Chapter 4

Sara lay awake most of the night. Her mind couldn't stop thinking about the current situation. She had so many emotions going on at once, she didn't know what to feel. She had to talk to Catherine. That was one conclusion. She had to tell her the truth. Tell her why she decided to come back to Vegas. Tell her about Gil.

Sara closed her eyes and let her mind wander back to the day that Gil had shown up in Costa Rica. That was the most passionate powerful kiss they had ever shared. He had given up his job to be with her, which made her feel really guilty, because she had given up on him months ago. She had worked out her issues with her past, and now she had to work out the issues with her present situation.

She had always loved Gil Grissom. She still did love him, but she had come to realize that maybe it wasn't the kind of love she should be giving or receiving. Being in love with someone was a totally different thing. They had a mutual admiration and respect for one another, but they were no longer in love. They tried in Costa Rica, but the cohesiveness they once shared, the passion they both felt for work and the intensity of emotion had just disappeared along the way. She wasn't the same. Gil wasn't the same. Warrick's death had affected him deeply. It changed him.

Sara rolled over and looked at her clock. The alarm would be going off soon, so she turned it off and threw back the covers. As she sat on the edge of the bed, she couldn't help but think of Catherine. She had to face her. No more dancing around the issue and playing with emotions. They needed to talk.

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"Willows." Catherine groggily answered her chirping cell phone.

"Hey."

"Sara?" Catherine sat up in bed, wiping her eyes.

"Yeah, uh. Did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, you did, as a matter of fact." Cath let her dissatisfaction at being woken up show in her tone. "I've only been sleeping for two hours."

"Sorry. I was hoping you hadn't gone to bed yet." Sara paused for a moment. "I need to see you."

Catherine sat silent, processing what Sara's words could mean. Then she realized there was only one way to find out. "Well, I'm up now. Why don't you come over?"

"Oh, uh...ok. I was thinking later, but now works." Sara bit her lip waiting for a reply.

"Bring coffee." Catherine smiled to herself. "And Sara..........."

"Yeah?"

"I REALLY need to see you too." With that Catherine hung up and jumped out of bed to take a shower.

Sara stared at her phone. SHIT! Did Catherine think this was some sort of booty call? SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Sara dialed Cath's number again, getting only voicemail, so she hung up. Well, this should be interesting. Sara drove to a coffee shop near Catherine's home and ordered their coffees and two bagels. She parked out front of Catherine's home and stared off into the distance, thinking about the last time she was here.

Sara was startled away from her reverie when the front door opened and a scantily clad Catherine stood in the door way grinning at her. "You coming in?" Catherine yelled across the lawn to her.

Sara waved and grabbed the coffees and bagels and headed up the walk to the house. Catherine didn't step aside to let her in, so Sara just pushed past her, brushing up against her as she passed. Sara headed into the kitchen and set the drinks down and began to unwrap the bagels. She was nervous. She was now having second thoughts on her decision to come here. How was she going to have a serious discussion when Catherine was wearing boxers and a tiny tank top? Sara let out an audible groan of frustration without realizing it. Catherine chuckled beside her as she grabbed a coffee.

"Oh, that one's mine." Sara took the coffee from her hand. "This one is yours. Two creams, sweet n' low." Sara smiled as she handed her the appropriate beverage.

"You know how I take my coffee?" Catherine stared with wide eyes.

"Of course!" Sara stated and took a bite of her bagel.

"Hmmm. So many things about you are a mystery, Sara Sidle." Cath took a seat on a stool across the counter from Sara. "It is still just Sidle, right?"

"What?" Sara nearly choked on her food. "Of course it is!"

"Well, I don't know. You and Gil are so private, I thought maybe you two got hitched out in the rain forest or something." Catherine reached across the counter to get her bagel.

"Well, that's what I need to talk to you about. Me and Gil. I need you to understand the situation fully." Sara stirred her coffee nervously, staring at the black liquid. "We broke up."

"You...what?" Catherine was shocked. She knew she and Sara had shared a few moments of attraction, but she never really thought that she would ever see the day when the pair would officially separate.

"So many things have happened in the past two years. The whole Natalie thing, the team finding out about our relationship, me leaving, Warrick dying...." Sara tried to hold her emotion in but was failing. A few tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks. "I was really touched that Gil had left his job to be with me, but it was too late. We tried. But. Something was different. The connection was gone."

"Wow, Sara, I'm so sorry." Catherine wiped the tears from Sara's cheeks. She didn't know how to respond. "So, this is a trip to get away and take care of business?"

"Basically." Sara sipped at her coffee. They sat in silence for long moments, deep in thought. Sara finally broke the silence, flooring Catherine. "He slept with Lady Heather."

"What? Wait." She stared at Sara for a moment. "When did he sleep with her?"

"Well, you know the rumors from way back, but this time.....He stayed with her for a few days before he decided to leave the lab."

"I'm....I don't know what to say." Catherine just sat there staring at Sara, waiting for her to continue.

"To be fair, I had just sent him a video message basically telling him that it was over. I guess he turned to her for advice on a case, but it was more than that."

"Oh, yeah. I know the case. It ended up being tied in to the last case Gil worked on. We thought there was some S&M thing involved. Ended up being just incidental, not pertinent."

"I don't blame him. I kind of was seeing someone too. Nothing serious. She was the cook at camp and then Gil showed up. So, that ended, but he knew. He can read me so well." Sara shook her head.

"Really? A woman?" Catherine tried not to sound too happy about the fact that Sara had no qualms about a relationship with a woman.

"Oh, come on Cat. After what happened with us, are you really that shocked?" Sara let a small smile escape her lips.

"Well, no, I guess not, but this is just a lot to take in. I mean, you and Gil had always had a special connection. I just figured you would be together."

"I still love him. I always will. He has taught me so much about the job, life and myself. I will always be grateful to him for those things. Our physical relationship was good, but after everyone found out about us, it changed for me. It was no longer private. I was exposed."

"Well, we were all a bit shocked to learn you had actually been seeing eachother for so long, but we weren't shocked that it happened. I just figured neither one of you would ever compromise your positions in the lab or were too hung up on your own issues to get involved." Catherine placed her hand on Sara's. "He does love you. I knew that the first time I saw you two together."

"I think he still does, but we aren't in love." Sara let out a deep sigh and downed the rest of her coffee. "So, does the offer to stay here still stand? I have to be out day after tomorrow."

"Of course! I'll even help you move and pack stuff up."

"Thanks."

"Come on. Let's go sit in the living room." Catherine grabbed Sara's hand and pulled her toward the living room sofa. They sat down, still holding hands. "So, Sara. What about us?"

"Us?" Sara stared at their joined hands. "I really can't think about that right now, Cat."

"Fair enough. You are going through a lot of changes right now, but, Sara, know that I am your friend. I'm here for you." Catherine pulled her into a hug. Sara let her emotions go, and began to cry. Catherine held on to her for several minutes while Sara let go of all the things that had been building inside her. Sara pulled back wiping her eyes.

"I'm glad we had this talk." Catherine smiled at her. "And don't worry, I won't say anything to the guys."

"Thanks, Cat. That means a lot." Sara blew her nose on the tissue Catherine handed her from a box on the end table. "Jim knows. He and Gil have been keeping in touch."

"Really? Well, he sure knows how to keep a secret!" Sara smile at that comment. Jim had always known. He was there when Gil needed advice. He was there for her when she was confused about going ahead with a relationship with her supervisor. He was like a father to her and a brother to Gil.

"So, I should get going. Let you get some sleep." Sara stood up abruptly and headed to the front door. Catherine sat for a moment then followed her to the door.

"You know you could stay. That coffee woke me up a bit." Catherine pleaded with Sara.

"I could, but I'm not sure that would be a good idea right now." Sara stared at the floor for a few moments then looked up into her friend's blue eyes and stepped forward. Catherine stood rigid and still as Sara stepped closer. "I don't know if I could keep my hands off of you." She spoke in a barely audible whisper.

Catherine didn't care if it was too soon or wrong or bad timing. She just knew how she felt. She now knew how Sara felt. So, she threw caution to the wind and covered the small distance between them. She wrapped her arms around Sara's neck and pulled her lips in for a searing kiss. Sara protested at first, but soon gave in to Catherine and her hot, wet, seeking tongue and lips. Catherine let her hands wander and explore the brunette, letting out a small moan when Sara pulled her closer. They stood kissing for several long, passionate minutes, Sara finally breaking the connection.

"See what I mean?" She smiled her adorable crooked grin at Catherine. "Get some sleep." She placed a quick peck on her lips and was gone.

Catherine stood staring at the door, her body trying to cool itself. Things were turning out a lot different than she had ever expected. One things she did know was that Sara Sidle was single, available and was definitely attracted to her. Things were about to get interesting.

A/N: So, hoped you liked this chapter. I tried to treat the whole GSR thing nicely. I do love Gil and Sara, but since this is a Cath/Sara story, I had to make the relationship end somehow! Please leave a review. More to come soon! Wendy