizabeth had already heard about the turmoil Catherine and Sara were facing and heard grumblings from the nursing staff regarding the negative way Sara was being treated by the majority of the interdisciplinary team. Although she didn't know what exactly had been said to Sara by the social worker, she knew enough to feel uneasy about Sara's emotional wellbeing.

Elizabeth tries to offer support and guidance to the distraught woman, but she really doesn't think Sara is taking in any of the information. The defeated demeanor Sara is exuding both scares and angers the young nurse. She will definitely have to talk with Mr. Brass and about her concerns. After everything both Catherine and Sara have already endured, this downward spiral brought on by the insensitivity of others is the last thing they need. Elizabeth has seen the type of damage that can be done when a person's emotional stability is demeaned by a heath care professional abusing their power, and she will damned if Sara will be brought down by this.

As much as she doesn't want to cross any boundaries or step on any toes...if what her fellow nurses said is true...she will have someone's head on a platter for this. The love Catherine and Sara have for each other is a rare gem that you only ever see in the movies...not allowing them to be together because of a stupid policy is absurd. Being together through the healing process is more beneficial for them than any group therapy could ever be. Yes, a rehabilitation program and counseling with professionals is needed, but don't isolate them from each other... if these people took the time to read into their long history they would see that in this case having the family present during the sessions would help, not hinder.

As Jim arrives to get Sara, Elizabeth manages to have a quick word with him and hand him her phone number so they can get in touch. Elizabeth gives Sara a long tight hug before departing and they both promise to have coffee and chat soon.

Despite the fact that all the guys collectively and individually begged and pleaded with Sara to be allowed to spend the night with her at her house, Sara wants to spend her first night home alone. After being in a hospital where proper privacy is just not a reality, the guys have to concede defeat. But not after bargaining that Nick will stop by in the morning with coffee and breakfast.

At the hospital, Catherine arrives on the new unit where her mandatory rehabilitation program is going to take place. She has been told about what happened and while she's elated that Sara is alive and well, she feels beyond stupid and ashamed. She knows now that she should have waited longer to see what Sara's test results would have said regarding her prognosis...and that Sara was just too Damn stubborn to die just yet...but the problem was, she just wasn't thinking at that point. All she wants to do now is to be able to see and hold Sara...and beg for forgiveness for putting this undue stress on the woman she loves. She knows that Sara must be out of her mind with worry and anxiety right now. They are both so protective of each other that they have the tendency to put the other woman's needs before their own...which is kinda what landed her in this mess.

Frowning at the predicament she now finds herself in, she wonders if she can at least call Sara...at least to just hear her voice for a minute. The stupid program coordinator told her that its policy not to be allowed to see anyone from outside the program until it is completed. She could understand that in some circumstances that would be beneficial, but not for her...not now...why did she have to take those damn pills! She wonders how Sara took the news about not being able to see each other. She hopes to God that Sara doesn't think she's crazy...that she would never have tried to kill herself if she had known...she would never willingly leave Sara alone. Not after everything they have gone through together.

Catherine sighs and runs a shaky hand through her hair before looking up at the therapist that seemingly materialized in her door frame and plasters a fake happy smile on her face.

...this is going to be a long few weeks...