Part 2

"You know what Sidle – you're a lucky woman"

Sara looked up over the bonnet of her car at the other woman, the officer who held a coffee in her hand and had a smile plastered across her face. "Why's that?" She asked.

"Because…" Kara Davis took a swig from the hot liquid and with a shrug explained, "You got me watching your back."

Sara drank the last of her coffee and turned throwing the plastic cup into the trash can next to where she'd parked the car. The two were o a well deserved break – Sara having taken some cracked up drug dealer's fist to the face needed the coffee. "Yeah how long you got my back?" She looked into the reflection of the other officers glasses, "Till you get board of picking on the Dyke?"

Kara opened her mouth in mock shock then smiled a little, "You know I'll never get board of that."

Sara just shook her head; she turned and opened the door sliding back into the driver's seat of her patrol. It took a little longer for Kara to do so – but as soon as the passenger side door was closed shut Sara looked across. "You know…I'm attracted to you when you play your homophobic cop gig"

Kara just laughed, she had to admit, if she was playing for Sara's team – she'd sure as hell have no trouble jumping the cop at her side but as luck would have it – it just wasn't the case. "Is that true?" She asked. This was what they did, two very good friend, to partners – to members of a family. Sure they'd known each other not even eight months but these two were close.

"Hell…" Sara shrugged her shoulders, "I'm attracted to you"

"My husband might have something to say about that" Kara explained as she clipped her belt on.

Sara followed suit and clipped hers in before looking across one last time with her trade marked gap toothed smile – "I can take him…"

That caused Kara to laugh, breaking the teasing banter – and giving into Sara.

"You win!"

"I always do" Sara explained. IT was a game they played – who could keep up the game the longest – Kara always broke.

"So how are Jimmy and the kids?" Sara went about the family rout.

"Same old … I see my kids for a few precious hours every day and I see Jimmy even less" Kara sighed.

"The job!" Sara explained.

"yeah…the job"

"He understands right?" Sara asked, obviously referring to Jimmy.

Yeah right? What you expect him to Sidle? He wants me to quit … he don't like the risks I take. Says it's to dangerous… wants me to take a desk job"

"What? And you are thinking about it"

"No thinking needed…I live for this, the rush…"

Sara smiled, "Well…next time he has a pop about the danger just tell him you have Sidle watching your back"

Sara came back to her senses – she looked away from the mirror and back down to the running water that was pooling into the sink before escaping down the drain. The sight of the water running freely was only a reminder of the time she spent in the wash room of the hospital before going to face Kara's family. The time she spent washing and wiping as much of the mother, sister, wife, daughters blood as possible. As much of Kara's blood from her as possible – physically she'd managed to do so but mentally – every time she looked down at her hands she saw it. The crimson red reminder that she hadn't watched Kara's back close enough - the crimson death reminder of the hell Sara had lived through.

Swallowing down the sickness the brunette looked away from her hands and the water and back up at the worn face that was hers. Clear signs of stress were shown in her eyes – eyes that she couldn't look directly into. With a sickened laugh at the person she'd become Sara only shook her head before wiping her hands on the back of her jeans and walking from the women's rest rooms.

As soon as she stepped outside she started off to the last destination – down the hall, a left and a right and there she was. At the end of a well traveled journey. She pushed open the door to Catherine's office before stepping in without announcing it. Catherine looked up from the photo of herself and Sara to see the brunette walk it. No words were said she just observed. Sara shut the door then turned, taking the ring from her finger she placed it on the desk – the looked into the eyes of her lover, the only family she had. "I love you, and I'm sorry. Please… don't let me walk out of here with you hating me because I don't want that to be the last thing I feel before I die."

Catherine stood up, she took Sara's ring – and placed it slowly onto her wedding finger. "I don't hate you… I love you more than anything…" She managed.

Sara moved her hand forward and placed it against Catherine's face softly – "I wish I could do what you wanted of me"

"I wish you could to" Catherine replied. "But I know you can't…and I … I … I just need to know why?"

Sara didn't respond just stayed looking into the blue eyes.

"Am I not enough?" Catherine asked.

"You're my life Cath…"

"Then why are you risking me? Risking losing me?"

"I have to" Sara explained.

"I hate who ever hurt you enough to make you need to do this" Catherine explained.

Sara just kissed Catherine with passion – knowing that this would be the last time they kissed until the bastard was caught.

The phone cut into the moment – Sara pulled back regretfully.

"Fuck" Catherine muttered –

Sara just shook her head and offered a silent sorry with her eyes as she answered the call – "Sidle"

"You ready for this?" The feds were ready for her but as Sara looked into the eyes of her love she wondered if she was. A moment's flash back of blood and horror was all she needed to tell her she was.

"Give me five"

"Okay…You sure about this!"

"I'm sure…" With that she cut off the call.

"This is it?" Catherine asked.

Sara reached to the chain around her neck, holding onto the ring that hung onto it – Catherine's ring. "I love you" Was all Sara could say.

Catherine just nodded her head, turning away – she took a deep breath.

"I'll never forgive you if you get hurt Sara…but…" Catherine stopped she turned to face the younger CSI – stepping forward she took Sara's hand. "I'll never forgive myself if I let you walk out of here without telling you that I will be with you every minuet of every god damn day and you better believe you have something to come back to. Just get back for me" She pulled her girlfriend close – and spoke against her lips – "Promise me"

"I promise" Sara replied as it merged into a kiss. A deep, sensual, loving kiss.

"Go!" Catherine pushed Sara away. "If you don't I'm not going to be able to let you out of here" She was crying again – angry again.

Sara just nodded, she turned and walked slowly to the door – before she pulled it open she echoed – "I promise"

Once Sara had left and the door was shut Catherine picked up the picture frame and turned back to the window. Terrified that she'd just shared the last moments she would ever have with Sara.

"Sidle…" He growled. She was spacing out on him and all that did was fill him with worry. He just hoped that she'd be able to pull this off. HE wasn't used to working with others outside his own team so wasn't sure about how much Sara Sidle would be able to deal with. Her file offered him comfort though as it showed her out to be the hard ass that she portrayed.

"I hear you!" She told the FED, a little harshly than he'd meant to.

He sighed, then looked over his shoulder – " Jackson, get the stuff together"

"Right!" came the reply.

He looked back to the brunette – "Look I need to know you're ready for this!"

"I'm ready..." Sara explained, "Just…fix me up."

"Okay… we have the camera in this pin – stick it on what ever you are wearing when you leave the apartment so we can keep track of you. The same goes for the mic I put on you earlier…" Sara just nodded her head.

"Hey, Smith… here's the stuff." Jackson passed everything over to the other FED.

"Thanks." He looked to Sara… "Okay in there is everything you need. Papers, documents, keys to the new SUV you got and to the apartment with the address. You'll have your stuff dropped off there when your back from the bar tonight. Here's your new cell – keep this on you at all times." Sara just nodded taking all the stuff from her.

"Okay… we have the command station down here in the lab – we'll be watching you 24 – 7. We'll be keeping you safe Sara. There will be undercover cops around you watching your back. Try not to worry"

"Oh why would I worry… he'll only kill me if I fuck this up" She smiled.

"You think this is funny?" Nick asked. "Stop making jokes" He shot as he passed over a coffee to the brunette. There were a few officers around the room doing various things – Grissom was over in the far corner talking this out.

"Sorry…coping mechanism" She explained. She looked back to Smith – "What about the guns?"

"Guns?" HE asked.

"Listen…I know I'm stupid doing this but I'm not suicidal. I want my guns."

"Fine… make sure they stay in your waist unless it's a last resort!" He explained.

She nodded her head.

"Okay then lets get this moving. Remember Sidle, this guys a murdered – he'll have no trouble killing you."