Sara giggled all the way to the bathroom, and was struggling to stop her laughter as she brushed her teeth. Catherine stood in the door way watching, a smile on her face. She shivered a little when she realised she was only in her underwear

'Sara?' she questioned

'Yeah?' Sara mumbled whilst trying to gargle mouthwash.

'When's Jim coming back?'

'Oh…' she finished brushing her teeth and turned around with a smile on her face 'Not sure really… when I ask him too I guess. Strictly speaking the Drs don't want me left alone for any amount of time, and Dad's been approved to be my 'main carer'' Sara said, adding air quotations to the last bit of her sentence 'But, he knows you're here with me, so, I guess, when you leave, he'll come back…why?' she looked at Catherine, whose face was just growing more and more confused.

Catherine tried to formulate a sentence, and after a few false starts she stammered out 'I was gonna ask if you were up for sharing a shower… save water, and all that…but now I'm confused to why you keep calling Brass, Dad, we are talking about the same person, right?'

Sara couldn't help but smirk 'Ok, let me answer the last bit first… because he is. We are going to do an adult adoption… my family weren't a family. Jim wants to be my family, and I want him to be mine. It's one of the few things I'm sure about, and it just kinda seems… natural… to call him Dad, outside of work, even if this only came about since getting home…'

Catherine could only smile, Sara's face really lit up when talking about Jim, and she felt happy that at last Sara seemed to be finding some care and stability in her life.

'What else…What else are you sure of?' Catherine questioned, her voice a little timid, as she looked at the floor.

Sara walked over to Catherine, and placed her hands on her hips 'I'm sure I want to share a shower with my favourite blonde…' her voice was husky, her fingers playing gently across Catherine's skin. She placed a brief kiss on Catherine's shoulder 'I'm sure that with the right help, I can face all these demons…' she placed a kiss on the other shoulder 'And I'm sure you're beautiful' Sara bought her lips to Catherine's, and pulled her closer. There was so much more she wanted to say, about her feelings for Catherine, about her emotions, but now wasn't the time.

It could wait. Right now, she really wanted to get in the shower.

Catherine immediately responded to the kiss, wrapping her arms around Sara's neck, she pulled her even closer. Tongue darting out she sought further entrance, and it was granted without hesitance. Sara bought her leg up and pressed into Catherine's core, whilst pushing her up against the wall, the grip on her waist tightening. After a minute she pulled away and turned the shower on, and then slowly removed her dressing gown and her underwear. Teasing.

Just the sight of this was making Catherine breathless, and the dull ache in the bottom of her stomach started to throb with desire. She took in the sight of Sara's naked body, the long legs, and the slight bump now forming. Her eyes glazed over the scars, and were drawn to the piercing. Catherine's want was only growing. Quickly she shed her own clothes, and then crossed the room, pulling Sara with her and into the shower. The water was still a little cold, but neither of them cared right now. The heat from their bodies more than made up for it. Catherine's lips found Sara's neck, whilst Sara's hands played in the blonde's hair. Catherine began to trail kisses down Sara's body, and Sara found herself having to hold on to the shower rail. The water was now a little warmer and was cascading over Sara, only helping to add to the desires within both women.

Catherine kneelt before Sara, and almost without warning she bought her hand up, and then placed 2 fingers inside Sara, forgoing any serious foreplay. Her mouth placed kisses across Sara's abdomen, her other hand holding the woman close. She kissed lower and lower, and pulled Sara's leg over her shoulder, as she sunk further back on her legs so she could reach Sara's core with her mouth. Sara was now gripping on to the bar with both hands to steady herself, not wanting to fall. She bucked wildly as Catherine's tongue ran over her sensitive clit a few times, and a third finger was added.

'Fuck!' Sara screamed out, her body tense. Catherine's head lowered further still, and she started to kiss, lick and caress Sara. All the while Sara tried to find the words, but all that would come was some half-hearted swear words, as Sara bucked over and over again into Catherine's hand and eager mouth. Soon Catherine felt Sara clamp around her fingers, as her body shook with the intensity of the orgasm she had just had. Catherine slowed her fingers, but didn't remove them just yet. Lifting her head, she began to once again place kisses over Sara's abdomen. Sara moved one hand from the bar, and tangled her hand in Catherine's hair, and then pulled her up. She wrapped her arms around the woman before her, still a little shaky, and then spun them around so Catherine was stood more directly under the flowing water. Reaching out, Sara grabbed the shampoo, and then began to wash Catherine's hair. It was sensual, caring, and made both women feel happy. After they were both clean, having helped each other wash, they stood kissing under the water until it started to run cold.

'Best shower ever!' Sara exclaimed, pulling the towel around her body

'Agreed!' Called Catherine 'Though I don't think we saved much water after all' she called over her shoulder as she walked out of the bathroom.

Xxx

Brass sat in his office, looking up the different forms and documentation they would need to fill out. He heard a knock at the door, and quickly closed the window of the computer

'Yeah' he called out

Grissom walked into the office, and without invitation he sat down. He held out a bottle of whisky 'Shall we?' he questioned.

Brass just grinned, and pulled two glasses out of a drawer on his desk.

'What's the occasion?' he asked after a few minutes of silence

'Oh… I'm just wondering where I went so wrong with it all, with the lab… with Sara…' Grissom said before taking another sip of the whiskey.

'I think we all are buddy… I think we all are' Brass placed his glass down on his desk.

'Have you seen her?' Grissom asked, he'd heard a rumour, but he wasn't sure how true it was.

'Yep' Brass tilted his head 'I take it you haven't?'

Grissom shook his head 'No… Not since I told her she didn't need to work her shift as she'd already worked for Ecklie… I tried to see her in the hospital, but she wasn't accepting visitors, or even phone calls. Not even my badge got me in'

Brass gave him a half smile 'My badge didn't get me in either, only Ecklie managed to pull that one off…'

'She saw Catherine though?' Gil half questioned, half stated, already knowing the answer.

'Yes. Catherine is the one who took her in…and yes, Nick saw her in the hotel… and Greg spoke to her on the phone during that time, but with the boys, she had no choice. In the hospital, she did, and she did what she thought was best at the time. Hell, she even kicked Catherine out for a few days.'

Grissom nodded in understanding 'How's she doing?'

'Better… she's getting the help she needs, and she's talking to someone about her…issues…'

Grissom nodded again 'I can't help but feel guilty…if only I'd done more…took more interest…'

'I'm gonna stop you there, look Grissom, it happened, none of us can change it now, it's already done, we just need to be there for her from now on'

Grissom sighed, but nodded his head 'She's home now though? Right?' He took another sip of whisky

'Yeah, she's home, and under my care. I've moved in with her for…well, however long it takes. Doctors condition of letting her leave… she needs someone around her most of the time…'

'So why are you here?' Grissom cut in

'Catherine's with her' Brass stated, not seeing the problem with it.

'Catherine?'

'Yes, Catherine Willows, your CSI'

Grissom just frowned at him 'But they're not even friends…'

Brass just smirked at this, and picked up his glass again. 'They're getting on just fine, now'

Xxx

Sara settled further into the sofa, mouthing along to the movie they were watching – The Princess Bride. Catherine turned to look at her, and caught sight of the bottles in the kitchen.

'Sar… want me to clean up the kitchen?' she offered.

Sara paused the movie and turned to look at the mess 'Oh… no, it's ok, you've cleaned up my sick enough to last a life time. I'll do it now…' Sara stood up, and started to clean up the empty bottles.

'Are you ok Sweetie?' Catherine asked, having moved to lean in the door way

'Yeah… Yeah, I'm ok… just tired… hungry actually… I guess it's been a while since I've eaten…what about you?'

Catherine tried to keep a straight face 'I'm good, I ate in the bathroom'

Sara was stunned for a moment, but then a laugh escaped her. Soon both women were laughing, and Catherine had walked further into the room to help clean up.

'So, seriously, what do you want to eat before I fall asleep?' Sara asked

'Oh… I don't know…' Catherine looked at her watch 'Shit…'

'What?' Sara asked

'It's 6.30, Lindsey starts school at 8, I said I'd be there to take her and make her breakfast… shit… I'm sorry Sara, I have to go… shit…' Catherine dropped the cloth in her hand, and frantically started looking for the rest of her clothes and her handbag 'I'm sorry Sara… you understand, right?'

Sara just nodded 'Of course, Lindsey is the most important person in your world. Go now, call me later…' Sara said opening the door.

'Thanks…' Catherine quickly kissed Sara's cheek and walked out the door. Just as Sara was about to close it, Catherine called out

'Sara… you know you're in the top 5 right… perhaps even the top 2…'

Sara could only smile and nod, and she quietly closed the door.

As soon as the door was closed however, the tears started to flow.

Xxx

'Brass' Jim mumbled into his phone

'Please come home' Sara whispered. Catherine had left barely a minute ago, and already Sara was finding it hard to cope. Normally she was a very solidary person, but since that fateful morning in the hotel, she hadn't been alone.

In the hospital she knew there were people just outside of her room, in the corridors, at the nurses' station. That nothing bad could really happen whilst she was there. When she had first woken up, she knew Catherine was just in the other room in her bed. But now, for the first time in about 2 weeks, she was alone. She was finding it unbelievably difficult, and hoped that Jim would be there soon.

'Sure, when's Catherine leaving?' Jim asked, standing up from his desk, picking up a pile of papers.

'She already left…'

Brass took a deep breath, willing himself not to get angry.

'Ok Sara, think you'll be ok for 15 minutes?'

'Ok' Sara mumbled before hanging up the phone. She dragged herself over to the sofa, and lay down, curling her legs up.

Brass had never driven so fast for a non-work related reason before, and reached Sara's apartment in 7 minutes, another 2 minutes had him out of the car, up the stairs, and opening the door

'Sara…' he called out

'Over here' came Sara's quiet voice from the sofa.

Brass was by her side in an instance 'What happened?' he asked, crouching down next to her.

'Catherine… Lindsey…School…' Sara choked up, the tears stopping her from making a complete sentence.

Brass nodded in understanding 'You get scared?' he guessed, thinking back himself about how Sara had had constant company since the whole ordeal started.

She just nodded 'Sorry'

'It's ok, it's ok…' he rubbed her arm tenderly 'It's a big step, your own home after so long, and suddenly being alone… how long ago did she leave?'

Sara buried her head into the sofa, now feeling embarrassed and stupid 'Not even a minute before I rang… but a minute is all it takes…'

'It's ok, I'm here now, and nothing bad happened'

Sara remained quiet

'Are you up to date with your meds?' he asked, rubbing her arm soothingly

'Yeah… now… I wasn't earlier…'

'That's ok, it's all new, and there's no nurse to remind you…'

Sara wiped away her tears

'So, what did you two do today?' Brass asked, moving so he was sat on the sofa. Sara moved so she was also sat up, and looked over to the far wall.

'We slept… I don't know for how long… when I woke up, I went through my finances… Catherine was still in bed… God, my finances are so depressing.' Sara wiped at her face again.

'When she woke up, we had a fight…'

Brass tilted his head, and ran a hand through the little hair he had 'Why?' he questioned

'I was passed out in the kitchen… surrounded by empty beer bottles…' Sara held her hand up to stop him from interrupting 'I put it all down the sink, the fumes got to me. I didn't drink it. She didn't realise, at first… we talked it out… made up…' Sara grinned a little

'Do I want to know how?' Brass asked.

Sara just giggled again 'Nope'

'And sometime later, she left, and you panicked, why?' Brass asked

'I don't know… I just, shut the door, and the tears came… I think I was scared of being alone… but I'm still scared that every time I see Catherine, it will be the last time that I see Catherine…'

'You really care for her, don't you?'

'Yes… I really do… I wouldn't be here, now, without her. Take that however you want… I think…no, I know, I love her… I really really love her… I'm scared she'll leave me, or get bored of me… I'm asking a lot of her…' Sara gently rubbed her hand over her stomach.

'Do you accept Lindsey?' Brass questioned

'Yes' Sara replied without hesitation

'Do you think I accept my imminent role as Granddad?' he asked

'Yes' Sara replied, again without hesitation

'Good, so don't question what you've got going on with Catherine. Yes, it's early days, yes; all of it could change, tomorrow, next week, next year. You should know that better than anyone Sara, but you should also know, that right here, right now, Catherine cares for you. She just might have a harder time putting a label on it. Want some fatherly advice?'

Sara just nodded, her eyes wide at Jim's words.

'Labels are only good when it comes to doing the laundry, but even then, they can safely be ignored a lot of the time… do you understand what I'm saying?'

'Yes' Sara said, a genuine smile on her face.

Xxx

Another chapter I was awake most of the night thinking about this story… the next chapter will be another session with Sylvia…