Sara came to the kitchen door and leaned on the door frame to watch Catherine. Catherine was dressed in a pair of running shorts, and a tank top. She looks so different here in her own home. She looked comfortable. Sara was wondering if she could really fit in to this household. Her own childhood was a mess. She knew that sooner or later Catherine would get tired of the old nightmares and she hadn't even told her about the new ones. How much can you ask of one person?

"Like what you see?" Catherine turned around and was surprised by the pained expression on Sara's face. "What is it? What's the matter?"

"I can't do this."

Catherine's heart was in her throat. "Can't do what?"

"You belong here. Look at you, you're at home in the kitchen and you've done a great job with Lindsey. I don't even know what family means. What if I do something that screws Lindsey up?"

Catherine let out the breath she had been holding. "Honey, don't worry about that, I've already taken care of that. I've screwed her up enough for both of us. Parenting does not come with a handbook."

"Well it should."

"Come here and sit down. Let's talk about what brought this on."

Sara sat at the table and Catherine brought over a plate of pancakes and set out the syrup. "What no butter? What are pancakes unless they are smothered in butter before the syrup?"

"Your wish is my command my dear." She went to the refrigerator and brought out the butter. Catherine watched Sara butter the pancakes before she smothered them in syrup. Her face had a look of pure ecstasy when she bit into the first bite. "So what do you think?"

"Almost as good as sex." She smiled at Catherine.

Catherine placed a cup of coffee in front of Sara. Sara took a sip and was surprised to find it was just the way she liked it. When she raised her eyebrow questioningly, Catherine blushed. "I told you I've watched you at work. Well, that was one of the things I watched, a dash of cream and three sugars." She looked at Sara's plate, "It seems someone has a sweet tooth."

"That's something most people don't know about me."

"Sara, I love you. I would love for you to be a permanent part of my life. I want to wake up next to you every day. I know you have excess baggage, who doesn't. What you've gone through recently will definitely add to that baggage. If your dreams were bad before they are likely to be worse now. I wouldn't be surprised to find out you have been having new ones since you've been back." She watched as Sara lowered her eyes but didn't say anything. "I want to take care of you, whether you want to be taken care of or not. I want you to be a part of Lindsey's life because she is a part of mine. We're a package deal. Oh, by the way did I mention that I took the next week off to spend with you?"

"You did what?"

"I took the next…"

"I heard what you said. Why did you do that?"

Catherine was worried that she may have done something wrong by taking the time off. "I thought we could take the time to get to know each other away from work. Are you mad?"

"Hell no." She smiled and stood up and moved to Catherine and kissed her soundly. "I guess it surprises me that you would waste your vacation spending time with me."

"What do you mean waste? This will probably be the best vacation ever. Unless of course you realize what a mistake it would be to take on Lindsey and me and you leave"

"Speaking of Lindsey, when will she be home?"

"She will be spending the next two days at my sister's house."

"Does that include today? Or is it two more days?"

"We have the rest of today, all of tomorrow and until Nancy brings her home Sunday night. I thought my pool should be good exercise for your knee. We can take long walks or just be lazy."

Sara stood and took her dishes to the sink without saying anything. Catherine just watched her clean up the mess from breakfast. She was wondering what Sara was thinking. Sara came over to the table and drank the rest of her coffee in one gulp. Then she reached for Catherine's cup and brought them both to the sink. Sara then walked up and stood in front of Catherine and pulled her into her arms. "Are you saying we will not be interrupted for two whole days?"

"Yup, even the guys have been threatened. They show up here or call and they die."

"So if I wanted to, I could do this?" And she kissed Catherine standing in front of the sink.

"Oh you most definitely can, as much and as often as you want."

"How about this?" She lifted Catherine up and placed her on the counter.

"Yes this too." Her voice was slightly husky.

"Would this be allowed?" She reached the hem of Catherine's shirt and took it off over her head. She moaned when she realized she didn't have a bra on.

"Yes, that's allowed and so is this." She reached down and removed Sara's shirt too. Then she pulled her to rest between her legs.

Sara wrapped her arms around Catherine's waist and rested her head on her chest. "I love you. Sometimes it scares me how much I love you." Her tongue flicked out and caressed Catherine's breast. "I want to be the one to take care of you and Lindsey but I don't know how."

"Oh, baby, that comes with time and lots of effort. I know that both Lindsey and I will be more than happy to have you take care of us both, but you know what's even better? We can take care of each other. I promise you that I will never abuse your love."

"Speaking of taking care of each other." She buried her face in the valley between Catherine's breasts. She wrapped her arms around Catherine's back and picked her up off the counter. Catherine wrapped her legs around Sara's waist. Sara was none too gently sucking on Catherine's nipple when she lowered her to the kitchen table. She reached between their lower bodies to feel the sweet moist dampness between Catherine's legs. "You are so hot and wet."

"That's what you do to me. No one else has ever affected me the way you do. I am so ready for you. Please Sara."

"Please what Catherine?"

"I want you inside me now!"

"You don't have to tell me twice." She removed Catherine's shorts and thrust two of her fingers into her. At Catherine's moan of pleasure she increased the pressure of her fingers. She pulled Catherine to the edge of the table and knelt down so that her mouth could join her fingers. She sucked on her swollen nub until she could tell that Catherine was getting close, she slowed her fingers to prolong the pleasure.

"Sara don't tease. I am so close."

"I just wish this could go on forever I never want to stop." But she increased the pressure and speed of her fingers and Catherine screamed her release. Sara continued to lick until she had lapped up all of her juices. Then she moved up Catherine's body so she could reach her lips.

Catherine could taste herself on Sara's lips and it was such a unique experience. She took Sara's face between her hands and looked her in the eyes. "Sara Sidle, I love you." And she met her lips in a soul shattering kiss. "I have loved you for years and I will love you for the rest of my life." Sara was stunned by the conviction in her voice. "Does that scare you?"

"A little. No one has ever said it the way you do. It also feels nice."

"I can think of something else that will feel nice."

"And what might that be?"

"First you have to take off all of your clothes. You better hurry up because I have a head start." With that she took off running through the house.

Sara followed her, taking off her clothes as she went. She heard a splash and knew exactly where Catherine was. I could get used to this was her last thought as she dove into the pool and tried to find Catherine under the water. She came up for air and felt a pair of hands come from behind her to cup both of her breasts. Then a leg came up between her legs. "Spread your legs for me baby." Catherine whispered in her ear, god this woman is such a turn on, Sara thought.

Catherine could not remember ever wanting someone as much as she wanted Sara. When she saw her come out the door completely naked she could hardly breathe. Talk about beauty. She wasn't a classic beauty but she sure was breath taking. "Spread your legs for me baby," god this woman is such a turn on, Catherine thought. I reached around and cupped her full breasts and felt her erect nipples. I moved one hand down over her flat stomach and I could feel that she was ready for me. "Come for me baby." I plunged my fingers into her and could feel her sweet juices flowing over my fingers even in the water. I gave her tiny bites up and down her spine and her moans encouraged me to continue. "You like that huh?" She brought her other hand around to the back and lightly dragged her nails down her spine. Sara shivered and climaxed at the same time. "God, I love how you respond to my touch. I have never had a woman respond the way you do. Do you know what that does to my ego?"

"Mmmmm. I hope you don't treat all of your patients to this kind of physical therapy"

"Oh Sara! Your knee I forgot. Are you ok? Does it hurt? I'm sorry I wasn't thinking."

"Actually it feels pretty good. Remember, water activities are good for the recovery process."

Catherine laughed. "Somehow I don't think this is what they had in mind."

"Well, maybe they should add it to the regime. I can recommend it to my therapist next time I talk to her. What do you think?"

"As long as I am the only one you share your sessions with."

"Well, that takes all the fun out of the idea."

"Ok, since I came up with the idea, I will have to ask that I be a regular instructor for the other patients. I would have to restrict my clientele to females only. What do you think of that?" Catherine started to swim away before she heard her answer.

"Over my dead body." Sara took off after her. They spent the next few hours playing in the pool. They took the time to get to know each other. Then both fell asleep on the blanket on the ground.