AUTHORS NOTE: Thanks for the reviews and suggestions everyone. I'm not one to have them jump into the sack or pounce each other in the first chapters so hang with me. It will happen eventually.
Show Me 3/?
Catherine walked out of the crime lab doors into the cool early morning air. The strawberry blonde took a deep breath, still upset at the conversation she had just been involved in. Walking towards her car she found herself becoming increasingly agitated the more she thought about what the boys said. But, her anger quickly faded when she saw the object of her affection leaning against her car, a sweet smile covering her face.
"You know, you are going to make me late for my date," Sara smirked as Catherine reached the car.
"Well, I'm pretty sure they would wait forever for you," The older CSI stated causing Sara to blush.
"Thanks for playing along in there Cath," the brunette replied softly, looking down at her feet.
"What are you talking about?" Catherine asked stepping closer to Sara.
"Pretending I have a life," the brunette whispered, shame evident in her voice.
"What in the world are you talking about?" The blonde responded quickly.
"I mean, telling the boys I have two dates. It's one thing having you know I have no life, but with the guys…" Sara started.
"Whoa, wait a minute. So, if you have no life, what are Lindsey and I?" Catherine asked.
"Everything," Sara replied looking into blue eyes. Catherine stood there completely stunned at Sara's statement. "You and your daughter are everything to me," the younger woman said firmly.
"Sara…." Catherine sighed, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
She quickly put her arms around the brunettes neck, pulling her into a hug for the second time that day. Sara in turn snaked her arms around Catherine's waist holding her as tight as she could.
"I'm no expert but that sounds like a life to me," Catherine whispered in Sara's ear, earning a small laugh from the brunette.
The older woman let out a small sigh when she felt Sara begin to pull away. Still wanting to keep contact as long as possible, Catherine slowly slid her hands down Sara's shoulders and her arms, stopping when she reached the brunette's wrists.
"Besides," The older woman smiled, " If you spend all your time with me, and you apparently have no life, that in turn means I have no life. And that just doesn't work for me," the strawberry blonde joked trying to lighten the mood. "Now, I think we have kept your date waiting long enough. You still want to have breakfast?"
"Absolutely, as long as I'm making it," Sara smiled.
"Are you insulting my cooking?" Catherine teased placing her hands in her hips. Sara simply gave Catherine the 'you've got to be kidding me look'.
"Oh, come on it's not that bad. Is it?" Catherine asked.
"I'm surprised Lindsey hasn't starved to death." the brunette replied giving Catherine a sympathetic smile. The older CSI playfully shoved Sara backward, pretending to be offended by her friends statement.
"I was going to offer you a ride but after that little comment, I am reconsidering that offer," Catherine stated.
"Well, honestly Cath I think that it would be easier if we did drive separately. After breakfast there is a lot we have to take care of before we leave on Sunday," Sara replied seriously. The older woman tried to hide her disappointment knowing the truth in her friends statement.
"So, I'll meet you at the house then?" The brunette asked snapping Catherine out of her thoughts.
"Um, yeah. Oh, wait, I have to pick up Lindsey at my sisters house first," The strawberry blonde stated.
"Not a problem take your time. You need to talk to her about next week anyway right?" Sara asked.
"Yeah. Here you take my key," Catherine started taking her house key of her key ring, "Let yourself in. It wil be a nice surprise for Lindsey when she walks in the door and finds breakfast, and not to mention you at the table," she smiled.
"So, I'm just a maid now huh?" Sara joked.
"No, just a personal Chef," the blonde teased smiling at Sara. "Give me a half hour maybe?" she finished looking at her watch.
"For the Willows women, I'd wait forever," the brunette replied repeating Catherine's earlier statement.
Catherine smiled shyly before taking a step forward and placing a kiss on Sara's cheek.
"Just till forever? I'd wait much longer for you," the older woman whispered before quickly retreating to her own car in the crime lab parking lot.
As Catherine hopped in her car, Sara couldn't help but wonder what was really between them.
About forty five minutes later Catherine's face cracked into a smile when she saw Sara's car parked on the side of her street. Lindsey was fast asleep in the front seat and didn't notice the brunette's car. Catherine pulled into their driveway, turned off their car and turned to her sleeping daughter in the front seat.
"Lindsey, baby, we're home," Catherine coaxed, rubbing her daughters arm.
"The one time I actually wanna sleep in, you show up early," the little Willows mumbled as she opened her door.
"I'm so very sorry your highness," Catherine replied, as the pair walked up their sidewalk. "You can go crawl back into your bed if you want," the blonde CSI added as the duo reached the front door.
"I still don't see why it was so important to take me home right away," Lindsey commented as she opened their front door.
"I just thought you would want to have some breakfast, but I suppose I'll just go tell Sara that you're not hungry," the oldest Willows smiled.
"Sara's here?" Lindsey replied suddenly very awake, "SARA!" the girl screamed as she ran into the kitchen. Catherine couldn't help but laugh as she closed the door and followed her daughter's path into the kitchen. The oldest Willows turned the corner to find her daughter clinging to Sara.
"Just a second Linds. I don't want to burn your pancakes," Sara stated as she placed her free arm around the little girl's shoulder.
"I don't think Lindsey's hungry, Sara, she is just way to tired," Catherine replied imitating her daughter as she walked to the refrigerator.
"That was before I knew Sara was here. I thought it was just you," Lindsey replied smiling.
"Oh, thanks a lot," her mother scoffed as she took out the carton of orange juice. The brunette took the pan off of the burner and turned giving her full attention to Lindsey.
"Now, give me a real hug," Sara smiled, kneeling down to the younger blonde's level. Lindsey wrapped her arms around Sara's neck squeezing the brunette with all her might. "How are you sweetheart?" Sara asked.
"I'm fine. I missed you Sara," the little girl replied, pulling away from the CSI.
"I missed you to Linds. How did your math test go?" Sara asked standing back up.
"I don't know yet, Mrs. Stephens said we would get them back on Monday. But, I think I did pretty good," Lindsey answered
"As long as you did your best, that's all we can ask for," the brunette replied while messing up the little girl's hair.
"That's what mom said too," Lindsey smiled brightly.
"Well, great minds think alike," Catherine offered grabbing glasses from the cupboard smiling sweetly at Sara.
"I'm gonna grab the syrup," the youngest Willows stated scurrying to the refrigerator.
"Will you take the jelly to the table too Lindsey?" Sara called over her shoulder.
"That smells really good, Sara." Catherine said softly stepping next to the brunette.
"Thanks, it's a lot more appetizing than the cereal you would have made for us," the younger CSI joked turning off the stove and grabbing the plate of pancakes.
"Shut up!" Catherine replied bumping Sara's hip with her own. The blonde smiled as she grabbed three glasses from the cupboards. "If I'm such a bad cook, why do you keep coming over?"
"To be with you," Sara replied bluntly looking directly into Catherine's blue eyes. Shocked by her own words, Sara turned away quickly and began walking out of the kitchen.
"Sara, wait, what did you just say?" The blonde asked wanting Sara to repeat her confession.
"Nothing. Forget it." The brunette replied trying to brush off her friend's question.
"Sara…what did you say?" Catherine asked again in a more serious tone. Sara turned back around and sighed.
"I said, I keep coming over her because I like being with you," the younger woman shyly repeated as Catherine took a few steps towards her.
"Look at me Sara," the strawberry blonde asked softly as Sara's brown eyes looked into her own. "I really like being with you too," Catherine said earning a smile from the young CSI.
"I forgot the butter," Lindsey interrupted breezing by the two women on her way to the refrigerator. The little blonde quickly grabbed the butter and made her way back to where Catherine and Sara were standing.
"If you guys are gonna stand there all day…" Lindsey started, reaching for the plate of pancakes in Sara's hand.
"Go sit down, we're coming," the brunette laughed, moving the plate out of Lindsey's reach.
"Hurry up then!" The little girl ordered walking back to the table.
"Must not keep the queen waiting. After you," Sara smiled stepping aside.
"Thank you," Catherine laughed.
As Catherine approached Sara, the brunette's free hand found the small of Catherine's back and ushered her into the dinning room. The two women settled themselves around the table and began to enjoy the breakfast that Sara had made for them.
"So, how did the talk with your sister go?" the brunette asked, taking a bite of her pancake.
"Everything is okay except for Sunday morning. Nancy is going up to her in-laws today and won't be back until Sunday night so…." Catherine continued taking a deep sigh, "I am going to have to take the red eye out on Sunday night. And that puts me in California early Monday morning," The strawberry blonde shrugged.
"Have you called Grissom yet?" the younger CSI asked.
"Yeah, I called him in the car. He is going to get you guys out on the 8am flight and I am leaving just past midnight." Catherine answered, nibbling on her breakfast.
"Oh, he's already got it booked?" Sara questioned.
"Um, I should think so by now," Catherine pondered, "Why?"
Sara set her utensils down and pulled her cell phone out of its holder on her hip. She quickly dialed a few numbers causing Catherine to become nervous.
"What's wrong?" The blonde asked slightly concerned about the sudden phone call.
"Hey Griss, it's Sara, hey did you already get everyone's flight booked for California yet?" Sara asked over the phone as Catherine eyed her suspiciously. "Oh…okay then. You couldn't change my flight or anything…no it's okay…it's not that big of a deal…I will…okay…bye." The brunette sighed hanging up her phone.
"What was that about?" Catherine questioned.
"Nothing, it doesn't matter now anyway," Sara sighed focusing on her breakfast.
"Seriously, Sara, what's going on?" The strawberry blonde asked growing more curious about her friend's odd behavior.
"I don't mind taking a later flight. That way, I mean, you know, so you don't have to fly out by yourself," Sara replied softly, looking down at her plate. The brunette let out a sigh and took a chance looking up at Catherine. As she looked into Catherine's blue eyes she was met with a tender smile gracing the strawberry blonde's face.
"I mean, it's just…traveling by yourself and…" Sara stuttered trying to think of any reason for her request to Grissom besides the truth. The brunette wanted to spend every minute she could with Catherine. The older CSI smiled, placing her hand on Sara's wrist, gently rubbing the brunette's wrist with her thumb, immediately calming Sara.
"Thank you so much for trying," Catherine assured softly "It would have been nice to spend a little more time with you."
"Yeah, it would have," Sara smiled looking at Catherine.
"Hey, Sara, you wanna watch some cartoons with me when we're done?" Lindsey interrupted, finishing the last of her breakfast.
"Oh honey, Sara has so much to do before our trip. She probably…" Catherine began.
"…would love to watch some cartoons with you Linds," Sara smiled at the young blonde. Lindsey stuck in tongue out at her mother in celebration.
"Sara, you don't have to do that. You said you had a million things to do before you left. Lindsey can…" Catherine was silenced when Sara turned her hand over so the strawberry blonde's lay comfortably in hers.
"It won't take me long to do what I need to," Sara answered softly, gently squeezing Catherine's hand. "Besides," Sara began again looking at Lindsey, "I am not going to see you for a week. I am going to have serious Lindsey withdrawals."
"To make things worse, you'll be stuck with mom all by yourself for the whole week," Lindsey teased getting up from the table.
"I know. A whole week with your mom," Sara replied looking at Catherine "such torture," the brunette stated looking into blue eyes.
"You're telling me. I'm with her all the time can you…" Lindsey's voice trailed off as she made her way into the kitchen. Sara gave Catherine's hand a gently squeeze and a shy smile as she picked up her plate and followed the youngest Willow's into the kitchen.
Catherine couldn't help the blush that appeared on her cheeks at Sara's enduring gestures. She thought about the truth in the brunette's statement. The fact that she was going to spend the next week with the woman she was secretly head over heals for, would indeed would be torture.
To Be Continued ...