a/n: I lied! This isn't the last part, I decided to expand a few things. Hope you're not too upset about that.
a/n: sorry if my CSI timeline's a bit off.

Liv found Sara out on the steps with Greg. No one said anything for a while until Sara broke the silence,

"You didn't have to do that," she said.

"Yes I did, someone had to stand up to that woman. Thinks she runs the place." Liv said. Sara blew out a laugh,

"Well, she pretty much does."

"Doesn't give her the right to treat you like that." Liv said. Sara nodded,

"Thanks for standing up for me."

"You're welcome."

"I just can't believe that she thought I didn't care about…"

"Well, now she knows you do." Liv said, 'let's see if this changes anything,' she thought to herself.

Later on, Liv still had one unanswered question.

"Hey, Sara, can I talk to you for a sec?" Liv asked her.

"Uh, sure. Excuse me, guys." Sara said, getting up from the picnic table, leaving them to their debate over which season of Red vs. Bluewas better. Liv led her the short distance away from the group and they settled on some park swings. "What's up?" Sara asked. Liv just looked at her for a minute before breaking her silence.

"How come you never told me about Catherine's husband?"

"Ex-husband." Sara mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"I said he was her ex-husband. Eddie. They divorced about four years ago, I think."

"When was he killed?"

"About a year after the divorce. It's been three years, three years since he died!" Sara stopped herself and stared angrily at the night sky; Liv stilled her own swing and waited. Sara's eye's fell to her feet, "I never mentioned him because I never…well, I hoped it had nothing to do with that jerk. I wanted to believe she hated me because I flirted with Grissom, distracted his attention away from her."

"You wore your heart on your sleeve for that man, when I met you."

"Was I really that obvious?" Liv smiled and nodded, "God. That is so embarrassing…I guess I convinced myself that was the only reason. Now she opens up and tells me that was just fuel to the fire."

"It was a pretty reasonable assumption, had me fooled. Especially after she started into me too. I was thinking she just hated women in general."

"Just ones she thinks are after her man,"

"That would be women in general." The two women shared a small laugh, "So, why did you call Eddie a jerk?"

"Because he was, he was a total bastard. Abusive, reckless, didn't care about her at all. He did take good care of his daughter; he was always good to Lindsey. But that was it. I couldn't believe how long she stood by him…" Sara trailed off

"Or that she still holds his death over you now." Sara nodded,

"Do you know how hard it was to not yell that the bastard deserved what he got?"

"That was some admirable restraint on your part then. I think both you and your continued career in Vegas thank you for holding your tongue."

"Biting is more like it. Hurt like a bitch." Sara cursed.

"I saw those tears," Liv laughed, "and here I thought it was because of what Catherine was saying." Sara shrugged. The sounds of the guys hollering over something drifted over to them.

"I think we should get back." Sara said.

"Yeah, before Greg sends out a search party for you." Liv teased, getting out of her swing.

"Hey, he can find me anytime." Sara smiled to herself.

"You two are really cute together, you're fun to watch."

"Thanks, I think. He always manages to make me smile." Sara looked over at her friend, "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"For making me notice him, for being persistent, for letting me catch you two asleep in my apartment, everything."

"All this thanking going to go to my head," Liv smiled, "but you're welcome." They were almost back to the party by now, and they could both clearly see Greg, dancing,

"Maybe you thanked me too soon, what is he doing?" Liv asked fearfully,

"I think it's The Robot."

"Oh."

Lindsay bounded over to Liv and Sara.

"I have to go home now," she announced to them, and gave each of them a hug, "night Olivia, night Sara. See you later, Sara. Nice to meet you, Olivia. I hope you come back to Vegas soon, you're fun!" The little girl beamed at the pair before running back to her mother at the door.

Catherine was much colder, all but avoiding eye contact with the pair. Her eyes glossed right over Olivia, but she gave Sara a slight but discernable nod, then walked out the door.

"I guess immediate forgiveness was too much to hope for." Sara said.

"Three years of anger is hard to let go, but I think she heard you this time."

"I hope so."

"Trust me, she's coming around."

Sara and Greg had been passing each other awkward glances for the last while. Liv decided to intercede,

"Greg, can we offer you a ride home?" she asked, sounding as innocent as possible. Sara gaped at Liv, but quickly recovered when Greg smiled at her,

"Thanks, I'd appreciate that." He said. There was no question to whose home they were going.

TBC...