Chapter 4

Thursday May 13th, 2010
CSI Break Room
10:15 p.m.

Five days had passed since breakfast, five days where Liz and Catherine didn't share a word, and tension was thick enough to cut with a knife between the Vegas members of the CSI end of the task force, and the three visitors.

Liz was sitting in the break room reading over notes from one of the first victims when a familiar head popped in the doorway.

"Hiya Liz."

"Hey girl. How's the team doing? Sorry I can't be of much help right now, especially with Nationals coming up," commented Liz as she waved Lindsey into the room

"We're doing great," Lindsey smiled as she sunk into a chair across from Liz. "And don't worry, I know how busy all of you get. Besides, we all understand. Sooner you get this guy, sooner all of us are going to be safer."

"I couldn't agree more," sighed Liz sitting back in her chair. "So, what brings you by?"

"Just wanted to stop in and see if Sar needed anything before I head home. Ricky and I just finished seeing the new Harrison Ford movie...I swear that man is as cute now as he was when he was in Star Wars," Lindsey grinned.

"I don't think Sara needs anything but she should be in her office. If she's not she's probably meeting with O'Riley. And I know exactly what you mean about Harrison Ford. That man gets dreamier each year," mused Liz with a smile. "Say hi to Ricky for me next time you see him. The same goes for the team."

"Always," Lindsey smiled. "And as for Harrison...honestly now, give me Josh Hartnett any day. Or Ben Affleck," Lindsey mused.

"They're okay but nobody can top the men of James Bond. Give me Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan any day," replied Liz with a fake swoon.

"Oh I'm with you on Sean Connery. I can't tell you the number of times Sara has played Darby O'Gil and the Little People. Sean singing...oh that man is just...perfect in that movie," Lindsey sighed before giggling.

Catherine was walking by the Break Room when she heard a voice that made her stop in her tracks. Stepping back a few steps she looked in the room and stared in shock at her daughter…at least she thought it was her daughter. Lindsey was taller, five-seven maybe eight was her guess, and her blonde hair was down to her waist and permed…spiral curls. And dressed in a baby pink knee-length skirt and a white tank top with a matching pink-lace poncho like top.

"Lindsey?" Catherine asked after a moment of watching the two laugh.

"Mom," Lindsey blinked twice before leaning back. "Hello," she continued expressionless.

"What are you doing here at this time of night?" Catherine asked automatically.

Lindsey laughed. "I'm not twelve anymore you know. I am seventeen. My curfew is midnight."

"Figures my mother would let you stay out to midnight," Catherine rolled her eyes.

"Don't talk about Grandma like that," Lindsey snapped.

"She's my mother; I think I can talk about her however I want," Catherine countered shaking her head.

"Yeah well, you lost that right when you left Vegas. Besides, the least you can do is have some respect for the dead. You have enough for the people you help with your work; one would think you'd have some for your own flesh and blood. Then again, that might be too much to expect."

"What are you talking about?" Catherine asked confused.

"Grandma died two years ago." Lindsey answered evenly.

"What?" Catherine asked shocked. "But...then who are you living with? Your aunt?"

"Lindsey, why don't you head on home now. I'll make sure they know you stopped by and that you've gone home," Liz said standing up. "I'll try to stop by the practice on Saturday if I get the chance."

"Sure. Thanks Liz," Lindsey nodded before rising as she gathered her things. "Night," she continued with a nod before moving towards the door. "Excuse me," she asked coldly before Catherine automatically stepped aside and Lindsey walked past her and down the hall.

Catherine watched after her for a moment before turning to Liz. "Practice?" she asked after another moment.

"That's what I said," Liz said collecting up her papers.

"There you are," Sara's voice drew their attention to the doorway before Catherine could comment further. "Liz, Archie is looking for you."

"Thanks Sara," Liz said as she made her way out of the break room, stopping briefly next to Sara. "Linds stopped by, she's on her way home now," she told her friend quietly so as not to have Catherine overhear.

"Thanks," Sara nodded before Liz left the room. "Cath," she continued to the other woman.

"Did you know my mother died?" Catherine asked as Sara turned to leave.

Sara paused and looked back at her. "Yes, when Linds was fifteen."

"Does my sister have custody of her?" Catherine asked softly.

"No, she doesn't," Sara answered. "Perhaps you should talk to Lindsey about her life instead of us," she added carefully before turning and leaving Catherine in the break room.

Saturday May 15th, 2010
Coronado H.S.
11:45 a.m.

Finally finding the school, Catherine parked and made her way onto campus. A few minutes later she found the cheerleading squad practicing on the grass, and spotted a familiar person with the squad.

"So this is what 'practice' is," Catherine began as she stopped next to Liz.

"You got a problem with that?" questioned Liz not taking her eyes of the squad. "Melanie, Tommy, you're coming out of your lift too early. You need to hold it for a split second longer to come out of it with Stephanie and Michael," instructed Liz. "Let's try it again from the top guys and I don't want to hear any whining out of any of you. You have what it takes to win; you've proven that already but let's not get lazy and leave an opening for another squad to beat you."

"Actually I do. My daughter is not a cheerleader."

"Well that's just funny cause I could have sworn she was the Captain of the squad," mused Liz coldly before walking closer to the students. "Good you guys. Much better Melaine and Tommy. You keep practicing like this and that championship is yours for the taking. Why don't we end practice there and you guys can hit the showers and head home."

"I don't care if she's the coach. My daughter is not a cheerleader," Catherine snapped as she followed after Liz.

"Mom..." Lindsey began with a frown when she heard her, stopping as the others started towards the building. A few of her girlfriends waiting for her.

"Open your eyes Catherine. You're daughter is not only a cheerleader; she's the captain of a squad that has won the National Cheerleading Championships for the past 3 years. She's good enough to be in line for a scholarship. I would think you would be proud of her accomplishment," snapped Liz finally turning to face Catherine.

"Yes, I'm proud that she did that. But that doesn't change the fact that she is not supposed to be a cheerleader." Catherine countered. "My daughter is not going to be a cheerleader. I was a cheerleader, and I know where it leads to. And she is not going to even start down that path."

"I'm not going to become a God damn stripper, Mom. I'm not you." Lindsey snapped as she realized where her mother was going with this.

"Oh really? Well how do you know that? I never thought I would be one when I was your age. And I still became one," Catherine yelled right back.

"Yeah, well, Liz was a cheerleader, pro even. And look where she is? Same place as you, if not better off," Lindsey shot back.

"Better off?" Catherine repeated in shock. "Better off my foot. She's no better than I am or anyone else in this world. Hell, she and the rest of the people in this town have been lying to all of us since we came here, so who's to say she's any better than I am."

"Lying to you?" snapped Liz, her southern accent getting thicker the angrier she became. "What the hell have I been lying to you about?"

"How about the fact my daughter is living with Sara and Warrick," Catherine countered. "There's two things right there. All of you have been keeping secret the fact that Warrick and Sara are together. And where my daughter is living."

"If I haven't said anything about that it's because it's not my place to tell you," countered Liz. "And as for Sara's relationship with Warrick it's probably the best thing that has happened to her in a long time. I would kill to have that kind of relationship with someone. As for Lindsey living with Sara and Warrick that was her decision. Sara was there for Lindsey when she needed her; she has been since you walked out on your daughter."

"Enough!" Lindsey yelled before her mother could answer. "Both of you, just stop. Please," she continued looking between them. "Liz, thank you for defending me. But you shouldn't have to," she continued softly as she looked at Liz before turning to her mother. "And Mom...look I'm not you, I'm not going to be you. Cheerleading isn't going to lead me to stripping. But even if it was, you don't have a say. You agreed to the terms when you left Vegas, I'm not your legal concern anymore. And I don't think I've been your moral or emotional concern for a long time now...so please. Don't start this now, just because you finally saw me again," trailing off Lindsey shook her head softly. "I'm not your job anymore Catherine," she whispered before turning and walking over to join her friends who were waiting before they disappeared into the building.

Liz smiled slightly as she watched the younger woman leave. Go Linds, she found the strength to tell her mother how it was. Glancing over at Catherine she saw the other woman looking after her daughter in shock, and shook her head. Turning she made her way to her car. She'd respect Lindsey's wishes and not fight her battles for her, as long as Lindsey didn't ask for help although she should probably warn Sara and Warrick that the cats were out of the bag.

Saturday May 15th, 2010
CSI Lab
9:25 p.m.

Sara sighed softly as she flipped through the latest information they had...or lack there of. This case was going nowhere, and fast. Damn it...

Stepping into the break room, she headed towards the coffee pot, praying that it would be halfway decent coffee waiting for her.

"You think you know someone after working together for five years," snarled Catherine as she leant up against the break room doorjamb. "I thought you were my friend, Sara."

Sara paused as she picked up the coffee pot and turned to look over at Catherine. "If we're going to be technical Cath, we were never close friends like you and Griss or even like Griss and I once were. But we were friends," she answered confused. She had no idea where this was coming from; she'd spent the entire day in meetings and was quite frankly exhausted, not to mention she felt like crap for other reasons.

"How could you?"

"How could I what?" Sara asked even more confused as she set the coffee back down.

"Don't play dumb with me Sara. I know about you and Warrick and that the two of you are raising my daughter," snarled Catherine. "That you wouldn't even think of calling me when my mother was dying is unforgivable but for you to try to steal my daughter as well? That's low even for you."

Sara blinked at her a moment before shaking her head. "Now, back up a minute Catherine. It was never my decision about your mother. She left instructions that you were not to be told of her death. Believe me, I was all for you finding out, even with the way things ended between all of us when you left," Sara began shaking her head. "But it was Warrick and I against your sister and Sam...and Lindsey didn't want you there so...your mother won out."

"What about the fact that you and Warrick are living together in the same house as my daughter?" demanded Catherine.

"Warrick and I have been together since before your mom died. When Linds moved in, it was with both of us," Sara explained carefully. "Cath…I'm not trying to steal your daughter or anything. Your mom named me her guardian for very logical reasons…"

"Logical reasons?" questioned Catherine in disbelief. "Naming you guardian was one of the most illogical things my mother ever did. You are in no way fit to raise my daughter, never mind one of your own. Especially since you let a stupid twit like Liz Fabrey spend time with my daughter. My God Sara, she's turned my daughter into a Cheerleader of all things."

Sara took a step back in shock before frowning. "Catherine...don't you ever pretend to know anything about me," Sara growled as everything the other woman had just said set in, before taking a breath and continuing as she glared at Catherine. "Your mother had reasons for what she did. Your sister has her hands busy with her own children; she couldn't take Lindsey in as well. And she wasn't about to contact you to see if you wanted custody back. And that is simply a fact; I'm not saying anything about your parenting skills so don't even jump to that conclusion. As for Liz...you don't know her, so don't judge her. Liz is one of the best CSIs I know; I'd kill to have someone like her on my shift. Warrick was the one lucky enough to get her. And she's been through hell getting to where she is today. I couldn't ask for a better role model if I was given a daughter, nor could I ask for a better one for your daughter. Yes, your daughter. I'm not trying to take Lindsey from you. You Catherine are the one who burned the bridges of that relationship. And there is nothing wrong with being a cheerleader. It gave Liz the chance at an education; it's given Lindsey self-esteem and good friends, not to mention the chance for an education as well. Which she doesn't even need, as she can get an academic scholarship just as easily because she's found her niche and turned to Cheerleading, instead of rebelling against the world," Sara paused to shake her head. "Look, hate me all you want. But leave Liz and the passion she and Lindsey share out of this."

"Excuse me Sara?" asked Liz sticking her head in the break room, glaring at Catherine for a moment before returning her attention to Sara.

"What is it Liz?" Sara asked as she looked over at Liz.

"You better come. Looks like we might have another victim," Liz said from the doorway around Catherine.

Sighing heavily Sara nodded. "I'll be right there. Go ahead without me to the scene and just send me a page with the location."

"Will do," agreed Liz disappearing behind Catherine, only to reappear a moment later. "Anyone in particular you want me to take with me?"

Sara frowned for a moment. "Take Nick and Greg. Grissom is with Warrick, they're either there already or on their way probably."

"No problem," smiled Liz sadly. "I'll send you a 411 with the location," she finished before glaring once more at Catherine before leaving to search down Nick and Greg.

"If she's such a hot shot CSI why is she asking you who should go with her? Wouldn't she already know who to take?" wondered Catherine snidely once Liz was out of earshot.

Sara watched her leave before turning to grab a bottle of water. "Last I checked there are a number of people on this case Cath," she replied as she picked up her folder once more.

"This conversation isn't over Sara," Catherine informed her before turning and leaving the break room.

"I had figured that," Sara sighed to the room before making her way to her office and grabbing one of her pain pills as she grabbed her case.