Ugh, it's august. How did that happen?
a/n: thanks for your reviews! second last part of this story, but I'm thinking sequel :)
a/n: bloody freakin' fight scenes are a pain to write! Hope it turned out okay…

Liv walked into the kitchen, and almost into Catherine's ass. The woman smiled down at her, got off the chair and replaced it at the table.

"Everything come out okay?" Catherine asked Liv, doing her best to sound sympathetic.

"Oh yeah, the mustard washed right out." Liv smiled at their pretend civility, "Everything good with you?"

"Can't complain." Catherine busied herself with a fruit platter. Grissom walked in.

"Oh, Gil, honey, could you pass me that bowl?" she pointed up at a bowl on the top shelf. He obediently got it down for her, then picked up some more desserts and headed back outside. "So, Olivia, have anyone waiting for you back home?" Catherine wasn't even trying to sound innocent anymore.

"No, I don't." she opted for the direct approach, then picked up the ice cream cake and walked out.

Liv was heading back into the house when she heard a crash. Hurrying now, she was stopped short just outside the kitchen at the sound of Catherine's voice,

"God, Sara!" Her voice was dripping with disdain. Liv had never doubted Sara's word, but hearing the condescension straight from the horse's mouth brought Liv's anger to a new level. Catherine thought she was alone with Sara, and she'd let loose. Liv was glad she'd heard the unaltered tone. 'So this is what Sara goes through everyday.' Liv thought while trying to push personal flashbacks out of her mind. Catherine continued,

"Can't you do anything right?" She said, which snapped Liv out of her daze, 'That's it,' she thought to herself.

"Leave her alone." Liv said, stepping into the room. Catherine spun around.

"I was just-" she started, but Liv cut her off.

"You were just what, Catherine? You certainly weren't helping her." Catherine gaped at Olivia, but then quickly closed her mouth. She leaned back on the counter and took a moment, just looking Liv up and down.

"Olivia, is this because of the accident with the mustard? Or maybe my asking you if you had a man back home? Did I hit a nerve?"

"Oh, get over yourself, Catherine." Liv answered. She turned to Sara, who had already retrieved most of the fruit bits. "You okay?"

"She's fine." Catherine said. Liv glared at her and she had the decency to stay silent. Liv looked back to Sara.

"Yeah," Sara sounded embarrassed, "dish didn't break. Just got some fruit juice on me…" she trailed off, humiliated about the whole situation,

"See, she's fine. Now, you obviously have some problem with me, so-" Liv interrupted Catherine.

"Not everything is about you, Catherine," she said,

"Well, the whole world doesn't revolve around you either, my dear."

"What?" That caught Liv up short.

"Oh, don't play coy with me now. Like you don't know that every man out there is watching you."

"Me?' Liv paused, thinking, "Catherine, of course they were looking at me, I had toy antlers on my head!"

"That's not the only reason." Catherine said. Liv shook her head.

"This isn't about me. But this is about you. You were right, I do have a problem with you," Liv racked her brain trying think of some way to not make this about Sara. She couldn't let Catherine know how much power she wielded over the younger woman. Her mind drifted to Lindsay, playing outside. "But this is not the time or place to be having this discussion, not with your daughter in the other room. Come on, Sara." They were almost to the doorway when Catherine spoke,

"Come back here. We're not finished, you slut." Liv turned back to face her,

"You need to watch your words." She said.

"Or what? Are you going to shoot me, detective?"

"Been checking up on me now?" Liv asked, stepping towards her. Catherine just shrugged.

"Just like to know who I'm dealing with."

"You're not the only one. But I don't need a file to tell me you're a self-involved bitch."

"Now who should be careful?"

"Don't you threaten me." Liv stated very clearly. The two women stared daggers at each from five feet away. Then Catherine shrugged and turned to study the fruit bowl.

"Why are you here?" she asked calmly.

"It's my vacation." Liv replied, equally calm.

"Oh, so you're not here to baby-sit our little delinquent, my mistake."

"How did you-" Liv's response was cut off by Sara,

"Wait, you knew?" she burst forth, "You knew, and you continued berate and belittle me? Why all the criticism? What were you hoping to accomplish?" Sara demanded. Catherine gave a small smile, but she appeared more interested in the apple in her hand. Sara continued, "Why did you do it? Day after day of constant putdowns and insults. Why? What were you possibly hoping to get out of it? What did I do to you?" Sara demanded to know. Catherine seemed to crack at that,

"What did you do to me? What do you think?" Catherine looked at Sara in disbelief, "How could you forget? You couldn't convict anyone of my husband's murder! You let his killer get away! You expect me to be civil to you after that? ­ And to think that you've forgotten all about it is even worse!" Sara looked absolutely horrified at the very notion; she was on the verge of tears.

Liv spotted Greg in the doorway but motioned for him to stay put, for now.

"Catherine," Sara started, her voice barely holding together, "how many times can I say I'm sorry before you'll believe me? You think I don't still agonize over it? Every time I see Lindsey I remember how I let her down, how I let you down. I relive the guilt every single time. You don't think closing that case wasn't one of the hardest things I've ever done? You think I forgot? I will never forget, Catherine, never…' Sara ran out of words and just stood staring at Catherine, her eyes imploring the woman to understand. Then she felt Greg's arms circle her. He wiped away the tears she hadn't realized she'd shed and led her from the room. Liv watched Catherine, watched her absorb Sara's words.

"I never realized…" slipped from her lips as she turned to face Liv, "I really thought she just didn't care."

Greg looked over at Sara, leaning into him on the steps. She'd almost stopped crying, but she was still shaking a bit.

"Feel a little better?" He asked, giving her forehead a little kiss.

"Yeah, I think I do."

TBC...