Summary: Scat trials and tribulations.

Spoilers: Lady Heather's Box, Season 3

Rating: FRO15

Author: Bwinn

Pairing: Scat.

AN: I read the transcripts for everything in season one and season two. Guess what? Lack of scat chemistry. LAME. So, here we are. Lady Heather's Box. The episode that's inspired dozens, if not hundreds of Catherine/Sara fics everywhere.

CPOV

It's a cloudy day in crime central, and most of the Graveyard shift is lounging around the breakroom. Warrick and Nick are playing an X-box over in the corner, undoubtedly smuggled in while Grissom was in one of his "I must study my bugs!" moods. Greg is hovering protectively over his brewing coffee, making sure that non of us manage to snag a cup of the ridiculously overpriced brew he drinks.

Gil is likely in his office, it seems he comes out less and less with every case. When he finds time to do things for himself, even shower or brush his teeth, is a mystery to me. I know he has Sunday tea with Lady Heather every week, but that is really the only time I know of that he isn't here, burried in paper work.

Then, of course, there is Sara Sidle. I'll never understand that woman, no matter how sharp my investigating skills become. It's 45 degrees outside and pouring down rain, but she's still sitting here in jeans and a tank top, flipping through the latest Forensics Journal as though she were lounging in on a California beach. She makes me feel ridiculous for the extra layer of clothing I wore today.

Ever since she arrived it's like I've been walking on glass. The two of us have butted heads more than occasionally, and I can't help but think that she hates every fiber of my being. Ever since we all found out about her tragic unrequited love for Grissom I've all out avoided her. How could I be around someone I feel this strongly about when she hates my guts?

It took me a long time to admit my attraction to Sara to myself. Once I did it felt like this huge weight was lifted. I'd even asked her out to breakfast after shift once or twice, but she'd always decline and I'd always go home and wonder what I was doing wrong.

I'm sorry to say that everytime I look at her recently, I'm also reminded of Eddie's death. He may have been a drunk, abusive, son of a bitch...but...he was Eddie. It's like a dagger to the heart everynight when I realize that I can't put my daughter to bed and tell her happily that 'The bad man who killed daddy was in jail for life.'

Tears prick the corner of my eyes as I remember the arguement with Sara the day they found Eddie.

Flashback

"You even think about my daughter and I'll kill you!" I screamed over the cold metal table of the interogation room. Symbolic really, cold and empty, just like my insides.The bitch had just starred at me with her obnoxious pink hair and that smart ass smirk on her face. "You hear me? I will put you in the ground!"

My voice didn't even sound like my own as it reverberated off of the walls and into the shocked ears of Candeece. How could this woman talk about an innocent little girl like Lindsey as though she were nothing more than an inconvenience. She'd made it sound as if someone had overcooked her steak. Sara and Vega were both at their feet now and was roughly aware of strong hands that took me by the shoulders, more or less dragging me out of the room.

"What the hell are you doing? Do you know where you're at right now?" Sara yelled at me, fighting hard to keep her cool when I could tell she wanted to punch me for inturrupting her interogation. Her case. Her work.


"I've been here a lot longer than you!" I didn't know what I was saying. I just knew that if I didn't get this pent up anger out that I was going to explode. Sara didn't deserve it, we both knew that no matter how many more hours of field time I'd clocked than she had, Sara was the superior CSI.

"You should know better-" She whispered harshly.

"And I wouldn't have to be here if you were doing your job properly." I cut her off, spitting the words out like acid. I'd hit her last nerve. No one insulted Sara's work, especially to her face. This job, this lab, these cases were her life and with one angry sentance I'd stollen it from her.

Calmly as she could, her eyes wide and her clenched fists shaking at her sides she managed to say. "There's a difference between me doing my job and you wanting to do it for me. You don't want to get the job done. What you want, right now, is revenge."

"You're going to tell me what I want, huh?"

"Go home Catherine. Be with your daughter. She's the one that needs you." That was it. She turned and left me standing in the dark hallway alone, kicking myself, hating myself, hating her, and not knowing what to do. I slumped against the cold brick and let loose all of the gut wrenching sobs that had been threatening to overcome my senses for the past 26 hours.

End Flashback!

"Catherine?" Warrick was looking at me with raised eyebrows and I quickly swiped at the tears in my eyes. He had the concerned look on his face that he only got with me, and it broke my heart that I would never be able to return his feelings. The two of us have amazing chemistry, everyone can see it. But he's just...not Sara.

"Sorry." I say and chuckle, playing it off as a space out. "Must have lost it for a second."

Rick just nods and goes back to the game, watching me occasionally out of the corner of his gorgeous eyes. I glance around the room and lock eyes with Sara. For a second my heart stops and the blood in my veins seems to swirk in the wrong direction, but then she looks back down to her magazine, and I go back to starring into my coffee cup.

TBC

Note: Ugh, I'm sorry this blew. Please forgive me!