Title: Foreign Affair
Author: cjacsifan
Pairing: Catherine/Sara
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: CSI is owned by CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer
Summary: A Jack the Ripper like case might just rip two lives apart.
Spoilers: Various mentions throughout the story
A/N: All CSI characters belong to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer, all others are mine...thanks to Marie 223344 for her help on this story.

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It looked as if crime had taken a holiday for the night because all the CSIs had to do was paperwork from old cases, that was until they all got a message from Grissom to meet in the breakroom.

"So Griss, what do we have?" Warrick asks as he and the others make their way into the breakroom.

"Well, you and Greg have a smash and grab at the Caesar's Palace Jewelry shop...owner says some pretty expensive stuff was taken...Nick and I have a suspicious circs out in Seven Hills...Catherine and Sara you two have a DB at a hotel just off the strip."

"Oh joy a trick roll." Catherine in a very sarcastic tone.

"From what the first officer on the scene said, it's kind of grusome so I'm giving you a heads up...if that's it then let's get going."

"Penny for your thoughts honey..." Catherine says as she drives to the scene.

"Oh nothing  I guess I am playing Grissom's words over in my head and wonder what the hell we are walking into."

"We'll know once we get there...I'm sure we can handle it we've done so before..nothing can be that bad."

Once Catherine and Sara get to the scene they see officers bent over trash cans, leaning up against their cruisers all looking like they eaten something rotten; even the usually stoic Brass isn't looking too well, "Jesus Jim what's going on in there?" Catherine asks concern etched in her face.

"I'm telling you Catherine it looks like a slaughter house in there."

"Any identification Jim?" Sara asks before she and Catherine enter the room.

"None on the body, so I checked with the manager and he said that all she did was sign the register Mr. and Mrs. Jones while someone waited outside the office.

Catherine and Sara slowly enter the room and their eyes go wide at the sight of the carnage, "Oh my God what the hell happend in here," Sara was first to comment.

"Jesus, this looks like a scene from one of those slasher horror movies."Catherine was right, it did look like a movie scene; a very bloody movie scene.

There was blood on every wall, except the bathroom but there was a blood trail leading to it on the carpet.  The body was flayed open from neck to navel and the face looked like chopped meat probably from being beaten, "So David can you try to give us a time of death?" Sara asks trying to keep what she had for dinner in her stomach.

"No Catherine I'm sorry I can't"

"Why the hell not David?" Catherine asks angrily.

"That's because she doesn't have a liver...it's been removed...take a look."  The two women look at the body in horror and notice that David was right, the liver was gone.

"It's been removed with surgical precision and the same thing with the initial cut from the neck down, it looks like three perfect surgical cuts...Sara you take the bathroom I'll examine the body."

Sara nods her head, usually Sara would have been angry at Catherine for treating her like a rookie but she knew her girlfriend only had her best interest at heart.

"Catherine you might want to come see this."

Catherine gets up and walks towards the bathroom, "What is it Sara?"

"This..." Sara then shows Catherine the letter 'J' on the bathroom mirror

"Oh my God Sara is that what I think it is?"

"Yes...it's human blood."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been 4 days since the body of Sandra Patterson had been discovered and 2 since the discovery of a second victim, and to the frustration of not only Catherine and Sara, but also to Ecklie who saw this inability to solve two murders by 'Grissom's best team' to be detrimental to the standing of his lab and he was giving his so-called opinion on the matter to Grissom, "Listen Grissom I know you think Willows and Sidle are your best team, but maybe if you put someone else better on the case it might be solved quicker...just a suggestion."

Grissom knew better than to take the bait, "Listen Conrad, you know yourself that Catherine and Sara have the highest solve rate in the history of this lab; you're just pissed because it makes you look bad in the eyes of the sheriff and the mayor."

Ecklie tried for a snappy comeback to Grissom's comment but he knew Grissom was right, "Just make sure this case gets solved as soon as possible."  Ecklie then turned to use the phone unceremoniously dismissing Grissom.

Grissom picked up the assignments for the start of shift from his desk and noticed a 419 staring him in the face as he enters the break room, ."Assignments are up...but first ladies anything new on your two victims?"

"The second victim's real name was Pamela Cruz, her street name Mamasita and we checked with her pimp and we checked his alibi which checked out....Pamela Cruz has a rap sheet from the time she was 18, she even had a juvie record; her adult record shows prostitution, possession of narcotics, gun charges...says here she's was from New Mexico, I checked missing persons databases all over the country thinking her family may have moved, but no one reported her missing." Catherine stated matter-of-factly.

"Sandra Patterson was from somewhere back east....won a scholarship to USC for theater, however got in with the wrong crowd, started doing drugs and became a prostitute not only to support her drug habit but to pay her tuition because the scholarship was revoked when Sandra was arrested for petty theft on campus...the school notified the parents and they told the school 'she got herself into this trouble she can get herself out of trouble'...talk about tough love." Sara finishes her report.

"I've been mad at Lindsey before but hell never that mad...I would at least try to get her help for the drug problem."

"Well how about Nick, Greg or you Warrick...anything new on your cases?"

"Nothing Griss..."

"Still Working on it..."

"Still looking into it..."

"Okay that being said, Rick and Greg you have a breaking and entering in Seven Hills, Nick you and I have a Suspicious circs in Summerlin...Catherine and Sara..."

"Another one?" Catherine asks.

"Looks like it...sorry ladies...let's get going." Grissom says handing Catherine the slip.

Fifteen minutes later Catherine and Sara pull up to The Double Six Motel, "Let's get started on this...sometimes I really hate this job." Sara says as she let's out a long sigh.

"I know sweety but we work to as you are apt to say 'get justice for the victim', so let's get this over with."

"Hey Jim...David," Catherine says as she looks around the room and notices it is exactly like the other two rooms.

"Catherine...Sara, sometime I think I'm getting to old for this shit, third body this week seems the younger the victim gets the older I feel...I'll go get statements."

"Catherine...Liver temp. is 90.5 degrees, and before you ask why there is more blood this time...the spleen is missing."

"Thanks David...Sara, you want the bathroom this time?" Sara nods and walks into the hotel rooms bathroom, but not before receiving a smile and wink from Catherine."

"GOD DAMN IT...Not again."

Catherine comes running, "What's the matter Sara."

Sara points to the mirror and Catherine looks at a red 'R' diretly in front of her on the mirror, she tests it,"You don't even need to ask."

"It's Blood." Sara states rather than asks.

 

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"Are you okay honey, because you look like you have something on your mind?" Catherine asks Sara as the blonde pulls into the driveway of her house; the house she now shares with Sara and have shared with her for the past year and a half, because for the past eighteen months as everyone in the lab has known Catherine and Sara have been a couple...Including one Conrad Ecklie.

He tried to fire both of them because of some rule about subordinates not dating their bosses, however Grissom pointed out that the two of them were actually on the same level in the hierarchy of the lab; most of the people really think the reason why Ecklie doesn't like the two of them dating is he hates Sara and wants to get into Catherine's pants himself.

Sara finally comes out of her haze, "Oh nothing really just a thought on the case...mind if I use the computer in the den?"

"Sara you know you can..you don't need permission." Catherine says as she gives Sara a quick kiss before leaving the car.

Moments later the two women are in the extra room, which doubles as a computer room for when anyone needs to work on something whether it be a school project for Lindsey or case related for Catherine and Sara, "What is your theory babe?"

"Well Cat, you saw how those three bodies were sliced open and all three were prostitutes and the letters J,T,R were on the bathroom mirrors at all three scene...."

"You're thinking we have a serial killer on our hands?" Catherine says hoping her own gut feeling is wrong.

"Maybe, I am looking up information about the killings to check out any similarities with our three murders...well take a look at this," Sara says as she and Catherine look at the computer screen and notice scenes eerily close to the scenes they saw.

"Print this off, because if we go to Ecklie or even Grissom without any comparison they won't take it seriously."

"Great minds think alike Catherine."

"That's why you love me."

"Oh that is definately not the only reason," Sara says winking to Catherine.

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"Do you really expect me to believe that there is a serial killer imitating Jack the Ripper here in Las Vegas?"

"Conrad, I've checked it all out myself and as unusual as it may sound there could actually be a copycat Jack the Ripper here in Vegas...see for yourself," Grissom says defending both Catherine and Sara.

Ecklie looks over the information that Sara and Catherine have, "Okay let me see if I can get the mayor and Sheriff for more manpower."

"Conrad I really think we should get someone from Scotland Yard to help in the investigation."

"SCOTLAND YARD...are you smoking the same pipe they are Grissom, because you really must be high...why the hell would we need anyone from Scotland Yard."

"Because Conrad they have more knowledge about it than we do...to this day they are still trying to solve the case."

"Okay, let me call the Mayor and Sheriff and tell them what we need...any ideas on who we can contact."

"Sir Edmund Moore...through his daughter Victoria," Sara says with certainty.

"And how would you know such an important person Sidle?" Ecklie asks in a snide manor.

"Sir Edmund is the overseas liason officer in the British Consulate in San Francisco for Scotland Yard and instead of having his daughter in a diplomatic school he wanted her to have the experience of a teenager and go to a normal American public school, we met in tenth grade physics and have been friends from then on...we even went to Harvard together I got my B.S. in physics, she got her doctorate and is now head of Physics at Franklin University in Boston...I still talk to her over the phone at least twice a month and of course for holidays and birthdays...so let me know when you are done with your calls and I will call Victoria."  Sara, Catherine and Grissom leave Ecklie's office with him still sitting behind his desk, mouth wide open in amazement at Sara's announcement.

 

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*"Clark County Sheriff's Office how may I help you?"*

"This is Conrad Ecklie from the Las Vegas Crime Lab, I'd like to speak to the Sheriff."

*"One moment"*

*"Conrad to what do I owe the honor of this call?"*

"Well Sheriff, it's about the last three murders that we've had in town...the three prostitutes."

*"Go on"*

"Well sir a few of my people seem to think there might be a serial killer on the loose that is imitating Jack The Ripper, and I know this might be jumping the gun as it were but...the three criminalists looking into the killings feel it might be helpful if we were to bring someone from Scotland Yard in on the case because of the similarities in the case...I told them I would talk it over with you and the Mayor first before I gave my okay on the matter."

*"You know Conrad that isn't a bad idea, we can share procedural information and being the lab is best in the U.S. we can show it off to the Brits...do you know whom to talk to to get that done?"*

"One of my people has a friend who she went to college with, the friend's father is the Scotland Yard overseas liason officer and we were going to contact him through the daughter."

*"Get right on it then.."*

"What about the Mayor shouldn't we tell him what's going on?"

*Not to worry, I'm having lunch with him this afternoon and I'll tell him myself...if that's all then Conrad I will talk to you later."*  The click and dial tone were Ecklie's clue the conversation was over.

Moments later Ecklie walks into the breakroom, "Well Grissom, I don't know what's going on in this town but the Sheriff thinks your idea is a good one...Sidle make your call and let me know what happens." Ecklie then skulks back to his office.

"I'm heading outside so I can get better reception," Sara says as she leaves the breakroom

Sara nervously dials her cell phone, *"Franklin University Physics Department how may I help you?"*

"I would like to speak to Victoria Moore please."

*"One moment."*

*"This is Victoria Moore, how may I help you?"* says the voice on the other end of the phone which makes Sara almost forget why she called.

"Hey Victoria, how are you hun?"

*"Sara, I'm doing well...is everything okay, you usually don't call me this early?"*

"Well Vic, I pulled a case that your dad might help with...it's a Jack the Ripper type case and being he is the Scotland Yard liason for the Western U.S. I was wondering..."

*"If I would call him and have him contact you about this case?"*

"I'd really appreciate Vic, if you would."

*"No problem...are you still seeing that strawberry blonde...because if you aren't there is a certain British head of Physics at Franklin University that would like a chance with you."*

"Truthfully Vic, up until eighteen months ago I might have taken you up on your offer...but Catherine is everything I ever wanted in a lover; she's kind, smart, loving, understanding, a great mom, sexy as hell...and Lindsey is just so adorable hell if Catherine would let me I would adopt Lindsey if the need arose...So sorry Vic, I can't see myself being with anyone other than her."

Unbeknownst to Sara, Catherine had come outside to look for her and heard every word she said, "Well Vic, time to get back to work, I really appreciate this hon, talk to you soon...luv ya"

*"Okay Sara, I'll get in touch with my dad and tell him you'd like to speak to him....ta ta for now...luv ya bye"*

Sara turns around and is immediately hugged and kissed by her lover, "Did you really mean all those things you said about me and Lindsey."

Finally able to speak, Sara responds, "Of course I did baby...when have I ever lied to you or about how I feel about you, Catherine you and Lindsey are my life and as you must have heard me tell Victoria there is nothing or no one that will ever change that...I love you."

"I love you too Sara...let's get back inside."


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It had been three days since Sara had called her friend Victoria Moore
and asked her to ask her father about helping the lab solve the murders
of now five prostitutes; there had been two more just within the last
couple of days, "Damn the killer is getting smarter, he is cutting off
the fingertips of the victims now." Catherine says as she and Sara look
at the latest victim of the 'JTR' killer as the media had named him.

"I know and I wish Vickie would hurry and let her father know what's
going on..." just then Sara's cellphone rings, Sara looks at the number
but doesn't recognize it, "CSI Sara Sidle who is this and how did you
get my number?"

*"Sara how good it is to hear your voice my dear how have you been?"*
asks a jovial voice from the other end.

Sara breaths a sigh of relief, "Sir Edmund I am doing well, I guess
Victoria got a hold of you on my behalf?"

*"Not only did she contact me, but the Mayor of your fair city, the head
of your Sheriff's department and also a man by the name of Conrad Ecklie
who claims to be your boss sent me emails thorough the consulate...I
thought the last time we spoke your boss was one Dr. Gilbert Grissom?"*

"Grissom is my immediate supervisor, however Conrad Ecklie is the head
of the crime lab and he was the one I had to ask permission to call
Victoria about asking you about the case...as for the Mayor and Sheriff,
they must have done that so they can say we asked you through the proper
channels."

*"Cutting the red tape as it were."* Sir Edmund says laughing.

"So you'll be able to help us?"

*"Of course we will, I will becoming to Las Vegas day after tomorrow and
will be bringing a couple of agents with me, and Victoria told me she
would like to come and visit you as well, for old time sake as she put
it, that is if you don't mind her being there?"*

Sara's heart skipped a beat because back in their college days Sara knew
Victoria had a crush on her but she kept pushing the brit away because
of first of all her studies and secondly she was still very socially
inept thanks to her abusive parents; "No...not at all, we can catch up
on some onld time and I can be tour guide for the two of you if we get
some time away from the case."

*"That sounds like a wonderful idea..see you in two days my dear."*

"I'm looking forward to it...goodbye sir."

"What was all that about Sara?"

"That was Sir Edmund Moore, the man I told you about...the liason
officer assigned to the states by Scotland Yard."

"So what did he say?"

"From what he told me the Sheriff, the Mayor and even Ecklie wrote him
emails about the case and he said he wold come?"

"Just himself?"

"No Catherine he is bringing two other agents with him, along with his
daughter Victoria."

"Your roommate from college...the one you called in Boston."

"Exactly...the four of them will be here day after tomorrow, but I
forgot to ask which airline, I can probably get that from Ecklie because
he sent an email along with the mayor and sheriff for Sir Edmund's aid
he must have that information."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two days later at McCarren Airport a welcoming committee of four from
the Las Vegas Crime Lab that included Sara, Catherine, Gil and Ecklie
waited at the gate for Sir Edmund and his party; "SARA!" screamed
Victoria as she was first to recognize her old roommate.

"Vic, how are you hun?"

"Doing well....so this must be Catherine?"

"It is, Victoria Moore, I'd like you to meet the woman that finally
captured my heart Catherine Willows."

"Nice to meet you Catherine."

"Victoria you are a grown woman so act like it....Sara Sidle how are you
dear it has been so long?"

"That it has sir, I am well and now let me introduce you to my
colleagues; my supervisor and best friend Gil Grissom...director of the
LVPD Crime Lab, Conrad Ecklie and last but not least, the greatest woman
I know, Catherine Willows."

Sir Edmund saw the look in Sara's eyes when she introduced Catherine and
needed no further explanation he knew they were in love; he may have
been older but it didn't seem to upset him that his daughter's friend
was gay, besides his daughter was too; "Happy to meet you all, now if I
may introduce Scotland Yard Senior Agent Nicholas Holmes and Scotland
Yard historian and Junior Field Agent Ann Marie Collins."

Sara took one look at the way Agent Holmes was leering at Catherine and
took an instant dislike to him even if he looked like Russell Crowe;
Catherine was having the same feelings about Agent Collins and her
intense leer at Sara even if she looked like Lindsey's favorite actress
Angelina Jolie.

"It's late everyone why don't we go have dinner somewhere after which
get a good night sleep and get started in the morning." Grissom
suggests.

"I'll have to excuse myself folks, I need to get the credentials all set
for our guest so I'll see you all at nine a.m. sharp tomorrow at the
lab." Ecklie says before leaving.

"Not to worry, Catherine and I can pick you up on our way to the
lab...where are you staying?"

"The consulate put all of us in rooms at the MGM Grand Hotel on the
strip."

"I wish our lab had the consulate's money." Catherine says as the group
heads over to baggage claim before leaving the airport for dinner.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So Sir Edmund, being that you and your team are here, what is Victoria
doing with her time?" Sara asks.

"What I believe most people do when they come to Las Vegas; sightseeing,
shopping and watching a show."

"That's good, I really want to take her for a night on the town before
all of you leave."

"Oh, I'm sure she would enjoy that...here comes Mr. Ecklie the meeting
must be starting, let's take our seats."

The meeting began at 9 a.m. sharp as Ecklie had wanted, "I'm glad to see
everyone is here...Sir Edmund were your accomodations to your liking?".

"They were quite nice yes, thank you for asking Mr. Ecklie...now shall
we get on with the meeting?" Sir Edmund said seeing through Ecklie's
facade and knowing he was trying to get the Brits to see him in a better
light; however during dinner the night before even one of the CSIs had
warned the agents from Scotland Yard that Ecklie was a 'kiss-ass' or
what Vickie called 'a boot licker'.

"Very well, Catherine please begin."

"Thank you Conrad...Sir Edmund, Agent Holmes, Agent Collins we have had
five murders in the past couple of weeks that are very similar to those
that are attributed to Jack the Ripper."

"Why do you think they are related to Jack the Ripper, Miss Willows?"
asks Agent Holmes.

"Please call me Catherine, Agent Holmes..." Catherine says smiling at
him and not noticing look she is getting from Sara, "you see first of
all, the bodies were expertly cut opened as if by a surgeon; as you can
see from our Medical Examiner's report he believes this could be the
case."

"We also believe that because the victims were all prostitutes there was
a connetion with the original Jack the Ripper." Sara interjects.

"I was just getting to that, being that I am the senior CSI on the
case."

Neither Sara nor Grissom could believe their ears, Catherine had just
admonished Sara in front of people that Sara actually contacted to help
on her and Catherine's case and Catherine was treating Sara the way she
did when Sara first arrived in Las Vegas.

"As Sara just mentioned all five victims were prostitutes and the
letters J, T, and R, were written on the mirrors in the bathrooms of the
rooms where we found the victims...the letters were written in the
victim's blood, not only that but parts of or complete organs were cut
out of the victims." Grissom could see each member of the Scotland Yard
team visibly shudder at the last bit of information.

"Sara where were these victims found?" Agent Collins asked giving Sara a
warm smile and Catherine a stare that said 'I dare you to interrupt
her'.

"Well Agent Collins the victims were found in cheap motels off the
strip..." Seeing that she wasn't getting through to the Brits, Sara
continued, "these hotels are usually used by prostitutes, or drug
dealers because they are rented by the hour and not by the day as most
of the resorts on the strip."

"This would be akin to where the original Ripper's victims in London
were found...the seedier area of the city?" Sir Edmund acknowledged.

"Might I suggest we go to the scenes and take a look at them." Grissom
suggested.

"Gil do you really think that's wise we wouldn't...", Catherine began to
speak only to be cut by Agent Collins.

"Don't worry Miss Willows we know how to conduct ourselves at a crime
scene...it won't be contaminated."

"I'll be driving Catherine, be outside in 5 minutes or get left behind."
Sara said her voice full of venom.

"What the fuck was that for?"

Gil looked at her straight in the eye, "It could be because you
belittled her in front of everyone reminding her you were the primary on
the case, making her feel as if she were a rookie."

"But Gil she was out of...."

"No Catherine YOU were out of line treating her like that because if
memory serves that was the way you treated her when she first arrived
here...now are you coming or not because if I know Sara she will leave
in 5 minutes whether you are there or not." Grissom says heading for the
door.

Catherine thought about her actions for a moment before joining everyone
else outside.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking out to the SUV, Catherine notices that Agent Collins had taken the front passenger seat next to Sara, leaving her only option to sit next to Agent Holmes in the back seat along with Sir Edmund and Gil.

"Sorry folks, I had to go back to the conference room and get my case file." Catherine says as a way of apologizing for her tardiness.

"Sounds  like something a rookie would do." Sara says as she puts the SUV in gear and begins to drive to the first scene; Catherine looks over at Gil to say something, but all his does is give her an 'I told you so' kind of look.

"We should go to the scene in chronological order...this way we can see the progression of the killer's method." Sir Edmunds says.

"That is what I was thinking myself....Is that okay Grissom?"

"Sure Sara, you and Catherine know where the scenes were so that would be the best course of action."

Agent Holmes notices a bracelet with the letters LMW engraved on them, "Catherine, I noticed this lovely bracelet with the initials on it...why the letters LMW?"

"Well Agent Holmes..."

"Charles...please."

"Well Charles....the initials are my daughter's Lindsey Marie Willows."

"If she is as beautiful as her mum, I'm sure your husband will be beating her suitors back with a stick."

"Oh, I'm a widow my ex-huband died about seven years ago...but he never really was much of a husband...we got a divorce a few years before his death."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that...I hope I haven't upset you."

"Not at all, he did give me the one thing I cherish most in this world...Lindsey."

"Well before we leave I would like to take you and your daughter for a night out."

"Oh I'm sorry Charles but I am in a relationship at the moment."

"No please forgive me I had no idea....I would like to meet this person."

"You already have..." Sara says from the SUV driver's seat.

Grissom notices that the group was nearing the first scene, "Sara we're here."

"Thanks Grissom." Sara says as she turns into the motel parking lot.

"Are you alright Sara, because it seems that Catherine got you a bit tense." Agent Collins asks.

"Yes Agent Collins...I'm fine...thank you for your concern"

"Oh no problem and please call me Ann."

"Thank you Ann."

"Sara, I'd like a word with you and Catherine....NOW."

The three CSIs walk away from the SUV so their conversation won't be heard, "Would you two mind telling me what in hell is going on between you two."

"Catherine started it with all that I'm in charge here bullshit."

"She has been put on notice about that already."

"I usually sit up front with you...why not this time."

"Like I said Catherine...you had five minutes to get outside, it just so happend that Ann...Agent Collins beat you to it."

"Oh so it's Ann is it?" Catherine says in an accusatory tone.

"Please Catherine call me Charles." Sara bites back in a faux British accent.

"Stop it both of you, we called these people in to help us solve this case and you two start acting like spoiled children,I don't want to do this but so help me if the two of you can't keep it professional during working hours I will take one or both of you off the case without hesitation...Am I making myself clear."

"Yes Grissom."

"Crystal Clear Gil."

"Let's get in there before someone comes looking for us."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After looking at all five scenes the group makes it back to the lab; Grissom was thankful Catherine and Sara  didn't start fighting again.

"Why don't we all go home and start again tomorrow  with clear minds." Sir Edmund suggests

Everyone nods in agreement, the Agents and Sir Edmund are followed by Sara and Catherine.  The group from Scotland Yard is dropped off and Sara and Catherine make it home; not a word is spoken between them.

When Catherine gets into the house she sees a pillow and blanket are piled on the couch, "What the fuck is going on here."

"Until you treat me with the respect I deserve I am sleeping down here." Sara says as she begins to undress for bed.

"Suit yourself." Catherine says as she heads upstairs to the bedroom.

As she hears the bedroom door slam, Sara lies down on the couch and cries herself to sleep

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An alarm clock's constant buzz awakens Catherine from her deep sleep,
"Sara...where is she, oh that's right she slept on the couch last
night...god what an ass I was to her yesterday, I can't believe I pulled
that crap on her...she did have the right to be pissed at me, hell I
would be pissed at me...I wonder why I don't hear her downstairs."
Catherine says then gets out of bed and makes her way downstairs.

Catherine sees the couch empty, "I wonder where she went..." Catherine
says before checking the rest of the rooms in the house and finding no
sign of Sara; not even a note. Catherine was becoming more and more
worried so she decided to call her CSI colleagues and see if Sara was
with any of them.

"Sorry Catherine she isn't here." Gil tells Catherine.

"She's not here Catherine....even though I wish she were." Greg tells
Catherine he joked trying to lighten Catherine's mood.

"I haven't seen her since you, she and Gil left with that group from
England...Sorry Cath." Nick says apologetically.

"No Cat, she hasn't been here...if you want me to I'll help you look for
her." Warrick offered.

"Thanks Rick, but she and I got into a pretty big fight last night and
it was mostly my fault and I want to make it up to her." Catherine
tells Rick, she then decides to go looking for Sara after getting
dressed.

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On the other side of town in a small coffee shop off the strip, "I'm
sorry for waking you up so early Ann, I thought Vickie told me she was
in that room."

"Oh that's all right Sara, Victoria had planned on seeing Hoover Dam and
from what she told me she had to get up early to catch a shuttle
bus...no big deal, so would you like to talk about what's happening
between you and Catherine..." after getting a surprised look from Sara,
Ann continues, "Don't forget when Nicholas asked Catherine about meeting
the person she was seeing you said 'You all ready have' remember."

"That's right, well that's where that all started..." Sara is
interrupted by Ann, "Why don't we go back to the hotel, it's more
comfortable and besides you look like you can use something a bit
stronger than coffee...and breakfast is on me."

Sara tried to argue with Ann, but the Brit would have none of it and she
paid for their breakfasts as Sara went outside to her car, "Thank you
Ann very much." Sara said pulling Ann into a hug.

"Oh my pleasure love." Ann says and then kisses Sara on the cheek, "Oh
dear I shouldn't have done that."

"Please don't worry about it I give my kiss people I know a kiss on the
cheek all the time."

"But only really close friends right."

"Well I do consider you a friend."

"Aww thank you love and I condsider you a friend too....we best get to
the hotel."

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An hour later a frantic Catherine was still looking everywhere for Sara;
she has checked all of Sara's old haunts, all the places the team goes
after shift, even some places she thought Sara would go to clear her
head...the park, the gym and even a few miles out of town in the desert,
but no Sara, even her cellphone was off, "Where the hell could she
be....wait her friend is staying at the MGM." Catherine remembers and
heads to the hotel.

Twenty minutes later Catherine pulls into the MGM parking lot and
immediately notices Sara's car, she heads into the hotel and asks for
Victoria's room number, once she gets to the floor and approaches the
room she gets the shock of her life; Sara kissing and hugging Agent Ann
Marie Collins.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING WITH HER!!!"

"Catherine what the hell are you doing here?"

"I CAME HER TO LOOK FOR YOU BECAUSE I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE FIGHT
LAST NIGHT BUT I SEE YOU GOT SOMEONE ELSE TO CONSOLE YOU, NO WONDER YOU
DIDN'T LEAVE A NOTE OR TURN ON YOUR CELL...." Sara and Ann try to
explain but Catherine will have none of it, "STOP IT SARA, FROM NOW ON I
WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU ON A PERSONAL BASIS, FROM NOW ON YOU AND I
ARE CO-WORKERS THAT'S IT....I WANT YOUR THINGS OUT OF MY HOUSE BY
TONIGHT OR THEY WILL BE IN THE TRASH...IS THAT CLEAR."

Sara could only nod because of the lump in her throat and tears in eyes,
she turns to Ann and gives her a sad smile as she follows Catherine down
the hallway to the elevators.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine and Sara silently walked to the parking lot and went to their
respective SUVs, "Luckily, Gil gave us the morning off so you can get
your things out of my house, and to think I trusted you, I can't believe
you would do such a thing to me...From Eddie I would expect this but not
from you" Catherine says with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Sara was going to once again try and explain, but she figured that
Catherine wouldn't listen to her so she just walked to her SUV and got
in and drove away.

No words were spoken between them as Catherine unlocked the door to her
house and walking in just in front of Sara; Sara immediately went
upstairs to the bedroom she shared with Catherine and packed everything
she could, Catherine wanting nothing in her house that reminded her of
Sara began taking down pictures that either she had taken of Sara and
with Sara including ones with Lindsey in them.

Catherine hears Sara coming down the stairs and sits in her favorite
recliner, Sara grabbing her backpack on the way down goes over to the
bookshelf/stereo cabinet and puts all the books and cds that are hers
into the backpack. Sara then takes her keys out and removes the key to
Catherine's house and puts it on the table next to Catherine.

"Catherine before I leave, I am going to explain everything and you are
going to shut up and listen..." Catherine was about to protest but Sara
would have none of it, "No Catherine, you wouldn't let Ann and I explain
before but you are going to listen to me now; First of all, I actually
was looking for Vickie to talk to her about what happend yesterday and
what I can do to make it up to you but she wasn't there because she was
out taking the Lake Mead tour and I had no idea she was doing that...Ann
was there and she asked me to breakfast so I went and while we were
eating we talked about the case. She noticed that I wasn't really
paying attention and asked me what was wrong, I told her it was about
yesterday and she immediately realized what I was talking about and
offered to talk to me but she figured it wasn't a topic to be talking
about in public so we went to her and Vickie's hotel room at the MGM;
what you saw was me thanking her for her listening to me and giving me
her advice on the matter...DID YOU EVEN THINK FOR ONE SECOND TO LISTEN
TO US...NO YOU JUST SAW WHAT YOU SAW AND AUTOMATICALLY THOUGHT I WAS
CHEATING ON YOU JUST LIKE EDDIE HAD, I AM NOT NOR EVER WILL BE LIKE
EDDIE...Goodbye Catherine." Sara then walked out of the house, got into
her car and drove away.

After a few moments of letting Sara's words sink, her anguish came out
in heart wrenching, uncontrollable sobs.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sara drove around for awhile then realized she hadn't told Ann what
happend and drove to the MGM, once there she went right up to the room
she had been in just an hour before and knocked on the door, Ann saw
Sara and ushered into the room.

"Oh you poor thing, I gather Catherine threw you out of her house?"

"Yea, I have all my things down in my car, but before I left I told her
exactly what went on between the two of us, but I didn't stay around
long enough to get any response."

"Don't you think you should go back?"

"No I am not going back because she had the audacity to compare me with
her lousy ex-husband." Sara began to cry once more.

"Aww Sara, I'm so sorry come here." Ann says softly as she takes Sara
into her arms and leads her to the closest bed.

Sara held onto Ann with all her might, she then shocked Ann by kissing
her on the cheek and neck, Ann stopped her, "Are you sure you want to go
where this is leading?"

"I need to feel something...truth be told I had my eye on you from the
first time I saw you."

Ann looked into Sara's eyes wondering if she were lying and saw only
truth in those lovely brown eyes.

Ann began to reciprecate with kisses on Sara's neck and cheek, she then
began to pull off Sara's shirt and let her hands run over Sara's firm
stomach and bra covered breasts, "Please take my shirts off me." Ann did
as Sara asked and ran her hands lightly over Sara's exposed chest.

Sara then did the same to Ann, "My god you are lovely.", Sara then began
licking and sucking Ann's nipples, "Ohhh Sarrra yesss."

Ann's hands opened Sara's pants and she let one of them slide down over
Sara's womanhood, "Ohh Ann yesss I want to feel you inside me," Sara
almost purred.

Ann obliged Sara and took off her pants and underpants and began rubbing
Sara again and slowly pushed two fingers inside, "ooohhhh mmmmm yessss."

Sara then laid Ann down on the bed, and removed the Brit's remaining
clothes; she then began kissing and licking the Angelina Jolie
look-a-like's body from breast to womanhood, she then thrust two fingers
into her, "Ohhhh Sarrraaaa pllleasssee don't stop....yess yesss."

Sara then deftly moved her bottom half around and placed her womanhood
right in Ann's face, "Sara you are so beautiful," Ann then started
pleasing Sara with her mouth by licking and sucking her clit, "ooohhhhh
Annn youuu areee ammmmazzzinnggg."

"OHHH SARRAAA I'MMMMMCUMMMMMINGGG OHHHHFUCKKKK YESSS YESSSS!!!!"

"OH ANNN YESSSSOHHHH YOUUUU ARREEEEE SOOOOOGOOOODDDD....I'MMMMMM
CUMMMMINNNG....YESSSSS YESSSSS."

After each woman reached climax they lay in each other's arms kissing
and cuddling, "That was the best I ever had." Ann exclaimed.

"You are amazing, I have never climaxed like that...." Sara says to Ann
but then sees a look in her eyes, "What are you thinking about?"

"Where do we go from here?"



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ann not getting an immediate answer from Sara asks her again, "Sara where do you think we should go from here?"

Sara put her arms around her lover and spoke, "Truthfully Ann I am not sure, one thing I do know is that I can no longer live her in Las Vegas...." Ann interrupted her before she continued.

"What do you mean you'd leave Las Vegas, you seem to love it here....you love your friends and your....Oh I see." Ann finally realizes why Sara said what she did.

"Oh I could get another job somewhere in the city, live somewhere else in the city,and even keep up the friendships I have from the lab...but that's just it everything I know about the city and everyone I know in the city I know because of the lab...and thinking of  the lab just makes me think of Catherine all the more...."

Sara was about to say something more, but she was again interrupted by Ann, "So all this...what we just did...was to get revenge against Catherine?"

"Oh God NO!...I was about to tell you that because of all those things I would gladly move back home to San Francisco to be with you."

Ann could not help herself and she kissed Sara with her strength, "Oh Sara you have made me the happiest woman on this earth...you remember when you told me that you had your eye on me since we came here..." Sara nodded and smiled a shy smile, "Well since we arrived, I've had my eye on you as well, you said you were from San Francisco, please tell me about yourself."

"Are you sure you want to hear it...it is very ugly."

"Tell me everything, I won't run...I promise." Ann says putting her arms around Sara's waist.

Sara took a deep breath, "Well here it goes..."

Fifteen minutes and some of her own tears later, Sara finished telling Ann about her abusive childhood, her father's death at her mother's hand and her time as a child in the system; "So there you have it Ann, my early life in a nutshell you probably have all the information from my college years until now..." Sara womdered why Ann had been so silent, "Ann, honey are you okay?"

Ann looked deeply into Sara's eyes, "Sara you are the strongest woman I have ever met, you've been through so much...you said you wanted to feel something, well let me tell you I feel something...I feel that I could easily love you."

"Are you telling me that you are in love with me?"

"In time yes, but I think we should take our time in this...relationship." Ann says shyly not really knowing what to call what she and Sara now have.

"I think I could live with that, now let me go to my car and get my stuff you should take a shower and get dressed before Victoria gets back from her tour." Sara says before putting her clothes back on, kissing Ann again and leaving the room.

While getting her things from her car, Sara sees  the tour bus from Lake Mead entering the parking lot, Vickie how was the tour?"

Victoria surprised to see Sara answers her, "It was great, but what tin the world are you doing here?"

Sara explains the whole situation, including the talk with Ann about leaving with them when they return to San Francisco; she did however leave out her morning activities with Ann, "You poor thing...I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, at least Ann was there for you...but I'm surprised you'd leave Las Vegas, but I can understand why."

Sara and Vickie make it back to the room, and Vickie notices the chaste kiss that Ann gave Sara, "So this is how you took care of her." Vickie says to Ann trying to sound angry and failing miserably.

"I.....she...we." was all Ann could say before Sara and Vickie began laughing uncontrollably.

Sara kisses Ann's temple, "Don't worry honey, she was like this when I knew her years ago in college."

Vickie suddenly looked at Sara with a very serious look on her face, "Sara are you happy?"

"Oh yes, very happy." Sara says before kissing Ann once more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lindsey walks into her house and is shocked to see the way her mother
looks, "Mom....mom are you okay?"

"Lindsey what are you doing home, I thought you went on that spring
break trip with your friends to Lake Havasu in Arizona?"

"Mom don't you remember, today was the day we were scheduled to come
home....but enough about that why are you crying....why are you holding
all the pictures of you and Sara in them...Oh My God did something
happen to Sara...is she dead?' Lindsey asks panic strong in her voice.

"No she's not dead baby...but she is gone...and it's all my fault."
Catherine says before breaking down once more.

"Mom what the hell do you mean by she's gone and it's all my fault?"
Lindsey asks now becoming very confused.

"You see honey, while you've been gone Sara and I caught a case where 5
prostitutes have been killed and they looked like the work of Jack The
Ripper...I think you know who that is...."

"Yes mom I do know who that is but it still doesn't explain Sara being
gone and it being your fault."

"I am getting to that just let me finish....Well we have these Jack The
Ripper type killings and Sara had a college roommate who's father works
for Scotland Yard, you know the british version of the FBI..."Lindsey
nods her head, "Well Sara's friend told her father and along with the
two of them he brought two agents with them, and as we were telling them
about the case I took control of the case and told Sara that I was the
one in charge..."

"Meaning you acted toward Sara the way you did when she first came to
Vegas...right?" All Catherine could do was nod, she cleared her throat
to swallow the lump in it before continuing.

"The worst part was it was in front of Uncle Gil and he rightfully gave
me hell for it...Well to continue, Uncle Gil thought it was a good idea
for the people from Scotland Yard to see the scenes, so we drove to the
5 scenes; one of the agents was sitting in front where I would sit and
just to show Sara how angry I was, I flirted with the other agent..."

"So Sara let a man sit next to you and then you flirted with the other
man....so what's the big deal?"

"The big deal is, the agent that was sitting next to Sara was another
woman, which made me insecure about things which is why I started
flirting in the first place. Uncle Gil noticed how we were acting and
threatend us by saying he would take us off the case; Sara and I didn't
say another word to each other the whole day, which was only yesterday
as a matter of fact...Well when we got home she said that she would
sleep on the couch until I was able to show her the respect she
deserved, and I told her that I didn't care whether she slept with me or
not because I was so angry at her, and when I got up this morning, I
thought about it and regretted everything I said and did yesterday, but
she was gone then I went looking for her and found her at the hotel the
Scotland Yard agents we statying at and when I got to the floor they
were on I found her kissing and hugging the female agent..."

"WHAT!!! She was kissing this other woman, I for one am glad she's
gone....good riddence to her."

"Lindsey stop you didn't let me finish; and to tell you the truth I
believed the same thing, I didn't even give them a chance to explain and
told her to come pick up her stuff, never come back here and that I
wanted nothing to do with her other than working with her; and as she
was leaving she told me what really went on between herself and the
female agent, she told me that she was so upset that the two of us were
fighting she wanted to talk it over with her friend and get her ideas on
how she could make it up to me, but her friend wasn't there she had
scheduled a Lake Mead tour which Sara didn't know about and she
accidentally woke up the agent, the agent suggested they go to
breakfast, they talked about the case but the agent saw how distracted
Sara was and asked what was the problem, Sara said it was a personal
matter and the agent suggested they go back to the room where they could
talk more openly; as you know Sara doesn't like to talk about things she
considers private out in public, and what I saw was Sara thanking Ann,
that's the agents name, for helping her come up those ideas I told you
about earlier....but now she's gone and I'll never have the chance to
say I'm sorry to her." Catherine says as a new batch of tears begin to
fall.

"Don't worry mom, I know in my heart that you and Sara will get back
together," Lindsey says as she hugs her mom tight.

"I do hope you are right because I do love Sara...very much."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grissom notices Sara entering the lab with the agents from Scotland
Yard; but no Catherine, "Hey Sara, Where's Catherine don't you always
drive in together?"

"To be honest Grissom I don't know and frankly I could care less where
she is right now..." Grissom was completely taken aback by the way Sara
was talking about Catherine, he knew they were having a fight yesterday
but he never thought it this bad, "Grissom there is something else I
want to talk to you about, but not here let's go into your office."

Once Grissom and Sara were in Gil's office, "Okay Sara what is it you
wanted to talk to me about?"

"I'm quitting...after this case I am handing in my resignation and
leaving Vegas."

Now the way Sara talked about Catherine surprised him; This news about
Sara wanting to quit a job she loves and Vegas just shook him to the
core, Grissom was sure if he hadn't been sitting he would have fallen
flat on his ass, "Why Sara, just because you and Catherine have hit a
rough patch doesn't mean you up and leave...there has got to be more to
it than this." Grissom tried to reason with Sara.

"I guess I'm just tired, I need to get away from death and despair; I
guess I'm burned out both mentally and physically and I want to tell
everyone before we start work today...is that okay with you?"

"Of course it is Sara...where will you go what will you do?"

"I've been thinking about going back home to San Francisco, but that
isn't set in stone."

"Okay, well it looks like Catherine's here...so why don't we head to the
breakroom and you can tell everyone then." Grissom says getting up from
his desk.

"Sure no problem." Sara follows him out to the breakroom.

Five minutes later everyone, including the agents were in the breakroom,
Grissom spoke first,"Before we go through anything new with the 'Jack
the Ripper' case, Sara has something she'd like to tell those of you
from our crimelab."

Sara stood up, cleared her throat and spoke, "After this case is
through, I am resigning and leaving Las Vegas..." She continued after
all the murmurs of 'you're kidding' and 'why' and 'what for' were done,
"I guess you could call it burn out as I told Grissom not more than ten
minutes ago I'm tired of facing death and despair everyday."

"Do you know where you'll go?" Nick asks.

"Probably back home to California...."

Before Sara had a chance to say anything else Grissom's phone goes off,
"Looks like Archie and Mandy both have something."

The group of agents and CSIs go to Mandy's lab first, "What do you have
for us Mandy?" Catherine says trying to keep her voice level after
hearing Sara's news.

"Well I was able to get a fingerprint from the inside of one of the
surgical gloves you found at one of the scenes and got this," Mandy then
shows the group a photo.

"Doctor Wayne Cranston...Surgical resident, mother was a prostitute that
put him up for adoption...paid his own way through medical
school...Johns Hopkins, this man's no dummy...no record other than a few
parking tickets....looks like we have our guy."

"Let's see what Archie has for us first Catherine." The group then heads
towards the A/V lab to see what Archie did have.

"What do you have for us Archie?" Grissom asks.

"Well I was only able to get bits and pieces of the face of the guy with
each woman so I photo-shopped them together to try and get a composite
photo and here it is." Archie hands Grissom the photo.

"It's a match...our killer is Dr. Wayne Cranston...18209 Moutain Vista
Road, in the Seven Hills section of town let's go, I'll call Brass on
the wayso he can get us a warrant."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty minutes later Grissom, Catherine, Sara and the group of agents
meet Brass outside Dr. Cranston's palacial house, "I got the warrant
here Grissom, and don't worry it's all inclusive for the house and
grounds."

"Good now let's get in there and get him."

"Dr. Wayne Cranston Las Vegas Police open up."

"Can I help you?"

"We have a warrant to search your house in connection with 5 murders in
the city over the past two weeks."

"Search away." The doctor says with a cocky smile.

After a half hour of searching Catherine finds the hooded sweatshirt
that the team noticed in the security videos, "I got something..." and
once everyone out on the back deck, "looks like he was getting ready to
burn it out here in his fire pit."

Unbeknownst to everyone the Dr. has a scalpel in his pocket and lunges
at Catherine, "No one is taking me to jail you BITCH!"

Seeing the doctor lunging at Catherine, Sara pushes her out of the way
and is stabbed in the stomach,"CATHERINE LOOK OUT UNNNNGGGH"

Brass grabs Cranston and pulls him to his feet, "Get him out of
here...This is Brass get an ambulance to my location OFFICER
DOWN...REPEAT....OFFICER DOWN!!!"

Catherine finally comes to her senses and sees the commotion,her eyes
then focus in on Sara, she then kneels down and cradles Sara's head in
her lap,"SARA, Baby speak to me....I love you so much...come on Sara let
me see those chocolate brown beauties....please don't leave me
alone....forgive me for getting angry at you...I'm so sorry."

"Catherine, honey it <cough> was all my fault <cough> tell Lindsey I
love her and will be watching over her,<cough, cough>remember I love you
and I always will...." Sara then closes her eyes.

"SARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\
!!!!!!!!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine wakes up fully clothed, and fully confused as to why she is in a hospital bed, "What the hell is going on here?"

"They had to sedate you after Sara was stabbed, because you weren't letting them near her and they had to get to her to bring her here." Warrick says as he watches his best friend look around the room in a daze.

"Jesus Rick, you scared the shit out of me."

"Well how do you think we feel; not only did Sara have us all worried but then we had to deal with you going all crazy when the EMTs tried to help Sara."

"Oh my God, What happend...is she okay, is she in surgery, is she.....dead," Catherine was barely able to get the word out before breaking down in sobs.

Warrick immediately goes to his friend's side and holds her until the sobs subside, "Well to tell you the truth, she was taken to into surgery and we haven't heard anything yet and that was about 2 hours ago...you know they say no news is good news."

"I guess you're right but I hate not knowing...especially since she saved my life and after what I did to her earlier today."

"Are you sure you want to tell me?"

"Well you are my best friend and I've got to tell someone."

"Okay let's hear it," Warrick says still not sure he wanted to hear anything that was considered personal.

"Well yesterday after shift, Sara and I had a major blow out....mainly because I accused her of cheating on me with the female agent from Scotland Yard...."

"I heard it got heated at one of the scenes."

"Oh yea, Grissom had to get between us, she first accused me of flirting with the male agent... but it started because I was acting all important, belittling Sara's skills...all the things I said about her of when she first came here...and she told me that she wasn't going to sleep with me again until I learned to treat her with respect...this morning I found her at the MGM coming out of the room her friend shared with the female agent..."

"And you accused her of cheating on you..."

"Exactly, she then got all her stuff and left, I guess she went back to the MGM because she brought them all to the lab when shift started....the rest you know...Damn this waiting is driving me nuts..." As Catherine finishes her statement her and Rick's phones go off, "it's about Sara Thank God."

Moments later Rick and Catherine are in the surgical waiting area, "What's the news about Sara? Catherine was first to ask.

"Well from what the surgeon told us, she was stabbed in an upward motion and it cut the spleen and stomach that's why there was so much blood, they said she is fine and is in a room here on the surgical floor, where they will keep her until well enough to go home...and before you ask the agents from Scotland Yard are back at the hotel waiting for news on Sara as well," Gil tells Catherine.

"Is she able to have visitors?"

"She's asking for you Catherine...go ahead and see her she's in room 714."

Catherine makes her way to Sara's room and sees the nurse who motions her to enter, tears start falling again as she sees Sara all bandaged up, "Oh baby how are you?"

"Fine knowing that you're okay...Catherine there is something I need to tell you...something that happend between me and Agent Collins."

"It's okay Sara you don't need to tell me anything."

"Yes I do...please Catherine it's important to me."

"Okay Sara go ahead." Catherine says not sure she wants to hear what Sara is going to say.

"After I left the house with all my things before the start of shift and I said I was moving to California, I went back to the hotel and Agent Collins and I...I...."

"You what Sara, please it can't be that bad."

"We had sex, I was so pissed at you for what you said to me I figured this was a way to get back at you and she and I talked after and that's what gave me the idea to leave and go back to San Francisco....God I now regret it so much, please Catherine you must know it meant nothing to me...you are the only woman I'll ever love..." Sara was so ashamed by the end of her speech she couldn't even look Catherine in the face.

Catherine swallowed the lump in her throat, "Sara please look at me...." Once Sara looked her in the face, Catherine began speaking again, "You at least were honest with me and the only thing I can do....is forgive you," Catherine says as a smile appears and grows on her face.

"You...you forgive me...how could you....I just admitted to committing the ultimate sin in your book and you forgive me?"

"Yes, how could I not....you saved my life and if that doesn't tell me how much you love me and how sorry you are nothing will..." Catherine then leans in and gives Sara a passionate kiss, "...I love you Sara Sidle...forever and always."

"And I love you Catherine Willows...forever and always."

 

A.P.S.: Many thanks to those readers that read this story and sent your kind words....My love to my muse Marie for her help on this story and her constant support and friendship.