Part 9

"How much do you really miss me then?" She smirked as she took the freshly made mug of coffee from the side and headed over to the table in the kitchen of the cabin. "Thought as much…yeah well you know what Catherine's like" Sara took a mouthful of the warm liquid glad that it was helping her slightly pounding head. The sleep hadn't helped her much – the nightmares were back and they were worse that ever and been here, over the holidays with Catherine's family really wasn't helping. "I'm not too bad, could be worse I suppose" this time she couldn't help but sigh, wondering to herself if it could actually be worse. "Yeah sorry I'm not spending Christmas with you to…" Again she drank from the coffee as she listened to what was been said on the other end of the line. "Yeah I know … look I'll tell her…okay… I know. After Christmas I'll tell her everything I promise. I don't want to wreck Christmas for her or the kids. Yeah… I know…" There was another sell of silence, this time slightly longer and Sara's head found it's was into her hand sighing in defeat, "Yeah, I know… I'll talk to you later okay… you to. Bye" She cut off the call, a call that she honest to god didn't want to cut of mostly because it was an escape from everything here.

She managed to take another mouthful of coffee and enjoy it even before she hared a noise behind her. Turning she saw Nancy stood against the door frame. "Hi" She managed though the last thing she wanted to do was enter into a conversation with the other woman she felt it only polite.

"hey…" It was slow and drawn out and she sounded slightly strange. Sure Sara knew the two would never be best friends but she had hoped that eventually this game would fade and they would at least become civil. "So who was that on the phone? Catherine?"

"No just work"

"Sounded pretty cozy…for work."

Sara looked up a little shocked only to be met by Nancy's back that was now over by the counter pouring herself a mug of coffee. "What…I'm sorry" she was answered with silence so she decided right here and now enough was enough, "so come on, are you ever going to explain what I did to make you hate me so much?" Sara was straight to the point. Nancy turned to look at the brunette.

"Sorry?" She wasn't expecting Sara to be so blunt.

"Come on Nancy… there's only you and I here – at least be straight with me."

After a few silent moments of consideration Nancy gave in – "You want the truth?"

Sara stood up, "Yeah – I think I deserve it!"

Nancy and Sara were now stood face to face, 'the truth is…" Nancy placed her mug on the side, "I think you will hurt her, and my sister and her kids don't need that."

Sara took a deep breath, anger boiling in her, "Firstly, they are my kids to" Nancy rolling her eyes at this didn't go un noticed by the CSI. "And secondly… I would never willingly hurt her…" before she could continue she was cut off by the other woman.

"What and you think the drinking doesn't hurt her? The countless times I've seen you drink away a night after a bad day. She's had one alcoholic husband…she doesn't need another…"

"What!" There was no way Sara was going to take this, "You're comparing me to Eddie! I'm nothing like him."

"Really – you drink Sara, you go missing for hours on end, and you have way to many secrets for my liking. You are just like him.' Nancy accused.

"No, you want me to be just like him so you have a reason to hate me. Truth is you don't have a reason because I love her, and the kids. I have never laid a hand on her or cheated on her like her no good excuse of an ex-husband … I am nothing like him." Sara was raging with anger that only grew with Nancy's response.

"You sure about that?"

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Sara demanded as she took a step forward. How ever just as Nancy was about to expand on her accusation they were interrupted.

"Sara?"

Both looked to the side to see Lindsay stood against the door frame looking like she hared way too much if not all of the argument. "Hey…" Sara tried to cover up what was happening but it was obvious it was too late – the damage had been done. "You're back"

"Yeah… mom…she err…told me to get you." Lindsay seemed distracted, looking from Sara to Nancy then back to Sara she finally asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" Sara offered a fake smile, and then walked over homing Lindsey would accept this as nothing. The teenager just looked to the floor, "she's… out by the car" she then walked away.

Sara headed out of the kitchen without even looking back at Nancy, she managed to make it to the front door when she stopped taking deep breaths to try and calm herself. Sara had no idea what she was going to do – how the hell could she do this… walk out here to Catherine and Lilly and act like this was okay. She felt physically sick, she didn't know what to do.

Walking out she headed over to the car.

"Hey babe… you have a good day with out us?"

"Could have been better" Sara shot, not intending to sound as aggressive as she did. Catherine was a little taken aback. "is he asleep?"

"Errr. Yeah" Catherine moved forward and placed her hand on Sara's arm, "Hun…"

Sara pulled her arm back, she saw hurt falsh in Catherine's eyes so offered an explination of sorts, "I should take him in" reaching into the car she slowly unbuckled Jason and lifted him into her arms securely before walking away.

Once Sara had got into the house Catherine looked back to her mother with a look of confusion. "What was that?" Lilly asked.

"I don't know..."

"You should go talk to her…"