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Chapter 16: The Truth Becomes Known

It had been a week and Catherine's porch light was still on. Sara had become more withdrawn than ever around her co-workers and Catherine was just…sad. All the time. Grissom was angry and was not afraid to take it out on his CSIs. The boys were so confused.

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Nick was currently semi-snoozing on the couch and Warrick was sat next to him filling out paperwork. Grissom cringed at the caffeine-flavoured mud when Sara shuffled in looking ever so slightly nervous.

"Hi, Grissom have you got a minute?" she asked quietly. He had barely spoken to her and she was fine with that but now she needed his approval. "Could we go to your office?"

"No." He replied flatly. She sighed and decided to bite the bullet. She hadn't really wanted to do this in front of the guys but what the hell.

"Okay. I'd like to take some time off. I know I've got some vacation time stored up, I thought I'd go visit a friend in Florida, she needs some help moving." It wasn't a complete lie; she was going to visit Calleigh in Miami.

"No." He turned to leave without an explanation but a now wide-awake Nick stopped him.

"Wow, wait what? Come on Grissom, it's not like we're run off our feet here and when has Sara ever asked for time off?"

"It's okay Nick, it doesn't matter." Sara tried to diffuse the situation but it was to no avail.

"No Sara, it's not okay. Grissom, you've been in a mood for days and you've been taking it out on us, especially the girls. What gives man?" It was not often Nick got angry but when he did it wasn't pretty.

"Yeah, you know you, Cath and Sara have all been kinda weird around each other lately. What's going on?" Warrick joined in. Catherine made the mistaken decision to enter at this point and regretted it immediately when she felt the tension in the air. Greg bounced in behind her, seemingly unaware of anything amiss.

"What's going on?" She repeated Warrick's question uncertainly, glancing around at the awaiting faces. Nick and Warrick were watching Gil expectantly while Sara was hovering by the coffee pot looking like a cornered animal.

"You know Catherine, why don't you tell them? Huh, why don't you explain what's wrong?" he snarled.

"Gil, can we…talk. In your office?" She asked, chancing a glance at Sara who looked about ready to do a runner. Catherine had known Gil a lot longer than the rest of the team and knew that he used to have quite a temper. Although it was pretty much under control now it still slipped out every now and then and when it did it wasn't pretty, she wanted to spare the others that sight.

"No, I think they have the right to know what's going on. After all we are a team right? Let's show them what kind of team we are."

"Please don't do this." The timid voice drew everyone's attention to Sara who was on the verge of either fleeing or crying. Greg placed a caring arm around Sara's shoulders, a worried look on his innocent young face.

"Why? Don't want to tarnish your good girl image? Don't want them to let them think you're anything less than Little Miss perfect?"

"Gil stop!" Cath almost yelled. "Look, you're angry and upset, I get that okay. But if you want to take it out on someone, take it out on me alright because Sara has done nothing wrong." Grissom scoffed and shook his head. The guys all looked thoroughly baffled by now. "I cheated okay, is that what you wanted them to hear? I'm a lying cheating whore!" She shouted as tears sprung to her eyes, not caring that half the lab probably heard that. "I cheated on Gil, I cheated on him with Sara." She lowered her voice, staring at the floor because she couldn't face the shock and disappointment on the boys' faces. "And she didn't know, she didn't know anything alright so do what you want to me but do not punish her for my actions. I've already hurt her enough." Silent tears were streaming down Catherine's face as she looked up to try and read Sara's expression. Before she could the young brunette ran from the room, followed closely by Greg who shot Catherine a dirty look on his way out. Cath buried her face in her hands, unable to look at the boys.

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Greg eventually caught up with Sara in the locker room. "Jesus, you can run fast." He gasped, holding onto the doorframe for support. Sara had her back to him but he could clearly tell that she was crying. He stepped up to her and wrapped her in a friendly hug from behind.

"Why did she do it Greg? I would never have hurt her, why would she…" she couldn't finish the sentence before she broke down in tears, enclosed tightly in Greg's strong embrace.