AN: Thank you to all those who reviewed - your kind words and support never cease to amaze me.

Hope everyone is doing well. Take care and enjoy.


CHAPTER 31


CATHERINE POV

Sitting up slowly, I reach over in the darkness, hand coming to rest gently against her back.

Feeling her tremors, I keep my touch light, fingers softly trailing across her shoulder blades.

"You alright?" I ask in a whisper, not knowing why I'm afraid to shatter the silence that was already broken minutes before by the sounds of her screams.

"Yeah," she breathes out, hand running through tangled hair as she drags in a ragged breath. "I'm sorry, Catherine."

"Stop," I counter, cutting short her apology, just like I have the last two nights this has happened.

Shaking her head, the tense set to her shoulders lets me know she's going to keep beating herself up inside whether I allow her to voice her feelings or not.

Sitting with her in the darkness, I wait until I feel her breathing even out.

"You think you can get back to sleep?" I ask her, fingers running across the soft cotton material of her shirt.

"Sure," she offers, voice distracted and anything but convincing.

"Come on," I call softly, pulling her gently down with me.

Leaving the blankets at our waists, I hesitate only a moment before placing my arm protectively around her. With my free hand, I reach up and run my fingers softly through her dark hair.

"Close your eyes, sweetheart," I instruct quietly after a few minutes, watching her hesitate as her body remains stiff beneath my hands.

Keeping my fingers moving slowly through her hair, I continue to watch her.

"Close your eyes, Sara."

Eventually, after nearly ten more minutes of silence, I feel Sara's body slowly start to relax beneath my touch. Another five and she has finally lowered her guard enough that exhaustion pulls at her eyelids.

She fights sleep hard, but it's soon a lost battle as her fatigue leaves her no choice but surrender.

Eyes closing and breathing evening out, I watch her for a little while longer, only allowing my own eyes to close when I'm sure Sara's sleep isn't just another nightmare.


"I look ridiculous."

"You look very handsome," Sara counters, reaching over to straighten Brass' tie before giving his shoulder a squeeze.

Rolling his eyes, Brass tugs at his collar.

"The event isn't until six, I don't get why I have to wear this monkey suit all day," he gripes. "It's hot as blazes out today."

"You're indoors," Sara tells him with a raised brow.

"Thanks," he offers, giving her another eye roll.

"Look," Sara tells him with a smile. "Today is about honoring you for thirty years of service to the department. You deserve it, so you're just going to have to get over it."

Letting out a smile of his own, Jim shakes his head at Sara, trying to appear disgruntled, but unable to hide the warmth from his gaze as he looks at her.

Those two have always shared a special bond, and I know hearing Sara's words and having her support means more to him than he'll ever admit out loud.

Looking over at me, he hands me the warrants we came to his office to get.

"Whatever," he groans. "Might as well get back to work. The sooner we get the day started, the sooner we get the day over with."

"That's the spirit," I tell him with a wink. "We'll see you tonight at the gala."

"With bells on," Sara offers him with a wink of her own as we make our way from his office.

Separating, Sara and I take Brass' advice, going our separate ways to start the day.


"Hey," I call, cringing as I see Sara jump at the sound of my voice.

"Hey," she offers back, not commenting on her reaction.

Watching her, I decide not to comment as well. The last couple days following our conversation on the porch, I've noticed subtle changes starting to take place with the brunette. Changes that have had me growing more and more concerned.

Nightmares, for one, have started to accompany her nights. They come once or twice per night, and they come with a violent intensity that I have never seen in any of her other nightmares prior. These nightmares make those look like the stuff of fairy tales.

Then there's the way that she jumps when there's a loud noise or unexpected touch, almost as if her mind is still somewhere back in her nightmares. Or somewhere she's uncertain about the intentions of those around her.

Part of me is relieved to finally see some cracks emerging in Sara's otherwise stoic reaction to all the events that transpired. But, part of me is terrified of what will happen if those cracks expand and the dam she's still hiding most of her feelings behind breaks.

I wonder if Sara noticed the changes in herself before I did, perhaps that being the reason she was so hesitant about getting back into a relationship with me. The reason she expressed uncertainty regarding her state of mind.

"You look perplexed," I offer, pulling myself from my own troubled thoughts, leaning my hip against the layout table she's working at.

Looking up, her thoughtful eyes meet mine before returning to the pictures in her hands.

"I am," she answers. "And you look tired."

Smiling slightly, I nod.

"I am."

Nodding slowly, she puts the pictures down on the table.

"I'm sorry."

"No," I counter. "We agreed not to do this. Not to keep apologizing for things like this that are no one's fault."

"By we you mean me," she responds.

"Yes," I tell her.

Eyes raising and watching me a moment, Sara eventually shakes her head slightly, not commenting further.

"I actually came in here because I have a question for you," I offer, changing topics.

"Yeah?" she asks, raising a brow, gaze returning to the images displayed before her.

"I wanted to know if you would be my date tonight at the gala."

Motions stilling, Sara's eyes immediately return to mine in surprise.

"What?" she questions, brain trying to catch up with her ears.

"You heard me," I tell her, smiling slightly at her befuddled expression.

"Oh," she starts, eyes thick with thoughts and emotions I can't figure out quickly enough as they race by. "Oh..I, uh…"

"Look," I cut in. "You don't have to, I didn't mean to pressure you into something you aren't ready for. I meant it as no strings attached, not as a sign that we're getting back together or anything, I just hate being at those sorts of things single, and so I thought-"

"Yes," Sara interrupts, her expression back to her usual collected calm, a slight smile gracing her lips. "The answer's yes, Catherine."

Stepping slightly closer, she reaches out, taking my hand into hers. "It would be my honor."

"Oh," I get out, tense breath leaving my lungs. "Okay, good."

Smiling further, Sara shakes her head at me.

"It's weird when you're nervous."

Seeing my expression, she shrugs.

"You're the most confident person I know," she explains. "It's disconcerting to see you unsure of yourself."

"I'm confident about a lot of things," I agree. "But never about Sara Sidle."

"Really?" she questions sincerely, quirking her head to the side. "Why?"

"Because she's a part of my life that I really, really don't ever want to screw up."

I search her gaze, our hands still locked together.

"I care about her way too much for that."

Lacing our fingers together, Sara swallows before nodding.

"She feels the same."

Taking a steadying breath, Sara shakes her head.

"And she also wants to stop talking about herself in the third person."

Smiling, I can't help but laugh as I lean forward and place a gentle kiss against her hair.

Giving her hand a squeeze, I pull away, pausing for a moment in the doorway.

"Get back to work," I tell her playfully. "You've got a hot date tonight."


"And since the 'button incident,' the department's never been the same."

A chorus of laughs fills the room, and a smile graces my own lips as I look around me, one hand sipping on my champagne while the other holds Sara's under the table.

Nick and Greg are sitting across from us, each with their own dates that look just a bit more than tipsy.

Smiling wider, I shake my head, enjoying the time to relax as a team outside of work. It feels like forever since we have seen each other outside the four walls of the lab.

Lifting her water, Sara also looks more relaxed than I've seen her in a long while, the brunette smiling softly at something Brass is saying to the crowd.

Once the speeches finish, the guests mull about, laughter and alcohol consumption both increasing in direct relation to one another as the night progresses.

Eyes meeting mine across the room, Sara watches me as she talks with someone from day shift, my own eyes watching her.

Excusing herself from her conversation, Sara gestures to the back hallway.

Catching her hint, I follow suit, pulling out of my own conversation that I wasn't paying much attention to anyway.

Stepping down the dim hallway, I gasp as a pair of gentle hands pull me into an empty spare room.

Fingers getting lost in my hair, Sara's lips meet with mine, both of us eager yet gentle as we deepen the kiss.

Pulling back slightly, Sara shakes her head.

"Sorry," she offers in a whisper, sounding anything but. "I've been wanting to do that all night."

"You and me both," I tell her honestly.

All night, I've barely been able to take my eyes off of Sara, the way the candle light in the dining hall plays with the dark hues in her hair. The stunning outfit she chose that brings out the emerald hues in her eyes.

Leaning forward, this time I initiate the kiss, my tongue dueling with her own.

When we separate, we are both markedly out of breath.

"We shouldn't," Sara breathes out. "This…us…"

"I know," I tell her.

No sooner do I say it that both our mouths are again crashing together, our bodies quickly following suit.

Pressing her against a back wall, my hands firmly grip her hips, my leg coming to place itself between her own.

Breath hitching, Sara's mouth lowers from mine to make its way down my neck, her tongue tracing a path towards my collar bone.

"Jesus," I mutter, eyes closing at the sensation.

My hands grip her sides as my leg pushes deeper against her center.

Feeling her body react to my actions, we both duel for dominance, both desperate to explore and take in the body before us with our hands, our mouths, our anything.

Hearing a roar of applause erupting from the main room down the hall, Sara and I momentarily pause.

"We should probably head back," I whisper halfheartedly. "I think they might be doing the cake…"

"Probably," Sara mumbles, eyes meeting mine in the darkness.

Our pause is only momentary, both of us nearly immediately resuming our actions with renewed fervor.

Neither one of us caring about cake, about the complicated state of our relationship, about anything but the person we love who is finally within our reach.


Smiling, I link my arm with Sara's, stepping out from the hall into the cool night air.

Waving as various colleagues exchange our farewells, Sara separates from me, gesturing towards the doorway.

"I'll go back and grab our coats," she offers. "Meet you at the car?"

"Sure, thanks," I tell her, not able to stop the smile from coming to my face as our eyes meet.

Smiling herself, Sara nods, finally breaking our gazes to step back inside.

Letting out a contented breath, I pull out my key to the car.

Making my way towards the Tahoe, I can't wait to get out of these heels and curl up with Sara in our warm, comfortable bed the second we get home.

"Does it bother you?"

Startled, I clutch my hand to my chest as I turn to see an officer I vaguely recognize standing near the hood of our car.

"Excuse me?" I question, trying to place his name.

"You and her," he says, expression dark as he gestures back towards the hall. "Does it bother you?"

"Does what bother me?" I ask, quickly losing patience for this cryptic conversation.

"That someone else fucked her first."

Immediately, my boredom turns to discomfort, my eyes moving around to try to find someone else standing nearby.

My heartbeat increases its pace as I find we're one of the last ones still around.

"I'm leaving," I tell him sternly. "So please get the hell away from our car."

"It really doesn't bother you?" he questions, eyes glinting in the darkness.

"Get out of my way."

"Perhaps I need to be more specific," he offers.

Blocking the car door with his body, he narrows his eyes. He stands to his full height, eyes burning into my own.

"I read all about the Sidle family recently."

Heart slowing to a near stop at his words, my mouth refuses to move, my brain refuses to form words.

"It's funny," he tells me darkly. "I had your guys' roles all wrong."

Shaking his head, he takes a threatening step forward.

"I always thought you were the whore."

Before I can stop myself, my hand connects solidly with his face, my fist stinging where it made contact with his cheek.

Turning back towards me, he smiles.

"Bad move."

My eyes are drawn to a shadow moving up beside me.

"Bad move, indeed," Sara grinds out lowly at him, hands clenched tightly.

Insides sinking, I pray to God she didn't hear the words that were exchanged, the implications of those words.

But, all I have to do is take in the paleness to her skin, the shaking of her hands to know that she did.

To know that she heard everything this man said.

"Speak of the devil…" the officer states.

Reaching out, I place my hand against Sara's back, trying desperately to calm her down.

"Have to admit, Sidle," he says. "Always thought you were just some private nerdy chick. Never knew you were so notorious back in California. Household name, apparently. All those nice articles they wrote about you and your family and everything."

He takes a step closer.

"Don't worry," he whispers. "I put my favorite one up on the department news board so you can get all the notoriety and recognition you deserve here in Vegas, too."

"You bastard," I get out, keeping my grip on Sara firm while I simultaneously jam my finger into his chest. "You sick, fucking bastard…"

Grabbing my hand, he pushes me away harshly.

"You're the sick one," he starts. "You-"

He doesn't get any farther, his words cut off by Sara's hand clamping down tightly on his throat.

"Sara," I warn, trying to pull her back and away from him.

Lashing out, the officer takes a swing at Sara, and the moment he does the scene transforms from anxious tension to violent aggression.

My grip on Sara is completely lost, her body colliding harshly against his own, their limbs a blur of savage brutality that my mind can barely keep up with nor comprehend.


AN: Thanks for reading.