Title: Blue Black
By: little arsonist
Pairing: Cath/Sara
Challenge: Heather Nova song titles
Rating: PG
Spoilers: A Little Murder
Word Count: 408
Disclaimer: not mine and never will be. :(
Author's Note: an idea that needed purging, and a late entry. late's better than never, or so I've found out. i tried to stay happy and this was the result.

***

You watch her at night when it's quiet and she's asleep beside you. Tonight is different. She fell into a restless sleep with the light still on, her eyes shut tightly.

Wisps of golden hair cling to her damp forehead, and you brush them back with gentle fingertips, careful to avoid the tender and ugly mark on her beautiful face. Jagged red surrounded by a small bruise in its early stage, at its most visible.

She didn't call you to tell you what happened, giving the excuse that you were busy with your own case. She was fine and didn't need you worrying about her. Everyone worried. Grissom was the one who told you, and you had to hide the emotions. Too much concern would give you away, but you were dying to get away, find a phone. The need to hear her voice overwhelmed you.

You can never forget what happened to Holly Gribbs, what brought you here to work and eventually fall in love with Catherine. You weren't going to stay but your attraction to her kept you in town. And the other night, you could've lost her at a crime scene.

The thought alone causes a wave of nausea as you look at her, not able to think about your life without her. You don't want to think about it and feed your fear anymore. She wouldn't admit it to you, but she's afraid. It's not constant, tiny trembles hitting her when she doesn't think you're looking. She's barely spoken of the attack, but she will when she's ready.

She shifts beside you and a moan escapes her throat. "No...." She brings her knees up, close to her arms crossed over her chest. In her sleep she can't hide her tears from you. You skim your fingers down her arm and kiss her face, concentrating on the unmarred skin of her forehead.

You can't stop the tears as your eyes fall on her wound again. She was touched by darkness and it doesn't matter how many people tell you it wasn't serious. Another second or one more blow, she could've died.

You wake her by wiping at her wet cheeks. "Catherine, it's okay. I'm here with you. You're safe."

She snuggles into you, sliding her arms around your neck. You don't even see the blue of her irises before she's sleeping again. Feeling her breath on your neck, you sigh.

You never want to lose her.

***