Title: The morning after
By: Alison
Pairing: Cath/Sara
Challenge: none, just a response to the news
Rated: pg13 for a bit of bad language
Spoilers: none
Word count: not a clue
Disclaimer: Dear Mr Bruckheimer, please can Catherine and Sara come out and play for a while. I promise to return them as I found them.
AN: Place your tongue in your cheek whilst reading this. It is just my way of dealing with grief. Don't hate me if you think it is not showing enough respect. It's only fiction after all.

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"Grissom....Grissom, where the hell are you?" Catherine had a face like thunder as she burst into Gil's office. "I can't find Sara or Nick anywhere. What the blazes is going on? And who are these two?" Catherine pointed to the two strangers lounging in the chairs opposite Grissom.

"Catherine, relax." Gil made a calming motion with his hands. "One thing at a time. This is Lara," he indicated to the tall brunette, "and this is Mick." The handsome muscled young man on the left raised his hand and waved.

"Great. Lovely to meet you and all that. Can you leave me and Grissom alone for a moment." The look in Catherine's eyes gave the two no room for argument. As soon as the door had closed behind them, Catherine lent over the desk and hissed "What is going on around here? I have a couple of sick days, I come back and the whole place has gone to shit. I mean, don't those two remind you of anyone? It's like finding yourself in the Stepford wives movie."

"The original or the remake?" Grissom enquired with a frown.

"For fuck's sake concentrate Gil!" Catherine was nearly incandescent with rage. "What happened? Sara and Nick, where did they go?"

Gil picked up a pencil and fiddled with it for a moment before answering.

"Nick had to return home. Due to an administrative error with some ballot papers he has been made Governor of Texas. Sara...well Sara, she just had to go. I couldn't decide whether I loved her or not. Neither could anyone else. It was just better all round if she went and then no-one would be disappointed. Or satisfied."

"And Lara and Mick? Are they supposed to just fit in like nothing has changed? Where does that leave us? I will still get all the cases involving lost or murdered kids won't I? I am a single mother you know." Catherine was practically screaming by now.

"Yes I do know. You only bring it up every week. How is Lindsay by the way?"

"Don't know, I haven't seen her for ages. What with work and having amazing sex with a toyboy at every opportunity, I don't get home that much. I am sure she's fine. I left plenty of food in the fridge." Catherine grinned at the memory of all the amazing sex.

"Look, I'm sure it's going to be fine. I feel confused about my feelings for Lara already and Mick has promised to take his shirt off and dive into the swimming pool at every crime scene, so it will be like nothing has changed. Just give it time." Grissom seemed satisfied with this at smiled at Catherine. "Now it's time for work. I have a case for you actually. Kidnapped eight year old girl. The mother probably did it but pad it out for a bit can you. I'm off to be dressed like a school boy and spanked up at Lady Heather's. Don't wait up." Grissom stood and picked up his jacket. "Oh, Cath, while I remember, keep an eye on Warwick. He was clutching his contract and crying in a corner last time I saw him."

Catherine left Grissom's office and hurtled round the corner, bowling into Greg. Catherine was knocked off balance and plunged to the floor, cracking her head hard against the wall. As unconsciousness dragged her down, she saw a face leaning over her.

- - - - -

Catherine came to, to find her lover peering at her and gently shaking her.

"Cath, wake up, you were having a nightmare." The gentle voice of Sara roused Catherine sufficiently. Catherine reached up and enveloped Sara in a tight embrace.

"Thank God. It was awful. You and Nick had been sacked and Grissom had these two replacements already waiting." Catherine could barely keep the relief from her voice. It was all a dream. Sara was not gone.

Sara pulled away from her slightly. "Sorry, babe, but that is all true. Poor Nick, he barely got his shirt off all last season. He knew it couldn't last."

"Why have you got a doctor's coat on?" Catherine asked. "Are we playing 'Coma patient needs a bed bath again'?" She grinned.

"Sorry hun, no. Not till later anyway. I've got a new job. Well, an old job. I'm going back to ER to be Maggie Doyle. I get to snog the ginger one." Sara grabbed Catherine and gave her a lingering kiss.

"Who, Horatio Caine?" asked Catherine when they finally parted for air.

"No, Dr Weaver. The one with the crutch. You must remember her from when you were there."

"Oh yeah, I remember now. I was with that good looking Doctor. Happy days." Catherine's eyes glazed over slightly at the memory.

"Hey, why don't you come with me? They could do with someone who looks sexy in a lab coat." Sara asked.

"Yeah," mused Catherine, "but then I look good in anything."

"With your wardrobe budget so you should. I was wearing the same pair of jeans for six solid weeks." Sara teased. "So will you come?"

The End

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