I wanted to get this one right :) And there's a little more from Sara's POV this time, to balance out some of the previous chapters. Hope you enjoy!

Also, massive thank you to everyone reading and reviewing :) I couldn't do it without you guys!

x x x x

Sara's POV

I reach out tentatively to lay a hand on her hip. I'm not entirely sure what she wants from me and in her current emotional state I daren't push her too far.

She fumbles in the dimness, grabbing my hand tightly and threading her fingers through my own.

"Please." She whispers. "I need you."

I shift slightly, leaning down so I am pressed against her back.

"It's okay." I promise, although I have no idea what it is I am supposed to be reassuring her of.

She rolls on to her back so that she is gazing up at me with tearful blue eyes. She doesn't say a word, just continues to stare at me desperately.

"What can I do?" I ask helplessly; waiting for her to give me some clue, some sign as to what she needs.

She grips my hand tighter, pushing it beneath the covers down her stomach and pulling me flush against her in the process.

"I need you." She repeats, leaning up to close the small gap between us.

X x x

Cath's POV

The kiss starts off soft and pleading. Gradually, as Sara begins to relax against my body, she allows me access and I run my tongue across her lower lip, begging for more.

Her hand remains where I placed it, lying inoffensively on my stomach. I push it gently south, hoping that she will get the hint.

Somewhere in the rational part of my brain I'm sure someone is screaming at me that this is a bad idea, but right now nothing has ever felt more right. I don't know why and I don't know what we're going to do tomorrow, but I do know that I need Sara's touch more than anything.

She changes position, though never breaking the kiss, so she is lying beside me, her hands either side of my waist.

I feel my skin flush, my whole body heating up as her hands begin to move tenderly over my body.

She shifts lower, inching my t-shirt aside and seeking out my breasts with her mouth.

A strangled gasp catches in my throat as I arch my back into her touch, desperate for more contact.

"Please Sara." I whisper, tangling my hands in her hair as I try to encourage her down my body.

The injuries from Harper's latest round with me are barely on my radar at this moment in time, but I feel her curiously stroking my scars. She traces a mark down my thigh with her fingertip, following the trail with her lips.

I honestly can't remember the last time anyone touched me so softly.

I muffle the cry threatening to break free from my throat and try to swallow the realisation that the reason I can't remember it is because this is the first time anyone has touched me like this.

X x x

Sara has a distinctive gold fleck in her left eye.

I have never noticed it before. In all truth I don't think I have ever looked into them that closely, but now it's all I can picture: her passionate, mysterious eyes staring deep into my soul as she brought me to the edge of the world and back.

She hadn't said a word, but I got the feeling that she had been silently trying to tell me something last night.

She's still asleep, her peaceful expression facing me; slow deep breaths causing her chest to rise and fall beneath my hand.

I can't help but feel a little apprehensive about what might happen when she wakes up, but right now all I can think about is what happened before she fell asleep.

I can't help but wonder whether she felt the same thing I had. I can't put a name to it yet, but it wasn't something I have ever felt with anyone else.

X x x

Sara's POV

It takes me a moment to work out where I am. I blink, confusion clouding my mind as I realise I am higher off the ground than usual.

I turn, twisting and arching my back until it clicks. Satisfied, I roll over and realise why I am in Catherine's bed.

She is already awake; propped up against the railings, simultaneously running a lazy hand through my hair while reading a book.

"Morning." She greets, never tearing her eyes from the page.

"Hi." I stretch, shuffling upright and scanning the small space through hazy eyes.

"We're not allowed to leave." She explains before I can ask why we we're still locked down despite restless movement in the nearby cells. "Something to do with yesterday."

"Oh." I hum, not too bothered by the change in routine. I am generally happiest when no one can get to me anyway. "So, what do we do?"

"Wait for instructions." She declares, putting her book aside and turning her attention to me for the first time. Contrary to her calm demeanour, her eyes are nervous, shifting frenetically from my face to the bars and back again. "Sara…" she begins, licking her lips anxiously.

Just when I begin to think she isn't going to speak again, she darts forward and presses a chaste kiss to my lips.

"Thank you." She murmurs shyly, before clambering over me and dropping onto the floor.

X x x

Evidently the damage from the earthquake and ensuing riot was enough to close down the canteen for repairs.

As such, we are to remain in our cells all day. Not that either of us particularly cares.

You would think that after last night, being confined in close quarters with only each other for company would be awkward; but it was oddly comfortable.

We both know what last night was about and neither of us particularly wants to talk about it. Catherine was scared and in desperate need of comfort. I had provided what she needed, and now we can move on.

The bars open with a loud rattle and two trays are shoved inside before the gates come down again.

Apparently, breakfast is served.

We each pick up a tray and settle on the lower bunk to eat in companionable silence.

The gruel aside; it is contented, almost nice.

X x x

"Hey Cath?" I query, tilting my head to the side as I continue my work.

"Hmm?" She replies distractedly from the other end of the bottom bunk, her nose still firmly rooted in her book.

"Were you in here last Christmas?"

"No." She answers instantly. "Last Christmas I was sleeping on an old mattress on the floor and snorting cocaine through rolled up lottery tickets."

"Oh." That had not been the answer I was expecting and there isn't much else I can offer to that statement.

She lifts her eyes, flashing me a half-smile before putting her book aside and leaning forward, pulling her legs up to her chest and folding her arms across them.

X x x

Cath's POV

"Why'd you ask?"

"I don't know." She shrugs bashfully. "Christmas is coming up, I guess I'm just curious to know what it's like in here."

The innocent look of hope in her eyes almost makes me want to hug her, but I can't help but laugh.

"Honey, I don't think Santa visits the bad girls in here."

She drops her eyes back to her drawing, toying with the corner of the page sadly.

"I've never had a proper Christmas." She says at last. "This year was meant to be different."

Aside from the initial comments in her first couple of days, Sara hasn't spoken of her family. I have avoided pressing the issue, but if she is in a sharing mood I certainly am not going to miss an opportunity.

"How so?" I ask softly, inching carefully closer.

"I was saving up to visit my grandmother." She swallows hard, looking anywhere but at me. "She always used to make such a big deal of Christmas. I thought if I could save enough money to visit her, maybe we could do the house up like she used to when I was little. The tree, the decorations ... everything."

I watch her surreptitiously wipe away a stray tear and feel my heart twist in my chest. I reach out, gripping her hand like I had last night.

"There's always next year." I point out gently, although I'm sure it is of little comfort to her.