AN: THANK YOU to my reviewers - you guys have no idea how much it means that you take the time to let me know your thoughts. Much appreciated. Hope everyone is doing well.
Take care and enjoy.
CHAPTER 4
CATHERINE POV
"Why are you being so weird about this?" I question Sara, throwing her a suspicious look.
"Weird about what?"
"Oh, I don't know, Sara," I shrug, "Maybe the fact that I just walked in on you and that guy from day shift about to get into a physical altercation."
A smile pulls at Sara's lips, her attention on the road in front of her.
"I wouldn't go that far."
I shake my head, wondering what planet she's on.
"He was yelling at you as if you were hearing impaired and you had your fists clenched so tightly you probably still have nail marks on your palms," I tell her bluntly. "You can pretend all you want, I know what I saw."
Sara shakes her head, not commenting, but knowing better than to contradict me.
"What the hell were you two so heated about, anyway?" I ask curiously.
Sara shrugs, changing lanes. "We had a bit of a disagreement about the schedule for this weekend."
"Really?" I question. "All that about a scheduling conflict?"
"He's passionate about his overtime."
"Sara," I groan. "Stop making a joke out of this."
Finally, Sara's expression shifts, her eyes glancing at mine.
"Catherine, it's fine. Really. There was a screw-up with the shift schedules, and we fixed it. It's not a big deal."
Taking my hand, she holds it tightly in hers, keeping her other on the steering wheel.
"Everything's fine, honey, I promise. Can we just forget about it and enjoy our evening?" she requests softly, chancing a look at me as she pulls into our drive.
Cutting the engine, she turns her body to mine. "Please?"
Looking at her expression, at her eyes that seem to always see right through me, I sigh.
Shaking my head, I know there is no point in trying to fight with her. And, she's right. There are much better ways to spend our evening than this.
"Fine," I tell her. "But only because I'm starving."
Sara laughs lightly, squeezing my hand.
"Thank you," she tells me sincerely before getting out of the car.
Entering the house, I throw my coat over the couch and immediately get a pot of water started on the stove.
Making her way into the kitchen, Sara raises a brow.
"You weren't joking about being starving."
"No," I shake my head, "I wasn't."
Staring at the pot, I try to will the water to start boiling with my mind. I want nothing more than to relax with a nice, steaming bowl of pasta. But, to do that, this damn water needs to come to a boil.
Smiling, Sara steps up to me, gently running her fingers down the side of my face. My attention instantly turns to her as her light touches send tingles down my spine.
Looking at her in question, she wordlessly leans forward and places a gentle but intense kiss on my lips.
Pulling back, she moves her lips to my ear.
"A watched pot…" she tells me, trailing off.
"Never boils…" I finish for her, my attention effectively hijacked as I find myself pulling her closer to me.
Her lips reacquaint themselves with mine, and I begin to seriously debate the idea of skipping dinner altogether.
But, something tells me Sara missed lunch again today as she was out at a scene most of shift, and I think we could both use some food and relaxation.
Pulling back, I give her a playful slap on the ass.
"Come on," I tell her, "Go get washed up and you can help me get the salads together."
Looking over, I see tiny bubbles starting to form in the water, light wisps of steam gathering along the surface and dissipating into the air.
Sara nods, disappearing from the kitchen.
A short time later, Sara and I have polished off our dinner, Sara offering to do the dishes while I head for a much needed shower.
I have removed my clothing and stepped under the warm spray when I hear Sara enter the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Glancing at the shower rack, I curse.
"Sar, can you do me a favor?" I ask over the noise of the water pounding against our stone flooring.
"Sure," she responds, rinsing the toothpaste from her mouth with water.
"I'm out of shampoo," I tell her. "Can you grab me a new bottle from under the sink?"
Sara bends down, getting the requested item before approaching the shower.
Sliding the glass door open, I reach out to take the bottle from her, my hand brushing inadvertently against hers.
Sara's gaze is respectfully on mine, and when my eyes meet her own, I suddenly feel my heart beat faster against my chest.
Neither one of us moves, both entranced in this moment, this inexplicable moment where we are the only two people who exist.
Without a conscious thought, I reach forward with my other hand, running it through Sara's hair.
Before I know what is happening, I feel my lips connecting with hers, water dripping unacknowledged to the bathroom floor below.
My breath catching, the kiss deepens, our tongues dueling for control as our free hands grasp tightly to one another.
Letting go of the shampoo bottle so that Sara is forced to hold it in her hand to prevent it from falling, I use my advantage to grasp her shirt tightly with both hands and pull her against me.
Reaching above my head, Sara shoves the shampoo bottle into the shower caddy before moving back down.
Letting out a gasp, I feel my bare back make contact with the cold tiles of our shower wall, Sara's hips flush against mine.
As I pull away for air, I hold Sara's face gently in my hands, watching as water falls from her dark lashes, her hazel eyes piercing mine.
"You're so beautiful," I tell her in a whisper, finding myself in awe of the woman standing before me.
Something crosses Sara's eyes, her expression shifting slightly before she reaches forward to run her thumbs across my cheeks.
"You have no idea what beauty is, Catherine," she says softly. "Not until you've seen yourself from my eyes."
Running her fingers down towards my neck and shoulders, I shiver under her gentle touch.
Leaning forward, she places her mouth near my ear.
"You define it," she whispers to me.
Pulling her head back again so that our gazes meet, I stare at her in amazement until I can no longer take it.
Reaching forward, I grab hold of her dark hair and let out a moan as our mouths crash together in a frantic and heated kiss.
Feeling her hands travel down my bare skin, I tremble as her cold fingers meet with the warm water falling against us.
Pushing my own hands under her sodden t-shirt, I grip her sides tightly.
"I'm sorry about your clothes," I mumble against her lips.
Feeling her smile, Sara simply moves further under the water's spray.
"I'm not."
NANCY POV
Pulling up to my sister's house, I grab my bag from the backseat and sling it over my shoulder.
Ascending the porch, I smile at the sight before me.
Lying together on the porch swing, my sister is held tightly in Sara's arms, her head resting on the brunette's shoulder and their legs intimately entwined.
Sensing me, Sara opens her eyes, giving me a smile.
"Hey," I call quietly.
Hearing my voice, Catherine stirs, burying her head further into Sara as her eyes tentatively blink open.
Confused, Catherine looks at me, then around her.
"Nancy?" she questions, suddenly very awake. "What are you doing here?"
Simply smiling at her, I don't say anything, causing her to direct her confused gaze to Sara.
Sara isn't really much help either, simply looking back at Catherine with a grin.
"What the hell is going on?" Catherine asks, sitting upright.
Readjusting her position, Sara sits up as well.
"Alright," Catherine demands. "One of you is going to tell me what the hell is going on here. Because right now you both look like little schoolgirls hiding a secret."
Sara snorts, standing wordlessly and taking my bag, moving to place it in the back of her Tahoe.
Narrowing her eyes at me, Catherine stands as well.
"Nancy…" she threatens, looking between me and Sara.
Raising my hands, I shake my head.
"Nope, sorry."
Stepping back up on the porch, Sara is caught completely off guard when Catherine grabs hold of her by the belt.
"So help me God," Catherine gets out, her eyes darting between the two of us. "Neither of you is moving another inch until you explain yourselves."
Raising a brow, Sara looks down at Catherine's hand at her waist before moving her eyes to me.
She doesn't say a word.
"Uh," I tentatively start. "We're going somewhere. On a trip. And you're coming."
"What?" Catherine questions, shaking her head. "What are you talking about?"
Neither Sara nor I comment further, causing my sister to change tactics.
"Fine, a trip," she states. "To where?"
Sara and I both shake our heads at the same time.
Groaning, Catherine tries again. "Fine. How long?"
This time, I answer.
"Two days. Today and tomorrow. We'll be back late tomorrow night."
Furrowing her brows, Catherine shakes her head.
"We have work," she says in confusion. "I'm off today, but I have work tomorrow."
"No, you don't," Sara pipes in, finally speaking.
Searching Sara's eyes, Catherine starts to grow less angry and more intrigued.
"And you don't either?" she asks tentatively.
Sara shakes her head. "Nope."
"We both have the next two days off?" she repeats, trying to believe what Sara is telling her.
"Yes," Sara confirms, watching as a smile breaks out onto Catherine's face.
"Alright," Catherine gives in. "The two of you can keep your little secret. I'm content simply in the knowledge that we all have the next two days off, and we are apparently going to get to spend it together. That's all I need to hear."
Smiling, I meet Sara's eyes, the brunette now sporting her own pleased expression.
"Perfect, we ready to go then?" I ask.
"I have to pack…" Catherine says, looking at me like I'm nuts.
"You already are," Sara tells her simply.
"I am?" my sister questions. "When did you…"
Shrugging, Sara smiles. "You're a very heavy sleeper."
Finally releasing her hold on Sara, Catherine moves her hand from her waist to place it gently across Sara's chest instead.
"Thank you," she softly says, pulling Sara in for a quick kiss.
Turning to me, she sends me a smile.
"Thank you both," she says sincerely. "I have no idea where the hell we're going or what I'm in for, but thank you. This was very sweet of you guys."
Simply nodding, Sara and I deflect her gratitude, making our way to the car and waiting silently for her to follow.
"Thank God for seatbelts," I mutter from my place in the backseat as Sara takes a turn at a rate of speed I'm confident isn't legal.
"Thank God for backseat drivers," Sara responds evenly.
Shaking her head, Catherine rolls her eyes, "Children, do I need to separate you two?"
"Yes," Sara and I both respond in unison, earning a snort from my sister.
Sara doesn't comment further, but she does, however, thankfully slow the car down slightly.
Perhaps now we will only flip half a dozen times if we hit something.
Deciding that the best tactic for facing my imminent death is to simply avoid it, I pull out my book and resume my story of how a troubled and dying alien species found respite from extinction in an uninhabited parallel universe.
You know you're jealous.
CATHERINE POV
Glancing behind me, I see that my sister has finally decided to stop harassing Sara about her slightly reckless driving style, and has her head now buried in a book.
Reaching over, I take one of Sara's hands in my own, resting them against the center console.
Eyes darting to the rearview mirror, Sara suppresses a smile.
"Be sure Miss Safety Town back there doesn't notice my hands aren't exactly in the ten and two o'clock positions," Sara says softly, the drone of the road drowning out her words so they won't reach Nancy.
Smiling, I give her hand a squeeze.
"She just isn't used to riding with you," I tell her. "And she isn't aware that you flew leer jets in a previous life."
Laughing, Sara rolls her eyes before getting serious. "I really can slow down, if it bothers you."
"Not at all," I tell her honestly, noting that she isn't really that much over the speed limit.
Sara, I know for a fact, saves her true reckless driving for when she's alone. If someone else is in the car with her, her driving can be considered downright tame.
"I trust you," I conclude simply.
Sara nods, her eyes scanning the scenery.
Looking around as well, I note the landscapes gradual change from barren desert to more lush and mountainous.
"You really aren't going to tell me where we're going?" I ask her, already knowing the answer.
"Nope," she responds.
"Well, I can tell we're headed northeast, so my guess is Colorado or Utah."
Sara shrugs, not commenting either way.
I shrug as well, "Doesn't matter," I tell her. "Just happy to be anywhere with you guys."
Sara smiles, squeezing my hand.
"Do I want to know what you had to do to get Ecklie to give you today and tomorrow off?" I ask, knowing with certainty Sara likely went through hell for this trip to work out.
"Let's just say I owe a couple people a couple favors," she states.
"That guy you were arguing with from day shift?" I ask with sudden understanding. "The 'scheduling problem' you two had?"
Sara lets out a smile. "Not so much a problem as the need for a slight readjustment. Really, no one needs a whole weekend off to watch golf on television."
"What do you owe him?" I question, almost afraid to know.
"My first born child."
My eyes widen with a snort at her unexpected response.
Sara shrugs, "He apparently doesn't know I'm sleeping with a woman."
Shaking my head at her, I can't help but laugh.
"You aren't going to tell me, are you?" I question.
"Nope."
"Fine," I reply, twining our fingers together. "Just know that I'm grateful, Sara."
Looking over, I let her eyes land on mine before she returns them to the road. I let her see my sincere gratitude, my appreciation for her actions that I do not have the words to express.
Simply tightening her hold on my hand, Sara nods.
"Anytime."
AN: Holy moly, everything seems to be going so well for our favorite characters...hmmm. ;) As always, thank you for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
