A day later than I had anticipated but also slightly longer. Thanks for your continued reading. Next chapter's gonna be a big one - watch out!

Chapter Fifteen

I knocked on the door of Catherine's house, a bottle of wine in hand - it seemed rude to arrive for a dinner date without a present. I could see movement coming from inside the house through the dappled glass square that was inset into the dark wood. I cleared my throat, a little nervous, but full of the comfort that Catherine had offered me yesterday, she believed that I could be a part of Lindsey's life and I trusted her deeply.

I looked down at my black cotton shirt, dark denim jeans and my work boots and wondered if I was dressed appropriately. Catherine hadn't offered any kind of idea as to how I should dress. Was this a casual event or not? It didn't feel casual.

The door pulled opened and there stood Lindsey. The blonde eight-year-old offered me a big grin and opened the door wider for me to come in, "Hi, Sara."

"Hey, Lindsey." I smiled in return and entered the house, shutting the door behind me just as Catherine appeared.

"Sorry I was getting food into the oven," she apologized.

I eyed Catherine's attire - black jeans, black heels and a red silk shirt, mostly covered up an apron which looked like it had been involved in a food fight. "You've been busy?" I asked, smiling a little.

She noticed that I had eyed her apron. "Not a word until you've eaten!" she warned, playfully, "You may be impressed by my culinary skills."

"I'm sure I will be," I assured her, passing over the bottle of wine.

Lindsey was stood between us and seemed impatient that we had ignored her. "Mommy, can I show Sara the painting I did at school today?"

Catherine didn't have a chance to respond before the little girl had tight hold on my hand and was dragging me upstairs. I smiled nervously at Catherine, who seemed be thrilled at Lindsey's actions. Lindsey pulled me up the stairs and into the first room on the right hand side of the long corridor at the top of the stairs. Her room was everything an eight year old girl's room should be - filled with toys and games and every wall was brightly decorated. I stepped cautiously over the dolls that had been left on the bright pink carpet and over to the corner of the room where she had stuck her painting to the wall.

The large white paper canvas was covered in a drawing of Lindsey and Catherine, holding hands as they stood in their garden, next to their house. The sun was shining largely in the sky and had a big, grinning face. It was the drawing of a happy child, and it made me smile.

"This is mommy, and this is me." Lindsey pointed to the figures on the picture.

"It's a very nice drawing." I replied.

"Mommy says you're going to be spending more time with us." She sat down on the carpet and I followed her actions.

"If that's okay with you?" I asked, cautious as to what her response would be.

She nodded. "Mommy says you saved her when she was in the desert."

"I did." I replied, not wanting to go into any detail with her over the finer details of the situation. I only did what any normal person would have done.

Lindsey wrapped her arms around my shoulders in a tight hug and I felt tears spring to my eyes. I placed my hands softly on her back and hugged her in return.

"Lindsey, bring Sara downstairs, it's dinner time!" Catherine called up the stairs and Lindsey sprung from the hug and raced downstairs.

I climbed to my feet and took a slow breath, trying not to let my emotions get the better of me. I had been so nervous about this, it was almost like Lindsey knew and wanted to make me feel welcome. I headed downstairs and followed the smell of food into the kitchen.

The kitchen was small, with work oak surfaces against every wall and a large black stove. I could see the dining room through a doorway to my left, Lindsey sat patiently at the table in there, and Catherine came from there, untying her apron as she did so.

She smiled at me as she saw me, pulling the apron over her head, "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"I would, please."

"Red or white?"

"White would be nice."

Catherine open the door to the large fridge and pulled out a bottle of white, pouring two large glasses before placing the bottle back in the fridge. She passed me a glass before clinking hers against mine. "To us." she smiled.

"To us." I concurred.

Catherine pulled me a little closer to her, so that we were out of sight of Lindsey in the dining room, before taking my lips in a soft kiss that made me knees tremble and my heart soar. She pulled away and took a sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving me. "I love you."

"I love you too." I smiled. It felt good to say it, really good. I think part of me had loved Catherine since I laid eyes on her on my first day the lab, but our clash of personalities and the struggle I had faced inside to recognize that I was in love with a woman that seemingly hated me so much had made my own thoughts and actions so much more complicated. Our time in the desert, despite its trauma, had really been a game-changer for the both of us.

"Take a seat at the table, I'll bring the food through." Catherine stroked my arm softly and I made my way into the dining room to take a seat at the table with Lindsey.

Lindsey made small talk about her day at school as Catherine placed a plate in front of each of us. I nodded along to the chatty little girl's stories, Catherine eventually taking her seat at the table. I looked down at my plate of food - it looked beautiful.

"It's Shallot tarte tatin with goat's cheese, with spinach and almonds." Catherine spoke.

I raised my eyebrows at the title of the dish. She really had gone all out to impress me, I loved that she had.

Lindsey wrinkled her nose at the spinach but quickly made a start on the tarte and conversation began to flow easily between the three of us. The main course was followed by vanilla ice cream and brownies and soon Lindsey started to give way to small yawns, tiredness overcoming her.

"Come on then, Linds, I think it's your bedtime." Catherine smiled, empty dessert bowls in front of us.

I checked my watch - it was nearly 9pm. "I'll clear the dishes." I offered, standing from the table.

Catherine and Lindsey exchanged a hug before Lindsey waved to me and made her way upstairs to bed.

Catherine helped me clear the dishes from the table and into the kitchen, placing them on one of the many work surfaces around the room. "Thank you for tonight." she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Thank you, honey, it was-" I was cut off by the sound of the front door opening and closing.

"Nancy." Catherine spoke and soon we were joined in the kitchen by a blonde woman, dressed in a light blue nurse's uniform. Her hair was pulled back and she had some resemblance to Catherine, but her eyes were cold and her expression solemn. She was younger than Catherine, but only by three or four years.

"I didn't think you'd be back til gone midnight." Catherine smiled at her siter, her arms gone from around my waist, instead hanging loosely by her side.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I would be interrupting." She replied shortly.

"This is Sara... Sara Sidle. We work together." Catherine introduced me to the stern blonde and I reached out my hand to her.

Nancy shook my hand but looked confused as to what I was doing in Catherine house. "Are you two working on a case tonight or something?"

I felt my heart rate increase as I wondered what Catherine was going to tell her sister. Much to my surprise I felt Catherine's warm hand slip between mine, entwining with my fingers, "Actually Sara and I are together."

Nancy raised her eyebrows, "Like, dating?"

"Yes. Not that it's any of your business, but now you know."

I wanted to pick Catherine up in my arms and kiss her senseless, I was so proud that she'd told someone about us, it wasn't just our secret anymore, we were actually a couple.

"Fine, but I don't envy you telling mom." Nancy shrugged and left the kitchen.

"Is your mom quite tough to deal with?" I asked.

"No tougher than any other mom." Catherine replied, although looked a little uncomfortable after she had spoken. Her mum wasn't a murderer like mine.

We shared the washing up whilst conversation turned to work and the few pending cases that had landed in back log as we struggled to keep up with the new cases that came in on a daily basis. We needed more staff but Ecklie would never let that happen, which meant more hours for us all. It was nearly 10pm by the time Catherine and I finished clearing the kitchen and I knew with Nancy home there was no chance of our evening being extended.

Catherine followed me to the front door and I turned around to face her, pulling her into a kiss which she quickly deepened. My whole body was on fire at her touch, her fingers gently scraping on the back of my neck as my hands pulled her hips closer to mine.

We eventually parted for air and I smiled her, "Good night, Catherine."

"Night, Sara." She placed a kiss on her hand before gently pressing her fingers to the side of my face. "See you tomorrow."

I made my way away from Catherine's house and into my car, my heart pounding loudly in my chest at the rush our kiss had given me and I felt a soft breath leave my lungs and a smile cross my lips.

God, I loved Catherine Willows.