Sara crept down the stairs cautiously, her bandaged hands gripping the banister tightly.
The faint sound of clattering from the kitchen indicated Catherine's presence and she padded across the living room, following the sounds.
Cath had her back to the door, rummaging in the fridge. Sara couldn't help but take the moment to admire the blonde. Her strawberry hair had been pulled into an untidy ponytail and she obviously had not slept. She was still in the jeans and long sleeved t-shirt from the earlier, now crumpled from her persistent pacing and anxious tugging of the sleeves.
She looked beautiful.
"You gonna stand there all day?" Cath's voice snapped her back to the scene. She had not turned around but had felt the brunette's eyes on her back. When she did turn Sara was still loitering in the doorway with a startled expression on her pale face. Too pale, she thought. "Sit down sweetie." Sara did as asked, stiff and uncertain as she moved.
As soon as she was sat down she began fidgeting with a loose thread on her bandage around her wrist. Catherine watched her silently for a moment before rolling her eyes and going back to cooking.
"Are you?" Sara asked at last. Cath turned to her.
"Am I what?" She asked, puzzled.
"Straight." Sara stated obviously, a small frown etched into her forehead. Cath chuckled softly and tossed her tea towel onto the counter. She sighed and wandered over to the table, resting her hands on its surface to stare into confused brown eyes. Her face was inches from Sara's.
"You tell me?" She asked playfully, a mischievous sparkle behind her blue eyes. Sara's expression seemed to get even more perplexed as she struggled for words. Deciding to put her out of her misery, Cath closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to Sara's in a gentle kiss.
Sara didn't respond. She sat there frozen to the spot as Catherine pulled back and smirked at her.
"No, I'm not." She stood up and ran a hand through Sara's hair as she walked past her, continuing with her work as if nothing had happened.
Sara watched her in bafflement. Even if she knew what to say right now, she couldn't have formed words. Her heart was pounding in her chest; the only sound her own blood rushing through her ears. Her whole body felt like it was a flame.
She had just about regained her composure enough to breathe properly when she felt something against her back as Catherine leant over her to place a plate in front of her. She felt blonde hair tickle her neck and hot breath on her skin as Cath leant down, her hands on Sara's shoulders, and spoke into her ear; soft and warm.
"If you need me I'll be upstairs." Her hand grazed the back of Sara's neck as she drifted past, letting her fingers linger on the skin a little longer than necessary.
X x x
'Why had she just done that?'
The was the first thought that hit her as she stepped under the hot water, letting it refresh her body and mind.
Sara had to come to her for support and help, not a come on. She buried her head in her hands and groaned out of frustration. What was she thinking?
More to the point, what was Sara thinking?
Did she think Catherine wanted a relationship with her? Could Sara even hold a relationship the way she was feeling right now?
Another question, one that had been burning untouched at the back of her mind long before any of this had come about, jumped into her consciousness.
Did she want something more with Sara?
Either way, it didn't matter right now. Sara was sick, she needed taking care off. And Catherine needed to talk to her, soon. If for nothing else, then to explain her earlier actions; chalk it up to stress and lack of sleep.
X x x
She was planning out in her head what she was going to say as she got dressed when she heard a quiet knock on the bedroom door. She wandered out of the en-suite and found Sara hovering uncertainly in the threshold.
"What's wrong honey?" She asked, dropping her towel onto the bed. Sara opened her mouth to speak but the words didn't seem to want to come out so she just held up her left hand. The bandage was partially unravelled and hanging limply.
"I was going to take a shower; I tried to take it off but..." Sara explained, gesturing awkwardly to the bathroom behind her and her other hand, which was not much use to her at the moment.
"It's okay." Cath said, encouraging her to sit down on the bed. She retrieved a pair of scissors from the table and sat next to her. Carefully she cut the bandages off, turning both of Sara's hands over to examine the healing wounds. They were healing, but they were still raw and angry. And nothing could remove the feeling of guilt they stirred within the blonde. "When you're done I'll redress them." She said quietly, releasing the girl.
X x x
Catherine got the supplies that the hospital had provided Grissom when he took Sara. She laid them, ready for when she needed them: bandages, water, a clean cloth, cream.
When Sara was finished in the bathroom she came straight back to Catherine's room as instructed and perched on the edge of the bed. Her hands were huddled inside the sleeves of her bathrobe, hidden from sight.
Catherine heard her come in and turned, casting her glance over the girl. Her hair was falling over her shoulders in damp little coils. Her skin still looked pale, almost white; it almost blended in with her cream bathrobe. If Cath didn't know better she would have said she was an angel.
Sighing softly, she next to her friend and carefully took her right hand, rolling the sleeves of the soft bathrobe up.
Sara's hands were cold and shaking in her gentle grip. Cath's eyes flicked up to hers.
"Sara, you okay?" She asked softly.
"I'm fine." Sara mumbled.
"You're trembling." She pointed out, beginning to cleanse the wound. Sara didn't answer.
They remained in silence as Cath finished and went on to the left arm, swallowing back tears with every wince and whimper her motions elicited.
"I can't make it stop." Sara admitted quietly. Catherine looked up, noticing for the first time tears streaking down the creamy white skin. She brushed them away with a gentle swipe of her hand.
"It'll stop." Cath promised, gripping both her hands to still the trembling. Her eyes caught a strip of skin visible beneath Sara's robe. That scar...
Releasing the brunette, she stood up and went to her dressing table, returning with a familiar little bottle. Sara instantly sat up straight, knowing what was coming.
Cath reclaimed her seat and tugged the top of Sara's robe down, tenderly massaging the oil into the scar. She was so absorbed in what she was doing, absorbed by the feel of the soft skin beneath her fingertips, that she didn't notice Sara lean forward until it was too late.
Her fingers tightened on Sara's shoulder out of instinct. Two hands gripped the front of her shirt, holding her close.
A voice at the back of her head told her that this was wrong, that she should stop it.
But her head had lost all control the second Sara's lips had touched hers.
X x x
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sara reach for the lamp by the bed, but a hand shot out to stop her motions.
"Leave it on." She gasped between rushed kisses and moans. Slowly, Sara's hand disappeared back under the blanket. Back to the warmth of Catherine's body.
Their hearts pounded against each other's chest, creating a drum beat that was all their own. Soft hands roamed excitedly and nervously at the same time; seeking new, undiscovered areas of skin.
And, for one night only, Sara's scars seemed to disappear.
x x x x
:) reviews make me happy