AN: Thank you all so much for continuing to support this story and taking the time to share your reviews with me, I cannot express how much it means. And chimp1984, that is a huuuuge compliment to me as well – you have no idea. Thank you everyone for reading and I hope you are all doing okay.

Take care and enjoy.

CHAPTER 34

"What is past is prologue."

William Shakespeare

CATHERINE POV

"Is she here?"

Laura and I both elect not to bother with pleasantries. She knows exactly why I'm here and what I'm asking.

"No."

Her answer is what I expected. I mean, after Sara's angered confession about what her mother did to her, I highly doubted she would then go back to her house, with her mother, to cool off.

Which, however, is exactly why I looked here first. Sara's smart enough to know the places I'd consider the least likely to find her – and then, head there.

"Right," I mutter, running a tired hand across my face. "Thanks."

"Catherine?" Laura's voice stops me as I move back down the drive. "Is she okay? Did something happen?"

Her voice holds concern for her daughter, and I find myself torn.

After Sara's confession, it's hard to even look at Laura to be honest. To see her as I saw her earlier, before I knew she'd tried to stab Sara to death in her sleep.

It's a hard thing to expect anyone to push aside.

"I don't know," I tell Sara's mom honestly.

We both watch each other for a moment, eyes locked and expressions passing silent words between us.

Clearing my throat, I turn.

"I'll let you know if I find her."

I may have torn feelings regarding Laura right now, but I'm a mother. I know what it's like to worry yourself sick about the well-being of your daughter when she disappears off to God knows where, doing God knows what.

"Thanks," I hear whispered as I get into my car.

"Where were you?"

My tense question has all current occupants of the room turning towards me.

"Catherine…" DB warns, seeing the anger behind my eyes.

"There's thirty minutes until shift starts," I grind out to him, eyes never leaving the brunette he was talking to. "This is our own time."

"This is your place of work," he counters tightly. "I won't have the two of you doing this…whatever this is…here."

"Fine."

Without another word, I purposefully move forward, grabbing Sara tightly by the wrist. Pulling her, or more like dragging her, I swiftly move us from the break room towards the front door.

"Catherine…stop…" Sara objects, trying to pull her arm free.

"Nope," I offer over my shoulder as I continue to force her towards the door. "And I suggest you stop fighting me before you hurt yourself."

Sara only continues to pull against me harder, literally grabbing onto the door frame with her free hand as I try to pull her through.

Reaching back, I simply grab her other arm and her belt, forcing her forward and down the steps.

When we're clear of the lab, I let her push away from me.

"What the hell?!" she grinds out, catching her breath. "You can't just waltz in there and do that!"

"I think I already did," I shrug.

She stares at me with wide eyes, shocked by my actions, my behavior.

"You pissed?" I ask her.

"Of course I am!"

"Then maybe you feel half of what I felt last night when I spent hours upon hours looking for you."

Sara's next words are cut off as she tightens her jaw, clearly not expecting my comment.

"I was worried sick, Sara," I continue. "So now I'm tired, frustrated, and also pissed."

Sara looks away, taking multiple deep breaths to calm herself.

"I'm sorry," she offers, shaking her head. "I didn't mean for you to worry, Catherine. But…that…."

She gestures between us and the lab.

"That was uncalled for."

"Pardon me," I get out. "But I didn't think you'd want to be having this conversation in front of DB."

"I don't want to be having this conversation at all!"

I watch her, the anger rolling off her dark features, the tight set to her jaw, the clenched hands, the pale skin. The dark circles under her eyes.

"Where were you?" I ask, this time my voice calmer, the underlying concern reading through.

She rubs her temples, still trying to work on her own emotions.

"Sara," I shake my head. "I'm not running away from this, from you. What you told me yesterday changes nothing. So stop convincing yourself it did."

Sara narrows her eyes, still looking heatedly at the ground.

"I needed to be alone, Catherine."

"I get that," I tell her. "I really do. But I think you could have also given me the courtesy of replying to my texts, my phone calls. Even if you just say that you're fine but want to be alone."

She's quiet, expression still tense.

"I didn't have my phone…" she eventually says. "It was in the car."

"And you were where?" I continue to probe.

She tries to hide it well, but she's nervous, mind working furiously.

Working furiously to make up an excuse, an out.

"Don't you dare," I grind out, my own anger sparking back to life as I step into her personal space. "Don't you dare lie to me, Sara Sidle."

"Just drop it," Sara gets out. "Where I was is my own business."

I snort, not believing my ears.

"Wow, that's really nice, Sara." I shake my head. "I spend my entire night looking for you, exhausted beyond belief, and you don't even have the courtesy…"

I trail off, raising my hands.

"You know what, screw it."

Taking a step back, I look at the woman before me.

The woman who right now feels like a complete stranger.

"Screw you."

With no further words, I head back into the lab.

"I was at a bar."

My hand keeps moving, writing word after word across the page.

All day, Sara and I avoided each other. Likely tipped off by our earlier behavior, DB sent us out on separate assignments the entire shift, which helped with the avoidance. I arrived back at the lab about an hour ago, working silently in one of the side labs. Sara was nowhere to be found.

I hear her footsteps moving closer, sliding almost silently across the carpet.

Sitting across the table from me, she lets out a breath.

"I'm sorry, Catherine."

Her apology is quiet, the words spoken with regret.

Sincerity.

Finally stopping, I put down my pen, taking a deep breath before I look up.

"Were you drinking?"

Sara swallows, but keeps her eyes on mine.

"No."

I assess her, hating that I'm questioning her answer, her honesty.

Sara has faults, just like the rest of us, but I tend to trust the brunette on most occasions.

I'm just not sure this is one of them.

"Sara…"

She watches me.

"You really think, after all the work that went into getting me into that study, that I would jeopardize that for a drink?"

"I think sometimes you make self-destructive decisions."

Sara breathes out, "Thanks, Cath."

"I'm being honest, Sara," I tell her. "I'm not trying to hurt you or offend you, I'm being honest with you."

"And so am I," Sara counters. "I'm not lying to you…but if you don't trust me…"

"I trust you."

Sara looks away, causing me to reach across the table and take her hands in mine.

"Like I told you when I first came back to Vegas and asked you to be on this case, I trust you, Sara. I chose you, over everyone else on the team, because I trust you."

I breathe out, knowing Sara's a loyal person. Almost to a fault, really. She's great at avoidance, at hiding, at burying her thoughts down deep inside.

But, she's never lied to me, not once. I need to start giving her the credit she's due and stop questioning her honesty.

"Sara," I feel myself succumbing to the emotions inside me. "I just wanted you to let me know you were okay…"

I match her gaze.

"I was so worried, honey…"

Sara swallows, squeezing my hands lightly.

"I know," she whispers. "I really am sorry."

She shakes her head.

"I'm sorry, Catherine," she says again. "And, not just for making you worry."

She takes a deep breath, her eyes betraying the emotions buried underneath her pensive expression.

"I hate that you're getting caught in the middle of this crap with my mom," she tells me. "You shouldn't have to worry about any of this, it's not fair to you."

"Stop right there," I cut in. "Sara, I care about you, which means I care about what's going on in your life."

"But-"

"No," I tell her sternly, gently running my thumbs across her knuckles to soften the bite to my words. "I want to know these things about you, about your past. And about your present, as you try to figure this all out with your mother."

I take a deep breath.

"And, most importantly, I'd like to hear them from you," I state. "Not your mom."

Sara's hands are cold in mine.

"You could've told me about the anniversary of your dad's death, Sar. The nightmares. All of it."

"I didn't want…"

"I know," I tell her, knowing instinctively what she was going to say before her words trailed off quietly. "You never do. You're always thinking of everyone else's feelings instead of your own. For once in your life, Sara, put yourself first. Something as important as this deserves priority."

She's quiet, the sounds of the lab around us the only noise in this room.

"I didn't want to hurt you, burden you."

"The only way you hurt me, Sara," I tell her honestly. "Is by shutting me out."

Sara doesn't speak, silently entwining her fingers with mine.

"I'll try," Sara whispers quietly. "And I'll keep trying."

Squeezing her hands, I barely glance at the hallway before leaning in, capturing her lips with mine.

Kissing me back, Sara moves her hands from mine to run their way softly through my hair.

"I don't deserve you," she confesses in a whisper, her mouth millimeters away from my own.

"Feeling's mutual," I breathe out my own confession before drawing her back in to deepen the kiss.

The moment between us is heated, passionate.

Beautiful.

Pulling away, I hold her hands tightly in mine.

"I love you, Sara."

The whispered words filter through the room, Sara's eyes deepening, heavy with emotion.

Tightening her grip on my hands, she pulls me back in.

Kissing me deeply, my body shivers under her touch and the world around me fades away to nothing but her.

Us.

Laughing, Sara steps out of the car, her hand automatically finding mine.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad…"

"Oh no, Sar, it was worse."

Sara laughs again, shaking her head.

"I don't know," she raises a brow, a smile pulling at her lips. "If I were your teacher I would've given you an automatic A for the rest of your high school career."

"More like a C," I laugh. "Minus."

Sara's eyes widen, the brunette pulling me in towards her.

"Atrocity."

Pulling me in, she encircles her arms around my waist.

I'm so glad we talked things through today. The air between us is no longer heavy and tense, instead it's the calm and comfortable feeling I've come to know and love about being around Sara.

Moving up towards the porch, Sara gets out her keys.

There's nothing more than I want right now than to enjoy the nice evening coffee she's offered me. Give us a chance to shed all of this stress and weariness, simply enjoy one another's company.

Hold each other and simply be together.

Key entering the lock, we both jump when we hear someone clearing their throat.

Heads jerking to the side, we watch a figure step out from the shadows.

"Sara…"

Sara's body has gone from relaxed to statue stiff.

Her mouth opens slightly before shutting tightly, the muscles in her jaw tensed.

I have very, very rarely ever seen Sara this rattled.

I'm not sure she's even breathing.

Voice low, she narrows her dark eyes.

"Claire."

AN: Thanks for reading.