Hi all. Thank you so much for your patience with this story, I know it has been a very long time since I updated (along with my other ongoing ones.) Real life has taken over the last few months, but I do have every intention of finishing them.
This is a very short update, but I have taken a few personal days off work, so will try to get a proper update up in the next couple of days and hopefully get back into the swing of writing again. It's been a while, but hopefully my muse hasn't abandoned me altogether.
I hope you enjoy this for now.
x X x
Sara accepted the hot drink offered to her and cradled it in her cupped hands, her eyes narrowed suspiciously at her colleagues.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Nick implored, sitting forward and meeting her gaze with his earnest brown orbs.
"I didn't want you to know." She replied without hesitation. "I didn't think you'd tail me here and grill Catherine until she cracked."
"We were just worried about you." Greg offered, and despite her annoyance at being caught out, she couldn't bring herself to be as upset with him as the rest of them.
"Now that the cat is out of the bag," Catherine stated, dropping down heavily beside her friend. "Can we resume the conversation we were having earlier?"
The gathered team couldn't help but notice Sara's dramatic eye roll at the clearly rhetorical question.
"What conversation?" Jim asked, trying to hide his amusement at Sara's petulant expression.
"About reducing her hours." Cath replied.
"I think that's a good idea." Grissom offered swiftly. "I'll talk to Ecklie about it tonight."
"No." Sara said hurriedly, until Catherine placed a gentle hand on her knee.
"You don't have to stop working altogether, just slow down a bit." The blonde reiterated.
"It'll probably do you good." Nick chimed in. "Help your recovery."
Sara looked suspiciously from him to Catherine.
"You invited them here, didn't you." She accused semi-seriously. "This is an ambush."
Catherine flashed her a bright grin and a wink, patting her leg.
"Needs must." She agreed neutrally. "We'll talk to Nancy this afternoon and decide what'll be best. Then, we," she shot a pointed look in Grissom's direction, "will talk to Ecklie once you've decided what hours you'd rather work."
Sara released a heavy sigh.
"Thanks guys." She offered sadly. "I'm so glad you stopped by."
Jim and Warrick chuckled softly, while Nick and Grissom's expression's remained marred with concern.
Only Greg, whose attention appeared to have drifted, turned to Catherine curiously.
"You've rearranged a few things since I was last here." He noted.
Catherine narrowed her eyes towards Sara, quirking one accusatory eyebrow, and this time it was the brunette's turn to grin.
"What?" She shrugged nonchalantly. "I was bored."