:) Had fairly bad day today, (which is funny because I'm listening to Bad Day, but i digress) so i decided to write. And i feel much better now, so i hope i can make you guys feel better too :) Enjoy x

Chapter 9

"When I was a dancer, I got hooked on cocaine." Cath admitted quietly, staring at her hands. She could feel Sara's eyes on her from across the table, but daren't look at her. "When I fell pregnant, I tried to stop, and it was harder said than done. I started getting headaches a lot, so I used to take painkillers." She swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. "And I got hooked on them instead." She felt, rather than saw Sara move to the chair next to her. "It was years ago now, and I've always been okay since then. But I know how easily I can fall back into it and I..." She stumbled over what she wanted to say and settled for saying nothing.

"You're worried about taking these in case you get addicted again." Sara filled in for her, tapping the little bottle that sat between them on the table. Cath nodded glumly. Her eyes darted up to Sara's briefly before fixing back on a benign point on the table. "How can I help?" Sara asked at last. There was no judgement in her voice, just quiet compassion.

"I want you to keep them. That way, if I need them I can come to you, but I know you won't let me lose control."

"Okay." Sara answered softly. Cath looked up.

"You're sure?" She checked hopefully.

"Of course." Sara smiled gently, tucking a strand of hair behind Cath's ear tenderly. Catherine smiled and leant in for a quick kiss, which turned into a tight hug.

"Thank you." She mumbled against Sara's shoulder.

x x x x x

Catherine took one of the little white pills and opted for a shower to get the 'hospital grime' off her. Sara offered to leave her in peace, but Cath gripped her hand and begged her to stay.

To the brunette's utmost surprise, she dragged her upstairs. There, she turned to her with a shy grin.

"Could you ... I need you to..." She stammered, not sure how to ask this. She sighed and bit the bullet. "I need help." She said at last, holding up her fractured wrist. Nancy had helped dress her at the hospital because she was having great difficultly doing it herself, so she figured it was no use even trying to get undressed alone.

Besides, she had just confided her biggest secret in Sara, so why not let her undress her too.

"Okay." Sara said slowly, confused by this vulnerable side of the blonde. Cath unbuttoned her shirt slowly and Sara helped her to slide out of it, careful not to further hurt her injured wrist. Cath turned her back towards Sara and let the brunette unclip her bra.

"Thank you. I can manage now." She promised.

"Okay, do you want me to go, or..."

"No, stay." Cath insisted, nearly turning around and flashing her. "I won't be long." She said. Sara nodded and slipped out, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar in case Cath needed anything.

Lindsey was staying at her grandmother's tonight, or today now, so Sara was at a bit of a lose end.

She opted for finding a book to read. She figured Cath had to have something she would find interesting and picked up a novel that was sitting on the table. She could hear the shower running in the en-suite, but after a few minutes she was so absorbed that she hadn't heard it stop and jumped when Catherine snuck up behind her.

"Don't do that!" Sara gasped, regaining her composure. Cath sat next to her with a cheeky grin. She was in a soft bathrobe and her hair was still damp, but she looked remarkably more relaxed than she had before. She tucked her legs underneath her and ran a hand through her hair. They lapsed into silence and Sara tried to think of something to say to ease the awkwardness. "Does it hurt?" She asked at last.

"A little." Cath answered absently. She had been too busy scrutinising Sara's features to notice the silence. "You have a birthmark." She stated out of the blue. Sara frowned in confusion. Cath reached out and stroked the purple patch of skin on her neck, just behind her ear. Sara matched her actions, touching the area with curiosity.

"I didn't know that." She mumbled. Cath smiled and continued to caress it softly, resting her wrist on Sara's shoulder.

"You have a tattoo as well." She smirked.

"I have four." Sara replied. "Which one are you talking about?" Catherine blinked at her.

"The one on your side. Where are the others?" She asked, shuffling closer eagerly.

"Guess." Sara grinned cheekily. Cath scowled.

"Your shoulder?" She guessed.

"Nope."

"Back?"

"One down."

"Let me see." The blonde said, trying to lift Sara's shirt up at the back.

"Uh huh. Guess the others first." Sara insisted, holding her clothes down.

"Are they somewhere you'd show the guys?" Cath changed tack, asking with a quirked eyebrow. Sara chewed the inside of her cheek.

"One is." She replied at last.

"Foot." Cath guessed immediately. Sara raised an eyebrow.

"Close."

"Ankle." She corrected, smiling when Sara nodded.

"Okay, so that leaves..."

The phone rang. With a disgruntled growl Cath reached over to answer it. "Don't think you're off the hook." She pointed at Sara. "Hello." She answered tiredly, and it was only then that Sara noticed how exhausted the blonde looked. Catherine turned to Sara and rolled her eyes. "Yes mom, I'm fine." Sara smiled. Some things never changed. Deciding to give them some privacy, she slipped into the kitchen. She could still hear Cath's muffled voice from the lounge.

Expecting it to be a long phone call, she started washing the dishes. However she was wrong. After a barely two minutes she felt something tugging on her shirt, and turned around the find Catherine trying to remove her clothes unnoticed. The older woman smirked.

"I know where it is."

"Oh yeah?" Sara asked, tossing the tea towel onto the side. "And where would that be?"

All of a sudden she was pinned against the counter. Catherine's lips were on hers in a fiery kiss, and a hot hand slithered its way down her back, into the back of her jeans.

"There." Cath mumbled against her lips, gripping Sara's ass. She felt Sara gasp, and used the opportunity to sneak her tongue past her lips.

So absorbed in their exploration of each other that neither heard the front door open, until...

"Catherine!"