Chapter 6

Wednesday May 19th, 2010
CSI Break Room
11:21 p.m.

"...It was priceless. I have never seen a quarterback fumble a ball in such spectacular fashion. His own team couldn't even believe that he'd tripped over his own feet because he was too busy checking out the cheerleaders for the opposing team," finished Liz laughing as Greg, Hodges, Nick and Warrick joined in. She was regaling them with stories of some of the 'bloopers' she'd seen over the years she had been a professional cheerleader, while they ate their dinner waiting for Sara to arrive. Grissom was there sitting and eating his meal, watching the younger CSIs while Catherine sat not that far away from everyone, although it was evident that she was not enjoying the story telling.

Sara paused in the doorway and smiled as she leaned against the doorjamb. She was only...four hours late, but such was life right. And she had to see her doctor again...damn appointments. Damn medical ailments...but she wasn't going to let her lack of explanations worry her at the moment, and instead revel in the quiet moment of true happiness in the room.

"Look who decided to grace us with her presence," Catherine's voice drew her and everyone else's attention.

"Sorry I'm late," Sara began as she walked into the room. "I had an appointment to attend to," she continued softly, praying Catherine would just not be a pain. They hadn't talked since Saturday night; Warrick made her stay home Monday night and Catherine was gone the night before.

"You're here now and that's all that matters," commented Liz as she gave Greg a playful shove away from her French fries

"Probably with Lindsey anyway," Catherine muttered.

"Huh?" Grissom asked having heard her mutters but not distinct enough to translate.

"So what if she was," argued Liz. "GREG! Get your hands away from my fries!" she cried with a swat at Greg's head.

"But they're so good." Greg whined.

"I don't care and don't whine at me Greg. Order your own fries next time," ordered Liz as Nick managed to steal a fry. "I saw that Stokes," commented Liz with a glare.

"I just find it very wrong that Sara managed to basically adopt my daughter when she can be off having her own children with Warrick," Catherine answered.

Sara stopped and glanced over at Catherine before looking around the room. "Can't this wait for now?" she asked softly.

Everyone stopped and looked between Catherine and Sara, other then Warrick who was frowning as he started to rise.

"Shit," cursed Liz quietly when she realized what Catherine was talking about.

"Actually no, we can't just have this wait. We put it off because of the case but I'm far from finished," Catherine hissed. "I don't like the fact that you and Warrick are raising my daughter. And living together, a fact you neglected to inform any of us of."

"Because it's none of your business," snapped Liz jumping to her feet.

"Stay out of this," Catherine snapped back as she rose.

"Wait, Warrick and Sara are together together?" Nick asked confused.

"I will not stay out this if you're going to attack my friends...my family," argued Liz, her accent getting a little stronger than normal. "You have no right to waltz in here after five years and judge a situation you know nothing about."

"Okay, everyone calm down." Warrick began before anyone else could speak. Glancing at Sara he moved over to stand next to her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Why don't we sit down, and we'll talk this out."

"Fine," agreed Liz as she sat back down heavily into her seat between Nick and Greg on the sofa.

Catherine frowned before sitting down as Warrick led Sara over to his chair and had her sit down, before moving to stand behind her chair, his hands resting on her shoulders.

"You two are together?"

Sara looked over at Nick and smiled slightly. "We're engaged," she whispered.

"Whoa," Nick sat back surprised.

"Engaged?" Grissom repeated in shock.

"If you're engaged, where's your ring?"

Sara glanced at Catherine before reaching up to pull on a chain around her neck and pull it out from under her shirt, revealing the diamond ring on the chair. It was gorgeous, an antique. Two double round cut diamonds we're the focal point at the center of the ring, with ten straight cut baguette diamonds in a channel setting and swirl around opposite sides of the bear-hug design.

"Oh," Catherine answered as Nick leaned forward to look at the ring.

"Whoa, that's one hell of a ring," he smiled as he looked up at them.

"It was Warrick's Grandmother's," Sara smiled as she glanced up at him. "I keep it on a chain because of work," she explained before dropping it back under her shirt and laying her hand over where it rested briefly.

"So, why didn't you tell us?" Nick asked as Grissom continued to just sit there in silent surprise and Catherine pursed her lips together.

Warrick shrugged lightly. "We weren't sure how to tell you. Things didn't leave off well with any of us five-years-ago..." he began carefully. "We all had enough to deal with by being together again and catching BPKC, we didn't want to add our relationship into the mix."

"Makes sense," Nick nodded. "Well, congratulations," he continued with a smile. "When's the big day?"

"December. Christmas," Sara smiled softly. "Our three year anniversary."

"Great day that is," Greg smiled. "I still remember when you had your first date, first time we saw that smile on Sara's face in years," he continued as Sara ducked her head and Warrick smiled.

"Congratulations," Grissom spoke softly and Sara looked up at him, for a brief second it was just the two of them as their eyes locked before she smiled slightly and looked away.

"Thank you."

"Alright, yes congratulations are in order...but we still have to deal with the issue that you're raising my daughter," Catherine growled.

Liz groaned and dropped her head into her hands trying desperately to keep her mouth shut. Greg put a supportive hand on her back.

Sara sighed heavily. "Catherine please...look we, I, never intended to be Lindsey's guardian. You're mother picked me. And Lindsey had a say in the matter, she was fifteen. She wanted to come with me. I couldn't tell her no."

"Well, why the hell not! She's not your daughter. If you want to play mom so badly, have a child of your own," Catherine snapped back and Sara visibly tensed.

"Look, I know you're pissed Cath, can't say I blame you in some regard. But please don't bring in my ability to raise children, or have children, again. You were blessed with a child, one I consider a sister and have had the joy of seeing grow through her teen years. I never intended to take your child from you; I would never intentionally make a person feel the pain of being unable to raise their own child. But we have a case to work, and a man to catch. Why don't we focus on that for the time being? Anger and hurt feelings can wait," she added softly as she rose and left the room, heading for her office. Catherine watched her go with a frown, for a moment it almost seemed like Sara knew what she was talking about from a personal experience, the sadness in her voice.

"I'm sorry Warrick but I just can't stay quiet anymore," apologized Liz as she rose to her feet and stalked across the room to where Catherine was. "I can't believe you. You are supposed to be her friend. If this is the way that you treat your friends and your daughter I would hate to see how you treat your enemies. You have some nerve coming in here and judging the lot of us but most especially your former friends. You have done nothing to prove that my original opinion of you was wrong. I knew from the minute I met you that you were a very angry and lonely woman with a I chip on her shoulder who felt cheated by the world and that the world was not giving her everything that she felt rightfully belonged to her. You know it's because of you that I almost turned Warrick down when he offered me a job here. All because you took one look at me and made a snap judgment about me, the same judgment I'd been trying to fight for years. And now you're doing the same thing to Sara, Warrick and Lindsey. Yes, you love your daughter, you may have a funny way of showing it, but I believe that somewhere inside that cold heart of yours, you do actually love her. Can't you see that she's happy here with Sara and Warrick? Why are you trying so desperately to destroy your daughter's happiness? Lindsey is a happy and well-adjusted teenager who has the chance of getting two different scholarships. Why can't you be happy for her instead of judging her for her choices? She chose to live with Sara and Warrick and she chose to be a cheerleader, yes Catherine, your daughter is a cheerleader and I had nothing to do with that. Hell, she didn't even know I was a professional Cheerleader until after she joined the squad. I asked if I could come watch the practice, one thing led to another and I've been helping them ever since and you know what? Lindsey is the captain of a squad that is the defending national champions, something, for which a true mother would be proud. You may be Lindsey's mother by blood and by birth but by all accounts you haven't been a mother to that girl for years. You stopped being her mother long before you left Vegas for Miami so you can't blame Lindsey, Sara or Warrick for a situation that you caused. And don't you ever question Sara's parenting or child rearing abilities in front of me again or so help me God you won't live long enough to regret it," Liz threatened before spinning around and storming out of the room to search out her best friend.

Catherine just stared in shock at the spot where Liz had just been as everyone else in the room looked at her floored, except for Warrick. "Cath...look we know you're hurting, and probably pissed at yourself for leaving Lindsey. But you need to work those things out with Lindsey, not take them out on everyone around you. She's a great kid, and she just might forgive you and give you a second chance. But if you keep attacking Sara...you may lose that chance. Linds is smart, she's seen how things went at practice the other day, and she's heard Sara when she's talking Yiddish. And while Linds doesn't know Yiddish that well, hell even I don't...there's not much to fill in the missing pieces of words we both know..." Warrick paused as he smiled sadly. "Let it go Cath," he continued softly before leaving and following after Liz and in turn Sara.

"Yiddish?" Nick asked, latching on the less shocking comment of the last fifteen minutes.

"Sara was raised Jewish. She's returned to her faith in a way over the past few years. Because of work she can't exactly follow the Sabbath, more that she does just not to a 'T'. But when she's very upset about something she starts talking in Yiddish rather than English. So she can get it out of her system without having to explain things afterwards," Greg explained as Catherine sunk down to her seat, still in shock.

"Oh," Nick answered.

"Sara? You okay?" asked Liz as she quietly entered Sara's office a few minutes after storming from the break room

"I'm fine." Sara answered quietly from where she sat cross-legged on her couch.

"Please don't lie to me, Sara," pleaded Liz as she sat down next to Sara, facing her. "I know what Catherine said had to have hurt, given everything you and Warrick have been through."

"I had my follow-up today," Sara began as she looked at her hands. "That's where I was..."

"What did the doctor say?"

"I've been meaning to ask that too," Warrick spoke softly from the doorway before walking over to kneel in front of her, taking her hands before she could start picking at her nails, a habit she had developed when stressed over the last few years.

"My pap came back abnormal, my OB-GYN wants me to come in for another one in a few days. They aren't sure if it's just a bad test, or if something might be wrong. My PCP is referring me to a specialist in regards to the pain in my lower back and hips as well."

"Oh Baby," Warrick whispered as he gently squeezed her hands. "We'll get through this okay? It's probably nothing with your pap, and as for your back...maybe this is your body's way of telling you that you need to not work so much." he suggested softly.

"You just got to try to stay positive Sara," urged Liz. "And you know my offer to the both you still stands, all you have to do is ask and I'll gladly be a surrogate for you if that's what you decide."

"I know Liz. And you know we both would be honored. But right now I'm more worried about the why of my medical condition than focusing on figuring out the consequences and the options you know?" Sara asked glancing over at her.

"I know," Liz replied with a smile. "Just know that the offer is still on the table, okay?"

"We know," they both agreed.

"Good," agreed Liz before laughing quietly. "Think they've come out of their shock yet?"

"I hope so," Sara began. "Because we do have a case to work, personal feelings aside."

"Hey Greg, remind me never to make that woman that angry, will you?" asked Nick a few minutes after Liz and Warrick had left.

"Deal," Greg smiled. "She can be pretty scary let me tell you."

"That's putting it lightly," Hodges agreed with a smile.

"What just happened?" Catherine asked suddenly.

"Liz just read you the riot act," Nick informed her.

"Before any of us had a chance to by the way," Greg added before turning back to his magazine.

"Why is she so protective of Sara?" Catherine asked completely confused.

"Maybe you need to stop being blinded by your anger and open your eyes Cath," snapped Nick.

"What is that suppose to mean!" Catherine snapped back.

"They've created a fairly close-knit family here Catherine, something I thought we had before everything went to hell, and Liz is a part of that family and it appears so is Lindsey," commented Nick. "And your constant attacks on Sara, Liz and Lindsey are making it difficult for the rest of us because the more you attack them the more they close ranks and shut the rest of us out. Walking out of here five years ago cost me the friendship of two people I thought of as close friends and your constant attacks are making it all that much harder for me to mend the bridges to that friendship. You burnt your bridges five years ago Catherine, don't make the rest of us pay for your mistakes."

"He's right Cath," Grissom spoke up softly and she looked between the two, then the others in the room as well before shaking her head.

"I'm going to go see how Jacqui is doing with all those prints," she spoke before leaving the room.

"That went well," Hodges mused before rising. "I'm going to see how things are going in Trace. Let them know when they get back," he added before leaving as well.

"They told you about Liz's connection to the group?" wondered Greg.

"Yeah they did," agreed Nick quietly looking over at Greg.

"Cool," replied Greg. "I'm gonna head off to DNA. See ya later."

"They're dropping like flies," Sara mused from the doorway a few moments later.

"Where did everyone go?" wondered Liz from next to Sara.

"Greg went to DNA, Hodges went to Trace and Catherine went to check in with Jacqui on the prints," offered Nick.

"I see," Sara nodded. "Well, I better go get Ray and drag his butt to see Pete. Latest update and all…call me if anything comes up?" she asked glancing over at Warrick who nodded. "And I'm sorry about earlier," she continued looking over at Nick and Grissom; the latter wasn't looking at anyone, instead seemed to be staring off in space.

"Don't worry about it Sara," Nick said. "Catherine's been this way for a long time. It's about time she had a wake up call in regards to her attitude and behavior."

Sara nodded slightly before turning and making her way down the hall.

Thursday May 20th, 2010
Warrick's Office
11:43 p.m.

Hearing his door shut, Warrick looked up from the file he was going over, not exactly surprised when he saw Grissom standing on the other side of his desk. "Griss."

"Warrick," Grissom answered evenly.

"You're upset," he surmised as he closed the folder and set his pen down.

"Always knew you were the smart one," Grissom countered.

"Have a seat," he offered.

"No, I think I'll stand."

"This is about Sara," he continued as he sat back and looked at the man who had once been his mentor. Seeing the nod he sighed, even though Grissom had seemed supportive when they found out, he had a feeling this was coming. When everything hit the other man... "Griss, it's been a long time since you were here. Things change, people change. You can't have honestly expected her to wait for you forever." Grissom just frowned, and Warrick shook his head softly. "Griss, you left. Disappeared without a word. You have no idea what that did to her."

"According to Nick and Catherine she wasn't surprised when I left. Neither were you," Grissom interjected.

"No, I wasn't. And she wasn't either. But even you have to admit, by the time you left, she wasn't herself anymore. She barely talked to anyone Griss; she was thin as a rake. Sara was anything but well when you skipped town."

"And that gives you the right to go after her?" Grissom demanded.

"She nearly died Gil," Warrick began softly, continuing when the other man remained silent and stared at him. "After Catherine left in February, it was the final straw to the camel's back. She started sinking lower and lower. Then Ecklie started replacing everyone he coul She was late for work one night, Greg had a case, I offered to go make sure she was okay," he continued looking away. "I found her in her bedroom. Her breathing was shallow, and her heart rate was low, too low. They had to pump her stomach at the hospital later; she'd ingested at least half a dozen anti-depressants. First any of us learned she was on them. When she finally woke up, she honestly didn't know how she got there. She argued with the doctors for hours, that she hadn't intentionally taken the pills. She had just taken her pills because she'd forgotten them earlier. So she'd taken them when she'd woken around ten after forgetting to take them before she crashed at eight. Or did she take them when she woke about nine-ish…or was it when she woke about eleven-thirty…"

Grissom had sunk into the chair as he just watched him, and Warrick sighed as he leaned forward. "Look Griss, what I'm telling you, it needs to stay here. Sara doesn't like talking about those days. Truthfully, any of us who were here don't like talking about them either. But you need to get over whatever it is you're feeling here. We nearly lost Sara, they put her in a psych ward for seventy-two hours, and when she came out…she wasn't the woman we knew and loved. It took a lot to bring her back, and even then, she didn't come back the same woman she was. A better woman yes, but not the woman that she was. I do get that you're upset Griss, believe me, if the roles were reversed, I would be too. But you need to realize, you lost your chance when you left five-years-ago. Move on, let her move on."

"Do you love her?" Grissom asked after a moment.

"With all my being," Warrick replied honestly.

"Does she love you?"

"I like to believe her when she says she does. But you'll probably not believe it till you hear it from her. If you need to know so bad, ask her," Warrick answered evenly.

Grissom nodded. "Thank you for saving her."

"It wasn't for you. But you're welcome," he nodded before turning back to his file. A moment later Grissom left and he sat back in his chair once more. That could have gone worse, could have been avoided entirely, but it could have gone worse. Closing the folder he turned his computer on. Something told him that a movie and breakfast out might be good for both of them after this night.

Thursday May 20th, 2010
CSI Break Room
4:16 a.m.

"Good morning," Grissom's soft words drew Sara's attention from the wedding planning guide she was going through on her break.

"Good morning," she answered before turning back to mark down the names of her wedding party.

"Do you mind?" he asked a moment later and she raised her eyes to find him standing across the table.

"No, of course not," she answered before setting her pen down. "Would you like some coffee?" she continued as he sat and she rose.

"No thanks." Glancing back at him in surprise she shrugged before setting to making her cup of coffee. Returning to her seat she found him looking at the cover of her book. "Planning?" he asked as he set it back down.

"Yes, we're almost at the six-month countdown…we need to get the invitations out next month," she shrugged once more before taking a sip of her coffee, then setting the cup aside.

"Are you happy?" he asked softly and she looked up at him in surprise once more.

"Most of the time. Majority of the time really."

"Does he know?" he continued as he looked up and caught her eye.

"Does he know what Griss?" she countered softly. "About my family? Or about us?"

"There never really was an 'us' was there…" he trailed off with a sigh.

"No, not really. Once upon a time there could have been…" Sara frowned.

"Never knew you to be prophetic you know?" Glancing back at him she raised an eyebrow in question. "You once said by the time I figured this out, I'd be too late," he continued and she looked away with a sigh.

"You were never that quick when it came to relationships," she smiled softly to show she didn't mean anything by it. "But yeah, I guess I was."

"Do you love him?"

"Grissom!" she looked up at him in shock and a bit of anger.

"I'm not questioning your relationship, and I have no right to ask…" he quickly continued as he held up a hand to stop her further comments. "I just…I guess, I just need to ask so I can let you go," he finished softly.

Sara released a sigh before shaking her head. "Only you could get away with asking me a question like that, and actually get an answer instead of being slugged."

Raising his eyes to meet hers he smiled slightly. "Oh, I've been slugged by you a few times Miss Sidle. I seem to recall a twenty-one-year-old genius hitting me."

"That's because you stepped between me and that jerk Matthew," she countered with a laugh. "I wonder whatever happened to him," she mused after a few moments.

"I have no idea," he smiled before she looked back down at her papers.

"I do love him, Griss," she spoke softly before looking up to meet his eyes. "He saved me from myself, helped me remember what it was to live, and love. I wouldn't be marrying him if I didn't love him," she added softly. "And he knows, I couldn't keep my past from him…" she shrugged lightly.

Grissom nodded. "Then congratulations truly are in order," he smiled softly. "So, how goes the planning?" he asked with a smile and she shook her head.

"Well, we've got the place, the attendants, and pretty much everything except figuring out the actual ceremony. We still aren't sure what to do with my Jewish heritage that I'm embracing as much as I can considering I'm having issues with work and the Sabbath…add to the fact that any religious heritage Warrick has is Baptist…things are interesting to say the least."

"Sounds like it. I never knew you were Jewish," he mused. "With your parents being hippies and all…"

"No, I had stopped after my junior year at Harvard," she shrugged slightly. "My psych here suggested I look into getting in touch with my past and heritage. When I started…it brought back a lot of good memories, and felt right you know?" she shrugged once more. "The fun has been teaching Warrick and Linds about it. Seeing as my children are Jewish."

Grissom smiled once more. "I can bet that is quite interesting."

"Very," she laughed. "The first time Warrick and I had a Friday night off and I introduced them to a true Sabbath…Lindsey was questioning my sanity when I came out with all these dishes that had strange names…" Sara began her story.

Saturday May 22nd, 2010
1516 La Porte Court
Henderson, Nevada
7:15 a.m.

"Catherine? What are you doing here?" demanded Lindsey as she opened the door only to find Catherine on the other side.

"I wanted to talk, really talk," Catherine explained carefully

"Why now?"

"Because I've been an idiot and a fool, and I finally realized it," she explained with a half shrug. "Please," she continued softly.

"Fine," replied Lindsey as she stepped back and let Catherine step through the door

"Thank you," Catherine answered as she moved into the living room. "I'm sorry," she began as she turned to look at Lindsey.

"You're sorry?" asked Lindsey in disbelief, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I know it sounds rather ridiculous...but I am," Catherine answered carefully. "I'm sorry for being a bitch lately. I'm sorry for how things ended five-years-ago. I'm sorry for not trying to contact you all these years, and for being such a horrible mother. And I know it is probably worthless, but I had to say it," she finished with a sigh. "They're right you know, God Linds, you're gorgeous. And you seem so happy, you radiate with life and happiness. I'm glad that you've found your place...I'm just sorry I was such a witch about it. And I am so proud of you for what you've done in cheerleading...it makes you happy, and you're great at it…" she continued looking up at her daughter.

"You do realize that every time you attack Sara and Liz you're attacking me right?" demanded Lindsey. "It's because of them that I'm as well adjusted as I am and it's because of them that I'm up for both an academic and an athletic scholarship. By belittling them, you belittle me and everything they've helped me accomplish. I'm not you. I'm not going to make the same mistakes that you made. I might have if it wasn't for Sara and Liz you know. They've kept me from that path simply by being here and being a part of my life."

"I get that now," Catherine began as she sunk onto the couch. "I know it was wrong of me to strike out at them like that, I wasn't exactly thinking rationally. I'm sorry I hurt the people you care about. Especially Sara," Catherine sighed to herself.

"It was my choice to live here with Sara and Warrick. When Grandma was dying she knew that I was old enough to make the decision as to who I wanted to live with and she asked me what I wanted. That's why Sara and Warrick are my guardians, because I chose them, and by extension Liz. If you truly want to make amends with me you need to apologize to them for the way that you've treated both Sara and Liz. I've heard the three of them talking and I know that Liz has taken the brunt of your attacks, whether they were directed at her or at Sara. That's the type of person that she is. The fact that Liz sticks up for her friends says a lot about her character, especially when you consider that she hasn't had a lot of the same kind of respect in her own life. I would think you would want someone like that as a role model for me. Someone who defends not only themselves but their friends as well. Have you figured out yet that when you attack one you're actually attacking the other as well? When you hurt Liz you hurt Sara and vice versa and when you hurt them you hurt me."

"I'm getting it Linds, really I am," Catherine answered softly. "And I truly think I can do that...make amends with them. Or at least try. I knew I needed...no, wanted to with Sara, as soon as I realized what a fool I've been. And I need to make amends with Liz as well; she didn't deserve my anger, when the person I was angry at was myself."

"If you're serious about this and you do actually apologize to both Sara and Liz then I think I might be willing to give this a chance," replied Lindsey. "But you have to realize that I'm not always going to agree with you and that I have my own opinions about things."

"I know," Catherine smiled softly. "You always had your own opinions. Just like your father," she continued softly. "I better go then, I need to talk with more than just Sara and Liz to apologize for my behavior," she began as she rose.

"Of course." Lindsey nodded as she rose and led the way to the door. "This weekend we have nationals...you're welcome to come if you would like," Lindsey offered after a moment.

"I'd love to come. I'll see if I can arrange it," Catherine smiled as they reached the door. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," replied Lindsey before closing the door.

Sunday May 23rd, 2010
Tangiers Hotel and Casino
4:16 p.m.

Catherine was walking by the hotel bar when she happened to glance inside and stopped mid-step. Nick was in there eating, watching a game mind you, but he was alone. The first time she'd seen him without Sara, Warrick, Greg, or even Liz in days. Glancing back towards the elevator she debated with herself about going to get changed...shaking her head she turned and made her way inside. "Mind if I join you for a few?" she asked softly when she stopped next to him.

"Sure," Nick said as he took a sip of his pop.

"How are you this evening?" she asked after ordering a soda.

"The usual," commented Nick with a slight shrug

"I see," Catherine nodded slightly. "I'm sorry," she continued before she lost her nerve.

"Excuse me?" asked Nick in confusion

"I'm sorry about what happened...how I acted towards the end...and for how I've been here," Catherine explained softly. "I know it's worth about as much as crap now but...I wanted to tell you just the same."

"You were way out of line five years ago Catherine. It's the reason why I left," Nick told her honestly.

Catherine nodded. In the years between she had suspected as much, but it was easier to ignore things when she was in Miami and could just deny how things ended in Vegas. "You were right you know, about the case. I should have listened to you."

"I've always wondered about that." mused Nick. "What's brought all this on all of a sudden, Catherine? You've had five years to apologize. Why now?"

"I realized a long time ago that I was wrong...but I couldn't face any of you guys. It was easy in Miami, to just pretend nothing ever happened, that I left Vegas for other reasons. Thinking about any of you guys made me think about how things ended, made me think about how things were with Linds...it was just easier on my heart to not think about it at all. It was the wrong thing to do...but it's what I did," she shrugged slightly. "Since we came here...I haven't been able to hide from everything...it's taken me a while to realize I need to stop lashing out because I was hurting..." she trailed off as she looked over at the TV across the room.

"You realize that there are a few people who need to hear you apologize more than me right?" questioned Nick. "Don't' get me wrong Cath, I'm glad you apologized and that you realize the mistakes you made five years ago, but you've made quite a few since you came back and they've hurt some of the people here."

"I know. I've already talked with Linds...and I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to say to Sara and Liz..." Catherine sighed softly. "Linds invited me to her competition this weekend even..." she smiled slightly as she looked over at him.

"Are you going? I know it means a lot to Lindsey, Liz to. She's worked hard helping Lindsey and her team get to this point," he said as he took another drink.

"If I can, I plan to be there, sleep be damned," she nodded.

"Good. I'm sure Lindsey will be happy that you're there. She's turned into a fantastic young lady Cath, you should be proud of her."

"I am."

"If you'll excuse me Cath," Nick said looking at his watch. "I promised I'd help Liz with something before we headed into the lab and I need to get going if I'm not going to be late."

"No problem. See you later Nicky," Catherine smiled as he rose.

Monday May 24th, 2010
1516 La Porte Court
Henderson, Nevada
5:21 p.m.

"I'm coming," Sara called as she pulled the pot off the stove. She was enjoying a nice quiet, nobody around, Sara only meal and time before going to work that night, and it was just her luck that someone would interrupt. "Ricky, did you forget that Lindsey had practice tonight?" she asked as she opened the door. "Oh... sorry Cath, I thought you were Ricky."

"Who's Ricky?" asked Catherine.

"Oh, Lindsey's boyfriend," Sara answered carefully. "He tends to forget when she has practice and stop by to just surprise her with a flower or a hi before going to work."

"I see," commented Catherine, careful to keep her opinions about this boyfriend to herself. It wouldn't help for her to go at Sara for something that she and Lindsey needed to talk about, especially since she was here to try to mend fences with Sara. "Sara, can we talk?"

"Sure," Sara answered slightly wary. "I was just making dinner. Would you like to join me?" she offered. She was hungry and she couldn't eat in front of Catherine without offering.

"If it's not too much trouble," replied Catherine.

"Oh, it's no trouble," Sara smiled as she turned. "Come on in, we can talk while I finish cooking. How do you feel about imitation crab?" she asked as Catherine shut the door and followed her to the kitchen.

"That's fine," commented Catherine as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Would you like something to drink?" Sara asked as she checked on the vegetables she had boiling.

"Water's fine."

"Glass or bottle?" she asked as she walked over to the fridge.

"Bottle's fine."

Nodding Sara handed her the bottle before turning back to turn the flame back on under the crab. "So what's on your mind?" she asked as she leaned against the counter.

"I talked with Lindsey the other day," commented Catherine, knowing she couldn't keep putting it off.

"I know. She mentioned she invited you to the competition," Sara raised her own glass and took a sip before turning to check on the pasta.

"She did. She made me realize a few things."

"Oh?"

"Thanks to her and in part to what Liz said the other day, I realized that I wasn't being fair to any of you. Lindsey said something I had already realized needed to be done and that was to apologize to you for the way that I've been acting," explained Catherine, not really making eye contact with Sara. "I'm sorry Sara. I never should have said the things that I did."

Sara glanced over but remained silent as she drained the pasta and vegetables before tossing them in the same pot. Adding the crab she stirred them together before adding some of the Italian dressing, and after tossing that, she dished two plates. Walking over she set one in front of Catherine before taking her own seat.

"Most people probably wouldn't get off as easy with me, you know that," she began after a moment as she swirled the pasta around her fork. "But I can understand why you did what you did..." she paused. "So, consider this the one and only time you're going to get off easy with me," Sara continued as she looked up at Catherine with a smile. "Just don't make the same mistakes twice. I don't think you're daughter will let you off as easy either."

"I don't think she will either," admitted Catherine. "Sara I said some horrible things to you and about you. Things I never should have said let alone thought. I've been angry for a very long time and lashed out at the people I thought were the cause of that anger. I was also afraid of the path that I thought Lindsey was following without understanding that times have changed and that she's not going to end up the way that I did."

"No, she's not," Sara agreed with a smile. "And like I said, I understand. You lost your only child to someone who while a friend is still not you. Just...next time you get pissed at me, leave my status as a mom out of it?" she asked softly.

"Alright," agreed Catherine.

"Good," Sara smiled "So, I won't share everything mind you, but would you like to hear a bit of what your daughter's been up to?" she asked as she speared a piece of broccoli.

"I would love to," admitted Catherine with a smile.