"Did you hear anything new from Sofia?" Jules sat down in her armchair. It felt strange to be back in her office, to sit where she sat all day until two months ago. In five weeks she'd work here again, see her patients again while her twins were down the road in day care. At the moment she couldn't imagine to make it through the day without them.
"They have a witness, who saw Ellen with a man in his thirties. Right now the witness is working with a police artist on a picture. Hopefully it will help them to catch the killer." Sara pulled her legs under her body and sipped on her coffee. This had been her favorite position when she was Jules's client.
"Sounds like a good start."
"It is. As soon as you have a picture, you have a pretty good chance to catch the person. Most times. The baby kidnapper is still on the loose, but I'm afraid he's not an ordinary criminal. There's a system behind him and they know how to let people vanish." Sara wasn't sure if the man was alive anymore. He was a threat to his friends - or employer - and might be dead already and his body wasn't found.
"No more babies were kidnapped, that's good but you should stay with us a little bit longer."
"Because you want your godchild around."
"My godchild, his sister and his parents. I like the whole family."
"The whole family loves you too." Jules smiled.
"Thanks. You know, I talked to my therapist recently and we decided, I'll have one more session and then my therapy is over. I'm fine, I managed to talk to my brother, sent him away and was fine afterwards. After two years it's time for me to live my life on my own. Doctor Luria knows I'm in good hands, being a friend of you, and when I need a therapist again, or only one or two sessions, I can call her and we arrange some-thing." Sara was glad she finally made it. Therapy time was over and it felt good and right.
"Really?" Jules was surprised.
"Yes. These two years were necessary but now it's a good time to stop. I'm fine, there are no nightmares and...I'm responsible enough to ask for help in case I need some. Psychotherapy isn't a nonsense to me anymore, I know it helps and it helped me enough to live without it. You and your cousin did an amazing job."
"Actually you were the one who worked, we only supervised and accompanied you. No more therapy. I'm proud you ended it when you were ready and not before."
"There were a few moments when I wanted to end it - as you know."
"Quite normal, most people want to end their therapy before it's over. It's not always easy to see the progress you made."
"I live without nightmares, the thought of seeing my brother doesn't irritates me anymore, my relationship is supportive, I've a circle of good friends and a job I like. There's a lot of happi-ness in my life and even when dark clouds appear, they never win against the blue sky and the sunshine." Sara put her hand on Jules's. "You are one ray of sunshine. Can I come here for coffee and muffins every now and then? Like when I get the twins from daycare and we meet you here after work?"
"Sara, you're always welcome here."
"Thanks. I might need a place to hide when Sofia is pregnant and has mood swings. As her partner it will all be my fault."
"Did Greg say so?"
"No and if he did, I wouldn't tell you."
"Are you on his side?"
"I'm on the side that makes the two of you happy."
"Very good, keep yourself out of trouble. What do Sofia's parents say about the grandchildren plan? Don as the father."
"They'll love the idea and hopefully move to Los Angeles. When Ellen's case is closed we have more time to talk to them. Or we do it tomorrow, Sofia wants her two days off, no matter if the case is closed or not. Do you think she would do the same when the victim wasn't her ex?"
"Yes. She isn't less motivated because it's Ellen, quite contrary, she wants to find the killer of her ex, it will give her some inner peace. But she needs two days off with you, to rest, to be with you. Greg will continue on the case, she knows it's not forgotten. So will Don. They will give the case some extra time because of Sofia."
"While she is with me."
"Exactly where she belongs. The last weeks were very busy for her, she needs her rest and I'm glad she understood that and plans to stay at home tomorrow."
"We're both workaholics...which isn't always good."
"You don't overwork yourself anymore. Sure, there are days when you work longer hours, but normally you have your eight hours and go home. Plus you enjoy your job, it doesn't tire you out. You're not surrounded by death and depressing moments, you're in the forest and it's good for you. Although I'm sure you're still a great CSI and my fiancé dreams of working with you again."
Sara laughed. "Tell him this dream won't come true. He has to dream of something different. His family for example."
"We're reality, no need to dream of us. Come on, we finished muffins and coffee, time to go back. The mother in me wants to see her babies."
"And I want to take my godchild out for a walk. Want to join me with Jorja?"
"Sure." Jules got up. For today she spent enough time in her office. Soon enough this would be the place where she was the whole day. Without her babies. Lucky for her, there were a few more weeks before she had to go back to work.
Sofia looked at the picture in front of her. This was the man, who was last seen with Ellen. From the picture the blonde was sure, this man could be interesting for her ex; especially when he had the right occupation. A minute ago she got the picture and with her all other cops in Los Angeles.
"What do you think?" Don sat next to her. She was in the lab, used the facial recognition program to get a name to the picture. Because it wasn't a photo, it wasn't likely to get the right person, but it was worth a try.
"I think he looks like Ellen might be interested in him. Kayla did a good job with the pic."
"Your friend was a good witness. How good do you know him?"
"Darren? He was the bartender in a club I went to a few times when I dated Ellen. A nice guy, a little bit flirty, just like a bartender should be so you buy more drinks."
"He was very helpful."
"Yes."
"And he put you on the special list."
"For his club, yeah. Are you suggesting he tried to buy me?"
"No, I wonder if he hit on you."
"Years ago already. Never serious. Stop acting like he wants something bad."
"Sorry. Are you done with your work?"
"Kind of. There is no more evidence I can work on..."
"Good. It's time for your therapy."
"Don..."
"No, you promised your girlfriend you'll take care of yourself. This is a part of it. Go to therapy, talk about your case and go home."
"We might get the man..."
"Yes, we will get him and when we do, there will be somebody to work the case. Leave your phone on if it makes you happy, but go now. We are capable of closing a case without you. Remember the time when you were a cop? You didn't need the CSI to close a case when your CSI did a good before and gave you all the evidence you need. You did a good job, we can continue without you. Enjoy your two days off, you earned them and you need them. For yourself and your relationship. Sara is understanding, won't complain, but she looks forward to spend some time with you, be with you. Don't disappoint her. Be there. Go to therapy and invite your girlfriend to dinner, surprise her with a nice start into your mini vacation."
Sofia sighed. She knew Don was right. It was important to see her therapist and she should go home afterwards and spend some time with Sara.
"That was a nice idea." Sara smiled when she sat down at the table. She and Sofia were in a restaurant in West Hollywood. "Dinner together, only the two of us, a good start in our mini vacation."
"Yeah." Sofia took the hand of her lover while her knee found the knee of the brunette under the table. "I don't deserve the whole credit, Don sent me home, told me to ask you out for dinner. The CSI was done with her work, the cop inside me wanted to stay around, find out of the killer was found soon. Or even better, drive around the city and look for the killer. So don't praise your girlfriend when she doesn't deserve it." The blonde felt guilty for pretending being a good lover when she wasn't. In fact, she was a poor show. Sara deserved a lover, who wanted to be with her, more than being at work.
"My little workaholic. Did you see your therapist?"
"Yes."
"Good. And I'm not mad because you needed Don to send you here. If I were in your shoes, it had been the same. We both want to close our cases, stay in the lab until the case is closed. Fact is, cases get closed without you, like they were closed without me. You closed a couple of cases without me and you made a good job. Don or any other cop can do the same. They won't look as good as you do when they do it, but they're capable of doing their job."
"I know and it shouldn't be personal...but it is."
"Honey, she was your ex, of course it's personal. If you could handle her murder like any other case I'd wonder if you ever really cared for her."
"I did...but she doesn't deserve that I stay in the lab instead of being with you."
"Does her killer deserve that you do everything to get him off the streets?" Sara asked.
"Yes. Every killer does. I see your point, you spend too much time with Jules, you start to sound like a therapist."
"We had a lovely afternoon together, I told her I'll quit therapy and she was fine with it."
"You quit therapy?" That was new to Sofia.
"Yes. I'm fine. Sending my brother away was my final test, it worked out good, no problems and after one more session in January I go back to handle my life alone. Doctor Luria offered me to call her whenever I need her support and I promised I'll do it. Psychotherapy isn't a waste of time for me anymore. Don't get the idea you can quit too, you need some more time, Honey."
"How do you know?"
"I hear your nightmares." Sara smiled softly. "What did he say about Ellen?"
"He wanted to know how I feel and when I said, I don't suffer because she's dead, he didn't believe me. So I rephrased my comment, told him, I can handle her death, she doesn't deserve it and I will do everything I can to get her killer off the streets. Not only for her but for the safety of all other people. Again, he didn't believe me completely and wants to see me next week again."
"It matters to you more than it does when the victim is somebody you don't know."
"Yeah...it shouldn't." It was like Ellen had still some power over Sofia and she didn't like the thought of this.
"It's normal." The brunette stopped when the waiter came to their table.
"Did you decide?"
"I'd like to have the salad with tofu and for her the steak with the steakhouse fries. We take a mineral water and a lager for drinks. Thanks."
"Very well." The waiter left.
"You ordered for me without asking me what I want." Sofia said puzzled.
"So what? Was I wrong with your order?"
"No...you ordered exactly what I wanted...gosh...I'm an open book for you."
"You are. I love you, I pay attention to what you like and this place has good steaks. Most times you order a steak and you like the steakhouse fries."
"Like I said, you spend too much time with shrinks. Stop read-ing me, I feel...predicable."
"You are. For me. Like I am for you. We love each other, we tell each other our secrets, of course the other one knows almost everything."
"Doesn't a woman has to be mysterious to be interesting?"
"No, she has to be lovable and you're adorable, which is better. If I want a mystery, I watch a thriller or read a book. When I want to be love and love somebody, I choose you."
"Love you too." Sofia blew her lover a kiss. This was why she should be with Sara and not in the lab, her girlfriend was wonderful and no case nor job could hold the candle to her. What an amazing woman. And she, Sofia, was the lucky one, the chosen one. Somebody had looked after her big time when Sara was in the department and Sofia saw her name on the suspect list.
"Do you have any plans for our next two days? Anything you want to do?"
"Make love to you. A couple of times a day. Start by sex in the morning, going over to breakfast in bed, more sex, a walk with the dogs, back to our room, lunch, room, walk, room, dinner, room, walk, room. Does this sound boring to you?"
"No, not all." The blonde grinned. "It sounds like a plan I like. Can we add some time in the room to the list?"
"I'm sure we can."
"And kisses for the time we're not in the room?"
"Absolutely."
"Sounds like a plan I can imagine for every day...how are the conditions for unemployed people? Can we survive staying at home and have sex all day?"
"Honey, we need our jobs. Not as much as we need each other but we do need them."
"Yeah...and we need to see my parents in Vegas soon. Do you think you can manage to get three days off in January?"
"I'm sure I can. What about you?"
"When I look at the overtime I worked the last weeks, I can take more than three days off. Maybe in two weeks, everybody will be back from their Christmas holidays."
"I'll have a look when I'm back. We need to get a breakfast with our old team in the schedule too."
"Breakfast with your ex?"
"Jealous?"
"Maybe...no, I'm fine. We'll meet them, I miss them too. Unfortunately we can't take Greg with us...we can invite them to Los Angeles for February. If Greg agrees, they can sleep at our and their place."
"Sounds like a good idea." Sara liked the idea to have her old colleagues here, even when this plan hard to realize. Some of them had to work, they couldn't all come to Los Angeles and for a daytrip the distance was too big.
Sofia cell phone rang. With an apologetic look she looked at it and took the call. "Hey Don, if you want to check on me, I can give you Sara and she'll tell you where we are. I'm not in the lab, I did exactly what you told me to do."
"Glad to hear that. I don't call to check on you, I want to let you know, we have a man in custody, who looks like the man your friend the bartender saw. Officers picked him up ten minutes ago in Beverly Hills and they're on their way to get him to the department."
"Really? I..." She wanted to say, she was on her way when her eyes fell on Sara. No, she was with her lover at a dinner date. A date she organized because she had been away so much the last weeks. It was supposed to be her and Sara's evening, their two days off. "Let me know what you find out, will you?"
"I will. Talk to you later, LT."
Sofia closed her cell phone and took a deep breath. "They have the man, who might be the killer. Police picked him up in Beverly Hills, he looks like the man on the picture Kayla made with our witness."
"You want to go back to the department and talk to him." The brunette didn't ask, she saw Sofia wanted to be there, was anxious about if the man was their killer. And wanted an answer to the question why he did it.
"No...we have dinner...I'm two days off...I should switch my phone off..."
"Sofia, I can see you want to be there. It's okay."
"No, it's not. This is our evening." Even her protest sounded weak. Weak like she was. A weak woman, who put her work over her love life. She didn't deserve Sara.
"Why don't we order our food to go? By the time it's fixed they have booked the man and he's ready in interrogation, we'll be there in time and you can talk to him."
"Sara...I invited you to here because I want to spend quality time with you, away from work."
"You won't be able to do this until you haven't closed the case. It will be on your mind, you'll have a lot of questions unanswered. He's the only one who can answer all these questions, can make you close the case for yourself. Without your answers you won't be off the case. I rather go with you to the department for another two hours or so, let you get all the answers and go home with you afterwards, knowing your mind is with me and not the case." Sara took Sofia's hand. "It's okay. We can go there and eat later. Or while we wait until he's ready."
"What kind of date is that?"
"A law enforcement date. Come on, when you don't tell them we want our food in a doggy bag, I do it."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Thanks." Relieved Sofia got up and went to the waiter. Time to order their meal to go and go to the department. And later she had to make up to her lover. Big time. Very big time.
