Title: Something New
By: coldbeer
Pairing: Cath/Sara
Rating: G
Keywords: Chris Rea. Maternal instincts. Manicures.
Spoilers: None
Author's notes: Trying to kill two birds with one stone; I felt guilty for not posting anything for the Lindsey challenge last week, so I wrote my vices fic around her. I have no idea what possessed me to post this. Oh wait, I do. I believe it was Satan's attractive cousin. Blame her. Chris Rea was in no way harmed during the process of writing this story. At least I think not.
Challenge: Vices
Word Count: 400

***

Sara swears someone is going to get seriously hurt if the girl standing in line behind her is going to continue swinging her purse against Sara's hip. It's hot, the teenager at the cash drawer is very possibly panicking, Chris Rea has been driving home for Christmas on repeat for the past forty-seven minutes and Sara's still standing in the exact same spot as she was half an hour ago.

"Hey lady, no cutting in line!"

Heads turn and people frown in annoyance at a woman who dares try to skip the torture everyone else is so obediently submitting themselves to. Sara turns around, in spite of herself. Oh. Damn it.

"I'm with her," Catherine tells the guy that called out. She flashes him a bright smile and her shoulder touches Sara's arm as she leans in closer. "You don't mind, do you?" she asks under her breath. Her hair carries the scent of vanilla, with just a touch of formaldehyde. "I'm in kind of a hurry and there's no way I'm going to wait in line for an hour just to get some toothpaste and a gallon of milk."

"Sure, no problem at all," Sara casually replies. She tries to position herself between Catherine and her own grocery basket, but her smile is too wide when she's nervous and Catherine has taken the same courses on non-verbal communication as she has.

"Some last minute Christmas shopping?" Catherine peers down curiously, around Sara's body. "What are you..."

Sara meets Catherine's eyes, finding a mixture of confusion and amusement.

"Do... you have a niece?" Catherine asks, her lips curling up at the right corner of her mouth.

Sara shakes her head. Catherine frowns in mild disbelief, her lips part. "Sara..."

Sara stops her with a raised hand. "Don't say it. I know it may seem like much, but Lindsey's a great kid. And I just..."

Catherine is still regarding her sceptically. "You just..." she leaves the sentence hanging in the air between them.

Sara smiles. "I need to exercise my maternal instincts. Let me have my fun. Please?"

Catherine raises her eyebrows and smirks, staring at a point right over Sara's shoulder. "Why the hell not?" she decides.

Sara stares at her fingernails. They're bitten down to the flesh at this time of year. Her eyes trail over to Catherine's hands, small and pale and carefully manicured.

Catherine's voice and expression are softer when she adds, "Thank you."

***