Title: Invitations
By: lewis771750
Challenge: Virtual Rewind - Lindsey, no word limit
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, Jerry and the people at CBS would never be quite this twisted:) But it is all just for fun, honest.
Spoilers: None
Words: 752
AN: I don't thank her often enough, so a big thank you to mrswoman for beta reading my work and her many suggestions and improvements. She also pointed out that our state of 'division by a common language' applies to this story. A physio or physiotherapist is what the people on the other side of the pond would call a physical therapist.

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With a sigh the police department physiotherapist marked off another patient who hadn't shown up. She didn't quite know what to do for the next hour, so she dug out a book and settled back to read for a while. If she'd been in her main job there were plenty of other things she could have been doing, but she was on a one month exchange programme to Las Vegas and didn't have the other duties that she had back at home to fill the quiet times. Before she lost herself completely in the book she checked who her next patient would be. Lindsey Willows, age 9, rehab after bilateral femur fractures was all it said.

With a smile the physio remembered Lindsey, who reminded her of her own beloved daughter left so far away. Physically they were nothing alike, but their attitude was so similar despite the differences in their backgrounds. Remembering Lindsey took her mind down a different route, one much less professional. Lindsey's mum would probably be there with her. Catherine, with the startling blue eyes, the red hair and the stunning good looks. If only, if only went the musing. If only I was brave enough to ask her out for a drink. Even if she said no and ran screaming I'm only here for another week, it isn't like it would ruin my chances of staying. If she said yes then we might have a few days together, and then the hard choice of trying to stay and moving everyone here. But at least I would have done it, plucked up the courage.

Shaking her head the dark haired woman turned her attention to her book and before she knew it she was being interrupted by two blondes as 50 minutes had passed.

During the treatment all of her attention was focussed where it ought to be, on helping her young patient complete her healing process and walk again normally. As the session came to an end she suddenly found the means to start a conversation with Catherine: "Lindsey reminds me of my little one so much."

Catherine looked up, startled. "You've never spoken about a child before."

"No, I'm away from home for another week or so. I guess I've got to the point of missing her."

Lindsey butted in at this point, saying something that startled both of them. "If you're missing your little girl, why not come for an ice-cream with us? We always go for an ice-cream after coming here."

"Yes, you'd be welcome," her mother confirmed. "And we do always go for ice-cream before I go to work."

Feeling a little flustered, but hopeful with this turn of events the woman got ready and headed out with Catherine and Lindsey. Soon they were all sitting down, eating ice-cream and making polite chat. Trying to steer the conversation to a point where she could ask Catherine out for a drink the physio was startled to see a tall, slim brunette approaching their table. Lindsey saw her and screamed "Sara, Sara!"

Catherine turned round and smiled, pulling up a chair for her co-worker. Then she turned to the suddenly quiet woman sat opposite her.

"This, as you might have guessed is Sara. Sara Sidle. My partner. Look you said you were only here for another week, why don't you come out with a drink with us before you go? Is Friday good for you? We're both off that night."

Her emotions were up and down, all over the place. Partner? Well in a police department partner might not mean life partner; it could be just a work relationship. But going out with both of them, she only wanted time with Catherine, not this other woman too. Just as she opened her mouth to say yes she noticed something else. Completely unconsciously the two of them had moved their chairs closer. Sara's hand was resting against Catherine's back, lying along the back of Catherine's chair. Cath's hand was in Sara's lap, just lying there. Partner had meant that sort of partner after all. Although the pipedream was disappearing up in smoke a night out would still give her some good memories to take home. Trying to mask her disappointment, but slightly relieved not to have to make a choice about uprooting her daughter and changing her home life so much she found herself answering "Yes, I'd love to" before she could think it through further. She realised she was smiling as she said it.

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