AN: Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Yes, I'm still alive. No, I haven't given up on this story. Not at all. In summary: My computer died right in the middle of preparing a presentation, I watched online videos regarding how to dismantle said brand of computer, dismantled said computer, removed harddrive, transferred harddrive into old computer, harddrive completely corrupted and unsalvageable, entire rest of story gone. The end. So, needless to say - it has taken me some time to try to recover what I now know is unrecoverable. Then it took me time to convince myself not to jump in the bathtub with my toaster. Then it has taken me time to start rewriting everything.

So, I apologize for the delay. But I do have every intention of continuing this story as planned. Not even a question. It may take some time and effort to rewrite everything, but you guys are more than worth it and more than deserve it.

Hope everyone is doing well. Here we go, back on the journey :)


CHAPTER 29


SOFIA POV

"Gun," I state, placing the item on my desk with a solid thud.

"Badge."

Sliding both across the wooden surface, Sara immediately picks them up, checking the safety on her weapon before placing both at her hip.

"Thanks," she tells me, glancing up just quickly enough to offer me a nod before making her way from my office.

Apparently Sara isn't looking to waste a single moment of her first shift back now that she's officially been cleared for duty.

"You're welcome," I mutter into my already empty office with a bemused shake of my head. "Welcome back."


CATHERINE POV

"Anything else?" I inquire in a tone that isn't particularly welcoming to further comments nor concerns.

A chorus of "no"s and silent head shakes fill the room.

"Then let's get to work," I suggest tersely.

Papers shuffle and chairs squeek as various members of the nightshift quickly make their way from the break room.

Rubbing my temples and letting out a sigh, I nearly jump out of my skin when a coffee suddenly appears on the table in front of me.

Looking up, I meet a pair of slightly amused hazel eyes.

"You want to talk about it?" Sara asks into the now empty room.

"Talk about what?"

"Oh, I don't know," she shrugs. "Perhaps your less than joyful approach to your job this morning?"

Letting out a breath, I lower my gaze.

"Just a bit out of sorts being back I guess," I offer.

When I look up, her expression has shifted, her gaze now watching me with no hint of her former amusement.

"I'm around," she tells me seriously, eyes warm and gentle. "If you decide you want to talk about whatever's bothering you."

Stepping around me, she gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze of support before she heads out to go to her scene.

Shit.


Dropping my case files loudly on my desk, I glare at the pile of papers currently residing in my inbox.

It's going to take most of shift just to sort through them all, let alone get anything else accomplished.

Hearing a knock on my door, I don't even look up.

"What?" I grind out.

"Oh, uh, sorry to bother you," is the hesitant reply.

"Get to the point, Greg."

"I have some results back on the samples you submitted last week," he tells me. "Where would you like them?'

"The inbox is a fine idea," I suggest none-too-kindly.

"Right," he mutters quietly, cheeks turning red as he places the papers along the top of the stack.

Leaving my office quickly, I watch his rapid retreat down the hall.

Forcing myself to take a calming breath, I pull out a pen.

Perhaps, considering my current mood, paperwork is the best thing for me today.

Sheets of paper don't get their feelings hurt when you snap at them for absolutely no good reason.


Glancing at my watch, I note the time.

Nearly twenty minutes past the end of shift, and I'm just now finishing going through the forms from the cases that were closed during my absence.

Glancing up, I catch a flash of blonde hair moving across the hall in front of my office.

Jumping to my feet, I step out into the lab, grabbing hold of the owner of the blonde hair by the arm and pulling her into an open doorway.

"How'd it go?" I question.

"Excuse me?" Sofia replies, eyebrows raised.

"You know what I'm asking you."

"The scene went fine, Catherine."

"Curtis..."

"Look," Sofia cuts me off tersely. "You asked me to look out for her, and I will. And not just because you asked, but because I consider her a friend."

Fixing me with a look, her eyes grow dark.

"But to be honest," she tells me lowly, "Sara isn't the one whose personal issues seem to be getting in the way of their work."

She sends me a purposeful look, one clearly suggesting I get my own shit together before I go worrying about other people.

"Now if you'll excuse me…" she states, eyes directed pointedly to my hand which is still firmly griping her arm.

Immediately letting go, I watch her give me one last glance before she steps back out into the hall and out of sight.


Entering the locker room, I see Sara setting her pager on the shelf of her locker, getting ready to head home just as I hoped.

Glancing over at my entrance, she looks behind me to be sure no one else followed me inside.

"Hey," she greets warmly as she pulls her shirt over her head, straightening the tank top underneath before grabbing a fresh one from her bag.

"Body dump at the water processing plant," she offers in explanation.

"They burned down your house."

Hands pausing their motion, she stands there, stock still, arms frozen with her shirt raised halfway towards her head.

After a few moments, Sara completes the action, tugging the material over her shoulders and into place.

Reaching forward, she takes hold of her keys.

"Sara?" I question. "Did you hear what I said?"

"I heard you," she replies.

"Sara," I call again, watching her tuck her keys in her pocket and close her locker door. "Honey, stop."

Finally looking up, her gaze meets mine.

"It's okay to be upset, sweetheart," I tell her, trying desperately to read her eyes.

Shaking her head, Sara lets out a breath.

"It is what it is," she says quietly. "There's no point in getting upset about it."

"I know how much you wanted that house to serve a purpose," I counter, hating to see her good intentions literally burned to the ground.

After everything that happened, Sara wanted only one thing from that house, and even that was taken from her.

I'm pissed, and I'm genuinely confused as hell as to why she isn't also.

Furrowing her brows, she shakes her head.

"It still can," she tells me.

Watching my confused and doubtful expression, Sara shrugs.

"The insurance payout on that thing is going to be amazing, Catherine."

A ghost of a smile lights her face, and I find myself marveling at the woman standing before me. The woman who has been through so much darkness in her life, yet always finds a way to see through to the light.

Always finds a way to help those around her see through to the light as well.

"What will you do with the money?" I ask, trying to refocus my emotions. I know Sara well enough to know she won't keep a penny of it.

"Not sure," she answers honestly. "But I have a couple ideas."

Watching me closely, she quirks her head to the side.

"Is this what you've been so upset about today?" she asks me, eyes furrowed in concern.

"Yes," I admit quietly. "I didn't know how to tell you."

"Catherine," she breathes out, taking a slight step closer to me. "You should've just told me. I hate the idea that you've been so upset about this."

"The things those articles said, Sara," I breathe out, having a hard time meeting her eyes. "About that house…about you…"

I shake my head darkly. "They don't know you."

"No," she agrees. "But they knew my family."

"Sara-" I start, but she cuts me off with shake of her own head.

"The town wanted to move on, didn't want me to entertain any thoughts of moving back in there."

She shrugs.

"It's over," she tells me. "For better or worse, that retched thing is gone. Now maybe we all can move on."

Closing my eyes, I take a moment to collect myself, collect my emotions.

When I open them back up again, Sara's hazel gaze is still on mine, her eyes gentle and sincere.

Stepping forward, I close the remaining distance between us, placing my hands along her hips.

"You amaze me," I tell her, voice barely a whisper. "Your kindness, your selflessness, your everything. You amaze me…"

Reaching out, Sara runs her thumbs gently across my cheeks, wiping at tears I didn't even know were there.

"Yeah?" Sara questions, her own voice a whisper, her own eyes wrought with emotion. "Then maybe someday I'll be half the woman that's standing before me."

Leaning forward, she places a soft, gentle kiss along my temple, her lips remaining near my ear.

"I still love you, too, Catherine," she whispers into my hair, finally responding to the words I spoke to her days before. Words that have, until now, gone unanswered. "I will always love you."

Closing my eyes, I feel new tears trace pathways down my cheeks, this time neither one of us making a move to wipe them away.


AN: Thanks for reading.