Chapter 9

Gazing

Catherine laughed at Sara blushing again and lay back in the sand. She folded her hands under her head and looked up at the sky. She sighed contentedly as she looked at the stars tinkling up in the night sky.

"Sara, it's beautiful out here. I haven't seen the stars this clearly in years." Catherine spoke up.

Sara lay down beside the older woman on her back, and looked up also. "Yeah. It's always beautiful out here. Even when I was younger. It's always been my little beach escape."

"Your beach escape, huh?"

"Mmhmm. It's just so peaceful. Rarely does someone bother to come down here and find you" Sara said with a laugh.

"Very funny." Catherine replied. "So, how come you had to escape? You still haven't actually told me."

"It just got so hard. I just needed a break." Sara sighed.

"Everyone gets like that sometimes Sara. Sometimes you just need a break. You have to say 'enough is enough' and just walk away for a little while. Besides, a rest always does you good." Catherine said.

"Yeah I know. But there was something in particular that I needed to get away from. It'd really just gotten to be way too much for me" Sara replied.

"And, what was that?" Catherine asked looking over at Sara.

Sara blushed again and replied "um, you actually."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Every time I was paired with you on a case, I couldn't stop watching you. You are absolutely mesmerising. I felt my heartbreak each time I saw you leave with someone else, someone who wasn't me. And god, when a case got to you, all I wanted to do was hold you in my arms, but I knew that I couldn't. And worst of all the cycle just kept going. I knew…or thought I knew…that you weren't even remotely interested. So everyday that I saw you just reminded me that you were something that I could never have." Sara finished.

"I can't believe I never realised." Catherine said.

"Don't feel too bad" Sara said with a smile, "I didn't realise you were interested either. Fine investigators we are." Sara finished with a laugh.

"Maybe we should give up our day job." Catherine smiled.

"Mmm, maybe we should. Although I really don't know what else I'd rather be doing." Sara replied. "I suppose I could always just permanently stay here at my beach escape."

Catherine laughed "and how well has your escape worked for you?"

"Not at all." Sara replied shaking her head. "From the time I got here I couldn't stop thinking about you. Then I hung up on you…which was probably one of the dumbest things I've ever done, only to find out that you'd tracked me down anyway. Needless to say I think it was a pretty poor attempt at escaping you Ms Willows." Sara said grinning.

"I don't think it's been all bad." Catherine said.

"How's that?" Sara asked.

"Well. At least now we're level with each other, and we both know what's going on. And the best bit is that now you don't need to escape. You can have me for as long as you like." Catherine finished.

Sara rolled onto her side and lay gazing at Catherine. A smile slowly spread its way across the brunette's face. Catherine lay still gazing at the stars.

"You know, I could lie here all night just gazing at the stars? It's just so beautiful." Catherine said.

"Mmm. You know what else is beautiful that I could gaze at all night?" Sara asked softly.

"What's that?" Catherine asked, turning her head to see Sara gazing at her. She could see passion and love in Sara's eyes.

"You." Sara replied, and leant in gently to kiss her lightly on the lips.

Catherine sighed contentedly at the touch of the brunette's soft lips on hers. She felt Sara kiss her again. The kiss was longer this time, and Catherine moaned deeply. She had closed her eyes, but now she felt Sara watching her. She opened her eyes and saw that Sara was softly smiling at her. She smiled back. Chocolate brown eyes met with bright blue eyes and locked on one another, before Sara rolled onto her back and gazed at the sky again.

"You're right. The stars are perfect tonight." Sara said with another smile.

I know it's short, but I wanted to put this up as well. Unfortunately I won't be able to update again until mid to late November, due to the stresses and concentration needed for end of year exams. So I apologise in advance for the wait you will all have to endure. Thank you all for reading and please review as always. Also, thanks to all those who have already reviewed.

Now, I want to ask this for all of you who have read this. Please review and tell me what you think…would you like to read about Sara and Catherine going on a date? Or would you prefer not to get into it? Please let me know, with a quick review!