Ok folks this is the final chapter. Thank you to all of you who sent reviews, they are what keep me writing. They also make me feel good. Hope you like the ending. Enjoy.
Chapter 37
Sara was bouncing Lindsey up and down as she sat on her shoulders. Lindsey was loving every minute of it and if Sara was honest with herself she was too. She had never thought of herself as maternal and she was surprised at how fast those feelings developed, but she knew that the little girl on her shoulders had wormed her way into her heart. "Hey little bit do you want to go see the monkeys?"
"Monkeys!" She bounced faster and kicked her feet excitedly. "Let's go see the Monkeys!"
"Sweetie be careful you don't want to accidently kick Sara's face. She doesn't need any new bruises."
Lindsey leaned down from Sara's shoulders until she was almost hanging upside down so she could look Sara in the eyes. "Did I kick your face Sara?"
"You're getting close so let's be careful ok?" She looked up at Lindsey as she spoke.
"Ok Sara I will try to be careful, why don't you hold my legs tighter and if they get close to your face you can pull them away. How does that sound?" Lindsey was still bending over looking into Sara's face and Sara reached up and grabbed her under her arms and pulled her down.
"That sounds like a plan Stan."
"Who's Stan?" Lindsey asked then she giggled when Sara started to tickle her.
"Nobody it just rhymes with plan." She stopped tickling Lindsey and took her hand as they headed towards the primate cages.
"Like see ya later alligator?" Lindsey looked up at Sara.
"Exactly! After while crocodile, slip out the back Jack, hop off the bus Gus, just drop off the key Lee, no need to be coy Roy." Lindsey was giggling by the time Sara finished talking. Catherine watched the interaction between the two of them and was a bit surprised by the way Sara was able to play with Lindsey. She'd seen a little of this playful side over the past week and she was glad that it was extended to Lindsey too. She looked up into Sara's eyes and saw that she was staring at her and her face had gone serious. "Are you ok Cat?"
Catherine smiled to ally her fears and reached over and took her free hand. "I'm just fine, I was just a bit surprised at this playful side of you with Lindsey."
Sara leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. "No more than I am. I feel like a kid again, let me rephrase that. I feel like the kid I should have been. Maybe I'm living my childhood vicariously through Lindsey."
"Go ahead, I enjoy seeing this side of you and my little munchkin there is having the time of her life. Right sweetie?"
"If that means having fun then yes I am having the time of my life." She moved to Sara's other side so that she was between Catherine and Sara then reached up to take both of their hands and pulled them both forward. "Now come on, once we get to the monkeys I'll be much happier." She turned around and skipped backwards but still held onto their hands.
"Hey little bit did you know that primares have been around for 66 million years?" Sara asked as she put Lindsey back on her shoulders so she could get a better look at the monkeys in the primate enclosure.
"Is that older than you and Mommy?" She once again leaned down so that she was face to face with Sara.
Catherine sputtered and Sara choked on the sip she had just taken of her soft drink. "Yes sweetie that is older than Sara and I, much older." Catherine made eye contact with Sara and they both started laughing again. Lindsey started kicking and bouncing as they got closer to the enclosure. "Careful sweetie, watch the feet."
"Oops sorry, did I get close again Sara?" She leaned down again.
"You keep leaning down like that and one of these times you're going to go tumbling head over heels." Sara craned her neck back so she could look at Lindsey.
"You won't let that happen." Lindsey said it with utmost certainty and a hint of what Catherine realized was hero worship.
Sara got choked up for a whole new reason. She hoped she could live up to Lindsey's expectations and all of the sudden she felt the weight of it on her shoulders. She looked to Catherine for reassurance and the smile on her face helped a little. "Don't let her scare you. The first time she looked at me that way scared the crap out of me. That was the day she was born. I realized that this little girl was totally dependent on me for everything and the burden almost knocked me down. That's when I think I finally grew up. You get used to it after a while." Catherine went up on her tip toes to kiss Sara and then pulled Lindsey's head down and kissed her too. "I love you munchkin."
"Love you too Mommy. Sara what kind of monkey is that one?" She pointed to the largest ape in the enclosure.
"They're called primates but you can still call them monkeys and that is Brutus, he is a Western Lowland Gorilla. They are the largest of the primate family."
"Are they a family just like us?"
Catherine was watching Sara out of the corner of her eye to see how she was going to react. "Yes sweetie, just like us."
"Do they have two Mommies like me or two daddies like Jonathan and Mike's puppy?"
Sara was too stunned to answer and it shocked her at how good hearing Lindsey refer to her as her mother felt. It made her realize how much she really did want to be her mother. She looked at Catherine and saw tears in her eyes. Her first reaction was fear that Catherine finally realized she didn't like Lindsey thinking of her as her mom and that was why she was crying. Then Catherine smiled the most beautiful smile she had ever seen and she was able to relax. "They could have two Mommies like you do but they probably have a Mommy and a Daddy."
"See those two over in the corner?" Sara pointed to the mother and baby in the corner.
"Is that the Mommy?"
"Yes, the baby was born a month ago and her name is Sandy. The Mom's name is Poppy. And they spend most of their day in the corner. Poppy holds her against her stomach until the baby id strong enough to walk on her own. Sandy's not quite ready to run around on her own yet but they do take walks around the enclosure a couple of times a day. Mom is teaching her what she needs to know to survive on her own. Just like your Mom is doing for you."
"Gee you know a lot Sara. You're real smart."
As Lindsey was talking Sara watched as a man began to approach them and she smiled at him. She reached up and lifted Lindsey off of her shoulders and handed her to Catherine. He looked to be in his early 40's and was a bear of a man. When he was about 3 feet away he stopped and inspected her from head to toe. "Damn girl you look like shit."
"Watch your language Artie there's a child present." She pointed over her shoulder towards Catherine and Lindsey.
"So is this the reason you haven't been by lately?" He gestured toward her body. "Or is that?" He gestured toward Lindsey and Catherine then opened his arms and Sara launched herself into his bear hug.
Catherine stood back and watched this exchange in total confusion. Who was this man and why was he hugging Sara? Sara turned around to Catherine and reached for her hand. "Catherine this is Professor Artimis Alexander, he is the local primate expert. Artie this is Catherine and the little bit at her side is her daughter Lindsey." Lindsey hid behind Catherine and Catherine didn't blame her, he had to be one of the biggest men she had ever met. If it weren't for his smile she would be afraid of him. Sara knelt down so she was at Lindsey's level. She whispered into Lindsey's ear. "He's more afraid of you than you are of him." She reached out and picked her up and slowly walked back towards Artie. "He's the guy who takes care of all of these animals little bit."
Artie smiled as he watched his friend with the most adorable child he had even seen. Then he looked to her mother and knew where she got the good looks and also new she was going to be as much of a looker as her mother was now. "Is this 'the' Catherine?" He laughed as Sara blushed. "Oh, Sara if I had a couple of fine women that looked like that by my side then I would not be spending time with dirty old primates and their gay keeper either." He reached out and tickled Lindsey.
"I'm not a woman I'm a little girl. Can I visit them up close?" Lindsey said between giggles.
"Yes you are a little girl but have you been a good girl? If you've been a good girl I might be able to get you a little closer to the monkeys."
"They aren't monkeys they're primates. That's what Sara says they are." She turned to Sara with a big smile.
"And as usual Sara is right. It seems my best student is doing as all good students should do and is passing along what she learns. Although sometimes I wonder who is teaching who with this one here."
"Sara you didn't say you were back in school." Catherine turned to her with a slightly hurt look on her face.
"Oh beautiful Catherine you misunderstand. I work here at the zoo every day and for many days I see this beautiful woman sitting and watching the monkeys for hours on end so one day I decide to see what she is doing. I walk over and sit down next to her on that bench over there." He pointed to the bench behind them. "And what do you think she is doing? She is drawing these wonderful pictures of my monkeys. Ask her to show them to you, they are exceptional. Soon we were talking about the monkeys and after a few more visits we became good friends." He turned to Sara and became serious. "I was getting a little worried about the fact that you haven't been around these past few weeks and it appears from the looks of you I was right to worry. What the hell…I mean heck happened to you." He reached up and tenderly stroked her cheek. "Did you land any punches at all?"
"It's all her fault." Sara said as she pointed to Catherine with a smile. "We'll tell you all about it when there aren't little ears around ok?"
"Are you talking about the monkey's ears? They sure are small on the baby aren't they? Mister can we get any closer I sure would like to see them up close?" Lindsey turned her smile on Artie and he knew he was lost. "Pleeeease?"
"Look Catherine she already has him wrapped around her little finger in all of 5 minutes." Sara reached back for Catherine's hand again and pulled her into a hug. "Just like her Mother has me wrapped around hers." She kissed Catherine on the temple.
Catherine looked up at her and smiled. "Oh like my daughter doesn't have you wrapped around hers too." Catherine then turned to Artimis. "So how long have you and Sara known each other?"
"Well she started showing up about 9 months ago and we've been friends for most of that time."
"Are you really a Professor?" She was warming to this jovial giant of a man.
He roared back with a laugh that came from his belly. "Oh yes I am, Oxford as a matter of fact. Came to the states and taught on the east coast for many years before I came here to Las Vegas to save the poor lost souls through academia and became one myself. I gave up teaching at the college and came here much like Sara did and found a home. I love taking care of the monkeys and they give back more than I ever thought they would." As he was talking he was slowly leading them behind the primate enclosure into a back room. "Sara do you want to do the honors?"
"Sure Artie." She reached for the pail then opened the door to the enclosure.
"Sara, where are you going? Artie you can't let her go in there alone!" Catherine was frantic.
Sara shut the door and walked back to Catherine and took her face in her hands. "Watch through that window there." She pointed to the window that looked out into the enclosure. "It's amazing, just watch, its ok. I've done it numerous times. Artie wouldn't let me go out there if it wasn't safe. And if anything happens he's right here to help me." She kissed her soundly and headed back for the door and opened it then walked in to the enclosure. "Hey Poppy, its Sara how are you and Sandy doing today?" She slowly walked over in front of the two of them then sat down so she could see both of them but still keep an eye on the rest of the monkeys. Catherine watched in fascination as Sara fearlessly sat down next to the gorilla that was easily twice her size and weight. The three of them were able to hear everything she was saying and Lindsey's eyes were as big as saucers as she watched Sara interact with the mother gorilla. "So Poppy have you missed me? Sorry I haven't been by to see the two of you but something came up. I have some friends behind the door that would like to get to know Sandy can I take her to visit them?" Poppy scooted over next to Sara, Catherine gasped when she saw Poppy put her free arm around Sara and pull her closer to her.
She didn't even realize that she was holding her breath until Artie moved closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "Watch, she has a way with them. She was actually the first human that Poppy would let touch Sandy. We were trying to get her to let us take Sandy to give her a check up and she would not release her to anyone. Before she was born Sara would spend long hours before the zoo would open in the morning just sitting with her in her birthing room. She was there when Sandy was born. The vet had her leave when it was time to remove Sandy because the mother's usually get upset the first time and she didn't want Sara to get hurt. Poppy still would not let the baby go. Sara entered the birthing room and sat down with Poppy and after about 5 minutes Poppy actually handed Sandy to her without Sara even having to ask her. Sara just sat there holding the newborn baby and when she started crying Poppy actually consoled her. When Sara stood up with the baby Poppy let her leave without making a noise. Just watch. She's amazing." Catherine never took her eyes off of Sara and actually laughed when she realized that Poppy was grooming Sara as she would another monkey and Sara just sat there. The next thing that happened surprised her even more, Sara sat up on her haunches and started picking through Poppy's hair as Poppy had just done to her. "This is how she gains her trust. She treats her as an equal as she has from the very beginning and Poppy knows that."
Sara sat back down and handed Poppy one of the apples from the bucket then moved her fingers and Catherine realized she was speaking in sign language. "What else don't I know about her? I had no idea." Artie realized she was talking to herself and kept quiet. Catherine watched as Sara continued to talk to Poppy.
"She sat with me while I was teaching sign language to Poppy and she learned along with her. She usually establishes the rapport verbally then switches to sign language. It shouldn't be long now." Sure enough not 10 minutes later Poppy placed Sandy in Sara's lap and Sara held the baby to her chest. She signed something and then Catherine watched as Poppy stood up and walked away leaving Sara alone with Sandy. Sara slowly stood up and turned towards the door and looked up and made eye contact with Catherine and her face broke out with a beautiful smile. Catherine wondered how this woman could think she would never be good with Lindsey. Artie turned around to Lindsey before Sara opened the door. "Hey Lindsey, you have to be very quiet and still so you don't scare the baby ok?" Lindsey nodded as she watched Sara walk through the door.
Sara sat down on the floor and motioned for Lindsey to walk over to her. Lindsey tiptoed over to her and Sara pulled her down on to her lap across from Sandy. Lindsey tentatively reached out to touch Sandy. "She's so soft." She whispered up at Sara.
"Put your finger in her mouth just a little bit." Sara reached for her finger and put it in Sandy's mouth and waited for Lindsey's response. She wasn't disappointed when she made eye contact with the little girl.
"She's sucking my finger. Mommy she's sucking my finger. Does that mean she's hungry? Can I feed her?" Artie came forward with a bottle and handed it to Sara. Sara took the bottle and handed it to Lindsey and watched as she removed her finger and put the bottle in Sandy's mouth. Sara knew what would happen so she put her hand over Lindsey's and made sure the bottle didn't drop once the baby grabbed on. Lindsey giggled when the bottle was almost ripped out of her hand at the force with which Sandy was sucking on the bottle. "She must really be hungry. Mommy was I ever this bad?"
"Oh sweetie you were worse." Catherine looked down at her two favorite ladies and knew she would never forget what Sara had done for her daughter. She also knew that Lindsey would never forget it either. She felt tears come to her eyes at the look of pure awe on Lindsey's face as she fed the small monkey. Sara carefully moved the monkey from her lap to Lindsey's and if it was possible Lindsey looked even more excited but she still held it in check so she didn't scare Sandy.
"Hey Artie can you take over for me for a minute?" She stood up and whispered something to Artie and he hesitated for a minute then nodded his head. Sara walked over to Catherine and once again took her face between her hands. "Do you trust me?" Catherine could only nod. "Can you be patient and sit as still as I did out there?" Catherine nodded again. Sara took her hand and led her out to the same spot in the enclosure and they sat down. "Just wait for them to come to you."
"Them?" Catherine looked to her with fear in her eyes.
Sara laughed quietly. "I don't know which ones if any will come by to say hi. I'm sure Poppy will come by to visit. Gorillas don't normally attack humans unless provoked. They are mostly all bark and no bite. They are normally non-aggressive animals."
"Normally?" Catherine asked with less fear this time. "So we just sit here?" She was starting to relax as she watched the interaction between the monkeys. "This is amazing Sara, thank you. You are a constant surprise." She leaned over and kissed Sara but pulled away when she heard some grunting behind her.
Sara started laughing when she saw Poppy come up behind Catherine. "Just sit still now and let her check you out. Don't tense up she'll sense it and think you're scared."
"I am scared."
"Trust me Catherine she will not hurt you." Sara had to laugh as Poppy sniffed Catherine's hair then started to pick through it.
Catherine whispered to Sara. "Why do you get to laugh and I have to hold still?" Catherine was beginning to realize what was happening and it finally dawned on her that she was sitting with a gorilla. She looked over to Sara and saw the smile on her face and knew she was in no danger. She decided to sit back and enjoy the experience.
"I get to laugh because Poppy already knows me now she's getting to know you. You'll know when you are accepted." Sara looked around and saw that a few of the others were getting curious and they started inching closer. "This one here is Benjy, he's one of my favorites. Hey there Benjy how ya doing today?" He came over and sat next to Sara and took her hand and placed it over his heart. "I've missed you too little buddy." She said as she repeated the gesture by taking his hand and covering her heart with it. "I brought a friend, her name is Catherine." She turned to Catherine. "Most of the sign language is the same sign language you would learn if you were deaf or talking to someone who is deaf but there are some signs that are uniquely used with these guys."
"You are a constant surprise Sara Sidle. What else don't I know about you?"
"I guess you'll just have to keep me around so you can find out huh?" Sara watched as Poppy inched closer to Catherine and she was waiting for the moment. She didn't have to wait long. Catherine gasped as Poppy wrapped Catherine in a big hug and rubbed her chin on the top of Catherine's head. Sara started laughing so hard she fell over on to her side and she laughed even harder when Benjy imitated her and rolled on his side howling. "Put your arms around her too." Catherine put her arms around the big gorilla and hugged her. She looked around and realized the other monkeys were coming closer and took her cue from Sara and did what she did. "This is how I learned from Artie. I would sit here for hours after work and let the monkeys get to know me."
"So is this why you never wanted to go out to breakfast with us?"
"That was only part of it. The main reason was I couldn't sit there with you and pretend I was having fun watching Warrick flirt with you. But these guys made me feel needed." She held up her hand when Catherine started to say something. "It's ok I know now how things really were. Be ready Zeus is on the way over. He's just a big kid." Sara stood up as a fairly large gorilla approached them. "Zeus my man how are you?" Catherine was surprised when he held up his hand and Sara gave him a high five then laughed even harder when Sara lowered her hand and he gave her a low five. But the funniest part of all was when he held his hand up again but moved it away quickly when Sara tried to give him a high five then let out an almost human laugh. "Still faster than ever huh Zeus?" He pulled Sara into a big hug and actually lifted her feet off the ground. "Cat you ready to head back in? Poppy needs her baby back."
"How can you tell?" Catherine looked over to see Poppy starting to almost frisk Sara. "Is she patting you down looking for her baby? Oh that's so cute. Let's go. Do I need to move slowly again?"
"Maybe the first time, next time we can run around with them and play. We'll have to leave Lindsey home because I don't want her in here and have one of these guys mistake her for a baby then become possessive." Sara took Catherine's hand and they headed for the door. She stopped at the door and turned back to the enclosure. She signed 'Good bye' to all of them then turned around and opened the door for Catherine. "Hey little bit Poppy wants her baby back can I have him?" She reached down and gently lifted the sleeping monkey out of Lindsey's lap. Lindsey's lower lips started to tremble and Sara knelt back down next to her. "Oh baby don't cry, we'll come back all the time and we can watch this little one grow up ok?"
"Can I hold her again like I did today?" Sara looked to Artie and he nodded.
"As long as she will let you. In another couple of weeks she'll start walking and then running and then she becomes more independent so it might be harder to get her to sit still but we'll come back often while she's still a baby so she can get to know you."
Sara walked back into the enclosure and returned Sandy to her anxious mother. When she walked back into the room she was almost knocked over by an over exuberant Lindsey she reached down and picked her up and rested her on her hip. "Thank you so much Sara! I want to grow up and take care of monkeys just like Artie does. I want you to teach me how to talk to them with my fingers like you did. Do I just wiggle them like this and they will understand me?" She wiggled her tiny fingers in front of Sara's face.
"I will teach you how to talk to them starting right now. Hold up your hand and spread your fingers like this." Sara held her hand up with her fingers spread wide. Lindsey did the same thing and Sara reached up and curled the middle two fingers down then held hers up to mirror Lindsey's. Catherine felt a tear roll down her cheek at what Sara was signing to her daughter.
"What does that mean Sara?" Lindsey looked at her fingers then back at Sara.
Sara had to clear her throat before she could answer. "It means I love you little bit."
Lindsey threw her arms around Sara's neck. "Now you have to be my Mommy because I love you too."
Sara looked over Lindsey's back at Catherine then at Artie. "Artimis Alexander don't you dare cry on me or I will start crying too."
"How can I not cry? The last hour has been one of the best hours I have spent here at this zoo. Watching Poppy have her baby was touching but nothing compared to what I've witnessed with the three of you. If you weren't a family when you came here today you are definitely going home a family."
Sara whispered something to Lindsey and they both giggled as they walked towards the big man. Sara handed Lindsey to Artie and the two of them enveloped him in a bug hug. Lindsey held up her little hand then reached up and folded down the two middle fingers then held them up in front of Artie's face. Then she kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry Artie we'll be back to visit lots and lots ok?"
"Oh my god you are going to be a little heartbreaker. Take her home Sara before I kidnap her and take her home myself." He handed Lindsey back to Sara then turned to Catherine. "Please come back any time, I will always be somewhere near this enclosure. You don't have to bring the big one with you but you better bring little miss thing with you so we can visit. The big miss thing knows she is always welcome here but now you know you two are welcome here too."
Catherine walked over and gave him a big hug. "Thank you Artie, thank you for giving my daughter a day she will never forget. I know that I will always remember what I felt today. Can you come to our house for dinner one night soon?"
"It would be my pleasure. Now take your family and head on home. I think your little one will be asleep soon after you leave here."
"How much do you want to bet she doesn't even make it to the car?"
"Don't take that bet you'd lose, I don't think she'll make it out the front gate." Catherine looked over to see that Lindsey's head was already lying on Sara's shoulder.
Catherine walked over to Sara. "Why don't you let me carry her, you have to be hurting and she gets heavier after she falls asleep."
"That's ok babe I've got her. See ya Artie. I may not be by as often but you won't be able to keep us away after today."
"Can you at least keep yourself out of trouble and stay safe? If you can do that and I know you have sweet Catherine and lovely Lindsey taking care of you at home then I will rest easy and not worry about you."
"Oh she will be well taken care of I can assure you." She wiggled her eyebrows and laughed as Artie actually blushed. "You are too much Artimis. We'll call you to make a date for dinner ok? Let's go Sara." Catherine watched as Sara gently placed Lindsey in the car seat and buckled her in. "I'll drive, you rest."
"You'll get no arguments from me." Sara sat in the passenger seat and leaned her head back. "Did you have a good time today? Maybe we'll go back when we can see more of the zoo."
"I had the best time ever. And I don't think you will be able to get Lindsey past the monkeys from here on out. I have never seen my daughter happier in her life. Thank you for that."
"It was my pleasure Catherine, I wanted to share something special with you and Lindsey."
"Oh it was very special and that little girl back there will never forget what you did for her today." Catherine pulled into the driveway and hurried around to the back of the car so she could get Lindsey before Sara had the chance. "I'll put her to bed then we can sit on the couch and snuggle."
"Oh that does sound good to me." Sara followed Catherine upstairs and watched her lay Lindsey down and get her ready for bed. She felt an overwhelming sense of calm wash over her. This is what it should be like every night. This felt so right. She turned around and headed back downstairs. Catherine came downstairs and found Sara looking in the refrigerator. "Hey Cat we're out of milk so I'm just going to run around the corner and pick some up. I'll be right back ok?"
"Why don't you let it wait until morning then you can go?"
"Lindsey will want her cereal in the morning so let me pop out and get it now."
Catherine walked over and gave Sara a kiss. "And you thought you wouldn't be good at this parenting thing. You're great with her and I think she'll be good for you too."
"I think so too. I'll be right back. I love you Catherine."
"I love you too Sara. Hurry back and I just might show you just how much I love you." Catherine wiggled her eyebrows and winked as Sara headed out the door at a run.
Five minutes after Sara left Catherine heard Sara's phone ringing and found it sitting on the coffee table. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Jim Brass so she answered it. "Hey Jim what's up?" Her smile immediately disappeared at his tone of voice.
"Catherine where's Sara?"
"She ran around the corner to the store to pick up some milk why? What's wrong?"
"Trainor and another inmate escaped about two hours ago and no one knows where he is."
"How the hell did that happen?" As she was speaking she headed for her closet and took out her gun and chambered a round and was heading out the door.
"They both appeared to be sick so they took them in an ambulance to Desert Palms and on the way they were able to overpower the guard and driver and they took off in the ambulance."
"I've got to go Jim." She hung up the phone without waiting for his response and took off at a full out run. She rounded the corner in time to see the ambulance pull up beside Sara. "Sara! Run! Get away from the ambulance now, it's Trainor!" Catherine stood directly in front of the ambulance and took aim at the driver and pulled the trigger. She watched as Trainor grabbed Sara and pulled her into the back of the ambulance. She ran around the back and aimed the gun at Tim Trainor. "Let her go. This time you are not going to get off as easy as the last time. This time I you're a dead man." She looked at Sara's still form on the gurney. "What did you do to her?"
He held up a needle. "Just a little injection of morphine. Well maybe not a little, actually it was quite a lot so I hope she doesn't overdose."
Catherine didn't hesitate when she pulled the trigger and watched as the bullet hit him square between the eyes and he fell over backwards. She climbed up into the ambulance and knelt beside the gurney. "Sara come on baby wake up." Catherine heard the sirens but refused to move away from Sara. "Sara, it's over and he'll never bother you again." Catherine looked up as Brass ran to the back of the ambulance and took in the scene.
He took out his radio. "Officer down. I need an ambulance at the corner of Anisette and Cabana." He put the radio in his pocket then climbed into the ambulance with Catherine. "Is she ok?"
"He said he gave her morphine, a lot of morphine, she may be overdosing. What do we do Jim?"
"We wait for the ambulance and let them do their jobs." He looked at Trainor's body then through the opening to the driver in the front seat. "Looks like you've been busy."
Catherine looked down and saw that Sara was starting to wake up and let out a sigh of relief. She then looked at Trainor and the driver. "I guess you could say that."
"Cat where's Lindsey?" Sara whispered from the gurney.
"Ok shit she's at the house sleeping!"
"Did you at least lock the door?" Sara was starting to recover and she sat up. She looked to the floor and saw Trainor's body. "Guess you took care of him didn't you?"
"Yeah I did. But I think we're locked out of the house because in my hurry to get to you I left my keys on the coffee table."
Sara reached up and took Catherine's hand. "That's ok babe I have my set. Let's go home." Just as she said it the ambulance pulled up behind them.
"First let's make sure you're ok."
"I'm fine Cat." She tried to stand up but fell back onto the gurney. "What the hell did he hit me with?"
"He said he injected you with morphine. How do you feel?"
"Woozy but other than that I think I'm ok. I feel kind of like I did at the hospital. Let's get out of this ambulance so they can process it."
"Let me help you up ok?"
Brass helped Catherine get Sara to the other ambulance then called for the coroner. "Catherine you know I'm going to have to take your gun while we investigate. Sure looks like a righteous shoot to me. They tried to run you over with the ambulance so you shot the driver then Trainor came after you with the syringe after he already injected Sara. Both shots were in self defense. Is that how it went down?"
"Sure that sounds about right. I'll come by in the morning and submit my report ok?"
"That works for me, go take care of your girlfriend then get home to your daughter."
"Thanks Jim and thank you for calling to warn Sara. You saved her life."
"No you saved her life I just gave you the heads up."
"Well either way she's going to be ok and Trainor will no longer be lurking in the back of our minds. See you in the morning." She stepped up into the other ambulance where they were checking Sara's vital signs. "Is she going to be ok?"
"It looks like she's going to be fine. It doesn't look like she was overdosed so in a few hours she will be fine."
"Thank god, can I take her home?"
"Sure, just keep an eye on her for the rest of the night while the morphine works its way out of her system."
"Oh we've dealt with this before so I think we'll do fine. Sara are you ready to go home?"
"Yes Catherine, take me home."
THE END!