Sara

Coming to work today is nothing I've been looking forward to. The possibility of crossing paths with Catherine stirs the fear that I might lose it in front of her -and possibly the rest of the team.

But so far, lucky for me, I haven't spotted her yet. After all there is still an hour left until the official beginning of shift. Which is why I'm sitting here doing paperwork, unsuccessfully, as my mind is occupied with my hot blonde co-worker.

God, how I wish I could just hate her.

My unproductive file up-dating is interrupted when Grissom comes in with a new case for me to work on, he's asking me to leave right away and tells me he will send Nick to my assistance as soon as he arrives. Relieved that this will spare me a meeting with Catherine -at least for now- I quickly gather my things and head out.

Nick meets me about half an hour after my arrival at the scene and we work together in silence. I'm glad he isn't attempting to engage me in friendly conversations, I'm not in the mood to talk.

The only words spoken are musings and findings on the evident murder that has taken place in this house. That is until we are packing up and getting ready to drive back to the lab.

"Hey, Sara," He approaches me just as I slam shut the back of the S.U.V., "everything ok with you? You've been quiet all night."

"I'm fine" I mutter, squeezing by him to get to the drivers' side.

"Are you sure?" He asks as he catches my arm midway to the door handle. "Because I'm not too convinced."

While it's nice to know that someone cares about my state of distress, I really don't like the way he is pressuring me. Hence I'm getting defensive with him.

"Just leave it, Nick, ok? I told you I'm fine." His hand is still on my arm but his grip is loosening. "Just a bad day" I add for his benefit, hoping it will make him drop the topic.

Just when I think he's about to press on he releases his hold and smiles at me. "If your mood doesn't improve over the night, maybe you'd like to come out with me after shift, you know, get a beer, clear your head..." As if beer and a clear head wasn't a contradiction in itself. I smile. "Maybe" I say, while thinking "rather not".

Back at the lab we process our findings as I'm trying to dodge Nicks' cheerful attempts at smalltalk. I'm glad when I hear my beeper going off, alerting me that Hodges has results on some sticky white substance we collected from the scene.

The man makes a great deal of telling me not what exactly it is but how he found out and what all you can use it for. I rudely tell him I'm not in the mood for his effusive explanations and he grumpily tells me the substance was a special form of wax, probably not case related, but you'll never know.

Taking pity in his still crushed expression -he just can't handle being brushed off, a feeling I can just relate to- I manage to say "Thanks" and even smile at him.

The smile freezes though when out of nowhere Catherine comes storming into the lab. She's already in the middle of a rant along the lines of "What the hell is taking you so long, Hodges," and the "meaning of the word priority". I'm hoping her anger at the attacked lab tech makes her oblivious to my immediate escape but, as usual, there's no such luck. Having said her piece to Hodges she is following me into the hall.

"Sara, wait up." I continue my way back to the lab I've been working in. "Sara, can we talk for a moment?" I'd say my body language is telling her quite clearly "Hell no, we can not talk"

"Sara!" This time her hand on my arm is keeping me from walking further away.

I take a deep breath before I turn around and fix her with an angry glare.

"What?" I spit out.

"Would you come to my office for a minute? I don't think we should talk here" She says gesturing around the hall. It's currently vacated but we both know that could change any moment. One more reason to make this quick.

"Listen, Catherine. You got what you wanted, ok? So, there's nothing to talk about, just leave me the hell alone!" Please, go before I start crying.

"That's not true Sara and you know it." her voice is lowered and her body close enough for me to smell her, feel her.

"What do I know Catherine?" I ask, my voice harsh as to cover the tremble. "You lied to me, used me, and I let you. Now I'm done with you. Next time you need to get laid how about you go looking elsewhere? Maybe get hammered again, there's enough bars and clubs in this city, and with an ass like yours it shouldn't be too hard finding someone, don't you think?" I'm shocked that I'm actually saying what I'm saying. There's a look of hurt and shock crossing her face as well.

"You know what? Fuck you, Sara. I don't need that shit from you." With that she storms off.

Good thing, too. I don't know how long I could have contained myself from hurting her, physically.

Time passes as I'm standing in the hallway, trembling. Slowly the words are starting to sink in. I concentrate on breathing. In. Out. In. Out. "Sara?" I jump.

"Shit, Nick, do you have to creep up on me like that?" I say once I've realized it is him. "Sorry" he offers, "I was just wondering why it took you so long to get those results, I was afraid you'd be harming poor Hodges, with the mood you're in."

"Since when do you care about Hodges?" I gruffly retort, if only to steer the attention away from myself. Well, at least I'm not tearing up around him, I must still be too angry to be hurt.