Disclaimer: CSI belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who reviewed!

Part 9

Arrangements had been made at work, allowing Catherine to take leave for San Francisco, tickets for the afternoon flight were booked, and now Catherine and Sara were picking up Lindsey from school.

They just got out of the car as children came running out of the school building. Sara walked around the front of the car and stopped to stand beside the strawberry blonde. Catherine slipped her arm around the younger woman's waist –partly for giving Sara some support, but mostly just for the physical comfort of having her close.

"Mom?" Lindsey came walking towards the car, a surprised look on her face. "I thought aunt Nancy was coming to pick me up."

"She was, but Jeremy got sick and so you can't stay there."

"What's wrong with him?" the little Willows woman asked as she placed her arms around Sara's waist, pulling her into a miniature hug.

"He's got the chickenpox," the brunette answered.

"And since I've never had the chickenpox he can give them to me because it's contagious, right?" Lindsey looked up into the tall woman's dark brown eyes.

"That's right," Sara replied, smiling at the wisdom of the little girl. As she looked over at Catherine she noticed that her lover also sported a bright smile.

Catherine, seeing the easy and loving interaction between her daughter and her lover, hadn't been able stop a bright smile from gracing her lips.

"So," the little girl started again, "where will I be staying then?"

"At Ann's," Catherine said as she opened the door for Lindsey.

"Really?" Lindsey practically screamed, jumping up and down.

"Only if you want to, if you rather…" Catherine started.

"Duh," Lindsey interrupted, let go of Sara, and jumped in the backseat. As she began to buckle up she spoke once again. "Come on, mom, Sara, let's go. I gotta get my stuff," Lindsey grinned from ear to ear as she pulled the door closed.

"Ok," Sara laughed at Catherine, "I guess she's alright with it."

"Yeah," Catherine smiled as she took a step towards the brunette and placed a kiss on Sara's soft lips.

Suddenly their liplock was interrupted by a honk.

Both women turned to face the car and saw Lindsey had crawled onto the driver's seat, and was motioning wildly.

"Do you think your daughter is trying to tell us something?" Sara kidded as she leaned her forehead against Catherine's.

"I think our daughter is definitely trying to tell us something," Catherine said as her hand placed a dark brown lock behind the brunette's ear.

Sara quirked an eyebrow as her ears registered the words 'our daughter', but, before she could question the strawberry blonde's words any further, Lindsey honked another time.

"Come on," Catherine said as she stepped away from the tall brunette, "let's get going."

The ride home was filled with Lindsey's ideas on how she was going to fill the time she would be spending with Ann.

"Please behave yourself," Catherine sighed as she heard one of Lindsey's wild ideas of adventure.

"Of course I will mom, you know me," the little blonde said, angelic look plastered on her face.

"Yeah," Sara laughed, "And that is probably why your mom said so."

"Saraaa!"

Sara and Catherine were quickly done with packing for their San Francisco trip, but Lindsey was taking a lot more time packing her stuff for her stay at Ann's.

The two older women were in the living area, seated on the couch, trying to relax a bit. Catherine had her arms wrapped around Sara and nuzzled the brunette's neck. She reached for the younger woman's cheek and turned her face, and while she was closing the gap between their lips, a scream came from Lindsey's temporary bedroom.

"Mom! I need another bag!"

Catherine let out a big sigh as she leaned her forehead against Sara's.

"I'll go," Sara said as she extracted herself from her lover's arms. As she walked away, Catherine called her back.

"Yeah?" the brunette asked as she turned and took a step back to the couch.

"You forgot something," the strawberry blonde said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Is that so?" Sara said as she leaned over the back of the couch. "I think I need a hint."

The strawberry blonde was more than willing to oblige, and so one of her hands found its way up and pulled Sara closer. Her tongue first licked over her upper, then her lower lip, and as distance between the younger woman's lips and hers lessened she bit on her lower lip –the twinkling still in her eyes.

"Ah, yes," Sara breathed, causing a shiver to shoot through Catherine's body, "I remember."

She closed the remaining gap and gave the strawberry blonde a sweet and lovingly kiss.

Catherine's car reached 236 Port street and only seconds after the car came to a full stop Lindsey barged out and headed for the front door where Ann had appeared.

"Ann!" the little Willows said as she ran towards the nurse who pulled her into a hug.

"Hey, Lindsey. How are ya?" Ann asked.

"Good. I'm really looking forward to spend time with you. You're so cool," Lindsey stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh, I see you've found a new hero to worship," Sara smiled as she and Catherine came walking up to the house, Catherine carrying Lindsey's bags. (Sara had wanted to take one as well, but got a slap across the hands from the strawberry blonde and was told she didn't need to exert herself more than necessary.)

"Oh I don't think Super Sidle is that easily replaced," Ann kidded as she nudged Sara's shoulder, making both of them laugh.

The four of them walked into Ann's house. After the nurse had pointed Lindsey where she would be sleeping, she let the little girl settle in the room.

Catherine and Sara locked eyes. The strawberry blonde gave her lover a little nod, walked into the guestroom, and helped Lindsey unpack her belongings.

Ann led Sara to the living room and both of the women settled on the couch.

"Thank you very much for doing this, Ann," Sara said.

"It's ok. That's what friends are for, right?" Ann smiled. "Besides it's great to not have to spend a few days alone, work the only thing taking up my time."

After a few moments of silence Sara spoke up again. "We're going to San Francisco because I need to testify for a parole board."

"Parole?" Ann asked softly.

"My mother killed my father," Sara stated coldly. Ann was stunned by that remark and wanted to speak up, but was stopped by Sara raising a hand.

"The DA's office asked me to have a meeting with the parole board. She's a danger to society, to herself, even to me. And I definitely don't want her near Catherine or Lindsey. That's why I need to go. I have to make sure she doesn't get out."

Ann could only nod as her mind processed everything the brunette had just told her.