Catherine spent the rest of the shift doing paper work. Sara had already left, and Catherine hoped the end of shift would be enough time for the brunette to cool down a little before she made her way over.
The mountain of paper work was absolutely no help in distracting her from the fact that Sara was upset. Upset in general, and upset with her. Sure, maybe Sara was over reacting. But that was Sara, she couldn't change that. She didn't want to change Sara. And they had both lost their tempers. But Catherine knew she was the one who set this thing in motion, and she was going to keep the ball rolling. She was going to show Sara, she wouldn't give up that easily. Catherine couldn't baby her forever, she knew that. But Sara was still scared, and confused. For now, Catherine could hold her steady, until they stood on solid ground.
Two hours later, Catherine gave up on paper work and clocked out a few minutes early. Lindsey had spent the night at a friends, so Catherine headed directly to Sara's. Don't be nervous, she kept telling herself as she drove, you're going to fix it, everything will be fine.
Now standing in front of Sara's door, Catherine took a deep breath and knocked. No answer. She knocked again, and still nothing. She tried the handle, but it was locked. Catherine remembered she still had Sara's spare key from the morning, she'd forgotten to give it back with the day being so tense. She hesitated only a moment, then let herself in.
"Sara?" she called quietly, closing the door behind her. Not getting a reply, and not seeing Sara anywhere, she made her way to the bedroom.
"What are you doing here?" Sara whispered in the dark, trying to sound angry, but Catherine could tell she'd been crying.
"You wouldn't answer the door," Catherine said simply.
"I didn't think it would be you," Sara replied. "Besides, that's not what I meant."
"You mean, why am I here after we fought?" Catherine asked.
Sara didn't reply, and Catherine took her silence to mean 'yes.' She didn't think I'd come back? After one fight? Catherine sighed, sliding off her shoes and climbing into the bed next to Sara. She molded her body to Sara's, wrapping and arm around her waist and leaning her mouth up to her ear.
"I love you, Sara," Catherine whispered, feeling the other woman's body tense. "Shh, relax," she soothed, "you don't have to say it back. But that's why I'm here. We had a fight, Sara. We'll have more fights, a lot more, knowing us. But I'll still be here, when the fights are over, I'll still come back. One fight doesn't mean it's over."
Sara nodded and sniffled. Catherine brought her hand up to Sara's cheek, feeling fresh tears there, as she placed a gentle kiss on the back of Sara's neck.
"My mother killed my father," Sara finally said.
"What?"
"That's my problem," Sara continued. "I don't like to talk about it much. Cat, I'm not really good at talking. I'm trying."
Catherine nodded. Both women were silent a moment.
"I was a coke-head," she finally replied, as Sara turned her head towards her, looking both shocked and confused. "Before CSI, when I was a dancer. I was addicted to cocaine. We've all got skeletons, Sara. I'm not afraid of yours."
Sara finally smiled a little and nodded, turning the rest of her body towards Catherine's. Tucking a strand of hair behind Catherine's ear, Sara pressed their lips together a moment before resting her head back on the pillow, their faces remaining close.
"Catherine, I do… I feel the same as you, I mean," Sara began to explain as Catherine watched her intently. "It's just that, it's only been, what, almost two days? It's just too soon… to soon for me to say it." She paused, as Catherine nodded, then continued. "And I know I can be… difficult. I know that. But I think this… us, I think it's right. It feels like it's right, and I don't want to ruin it. So just… don't let me push you away, ok?"
Catherine smiled and pulled Sara closer. This was right. She couldn't remember the last time something felt this right.
"Sara," Catherine said, still smiling, reassuringly. "I am in so deep here, I can't even see the surface anymore. I know, I'm way ahead of you right now. But I mean it, I'll be here, when you catch up. I'll wait. You couldn't push me away if you tried."
Sara nodded and snuggled closer, her body finally relaxing into Catherine's.
"So, you get a whole week off?" Catherine said after a moment. Sara snorted a little and nodded her head. "Well… I think I'm due for a vacation. Maybe I'll take a little time off? Give us some time, to make sense of everything… maybe even go on a date?"
"That sounds great, Cat," Sara replied, her smile apparent even in her voice.
"Alright then," Catherine said, lifting Sara's face for one more kiss, "it's a deal."
"Thank you, Catherine."
"Anytime," Catherine said sweetly. "Now, go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
THE END
For real this time! Time to move on and start something new...
Hope you enjoyed it, thanks to everyone who read and reviewed! Especially Myx Nyx, for reviewing each and every chapter... greatly appriciated!