Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who are reading & reviewing!

Part 9

The strawberry blonde sat down again in the chair next to the bed and took Sara's hand in hers again.

Catherine was still marveled by the way it felt when she touched the brunette.

It felt safe, it felt like home, it made her feel at ease, but at the same time it made her feel nervous, it made her heart beat faster and her blood course through her body.

Ann picked up Sara's chart and started to write something on it. "I'll stop by in a while. If there's anything you need, let me know" she said.

Hanging the chart at the end of the bed she walked over to Catherine, placing her hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"She's lucky to have you" Ann said giving Catherine a reassuring squeeze.

"No" Catherine said, never taking her eyes off the brunette on the bed "I'm lucky to have her"

About fifteen minutes later Catherine suddenly felt her hand being squeezed. Catherine looked back and forth from their entwined fingers to Sara's face.

The brunette's eyes were still closed. The older woman stood up, and bent towards Sara.

"Sara sweetie, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you do"

Catherine waited for a response and when she started to think she had mistaken –that it had been her imagination playing tricks with her– she felt her hand being squeezed softly.

"Sara? Can you open your eyes?" the blonde tried.

Dark brown eyes fluttered open and shut a few times before they remained focused on the older woman.

Smiles appeared on both of their faces as they saw each other. Catherine pulled Sara's hand to her face and placed it on her cheek, closing her eyes as she momentarily lost herself in the touch of the brunette.

Her eyes opened again when she felt Sara tugging at her face. Leaning in Catherine carefully, but forcefully at the same time, kissed Sara on the lips.

"Its good to have you back" Catherine said tears silently rolling over her cheek.

"As if you were ever gonna get rid of me" Sara joked, her voice sounding hoarse, and even darker than normal.

"How do you feel?" Catherine asked, immediately rolling her eyes as she realized what a dumb question she just asked.

"A bit shook up" Sara said lightly. "What happened when we got here?"

"What do you remember?"

I remember seeing you. Although, it was as if I wasn't in my body. I was standing right beside you. I could see you. You kissed me…and then" Sara stopped momentarily "And then all those alarms went off. That's the last thing I really remember."

"You had internal bleedings, and after surgery the doctors ordered a drug-induced coma."

"Oh" the brunette said "How's Lindsey?"

"She's ok, thanks to you" Catherine said as she stroked a strain of hair out of Sara's face.

"Good"

"I was so scared. I thought I'd lose you, it's all my fault."

"You're not getting rid of me that easily…and you know it wasn't your fault. I myself made the decision to go inside, you didn't make me" Sara started, and after a moment of silence she continued

"I would do it again…no doubt"

"I know it are only words, and it will never be enough to show you all the gratitude I owe you, but thank you" Catherine said.

Leaning closer towards Sara's lips she whispered "Thank you" over and over again before engaging their lips into a soft kiss.

Part 10

The next day Lindsey was allowed to visit her hero. Together with Catherine she had bought a new leather jacket to replace the one that had been cut up when she was brought to the hospital.

"Thank you Lindsey. I love it" Sara said as she embraced the young Willows woman who had crawled onto her bed.

The rest of her room was filled with flowers from her colleagues. Grissom, Nick, and Warrick had visited her that morning and told her and Catherine about the case.

Apparently the man who had been the suspect for the McKinnen case –but who had to be released because the only evidence they had was circumstantial and would not hold up in court– wanted to scare Catherine.

However, this time he had made a mistake. His DNA was found inside the Willows residence and there had been several witnesses who could place him at the crime scene.

Sara grew tired of lying in a hospital bed. Not being able to do anything except reading started to work on her nerves. Although the visits of Catherine and Lindsey, and of the rest of the team distracted her, she longed for the day she could go home. And so she was very glad that after six more days she was released out of the hospital.

Sara had decided that –since she was still recovering and still needed help with daily routine and because the Willows residence was still under construction– for the first few weeks Catherine and Lindsey would stay at her place.

"See you guys again sometime, although under other circumstances I hope." Ann said as she first hugged Catherine and then Sara.

Ann had helped them from day one, and had become a good friend to both Catherine and Sara. "We'll see you soon"

Ann shot a questioning look at both of the women.

"Oh, don't worry we'll be careful." Sara joked

"We wanted to invite you over for dinner, to thank you for everything…so you'll be hearing from us soon" Catherine explained.

"Ah thanks you guys…now go on get out of this hospital" Ann smiled as she waved them off.

Catherine and Lindsey walked through the halls, a wheelchair in front of them. Thinking about what had happened to them Catherine pushed Sara out of the hospital and into the hot Nevada summer sun.

That's when she saw it…the light at the end of a dark tunnel. They had made it through the dark.

The End

Thanks for reading my story. Sequel: yay or nay?...let me know;)