Chapter 31

They went home, had a bit to eat before they went to bed, it didn't take long before Sofia was sleeping, but Sara couldn't sleep she felt to restless. After an hour of turning and moving around she gave up and got up again.

Sara went into the living room and turned on the TV, but no matter how many channels she went through nothing interesting turned up. She turned off the TV and not to wake up Sofia she went into the office stopping on her way to pick up a beer. She put on some music and sat down in the relaxation chair.

For a long time she just stared out the window, not really wanting to think, didn't even listen that much to the music, one beer became two and three after that she didn't really count anymore.

Sofia woke up not sure about what had cost it; she turned around only to find the bed empty. She listened for a while but not a sound came from the bathroom, she got out of bed wondering where Sara could be.

Walking down the hall she could hear music, when she reached the office she just kept standing in the doorway watching Sara, not sure about what to do. She wanted to go in and keep Sara companionship, ask her why she wasn't sleeping, but the atmosphere in the room made her unsure. Normally she knew Sara, but right now she couldn't really sense Sara's mood, if she wanted her near or just wanted to be left alone.

Even though Sara was quite drunk by now she was fully aware of Sofia's presence, and it wasn't that she didn't wanted her companionship, she just wasn't up to answering any questions right now, so she just kept staring out the window.

The fact that Sara needed sleep made Sofia entering the room; she went over to the chair and knelt down between Sara's legs.

"Hi, sweetie" Sofia said with a levity she didn't feel.

Sara looked at her with a blurred glance, "hi."

Sofia instinctively knew that now wasn't the time to ask about anything, she took Sara's hand, "come on sweetie, you need to get some sleep."

They got up and went to bed, Sofia pulled Sara close and wrapped her arms around her and just held her.

Sara's hand was slowly roaming on Sofia back while her mouth was planting sweet kisses on Sofia's throat.

Sofia wasn't excited about the way things was developing not that she didn't wanted Sara, but this just didn't felt right, so she pulled back a bit and looked at the brunette.

"Sara, please stop you need to go to sleep."

Sara kissed her way up to Sofia's ear, "please Sof, make love to me," she whispered with an almost desperately plead in her voice.

It wasn't like Sofia never had had sex with a drunken person before, just not with someone she loved, and she wasn't sure she could do it.

She gazed into Sara's eyes, not really sure about what she was looking for. But what she saw made up her mind for her. Eyes begging her, eyes filled with a need Sofia wasn't sure she had ever seen before.

Even if Sofia still was unsure about Sara's reasons seeing the brunette like that and it didn't really matter right now, it was obvious that Sara needed something that only Sofia could give her.

Sofia gently rolled Sara on to her back and slowly undressed her. They didn't talk, and Sara never asked for anything else, she just followed the pace Sofia was setting.

It didn't take long before Sara went over the edge and from there she just drifted into sleep. For a long time afterwards Sofia, just held her until she felt asleep as well.

Sofia was already up when Sara woke up, her bladders need of a toilet got her out of bed, while she was brushing her teeth the nights events suddenly stood very clear in her head. She put on some clothes and went down to the kitchen where Sofia was making breakfast; Sara went over and embraced from behind.

"Morning" she said with a nervous smile.

"Morning sweetie, how are you feeling?" Sofia asked, leaning back against her.

"Embarrassed I'm really sorry about last night."

"Don't be sweetie, its okay."

Sara turned her around, trying to read her expression, "no it's not Sofia, I made you do things you really didn't wanted to, and that's far from okay."

Sofia placed a hand on Sara's neck her thumb gently kneaded her cheekbone, "Sara, you needed some kind of insurance last night, and I needed to give that to you, so don't you even for a minute go thinking that I didn't wanted to make love to you."

Sara looked into Sofia's eyes and saw nothing but truth, "I love you so much, Sofia."

"I love you too, sweetie" Sofia said, giving her a broad smile.

Sara kissed her very softly; "I promise I'll make it up to you."

Sofia deepen the kiss, "I know you will, so how's the head?"

"Its fine," Sara smiled, "I'm actually hungry."

"Want some toast and coffee?"

"Sounds good" Sara said, giving her a sheepish grin.

They sat down and began eating. They both laughed, letting off some of the tension. Sofia noticed that Sara was still tense, despite her attempts to cheer her up. She was taking this hard, no matter what she said. Sofia reached over tentatively, giving her hand a tender squeeze.

After eating Sofia gazed at her despondently, "want to tell me what the night was about?"

Sara shrugged, "to many thoughts getting out of hand" she said, taking a calming breath and leaning against the table wearily. "I was thinking about the things that happened by the Sawmill and how bad it could have ended. I still can't believe that I choose to shot him with the three of you sitting around him. If he had moved or I had missed it could have meant the certain death for one of you guys" she said, closing her eyes as she tried to frame her statements. "Guess Leo was right after all, there wasn't a thing I wouldn't do to get him."

Sara frowned when Sofia stared at her admonishingly, "that's bullshit Sara, and deep down inside you know that, you would never take a shot unless you were absolutely sure about hitting what you were aiming at, and on top of that you made sure we all carried our vest."

Sara snorted, "like that would have helped you, if I had hit you in the head!"

"Sara, why are you doing this to yourself?" Sofia asked her, her thumb caressing her cheek. After a moment, she let out a sigh, her voice so soft Sara had to strain to hear her. "I know a lot of things could have happened but it didn't."

Sara leaned back, taking a deep breath and looking at her nervously, "you!"

"Me..?" Sofia answered, tilting her head in confusion, "what about me?"

"I could have lost you!" After blinking repeatedly, Sara let out a long breath. "Sofia just the thought scares the hell out of me, and I mean if I can't even handle the thought of losing you…"

"Sara, do you want me to stop working as a Detective?"

"Huh..?" Sara looked totally confused, "what? No! I know you know how to take care of yourself, this has nothing to do with your job." she assured Sofia, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair.

"I guess reality of how it would feel to lose you just got to me, I'm not sure that I ever would be able to handle that." Sara said, sliding off her seat and placed her things in the sink. "I don't know how to explain it Sof, like I said just a lot of thoughts getting out of hand," Sara went over and kissed her, "I'm going to take a shower now."

Sofia got up and cleaned the rest of the table before joining Sara in the shower. Taking her hands she pinned Sara up against the wall and locked eyes with her.

"I love you Sara, and I promise you, that I will do whatever I can to stay out of situations where I can end up getting hurt. I know it's not much, but it's all I can offer, just as you can't promise me more than that. We just have to hope that it will be enough!"

Sara gave her a little smile, "I know baby, and I wouldn't ask for anything else, but that doesn't mean I won't get scared when a thing like this happens."

"I know, I can still remember how scared I was when you got shot at school. But I'm also fully aware about it's a natural feeling that comes with the territory if you love another human being" Sofia said, pausing briefly to release Sara's hands and taking a deep breath. "Guess the most important thing is how we handle the fear, that we don't let it take over our lives, but just except it as a part of live a part of loving."

"It's just easier said than done Sof, especially since I never have loved anyone as much as I love you." Sara eyes dropped to Sofia's lips, and she began to lean towards her. Sofia moved her hands up her back. Suddenly, Sara pulled back, a naughty look clear in her face. "But you're right babe; I should be enjoying what stands in front of me, instead of thinking about what could have happen."

Sofia's breathing quickened to keep up with her heartbeat when Sara began tracing the outline of her lips. Slowly, Sara leaned into her, brushing her lips lightly against hers. Pulling back, Sara watched the blonde closely, a small smile forming.

Sofia returned the smile, and initiated a second, longer kiss. Sara's hands found their way back to her neck, while the blonde's meandered over her back, gently molding her body to her. When the kiss broke off, she held on, drawing her into a long embrace. While Sofia's hand stroked Sara's back soothingly, she planted soft kisses along her hairline.

Sofia let out a long breath, chuckling as she moved a hand under Sara's chin and lifted her face to hers. Smiling, she slipped her other arm around her waist, urging Sara closer, "that's the spirit, honey."

After showering they got dressed and went back to work, the lab techs were done with the samples, and there was no doubt that Bill Carter was going away for the rest of his live.

Two month later a jury would send Mr. Carter to jail for eight hundred and fifty three years, and just in case that he outlived that, an exchange agreement was made with the five other Cities where he had been, since they liked to bring him to court as well.

After packing everything into boxes and locking it away Sara went into Kane's office to return her badge and gun, Kane asked her to sit so she did.

"Great job Sara" he said with a smile.

Sara nodded, sharing a quick, embarrassed look with him, "thanks, but I couldn't have done it without the others help both here and Vegas."

Kane smiled, "always modest, have you thought about coming back on a permanently base, I could use one with your skills."

Sara smiled back, "thanks, but no thanks, I already have a job I like very much."

Kane nodded his head knowingly, "yeah, thought you would say that, well, good luck with your future live then."

"Thanks," Sara got up, "and the same to you," she said before leaving the office.

On her way home she stopped on the third floor and knocked on Mrs. Jackson's door.

"Hey, Linda" Sara said as the door opened.

"Hey Sara, thought you would be coming by today since I read in the paper that you got the guy, guess, you want Mr. Cool?"

"Yeah, has he behaved?"

"Yeah, he is such a sweet dog, Martin goner hates to let him go, they have had so much fun together."

"Listen, if it's okay with you, Martin is more than welcome to come up and play with Mr. Cool sometimes or take him for a walk."

"Thanks, I think he will like that, oh… here he is, Bye Mr. Cool," she laughed.

Mr. Cool ran past Linda and almost knocked Sara down in the hallway, he was so happy to see her that he couldn't control his own body, and it took quite some time before he calmed down again. Sara was just laughing and hugging him, and when she asked him if he wanted to go home, he was over by the elevator faster than lightning.

The CSI in Vegas was gathered in the break room, waiting for Grissom who was running late, but he finally entered the room.

"Sorry I'm late, but I was just on the phone with Sara, they got the serial killer."

"Way to go, Sidle," Nick said in open admiration.

Warrick just grinned, "Damn girl haven't forgot how to do the job."

Even if she didn't want to admit it, Catherine was impressed.

Greg just smiled he had never doubted that she would capture him.

Grissom smiled and looked at Greg, "since you and Wendy was the one who found the print, I think you two should be the one to inform the families that the killer have been caught."

"Thanks, I'll go find Wendy and get started right away."

Ecklie walked into the room, "good you're all here, the sheriff and the mayor sent their congratulations for a job well done helping Frisco."

Nick looked at him, "they know?"

"Sure, the chief of police from Frisco called the sheriff thanking him personally, oh… And the whole graveyard shift is mentioned in the paper."

The rest of the team exchanged shocked looks as the implications of his statement sank in.

"We're in the paper?" Warrick asked.

"Yes, seems like Sidle mention all of you by name at the press conference there was held in Frisco, well, keep up the good work," he said leaving the room.

"That was nice of her to all mention of us, it wasn't like we did that much," Nick said.

"I'm not really that surprised," Warrick added, "Sara would never take credit for something she hasn't done."

Catherine snorted, "Right.., don't even pretend to make it sound like she doesn't like working high profile cases, hell we all do, that's the only way to get a career in this job."

"Whoa…" Greg narrowed his eyes, "after working with her for so many years, I would think you knew her a little bit, but you're obvious still clueless. If you don't know it, Sara is actually a very high intelligent woman; if she had wanted to make a name for herself, you can be damn sure it would have happened a long time ago" he said, raising her eyebrows dramatically.

Greg added, "Her reason for working as a CSI was to help victims to get some kind of justice for the wrongs there was done towards them, not to make a career. As terrifying this may sound to you Catherine, Sara has never wanted to be you. So what I don't understand is, what has Sara ever done to you, to make you feel so threatened and scared of her, that you need to been such a bitch towards her?"

Catherine looked at him in disbelieve, "I'm not scared of her, and I have always treated her with professionally respect."

"Professionally yeah, but probably only because you knew, she was a hell of a lot more capable than you, but for the rest… no Catherine" Greg sighed, ignoring the blonde's stare.

Grissom cut him off, "okay Greg, I think that will be enough" he said, holding up a hand. He didn't like the direction this conversation was heading.

"Of course it is," Greg fumed, ignoring Grissom's warning look, "otherwise it would mean that you would have to take your part of the blame for always taking Catherine's side no matter who was right," Greg got up and left the room.

Catherine gazed at Warrick and Nick, "what? Don't tell me that you agree with Greg?"

Nick got up, "sorry Catherine, but for once I'm on Greg's side," he said leaving the room.

Warrick didn't really want to answer, "Does it really matter anymore?" He asked, with a friendly smile, "It's not like she works here anymore."

Grissom got up, "no, it doesn't, let's get back to work."

Tbc…