Chapter 2 – Trust Me
2 months had passed since the locker room incident with Sara. Since then Catherine had become more devious as to what she was doing. She'd pulled double shifts as much as she could and whenever she was able to she made sure she and Sara were not on the same case together. Greg bless his heart wasn't as in tune with women's emotions as he thought he was so he was the obvious choice to work with, and he was the most junior member of the team so no-body would question her choice. Nick and Warrick obviously were more observant but it was easy to change the subject with those two, all Catherine needed to do was strike up a conversation about cheerleaders or dancers and they'd forget about whatever it was they'd said. Sara on the other hand had approached Catherine several times about what she'd seen 4 weeks previously, but she'd insisted it was nothing though Sara wasn't buying it. After more protesting on Catherine's part Sara had backed off or so Catherine thought.
Catherine had made sure she didn't make Vartann suspicious either though that wasn't always easy. She loved Lou with all her heart he was everything and more that a woman could ever want. He made her laugh, he made her smile, and he held her in his arms when she was unhappy. He was strikingly attractive, with a perfect muscular physique he was her soul mate. Catherine and Lou's relationship had always had a strong physical element and although she wanted to embrace that side of things with the way she felt about herself that wasn't easy. She and Vartann were still making love but not to the degree that they usually did Catherine had been able to get out of it by using the excuse that she was on her period but that excuse would only last six days, Pulling extra shifts had also helped. But it was doing her head in she shouldn't be feeling this way it would sooner or later destroy her physically and mentally and that was the last thing she wanted, it was hard oh so hard.
Catherine had spent 2hrs at the gym that afternoon and had gone for a 3 mile run before that. She had to go into work early to catch up on paperwork before the start of her shift. She quickly went home where she was met with Lou's loving arms.
"Hey you, how was the gym?"
"Oh not too bad thanks, just gonna take a shower. I have to be at work early, the evaluations need to be done and muggings here has that duty."
Lou laughed and reached out to hug Catherine, She wrapped her arms around him feeling the warmth emanating from his body. In Lou's head something wasn't right but damn it he just didn't know what it was.
"Do you want something to eat before you go to work Cath?"
"It's alright I've got a pasta salad in my car I'll have it on they way in" She shouted down the stairs from the bathroom.
Catherine had taken out the scales from the linen closet and stood on them before stepping into the shower, in 8 weeks she had lost 18lb's now she could easily fit into a size 2 although even they were a little bit lose not a lot but enough for her to smile about.
After she had showered and dressed and had her hair and make up sorted she went back down stairs where Lou sat drinking coffee.
"Hey babe nothing like a good cup of Blue Mountain huh"
"Yeah it's pretty good, d'ya want a cup?"
"Sure id love one, No milk though im feeling a bit queasy and they say milk isn't good for that"
Vartann looked a little worried.
"You sure you're ok Cath you haven't seemed yourself for a while now. You seem to have lost some weight you don't seem as chirpy as normal. It's not like you."
"Im fine just women's things you know what I mean sometimes it plays havoc with your body and emotions"
"Ok Cath" Bu he didn't feel convinced by what she had just said.
"Hey I'll see you at work and when we get a chance meet up for coffee"
"Sure honey see you in a bit."
And with that Catherine left and headed towards her car.
Sara was already at the Lab she had also come in early but was there to check on some ballistics evidence from an open case. Catherine dived into her office before Sara could see her. Several hours later after she had assigned cases Catherine was in the layout room looking over a blood spattered t-shirt. She put her hand out to steady herself as her head began to spin.
"God I feel dizzy" She thought to herself. Resealing the evidence and after initialling it she went into the break room and poured herself a cup of black coffee. Nick walked in a couple of minutes later, he too grabbing himself a caffeine fix. Catherine stood up placing her coffee mug on the counter, her head spinning around more than ever.
"You ok Cath" nick asked feeling concerned for his friend's welfare.
"Im… im …" was all she managed before she began to sway, her legs buckling underneath her she dropped to the floor.
"Cath… Cath… Come on talk to me"
Nick was Panicking, Sara walked by and immediately came in after hearing nick's worried voiced.
"Nick what's going on I heard … what hap… oh god"
"Sara I don't know what happened she seemed dizzy and then just collapsed. Do you know what's wrong has she said anything?"
Sara knelt down and tried to stir Catherine, Slowly coming round Catherine eyes flickered and then opened.
"What… I …" she muttered before staggering to her feet.
"You fainted Cath" Nick said.
"Cath sit down on the couch, Nick go and find Lou"
Nick legged it down the corridor Leaving Sara with Catherine.
"Cath I can't ignore what's going on anymore you've been getting worse you can't see it. Everything isn't ok you don't have things under control, you've gotta eat something"
"Im alright.. Im fine just lack of sleep that's all, too many long hours it's nothing"
"Cath you need to sort this out, you're losing too much weight you're not eating and now you've collapsed"
"Did you send Nick to get Lou?" Catherine asked feeling shaky and nervous.
"Yeah I did, he needs to know what's going on"
"What the hell, there's nothing to know about… I have to go… i"
Catherine stood and walked out of the break room, turning the corridor before Sara could stop her. A minute or so later Nick returned with Vartann.
"Sara what's going on Nick said Cath collapsed. Where is she?"
"She walked out about a minute ago" Sara said feeling guilty.
"Sara d'ya know something we don't" Nick said.
"A couple of months ago I saw Catherine throw up, I also saw her diary it had a photo in it, It was a photo of her, in the photo she looked like nothing more than a skeleton."
"What are you saying Sara" Lou said, fear etched in his voice.
"Sara?" Nick added.
"Not many people know but years ago before Catherine became a dancer she developed an eating disorder, she was anorexic. I've been spotting those traits again, every time I try and talk to her she refuses to admit there's a problem".
"Oh my god… how could I have missed that, it's my fault… if id' have only noticed what it was im a bloody detective and I don't even notice my girlfriend is wasting away before my eyes".
"Lou don't blame yourself if someone doesn't know what to look out for they wouldn't pick up on it, it's my fault I should have done something but Cath begged me to back off".
"What do we do now" nick said not sure what else to say.
"Sara where do you think she's gone" Vartann said feeling increasingly fearful.
"Well it's the end of shift, she's angry that she can't hide it anymore. She's probably scared too. My Guess is she's gonna get changed and go for a run".
"Let's go look for her Nick, Sara".
And with that they all hopped into Vartann's car, Driving away from the Vegas crime lab and heading in the direction of Lou and Catherine's house.
"Sara you seem to be clued up on what Cath's thinking how do we help her" Lou said feeling his eyes water slightly.
Nick put a hand on Lou's shoulder as Sara spoke.
"When someone has an eating disorder especially anorexia they fear being fat they can't tolerate the idea, they want to be perfect and be able to control something"
"Cath is far from fat, she's never been fat in fact she's too thin, anyhow I'd love her no matter what. She's so beautiful."
Lou gripped the steering wheel tighter to avoid losing control of his emotions, How could Catherine believe she was fat. To him and anyone else that knew her Catherine was gorgeous, to him she was sexy and delicious and totally perfect.
Nick had been looking out of the passenger window he'd seen Catherine's car out of the corner of his eye. It was pulled over by a nearby wooded area. The driver's door was open.
"Lou look over there; pull over its Cath's car"
Stopping the car abruptly Lou, Nick and Sara lept out of the car.
"Nick you go along the eastern track me and Lou will go along west, Call us if you find her".
"Ok" nick replied before darting off.
"What do we do when we find her Sara?"
"Our first priority when we find her is make sure she's ok physically which she probably won't be, She's going to need nutrients and quickly. Which is why I brought this bottle of lucozade its pure sugar"
Lou and Sara picked up the pace and soon came to a clearing, Up ahead of them they saw a bench and could see someone out cold on the ground next to it.
"Is that her.. I can't see from here Sara"
Moving closer and closer it became clear that it was Catherine.
"Cath… wake up come on open you're eyes for me" Sara said all the while feeling more and more fearful.
"Sara…what are you doing" Lou said becoming increasingly frantic.
"Im checking for a pulse…she's got one its there but it's weaker than it should be."
For the second time that day Catherine began to stir, her head spinning. Here vision felt blurred as they slowly began to open.
"Sara she's waking up"
"Get her to drink some of this, force her if you have to. Give me your keys I'll find nick and get the car"
Sara darted off back in the direction they'd come in, Vartann put his arms around Catherine and lifted her up. He gently sat her down on the bench and started to speaked as Catherine became fully aware of her surroundings.
"Babe, honey talk to me, I love you so much nothing is ever going to change that"
He held her close keeping his arm wrapped around her.
"Honey you've gotta drink some of this"
"I…I don't know if I can. Im scared Lou" Catherine eyes were filling up rapidly.
"Please for me darling do it for me, I love you more than life itself"
Catherine took the lucozade from his hands and began to drink, after a few mouthfuls the guilty started and she stopped.
"Lou I don't wanna lose control I can't … i"
"Yes you can babe im here for you, im not going anywhere."
She started to drink again and found she was secretly enjoying the taste. She'd not allowed herself anything other than black coffee, water or diet soda except maybe the odd bit of celery. A couple of minutes went by and the bottle was empty.
"How do you feel Cath" Lou said feeling a little more hopeful.
"My head isn't spinning like it was"
Vartann hugged her even tighter and Catherine leant into his embrace her tears not stopping. Nick and Sara pulled up a second or two later in Vartann's car.
"How is she" Nick and Sara both said simultaneously
"I got her to drink the entire bottle"
"God im sorry guys…I feel so stupid."
Sara and nick joined Lou and Catherine at the bench they perched on the grass in front of it.
"Cath you're not stupid far from it" said nick smiling knowing they'd found her.
"We'll get you through this step by step, whatever it takes. I'd do anything for you Cath...Trust me" Vartann replied.
Catherine did trust him; she always had and always would. She believed him.
Sara smile and said "Come on lets get you two home then Nick and I will head off and leave you guys to talk."