Before she even made it through the door, she felt her fears allay and the butterflies in her stomach dissipate. Sara still looked pale, and had a faded red smear on her neck that had yet to be washed away, but she was awake and sitting upright in bed; and that was more than Catherine could have hoped for yesterday.

"Hey, how's the patient?"

"Uncooperative." Nancy half-joked, drawing a knowing grin to Cath's face.

"That's my girl." She chuckled, sidling up to the bed and taking Sara's hand in her own.

The brunette started to smile, but it quickly turned into a wince as continued to re-dress her injury.

"Sorry." The nurse mumbled unapologetically.

Catherine squeezed Sara's hand gently, subtly scrutinising her for any obvious signs of injury or pain – aside from the large gash in her forehead, of course.

"I'm fine." Sara answered her silent question. Cath's eyes flicked to hers, narrowing suspiciously.

"Is that just a reflex for you?" She queried. "Regardless of what state you're in ... you're still fine?"

Sara cocked her head to the side, a familiar half smile creeping back onto her lips.

"Yes."

Nancy chuckled wordlessly, shaking her head. She had heard plenty about this woman over the years, but had always assumed that her sister was exaggerating – after all, surely nobody could be that stubborn.

Evidently, Catherine had been justified in complaining.

"So, I can go home after this, right?" Sara continued, an optimistic look crossing her face.

Catherine rolled her eyes.

"You were shot in the head, honey. It's going to take more than a band-aid this time."

"I'm..."

"Don't." The supervisor placed a finger over her lips before she could finish. "Don't even say it."

"Far be it from me to agree with my big sister," Nancy shot Catherine a sideways glance. "But she's right, I'm afraid. It might have only been a glancing wound, but you still took a serious blow to the head."

"See, listen to the medical professional." Catherine scolded, trying her best to disguise the laugh threatening to bubble out of her at Sara's pathetic pout.

Thankfully, she was offered a reprieve by the trilling of her cell phone. Shooting an apologetic nod to Nancy, and receiving a dismissive wave in response, she slipped back outside to answer it.

"You never said you were her sister." Sara challenged suspiciously once she was alone with the nurse again.

"Didn't I?" Nancy replied nonchalantly. "Fancy that."

Sara pursed her lips.

"I really aren't getting out today, am I?" She acknowledged sadly.

She had known Catherine for long enough to know that arguing with her was futile. She could only assume that it was a genetic trait.

Catherine shuffled back in, stuffing her cell phone back into her pocket.

"I'm sorry, I have to go." She sighed, leaning past Nancy to place a light kiss on Sara's cheek. "Something's going on with Lindsey, something about fighting at school."

Nancy's professional facade faltered for the first time.

"Is she okay?"

"I'll let you know when I found out." Cath threw her hands up, before squeezing Sara's arm. "I'll come back later, okay? Behave yourself."

They watched her leave, an unsettled silence falling across the room.

Finally, Nancy released a long sigh.

"Makes me glad I have a boy."

Sara nodded slowly, cocking her head to the side.

"Makes me glad I have a cat."

"Mr Andrews," Catherine greeted formally, her gaze naturally seeking out her daughter. Lindsey was sat behind the principals desk with her back to her mother. Upon hearing Cath's voice, she dropped her head and visibly swallowed.

"Ms Willows." The principal stood up to shake her hand. "I'm sorry to have to call you in – I saw the news, I imagine you're quite busy today."

"Yes, we are." Cath agreed, sending Lindsey a stern look. "What's happened?"

Mr Andrews sat down and Catherine reluctantly followed suit, sensing that this was going to be a long conversation. Lindsey still refused to meet her eye, but Cath could see the child sending shifty looks in her direction.

"We've had some reports from students that Lindsey has been involved in several bullying incidents."

"Bullying?" Cath echoed incredulously. "Lindsey..."

"It would appear that things have come to a head today – one of our students has suffered some injuries, which have allegedly been caused by a particular group of girls in her class."

"Lindsey..." Cath began, but the child looked away.

"I would like to stress that there are others involved and we will be talking to all the parents." The principal jumped in hurriedly. "However, while the matter is investigated, I'm afraid I have no choice but to suspend all the girls involved. I'm sorry."

Catherine stared, open-mouthed, unable to comprehend what she was being told. She knew that he was waiting for her to say something, but she simply didn't have any words. Her daughter was feisty and she could be difficult at times, but she was not a bully...

Despite tough competition, Gil couldn't help but feel that this was possibly the most uncomfortable he had ever felt, as he shuffled his feet awkwardly on the tiled hospital room floor.

"How are you?" He asked, immediately cursing himself for doing so. "I mean, how are you feeling?"

Sara smiled, tossing her magazine aside and lifting herself carefully into a more upright position.

"All things considered, I'm pretty good." She half-joked. Gil, however, did not smile, as he studied her carefully as if she were some delicate exhibit.

"Jim said that you didn't call for back-up." He frowned, approaching the bed. He briefly considered perching on the edge of the mattress, but quickly thought better of it. "He said that you didn't even call out for help."

Sara averted her gaze, taking a deep breath.

"No, I didn't." She admitted softly.

Although he didn't say anything, there was an obvious question in his raised eyebrow.

"I honestly don't know; I just froze up ... I saw the gun and I panicked. I don't know what else to tell you."

"You know, you haven't been yourself for a while now." He noted carefully, inching closer.

"I'm fine." The words slipped out beyond her control and she instantly thought back to her conversation with Catherine earlier. It really was a reflex.

Gil licked his lips, twisting his hands in front of him.

"I think it would be a good idea for you to speak to the PEAP counsellor again."

Sara's eyes widened, a lump forming in her throat.

"No, I can't." She swallowed, sinking further against the pillow.

"Just for a few sessions." Gil assured her. "It's already organised with Ecklie. I think it'll help."

"Couldn't I find someone else – another counsellor?"

"You were involved in a shooting incident at work." Grissom pointed out carefully, feeling his own stomach knot at the words. "You'd have to have two mandatory sessions with her anyway, in order to be cleared to come back to work. I just think a few more would be beneficial."

Sara scowled, sitting further upright.

"Don't I at least get a say in it?"

"Of course you do." He frowned, surprise by her reluctance to agree.

He found himself torn between his desire to reach out and comfort her in her obvious distress, and the self-awareness of his complete incompetency at dealing with other human's emotions. In the end, he settled for offering what he hoped was a comforting smile.

"There's no rush. You're going to need some recovery time anyway, so take a few days and get back to me."

Sara nodded, sensing that that was supposed to be some kind of reassurance. In truth, sitting at home, alone, 'recovering' was probably the last thing she needed right now.

"Hold it!"

Lindsey froze halfway up the stairs, grimacing. She hadn't really thought her mother would let her escape that easily, but it had been worth a shot.

"Get back down here," Cath continued sternly. "You and I need to talk about this."

Lindsey turned and sloped back downstairs, dropping heavily onto the couch. Catherine sat on the coffee table opposite, essentially trapping her daughter in.

"Okay," she began as calmly as she could. "So, start talking."

"Why?" Lindsey challenged. "You've already decided it's my fault, what's the point in trying to explain it to you?"

"You were caught in the act, Lindsey." Catherine rebuffed. "You and your friends were seen pushing that poor girl over and kicking her! Now, I want you to explain to me why on earth you think that is acceptable."

"It wasn't like that." Lindsey sat forward, angry tears starting to well up in her eyes. "It started as an argument and it just got out of hand."

"Well, I'm sure that'll be a big comfort to Paige's parents – when they pick her up from the hospital!" Cath snapped. "Lindsey, what the hell were you thinking? Do you have any idea what you could have done to that poor girl?"

Lindsey sank her gaze into her lap, her bottom lip poking out sullenly. Catherine waited for a moment, before sucking in a deep breath.

"Fine. Go to your room." She instructed coolly. "Your grandmother's on her way to look after you. We will talk about this later, when I get back."

The girl looked up, her cold blue eyes studying her mother.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to get back to work."

The bitter laugh that spilled out of Lindsey's pouting lips rattled through Catherine, leaving an uneasy feeling in its wake.

"Surprise surprise." The child rolled her eyes, pushing herself off the couch.

"Hey, my best friend is in the hospital!" Cath stood up as well. "A little sympathy and understanding wouldn't go amiss."

Lindsey snatched up her bag from where she had discarded it on the floor and made her way to the stairs.

"Whatever." She muttered. "I'll be in my room, whenever you decide to come home."

She was half asleep, still contemplating Grissom's offer, when she heard the door open. When the person didn't speak, she assumed it was a member of staff and remained with her back to the door. However, the sensation of a gentle hand on her shoulder disturbed her musings and she instinctively turned towards her visitor.

The first thing she saw was a warm smile, beneath glistening green eyes.

It was a sight that made her blood run cold.

"Hi Sara." Belinda greeted softly. "I'm so glad to see you. You had me so worried!"