Linzz glances at the clock again ten minutes have gone by, it is seven ten, and Sara is nowhere to been seen. Linzz is already worried about her mother who has been getting worse as the day progresses. The door flies open, and Sara enters the room. She makes her way toward the bed, and is halfway there before she actually realizes Catherine isn't in it. "Hey, sorry I'm late I got caught up in paperwork. Where is your mom?"
"In the bathroom with grandma she has been puking her guts out all day." Lindsay's face is illuminated with fear, and Sara's reflects hers.
"Why aren't you in there?"
"They won't let me in."
"I figured. I'll go see what is going on, and then I'll come back, and tell you."
"Thanks."
Sara opens the bathroom door, and steps in. Catherine is bent over the toilet her frail frame shaking. Lily is standing on one side of her a nurse on another. Catherine is the first to notice another presence in the room. "Linzz I thought I told you to stay out." She looks up and her eyes go wide with relief. "Sara I didn't know if you…"
"Hey Cat." Sara already knows what Catherine is going to say, and cuts her off cutting off all doubt in her mind for now. She walks over to the nurse. "Do you know what is wrong?"
"No we haven't had the chance to take her out of here yet."
Sara's words come out quiet yet commanding. "I want you to find someone who knows what they're doing instead of just standing over Catherine watching her be sick!"
"I'll be right back with a doctor." Sara's glare follows the nurse out of the room. The brunette glances at Lily, and then focuses her attention back on Catherine. Sara grabs her blonde locks as liquid mixed with blood comes back out of Catherine's mouth. Catherine finishes then sits on the bathroom floor she looks up at Sara whose heart breaks at the expression on the blonde's face. There are so many emotions hidden on her features, fear, tiredness, and longing. Sara doesn't fail to notice when Catherine tries to gather the energy to touch her, and sits next to the blonde on the tile floor, pulling Catherine onto her lap. Lily senses that the two need a moment alone, and leaves the room.
Sara runs her hand through Catherine's hair, as the blonde rests her head on Sara's shoulder.
"I didn't think you were coming back," Catherine whispers.
"Why wouldn't I Cat?"
"Maybe you changed your mind about me, or decided you had, had enough of taking care of me."
"No hun of course not. I got caught up in doing paper work."
"Ugh."
"Yeah." Sara kisses Catherine's head, and wraps her arm around the woman's chest so that she can rub her arm. Catherine tucks her head under Sara's chin, but abruptly pulls away making a move for the toilet. Sara lets go of her, but remembers her shaking before, and wraps her arm around Catherine's waist to help hold her up, and holds back her hair with the other. Sara kisses the back of Catherine's head being cautious of the stitches, and rubs her back, whispering, "It will be okay Cat, it will be okay." Then she catches the blonde lock that is about to escape, and fall in Catherine's face. She looks up to see alarmingly more blood in the toilet bowl. Catherine collapses back into Sara's arms shaking furiously. "Lindsay!"
"No Sara please I don't want her to see me like this."
"She so scared out there Cat it will only be for a moment."
"What is it Sara?"
"Could you grab me a blanket for your mom, and a pillow too I guess."
"Yeah of course." When Linzz returns her fear is visibly more eased. She passes Sara the blanket, and pillow then leaves the room. Sara carefully wraps Catherine in the blanket, and tries to place her on the pillow so that she can rest.
"No Sara." Catherine turns to looks at her, and then buries herself in Sara's hair. Her warm breath sends chills up Sara's spine, and she can feel Catherine's hot tears burning a trail down her neck. Sara holds her closer, and starts to rub her jaw line. "Please I just want to stay like this for a while."
"Of course baby." Catherine moves her head away, and glances at Sara in shock. Sara realizes what she has done. She has used the name that she had with Gil, and Hank, a term that she reserves for those she truly loves; one that Catherine has probably heard from her mouth a million times, but she knows the significance too. "Catherine I…" Catherine shakes her head, and places a single finger over Sara's lips, then returns to her place in Sara's hair. Sara pulls the blanket back up to Catherine's neck, and rests her hand on the blonde's arm. Sara can sense her back getting tired from supporting not only her weight, but also Catherine's. Carefully she slides herself, and Catherine so that the side of the tub supports her back, and she can face the door. Catherine moves again for the toilet, and Sara holds her up.
Catherine feels the liquid rising in her throat, and tears in her eyes she is overtired, and wants this to end so that she can curl up in Sara's warmth if it is all right with the brunette. She collapses back on Sara, and is welcomed by the brunette's arms. "Hey Lily!"
"Sara please she doesn't need to see me like this either no one does, but if I have my choice I trust you to keep it quiet." Sara kisses Catherine's head, and tightens her grip on the blonde.
Lily appears at the doorframe, and again she feels her stomach doing back flips at the women's positions, but keeps her fears to herself. "Yeah?"
"Do you know when the doctor will be coming?"
"I don't know I can check."
"Thanks." Lily nods dieing to get her eyes off the two in their private moment. Catherine turns her head, and looks up into Sara's eyes. Tears have filled Catherine's blue pools, and tiredness, and sadness have taken over her face. Sara places her hand on Catherine's face, and the blonde leans into her touch. Catherine rests her head back on Sara's shoulder, and places her hand on the other so that her arm is draped across Sara's chest. Sara brushes her lips across the top of Catherine's head. "Do you want to try, and go back to bed?"
Catherine nods, "But first could I brush my teeth?"
"Yeah." Sara lifts Catherine off her lap, and turns down the toilet seat placing her there. "I'll be right back." Sara goes out, and gets Catherine's bathroom stuff. Lindsay flashes Sara a worried look, and Sara tries to give her a reassuring smile, but fails miserably. After she has gathered what she needs she walks over to Linzz gives her a kiss on the head, and returns to the bathroom. Catherine is kneeling over the toilet again, and Sara rushes to her side. Catherine leans back against Sara's legs, and is breathing hard. Sara looks down at her racking her brain for a way to help the blonde. Sara leans over, and flushes the toilet, and puts the seat back down. She bends over, and lifts the light woman back onto the seat. The blanket, and pillow are left forgotten on the floor, as Sara watches Catherine's shaking body, and the way she is struggling to lift her arm to brush her teeth. After a while Catherine looses all her energy as her eyes start to close, and she tries to pass the toothbrush back to Sara who takes it, and sets it on the sink. She lifts Catherine into her arms; Sara knows that if Catherine was her normal weight there might be more of a strain on her arms, and back to carry the woman, and guilt again floods her system. She places Catherine on the bed. The blonde has already fallen into a deep sleep, and Sara perches on the side of the bed Catherine's hand in hers, as she and Linzz watch MAD TV. Lily comes back in the room with a doctor, and Sara glances at Catherine's still, slumbering form. "Do you have to wake her up?"
"I have to do a blood test. I can try my hardest not to, but usually the needle going into the skin would wake someone up. Where are her pillow, and blanket?"
"In on the bathroom floor could I get some new ones those should probably be washed. She doesn't need to be any more sick."
"I'll have someone bring some new ones in, but you are going to have to move out of the way Ms. so that I can get this done quickly." Sara nods, and carefully untangles her fingers from Catherine's in an attempt not to wake her.
"Sara," Catherine says in a faint sleepy whisper. Her eyes are still closed, "Don't go." Sara leans in next to Catherine, and brushes her lips against Catherine's smooth cheek. "Mmmmm," Catherine says quietly. Sara looks around a little nervous with all the people in the room at Catherine's reaction.
"Linzz sweetie do you want to come with me to get some food or something? We will let your grandma stay for this."
"Okay." Sara, and Linzz both look back at Catherine once more before leaving the room. They wander around the hospital, and find themselves in the gift shop. "Why don't you find something for your mom." Sara wanders aimlessly around the store looking for something, but she is not sure what.. Looking up through the front glass windows she notices there is a rather up scaled jewelry store across the hall. Why not take a look. Maybe I can find something that can help me express to Cat that I won't leave her. Sara finds Linzz looking at teddy bears, "Linzz I'm just going to quickly look around in the store across the hall I'll be back in twenty minutes tops. Here's fifty bucks to pay for whatever you want to get your mom, oh and here," Sara passes Linzz a ten-dollar bill. "For afterward if I'm not here yet you can go get an ice cream or something in the food court."
"Okay thanks Sara."
"No problem sweetie."
Sara walks into the jewelry store, and is instantly surrounded by a very sparkly world. She looks at necklaces, and rings, and finally decides what she wants. She waits at the counter for a pretty looking woman to finish up with a different customer. "Did you find what you were looking for love?"
"Yeah."
"Okay well what can I get you? You know that man that just left another proposal you would be surprised at how many of those happen here. I guess that's why we opened a store here, at first everyone thought it was a crazy idea, but it's paid off."
"I had wondered why there was a jewelry store in a hospital."
"Everyone is looking for something different."
"I guess they are." Catherine's face flashes in Sara's mind
"So what can I help you with darlin."
"I was hoping to get that necklace right there, and one of those rings." Sara points to a silver promise ring where in the middle of the heart it can hold any gem or diamond of the customers choice.
"You sure can. What would you like in it."
"Well I know that this is sort of a weird idea, but would you be able to put two birth stones in there, and maybe swirl hem together in the middle."
"That is one of the most creative, and sweetest ideas that I have heard in this place so far, and as long as you don't mind the price then we sure can."
"Price isn't a problem."
"Okay now we offer some other things to. We do, do deliveries, and we have a wide selection of cards over there. If you chose delivery you might have to make a few more choices."
"When can the ring be done?"
"Two to three days give or take, everything is done here."
"Could it be delivered Friday around four."
"It could be. Would you like anything else to be delivered with the items."
"Yes actually, and could the ring be on the necklace."
"Why don't I get you a piece of paper, and you can right down what you would like oh, and a ring size."
"Okay." Sara is examining the cards when the woman comes back. She has a piece of paper, but also box, ribbon, and wrapping paper choices. Sara eyes instantly fall on the black velvet box with a red silk lining. She points to the box, and the woman checks it off on an order sheet. After looking over the wrapping paper Sara chooses the dark blue with a gold ribbon.
"I was hoping to have a flower delivered with it," The woman nods, and Sara writes the more intimate details on the sheet of paper including ring size, and birth stones. "Could I have a moment to write in the card."
"Sure feel free to take a seat over there if you need it."
"Thanks." Sara sits, and begins to write. –
Sara discovers Linzz in the food court with a rather large cone of ice cream. She buys herself a coffee before sitting with the young blonde. "Sorry I took so long Linzz."
"It's okay did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yeah I did. What about you?" Linzz points her head toward the bag next to her where a large over stuffed teddy bear, card, flowers, and candy rest.
"Nice."
"Yeah I was happy that the had my mom's favorite candy." Sara looks down at the rather expensive higher end chocolates.
"Those are good." Sara smiles at Linzz. "Do you want to head back up to see your mom, they defiantly should be done by now."
"Okay." When they reach the room Linzz is still patiently working on her giant ice cream, and Sara can picture the look on Catherine's face when she sees it.They enter the room, and Lily meets Sara half way.
"She hasn't said a word since the doctors came back with the results, she has just gotten paler, and has been staring off into space," Lily whispers. Sara gets Lily's hint, that she wants Sara to have some time alone to try to get what ever it is out of Catherine.
"Why don't you guys go back to my place to rest it has been a long day. Linzz you can give your mom her present tomorrow okay." Linzz shakes her head knowing what is important, and crosses the room and kisses her mom before leaving. Lily shuts the door behind them, and Sara sighs turning to observe Catherine. She is wrapped under a new blanket with two pillows propping her up. A lone tear trickles down her face, and her eyes are distant. Sara walks over, and gets in the bed next to Catherine turning on her side so that they both fit. Catherine turns glancing at Sara before returning her eyes to the window. Sara reaches over, and brushes the tear away from Catherine's face. Then slides her fingers down Catherine's arm to her hand. Catherine links there fingers, and looks back at Sara. "What did the doctor say?"
"It's just a stomach bug, and since my body is so weak it is more severe than it would be."
"Oh well that's good right?"
"I guess."
"Then why are you so sad?" Catherine shakes her head ending the conversation, and buries herself in Sara's shoulder, and drapes her arm over the brunette's stomach. Sara runs her hand through Catherine's hair. Her nails lightly scratch Catherine's scalp, but are cautious of fragile areas that are hidden beneath her hair. Catherine has started to shake, and Sara recognizes it right away as she feels warm tears soaking through her shirt. Sara puts her hand under Catherine's chin, and lifts the her head so that she is face to face with the blonde. Catherine opens her eyes, which are bloodshot, and they dart away from Sara's looking for anything else to stare at. "What's wrong baby?"
Catherine's eyes find Sara's after the last word. "It's nothing," the blonde whispers.
"It doesn't looks like nothing to me Cat." Catherine puts her head back down on Sara's shoulder, and begins to rub the brunette's side absentmindedly. Catherine has the urge to move her hand up further, and grope Sara ,or slip her hand beneath the brunette's shirt to rub Sara's stomach but stops herself. She knows Sara would never return the desire, but probably pull away. Catherine feels Sara's arms tighten around her in a protective way, and decides to enjoy the contact the only way she will ever have it. After a while Catherine contently falls asleep in Sara's arms.
TBC...