Chapter 36

Catherine woke in the middle of the night and found she was alone in the bed but before she panicked she put on her robe and headed out of the bedroom. She turned on the light in the living room and she found Sara on the back deck staring up at the stars. She knocked on the doorframe to get her attention. Sara reached behind her and took Catherine's hand and pulled her around to sit in front of her on the chair. She rested her head on Catherine's shoulder and put her arms around her stomach. "I'm going to miss this."

"Miss what?" Catherine turned around on the chair so she could look at Sara.

"This, just holding you like this and kissing whenever I want to. And this view. Everything."

"You sound like you're going somewhere."

"Cat, I have to go back to my apartment sometime. That is where I live."

Sara felt Catherine's body stiffen. "Why do you have to go back?" She said it as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Move in here with Lindsey and me."

"As much as I would love to stay we both know that it's too soon for that. I promised Lindsey she could help me get better so I can stay for a couple more days but then I have to leave."

"I know you're right but I don't have to like it. I'm going to talk to Gil about taking a few more days off so I can take care of you and spend time with Lindsey. I know you don't want to be taken care of but Gil doesn't know that."

Sara pulled her against her and kissed her on the shoulder. "Actually, I've gotten used to it and it feels kind of nice to have someone caring for me. You can take care of me anytime you feel like it. What time is it?"

Catherine looked at her watch. "It's 3:00 am why?"

"If we get a few hours of sleep we can go pick up Lindsey and spend the day together." She pushed Catherine off the chair then stood up and took her hand and headed into the house. Catherine turned off the light as she passed it and followed Sara up the stairs. Sara pulled back the covers and Catherine dropped her robe then slid over to her side of the bed. Sara pulled her t-shirt off then crawled in behind her, put her arms around her and pulled Catherine tight against her chest. "How early can we pick her up?"

"Let's see what time we wake up ok?" She looked up at Sara and smiled. "This is why you are not like your parents."

"What do you mean?" Sara kissed the top of her head.

"Here you are not long out of the hospital for the second time in about a week, bruised and battered and you want to spend time with my daughter. Most of the guys I dated didn't want to have anything to do with Lindsey. Hell her own father forgets when he's made plans with her. I love you Sara Sidle." She leaned up and gave her a gentle kiss, Sara leaned down to deepen the kiss. "If you want to be up in a few hours don't start anything."

"But you are just so irresistible Catherine Willows. I can't keep my hands off of you. What do you expect? You sashay around in that robe that barely covers your ass and then drop said robe and climb into bed naked as the day you were born and expect me to keep my hands to myself. Can you blame me?"

"Well if you put it that way I guess I can't blame you." Catherine pushed Sara down so she was laying flat on her back then laid her head on her chest and wrapped her leg over her legs and wiggled until she was comfortable then let out a satisfied sigh and relaxed. She placed her hand on Sara's stomach and settled in for the night. "Go to sleep baby." Sara on the other hand was anything but relaxed. She had her arm around Catherine's shoulders and tried to stop the moan but failed miserably. Catherine raised her head and looked at Sara and had to smother a laugh. "What's the matter sweetie?" She asked innocently.

"First you tell me not to start anything, then you wiggle your naked body against me and tell me to go to sleep. I may be beaten and bruised but I'm not dead Cat. Do you really expect me to fall asleep now?" She looked down at Catherine and smiled.

"Well if you insist, I guess I could help you relax." She rubbed herself against Sara again and reached up to pull Sara's head down for a heated kiss. "What can I do to help you relax baby?" She rolled over so that she was now half on top of Sara and her leg found its way between her legs and she started rubbing back and forth. Sara's hips kept perfect time with Catherine's movements and soon they were both breathing heavily. The pace became frantic and Sara felt like she was going to explode.

"Damn you sure know how to show a girl a good time don't you?" Sara reversed their positions but continued to rub against Catherine's leg. She brought her lips down to Catherine's breast and took it in her mouth and bit down. Not hard enough to do any damage but enough to cause pain and Catherine's moan was all it took. Sara's whole body went rigid before it shook from the force of her climax. Catherine rolled them over so she could take control then she plunged two fingers into Sara's wet folds and her mouth took a painfully hard nipple into her mouth and bit down as Sara had just done to her.

"Come for me baby. God I love the way your body moves." Catherine licked her way from one breast to the other and moved her free hand under Sara's hips then knelt between her legs and raised her hips to meet her mouth. "God you look amazing." Her fingers were still buried inside Sara and she knew she would never get tired of making love to this woman. "Tell me what you're feeling Sara. What can I do to make you feel good?"

"God Cat, you want me to think and form sentences? What you are doing feels fantastic." Catherine curled her fingers and knew she had found the right spot when Sara almost screamed. "Right there, oh god Cat that feels sooo good. Don't stop. Damn that feels so…" Catherine took her clit into her mouth while her fingers continued their plundering and soon Catherine felt Sara's inner walls start to tighten around her fingers so she renewed her attack on her clit. "Cat…I…Love…You…" and her body exploded with her second orgasm.

Catherine slowly removed her fingers and lowered Sara's body to the bed. She licked her fingers as she moved next to Sara then reached up to brush the damp curls from Sara's brow. "I love you too. Now go to sleep."

"But Cat…" Sara's voice was barely above a whisper. Catherine stopped her from saying anything by laying her finger across Sara's lips. Sara licked her finger and sucked it into her mouth.

"Shhh go to sleep." Catherine removed her finger and kissed her lips. "Sleep." She lay her head back down on Sara's chest and they both fell asleep.

Catherine woke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee under her nose. She looked up and saw a smiling Sara holding a cup of coffee then looked to her side of the bed and saw the tray of food. "I see you finally got to make that breakfast huh?"

"Yeah I kept looking over my shoulder expecting you to show up in the kitchen and ruin it again." She handed Catherine her coffee then headed around to the other side of the bed and moved the tray so she could sit down. She dipped one of the strawberries into the cream and brought it to Catherine lips and fed it to her. She leaned down to lick the small drop of cream that had fallen on Catherine's naked shoulder. She looked up at Catherine with a sly grin on her face. "Can't let it go to waste now can we?" Catherine could only shake her head. Sara reached for another strawberry and fed it to Catherine. "I've never been with anyone I wanted to do this with. I thought you might appreciate it."

"Oh it is definitely appreciated. Once again you surprise me with such a romantic gesture." As she said this she reached for a strawberry and dipped it in the cream the placed it between her teeth and leaned towards Sara and fed it to her and followed it with a kiss. "I could get used to this kind of treatment."

"You bring out the romantic in me." She fed her another strawberry. "I want to buy you flowers and candy. I want to take you out on a date to a fancy restaurant. I want to pick you up at the door then bring you home and kiss you good night at the door. Then go home and dream about you and get excited about seeing you again the next day. We skipped that stage and I want that. I want to sit and hold your hand while we watch a movie. I want to buy you little presents and leave them on your desk to surprise you. I want to be there for you if you have a bad case and I want to be able to come to you if I have a bad one." She looked up to see Catherine staring at her with tears in her eyes. "I hope those are good tears." Catherine could only nod her head. "Would you be interested in any of those things too?" Once again Catherine nodded her head. "Good, now why don't we finish this breakfast and jump in the shower and go pick up that daughter of yours."

"Ok." Catherine was still stunned by Sara's confession but at the same time she was surprised at how much she wanted those same things. She'd never thought of herself as someone who would be content sitting at home watching TV but that was what she wanted with Sara. She could picture her playing with Lindsey on the living room floor or the three of them sitting and watching something on TV and Sara explaining things to Lindsey. Or the three of them playing in the park or going to the zoo. Sara would be so good for Lindsey.

"Hey, where did you go?"

"To a good place. I love you and I want all of those things you want too." She popped another strawberry into her mouth. "Let's go get Lindsey. I think it would be faster if we showered separately. I'll use the one downstairs and you can use mine." She leaned over and kissed her quickly and jumped up from the bed. "Bet I can be ready before you can."

"There's no way you'll beat me because you have to do all that makeup and stuff that makes you beautiful."

"Are you saying I'm not beautiful without makeup?"

Sara walked over and took Catherine in her arms. "You would be beautiful in a burlap bag but when you put on your makeup you take my breath away." She finished her statement with a kiss.

"Good comeback Sidle. Now let's get going, I miss my daughter." They both finished their showers in record time but Sara had time to sit and have another cup of coffee while she waited for Catherine but it was worth the wait. Catherine came down the stairs in black jeans that hugged her like a second skin, a blouse that brought out the green in her eyes and a black bolero jacket that accentuated her narrow waist.

"Wow! If we weren't going to pick up your daughter I would be taking you back up those stairs right now and we wouldn't come out until after dark. You look great!"

"You don't look to shabby yourself Ms. Sidle. Aside from the bruises and stitches I'd say you look great. Let me call my Mother and let her know we're on the way." She dialed her cell as they headed out the door, Sara held the car door then headed around to the driver's side. "Mom said Lindsey's really excited that she will get to see you. Oh and she added me at the last minute." She smiled over at Sara.

Sara had to laugh at her pout. "She'll be excited to see you and you know it."

"Nope she's all about you. I could hear her in the background and she was screaming 'Sara's coming Sara's coming' then I got an honorable mention. Well, we already know she likes you now we need to see if you can keep up with her."

"That shouldn't be too hard should it? She has to sleep sometime right?" Catherine just gave her a secret smile as she pulled into a parking spot at the Rampart. "What's that smile for?"

Catherine walked around and wrapped both arms around one of Sara's and led her into the Rampart. As they entered Catherine was nearly knocked over when Lindsey came running to greet them and she wrapped her little arms around Catherine's legs. "Mommy I missed you sooo much." Catherine picked her up so she could give her a hug and Sara gave her an 'I told you so' look.

Lily finally caught up with them and got her first look at Sara's face and she could hold back the gasp. "Catherine why didn't you tell me how bad it was?" She turned to Sara. "Shouldn't you be in bed resting or something?" She walked over and gave Sara a hug then turned to Catherine and gave her one too.

"I'm fine Lily it only hurts when I laugh." She smiled over at Catherine and Lindsey. "How ya doin' kiddo?" Lindsey wiggled out of her mother's arms and walked over to Sara. Sara knelt down so she was at Lindsey's level and opened her arms and Lindsey smiled and wrapped her arms around Sara's neck. Sara stood up and held Lindsey above her head and laughed when she started to giggle.

"Who beat you up? Did you put him in jail? Can we get ice cream?" She looked hopefully at Sara. Sara had to shake her head at the quick change of gears from the bad man to ice cream but when she looked at Catherine and Lily neither one seemed surprised.

"Did you have lunch yet?" Lindsey shook her head. "Does your Mom usually let you have ice cream after you eat?" Lindsey nodded her head and Sara looked over her shoulder to see if Catherine was going to dispute that. "Well then let's go see what they have to offer for lunch then we'll discuss desert when we finish eating. How does that sound to you?" She looked at Lindsey for her response.

Lindsey looked between Catherine and Lily because she was confused because she was used to adults just doing things without asking her. Catherine nodded her head and Lindsey turned back to Sara. "That sounds good to me. Let's go eat so I can have ice cream."

"Make sure you don't order too much because then you wouldn't have room for ice cream." Sara told her as they walked into the dining room. She found a booth in the back and set Lindsey down and headed to the other side of the booth.

"No Sara you have to sit next to me and help me eat." Sara looked up at Catherine with genuine fear in her eyes.

Catherine smiled and patted her shoulder. "That shouldn't be too hard should it?" Repeating her words from earlier. She slid into the booth next to her mother and smiled up at Sara. "Oh and she'll need a booster seat."

"What the hell…heck is a booster seat?" Lindsey scooted out of the booth and took Sara's hand and led her over to the stack of booster seats and pointed to them. "I suppose for a little bit like you it would come in handy huh?" Sara reached down and picked up the pink chair. "You like pink little bit?" Lindsey giggled at the nickname.

"Yes I do but yellow is my favorite color. Why do you call me little bit?""

"Well then yellow it is. And I call you little bit because that's what you are just a little bit of a girl. Is that ok?" Lindsey nodded then Sara turned back to the pile of chairs and lifted off 4 of the chairs to get to the yellow one. She took Lindsey's hand and headed back to the table. Both Catherine and Lily were sitting at the table laughing and when they got to the table she saw Lily hand Catherine a dollar bill. "What's up with you two? "

I bet Catherine that you wouldn't give in." Lily smiled at Sara.

"Mom said you'd be tough and tell Lindsey no when she said she wanted the yellow one and I told her you were a softy and you would have dug through the whole pile if the yellow one had been on the bottom to get it for her." She held up the dollar bill. "We only bet a dollar. But you were so cute." She leaned across the table and gave Sara a quick kiss.

"So you two knew this was going to happen?" She asked as she was helping Lindsey get situated in the booster chair.

"Get used to it, we go through it whenever there are multi colored chairs at restaurants. Mom never gives in and tells her to pick the one on top, so Lindsey doesn't even ask her anymore."

"What about you?" Sara watched as Catherine lowered her head so that it was covered by her hair and mumbled something that she couldn't hear. Sara reached over and moved her hair out of the way and Catherine looked up at her. "You give in too don't you?" Catherine blushed and nodded. "Good, I thought I did something wrong by giving in to her." Sara turned to Lindsey and she had the biggest grin on her face as she watched Sara and her Mom.

"So if I go with Mommy and Sara I will get the yellow ones and with Grandma I get whatever is on top right?" She looked to Sara for the answer.

"It appears so."

"What does 'pears so mean Sara?" She asked.

"Appears, not 'pears. Well little bit it means it sure looks like if you're with your Mom and I you get the yellow and with Grandma you get whatever is on top." Sara leaned down and whispered something to Lindsey and Lindsey pulled her down and whispered something back and then Sara scooted out of the booth. They all watched Lindsey run to the stack of chairs and remove the top two and grab the blue one. Then she stacked them back up and returned to the table with the blue one.

Catherine turned to Sara with a questioning look on her face then turned to Lindsey. "What's up sweetie?"

"Blue is my new favorite color."

"Hey just because I like blue doesn't mean you have to. You can still like yellow."

"Can I like blue too?"

"Of course you can, but you have to do what you like, not what you think other people will like. Do you want me to go get the yellow one again?" She ruffled Lindsey's hair.

"No that's ok I like this one for now. I'm hungry can we get something to eat Mommy?" They picked up the menus and decided what they were going to eat and placed their order. "Mommy are we going home after we eat?"

"Sure are baby. You can sleep in your own bed tonight ok?"

Lindsey tuned to Sara. "Are you going home with us too so I can help you get better? Because it doesn't look like Mommy has done a very good job of taking care of you."

Catherine almost choked on the food she had just put in her mouth, Lily started laughing and Sara tried to keep a straight face. "Yeah little bit I'll be going home with you because I think I need some of your magic kisses to make me feel better."

"Did you hear that Mommy, Sara says I have magic kisses?"

"Yeah sweetie I always thought they were special."

"Not special Mommy, magic, that's different."

"I'm sorry you're right that is different. Sara told me just this morning how much she was looking forward to you coming home and taking care of her."

"Really? You said that Sara?"

Sara looked down into her big green eyes and saw what Catherine must have looked like at that age and she knew she was lost. "Yes I did say that. As you can tell I have a few more bumps and bruises so I think I am overdue for your kisses." Lindsey stood up on the seat next to Sara and kissed her uninjured cheek then sat back down. "It feels better already. See Cat. This is what has been missing all this time."

"I know." She said it softly and she meant it in more ways than one. She had a feeling that Lindsey will be as good for Sara as Sara will be for her. Anyone who could make a little girl feel as good as Sara has with just a few words is worth keeping around. She could still see some of the old wounds deep down but the somber Sara is all but gone and smiles have taken the place of the scowls that used to be her usual facial expression. "Are we done eating?" She looked around the table and stopped at Lindsey who was just finishing up her ice cream. She looked up at Catherine with a huge grin on her face. "Are you almost done sweetie?" She nodded her head. Sara reached over and wiped some ice cream off of Lindsey's chin. "You may as well wait until she is done because there will be more by the time she is done."

"I just thought it would be easier if I stayed ahead of it. But it doesn't seem to work does it?"

"Nope, I just wait and do it all at one time. Can you see how important that bib is?"

"Yeah I do. Do you always carry one with you? Should I put some in my truck too? Where do I go to buy them?"

Catherine had to smile at how serious Sara was. "I have plenty at home. We can throw one in your truck later but I always have one or two with me so don't worry about it." Catherine stood up and paid the bill and turned to her Mother. "Mom do you need a ride home or are you ok?"

"Sam said he would drive me home later so you don't have to worry about it. I'll pack her things and bring them by later if the three of you want to take off."

"That's ok Mom we can all go upstairs and pack her things, that way she'll have her toothbrush and I can do laundry tomorrow. We thought it would be fun to go hang out at the zoo today. Lindsey whooped her excitement as she took Sara's hand and headed for the elevators. They didn't noticed the man sitting in the corner but he was watching them intently. He also saw the guards that followed the little family into the elevator.

Lily leaned towards Catherine in the elevator. "How are things dear? Is Sara really OK?"

"Things are really good Mom. She says she's doing ok and she seems to be getting better every day. I think she'll be fine." She looked over and saw her pick Lindsey up and rested her on her hip as if it were a natural thing to do. She turned back to her Mother with a satisfied smile.

"I think she will too." Lily caught Sara's eye and smiled.