Disclaimer: I don't own them, yet I'm still breathing. Imagine that.

Author's Note: I'm under the impression that Catherine's sister has never been named, so therefore, she's Elizabeth.

CHAPTER SIX – CATHERINE

Catherine passed their day-shift counterparts in silence. She had no connections to the people passing her in the hallway and no time for small talk. It still amazed her that no matter where you were in Vegas, it was always a different town come nightfall. A thin redhead held the door open for her and she nodded a quick goodbye.

A car sputtered, died, then came to life again. Out of the corner of her eye, Catherine saw Warrick ease his vehicle out of the parking lot. She hurried to her Denali, hoping to get away before anyone else emerged from the building. She was normally an outgoing and, some would say, overly-friendly person, but it had been a rough night. She turned the key in the ignition and smiled as the engine revved up. It was summertime and Lindsey was waiting for her.

The drive to her sister's house was uneventful at most. She pulled into the driveway and opened her car door, only to be met by a flying little girl. "Mommy, I missed you!"

"I missed you too baby. Did you have fun last night?" Lindsey nodded and held up the picture she had clutched in her small hand. She was almost nine years old and still tiny. Catherine looked at it and smiled. She really was getting good. "How'd you like to sign up for a summer art class? I'm not very good, but it's something we could do together."

Lindsey nodded again, a smile growing across her face.

You're a horrible mother. She shouldn't have to get that excited over something like this. You need to spend more time with her.

Catherine hated it when her conscience started talking to her.

"Come on. We can stop by McDonald's and grab some breakfast to bring home. I think there's a new movie in the backseat of the car calling your name. We can watch it when we get there."

Lindsey tugged away and pulled open the car door, sliding in easily. Catherine turned to her sister and shook her head. "I shouldn't have to buy her."

"You are a great mother, Cath, and Lindsey adores you. She understands that you're doing good things when you're gone, and it puts food on the table. That's what's important, you know."

Catherine smiled, "Thanks Liz." She turned and looked through the windshield, watching Lindsey read the back of the DVD that she held in her hands. "I should go."

Liz nodded and reached out, wrapping her arms around Catherine in a tight hug. "Am I watching Linds tonight?"

Catherine shook her head. "She's going to stay at a friend's house tonight. Big beginning of the summer slumber party. I figured you could use a break anyway."

"Thanks. John will definitely appreciate it." Liz groaned, "I didn't mean... watching Lindsey is no big deal, you know."

"I know," Catherine said as she slid back into the driver's seat. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Liz waved as Catherine pulled away. She sighed and looked into the rearview mirror. "So, what do you think?"

Lindsey grinned. "It's awesome, Mom. Thank you." She set the DVD on the seat next to her. "Do you think we could go home and make pancakes instead. I miss that."

Bad mother.

"Sure thing sweetheart." Catherine drove past the McDonald's with a little smile.

Pancakes are better for her anyway.

The car sailed through the sea of cars lining the side of the road gracefully. Someone was at her door.

"Who's that, Mom?"

She didn't have to look very hard to know who it was.

Won't he ever learn.

"We're just gonna go around the block one more time."

She drove by, careful to look straight ahead. If he looked into the car window, he would know.

Please let me get away.

In the rearview mirror she saw him walk back to his car. He started it up and pulled away in the opposite direction. Catherine turned the Denali around in a neighbor's driveway and headed back to her house. She stopped in the driveway, put the car in park, and got out with Lindsey in tow.

"Why don't you go wash up? I'll start making the pancakes." Lindsey nodded and walked away. "I'll make some eggs too."

The phone rang. Catherine reached across the counter and picked it up, hoping that it wasn't him. "Willows."

"Hey Cath."

She sighed with relief; it wasn't the one. "Hi Greg. What're you doing?"

"Just thinking about you."

She fought a smile. "Lindsey's here, you know. Besides, you remember what I said."

He sounded frustrated, but not in an entirely bad way. "I know, I know. We aren't 'together', but still... you have to admit it was kind of awesome."

"Nothing I haven't heard before, but thanks. The thing is..."

He sighed over the line and it nearly broke her heart. "I know. It was a moment of weakness... a one time thing. It was a tough case and you needed release. I get that."

"Do you?" Catherine asked.

This is too much. I need to stop.

"No, but I'm working on it. Goodbye Cath." She hung up the phone without another word. His voice was scratchy. He would probably cry, but she'd rather not know it.

It would never work. He's too young, too innocent. Better to break his heart now before it gets too deep.

Lindsey was standing in the doorway, looking at her. She tried to smile as she shooed her daughter off to the living room with the promise of pancakes and a movie looming overhead.

She would deal with the heartache, but not today.

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Well all she wants and all she needs are reasons to survive
A day in which the sun will take her artificial light, her light
-Vanessa Carlton-'Paradise'-

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Author's Note: I'm not too fond of this chapter, but oh well. Reviews would be appreciated. Flames will fuel my fire this winter. It gets cold in upstate New York.