Chapter 8

"Grissom." Catherine announced, trying to hide her smile as Sara pulled away so fast she nearly fell off the bed. Grissom regained his sense of balance after his rather inelegant entrance.

"What happened? Are you alright?" He asked, brushing himself down as he walked toward the bed, where Sara remained unnecessarily close to the blonde. However, Grissom didn't seem to notice as he was too busy visually searching Catherine for any critical injuries.

"I'm fine." Catherine chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow at his bedraggled appearance. "Are you alright?" He frowned and straightened himself out.

"I'm fine. What happened?" He demanded. Cath and Sara exchanged a look.

"A run in with a Cadillac." Sara answered for her at last. He frowned again but nodded.

"But you're okay?" He asked again.

"I'm fine. It's just a few bruises." She insisted.

"We checked her head too but I think that's irreparable." The cheeky voice chimed in from the door. Sara and Grissom both frowned but Catherine just stuck her tongue out at her sister.

"Ignore her." She stated. "So, I can go home now?" She asked hopefully.

"Nope." Nancy answered bluntly, eliciting a scowl. "You're going to stay here for a few more hours until we get all the test results back, and then hopefully you can go home."

"I'll pick you up." Grissom announced.

"That's okay Grissom, I can do it." Sara offered instead, replacing Cath's grumpy face with a bright smile. This was the first time that Nancy noticed Sara and Catherine's hands interlocked in the blankets.

"Well, if that's sorted, I need to check her over." The younger sister hinted, and Grissom and Sara both understood. Gil patted her arm and turned to leave. Sara took the moment while his back was turned to place a quick kiss on Cath's temple. Nancy rolled her eyes as she watched the brunette practically skip out, sending Cath a sweet smile from the doorway. Alone, Nancy managed to wipe the smile off her big sister's face immediately by snapping on a pair of latex gloves.

"You're unbelievable." She breathed, moving the blankets aside to check the bruises and grazes on her legs.

"What?" Cath asked flippantly.

"You fool a girl into a date, kiss her, run in front of a car and still manage to swing yourself another date." Nancy explained, while she cleaned and redressed the wounds. Cath smacked her arm.

"What can I say? It's a gift." She sighed dreamily. She barely even seemed to notice the stinging pain in her legs.

"And, what are you planning on doing about Doug?" Nancy asked. Cath blinked at her.

"Oh, Doug." She exclaimed when she realised what Nancy meant. "I'll end it." She stated obviously.

"You're not going to break his heart are you? I work with him Cathy."

"I'll be tactful." Cath promised.

"Yeah, just don't tell him you've left him for a girl ten years younger than you."

"Nine and a half." Catherine repeated firmly.

"You're a cougar." She joked. Cath grinned lazily, not even caring to rise to the insult.

"I think I'm in love."

x x x x x

When Sara returned later on to pick Catherine up, the blonde was ready and waiting for her – sat on the edge of her bed swinging her legs impatiently.

"Need a ride, m'lady?" A voice from the doorway caught her gaze and she beamed. Normally she would have a comeback line to that, but apparently this is what it felt like to have someone make you speechless. So instead she merely held out her good hand for Sara to help her off the bed. However, she managed to misjudge the distance between her feet and the floor and practically fell into Sara's arms. The brunette caught her easily and helped her regain her balance. "Whoa, hey. You okay?" Sara asked, holding her close for an extra few seconds. Cath nodded and smiled shyly.

"Thank you." She mumbled.

"You all ready?" Sara asked. Cath gathered her things, brushed herself down from her stumble and smiled.

"Ready."

"Almost." Nancy interrupted. "Here," She handed Catherine a prescription. "Painkillers, if you need them." Sara couldn't help but notice the look that passed between the two sisters. Catherine's eye darkened and she looked at the floor nervously.

"Why don't I go put this in the car?" Sara excused herself, taking Cath's bag. She figured they needed a moment alone to discuss whatever she was missing here. Catherine nodded gratefully to her, watching her walk away.

"I can't." She thrust the prescription back into Nancy's hand as soon as the door was closed.

"You can, just be careful and follow the directions." Nancy assured her.

"Nance, you know what I'm like." She whispered. "I can't."

"Cathy, please just take them."

"You know that these things are like sugar to me. If I start, I won't stop."

"Catherine it's been years, you can manage." Nancy promised.

"Why can't you keep them?" Cath compromised.

"What, and have you asking me to bring them around every hour when you're in pain. Don't think so." The younger sister scoffed. "Why don't you ask Sara?" Cath sent her a baffled look.

"What? You want me to tell her about..."

"No, just ask her to look after your painkillers and ask her if you want one. She won't let you go over your limit."

"And what am I supposed to say when she asks why?" Catherine asked, incredulous. "She's a trained investigator Nance, she'll know if I'm lying."

"Catherine please, just take them. It's just in case you need them." Nancy begged. Cath folded her arms, refusing to accept the piece of paper back. There was a quiet knock at the door and Sara peeked round.

"You ready?" She asked softly.

"Yes."Cath said pointedly, shooting her sister a look. Nancy watched them leave with a sigh. She noticed how Sara placed a hand on the small of Catherine's back, and how she kept casting concerned glances at her from the corner of her eyes.

"Hey, hold on." Nancy called, jogging to catch them up in the corridor. She held the prescription out to Sara this time. "Please make sure she takes these if she needs them. You can pick them up at the pharmacy desk." She was talking to Sara, but her eyes were locked with Catherine's, who was sending her glares to kill.

x x x x x

With the prescription picked up – much to Catherine's chagrin – they set off home. Cath had to give Sara directions to her house, but apart from that drove in companionable silence. Cath couldn't help but smile at the fact that Sara kept glancing at her with concern.

It made her feel all warm and tingly to know that Sara worried about her.

By the time they arrived at Catherine's house her wrist was starting to hurt, and it was not being helped by the fact that those little pills were burning a hole in her pocket.

x x x x x

Sara helped her inside and carried her bag upstairs for her. She had noticed that Cath seemed to be in more pain towards the end of the journey and didn't want to leave until she was sure she was settled, so started making a drink and something for her to eat.

Catherine could hear Sara downstairs and it relaxed her slightly, knowing that the brunette was still here. She didn't want her to leave yet. Something about Sara had a calming effect on her. And right now she needed it.

She leant against the bathroom sink, staring into her own blue eyes. She was sure she could see something staring back at her, something dark and unnervingly familiar. Her hand fisted the bottle of pills tightly.

x x x x x

"Hey, there you are." Sara smiled, setting a plate down at the table. Cath didn't move. "You okay?" Sara frowned, scrutinising her closely. Catherine shook her head. Sara was by her side in a heartbeat, hands on her arms. "What's wrong?" Cath looked into her hazel eyes. There was nothing dark there, just compassion.

"I need your help." She whispered at last.