Yes it really is me I'm sorry for the long wait for this one all i can say is i hope you find it worth the wait.


"Hey." Sara smiled down at Catherine as the sleepy blond blinked herself awake.

"Hey you." Catherine replied her voice think with sleep. "What time is it?" Catherine asked stretching out her heavy limbs.

"A little after eight in the evening." Sara told her and waited for the reaction.

"Eight at night." Catherine looked at her puzzled. "We should be at work."

"I spoke to Griss." Sara told her pulling the blond close so she could look closely at her. Sara was worried about her after breaking down at the scene Catherine had said little about Sam dying and showed no emotions what so ever. Sara knew what it was like to hold all your emotions in side and she was aware of just what that could cost you in the long run. She wanted Catherine to let it go now before it had a chance to come back and bite them on the ass.

"And." Catherine wasn't impressed.

"And he thinks you should take a couple of nights off come to terms with this be there for your mom."

"There is nothing to come to terms with, and I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't go making arrangements for me behind my back." Catherine told her rolling out of Sara's embrace and sitting up with her back to her.

"Cath Sam was your dad and he died last night in your arms after you watched him get gunned down."

"He wasn't my dad he was the man who got my mother pregnant and who for a while was a friend never my dad."

"He loved you and I think you loved him too like it or not and like it or not he died and you need to deal with it."

"I don't want to." Catherine looked back over her shoulder and Sara's heart broke at the pain on her lovers face. All she could do was thank the lord that this might not be as hard as she thought it was going to be to get Catherine to open up a little.

"I know when my dad died and mom was taken away people kept saying that I needed to deal with it. To me there was nothing to deal with it was a relief, turns out though that even bad parents are parents and their dying can still suck."

"This sucks." Catherine chuckled dryly climbing back in to bed.

"Yeah but we'll deal together." Sara assured the blond as she broke down.

OO

"So how long is this fellow Keppler supposed to be with us?"

"What's up Miss. Grumpy?" Catherine teased Sara a light smile on her face; Catherine had no need to look up to tell Sara was pouting.

"I'm not grumpy, I'm tired." Sara whined.

"It's a really good thing I love you when you whine." Catherine smirked. "He was hired to staff the new day shift, but … since we're one shy with Grissom away; Ecklie wanted us to break him in for a few weeks."

"Baby if I find you breaking him, I'm gonna be so pissed."

"Sar' scared of a little competition?" Catherine teased.

"Should I see him that way?" Sara was deadly serious. "Because got to tell you, Cath, I really don't share well."

"You never have to share me," Catherine reassured her.

"Promise?" Sara pouted and Catherine stood up and went to her side. Checking that no one was paying any attention to them she pulled Sara closer nipping on her bottom lip.

"Promise," Catherine told her inhaling deeply at the gasp Sara emitted at the contact.

OO

Sara's jaw clenched and she and she inhaled deeply trying not to lose her temper in the middle of CSI HQ. Watching Catherine flirt with Keppler had annoyed Sara slightly at first now though it was causing her to lose her temper. There was only so many times that she needed to see Catherine lean over or rub up against the new guy before she wanted to rip someone's head off. Letting go of her anger for a moment Sara realised that she was just as annoyed at the fact that Catherine hadn't smiled like that at home for a while.

OO

"You have got to be shitting me?" Sara groaned taking the slip from a grinning Catherine's hand.

"No I want you on this."

"It's a simple B&E, why me?"

"Because I said so," She smiled once again.

"You really want me to dance for you tonight don't you." Sara groused ramming the slip into the pocket of her pants.

"Oh stop pouting and work the damn case," Catherine told her.

"Why? So you can make me feel insecure all night with the new guy. Cath, every now and again I hate you."

OO

Catherine had worried when she had been told she would be acting supervisor in the absence of Grissum. Her relationship with Sara had never been a cause for concern at work as Catherine had never been in a position of authority over Sara. She was well aware that people would be keeping a close eye on them expecting any career making case to find their way to Sara. Catherine had promised herself and Grissum that she would be fair and honest and leave the rest to god. Catherine had no reason to believe that her position would be a great help for another reason. Since the death of Sam things had been strained between the two of them Catherine blamed herself she wasn't taking the loss well and Sara was her punch bag. Thing was Sara was taking it and being so damn understanding it was killing them. So now Catherine had the means to get the reaction from Sara that she couldn't get any other way. The pouting brunette was almost a sight for sore eyes.

"Hey," Mike Keppler caught her attention.

"Oh Mike we have a case," Catherine smiled at him.

Catherine had never had eyes for anyone else in the time she and Sara had been together she had never had any need to Sara was all she had ever needed. Something was very different with Keppler though, Mike didn't know her didn't know her family know her life story he didn't look at her with sadness in his eyes. He looked and saw a woman, Sara looked and saw a grieving mess, there was something very attractive about just being a woman.

OO

"What do we have?" Sara asked the officer standing outside of the building as she ducked under the yellow tape.

"Wow Sar' man what did you do to pull this?" The officer smiled.

"Hey Pete, I think I might have squeezed from the middle of the tube again or something," Sara joked pulling on her gloves.

"So straight forward smash and grab and I mean he smashed blood every where."

"So what, he smashed glass every where and the dumb ass just sticks his hand in and cut himself. Damn, this really is going to be a simple no brainer."

"Looks like it."

OO

"Wow man you look pissed," Nick smiled as he walked into the break room to find Sara nursing a coffee while looking over some files.

"Tired, Nicky just tired." Sara sighed dejectedly.

"Must be if you're letting me in on it." Nick smiled a little every now and then he found himself liking Sara and it didn't annoy him so much any more. "So you disappeared on us, you not with us any more." Sara shook her head sliding her files over to Nicky.

"Wow cake walk, hell you got to work solo though." Nick found himself trying to cheer Sara up, Sara just rolled her eyes "So what did you do squeeze from the middle, forget an anniversary that no one in there right mind would remember because she probably made it up?"

"Worse than that Nicky I think we're falling apart."

"Ouch."

"Yeah so I get the annoying B&E that I can't close because he won't tell me where the goodies are."

"You know what you have to do."

"Yeah I've just been putting it off. Follow the blood trail that lead us straight to him and check every dumpster and dirty place on the way."

"Rather you than me."

"Thanks Nicky."

OO

"Oh man you smell." Warrick wrinkled his nose as he passed by Sara.

"God, I know man and I've showered three times already."

"Well I know we didn't get any decomp in, so I'm guessing dumpster."

"Yep, my perp dropped his jewels in one of his way to the hospital."

"So you got pulled off our case, what was up with that?"

"You would have to ask the boss lady." Sara sigh, she was dirty, smelly, cold and tired, all she wanted to do was go home, shower in lemon juice and sleep for a month.

"You two fight?"

"Not yet," Sara said darkly leaving the room.

OO

"Hey baby." Catherine purred as Sara walked in the house. Catherine felt guilty she had been out of order with Sara and while she and Mike had been working together Catherine had found her mind constantly running to her young lover. Catherine just wanted the chance to try put things right between them.

"Don't even go there." Sara sighed avoiding her touch. Catherine looked at her girlfriend she looked tired and most worryingly she looked beaten Sara never truly looked out even when she should have been down for the count.

Catherine wrinkled her nose as she got closer to Sara and spoke. "Still pissed because I put you on the B&E?"

"Cath smell me, though by the look on your face I'd say you can. I'm a wreak, I'm tired, cold and dirty and yes pissed because you would rather hurt me than deal with you feelings towards Sam. Well you lose, because I'm going to shower and then to sleep."

"Well done Cath, then really."

"Yeah," Sara paused before heading to the shower. "If it makes you feel any better I was jealous watching you today."

"No not really, you think it but I didn't go out of my way to make you feel insecure."

"No? You're just really good at it then."

OO

"Where's the fire?" Sara sat up rubbing her eyes, checking her watch.

"I need you to be awake when Lind's gets home from school." Catherine told her caressing her cheek.

"Where will you be?" Sara asked moving out of her reach by lying back on the bed.

"I'm needed at work." Catherine shook her head in defeat, Sara wouldn't even let her touch her in the most innate of gestures, this was not going well.

"Big case?" Sara asked studying her.

"You know the Zamesca case,"

"Sort of, you worked it with Nicky."

"Yeah well, we're not getting anywhere so the under-sheriff wants a meeting."

"Sounds like fun."

"Well, Brass will be there."

"And?" Catherine hadn't said it but Sara knew her to well not to notice the subtle undertone to their conversation.

""And nothing,"

"Cath why lie? I can read you like a book, we both know it." Sara told her, getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

"I'm not lying."

"No, you're just leaving something out." Sara told her as she shut the door to the bathroom behind herself and locked it.

"Keppler will be there too." She was sure Sara had heard her but her only reply was the sound of running water.

OO

"You know Catherine if we do our job right and catch the bad guy no one will remember the rest."

"I will."

"What is it?"

"I don't like lying to my friends."

"It's more than that."

"No," Catherine insisted though her mind couldn't help but wander to Sara. She had tried to get under her skin the day before but it had back fired and now she was pretty sure things were going to go from bad to worse.

"OK point taken, let me buy you a drink to make up for it."

Everything in Catherine told her to go home and spend some time with her family before all hell broke lose . Being with Mike though was simple he didn't want anything from her and there were no real feelings involved. In fact when Mike was around Sam, Sara and all the other troubles they were having didn't matter.

"I'd like that." She found herself saying though and let Keppler pull her seat out and escort her to the bar.

OO

"Hey I need you on a 411 tonight."

Sara heard Catherine's voice as she turned the corner to the locker room. She paused not really sure she wanted to face Catherine right then. If Sara was truthful she was still hurt that Catherine hadn't come home to see her and Lind's before it was time for work. She would have to see her soon enough to get the night's assignment 'not yet though.' Sara sighed to herself.

"Stolen motor vehicle, you got to be kidding me?" Came Nick's reply and Sara couldn't stop the smile that formed 'Welcome to my world.'

"PD recovered twenty stolen motorcycles. They're at the Dupont Towing Lot."

"Can't you slide it to days?"

"Take Warrick with you, it'll go faster."

Turning around Sara headed in the opposite direction, taking the long way to the locker room. Rounding the corner she witnessed Keppler covering the windows to one of the bigger labs with plastic.

"Um, nothing I can talk about. Keep me posted on the 419. Greg's going to meet you at the scene." Sara heard Catherine tell Aaron as she entered the lab that Keppler was working on. Sara watched as Hodges whispered something to her brother before he headed in to the locker room.

"What did Hodges want?" Sara asked following Aaron through the door of the locker room.

"Thinks Keppler's IA, I bet he's running a book."

"IA? Not seeing it myself. He's a pain in the arse though, I'll give him that."

Aaron chuckled. It wasn't hard to tell why Sara hated the guy. I mean if he flirted with Catherine much more Aaron was thinking of having a word.

"So what's with the white room?" Aaron was sure Sara would know, Catherine didn't breathe without Sara knowing exactly how much air she took in.

"I really don't know." Sara sighed looking sadly at her brother. "And that scares me."

OO

"Oh for the love of god, Cath you have to be shitting me?"

"No." Catherine sighed in to the phone, if they had a relationship to try to save after this case it would be a miracle. "I need you to help Nick on his 411."

"I thought 'Rick was with him."

"I need 'Rick."

"I could come help you."

"No." Catherine stated firmly. "Just do as I tell you please." 'I need you to look at this.' Sara could clearly make out Keppler's voice over the phone.

"Must be easier having naughty thoughts about the new guy with me not there," Sara snapped before hanging up.

OO

"Wow, are we on her shit list? "Nick commented after a long silence since Warrick had left and Sara had joined him on his case.

"Yep Nicky, we have to stick together right now." Sara broke out a little smile holding her closed fist out to Nick for a knuckle touch. Nick regarded her hand for a moment before lifting his own and bringing it to Sara's.

"Yeah we need to stick close." Nick smile, he hated it even more now Sara wasn't turning out to be the bad guy Nick had so thought she was.

"Hell all we'll find is smudges." Sara sighed pulling out her print powder and brush.

"I bet you, we find the prints of the officers who found them."

"I wouldn't mind but I was working a pretty good case. We had a body and drugs and Sofia to flirt with."

"Isn't it weird working with your ex like that?" Nick wondered.

"No, actually I thought it might be but we parted on good terms, and like she said she only dumped me because I'm a jerk."

"True." Nick smiled.

OO

"Wow, you look pouty." Aaron smiled at his sister as she joined him in the lay out room he was looking over the clothes that their D.B had been found in and he looked up to find Sara watching him. He realised that it really wasn't joke time when Sara just continued to glare at him. "Ok what's wrong?" He asked snapping off his gloves walking over to her.

"Cath," Was all she said.

"God, don't tell me you to have been fighting again."

"That's just it!" Sara sighed sounding defeated. "We were having problems as it was since Sam died she's been hurting and I can't seem to help her, then he shows up and I get dumped on a piss easy B&E, a 411 with Nicky while she keeps him close and she hasn't been home in god knows how long, so I have Lind's on my case."

"He, I take it you mean Keppler?"

"Call him what you want," Sara shrugged, she had a few choice names for him herself.

"Well I'd like to tell you, you're being oversensitive but…"

"But I'm not, she's being a bitch."

"Who's a Bitch?" Catherine asked from behind them.

"You!" Sara told her looking directly at her before walking out.

"Sara, hold up." She could hear Catherine calling but chose to ignore her till she got to the changing room.

"What?" Sara snapped turning to her. Catherine had no chance to answer though as her cell rang.

"Willows, oh hey Keppler, yeah I'm on my way," She said in the phone before turning back to Sara. "I have to go."

"Big case," Sara finished for Catherine, turning to the locker so the older woman could not see the hurt in her eyes. "Do one thing please, call Lind's she misses you."


Thanks for reading i hope you enjoyed please let me know what you think =)