Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 4:

We arrived at the bar about 10 minutes later, she shut off the engine and got out the car, I couldn't resist looking her up and down as I followed her. God what a body she has.

I manage to get my gutter brain back to reality and follow her into the bar. She orders a couple of beers and we find a booth. Fortunately given the time of day, it's pretty dead and gives us a chance to talk, although I'm not sure that's a great idea. She did invite me after all, so I'm guessing she wants to talk to me about something.

"Sara…"
"Yes Catherine?"

"I know I said it earlier but I want you to know I really do mean it. I am sorry for blowing up at you over the case."

"Catherine really it's not necessary…"

"Yes it is. God knows we've had our problems in the past, our fights are legendary…" she laughs. I love her laugh I have it bad.

"Yeah" I can't help, but laugh as well.

"Seriously though, I'd like us to try and build a proper friendship, us girls together what do you think?" She asks as she finishes her beer. "I'd really like that Catherine, another one?" I ask pointing to her empty beer bottle.

"Sure why not? I can always leave the car here and besides Lindsey is a friends tonight." I know she misses her daughter when she's apart from her for an extended period of time, and I gently squeeze her hand as I rise to go order us some more drinks. As I glance at her I swear a blush over her face as she turns her head, it's almost as though she was checking me out. Dream on Sidle.

I place the beer down and find her staring off into space, as if deep in thought about something.

"Here you go Cath." Thankfully she doesn't my slip with her name. "You okay?"

"Hmm yeah I'm ok that just really got to me you know. Whenever I looked at the photos I saw Lindsey lying there…"

"I know, its ok everyone goes affected by cases sometimes."

"Can I ask you a question Sara?" I glance at her, she seems nervous.

"Umm…ok."

"Why do abuse cases bother so much?" Crap I was hoping she wouldn't ask that. I cringe as she asks.

"Well…err…I…uh…" Damnit I hate it when I can't get my words out, it's just that I've never really told anyone about why hate them except Grissom… and he only knows half the story.

"Looks its ok, if you don't want to tell me; it's just the investigator in me coming out. But I'd like to think you could tell when you fell up to it." I'm thankful that she doesn't push me, she probably saw the fear in my eyes; they always give me away.

"Thanks Catherine, its just that I find it really hard to talk about. I don't trust a lot of people with personal stuff about me, because they will use it against me if things go wrong that's what has happened in the past…"

"Sara, don't worry about it. We're here to have a couple of drinks not fight and I don't wish to upset you. We can talk about it other time ok?" She gently squeezed my hand and I couldn't help but smile. Maybe things weren't going to be as bad as I thought they were….

A couple of hours and about another 4 beers each later, we were slightly drunk and sensibly decided to leave the car and call a cab. It arrived about 10 minutes later and we left Catherine gave directions to her place before I could stop, and we were headed to her place………

So what do you think? Any comments and/or suggestions for the next chapter would be great.