Disclaimer: CSI belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews! This chapter isn't that long. In the next part the storyline will make more progress, and will contain more action. Please R&R!

Part 6

A flash.

Light reflecting from a metal object.

Fast vertical movements.

Pounding into flesh.

The smell of iron filling the air.

Silence, deafening silence.

It seemed as if time stood still.

A woman, completely covered with blood, still pounding the knife into the body on the ground.

There lay a body on the ground, motionless in a large pile of blood. Strawberry blonde hair splayed around, matted with blood.

Suddenly the woman stopped the movement of the knife, and looked up –haunted, dark brown eyes filled with terror...

Gasping for air, Sara bolted up right. A clammy hand went through her hair as she tried to get her trembling body under control.

This hadn't happened to her in a while.

During her life she had had her share of nightmares, but since she had been with Catherine and Lindsey –even in the hospital- those dreams about that dreaded evening all those years ago hadn't bothered her sleep anymore.

But this nightmare had taken an even more painful twist, the images still clearly visible in her mind: She had seen herself, knife in hands, straddling Catherine who was covered with blood –chest filled with stab wounds.

Sara felt herself become sick to the stomach and rushed herself to the bathroom, just in time to hug the porcelain throne, and empty the content of her stomach in it.

Minutes later she felt drained –not only her stomach, but also her strength. Her body started to shake heavily again. By taking deep breaths the brunette tried to pull herself together. Getting up, she headed for the kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed a bottle of beer.

The brunette walked over to the kitchen table, and sat down. Just as she was about to open the beer, she noticed a drawing Lindsey had made, and her hand stilled.

No. She wasn't going to fall back into an old, bad habit. Not with Catherine and Lindsey in her life. So, she walked back to the fridge, and replaced the bottle of beer with one of water. A chill went through her body, and Sara headed to her bedroom to get her robe.

As she walked back into her bedroom, Sara felt her entire body tense up again. To calm herself down, she steered her thoughts to the object of her affection –images of a certain strawberry blonde removing the tight feeling that had formed in her chest, replacing it with the feeling of being loved.

Remembering the shower they had shared that morning made her lips turn into a smile of gratitude. Even though the shared shower was the most physical thing they had shared, Sara was glad for Catherine's persistence on taking things slow.

But as soon as my body's completely healed I'll show her how thankful I am for having her in my life. A little smirk came onto her lips as that thought filled her mind.

She was amazed by the effect Catherine had on her. Only minutes ago she had woken up from a very, very bad nightmare, and now –by only thinking of her strawberry blonde lover- Sara felt herself relax completely.

Remembering the older woman's words from earlier that evening, Sara reached for her phone on the nightstand.

----

It was three am, and Catherine still had a few hours of shift left. As she walked into the break room, grabbing her well-deserved cup of coffee, she reached for her cell phone, contemplating on calling Sara.

Just as she was about to punch in the brunette's number the cell phone in her hand started to ring.

As she saw the number on the small screen, she smiled. As if she knew I was thinking about her...heck... when am I not thinking about her?

"Hey you"

"God, how I've missed your voice." Sara said sighing

"It's only been a few hours." Catherine chuckled.

"Still…I can't wait till the end of shift so I can take you in my arms again." Sara said seriously.

Hearing Sara's voice, the strawberry blonde felt there was something wrong.

"Sara, are you alright?"

After a moment of silence Sara sighed. "I've had this dream."

"Tell me about it."

"I can't. Not over the phone." The brunette answered.

"I'll come home, I'm sure Grissom'll let me get off early." Catherine had already left the break room, heading for the supervisor's office.

"No. There's no need. I just needed to hear your voice, that's all." Sara immediately replied while thinking that what she had just said was so true –the strawberry blonde's voice having such a calming effect on her, and that that was all she had needed at the moment.

"Are you sure?" Catherine hesitated.

"Yes. I'll see you in three hours."

Before Catherine could protest to the younger woman's words she heard that Sara had hung up. Letting out a breath she unconsciously had been holding, she took the last few steps to Grissom's office, and knocked on the door.

There was no way she would wait three hours before being able to hold Sara close.

----

Half an hour after Sara had called Catherine, the brunette was still awake, feeling much more relaxed, but still dreading going to sleep again.

Then she heard someone at the door. Recognizing the sound of footsteps belonging to her lover, she shook her head.

"Stubborn woman." she muttered silently, as Catherine walked into the bedroom.

"I heard that." Catherine said, a small smile on her lips as she walked over to the bed, and sat down.

Opening her arms, Sara invited the strawberry blonde for a much needed hug –which she immediately got.

"So," Catherine started after a few minutes of silence –just enjoying each other's touch. "Want to tell me about that dream?"

Sara pulled herself closer to her body, and let out a big sigh. Looking up in Catherine's concerned eyes she knew the time had come. The time to let Catherine in on everything –her entire life, even the things she had worked so hard on to forget.

"I need to tell you something else first." The brunette said, taking her eyes from Catherine's.