10th Hour: FBI Office

They had moved them to an office with a small couch against the wall. It was the best amenities that could be found in the small government building. Catherine entered the room quietly, unsure of how to approach the conversation she was about to have.

When she saw Sara sitting alone in the room, she decided to stall. "Where's Lindsey?"

"I sent her on a quest to get herself something to drink," Sara's voice was tired and strained. She didn't look up to a conversation about anything that didn't involve sleep.

Catherine closed the door behind her and made her way over to the couch. She sat down the furthest away from Sara as she could possibly get. "Where's Megan?"

Sara sighed. "I sent her home."

Catherine examined the pattern of the couch. "Why?"

Sara closed her eyes and leaned her head back. "I didn't feel like
fighting."

"Fighting?"

"She has a lot of questions."

"I thought you didn't want to fight?"

"The questions would lead to one."

"Oh."

Catherine moved a little closer to the other woman, but still kept her attention on the couch's surface. "So do you think we should ground her?"

Sara lifted her head and opened her eyes. "Megan?" she asked confused.

"Lindsey," Catherine immediately explained.

"Oh." Sara leaned her head back again, but this time kept her eyes open. "No."

"She attacked you," Catherine moved just a little closer to Sara. "I don't know if she should get away with that."

"She's had a really rough night, Catherine. I think its been punishment enough."

"Yeah." Catherine decided to take a risk. She reached out and took Sara's hand in hers. Sara didn't pull away. "I'm sorry she did that to you."

"I think she's wanted to do it for a while now." Sara raised her head and looked into Catherine's sad blue eyes. "I think we've been really unfair to her."

Catherine wanted to protest, but she didn't feel like avoiding the truth at the moment. "We have been."

"So how do we fix it?"

Catherine moved so that her body was fully next to Sara's. "I don't know."

Hallway

"Well if it isn't the bravest girl I know," the voice got Lindsey's attention. She stopped walking and turned around.

"Erika?"

"Yep," Erika walked up to Lindsey and bent down in front of her. "Someone looks like they've been crying."

"I have been," Lindsey dropped her head. "I didn't mean to. I was just angry."

"You didn't mean to cry?"

Lindsey shook her head. "No. I didn't mean to get so angry with Sara." She started wringing her hands together. "I hit her."

Erika stood up and took Lindsey's hand in her own. She led the young girl to some chairs against the wall and sat her down. "Tell me what happened," she said gently.

"I met Megan," Lindsey explained miserably.

"And Megan is?"

"Sara's new girlfriend."

"Oh," Erika leaned in closer to Lindsey. "That still doesn't explain why you hit your mother."

"Sara's not my mother," Lindsey replied quickly.

"Does she pick you up from school?" Erika asked.

"Sometimes."

"Does she take care of you when you're sick?"

"Kinda."

"Does she help you with your homework?"

"When she can."

"Does she love you a whole, whole lot?"

"I think."

"Well," Erika let out a long breath. "She certainly sounds like your mother to me."

Lindsey kept silent.

"So why did you hit your mom?" Erika asked after a moment.

"I'm angry that she left us and that she found someone to replace Mom." Lindsey confessed quickly.

"Did hitting her make you feel any better?"

"No," Lindsey whispered. "I think I actually feel worse."

"You should apologize to her," Erika suggested. "Or at least talk to her about why you did what you did."

"I'm still angry with her."

"Then talk to her."

Lindsey nodded. "Erika?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want my Mom dead?"

Office

"You shouldn't have taken the blame for me leaving," Sara said kind of out of the blue.

They were fully leaned against each other now. They looked and felt more comfortable than they had in a long time. "It was the truth."

"Only partially."

"You left because I told you I slept with someone else."

"Not really," Sara ran her thumb over Catherine's hand. "I think I just used it as an excuse to leave."

"What do you mean?" Catherine remembered that night very well. Sara had left the house so quickly after she had told her. It was like Sara had already had a bag packed and waiting.

"I was tired of seeing you everyday and being reminded of… everything."

Catherine swallowed the lump in her throat. "I saw it in your eyes when you looked at me. I could tell you weren't seeing me anymore."

"I didn't see you," Sara didn't try to hold back her tears. "I just saw my pain… and my failure."

"His umbilical cord wrapped around his throat, honey, that wasn't your fault." Catherine reached up with her free hand and wiped away Sara's tears. "You didn't fail. We just lost him. There was nothing we could have…" Catherine took a quick breath. "We just lost him."

They were both crying now. This was something they hadn't quite gotten over. It was something they never would get over.

"I'm so sorry," Sara sniffed. "I'm so sorry that I ignored everything you were going through. I'm sorry I pushed you so far away that you felt you needed to… with someone else, and I'm really sorry I acted like you didn't lose a son too."

Catherine pulled Sara into her arms. She didn't know what else she could say.

Hallway

"So Erika do you want my Mom dead?" Lindsey asked again when her friend hadn't answered immediately.

"No," Erika shook her head. "I don't."

"Then why is everyone saying that you're like Marisa?"

"They're saying that?" Erika smiled.

Lindsey nodded.

"Well," Erika drew out the word. "I'm not like Marisa, not really. Marisa has lost the ability to think beyond her obsessions."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that she's so focused on coloring in one part of the picture that she forgets the rest exists."

"Oh."

Erika padded Lindsey's thigh. "It's okay if you still don't understand. It's very complicated. I don't think your parents even understand it completely."

"Speaking of them," Lindsey stood from her chair. "I should be getting back. Sara's probably getting worried."

"Then you should most definitely return to her, and you should talk to her. You may be surprised by how much better you'll feel when you're done."

"I'll think about it." Lindsey gave Erika a quick hug then started to walk off. "Bye Erika," she waved and soon disappeared around a corner.

Erika watched the girl disappear then shook her head. "Kids."

Office

Catherine had been holding Sara a while before she remembered the reason she had sought out the woman in the first place. Agent James was probably looking for them now and she still hadn't told Sara Erika was even in the building.

"I have to tell you something," Catherine stumbled over her words.

Sara pulled away from Catherine's comfortable embrace and studied the other woman's face carefully. "What?"

Catherine took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Erika came back. She's telling us how to catch Marisa."

"Are you joking?" Sara asked slowly. "Please say you are."

"I wish. She says she has this deal with Marisa and she's a lot scarier than I originally thought, but I think we need to listen to her."

"She should at least be put in custody until we arrest Marisa." Sara didn't sound happy, but seemed as resigned about the situation as everyone else had been.

"I think that's a really good idea."

"Let's hope it'll make a difference."

Catherine nodded and let the silence linger through the room. It was kind of a peaceful silence. It was certainly the calm before another storm hit them.

Sara watched Catherine intently. Her blue eyes were tired, and red from crying. Her hair was actually in a state of disarray, and in general her body just seemed exhausted. Without really thinking about it, Sara cupped Catherine's face in her hand. Catherine leaned into the touch, and before Sara could think about that she found herself kissing Catherine.

When they pulled apart they looked at each other seeking something that would be able to guide their words and their emotions.

It was Sara who spoke first. "I never stopped loving you. I can't stop."

Catherine opened her mouth to respond, but before she could Lindsey burst into the room with Agent Sanchez close on her heels. It was time for them to go.

They stood from the couch and walked to the door. Before Sara could walk through the threshold, Catherine held her back and quickly whispered into her ear, "I can't stop either."