Thank you all so much for the reviews – I know I keep saying that they mean so much to me, but they really do. I hope you all like this chapter as well… (And review… hint, hint…)

Jess, thank you so much for your work on this – even if it meant that I had to re-write a couple of times… And the ducks have now found me, they were outside my door today when I went out…

Chapter Fifteen

Clearing the Air

"Sofia," Catherine took command. "You get hold of some uniforms to protect Veronica."

"But…" Kimberly tried to get a word in.

"Sofia, get on it! And give me a call when the witnesses get here."

"Sure." Sofia got up and left the room.

"Guys," Catherine turned to Nick and Warrick. "You go ahead as planned. Report back to me when you find something."

"Sure thing, boss." Warrick said, as they both walked out the door.

"Kimberly, you get Veronica home and make sure the uniforms are in place. Then get back here, and join Sofia in the interview room."

"I…" Kimberly was about to protest, but catching Catherine's glare she thought better of it. "Sure. V…" She motioned for the smaller woman to join her.

"I do know the way to my own house, you know." Veronica told the older blonde.

"Feel free to do the driving, but you're getting an escort." Catherine stated firmly.

"Miss Willows, I'm fully capable of getting home on my own. I've done it for the last four months now, and I will do the same tonight."

"Ok. Shaw, you follow Dr Christiansen home and make sure the uniforms are in place."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Veronica raised her voice slightly, not believing what she was hearing.

Kimberly and Sara shared a quick glance and decided to intervene, knowing all too well that both women had flaring tempers.

"Look, Catherine…" Sara started, placing a hand on the other woman's shoulder to calm her down.

"V, hon…" Kimberly began with Veronica.

"Hon! Hon? You've got some nerve!" Veronica turned towards the detective and let loose.

"Look…"

"No! You think this makes everything a-ok? You left! You left me, Kimberly! You left me four months ago, and you left me tonight when I had to tell you about the hardest fucking time in my life! When I needed your support the most, you were a fucking coward! So until you get your act together, don't even think about calling me hon!" With that Veronica stormed out of the room, throwing one last remark Kimberly's way. "And don't even consider following me home!"

The three women left behind stood still – shocked. They looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

"That's the temper, I mentioned earlier." Kimberly offered with a weak smile.

"Someone should go after her." Catherine stated, looking towards the door.

"I'll go." Sara answered.

"No, I think I should go." Kimberly countered.

"I'm going." Sara stated, moving towards the door. "I don't want you anywhere near her right now."

"Sara," Catherine stopped the brunette. "I'll go."

"What?" Sara looked at the blonde. "You don't even know her! I should go."

"No, I don't know her – I have no personal relationship with her, and that is exactly why I should go talk to her." Catherine went towards the door. "Shaw, go find Sofia and find a time line for the vic's whereabouts yesterday. Sara, please start on the letters and the diary. We need to get this case moving. I'll join you when I have talked to Veronica. Just focus on the case."

With that, she left the two alone.

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Walking down the corridor, Catherine caught sight of Veronica ahead of her and she picked up her pace. Rounding the corner she saw the doctor heading straight towards the Governor and she heard her saying:

"Daddy, Miss Willows seems to think that I need an escort home, can you spare a driver?"

"Sure." The Governor immediately gestured to a man in a suit behind him. "Jones, can you get my daughter home, and stay there to protect her."

The man nodded in confirmation and moved closer to Veronica.

"Dr. Christiansen, Governor Lavisham." Catherine joined them.

"Miss Willows." Veronica turned towards her. "Look, I'm sorry about…"

"Don't worry about it, it's forgotten as far as I'm concerned." Catherine smiled. "Could I talk to you for a minute, though?"

"Sure." She looked at the man her father had ordered to protect her. "Excuse me, Mr. Jones; I'll be right with you."

"Governor Lavisham, I'll be right back to brief you on the case." Catherine told the Governor. "This way, doctor." She said, and led Veronica to a nearby vacant room. Closing the door behind her, Catherine paused for a second before speaking again.

"Look, Dr. Christiansen."

"Veronica."

"Veronica…" Catherine offered one of her trademark smiles. "I'm sorry that this happened to you, but this is a case and I need my people to be at their best…"

"And they're not if I act like I just did." Veronica finished for her.

"Right." Catherine looked the younger woman in the eyes. "I understand how hard it must have been for you to tell us all about your case, but now I need you to step away from it again. Sofia and Kimberly are a team, and if we loose one, we loose the other. We don't have the time to start from scratch on this, so I need for you to take it easy on Kimberly – I don't want her mind to be on you when it should be on the case."

"That's understandable." Veronica answered evenly.

"And Sara… Sara is one of the best investigators in the country. I would like you to let her know that you are ok."

"Why?"

"Why? Because I need for her to stay focused."

"Don't you mean the victim needs her to stay focused?"

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind." Veronica went to the door.

"No, if you have something to say, say it. Let's have this out now."

"Ok." Veronica turned back slowly, thinking. "I don't know what your relationship with Sara is, or even what you want it to be. But don't hurt her in the process of finding out."

"Excuse me? You don't know me…"

"You're right. But I've seen you look at her a couple of times, and I've seen you fight. You two fight like Kimberly and I… Look, Sara is my friend and… I made her a promise once. I broke it the last time I saw her – this time I'll do whatever it takes to keep it."

"So, what are you saying here?" Catherine looked at her daringly. "Give it to me straight."

"If you hurt her, I'll hurt you."

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"I guess I'll go find Sofia, then." Kimberly said, and walked towards the door.

"You need to stop hurting her." Sara said calmly while shuffling through a file in front of her.

"Look, Sara, I know you two were friends once, but…"

"We never stopped being friends. And you need to make up your mind. Either you are with her or you leave her."

"This is none of your business, Sidle."

"When you're hurting my friend, you make it my business. Someone needs to set you straight, and since no one seems to have yet, I guess I'm the one to do just that."

"I just need a break to think."

"A four month break? What the hell is wrong with you? You have one of the kindest, most loving…"

"Most scarred…"

"What?"

"Veronica is not the easiest person to live with, Sara."

"I know that. But I also know that she's worth it!"

"Yeah? Where have you been for the last 12 years, then?"

"I…"

"Yeah, looks like I wasn't the only one running."

With that, Kimberly left to find Sofia, leaving Sara alone with her thoughts.

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"Are you telling me that Sara would be interested if I wanted something?" Catherine asked.

"I have no idea." Veronica stated. "I just don't want to see her get hurt."

"Ok." Catherine held out her hand. "Deal. I'll be gentle."

Veronica looked at the outstretched hand and then in Catherine's eyes, trying to judge if she was being serious. Seeing nothing but honesty in the other woman's eyes, she shook the offered hand.

"And I'll go find her and tell her that I'm fine."

"Thank you." Catherine opened the door. "I'll go deal with you father."

"He can come on a bit strong… Just let him and then carry on like nothing happened – that's the best way to handle him." Veronica offered.

"That'll make it easier to tell him that I can't tell him anything."

Leaving Veronica behind, Catherine started walking towards the lobby to meet the Governor. She liked the doctor and the way she stood up for Sara, that was the reason she had been so open with her. Catherine didn't know what kind of relationship she wanted with Sara, she just knew that she wanted it to be better than it had been so far. She was attracted to Sara, yes, but would she act on that? She didn't know. Was it more than just attraction? She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Never doubt, never look back.

That was the way she lived her life. But this time it was different - things would change forever if she pursued a romantic relationship with Sara. This wasn't someone she could just date and unceremoniously dump, this was a co-worker who she would have to work with even if things ended. This was a woman. Hell, she didn't even know if Sara would be interested in such a relationship with her.

Never doubt, never look back.

"Miss Willows."

Catherine shook the Governor's hand.

"Governor Lavisham. I'm sorry that I've kept you waiting. Let's go to my office and talk."

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"Sara?" Veronica asked cautiously, knocking on the open door.

"Foxy," Sara looked up from the diary she was reading. "How are you?"

"I'm… I'll be ok." Veronica smiled to her old friend. "I think I just needed to vent. Kimberly was closest."

"Yeah, and the one who had it coming." Sara added.

"Sass…" Veronica sat down next to her friend. "I need you to find this guy."

"I know – and I will." Sara tried to reassure the younger woman.

"What I'm trying to say is, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. When all this is over we'll talk - figure things out."

"Okay…" Sara sounded doubtful.

"I just want this guy behind bars, so please wait with the worrying until he is."

"Ok." Sara smiled. "I'll stop the worrying right this minute."

"Good. I better get going; I have a driver waiting for me."

"A driver?" Sara asked puzzled. "I thought you refused Kimberly taking you home?"

"I may have a temper, but I'm not stupid. If three people in law enforcement tell me that I need protection, I'll get protection. I asked my father for help."

"Your father?" Sara sighed. "Well I guess it's about time he started helping you."

Veronica got up, kissed Sara on the top of the head, and moved towards the door. Just before leaving, she paused and turned back towards Sara, a slight smile on her face.

"Oh, and I can see why you want Catherine – you know, apart from her being hot, blonde and drop dead gorgeous."

With that, Sara was left alone with her thoughts once again.