Part 6

Gil knelt in front of her, caressing her face. "What are you talking about? This was Sara's decision."

Catherine sighed. "We had an argument two nights ago."

His eyes widened. "She came to see you?"

"No, she came to see you," Catherine corrected. "I told her you were at a conference. Things kind of went downhill from there."

"What did she say to you, Catherine?"

"Nothing important. But what I…"

"What did she say to you," Gil asked, more forcefully this time. "Don't lie to me, Catherine."

Catherine looked at her hands. "She asked me if it bothered me that she had you first."

Gil frowned. "And do you?"

Her eyes snapped up to look at him. They stared at each other for a few moments and the she moved to get up. "We should go check on the kids."

He placed his hands on her knees, forcing her to stay down. "Answer the question, Catherine."

She frowned. "I don't want to."

"Answer it."

"We should be thinking about finding Sara and helping Matthew."

"I think this is more important."

"I told her that she was a bad mother. That's why she's gone and that's why Matthew is confused." She folded her arms. "There. Can I get up now?"

"You haven't answered the question."

Catherine let out an exasperated noise. "For God's sake, Gil! Did you hear what I said? I told her she was a bad mother and now she's disappeared!"

"I heard what you said. And I still want you to answer my question." He looked at her intently. "And you are not leaving until you do."

They stared at each other again, stubbornness emanating from two sets of eyes. Catherine growled.

"Fine! I'll answer your damn question! Yes, it bothers me a little. Now can I go?"

"Why?"

"That's two questions."

"Cath…"

"It's my insecurity, Gil. Not yours and not Sara's. And Matthew sure as hell shouldn't be paying for it."

"It's Sara's insecurity if that's what caused her to run off."

"MOMMY!!!" came Lizzy's impatient cry.

Catherine stood up and Gil took her hand.

"We're going to discuss this later," Gil informed her. He kissed her hand and let her go.

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Gil picked up Lizzy and taking Matthew's hand, marched them all into Lindsey's room. Lindsey looked up and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"We need to talk," Gil said firmly.

Matthew sat on the floor and Lizzy played with the buttons on Gil's shirt. Lindsey put her magazine down.

"What about?"

"About your mom." Gil looked at her sternly. "We all have to pull our weight around here. And we all have to be especially good to Catherine at the moment. She's tired and trying to look after us all."

"But she didn't let me go to the party!"

"And I wouldn't have either," Gil promised her. "Now, everyone just has to go a little easy on her, understand?"

Matthew nodded eagerly. "Okay."

Lindsey sighed. "Whatever."

Gil nodded. "Okay, now we have that under control I need to talk with your mom. I'm going to put Lizzy down for an N-A-P. Matthew, are you okay?"

Matthew nodded. "I've got a movie. Can I watch it?"

Gil nodded. "Sure. Lindsey?"

Lindsey smiled. "Come on Matt, let's go set it up."

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Gil stood in the doorway of the bathroom, watching the steam rise from the shower stall. He waited until the water had been turned off and then handed a towel to her, as she opened the door.

"Thankyou," she murmured, accepting it and wrapping herself in the towel.

He took over her job, gently rubbing and drying her.

"Mmm, feels nice," she smiled.

He pressed a kiss to her neck. "We need to talk."

She turned around in his arms and pressed herself against him. "Remember what I said on the phone? I still need sex." She kissed his lips gently. "Want to help me with that?"

"After we talk," he replied firmly.

She sighed and walked into the room, changing into a pair of loose sweats and one of Gil's old shirts. "We don't need to talk. We need to do something about finding Sara."

"I rang Brass. He's going to track her down. She hasn't just disappeared, Catherine. We know that. Right now, I'm more worried about this insecurity you have." He frowned. "Something that you never told me about."

"It's not important," she replied, sitting on the bed.

"It is to me," Gil answered, sitting beside her. He rested a hand on her cheek. "Why didn't you tell me you felt like this? Why did you wait for Sara to bait you about it?"

"I didn't expect to see Sara again," Catherine replied. "And it doesn't matter, Gil. We've been married for five years and it's been the most wonderful five years of my life. And it's just my hormones playing around." She smiled at him. "Now my hormones are reminding me of something."

"I'm sorry I never told you how I felt," Gil said, pulling her into his arms. "I just couldn't believe that someone as wonderful as you would want to be with me." He kissed the top of her head. "You made me realize there was more to life than bugs and work."

She smiled and hugged him. "You always knew. You just need a little help along the way."

He smiled back. "I'm glad it was you helping me." He stroked her hair softly. "Catherine, what else is bothering you?"

"I said something else horrible to her. Just as horrible as telling her she was a bad mother." She sighed. "I told her that at least I was secure in the fact that you cried out my name in the bedroom."

He pulled her back to look at him. "Catherine, that would not have caused her to leave Matthew. Neither would your other comment. If anything, Sara probably has been planning this for a while. Perhaps ever since she arrived back here." He gripped her shoulders tightly. "I want you to stop thinking about it. Okay?"

She nodded. "Okay."

"Wait here for a minute," Gil said, squeezing her hand. He walked out of the room and into the lounge, where Matthew and Lindsey had just started the movie. He checked on Lizzy, who was fast asleep. Finally he moved back into his bedroom and locked the door behind him. "Okay, I figure we have about two hours."

"You're so romantic, Gil," she said, rolling her eyes.

He held himself above her body, just barely skimming her stomach with his hand and then leant down to kiss her deeply. She moaned and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into the kiss.

A telephone ringing broke them apart.

"Let Lindsey get it," Catherine replied, leaning up and kissing him again. "More."

His hand traveled underneath her top as the phone continued to ring. He slipped the shirt off and his followed quickly. Skin met skin and as they both gasped at the contact, the phone stopped ringing.

"Finally," Gil said, bending down and kissing her neck. "You taste good."

Her eyes fluttered closed and pulled him closer.

"Mom? Dad?" came the voice from the door.

They pulled apart and Catherine regretfully slid under the covers. Gil put his shirt back on and giving her a chaste kiss, unlocked the door.

"Yes Lindsey?"

"I don't want to know what you were doing, but Uncle Jim is on the phone." Lindsey covered her eyes with her hand and handed the phone over. Gil rolled his eyes and taking it again, walked back into the bedroom.

"Jim?"

"I didn't hear what Lindsey said."

Gil ignored that comment. "Did you find out where Sara is?"

"Safe and sound at home. Plane ticket was used by her, her car was picked up and she's now back at home. Says she told Catherine what was going on."

Gil frowned and placing a hand over the receiver, turned to his wife. "Brass found Sara. She said that she told you she was leaving."

Catherine's jaw dropped, but her surprise was quickly replaced by anger. "Why that…"

Gil pressed a finger to her lips and went back to Brass. "Did she say anything?"

"Apart from the fact she told Catherine where she was going, no."

Gil sighed. "Thanks." After he finished with Brass he looked back to Catherine.

She sat up, frowning. "I swear Gil, she never said she was…"

Gil silenced her with a kiss. "I know." He pressed the on switch for the phone. "I'm taking it off the hook."

Her eyes widened. "Don't you want to call Sara?"

"Not right now, no," Gil replied. "Right now, I want to finish making love to you. We can worry about everything later. Okay?"

She held her arms out and he moved into her embrace. "Okay."

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Part 7