Part 8

"I didn't expect to wake up on my own!" Catherine spoke, as she walked up towards the brunette who was lent against the side of the cabin. Sara turned to face the blond. "After I've slept in some dingy hotel room for the last three days I was looking forward to waking up with you!"

Catherine held out a bottle of water, "Thanks" Sara took it into her hands, then unscrewed the lid. "Sorry … couldn't sleep" She explained. Leaning against the wall of the cabin she took a deep breath, "Thought I'd clear my head going for a run"

"Did it work?"

"huh?" Sara asked a little distracted.

Catherine became a little worried seeing Sara stare off into space, "the run, did it help clear your head or just make you all sweaty?" The brunette was in a vest top that was stuck to her – from sweat, a clear sign even to the untrained eye that she'd run herself near death. To Catherine however, whether it was due to her CSI training or the fact that she was closer to Sara that she had been to anyone else in a long time that there was something more than a bad nights sleep bothering the brunette. "What's happened babe?"

"I'm fine, honest" Sara explained as she took another mouthful of water.

"Really…is that why you're avoiding eye contact." Catherine stood in front of Sara, "its back isn't it?" About a month and a half ago Sara had been caught up in a hostage situation at the bank. A young pregnant woman had been shot along with a young guy, barely nineteen – it had affected Sara more than she'd been willing to accept. The brunette had refused counselling and the only person who knew she was having nightmares was Catherine who had hared her mumbling on night as she struggled through the memories in her sleep.

"Yeah" Sara gave in, "I had to get up… get away from it."

Catherine just nodded, she understood. She allowed the silence, fully aware that Sara didn't need to hear her explain how she thought Sara needed to go to that councillor, or take some time off work. She just moved forward into Sara taking her girlfriend into her arms, Sara didn't object at all – she let her head rest on Catherine's shoulder and moved both her arms around the older blond's waist. "sorry…" she managed.

"What for babe?"

"Been this emotional wreck again" Sara explained, "I'm a mess!"

"Your going through a lot right now… dealing with my family isn't helping either. Don't apologise…" Catherine took in the aching body of her girlfriend, "Shower then try and sleep… please?"

Sara agreed, "Only because I didn't even get an hour last night and I'm hoping I've ran off the nightmares"

"Do you want to talk about them?" Catherine questioned.

"not really…"

Catherine just nodded, respecting what Sara wanted. The brunette hadn't said much about that day – what she did know was from the questioning and the police reports – all Catherine really knew other than the cold details was that Sara had been hit hard by what ever had happened.

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"Sara okay… hared her creeping around at funny hours" Nancy asked from where she was stood in the kitchen. "You two had an argument or something…"

"You'd like that one" Catherine shot, "I'm not in the mood Nancy… just back off"

Nancy held up her hands, "Listen, I just…want to talk to you"

"What about?" Catherine asked tiredly.

"Last night, everything that I said. I was … out of line – I'm sorry. You're right, I'm not helping things and I'm going to make an effort."

Catherine just nodded, "I'd appreciate it… you know maybe if you could make it a few days without having a shot at her, making her feel like crap…" Catherine shot, "Can you keep an eye on the kids for me… I have to go talk to her."

Nancy just nodded, "Yeah, plus I'm cooking up dinner for us all tonight – so don't plan anything, all of us are going to have a nice dinner for Christmas eve. You know how we used to have it?"

Catherine just nodded, "Sounds good!"

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Walking into the room that she shared with Sara she noticed that the brunette had already showered, she was stood towel drying her hair – dressed in a black bra and a pair of grey sweat pants. Catherine now understood why she'd missed this woman so much – just what it was she'd missed. She shut the door behind her and walked further in – "Feeling any better babe?"

"A little" Sara nodded, as she finished up towel drying her hair and ran a brush through it. Catherine moved up behind Sara who was stood in front of the full length mirror and wrap her arms around the woman who she loved more than she thought possible.

"Good…" As she pressed against Sara the brunette did relax into the hold. "… You know…" Catherine was looking into Sara's eyes in the reflection of the mirror in front of her. She moved one hand up and pushed a stray hair out of her girlfriends face. "…I love you… right!"

Sara nodded her head, "yeah… and I love you too"

Catherine smiled lovingly, then took Sara's hand – the brunette allowed the older CSI to take her by the hand and lead her over to the double bed. Sara lay down first, on her back – Catherine followed, laying against Sara's left side, her head rested on the nape of the brunettes neck and her arm draped over Sara's stomach. Sara wrapped her arm around Catherine, and used the other to stroke small circles over the older CSIs back - before speaking – "I've missed holding you" she explained.

"I know." Catherine nodded, then after a moment and with a soft smile, "I've only been away a few days…"

"Feels like forever." Sara shifted, and pulled Catherine half on her – the two now looking face to face, "Forever since I got to just kiss you"

"Well you got me now!" Catherine smirked before kissing Sara. A soft but passionate kiss letting the girlfriend know that she was the only woman she loved. When she pulled back she spoke, "You can talk to me…about anything… you know that right"

"Yeah…I… I know. But…what happened, in that bank … I just…I can't…"

"I know…" Catherine ran her hand reassuringly down Sara's. "I know its hard, and I'm not pushing you. Just…remember that when you're ready I'm here. Not as a supervisor, not as a colleague or a councillor. I'm here as you girlfriend."

Sara just nodded, "I know" She settled in to Catherine, "but…right now… I need to sleep."

Catherine agreed, Sara did need sleep – not that she'd tell her but her girlfriend looked worn out. Maybe it was the nightmares. "I might take the kids out to the lake... or go down to the town for a few hours"

Sara nodded her head, moving and kissing Catherine again – "I think that's great. Spend some time with them before Christmas." Sara smirked again, "Get me a present or something…"

Catherine just laughed, "Mm… you know… I could lay here all day with you"

"No you couldn't because … in less than five minuets either Lindsey Jason or the lovely in-laws would be shouting through the door" Sara laughed. Catherine just groaned and turned into Sara.

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"Mom… do you want to come out with us?" Catherine asked Lilly who was in the kitchen.

"Sure dear… that sounds lovely" The oldest Willows woman smiled. She didn't get to spend much time with her daughter so this was an opportunity that she wouldn't miss. "I'll just get my Jacket."

"Okay… I'll round up the kids" Catherine walked off. She knew that Lindsey was on the phone in the living room but where the hell was Jason. It was now getting to half eleven and Catherine had finally managed to get herself showered, dressed and ready along with the son who was lost in the cabin.

After looking around for over ten minuets she'd finally found him, she followed the sound of screams and laughter that led her into the bedroom where she'd left a sleeping Sara just under two hours ago. Pushing the door open she saw the brunette tickling a squealing Jason as he kicked and fought back. Catherine couldn't help but smirk – seeing Sara this carefree and happy was a change, a welcomed change.

"You think you're funny dude?" Sara asked as she continued to tickle him .

"Agghhhhhh HEEEELLLLLPPPPP!!!!!" Jason screamed out through uncontrollable laughter.

"You little monster… say you're sorry…" Sara laughed herself.

He held off for a little while longer before he gave in – "SOOOWWWWRRRYYY"

Happy she'd won Sara gave up. Lifting him to his feet on the bed she straightened up his now rinkled shirt. "Okay slugger… I win!"

"No… I win" He shot back as he tried to fight back jumping into her arms.

Sara just held him, "Don't think so mate." Then she looked at the state the boy was in. "Oh crap … don't tell your mom I did that to your shirt" the once freshly ironed shirt was now wrinkled.

"OH CWRAP!" Jason shouted back looking at his shirt.

"Oh damn… and don't tell her I taught you that" Sara frowned.

"Too late… she already knows." Catherine shot as she walked in.

Sara looked from the blond to the young boy. "You got me in trouble" she blamed.

He just smiled and began to laugh before lifting his arms up for Catherine to pick him up. She did pick him up from the brunettes arms. "Hey dude… don't you listen to anything Sara says you hear me?"

"I hearr ya" Jason nodded with a seriousness that was just too cute. Catherine nodded.

Then she turned to Sara. "And you … stop teaching him things like that. It's bad enough having to deal with Lindsey but I don't need this little guy picking up your bad habits." She grabbed a pillow and hit a laughing Sara round the head with it. "It's not funny…"

"Ye it's not funnies" Jason echoed pointing at Sara. "You twickled me…now I'm all wrinkled up"

Sara at this point was in a fit of laugher. Catherine shook her head, smiling herself – she just looked at Jason – "I think we should tell Santa she doesn't deserve presents what do you say?"

"YEAH!!" He agreed.