I'm Back
Chapter 16
Catherine sat by Sara's bed and held her hand and couldn't believe how much she had come to mean to her in such a short time. She always knew that she liked her and maybe even loved her but now that she knew the feelings were returned she has fallen head over heels in love with her. The only obstacle left is Lindsey. She doesn't have a problem with Mike and Jonathan but it's not the same as having your mother in love with another woman. She looked up at Sara and she didn't know what she would do if Lindsey couldn't accept things as they are. "Baby, we have to stop meeting like this. Let's put this whole thing behind us and run away and settle down in a little cottage somewhere with a white picket fence. Maybe we can move to California and buy a place on the beach and become bums." She looked into the face of the woman lying on the bed, a new bandage wrapped around her neck and there were bruises where his fingers had wrapped around her neck. There were also new bruises on her face and Catherine felt an anger so fierce it scared her. "If I ever get my hands on this asshole I will kill with my bare hands just like he tried to kill you." She took a deep breath before she continued speaking. "God do you have any idea how beautiful you are? I don't think you do and I don't think you have any idea what you do to me. I tell you what, that first day when you stuck your head in that lab you took my breath away. And that gap in your teeth is so adorable. I know you don't like it but I love it, it gives you a childlike quality when you smile. And that smile, you don't smile very often, I plan to change that by the way, but when you do smile it makes my knees go weak."
She pulled the chair closer to the bed and looked down at their joined hands and with her thumb she was softly stroking Sara's hand. "Do you have any idea how hard it has been for me to not say anything to you. I think one of the reasons I always fought with you was because it kept you at arm's length and it was easier for me to keep my heart from breaking. But god you are so sexy when you're yelling at me. During a few of our fights I had to leave because all I wanted to do is throw you up against the wall and kiss you until you could think straight. All that attention directed at me with those chocolate brown eyes smoldering, they would turn a shade darker than normal, I could imagine them looking like that during some hot and heavy make out session. I wanted to throw you across the nearest flat surface and take you right there."
"Cat stop. I can't take anymore." Came the quiet whisper from the bed.
Catherine's head snapped up to see Sara smiling down at her. "How long have you been awake?"
Sara's voice was barely above a whisper. "Long enough to know that if I'd let you go on much longer I would have pulled you up on this bed and let you have your way with me right here and now." She started to cough and winced in pain and she couldn't stop coughing.
"Do you need the nurse? Are you ok? What can I do? Sara baby can I help?" Sara just shook her head but continued coughing. When she still couldn't stop she pointed to the door and Catherine opened it and yelled. "Help! She can't stop coughing and she's in pain. Help!" The nearest nurse ran by her and helped Sara slowly sit up. She held her and slowly until Sara was able to take a breath and the coughing subsided. "What brought that on?" Catherine asked from behind the nurse.
"They had to intubate her during the surgery and sometimes there are some after effects from that. Sara try to drink this." She handed her a small glass of water and Sara tried to gulp it down. "No don't gulp just sip it or you'll be coughing again. There you go. Feel better?"
"Yes. Thanks." Her voice was still just a whisper. "Why did they have to intubate me?"
"There were some problems during the surgery and your breathing became very labored and you weren't getting enough oxygen so they felt it was the only option. You can ask the doctor more questions when he comes around later. How are you doing?"
"I think I'll be ok now. Thank you very much." He voice still wasn't more than a whisper. "Do you know when my voice will come back?"
"Be patient and give it time. Maybe in a few hours it will be ok. It will come back faster if you rest it and try not to talk."
"I'll make sure she rests it. If she starts coughing again is it best to just help her sit up like you did?"
"That should do it and give her sips of water." She turned to leave and shut the door as she left.
"So what do you want to talk about? Oops you can't talk. So how are the drugs? They said they'd have you on some good stuff for a little while." Sara gave her thumbs up sign. "So what was I talking about before you so rudely interrupted me by waking up, oh yeah throwing you down on the table."
"So not fair Cat."
"No talking. You have to just lay there and listen. Now where was I? Oh yeah what I wanted to do to you." She looked up at Sara and had to laugh at the look of pure frustration her face. "So is the frustration due to the subject matter or the fact that you can't talk? If you feel anything like I feel it's due to the subject matter." Sara nodded her head but then laid her head back and looked up at the ceiling. "Are you ok?" Catherine saw the tear slowly fall and run down Sara's cheek. "Oh sweetie I'm sorry I was picking on you, I didn't mean to make you cry." Sara shook her head vigorously until she realized it hurt her neck and she winced. "Baby, don't move anymore." Catherine carefully lowered the railing on the bed and climbed onto the bed next to Sara and took her in her arms. "My turn to return the favor. Just rest. Let me be strong for you." She felt Sara stiffen just the smallest amount but she didn't let go of her. "I know you are an extremely independent woman and from what little you've revealed about yourself I know you find it very hard to lean on someone. But let me do this baby. If not for you then for me. I need to hold you, I need to feel you next to me to know that you really are ok." She felt Sara's head nod against her chest. "Now go to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up." She lay down and rested Sara's head on her shoulder and held her as she had been held by Sara earlier. She felt Sara's breathing even out and she thought she may have fallen asleep so kissed the top of her head and whispered. "I love you, rest sweetie."
"Love you." Came the whispered reply from somewhere near her ear and she felt the gentle kiss on her neck. She couldn't get mad at her for talking when those were the words spoken. She rested their entwined hands over her heart and fell asleep.