Chapter 13: Backlash
When Lindsey came home from school that afternoon, dropped off by Nancy, the little girl found her mother crying on her bed; just like the night Eddie died. "Mommy?" She asked as she tiptoed into the room. Catherine sat up and hurriedly wiped away her tears, an effort in futility.
"Hi baby, did you have a good day?" she was not going to break down in front of her daughter.
"Mommy why are you crying?" The 7 year old climbed onto the bed and cuddled against Catherine.
"Oh it's nothing for you to worry about. Mommy just did something really bad and it's made some people she cares about very upset." Lindsey scrunched up her nose, not understanding but Cath assured her it was okay, despite the fact it was anything but. "Why don't you go start your homework okay, I'll be there in a little while to help." The mini blonde scampered off, leaving Cath alone in her thoughts. Or so she thought.
"So, you gonna tell me the truth?" She spun around to find her sister staring at her with a raised eyebrow. Busted.
X x x
"Oh Catherine!" Nancy knew that her big sister was hiding something, but an affair had not even crossed her mind.
"Please spare me the lecture, I can manage that myself thank you." Cath had her face buried in her hands with a cup of cold coffee in front of her.
"3 months! They must be heartbroken! How could you do that, to your own friends no less? After everything with Eddie, I never thought…"
"Thank you Nancy!" She had not expected sympathy or even understanding but her sister's less-than-helpful comments were doing nothing whatsoever to ease her guilt. "I just didn't know what to do, I couldn't hurt Gil but I couldn't end it with Sara. And I was scared to admit it but…I love her Nancy. More than I ever thought I could. This was never supposed to happen. It was just supposed to be a fling, I never in a million years thought I'd actually end up falling for the girl" Nancy's features softened a little.
"Well you're going to have to deal with it now. So what next?" She reached out and laid a hand over her sister's. Catherine shrugged.
"I've been calling Sara all day, she won't answer me." She moped desolately.
"Well I don't blame her. She's probably upset; just give her some space and she'll calm down." Their conversation was cut short by the noisy pattering of little feet.
"Mommy, Jeremy's cheating!"
"I was not!" Catherine turned away and tried to discreetly wipe away her tears again.
"You two play fair okay." Nancy interjected, saving her sister from having to answer.
"Is Sara coming over today? She promised me she'd help with my science project!" The little girl asked chirpily.
"I don't think so baby." Catherine smiled gently, trying to keep it together in front of the children but Nancy could see that it was a losing battle so ushered the children back into the living room.
"C'mon kids, back to the playstation. Winner takes on me!" With the kitchen to herself Catherine dropped her head onto the table miserably.
X x x
Later on, after Nancy and Jeremy had gone home, taking Lindsey with them, Catherine was sat on her couch staring at the phone when a noise interrupted her thoughts. Sitting bolt upright she listened closely as the roar got closer, stopping outside her house. She ran to the front door and threw it open in time to see Sara climbing off of her bike. She came back! Catherine's joy was short lived as the brunette stalked into the house past her with a bag slung over one shoulder. "I just came to get my stuff." Cath followed her upstairs and watched nervously as the younger woman tossed her clothes into the backpack.
"Sara you don't have to do this. We can still work this out, I promise we can! Please just listen to me for a minute." She begged to no avail. She was not going to let her girl go without a fight so everything Sara tossed in the bag Catherine took back out and placed on the bed, while still pleading with her to stay. Eventually Sara had enough and grabbed most of what was now piled up on the bed, hurled it into the bag and stalked downstairs, ignoring Catherine's pleas.
"Catherine there is nothing you could say that would make this better. You cheated on me! Anything you say I'll have heard before. I have to go. Give my love to Lindsey, ok?" She was nearly out of the door when Catherine grabbed the bag, halting the brunette's movements.
"I'll leave the light on. In case you come back." She whispered. Cath thought she saw Sara nod a little – it was small but it was there – before disappearing into the darkness. Catherine stayed there, on the doorstep in the dark, until she saw the light from the motorbike fade out. Until there was nothing but darkness left.
X x x
Catherine loved her job but on occasion she would give anything to not have to go into work. This was one of those occasions. Although she was dying to see Sara again, she did not want to have to face Gil.
When she got to the break room Grissom was not there yet. Thankful for that small mercy Catherine helped herself to a cup of coffee and sat down at the table opposite Sara who was avoiding her gaze. When the entomologist did eventually appear he looked tired and dishevelled, as if he had slept in his clothes, although Cath suspected he hadn't slept at all.
"Yo, Grissom man you look rough. You okay?" Warrick asked, putting down the playstation controller and standing up to receive an assignment. Grissom just nodded and held out a manila folder to him.
"Warrick you're with me. Nick, you and Sara have a decomp in the desert." He said, holding out another folder to Nick. Everyone except the girls missed the venom in his voice when he said Sara's name but the young CSI said nothing, just followed the Texan out. "That's it." He snapped before walking out, leaving Catherine alone once again.
