AN:Sorry Pole, but we need a break on the story. So it's possible you are not going to enjoy this chapter more than others. But keep reading because things are going to be more interested ;-)

Reviews are always welcome

Chapter 12 – Take a Break

The boy was no longer with them. Miranda Watson took him with her and now Sara felt the void. She was in the break room sipping a cup of coffee, lost in her thoughts. She only had been with the boy for the past four hours and she felt his absence. She could only guess how he must felt. On one hand she felt the same, lost, he was now alone in a painful world. On the other hand, she felt relieved because now Carl Roth could not hurt Junior. He would not felt the pain caused by a belt or fists on his flesh.

She was mad at Catherine for agreeing with Miss Watson to take care of the boy. She knew the procedure and that made her heart ache in pain, because now that little boy was going to put up with the system, going from house to house, with bureaucrats directing his life until he would turn eighteen. But there could be a possibility. He could go through all of these and be a good man in the future. He could be one of the luckiest.

Catherine entered the break room and saw Sara seated. Her back was facing her. She seemed lost in her thoughts. She was going to take a break. The 'battle' with Miranda Watson left her exhausted and she needed some caffeine in her system. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took a sip. The brunette didn't notice her presence and that gave her the opportunity to study her.

There were bags under her eyes. Her posture was defeated as if she had lost a precious thing. She knew that the departure of the boy had affected her in more ways than Sara was willing to admit. She had been witness of the pain in her co-worker's eyes, hearing the cries of the boy It affected Catherine too. The boy was attached to Sara there was no doubt about that. She had tried to reason to him, soothing words to calm him, but it was futile. They had a connection and now it was broken.

"Stop staring me, Catherine" Sara had spoken to her, but her voice was distant, cold and tired.

She was so sure that the brunette didn't acknowledge her presence, but like many other things about Sara she was wrong.

"You look tired." She said taking a seat in front of her co-worker. Sara didn't answer to her. She just kept her gaze into space. "Warrick went home, you should do the same".

"I'm waiting for some results" She said absently not looking at Catherine.

Silence set between the two women. Catherine was concerned. She saw Sara too involved in so many cases, especially cases that imply abused women or children. Everybody had issues, but she didn't know what were Sara's. She suspected that something terrible had happened to her, but she didn't dare to ask her. Being the private person she was, Catherine knew that Sara wouldn't tell her. They weren't on the best terms, but she wanted to change that.

"The results can wait. Tomorrow they will be there waiting for you" Catherine said softly.

Sara looked at her. She was so tired. She had been working for hours but it wasn't like any other days. She was emotionally exhausted. Since Brass and her had found the boy, memories were haunting her. Memories she didn't want to relive. They were painful, sad and distressing. But Catherine was right, she needed to rest.

"What about you? You should be with your daughter"

Catherine smiled at her. "I need to finish some paper work and then I'll go home" She made a pause. "Go home, Sara, you need to rest"

She thought about it for a moment, studying Catherine's face. She was tired too. If Catherine was sending her home, she could convince her to go home as well. She needed to spend more time with her daughter. Family was important even her knew it. She didn't want Catherine to waste a chance to be with her daughter.

"Only if you go home too."

Catherine considered it. It was fair, she hadn't spent much time with Lindsey and she was tired too. 'Paper work could wait until tomorrow' she thought to herself.

"Deal" She said smiling to the brunette.

They were watching to each other, waiting to see who would make the first move. There was something in Sara's eyes that kept Catherine still. Neither of them were moving. Sara took another sip of her coffee never leaving Catherine's eyes.

"You're not moving" She said. Her cup covering a smile on her lips.

"Neither are you" The blonde challenged, half serious, half joking.

A couple of minutes passed and they were still on the same posture. A phone rang. It was Catherine's. She broke the gaze with Sara and stared at the caller id. It was her mother. Rolling her eyes she leaved it on the table.

"Are you going to answer?" Sara said to her

"It's my mother…whatever she had to say it won't be important." Catherine said with a gesture of dismissal. "She only calls to know when I'm going to be at home and to remember me that I'm an awful mother" This was said with a concealed hurt.

"Well, in that case, you should go home."

Catherine finally picked up her phone and began a discussion with her mother as she expected. She always was arguing with her. Everything she did was wrong to her mother and that pissed her off.

Sara stood up and began to pick up her belongs. She didn't need to heard the conversation between Catherine and her mother.

She was surprised when Catherine closed her phone so quickly. When she looked at her, could sense the sadness that invaded Catherine. It wasn't easy for a single mother to bring up a teenager, even less when your mother was reprimanded you.

"As you suggested I'm going home. Shift is over" She said with a smirk and pointing to her watch.

Catherine contemplated Sara's departure, when suddenly she stopped at the door and turned to her. She was going to say something, but could not find the words. Finally, she directed a shy look at her.

"You are a good mother Catherine. Don't let other people tell you quite the opposite."

Catherine stared at her in surprise. She didn't expect such words from Sara. A smile appeared on her face. She was going to tell her something but the brunette had disappeared in a matter of seconds, leaving her wondering, why Sara had said that.

Definitely Sara is a box full of surprises. She thought to herself.

It was time for her to go home and be with her daughter for some time, and rest. She had the impression that tomorrow it would be another exhausted day.

TBC