A/N: Alright, I've decided to keep going with the story after all! However, since I intended chapter 14 to be the end, I decided to change it up and start writing more from Catherine's side instead of Sara's from here on (or for a while). Also, up to chapter 14 I played out in my head a million times before I wrote it, so I knew what the ending was the whole time. Now, I'm winging it, so I don't know where it's gonna go! That said, if it ends up completely sucking, go ahead and pretend ch 14 really was the end! And I'm posting the chapters as I write them, so you'll have to suffer the wait (bwahaha... jk).

Catherine rode with Sara to the diner, the drive filled with silence again, though a completely different silence than their last drive together. It was a comfortable silence, a mutual understanding that, though there was certainly much to be said, there wasn't time to say it just yet. The conversation was too important to begin only to be put on hold. There would be time to talk, they had all the time in the world.

Sara's eyes were focused on the road. Stealing frequent glances at her, Catherine wondered if Sara was even aware that she was smiling at her own thoughts. Still watching Sara, she recounted the events of the last couple days and felt a small tug in her chest. Sara had come back for her. Sure, the hours in between the amazing sex and Sara finally knocking at her door had been some of the most agonizing hours she'd had in a long time. From the moment Sara asked if they should talk, Catherine had begun to panic, thinking she'd made a terrible mistake.

Of course the thought had crossed her mind, before she even placed her lips on Sara's neck for the first time, that maybe Sara didn't want it. And even when Sara gave in, Catherine knew that there was a chance Sara would regret it. One night is better than never, Catherine had told herself at the time, though still hoping for her fairy-tale ending.

Sara's obvious discomfort and fear the next morning had crushed her, and she tried to act like it had meant nothing to her, assuming that it had been nothing more to Sara than giving in to a momentary weakness. She'd kept quiet on the drive to Vegas, hoping Sara might collect her thoughts and say something- anything, to let her know where she should go from there. Sara never said a word, and at the last minute Catherine made a final attempt to control the damage, pleading Sara not to feel awkward, unable to put any other thoughts into words. From the look on Sara's face, she thought the gesture may have hurt the situation more than it helped.

She'd felt her fears confirmed when, still not having seeing Sara for hours after shift had started, she saw Sara duck for cover in an empty lab rather than face her. Catherine was sure her heart had officially broken at that moment, though she did her best to hide it from the rest of her coworkers.

But then Sara had come for her, Catherine thought again with a smile. She hadn't waited to see if Catherine would come crawling back, or if maybe time would heal the wounds. She'd taken the initiative, forced Catherine to talk, wiped her tears, kissed away the hurt, held her in her arms and… well, you know.

The wind pouring in from the open car windows blew Sara's hair in every direction, as a single strand blew across her face and stuck to chapstick coated lips. Sara probably hadn't even had a chance to realize it was there before Catherine reached out and lightly brushed it away, unable to resist the opportunity to touch her, attempting to tuck the wild strands behind Sara's ear. Sara said nothing, but smiled at the gesture.

Catherine wasn't sure exactly when she'd fallen for Sara, she just knew she had. Somewhere along the lines, friendship had given way to attraction, attraction to lust, and lust to something much deeper and much more terrifying. Sara had confessed she was scared, and Catherine told her she understood. Though her own fear had subsided long ago, she'd certainly felt what she knew Sara was feeling now. Afraid to push Sara too far too fast, Catherine did her best not to seem too attached just yet, waiting for Sara to gather her bearings.

Catherine saw Sara grin a little more as she continued to stare.

"Take a picture," Sara said playfully.

"Hmm?" Catherine replied.

"It'll last longer," Sara finished, without a hint of annoyance in her voice and the grin never leaving her mouth. Catherine blushed a little.

"I didn't know you could see me," she said quietly.

"I can't," Sara said, daring a quick glance before turning her eyes back to the road. "I feel you watching me."

"Oh, I-" Catherine started.

"It's ok," Sara said, reaching over to take Catherine's hand, "I don't mind."

Catherine sighed and relaxed again, holding Sara's hand tightly in her own, as the quiet resumed. They pulled into the diner moments later, the one they always went to because, as Greg said, it was tradition. Despite how much had changed, some things always remained the same.

Cutting the engine, Sara turned to look at Catherine, who brought their hands up to her mouth and lightly kissed Sara's fingers.

"Ready?" Catherine asked.

"For what?" Sara replied, genuinely confused. Catherine chuckled.

"Oh c'mon," she said with a smile, "you think the boys aren't going to have a field day with this?"

"Guess my thoughts haven't really been on 'the boys' lately," Sara told her, sounding slightly devilish. Catherine felt butterflies in her stomach at Sara's words.

"Come," Catherine said before another quick kiss on Sara's hand. "Don't wanna keep them waiting. I know their just itching to interrogate us."

"Or tease," Sara joked, sounding just a little nervous.

"Hey now," Catherine said soothingly, "these are our boys, alright? They're our family. They love us, nothing's going to change that." Then, deciding to voice her earlier thought she added. "I know a lot is changing. But some things, Sara, some things never change."

Sara smiled at Catherine's calming words and nodded.

"Ok," she said. "Let's go."