PART 12 - merry christmas guys!!
Catherine walked out of the cabin and over to where Sara was sat on the steps. "Thought you'd hiked a lift back to Vegas…" She explained softly, "…not that I'd blame you."
"Lost track of time..." She explained with a soft smile.
Catherine moved her hand over and placed it on Sara's leg, leaning herself into her lovers body she let the silence fall over them. Sara snaked her arm around Catherine's back and held her a little tighter. "Jason's been asking for you…"
Sara closed her eyes, "Oh god I forgot…I promised him I'd play catch when he got back from shopping…it can wait till after dinner now." Catherine nodded her head, she sat with her head leant on Sara's shoulder – she could smell the strong scent of cigarettes and all she could really think about was the fact, it was obvious to her, that Sara had been crying and now here she was seemingly as calm as ever as if nothing had happened. Her years of knowing the younger CSI had trained her how to deal – confronting her wouldn't help, all Catherine could do was offer support.
"Yeah I think it's been dished up soon anyway" She'd seen her sister with the help of her son setting the table as she left the cabin. There were a few moments where the two just took in each others company – enjoying the little time they had. "I feel like we haven't been alone in weeks…"
"Because we haven't…" Sara offered, "First work was crazy… if you weren't pulling triples…I was. Then you left for the conference and now here we are… I'm trapped in a cabin in the woods with the in-laws." She laughed. Though it was her attempt at lightening the mood there was truth laced through all Sara said.
Catherine moved her hand over placing it on Sara's thigh – "I love you".
She turned her head and locked eyes with her blond girlfriend; she didn't know why but right now those words didn't offer her comfort – she broke eye contact and looked to the floor. "You ever wish you didn't?"
"What!"
Sara forced herself to look to Catherine, it was the least she could do – "I mean … maybe it'd be easier for you if I wasn't the screw up you love" She explained with a shrug.
"Listen…" Catherine turned herself, there was a determination in her blue eyes – "You're my god damn screw up Sidle, don't forget that…I don't have a clue exactly what's going on in your head right now… but don't do this to yourself."
Sara looked back to the floor unable to take Catherine's concern "You know the nightmares…" Sara began feeling the need to explain at least part of the reason right now she was having an emotional break down, "I lied… it wasn't about the bank… it was my Dad…"
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Surprisingly dinner had gone without a hitch, Nancy and Sara had even made polite conversation. Now Catherine was sat on the steps where her and Sara had been before dinner watching as Sara and Jason chucked a football to each other, she'd kept her word and taken the kid out after dinner… which Catherine had to admit she was more than happy about, she silently hoped that it would wear him out and he'd sleep tonight.
All she could really think about was the brunette, Sara had opened up to her earlier about her father…she'd already known what had happened as a result of a drunken night after a bad child abuse case. She remembered so clearly how Sara had gone to one of the bars LVPD after the triple shift she'd pulled to find some low life bastard guilty of beating his eight year old daughter to death – and that was where four hours later Catherine found her, having received a call from a mutual friend who worked for PD telling her she should go down there. She took Sara home, and it was then she'd explained or attempted to explain it all.
But up until earlier Catherine had been unaware of just how much it really was still in the brunette's head. She nursed a mug of coffee in her hand in an attempt to keep warm as she lent her head against the wooden post a smile. Jason was been chased by Sara, who lifted him up from the ground throwing him over her shoulder and spinning him around.
Once she'd put him back down on the ground the young boy took off at full speed towards Catherine, shouting out for her. The brunette laughed, as she walked over to get the forgotten football from where it had fallen to the wheel of the Denali.
As she bent down to pick it up she was startled by the deep voice above her.
"Hey…"
She looked up, a little startled standing back and taking in the guy. It was a long trail up to this cabin, not something you just stumble upon. He was taller than her, dark haired – handsome. "Hi… can I help you?"
"Sorry where are my manors… I'm Mat…I'm looking for Catherine Willows"
Sara stayed silent for a moment wondering why this Mat guy was looking for her girlfriend. She wasn't the type to get all protective but when a good looking guy shows up when you're on vacation …
"Sure…she's sat out front" Sara however didn't move out of his way again she looked him up and down, then something clicked. The name, Mat – it was her ex. Before she could say anything else he walked past her.
"Thanks"
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Catherine was listening to her rambling son, trying to hide the smirk as he was telling her, so seriously, how Sara was a cheat and she stopped him from winning by picking him up and holding him over his shoulder. She couldn't help it, he looked so cute wrapped up in his jacket and his little timberland boots that Sara had brought him for his birthday. They were looking a little beaten up now, but Jason had worn them religiously for the first month of getting them because he said they were like their work boots – and he said he wanted to fight the bad people like both Catherine and Sara. There had even been a few occasions when Catherine had caught him wearing them to bed.
Now as she sat listening to him, it scared the life out of her thinking one day he'd be out in the world on his own. The last thing Catherine wanted was her children to grow up because as a result of the hell she saw every day at her job she knew the reality of the world.
"I'm sure she didn't cheat…"
"SHE DID!" He declared, "YOU CAN'T PICK PEOPLE UP!!!"
"How about I have a word?" Catherine offered as a way of calming the young boy.
"It won't work…" He stomped over and sat next to Catherine putting his elbows on his knees and then wresting his head on his hands. "She doesn't listen to you" he huffed.
This time Catherine had to laugh, how right the young boy was – Sara Sidle never listened to her. "You know what Kiddo… you got a point there. Tell you what… how about I go in and make you some hot coco – and we'll play on the play station… you know you always beat her on that."
This seemed to cheer him up, he lifted his head up locking eyes with Catherine, "Yeah… I win her then" he stopped to think a moment, "Only if I have cream on the coco"
"I'm sure I could manage that…"
"Catherine…" Her name been spoken by the familiar voice broke into what she was saying… it was a voice she never could forget, she turned her head to the side looking up to see him stood in front of her.
