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CHAPTER 16

CATHERINE POV

"I'm getting ready to head out."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

In the silence, I move closer to the table present between us.

"Sara."

Looking up, the brunette pauses as she hovers over the microscope holding the latest trace evidence we collected from the scene on our return visit this morning.

While nothing extremely probative came from the return looks, some additional evidence that was overshadowed previously was brought in. Sara's been holed up in this back lab diligently working through each new lead one by one, hoping to finally catch a break in this case.

"Right," she breathes out, tossing her pen down to stand up straight.

Glancing at the doorway, she ensures that we are in a private enough location for this.

Lifting her shirt, she turns her eyes to the side, away from mine.

Sighing, I approach, closing the distance between us. Eying her torso, I hate the dark bands of deep purple and red that still mar her abdomen. As I circle, her back still holds its own deep bruising, nothing looking necessarily worse than it has the past two days – but definitely not looking much better either.

Moving to her front, I note that the stab wound at least seems to be healing well. Though, from the looks of it, she's unfortunately going to have a nasty scar. Running my fingers slowly down the line of deep red, I feel Sara's taught stomach muscles tense along the path of my touch.

Pulling back, I gesture to her shirt.

"We're done."

Swallowing tightly, Sara clears her throat and moves back towards the microscope.

"Have a good night."

Reading her dismissal as exactly what it is, I wonder when Sara is going to finally stop feeling like she needs to keep putting space between us. Physical, emotional, professional.

Looking at the clock, I glance back over at my companion.

"You heading out soon?"

Just like yesterday, Sara seems to have no intention of leaving on time. In fact, she looks like she barely even went home yesterday at all.

"In a bit."

Her answer does nothing to convince me. Seeing that the dark circles under her eyes have only grown darker since our last conversation, I get an idea.

"I was hoping you would actually be planning to leave now as well."

Sara pauses, hazel eyes lifting from the microscope lens.

"I sort of need a ride."

Sara's resulting silence makes it clear to me that she's trying to figure out my angle.

"Grissom should still be here…"

"He has court in the morning, reviewing his notes in his office. I don't want to disturb him if I don't have to."

I watch the battle between Sara's obsessive work ethic and her manners play out across her dark features. Ultimately deciding not to be rude, she pulls her slide from under the scope.

"I guess this can wait."

"I really appreciate it."

Nodding without comment, Sara takes a few minutes to gather the rest of her things, placing everything neatly back into the evidence locker where no doubt she will get here hours before shift to retrieve.

"You have a very good memory."

Sara looks over before returning her focus to the road.

"You seem to have memorized the way to Kelly's house even though you've only been there once."

Shrugging, Sara switches lanes.

"I'm a visual person," she says. "I usually only have to see something once to remember it."

"Also known as a photographic memory."

Sara looks almost embarrassed. "Something like that."

I get the impression that someone as brilliant as Sara has had to put up with a lot of teasing and comments in her life regarding her intelligence. Sometimes it's almost harder to be the smart kid, people resenting you for what comes naturally and easily while others struggle.

Turning onto Kelly's street, Sara looks over the houses before quickly fixing on the right one.

Pulling in, she leans back in her seat.

"You going to be okay finding a ride in tomorrow?"

"Yeah," I answer. "Lindsey will go back to school so Kelly can get to work. It isn't her responsibility to babysit my kid."

"You-"

Before Sara can finish, there's a knock on the driver window.

"Shit," Sara curses, tensing at the unexpected noise.

Seeing the person standing outside her door, she sends me a questioning look. I wish I could be of help, but I'm just as confused.

Sara rolls down her window, one dark brow raised.

"Sara, right?"

Nodding, the brunette looks like she's trying to assess a suspect.

"Yes…"

"I just wanted to invite you in," Kelly states, sending me a quick smile before returning her gaze to Sara. "I made dinner for Cath and Lindsey before they head home, but have a ton extra if you're interested."

"Thanks," Sara says slowly, sounding both surprised and a little confused. "But I'm okay."

"Really?" Kelly asks, cringing slightly. "I was sort of hoping you'd say yes. I accidentally made way more than the three of us could ever finish. It doesn't keep well and I don't want to waste it."

Looking over at me like I had something to do with this particular invite, I shrug innocently at Sara's unspoken question.

"I, uh…"

"Please?" Kel all but begs. "Help a girl out?"

"I, uh, I guess I could stay for a few minutes." Once again Sara looks over at me. "If that's alright with you, Miss Willows?"

Sara's continued requests for permission in my presence along with her continued use of my full title make something inside of me sink.

"I'd be happy to have you join us," I tell her sincerely.

As we exit the car, I send Kel a look over Sara's shoulder.

She simply smiles at me devilishly.

"California, really?"

Sara nods, looking less than comfortable as she places another bite of pasta in her mouth.

It's clear that she's not going to elaborate further, Kel's eyes flickering to mine. I simply shrug, only knowing the answers to Kelly's questions because I read them in Sara's file. Otherwise I would know essentially nothing about Sara if it were up to the brunette. She isn't exactly the most forthcoming about talking about herself.

"Oh, I think I hear a little munchkin waking up," Kel says, redirecting her gaze towards the back of her house.

"I'll get her," I offer, eager to see my daughter but having been reluctant to wake her from her nap.

Entering Kelly's guest room, I smile as I see my beautiful angel blinking up at me through the dimly lit room.

"Hey there, little sunflower."

Lindsey scrunches her nose.

"I'm not a sunflower."

"You're not?" I question in shock. "Then what are you?! A puppy?"

Lindsey giggles, "Noooo."

"A caterpillar?"

"Mommy!"

"A kangaroo?"

"Mommmmmy!" Lindsey half laughs and half scolds. "I'm a girl!"

"Ohhh," I smile, kissing her soft hair. "That's good, I was worried!"

Pulling her up into my arms, I groan.

"You're a growing little girl!" I tell her, tickling her in my arms before putting her down.

"You want to join us for dinner with Kelly and a friend of mommy's from work?"

Lindsey nods excitedly.

Taking her by the hand, we move into the living room where Lindsey immediately focuses on the stranger at the table.

"Lindsey," I tell her. "This is Sara."

"Your friend from work?"

I nod, seeing Sara's eyes lift to mine in slight question before returning to my daughter. Something tells me the 'friend' portion of the statement is what gave her pause.

"And you must be the beautiful Lindsey that I hear so much about?"

Lindsey smiles, nodding eagerly.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Smiling, my daughter approaches Sara, appearing to look her over. At first she looks like she does when she's trying to figure out a puzzle, and then she nods once, seemingly finding her answer.

"You're the lady in those pictures mommy was always staring at."

Coughing, Kelly tries to clear her throat from the wine she seems to have just choked on.

Sending her a look, I roll my eyes before looking at Sara.

"Your personnel file, from Gabe's case. I worked on it a lot from my hotel."

The brunette's expression is hard to read, nodding slightly as she keeps her gaze on Lindsey.

"I heard you just started at your new school?"

Lindsey nods excitedly.

"You make any new friends yet?"

And, that's all it takes, Lindsey instantly diving into a lengthy description of what has to be every person in her class. Giving her unsolicited assessment of who she likes and why – and, more entertainingly, who she doesn't like and why.

Dinner flies by, Lindsey barely stopping to chew as she makes us all laugh with her stories. As we finish dessert, Sara glances at her watch as she places her dish in Kelly's sink.

"I hate to eat and run, but I really should get going."

Kelly nods, reaching out to squeeze Sara's arm.

"Thanks for coming."

I'm surprised at the jolt that goes through me when Sara doesn't immediately pull away from my friend's touch like she does mine. Still not looking completely comfortable, however, Sara politely nods, stepping back out of her reach.

"Thanks for having me," Sara answers. "I really appreciate it, it was very kind of you."

"Anytime," Kelly tells her sincerely. "Any friend of Cath's is a friend of mine."

And there it is, that 'friend' word again. Sara's eyes narrow slightly as she nods before her features return to their usual calm stoicism.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she offers to me. "Thanks."

I nod, watching her as she lets herself out.

"Wow," Kelly breathes out as I turn back towards the kitchen. "That girl's got dark and mysterious down to a science."

I laugh, "She does," I agree, sending my friend a look. "Which is fun in movies and mystery novels, but no so much when you have to work together."

Kelly sends me a questioning look.

"I have to trust the people I work with, my life depends on it." I shake my head, reaching over to start rinsing some of the dishes. "I can't figure out what the hell she's thinking most of the time, let alone what's going on with her or in that head of hers."

Kelly seems to understand my point, checking on Lindsey before she moves to join me, drying the dishes as I rinse them.

"She probably just needs time."

"How much time?" I question honestly. "I'm starting to suspect this is just how Sara is. I just don't think she trusts people. And, especially not me. She still calls me Miss Willows, for heaven's sake."

Kelly laughs, "I did notice that. Was a little weird since it makes you seem like a responsible adult."

I smack her in the arm with the dishrag.

Before either of us can comment further, I hear a loud bang from outside.

Immediately, I drop the dish in my hand and run to the door.

"What the hell is going on?!" I yell, eyes trying to adjust to the sight before me.

"She ambushed me, out of nowhere!"

"What are you doing here?!" I all but shout, heart hammering in my chest as my eyes see the last person I ever wanted to.

Keeping my glare on him, I reach over, pulling Sara back from him and towards my side.

"Kelly, get a towel and then keep Lindsey inside with you."

Kelly hesitates a moment, her own eyes wide in shock before she quickly does as I ask. Returning with a towel, she moves up to Sara.

"Here," she offers.

Taking it when Sara doesn't move, I make sure Kelly is back inside with the door locked before I do anything.

Reaching over, I hold the towel over at Sara, placing it near her face when she doesn't move.

"Hold this against your head. Now."

Sara's eyes are burning into Eddie's, the brunette only taking the towel when I all but shove it into her body.

"Someone explain, now."

"I'm sitting in my car, minding my own business when this bitch comes over and starts attacking me."

"What are you even doing here?" I ask him, though I know damn well what he was here for.

"I have a right to be wherever I want to be," he states tightly. "That bitch doesn't have a right to start attacking me for no reason."

"Sara?"

I don't trust Eddie as far as I can throw him. I want to hear things from her.

"Sara."

Sara's eyes are still burning holes in Eddie's.

"The creep was sitting in his car watching the house. He could see Lindsey through the living room window."

Immediately, my blood runs even colder.

"I approached when I realized it was him," Sara continues tightly. "Blocked his view and told him to get lost."

Sara's eyes narrow even further.

"Apparently he doesn't follow directions very well."

"You hit her?" I bite out, seeing the crimson trailing down Sara's fingers where she is holding the towel to her temple.

"She started it."

"Did you touch Eddie?"

Sara shakes her head no. "Not yet."

Eddie advances threateningly. "You watch what you say to me, you little cunt. Or that will just be the start of what I do to you."

He turns towards me.

"And you, still thinking you can keep our daughter from me?"

"Now I'm definitely keeping my daughter from you. Indefinitely."

Eddie moves quickly, reaching out for me as Sara pushes into his path.

Grabbing for her, I'm not quick enough to get a decent hold before she has her arm against Eddie's throat, pushing him back until he collides with Kelly's house.

"Don't you dare even try to touch her, you sick bastard," Sara growls lowly. "Or I swear to God I will end you."

Eddie pushes out, trying to get Sara's arm from off his windpipe. Too late, I see his arm connect solidly with Sara's exposed side. Her side which holds multiple cracked ribs.

Immediately, she's dropped to her knees.

"Sara!"

Before I can move to help her, I'm pushed back violently myself, head connecting with the siding of Kelly's house. In my face, are two very, very angry blue eyes.

"You think you run this show?" Speckles of spit hit my face as I turn my head away as far as it will go. "You think I won't tell the world what a slutty, drug addicted bitch you are and get custody of my daughter back?"

"Eddie, stop. You're hurting me."

The slap hits me soundly across my face, ear ringing and eye filling with tears so quickly that it's hard to see.

"Does it look like I give a fuck that I'm hurting you?!"

"Stop!"

I hate that I'm begging, that everything in me feels like it's resorting to when I was in my 20's, held victim of this man and my confused, misplaced feelings for him. I'm better than this, better than him.

I always was.

When he hits me again, I go silent, knowing from experience that the only way out of this is through it.

Eyes closed, I pray that he's quick. I pray that I stay quiet enough that my daughter doesn't hear me, doesn't witness what is going on just outside of the house she's supposed to feel safe in.

Just as I feel Eddie's hot breath on my skin, his arm tightening its pressure around my neck, he suddenly releases his grip as he seems to fall backward.

My eyes shoot open, seeing a furious Sara grabbing him by the collar with one arm. As Eddie tries to catch his balance, Sara takes advantage and sends a vicious elbow into his face, driving him backwards as he yells in pain.

His stumbling steps gain purchase, his tall, bulky form straightening to his full height. He turns, fuming with rage, only to be met with Sara's service weapon pointed directly at his forehead.

"Look where we find ourselves again," Sara gets out, voice slightly strained. "I thought I was clear the last time. You were not to lay a hand on her."

"Yeah?" Eddie spits, swiping at the blood pouring from his nose. "What are you going to do about it?"

Sara's finger moves to the safety, clicking it off. Then, she draws back the slide, placing a bullet into the chamber, ready to be fired.

"I think you know exactly what I'm going to do about it."

"You don't have the stones."

"Sara…"

I don't know why I'm saying anything really, wanting nothing more than for Eddie to be out of my life. Out of Lindsey's life. But, I don't want it to be this way. I don't want Sara to have to shoulder that burden and the repercussions it would bring. Eddie isn't worth it – I won't let him take Sara down with him.

"Sara, put down the gun."

Sara ignores me, eyes narrowing as her finger moves to the trigger, pressing down just enough to see it move.

"Sara!"

Her hand twitches slightly, but I see the determination in her eyes, the increasing pressure on the trigger of her weapon.

Just as I'm sure her gun is about to fire, the trigger having no play left in its design, the sound of sirens hits my ears from the distance.

Eddie hears it too, his eyes moving slightly away from Sara towards the sound.

Raising his hands, he starts to back up slowly.

"Looks like the cavalry is here," he sneers. "Can't shoot me in front of them now can you?"

Sara looks like she's about to do just that. But, as the sirens grow louder, Eddie grabs at his keys, knowing he needs to get out of here, and quickly.

As he turns, Sara's hand falters. Sara may be pushed to her limits right now, seconds away from deploying her weapon, but having to shoot Eddie in the back makes that no longer an option. It's one thing to shoot someone facing you, threatening you. It's another to shoot them in the back while they're all but running away.

Stumbling down the drive, in seconds Eddie is in his car, peeling off down the street.

As I hear the sirens grow closer, I step hesitantly towards the brunette still holding her gun.

"Sara?"

She doesn't answer, dark eyes on the even darker horizon.

"You call the cops?" is her only response, gaze looking towards something I can't see.

"No."

"Kelly?" she suggests.

Then, as the sirens grow closer, they suddenly start to head off towards the east.

"You've got to be kidding," I state, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The sirens weren't for us. Never were. But, they may have saved our lives all the same.

"Fuck," I breathe out, feeling like Kelly's delicious dinner is about to come back up. My hands are shaking so badly that I can barely wipe the hair from my face.

Hearing the door open, Kelly hesitantly slips her head out.

"He gone?" she questions nervously, tension dripping from her words. "I thought I heard his car pull off."

I nod, hands moving to my knees as I try to breathe through my nose.

"God, Cath," Kel gets out, immediately moving to my side and placing a supportive arm around me. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"Lindsey?" I ask, needing to know that she's okay.

"She's fine, inside watching a movie on my computer. With headphones in and the volume very loud."

I don't think I can ever thank my lucky stars for placing someone like Kelly in my life. I never would have survived my dark patches without her. Including this one.

"Are you alright?" she asks me again, voice angrier this time as she looks me over. "What did he do to you?"

Her fingers move gently across my cheek where I'm sure I'm going to have a bruise.

"Shit, Catherine."

"I'll be okay," I tell her, squeezing her arm. "Just a bit banged up."

Keeping her supportive grip on me, Kelly seems less than pleased. But, my focus has already moved on to something much more pressing.

"Sara."

The brunette has been eerily still, not moving an inch since Eddie left.

"Sara."

Kelly's eyes meet mine, the concern and confusion clear to read. Her expression tenses as she notices the gun still gripped tightly in Sara's hand.

Moving gently from Kelly's grip, I approach Sara carefully, moving around so she can see me.

"Let go."

Sara backs away at the sound of my voice, but I reach out and grab her wrist before she can move out of reach.

"Let go now."

Perhaps realizing the situation for what it is, Sara lets go of her weapon, releasing it to me. As I take it in my hands and clear the chamber, replacing the safety, Sara steps away.

"Stop."

Looking torn, Sara's hand absently moves towards her jeans where her keys lie just beneath the fabric.

"You are not going anywhere near him, Sara. And you are not leaving this house until you let us take a look at you."

"I'm fine."

"Let's not do this again."

"I-"

"Shut up."

Sara's eyes flash to mine, her anger however quickly turning to confusion as she sees my expression.

"Shut up and let me help you. Let me feel like not everything and everyone I touch gets hurt because of me. Because of my fucking ex who I still can't seem to get out of my life."

"Miss Willows," Sara says quietly, "none of this is your fault."

I look away, angry, ashamed, embarrassed, and about a thousand other things.

"Hey," Sara calls, her voice much closer. "Look at me."

It takes a few moments before I can work up the ability to meet her gaze. When I do, I struggle not to look away again at the intensity in her eyes.

"This. Is. Not. Your. Fault."

Reaching out, Sara gently runs her fingers under my eyes, wiping away tears I hadn't even known were there.

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

I swallow, trying to trust in her words, the message behind them.

"The only one to blame here is him," she whispers into the night. "You did absolutely nothing wrong, Catherine."

Breathing deep, I try to regain my composure, knowing this night is going to be hard enough to cope with without adding a breakdown to the list.

"You okay?" she asks with concern, eyes looking over the same spots Kelly did moments before.

I'm sure I look a mess.

"Better than you," I settle on answering, taking in Sara's own battered features. Namely the crimson trail still trickling its way down her pale skin.

Not to mention the way she's favoring her side.

"Did he…" I can barely stomach saying the words aloud. "Your ribs…did he…"

"They're just sore," she tells me. "He didn't do them any more harm."

"And you know this how?"

"I just know."

"Sara."

"Trust me?" Sara's eyes are earnest, looking at me with unspoken emotion. "Please?"

"Let me see?"

Sara considers the compromise.

Then, slowly, she lifts her shirt.

Hearing a gasp beside me, I almost forgot Kelly was still here with us.

"My God, what the hell happened to you, Sara?"

Sara doesn't answer, eyes leaving mine to focus elsewhere as seems to be her pattern.

"Long story," I tell my friend. "Been a rough couple weeks."

"Seems so," she breathes out, eyes trying to stop looking at the evidence of violence displayed across Sara's torso.

As I feel around her side, Sara curses, teeth clenching tightly.

"Sorry," I tell her. "I'm promise I'm not trying to hurt you, honey."

Sara gives a small nod, working to keep her composure as I probe a few other places that look particularly battered.

"I don't feel any breaks," I state, "but I can't say that that makes me feel much better. Nor does that gash near your brow."

Sara reaches up, absently touching the slowly bleeding wound.

"It's just a cut," she waives off my concern. "He tried to hit me with the edge of the car door as he got out. Mostly missed."

"Here," Kelly offers, handing Sara back the towel that was tossed aside before, her own expression looking like she doesn't quite like the amount of blood Sara's lost either.

"Thanks."

Keeping pressure on her head, Sara's eyes keep focusing on my own injuries.

"You sure you're alright?" she asks. "He hit your head into the siding pretty hard."

"If I agree to trust your assessment of your state of wellbeing," I tell her with a small smile. "You're going to have to trust mine."

Sara looks less than pleased, her expression looking close to arguing.

"Sucks, doesn't it?" I smile. "And I'm not the one with a history of blatantly lying to you about being 'fine' while I nearly bleed to death in the middle of the fucking desert."

Sara snorts slightly, lowering her eyes.

"Touche."

Kelly moves forward, placing herself near us.

"What do we do about this?" she questions. "About him."

Her eyes are dark, angry. It's something that I've only truly seen a handful of times from my otherwise gentle and good natured friend.

"He can't keep doing this to you, Cath."

"I know," I breathe out, running my hand through my tangled hair. "But anything I say he'll just refute. He'll bring up other shit from our past and just make things ten times worse."

"You have witnesses," Kelly counters, gesturing to herself and Sara. "We'll back you up."

"Did you actually see anything?" I question Kelly, watching as she grows quiet. "And Sara's a coworker, one who I just investigated for negligent homicide in a legal case filled with baffling amounts of drama and secrecy. Any lawyer would have a field day spinning those angles to make one or both of us look corrupt, coerced, or blackmailed."

I look over at my quiet companion.

"No offense."

"None taken," Sara shrugs.

Straightening up, Sara holds her side as she looks at me.

"I may have a solution to the witness problem, though," she says quietly.

When she doesn't elaborate, I step closer. Reaching in, I place her hand with the towel back tightly to her temple, not liking the stubborn trail of blood that keeps making its way down her face.

"What is your solution?"

Taking a breath and watching my reaction, Sara reaches into her pocket with her free hand, pulling out her cellphone.

"Are…did you…"

Sara nods, "I recorded everything. Turned it on right before I approached his car." Her eyes search mine, trying to gauge my feelings. "Suspected it might come in handy."

Her finger hovering over the screen, she presses stop, showing me the recorded file across the phone's display.

"I…" my head shakes, trying to take in this revelation.

She looks back down to her phone, breaking her gaze. Pressing a few things on the screen, she clears her throat.

"I just emailed you a copy of the file," she says quietly. "It's yours for whatever you decide to do with it."

Looking up, her eyes meet mine, and, just for a moment, it feels like I can see beneath some of her walls.

"Thank you, Sara."

AN: Thanks for reading.